Officer Simon Elizondo Arrestred for Theft

A Big Spring Police officer has been arrested on a state jail felony of theft by a public servant.

According to a report from BSPD, the department officials were told about allegations involving misconduct by an officer identified as Simon Elizondo. 

The report states that BSPD began an internal investigation and that the preliminary findings led officers to believe criminal activity had taken place and the investigation was turned over to the Texas Rangers. The report also states that BSPD assisted with both investigations and Elizondo was placed on administrative leave.

On Friday, an arrest warrant was issued for Elizondo on a charge of theft by a public servant, the report stated. 

According to the report, Elizondo was arrested and charged with theft by a public servant and placed in the Howard County Law Enforcement Center. What Elizondo had taken was not specified.

BSPD also stated in the report that because of Elizondo’s “liberty interest” and that the investigation was currently ongoing, no further information would be provided.

Deputy Sheriff Charles Fuller Charged with Possession of Cocaine

The U.S. Attorney's Office says a Saratoga County Deputy Sheriff has been arrested on drug charges.

Charles Fuller, 46, from Corinth was charged on Friday with attempting to aid and abet the possession with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine. If convicted, Fuller faces a maximum of 40 years in prison, and a $5,000,000 fine.

According to the complaint, the FBI, along with a confidential source arranged to buy a kilo of cocaine from Fuller while he was off duty.

"The allegations against Fuller are an affront to and undermine the integrity of the hardworking men and women of the Saratoga County Sheriff's Office. We will not tolerate corruption among our ranks. Our promise to the people of Saratoga County is that we will continue to work diligently to ensure that every member of this office deserves the respect and trust of our community," says Saratoga County Sheriff Michal Zurlo.

Dectective Julio Cerpa Arrested for Theft

The Jacksonville Sheriff's Office arrested one of its own on petite theft charges.

Narcotics detective Julio Cerpa is accused of stealing a $49 jar of cream from Bailey's Gym on Merrill Road.

Cerpa has been with the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office since 2006.

Former Officer Sergio Alvareza Found Guilty of 18 Counts of Kidnapping and Rape

A former Northern California police officer was convicted of sexually assaulting five women while authorities said he was on patrol.

A Yolo County jury found Sergio Alvarez guilty on Thursday of 18 counts of kidnapping, rape and forced oral copulation, the Sacramento Bee reported. The jury could not reach a decision on 10 other counts, including charges related to Alvarez's alleged attack on a sixth woman.

Prosecutors said Alvarez, while serving as a West Sacramento police officer in 2011 and 2012, targeted drug addicts and prostitutes. He allegedly forced them to perform sex acts in his cruiser, back alleys and wooded lots.

Alvarez showed no reaction as the verdicts were read, the Bee reported. His attorney, J. Toney, had accused the women of lying to authorities and said one of them had a months-long sexual relationship with the officer.

"I hope that our verdict reaffirms the dignity and worth of these women who spoke," juror Linda Bond told the Bee after the verdict.

Alvarez is scheduled to be sentenced on April 4 and is facing the possibility of multiple life sentences.

District Attorney Jeff Reisig called the case a "horrific betrayal of trust" and said that his office wanted Alvarez to spend the rest of his life behind bars.

Former Sergeant Edward Wise Charged with Indecency with Child

A former San Antonio police sergeant, who was fired last October for indecency with a child, hid a previous out-of-state arrest from the department, according to internal affairs paperwork.

Edward Wise, 45, was arrested last week and charged with indecency with a child by contact, connected to an April 2013 incident at a San Antonio apartment complex.

Wise is accused of groping a 12-year-old, after taking the young girl and her mother home from a west-side restaurant.

Chief William McManus fired Wise in October 2013, following a month-long investigation into the allegations.

The personnel move appeared on a city Civil Service Commission agenda as a 'double indefinite suspension.'

The internal affairs paperwork indicates Wise received the second indefinite suspension for failing to disclose a May 2008 arrest in Las Vegas, Nevada, for solicitation of prostitution.

San Antonio Police Department investigators said Wise took steps to have the misdemeanor charge dismissed and then even paid to have the record sealed by the Clark County District Attorney.

SAPD rules require officers to disclose any arrests, including the name of the arresting agency, the nature of the charges and court information related to the charge or the indictment.

Two attorneys listed in Wise's internal affairs paperwork told KENS 5 they are no longer representing Wise.

SAPD spokesman Sgt. Javier Salazar released the following statement Thursday afternoon:

Edward Wise is no longer an SAPD employee.  We conducted a thorough Internal Affairs investigation which was concluded.  Our criminal investigation remains active and we continue to work with the prosecutors with the Bexar County District Attorney’s Office to assist in their processing of the case.

Wise is the second SAPD officer to be criminally charged and fired for allegations of sexual assault since November 2013.

Officer Jackie Neal was fired February 2014, after he was indicted on three felony charges connected to a traffic stop in southeast San Antonio. Neal is accused of sexually assaulting a 19-year-old woman in the back of his patrol cruiser while in full uniform.

Officer James Ferguson Arrested for DWI

A San Antonio Police officer has been arrested for DWI in San Marcos.

Officer James Ferguson was reportedly arrested by San Marcos police on Wednesday night.

A spokesman for the Hays County Sheriff’s Office said Ferguson was released from jail Thursday on a $3,000 bond.

Ferguson has been with the San Antonio Police Department since 2007, according to state records.

Former Officer Daniel Lanious Charged with Corruption of Minor

A former Carroll Valley Police officer has been accused of sending "flirtatious and sexual" text messages to a 13-year-old girl, police state in charging documents.

Daniel Lanious, 50, of South Middleton Township, Cumberland County, was charged with corruption of a minor, according to a police criminal complaint filed at District Justice Susan Day's office in Mount Holly Springs.

The teenager's mother told police that Lanious met her daughter in July 2013, according to the affidavit of probable cause.

The girl received a text message from Lanious out of nowhere, the affidavit states. The messages quickly became "flirtatious and sexual," the affidavit continues.

The girl said she believed Lanious obtained her cellphone number from her Facebook page, the affidavit states.

The girl told police Lanious often mentioned wanting to have sex with her, according to the affidavit. She said she played along to an extent, but was not as graphic as he was, the affidavit continues.

The messages reportedly stopped on Aug. 13, when the girl's mother caught the last text, which read, "I wish you were home. I wish you were on birth control. I have a condom," according to the affidavit.

The mother replied to the message and told Lanious she hoped he was not over 18 because her daughter is only 13, according to the affidavit.

A day or two later the mother was visited by Lanious' son, who asked the mother if she would be contacting police, the affidavit states.

During an interview with state police Trooper Matthew Johnston from the Carlisle barracks, Lanious admitted to sending sexual text messages to the 13-year-old girl, the affidavit states.

Lanious apologized repeatedly for his actions and admitted what he did was "very stupid," according to the affidavit.

A preliminary hearing is scheduled for Lanious on April 2 in front of Day. He is being represented by Gettysburg attorney Steve Rice. Rice declined to comment on the case until he has spoken further with his client.

"As a well respected law enforcement officer, it would be nice if people could give him the benefit of the doubt," Rice said.

Six Officers in California Arrested in Scheme to Impound Vehicles

More than a third of the police officers in this Northern California town of 13,000 have been arrested, variously accused of bribery, embezzlement and threats charges.

Four are accused of developing a scheme to impound vehicles belonging to poor families, said Dean Flippo, Monterey County district attorney. After 30 days, those cars were turned over to King City police officers when the owners were unable to pay the impound fees.

The probe revealed that the scheme focused on poor Hispanic residents — including many who don't speak English. Census numbers show nearly 2 in 5 residents here are Hispanic.

"These people said, 'They are taking our property, they're taking our cars, they're taking our money and we can do nothing about that,' " Flippo said Tuesday. More than 200 vehicles were impounded, and 87% had been taken in by the same towing company.

Arrested were the following officials:

• Former police Chief Nick Baldiviez, charged with embezzlement by a public officer.

• Current acting Chief Bruce Miller, charged with accepting a bribe.

• Sgt. Bobby Carrillo, charged with conspiracy to commit a crime, accepting a bribe and bribing an executive officer.

• Sgt. Mark Baker, charged with criminal threats against a resident.

• Officer Mario Mottu, charged with embezzlement by a public officer.

• And Officer Jaime Andrade, charged with possession of an assault weapon and illegal storage of a firearm at his stepson's residence unrelated to the car scheme.

Also arrested was Brian Albert Miller, owner of a towing company and the acting police chief's brother. He was charged with conspiracy to commit a crime and bribing an executive officer.

All of those arrested were out of jail within hours. Bail amounts ranged from $10,000 to $60,000.

"There has been a significant breakdown in the internal leadership of the King City Police Department," Flippo said. "It also appears to me that some officers have dishonored their badge."

Carrillo was accused of receiving a free vehicle for every 10 to 15 vehicles he had impounded. Ultimately, Carrillo allegedly got five vehicles to keep or sell and gave one to Bruce Miller, then a police captain.

In 2011, prosecutors believe Baldiviez gave Mottu a free 2001 Ford Crown Victoria patrol car belonging to either King City or the King City Police Explorers, a nonprofit group that is part of the Boy Scouts of America. Baldiviez remains on the city's payroll in spite of his September retirement, Flippo said.

"I'm not sure we know all the cars that were taken," the district attorney said. He couldn't put a value on the vehicles handed out in the scheme.

None of Tuesday's arrests, part of a six-month investigation of complaints going back 3½ years, are related to accusations posted on the Internet that King City police officers skimmed money from recovered bank robbery funds, Flippo said. He wouldn't specify whether any of the officers arrested were implicated in that accusation.

"As we began to talk to individuals over the years, we were beginning to hear this constant theme that had been there for years prior, and that was a lack of trust and faith in the King City Police Department," he said.

King City criminal cases in which any one of the six accused was the arresting officer are under scrutiny, the prosecutor said.

So far three cases that cannot proceed without the arresting officer's testimony have been dismissed, said Terry Spitz, chief assistant district attorney. Other cases also may be dismissed.

"My reputation is soiled," Bruce Miller said. "There's no coming back from this even if I'm found innocent. People are always going to look poorly upon me."

He said he knew his department was being investigated but had no idea he was a suspect. He denied that he had accepted any bribes.

Almost all of the police force's upper management has been arrested, Monterey County Sheriff Scott Miller said. His office is offering help in the interim as King City officials figure out how to continue policing the town about 135 miles southeast of San Francisco and 200 miles northwest of Los Angeles along U.S. 101.

"We have no plans to just go into the city and take over services, but our offer to the city is we're available from this point on to provide whatever level of law enforcement services the city requires," he said.

The King City Police Department has come under fire in recent years. In 2010, Baldiviez was placed on administrative leave after officers claimed he arrived intoxicated at crime scenes. The next year, Baldiviez came under scrutiny for allegedly placing overweight officers on a weight-loss program, claiming they were unfit to work.

Baldiviez officially retired in September after a four-month vacation. Bruce Miller has filled the chief's position on an interim basis since May 2013.

At the time, Bruce Miller said he would be interested in applying for the chief's position when it became officially available.

Baldiviez is also listed as one of several defendants in a November lawsuit clai

Sergeamt Timothy Williams Fired for Insubordination

The Bexar County Sheriff's Office has terminated a veteran sergeant, following allegations he had inappropriate contact with a woman following a traffic stop then violated an order to stay away from her.

Sergeant Timothy Williams was terminated Wednesday, after exhausting his final appeal.

Williams was placed on administrative duty last month, following a complaint from the woman.

He was then placed on administrative leave, according to the sheriff's office, after Williams contacted the woman again.

A sheriff's office spokesman said Sgt. Williams was fired for insubordination and conduct unbecoming a deputy sheriff.

Williams had been with the sheriff's office since 1991.

Officer Clinton Montalbetti Charged with Possessing Child Porn

A former police officer in northern Missouri is charged with possessing child pornography.  Officers arrested Clinton Montalbetti, 23, on Tuesday in Linn County on an outstanding warrant from Putnam County.

A judge issued the warrant after suspected pornographic images were found on a flash drive used by Montalbetti while he worked as a Unionville officer in late 2013.

Montalbetti's bond is $10,000.  Kirksville police say additional charges are possible after a review of items retrieved from a search of his home near Brookfield.

Detective Karen Almos Arrested for Drunk Driving

A San Diego police detective was arrested Saturday on suspicion of drunken driving when she was found sleeping in her parked car at Balboa Park, authorities said Tuesday.

Detective Karen Almos, 47, a 16-year department veteran, has been assigned to administrative duties as an investigation continues, police Detective Gary Hassen said.

Hassen said paramedics found her in a parked vehicle about 3:25 p.m. on Pan America Plaza. She later was identified as a police detective, and San Diego police arrested her, Hassen said.

Almos was booked into Las Colinas jail in Santee, then released on bail set at $2,500, a jail record shows.

San Diego police Lt. Kevin Mayer said the state Vehicle Code section on drunken driving “gives officers a lot of leeway” in making arrests.

“The officers looked at all the evidence and believed they had enough to arrest her for this offense,” Mayer said. “This case illustrates that criminal behavior by our officers, on or off duty, is not tolerated. The chief has made this clear.”

The Vehicle Code says a DUI arrest may be made if the person is “in or about a vehicle” that obstructs a road, or if the person might cause injury or damage if not immediately arrested.

“What if we walked away, knowing the person could potentially hurt somebody?” California Highway Patrol Officer Jim Bettencourt said. “You can’t assume someone’s going to sleep off their intoxication.”

CHP Officer Kevin Pearlstein said an officer’s arrest report would note certain facts, such as seeing the person in the driver’s seat with a key in the ignition, and ask how the person got there and whether they had been drinking.

A fundraising event involving police, the Kiwanis Club and the public had been held earlier in the day at the location of Almos’ arrest outside the Balboa Park Club.

The 11th annual Guacamole Bowl, with teams preparing guacamole dip recipes for judging, raised more than $14,500 for the Sports for Exceptional Athletes program for developmentally disabled children and adults, said Clara Downes, the program’s associate director.

Downes said Tuesday that no alcohol is served at the fundraiser.

Four law enforcement teams were among the 26 teams that prepared and served guacamole samples. Members of the public paid $5 to taste the samples and vote for their favorites, Downes said.

No information was immediately available about whether Almos attended or participated in the Guacamole Bowl. Mayer said he has not confirmed whether she was there.

The event was open to the public from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., but teams started at 8 a.m. to fix their recipes, Downes said. She estimated that more than 2,000 people attended, including some of the athletes in the program.

The National Latino Peace Officers Association took first place in the law enforcement division, while a team fielded by the San Diego Metropolitan Credit Union winning the overall top prize, Downes said.

Last April, San Diego police Detective Jeffrey Blackford pleaded guilty to misdemeanor drunken-driving charges related to a December incident in which he crashed his unmarked police car into a roadside utility box.

Officer Maurice Hopkins Arrested for Rape

A Pine Bluff police officer was formally charged with rape Tuesday after a criminal investigation into allegations made by the alleged victim on Monday.

Police spokesman Lt. David Price said in a news release Officer Maurice Hopkins, who has been with the department for two years and nine months, was charged with one count of rape by Prosecuting Attorney S. Kyle Hunter after the investigation was forwarded to him.

The alleged incident occurred Sunday, according to a news release from Price on Monday. He also said the alleged victim was an adult female. Hopkins was placed on administrative leave with pay at that time.

A warrant was issued for Hopkins arrest and bond was set at $100,000 secured. He was also ordered to have no contact with the alleged victim.

Hopkins turned himself in Tuesday, Police Chief Jeff Hubanks said. He was booked into the adult detention center at 5:09 p.m. and was released on bond at 6:02 p.m., according to the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office website.

Price said in the news release Tuesday that the department will not release any further information until the conclusion of an internal investigation.

Officer William Ruscoe Arrested for Sexual Assault

A veteran Trumbull Police officer was arrested Monday night by Connecticut State Police in Bridgeport on sexual assault charges.

Details of the assault are not clear, but William Ruscoe, 44, was charged with second-degree sex assault, third-degree sex assault and fourth-degree sex assault, as well as tampering with a witness.

Multiple reports says he’s a 20-year veteran and sexually assaulted a member of the police department’s explorer program, where he served as an adviser for several years.

Cash bond was set at $50,000 and he’s due in Bridgeport Superior Court either Feb. 25 or March 5.

Officer Sean Gilhuly Arrested After Drunk Driving

An Orlando police officer was arrested Tuesday for the second time in a
month.

Sean Gilhuly, 30, was arrested in Orange County on a charge of
aggravated assault with a deadly weapon — a motor vehicle, according to a
 police spokesman.

Orlando officers would not give details other than to say they are
investigating Gilhuly on suspicion of leaving the scene of an off-duty
crash.

They would not say whether Tuesday's arrest was related to Gilhuly's DUI
 arrest Jan. 19 in Oviedo. Police there said they found an open bottle
of peach vodka in the passenger seat of his sport utility vehicle.

A passer-by told a dispatcher that Gilhuly had sat through two green
lights and appeared unfit to drive.

Gilhuly was charged with criminal mischief because investigators say he
kicked out the back window of a patrol car after his arrest, a police
report shows.

He also was ticketed on charges of improper stopping or standing and
having an open container of alcohol.

Gilhuly remains suspended with pay while an internal investigation is
conducted. He was hired Sept. 12, 2011.

Officer Mark Ridley Jr Released on Bond

A Muskogee police officer who is facing several felony charges was released from jail Friday after a $50,000 bond was set.

Mark Vernon Ridley Jr., 39, of Oktaha had been held without bond in the Muskogee County/City Detention Facility since his arrest last month.

Ridley was arrested after he allegedly crashed his truck into his wife’s car and kidnapped her at gunpoint.

On Jan. 31, he was charged with assault and battery with a dangerous weapon, kidnapping, forcible sodomy and possession of a firearm during commission of a felony.

Ridley was placed on paid administrative leave in December after allegations of assault, abuse, stalking and harassment surfaced.

Muskogee County District Attorney Larry Moore said Ridley had tried to commit suicide while in custody at the jail.

Larry Langley, special district judge for Sequoyah County District Court, set Ridley’s bond at $50,000 and ordered Ridley to be under 24-hour supervision with the understanding that the person providing supervision will insure that Ridley takes his prescribed medication. The judge also ruled that Ridley could not have access to firearms and was ordered to not have contact with his wife or witnesses in the case.

Langley was assigned to the case after Muskogee County’s Special District Judge Robin Adair recused himself.

In requesting a reduction in bond Friday, defense attorney Donn Baker told the judge that Ridley was unstable initially, but no longer poses a risk.

Baker said a Feb. 17 letter from a nurse practitioner at a local health facility who had evaluated Ridley proved “he is much more stable and doing a lot better.” Ridley was “not in danger to himself or anyone else,” Baker said.

In the Feb. 17 letter, Michael S. Smith, a Certified Nurse Practitioner (CNP) and Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN) with Muskogee Family Care, states, “Though he was quite unstable, and even suicidal, initially upon his entry into the jail, he has now become much more stable and, in my opinion, does not represent any danger to himself or others.”

The letter continues, “Additionally, I have discussed his case with the mental health provider from Green Country Behavioral Health, who interviewed Officer Ridley, who likewise believes that he does not represent any threat to himself.”

Ridley’s father and other individuals were willing to provide 24-hour supervision if Ridley was free on bond, Baker said.

The office of Eddie Wyant, district attorney for Delaware and Ottawa counties, was named to prosecute the case after Muskogee County District Moore recused himself.

Jennifer Ellis, an assistant district attorney in Ottawa County, said the state objected to the bond for Ridley.

“Our position is one of safety” for Ridley and Ridley’s wife, she said.

If Ridley was released on bond, then the only benefit would be a “reactive situation” if Ridley violated the conditions of bond and that Ridley could harm himself or others.

“We feel the risk is just too high,” she said.

She added that the state believes that Ridley should remain incarcerated in jail or be placed in a mental health facility until the preliminary hearing.

A status hearing is scheduled for 9 a.m. Feb. 28, and a preliminary hearing has been scheduled for 9 a.m. May 16. At the conclusion of the preliminary hearing, a judge will determine if Ridley should stand trial.

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Former Officer David Banks Charged with Sexual Misconduct with Child

A former Unionville Police officer was charged with sexual misconduct involving a child after Kirksville Police received and investigated claims he was exchanging inappropriate text messages with a juvenile.

David Banks, 25, was arrested at a residence in Stewartsville after being terminated from the Unionville Police Department over allegations of sexual misconduct.

According to the Kirksville Police Department, the suspect had been exchanging sexual explicit text messages and had sent at least one image to a 14-year-old female in Unionville. KPD began its investigation Thursday.

Following his termination with the police department Thursday, Banks is alleged to have left Unionville and was located at a residence in DeKalb County, where a search warrant was executed for his arrest early Friday morning.

Banks was being held in the Daviess/Dekalb Regional Jail as of Friday morning on a $10,000 cash-only bond. He was charged with the class D felony of sexual misconduct involving a child.

The investigation is ongoing and other charges are pending, according to KPD.

Officer Shawn Allen Charged with Fraud

A Region 8 police officer was charged with both fraud and possession after he was arrested Friday morning.

According to police, Walnut Ridge police officer Shawn Allen was charged with fraud after abusing drug prescriptions. He was also charged with possession of a controlled substance.

Allen was released on bond and has a scheduled court date.

Sgt. Kevin Simmons Charged with Soliciting Prostitution

A Baltimore City police sergeant was among four people arrested Wednesday night in a vice sting in Baltimore County.

County police said the men solicited prostitution and offered money to undercover detectives.

Sgt. Kevin Simmons, 40, is among those charged. The other three men were identified as Edward Yuditsky, 42, of Timonium; Trevor William Joseph Barnes, 44, of Mount Airy; and Mark Kane, 48, of Eldersburg.

The four men taken into custody were charged with two counts of prostitution. All except Kane, who also faces drug charges, were released on their own recognizance. Kane was held at the Baltimore County Detention Center on $5,000 bail.

Simmons has been assigned to the Neighborhood Patrol Bureau in the Western District. He has been with the department since January 1996.

Officer Ernesto Fierro Indicted in Texas Death

An officer has been indicted on criminal charges in connection with an Iowan's death in Texas.

Officer Ernesto Fierro turned himself in to authorities at 5 p.m. Thursday.

A grand jury found Fierro did "intentionally, knowingly, or recklessly threaten William Livezey, Jr. with imminent bodily injury by causing the vehicle driven by said defendant to drive toward William Livezey, Jr., and did then use or exhibit a deadly weapon..."

The grand jury also found Fierro subjected Livezey "to an arrest that the defendant knew was unlawful."

He is charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, official oppression and three counts of reckless driving. Fierro was released on $85,000 bond.

Iowan Bill Livezey was pulled over by Fierro on Dec. 11 who was off-duty at the time.

Authorities said witnesses told them Fierro was trying to run Livezey off the road.

The Navarro County Sheriff's Office told KCCI when their deputies arrived, Livezey said he was feeling ill and suffered a heart attack. Deputies took the handcuffs off and started CPR.

An ambulance transported Livezey to a nearby hospital where he was pronounced dead.
KTVT-TV reported that the Livezey family has hired an attorney to pursue the case

Corrections Officer Jessie Tyree Arrested on Drug Charges

A federal corrections officer and a woman were arrested at an apartment complex by Ocala police and drug agents Friday and were charged with possession of illegal narcotics.

Ocala Police Department officers Brandon Sirolli and J.P. Hall were patrolling at Spring Manor Apartments at 2833 NE Seventh St., Ocala, when they smelled burnt marijuana coming from an open window.

The officers saw Jessie Tyree and a woman walking from a hallway and smelled a strong odor of marijuana on them. The two said they had just left the apartment from which the officers had smelled burnt marijuana, reports state.

The woman told the officers she had smoked marijuana in the apartment. Other officers arrived and Tyree and the woman were searched. The woman did not have anything illegal in her possession but Tyree had MDMA, commonly called Ecstasy, cocaine and drug paraphernalia, according to the report.

Tyree, 28, is a corrections officer at Marion Correctional Institution. He told the officers he has been using drugs for “just a little while,” the report notes.

Charlotte James, the tenant in the apartment, came outside and asked officers what was going on. She said she had smoked marijuana before Tyree and the woman arrived, but that there was not any more inside. The officers asked to search the residence and she told them no, the report states.

The officers contacted the Unified Drug Enforcement Strike Team, which obtained a search warrant. Inside James’ apartment agents found a small amount of marijuana.
James, 26, was arrested and charged with possession of marijuana less than 20 grams.

Tyree was arrested and charged with possession of cocaine, MDMA and drug paraphernalia.

Officer Thomas Allen Charged with Taking Pictures of Girls Underwear

A Charlotte-Mecklenburg police officer who led some of the department’s youth programs has been charged with secretly taking pictures of girls’ underwear as they participated in physical activities in a program for youth curious about law enforcement careers.

Officer Thomas E. Allen, a CMPD officer for 18 years, was arrested Wednesday and charged with four counts of secretly using a photographic imaging device to view another’s body or undergarments, and with possessing the photographs, according to police.

Allen, 42, was interviewed by detectives Wednesday and later released from Mecklenburg jail on $15,000 bond. The department has begun proceedings to fire him, CMPD Chief Rodney Monroe said.

And police say they are trying to contact more than 700 students who participated in the department’s high school academy, Explorer Posts or other youth-oriented programs that Allen was involved in over the past 12 years to see whether similar incidents occurred.

“Allen’s behavior is totally unacceptable,” said CMPD Chief Rodney Monroe during a 22-minute news conference at police headquarters. “It violates the public trust. If we think one of our officers goes against the public’s trust ... we will use whatever resources we have available.

“We’re hoping that anyone who believes (Allen) may have had inappropriate contact will come forward and we will look to investigate.”

Monroe said the four victims were all girls between the ages of 14 and 18 participating in CMPD’s high school academy at the police training center in south Charlotte. Allen, who frequently photographed events for the department’s youth programs, took the pictures with a 35-millimeter camera while the girls were exercising, then kept the images.

Investigators have combed through “thousands and thousands of photos,” Monroe said. They found no child pornography and no further questionable photos, he said.

Allen could not be reached for comment on Wednesday. It is unclear if he has hired a lawyer. According to Monroe, he is married but has no children.

Allen has worked for CMPD since March 1996 and began working as a recruiter at the Police Training Academy in 2002. His annual salary is $67,876.38, according to city records.

He was involved in several programs the department runs for youth interested in police careers, including the department’s Explorers program and the CMPD High School Academy. He also was the department’s organizer of the Explorers Christmas Project for several years.

Explorers meet at the police academy for two hours twice a month to learn about various jobs in the police department.

The High School police academy is a weeklong program that puts teens through a mock academy, covering topics such as traffic stops, building searches, and “the responsibilities of wearing the badge,” according to the CMPD website. Students are also required to participate in basic physical fitness activities during the academy.

Monroe said the department takes photos of many such activities, and it was not unusual for an officer to photograph youth activities.

The investigation began in October. Monroe released few details on what started it, but said at least one of Allen’s supervisors had suspicions. More details were unearthed during subsequent interviews.

Allen’s arrest comes on the heels of another high-profile arrest of a police officer. Last September, Officer Randall Kerrick was charged with voluntary manslaughter in connection with the shooting of Jonathan Ferrell, an unarmed motorist who may have been looking for help after a car wreck.

In December 2010, former police officer Marcus Jackson pleaded guilty and was sentenced to two years in prison for sexually assaulting six women while on duty in 2009. Investigators say he assaulted people during traffic stops.

Veteran Officer Kent Scott Arrested for DWI

Portland Police arrested one of their own, accused of intoxicated driving.

Police say Kent Scott was off-duty when he was pulled over at 9:50 p.m. Tuesday on Southeast 148th and Division Street. He was cited for driving while intoxicated and reckless driving. He was not booked in jail.

Scott is a 22-year veteran of Portland Police and was assigned to the transit police division. He has now been placed in an off-street assignment pending an internal review.

Former Sheriff's Deputy Stephen Tanabe Sentenced to Prison

U.S. District Judge Charles Breyer sentenced former Contra Costa County sheriff's deputy Stephen Tanabe to 15 months in prison for aiding in the drunken driving arrests of three men who were set up by a private investigator. He was sentenced in federal court in San Francisco today to a year and three months in prison.

U.S. District Judge Charles Breyer told Stephen Tanabe, "Your decision to embark on this process was so outside the scope of what would be viewed as professional responsibility that it should have been an alarm.

"This was a case where what this officer did that was wrong was basically negotiating and receiving money or property to do his job, which he did. But he did so with the knowledge that the circumstances of the offenses were initiated by others," Breyer said.

Tanabe, 50, of Alamo, was convicted by a jury in Breyer's court last year of conspiracy, wire fraud and extortion related to a scheme by disgraced former investigator Christopher Butler to arrange the driving-under-the-influence arrests of three men in Danville in 2010 and 2011.

The men were husbands of Butler's female clients in divorce cases and the arrests became known as "dirty DUIs."  According to testimony the trial, attractive women employed by Butler enticed the men to become intoxicated at Danville bars.

After being alerted by Butler, Tanabe arrested two of the targets as they drove away from the bars on Jan. 9 and 14, 2011. In the first arrest on Nov. 2, 2010, Tanabe was off duty and watched with Butler inside a bar as the man became intoxicated and then alerted a fellow officer to arrest the man after he began driving, according to trial testimony.

In two extortion convictions, the jury found Tanabe guilty of receiving an expensive Glock gun from Butler in exchange for making the second and third arrests.

But the jury acquitted him of a third extortion charge that alleged he received cocaine from Butler for the first arrest.

Tanabe was also convicted of three counts of wire fraud for text messages exchanged with Butler in the three incidents, and conspiracy to deprive the public of his honest services.

Tanabe, who did not testify at his trial, told Breyer today that at the time of the arrests, he believed he was carrying out his duty to protect the public and didn't think that he was doing anything illegal.

"I justified it in my mind that it was a legitimate arrest of drivers who were intoxicated. In my mind, I was arresting people who were breaking the law in the town in which I worked," Tanabe said.

He said he thought of the receipt of the gun as a "casual" arrangement and not a payment.

Now, Tanabe said, he realizes "I did something wrong and made a mistake. I accepted a Glock gun from Christopher Butler and I made arrests.

"All I ever wanted to do was be a cop and I destroyed that," he said.

Tanabe said he knew Butler's employees were observing the targeted men, but said he wasn't aware of the broader scheme to entice the men to drink too much.

Prosecutor Philip Kearney argued that text messages presented as evidence at the trial showed that there was "active participation and knowledge" of the scheme by Tanabe.

Tanabe's defense lawyers had asked for a lower sentence of six months in a halfway house plus six months of home confinement, while prosecutors had asked for three and one-half years in prison.

Breyer ordered Tanabe to surrender to begin serving his sentence on April 15. Tanabe will also be on supervised release for three years after he is released and must perform 240 hours of community service during that time.

"Law enforcement officers have enormous power. The police officer in day-to-day law enforcement must have the confidence of people that law enforcement will be even-handed," Breyer said.

Outside of court, defense attorney Alan Miller said no decision has been made on whether Tanabe will appeal.

Tanabe, Butler and others face three civil lawsuits filed by three men who were arrested. The cases are pending in Breyer's court and were stayed by the judge last year until Tanabe's case was completed. An attorney for two of the plaintiffs, Brian Gearinger, said he expects Breyer will now hold a status conference on the cases within the next few weeks.

Butler's drunken driving stings were part of a larger Contra Costa County corruption scandal in which he and former state narcotics squad chief Norman Wielsch sold drugs Wielsch stole from evidence lockers, arranged phony arrests and extorted money from prostitutes. Butler also placed hidden eavesdropping devices in the cars of clients' husbands.

Butler pleaded guilty in 2012 to seven charges and received a reduced sentence of eight years in prison in exchange for agreeing to aid prosecutors. He testified at Tanabe's trial and maintained he paid the officer for the arrests with both cocaine and the Glock gun.

Wielsch separately pleaded guilty to five charges and was sentenced to 14 years in prison.

Tanabe was charged only in connection with the three Danville arrests.

Trooper Jeremy Garner Arrested Again for Drunk Driving

An Ohio State Trooper is accused in a case of extreme drunk driving. And this is not the first time he's been accused of breaking the law he gets paid to enforce.

Columbus Police say Trooper Jeremy Garner plowed into two parked cars Sunday night, and then attempted to drive away.

Investigators say his blood alcohol level was more than three times the legal limit.

Columbus Police records indicate Garner was aggressively drunk when he got behind the wheel Sunday  night, and crashed into two parked cars.

"I heard a big loud boom outside of my window," said Nicole Celebrezze.
She says she looked out her window to see her car had been hit.

She says she called 911 and ran down to the street, to see the SUV that hit her car pulling away.  "He almost made it to High Street, but I don't think he would have gotten far because his tire was sideways."

By that time, Columbus Police were there, keeping the driver from going any further.

"He pretty much fell out of the automobile," Celebrezze said. "That's when I knew this was a drunk driver."

A Columbus Police crash report shows Garner tested at .277, more than three times the legal limit.

"Didn't seem coherent. I highly doubt he remembers anything that occurred," Celebrezze said.

Records show this wasn't Garner's first OVI charge.

In 2007, Grove City Police stopped him for speeding, clocking him at 69 miles per hour in a 35 zone.

He failed field sobriety tests, and registered a blood alcohol content of .209.

The test was thrown out because of a machine malfunction, but he pleaded guilty, getting 3 days in jail, two years' probation, and a 6 month license suspension.

"When are you going to learn?" asked Celebrezze. "At least learn from the first mistake, if you're going to make a mistake at all."

She knows this could have been worse. "I'm just glad no one got hurt," she said.

But she's troubled by the actions of a public safety professional who should know better.

"It's a serious thing, State Trooper or not. When you're in that position, in the public eye, you should really, really have some consequences for those actions."

Garner faces charges tonight including OVI and fleeing the scene of a crash.

The State Patrol said he is using his own leave time right now as the Patrol investigates the matter.

We asked how his last OVI was handled by the Patrol, but they can't tell us.

The Department of Public Safety only retains internal investigation records for 5 years, so a spokesperson says those records from 2007 no longer exist.

Three Officers on Leave After Death of Man Pepper-Sprayed and Beaten

Three police officers have been placed on administrative leave while officials investigate the death of a man outside an Oklahoma movie theater, police said Tuesday.

Luis Rodriguez, 44, died after five law enforcement officers pepper-sprayed and handcuffed him early Saturday morning after an altercation in a theater parking lot in the central Oklahoma city of Moore, said Police Chief Jerry Stillings.

But Rodriguez's wife, Nair, and daughter, Luinahi, have said that police beat him.

A spokeswoman for the Oklahoma State Medical Examiner's Office said the cause and manner of death are pending.

Two on-duty officers, who were already at the theater for an unrelated incident, were alerted to a possible domestic disturbance and attempted to question Rodriguez, Stillings said. They were joined by three other off-duty officers — one from the Moore police department and two game wardens — who were working security at the theater.

Stillings said Rodriguez tried to leave and "took an aggressive stance." Officers attempted to detain him, but Rodriguez continued to be uncooperative, Stillings said, and officers used pepper spray to subdue him before handcuffing him. The man's wife and daughter have said he did not resist officers.

At that point, an ambulance was called — which, Stillings said, is common in situations where force is used — and Rodriguez was taken to a nearby hospital.

It's unclear when Rodriguez died, and Stillings refused to say whether or not Rodriguez was conscious when he was handcuffed.

Stillings said there are no indications that batons or other weapons were used. Moore Police spokesman Jeremy Lewis said it's under investigation whether other force, including punching and kicking, took place.

"Mr. Rodriguez made statements that the fight was a case of domestic violence," Stillings said during a news conference. "Domestic violence is a serious situation and officers are obligated to investigate all matters of suspected domestic violence."

Nair Rodriguez said that she slapped her daughter and her husband was trying to calm her down. Nair Rodriguez said her husband bypassed the officers in order to try and stop her from driving away. She said officers then took him down and started beating him.

A message was left at one phone listing for Nair Rodriguez. Other phone numbers rang unanswered, were wrong numbers or were disconnected.

Officers confiscated a partial cellphone video that Nair Rodriguez captured of the incident and obtained a search warrant to view and make a copy of it, Stillings said. There are no plans for the police department to release the video, but Stillings said it he didn't see anything inappropriate in the video. Police have attempted to return the phone to Nair Rodriguez on Tuesday but have been unsuccessful, he said.

The three Moore officers have been placed on paid administrative leave while the incident is being investigated. The officers have been with the department between 1 1/2 years and 6 years and have had no other incidents like this one, Stillings said.

The two game wardens have not been placed on leave, a spokesman for the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation said.

The names of the officers involved have not been released.

Officer Christopher Luzinski Arrested for Drunk Driving

An Oak Creek police officer is on paid administrative leave as he faces criminal charges of driving drunk and leading Elm Grove police on a high-speed chase.

Christopher Luzinski, 37, of Franklin has been an officer with the Oak Creek Police Department for about three years and was placed on leave as a result of his arrest early Saturday, Oak Creek Chief John Edwards said.

An internal investigation has been opened and will parallel the criminal investigation, Edwards said.

Luzinski faces a felony charge of fleeing police, and if convicted, he faces a potential maximum sentence of 31/2 years in prison. If convicted of a felony, Luzinski could not serve as a police officer, as federal law prohibits felons from possessing firearms.

An Elm Grove police officer first noticed Luzinski's vehicle about 3 a.m. Saturday at the intersection of Elm Grove Road and Watertown Plank Road, where Luzinski slowed but did not stop at the intersection, according to a criminal complaint.

Luzinski, who was off-duty, then made several turns on different roads before finally turning onto Watertown Plank Road, where he accelerated to speeds between 75 and 85 mph, records show.

The Elm Grove officer activated his emergency lights and sirens to try to stop the vehicle, which fled. Luzinski slowed to turn westbound onto Blue Mound Road but then accelerated again reaching a speed of 101 mph, police said. Luzinski lost control on Blue Mound Road at Terrace Drive and finally came to a complete stop at a red traffic signal, having led police on a 1.7 mile-pursuit, according to documents.

Officers gave the Luzinski a field sobriety test after noticing his bloodshot eyes and slurred speech, and then gave him a breath test that showed his blood-alcohol level was 0.19, the criminal complaint states. That is more than twice the level of 0.08 considered proof of intoxication in Wisconsin.

Officers noted that Luzinski admitted to being an Oak Creek police officer, did not remember leaving the bar and was apologetic throughout the traffic stop.
Luzinski was charged Monday and posted his $1,500 bail later that day. He is due back in court March 12.

Former Officer Rey Muniz Named in Lawsuit

A former Austin police officer is named in a federal lawsuit for failing to stop state troopers from making a false arrest. The KVUE Defenders uncovered why this isn’t the first time the officer has been accused of mishandling a case.

Rey Muniz has a difficult time trusting law enforcement. In a recently filed federal lawsuit, the Austin man claims May 2012 dashboard camera video shows a state trooper assaulting and falsely arresting him in a parking for not providing his ID.

“When an officer asks for your ID, you give it to him,” says DPS Trooper Chancy Davis in the video.

“Am I under arrest?" Muniz later asks in the video. 
"You’re being detained,” says Davis.

You can't see it in the video, but you can hear Muniz asking Davis to stop touching him.

Claiming that he felt he threatened, Muniz calls 911 and reports the incident.

A few minutes later, Austin Police Officer Timothy Little responds. When Muniz gets off the phone, he walks towards him, but Little signals him to stop and speaks with DPS troopers first.

"He should have came to me and talk to me. I’m the one who called 911," said Muniz.

"He arguably conspired with the other officers that were on site to get that story straight," said Jeff Kelly, Muniz’s attorney. "If he had gone directly to speak with Mr. Muniz, he would realize that he was being assaulted by the officers."

Troopers eventually arrested Muniz for failing to provide his ID and resisting arrest. Up to that point, Muniz had a clean record. The district attorney's office later dropped all charges.

So, what about Muniz’s claims DPS troopers assaulted him? While Little responded, the KVUE Defenders found he did not file a report on Muniz’s claims as a department policy clearly states should happen when reporting on citizen complaints.

Austin police say Little resigned more than a year after the Muniz's 911 call. APD says it's against the law to comment on the circumstances of his resignation.

This isn’t the first time Little has been accused of mishandling a 911 call. In March 2004, he responded to a 911 call from an Austin apartment.

According to an internal affairs investigation, when the door opened he recognized the man as “a police academy classmate.” The fellow officer told him he got into a fight with his girlfriend.

Instead of reporting it, Little told dispatch, “All quiet inside. No answer.”
The department suspended him for covering up for another officer’s conduct.

While Little is no longer with APD, the department remains liable for his action.

The KVUE Defenders wanted to know whether Austin Police Chief Art Acevado believes Little acted appropriately and if this is a broader problem that needs to be addressed in the department.

APD says the chief cannot discuss pending litigation or former employees.

In addition to the federal lawsuit, Muniz filed a complaint with the Travis County District Attorney's Office. It confirms it's investigating Muniz's complaint.

Go here for part one of the investigation.

Officer Michael Terrell Arrested for Domestic Violence

Milwaukee police arrested a 15-year officer of the department on allegations of battery-domestic violence and resisting an officer, a police spokesman said.

Officer Michael Terrell, 46, was arrested Feb. 8, and the Milwaukee County district attorney's office is reviewing the case, Lt. Mark Stanmeyer said.

The incident also is being investigated by the department's internal affairs division. Terrell is assigned to the Office of Community Outreach and Education and is currently on full suspension.

Attempts to reach Terrell were not successful. He has not been charged.

A Journal Sentinel investigation published in 2011 found that at least 16 officers on the force at that time had been disciplined after internal investigators concluded they had committed acts of domestic violence. Several other officers with domestic violence restraining orders were not disciplined, the investigation found.

Domestic violence is far more common among the families of police officers than among the rest of the population, according to the U.S. Department of Justice and the National Center for Women and Policing. At least 40% of police families are affected by domestic violence, as opposed to an estimated 10% in other households.

Former Officer Edward Holliday Accused of Breaking Into Another Hardware Store

A former police officer accused of breaking into a hardware store is in jail again for allegedly trying to break into another one.

An officer who was on routine patrol says he noticed Edward Holliday pulling on a door handle at the Ace Hardware store on Old Lebanon Road Sunday night.

The officer stopped him and noticed Holliday was wearing rubber gloves and had a hammer in his pocket.

Holliday allegedly told the officer that he was just walking around.

The officer let him go but called for backup, and they followed Holliday in his car. Holliday was later pulled over for a traffic violation and taken into custody.

Holliday was out on bond for breaking into an Ace Hardware store in Mt. Juliet last week.
He is being held at the Nashville Criminal Justice Center on a $50,000 bond.

Holliday has worked as an officer in Lebanon, Mt. Juliet and Nashville.

Officer Keith German Charged with Misconduct

Patrolman Keith German, 45, of Tinton Falls, a 16-year veteran officer of the Asbury Park Police Department, was arrested and charged with Official Misconduct and Unauthorized Access of a Computer Database at part of "Operation Dead End," authorities said.

Keith German, was arrested as part of a sweep that included dozens of other arrests, said one source who requested anonymity. The source said the sweep was tied to gangs but did not elaborate on what German’s role was or if he was involved with gangs.

Mayor Myra Campbell did not confirm or deny if a police officer was arrested, but added that everyone is presumed innocent until proven guilty and all the facts need to come out.
“There is no place for corrupt cops in the city of Asbury Park,” Campbell said. “Its not good for the citizens, it’s not good for the community.”

The Asbury Park Press reported German, who is a 16-year veteran of the police force, was released on $50,000 bail with a 10 percent option and had to surrender his badge, gun, police identification and radio.

Officer Edwin Powell Charged with Assault

A Cleveland police officer has been charged with assault.

Patrol Officer Edwin Powell faces assault, menacing and interfering with civil rights charges stemming from allegations of misconduct against a prisoner while Powell was working secondary employment, Police Chief Calvin Williams said in a department release.

Powell received a summons and is scheduled to appear in Cleveland Municipal Court at 8:30 a.m. March 11. The department's Internal Affairs Unit investigated the allegations, and sent their findings to the city prosecutors, who filed the charges Friday.

Police would not release any more information about the incident tied to the charges.
Powell will be placed on administrative duties pending a disciplinary hearing in front of Director of Public Safety Michael McGrath.

Officer Michael Thomassie Charged with Aggravated Rape

A veteran New Orleans police officer has surrendered to police following an indictment for aggravated rape.

He is in custody in Orleans Parish prison and is being held without bond.

According to the Orleans Parish District Attorney's Office, the warrant was issued for 12-year-veteran officer Michael Thomassie after he was indicted by a grand jury Thursday on a single count of aggravated rape.

The allegation dates back to 2004 and 2005 when the alleged victim in the case was between 7 and 9 years of age, according to a spokesman for the office.

Thomassie is a 12-year veteran of the department. He was most recently assigned to desk duty in the 4th District.

Sgt. Michael Taulane Charged with Aggravated Assault

A borough police officer is accused of ongoing domestic violence against a female victim.

Sgt. Michael Taulane, 41, of Collingswood was charged Friday with aggravated assault in the case. Authorities said they learned of the alleged abuse the previous Monday.

Taulane, a 22-year police veteran, was released on bail and ordered to have no contact with the alleged victim. He surrendered all weapons he had, authorities said, and is suspended without pay from his job pending the outcome of the case.

Officer Richard Jouppi Found Not Guilty of Beating Man in Wheelchair

Back in 2012 Richard Jouppi was booking 50-year old, wheelchair bound, Anthony Jon Jackson in the detoxification center. Jouppi was clearly causing pain and hurting Jackson, at which point Jackson reached up with his arm to defend himself, and told Jouppi, “you can’t do that.”

Jouppi then stooped to particularly low level and began to pummel Jackson to the point of knocking him backwards out of the wheelchair and then getting on top of his paralyzed body.

Jackson was booked for felony assault. The charges were later dropped.

Jouppi, 36, faced fifth-degree assault and disorderly conduct charges after the aggressive incident. This past November, Jouppi was found not guilty on all charges.

Even Duluth Police Chief Gordon Ramsay, was upset with the outcome and posted the following statement to his Facebook page,

“While I respect the judicial process I am very disappointed by the verdict in the Richard Jouppi case. His actions on September 21, 2012 were not consistent with department training or policy, bringing discredit to our department and detracting from the excellent work our women and men do on a daily basis. As I said previously, we will do everything we can legally to ensure he never works for our department again.”

YouTubeVideoBeating

It should come as no surprise that Jouppi was found not guilty. Cops can murder, beat, humiliate, rape and sodomize and keep their positions.

As he defended himself on the stand he even proclaimed the “unofficial” police oath, “It’s a tough position to be in as a police officer because I have to go home. I have my wife and kids at home.”

The bright side to this story, if there is one, is that Police Chief Ramsay has said his department has done everything in its power to ensure that Jouppi never works on the force again.

Back in 2012 Richard Jouppi was booking 50-year old, wheelchair bound, Anthony Jon Jackson in the detoxification center. Jouppi was clearly causing pain and hurting Jackson, at which point Jackson reached up with his arm to defend himself, and told Jouppi, “you can’t do that.”
Jouppi then stooped to particularly low level and began to pummel Jackson to the point of knocking him backwards out of the wheelchair and then getting on top of his paralyzed body.

Read more at http://thefreethoughtproject.com/cop-beat-wheelchair-bound-man-guilty-charges/#WVuDCUCCtK7pakQb.99

Lt Jake Adams Arrested for DUI After Rolling Vehicle with his Children Inside

A sheriff’s lieutenant was arrested for investigation of DUI Sunday after allegedly rolling his patrol vehicle with his four children inside.Washington County Sheriff’s Lt. Jake Adams, 39, was booked into the Iron County Jail under the name Jason Lynn Adams for investigation of DUI, making an unsafe lane change and carrying a weapon while intoxicated.Adams rolled his sheriff’s patrol vehicle, an unmarked F-150 pickup truck, with his four children inside. The children, who reportedly range in age from 8 to 14, were not injured. Adams was not on duty at the time of the accident.

“We’re just really grateful that neither he nor any of his kids were seriously injured or killed. I mean, it’s very lucky,” said Washington County Sheriff Cory Pulsipher.

Adams was placed on administrative leave pending an internal investigation.

The accident happened on state Route 17 near La Verkin just before 4:30 p.m. in what Utah Highway Patrol Sgt. Todd Royce called a “slow speed rollover accident.”

“Adams drifted off the right shoulder then over-corrected back to the left. The truck left the roadway and went down a dirt embankment in a sideways slide,” according to a statement from the UHP. This caused the truck to roll onto its hood. All four of the children were wearing their seat belts, Royce said.

Adams reportedly suffered minor injuries. In his mug shot photo, a red mark can be seen on his forehead. Adams was booked into the Iron County Jail to avoid a conflict of interest in Washington County. He posted bail and was released Monday.

Adams was hired by the sheriff’s office in 1998 and has worked for the office his entire career. He is currently the lieutenant in charge of investigations.

Adams was placed on administrative leave pending an internal investigation.
The accident happened on state Route 17 near La Verkin just before 4:30 p.m. in what Utah Highway Patrol Sgt. Todd Royce called a “slow speed rollover accident.”

Read more at http://thefreethoughtproject.com/cop-arrested-dui-rolling-patrol-vehicle-4-children/#lHxHEfW8S6GW0bGG.99

A sheriff’s lieutenant was arrested for investigation of DUI Sunday after allegedly rolling his patrol vehicle with his four children inside.Washington County Sheriff’s Lt. Jake Adams, 39, was booked into the Iron County Jail under the name Jason Lynn Adams for investigation of DUI, making an unsafe lane change and carrying a weapon while intoxicated.Adams rolled his sheriff’s patrol vehicle, an unmarked F-150 pickup truck, with his four children inside. The children, who reportedly range in age from 8 to 14, were not injured. Adams was not on duty at the time of the accident. “We’re just really grateful that neither he nor any of his kids were seriously injured or killed. I mean, it’s very lucky,” said Washington County Sheriff Cory Pulsipher.

Read more at http://thefreethoughtproject.com/cop-arrested-dui-rolling-patrol-vehicle-4-children/#lHxHEfW8S6GW0bGG.99

A sheriff’s lieutenant was arrested for investigation of DUI Sunday after allegedly rolling his patrol vehicle with his four children inside.Washington County Sheriff’s Lt. Jake Adams, 39, was booked into the Iron County Jail under the name Jason Lynn Adams for investigation of DUI, making an unsafe lane change and carrying a weapon while intoxicated.Adams rolled his sheriff’s patrol vehicle, an unmarked F-150 pickup truck, with his four children inside. The children, who reportedly range in age from 8 to 14, were not injured. Adams was not on duty at the time of the accident. “We’re just really grateful that neither he nor any of his kids were seriously injured or killed. I mean, it’s very lucky,” said Washington County Sheriff Cory Pulsipher.

Read more at http://thefreethoughtproject.com/cop-arrested-dui-rolling-patrol-vehicle-4-children/#lHxHEfW8S6GW0bGG.99

A sheriff’s lieutenant was arrested for investigation of DUI Sunday after allegedly rolling his patrol vehicle with his four children inside.Washington County Sheriff’s Lt. Jake Adams, 39, was booked into the Iron County Jail under the name Jason Lynn Adams for investigation of DUI, making an unsafe lane change and carrying a weapon while intoxicated.Adams rolled his sheriff’s patrol vehicle, an unmarked F-150 pickup truck, with his four children inside. The children, who reportedly range in age from 8 to 14, were not injured. Adams was not on duty at the time of the accident. “We’re just really grateful that neither he nor any of his kids were seriously injured or killed. I mean, it’s very lucky,” said Washington County Sheriff Cory Pulsipher.

Read more at http://thefreethoughtproject.com/cop-arrested-dui-rolling-patrol-vehicle-4-children/#lHxHEfW8S6GW0bGG.99

Lt. Randy L Emery Arrested for Theft

A Frankfort police lieutenant faces one count of theft following an investigation by the Indiana State Police Organized Crime and Corruption Unit.

Randy L. Emery, 48, of Frankfort, was arrested Tuesday afternoon at his residence and booked into the Clinton County jail, according to a state police news release. A jail employee said Emery had bonded out by Tuesday evening.

State police investigators said Emery was working part-time for Good Oil Co. and was responsible for transporting money from the company’s gas station at Indiana 28 and Interstate 65 to a bank. According to ISP, Emery used a Frankfort patrol car to transport the money while he was off duty from his police job.

State police allege that more than $147,000 in cash was taken from the Winamac-based oil company since late summer of 2013.

According to state police, the arrest warrant stems from an investigation that began Friday and was conducted by Master Trooper Detective Amy Johnson. The investigation is ongoing.

Following Emery’s arrest, Frankfort Police Chief Troy Bacon posted a statement on the department’s website.

“The judicial system will run its course and proceed accordingly, based on the facts of the investigation. Not having any role in the investigation, our department has no further comment on the situation,” Bacon said.

“Given Emery is a city employee, an executive session of the Frankfort Board of Public Works and Safety will be scheduled in the near future,” the statement said.

Emery was not on duty at the time of his arrest, according to Bacon.

Probation Officer Gerald Silva Convicted of Purchasing Child Porn

A Rhode Island state probation officer assigned to the sex offender unit was convicted on Monday of being a sex offender, U.S. Attorney Peter Neronha announced on Tuesday.

Gerald Silva, 59, of Coventry, was arrested back in 2012 in connection with a massive investigation into Toronto-based production company Azov Films. The investigation, known as Operation Spade and led by members of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service and the Toronto Police Service, revealed that Silva was one of more than 10,000 customers who had purchased online videos from Azov Films.

At least 348 of the company’s customers – including Silva – were charged with purchasing child pornography from the website, according to Toronto Police.

Silva was convicted of completing 22 orders through Azov Film’s website, spending a total of $1,589 on 75 different videos, each of which depicted child pornography. The videos, police say, were shipped to Silva’s Coventry residence while he was employed as a probation officer. “Dozens of videos” were seized from Silva’s home during an authorized police search in 2012.

During his trial, Silva claimed he had ordered and collected the videos as part of an ongoing professional project, but a jury returned a guilty verdict after less than an hour of deliberations.

Silva was charged and convicted on six counts of receiving child pornography and one count of possession of child pornography. Each count of receiving child pornography is punishable by a minimum of 5 years in federal prison and up to lifetime supervised release. Possession of child pornography is punishable by up to 10 years in federal prison.
Silva is scheduled to be sentenced on May 16.

Another Rhode Islander, 60-year-old Warwick resident Stephen Hickey, was also charged in connection with Operation Spade. Hickey, a longtime high school teacher, pleaded guilty to one count of possessing child pornography in August 2013. He was sentenced to 18 months in a halfway house.

Operation Spade was a three-year global investigation that led to the rescue of 386 children and 348 arrests, according to the Toronto Police website. Arrested suspects included six law enforcement officials, nine religious leaders, 40 school teachers, three foster parents, 32 children volunteers and nine health professionals.

Azov Films was shut down in 2011, and its owner – Brian Way – was arrested.

Officer Chris Thurman Accused of Falsifying Time Sheet

A Metro police officer is charged with official misconduct and theft by deception.

Officer Chris Thurman is accused of falsifying his time sheet and claiming overtime he may not have worked. That investigation is now jeopardizing more than 100 criminal cases he's handled the last several years.

"We have an obligation to notify defense attorneys of any pending matters that involve officer misconduct or false testifying," Leland Hulbert, the Assistant Commonwealth's Attorney said.

Court documents allege he "falsely reported overtime activity" and stole more than $10,000 from the city by "creating or reinforcing a false impression."

The question, now, is whether he falsified any other details while on the job.

"Right now, we're in the process of re-examining each case to determine how strong it is. We don't want to dismiss any cases we've indicted, but we understand we have to weigh the risk of calling an officer to the stand that has pending charges," Hulbert said.

The Jefferson County Attorney's Office said Thurman does not plan to attend any trial involving cases he investigated, but if called to do so, would simply plead the fifth. It's a statement that could hinder prosecution in a variety of cases from DUI to homicide.

"If he is the lead investigator on a case, we're going to re-evaluate his level of involvement," Hulbert said.

Defense Attorney Paul Gold has a handful of DUI cases Thurman investigated. He says these new charges will create a “big problem for prosecution.”

Regarding a DUI arrest, Gold says an officer must first have reasonable suspicion to pull a vehicle over and will then perform a field sobriety test. It’s during this time when the officer is the only officer on scene. He says Thurman was prolific for DUI stops.

“Without his testimony as to why he pulled someone over, it doesn’t matter what happened later on, because no one else can testify,” Gold said. “They’re going to lose some of those.”

Just last September, Thurman led an investigation of a fatal hit-and-run on I-64. Police say 31-year-old Chad McQuilling got out of his truck to fill up the gas tank when he was blindsided by another driver near the 9th Street ramp. The suspect in the case was never identified, but future charges could come to a halt with Thurman's indictment.

Thurman's arraignment is scheduled for Monday, Feb. 17.

Officer Chris Thurman Charged with Falsifying Time Sheet

A Louisville Metro police officer is facing charges of official misconduct and theft by deception after being accused of stealing from the city.

A Jefferson County grand jury returned the indictment against Officer Chris Thurman.

According to court records, Thurman allegedly stole $10,000 over a two year period by falsifying his time sheet and claiming overtime he may not have worked.

Thurman has been placed on paid administrative reassignment.

Officer Juan Santiago Accidentally Shoots Himself

State police have charged a Bridgeport police officer with unlawful discharge of a firearm after a Dec. 17 incident in which he accidentally shot himself.

Officer Juan Santiago, 55, was at the Bagel King restaurant at 3550 Main St. with three other Bridgeport police officers when "he mishandled a firearm ... and discharged the round through the thigh area of his left leg," state police said. The gun was not his department-issue pistol, Bridgeport police said at the time.

No one else was injured. Santiago was treated at St. Vincent's Medical Center in Bridgeport. Six days later, state police detectives were assigned by the Bridgeport state's attorney to investigate the incident.

Police said they determined that Santiago mishandled the gun, causing it to fire. They obtained an arrest warrant charging him with unlawful discharge of a firearm.

Santiago turned himself in at the Bethany barracks at 9:30 a.m. Monday. He was released on a promise to appear in court Feb. 18 in Superior Court in Bridgeport.

Santiago remains on the job, but is assigned to desk duty.

"First, I would like to say we are grateful that the officer is recovering from his injury," Bridgeport Police Chief Joseph L. Gaudett Jr. said. "We have said from the outset that we requested the state police handle the investigation so the public would have confidence that it would be fair and unbiased. The state police conducted a thorough investigation, consulted with the state's attorney's office and made a determination that we will respect."

Former Officer LaGracha Amon Carter-Boyd Arrested for Extortion

A former Hazlehurst police officer has been arrested following indictment on one count of extortion.

A Copiah County grand jury indicted 25-year-old LaGracha Amon Carter-Boyd, of Hazlehurst, on Friday and sheriff's deputies arrested Boyd, Attorney General Jim Hood confirmed Monday.

The indictment alleges that Boyd, while on duty, accepted money from a citizen on the pretense of "fixing" a ticket that Boyd had previously issued the same citizen.
If convicted, Boyd faces up to five years in jail.

Officer Christopher Hays Arrested for Sexual Battery

San Diego police Officer Christopher Hays was arrested Sunday afternoon on suspicion of false imprisonment and misdemeanor sexual battery with four women, police officials said.

The District Attorney’s Office is also investigating claims by two more women.

Most of the cases involve claims that Hays inappropriately touched women — all in their 20s or 30s — during pat-down searches of their bodies. However, at a news conference Sunday afternoon, San Diego Police Chief Bill Lansdowne said that at least one of the two new cases involves more serious claims involving sexual contact that could involve felony charges.

 

Hays, 30, surrendered at 1 p.m. Sunday at the sheriff’s substation in Rancho Bernardo and was booked into the downtown jail at 1:30 p.m. He was booked on two counts of false imprisonment and three counts of misdemeanor sexual battery. He was later released on $130,000 bond.

“This officer, if the allegations prove to be true, will go to prison,” Lansdowne said.

If the district attorney charges Hays with the counts that he was arrested on, police said he could face up to 7½ years in prison.

Lansdowne said that four cases were uncovered through an internal investigation after a woman came forward in December to report that she had been inappropriately frisked by an officer. Police detectives checked every case Hays had been involved in since he was hired four years ago, and three more women were found with similar claims involving incidents with Hays that occurred between Nov. 12, 2012, and Dec. 23, 2013. After those four cases were turned over to the District Attorney’s Office, a fifth woman was found through the police investigation.

Following publicity about the Hays investigation, a sixth woman came forward through her attorney on Friday, saying she was contacted by Hays in October 2012 for an unspecified reason and pressured to perform a sex act with him.

Hays has been placed on unpaid administrative leave. No arraignment date has been announced.

Officer John Freudenberg Charged with DWI

Police say an intoxicated Parsippany police officer ran his Chevrolet Silverado off the road and wound up in a residential front yard Saturday.

John R. Freudenberg, 30, of Randolph was charged with driving while intoxicated and reckless driving Saturday night, Randolph police said.

Randolph Sgt. Frank Mygas and Officers Jason Gould and Jason Del Turco responded to the crash, and found the car in the front yard of a Jennifern Avenue home, Randolph police said.

Del Turco spoke to Freudenberg, the driver, and was told he "ran off the road," Randolph police said.

Freudenberg also identified himself as a Parsippany officer, which Randolph police later confirmed, they say.

Randolph Detective Lt. Christopher Giuliani said that based on a draft report about the incident, he didn't have any indication Freudenberg tried to use his status as an officer to avoid a ticket or arrest.

Freudenberg was also off-duty, and was not in a police department vehicle, Giuliani said.
At the time of the crash, Del Turco detected the odor of alcohol on Freudenberg's breath, and had Freudenberg perform field sobriety tests, Randolph Police said. He was then arrested and charged with driving while intoxicated.

Giuliani said while Freudenberg did take a breath test, police are not releasing the results.
Freudenberg's passenger complained of pain, but didn't want to receive medical treatment at the scene, Randolph police said. Freudenberg didn't complain of any injuries, police said.

Parsippany and Randolph, both Morris County communities, share a small border but are mostly divided by sections of Denville and Morris Township.

Former Officer LaGracha Amon Carter-Boyd Arrested for Extortion

Former Hazlehurst police officer LaGracha Amon Carter-Boyd has been arrested following a Copiah County Grand Jury indictment on one count of extortion.

Carter-Boyd, 25, of Hazlehurst, was arrested Friday by officers with the Copiah County Sheriff's Office.

The indictment alleges that Boyd, while on duty, accepted money from a citizen on the pretense of "fixing" a ticket that Boyd had previously issued the same citizen.

If convicted, Boyd faces up to five years behind bars.

Officer Scott Neuhaus Charged with Disorderly Conduct

A seven year veteran of the Downingtown Police Department was arrested early Saturday morning following an incident at a Philadelphia gentleman’s club.

According to a brief statement provided by Downingtown Mayor Josh Maxell, around 2:45 a.m. Saturday the Downingtown Police Department’s shift supervisor was notified that officer Scott Neuhaus, 40, was arrested at Delilah’s Gentlemen’s Club and Steakhouse in the 100 block of Spring Garden Street in Philadelphia. The statement said Neuhaus was off duty and in civilian clothes.

According to a docket filed in the Municipal Court of Philadelphia, Neuhaus was charged with one count of disorderly conduct with obscene language or gesture, a summary offense. A status hearing was tentatively scheduled for Feb. 24 in Philadelphia, according to court records.

Downingtown Police Chief James McGowan was immediately advised of the arrest, the statement said, and Neuhaus was placed on paid administrative leave. Maxwell was also notified, the statement said.

“The Downingtown Police Department will be conducting an investigation into the incident and Officer Neuhaus will remain on Administrative Leave until the conclusion of the investigation and any possible proceedings that arise from that investigation,” the statement said.

Maxwell and McGowan declined to comment further on the matter.
Neuhaus previously worked for the Coatesville Police Department.

Cpl. Oscar Araiza Charged with Sexual Assault

The Dallas Police Department announced that it has arrested and charged one of its own officers with sexual assault.

Dallas Police Chief David Brown has disciplined Sr. Cpl. Oscar Araiza during hearings on Friday.

According to police, on Oct. 6, 2013, Araiza was off-duty at a bar in Dallas when he unintentionally met a female acquaintance who was accompanied by another woman. All three decided to leave the bar and later drove to Araiza's home, police said.

Araiza's friend decided to leave and left the other woman in the home, according to police. When she woke up, she found herself being sexually assaulted by Araiza, according to police.

The woman stated that she did not consent to any sexual contact with Araiza, police said.

An internal affairs investigation determined that Araiza engaged in sexual conduct with the woman without her consent.

Araiza has been terminated. He had been an officer with the department since 1995.

He was arrested and charged with sexual assault.