Officer Andrew Baker Convicted of Obstruction of Justice

James City, VA


A former police officer who lied about getting shot was ordered into counseling and must pay $41,115 restitution to the county and Williamsburg police departments.

That amount covered the cost of the investigation and hospital care for Officer Andrew Baker.

“There’s a lot I could say, but this is a mental health issue,” said defense attorney Rich Rizk, saying it was a family issue that snowballed.

Last December, Baker said he was breaking up a fight behind a church on Pocahontas Trail when he was hit by a bullet.

Investigators say the bullet that hit Baker's Kevlar vest matched a gun he had.

Baker was originallly charged with filing a false police report, but the judge Friday amended that to obstruction of justice. He also found Baker guilty of firing a gun within 300 feet of a business or home.

For those charges, Baker was given a two-year suspended sentence on condition he fulfills the other orders.

“There is no amount of restitution that can fix the black eye he gave to the Windy Hill Community,” said Commonwealth Attorney Nathan Green.

Baker resigned from the force on February 26, 2008.

Officer Aaron York Accused of Lying about Arrest

Austin, TX

Austin Police Officer Aaron York was suspended indefinitely Friday, in connection with an arrest Officer York made in December 2007. Austin Police Chief Art Acevedo said York made untrue statements about an arrest in in official government documents.

Officer York responded to a report of a man screaming in the alley off East Cesar Chavez Street on December 14. York says the man was intoxicated. York said when he tried to make the arrest, the man tried to kick him. For that, he filed a charge of resisting arrest.

In the probable cause affidavit and offense report, York stated that the suspect was violent and resisted arrest. But according to the dashboard video recorded in York's patrol car, Chief Acevedo states that there was no struggle and the suspect did not kick York as he claimed.

"One of the officer's supervisors reviewed the tape in this case and read the offense report and saw a discrepancy. What was in the report wasn't on the video," said Assistant Chief David Carter.

York told integrity officers that he did not lie in his report and wrote what he remembered. The officer is quoted in the memo saying the kick must have happened out of view of the camera. His superiors did not find the story credible. York was fired.

"When police can't be trusted and they swear to something that simply didn't happen, that violates everybody's sense of justice," Carter said.

"The officer will have to explain his actions. I don't think it was his intention at all to misrepresent anything, but we're just going to support his appeal process.

Police have asked the county court to decide whether to charge the man with resisting arrest. Officers say while the man did not show resistance during the arrest, he did during transportation to jail.

Officer York is the ninth officer to be fired under Chief Acevedo.

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Good job Chief Acevedo!!

Officer Anthony Maio Arrested for Sexual assault

NEW HAVEN, Conn

A 13-year veteran of the New Haven police department was arrested Wednesday and charged with sexual assault and unlawful restraint.

Officer Anthony Maio was charged following an internal affairs investigation that was launched on April 19 into his conduct, police said.

Police chief Stephanie Redding refused to detail the complaint, saying she had an obligation to protect the alleged victim and the integrity of the investigation.

"We take these incidents very seriously as this type of behavior from an officer is unacceptable," she said. "Our residents count on us to be role models, to serve them and to provide them with effective community policing. We have a strong internal affairs team that works hard to make sure that we meet or exceed the expectations of our residents."

Maio turned himself in to New Haven Police and was booked on two counts of sexual assault in the fourth degree and two counts of unlawful restraint in the second degree.

City officials could not say if Maio had an attorney.

Maio, who joined the department in 1995, has been put on paid administrative leave while the investigation continues.

Officer Not Charged in fatal Taser case

CLAY, N.Y

An Onondaga County grand jury won't charge a Syracuse-area police officer who used a Taser on a man who later died.

Christopher Jackson went into cardiac arrest in March after Clay Police Officer Kevin Drumm stunned him with a Taser.

Authorities were called to Jackson's apartment for a domestic complaint involving his mother. While Drumm was interviewing a witness, the 37-year-old Jackson tried to grab him.

After warning that he was going to use a Taser, Drumm shot Jackson with the stun device. Within 90 seconds of handcuffing Jackson, officers noticed he was unresponsive and called for paramedics. Jackson was pronounced dead at a local hospital.

Denver Police Officer Arrested on Sex Assault Charge

Police have arrested a former officer accused of sexually assaulting a juvenile female on the 16th Street Mall.

On May 27, family members of the juvenile told police that she had been sexually assaulted at the GNC store at the Denver Pavilions. Police later identified a second juvenile victim and a possible suspect.

On Monday, police issued an arrest warrant for that suspect, former Denver Police officer Joseph Bini. The fugitive unit of the Denver Police Department arrested Bini after the warrant was issued.

Denver Police say the case was presented to the Denver District Attorney's Office, who accepted the case for child enticement and unlawful sexual contact.

It was previously reported Officer Bini was responsible for giving the Denver Police Department SWAT team the wrong address for a search warrant. The SWAT team raided the wrong house.

SWAT team members shot and killed Ishmael Mena, who threatened officers with a gun. Mena's family eventually settled with the city for $400,000. It was later found out Mena was wanted for murder in Mexico.

Officer Bini pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor charge of misconduct and returned to the force after a three-month suspension.

Former Tulsa Officer is Sentenced to Federal Prison

Tulsa, Oklahoma

A former Tulsa Police officer is going to federal prison. Buddy Visser was sentenced on Friday in federal court in Tulsa to 18-months in prison for each of two counts of selling stolen police department guns on the Internet.

The 47-year-old Visser was a firearms instructor for the Tulsa Police Department.

"This case and other recent federal public corruption prosecutions in the Northern District reflect the continuing commitment of my office, the federal investigative agencies and the Tulsa Police Department to root out, expose and bring to justice corrupt public servants, including those working within law enforcement. Our citizens and communities expect and deserve to be served by only the most honest public officials and we will continue to hold them to the highest standards of conduct," said U.S. Attorney David O'Melia.

In addition to prison time, Visser has been ordered to pay $15, 988 in restitution. Also, once he completes his prison sentence, he will serve three years on supervised release.

Deputies Accused of Misconduct

Greensboro, NC

Two Forsyth County sheriff's deputies recently accused of misconduct in separate incidents are no longer with the sheriff's office, a spokesman said yesterday.

Officer Tyrone Davis, 28, is under investigation by the State Bureau of Investigation after being accused of sexual misconduct at the jail, where he was a detention officer, the sheriff's office confirmed.

He stopped working at the sheriff's office on May 23, but Maj. Brad Stanley, a spokesman for the sheriff's office, would not say whether Davis was fired or resigned. Davis had been suspended with pay since April 30, the day after the allegation against him was made. The sheriff's office turned the case over to the SBI.

Davis had been a detention officer since 2004.


Also, Officer Roosevelt Mason Kellum, 40, was no longer with the sheriff's office as of Tuesday, Stanley said. He also would not say whether Kellum was fired.

Kellum is accused of putting his wife in a headlock and punching her repeatedly on May 26. He faces one count of assault on a female. Kellum was a deputy from 1995 to 2005, then he left the sheriff's office to work in the private sector. He returned to the sheriff's office last July and was a courtroom bailiff.

Officer Thomas Lam Charged with making Terrorist Threat

A Houston police officer is facing charges after an altercation in a parking lot on the southwest side of town.

The department said Officer Thomas Lam was off duty early Sunday morning when he and a friend got in a fight with a couple over a parking space.

Officer Lam allegedly threatened the couple. He’s been charged with making a terrorist threat.

The officer’s friend is charged with assault.

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.