Thursday, November 27, 2008

Constable Jason Ross Gets 6 months for Punching Another Officer

Peel Police Constable Jason Ross has received a six-month jail sentence in connection with punching another officer in the nose after being stopped for suspected drunk driving.

Ross pleaded guilty earlier this week to aggravated assault, impaired driving and mischief.

He received six months for the assault and seven days for his impaired conviction.

He was also placed on probation for two years.

The Georgetown officer was Tasered when he began brawling with fellow officers after being stopped in north Mississauga in the early hours of Sept. 12.

He was off-duty at the time and remains suspended without pay and is also expected to face discipline under the Police Act from Peel's Professional Standards bureau.

He had been charged with three counts of assaulting police, one count of assault causing bodily harm, excess blood alcohol, impaired operation of a motor vehicle and mischief.

In the incident, Ross was driving when he was stopped by police about 3:40 a.m. in the area of Winston Churchill Blvd. and Derry Rd. in Mississauga.

At the time, Ross, an eight-year veteran, was already under suspension in connection with an unrelated assault charge.

Police revealed that officers had to use a Taser to subdue Ross after he fought with his fellow officers, including breaking the nose of one of them.

Last year, he was one of 24 officers disciplined as part of an internal affairs investigation into an off-duty beer party held behind a Mississauga furniture store.

Ross pleaded guilty to discreditable conduct under the Police Services Act and was ordered to work seven days without pay following a disciplinary hearing.

He admitted consuming alcohol in a public place while off-duty in the early morning hours of Aug. 28, 2006 and failed to follow proper procedures when detaining and questioning two men – Mississauga residents Richard Cimpoesu, 24, and Orlando Canizalez, 20.

The claimed they were chased and beaten after police caught them videotaping their boozing.

Canizalez and Cimpoesu later filed a $12-million lawsuit against Peel police.

Sgt. Arthur Anderson Charged with Drunk Driving

MUSCATINE, Iowa

A police sergeant facing a charge of operating while intoxicated was fired Friday from the Muscatine Police Department.

However, city officials say the termination wasn’t specifically related to the incident.

On Nov. 8, another officer from the department arrested Arthur Anderson, 40, for allegedly driving his private vehicle to the Public Safety Building around 6:30 a.m.

He registered a 0.092 blood-alcohol level, according to court documents. The legal limit in Iowa is 0.08.

Stephanie Romagnoli, the city’s human resources manager, confirmed Monday that Anderson’s employment was terminated after about 17 years with the department.

“It was not specifically related to the arrest itself,” Romagnoli said. “It had to do with other personnel matters and a review of his file.”

Anderson was demoted in June from a lieutenant to a sergeant. Police Chief Gary Coderoni said the cause for the demotion was a personnel matter and that Iowa Code prevented him from discussing it further.

He said the department conducted an internal professional standards investigation of the alleged operating while intoxicated incident to determine if Anderson had violated city or department procedures.

The investigation is separate from the criminal court case, which will be prosecuted by the Johnson County Attorney’s Office.

Assistant Muscatine County Attorney Dana Christiansen said in a motion that Johnson County’s assistance was enlisted because a conflict of interest existed due to because Anderson’s employment with the police department.

A message seeking comment from Anderson was not returned by press time this morning.

He made his initial court appearance Friday in Muscatine County District Court. A judge continued his release from jail on his own recognizance, and ordered Anderson to schedule a substance abuse evaluation within five days.

A preliminary hearing was scheduled for Thursday, Dec. 11.

Coderoni said the department has not started the process of choosing a replacement for Anderson.

Correctional Officer Javier Toro Accused of Buying Cigarettes for Inmate

A Cook County correctional officer accused of buying cigarettes for a jail inmate was ordered held Wednesday in lieu of $20,000 bail for bribery and official misconduct.

Javier Toro, 23, appeared in Bond Court accused of trying to bring cigarettes and lighters to a Cook County Jail inmate, authorities said.

On Nov. 18, Toro is alleged to have bought the contraband at a Southwest Side gas station, where the inmate's girlfriend met him and paid the officer $100.

Toro was caught with the items when he tried to enter the jail for work, Assistant State's Atty. Michael Evans said.

Toro is suspended without pay, according to a Cook County sheriff's spokeswoman. If convicted, Toro could face a sentence of probation to up to 7 years in prison.