Friday, July 03, 2009

Deputy Joseph McKinney Charged with Sending Naked Photos to Teen

Marion County sheriff’s deputy has been charged with sending photos of himself posing naked to a 17-year-old girl’s cell phone.

A criminal complaint filed in Marion County Magistrate Court charged Cpl. Joseph B. McKinney with felony distribution and display of obscene matter to a minor. McKinney, a Worthington resident, posted $5,000 bond Thursday after State Police arrested him.

Marion County Sheriff Joe Carpenter says the 43-year-old McKinney has been placed on administrative leave.

It wasn’t immediately known whether McKinney had an attorney. A call to Magistrate Court went unanswered Friday.

Officer Donnie Breeden Arrested for Hit and Run

Pittsburgh Police arrested a Crafton Police officer this morning on charges he struck and killed a 24-year-old man with his vehicle, then fled from the scene, two years ago in the South Side.

Donnie L. Breeden, 38, of Green Tree, turned himself in this morning at police headquarters in the North Side. He was taken to the Allegheny County Jail and was being arraigned this afternoon on charges of involuntary manslaughter and causing an accident involving death or personal injury.

Assistant Police Chief Maurita Bryant said investigators received an anonymous tip three days ago leading them to Breeden.

"We were able to obtain a warrant for — I don't even want to say officer — for Breeden," Bryant said at a news conference this afternoon. "This is like a slap in the face for every police officer who honors the badge. You stop, you render aid and you wait for officers to arrive. ... He chose to keep going and keep it a secret all this time."

Police have examined Breeden's vehicle — a 2003 Chevy Trailblazer — and found areas that have been repaired, Bryant said.

The victim, David Hall of Moon, died after he was struck first by Breeden's vehicle, and then by two others, at about 11:40 p.m. July 20, 2007 in the westbound lane near the Duquesne Incline, police said.

More people could be charged, Bryant said, adding that some of Breeden's "acquaintances" were following him in another vehicle and saw him hit Hall. The group was driving to a bar or club in the South Side, she said.
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Other Information: http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/news/pittsburgh/s_632426.html

Terrance Releford Wins Lawsuit Against Tukwila Police

A homeless felon, who was zapped with two Tasers simultaneously -- twice -- during a 2006 arrest, has settled his federal civil-rights lawsuit against Tukwila police for $12,500, according to his attorney.

The settlement comes after a federal judge ruled that the two officers violated the rights of Terrance Releford and were too quick to use their Tasers after confronting Releford outside a Tukwila convenience store to arrest him on outstanding misdemeanor warrants on June 5, 2006.

According to court documents and police reports, Releford -- who stands 6-foot-5 and weighs upward of 300 pounds -- found himself between two Tukwila officers, both armed with Tasers.

Both officers ordered him to turn around. When he hesitated at the conflicting commands, the officers fired their stun guns simultaneously, knocking him to the ground with a combined 100,000 volts, the documents say.

A third officer was present, but didn’t participate and wasn’t sued.

While on the ground, the officers ordered him to roll onto his stomach and place his arms behind his back, according to the documents. Releford rolled over, but claims he didn’t hear the command to put his hands behind his back, according to his Seattle attorney, Lynne Wilson.

When he hesitated, the officers simultaneously Tasered him a second time, just nine seconds after the first jolt, according to court records.

Releford sued without the help of an attorney and argued his case alone. Last fall, a federal magistrate judge found that officers Josh Vivet and Mike Richardson used excessive force and recommended the case go to trial. U.S. Magistrate Judge Mary Alice Theiler also recommended that a federal judge appoint an attorney to help the 40-year-old Releford prepare his case.

In late February, U.S. District Judge Ricardo Martinez adopted most of Theiler’s recommendations and appointed Wilson to represent Releford, who has been either in a halfway house or prison since the incident.

He’s currently serving a four-year term for escape at McNeil Island Correctional Center and was not available for comment.

Telephone messages left with Tukwila City attorney Shelley Kerslake and the firm that represented the city, Keating Buckland & McCormick, were not returned Thursday.

A police internal investigation had cleared both officers of claims they had used excessive force.

Wilson said the city and Releford participated in negotiations earlier this week that ended with the settlement.

“Mr. Releford is very pleased with this outcome,” she said. “This incident was very painful. He had serious emotional issues afterward.”

Among the factors driving the settlement, she said, was that Releford -- despite his size and a long history of run-ins with the law -- had never been violent toward officers. In fact, she said, records showed that Vivet had arrested Releford six times in the eight months before the incident, all without incident.

The city dropped resisting-arrest charges that were filed by the officers after the incident, she said.

“He didn’t resist,” she said. “They just didn’t give him time to comply.”

She said the officers didn’t adequately consider their other options before resorting to the use of Tasers, she said. Theiler, in her report, pointed out that the officers had Releford outnumbered 3-1.

Judge John Thaddeus Doyle Arrested for Drunk Driving

A Los Angeles County Superior Court judge was arrested for suspicion of drunken driving in Baldwin Hills.

Judge John Thaddeus Doyle, 56, was arrested around 11:15 p.m. Thursday by officers from the Los Angeles Police Department's South Traffic Division, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department.

Doyle was pulled over in the 4500 block of Don Felipe Drive, near La Brea Avenue, for a traffic violation, the Los Angeles Times reported.

Doyle was released at 4:36 a.m. today on $30,000 bail.

Doyle is assigned to courthouses in Compton and Glendale.
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http://www.mercurynews.com/breakingnews/ci_12751716?nclick_check=1

Officer James Rashad Eldridge Arrested for Domestic Violence


A Wilmington police officer is in custody at the Brunswick County jail, said Beth Boling, an assistant to the sheriff.

James Rashad Eldridge, who has worked for the Wilmington Police Department since August 2006, was charged with assault on a female, according to reports.

Boling said Eldridge, of Leland, was arrested Wednesday night.

An arrest warrant charging Eldridge with a misdemeanor says he kicked a woman in the head and grabbed her arms.

A domestic violence form filed in connection with the case says a gun was involved in the incident, but doesn’t say how. The form also identifies the victim as Eldridge’s spouse. The form says there is a prior history of documented domestic violence allegations between Eldridge and the victim. But there was no restraining order in place at the time of the incident, the form says.

Eldridge, 32, has worked as a patrol officer since Jan. 31, 2007, after he completed his training, said WPD spokeswoman Lucy Crockett.

After his arrest, Eldridge was put on leave without pay, pending the outcome of an internal investigation by the police department, Crockett said.

His bond was set at $5,000, and he waived his right to a court-appointed attorney, according to the Brunswick County clerk of court’s office.

Woman Accuses San Antonio Officer of Sexual Assault

City police are investigating a complaint from a woman who says she was sexually assaulted by a uniformed officer who was on duty. San Antonio police say the woman told them the alleged incident happened last Friday night on the East Side.

A spokeswoman for the police department said that the 46-year-old woman who filed the complaint had a couple of different versions of the events. One is that she was sexually assaulted in a wooded area; the other is that she was sexually assaulted in a patrol car.

Police Chief Bill McManus says, "The San Antonio Police Department does not and will not tolerate such conduct, so we'll wait to see how this plays out and take whatever action necessary."

McManus says the investigation has been turned over to the Internal Affairs Department and the department is "moving very swiftly to complete that investigation."

SAPD is not releasing the officer's name because he is not facing any charges at this time and there isn't a warrant for his arrest. The officer is a four-year veteran of the force and he is on administrative leave pending the outcome of the investigation.
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Information: http://www.mysanantonio.com/news/local_news/49772662.html

11 Boston Officers Suspended for Steroid Abuse

Several Boston police officers have been suspended in connection with a three-year investigation into steroid abuse that involved improper conduct at an after-hours club.

"I am disappointed with the actions of the officers disciplined in this matter. With this chapter finally closed, the department will move forward with improved policies and practices resulting from difficult lessons learned. We remain steadfast in our dedication to preserving the integrity of our department by taking every measure to prevent and when necessary uncover officer misconduct," Boston Police Commissioner Ed Davis said.

In all, 11 officers were disciplined, including two detectives. The discipline ranged from a written reprimand to an 80-day suspension.

Investigators identified 24 Factory Street in Hyde Park as an after-hours party location. The facility is no longer an after-hours club. But in 2006, police said it was used by disgraced Boston Police Officer Roberto Polido and other officers for sex and drugs, including steroids.

Polido pleaded guilty to his crimes, and two other Boston police officers were also charged in the corruption probe.

The Boston Police Department commissioner announced an end to the investigation and disciplined more officers for their role in the scandal.

"I am disappointed with the actions of the officers disciplined in this matter. With this chapter finally closed, the department will move forward with improved policies and practices resulting from difficult lessons learned. We remain steadfast in our dedication to preserving the integrity of our department by taking every measure to prevent and when necessary uncover officer misconduct," Boston Police Commissioner Ed Davis said.

Davis said the department has learned lessons from the investigation and that changes have been made.

"I'm exploring the possible of including steroid testing in the annual drug testing policy," he said.
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http://wbztv.com/local/police.steroid.abuse.2.1069391.html

Corrections Officer Michelle Hung Charged with Helping Inmate Escape

A corrections officer has been charged with helping an inmate escape, deputies said.

The Osceola County Sheriff's Office has charged corrections officer Michelle Hung with 13 felonies for her involvement with Angel Santiago's attempted escape from the Osceola County Jail on June 22.

Detectives said Hung and Santiago had developed an elaborate plan for Santiago's escape.

Hung was charged with filing a false police report after detectives showed her evidence, which contradicted her statements about the escape attempt, the sheriff's office said.

In addition, Hung was charged as principal to all of the felonies Santiago was charged with, including kidnapping, armed robbery, aggravated assault, attempted escape, two counts of introducing contraband into a detention facility, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, impersonating an officer and resisting with violence.

Hung is also charged with two counts each of depriving an officer of means of protection and unlawful use of a two-way communication device.


Officer Charged IMAGES:

David Cade Arrested for Having Sexual Encounter with Inmate


A Dallas County jail guard has been arrested for having some sort of sexual encounter with an inmate.

It's unclear exactly what David Cade allegedly did because the Dallas County Sheriff's Department won't say -- even though they have arrested him and charged him.

Raul Reyna, a sheriff's spokesman, said Cade faces two charges of improper sexual activity with a person in custody. He said Cade was arrested yesterday when he came in to be interviewed at the sheriff's criminal investigations division about 1 p.m.

Cade was released early this morning on bond (set at $2,500 for each charge), Reyna said.