An off-duty Pierce County sheriff’s deputy found passed out behind the wheel of a running car was charged Friday with drunken driving.
Charging documents filed in District Court say Jeffrey Douglas Fleig, 53, registered a 0.18 reading on a blood-alcohol breath test after he was stopped early Monday. The legal limit in Washington is 0.08.
Another sheriff’s deputy spotted Fleig about 2:30 a.m. in the 1400 block of 85th Street East, near Dawson Playfield, records state. The car Fleig was driving blocked the southbound lane.
The deputy drove past in the opposite direction, noticed the car wasn’t moving, and circled back. Fleig was behind the wheel, unconscious, his foot on the brake, records state. The car was in gear.
The deputy “had a difficult time waking the defendant,” records state. “The defendant finally awoke, but was fairly incoherent. The defendant stated he had too much to drink.”
Fleig had a hard time standing, according to the records. A deputy had to hold him upright.
Fleig “demonstrated six of six clues on the horizontal gaze nystagmus test,” records state, referring to a field sobriety test that measures visual reaction to a held finger or pen light.
He has been placed on paid administrative leave, pending an internal investigation, sheriff’s spokesman Ed Troyer said Friday.
Fleig is a 23-year veteran of the Sheriff’s Department. Troyer said he did not know whether Fleig’s prior record included similar incidents.
A survey of court records shows Fleig was cited for drunken driving in 2002 in Pierce County. He received a deferred sentence, stipulating no further violations for five years. Records indicate he met the standard. The charge was dismissed in October 2007.
Saturday, March 07, 2009
Friday, March 06, 2009
Officer Phillip Mordick Arrested for Domestic Violence
DAYTON, Ohio
A Dayton police officer was arrested overnight after he allegedly hit his girlfriend and threatened someone with a gun.
Philip Mordick, 34, was arrested by Riverside police early Friday morning.
In a 911 call received shortly after midnight, a woman told dispatchers Mordick was angry because she went out drinking with friends. She said he pulled a gun on her cousin and then struck her in the jaw when she stepped in front of him.
The woman said the incident was very out-of-character for Mordick. He now faces charges of aggravated menacing and domestic violence.
He posted bond Friday afternoon. Dayton police said Mordick is currently on restricted status, and has been forced to surrender his gun.
A Dayton police officer was arrested overnight after he allegedly hit his girlfriend and threatened someone with a gun.
Philip Mordick, 34, was arrested by Riverside police early Friday morning.
In a 911 call received shortly after midnight, a woman told dispatchers Mordick was angry because she went out drinking with friends. She said he pulled a gun on her cousin and then struck her in the jaw when she stepped in front of him.
The woman said the incident was very out-of-character for Mordick. He now faces charges of aggravated menacing and domestic violence.
He posted bond Friday afternoon. Dayton police said Mordick is currently on restricted status, and has been forced to surrender his gun.
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More Information: http://www.daytondailynews.com/n/content/oh/story/news/local/2009/03/06/ddn030609copweb.html
More Information: http://www.daytondailynews.com/n/content/oh/story/news/local/2009/03/06/ddn030609copweb.html
New Hampshire Firefighters Mad at Newport Officers
The Professional Firefighters Union of New Hampshire is upset with the Newport Police Department after officers disguised themselves as firefighters to make an arrest.
Police devised the plan to take 34-year-old Matthew Miller into custody. Police went to his apartment Tuesday night for a noise complaint. When Miller answered the door he was holding a baby, and allegedly pointed a shotgun at the officer's face.
The officer, who knew Miller had a violent past, left the scene to avoid a confrontation. So the next day the officers came back in a fire truck dressed as firemen. They told Miller he had to evacuate due to a carbon monoxide issue. He was then arrested without incident.
"We need to have the trust of the public when we respond. If we allow others to co-opt our image, trade on our good name, no matter the circumstances, we'd create a breach of trust with the public that will be impossible for us to repair," said David Lang, of the Professional Firefighters of New Hampshire.
"If we as police didn't handle it correctly it was going to be disastrous for innocent people. This was the best possible scenario. It worked and it was very quick. It was not harmful to anybody. It's not to degrade those professions, to make those professions unsafe in any way. It's to accomplish our mission safely, without causing harm to anybody," said Newport Police Chief David Hoyt.
Hoyt went on to say he'd rather have firefighters criticizing his decisions than others questioning why innocent people were injured and killed.
Newport Fire Chief Wayne Conroy was in on the plot, and says he does not think residents will lose trust in his department.
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http://www.seacoastonline.com/articles/20090305-NEWS-90305055
Police devised the plan to take 34-year-old Matthew Miller into custody. Police went to his apartment Tuesday night for a noise complaint. When Miller answered the door he was holding a baby, and allegedly pointed a shotgun at the officer's face.
The officer, who knew Miller had a violent past, left the scene to avoid a confrontation. So the next day the officers came back in a fire truck dressed as firemen. They told Miller he had to evacuate due to a carbon monoxide issue. He was then arrested without incident.
"We need to have the trust of the public when we respond. If we allow others to co-opt our image, trade on our good name, no matter the circumstances, we'd create a breach of trust with the public that will be impossible for us to repair," said David Lang, of the Professional Firefighters of New Hampshire.
"If we as police didn't handle it correctly it was going to be disastrous for innocent people. This was the best possible scenario. It worked and it was very quick. It was not harmful to anybody. It's not to degrade those professions, to make those professions unsafe in any way. It's to accomplish our mission safely, without causing harm to anybody," said Newport Police Chief David Hoyt.
Hoyt went on to say he'd rather have firefighters criticizing his decisions than others questioning why innocent people were injured and killed.
Newport Fire Chief Wayne Conroy was in on the plot, and says he does not think residents will lose trust in his department.
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http://www.seacoastonline.com/articles/20090305-NEWS-90305055
Officer James Arthur Jr Arrested for Possession of Stolen Firearm
A Vivian police officer was arrested today on charges he bought a stolen gun on the street and then sold it back to a drug dealer when he found out it was hot.
James Arthur Jr., 34, of Peach Street in Shreveport was arrested by Caddo Parish sheriff's deputies on charges of possession of a stolen firearm.
The charges involve a stolen Bushmaster XM15 assault rifle valued at $1,250.
The rifle and three others were reported stolen in Shreveport in March 2008. In November, one of the guns was recovered by local narcotics agents during a drug case.
Sheriff's Department detectives began an investigation into the stolen weapon and found that Arthur bought the gun on the street for $300, Prator said.
Afterward, Arthur got on a national crime information computer to check the weapon's history and found out it was stolen, Prator said. Instead of turning the gun in, he sold it on the street for $600 to a known drug dealer, Prator said.
James Arthur Jr., 34, of Peach Street in Shreveport was arrested by Caddo Parish sheriff's deputies on charges of possession of a stolen firearm.
The charges involve a stolen Bushmaster XM15 assault rifle valued at $1,250.
The rifle and three others were reported stolen in Shreveport in March 2008. In November, one of the guns was recovered by local narcotics agents during a drug case.
Sheriff's Department detectives began an investigation into the stolen weapon and found that Arthur bought the gun on the street for $300, Prator said.
Afterward, Arthur got on a national crime information computer to check the weapon's history and found out it was stolen, Prator said. Instead of turning the gun in, he sold it on the street for $600 to a known drug dealer, Prator said.
Officer Bryan Spiotti Charged with Assaulting Person
A Wolcott police officer has been charged with assaulting a person who was being held at the police station, accused of driving under the influence.
Officer Bryan Spiotti, 42, a 12-year police veteran, is accused of assaulting the suspect at the end of January.
Spiotti's attorney, Hugh Keefe, takes issue with the police department investigating one of its own, particularly in light of the fact that his wife, Doreen Spiotti, is an officer on the same police force and won a substantial settlement in a harassment case brought against the same department.
Keefe said he requested that State Police handle the investigation but Wolcott police refused the request.
Bryan Spiotti turned himself in to Wolcott police Thursday morning and was released on a promise to appear.
Wolcott Police Chief Paul Scirpo Jr. said Spiotti has an average performance history with no documented abuse incidents.
Spiotti is on paid leave pending the outcome of the case and scheduled to be arraigned in Waterbury on March 11.
Officer Bryan Spiotti, 42, a 12-year police veteran, is accused of assaulting the suspect at the end of January.
Spiotti's attorney, Hugh Keefe, takes issue with the police department investigating one of its own, particularly in light of the fact that his wife, Doreen Spiotti, is an officer on the same police force and won a substantial settlement in a harassment case brought against the same department.
Keefe said he requested that State Police handle the investigation but Wolcott police refused the request.
Bryan Spiotti turned himself in to Wolcott police Thursday morning and was released on a promise to appear.
Wolcott Police Chief Paul Scirpo Jr. said Spiotti has an average performance history with no documented abuse incidents.
Spiotti is on paid leave pending the outcome of the case and scheduled to be arraigned in Waterbury on March 11.
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Two Former Detectives Convicted of Being Assassins for Mob
Two highly decorated former detectives who were convicted of serving as assassins for the mob, helping to kill at least eight men in one of the most spectacular police corruption scandals in New York City’s history, were sentenced on Friday to life in prison — for the second time. (The sentencing is the topic of Jim Dwyer’s About New York column, which notes that both men have been drawing tax-free disability pensions.)
The two men, Louis J. Eppolito and Stephen Caracappa, were convicted of murder in 2006 and were to be sentenced to life in prison. But then, in a stunning reversal, the federal judge overseeing the case, Jack B. Weinstein, threw out the convictions. He ruled that although there was little doubt that Mr. Eppolito and Mr. Caracappa had “kidnapped, murdered, and assisted kidnappers and murderers,” he had no choice but to let them go because the five-year statute of limitations in conspiracy cases had run out.
Federal prosecutors appealed Judge Weinstein’s decision to the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit, which last September reinstated the convictions.
The appellate court concluded that Judge Weinstein’s view of the conspiracy was too narrow, and that it had continued to exist within five years of when the men were charged. Although murders and other serious crimes that the men were accused of occurred in Brooklyn in the 1980s and 1990s, prosecutors used more recent and less serious charges — money laundering and narcotics distribution in Las Vegas in 2004 and 2005 — to bring the earlier acts under the umbrella of an ongoing criminal enterprise.
The two former detectives were defiant in Federal District Court in Brooklyn on Friday, as the life sentences were imposed.
“I was a hard-working cop,” Mr. Eppolito told Judge Weinstein, as reported by The Associated Press. “I never hurt anybody. I never kidnapped anybody. … I never did any of this.”
Mr. Caracappa told the judge, “You’ll never take away my will to prove how innocent I am.”
In addition to the life sentences, Mr. Eppolito, 61, received an additional 100 years for various other offenses including money laundering, and was fined $4.7 million. Mr. Caracappa, 67, received an additional 80 years, and a $4.2 million fine.
In a statement, the United States attorney in Brooklyn, Benton J. Campbell, said he hoped the sentences would “bring some closure for the families of the victims of these defendants’ unspeakable crimes and for the citizens of the city whose trust they betrayed.”
The two men, who logged a combined 44 years on the job, were found guilty of secretly being on the payroll of the Luchese underboss, Anthony Casso, starting in the mid 1980s.
The A.P. reported:
Caracappa left the New York Police Department in 1992 after establishing a special unit for mob murder investigations. Eppolito, whose father was a member of the Gambino crime family, was a decorated officer who went on to play a bit part in “GoodFellas” and launch an unsuccessful career as a screenwriter.
The pair were arrested a 2005 drug sting in Las Vegas, where they had retired.
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http://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com
Officer William Skett Pleads Not Guilty to DUI
A 34-year-old Los Angeles Police Department officer pleaded not guilty to three felony counts this week for allegedly driving his Hummer over two people and leaving the scene of the crime.
Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Kristi Lousteau ordered William Skett to return to court March 23 for preliminary hearings in the drunk-driving case.
Skett, 34, pleaded not guilty Wednesday to driving under the influence, DUI causing injury and leaving the scene, all felonies.
Skett allegedly backed his Hummer into a man and a woman in a Saugus parking lot. Skett saw the victims lying on the ground and allegedly fled, leaving his Hummer behind.
"Apparently he just backed over the people and left," sheriff's Lt. Tom Bryski said.
He said Skett was arrested at home after Santa Clarita Valley sheriff's deputies looked up the registration of the offending vehicle.
The woman hit by the Hummer suffered multiple broken ribs and collapsed lung. The man hit by the SUV suffered minor cuts and bruises.
Deputies found the abandoned Hummer on the night of the incident and arrested Skett at his home.
If convicted, Skett faces up to seven years and eight months in prison.
Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Kristi Lousteau ordered William Skett to return to court March 23 for preliminary hearings in the drunk-driving case.
Skett, 34, pleaded not guilty Wednesday to driving under the influence, DUI causing injury and leaving the scene, all felonies.
Skett allegedly backed his Hummer into a man and a woman in a Saugus parking lot. Skett saw the victims lying on the ground and allegedly fled, leaving his Hummer behind.
"Apparently he just backed over the people and left," sheriff's Lt. Tom Bryski said.
He said Skett was arrested at home after Santa Clarita Valley sheriff's deputies looked up the registration of the offending vehicle.
The woman hit by the Hummer suffered multiple broken ribs and collapsed lung. The man hit by the SUV suffered minor cuts and bruises.
Deputies found the abandoned Hummer on the night of the incident and arrested Skett at his home.
If convicted, Skett faces up to seven years and eight months in prison.
Cpl Michael Kazouris Resigns After Allegations of Sexual Misconduct
A police officer who initially faced allegations that he had sex with a 17-year-old Tarpon Springs High School student he worked with has resigned today.
Tarpon Springs Police Department Cpl. Michael Kazouris was cleared last month of any criminal wrongdoing. On Monday, the department's interim chief will evaluate the status of an internal investigation, police say.
In a letter today to the department's acting chief, Kazouris wrote that he always has prided himself on his commitment to the community but that he needed to resign due to the "frivolous allegations and one-sided investigation against me."
Interim Police Chief Robert Kochen accepted the resignation this evening.
Kazouris, who has spent more than 11 years as a school resource officer in Pinellas County schools and had had an unblemished record, was put on administrative leave Nov.12 after the allegation involving the teenager came to light.
"Corporal Kazouris continues to vehemently deny all allegations alleged and further maintains that he has never violated any policies or procedures of the Tarpon Springs Police Department," a letter to the acting chief from Kazouris attorney Jerry Theophilopoulos states.
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http://www.tampabay.com/news/publicsafety/article981925.ece
Tarpon Springs Police Department Cpl. Michael Kazouris was cleared last month of any criminal wrongdoing. On Monday, the department's interim chief will evaluate the status of an internal investigation, police say.
In a letter today to the department's acting chief, Kazouris wrote that he always has prided himself on his commitment to the community but that he needed to resign due to the "frivolous allegations and one-sided investigation against me."
Interim Police Chief Robert Kochen accepted the resignation this evening.
Kazouris, who has spent more than 11 years as a school resource officer in Pinellas County schools and had had an unblemished record, was put on administrative leave Nov.12 after the allegation involving the teenager came to light.
"Corporal Kazouris continues to vehemently deny all allegations alleged and further maintains that he has never violated any policies or procedures of the Tarpon Springs Police Department," a letter to the acting chief from Kazouris attorney Jerry Theophilopoulos states.
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http://www.tampabay.com/news/publicsafety/article981925.ece
Officer Nick Joseph Back in Court for Hit and Run
Rochester, N.Y.
The Greece Police officer accused in a hit-and-run that caused a woman to deliver her baby prematurely was back in court Friday.
Friday in court, the prosecution played surveillance video of Officer Nick Joseph drinking at Spenders, a bar on Lyell Avenue, the night before the hit-and-run.
They say Joseph received seven shots of alcohol in under an hour.
At 12:42 a.m., the prosecution says he received a double shot of Captain Morgan, a double shot of whiskey at 12:57, a single shot of an unidentifiable alcohol at 12:58, a single shot of vodka at 1:11, and a single shot of rum at 1:35.
The defense said he took a sip of each but didn’t necessarily finish all seven shots. They say there’s no way he could drink it all.
The bartender from Spenders testified, and said Joseph did not appear to be drunk.
Joseph is accused of crashing into a stalled car on 390, then leaving the scene of an accident in June of last year.
The woman in the stalled car was forced to deliver her baby 14 weeks early, leading to health complications for the child.
Joseph says he blacked out when he crashed the car, and doesn’t remember what happened next.
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http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/29562168/
The Greece Police officer accused in a hit-and-run that caused a woman to deliver her baby prematurely was back in court Friday.
Friday in court, the prosecution played surveillance video of Officer Nick Joseph drinking at Spenders, a bar on Lyell Avenue, the night before the hit-and-run.
They say Joseph received seven shots of alcohol in under an hour.
At 12:42 a.m., the prosecution says he received a double shot of Captain Morgan, a double shot of whiskey at 12:57, a single shot of an unidentifiable alcohol at 12:58, a single shot of vodka at 1:11, and a single shot of rum at 1:35.
The defense said he took a sip of each but didn’t necessarily finish all seven shots. They say there’s no way he could drink it all.
The bartender from Spenders testified, and said Joseph did not appear to be drunk.
Joseph is accused of crashing into a stalled car on 390, then leaving the scene of an accident in June of last year.
The woman in the stalled car was forced to deliver her baby 14 weeks early, leading to health complications for the child.
Joseph says he blacked out when he crashed the car, and doesn’t remember what happened next.
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http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/29562168/
Attorney Accuses Officer of Malice
OCEAN CITY
A Salisbury attorney acquitted of a November 2008 DWI charge implied in court that police were out to get him because he was a plaintiff's lawyer in a police brutality suit.
"I said, 'I understand what this was about,' " Sherwood Wescott testified Wednesday in District Court. "That particular night, I hadn't done anything out of the ordinary. No matter what I did, they were going to make it look like I was intoxicated."
Wescott was arrested for suspected driving under the influence last November. He refused a field sobriety test at his traffic stop and a breath test at the police station. He admitted to having three drinks after work in Salisbury, but nothing after 7 p.m. He testified that he and a friend arrived at Seacrets at 11 p.m., where he drank iced tea.
"I knew I had to drive," he said.
Judge R. Patrick Hayman said it was that lack of evidence that led to Wescott's acquittal, though "it has not escaped my attention that your client came out of a bar about midnight," he told attorney Melvin Jews.
Wescott, a former Delaware police officer, represented two Berlin teens who sued Ocean City and six police officers in July 2007 for alleged police brutality and false arrest. The 93-count, $18.6-million civil suit was dismissed in October 2008, about six weeks before Wescott's arrest in Ocean City.
Ocean City Police Cpl. Frank Wrench, one of the officers named in the suit, testified that he recognized Wescott leaving Seacrets on Nov. 29, 2008. He said Wescott was apparently intoxicated and was getting into the driver's seat of his SUV. Wrench said he made eye contact, prompting Wescott to exit the vehicle and pace beside it.
Wrench said moments later he turned to see the car backing out. Wrench said he tried to stop Wescott with gestures and yelling, but he drove away. Wrench radioed other officers to watch for the SUV, mentioning Wescott by name, he said.
Pfc. Patrick Flynn, parked at 62nd Street, testified that he heard the radio call and spotted Wescott driving north on Coastal Highway. Flynn said the vehicle pulled onto 64th Street after seeing his patrol car without its emergency lights on and said he thought the driver was trying to avoid him.
Flynn testified that Wescott smelled of alcohol and had glassy eyes and slurred speech. He said Wescott at first refused to exit his vehicle and had to be ordered to. When Wescott refused a field sobriety test, he was arrested.
Wescott said Flynn told him that he was being stopped for having a tail light out, not that he was suspected of driving drunk. Flynn said that was true.
"I figured that would be another element I could use to stop that vehicle," he said.
A Salisbury attorney acquitted of a November 2008 DWI charge implied in court that police were out to get him because he was a plaintiff's lawyer in a police brutality suit.
"I said, 'I understand what this was about,' " Sherwood Wescott testified Wednesday in District Court. "That particular night, I hadn't done anything out of the ordinary. No matter what I did, they were going to make it look like I was intoxicated."
Wescott was arrested for suspected driving under the influence last November. He refused a field sobriety test at his traffic stop and a breath test at the police station. He admitted to having three drinks after work in Salisbury, but nothing after 7 p.m. He testified that he and a friend arrived at Seacrets at 11 p.m., where he drank iced tea.
"I knew I had to drive," he said.
Judge R. Patrick Hayman said it was that lack of evidence that led to Wescott's acquittal, though "it has not escaped my attention that your client came out of a bar about midnight," he told attorney Melvin Jews.
Wescott, a former Delaware police officer, represented two Berlin teens who sued Ocean City and six police officers in July 2007 for alleged police brutality and false arrest. The 93-count, $18.6-million civil suit was dismissed in October 2008, about six weeks before Wescott's arrest in Ocean City.
Ocean City Police Cpl. Frank Wrench, one of the officers named in the suit, testified that he recognized Wescott leaving Seacrets on Nov. 29, 2008. He said Wescott was apparently intoxicated and was getting into the driver's seat of his SUV. Wrench said he made eye contact, prompting Wescott to exit the vehicle and pace beside it.
Wrench said moments later he turned to see the car backing out. Wrench said he tried to stop Wescott with gestures and yelling, but he drove away. Wrench radioed other officers to watch for the SUV, mentioning Wescott by name, he said.
Pfc. Patrick Flynn, parked at 62nd Street, testified that he heard the radio call and spotted Wescott driving north on Coastal Highway. Flynn said the vehicle pulled onto 64th Street after seeing his patrol car without its emergency lights on and said he thought the driver was trying to avoid him.
Flynn testified that Wescott smelled of alcohol and had glassy eyes and slurred speech. He said Wescott at first refused to exit his vehicle and had to be ordered to. When Wescott refused a field sobriety test, he was arrested.
Wescott said Flynn told him that he was being stopped for having a tail light out, not that he was suspected of driving drunk. Flynn said that was true.
"I figured that would be another element I could use to stop that vehicle," he said.
Thursday, March 05, 2009
Reserve Officer Greg Conner Charged with Attempted Murder & Stalking
A reserve officer with the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office has been arrested on charges of attempted murder and aggravated stalking.
Greg Conner, 48, was taken into custody Thursday outside a fast food restaurant on State Road 71 South.
According to a press release from the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, an investigation “revealed that Conner intended to kill his (estranged) wife and her boyfriend.”
Conner is also the firing range master and a firearms instructor for Chipola College, and had once been a full-time deputy with JCSO.
Jackson County Sheriff Lou Roberts said Conner and his wife had been separated for some time, and that JCSO investigators had received information in the last week or so that Conner was stalking her and her boyfriend.
According to Roberts, Conner had been seen at odd hours in the area of his wife’s home in the Grand Ridge/Shady Grove area and the boyfriend’s dwelling, which are some distance apart.
Roberts said officers had confronted Conner at one point, and he had denied stalking the couple.
The Florida Department of Law Enforcement got involved Wednesday after receiving further information about Conner’s alleged plans.
Concern grew as authorities from FDLE and JCSO ramped up their investigation Wednesday evening, said Tommy Ford of FDLE. According to Ford, it appeared that Conner was progressing toward a plan of murder and that “overt acts” had been taken in the planning process. He and Roberts declined to give details of the surveillance and other investigative techniques employed which led authorities to that conclusion. They would reveal little further information except to say that it did not appear to be a ‘murder for hire’ plot but rather something that Conner planned to carry out himself. Unspecified evidence has been gathered in the case, Ford and Roberts said.
While they would not reveal any particulars, Ford and Roberts agreed that the alleged plan was an elaborate one that, if carried out, would have involved sudden death and would have had the clear earmarks of homicide.
The alleged plan was “unfolding rapidly” Wednesday when Conner’s wife, boyfriend, and the two Conner children were moved to a place of safety overnight, according to Ford.
Conner was arrested Thursday outside a fast food restaurant on State Road 71 South.
He offered no resistance and the arrest was without incident, Roberts and Ford said.
Authorities have spoken with Conner since he was taken into custody, but Roberts and Ford would not reveal the content of that conversation.
Roberts said the entire Jackson County Sheriff’s Office family is shocked and saddened by the events leading to Conner’s arrest.
“I’m saddened ...but glad to have stopped this before it was out of control...I’m disappointed with Conner’s actions. I am glad that Conner and his family were unharmed in the incident...there’s a good possibility that if this had not been interrupted, we would have been looking at potential homicide.”
For years, Conner was the person who most often greeted Roberts and his officers when they arrived at the local firing range to do the quarterly shooting necessary to keep them qualified for weapons.
Roberts said Conner left full-time employment as a deputy some years back in order to take the Chipola position.
Conner had not been involved as a reserve officer in any instances since Roberts took over as sheriff last year, but could have been called upon at any time to assist full-time deputies if needed.
He was immediately taken off the reserve roster following his arrest, Roberts said.
According to Roberts, it appears Conner was in a “depressed state of mind” in the recent past, and that was of concern as the investigation unfolded.
Authorities carefully selected the time and location of the arrest, he said.
They were able to observe that he was unarmed, for instance, as he exited the fast food restaurant and was walking alone a distance from his truck at the time he was taken into custody.
Capt Michael Nguyen Charged with Theft
FORT LEWIS, Wash.
A Fort Lewis captain is accused of stealing hundreds of thousands of dollars from the U.S. government and spending it on himself.
Twenty-seven-year-old Army Capt. Michael Dung Nguyen faces charges of theft of government property and money laundering. If convicted on all counts he could face up to 30 years in prison
Nguyen, a West Point graduate, spent 14 months in combat in Iraq with the 4th Stryker Brigade. When he returned from Iraq last year, he opened several bank accounts in Oregon and other places and deposited about $10,000 in each account.
It was those deposits and lavish spending that attracted the attention of authorities.
During his time in Iraq, Nguyen was entrusted with hundreds of thousands of dollars in uncirculated U.S. currency. He paid out that money for humanitarian relief and reconstruction.
But federal investigators say he mailed much of that money to his home in Oregon - nearly $700,000 in cash.
"It's really a case of betrayal of country and greed," U.S. Attorney Karin Immergut said. "He betrayed not only the U.S. government and the people of the United States but also his fellow armed services men and women."
When Nguyen got back, authorities say he went on a spending spree. He paid $70,000 for a new BMW and another $43,000 for a new hummer. More money went toward computers, electronics and furniture.
Much of it was confiscated from his Lakewood apartment last week where neighbors say he kept to himself.
"It was the captain's behavior that triggered this investigation," said Kenneth Hines, special agent for the IRS in Seattle. "What he was doing raised red flags for the IRS in conjunction with the Army CID and FBI to work this case jointly and we established enough probable cause for the search warrants."
A Fort Lewis captain is accused of stealing hundreds of thousands of dollars from the U.S. government and spending it on himself.
Twenty-seven-year-old Army Capt. Michael Dung Nguyen faces charges of theft of government property and money laundering. If convicted on all counts he could face up to 30 years in prison
Nguyen, a West Point graduate, spent 14 months in combat in Iraq with the 4th Stryker Brigade. When he returned from Iraq last year, he opened several bank accounts in Oregon and other places and deposited about $10,000 in each account.
It was those deposits and lavish spending that attracted the attention of authorities.
During his time in Iraq, Nguyen was entrusted with hundreds of thousands of dollars in uncirculated U.S. currency. He paid out that money for humanitarian relief and reconstruction.
But federal investigators say he mailed much of that money to his home in Oregon - nearly $700,000 in cash.
"It's really a case of betrayal of country and greed," U.S. Attorney Karin Immergut said. "He betrayed not only the U.S. government and the people of the United States but also his fellow armed services men and women."
When Nguyen got back, authorities say he went on a spending spree. He paid $70,000 for a new BMW and another $43,000 for a new hummer. More money went toward computers, electronics and furniture.
Much of it was confiscated from his Lakewood apartment last week where neighbors say he kept to himself.
"It was the captain's behavior that triggered this investigation," said Kenneth Hines, special agent for the IRS in Seattle. "What he was doing raised red flags for the IRS in conjunction with the Army CID and FBI to work this case jointly and we established enough probable cause for the search warrants."
Judge Alan Sadler Arrested for DWI
CONROE, Texas
A Montgomery County judge was arrested on suspicion of a DWI after a minor traffic accident.
Judge Alan B. Sadler was arrested after a minor accident involving another vehicle in the 2100 block of North Loop 336 West on Wednesday night.
Police said the judge was given a Breathalyzer test and he had .0257, which is below the legal limit of .08.
No charges were filed and the judge was released.
Sadler told a local newspaper, "No one is immune from being arrested for suspicion of DWI in Montgomery County. They did an excellent job at the jail. I have nothing but praise for how they handled it."
The arrest is under investigation.
A Montgomery County judge was arrested on suspicion of a DWI after a minor traffic accident.
Judge Alan B. Sadler was arrested after a minor accident involving another vehicle in the 2100 block of North Loop 336 West on Wednesday night.
Police said the judge was given a Breathalyzer test and he had .0257, which is below the legal limit of .08.
No charges were filed and the judge was released.
Sadler told a local newspaper, "No one is immune from being arrested for suspicion of DWI in Montgomery County. They did an excellent job at the jail. I have nothing but praise for how they handled it."
The arrest is under investigation.
Officer Justin Terrazas Arrested for Public Intox & Assault
An officer with the Big Spring Police Department was placed on suspension Wednesday after being arrested at a local night club late Tuesday night on charges of public intoxication and assault.
Justin Terrazas, who has been with the BSPD since December of 2006, was placed on paid leave after he was arrested at the Bar By The Spring at approximately 11:50 p.m. Tuesday night, according to BSPD Chief Lonnie Smith.
“Officers with the BSPD and the Howard County Sheriff's Office were dispatched to the bar, located at 3101 S. Highway 87, in reference to a fight involving a police officer,” said Smith. “Upon arrival, law enforcement found that the officer was off-duty and intoxicated.
“Terrazas was arrested on charges of public intoxication and assault. He's been placed on paid suspension from duty pending the outcome of an internal investigation.”
Terrazas was taken into custody by deputies and booked into the Howard County Jail.
According to Sgt. Tony Everett, public information officer for the BSPD, the person Terrazas allegedly assaulted did not suffer any major injuries in the altercation.
Everett also confirmed there is no set timeframe for the internal investigation to be completed within.
According to officials with the Howard County Jail, Terrazas bonded out at approximately 11 a.m. Wednesday.
http://www.oaoa.com/news/spring_27391___article.html/big_terrazas.html
Justin Terrazas, who has been with the BSPD since December of 2006, was placed on paid leave after he was arrested at the Bar By The Spring at approximately 11:50 p.m. Tuesday night, according to BSPD Chief Lonnie Smith.
“Officers with the BSPD and the Howard County Sheriff's Office were dispatched to the bar, located at 3101 S. Highway 87, in reference to a fight involving a police officer,” said Smith. “Upon arrival, law enforcement found that the officer was off-duty and intoxicated.
“Terrazas was arrested on charges of public intoxication and assault. He's been placed on paid suspension from duty pending the outcome of an internal investigation.”
Terrazas was taken into custody by deputies and booked into the Howard County Jail.
According to Sgt. Tony Everett, public information officer for the BSPD, the person Terrazas allegedly assaulted did not suffer any major injuries in the altercation.
Everett also confirmed there is no set timeframe for the internal investigation to be completed within.
According to officials with the Howard County Jail, Terrazas bonded out at approximately 11 a.m. Wednesday.
http://www.oaoa.com/news/spring_27391___article.html/big_terrazas.html
Officer Frank Darnold III Arrested for Brandishing his Weapon
A Chesterfield County Police Officer is arrested and charged with brandishing a pistol after a traffic incident on March 3rd.
Police say the officer was off duty and not in uniform at the time of the incident.
Chesterfield Police arrested Frank Darnold III, age 25, after investigating the incident. Witnesses say Darnold displayed a firearm during a confrontation with a motorist in the 11000 block of West Providence Road.
He is now charged with brandishing a firearm which is a class one misdemeanor, and has been placed on administrative leave pending criminal and internal investigations.
Darnold is scheduled to appear in the Chesterfield County General District Court on April 21st.
Col. Thierry G. Dupuis, chief of police said, "We hold our officers to a high set of standards, as does the community we serve."
"These alleged actions, if found to be true, would bring dishonor to a department that is recognized for its professional reputation."
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Other Information: http://www.timesdispatch.com/rtd/news/local/crime/article/CFPD06_20090305-223021/223135/
Police say the officer was off duty and not in uniform at the time of the incident.
Chesterfield Police arrested Frank Darnold III, age 25, after investigating the incident. Witnesses say Darnold displayed a firearm during a confrontation with a motorist in the 11000 block of West Providence Road.
He is now charged with brandishing a firearm which is a class one misdemeanor, and has been placed on administrative leave pending criminal and internal investigations.
Darnold is scheduled to appear in the Chesterfield County General District Court on April 21st.
Col. Thierry G. Dupuis, chief of police said, "We hold our officers to a high set of standards, as does the community we serve."
"These alleged actions, if found to be true, would bring dishonor to a department that is recognized for its professional reputation."
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Other Information: http://www.timesdispatch.com/rtd/news/local/crime/article/CFPD06_20090305-223021/223135/
Wednesday, March 04, 2009
Former Officer Charles Pinkston Arrested on Drug Charges
A former Leesburg police officer, who resigned after allegations surfaced that he had been purchasing cocaine, was arrested this afternoon on a drug charge.
Charles Pinkston, 38, turned himself into detectives at about 4:45 p.m. to face one count of attempting to purchase cocaine. He was released a short time later after posting $5,000.
On Feb. 20., Leesburg narcotics investigators arranged for an informant to sell crack cocaine to a person the informant knew from past encounters as "Marshall." "Marshall" had placed $340 under a rock near the intersection of 9th St. and Magnolia St., which the informant retrieved and replaced with crack cocaine provided by the police department, according to a probable cause affidavit. During the operation, an undercover Leesburg narcotics investigator saw Pinkston driving a silver SUV - the same car Marshall was supposed to be driving - near the drop point. Pinkston recognized the investigator and left the area, according to the affidavit. No one retrieved the drugs, and narcotics agents soon learned of allegations the Pinkston previously had bought drugs from the informant, who also identified him according to Sgt. John Herrell of the Lake County Sheriff's Office.
Leesburg Police Chief Bill Chrisman requested that the Lake County Sheriff's Office investigate the case. Detectives found that Pinkston had used his personal cell phone to repeatedly call the informant throughout February, and that he had withdrawn $340 from an ATM just before the drug buy was set to occur.
Lt. Rob Hicks of the Leesburg Police Department said that Pinkston submitted a letter of resignation on Feb. 25, and that he was the subject of an internal investigation at the time. Pinkston had been a Leesburg officer for eight years, and was working in the road patrol unit at the time of his resignation, Hicks said.
A copy of Pinkston's letter of resignation and his personnel file was not immediately available Wednesday.
Hicks would not comment on the internal investigation because it is ongoing, and that officials are awaiting its outcome before deciding to petition the Florida Department of Law Enforcement to revoke Pinkston's law enforcement certification.
Charles Pinkston, 38, turned himself into detectives at about 4:45 p.m. to face one count of attempting to purchase cocaine. He was released a short time later after posting $5,000.
On Feb. 20., Leesburg narcotics investigators arranged for an informant to sell crack cocaine to a person the informant knew from past encounters as "Marshall." "Marshall" had placed $340 under a rock near the intersection of 9th St. and Magnolia St., which the informant retrieved and replaced with crack cocaine provided by the police department, according to a probable cause affidavit. During the operation, an undercover Leesburg narcotics investigator saw Pinkston driving a silver SUV - the same car Marshall was supposed to be driving - near the drop point. Pinkston recognized the investigator and left the area, according to the affidavit. No one retrieved the drugs, and narcotics agents soon learned of allegations the Pinkston previously had bought drugs from the informant, who also identified him according to Sgt. John Herrell of the Lake County Sheriff's Office.
Leesburg Police Chief Bill Chrisman requested that the Lake County Sheriff's Office investigate the case. Detectives found that Pinkston had used his personal cell phone to repeatedly call the informant throughout February, and that he had withdrawn $340 from an ATM just before the drug buy was set to occur.
Lt. Rob Hicks of the Leesburg Police Department said that Pinkston submitted a letter of resignation on Feb. 25, and that he was the subject of an internal investigation at the time. Pinkston had been a Leesburg officer for eight years, and was working in the road patrol unit at the time of his resignation, Hicks said.
A copy of Pinkston's letter of resignation and his personnel file was not immediately available Wednesday.
Hicks would not comment on the internal investigation because it is ongoing, and that officials are awaiting its outcome before deciding to petition the Florida Department of Law Enforcement to revoke Pinkston's law enforcement certification.
Officer Thomas Crouch Arrested for Embezzling Money
NEWPORT NEWS
A Newport News police detective was arrested Wednesday afternoon and charged with embezzling money from a fraternal group that pays bagpipes at police funerals.
Thomas David Crouch, 45, of Windymille Drive in Portsmouth was arrested just before 1:30 p.m. and booked at the Newport News City Jail after an investigation by Norfolk police.
Norfolk police spokesman Chris Amos said Crouch is accused of using a credit card from the Police Emerald Society for personal use between late 2007 and mid-2008. Crouch was an officer in the group, designed for officers with Irish backgrounds.
Crouch, who has worked for the Newport News department since May 2000, is a master detective who worked in the training division, spokesman Lou Thurston said. Crouch turned himself in, and was released on $1,000 bail.
Crouch is the third Newport News officer arrested in recent months. Lt. Ronald M. Hendrickson and Officer Christopher E. Miner are facing current charges of sexual assault.
A Newport News police detective was arrested Wednesday afternoon and charged with embezzling money from a fraternal group that pays bagpipes at police funerals.
Thomas David Crouch, 45, of Windymille Drive in Portsmouth was arrested just before 1:30 p.m. and booked at the Newport News City Jail after an investigation by Norfolk police.
Norfolk police spokesman Chris Amos said Crouch is accused of using a credit card from the Police Emerald Society for personal use between late 2007 and mid-2008. Crouch was an officer in the group, designed for officers with Irish backgrounds.
Crouch, who has worked for the Newport News department since May 2000, is a master detective who worked in the training division, spokesman Lou Thurston said. Crouch turned himself in, and was released on $1,000 bail.
Crouch is the third Newport News officer arrested in recent months. Lt. Ronald M. Hendrickson and Officer Christopher E. Miner are facing current charges of sexual assault.
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Officer Javier Alonzo Arrested for Sexual Assault has been Suspended
EL PASO
An El Paso police officer arrested last week on a charge of aggravated sexual assault has been suspended from duty without pay, police officials said Tuesday.
Javier Alonzo, a member of he police force for 16 years, was arrested on suspicion of assaulting a woman Feb. 24 at a home in El Paso.
He remained in the El Paso County Jail on Tuesday. His bond was set at $80,000.
Police officials said Tuesday that they had begun the process to fire Alonzo.
"Chief (Greg) Allen has instructed internal affairs to begin the termination process," said Officer Chris Mears, a department spokesman. "However, there are some rights and administrative issues that need to be resolved first. He will be on leave without pay until the administrative side is finished."
Alonzo's lawyer, Roger Montoya, is representing the officer on a separate charge of family violence and assault causing bodily injury. That case dates from Nov. 1.
"I want to remind the public that my client is entitled to the presumption of innocence," Montoya said.
In the case last week, Alonzo, 42, is accused of throwing a woman to the floor, threatening her life, handcuffing her and then sexually assaulting her.
Police did not identify the woman, and the El Paso Times does not publish the names of people who say they were victims of sexual assault. Police said the alleged assault occurred in a house in the 800 block of Sunset Park Drive.
Alonzo will have a pretrial hearing March 9 in connection with the November assault charge, court records show.
An El Paso police officer arrested last week on a charge of aggravated sexual assault has been suspended from duty without pay, police officials said Tuesday.
Javier Alonzo, a member of he police force for 16 years, was arrested on suspicion of assaulting a woman Feb. 24 at a home in El Paso.
He remained in the El Paso County Jail on Tuesday. His bond was set at $80,000.
Police officials said Tuesday that they had begun the process to fire Alonzo.
"Chief (Greg) Allen has instructed internal affairs to begin the termination process," said Officer Chris Mears, a department spokesman. "However, there are some rights and administrative issues that need to be resolved first. He will be on leave without pay until the administrative side is finished."
Alonzo's lawyer, Roger Montoya, is representing the officer on a separate charge of family violence and assault causing bodily injury. That case dates from Nov. 1.
"I want to remind the public that my client is entitled to the presumption of innocence," Montoya said.
In the case last week, Alonzo, 42, is accused of throwing a woman to the floor, threatening her life, handcuffing her and then sexually assaulting her.
Police did not identify the woman, and the El Paso Times does not publish the names of people who say they were victims of sexual assault. Police said the alleged assault occurred in a house in the 800 block of Sunset Park Drive.
Alonzo will have a pretrial hearing March 9 in connection with the November assault charge, court records show.
Former Officer Steven Gomez Accused of Arson
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
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
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.
___________
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.
_____________
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.
_____________
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.
_________________
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.
_________________
http://lohud.com/article/20090303/NEWS02/903030337/-1/SPORTS
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