Hollywood police fired six of its own this week -- most of whom were accused of taking part in the doctoring of a police report after a car crash with an alleged drunken driver.
The employees received notices last Wednesday that Police Chief Chad Wagner intended to fire them. But they were given five days to appeal to Wagner and met with the chief and their attorneys Monday.
Tuesday, they were fired: Officers Joel Francisco and Dewey Pressley, Community Service Officer Karim Thomas, Sgt. Andrew Diaz and crime scene technician Andrea Tomassi. A criminal investigation remains open.
Officer Oscar Sola-Vega was terminated for a separate matter related to an accusation that he worked his off-duty detail during his police shift Sept. 25.
The terminations of the other five stem from how they handled the reporting of a car accident about midnight Feb. 16, when Francisco rear-ended Alexandra Torrens-Vilas' car.
In a recording taken while Torrens-Vilas sat in the back seat of a police cruiser, officers can be heard discussing how to distort the facts to shift blame from the officer.
In a copy of that recording posted on The Sun Sentinel, parts of the conversation are muddled but one officer says what sounds like: ``We are going to bend this a little bit because she is drunk, so it is what it is.''
Torrens-Vilas was arrested on a drunken driving charge, but the case was later dropped.
The fired employees are expected to file grievances with City Manager Cameron Benson and ultimately will likely go to arbitration.
Jeff Marano, a union leader for the Police Benevolent Association, said Wagner reacted to the negative nationwide publicity about the case. ``I think it was pressure from elected officials on both the manager and the chief and the PBA is in it for the long road,'' he said.
Does the union have proof elected officials exerted pressure? ``I am hoping we can develop that proof,'' he said.
The union recently submitted a public record request to the city for communications involving Mayor Peter Bober and other officials about the investigations.
Bober could not be reached Wednesday but last week defended the chief's decision.
Attorney Al Milian, representing Diaz, questioned why Wagner fired the workers before the outcome of the state attorney investigation.
``I don't understand why the city of Hollywood decided to terminate them without a criminal probe completed,'' Milian said. ``You don't throw away decades of procedure and due process unless it's been politically motivated.''
But the majority of the City Commission expressed support for Wagner's actions. ``I have absolute full confidence in Chief Wagner and how he has handled it,'' City Commissioner Heidi O'Sheehan said after Wagner announced his intent to fire the employees last week.
Wagner, who rose through the ranks and was named interim police chief in 2007, did not respond to an interview request Wednesday.
Showing posts with label fabricating Evidence. Show all posts
Showing posts with label fabricating Evidence. Show all posts
Wednesday, January 13, 2010
Thursday, December 24, 2009
Officer Rhashim Campbell Accused of Assaulting Prisoner
A city police officer accused of assaulting a prisoner in November allegedly boasted to several fellow officers about beating the man.
One of those officers was Sgt. Robert E. Ford Jr., who is assigned to the internal affairs division, which investigates allegations of police misconduct.
Ford immediately began an investigation of Officer Rhashim Campbell's conduct during the early morning hours of Nov. 1 and prepared a warrant seeking his arrest on charges of third-degree assault and fabricating evidence. Hartford State's Attorney Gail Hardy signed that warrant Dec. 4 and Campbell was arrested Dec. 10. Campbell's lawyer, Salvatore Bonanno of Hartford, said Campbell denies the charges and maintains his innocence.
The warrant affidavit was made public this week, after Campbell's arraignment Tuesday in Superior Court in Hartford.
According to the warrant, Campbell told officers gathered in a report writing room on Nov. 2 that a prisoner had punched him in the face, then bitten his finger as he tried to restrain him. Campbell then allegedly told the assembled group that he went into the cell holding Michael Stewart, 41, of Ridge, N.Y., and beat him.
"I opened the door and whooped his ass," Campbell said, according to the warrant. "I tried to kill him, I tried to [expletive] him up." Two officers quickly grabbed Campbell and escorted him from the room. On the way out they told Ford that Campbell was on medication and may not have been aware of what he was saying.
Ford then viewed a video of the cell that allegedly shows Campbell using his hands and a knee to strike Campbell several times. A second officer, Kent Lee, allegedly helped push Stewart to the floor. Police prepared a warrant for Lee's arrest as well, but prosecutors declined to sign it.
Stewart was in custody after being arrested earlier in the evening on charges of breach of peace and resisting arrest. Police described him as being drunk and belligerent at the time of his arrest. An officer had to use pepper spray to get him to cooperate when he was arrested.
The charges against Campbell are for allegedly assaulting Stewart and for allegedly writing a false report on the incident.
Bonanno said Campbell "denies assaulting Mr. Stewart" and "he denies fabricating any evidence."
As to what was said in that report room, Bonanno said Campbell has no specific recollection.
"Officer Campbell does not remember the specific words he may or may not have used in the report room and his remarks were not directed at Sgt. Ford. Whether some of that was bravado, it remains to be seen. Often times we make comments that we don't mean literally."
During Tuesday's arraignment, Bonanno did file a motion asking that all audio and video recordings of the discussion in the report room be preserved. Bonanno said he's received information that an officer who was present may have recorded the conversation on an iPhone, or other device.
"If there was a recording of anything said in the report room, that would be the best evidence of what was said," Bonanno said.
One of those officers was Sgt. Robert E. Ford Jr., who is assigned to the internal affairs division, which investigates allegations of police misconduct.
Ford immediately began an investigation of Officer Rhashim Campbell's conduct during the early morning hours of Nov. 1 and prepared a warrant seeking his arrest on charges of third-degree assault and fabricating evidence. Hartford State's Attorney Gail Hardy signed that warrant Dec. 4 and Campbell was arrested Dec. 10. Campbell's lawyer, Salvatore Bonanno of Hartford, said Campbell denies the charges and maintains his innocence.
The warrant affidavit was made public this week, after Campbell's arraignment Tuesday in Superior Court in Hartford.
According to the warrant, Campbell told officers gathered in a report writing room on Nov. 2 that a prisoner had punched him in the face, then bitten his finger as he tried to restrain him. Campbell then allegedly told the assembled group that he went into the cell holding Michael Stewart, 41, of Ridge, N.Y., and beat him.
"I opened the door and whooped his ass," Campbell said, according to the warrant. "I tried to kill him, I tried to [expletive] him up." Two officers quickly grabbed Campbell and escorted him from the room. On the way out they told Ford that Campbell was on medication and may not have been aware of what he was saying.
Ford then viewed a video of the cell that allegedly shows Campbell using his hands and a knee to strike Campbell several times. A second officer, Kent Lee, allegedly helped push Stewart to the floor. Police prepared a warrant for Lee's arrest as well, but prosecutors declined to sign it.
Stewart was in custody after being arrested earlier in the evening on charges of breach of peace and resisting arrest. Police described him as being drunk and belligerent at the time of his arrest. An officer had to use pepper spray to get him to cooperate when he was arrested.
The charges against Campbell are for allegedly assaulting Stewart and for allegedly writing a false report on the incident.
Bonanno said Campbell "denies assaulting Mr. Stewart" and "he denies fabricating any evidence."
As to what was said in that report room, Bonanno said Campbell has no specific recollection.
"Officer Campbell does not remember the specific words he may or may not have used in the report room and his remarks were not directed at Sgt. Ford. Whether some of that was bravado, it remains to be seen. Often times we make comments that we don't mean literally."
During Tuesday's arraignment, Bonanno did file a motion asking that all audio and video recordings of the discussion in the report room be preserved. Bonanno said he's received information that an officer who was present may have recorded the conversation on an iPhone, or other device.
"If there was a recording of anything said in the report room, that would be the best evidence of what was said," Bonanno said.
Thursday, December 10, 2009
Three Connecticut Officers Arrested
Three police officers in three Connecticut towns were arrested Wednesday and Thursday.
Police said officers from Naugatuck, Middletown and Hartford were all arrested and were not connected.
Hartford police Officer Rhashim Campbell was arrested on Thursday after an internal investigation into an assault in the city lockup.
Police said Campbell was arrested on Thursday.
Campbell was charged with assault and fabricating physical evidence.
Police said Campbell was released on a promise to appear.
In addition to the criminal charges, Campbell also faces administrative charges, according to police.
Campbell is suspended without pay from the Hartford Police Department.
Hartford Police Chief Daryl K. Roberts said, "We take the care of persons in our custody very seriously. The inappropriate acts of these officers are not representative of the dedicated and professional officers of the Hartford Police Department. The Hartford Police Department will continue to serve our community with the highest professional standards, always focusing on service, relationships and safety."
A New York man who said Hartford police assaulted him while he was in the city lockup stood before a judge on Thursday.
Michael Stewart appeared in court on his breach of peace arrest that occurred the morning after Halloween.
Peter Oldum, Stewart's attorney did all the talking.
The Long Island man was charged in connection with an arrest in the early morning the day after Halloween. Hartford police reports said Stewart had to be pepper sprayed twice.
It's what happened after Stewart's arrest, in the city lockup, that has generated the most attention.
Officers Kent Lee and Rhashim Campbell were suspended with pay after a confrontation between them and Stewart was caught on the city lockup's surveillance cameras.
In court on Thursday, Oldum asked the judge to make sure that the recording is preserved.
Judge Glen Woods granted the request.
Lee has since retired since the incident took place.
In Middletown, police Officer Angelo Passanisi surrendered to Capt. William McKenna at the Middletown Police Department.
Police said Passanisi was charged with insurance fraud, fabricating evidence and falsely reporting an incident.
Officials said the arrest followed a lengthy investigation conducted by McKenna.
In September, Passanisi filed a police report with the Middletown Police Department in which he reported that his parked car had been struck by another vehicle that then fled the scene.
In October, after receiving information that Passanisi crashed the vehicle himself and staged an accident scene to make it appear that the accident was a hit-and-run, he was placed on administrative leave.
After his arrest, Passanisi was processed and released on a $2,500 non-surety bond and was scheduled to appear in court on Dec. 23.
In Naugatuck, Officer David Reilly was arrested by Wallingford police and is facing felony charges involving larceny and computer crimes.
Police said they received a complaint from a resident in April.
Police would not elaborate on the actual crime but Wallingford police said Reilly was charged with larceny, computer crimes and coercion.
Police said officers from Naugatuck, Middletown and Hartford were all arrested and were not connected.
Hartford police Officer Rhashim Campbell was arrested on Thursday after an internal investigation into an assault in the city lockup.
Police said Campbell was arrested on Thursday.
Campbell was charged with assault and fabricating physical evidence.
Police said Campbell was released on a promise to appear.
In addition to the criminal charges, Campbell also faces administrative charges, according to police.
Campbell is suspended without pay from the Hartford Police Department.
Hartford Police Chief Daryl K. Roberts said, "We take the care of persons in our custody very seriously. The inappropriate acts of these officers are not representative of the dedicated and professional officers of the Hartford Police Department. The Hartford Police Department will continue to serve our community with the highest professional standards, always focusing on service, relationships and safety."
A New York man who said Hartford police assaulted him while he was in the city lockup stood before a judge on Thursday.
Michael Stewart appeared in court on his breach of peace arrest that occurred the morning after Halloween.
Peter Oldum, Stewart's attorney did all the talking.
The Long Island man was charged in connection with an arrest in the early morning the day after Halloween. Hartford police reports said Stewart had to be pepper sprayed twice.
It's what happened after Stewart's arrest, in the city lockup, that has generated the most attention.
Officers Kent Lee and Rhashim Campbell were suspended with pay after a confrontation between them and Stewart was caught on the city lockup's surveillance cameras.
In court on Thursday, Oldum asked the judge to make sure that the recording is preserved.
Judge Glen Woods granted the request.
Lee has since retired since the incident took place.
In Middletown, police Officer Angelo Passanisi surrendered to Capt. William McKenna at the Middletown Police Department.
Police said Passanisi was charged with insurance fraud, fabricating evidence and falsely reporting an incident.
Officials said the arrest followed a lengthy investigation conducted by McKenna.
In September, Passanisi filed a police report with the Middletown Police Department in which he reported that his parked car had been struck by another vehicle that then fled the scene.
In October, after receiving information that Passanisi crashed the vehicle himself and staged an accident scene to make it appear that the accident was a hit-and-run, he was placed on administrative leave.
After his arrest, Passanisi was processed and released on a $2,500 non-surety bond and was scheduled to appear in court on Dec. 23.
In Naugatuck, Officer David Reilly was arrested by Wallingford police and is facing felony charges involving larceny and computer crimes.
Police said they received a complaint from a resident in April.
Police would not elaborate on the actual crime but Wallingford police said Reilly was charged with larceny, computer crimes and coercion.
Friday, May 22, 2009
Officer Jason Anderson Takes Stand in Wrongful Death Case
MINNEAPOLIS
Officer Jason Anderson took the stand in his own defense Wednesday in the wrongful death of Fong Lee. Lee’s family claims their son wasn't armed, and that a gun found on him was planted by police in what's known as a "drop gun."
Surveillance video at City View Elementary shows the shooting in brief parting glimpses, with Officer Anderson chasing Lee. According to court documents, Anderson shot Lee eight times.
Anderson said as he came around the corner he had his gun up, pointed at Lee. He says Lee was holding a gun in his right hand, then fell to the ground after the shooting, but raised the gun again.
Trooper Craig Benz was Anderson’s partner that July night three years ago. The two had never met before. Benz testified he also saw Lee with a gun, but didn't see the actual shooting, as he was several steps behind Anderson.
Anderson testified he didn't approach Lee or the gun after the shooting.
"I didn't secure the gun. I didn't want to be accused of putting it there," said Anderson.
________________________
http://www.startribune.com/local/45860627.html?elr=KArksLckD8EQDUoaEyqyP4O:DW3ckUiD3aPc:_Yyc:aUUJ
Officer Jason Anderson took the stand in his own defense Wednesday in the wrongful death of Fong Lee. Lee’s family claims their son wasn't armed, and that a gun found on him was planted by police in what's known as a "drop gun."
Surveillance video at City View Elementary shows the shooting in brief parting glimpses, with Officer Anderson chasing Lee. According to court documents, Anderson shot Lee eight times.
Anderson said as he came around the corner he had his gun up, pointed at Lee. He says Lee was holding a gun in his right hand, then fell to the ground after the shooting, but raised the gun again.
Trooper Craig Benz was Anderson’s partner that July night three years ago. The two had never met before. Benz testified he also saw Lee with a gun, but didn't see the actual shooting, as he was several steps behind Anderson.
Anderson testified he didn't approach Lee or the gun after the shooting.
"I didn't secure the gun. I didn't want to be accused of putting it there," said Anderson.
________________________
http://www.startribune.com/local/45860627.html?elr=KArksLckD8EQDUoaEyqyP4O:DW3ckUiD3aPc:_Yyc:aUUJ
Wednesday, October 29, 2008
Officer Allen Pettit Charged with Stealing Drugs
A former Fallowfield Township police officer is in jail today after he was formally charged Tuesday with stealing drugs from a case he investigated.
Allen E. Pettit, 46, of 824 Maple St., Harwick, was charged with theft by unlawful taking or disposition, perjury, hindering apprehension or prosecution, tampering with or fabricating evidence and obstructing the law.
The case against Pettit stems from 2006, when he arrested Charles Paith, 26, of Van Voorhis. During the raid of Paith's house, Pettit seized 5 ounces of cocaine and nearly a pound of marijuana.
Washington County District Attorney Steve Toprani said Pettit is the last person to have custody of the drugs when he picked them up from a state police laboratory in March 2006.
The drugs were discovered missing when Pettit allegedly falsely testified in court during an April 2007 hearing that the evidence had been destroyed.
Toprani declined comment on the status of Paith's prosecution.
Washington County Chief County Detective Mike Aaron served an arrest warrant on Pettit in Springdale Township.
He was arraigned before Cheswick District Magisterial Judge David J. Sosovicka and remanded to the Washington County Correctional Facility in lieu of $50,000 straight cash bond.
Pettit faces a preliminary hearing before Magisterial District Judge Larry Hopkins in Charleroi at 2:45 p.m. Nov. 7.
Pettit resigned from the Fallowfield police department, where he was captain, in 2006.
In July 2007, he pleaded guilty to a charge of theft for using his municipal gas card to fill his private vehicle.
He was placed on probation for 12 months in the wake of that incident.
http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/news/cityregion/s_595689.html
Allen E. Pettit, 46, of 824 Maple St., Harwick, was charged with theft by unlawful taking or disposition, perjury, hindering apprehension or prosecution, tampering with or fabricating evidence and obstructing the law.
The case against Pettit stems from 2006, when he arrested Charles Paith, 26, of Van Voorhis. During the raid of Paith's house, Pettit seized 5 ounces of cocaine and nearly a pound of marijuana.
Washington County District Attorney Steve Toprani said Pettit is the last person to have custody of the drugs when he picked them up from a state police laboratory in March 2006.
The drugs were discovered missing when Pettit allegedly falsely testified in court during an April 2007 hearing that the evidence had been destroyed.
Toprani declined comment on the status of Paith's prosecution.
Washington County Chief County Detective Mike Aaron served an arrest warrant on Pettit in Springdale Township.
He was arraigned before Cheswick District Magisterial Judge David J. Sosovicka and remanded to the Washington County Correctional Facility in lieu of $50,000 straight cash bond.
Pettit faces a preliminary hearing before Magisterial District Judge Larry Hopkins in Charleroi at 2:45 p.m. Nov. 7.
Pettit resigned from the Fallowfield police department, where he was captain, in 2006.
In July 2007, he pleaded guilty to a charge of theft for using his municipal gas card to fill his private vehicle.
He was placed on probation for 12 months in the wake of that incident.
http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/news/cityregion/s_595689.html
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