PORTLAND
A former Portland police officer convicted of shooting his wife more than a decade ago is in trouble with the law again. This time he was charged with arson.
Former officer in court Investigators arrested 43-year-old Steven Brian Gomez Tuesday, accused of setting an apartment on fire. Detectives said Gomez started a fire at an apartment complex on the 2100 block of North Kilpatrick on November 7, 2008.
In court Wednesday morning, Gomez pleaded not guilty to three counts of arson and three counts of attempted assault. Bail was set at $810,000 and and his next court date was set for April 15.
Three people were inside the apartment at the time of the fire and one person suffered minor burns. Detectives believe that Gomez knew the victims and have been investigating him since.
Last week, a Multnomah County grand jury indicted him on arson and attempted assault charges.
Back in 1997, Gomez confessed to shooting his wife while he was on the Portland police force. At the time, he apologized and said he was playing with the shotgun and didn't know it was loaded.
His wife survived, but Gomez spent 90 days in jail and resigned from the force.
Gomez was being held at the Justice Center in downtown Portland.
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Video: http://www.kgw.com/news-local/stories/kgw_030409_news_gomez_arson_arrest.102fb22.html
Wednesday, March 04, 2009
Family Says Deputy Eric Grundeman Shot their Family Dog
COLLIER COUNTY
A Golden Gate Estates family says a deputy shot their dog. But officials with the sheriff's office say it was only because the dog was threatening the deputy.
Wrinkles, a Rottweiler mix, was allegedly shot by Collier County Sheriff's Deputy Eric Grundeman.
A spokeswoman with the Collier County Sheriff's Office said Grundeman went to the family's house on 47th Avenue Wednesday night after learning about a broken down vehicle.
The deputy claims the dog lunged at him in a threatening manner. He says that is why he shot Wrinkles once with his service weapon.
Family members took him to an animal clinic where he was treated for a punctured lung and released.
The family says it is still puzzled by the deputy's actions.
"I think [deputies] are here to help, not to do things like this - it's not right. They came on to our property to help us supposedly with another situation, making it worse. Now my dog that I've had for 8 years, he could have been gone because of this incident," said dog owner Brendi Gutierrez.
We spoke to Deputy Grundeman on the phone. But all he would say was, "You'll have to take it up through the chain of command."
The Collier County Sheriff's Office says it will conduct an internal investigation. For now though, Grundeman is not under any form if administrative leave.
As for Wrinkles' family members, they say they're planning on pressing charges.
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http://www.nbc-2.com/Articles/readarticle.asp?articleid=26714&z=3
A Golden Gate Estates family says a deputy shot their dog. But officials with the sheriff's office say it was only because the dog was threatening the deputy.
Wrinkles, a Rottweiler mix, was allegedly shot by Collier County Sheriff's Deputy Eric Grundeman.
A spokeswoman with the Collier County Sheriff's Office said Grundeman went to the family's house on 47th Avenue Wednesday night after learning about a broken down vehicle.
The deputy claims the dog lunged at him in a threatening manner. He says that is why he shot Wrinkles once with his service weapon.
Family members took him to an animal clinic where he was treated for a punctured lung and released.
The family says it is still puzzled by the deputy's actions.
"I think [deputies] are here to help, not to do things like this - it's not right. They came on to our property to help us supposedly with another situation, making it worse. Now my dog that I've had for 8 years, he could have been gone because of this incident," said dog owner Brendi Gutierrez.
We spoke to Deputy Grundeman on the phone. But all he would say was, "You'll have to take it up through the chain of command."
The Collier County Sheriff's Office says it will conduct an internal investigation. For now though, Grundeman is not under any form if administrative leave.
As for Wrinkles' family members, they say they're planning on pressing charges.
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http://www.nbc-2.com/Articles/readarticle.asp?articleid=26714&z=3
Former Officer Jonathan Parmalee Charged with Rape
A former Buffalo police officer has been charged with one count of forcible rape and one count of statutory rape.
Jonathan Edward Parmalee is 25. According to charging papers, the alleged victim of the forcible rape was 16, as was the alleged victim of statutory rape, a different person.
The consensual sex with an underage female occurred between March and August 2006, when the victim was 16 and Parmalee was 22. The victim was interviewed by an investigator with the Highway Patrol, the charging papers said.
The act with the second victim occurred between February and May 2008. In that case, Parmalee is alleged to have given a 16-year-old alcohol before raping her.
Both incidents occurred at Parmalee's home in Buffalo, the charging papers said.
Felony forcible rape is punishable by life imprisonment or a term of five to 30 years.
Jonathan Edward Parmalee is 25. According to charging papers, the alleged victim of the forcible rape was 16, as was the alleged victim of statutory rape, a different person.
The consensual sex with an underage female occurred between March and August 2006, when the victim was 16 and Parmalee was 22. The victim was interviewed by an investigator with the Highway Patrol, the charging papers said.
The act with the second victim occurred between February and May 2008. In that case, Parmalee is alleged to have given a 16-year-old alcohol before raping her.
Both incidents occurred at Parmalee's home in Buffalo, the charging papers said.
Felony forcible rape is punishable by life imprisonment or a term of five to 30 years.
To read the charges and probable cause statement, click here.
Tuesday, March 03, 2009
Officer Reben Ramirez Accused of Fondling 9-year-old
CORPUS CHRISTI
A Corpus Christi police officer accused of fondling a nine-year-old girl is out on bond.
Ruben Jaime Ramirez, 32, bonded out of jail late Monday night, just hours after he was arraigned on five counts of indecency with a child. Ramirez is accused of fondling a nine-year-old girl five different times between August 2003 and August 2004.
Ramirez is on leave with pay pending a review of his status with the police department.
A Corpus Christi police officer accused of fondling a nine-year-old girl is out on bond.
Ruben Jaime Ramirez, 32, bonded out of jail late Monday night, just hours after he was arraigned on five counts of indecency with a child. Ramirez is accused of fondling a nine-year-old girl five different times between August 2003 and August 2004.
Ramirez is on leave with pay pending a review of his status with the police department.
Retired Officer Wayne D Anderson Accused of Molesting 8-year-old
Marion County sheriff’s detectives on Monday arrested a 62-year-old retired Connecticut police officer and charged him with capital sexual battery.
Wayne D. Anderson is accused molesting an 8-year-old girl, according to sheriff's officials.
The little girl told her mother about the incident, and the mom contacted law enforcement. The victim told investigators that on three occasions she accompanied Anderson to feed horses and to the mall and that he touched her inappropriately.
Anderson, retired from the Hardford (Conn.) City Police Department, reportedly told detectives he did not think the victim was lying, according to a Sheriff's Office report. He told othem he took another 8-year-old girl out of town with him but did not touch her. Detectives were investigating that claim.
Anderson was arrested and taken to the Marion County Jail.
Deputy Lazaro Mesa Arrested for Stomping Man's Face has been Reinstated
A former Broward Sheriff's Office deputy arrested three years ago and later fired after witnesses accused him of stomping on a man's face has been reinstated by an arbitrator.
Now the agency could be on the hook for as much as $100,000 of Lazaro Mesa's legal fees, according to his attorney.
Mesa, 24, is to be reinstated with back pay, have his seniority restored and receive any raises he would have been entitled to had he remained with the agency, according to arbitrator William J. McGinnis' Feb. 26 ruling.
McGinnis wrote that the agency did not have just cause to fire Mesa, who according to his ruling acted appropriately when he restrained Anthony Monaco on Oct. 30 at JB's on the Beach in Deerfield Beach.
According to arrest documents, Mesa kneed Monaco in the thigh after Monaco began punching and kicking security guards. Monaco still looked like he was going to fight, so Mesa kneed him in the face. Monaco then fell to the floor, hitting his head.
With Monaco on the ground, Mesa put his foot on Monaco's back and handcuffed him, according to the documents.
But several witnesses said they saw Mesa step down on Monaco's head.
A criminal and an internal affairs investigation were initiated after a witness called BSO and said her daughter saw Mesa stomp on Monaco. A mug shot of Monaco taken after the fight shows what appear to be tread marks on his face.
Mesa, however, was acquitted by a jury last year.
And in his report, McGinnis noted that a number of witness statements were conflicting or flawed and that the tread on Monaco's face did not match the tread on Mesa's shoes.
In the ruling, McGinnis questioned the fairness of the agency's internal investigation. He wrote that Monaco's medical records, the shoe tread pattern, and testimony flaws were never presented to a committee tasked with reviewing internal affairs reports.
''I have serious concerns about the fairness of the investigation [because] key information was either withheld or disregarded,'' he wrote.
Alberto Milian, Mesa's attorney, said his client should never have been investigated.
''This is a great thing for my client, but the bigger story here is that BSO and the State Attorney's Office squandered a lot of tax dollars trying to destroy somebody's life,'' he said.
Milian said a circuit court judge will have to enforce the arbitrator's ruling if Mesa is not reinstated within 90 days of the ruling. A judge is already reviewing a petition for $100,000 in legal fees, he said.
Jim Leljedal, a BSO spokesman, would not directly comment on the ruling.
''We are going to have to study the ruling and then take action,'' he said.
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Video: http://www.miamiherald.com/news/breaking-news/story/930940.html
Now the agency could be on the hook for as much as $100,000 of Lazaro Mesa's legal fees, according to his attorney.
Mesa, 24, is to be reinstated with back pay, have his seniority restored and receive any raises he would have been entitled to had he remained with the agency, according to arbitrator William J. McGinnis' Feb. 26 ruling.
McGinnis wrote that the agency did not have just cause to fire Mesa, who according to his ruling acted appropriately when he restrained Anthony Monaco on Oct. 30 at JB's on the Beach in Deerfield Beach.
According to arrest documents, Mesa kneed Monaco in the thigh after Monaco began punching and kicking security guards. Monaco still looked like he was going to fight, so Mesa kneed him in the face. Monaco then fell to the floor, hitting his head.
With Monaco on the ground, Mesa put his foot on Monaco's back and handcuffed him, according to the documents.
But several witnesses said they saw Mesa step down on Monaco's head.
A criminal and an internal affairs investigation were initiated after a witness called BSO and said her daughter saw Mesa stomp on Monaco. A mug shot of Monaco taken after the fight shows what appear to be tread marks on his face.
Mesa, however, was acquitted by a jury last year.
And in his report, McGinnis noted that a number of witness statements were conflicting or flawed and that the tread on Monaco's face did not match the tread on Mesa's shoes.
In the ruling, McGinnis questioned the fairness of the agency's internal investigation. He wrote that Monaco's medical records, the shoe tread pattern, and testimony flaws were never presented to a committee tasked with reviewing internal affairs reports.
''I have serious concerns about the fairness of the investigation [because] key information was either withheld or disregarded,'' he wrote.
Alberto Milian, Mesa's attorney, said his client should never have been investigated.
''This is a great thing for my client, but the bigger story here is that BSO and the State Attorney's Office squandered a lot of tax dollars trying to destroy somebody's life,'' he said.
Milian said a circuit court judge will have to enforce the arbitrator's ruling if Mesa is not reinstated within 90 days of the ruling. A judge is already reviewing a petition for $100,000 in legal fees, he said.
Jim Leljedal, a BSO spokesman, would not directly comment on the ruling.
''We are going to have to study the ruling and then take action,'' he said.
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Video: http://www.miamiherald.com/news/breaking-news/story/930940.html
Officers John Wynkoop & Scott Wilson Suspended for Beating Motorist
Two Prince George's County police officers who are seen on a police videotape beating and pepper-spraying a Latino motorist during an October traffic stop have been suspended from the police force, officials said.
In a statement, Police Chief Roberto L. Hylton announced the suspension of the officers, John Wynkoop and Scott Wilson, pending an internal investigation. Wynkoop and Wilson, who charged the motorist with assaulting them, have been suspended with pay, officials said.
Hylton said he ordered the investigation as soon as the incident was brought to his attention Friday. Much of the encounter was captured by a video camera mounted in Wynkoop's police cruiser. One of the officers also is heard mocking Rodriguez's Spanish accent.
"This investigation will be conducted thoroughly, yet expeditiously," Hylton said in the statement, released Saturday night. "I ask the public to withhold judgment on this incident until the completion of our investigation." He said the probe's findings will be released publicly.
County Council member William A. Campos (D-Hyattsville), whose district includes many Latino residents, said in a statement that he has confidence in Hylton "and his commitment to having the law enforcement personnel act professionally to protect and serve all citizens in the community regardless of their economic status, color of their skin or language they speak."
Wynkoop and Wilson did not return phone calls to their workplaces last week. Wynkoop did not return a call to his home yesterday.
The traffic stop occurred on Greenbelt Road in College Park shortly after 8 p.m. Oct. 19. In sworn charging documents, Wynkoop said he stopped Rafael A. Rodriguez, 30, a permanent legal resident from El Salvador, for having illegal blue-tinted turn signal lights on his car.
Wynkoop charged Rodriguez with two counts of assault. On Friday, when Rodriguez was to go on trial, a county prosecutor dropped the charges without explanation.
Wynkoop accused Rodriguez of punching him in the stomach with a closed fist. He also alleged that an enraged Rodriguez assaulted him and Wilson even after Wilson pepper-sprayed him.
The videotape, which was subpoenaed by defense attorney Terrell N. Roberts III, shows Rodriguez questioning the citation, saying another officer had told him his lights were legal. A reporter for The Washington Post has viewed the tape.
The tape shows Wynkoop ordering Rodriguez to turn off the car's engine and get out. Rodriguez does not immediately do so, and Wynkoop opens the door and pulls him out. Rodriguez does not punch or attempt to strike either officer on the tape.
Wynkoop slams Rodriguez against the car and handcuffs one of his hands. Suddenly, Wilson pepper-sprays Rodriguez but also hits Wynkoop with the spray, and Wynkoop cries out, "I can't see, dude!"
The three men go out of camera range, then Rodriguez returns and sits down near his car while Wilson stands nearby. Seconds later, Wynkoop returns, grabs Rodriguez by the shoulders and slams him against his car. At that point, Wilson strikes Rodriguez several times in the head with his retractable police baton.
The three men go out of camera range again, and Rodriguez is heard repeatedly crying, "Don't kill me!"
In the moments before the encounter, Wynkoop and Wilson are audiotaped sitting inside the police cruiser. Wynkoop says that when he worked for Metro Transit Police, the chief sent him to "hug-a-thug" classes. After Rodriguez's car was pulled over, but before the physical altercation, one of the officers -- it is not clear which one -- is heard mocking Rodriguez's Spanish accent.
Roberts, Rodriguez's attorney, said he does not have confidence in the county police department's ability to police itself but said he will allow Rodriguez to meet with internal affairs investigators in his presence.
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Video: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/03/02/AR2009030201210.html
Other Information: http://www.myfoxdc.com/dpp/news/030409_fbi_monitoring_alleged_police_assault
In a statement, Police Chief Roberto L. Hylton announced the suspension of the officers, John Wynkoop and Scott Wilson, pending an internal investigation. Wynkoop and Wilson, who charged the motorist with assaulting them, have been suspended with pay, officials said.
Hylton said he ordered the investigation as soon as the incident was brought to his attention Friday. Much of the encounter was captured by a video camera mounted in Wynkoop's police cruiser. One of the officers also is heard mocking Rodriguez's Spanish accent.
"This investigation will be conducted thoroughly, yet expeditiously," Hylton said in the statement, released Saturday night. "I ask the public to withhold judgment on this incident until the completion of our investigation." He said the probe's findings will be released publicly.
County Council member William A. Campos (D-Hyattsville), whose district includes many Latino residents, said in a statement that he has confidence in Hylton "and his commitment to having the law enforcement personnel act professionally to protect and serve all citizens in the community regardless of their economic status, color of their skin or language they speak."
Wynkoop and Wilson did not return phone calls to their workplaces last week. Wynkoop did not return a call to his home yesterday.
The traffic stop occurred on Greenbelt Road in College Park shortly after 8 p.m. Oct. 19. In sworn charging documents, Wynkoop said he stopped Rafael A. Rodriguez, 30, a permanent legal resident from El Salvador, for having illegal blue-tinted turn signal lights on his car.
Wynkoop charged Rodriguez with two counts of assault. On Friday, when Rodriguez was to go on trial, a county prosecutor dropped the charges without explanation.
Wynkoop accused Rodriguez of punching him in the stomach with a closed fist. He also alleged that an enraged Rodriguez assaulted him and Wilson even after Wilson pepper-sprayed him.
The videotape, which was subpoenaed by defense attorney Terrell N. Roberts III, shows Rodriguez questioning the citation, saying another officer had told him his lights were legal. A reporter for The Washington Post has viewed the tape.
The tape shows Wynkoop ordering Rodriguez to turn off the car's engine and get out. Rodriguez does not immediately do so, and Wynkoop opens the door and pulls him out. Rodriguez does not punch or attempt to strike either officer on the tape.
Wynkoop slams Rodriguez against the car and handcuffs one of his hands. Suddenly, Wilson pepper-sprays Rodriguez but also hits Wynkoop with the spray, and Wynkoop cries out, "I can't see, dude!"
The three men go out of camera range, then Rodriguez returns and sits down near his car while Wilson stands nearby. Seconds later, Wynkoop returns, grabs Rodriguez by the shoulders and slams him against his car. At that point, Wilson strikes Rodriguez several times in the head with his retractable police baton.
The three men go out of camera range again, and Rodriguez is heard repeatedly crying, "Don't kill me!"
In the moments before the encounter, Wynkoop and Wilson are audiotaped sitting inside the police cruiser. Wynkoop says that when he worked for Metro Transit Police, the chief sent him to "hug-a-thug" classes. After Rodriguez's car was pulled over, but before the physical altercation, one of the officers -- it is not clear which one -- is heard mocking Rodriguez's Spanish accent.
Roberts, Rodriguez's attorney, said he does not have confidence in the county police department's ability to police itself but said he will allow Rodriguez to meet with internal affairs investigators in his presence.
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Video: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/03/02/AR2009030201210.html
Other Information: http://www.myfoxdc.com/dpp/news/030409_fbi_monitoring_alleged_police_assault
Insp. Steve Izzett Charged with Sexual Harassment
The head of the Toronto police intelligence unit was charged with sexual harassment yesterday after an internal investigation fuelled by complaints from numerous police staff.
Staff Insp. Steve Izzett faces nine charges under the Police Act, including oppressive and tyrannical behaviour, deceit, abuse of authority and misconduct related to an investigation.
Izzett, who was up for promotion last year and has been suspended since last fall, will appear before an internal tribunal April 27, following an investigation by the professional standards unit that began in mid-September.
The charges will be outlined fully following his April appearance, Toronto police spokesperson Mark Pugash said yesterday.
The investigation was launched when a detective sergeant in Izzett's unit complained she was sexually harassed. Since then, more people have come forward with allegations of abuse and bullying. Sources said yesterday the number of complainants is in the "double digits."
It has not been revealed whether the complainants were in Izzett's unit, or how long ago the alleged incidents occurred.
Izzett was considered one of the top officers within the Toronto Police Service. As head of a major unit, he was only a few rungs below the chief. Izzett had held his position for about two years before the investigation began.
As commander of Intelligence Services, he was in charge of investigations into hate crimes, outlaw motorcycle gangs and organized crime.
The unit's primary responsibility is to assemble criminal intelligence and deal with confidential information.
Since his suspension last fall, every weekday morning Izzett drives from his Durham home to Toronto police headquarters at Yonge and College Sts.
But instead of taking the elevators to his office, he signs in at the duty desk and goes back to his car. He signs out at 4 p.m. each day.
While few details about the original allegations have emerged, the initial complainant requested from the outset that her file be dealt with by Professional Standards and not become a criminal investigation, sources said. Because of that, only Police Services Act charges were laid against Izzett. He has not been charged criminally.
When the allegations surfaced in September, the Special Investigations Unit became involved briefly. The SIU probes incidents involving police and civilians where there is death, injury or sexual assault. SIU officials confirmed at the time they completed a preliminary inquiry into the matter on Sept. 17 and referred it back to Toronto police.
Professional Standards can issue criminal charges – if they are warranted – in addition to taking non-criminal disciplinary action.
When an officer is found guilty by an internal tribunal, the hearing officers decide on his or her penalty. This could range from dismissal to demotion or a reprimand.
Staff Insp. Steve Izzett faces nine charges under the Police Act, including oppressive and tyrannical behaviour, deceit, abuse of authority and misconduct related to an investigation.
Izzett, who was up for promotion last year and has been suspended since last fall, will appear before an internal tribunal April 27, following an investigation by the professional standards unit that began in mid-September.
The charges will be outlined fully following his April appearance, Toronto police spokesperson Mark Pugash said yesterday.
The investigation was launched when a detective sergeant in Izzett's unit complained she was sexually harassed. Since then, more people have come forward with allegations of abuse and bullying. Sources said yesterday the number of complainants is in the "double digits."
It has not been revealed whether the complainants were in Izzett's unit, or how long ago the alleged incidents occurred.
Izzett was considered one of the top officers within the Toronto Police Service. As head of a major unit, he was only a few rungs below the chief. Izzett had held his position for about two years before the investigation began.
As commander of Intelligence Services, he was in charge of investigations into hate crimes, outlaw motorcycle gangs and organized crime.
The unit's primary responsibility is to assemble criminal intelligence and deal with confidential information.
Since his suspension last fall, every weekday morning Izzett drives from his Durham home to Toronto police headquarters at Yonge and College Sts.
But instead of taking the elevators to his office, he signs in at the duty desk and goes back to his car. He signs out at 4 p.m. each day.
While few details about the original allegations have emerged, the initial complainant requested from the outset that her file be dealt with by Professional Standards and not become a criminal investigation, sources said. Because of that, only Police Services Act charges were laid against Izzett. He has not been charged criminally.
When the allegations surfaced in September, the Special Investigations Unit became involved briefly. The SIU probes incidents involving police and civilians where there is death, injury or sexual assault. SIU officials confirmed at the time they completed a preliminary inquiry into the matter on Sept. 17 and referred it back to Toronto police.
Professional Standards can issue criminal charges – if they are warranted – in addition to taking non-criminal disciplinary action.
When an officer is found guilty by an internal tribunal, the hearing officers decide on his or her penalty. This could range from dismissal to demotion or a reprimand.
Trial Begins for Officer Nick Joseph Accused of Hit & Run on Pregnant Woman
The trial of a Greece Police Officer began Tuesday and the woman he's accused of injuring in a hit and run crash took the stand. This is a story I-Team 10 has been tracking since last summer and we were in court when the victim and a witness testified.
Right now, Nick Joseph, a sergeant with the Greece Police Department, is suspended with pay. He is facing many charges involved with a hit and run on 390 including vehicular assault and drug and alcohol charges.
The prosecutor said they have Nick Joseph on camera drinking heavily just 30 minutes before the crash. A witness testified that Nick Joseph went speeding by him on 390 just before the crash. The prosecutor said he was going at least 75 mph.
After the crash the same witness said he saw a bloody Joseph walk across 390 South and then up the ramp to Ridge Road. The prosecutor said Joseph just disappeared, somehow got home and didn't go to the hospital for another 11 hours.
Prosecutor Sandra Doorley said Joseph was drunk and high on cocaine. She said video from inside a bar shows Joseph had five hard drinks in less than an hour starting at 12:42 in the morning and going until 1:35 a.m. The video allegedly showed Joseph drinking a rum and Coke at 12:42 a.m., followed by a Jack Daniels and Coke at 12:57 a.m. He took a shot at 12:58 a.m. and another shot at 1:11 a.m. And finally another rum and Coke 25 minutes later. The crash happened just after 2 a.m.
Joseph’s lawyer said Joseph left the scene, “Because he didn't know what he was doing and they had no memory like he had no memory. He had a bad concussion. Bad head injury and had no memory of it.”
Alexis Sharp is the pregnant woman Joseph is accused of hitting. She testified that her car broke down on the side of 390 and the impact caused her to have an emergency Caesarean section. Her baby was born four months early at just 2 pounds. The baby is now close to 20 pounds. But Sharp said her little girl has a lot of complications and goes to the doctor all the time.
The tape from the bar had not been played in court yet. Joseph's lawyers said the tape shows that he was not stumbling, not spilling his drinks and showed no lack of coordination, and they insist he was not doing cocaine.
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Other Information: http://www.whec.com/article/stories/S815722.shtml?cat=572
Right now, Nick Joseph, a sergeant with the Greece Police Department, is suspended with pay. He is facing many charges involved with a hit and run on 390 including vehicular assault and drug and alcohol charges.
The prosecutor said they have Nick Joseph on camera drinking heavily just 30 minutes before the crash. A witness testified that Nick Joseph went speeding by him on 390 just before the crash. The prosecutor said he was going at least 75 mph.
After the crash the same witness said he saw a bloody Joseph walk across 390 South and then up the ramp to Ridge Road. The prosecutor said Joseph just disappeared, somehow got home and didn't go to the hospital for another 11 hours.
Prosecutor Sandra Doorley said Joseph was drunk and high on cocaine. She said video from inside a bar shows Joseph had five hard drinks in less than an hour starting at 12:42 in the morning and going until 1:35 a.m. The video allegedly showed Joseph drinking a rum and Coke at 12:42 a.m., followed by a Jack Daniels and Coke at 12:57 a.m. He took a shot at 12:58 a.m. and another shot at 1:11 a.m. And finally another rum and Coke 25 minutes later. The crash happened just after 2 a.m.
Joseph’s lawyer said Joseph left the scene, “Because he didn't know what he was doing and they had no memory like he had no memory. He had a bad concussion. Bad head injury and had no memory of it.”
Alexis Sharp is the pregnant woman Joseph is accused of hitting. She testified that her car broke down on the side of 390 and the impact caused her to have an emergency Caesarean section. Her baby was born four months early at just 2 pounds. The baby is now close to 20 pounds. But Sharp said her little girl has a lot of complications and goes to the doctor all the time.
The tape from the bar had not been played in court yet. Joseph's lawyers said the tape shows that he was not stumbling, not spilling his drinks and showed no lack of coordination, and they insist he was not doing cocaine.
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Other Information: http://www.whec.com/article/stories/S815722.shtml?cat=572
Officer Shatoya Wright Accused of Aiding a Bank Robbery
COLUMBUS, Ga.
A Columbus patrol officer was placed on administrative leave after the FBI accused her of aiding a bank robbery.
Shatoya Wright was arrested Monday afternoon and charged with making false statements to the FBI.
Agents said a man charged with robbing a Wachovia Bank in Oct. 2007 told them Wright helped him steal $8,000 during the heist. Accused bank robber Odis Christopher Hallstock said Wright also helped him pass counterfeit $100 bills through the bank.
Columbus Police Chief Ricky Boren said Wright was hired 3 months after the robbery and passed all background checks.
Wright made her initial court appearance Tuesday and was released on $5,000 bond.
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http://www.ledger-enquirer.com/174/story/636241.html
A Columbus patrol officer was placed on administrative leave after the FBI accused her of aiding a bank robbery.
Shatoya Wright was arrested Monday afternoon and charged with making false statements to the FBI.
Agents said a man charged with robbing a Wachovia Bank in Oct. 2007 told them Wright helped him steal $8,000 during the heist. Accused bank robber Odis Christopher Hallstock said Wright also helped him pass counterfeit $100 bills through the bank.
Columbus Police Chief Ricky Boren said Wright was hired 3 months after the robbery and passed all background checks.
Wright made her initial court appearance Tuesday and was released on $5,000 bond.
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http://www.ledger-enquirer.com/174/story/636241.html
Nicholas Satchell will get $5000 After Officer Slams His Face into Brick Wall
YONKERS
A city man who accused a police officer of brutalizing him will get a $5,000 settlement from the city.
Nicholas Satchell, 31, an unemployed mechanic, filed a federal civil rights lawsuit against the city alleging that a police officer slammed his face into a brick wall on Knowles Street on April 26, 2007.
Satchell was not arrested during the encounter.
Satchell said the civil trial occurred in October, but the jury could not reach a verdict.
U.S. District Judge Naomi Reice Buchwald subsequently asked the two sides to reach a settlement, which Satchell said ultimately left him unsatisfied.
"This whole thing to me wasn't about money. I want charges to be pressed against that cop," Satchell said yesterday.
"I wanted that cop to go through what a normal person on the street would go through if they beat up somebody and got arrested."
Yonkers Deputy Corporation Counsel Mark Blanchard said the settlement did not mean the city acknowledged any wrongdoing by its police officers.
He said the city settled the matter to avoid the expense of repeating the trial.
The City Council approved Satchell's settlement Feb. 24.
Satchell could not identify the officer who he alleged hurt him, but court papers indicated that the officer's badge number was 526.
According to Satchell's federal complaint, he was walking on Knowles Street near Riverdale Avenue to meet a woman he was dating around 10 p.m. when a police vehicle approached and a police sergeant informed him that he matched the description of a robbery suspect.
Another police officer arrived, and Satchell was handcuffed and "aggressively" searched.
The lawsuit alleges that the second police officer slammed Satchell's head into a brick wall after he was handcuffed, causing cuts and bleeding to his face.
After receiving the injury, Satchell alleged that his assailant made a racist remark.
"I knew that you didn't rob anyone because if you did, you would have run, (racial epithet)," the lawsuit stated.
Satchell, who is black, said that after the officers let him go, he bought a camera to document his injuries.
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http://lohud.com/article/20090303/NEWS02/903030337/-1/SPORTS
A city man who accused a police officer of brutalizing him will get a $5,000 settlement from the city.
Nicholas Satchell, 31, an unemployed mechanic, filed a federal civil rights lawsuit against the city alleging that a police officer slammed his face into a brick wall on Knowles Street on April 26, 2007.
Satchell was not arrested during the encounter.
Satchell said the civil trial occurred in October, but the jury could not reach a verdict.
U.S. District Judge Naomi Reice Buchwald subsequently asked the two sides to reach a settlement, which Satchell said ultimately left him unsatisfied.
"This whole thing to me wasn't about money. I want charges to be pressed against that cop," Satchell said yesterday.
"I wanted that cop to go through what a normal person on the street would go through if they beat up somebody and got arrested."
Yonkers Deputy Corporation Counsel Mark Blanchard said the settlement did not mean the city acknowledged any wrongdoing by its police officers.
He said the city settled the matter to avoid the expense of repeating the trial.
The City Council approved Satchell's settlement Feb. 24.
Satchell could not identify the officer who he alleged hurt him, but court papers indicated that the officer's badge number was 526.
According to Satchell's federal complaint, he was walking on Knowles Street near Riverdale Avenue to meet a woman he was dating around 10 p.m. when a police vehicle approached and a police sergeant informed him that he matched the description of a robbery suspect.
Another police officer arrived, and Satchell was handcuffed and "aggressively" searched.
The lawsuit alleges that the second police officer slammed Satchell's head into a brick wall after he was handcuffed, causing cuts and bleeding to his face.
After receiving the injury, Satchell alleged that his assailant made a racist remark.
"I knew that you didn't rob anyone because if you did, you would have run, (racial epithet)," the lawsuit stated.
Satchell, who is black, said that after the officers let him go, he bought a camera to document his injuries.
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http://lohud.com/article/20090303/NEWS02/903030337/-1/SPORTS
Monday, March 02, 2009
Former Sheriff Jim Dorion Arrested on Warrant for Burglary
COEUR D'ALENE
Late Monday afternoon authorities confirmed they had tracked down former Nez Perce County Sheriff Jim Dorion to Louisiana after a nationwide arrest warrant was issued for him last Friday.
Dorion was arrested at 4:28 PM local time in the Caddo Parish in Shreveport, Louisiana. He was arrested by deputies from the Caddo Parish Sheriff's Office and booked into the jail as "Jimmy Dorion" and was listed as an out of state fugitive.
He is wanted on three counts of accessory to burglary which were filed by the Idaho Attorney General's office last Friday. The Nez Perce County Court said early Monday it would not release the records related to the case until Dorion was found.
Sources close to the case however indicated that Dorion withheld information involving a burglary at Lewiston High School in June of 2006, a year after he took over as sheriff.
The Idaho Attorney General's Office began investigating Dorion last May after he was accused of misconduct. Around that same time Dorion went on paid medical leave for pancreatic cancer but was fired three months later from his post when he failed to prove his medical condition before the end of his 90-day medical leave from his post.
However Dorion's revelation last May that he had pancreatic cancer came as he was facing increasing scrutiny for on-the-job behavior that included failing to show up for work and falling off his horse while riding with the sheriff's posse at the Asotin County Parade.
The incident at the Asotin County parade led to Dorion confessing he had been "self-medicating" due to his cancer diagnosis which was never substantiated.
Dorion's successor, Sheriff Dale Buttrey, says he find the whole situation his predecessor is involved in is both a surprise and disgusting. Sheriff Buttrey said that if Dorion was brought to trial and found guilty he would be a disgrace to their office and law enforcement in general.
Buttrey said he's now working on restoring the public's trust.
Jury Awards $3 million for Mentally Ill Man who Died after being Tasered
HOUSTON
A Harris County jury on Monday awarded $3 million to the mother of a mentally ill man who died after he was shocked 18 times with a Taser gun and hogtied during an arrest four years ago.
Shirley Nagel sued four deputies with the Precinct One Constable's Office after they arrested her schizophrenic son, Joel Don Casey, in 2005 on a mental health warrant and he died.
Casey's death was later ruled a homicide. An autopsy concluded he died of psychotic delirium with physical restraint associated with heart disease.
The jury found three of the four deputies used unreasonable and excessive force during the arrest, the Houston Chronicle reported on its online edition Monday.
Nagel, 74, wept after the jury's verdict was read.
"The jurors were listening," she said. "We need a policy change. They really need to outlaw hogtying."
Nagel indicated she and others are forming an advocacy group to outlaw such restraint practices and to push for humane treatment of the mentally ill.
Assistant Harris County Attorney Frank Sanders said the deputies were not trying to hurt Casey, 52, or violate his constitutional rights. The county planned to appeal the verdict.
Casey was arrested in his mother's home. After he complained one of the handcuffs hurt him, deputies used a Taser on him multiple times, said Nagel's attorney, Kent Spence.
Casey was thrown down on the street and hogtied before one deputy dropped a knee on his neck and popped his head back, Spence said.
Sanders, who alleged that Casey was resisting the deputies, said the deputies have a dangerous job, doing 5,000 to 6,000 mental commitments a year.
A Harris County jury on Monday awarded $3 million to the mother of a mentally ill man who died after he was shocked 18 times with a Taser gun and hogtied during an arrest four years ago.
Shirley Nagel sued four deputies with the Precinct One Constable's Office after they arrested her schizophrenic son, Joel Don Casey, in 2005 on a mental health warrant and he died.
Casey's death was later ruled a homicide. An autopsy concluded he died of psychotic delirium with physical restraint associated with heart disease.
The jury found three of the four deputies used unreasonable and excessive force during the arrest, the Houston Chronicle reported on its online edition Monday.
Nagel, 74, wept after the jury's verdict was read.
"The jurors were listening," she said. "We need a policy change. They really need to outlaw hogtying."
Nagel indicated she and others are forming an advocacy group to outlaw such restraint practices and to push for humane treatment of the mentally ill.
Assistant Harris County Attorney Frank Sanders said the deputies were not trying to hurt Casey, 52, or violate his constitutional rights. The county planned to appeal the verdict.
Casey was arrested in his mother's home. After he complained one of the handcuffs hurt him, deputies used a Taser on him multiple times, said Nagel's attorney, Kent Spence.
Casey was thrown down on the street and hogtied before one deputy dropped a knee on his neck and popped his head back, Spence said.
Sanders, who alleged that Casey was resisting the deputies, said the deputies have a dangerous job, doing 5,000 to 6,000 mental commitments a year.
Fire Island's Reputation Under Scrutiny as Police Abuse Trial Begins
Fire Island's reputation as a safe getaway could come under scrutiny this week when a police abuse trial begins.
George Hesse, 40, the acting police chief of one of the island's main party towns, Ocean Beach, is charged with stomping a tourist so badly he needed emergency surgery.
Part-time Officer Arnold Hardman, 58, is accused of not telling paramedics the victim had been beaten and had instead overdosed on drugs.
Suffolk County District Attorney Thomas Spota called them "thugs in police uniforms" and an example of "a police department gone wild."
The attack took place early on Aug. 28, 2005, after vacationing Samuel Gilberd, a Manhattan software exec, drunkenly threw a beer glass from a bar into the street. After he was given a summons for littering, he angrily kicked the station house door.
Hesse dragged Gilberd back into the station for a beating, Spota said, and when he was already unconcious, Hesse stomped on his mid-section so hard that he ruptured Gilberd's bladder.
Gilberd's wife, Kana Manglapus, found him out cold on the station house floor. He spent ten days in the hospital.
A week after the incident, the Ocean Beach cops filed charges of resisting arrest against Gilberd. They were later dismissed.
The chief and thee cops were indicted in 2007, a week after five officers he fired filed suit claiming he ran a corrupt department where cops routinely covered up police brutality.
When bringing the charges, Spota criticized Ocean Beach officials for quietly settling numerous police brutality lawsuits over the last two decades.
Over the last year, charges were dismissed against ex-NYPD officer William Emburey, 43. The fourth cop, Paul Carollo, 48, of Commack, has taken a plea in exchange for testifying.
Gilberd, who has also filed a $22 million civil suit against the village, has since moved to California but will return to testify.
Jury selection in Suffolk County Court in Riverhead will resume Tuesday.
George Hesse, 40, the acting police chief of one of the island's main party towns, Ocean Beach, is charged with stomping a tourist so badly he needed emergency surgery.
Part-time Officer Arnold Hardman, 58, is accused of not telling paramedics the victim had been beaten and had instead overdosed on drugs.
Suffolk County District Attorney Thomas Spota called them "thugs in police uniforms" and an example of "a police department gone wild."
The attack took place early on Aug. 28, 2005, after vacationing Samuel Gilberd, a Manhattan software exec, drunkenly threw a beer glass from a bar into the street. After he was given a summons for littering, he angrily kicked the station house door.
Hesse dragged Gilberd back into the station for a beating, Spota said, and when he was already unconcious, Hesse stomped on his mid-section so hard that he ruptured Gilberd's bladder.
Gilberd's wife, Kana Manglapus, found him out cold on the station house floor. He spent ten days in the hospital.
A week after the incident, the Ocean Beach cops filed charges of resisting arrest against Gilberd. They were later dismissed.
The chief and thee cops were indicted in 2007, a week after five officers he fired filed suit claiming he ran a corrupt department where cops routinely covered up police brutality.
When bringing the charges, Spota criticized Ocean Beach officials for quietly settling numerous police brutality lawsuits over the last two decades.
Over the last year, charges were dismissed against ex-NYPD officer William Emburey, 43. The fourth cop, Paul Carollo, 48, of Commack, has taken a plea in exchange for testifying.
Gilberd, who has also filed a $22 million civil suit against the village, has since moved to California but will return to testify.
Jury selection in Suffolk County Court in Riverhead will resume Tuesday.
Minnesota Plaintiffs File Lawsuit Against Officers
Plaintiffs are suing for nearly $2 million in seven suits that name police, law enforcement agencies and the Twin Cities as defendants.
Plaintiffs who say they’ve been beaten, violated and robbed of their rights filed civil suits in federal court late last week, alleging significant misconduct during the Republican National Convention and seeking nearly $2 million in damages.
The suits, the first major action since the September convention, request damages ranging from $100,000 to $1 million, and name Ramsey County and its sheriff’s department, St. Paul and its police and Minneapolis and its police as defendants.
For example, a University of Minnesota employee alleges that she was singled out by law enforcement officers and strip-searched in front of men. Others claim unlawful suppression of both individuals and independent media.
Attorney Ted Dooley, who is representing seven of the plaintiffs who filed the cases, said he’s optimistic about his clients’ chances either in out-of-court settlements or before juries, should any of the cases make it to trial.
“The specifics in the cases vary as you’d expect, but the underlying harm is either the willful or blatantly ignorant attack of the people who were there to express political dissent,” he said. “There was an utter disregard for the right to do that.”
As a condition of hosting the RNC, the city of St. Paul requested the convention host committee pay the $1.1 million premium on a $10 million insurance policy that would cover suits stemming from RNC-related police action.
St. Paul City Attorney John Choi said the city has forwarded the lawsuits to the insurance company providing the policy.
“I expect that the insurance policy would cover the other defendants,” he said.
The insurance company will hire outside counsel to handle the defense of the defendants named in the suits.
Minneapolis spokesman Matt Laible said the city attorney’s office has not yet seen the suits against Minneapolis and also said it is policy not to comment on pending litigation.
The much-scrutinized Ramsey County Sheriff’s Department and St. Paul Police Department did not respond to requests for comment.
'I think it was meant to degrade me'
Plaintiffs who say they’ve been beaten, violated and robbed of their rights filed civil suits in federal court late last week, alleging significant misconduct during the Republican National Convention and seeking nearly $2 million in damages.
The suits, the first major action since the September convention, request damages ranging from $100,000 to $1 million, and name Ramsey County and its sheriff’s department, St. Paul and its police and Minneapolis and its police as defendants.
For example, a University of Minnesota employee alleges that she was singled out by law enforcement officers and strip-searched in front of men. Others claim unlawful suppression of both individuals and independent media.
Attorney Ted Dooley, who is representing seven of the plaintiffs who filed the cases, said he’s optimistic about his clients’ chances either in out-of-court settlements or before juries, should any of the cases make it to trial.
“The specifics in the cases vary as you’d expect, but the underlying harm is either the willful or blatantly ignorant attack of the people who were there to express political dissent,” he said. “There was an utter disregard for the right to do that.”
As a condition of hosting the RNC, the city of St. Paul requested the convention host committee pay the $1.1 million premium on a $10 million insurance policy that would cover suits stemming from RNC-related police action.
St. Paul City Attorney John Choi said the city has forwarded the lawsuits to the insurance company providing the policy.
“I expect that the insurance policy would cover the other defendants,” he said.
The insurance company will hire outside counsel to handle the defense of the defendants named in the suits.
Minneapolis spokesman Matt Laible said the city attorney’s office has not yet seen the suits against Minneapolis and also said it is policy not to comment on pending litigation.
The much-scrutinized Ramsey County Sheriff’s Department and St. Paul Police Department did not respond to requests for comment.
'I think it was meant to degrade me'
Michelle Gross, president of the civil rights group Communities United Against Police Brutality, also works as manager of staff training and development for University of Minnesota Physicians.
In her $250,000 suit, she alleges Ramsey County Sheriff’s deputies strip-searched her, and only her, in the presence of men during the Aug. 29 raid of a meeting space used by protesters.
Gross said she was compliant with the deputy, but believes she was targeted because she was wearing an anti-police brutality T-shirt and videotaping the raid.
She says the officer touched under her bra and around the top of her underwear while she was being merely detained, not arrested.
“I felt pretty weird about it at the time, but there was so much other weirdness going on,” Gross said. “The whole thing was surreal, it was just bizarre.”
The rented house that was raided was used only as a central point for protesters to meet and talk — First Amendment-protected activities, Gross said.
In addition to the monetary damages she’s seeking, Gross also said she hopes her suit forces policy changes.
“I want them to not do this to anybody else,” she said. “I think it was a power move and I think was meant to degrade me.”
'This series of attacks on free speech…'
Protester Jason Johnson of Oakland, Calif., filed a $1 million suit against the cities of St. Paul and Minneapolis, and more than a dozen officers from the two departments.
Officers at a protest in Mears Park on Sept. 2, the second day of the convention, plucked Johnson from a crowd of protesters and used a Taser on him.
Afterward, according to the suit, Johnson raised his hands and offered no resistance. Police continued to repeatedly use the Taser on Johnson.
The suit states Johnson required medical attention for seven separate Taser wounds and was bloodied during “the battery.” He also reportedly suffered “severe emotional distress” and requires “continuing medical care for the trauma of the unlawful tasering .”
Johnson said the police action was unprovoked.
“At all times relevant to this lawsuit, [he] acted peaceably and in a law-abiding fashion before he was tasered,” the suit reads.
Though the incident in question happened in downtown St. Paul, the city of Minneapolis is also named in the suit because some officers from its police department were involved.
'…and particularly on our freedom of the press'
Wendy Binion of Portland, Ore., came to the RNC as a journalist for Portland Indymedia. She filed a $100,000 suit against the city of St. Paul and more than a dozen St. Paul police officers who took her into custody during the same Mears Park protest where police used a Taser on Johnson.
She was one of the first people arrested at the start of an evening that would hours later culminate in police using tear gas, concussion grenades and “less-lethal” projectiles.
The diminutive Binion questioned the force of multiple riot gear-clad police that handled her. Police also seized the camera she was using to videotape the demonstration and other personal effects.
She was initially charged with a riot-related felony, but that was dismissed. She faces no charges now, but she said she’s heard she’s under investigation for criminal conspiracy to commit riot, a probe that could be open for several years.
Binion said she was peacefully carrying out her duties as a journalist, but was targeted because she is part of the independent media.
Police took her camera and by the time she got it back, Binion said, it was damaged.
“They were taking away people’s right to document their own history,” she said.
Attorney Dooley said the police force at the RNC, made up of more than 100 different law enforcement entities that signed joint-powers agreements, “coordinated this series of attacks on free speech and particularly freedom of the press.”
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Officer Douglas Whitten Charged with Drunk Driving after Hitting Bus
LOWER TOWNSHIP
A veteran township police officer was charged with driving while intoxicated and leaving the scene of an accident early Saturday after he allegedly sideswiped an NJ Transit bus.
Police were called to an accident in Town Bank around 1:40 a.m. A driver for NJ Transit said the bus was traveling west on Town Bank Road near Bayshore Road when an oncoming gray pickup truck swerved into the westbound lane and sideswiped the bus.
The truck then drove away, police said. Neither the two passengers aboard nor the bus driver were injured. The bus sustained minor damage and did not have to be towed.
Officers began to search the area for a truck with front-end damage. About four hours later, police Sgt. John Chew saw scrape marks gouged in the pavement on Crawford Road that led to a home. Parked there was a gray pickup truck with heavy front-end damage.
The truck was registered to Lower Township Police Officer Douglas Whitten, 44. Investigators spoke to Whitten and took him to the police station where an alcohol breath test was administered.
Police charged Whitten with drunk driving, leaving the scene of an accident and failing to report an accident. The department immediately suspended Whitten, a 14-year veteran with Lower Township. The department also notified the Cape May County Prosecutor’s Office about the arrest of a police officer.
In a statement, Police Chief Ed Donohue said he was disappointed with the officer, adding that Whitten had served Lower Township well for 14 years.
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http://www.nbc40.net/view_story.php?id=8460
A veteran township police officer was charged with driving while intoxicated and leaving the scene of an accident early Saturday after he allegedly sideswiped an NJ Transit bus.
Police were called to an accident in Town Bank around 1:40 a.m. A driver for NJ Transit said the bus was traveling west on Town Bank Road near Bayshore Road when an oncoming gray pickup truck swerved into the westbound lane and sideswiped the bus.
The truck then drove away, police said. Neither the two passengers aboard nor the bus driver were injured. The bus sustained minor damage and did not have to be towed.
Officers began to search the area for a truck with front-end damage. About four hours later, police Sgt. John Chew saw scrape marks gouged in the pavement on Crawford Road that led to a home. Parked there was a gray pickup truck with heavy front-end damage.
The truck was registered to Lower Township Police Officer Douglas Whitten, 44. Investigators spoke to Whitten and took him to the police station where an alcohol breath test was administered.
Police charged Whitten with drunk driving, leaving the scene of an accident and failing to report an accident. The department immediately suspended Whitten, a 14-year veteran with Lower Township. The department also notified the Cape May County Prosecutor’s Office about the arrest of a police officer.
In a statement, Police Chief Ed Donohue said he was disappointed with the officer, adding that Whitten had served Lower Township well for 14 years.
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http://www.nbc40.net/view_story.php?id=8460
Officer Michael Brown Accused of Drunk Driving
Another Schenectady city police officer has been arrested, tacking on to the department's ever-growing list of members who have gotten into trouble with the law.
This latest arrest involved 27-year-old officer Michael R. Brown of Pattersonville, who allegedly drove drunk on Sunday night before rear-ending another vehicle at Route 9 and Osborne Rd. in Colonie, said Colonie Det. Lt. John Van Alstyne.
Brown sustained injury to his head in the crash, which occurred at around 10:30 p.m.. He was off-duty and driving his 2005 Toyota pickup truck, said Lt. Van Alstyne.
He continued to drive after hitting the car, then stopped about two-tenths of a mile down the road, said Lt. Van Alstyne.
Brown refused a breathalyzer test at the scene. He faces misdemeanor charges of driving while intoxicated and leaving the scene of a personal injury accident.
He was treated at the scene and released for a cut to his head. A passenger in the car Brown struck was also treated for a non life-threatening injury,.
Brown, who's been with the Schenectady Police Department since 2004, has been suspended from the force for 30 days without pay. The department's professional standards unit has initiated an internal investigation, said a spokesperson.
The department was recently restructured, adding two non-union management positions of assistant police chief and captain of internal affairs, as part of a move to shake up an agency that's become increasingly blemished with reports of troubled officers.
Said Commissioner Wayne Bennett, "The majority of the Schenectady Police Officers conduct themselves in compliance with all laws as well as department rules and regulations. Regrettably, a few officers continue to refuse to abide by these mandates. In such cases, where evidence corroborates non-compliance, I will utilize my authority as disciplinary officer to assess penalties, including termination where appropriate, to put an end to this behavior and further criticism of the Schenectady Police Department. The case of Patrolman Michael R. Brown will be handled consistent with this policy."
Sunday, March 01, 2009
Officer Steven Mohseninia Arrested for DUI After Head-on Crash with Deputy
CANTON, Ohio
An off-duty Akron auxiliary police officer was arrested Sunday on suspicion of driving under the influence after he ran head-on into an on-duty Summity County deputy.
The crash occurred on Arlington Road just north of state Route 619 in the city of Green.
The off-duty Akron auxiliary police officer, Steven R. Mohseninia, was driving his personal vehicle. He made a left turn in front of on-duty Summit County deputy, Michael J. Walsh, who was driving a marked police car. The two vehicles hit head-on causing both vehicles to drive off the roadway.
Walsh received minor injuries as a result of the crash. He was taken to Akron City Hospital. He was treated and released.
Mohseninia was driving a black 2008 Honda Accord. After the crash, he was placed under arrest on suspicion of being under the influence of alcohol. He was taken to the Canton Post of the State Highway Patrol Post where he refused to take a breath test.
All traffic and criminal related charges are pending final review.
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http://www.ohio.com/error?url=http%3A//www.ohio.com/news/break_news/40507517.html
An off-duty Akron auxiliary police officer was arrested Sunday on suspicion of driving under the influence after he ran head-on into an on-duty Summity County deputy.
The crash occurred on Arlington Road just north of state Route 619 in the city of Green.
The off-duty Akron auxiliary police officer, Steven R. Mohseninia, was driving his personal vehicle. He made a left turn in front of on-duty Summit County deputy, Michael J. Walsh, who was driving a marked police car. The two vehicles hit head-on causing both vehicles to drive off the roadway.
Walsh received minor injuries as a result of the crash. He was taken to Akron City Hospital. He was treated and released.
Mohseninia was driving a black 2008 Honda Accord. After the crash, he was placed under arrest on suspicion of being under the influence of alcohol. He was taken to the Canton Post of the State Highway Patrol Post where he refused to take a breath test.
All traffic and criminal related charges are pending final review.
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http://www.ohio.com/error?url=http%3A//www.ohio.com/news/break_news/40507517.html
Robert Lee Welch Dies After Being Tasered
A man died shortly after sheriff's deputies used a Taser on him at his Montgomery County home Saturday, authorities said.
Deputies received a call about 7 a.m. of a possible suicide attempt at a residence in the 6500 block of Golden Oaks Drive. Robert Lee Welch, 40, had been pushing people there and would not respond to family members, the Montgomery County Sheriff's Office said.
Deputies approached and tried to talk to Welch, who was not wearing clothing, authorities said. When Welch wouldn't respond, deputies tried to detain the man, who resisted and struggled, authorities said.
Deputies then used a Taser to help control the man, authorities said. Paramedics at the scene began treating Welch, who was not breathing and did not have a pulse.
Welch was taken to a Conroe hospital, where he died. An autopsy will be conducted at the Southeast Texas Forensic Center to determine the cause of death.
The incident is being investigated by the Montgomery County Sheriff's Office Major Crimes Unit, Texas Rangers as well as the Montgomery County District Attorney's Office.
Tasers, which can deliver a 50,000-volt electrical charge, have drawn controversy across the country. Montgomery County added Tasers to its arsenal in 2006 through federal grants.
The Houston Police Department started using Tasers in 2004. A Houston Chronicle analysis showed that HPD officers deployed their Tasers 1,724 times between December 2004 and May 2008, triggering 69 internal affairs investigations.
Critics worry that the weapons are often used on people who have not committed crimes.
Deputies received a call about 7 a.m. of a possible suicide attempt at a residence in the 6500 block of Golden Oaks Drive. Robert Lee Welch, 40, had been pushing people there and would not respond to family members, the Montgomery County Sheriff's Office said.
Deputies approached and tried to talk to Welch, who was not wearing clothing, authorities said. When Welch wouldn't respond, deputies tried to detain the man, who resisted and struggled, authorities said.
Deputies then used a Taser to help control the man, authorities said. Paramedics at the scene began treating Welch, who was not breathing and did not have a pulse.
Welch was taken to a Conroe hospital, where he died. An autopsy will be conducted at the Southeast Texas Forensic Center to determine the cause of death.
The incident is being investigated by the Montgomery County Sheriff's Office Major Crimes Unit, Texas Rangers as well as the Montgomery County District Attorney's Office.
Tasers, which can deliver a 50,000-volt electrical charge, have drawn controversy across the country. Montgomery County added Tasers to its arsenal in 2006 through federal grants.
The Houston Police Department started using Tasers in 2004. A Houston Chronicle analysis showed that HPD officers deployed their Tasers 1,724 times between December 2004 and May 2008, triggering 69 internal affairs investigations.
Critics worry that the weapons are often used on people who have not committed crimes.
Corrections Officer Lon Sainato Charged with Sexual Assault
MORRISTOWN
A Morris County corrections officer was charged with sexual assault and official misconduct after detectives said he coerced a man performing community service into allowing the officer to perform a sex act on him, Morris County Prosecutor Robert A. Bianchi announced Sunday.
Lon Sainato, 52, of Whippany, was charged Sunday and remains in the Sussex County Jail in lieu of $250,000 bail set by Superior Court Judge Salem Ahto.
The alleged act took place on Feb. 22 at the Cedar Knolls Fire House, while the victim was performing his community service and while Sainato was supervising him in his official capacity as a law-enforcement officer, Bianchi said.
The victim, 30, was ordered to perform 60 days on the Sheriff’s Labor Assistance Program (SLAP), a community-service program run by the Morris County Sheriff’s Department. As a SLAP inmate, the victim is on probation and/or parole and is institutionally detained on those days on which he serves his SLAP sentence.
Bianchi stated that the investigation was conducted by the Morris County Prosecutor’s Office Sex Crimes Unit, Professional Standards Unit, and Special Enforcement Unit in cooperation with the Morris County Sheriff’s Office Correctional Facility Internal Affairs Unit.
“The Morris County Prosecutor’s Office has investigated and will now prosecute another public official who has violated their oath of office, and abused the privilege of honorably serving the public,” Bianchi said in a statement provided by his office.
“This officer brought shame and dishonor to himself but not to an otherwise honorable profession and well-run agency. Throughout this investigation Morris County Sheriff Edward V. Rochford, Undersheriff Ralph McGrane, Warden Frank Corrente and the Correctional Facility Internal Affairs staff fully cooperated and assisted in this investigation. I continue to have full confidence in the Morris County Sheriff’s Office Correctional Facility. The conduct of this officer in no way is reflective of the department as a whole.”
“If these allegations are proven, this officer is a disgrace to his profession,” Sheriff Edward Rochford said. “He had control over another person and completely violated the public trust. There is no place in law enforcement for anyone who is alleged to have acted in such a reprehensible way. The Prosecutor’s Office moved swiftly on this, and I thank them for getting this person off the street. Officer Sainato has been suspended without pay pending the outcome of his court hearing.”
Sainato was hired by Morris County in 1996. He has been assigned to the Sheriff’s Labor assistance program for the past 10 years. His annual salary is $73,000, Rochford said.
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http://www.ohio.com/error?url=http%3A//www.ohio.com/news/break_news/40507517.html
A Morris County corrections officer was charged with sexual assault and official misconduct after detectives said he coerced a man performing community service into allowing the officer to perform a sex act on him, Morris County Prosecutor Robert A. Bianchi announced Sunday.
Lon Sainato, 52, of Whippany, was charged Sunday and remains in the Sussex County Jail in lieu of $250,000 bail set by Superior Court Judge Salem Ahto.
The alleged act took place on Feb. 22 at the Cedar Knolls Fire House, while the victim was performing his community service and while Sainato was supervising him in his official capacity as a law-enforcement officer, Bianchi said.
The victim, 30, was ordered to perform 60 days on the Sheriff’s Labor Assistance Program (SLAP), a community-service program run by the Morris County Sheriff’s Department. As a SLAP inmate, the victim is on probation and/or parole and is institutionally detained on those days on which he serves his SLAP sentence.
Bianchi stated that the investigation was conducted by the Morris County Prosecutor’s Office Sex Crimes Unit, Professional Standards Unit, and Special Enforcement Unit in cooperation with the Morris County Sheriff’s Office Correctional Facility Internal Affairs Unit.
“The Morris County Prosecutor’s Office has investigated and will now prosecute another public official who has violated their oath of office, and abused the privilege of honorably serving the public,” Bianchi said in a statement provided by his office.
“This officer brought shame and dishonor to himself but not to an otherwise honorable profession and well-run agency. Throughout this investigation Morris County Sheriff Edward V. Rochford, Undersheriff Ralph McGrane, Warden Frank Corrente and the Correctional Facility Internal Affairs staff fully cooperated and assisted in this investigation. I continue to have full confidence in the Morris County Sheriff’s Office Correctional Facility. The conduct of this officer in no way is reflective of the department as a whole.”
“If these allegations are proven, this officer is a disgrace to his profession,” Sheriff Edward Rochford said. “He had control over another person and completely violated the public trust. There is no place in law enforcement for anyone who is alleged to have acted in such a reprehensible way. The Prosecutor’s Office moved swiftly on this, and I thank them for getting this person off the street. Officer Sainato has been suspended without pay pending the outcome of his court hearing.”
Sainato was hired by Morris County in 1996. He has been assigned to the Sheriff’s Labor assistance program for the past 10 years. His annual salary is $73,000, Rochford said.
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http://www.ohio.com/error?url=http%3A//www.ohio.com/news/break_news/40507517.html
Two NYPD Officers Accused of Raping Drunk Woman
A police officer is being investigated in the rape of an East Village woman he escorted home after being told she was too drunk to stand, law enforcement sources said.
The officer and his partner came to the woman after a cab driver called 911 on Dec. 7, telling cops she had vomited in his car and couldn't find cab fare, the source said.
Law enforcement sources said they had surveillance video from the victim's apartment building showing the two cops helping the drunken woman inside and returning to the building a second time more than a half hour later. The woman reported the rape to the Manhattan district attorney's office, where officials are currently investigating the complaint, the source said.
Both cops, whose names were not released, were stripped of their guns and badges and placed on modified desk duty.
A lawyer for one of the officers, Stephen Worth, declined to comment.
NYPD Internal Affairs investigators searched both cops' lockers and found one packet of heroin.
The officer accused of rape told colleagues he had forgotten to voucher the drugs after confiscating them in a separate case.
Both cops were given drug tests and passed.
________________
http://www.metro.us/us/article/2009/03/02/04/0659-82/index.xml
The officer and his partner came to the woman after a cab driver called 911 on Dec. 7, telling cops she had vomited in his car and couldn't find cab fare, the source said.
Law enforcement sources said they had surveillance video from the victim's apartment building showing the two cops helping the drunken woman inside and returning to the building a second time more than a half hour later. The woman reported the rape to the Manhattan district attorney's office, where officials are currently investigating the complaint, the source said.
Both cops, whose names were not released, were stripped of their guns and badges and placed on modified desk duty.
A lawyer for one of the officers, Stephen Worth, declined to comment.
NYPD Internal Affairs investigators searched both cops' lockers and found one packet of heroin.
The officer accused of rape told colleagues he had forgotten to voucher the drugs after confiscating them in a separate case.
Both cops were given drug tests and passed.
________________
http://www.metro.us/us/article/2009/03/02/04/0659-82/index.xml
Officer Javier Alonzo Arrested for Aggravated Sexual Assault
Update:
EL PASO, Tx.
An El Paso police officer is under arrest for Aggravated Sexual Assault against a woman.
Police say they began investigating the accusation against 16-year veteran officer Javier Alonzo on Tuesday. They found probable cause and issued an arrest warrant for Alonzo, however, he fled El Paso before officers could arrest him.
According to a news release from EPPD, U.S. Marshal's nabbed Alonzo in Austin and turned him over to Austin police. He is now being escorted back to El Paso.
Authorities have not released any details on the alleged attack; however, police chief Greg Allen has ordered the termination of Alonzo.
Previous Post: http://whathappenedtoprotectandserve.blogspot.com/2009/02/veteran-officer-javier-alonzo-arrested.html
EL PASO, Tx.
An El Paso police officer is under arrest for Aggravated Sexual Assault against a woman.
Police say they began investigating the accusation against 16-year veteran officer Javier Alonzo on Tuesday. They found probable cause and issued an arrest warrant for Alonzo, however, he fled El Paso before officers could arrest him.
According to a news release from EPPD, U.S. Marshal's nabbed Alonzo in Austin and turned him over to Austin police. He is now being escorted back to El Paso.
Authorities have not released any details on the alleged attack; however, police chief Greg Allen has ordered the termination of Alonzo.
Previous Post: http://whathappenedtoprotectandserve.blogspot.com/2009/02/veteran-officer-javier-alonzo-arrested.html
Saturday, February 28, 2009
Former Sheriff Bill Keating Charged with Having Sex with Inmates
FORT WORTH, Texas
A former sheriff and several ex-jailers were among 17 people named Friday in a 106-count indictment on charges ranging from having sex with inmates to bringing them drugs at a now-closed county jail.
Former Montague County Sheriff Bill Keating was charged with official oppression and having sex with inmates, according to the indictment. Keating was defeated in a primary election last spring.
Several female jailers were charged with having sex with inmates and bringing them drugs, cell phones and cigarettes, while several male jailers were charged with drug possession and with bringing inmates banned items, according to the indictment.
Several inmates also were charged with drug possession, according to the indictment.
State District Judge Roger Towery has sealed the names in the indictments until the suspects are arrested, but their jobs and charges were made public....
A former sheriff and several ex-jailers were among 17 people named Friday in a 106-count indictment on charges ranging from having sex with inmates to bringing them drugs at a now-closed county jail.
Former Montague County Sheriff Bill Keating was charged with official oppression and having sex with inmates, according to the indictment. Keating was defeated in a primary election last spring.
Several female jailers were charged with having sex with inmates and bringing them drugs, cell phones and cigarettes, while several male jailers were charged with drug possession and with bringing inmates banned items, according to the indictment.
Several inmates also were charged with drug possession, according to the indictment.
State District Judge Roger Towery has sealed the names in the indictments until the suspects are arrested, but their jobs and charges were made public....
Video Shows Deputy Beating 15-year-old Girl
A video showing a King County Sheriff's deputy pummeling a 15-year-old girl in a holding cell was released Friday over the strenuous objections of the officer's attorney.
The case goes beyond police misconduct, County Prosecutor Dan Satterberg said in a prepared statement.
"It's about criminal misconduct. And that's why he needs to be prosecuted," he said.
The video of the Nov. 29 incident was disclosed Friday, one day after Deputy Paul Schene, 31, pleaded not guilty to misdemeanor assault in King County District Court.
Schene, an eight-year veteran, works out of Precinct 4, which covers SeaTac, Burien and high crime areas in White Center and Skyway.
He is the third sheriff's deputy since 2006 to face charges on allegations of excessive force. All three are from the Burien precinct.
A detective assigned to the girl's case discovered the video Dec. 1 and immediately forwarded it to supervisors.
The Seattle P-I requested a copy of the holding cell video and all reports from the incident under the state's open records law. A judge on Thursday denied a request from Schene's attorney to bar the video from public disclosure.
"We take this very seriously and we're very concerned about this," sheriff's Sgt. Jim Laing said Friday. An internal investigation would begin after the criminal case is finished.
The girl was arrested after she was caught in her parents' car, which had been reported stolen from her parents' Tukwila home. Deputy Travis Brunner spotted the car driving without headlights about 3:45 a.m. on 32nd Avenue South in SeaTac and pulled it over.
She and another 15-yearold girl were arrested and taken to SeaTac City Hall to be fingerprinted before being transported to the youth detention center.
The P-I is not naming the girl because she is a minor.
The deputies apparently didn't know until later that the girl, who was in the passenger seat, was related to the car's owner.
"We had argued strenuously that the videotape released to the media this morning not be released because it does not tell the whole story of the incident," attorney Anne Bremner said in a statement.
"As we argued to the judge, it will inflame public opinion and will severely impact the deputy's right to a fair trial."
The video shows Schene and Brunner as they escorted the girl into the holding cell. Schene had asked her to remove her basketball shoes, and, as she slipped out of her left shoe, she appeared to kick it at Schene.
Schene then lunged through the door and kicked her, striking either her stomach or upper thigh area, court documents say. He pushed her against a corner wall before flinging her to the floor by her hair. He then squatted down on her and made "two overhead strikes," although it's unclear where the blows landed.
The detective who reviewed the video said it appeared Schene and Brunner had the girl under control when Schene struck her. Schene, who is 6 feet 2 and weighs 195 pounds, did not explain his action to investigators, court documents say.
He and the girl exchanged words. Brunner said she was "real lippy" after being informed she was under arrest and called them "fat pigs."
The Sheriff's Office policy manual says deputies should use physical or deadly force only when "necessary to effect an arrest, to defend themselves or others from violence, or to otherwise accomplish police duties according to law."
Schene could face up to a year in jail if convicted. He has been on administrative leave since early December.
The girl said that she couldn't breathe after the incident, prompting the deputies to call paramedics.
Paramedics decided that she didn't require hospitalization. Felony charges require proof of serious injury.
"If the matter were to go to trial, he could face additional charges," said Ian Goodhew, deputy chief of staff in the Prosecutor's Office.
In his own report from the incident, Schene wrote that the shoe hit him in the right shin, "causing injury and pain." He wrote that he "placed" her into handcuffs and that she needed medical attention for a "panic attack."
He said a "blood filled pocket" formed on his shin, requiring treatment at Auburn General Hospital, according to his report. The video, however, appears to show his shin strike a metal toilet as he pushes the girl against the wall.
The girl told investigators that she didn't intend for the shoe to hit him, court documents say.
Schene had previously been in the news in 2006 after he fatally shot Pedro Jo, a mentally ill man, during a struggle after a traffic stop on Interstate 5. It was the second officer-involved shooting of his career.
An inquest jury ruled the shooting was justified. Jo viciously attacked Schene, trying to strangle him with his own radio cord.
Jo then ran back to his car and disobeyed Schene's orders to stop. Schene said he saw Jo reach for something in the seat, so Schene fired 11 times after Jo ran back to his car.
Shortly after the shooting while on administrative leave, Schene was stopped for driving under the influence.
He had been drinking and taking prescription medication, according to court records. He received a deferred sentence and was placed on probation, records show.
Schene works in an urban precinct with higher rates of violent crime and gang activity than other precincts. Officers assigned there more often report having to use physical force in arrest situations, Laing said.
Schene is the second officer from the precinct in three months to face charges. In addition, a third deputy, Brian Bonnar, was acquitted in January of civil rights violations during a trial in U.S. District Court. Bonnar, who patrolled in the precinct, was accused by other deputies of using excessive force on a woman who'd been restrained after a high-speed pursuit.
Legal costs for Bonnar's private attorneys, David Allen and Todd Maybrown, as well as lawyer costs for other deputies involved, cost the county's insurer $315,000, according to records the P-I obtained.
In December, Deputy Don Griffee was charged with misdemeanor assault for allegedly punching a handcuffed male suspect. The state Attorney General's Office is prosecuting the case.
________________
Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ipb_PeXOdT4
The case goes beyond police misconduct, County Prosecutor Dan Satterberg said in a prepared statement.
"It's about criminal misconduct. And that's why he needs to be prosecuted," he said.
The video of the Nov. 29 incident was disclosed Friday, one day after Deputy Paul Schene, 31, pleaded not guilty to misdemeanor assault in King County District Court.
Schene, an eight-year veteran, works out of Precinct 4, which covers SeaTac, Burien and high crime areas in White Center and Skyway.
He is the third sheriff's deputy since 2006 to face charges on allegations of excessive force. All three are from the Burien precinct.
A detective assigned to the girl's case discovered the video Dec. 1 and immediately forwarded it to supervisors.
The Seattle P-I requested a copy of the holding cell video and all reports from the incident under the state's open records law. A judge on Thursday denied a request from Schene's attorney to bar the video from public disclosure.
"We take this very seriously and we're very concerned about this," sheriff's Sgt. Jim Laing said Friday. An internal investigation would begin after the criminal case is finished.
The girl was arrested after she was caught in her parents' car, which had been reported stolen from her parents' Tukwila home. Deputy Travis Brunner spotted the car driving without headlights about 3:45 a.m. on 32nd Avenue South in SeaTac and pulled it over.
She and another 15-yearold girl were arrested and taken to SeaTac City Hall to be fingerprinted before being transported to the youth detention center.
The P-I is not naming the girl because she is a minor.
The deputies apparently didn't know until later that the girl, who was in the passenger seat, was related to the car's owner.
"We had argued strenuously that the videotape released to the media this morning not be released because it does not tell the whole story of the incident," attorney Anne Bremner said in a statement.
"As we argued to the judge, it will inflame public opinion and will severely impact the deputy's right to a fair trial."
The video shows Schene and Brunner as they escorted the girl into the holding cell. Schene had asked her to remove her basketball shoes, and, as she slipped out of her left shoe, she appeared to kick it at Schene.
Schene then lunged through the door and kicked her, striking either her stomach or upper thigh area, court documents say. He pushed her against a corner wall before flinging her to the floor by her hair. He then squatted down on her and made "two overhead strikes," although it's unclear where the blows landed.
The detective who reviewed the video said it appeared Schene and Brunner had the girl under control when Schene struck her. Schene, who is 6 feet 2 and weighs 195 pounds, did not explain his action to investigators, court documents say.
He and the girl exchanged words. Brunner said she was "real lippy" after being informed she was under arrest and called them "fat pigs."
The Sheriff's Office policy manual says deputies should use physical or deadly force only when "necessary to effect an arrest, to defend themselves or others from violence, or to otherwise accomplish police duties according to law."
Schene could face up to a year in jail if convicted. He has been on administrative leave since early December.
The girl said that she couldn't breathe after the incident, prompting the deputies to call paramedics.
Paramedics decided that she didn't require hospitalization. Felony charges require proof of serious injury.
"If the matter were to go to trial, he could face additional charges," said Ian Goodhew, deputy chief of staff in the Prosecutor's Office.
In his own report from the incident, Schene wrote that the shoe hit him in the right shin, "causing injury and pain." He wrote that he "placed" her into handcuffs and that she needed medical attention for a "panic attack."
He said a "blood filled pocket" formed on his shin, requiring treatment at Auburn General Hospital, according to his report. The video, however, appears to show his shin strike a metal toilet as he pushes the girl against the wall.
The girl told investigators that she didn't intend for the shoe to hit him, court documents say.
Schene had previously been in the news in 2006 after he fatally shot Pedro Jo, a mentally ill man, during a struggle after a traffic stop on Interstate 5. It was the second officer-involved shooting of his career.
An inquest jury ruled the shooting was justified. Jo viciously attacked Schene, trying to strangle him with his own radio cord.
Jo then ran back to his car and disobeyed Schene's orders to stop. Schene said he saw Jo reach for something in the seat, so Schene fired 11 times after Jo ran back to his car.
Shortly after the shooting while on administrative leave, Schene was stopped for driving under the influence.
He had been drinking and taking prescription medication, according to court records. He received a deferred sentence and was placed on probation, records show.
Schene works in an urban precinct with higher rates of violent crime and gang activity than other precincts. Officers assigned there more often report having to use physical force in arrest situations, Laing said.
Schene is the second officer from the precinct in three months to face charges. In addition, a third deputy, Brian Bonnar, was acquitted in January of civil rights violations during a trial in U.S. District Court. Bonnar, who patrolled in the precinct, was accused by other deputies of using excessive force on a woman who'd been restrained after a high-speed pursuit.
Legal costs for Bonnar's private attorneys, David Allen and Todd Maybrown, as well as lawyer costs for other deputies involved, cost the county's insurer $315,000, according to records the P-I obtained.
In December, Deputy Don Griffee was charged with misdemeanor assault for allegedly punching a handcuffed male suspect. The state Attorney General's Office is prosecuting the case.
________________
Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ipb_PeXOdT4
Friday, February 27, 2009
Sheriff Charlie Morris Arrested for Theft, Fraud & other Charges
An emotional start to a Friday morning for the employees of Okaloosa County Sheriff's Office.Just before 9 o'clock they were informed their boss, Sheriff Charlie Morris, was behind bars.
"I don't know if i can do this Charlie Morris has been like a father to me and to say that we are hurt, to say that we are stunned to say that we are disappointed does not even begin to describe it," says Michele Nickelson the O.C.S.O. public information officer.
Federal agents arrested Morris in Las Vegas, Friday morning on theft, fraud, wire fraud, money laundering and conspiracy charges.
Around the same time, authorities in Shalimar arrested Morris' director of administration and finance, 50-year-old Theresa "Terry" Adams, escorting her out of her office.
The U.S. Attorney's Office says Morris and Adams were conducting a scheme to steal money from the sheriff's office payroll account, enlisting the help of unwitting employees. Several of those employees got suspicious and began working with local FBI agents.
Those agents say the scheme worked like this:
Adams or Morris or both, would tell the employee the sheriff's office charity account was out of money. They'd ask the employee to help them transfer money from the payroll account to the charity account, in the form of kick-backs.Those employees told federal agents they would receive thousands of dollars in bonuses, then give most or all of the money back to Adams as either cash or a cashier's check.
The say Morris never gave any of the money to charity, but pocketed it for his own use.
After Morris' arrest, Gov. Charlie Crist suspended him from office and appointed FDLE Agent Edward Spooner as the acting sheriff. Friday afternoon, Spooner reacted to the situation.
"It's a bad day for all of us I've known charlie Morris for 16 years..I've worked with him quite a bit....it's tough for all of us." But he refused to answer any questions about the investigation, like are there any more arrests pending.
"This involved a very small group of employees in the sheriff's office that is being investigated by the FBI."
If the allegations are true, the nagging question is why would Morris do it. Some claim Morris has a gambling problem.
"I don't know that he has a gambling problem I have no knowledge of that and it's an issue i will not discuss," says Spooner.
When asked why Morris was in Las Vegas, Spooner would only answer he was on vacation.
As for his stay at the sheriff's office, Spooner says he's only there for a short time.
"It's my understanding I'll be here for 4 to 6 or even 8 weeks to come in and keep the sheriff's office running the same and give the same service to the citizens, the members and the employees, but the agency is who will make the difference."
There is no word on who will step-up and permanently replace Morris, not only as sheriff, but also as the president of the Florida Sheriff's Association.
Morris is due in Federal Court in Las Vegas for a bond hearing.
He'll then be extradited back to the Pensacola where he'll face the charges.
"I don't know if i can do this Charlie Morris has been like a father to me and to say that we are hurt, to say that we are stunned to say that we are disappointed does not even begin to describe it," says Michele Nickelson the O.C.S.O. public information officer.
Federal agents arrested Morris in Las Vegas, Friday morning on theft, fraud, wire fraud, money laundering and conspiracy charges.
Around the same time, authorities in Shalimar arrested Morris' director of administration and finance, 50-year-old Theresa "Terry" Adams, escorting her out of her office.
The U.S. Attorney's Office says Morris and Adams were conducting a scheme to steal money from the sheriff's office payroll account, enlisting the help of unwitting employees. Several of those employees got suspicious and began working with local FBI agents.
Those agents say the scheme worked like this:
Adams or Morris or both, would tell the employee the sheriff's office charity account was out of money. They'd ask the employee to help them transfer money from the payroll account to the charity account, in the form of kick-backs.Those employees told federal agents they would receive thousands of dollars in bonuses, then give most or all of the money back to Adams as either cash or a cashier's check.
The say Morris never gave any of the money to charity, but pocketed it for his own use.
After Morris' arrest, Gov. Charlie Crist suspended him from office and appointed FDLE Agent Edward Spooner as the acting sheriff. Friday afternoon, Spooner reacted to the situation.
"It's a bad day for all of us I've known charlie Morris for 16 years..I've worked with him quite a bit....it's tough for all of us." But he refused to answer any questions about the investigation, like are there any more arrests pending.
"This involved a very small group of employees in the sheriff's office that is being investigated by the FBI."
If the allegations are true, the nagging question is why would Morris do it. Some claim Morris has a gambling problem.
"I don't know that he has a gambling problem I have no knowledge of that and it's an issue i will not discuss," says Spooner.
When asked why Morris was in Las Vegas, Spooner would only answer he was on vacation.
As for his stay at the sheriff's office, Spooner says he's only there for a short time.
"It's my understanding I'll be here for 4 to 6 or even 8 weeks to come in and keep the sheriff's office running the same and give the same service to the citizens, the members and the employees, but the agency is who will make the difference."
There is no word on who will step-up and permanently replace Morris, not only as sheriff, but also as the president of the Florida Sheriff's Association.
Morris is due in Federal Court in Las Vegas for a bond hearing.
He'll then be extradited back to the Pensacola where he'll face the charges.
Teresa Adams Arrested with Sheriff Charlie Morris
Another person has been arrested in connection to the arrest of Okaloosa County Sheriff Charlie Morris.
Along with the Arrest of 59-year-old Sheriff Charlie Morris, Teresa Adams, age 50, of Niceville, Florida, were arrested Friday based upon a federal criminal complaint alleging violations of Theft or Fraud from Federally Funded Programs, Wire Fraud, Fraud or Theft of Honest Services, Money Laundering and Money Laundering Conspiracy.
Sheriff Morris was arrested by federal agents in Las Vegas, Nevada, and is expected to make an initial appearance in United States District Court for the District of Nevada Friday.
Thereafter, he is expected to be returned to the Northern District of Florida.
According to the complaint filed in federal court, Morris, with the assistance of his Director of Administration and Finance, Adams, created fictitious bonuses to sheriff’s department employees.
The complaint alleges the employees were directed to return all or a portion of the bonuses in the form of cash and cashier’s checks under the pretense that these returned funds were to be used for charitable purposes.
Adams is expected to make an initial appearance before United States Magistrate Judge Elizabeth M. Timothy in Pensacola Friday.
A criminal complaint is merely a charging instrument. Each defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in United States District Court.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Internal Revenue Service. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Randall J.
Along with the Arrest of 59-year-old Sheriff Charlie Morris, Teresa Adams, age 50, of Niceville, Florida, were arrested Friday based upon a federal criminal complaint alleging violations of Theft or Fraud from Federally Funded Programs, Wire Fraud, Fraud or Theft of Honest Services, Money Laundering and Money Laundering Conspiracy.
Sheriff Morris was arrested by federal agents in Las Vegas, Nevada, and is expected to make an initial appearance in United States District Court for the District of Nevada Friday.
Thereafter, he is expected to be returned to the Northern District of Florida.
According to the complaint filed in federal court, Morris, with the assistance of his Director of Administration and Finance, Adams, created fictitious bonuses to sheriff’s department employees.
The complaint alleges the employees were directed to return all or a portion of the bonuses in the form of cash and cashier’s checks under the pretense that these returned funds were to be used for charitable purposes.
Adams is expected to make an initial appearance before United States Magistrate Judge Elizabeth M. Timothy in Pensacola Friday.
A criminal complaint is merely a charging instrument. Each defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in United States District Court.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Internal Revenue Service. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Randall J.
Officer Paul Cervantes Charged with Stealing Drug Dealers SUV
A judge ruled this afternoon that there was sufficient evidence to order one Fresno police officer to stand trial on a charge of helping an informant steal a suspected drug dealer's SUV, but another officer charged in the case was allowed to go free.
Judge Gary Orozco said in Fresno County Superior Court there was probable cause to believe officer Paul Cervantes helped steal a 2001 Ford Explorer that belonged to Humberto Ortega Quintero, who was arrested Jan. 7, 2008, during a drug bust in Fresno.
But Orozco said there was little evidence to link officer Hector Becerra to the theft.
The judge also ruled that the informant, Jesus Jose Mendoza Valles, should stand trial.
1:38 p.m.: A preliminary hearing began this morning in Fresno County Superior Court for two Fresno police officers and a confidential informant accused of stealing a suspected drug dealer's SUV in January last year.
Randy Royal, an investigator with the California Highway Patrol, testified he interviewed the informant, Jesus Jose Mendoza Valles.
Royal said Valles told him police officers Paul Cervantes and Hector Becerra gave him permission to take an SUV owned by Humberto Ortega Quintero after Quintero was arrested in a drug bust on Jan. 7, 2008.
The next day, Valles went to the Department of Motor Vehicles and registered the SUV in his name, Royal said.
Royal also testified he interviewed Quintero and learned Valles never paid him $5,000 for his 2001 Ford Explorer.
Valles was booked into the downtown jail Dec. 29 on a charge of stealing Quintero's car. Before the two officers were arrested, Royal said, they went to the jail to visit Valles. The officers interviewed Valles for about 20 minutes, Royal testified.
What was discussed has not yet been disclosed in Judge Gary Orozco's courtroom.
Before the lunch break, another witness, Fresno Sgt. Walter Boston, said he received a tip from Cervantes after the officer was arrested. The tip led him to a female confidential informant who works for the Fresno Police Department. Cervantes told Boston that Valles told the woman he felt pressured by the CHP and Fresno police detective Brad Alcorn to "give up the officers."
Cervantes, 32, Becerra, 34, and Valles, 45, each face a charge of felony auto theft.
The preliminary hearing will determine whether there is enough evidence to order the three men to stand trial. The hearing resumes after the lunch break.
Judge Gary Orozco said in Fresno County Superior Court there was probable cause to believe officer Paul Cervantes helped steal a 2001 Ford Explorer that belonged to Humberto Ortega Quintero, who was arrested Jan. 7, 2008, during a drug bust in Fresno.
But Orozco said there was little evidence to link officer Hector Becerra to the theft.
The judge also ruled that the informant, Jesus Jose Mendoza Valles, should stand trial.
1:38 p.m.: A preliminary hearing began this morning in Fresno County Superior Court for two Fresno police officers and a confidential informant accused of stealing a suspected drug dealer's SUV in January last year.
Randy Royal, an investigator with the California Highway Patrol, testified he interviewed the informant, Jesus Jose Mendoza Valles.
Royal said Valles told him police officers Paul Cervantes and Hector Becerra gave him permission to take an SUV owned by Humberto Ortega Quintero after Quintero was arrested in a drug bust on Jan. 7, 2008.
The next day, Valles went to the Department of Motor Vehicles and registered the SUV in his name, Royal said.
Royal also testified he interviewed Quintero and learned Valles never paid him $5,000 for his 2001 Ford Explorer.
Valles was booked into the downtown jail Dec. 29 on a charge of stealing Quintero's car. Before the two officers were arrested, Royal said, they went to the jail to visit Valles. The officers interviewed Valles for about 20 minutes, Royal testified.
What was discussed has not yet been disclosed in Judge Gary Orozco's courtroom.
Before the lunch break, another witness, Fresno Sgt. Walter Boston, said he received a tip from Cervantes after the officer was arrested. The tip led him to a female confidential informant who works for the Fresno Police Department. Cervantes told Boston that Valles told the woman he felt pressured by the CHP and Fresno police detective Brad Alcorn to "give up the officers."
Cervantes, 32, Becerra, 34, and Valles, 45, each face a charge of felony auto theft.
The preliminary hearing will determine whether there is enough evidence to order the three men to stand trial. The hearing resumes after the lunch break.
Trooper Leslie Hoover Arrested for DUI was Wearing a Red Dress
A South Carolina Highway Patrol officer is off the job after being arrested under bizarre circumstances on Wednesday.
Officials say trooper Leslie C. Hoover was pulled over on John Dodd Road in Spartanburg County under suspicion of DUI. This came after a motorist called 911 to report Hoover’s personal vehicle, an Isuzu Rodeo, swerving erratically on Insterstate 26 about 6:40pm in heavy rush hour traffic. The SC Department of Public Safety says Hoover refused a breathalyzer and failed a field sobriety test. He was charged with driving under the influence.
Thursday morning, Hoover appeared before a magistrate and was released on his own recognizance. But his appearance when he entered the jail has stirred more discussion than his legal troubles.
A high-ranking official who wished to remain anonymous tells News Channel 7 he saw Hoover brought into the jail “wearing a red dress”. He says Hoover was also wearing a bra and was seen “adjusting his bra” while he waited to be processed. And he says the shamed trooper had a pair of thong panties “in his possession”.
That would explain statements made by the man who made the 911 call on the interstate. The driver, who asked not to be identified, said Hoover “appeared to be wearing a blonde wig” when he came flying past him near exit 22. On a recording of his 911 call - which was obtained by News Channel 7 - the man refers to Hoover as “she” several times.
“Yes, I’m on interstate 26 heading west at exit 22 and there is a red, I think it’s an Isuzu or a Rodeo, and she - I think it’s a she - is weaving all over the road,“ says the caller on the 911 tape.
Dispatcher: “Do you think she’s intoxicated or….?“
Caller: “I can’t tell but she is weaving all over the road!“.
Sid Gaulden, spokesperson for the Department of Public Safety, says Hoover is from Lexington County and was on his personal time when he was arrested. He says Hoover was terminated Thursday morning. He had worked for the Highway Patrol for 30 years. He says Hoover retired in 2000 but came back to work in 2002 as a member of the patrol’s Insurance Enforcement Team. The team works with the Department of Motor Vehicles to seize license plates from car owners who have allowed their insurance coverage to lapse.
“They are part-time employees but they have the same authority to conduct traffic stops and issue citations as a full-time state trooper,“ says Gaulden. He says Hoover did not have any disciplanary actions against him as a patrol officer from 1976 to 2000. But after he came back in 2002, he had to attend one counseling session for “negligent operation of a state vehicle”. Gaulden says that stemmed from an incident in which Hoover rear-ended a civilian’s vehicle. He says “there was no indication alcohol was a factor” in that crash.
The man who called 911 raises another interesting issue: he says another state trooper could have stopped Hoover before he called 911 but did not pull him over. He says as Hoover’s vehicle swerved all over the road near exit 22, a state trooper in an SUV pulled “right up behind” Hoover and followed him. He says at the time, Hoover’s vehicle was straddling the divided white line that separates lanes.
“I really thought (the trooper) was going to pull him over because he was clearly weaving,“ says the caller. “But he just went right around him and took off real fast like he was in a hurry.“
He says as the trooper was going around Hoover’s vehicle, Hoover swerved off the shoulder of the interstate.
“I thought that would have been obvious enough for the trooper to notice that but I guess he didn’t,“ says the man. He says minutes later, after he saw Hoover almost collide with several vehicles, he picked up his cell phone and dialed 911.
We informed Department of Public Safety of the man’s statement about the trooper failing to pull over Hoover. Gaulden said they were not aware of the scenario “but we will investigate it fully” to see if it was indeed a state trooper who pulled up behind Hoover and if so, why they opted not to pull him over.
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Previous Post: http://whathappenedtoprotectandserve.blogspot.com/2009/02/trooper-leslie-hoover-arrested-for-dui.html
Officials say trooper Leslie C. Hoover was pulled over on John Dodd Road in Spartanburg County under suspicion of DUI. This came after a motorist called 911 to report Hoover’s personal vehicle, an Isuzu Rodeo, swerving erratically on Insterstate 26 about 6:40pm in heavy rush hour traffic. The SC Department of Public Safety says Hoover refused a breathalyzer and failed a field sobriety test. He was charged with driving under the influence.
Thursday morning, Hoover appeared before a magistrate and was released on his own recognizance. But his appearance when he entered the jail has stirred more discussion than his legal troubles.
A high-ranking official who wished to remain anonymous tells News Channel 7 he saw Hoover brought into the jail “wearing a red dress”. He says Hoover was also wearing a bra and was seen “adjusting his bra” while he waited to be processed. And he says the shamed trooper had a pair of thong panties “in his possession”.
That would explain statements made by the man who made the 911 call on the interstate. The driver, who asked not to be identified, said Hoover “appeared to be wearing a blonde wig” when he came flying past him near exit 22. On a recording of his 911 call - which was obtained by News Channel 7 - the man refers to Hoover as “she” several times.
“Yes, I’m on interstate 26 heading west at exit 22 and there is a red, I think it’s an Isuzu or a Rodeo, and she - I think it’s a she - is weaving all over the road,“ says the caller on the 911 tape.
Dispatcher: “Do you think she’s intoxicated or….?“
Caller: “I can’t tell but she is weaving all over the road!“.
Sid Gaulden, spokesperson for the Department of Public Safety, says Hoover is from Lexington County and was on his personal time when he was arrested. He says Hoover was terminated Thursday morning. He had worked for the Highway Patrol for 30 years. He says Hoover retired in 2000 but came back to work in 2002 as a member of the patrol’s Insurance Enforcement Team. The team works with the Department of Motor Vehicles to seize license plates from car owners who have allowed their insurance coverage to lapse.
“They are part-time employees but they have the same authority to conduct traffic stops and issue citations as a full-time state trooper,“ says Gaulden. He says Hoover did not have any disciplanary actions against him as a patrol officer from 1976 to 2000. But after he came back in 2002, he had to attend one counseling session for “negligent operation of a state vehicle”. Gaulden says that stemmed from an incident in which Hoover rear-ended a civilian’s vehicle. He says “there was no indication alcohol was a factor” in that crash.
The man who called 911 raises another interesting issue: he says another state trooper could have stopped Hoover before he called 911 but did not pull him over. He says as Hoover’s vehicle swerved all over the road near exit 22, a state trooper in an SUV pulled “right up behind” Hoover and followed him. He says at the time, Hoover’s vehicle was straddling the divided white line that separates lanes.
“I really thought (the trooper) was going to pull him over because he was clearly weaving,“ says the caller. “But he just went right around him and took off real fast like he was in a hurry.“
He says as the trooper was going around Hoover’s vehicle, Hoover swerved off the shoulder of the interstate.
“I thought that would have been obvious enough for the trooper to notice that but I guess he didn’t,“ says the man. He says minutes later, after he saw Hoover almost collide with several vehicles, he picked up his cell phone and dialed 911.
We informed Department of Public Safety of the man’s statement about the trooper failing to pull over Hoover. Gaulden said they were not aware of the scenario “but we will investigate it fully” to see if it was indeed a state trooper who pulled up behind Hoover and if so, why they opted not to pull him over.
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Previous Post: http://whathappenedtoprotectandserve.blogspot.com/2009/02/trooper-leslie-hoover-arrested-for-dui.html
Veteran Officer Javier Alonzo Arrested for Sexual Assault
EL PASO, Texas
A 16-year veteran of the El Paso Police Department has been arrested in Austin on a charge of aggravated sexual assault.
El Paso police announced Friday that Javier Alonzo was arrested by Austin police without incident. Alonzo's whereabouts had been unknown since El Paso police issued a warrant for his arrest Tuesday, according to the news release.
Alonzo was booked into the Travis County jail but is expected to be moved to El Paso, the news release said.
The alleged victim was identified in the news release as a woman living in El Paso.
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http://www.kfoxtv.com/news/18812034/detail.html
A 16-year veteran of the El Paso Police Department has been arrested in Austin on a charge of aggravated sexual assault.
El Paso police announced Friday that Javier Alonzo was arrested by Austin police without incident. Alonzo's whereabouts had been unknown since El Paso police issued a warrant for his arrest Tuesday, according to the news release.
Alonzo was booked into the Travis County jail but is expected to be moved to El Paso, the news release said.
The alleged victim was identified in the news release as a woman living in El Paso.
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http://www.kfoxtv.com/news/18812034/detail.html
Officers Hector Becerra & Paul Cervantes Return to Court for Auto Theft
Two Fresno Police Officers, accused of felony auto theft, will return to court Friday morning.
A preliminary hearing has been scheduled for Hector Becerra and Paul Cervantes, at which prosecutors will present evidence to hold the two over for trial.
The two are accused of stealing a car they were supposedly seizing, and turning it over to a chop shop. They were arrested back on January 30th, and made their first court appearance on February 17th, where they pleaded not guilty to the charges.
A third Fresno Police Officer, 40-year-old Robert Eddings is facing charges related to the case, for giving false information.
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Other Information: http://www.kmph.com/Global/story.asp?S=9922198&nav=menu612_2_9
Previous Post:
http://whathappenedtoprotectandserve.blogspot.com/2009/01/officer-paul-cervantes-detective-hector.html
A preliminary hearing has been scheduled for Hector Becerra and Paul Cervantes, at which prosecutors will present evidence to hold the two over for trial.
The two are accused of stealing a car they were supposedly seizing, and turning it over to a chop shop. They were arrested back on January 30th, and made their first court appearance on February 17th, where they pleaded not guilty to the charges.
A third Fresno Police Officer, 40-year-old Robert Eddings is facing charges related to the case, for giving false information.
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Other Information: http://www.kmph.com/Global/story.asp?S=9922198&nav=menu612_2_9
Previous Post:
http://whathappenedtoprotectandserve.blogspot.com/2009/01/officer-paul-cervantes-detective-hector.html
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