Wednesday, September 16, 2009

Former Officer Mark Anderson Accused of Stealing Patrol Car

From former acting police chief to evading arrest, a once respected McComb lawman found himself behind bars Wednesday.

The ex officer is accused of stealing a patrol car.

Nearly three weeks after abruptly retiring from the McComb Police Department, former acting chief and former Lt. Mark Anderson reported to the police station at 5:30 wednesday morning.

Authorities say he convinced an employee to let him inside the building.

"He signed up on the duty roster and reported to work and got in the patrol car and was patrolling the streets," said Chief Gregory Martin.

Martin said Anderson, who he describes as a good officer, drove away in unit 191.

He was in full uniform with his firearm and was reportedly seen at a funeral and cruising the city for 12 hours defying orders.

"He did not report to me at any time during this day. A supervisor on shift made contact with him earlier and he was instructed to return. He failed to return the vehicle," said the chief.

Investigators said they do not know why the 44 year old officer exhibited such strange behavior.

He had served with the department for 21 and a half years.

An article about Anderson appeared in tuesday's Enterprise Journal.

He had previously been at odds with McComb's city leaders filing complaints against them.

According to the chief, Anderson may have been under stress and because he was armed they wanted to work with him to get him to return the vehicle.

"I didn't issue an order at that time to make an arrest on sight, but I wanted the officer to be aware that he was in the patrol car without authorization," the chief added.

As the end of the shift approached Pike county deputies took Anderson in custody.

He was charged with unauthorized use of a government vehicle and impersonating an officer.

Both are misdemeanor charges.

For his safety Anderson was transported from the Pike County Jail to the Lincoln County facility.

He posted bond Wednesday evening and has been released from the Lincoln County jail.
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http://www.wlbt.com/Global/story.asp?S=11146149

Chicago Officer Arrested for Attacking Bus Driver

The CPDA Chicago Police officer is in hot water for allegedly attacking a CTA bus driver over the weekend after an incident of "bike rage."

According to a report, the officer - who was off-duty - was riding his bike in the Loop when he was cut off by a No.62 bus.

The officer became angered by this and apparently boarded the bus near the intersection of State and Monroe and attacked the bus driver.

The driver was treated at Northwestern Memorial Hospital while two police officers who happened to be on-board the bus arrested the off-duty officer for the attack.

A spokesperson for the Independent Police Review Authority told WBBM 780 simply, “Its under investigation."

Officer Jared Rohrig Charged with Sexual Assault Resigns

A police officer arrested last month for allegedly pretending to be his twin brother to dupe a woman into sex has resigned from the department, police said Tuesday.

Probationary Officer Jared Rohrig, 25, of 7 Flax Mill Lane, Milford, who is charged with first-degree sexual assault and criminal impersonation, had been on paid administrative leave from the Police Department since July.

Rohrig submitted his resignation and it was accepted Monday by the Board of Police Commissioners, police said.

“Jared Rohrig’s decision to resign from his position as probationary officer was in his best interest, as well as the best interests of the town of Orange,” Police Chief Robert Gagne said in a statement released Tuesday morning.

Rohrig was hired as a probationary officer July 11, 2008.

Gagne could not be reached for further comment on Rohrig’s resignation.

Rohrig’s attorney, Edward J. Gavin of Bridgeport, said his client’s resignation is “separate and distinct from the criminal case.”

“I don’t really have much to say about the resignation,” Gavin said. “It is not an admission of any wrongdoing, Jared was a probationary police officer. He exercised his judgment as a probationary officer to resign. It is not an admission of guilt in any way or form and he thought it was appropriate given the circumstances as a probationary police officer.”

As a probationary officer, Rohrig was not a member of the police union, and did not have the benefit of any collective bargaining agreements, Gavin said.

He has said his client intends to plead not guilty at his next court date Oct. 7.

The arrest warrant affidavit in the case says the woman in the case told Milford police she realized the man she believed to be Joseph Rohrig did not have a tattoo of a cowboy on his buttocks and was therefore Jared. She told police she then tried to leave, but allegedly was forced back on the bed with a pillow over her face and sexually assaulted.

The incident allegedly took place late July 18 and into early July 19 at the Flax Mill Lane home where both Jared and Joseph Rohrig live with their family. The home is owned by their mother, Milford Board of Education Minority Leader Joanne Rohrig. Joanne Rohrig announced last month that she would not seek re-election, so she could spend more time with her family.

According to the arrest affidavit, Jared and Joseph Rohrig were home when the woman arrived at the house, but Joseph had gone to his room before she left her car. The woman said Jared referred to himself as “Joe” to trick her while the two were alone in a hot tub at the house, it says.

But Jared’s sister allegedly called to him by name, asking him to turn down the music, the warrant affidavit says. The woman told police she did not hear what Jared’s sister said.

Jared Rohrig is free on $50,000 bail. His case will be transferred to the Part A docket, where more serious cases are heard.

“Obviously, Jared maintains his innocence. ... There is a presumption of innocence, and this is an innocent man,” Gavin said after Jared Rohrig’s recent appearance at Superior court in Milford.

Officer David Eaddy Charged with Burglary


The Florence County Sheriff’s Office arrested a Hemingway police officer over the weekend, after investigators say he entered the home of a former girlfriend, after he was told to stay away from her residence.

Booking reports show 28-year-old Hemingway officer David Eaddy was charged with second degree burglary.

Captain Mike Nunn says the incident happened Saturday afternoon, when Eaddy entered his ex-girlfriend’s home in Lake City.

Nunn says Eaddy was in uniform at the time.

Hemingway Police Chief H. Bryan Todd said Eaddy had been on the force for about ten weeks and has been placed on administrative leave without pay pending the outcome of the investigation

Former Trooper Michael Scott Accused of Giving False Testimony

A former Florida Highway Patrol trooper was charged with perjury and booked into the Lee County Jail Wednesday.

Michael T. Scott is accused of giving false testimony in Lee County Traffic Court in October 2008.

Scott, 52, resigned from the FHP in November of last year, after the agency opened an internal investigation into his actions.

FHP forwarded their results to the State Attorney's Office, which filed the charge of Perjury in an Official Proceeding.

Scott faces up to five years in prison and/or up to a $5,000 fine.

Judge Ralph Dukart Arrested for Drunk Driving

MILES CITY, Mont.

A city judge in Miles City has been accused of drunken driving.

Miles City Police Department records show City Judge Ralph Dukart was arrested on a charge of driving under the influence per se at 1:40 a.m. Tuesday.

In addition, the 60-year-old Dukart was charged with failing to drive on the right side of the road.

Local Justice of the Peace Don Neese says both charges are misdemeanors and Dukart has been released on his own recognizance.

Dukart declined comment when reached by telephone at his home Tuesday.

He is scheduled to appear before Neese, but Neese says he will recuse himself and bring in a judge from outside the area to handle the case.

Dukart is serving his first four-year term as city judge and has filed to seek another term in November 2009.
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Information from: Miles City Star, http://www.milescitystar.com