Officer Arrested on Charges of soliciting a Minor

The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation has arrested a Scotts Hill police officer on charges of soliciting a minor and contributing to the delinquency of a minor.

Officer Jonathan Henley, 26, was arrested in Henderson County on Friday. After being booked in Henderson County, he was transferred to Weakley County for protection because he is a local police officer, a Henderson County jail official said Tuesday.

Henley is accused of sending text messages to a 15-year-old girl in May asking for sex, according to a complaint filed against him in Henderson County General Sessions Court on Monday.

Henley was released Sunday after posting a $25,00 bond. He is scheduled to appear in Henderson County General Sessions Court on June 10.

He has also been placed on administrative leave from the police department.

Officer Andrew Orbegozo Abducts Woman

Ansonia, Conn.

Bridgeport Police Officer Andre Orbegozo, 32 of Naugatuck, abducted an Ansonia woman from the front of her home and forced her to a heavily wooded area behind Ansonia High School.

Officer Orbegozo was arrested and Wednesday, and charged with kidnapping a fellow officer. He appeared in Derby Superior Court Wednesday and his bond was doubled from $250,000 to $500,000.

Ansonia police said they received a call from Bridgeport police stating that a police officer had assaulted another officer. At about 3:30a.m. Wednesday Ansonia police went to Griffin Hospital.

Officer Orbegozo hit the woman in the head with a gun, causing a laceration, police said. The victim was able to convince Orbegozo she needed medical attention and he took her to Griffin Hospital for treatment.

Police are calling the incident domestic violence. Orbegozo was charged with second-degree assault and second-degree kidnapping with a firearm.

The victim has not been identified.

Officer Charles David Jr Charged with Assault & Harassment

Pittsburgh, PA

A Fayette County police officer who is accused of shoving and choking a woman has been placed on paid administrative leave.

Charles E. David Jr., 38, of Ohiopyle, is charged by state police at Uniontown with simple assault and harassment. In a criminal complaint, police said David pushed a woman to the ground and grabbed her by the throat during an argument May 26 in a driveway on Shaffer Road in Wharton.

The woman told police the altercation occurred after she saw David in the driveway with another woman, according to the complaint. She said she confronted David, then blocked his exit and took the keys from his motorcycle's ignition to prevent him from leaving.

David is a member of Uniontown's police force. Chief Jason Cox said David is on paid administrative leave pending the outcome of a June 11 preliminary hearing before North Union District Judge Wendy Dennis.

Officer Steps forth and admits he was encouraged to Lie

An indicted Chicago police officer said his supervisors in the Special Operations Section encouraged officers to lie on police reports to cover up illegal searches for guns and drugs, according to the CBS News program "60 Minutes."

Keith Herrera, who was interviewed by CBS anchor Katie Couric for a story set to air Sunday, said supervisors encouraged falsifying reports to make cases appear more solid in court.

" 'Creative writing' was a certain term that bosses used to make sure that the job got done," he said. "I didn't just pick up a pen and just learn how to [lie on reports]. Bosses, guys that I work with who were older than I was ... It's taught to you."

Herrera faces as many as 30 years in prison if convicted of armed violence, home invasion, robbery and other charges brought in 2006.

Herrera described lying as a means to get criminals off the street, even if officers did not have solid evidence.

"Do you want that guy ... that just shot somebody to not go to jail because he threw the gun?" Herrera said in the interview. "Or do you want him to go to jail because he never let the gun out of his hand? ... I know what I've got to do."

According to a partial transcript released Friday by CBS, Herrera acknowledged he stole money.

Herrera, 30, is the first of seven indicted officers to speak publicly about the investigation since they were charged in September 2006.

Police spokeswoman Monique Bond said that the charges against Herrera were partly the result of a police internal investigation and that accountability measures instituted under new Supt. Jody Weis "have been enhanced and implemented to ensure the highest level of professional conduct and moral integrity."

In the interview, Herrera said he was the FBI informant who secretly recorded indicted officer Jerry Finnigan planning to hire a hit man to kill a fellow officer.

Officer Accused Of Exposing Himself

A Woodburn, Oregon police officer accused of exposing himself was arrested at his home in Salem on Saturday night.

Neighbors said they called police when they saw Jose "Tony" Rodriguez standing in his doorway with his pants down, inappropriately touching himself.

When Salem police arrived at the home, Rodriguez admitted to the lewd act, police said.

Officers said Rodriguez told them he was depressed.

Rodriguez has been placed on administrative leave, pending the outcome of the criminal investigation, a police department representative said Monday.

Mayor and Police Officer both Indicted

Victoria, Texas Mayor Will Armstrong has been indicted in a widening probe accusing top city officials, including the police chief, of tampering with a criminal case against a former sheriff facing child sex charges.

Armstrong and Victoria police Lt. Ralph Buentello were indicted Friday on conspiracy and other charges tied to the investigation last year of former Victoria County Sheriff Michael Ratcliff, who was accused of sexually assaulting a teenage boy.

Earlier this week, Victoria Police Chief Bruce Ure and former city attorney David Smith were indicted on charges alleging they leaked information about the case to a local reporter.

The charges facing the four men have rattled this South Texas town and widened a rift between city leaders and Victoria County prosecutors. City officials say they became involved in the Ratcliff investigation amid concerns over a lack of progress.

"We have not been presented with any evidence indicating their actions failed to comply with the law," City Attorney Miles Risley said in Saturday's editions of the Victoria Advocate.

Risley read the statement to a crowd that included more than 50 police supporters.

Ratcliff was indicted in October on three counts of sexually assaulting a teenage boy. He was accused of offering the boy a swap of sexual favors for a nicer cell in the hospital wing when the boy was an inmate.

Prior to his arrest Friday, Armstrong had strongly defended Ure and Smith and accused District Attorney Stephen Tyler of playing politics.

Tyler has called the May 2007 trial of a Victoria police officer, who was acquitted of sexual harassment, as the start of a rift between him and Ure. Tyler was highly critical of the city for keeping the officer on the force.

Armstrong was indicted on misuse of official information and criminal conspiracy, both felonies. Buentello faces the same charges, plus he was indicted on aggravated perjury, tampering with a witness and official oppression.

Armstrong said he had been advised not to comment. Buentello said he thinks "everything is going to be fine," the newspaper reported.

The mayor, police chief and Buentello will continue working despite their indictments this week.

Tyler said the indictments prove the laws apply to everyone.

"We are all supposed to live and comport ourselves with the law," Tyler said. "All of us. No exceptions."

A Fifth Police Officer In Madison Is Fired

A fifth town police officer linked to a series of scandals in the department was fired Thursday by the board of police commissioners.

Town Attorney William Clendenen said that commissioners sustained all the charges against Officer Daniel Hedges, who was charged with eight departmental violations, including conduct unbecoming an officer, lack of respect, lack of civility and failure to adhere to the oath of office and the code of ethics.

Hedges is accused of throwing his badge and a loaded service weapon onto the pavement outside police headquarters after a dispute with management in 2006. The gun, with a round in the chamber, hit the ground and skidded toward a supervisor, according to police department documents.

Hedges is also accused of telling a dispatcher that any supervisor who went to his house to order him to work an overtime shift "better watch out for the red dot on their forehead" — an alleged reference to the laser sight on a sniper rifle, police documents said.

In 2007, Hedges allegedly said, "I have some names I'd like to add to the list," when ordered by a sergeant to remain on patrol during the dedication of a plaque for officers who had died.

Four other police officers have been fired in the past year, and the department's police chief is serving a suspension.

In January, Officer Matthew Sterling was fired on sexual misconduct and other charges related to corruption on the midnight shift. He and fellow Officer Bernard Durgin Jr. were accused of frequenting strip clubs, massage parlors and prostitutes in Bridgeport. Durgin was fired late last year.

Durgin also faces criminal charges at Superior Court in New Haven after his arrest on charges of interfering with a police investigation in New Haven on behalf of a friend while off-duty. Police said that he also looked up the names of women he knew on police computer databases, committed a workers' compensation scam and threatened witnesses.

In addition, Sgt. Timothy Heiden was fired on charges that included failing to supervise the officers on his shift. And Officer Joseph Gambardella was terminated after he was arrested on charges of stealing $900 worth of lobsters and meat from a local restaurant and $500 worth of gasoline from the town's public works garage.

Last month, the police commission suspended Police Chief Paul D. Jakubson and began an investigation of his conduct.

Former Officer Feliciano Sanchez Arrested on sexual assault charges

Feliciano Sanchez, 33, is charged in a federal indictment with sexually assaulting a motorist after stopping her for a traffic violation in 2007.

A former Bell police officer was arrested by federal agents today after being indicted on federal civil rights charges and accused of forcing a woman to have sex with him while he was on duty.

Feliciano Sanchez, 33, of Pico Rivera sexually assaulted the woman after a traffic stop last year, according to the indictment filed in U.S. District Court in Los Angeles.

After pulling the woman over, Sanchez drove her to a remote area, where he forced her to engage in a sex act, the court documents state. The indictment also charges Sanchez with using a firearm during the commission of a crime of violence.

Sanchez is expected to appear in federal court this afternoon. If convicted, he faces a potential life sentence, federal prosecutors said.

Officer Sentenced to Year for Sexual Misconduct

A former Salisbury police officer convicted of misconduct for having sex with a woman he arrested was sentenced to a year in jail.

Twenty-seven year-old Tracy Ross Sparpaglione of Laurel was acquitted of rape, but found guilty on charges of misconduct in April. The former officer's attorney said an appeal was planned.

According to testimony at his bench trial, Sparpaglione had been an officer for about six months when he went to the 19-year-old woman's home last May, about four hours after arresting her for allegedly striking her mother-in-law with a filled water bottle.

Prosecutors argued that Sparpaglione intimidated the woman into having sex with him. But a defense attorney contended the sex was consensual and questioned the woman's credibility.

Two Veteran Miami Officers Charged with Corruption

Two veteran police officers were charged Friday with providing protection for purported shipments of cocaine and stolen goods in what was actually an undercover FBI operation.

Officer Geovani Nunez and Detective Jorge Hernandez are accused in court documents of helping protect shipments of what they thought were stolen televisions and computers and at least 12 kilograms of cocaine — sometimes by using their police cars to escort trucks.

Prosecutors said the 13-year veterans of the Miami Police Department were paid a combined $39,500 by a secret FBI informant they thought was involved in illegal businesses, prosecutors said.

Nunez and Hernandez were released on bail after appearing briefly in court. Nunez's attorney, Michael Catalano, said the allegedly illegal conduct was staged and not real because it was an FBI sting. Catalano also said the officers would fight the charges, which carry potential life sentences.

"They are charged with committing crimes that did not exist," he said.

It was not immediately clear if Hernandez had an attorney.

Police Chief John Timoney said the two officers would be fired.

"These two, as far as I'm concerned, are aberrations," he said.

U.S. Attorney R. Alexander Acosta said the case was particularly disheartening in a year when several South Florida police officers have died in the line of duty.

"It is sad that a handful of individuals choose to repay their colleagues' sacrifice through criminal conduct," Acosta said.

The case is similar to a recent FBI sting that led to guilty pleas from five officers in Hollywood, Fla. Four received lengthy prison sentences.

Police Focusing too Much on Minor Crimes

I recently read an interesting article in the UK about how law enforcement were focusing too much on minor crimes, just to meet a quota. The same thing is happening here in the US. Officers are on a rampage, stopping, writing tickets, and sometimes arresting individuals over minor offenses at a pace that of approximately one every 10 minutes. How did I arrive at this number? By watching our fine officers perform their duty of protecting and serving.

Police often choose to tackle "trivial" offences instead of serious crimes to help them meet government targets, a right-wing think tank has said.

I was doing some local shopping today, paying a few bills, and running errands that needed to be done, all the time watching not only local law enforcement, but Highway Patrol officers, stopping individuals at a record pace. It is known that it takes an officer an average of 15 minutes for each stop he performs, but not recently. Just one block from leaving my house. I encounter one officer out of his car writing a ticket to a lady. Before I made it to the stop sign at the corner, I saw the officer pull away and hit his lights on another victim.

Police forces, and the government, risked alienating the public by concentrating on "easy-to-deal-with offending" like speeding.

Just a couple more blocks away, I watched as an officer whip around in the road in front of me and went after someone else. A little farther down, I see a highway patrolman pulling a woman over. I drove just a couple more blocks, near O’ Riley’s Auto Parts store, and saw a man pulled over with two police cars ‘assisting’ him with a ticket or two. And I’m not even a mile away from my house!!!

Arresting or fining a normally law-abiding person for a minor offence was a good way of achieving this target and pleasing those higher up.

I pick up some food from Sonic as I’m watching the officers, one of them finally leave and immediately hit the lights on someone else. Totally time driving through town, I watched as over 15 people were stopped and giving tickets. Time...less than one hour.

The pamphlet, written by journalist Harriet Sergeant, said many officers were expected to complete a certain number of "sanction detections" a month, either by charging, cautioning or fining an offender, and are offered performance-related pay bonuses.

"In order to meet targets, police are now classifying incidents as crimes that would previously have been dealt with informally, classified differently or ignored," said the pamphlet.

One officer was quoted as saying he warned his teenage son to take extra care at the end of the month when police were looking to fill their quota.

"Complaints against the police have risen, with much of the increase coming from law-abiding, middle-class, middle-aged and retired people who no longer feel that the police are on their side."

The author recommended the problem be tackled by removing targets and that a new local tax should pay for policing.

Officer Warren Knight Accused Of Assaulting Family Member

A Norwich police officer faces assault charges, the third officer to have been arrested in the last year.

Officer Warren Knight, 45, was arrested Wednesday and charged with third-degree assault and disorderly conduct. State police said Knight turned himself to Troop E in Montville after a warrant was issued for his arrest. He is accused of assaulting a male family member.

Police said Knight, who lives on North Burnham Highway in Lisbon, was off-duty at the time of the assault.

Knight reportedly made the Norwich Police Department aware of the incident and was put on desk duty. The department will also conduct an internal investigation.

Knight isn't the first Norwich officer to get in trouble with the law. Lt. Michael Blanchette was recently charged with drug possession while in New York, and former Officer Jamie Longolucco faces multiple charges after a fight with two women at a New London apartment.

Some Norwich residents said the numerous allegations have them questioning the integrity of the police department.

"He shouldn't be doing that," Norwich resident Eric Gallegous said. "They obviously know better, especially Norwich police."

Norwich resident Ken O'Neal said the arrest has shaken his faith in the police department even further.

"Honestly, I didn't have too much faith in the Norwich police department to begin with," he said. "So, is it shaky? It makes me nervous to think that the people that we're supposed to respect to serve and protect are now assaulting their family members."

Knight was released on a promise to appear in court. He will be arraigned Thursday in New London Superior Court.

Officer Carie Hooker Accused of Shoplifting

An off-duty Chicago Police officer was arrested on suspicion of stealing more than $100 in women's clothing at a Kohl's store in Chicago Ridge, village police said.

Officer Carie Hooker, 39, was charged Monday with retail theft.

The store's security officers stopped Hooker as she left about 5 p.m. from the store at 9700 Ridgeland Ave. She was released after posting bail.

Chicago Police late Tuesday didn't provide any details on Hooker's assignment, but records show she started work in Chicago in March 1997.

The arrest comes after another Chicago officer was arrested for allegedly battering a couple in Niles Saturday.

Officer James David Burnett Arrested for Domestic Violence

An Oklahoma City officer was arrested late Thursday on suspicion of domestic abuse, police said.

Officer James David Burnett was taken into custody Thursday night after officers responded to a domestic disturbance call at a home in southwest Oklahoma City.

Investigators said officers found Burnett and a woman who had bruises and cuts on her face.

"The officer, David Burnett, has been placed on suspension with pay. He's a 26-year veteran on the police department," said Sgt. Gary Knight.

Prosecutors said they have not filed charges against Burnett.

Oklahoma City police officials said the department is investigating the case.

Two Norfolk Officers Accused of Criminal Offences

Two Norfolk police officers accused of criminal offences have seen their cases sent to crown court.

Stephen Price, 44, of Jasmine Court, Attleborough, face three counts of fraud. He appeared at Norwich Magistrates' Court this morning where he entered no plea. He was released on bail to appear at Norfolk Crown Court on June 25.

Mark Murphy, 39, of Granary Close, Lingwood, also appeared before magistrates. He has already denied offences including assault, carrying a knife in public, possessing ammunition for a firearm without a certificate, harassment causing fear of violence and failing to provide a breath specimen.

He now faces an additional charge of drink driving relating to an alleged incident near Downham Market on March 1. He pleaded not guilty to this offence.

Mr Murphy was released on conditional bail to appear at the crown court on June 25. He will appear at magistrates later on the same day for proceedings relating to the drink driving offence.

Two Philadelphia Officers charged with beating graffiti artist

Two Philadelphia police officers were charged this morning with beating up a 36-year-man they found painting graffiti in August, and falsifying records to make it appear they had not been near the encounter.

District Attorney Lynn M. Abraham announced the charges against Officers Sheldon Fitzgerald and Howard Hill III, both five-year veterans from the 25th district. Police Commissioner Charles H. Ramsey said the pair were suspended without pay and would be fired.

The charges come on the heels of Ramsey's decision last week to discipline eight officers -- including firing four -- for using excessive force in a videotaped beating earlier this month.

Abraham said it was a coincidence that the latest charges were filed now. "I don't time anything," she said.

Abraham said the two officers stopped David Vernitsky, 36, at 12:30 a.m. on August 26 near 4th Street and Wyoming Avenue in Feltonville, where they found him spray-painting graffiti on the wall of a friend who was newly married. She said Vernitsky fled, the officers caught him, beat him, handcuffed him and tossed him in the back of their patrol car, head first.

After running a check on his records and finding no outstanding warrants against Vernitsky, the officers released him. Two friends who had seen part of the alleged assault took Vernitsky to the hospital, where he was treated for a broken jaw that required his jaw be wired shut for five weeks. He also lost three teeth.

Vernitsky was not charged with anything, Abraham said.

The officers then attempted to cover up their encounter by filing a false entry in their patrol log showing they were at another location at the time, Abraham said.

"This is another statement that excessive force will not be tolerated," said Ramsey, who attended the district attorney's news conference.

John J. McNesby, president of Lodge Five of the Fraternal Order of Police, said the allegations against the officers were a "fabrication" and the police union would defend its members.

"Instead of tracking the murder rate in Philadelphia, they should start tracking the persecution rate of Philadelphia police officers for going out and doing their job on a daily basis," he said.

More Cops Accused of Brutality

THERE IS JUSTICE. Then there's street justice.
David Vernitsky said yesterday that he felt like he got a painful dose of both.

"Those officers shouldn't have done what they did," Vernitsky remarked, understatedly.

In a move that rattled the city's law-enforcement community, District Attorney Lynne M. Abraham yesterday filed criminal charges against two police officers accused of busting Vernitsky's jaw after catching him spray-painting a congratulatory message to a newlywed couple on a wall in North Philadelphia.

Not only did the officers unmercifully beat Vernitsky, said Abraham, but they tried to cover up the thrashing by intentionally failing to document the pedestrian stop. After working over Vernitsky, the officers told him to scram, she said. He was not charged with a crime.

Abraham ordered the two officers - Sheldon Fitzgerald and Howard Hill III - to turn themselves in and submit to arrest within 72 hours. The officers, both five-year veterans from the 25th District on Whitaker Avenue near Erie, have been suspended without pay and will be fired, authorities said.

The charges came a week after Police Commissioner Charles Ramsey fired four officers and disciplined four others for their role in a videotaped beating that gave Philadelphia a black eye. Hill and Fitzgerald, who did not return phone messages left by the Daily News, were not involved in the May 5 beating, authorities said.

Ramsey stood stoically by Abraham's side as she detailed the case against Hill, 30, and Fitzgerald, 29, during a morning news conference at the District Attorney's Office in Center City.

"I do think it's an understatement that excessive force simply will not be tolerated in our department," Ramsey said after Abraham finished. "It's very unfortunate in the sense that, in light of the most recent videotaped incident, these things coming in short order."

For the second time this month, Ramsey stressed that the behavior of these officers was not a reflection on the 6,700-member force as a whole.

And once again, John J. McNesby, president of Lodge 5 of the Fraternal Order of Police, lashed out at Ramsey.

"This is a disgrace," McNesby said yesterday. "It can't get any worse . . . Instead of tracking murders in Philadelphia, we should be tracking the persecution of police officers. It's open season on police officers. Not only do we have to watch out for the criminals on the street, but we have to watch out for the people we work for."

McNesby said he believes that Vernitsky fabricated the allegations against Fitzgerald and Hill, and asserted that Vernitsky didn't immediately go to the hospital. McNesby also said Internal Affairs investigators have yet to interview Fitzgerald and Hill to get their version of events.

Vernitsky, 37, seemed a bit shell-shocked by the media attention. In the early afternoon, reporters staked out his home in the city's Logan section, then waited for him to arrive at his job at a North Philly packaging company.

Vernitsky responded to questions from a reporter with "yes, "no," and "I don't know" - the latter when asked if he planned to file a civil lawsuit. He said he wished the officers had simply arrested him for the graffiti, rather than attack and release him.

Vernitsky's police encounter began at about 12:30 a.m. last Aug. 26, near 4th Street and Wyoming Avenue, where Fitzgerald and Hill spotted him spray-painting on the wall of a beauty-supply business.

He had just attended a wedding in Port Richmond with some other buddies and wanted to scrawl a tribute to the couple. He had spray-painted the first few letters when Fitzgerald and Hill drove by in a police cruiser, according to Abraham.

Hill, who was driving, made a quick U-turn and Vernitsky ran off. That's when Fitzgerald jumped out of the squad car, chasing Vernitsky. When Fitzgerald caught up to Vernitsky, he knocked him down and kicked and punched him, Abraham said. Hill then exited the car and joined his partner, she said.

"The two officers began to pummel and kick and beat Mister Vernitsky," Abraham said.

The officers then handcuffed Vernitsky, then 36, and threw him into the police car. They searched his pockets and demanded to know if he was wanted for any crimes, Abraham said.

When the officers learned Vernitsky was not on a wanted list, they returned his identification and told him to get lost, she said.

Vernitsky's friends caught up with him about half block from the graffiti spot. They took him home, and later to the Albert Einstein Medical Center, where he was hospitalized for five days for a broken and dislocated jaw, bruises, and injuries to his face, ribs and groin, Abraham said.

The next morning, Vernitsky's mother contacted Internal Affairs, which launched an investigation and later referred the case to city prosecutors, Abraham said.

Abraham charged Fitzgerald and Hill with aggravated assault, a first-degree felony, simple assault, reckless endangerment, tampering with public records and criminal conspiracy. Abraham said the officers could face substantial prison time.

In addition, Ramsey has reopened a previously closed citizen complaint filed against Fitzgerald and Hill in 2007. That complaint waged allegations similar to Vernitsky's, said police spokesman Lt. Frank Vanore.

"There was a complaint in their history that was very similar to this allegation," Vanore said. "In light of this case, the commissioner wanted it reopened."

Internal Affairs investigators were unable to sustain the allegations in that case because the victim was uncooperative, Vanore said.

Yesterday, Kelvyn Anderson, deputy director of the Philadelphia Police Advisory Commission, said Abraham's actions against Fitzgerald and Hill were highly unusual, if not unprecedented.

"It's certainly rather extraordinary for the district attorney to take such a step," Anderson said. "Obviously they felt that they had enough evidence to do so. It will be interesting to see what happens from here."

Hill comes from a law-enforcement family. His brother is a police officer in the 15th District in the Northeast and his father is a retired corrections officer.

Howard Hill Jr., 52, defended his son yesterday, calling him an honest and hardworking man who defended his country while in the Army.

"It almost seems like a witch hunt," Hill Jr. said.

"What aggravates me is he is not being given the benefit of the doubt. The district attorney is turning around and making it sound like he's already been convicted, and that's wrong. That's defamation of character."

He said his son learned about the allegations against him on April 18. His son came to him, his head in his hands. When he looked up at his father, he had tears in his eyes. He swore that the allegations were untrue, Hill Jr. said.

"I said, 'As your father, I want to know the truth.' I asked him straight out," Hill Jr. said. "You can tell when you have a kid when there is something they are telling you that's not the truth. I can just look at him and know. He's got one of those faces."

Hill Jr. said his son explained that if he had used force against someone, there'd be a reason and the person would be arrested.

"It just doesn't add up," Hill Jr. said. "The whole thing stinks to high heaven."

Hill Jr. questioned what kind of man, especially a 36-year-old, would be out in the middle of the night spray-painting a wall.

Vernitsky has had a few prior brushes with the law. In 2006, he was charged with criminal mischief. A judge sentenced him to 25 hours of community service. In 1997, he was charged with arson, reckless endangerment, risking catastrophe and criminal mischief. He was found guilty of criminal mischief only and got one year probation, court records show.

Deputy Michael Galvan Pleads Guilty to Rape and Embezzlement

A Stanislaus, California Deputy waved his right to a hearing in rape and embezzlement case.

Sheriff Deputy Michael Galvan, 31, was a former school resource officer accused of rape and stealing public money, pleaded guilty to 2 felonies this morning in Stanislaus County Superior Court, as part of a plea deal that will result in a 16 month sentence.

Deputy Galvan, of Turlock said little more than "yes, sir" and "no contest" as he entered pleas. Judge Donald Shaver promised concurrent sentences for two serious felonies, assault under the color of authority and embezzlement.

Chief Deputy District Attorney Dave Harris dropped three other charges in return for Galvan's plea: rape with threat of use of authority, misappropriation of public money and possession of a dangerous weapon.

The prosecutor said he offered the deal so the victim and her children would not have to testify at trial.

"This is the best resolution for everybody involved," Harris said.

In a legal claim that is the precursor to a lawsuit, the woman said Galvan threatened to have her children taken away from her if she complained about him. An affidavit supporting an arrest warrant said Galvan was the subject of an FBI sting because a gang task force received complaints about him.

The victim, who is referred to as Jane Doe in a criminal complaint, due to the nature of the charges. She may address the court when Galvan is sentenced June 24.

The judge ordered Galvan to pay restitution to replace $1,149 he pocketed during a sting operation at Hanshaw Middle School, where Galvan had been posted. The deputy has been on unpaid leave since he was arrested, on the job, on Dec. 1, 2006.

Galvan has no prior record, so he likely will serve half of the time, or nine months, behind bars. He will be on parole for three years after his release and will not be able to hold a public service job again.

Officer Jared Dausch Charged with Beating Two Women

Officer Jared Dausch has been charged with beating two women and driving drunk. Indiana State Police say more charges could follow.

State police say a fight with officer Dausch's fiancee, Christina Good, spiraled out of control Saturday night when he hit Good and her friend. Later they say Dausch broke into a home where the two women went for safety. Not long after that, Dausch was pulled over and arrested for drunk driving.

Several residents say they are not surprised at what happened. Resident Michael Whiteford says he’s had run-ins with Officer Dausch before. "The way I look at him now, he's under some kind of power trip," Whiteford says. "He has that badge and he thinks he can shove other people around."

An original complaint against Whiteford shows he was arrested by officer Dausch in 2004 for public intoxication. A year later the charges were dismissed. Whiteford claims he was threatened by Dausch when all he was doing was drinking coffee outside his apartment building.

"We was asking the officer what's going on here. I thought I was a suspect in a robbery or something. He kept screaming get down on the ground...get down on the ground," says Whiteford.

Aurora police wouldn't comment on Dausch's arrest or his record. But in the department's lobby you'll find Dausch's name on a plaque. In 2006 he was named officer of the year. The plaque won't tell you the year before Dausch was suspended for conduct unbecoming an officer. His four years on the force have been troubled.

"There's good officers here in Aurora, but we also got some crooked ones in Aurora," says Whiteford.

In 2005, Dausch was suspended for 15 days after investigators found he was showing compromising pictures of a female reserve officer. Dausch said at the time those pictures were nothing beyond what you'd find in sports illustrated. In 2004 Dausch was investigated by the Dearborn County Sheriff's Department for allegations of battery on his then pregnant girlfriend. Dausch denied those allegations.

Veteran Officer John Degon Files False Report

A 14-year veteran of the Police Department was arrested yesterday for allegedly helping another city man commit insurance fraud by filing a phony report in his own department.

Officer John M. Degon, 38, of Worcester, and Timothy LaFratta, 25, of 19 Modoc St., Worcester, were both arrested last night after police learned a 1997 Jeep Wrangler, reported stolen by Mr. LaFratta on May 17, was in fact not stolen and the officer allegedly helped hide the false claim.

Police Chief Gary J. Gemme confirmed that the officer took a report from Mr. LaFratta knowing the vehicle was not stolen, then filed that report with his department.

Other police officers became aware of the false report and told supervisors, the chief said.

“Because of the nature of this incident we’re going to have to investigate other reports that Officer Degon has filed,” Chief Gemme said. Police need to make sure this was an isolated incident and not a pattern of behavior, he said.

Both men will be arraigned in Central District Court today.

Mr. LaFratta will be charged with insurance fraud and conspiracy to commit insurance fraud. Officer Degon will be charged with conspiracy to commit insurance fraud and concealing a motor vehicle with intent to defraud insurance. Chief Gemme said the investigation is ongoing and expects other charges to be filed against the officer.

After the May 17 report, police began investigating the theft and used the Jeep’s LoJack system to find it, police spokesman Sgt. Kerry F. Hazelhurst said. The Jeep was discovered two days later at Somerville and Stoneham streets.

“Information was brought to light during the investigation that Officer Degon was involved with the owner of the vehicle in regard to the fraudulent report that the vehicle was stolen,” the sergeant said.

The department’s Bureau of Professional Standards and Detective Bureau continue both internal and criminal investigations.

Chief Gemme will discuss the matter with city officials and request that Officer Degon be immediately suspended without pay. He will then make a further recommendation to City Manager Michael V. O’Brien.

“My recommendation to the manager will be termination,” Chief Gemme said last night.

The chief said his department wanted to be up front with the public about the arrest, noting the officer allegedly committed a crime and violated his oath.

“I support the hardworking men and women of the Worcester Police Department and I will continue to support them and if and when we have an incident of this nature we will take appropriate action,” he said. “We want to reassure the public that 99.9 percent of all the officers come to work every day and do a difficult job with integrity.”

The chief said the message is two-fold: the Police Department has the ability to police itself and the public should know that and; he supports his officers and the public should know that as well.

“This came about because police officers in the Worcester Police Department and police officials recognized a crime was committed and came forward,” Chief Gemme said. “This crime would not have surfaced if it wasn’t for honest police officers and supervisors who came across information during their normal duties.”

Chief Gemme said he is sure some people in the community will look at some of the 450 sworn officers differently right now. But he noted the officers in his department know the rules and know if they are found to have committed a crime, they will be arrested.

“I think the members of the Worcester Police Department support this kind of action,” he said. “They don’t want to be associated with an officer who is committing a crime.”

Cpl Minh Tran Arrested for Bribery

A Dallas police officer was arrested Wednesday on suspicion that he demanded and accepted money for not reporting potential violations of gambling laws, police said.

Senior Cpl. Minh Tran, 54, was arrested without incident on a felony bribery charge about 7 p.m. near Lakeland Drive and Ferguson Road, police said. The location of the arrest is believed to be a gambling hall.

The charge leveled against Cpl. Tran, who has been with the department since 2001, reportedly stems from an alleged shakedown of a Vietnamese family that was running a gambling operation.

Cpl. Tran is assigned to the northeast patrol division. He has been placed on administrative leave pending the outcome of an internal affairs investigation, police said.

Last year, he was suspended for one day after internal investigators found that he refused to take a report from a victim who had just been robbed. “Instead, he instructed the citizen to call 911 because he was near the end of his shift,” department records show.

The suspension was subsequently reduced to a supervisor’s disciplinary report by Police Chief David Kunkle.

Officer Accused of Molesting Teen Girl

Officer Thomas Newton Durdick, a patrolman with the Simpsonville Police Department, has been arrested and charged with criminal sexual misconduct.

He is accused of molesting a teenage girl almost four years ago. Investigators say the girl told them that when she was 15 years old Officer Durdick molested her.

He's on administrative leave pending the outcome of the investigation.

He's being held in Greenville County Detention Center on an $80,000 bond.

Officer Bill Hernandez Arrested For DWI

A Fort Worth police officer was charged Friday with driving while intoxicated while off duty after being arrested last weekend by a Tarrant Regional Water District officer in northwest Fort Worth.

Guillermo "Bill" Hernandez, 40, has been placed on restricted duty -- he is not allowed to carry a badge or gun -- until an internal investigation is complete, said Lt. Paul Henderson, a police spokesman.

Hernandez could not be reached to comment Friday evening.

According to an offense report, the water district officer was traveling west on Texas 199 behind Hernandez's pickup about 2 a.m. May 17 when he saw the driver swerve onto the shoulder and back into his lane more than once and saw him run a red light while turning onto Boat Club Road.

The report stated that the officer tried unsuccessfully to reach police from the jurisdictions the pickup went through but eventually pulled it over himself on Reef Point Lane after seeing the truck nearly strike another vehicle.

The officer reported that a strong odor of alcohol came from the pickup's cab and Hernandez's breath, and that Hernandez's speech was slurred. Hernandez told the officer that he was heading home from a bar on Camp Bowie Boulevard and that he had shifted lanes because he and his girlfriend, a passenger, were fighting, and that the wheel had been jerked around, the report states. Hernandez said he was unaware that he ran a red light and apologized, the report stated.

A Tarrant County sheriff's deputy arrived and supported the officer's observations about the smell of alcohol and Hernandez's red, watery eyes and slurred speech.

While waiting for a Fort Worth police supervisor to arrive, "Hernandez also stated that he had done many good things and that the good things should outweigh the bad and that I should show some professional courtesy," the water district officer noted in his report.

Hernandez was booked into the Tarrant County Jail but was released after posting $500 bail.

Hernandez first joined the Police Department in 1994 but left to pursue a career in federal law enforcement after attaining the rank of sergeant. He was rehired as a Fort Worth officer in 2006.

Maywood Officer Charged With Raping Three Women

Former Maywood police officer Ryan Allen West, 28, has been charged with 12 felony counts, including rape by threat to arrest or deport, sexual penetration by a foreign object, oral copulation under color of authority, assault by a public officer, burglary and sexual battery by restraint. All these crimes happened while Officer West was in uniform and on duty.

The investigation began last year after one of the women went to a hospital and reported that she had been raped by an officer. Two more victims were discovered during the investigation, authorities said.

West was arrested at his Riverside County home by the District Attorney’s Bureau of Investigation, and was charged Wednesday. All the crimes were committed while Officer West was on duty in 2006 and 2007.

West was the Maywood Police Department’s canine officer until March of this year.

He was taken to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Station in San Dimas, where he is being held on a $640,000 bail. West faces up to 24 years in prison.

This is another black eye for the small southeast L.A. County police department, which has long had a reputation of hiring MISFIT cops. Last year, the city’s police department found that at least one third of the officers on the force had either left other police jobs under a cloud or had brushes with the law while working for Maywood. Several officers in recent years left Maywood after being convicted of crimes.

West was hired by Maywood in September 2004 after he resigned amid allegations of misconduct in his job as a police officer in Brawley, Calif., about 30 miles north of Mexicali, Mexico, according to a law enforcement source.

West also was the subject of misconduct allegations in Maywood.

In July 2006, two students accused him and two other officers of handcuffing them and using a Taser on their genitals in an attack outside a Maywood bar. The students, who were not arrested, later filed a civil rights lawsuit against the officers and the department. West had been scheduled to give a deposition Wednesday, said the students' attorney, Ralph M. Rios.

The officers and the city have denied any wrongdoing.

Francisco Leal, who worked as the Maywood city attorney from November 2006 until March, said West was fired in March after a woman accused him of rape.

The woman alleged that West approached her while on duty and in uniform on May 18, 2007, and threatened to take her into custody on an outstanding warrant unless she met him at a local hotel, Leal said. West admitted that he had sex with the woman at the hotel but insisted that the encounter was consensual, Leal said.

Police officials did not determine whether West's actions amounted to rape but decided that he should be fired anyway.

"Our officers cannot be having sex on duty, period," Leal said.

West's attorney who represented him in the disciplinary case declined to comment Wednesday.

Maywood Mayor Felipe Aguirre said city officials were working to restore trust in the department and praised Police Chief Frank Hauptmann for firing West.

"We're not going to tolerate this type of situation. We're going to move on it," Aguirre said. "This shouldn't reflect on the rest of the department."

The woman's complaint also triggered a criminal investigation into West's conduct.

Similar complaints from two other women also surfaced, said Deputy Dist. Atty. Margo Baxter, who is assigned to the district attorney's division that prosecutes law enforcement officers.

Baxter said a prosecutor handling an unrelated case learned that a second woman alleged that she had been sexually assaulted by a Maywood officer and forwarded the information to the district attorney's justice system integrity division.

A third woman, who was a witness in another unrelated case, told a defense attorney that she had been sexually assaulted by a Maywood officer, Baxter said. The attorney then notified the district attorney's office. Investigators identified West as the assailant in all three cases, she said.

Prosecutors said the attacks occurred between September 2006 and May 2007. Baxter declined to discuss the evidence against West or describe the assaults.

Chicago Cop Accused of Attacking Bar Patrons

Only a day after ABC’s 20/20’s “Are Cops Above the Law?” exposé, where Chicago police were highlighted for their recent rash of drunken cop beaters, another cop is on the beat, so to speak. Gerald Callahan, an off-duty Chicago cop, was arrested for allegedly attacking two patrons at Chambers Seafood Grill & Chop in Niles. Niles police were called to the lounge about 1:50 a.m. Saturday morning, but Callahan had fled. At 2:30 a.m., he was found a few blocks away, passed out in bushes. He was arrested and charged with two counts of battery.

The Chicago Police Department was notified, and they announced Saturday that Callahan had been relieved of his duties pending an investigation. According to the Sun-Times, Callahan has a history:

Callahan has a history of alleged erratic behavior -- keeping his job only after the Police Board rejected former Police Supt. Phil Cline's move to dismiss him in 2006 for threatening his fellow officers.
Callahan was released on bond, and will appear in court on June 17.

Norwich officer arrested on drug charge

NORWICH, Conn. - Norwich's police chief says an internal investigation has begun after the arrest of a police lieutenant on a drug charge in New York City.

New York police say 42-two-year-old Lt. Michael Blanchette was arrested last Friday morning in possession of a small amount of heroin. He was released the same day without bond.

However, Blanchette's younger brother is facing more serious drug charges. Court records show that 29-year-old Anthony Blanchette was arrested in the Bronx on felony drug charges.

New York police say they found 390 envelopes of suspected heroin in Anthony Blanchette's pocket.

Lt. Blanchette reached his 20-year mark with the Norwich Police department last month, but has been out of work on medical leave for the past 16 months.

Police Officer arrested in Connection with fatal shooting

Former Officer Harrison Largo, has been identified by New Mexico State police as the suspect in the murder of a woman he lived with.

McKinley Sheriffs Department investigator Ed Marble said the woman was shot this morning, but her name is not being released at this time.

Investigator Marble says the woman was flown to the University of New Mexico Hospital where she died of her wounds. He also stated that he believe alcohol was a factor in the shooting.

Officer Largo was arrested during a traffic stop on New Mexico 605 north of Milan and was taken into custody without resistance.

Vivian Officer Billy Washington Arrested for Burglary

Vivian Police officer Billy Washington, 46 was arrested by Caddo Parish Sheriff’s Deputies on a burglary charge, after he took furniture from a mobile home in a park he managed.

The woman who lived in the mobile home told sheriff's investigators she had to temporarily move out of her mobile home in Vivian because of a utility problem. When she checked on her property several months later, she found a freezer, two chests, a bed frame, end table and a mirror gone, deputies said.

Deputies said most of the property was taken to a mobile home where Washington lived. When detectives began investigating, it was moved to another residence in Vivian, deputies said.

Along with Washington, 34-year old Carylyn Washington and 41-year old Charles Watson are also charged in connection with the stolen items and booked on simple burglary charges.

Washington moved the furniture to a residence in Vivian after the sheriff's office started investigating, according to Cindy Chadwick, Sheriff's Office spokeswoman.

The sheriff's office recovered the property.

Washington at first denied taking the furniture but later admitted his involvement, according to Chadwick.

Seattle Jury Awards $268,000 for using Excessive Force

In a stunning setback for the Seattle Police Department, a federal civil court jury on Monday found patrol officers made a false and unlawful arrest and used excessive force when they detained and then jailed a young Seattle man on charges of obstruction and resisting arrest.

Romelle Bradford's case was featured in a Seattle P-I investigation of obstruction arrests.

The nine-member jury awarded Romelle Bradford $268,000 in damages. Though they rejected punitive damages, they also found the 2006 arrest was a federal civil rights violation, which means the city must pay Bradford's attorneys fees, an amount not yet determined.

An obviously happy Bradford, 22, said he dreamed last week he was going to win the case. But he had faced a tough uphill battle in waging the lawsuit. The city hasn't lost a police misconduct lawsuit before a judge or jury in more than a decade.

Bradford wasn't seriously injured during the arrest, yet Lem Howell, Bradford's attorney, argued his client suffered an "unseen injury" because the promising young man must from now on answer "yes" whenever a potential employer inquires whether he has ever been arrested.

Juror Debbie Girdler said she was particularly offended that police not only arrested Bradford, but booked and jailed him overnight after it should have been clear to them that Bradford did nothing wrong. Supervising police Sgt. Eric Zerr explained during a deposition that he approved the booking and jailing of Bradford that night in part because they needed to check whether he had suffered any injuries during the arrest and to verify his identification. Police officials told the Seattle P-I that is not a common practice.

"He should have been released," said Girdler, a retired software engineer from Bellevue. "Here we have a person who's never been in trouble with the police. Now he has an arrest record. Because they want to check his ID and his health? That's wrong."

Bradford and the city had gone to mediation, during which Howell said his client would have been ready to settle for $150,000, though he had hoped for $250,000. The city offered only a "nuisance value" of $10,000, then upped it to $25,000 just before trial -- still unacceptable, Howell said.

The arresting officer in the case, Jacob Briskey, said he was "disappointed" by the verdict but offered no other comment.

Bradford has a clean record and in 2003 was named youth of the year in the state for overcoming chronic truancy, getting good grades and for his work helping other disadvantaged youngsters at the Rainier Vista Boys & Girls Club in South Seattle. His case was featured in a Seattle P-I investigation of obstruction arrests, titled "Strong Arm of the Law."

The P-I found blacks were eight times more likely than whites to be arrested for obstruction, and that about half of the cases were dismissed by the City Attorney's Office before trial. Bradford is black.

The criminal charges against him were dismissed before any attempt at prosecution.

It was after a club dance Bradford was supervising in August 2006 that he and club volunteers summoned police because of a potentially unruly crowd outside the club. Briskey, 26, was then a rookie officer. He arrived as things were settling down, spotted Bradford jogging down the street and ordered him to stop. When Bradford didn't halt immediately, Briskey rushed at him and slammed him to the ground.

Bradford said he didn't think the officer was talking to him because he said he was wearing a red T-shirt clearly identifying him as a Boys & Girls Club member. He said he was holding up his club badge and showing the officer his T-shirt when he said the officer decked him with his forearm.

Using the F-word, the young officer threatened to break Bradford's arm as he handcuffed him in front of several youngsters who were protesting that he was, indeed, a staff member trying to help.

After a police station interview in which Bradford insisted he was a staff member, police nevertheless booked and jailed him overnight. Briskey claimed Bradford's failure to immediately stop justified the obstructing charge and that a hesitation to offer one arm during handcuffing -- which Bradford doesn't recall -- justified the resisting charge.

Criminal defense attorneys refer to "obstructing a public officer" arrests by two other monikers: "Contempt of cop" and "the cover charge." Several told the P-I those nicknames are applied because the charges are sometimes abused to punish people for their being "mouthy" or to cover up when police might have used wrongful force against an innocent person.

"Sergeants, lieutenants, captains, assistant chiefs and chiefs should be alerted to the contempt of cop charge," Howell said after Monday's verdict. "These charges by their very nature are suspicious."

Several jurors said after issuing their ruling that they feel the department's internal investigation unit should investigate the case. Howell said he agreed.

Moses Garcia, the private attorney who defended the city and the police against the lawsuit, said there would be no point now in conducting an internal investigation, though he added that ironically an internal investigation might have provided him with more evidence to win his case. He also noted that Bradford didn't file a complaint with internal investigators, a tactical move by his attorney.

The jury didn't rule entirely in Bradford's favor. They found that Briskey had "reasonable suspicion to stop and temporarily detain" Bradford prior to arresting him. Thus they rejected an "illegal seizure" claim. They also found that Briskey didn't act "with evil motive, actual malice, deliberate violence or oppression, with intent to injure, or in willful disregard" for Bradford's rights. They also rejected other claims of "malicious prosecution," "abuse of process" and "assault and battery," denying an unspecified request for punitive damages.

But they did find that Briskey lacked "probable cause" to arrest Bradford, and that the arrest was unlawful. They said the force used was excessive under the federal civil rights law.

Several jurors said their verdict should send a message to the city to better supervise young officers. Several questioned department procedures and leadership. They even questioned the officer's use of the F-word in front of a crowd of Boys & Girls Club youngsters.

"I feel really strongly about (the need to examine the case)," said jury foreman Charles Young of Bothell. "I wouldn't want to be treated like that."

After a four-day trial, the jury took a day and a half to deliberate. Jurors said they spent a lot of time studying the statutes, particularly the obstructing statute, and comparing them to the events. They said they also struggled with the question of whether there was probable cause to arrest. They said though this case involved a civil-rights violation, race issues didn't arise in their deliberations. Briskey is white, but a more senior officer who assisted in the arrest is black.

Magistrate Judge James Donohue told jurors after they issued their verdict that this was "a very difficult case" and that "he was glad he didn't have to (decide) it," Girdler said.

The jurors said they felt Briskey made mistakes because of his lack of experience, and several said they felt badly for him.

"We felt that there should be better mentoring of young officers," said juror David Pippin, a Seattle schoolteacher, who added that Bradford was also very young and shouldn't have been left by his supervisors to oversee the dance that night.

"This was a case about babies arresting babies," said Girdler.

Garcia said he was disappointed in the verdict and took personal responsibility for it. He said he felt he must not have gotten the point across, because the evidence was on his side. He said the police had plenty of probable cause to arrest Bradford and even to jail him on suspicion of obstructing and arresting.

Seattle police have not lost an officer misconduct case before a judge or a jury for at least a decade and probably longer, said Anne Bremner, a partner at Stafford Frey Cooper, the firm that defends the city against such lawsuits. Some notable cases have been settled with payments made to plaintiffs, including a recent excessive force case on Capitol Hill and the settlement with WTO demonstrators.

Bremner said she has not lost such a case before a judge or jury in the 20 years she has defended Seattle officers against lawsuits.

"I was surprised," she said. "Appeal options are being analyzed. The verdict was disappointing given the fact the officers acted in good faith."

Jurors had to sort through conflicting statements. While Bradford and numerous witnesses said he was wearing the identifying red T-shirt, the police officers testified that he was wearing a plain white T-shirt. They did not explain why they took Bradford's red staff T-shirt into custody when they arrested him.

Zerr, the supervising sergeant, also made a misleading statement on an after-action "use of force" report, justifying Briskey's actions. He twice claimed that Bradford took a swing at Briskey. Even Briskey admitted that wasn't true. Zerr later explained that he interpreted Bradford's holding up of his identification badge, which was attached to a key chain, as a move tantamount to taking a swing at the officer. Briskey also claimed he thought the keys might be used as a weapon.

Jurors said Zerr's statements didn't affect them during their deliberations.

Bradford has not yet obtained his high school diploma, but is working on a GED and plans to attend computer classes at Bellevue Community College. He said he hopes to someday work for Microsoft, where he said he has been offered an internship. He said his earlier truancy had affected his ability to finish high school at one point, and he was slowed again by the arrest and the aftermath. He said after the verdict that "a weight has been lifted off of me."

Chicago cop faces charges in beating

A Chicago Police officer has been relieved of his duties after allegedly severely beating two patrons at a north suburban lounge early Saturday morning.

The off-duty officer, Gerald Callahan, 42, was charged with two counts of battery after fleeing the scene of the alleged attack at Chambers Seafood Grill & Chop, at 6881 N. Milwaukee. in Niles.

Callahan has a history of alleged erratic behavior -- keeping his job only after the Police Board rejected former Police Supt. Phil Cline's move to dismiss him in 2006 for threatening his fellow officers.

Niles police were called to the restaurant at about 1:50 a.m. Callahan had fled, police there said. But he was arrested a few blocks away at 2:30 a.m. Sources told WLS-Channel 7 he was found by Niles police passed out in bushes.

Niles police said Saturday night that Callahan had attacked a 61-year-old Morton Grove man and a 50-year-old Niles woman.

"According to ... witnesses, Callahan attacked the two victims for no apparent reason," Niles police Sgt. Tom Davis said.

The man suffered lacerations and bruises to his head and face, while the woman suffered lacerations on her arm and lip, Niles police said.

The incident raises the specter of several incidents in the last year in which Chicago Police officers have been accused in alleged bar brawls or of beating people -- including the infamous February 2007 videotaped beating of a female bartender by a brawny officer.

Police Supt. Jody Weis had looked forward to closure on the bar beating saga, which he called "a very, very sad chapter" for the department.

After Callahan was arrested, the suburban department learned he was a Chicago Police officer.

"The Chicago Police Department was notified," Davis said.

Chicago Police officials said late Saturday night that Callahan was relieved of his police powers and the incident is under investigation.

In 2006, Cline had sought Callahan's dismissal for a 2004 incident in which he allegedly threatened several other officers, allegedly saying he would dump them in a garbage can, and swearing he would rip one officer's "f---ing head off."

Released on bond after the Niles incident, Callahan is due in court at 9 a.m. on June 17.