Officer Naaman Adcock Arrested for Holding Gun to 5-year-old's Head

A Fort Smith police officer who was arrested after Sequoyah County Sheriff's Office deputies said he fired a gun inside his home and held a gun to a five-year-old's head has resigned.

Naaman Adcock resigned from the Fort Smith Police Department early Wednesday, according to KFSM, the CBS affiliate in Fort Smith.

Adcock was arrested Tuesday on complaints of suspicion of assault with a deadly weapon, possession of a firearm while intoxicated, reckless conduct with a firearm, felonious pointing a firearm and child endangerment.

Deputies also arrested his wife, Tabatha Adcock, on complaints of failure to protect a child, child endangerment, possession of a firearm while intoxicated and reckless conduct with a firearm.

The sheriff's office told KFSM both fired guns inside their rural Sequoyah County home with at least two children inside.

Deputies confiscated nine guns found in the home.

KFSM says Fort Smith Police had placed Adcock on administrative leave with pay while the department conducted an internal investigation.

Jail records show Naaman Adcock's bond was set at $24,000, while Tabatha Adcock's bond was $14,000.

Sheriff Ron Lockhart says their report has been turned over the Sequoyah County district attorney's office.

Officer Craig Taylor Charged with Elderly Mans Death

Park Forest Police Officer Craig Taylor is charged with felony reckless conduct in the death of a 95-year-old man at a senior facility.

He was allowed to remain free without posting bond Wednesday.

John Wrana, 95, died during an altercation with police at the Victory Centre Senior Living Facility in the south suburb. Officer Taylor used a stun gun and fired beanbag rounds at the elderly man, prosecutors say.

Workers at the senior home called paramedics in July 2013 when Wrana became belligerent. They called police, who used a stun gun on Wrana. When that didn't work, Officer Taylor allegedly shot Wrana, who was sitting in a chair, in the stomach with six beanbag rounds from a shotgun.

Police say Wrana threatened workers and officers with a cane, 2-foot-long metal shoehorn originally thought to be a machete and 12-inch butcher knife.

Wrana died from internal bleeding hours after the altercation.

Wrana's family believes excessive force was used, and their attorney said he would have preferred an upgraded charge.

"In an ideal world, perhaps involuntary manslaughter because the statute says where there is a death. There is no question, there was a death that resulted here," Nicholas Grapsas, Wrana family attorney, said.

Taylor, 43, and the father of five, has a spotless record, according to attorney Terry Ekl, and was following orders.

"This is a tragic incident. There no question about that but every tragic incident does not translate into a criminal act. From what I know about this case, I don't believe Officer Taylor engaged in any criminal behavior whatsoever," Ekl said.

Last year, Wrana's family called for an investigation into the case. That led to the charges announced Wednesday. Prosecutors said Taylor was 6 to 8 feet from Wrana when he fired the beanbags, and the required minimum distance is 15 feet.

If convicted, Taylor, a 10-year-veteran with the Park Forest Police Department, faces a 1 to 3 year prison term, according to the Cook County State's Attorney. No other officers are charged in the case.

Two Atlanta Officers Arrested for Firing Weapon Near Lake Allatoona

Two Atlanta Police officers are on paid administrative leave after authorities say they scared their neighbors by firing guns early Monday morning.

Lt. Jay Baker with the Cherokee County Sheriff's Office tells WSB they began receiving multiple phone calls around 1 o'clock in the morning of numerous shots being fired near Lake Allatoona.

Deputies responded and determined that the gunshots were coming from a house in the Victoria Cottage Community on Cedar Drive.

"They apparently were on the back deck of their home, firing into the lake. Actually, there were some fishermen that were in the lake at that time. One of the deputies had gotten out and was walking the perimeter of the lake trying to locate the home, and one of the rounds struck in the water, near where he was standing," said Baker.

43-year-old Dan Rasmussen and 31-year-old Chad Armstrong, both Atlanta police officers, were charged with Reckless Conduct.

"Apparently, they had been drinking and alcohol and guns obviously do not mix very well. We were getting numerous calls. The people in that community did not know what was going on. Apparently, what we're thinking, at least 30 to 40 rounds were shot," said Baker.

22-year-old Robert Terza of Woodstock, was charged with Reckless Conduct. Rasmussen's wife, Toni, has been charged with obstruction.


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Constable Timothy Hesketh Accused of Fracturing the Back of a Prisoner

A police officer accused of fracturing the back of a prisoner when he slammed on the brakes of a police wagon went on trial in Palmerston North yesterday.

Constable Timothy Edward Hesketh's "braking without cause'' last November also sent one colleague flying from his seat and swear words flying from others, the High Court heard.

The Crown alleges Hesketh's actions were responsible for the paralysis of 46-year-old Mark Edwards, who suffered a fractured dislocation of his spine.

It left him with loss of sensation and paralysis of all four limbs, the jury was told.

Hesketh is charged with reckless disregard causing grievous bodily harm and faces a maximum seven years' imprisonment if convicted.

Mr Edwards had been arrested for trespassing at a former girlfriend's home after five police officers were called to assist.

After a 40-minute struggle to extricate an intoxicated Mr Edwards from the Palmerston North address, he was arrested and loaded into the police wagon about 1.30am on November 4, 2007, the court heard.

Three officers gave evidence that the drunk man had walked unsupported into the back of the vehicle to sit on the bench seat.

It was not until they arrived at the police station that Mr Edwards was found lying face-down on the van floor, unable to move on his own.

It took four officers to carry the 183cm, 110kg man into the cells.

But Hesketh claimed Mr Edwards was dragged from the address and placed in the footwell of the van's compartment in the recovery position, Crown prosecutor Ben Vanderkolk said.

Hesketh ``overstated the aggression and resistance'' of Mr Edwards before the arrest after he heard him making a complaint of police brutality against him on the phone to a police operator, Mr Vanderkolk said.

Constable Jymahl Glassey said that when Hesketh braked at the intersection of Albert and Church streets, he left his seat and hit a barrier rail in front enough for another officer to ask if he was okay.

Back at the station, Mr Edwards' persona had changed and he noticed blood on his face, he said.

``In the cells he looked puffed and tired and lacking energy ... he was a different man. I thought maybe he had heart problems or something.'' Mr Glassey said.

Defence counsel Susan Hughes QC read from Mr Glassey's police report that Mr Edwards' injuries appeared to be as a result of being taken to ground and his head hitting the pavement.

``That's what I believed happened at the time, I've used the words, `appear to be as a result','' Mr Glassey said.

Constable Matthew McFlynn said he too went forward in his seat when Hesketh braked.

``I think I said `Shit' because I got a fright and I think someone else said the same thing.''

He too saw injuries on Mr Edwards after the trip in the wagon.

``His feet and his legs looked limp ... he couldn't walk himself.''

Each officer who gave evidence said they considered Hesketh to be honest and level-headed in carrying out his duties.

Detective and Deputy Charged with Beating Man Unconscious

A Baltimore City homicide detective and a Baltimore County sheriff's deputy have been charged with assault after a man was beaten until he was unconscious last September outside of a Govans barbershop while they were off duty.

Prosecutors charged Terry W. Love Jr., a nine-year veteran of the Baltimore Police Department, and Deputy Sheriff Michael Herring with second-degree assault, which carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison, as well as reckless endangerment and use of a deadly weapon with intent to injure. The incident occurred outside of the Detailer Barber Shop on York Road, a block from the Senator Theatre.

The charges were filed Friday, nearly a full year after the Sept. 8, 2007, incident - just before the one-year statute of limitations for misdemeanors was set to expire.

Charges against a third person were dropped last year. But family of victim Andre Thomas, 43, who is in jail on an assault charge, said they were relieved that prosecutors have continued to pursue the case.

"It does my heart well," said brother Tyrone Thomas, a pastor at the Charity Community Church of God. "My brother didn't put his hands on anybody, and they beat him literally until he was unconscious. He could have died, and they went on with their life as usual. They're supposed to uphold the law."

Sterling Clifford, a police spokesman, said Love had been suspended with pay and placed on administrative duties since the incident. With the criminal charges, he has now been suspended without pay and his police powers have been removed, Clifford said. He declined to comment on the charges, as did police union President Paul M. Blair Jr.

"Officers are presumed innocent, just like anybody else," Blair said.

Baltimore County Sheriff R. Jay Fisher did not respond to a request for comment about Herring's status. Neither Herring, 36, nor Love, 31, could be reached.

The officers are not the first to be charged in connection with the attack. Bernard Dutton, 34, a barber at Detailer, was charged the day of the incident with first-degree assault and "conspiring with an unknown person" to assault Thomas. But those charges were dropped three months later.

Thomas' brothers said that before the incident, they would get their hair cut weekly at the barbershop. According to court records from that case, Thomas went into the barbershop looking for one of his brothers and began arguing with Dutton. Thomas left the barbershop and was walking north on York Road when three men began kicking and punching him, the records say.

Another brother, Patrick Thomas, told The Baltimore Sun that Andre Thomas was first struck and knocked to the ground with a kick to the back. Court records show Andre Thomas told police that Dutton was wearing brass knuckles and that another one of the suspects was wearing a black and yellow "sheriff shirt."

In a brief interview, Dutton accused Andre Thomas of filing a "falsified police report" and said that Thomas had been "apprehended" by the officers. Later asked to clarify, he said his lawyer had instructed him not to talk about the incident.

Love's father, Terry W. Love, has been a Baltimore police officer since 1983 and has worked in the department's intelligence section. Court records indicate that last year the father and son both worked on an investigation of a homicide that occurred on The Block.

Terry Love Jr.'s suspension was mentioned in an unrelated nine-count complaint filed in February with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, in which Sgt. Kelvin Sewell wrote that he and Love had been subjected to unusual treatment after Love was transferred to his homicide squad in 2007.

He wrote that Love had been suspended in September 2007 "for an incident that took place off-duty."

"I was advised ... that Detective Love cannot work on any homicide investigations in or outside the office, and he is not allowed to operate any departmental vehicles while suspended," Sewell wrote. "It was explained to me that, by Detective Love working on these homicide cases, he could compromise the investigation because he's suspended."

Sewell is listed as a police witness in the assault case filed Friday.

http://www.wbaltv.com/news/17408678/detail.html

Officer Ross Magnuson Charged with Pointing Weapon at Motorist

DULUTH, Minn.

A Superior, Wis., police officer is charged with second-degree assault for allegedly pulling a gun and pointing it at a motorist in an apparent road rage incident.

Ross W. Magnuson, 45, of Knife River also faces charges of making terroristic threats, recklessly handling a dangerous weapon and disorderly conduct.

According to the criminal complaint, a motorist, his girlfriend and her son were driving near Two Harbors last Sunday when they passed a vehicle whose driver flipped them off.

After pulling into a service station and waiting to pump gas, the driver who gestured at them pulled up next to the group, got out and began yelling, the complaint said.

The motorist, who provided a license plate number to police that eventually led to Magnuson and later identified Magnuson in a police lineup, said Magnuson pulled a silver and black gun and pointed it at him, the complaint stated.

Police executed a search warrant at Magnuson's home and he provided a silver and black Smith and Wesson semi-automatic pistol.

Magnuson, who was off duty and not wearing a police uniform on the day of the incident, told officers that he had been driving when he was passed by a car driving erratically.

He said he pulled off at the station to speak with the motorist about his driving conduct, and feeling threatened upon their encounter, Magnuson "broke leather" on his firearm, according to the complaint.

Superior Police Chief Floyd Peters said he was shocked by the allegations when notified of the charges filed against the 12-year veteran of the force.

"He's been a very well respected officer in our department and in the community," Peters said.

The chief then read a prepared statement declining any additional comment. Magnuson, who was arraigned Friday, was placed on administrative leave pending criminal and internal investigations into the incident.

Peters said no internal review would begin until the criminal investigation is completed.

Peters said no internal review would begin until the criminal investigation is completed.

Chamblee Sgt Bredan Parks Arrested for Reckless Conduct

LOGANVILLE

A Chamblee police officer was arrested at his home in Loganville Sunday morning, officials said.

Neighbors said they heard dozens of gunshots coming from Sgt. Brendan Parks' backyard off Rosebud road around 4 a.m. Sunday. He is an officer with the Chamblee police department. Officials with that department have confirmed his arrest.

Parks was taken to the Gwinnett County detention center. He has met bond. He is facing charges of reckless conduct, discharging a firearm and pointing a gun. He was not available for comment.