Thursday, December 25, 2008

Officer Adam Gallegos Accused of Being a Peeping Tom

An off-duty and possibly intoxicated Santa Fe police officer was caught earlier this month allegedly trying to peek into the house of a woman from whom he had taken a burglary report days earlier, The New Mexican reported.

A friend of the woman told police he confronted Officer Adam Gallegos, 37, at the scene and tried to keep him there until officers arrived, saying whatever the officer was doing "wasn't cool," according to police reports.

"It just wasn't right," said Luis Flores, 28, a Santa Fe construction worker and bartender. "Honestly, it's pretty creepy. That dude should not be a cop."

Deputy Police Chief Benjie Montano told The New Mexican that the department is awared of the allegations against Gallegos and is conducting an investigation of the incident.

City, county and State Police officers responded to the scene on Dec. 13 after a radio dispatcher alerted them that a Santa Fe police officer had reported he was being attacked by two men, but when officers arrived, Gallego was gone, The New Mexican said.

A State Police officer who ultimately handled the investigation of the incident said Gallegos told him he had driven to his home in Villanueva after the incident, the paper reported.

Gallegos allegedly told the State Police investigator that he had been at a holiday party that night, dropped off some friends, then drove to the Contenta Ridge neighborhood to visit another friend -- an area where he'd taken two burglary reports a few days before, The New Mexican said.

"He stated that he drove by (the woman's) house so he could check on it," the investigator's report said.

State Police spokesman Peter Olson told The New Mexican the report has been forwarded to the District Attorney's Office, which will decide whether any charges are warranted.

Officer Andrew Cummings Charged with Stealing Motorist's Laptop

PINEVILLE, Mo.

A southwest Missouri police officer is charged with stealing a motorist's laptop computer during a traffic stop.

Southwest City officer Andrew Cummings of Anderson is free on $7,500 bond after felony theft charges were filed Tuesday in McDonald County. Authorities say the 25-year-old was working for Pineville police when the alleged theft on July 4, 2007.

Cummings is currently a part-time officer with Southwest City police and a reserve officer with Noel police.

Court documents say Cummings had arrested a woman for suspected DWI when he put her laptop it in his patrol car, later denying that he had it.

This week Cummings left the laptop at the Noel marshal's office to have software installed, and a staffer discovered the computer had been reported stolen.

Information from: The Joplin Globe, http://www.joplinglobe.com

Former Trooper Brian Smith Goes on Deadly Shooting Rampage, then Shoots Himself

DALLAS

Police say a former Utah State Trooper is responsible for a deadly shooting rampage that left two Texas motorists dead and a third person injured on Monday.

Former Utah state trooper Brian Smith is on life support after shooting himself as police tried to arrest him after a deadly shooting rampage in the Dallas area.

"I certainly think he is going to be linked to the three shootings in Dallas," Dallas police Lt. Craig Miller said on Tuesday. "Right now I can't say definitely say he's involved in the Garland shooting."

The rush hour rampage began in Garland, Texas on monday.

20-year-old Jorge Lopez was shot for no apparent reason, as was truck driver and Desert Storm veteran William Miller.

Two other truck drivers, who asked not to be identified were also shot at along 635, but not seriously hurt.

Police say preliminary ballistics tests point to Smith as the triggerman.

Officers pulled him over Monday night for outstanding warrants, but heard a gunshot as they approached his vehicle.

Utah Highway Patrol records indicate Smith had been suicidal in the past.

In may he resigned after allegations of theft, DUI and prescription drug use surfaced.

The former officer is now the sole suspect in a rampage that left two dead and thousands of other drivers in fear.