A Wichita woman secretly recorded conversations with a police officer accused of offering to get a case dismissed in exchange for sex.
According to recently unsealed court documents, Angelique Mason also sent nude pictures of herself from her cell phone to Goddard police officer Calvin Schaffer's (SHAY'-fur) cell phone. The 44-year-old Schaffer had arrested her in February for allegedly driving drunk.
He was charged Wednesday with wire fraud for allegedly sending naked pictures of himself to Mason from a computer at the Goddard Police Department while he was on duty. He no longer works for the department.
Prosecutors claim he offered to help get the case dismissed in exchange for sex.
According to court records, Mason had filed a complaint about Schaffer with the FBI.
Schaffer declined to comment Friday. Mason did not return a message seeking comment.
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http://www.upi.com/Top_News/2009/05/01/Officer-said-to-solicit-sex-from-arrestee/UPI-99421241226033/
Friday, May 01, 2009
Taser Death of Roger Holyfield Quietly Settled
The mother of a teenager who died after being Tased by police officers has quietly settled her wrongful death lawsuit.
Rita Cummings is the mother of Roger Holyfield of Dow, who died at age 17 after a run-in with local police in 2006.
Cummings had a civil suit pending against dispatchers and members of the Jerseyville Police Department, Illinois State Police and the city of Jerseyville after authorities refused to file criminal charges in 2007.
According to Jersey County Circuit Court records, the civil suit was settled earlier this spring.
"They just swept it under the rug," said Rayburn Holyfield, Roger's grandfather. "The two guys that killed him just went on their merry way."
The civil suit alleged that on Oct. 28, 2006, Holyfield was abused by Officers Matt Witt and Todd Wagner of the Jerseyville Police Department, assisted by Officer John Lawson and Trooper Jeff Bridges of the State Police. The defendants allegedly abused Holyfield mentally and physically by shooting him multiple times with a Taser and using forcible restraint when it allegedly was not needed.
The suit claimed that Witt, Wagner, Lawson and Bridges responded that day to the 600 block of South State Street in Jerseyville, where they found Holyfield holding a telephone and a Bible, stating, "I want my mother."
Without sufficient cause, the suit contended, the officers placed Holyfield under arrest, and Holyfield allegedly made no attempts to resist.
The suit alleged that the officers shot Holyfield with Tasers multiple times, even though he was handcuffed and face-down on the ground, and allegedly abused him physically while putting him in a squad car.
After this abuse, the suit claimed, Holyfield began to vomit, and an ambulance was called.
Holyfield died on the way to a St. Louis hospital on Oct. 29, 2006.
Cummings claimed "wrongful death" against the defendants on the grounds that Holyfield suffered severe pain and injury in the incident without just cause or imminent threat of bodily harm toward the officers.
The suit further alleged that the Jerseyville Police Department failed to adequately train or control its dispatchers and officers.
Attorney Mark Niemeyer, who represented Cummings in the suit, could not be reached Friday for comment, nor could attorney Charles Pierce, who represented Jerseyville Police Chief Brad Blackorby.
Robyn Ziegler, a spokeswoman for the Illinois Attorney General's Office, which was the legal representation for the State Police in the civil case, said the two sides settled but that there was no amount of money involved.
"The plaintiff dismissed the suit against the Illinois State Police because they recognized that the State Police had no involvement," Ziegler said.
In November 2007, Wagner and Witt were cleared of criminal responsibility in Holyfield's death.
According to special prosecutor Chuck Colburn of the State's Attorneys Appellate Prosecutor's Office, the officers were not found to have caused Holyfield's death or to have possessed the mental state or recklessness to be held criminally responsible for it.
A number of witnesses, 40 hours of interviews and more than 1,000 pages of reports were taken into account, Colburn said.
The office's findings included:
- A report by St. Louis Chief Deputy Medical Examiner Phillip Burch, who performed the teen's autopsy, that said Holyfield's death was from natural causes as a result of "excited delirium" and not caused by the use of the Tasers; and
- That officers Wagner and Witt were not found to have had the intention to kill or cause great bodily harm to Holyfield and were following proper police procedure when the incident occurred.
After the report came out, the Appellate Prosecutor's Office and Jerseyville Police Department issued statements of sympathy toward Holyfield's family. The Police Department maintained that officers Wagner and Witt followed procedure in the incident.
Holyfield's family then went on with the civil case against the defendants, pursuing compensatory damages, punitive damages, and court costs and fees.
Officer Alberto Perez Arrested for Extortion & Threats
Avon Park Police Officer Alberto Perez was out of jail Friday on a $6,000 bond following his second arrest Thursday for allegations of police misconduct.
Perez, 34, was arrested on warrants charging extortion or threats and official misconduct.
The new charges stem from the original investigation conducted by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement's (FDLE) Sebring field office and the Avon Park Police Department into allegations of police misconduct.
"For us, it's still under the same case, but a new victim and new witnesses," said Yolanda Carbia, resident agent in charge of the Sebring FDLE office.
Perez, an APPD officer since July 2007, was first arrested in December 2008 and charged with one count of extortion or threats. The allegation was that, during an April 19, 2008 traffic stop, the officer told the victim to pay him $200 or get a ticket.
On June 28, 2008, Perez reportedly responded to a two-vehicle accident at the intersection of Main Street and South Lake Avenue in Avon Park, according to the probable cause affidavit.
The driver of a Dodge truck was responsible because he reportedly rear-ended a van with his vehicle. Perez arrived at the accident and took the truck driver's license. The officer told the Hispanic male that his license was invalid and that he could be arrested, the affidavit stated.
"OK, take me to jail," the man reportedly told Perez.
Perez allegedly told the man he could keep him out of jail if he paid the officer $300. The driver then got the money out of his truck and put it in the back of Perez's ticket book, according to the affidavit. The man was released and given a copy of the crash report.
With this second arrest, Carbia hopes that others who may have been victims of this type of extortion will come forward. She said they may fear punishment because, by their paying the officer, they are now involved in his crime.
"I think people are kind of hesitant to come forward," Carbia said.
Perez has been on unpaid administrative leave from the APPD since the first arrest.
Perez, 34, was arrested on warrants charging extortion or threats and official misconduct.
The new charges stem from the original investigation conducted by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement's (FDLE) Sebring field office and the Avon Park Police Department into allegations of police misconduct.
"For us, it's still under the same case, but a new victim and new witnesses," said Yolanda Carbia, resident agent in charge of the Sebring FDLE office.
Perez, an APPD officer since July 2007, was first arrested in December 2008 and charged with one count of extortion or threats. The allegation was that, during an April 19, 2008 traffic stop, the officer told the victim to pay him $200 or get a ticket.
On June 28, 2008, Perez reportedly responded to a two-vehicle accident at the intersection of Main Street and South Lake Avenue in Avon Park, according to the probable cause affidavit.
The driver of a Dodge truck was responsible because he reportedly rear-ended a van with his vehicle. Perez arrived at the accident and took the truck driver's license. The officer told the Hispanic male that his license was invalid and that he could be arrested, the affidavit stated.
"OK, take me to jail," the man reportedly told Perez.
Perez allegedly told the man he could keep him out of jail if he paid the officer $300. The driver then got the money out of his truck and put it in the back of Perez's ticket book, according to the affidavit. The man was released and given a copy of the crash report.
With this second arrest, Carbia hopes that others who may have been victims of this type of extortion will come forward. She said they may fear punishment because, by their paying the officer, they are now involved in his crime.
"I think people are kind of hesitant to come forward," Carbia said.
Perez has been on unpaid administrative leave from the APPD since the first arrest.
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Officer Ernie Miller Accused of Sending Racially Charged Text Message
State police are investigating allegations that a Keyser city police officer sent a local family a racially-charged text message.
Anthony and Samantha Lockett say in February they received a vicious text that threatened their home and their young children.
The Locketts say after they got the text they called the number back and got Officer Ernie Miller.
Investigators say the text was sent from a computer, not from a cell phone.
A spokeswoman for the Keyser Police Department says they're standing behind Officer Miller, and that there's no evidence to substantiate the Locketts' claims.
"I was shocked. I was surprised that anyone could write anything like that because that could be anyone's kids. I think it affects people more who have black kids or biracial kids," Samantha said.
State police say Officer Miller will voluntarily take a lie detector test next week. Anthony Lockett says he would do the same.
Anthony and Samantha Lockett say in February they received a vicious text that threatened their home and their young children.
The Locketts say after they got the text they called the number back and got Officer Ernie Miller.
Investigators say the text was sent from a computer, not from a cell phone.
A spokeswoman for the Keyser Police Department says they're standing behind Officer Miller, and that there's no evidence to substantiate the Locketts' claims.
"I was shocked. I was surprised that anyone could write anything like that because that could be anyone's kids. I think it affects people more who have black kids or biracial kids," Samantha said.
State police say Officer Miller will voluntarily take a lie detector test next week. Anthony Lockett says he would do the same.
Thursday, April 30, 2009
Officer Erik Hanson Arrested for Child Rape
Forks Police Officer Erik A. Hanson, who was arrested Thursday on investigation of second-degree rape -- a felony -- has been charged in Clallam County Superior Court with two counts of communication with a minor for immoral purposes -- a misdemeanor.
Hanson, 33, was arrested Thursday, with the Clallam County Sheriff's Department saying the alleged actions happened while he was off duty.
He was charged Tuesday.
"We're going to charge what we can prove," Clallam County Prosecuting Attorney Deb Kelly said Wednesday.
"If further evidence comes forward that would warrant a greater or lesser charge, that's what we'll do."
Communication with 12-year-old
Clallam County Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Ann Lundwall filed the misdemeanor counts for communication Hanson allegedly had with a 12-year-old girl between June and October of last year.
Hanson waived his right to a speedy arraignment so he could return to Iraq for duty with the Army National Guard.
The Forks man will be arraigned in Clallam County Superior Court on Aug. 28.
Forks Mayor Nedra Reed said that no personnel action has been taken.
"As far as the city is concerned, Officer Hanson is still on active duty with the military," Reed said.
"Any personnel action will be deferred to such time as he has his day in court."
Hanson posted $5,000 bail on Friday.
The court on Tuesday modified Hanson's conditions of release, lifting curfew and travel restrictions, and imposed a one-year sexual assault protection order.
New information filed in the case includes a detective's interview with the 12-year-old girl and e-mail correspondence she had with Hanson.
Court documents
According to court documents:
A three-month investigation by the Clallam County Sheriff's Department Criminal Investigations Bureau uncovered phone records and e-mail exchanges between Hanson and the girl.
Hanson was the arresting officer in a case in which the girl, who is unidentified because of her age and the nature of the charge, was sexually assaulted two years ago.
Casey Shoop, 21, was charged with first degree child rape, first degree kidnapping and second-degree assault. He was booked January 2008, and remains in custody at the Clallam County jail on $100,000 bail.
Hanson was initially asked to patrol the girl's neighborhood because she suffered from anxiety.
The girl told investigators that Hanson became less professional, and that her friends and family became suspicious. She said she already had a bad experience -- and now a police officer was talking the same way.
She told a sheriff's investigator that Hanson hugged her around the waist and kissed her repeatedly when he was off duty and after he had returned from military training in Yakima.
According to phone records in the case file, the victim initiated seven out of 10 calls totaling 217 minutes between June 26, 2008 and July 6, 2008.
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http://www.seattlepi.com/local/6420ap_wa_forks_officer_charged.html
Hanson, 33, was arrested Thursday, with the Clallam County Sheriff's Department saying the alleged actions happened while he was off duty.
He was charged Tuesday.
"We're going to charge what we can prove," Clallam County Prosecuting Attorney Deb Kelly said Wednesday.
"If further evidence comes forward that would warrant a greater or lesser charge, that's what we'll do."
Communication with 12-year-old
Clallam County Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Ann Lundwall filed the misdemeanor counts for communication Hanson allegedly had with a 12-year-old girl between June and October of last year.
Hanson waived his right to a speedy arraignment so he could return to Iraq for duty with the Army National Guard.
The Forks man will be arraigned in Clallam County Superior Court on Aug. 28.
Forks Mayor Nedra Reed said that no personnel action has been taken.
"As far as the city is concerned, Officer Hanson is still on active duty with the military," Reed said.
"Any personnel action will be deferred to such time as he has his day in court."
Hanson posted $5,000 bail on Friday.
The court on Tuesday modified Hanson's conditions of release, lifting curfew and travel restrictions, and imposed a one-year sexual assault protection order.
New information filed in the case includes a detective's interview with the 12-year-old girl and e-mail correspondence she had with Hanson.
Court documents
According to court documents:
A three-month investigation by the Clallam County Sheriff's Department Criminal Investigations Bureau uncovered phone records and e-mail exchanges between Hanson and the girl.
Hanson was the arresting officer in a case in which the girl, who is unidentified because of her age and the nature of the charge, was sexually assaulted two years ago.
Casey Shoop, 21, was charged with first degree child rape, first degree kidnapping and second-degree assault. He was booked January 2008, and remains in custody at the Clallam County jail on $100,000 bail.
Hanson was initially asked to patrol the girl's neighborhood because she suffered from anxiety.
The girl told investigators that Hanson became less professional, and that her friends and family became suspicious. She said she already had a bad experience -- and now a police officer was talking the same way.
She told a sheriff's investigator that Hanson hugged her around the waist and kissed her repeatedly when he was off duty and after he had returned from military training in Yakima.
According to phone records in the case file, the victim initiated seven out of 10 calls totaling 217 minutes between June 26, 2008 and July 6, 2008.
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http://www.seattlepi.com/local/6420ap_wa_forks_officer_charged.html
FBI Investigating Case of Alleged Brutality by Lumberton Police
The FBI has opened a civil rights investigation into the death of a man whose family alleges he died because Lumberton police officers beat him.
FBI spokeswoman Shauna Dunlap confirmed the investigation Thursday by phone, but cautioned that opening a case does not mean there was wrong-doing.
``One of the reasons we do confirm these types of investigations is so the community has extra reassurance,'' Dunlap said.
The family of Kevin Jibreel LaDay, 35, alleges that officers beat him to death after his car ran into a ditch in Lumberton.
``They beat my child,'' said Kevin's mother, Sandra LaDay of Port Arthur.Lumberton Police Chief Danny Sullins said by phone Thursday that he ``strongly denies'' that allegation.
``He was not beaten, I'll tell you that right now,'' Sullins said. ``I can tell you that did not occur.''
LaDay was driving in Lumberton when his car ended up in a ditch on the side of Pine Burr.
Police got a call about the car about 3:30 a.m., according to a news release from Sullins.
When two Lumberton officers arrived, they saw LaDay walking from behind the nearby DuPont Goodrich Credit Union.
According to Sullins' release, LaDay ran from the officers.
The officers caught LaDay, and he began to fight them, Sullins said. Officers were able to ``gain control'' of LaDay after a ``lengthy altercation,'' according to Sullins release.
The officers called EMS to the scene and LaDay was transported to Christus St. Elizabeth Hospital where he was pronounced dead.
Two Hardin County Sheriff's deputies were also on the scene after responding to an ``officer in distress'' call, said Sheriff Ed Cain by phone.
``It's not my belief that anyone beat anyone,'' he said.
An autopsy has been ordered.
Sandra LaDay has a different set of facts.
She said her son, who had been living with a sister in Beaumont, called her at 3:47 a.m. to tell her the older model Geo was in the ditch. He had been visiting a friend in Lumberton.
While she was on the phone with him, the police drove up, she said.
``All of a sudden, he said, `don't do that, don't do that,''' LaDay said by phone. ``I said, `who you talking to, baby?' And then the phone just went silent.' ''
LaDay believes that the officers beat Kevin LaDay, causing his death. She has hired onetime Rodney King lawyer Milton Grimes of Los Angeles to represent the family in the lawsuit she plans to file.
LaDay said she also has contacted the Black Panthers, which plans a march in Lumberton on Monday; Al Sharpton; President Barack Obama's administration and the FBI.
The family plans to have a second autopsy done.
``I've been doing the necessary things,'' LaDay said. ``I won't let it go down like this.''
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http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/ap/tx/6402488.html
FBI spokeswoman Shauna Dunlap confirmed the investigation Thursday by phone, but cautioned that opening a case does not mean there was wrong-doing.
``One of the reasons we do confirm these types of investigations is so the community has extra reassurance,'' Dunlap said.
The family of Kevin Jibreel LaDay, 35, alleges that officers beat him to death after his car ran into a ditch in Lumberton.
``They beat my child,'' said Kevin's mother, Sandra LaDay of Port Arthur.Lumberton Police Chief Danny Sullins said by phone Thursday that he ``strongly denies'' that allegation.
``He was not beaten, I'll tell you that right now,'' Sullins said. ``I can tell you that did not occur.''
LaDay was driving in Lumberton when his car ended up in a ditch on the side of Pine Burr.
Police got a call about the car about 3:30 a.m., according to a news release from Sullins.
When two Lumberton officers arrived, they saw LaDay walking from behind the nearby DuPont Goodrich Credit Union.
According to Sullins' release, LaDay ran from the officers.
The officers caught LaDay, and he began to fight them, Sullins said. Officers were able to ``gain control'' of LaDay after a ``lengthy altercation,'' according to Sullins release.
The officers called EMS to the scene and LaDay was transported to Christus St. Elizabeth Hospital where he was pronounced dead.
Two Hardin County Sheriff's deputies were also on the scene after responding to an ``officer in distress'' call, said Sheriff Ed Cain by phone.
``It's not my belief that anyone beat anyone,'' he said.
An autopsy has been ordered.
Sandra LaDay has a different set of facts.
She said her son, who had been living with a sister in Beaumont, called her at 3:47 a.m. to tell her the older model Geo was in the ditch. He had been visiting a friend in Lumberton.
While she was on the phone with him, the police drove up, she said.
``All of a sudden, he said, `don't do that, don't do that,''' LaDay said by phone. ``I said, `who you talking to, baby?' And then the phone just went silent.' ''
LaDay believes that the officers beat Kevin LaDay, causing his death. She has hired onetime Rodney King lawyer Milton Grimes of Los Angeles to represent the family in the lawsuit she plans to file.
LaDay said she also has contacted the Black Panthers, which plans a march in Lumberton on Monday; Al Sharpton; President Barack Obama's administration and the FBI.
The family plans to have a second autopsy done.
``I've been doing the necessary things,'' LaDay said. ``I won't let it go down like this.''
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http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/ap/tx/6402488.html
Hearing Postponed for Officer Anthony Maio
A court hearing on whether to grant a special form of probation to a police officer accused of groping two women was postponed Wednesday, as the city, police union and the officer’s lawyer discuss a potential deal under which he would leave the force.
Officer Anthony Maio, 41, came to court with his wife and several colleagues who might have been called as character witnesses in the 13-year veteran’s application for accelerated rehabilitation, but at the last minute the hearing was postponed until May 26.
In the hallway afterward, Senior Assistant State’s Attorney Eugene Calistro explained that there were still some aspects of the case that needed to be examined. He also indicated that the two alleged victims, in conversations with him and the court victim advocate, had voiced conditions they wanted to have met before they would support accelerated rehabilitation — commonly referred to as A.R. — which would leave Maio without a criminal record if he successfully completes the probation.
“They have set a position, but because it’s a pending case I’m obligated not to disclose it,” said Calistro.
There was an implication, however, that the women’s concerns might be resolved by the ongoing discussions between the city and Maio.
Maoi’s defense attorney, Tim Pothin, said his client and the city are working on the framework of an agreement that he believes is in Maio’s best interest and would “put me in a better position to argue for A.R.”
Maio, of Durham, doesn’t have enough time on the job to retire. Under the union contract, an officer can receive an age annuity pension after 20 years on the force, although officers with as few as 15 years can trade in unused sick time to make up the difference. Maio remains about 1 1/2 years shy of the minimum threshold, but in one recent case involving another officer facing criminal charges, the city and union struck a deal for the detective to serve a one-year unpaid suspension so he could get a pension.
Craig Manemeit, the city’s director of labor relations, wouldn’t say whether the city was considering a similar deal for Maio, but did confirm that the city is “speaking with the union and Maio’s employment counsel and we are trying to come up with a resolution that’s best for all parties.”
Contacted Wednesday afternoon, Calistro said if a deal was struck that would remove Maio from the force, “it may address the conditions that the two young women were looking for.”
Maio is accused of leading the two women, both college students, upstairs while he was on duty and in uniform at an extra duty assignment at Bar, a nightclub at 245 Crown St., and groping them inside an employee bathroom. He faces two counts each of fourth-degree sexual assault and unlawful restraint.
Maio has denied the allegations and has remained on paid administrative leave from the department since his arrest last June.
The department has brought internal charges for departmental violations against Maio but, even if it wanted to, can’t move forward with a disciplinary hearing before the Board of Police Commissioners until the criminal case is adjudicated.
“I can’t hold a hearing,” said Manemeit, referring to Rule 16 of the department manual, which states that if an accused officer is a defendant in a directly related criminal case, the department “shall not hold a hearing to handle the civilian complaint” unless the accused officer agrees, which Maio has not.
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Officer Anthony Maio, 41, came to court with his wife and several colleagues who might have been called as character witnesses in the 13-year veteran’s application for accelerated rehabilitation, but at the last minute the hearing was postponed until May 26.
In the hallway afterward, Senior Assistant State’s Attorney Eugene Calistro explained that there were still some aspects of the case that needed to be examined. He also indicated that the two alleged victims, in conversations with him and the court victim advocate, had voiced conditions they wanted to have met before they would support accelerated rehabilitation — commonly referred to as A.R. — which would leave Maio without a criminal record if he successfully completes the probation.
“They have set a position, but because it’s a pending case I’m obligated not to disclose it,” said Calistro.
There was an implication, however, that the women’s concerns might be resolved by the ongoing discussions between the city and Maio.
Maoi’s defense attorney, Tim Pothin, said his client and the city are working on the framework of an agreement that he believes is in Maio’s best interest and would “put me in a better position to argue for A.R.”
Maio, of Durham, doesn’t have enough time on the job to retire. Under the union contract, an officer can receive an age annuity pension after 20 years on the force, although officers with as few as 15 years can trade in unused sick time to make up the difference. Maio remains about 1 1/2 years shy of the minimum threshold, but in one recent case involving another officer facing criminal charges, the city and union struck a deal for the detective to serve a one-year unpaid suspension so he could get a pension.
Craig Manemeit, the city’s director of labor relations, wouldn’t say whether the city was considering a similar deal for Maio, but did confirm that the city is “speaking with the union and Maio’s employment counsel and we are trying to come up with a resolution that’s best for all parties.”
Contacted Wednesday afternoon, Calistro said if a deal was struck that would remove Maio from the force, “it may address the conditions that the two young women were looking for.”
Maio is accused of leading the two women, both college students, upstairs while he was on duty and in uniform at an extra duty assignment at Bar, a nightclub at 245 Crown St., and groping them inside an employee bathroom. He faces two counts each of fourth-degree sexual assault and unlawful restraint.
Maio has denied the allegations and has remained on paid administrative leave from the department since his arrest last June.
The department has brought internal charges for departmental violations against Maio but, even if it wanted to, can’t move forward with a disciplinary hearing before the Board of Police Commissioners until the criminal case is adjudicated.
“I can’t hold a hearing,” said Manemeit, referring to Rule 16 of the department manual, which states that if an accused officer is a defendant in a directly related criminal case, the department “shall not hold a hearing to handle the civilian complaint” unless the accused officer agrees, which Maio has not.
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Officer Marcus Lemacks Arrested for Giving Alcohol to Minors
A Leesburg police officer was fired after his arrest for providing alcohol to minors.
Sheriff's Deputies arrested officer Marcus Lemacks on Monday and charged him with three counts of providing alcohol to an underage person.
Investigators say the 38-year old bought and drank beer with three people under the age of 21 on Saturday.
Major Chris Owens said, "We're trying to help protect those people each and everyday. We certainly didn't want one of our own fellow law enforcement officers to be in the middle of something like this."
He was fired from the Leesburg Police Department on Tuesday. He had worked there for a little more than a year.
Sheriff's Deputies arrested officer Marcus Lemacks on Monday and charged him with three counts of providing alcohol to an underage person.
Investigators say the 38-year old bought and drank beer with three people under the age of 21 on Saturday.
Major Chris Owens said, "We're trying to help protect those people each and everyday. We certainly didn't want one of our own fellow law enforcement officers to be in the middle of something like this."
He was fired from the Leesburg Police Department on Tuesday. He had worked there for a little more than a year.
Former Officer Michael Robinson Charged with Brandishing Gun at Motorist
A former Inglewood police officer was charged Wednesday with child abuse and brandishing a gun at another motorist during a freeway confrontation last year, prosecutors said.
Officer Michael Lewis Robinson, 44, surrendered to the California Highway Patrol on Wednesday and was later released on $100,000 bail.
According to the prosecutor on the case, Robinson was off-duty and driving on the 405 Freeway with his children -- ages 6 and 11 -- when he allegedly flashed a firearm in a threatening manner at another driver. Prosecutors said the confrontation occurred March 31, 2008.
In addition to one count of brandishing a weapon and two counts of child abuse, Robinson was charged with one misdemeanor count of obstructing CHP officers. If convicted, Robinson faces a maximum of nine years in prison, according to the Los Angeles County district attorney's office. He is scheduled to be arraigned May 15.
Police spokesman Lt. Mike McBride said Robinson has not been an employee of the department for about a month, but declined to give details, saying that he could not discuss personnel matters.
John Baca, president of the Inglewood police officers' union, declined to discuss the case.
The 200-strong police force has been besieged in recent years by allegations that its officers used excessive force and shot at unarmed suspects. A Times investigation last December found that officers repeatedly resorted to physical or deadly force against suspects who were unarmed or accused of minor offenses. During a four-month period in 2008, Inglewood officers fatally shot four suspects -- three of whom were unarmed.
The U.S. Department of Justice last month announced that it was launching a civil rights inquiry into the department.
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http://www.mercurynews.com/breakingnews/ci_12256766
Officer Michael Lewis Robinson, 44, surrendered to the California Highway Patrol on Wednesday and was later released on $100,000 bail.
According to the prosecutor on the case, Robinson was off-duty and driving on the 405 Freeway with his children -- ages 6 and 11 -- when he allegedly flashed a firearm in a threatening manner at another driver. Prosecutors said the confrontation occurred March 31, 2008.
In addition to one count of brandishing a weapon and two counts of child abuse, Robinson was charged with one misdemeanor count of obstructing CHP officers. If convicted, Robinson faces a maximum of nine years in prison, according to the Los Angeles County district attorney's office. He is scheduled to be arraigned May 15.
Police spokesman Lt. Mike McBride said Robinson has not been an employee of the department for about a month, but declined to give details, saying that he could not discuss personnel matters.
John Baca, president of the Inglewood police officers' union, declined to discuss the case.
The 200-strong police force has been besieged in recent years by allegations that its officers used excessive force and shot at unarmed suspects. A Times investigation last December found that officers repeatedly resorted to physical or deadly force against suspects who were unarmed or accused of minor offenses. During a four-month period in 2008, Inglewood officers fatally shot four suspects -- three of whom were unarmed.
The U.S. Department of Justice last month announced that it was launching a civil rights inquiry into the department.
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http://www.mercurynews.com/breakingnews/ci_12256766
Judge Christine McEvoy Held up by Officer During Booking
A prominent judge arrested earlier this month in Lexington for drunken driving was held up by a police officer at her booking because “she was unsteady while walking or standing” after drinking at a 99 pub, according to Concord District Court records.
A high-heeled Superior Court Judge Christine M. McEvoy told Lexington police who stopped her 2007 Audi sedan just after 10:30 p.m. on April 15 she was headed home to Belmont from the 99 Restaurant and Pub in Woburn, where she’d had “a couple glasses of wine,” the arresting officers’ reports state.
But court filings obtained by the Herald yesterday show McEvoy, 58, who has been sitting in civil sessions at Middlesex Superior Court in Woburn, was followed down Route 128 south and onto Route 2A by a concerned Samaritan, who first notified state police about her alleged “erratic” driving, then sought out a Lexington cop to get her off the road.
The Registry of Motor Vehicles has suspended McEvoy’s license for 180 days for refusing a Breathalyzer test. Police reported she also refused to participate in field sobriety tests and wouldn’t even let a cop check her “glassy and bloodshot” eyes with a horizontal gaze nystagmus test because, the officer reported, “she responded that she did not believe in it".
She also told police she’d had hip surgery “and could not balance on one leg.”
McEvoy, who is charged with operating under the influence of alcohol and violating marked lanes, is due back in district court May 8 for a pretrial hearing. Her attorney, William H. Kettlewell, did not return a call yesterday seeking comment. Immediately after her arrest, McEvoy asked Superior Court Chief Justice Barbara J. Rouse to steer her clear of any civil or criminal cases involving drunken driving.
The Lexington officer who followed McEvoy on Waltham Street at the Samaritan’s urging noted in his report he observed her car “swerve within its own travel lane, touch the double yellow center line then at a later point completely cross over the double yellow center line.”
When he first rapped on the Audi’s driver’s window, he said McEvoy “did not react for a few seconds and then opened the door.” Her speech was “slurred,” he said.
McEvoy’s driving history includes three surchargeable accidents since 1994 and a speeding stop in Marshfield in 1991, according to RMV records.
A high-heeled Superior Court Judge Christine M. McEvoy told Lexington police who stopped her 2007 Audi sedan just after 10:30 p.m. on April 15 she was headed home to Belmont from the 99 Restaurant and Pub in Woburn, where she’d had “a couple glasses of wine,” the arresting officers’ reports state.
But court filings obtained by the Herald yesterday show McEvoy, 58, who has been sitting in civil sessions at Middlesex Superior Court in Woburn, was followed down Route 128 south and onto Route 2A by a concerned Samaritan, who first notified state police about her alleged “erratic” driving, then sought out a Lexington cop to get her off the road.
The Registry of Motor Vehicles has suspended McEvoy’s license for 180 days for refusing a Breathalyzer test. Police reported she also refused to participate in field sobriety tests and wouldn’t even let a cop check her “glassy and bloodshot” eyes with a horizontal gaze nystagmus test because, the officer reported, “she responded that she did not believe in it".
She also told police she’d had hip surgery “and could not balance on one leg.”
McEvoy, who is charged with operating under the influence of alcohol and violating marked lanes, is due back in district court May 8 for a pretrial hearing. Her attorney, William H. Kettlewell, did not return a call yesterday seeking comment. Immediately after her arrest, McEvoy asked Superior Court Chief Justice Barbara J. Rouse to steer her clear of any civil or criminal cases involving drunken driving.
The Lexington officer who followed McEvoy on Waltham Street at the Samaritan’s urging noted in his report he observed her car “swerve within its own travel lane, touch the double yellow center line then at a later point completely cross over the double yellow center line.”
When he first rapped on the Audi’s driver’s window, he said McEvoy “did not react for a few seconds and then opened the door.” Her speech was “slurred,” he said.
McEvoy’s driving history includes three surchargeable accidents since 1994 and a speeding stop in Marshfield in 1991, according to RMV records.
Wednesday, April 29, 2009
Detective Jose Quinoy Accused of Brutalizing 2 People
A veteran Sleepy Hollow police detective pleaded not guilty yesterday to a federal indictment that accuses him of brutalizing two people while they were restrained and handcuffed.
Jose Quinoy, 36, of Tarrytown was arrested by FBI agents from the civil rights division Tuesday night at Sleepy Hollow police headquarters.
He was arraigned yesterday in U.S. District Court in White Plains on two counts of violating the rights of individuals who had been arrested by Sleepy Hollow police.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Cynthia Dunne asked U.S. Magistrate Judge Lisa Margaret Smith to order Quinoy held without bail, saying he was a danger to the community who had tried to intimidate witnesses in the case.
"Detective Quinoy has a long history of being hot-headed and overreacting to incidents," she said.
The village board suspended Quinoy without pay pending a disciplinary hearing.
Quinoy's lawyer, Andrew Quinn, denied that the 11-year member of the Sleepy Hollow police had interfered in the investigation, pointing out that he was not charged with obstruction of justice or witness tampering.
"Why wasn't action taken within the last two and a half years if he was out there intimidating witnesses?" he asked, referring to the time since the first incident in the indictment, the Oct. 17, 2006, alleged beating of Mario Gomez, 50, of Tarrytown.
Gomez is not referred to by name in the indictment. But he has filed a federal civil rights lawsuit against Quinoy and the village over the incident. Gomez said he was called to Sleepy Hollow police headquarters by Quinoy that night. Gomez thought Quinoy had been romancing his 22-year-old daughter. At the police station, Gomez claims, he was assaulted by Quinoy and other officers, that he was kicked and beaten, as well as shocked with a stun gun in his neck and temple for 51 seconds.
Gomez came to the courthouse yesterday with his lawyer, Francis Young, after Quinoy had been arraigned.
"I thought that I was going to die right there on Beekman Avenue," he said, recalling the incident. "I don't wish that on nobody. It is the worst experience of my life."
Gomez's estranged wife, Awilda, has also filed a lawsuit over the incident, saying she was beaten by Quinoy and other cops as she tried to save her husband.
The Gomezes were arrested that night. Mario Gomez was charged with assault, obstructing governmental administration, harassment and resisting arrest. Awilda Gomez was arrested by Quinoy when she returned to the station house to pick up her husband's car after she had sought medical attention. She was charged with obstructing governmental administration and resisting arrest.
The Gomezes are awaiting trial in Greenburgh Town Court. The case has been adjourned several times while the federal investigation was pending, and the couple is due in court May 19. Lucian Chalfen, a spokesman for the Westchester District Attorney's Office, would not say whether prosecutors plan to drop the charges against the couple as a result of Quinoy's indictment.
"I'm very satisfied that justice prevailed and this officer is not going to be able to hurt any other citizens," Gomez said.
The Gomez's lawsuits are two of three civil rights lawsuits pending against Quinoy in federal court. Last week, a 17-year-old village boy, Duanny Lara Mota, filed a lawsuit against Quinoy, Officer Paul Nelson, Police Chief Jimmy Warren and the village. The lawsuit stemmed from an Aug. 24, 2007, incident in which Mota said he was beaten and zapped with a Taser gun by Quinoy and Nelson after he was stopped by police for riding his bicycle on a village sidewalk. Mota, who was 16 at the time of the incident, was charged with resisting arrest and disorderly conduct. But those charges were dismissed in September.
At the time, Mota's lawyer, Jonathan Rice, said the charges might have been dropped by the District Attorney's Office so as not to interfere with the FBI probe of Quinoy. The other officer in the incident, Paul Nelson, had asked the village board in August to pay for his legal expenses after he was subpoenaed to appear before a federal grand jury in White Plains looking into, he believed, the Mota incident.
But the Mota incident was not part of yesterday's indictment. The second incident referred to an unnamed person, alleged to have been assaulted Dec. 17, 2006, by Quinoy after he had been "handcuffed and restained by a police officer, resulting in bodily injury."
Still, Mota's mother said yesterday that she welcomed the federal indictment of Quinoy.
"I've been waiting for a long time for this. I'm happy that they arrest him for everything he do," she said. "He thinks he's bigger than everybody. He thinks that Hispanic people are nothing. He thinks he's bigger because he has a gun."
In Spanish, she added, "He has abused everybody a lot. He thinks he's better than anyone, and especially the Hispanics. He doesn't want to know about Hispanics. I don't know why. It's not that I feel happy for what's happening, because I'm not that way. But in reality, I'm calm, because now I know the teenagers that go into the streets in the summer won't have that problem, because everybody has problems with him. He looks for trouble with them, chastising them, telling them things. I think that justice has been done."
Quinn said yesterday that Quinoy was a victim of being a good at his job.
"When you're an active police officer, you generate people who do not like you," he said. Quinn said after Quinoy's arraignment that he did not know the details of the Dec. 17, 2006, incident. Herbert Hadad, a spokesman for U.S. Attorney Lev Dassin, declined to elaborate on the charge.
Quinoy was released on $100,000 personal bond. He faces up to 20 years if convicted. He was ordered by Smith to surrender all guns, including his service weapons. Quinn said the guns were surrendered at the Sleepy Hollow police station Tuesday night when Quinoy came off patrol to find a half-dozen FBI agents waiting to arrest him.
Quinn decried federal authorities' decision to arrest Quinoy at the police station while he was on duty, saying that he had called Dunne months ago asking to be notified of any charge ahead of time so that he could arrange for Quinoy to surrender at the courthouse.
He said they chose instead to arrest Quinoy at work "for reasons that I cannot fathom."
But Dunne said that decision was made after Quinn called regarding media inquiries about the indictment.
She said what followed was a "2 1/2 -hour negotiation to get him to turn himself in." She said Quinoy was ordered back to police headquarters by his superiors during that time. "He would not comply," she said.
Quinn said that Quinoy had called him and that the lawyer was trying in vain to arrange a surrender at the courthouse or the FBI's White Plains office.
The lawyer said after the arraignment that the timing of Quinoy's arrest was suspect because Quinn is preparing for the May 11 federal trial of another police officer, Yonkers Officer Wayne Simoes, on brutality charges. He also said Gomez was no victim, that he had come to the police station to assault Quinoy and it took three officers to control him. "I strenuously disagree with the word 'victim,' " he said.
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Other Information: http://www.wpix.com/landing/?Detective-Arrested-For-Tasing-Teen-Beati=1&blockID=279087&feedID=1404
Detective Darryl Norris Arrested for Domestic Violence
A family disturbance ended with a Rusk County Sheriff’s deputy arrested and suspended from duty.
Sheriff officials released the information regarding an incident involving investigator Darryl Norris, a detective assigned to the East Texas Auto Theft Task Force.
Amber Rogers, the depart-ment’s public information officer, said deputies responded to a disturbance call at Norris’ home last Friday.
“Upon conclusion of the initial investigation, Norris was detained pending further investigation. Rusk County Sheriff Danny R. Pirtle contacted Texas Ranger Brent Davis and requested that Ranger Davis conduct the continued investigation,” she said.
Rogers said as a result of the Rangers’ investigation, Norris, the former chief deputy under former Sheriff Glenn Deason, was arrested and released after being arraigned for Class “A” misdemeanor assault family violence.
Norris took over as chief deputy for Deason after Daniel Flanagan was arrested for assaulting a handcuffed prisoner.
Rogers said in accordance to the sheriff’s office policy and procedure, Norris has been suspended from his duties pending results of the Rangers’ investigation.
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http://www.news-journal.com/money/content/news/stories/2009/04/30/04302009_Rusk_arrest.html
Sheriff officials released the information regarding an incident involving investigator Darryl Norris, a detective assigned to the East Texas Auto Theft Task Force.
Amber Rogers, the depart-ment’s public information officer, said deputies responded to a disturbance call at Norris’ home last Friday.
“Upon conclusion of the initial investigation, Norris was detained pending further investigation. Rusk County Sheriff Danny R. Pirtle contacted Texas Ranger Brent Davis and requested that Ranger Davis conduct the continued investigation,” she said.
Rogers said as a result of the Rangers’ investigation, Norris, the former chief deputy under former Sheriff Glenn Deason, was arrested and released after being arraigned for Class “A” misdemeanor assault family violence.
Norris took over as chief deputy for Deason after Daniel Flanagan was arrested for assaulting a handcuffed prisoner.
Rogers said in accordance to the sheriff’s office policy and procedure, Norris has been suspended from his duties pending results of the Rangers’ investigation.
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http://www.news-journal.com/money/content/news/stories/2009/04/30/04302009_Rusk_arrest.html
FBI Receives Complaints of Police Brutality at College Fest
Complaints have been filed at Akron's FBI office regarding College Fest this past weekend.
"I don't know how many complaints they had," said Scott Wilson, a media representative from the Cleveland Bureau. "They did receive a few complaints regarding that incident, but that doesn't mean we'll open any inquiries."
Special Agent Todd Wickerman of the Akron office, which covers Portage County, said he could not go into any details regarding those complaints.
"If we get specific complaints regarding an incident that alleges civil rights were violated, we will investigate," Wickerman said.
Wilson said complaints have to meet certain criteria before they will open a preliminary inquiry.
Once that's done, investigators gather facts to send to their department of justice in Washington D.C. to determine whether it rises to a federal level.
Wilson said his office gets calls and complaints about police brutality all the time. He said there would have to be a civil rights violation in regards to excessive force used in a situation to open an inquiry.
"We investigate individual events," Wilson said. "We're not going to look at the whole thing that happened over the weekend."
Wilson said complaints were filed after Kent's last Halloween celebrations, but the FBI did not open any investigations.
Anyone with complaints after Saturday's riots can contact the Akron FBI office at 330-535-6156.
"I don't know how many complaints they had," said Scott Wilson, a media representative from the Cleveland Bureau. "They did receive a few complaints regarding that incident, but that doesn't mean we'll open any inquiries."
Special Agent Todd Wickerman of the Akron office, which covers Portage County, said he could not go into any details regarding those complaints.
"If we get specific complaints regarding an incident that alleges civil rights were violated, we will investigate," Wickerman said.
Wilson said complaints have to meet certain criteria before they will open a preliminary inquiry.
Once that's done, investigators gather facts to send to their department of justice in Washington D.C. to determine whether it rises to a federal level.
Wilson said his office gets calls and complaints about police brutality all the time. He said there would have to be a civil rights violation in regards to excessive force used in a situation to open an inquiry.
"We investigate individual events," Wilson said. "We're not going to look at the whole thing that happened over the weekend."
Wilson said complaints were filed after Kent's last Halloween celebrations, but the FBI did not open any investigations.
Anyone with complaints after Saturday's riots can contact the Akron FBI office at 330-535-6156.
Officer Talib Muhammad Charged with Domestic Assault
A Philadelphia Police officer is charged in the alleged assault of his fiancee.
On Tuesday night at around 10:00 p.m., Philadelphia Police were called to the 500 block of Waterview Lane for a report of a domestic dispute.
When authorities arrived, they found a woman who appeared to have been slapped, punched, and hit with a handgun. She told police that her fiance was the one who beat her and then he fled the scene.
The woman was transported to Frankford-Torresdale Hospital.
The police were able to track down the fiance on I-95 in the area of Washington Avenue.
The fiance is identified as Talib Muhammad. Muhammad is a 13-year veteran of the Philadelphia Police Narcotics Unit.
He was found in possession of two handguns.
Muhammad was arrested and charged with aggravated assault, simple assault, recklessly endangering another person, and possessing an instrument of crime in the alleged domestic assault.
On Tuesday night at around 10:00 p.m., Philadelphia Police were called to the 500 block of Waterview Lane for a report of a domestic dispute.
When authorities arrived, they found a woman who appeared to have been slapped, punched, and hit with a handgun. She told police that her fiance was the one who beat her and then he fled the scene.
The woman was transported to Frankford-Torresdale Hospital.
The police were able to track down the fiance on I-95 in the area of Washington Avenue.
The fiance is identified as Talib Muhammad. Muhammad is a 13-year veteran of the Philadelphia Police Narcotics Unit.
He was found in possession of two handguns.
Muhammad was arrested and charged with aggravated assault, simple assault, recklessly endangering another person, and possessing an instrument of crime in the alleged domestic assault.
Officer Erik Hanson of Sexual Misconduct with 12-year-old Girl
A Forks police officer originally accused of child rape has been charged with lesser crimes in the case.
33-year old Erik Hanson was in Clallam County Superior Court yesterday to hear charges of communicating with a minor for immoral purposes.
He was arrested and booked into the county jail late last week for investigation of felony second-degree child rape. The charges filed this week are gross misdemeanors.
Hanson's arrest came after a three-month investigation when a 12-year-old girl made allegations of sexual contact against officer Hanson while he was off duty.
Hanson was serving military duty in Iraq as a member of the National Guard Reserves during the investigation.
Investigators say detailed email correspondence and phone records corroborated the victim's allegations.
When, Hanson was home on military leave last week, he was arrested by Clallam County Sheriff Detectives.
Hanson was released without bail, no travel restrictions or curfew.
Hanson will be arraigned on the charges in August after he waived his right to a speedy arraignment.
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Other Information: http://www.sequimgazette.com/topstory/articleDetail.exm/Index/article/2009-04-29_Forks_officer_booked_for_child_rape/
33-year old Erik Hanson was in Clallam County Superior Court yesterday to hear charges of communicating with a minor for immoral purposes.
He was arrested and booked into the county jail late last week for investigation of felony second-degree child rape. The charges filed this week are gross misdemeanors.
Hanson's arrest came after a three-month investigation when a 12-year-old girl made allegations of sexual contact against officer Hanson while he was off duty.
Hanson was serving military duty in Iraq as a member of the National Guard Reserves during the investigation.
Investigators say detailed email correspondence and phone records corroborated the victim's allegations.
When, Hanson was home on military leave last week, he was arrested by Clallam County Sheriff Detectives.
Hanson was released without bail, no travel restrictions or curfew.
Hanson will be arraigned on the charges in August after he waived his right to a speedy arraignment.
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Other Information: http://www.sequimgazette.com/topstory/articleDetail.exm/Index/article/2009-04-29_Forks_officer_booked_for_child_rape/
Two More Detention Workers Charged with Having Sex with Teens
Two more Terrebonne Parish Juvenile Detention Center workers are charged with having sex with teenage inmates and more charges were filed against a lieutenant already accused of the crime.
Deputies also charged a corrections officer with threatening an inmate so she would not cooperate with detectives.
The arrests Tuesday come as more former inmates approach deputies with allegations that they had sex with workers at the Ashland detention center in exchange for privileges such as snacks and free phone calls, said Maj. Malcolm Wolfe of the Sheriff’s Office.
All of the sexual encounters allegedly happened over the past year, he said.
“We’re receiving more information from victims and victims’ parents and by word of mouth,” he said. “These girls are not in any shape or form connected, and their statements are consistent about how it took place.”
As more girls come forward, more arrests are likely, Wolfe said.
All of the corrections officers are employees of Terrebonne Parish government, which operates the juvenile detention center.
Deputies charged Angelo Vickers, 47, 390 Monarch Drive, Houma, Tuesday with an additional count of molestation of a juvenile and malfeasance in office.
Vickers was charged Thursday with two counts each of molestation and malfeasance after two former inmates of the detention center, both teen girls, informed deputies of their alleged contact with him.
The additional charge was added Tuesday after a 15-year-old girl who was a former inmate told deputies she had sex with Vickers in exchange for privileges, deputies said.
Vickers is being held at the Terrebonne Parish jail in lieu of a $400,000 bond.
Deputies also arrested Floyd Wesley Howard, 40, 1317 Division Ave., Houma, on charges of carnal knowledge of a juvenile and three counts of indecent behavior with a juvenile. Howard is a sergeant at the center, deputies said.
Darwin Jamal Brown, 23, 159 Elmira Court, Thibodaux, a corrections officer at the center, was charged with malfeasance in office, molestation of a juvenile and three counts of indecent behavior with a juvenile.
Brown and Howard were arrested after deputies interviewed three 16-year-old inmates who said they had sex with them while incarcerated at the center, deputies said. Both workers are being held at the Terrebonne Parish jail in lieu of $200,000 bond.
Deputies also arrested Tiffany Denin Blakemore, 36, 3600 Friendswood Drive, Houma, a corrections officer at the center, for allegedly threatening one of the teenage inmates not to cooperate with detectives in the investigation.
Blakemore was charged with obstruction of justice and remains at the Terrebonne Parish jail on $50,000 bond.
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More Information:
Officer accused of having sex with girls at detention center
Deputies also charged a corrections officer with threatening an inmate so she would not cooperate with detectives.
The arrests Tuesday come as more former inmates approach deputies with allegations that they had sex with workers at the Ashland detention center in exchange for privileges such as snacks and free phone calls, said Maj. Malcolm Wolfe of the Sheriff’s Office.
All of the sexual encounters allegedly happened over the past year, he said.
“We’re receiving more information from victims and victims’ parents and by word of mouth,” he said. “These girls are not in any shape or form connected, and their statements are consistent about how it took place.”
As more girls come forward, more arrests are likely, Wolfe said.
All of the corrections officers are employees of Terrebonne Parish government, which operates the juvenile detention center.
Deputies charged Angelo Vickers, 47, 390 Monarch Drive, Houma, Tuesday with an additional count of molestation of a juvenile and malfeasance in office.
Vickers was charged Thursday with two counts each of molestation and malfeasance after two former inmates of the detention center, both teen girls, informed deputies of their alleged contact with him.
The additional charge was added Tuesday after a 15-year-old girl who was a former inmate told deputies she had sex with Vickers in exchange for privileges, deputies said.
Vickers is being held at the Terrebonne Parish jail in lieu of a $400,000 bond.
Deputies also arrested Floyd Wesley Howard, 40, 1317 Division Ave., Houma, on charges of carnal knowledge of a juvenile and three counts of indecent behavior with a juvenile. Howard is a sergeant at the center, deputies said.
Darwin Jamal Brown, 23, 159 Elmira Court, Thibodaux, a corrections officer at the center, was charged with malfeasance in office, molestation of a juvenile and three counts of indecent behavior with a juvenile.
Brown and Howard were arrested after deputies interviewed three 16-year-old inmates who said they had sex with them while incarcerated at the center, deputies said. Both workers are being held at the Terrebonne Parish jail in lieu of $200,000 bond.
Deputies also arrested Tiffany Denin Blakemore, 36, 3600 Friendswood Drive, Houma, a corrections officer at the center, for allegedly threatening one of the teenage inmates not to cooperate with detectives in the investigation.
Blakemore was charged with obstruction of justice and remains at the Terrebonne Parish jail on $50,000 bond.
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More Information:
Officer accused of having sex with girls at detention center
Former Deputy Kenneth Cannon Arrested for Stalking
A former Dawson County Sheriff's Office deputy found himself on the opposite end of the law last Friday afternoon when he was arrested in Murrayville on charges of aggravated stalking, computer invasion of privacy and impersonation of an officer.
Kenneth Cannon, 40, reportedly acted as though he was a Georgia State Patrol trooper last month, and violated a temporary protection order in the process, when he allegedly attempted to run a computer check on his ex-wife's tag number.
“Mr. Cannon had supposedly called a dispatch center in Banks County and ran the tag number,” said Major Mike Ramsey of the Lumpkin County Sheriff's Office. “When he called the dispatch center he identified himself as a Georgia State Patrol trooper. Of course he's not identified with the Georgia State Patrol.”
After further investigations, Lumpkin County officers were able to trace this call to the 911 center back to the Murrayville resident's phone.
“We confirmed that the call had been made from his cellular phone from a location in Lumpkin County,” said Ramsey.
Cannon is a United States Marine and a veteran law enforcement official who worked at the Dawson County Sheriff's Office until reportedly resigning in February of this year.
Prior to his arrest, local deputies had received several unconfirmed reports throughout the month of March that Cannon had attempted to contact his ex-wife, a Lumpkin County resident, on several occasions despite a court-issued protective order.
Last Friday, Cannon's arrest caused a minor stir in Murrayville as Lanier Elementary School was placed on lock-down while the apprehension occurred in the nearby parking lot of the local library.
Officers from the Hall County Sheriff's Office reportedly requested the lock-down as a precautionary measure in the event that Cannon had been armed.
However, the arrest was made peacefully and without incident. Cannon was then turned over to the LCSO and transported to the Lumpkin County Detention Center.
Kenneth Cannon, 40, reportedly acted as though he was a Georgia State Patrol trooper last month, and violated a temporary protection order in the process, when he allegedly attempted to run a computer check on his ex-wife's tag number.
“Mr. Cannon had supposedly called a dispatch center in Banks County and ran the tag number,” said Major Mike Ramsey of the Lumpkin County Sheriff's Office. “When he called the dispatch center he identified himself as a Georgia State Patrol trooper. Of course he's not identified with the Georgia State Patrol.”
After further investigations, Lumpkin County officers were able to trace this call to the 911 center back to the Murrayville resident's phone.
“We confirmed that the call had been made from his cellular phone from a location in Lumpkin County,” said Ramsey.
Cannon is a United States Marine and a veteran law enforcement official who worked at the Dawson County Sheriff's Office until reportedly resigning in February of this year.
Prior to his arrest, local deputies had received several unconfirmed reports throughout the month of March that Cannon had attempted to contact his ex-wife, a Lumpkin County resident, on several occasions despite a court-issued protective order.
Last Friday, Cannon's arrest caused a minor stir in Murrayville as Lanier Elementary School was placed on lock-down while the apprehension occurred in the nearby parking lot of the local library.
Officers from the Hall County Sheriff's Office reportedly requested the lock-down as a precautionary measure in the event that Cannon had been armed.
However, the arrest was made peacefully and without incident. Cannon was then turned over to the LCSO and transported to the Lumpkin County Detention Center.
Howard County Officer Disciplined in Brutality Case
Howard County's police chief said Tuesday that an internal investigation into a brutality accusation in the arrest of a man who led officers on a highway chase last year has been completed and resulted in disciplinary action and retraining.
Chief William McMahon said the internal affairs investigation into the Nov. 20 arrest of Jessup resident Stephen Zombro is closed. The chief declined to discuss details of the findings or the disciplinary actions taken, citing department policy on confidentiality of personnel matters.
"We looked at the incident from beginning to end," McMahon said. "Some disciplinary action was taken and there was some retraining. That's as far I can go with it."
Police spokeswoman Sherry Llewellyn said the investigation was completed at the end of March.
The chase began in Jessup when officers tried to serve Zombro with a warrant on a theft charge. Driving a white pickup truck, Zombro fled west on Route 32, colliding with two police cruisers along the way that were part of a rolling roadblock. Police used stop-sticks to flatten three tires on Zombro's truck, which came to a stop near U.S. 29.
Several officers converged on Zombro after he exited the truck. TV news video footage showed Zombro face down on the road and what appears to be an officer repeatedly punching him in the back.
McMahon later said the footage "concerned" him, and he called for an internal investigation.
Zombro, 41, was indicted on more than a dozen charges. On Monday, he pleaded guilty to two counts of second-degree assault and two counts of malicious destruction of property and was sentenced to 18 months in the Howard County Detention Center. He also was ordered to pay restitution of $2,500 for damage to the cruisers.
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http://www.explorehoward.com/news/61520/police-discipline-officer-accused-brutality-arrest/
Chief William McMahon said the internal affairs investigation into the Nov. 20 arrest of Jessup resident Stephen Zombro is closed. The chief declined to discuss details of the findings or the disciplinary actions taken, citing department policy on confidentiality of personnel matters.
"We looked at the incident from beginning to end," McMahon said. "Some disciplinary action was taken and there was some retraining. That's as far I can go with it."
Police spokeswoman Sherry Llewellyn said the investigation was completed at the end of March.
The chase began in Jessup when officers tried to serve Zombro with a warrant on a theft charge. Driving a white pickup truck, Zombro fled west on Route 32, colliding with two police cruisers along the way that were part of a rolling roadblock. Police used stop-sticks to flatten three tires on Zombro's truck, which came to a stop near U.S. 29.
Several officers converged on Zombro after he exited the truck. TV news video footage showed Zombro face down on the road and what appears to be an officer repeatedly punching him in the back.
McMahon later said the footage "concerned" him, and he called for an internal investigation.
Zombro, 41, was indicted on more than a dozen charges. On Monday, he pleaded guilty to two counts of second-degree assault and two counts of malicious destruction of property and was sentenced to 18 months in the Howard County Detention Center. He also was ordered to pay restitution of $2,500 for damage to the cruisers.
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http://www.explorehoward.com/news/61520/police-discipline-officer-accused-brutality-arrest/
Trooper Alexander Richardson Only Gets Community Service for Using his Car to Stop Man
Two years to the day after an S.C. trooper was captured on video using his patrol car to bump a running suspect, a federal judge on Tuesday approved a deal that will allow the trooper to perform community service and serve no prison time.
If he had gone to trial, Lance Cpl. Alexander Richardson could have faced up to a year in prison. Instead, he will perform about 100 hours of community service.
In January, Richardson was accused of a misdemeanor offense of violating Kevin Rucker's civil rights by using excessive force. An April 28, 2007, video shot from his patrol car dashboard camera shows the trooper chasing a black man through a Columbia apartment complex. The 46-year-old trooper drives between buildings, on sidewalks and past onlookers - including a small child - in an attempt to run down the man.
Richardson, who is also black, has said he accidentally bumped into Rucker, and records show he was reprimanded and completed a stress management course. He has been suspended since the investigation began, and his trial had been scheduled to begin next month.
Richardson was not in court Tuesday, but his attorney said he was pleased with the agreement.
"I appreciate the U.S. Attorney working with us," John O'Leary said after a brief hearing Tuesday. "We're working on the program for him."
Under the pretrial diversion program administered by the U.S. Probation Office, Richardson is videotaping safety messages to school, community and law enforcement groups, according to O'Leary.
During the program, which is expected to last 18 months, Richardson also will not be allowed to work as a law officer, a job that O'Leary said his client does not want to return to anyway.
Also Tuesday, prosecutors agreed to officially withdraw their complaint against Richardson, although Assistant U.S. Attorney Kevin McDonald said his office could renew the charges if Richardson fails to complete the program.
Richardson still faces a federal lawsuit from the man struck with his vehicle. Last year, Kevin Rucker filed a suit seeking unspecified actual and punitive damages, alleging he was hit by the car three times.
Rucker's attorney did not immediately return a phone message Tuesday afternoon.
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http://www.greenvilleonline.com/article/20090429/NEWS/904290346/1001/NEWS01
YouTube video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7VjbAxCHgmU
If he had gone to trial, Lance Cpl. Alexander Richardson could have faced up to a year in prison. Instead, he will perform about 100 hours of community service.
In January, Richardson was accused of a misdemeanor offense of violating Kevin Rucker's civil rights by using excessive force. An April 28, 2007, video shot from his patrol car dashboard camera shows the trooper chasing a black man through a Columbia apartment complex. The 46-year-old trooper drives between buildings, on sidewalks and past onlookers - including a small child - in an attempt to run down the man.
Richardson, who is also black, has said he accidentally bumped into Rucker, and records show he was reprimanded and completed a stress management course. He has been suspended since the investigation began, and his trial had been scheduled to begin next month.
Richardson was not in court Tuesday, but his attorney said he was pleased with the agreement.
"I appreciate the U.S. Attorney working with us," John O'Leary said after a brief hearing Tuesday. "We're working on the program for him."
Under the pretrial diversion program administered by the U.S. Probation Office, Richardson is videotaping safety messages to school, community and law enforcement groups, according to O'Leary.
During the program, which is expected to last 18 months, Richardson also will not be allowed to work as a law officer, a job that O'Leary said his client does not want to return to anyway.
Also Tuesday, prosecutors agreed to officially withdraw their complaint against Richardson, although Assistant U.S. Attorney Kevin McDonald said his office could renew the charges if Richardson fails to complete the program.
Richardson still faces a federal lawsuit from the man struck with his vehicle. Last year, Kevin Rucker filed a suit seeking unspecified actual and punitive damages, alleging he was hit by the car three times.
Rucker's attorney did not immediately return a phone message Tuesday afternoon.
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http://www.greenvilleonline.com/article/20090429/NEWS/904290346/1001/NEWS01
YouTube video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7VjbAxCHgmU
Tuesday, April 28, 2009
Hearing for Officer Mark Maupin Set for July
A veteran Altamonte Springs police officer who is accused of seriously injuring two people last November after losing control of his patrol car did not appear in court this morning.
Instead, a lawyer was present on his behalf.
The hearing was to address the traffic citations that were issued to Officer Mark Maupin by the Florida Highway Patrol. Last month Maupin was issued a six-point ticket for unlawful speed. He does not face any criminal charges.
Lawyers for the two victims, Jennifer Hernandez and Erskin Bell, asked the judge to push back the hearing. A new hearing was set for July 7 at 11 a.m.
Investigative reports show that Maupin hit the back passenger side of Jennifer Hernandez's four-door Honda Civic at 104 mph. Hernandez, now 20, was hospitalized for several days. Her passenger, Erskin Bell, 20, remains in a coma from injuries he suffered in the crash.
Hernandez and Bell's lawyers planned to file a motion this morning to ask for a judge to be appointed to the case and request an investigation by the State Attorney's Office.
The motion states that the Florida Highway Patrol never interviewed Hernandez about the crash and that neither victim was notified of any charges against Maupin, nor were they notified of today's hearing.
Hernandez was stopped at a red light in the left turn lane on Maitland Boulevard near Bear Lake Road on Nov. 30 when they were hit.
Altamonte Springs police have not been able to determine why Maupin was driving at such a high speed at that time. Police spokesmen have said Maupin did not notify dispatchers of his actions immediately prior to the crash.
Troopers could not prove or disprove whether Maupin was taking law-enforcement action at the time, FHP spokeswoman Sgt. Kim Miller said.
Maupin, a 28-year department veteran, had been reprimanded six times for accidents involving his patrol vehicle since he began working for the department.
The discipline includes a 1992 incident in which he was caught driving his cruiser 82 mph with his lights off in the middle of the night on State Road 436 that was "intended as a joke on the person operating the radar," according to police records.
The day he returned to work following the crash, he was reprimanded for insubordination and his police powers were taken from him. An internal investigation by the police department was launched.
Instead, a lawyer was present on his behalf.
The hearing was to address the traffic citations that were issued to Officer Mark Maupin by the Florida Highway Patrol. Last month Maupin was issued a six-point ticket for unlawful speed. He does not face any criminal charges.
Lawyers for the two victims, Jennifer Hernandez and Erskin Bell, asked the judge to push back the hearing. A new hearing was set for July 7 at 11 a.m.
Investigative reports show that Maupin hit the back passenger side of Jennifer Hernandez's four-door Honda Civic at 104 mph. Hernandez, now 20, was hospitalized for several days. Her passenger, Erskin Bell, 20, remains in a coma from injuries he suffered in the crash.
Hernandez and Bell's lawyers planned to file a motion this morning to ask for a judge to be appointed to the case and request an investigation by the State Attorney's Office.
The motion states that the Florida Highway Patrol never interviewed Hernandez about the crash and that neither victim was notified of any charges against Maupin, nor were they notified of today's hearing.
Hernandez was stopped at a red light in the left turn lane on Maitland Boulevard near Bear Lake Road on Nov. 30 when they were hit.
Altamonte Springs police have not been able to determine why Maupin was driving at such a high speed at that time. Police spokesmen have said Maupin did not notify dispatchers of his actions immediately prior to the crash.
Troopers could not prove or disprove whether Maupin was taking law-enforcement action at the time, FHP spokeswoman Sgt. Kim Miller said.
Maupin, a 28-year department veteran, had been reprimanded six times for accidents involving his patrol vehicle since he began working for the department.
The discipline includes a 1992 incident in which he was caught driving his cruiser 82 mph with his lights off in the middle of the night on State Road 436 that was "intended as a joke on the person operating the radar," according to police records.
The day he returned to work following the crash, he was reprimanded for insubordination and his police powers were taken from him. An internal investigation by the police department was launched.
Musicians Claim Philly Cop Roughed Them up
Armed with a blurry YouTube video and a flurry of blog and Twitter posts, several musicians claim that their crew members were roughed up by Philly bike cops late Sunday.
The musicians, who were among several bands that played the Bamboozle Road Show at the Theater of the Living Arts, took to the Web to post various accounts of their alleged encounter with a handful of officers in an alley next to the theater, on South Street near 3rd.
One musician, JD Perry of the band Valencia, claimed in a blog post that the officers had ticketed equipment vans that were parked in the side alley and then arrested a tour manager who protested the ticketing.
Perry contended at first that the officers then beat and arrested another man who tried to intervene. Later, he took down an Internet account of the incident that he had posted, noting: "I do not have a first-hand account of Police brutality."
Members of the Police Advisory Commission, a civilian oversight committee, were set to meet yesterday with several people who also claimed to have witnessed the incident.
No evidence of abuse was found in the mostly out-of-focus YouTube video, said Lt. Frank Vanore, a police spokesman.
A complaint has yet to be filed with the police Internal Affairs Bureau. "If a complaint is filed, it will be investigated thoroughly," Vanore said.
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http://www.chartattack.com/news/69028/bands-upset-with-philly-cops
The musicians, who were among several bands that played the Bamboozle Road Show at the Theater of the Living Arts, took to the Web to post various accounts of their alleged encounter with a handful of officers in an alley next to the theater, on South Street near 3rd.
One musician, JD Perry of the band Valencia, claimed in a blog post that the officers had ticketed equipment vans that were parked in the side alley and then arrested a tour manager who protested the ticketing.
Perry contended at first that the officers then beat and arrested another man who tried to intervene. Later, he took down an Internet account of the incident that he had posted, noting: "I do not have a first-hand account of Police brutality."
Members of the Police Advisory Commission, a civilian oversight committee, were set to meet yesterday with several people who also claimed to have witnessed the incident.
No evidence of abuse was found in the mostly out-of-focus YouTube video, said Lt. Frank Vanore, a police spokesman.
A complaint has yet to be filed with the police Internal Affairs Bureau. "If a complaint is filed, it will be investigated thoroughly," Vanore said.
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http://www.chartattack.com/news/69028/bands-upset-with-philly-cops
Two NYPD Officers Moreno & Mata Charged with Raping Semiconscious Woman
A New York police officer called to help a drunken woman get home safely has been accused of raping her as she lay face down in her bed, semiconscious and covered in vomit while his partner acted as a lookout, prosecutors said Tuesday.
Kenneth Moreno and Franklin Mata were suspended from duty and were scheduled to be arraigned Tuesday on charges of rape, burglary and official misconduct in the Dec. 6, 2008 incident in the East Village neighborhood of Manhattan, District Attorney Robert Morgenthau said.
Their attorneys said Monday they expected their clients to plead not guilty. Moreno's attorney Stephen Worth said his client was eager to confront the evidence against him. Mata's attorney, Edward Mandery, said his client denied the allegations.
New York Police Commissioner Raymond Kelly, who rarely speaks on pending cases involving officers because he may have to make internal decisions, called the allegations "disgraceful" and said he did not want the charges to tarnish the department's reputation for helping people.
"This is a shocking aberration in stark contrast to the outstanding work that the men and women of the New York City police department do every day on the streets of our city," Kelly said. "The public needs to know that the police are there to protect them. And I believe that they do."
The two officers were working the late shift in the 9th Precinct that night as the woman, identified as 27-year-old professional, was out drinking with friends at a bar in Brooklyn. Her blood alcohol was at least double the legal limit and possibly more, investigators said, when her friends put her in a taxi and told the driver to take her to her apartment in Manhattan.
When the driver got to her address, she was so drunk she couldn't get out of the taxi, so he called 911 for help, prosecutor said. Mata, 27, and Moreno, 41, responded within minutes. Surveillance tape shows them helping the woman into her building and leaving a few minutes later.
But the tape also shows the officers entering and leaving the building two more times, when they had been assigned to respond to other incidents in the precinct, prosecutors said. The officers were inside the building 17 minutes the first time they returned and 34 minutes the next time, prosecutors said.
While they were in the apartment, Moreno, who has been a police officer for 17 years, raped the woman as she lay physically helpless on her bed, Morgenthau said. Mata acted as a lookout for Moreno, and "knew his partner was having sex with a semiconscious woman," but did nothing to stop it, Morgenthau said.
The woman reported the sexual assault the next morning and was treated at Beth Israel Hospital and released, investigators said. She reported the charges to the sex crimes unit of the district attorney's office.
Both officers were indicted on first-degree rape charges, two counts of second-degree burglary for re-entering the apartment twice, and nine counts of official misconduct.
Mata, who has been an officer for three years, also was indicted on charges of criminal facilitation and tampering with evidence for refusing to hand over his memo book used to record shift details and for not stopping the rape, prosecutors said.
During the investigation, a packet of heroin was found in Moreno's police locker, and he was also charged with criminal possession of a controlled substance, prosecutors said.
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More Information & Photos: http://www.nydailynews.com/news/ny_crime/2009/04/28/2009-04-28_nypd_cops_charged_in_rape_of_druken_woman_they_escorted_home.html
Kenneth Moreno and Franklin Mata were suspended from duty and were scheduled to be arraigned Tuesday on charges of rape, burglary and official misconduct in the Dec. 6, 2008 incident in the East Village neighborhood of Manhattan, District Attorney Robert Morgenthau said.
Their attorneys said Monday they expected their clients to plead not guilty. Moreno's attorney Stephen Worth said his client was eager to confront the evidence against him. Mata's attorney, Edward Mandery, said his client denied the allegations.
New York Police Commissioner Raymond Kelly, who rarely speaks on pending cases involving officers because he may have to make internal decisions, called the allegations "disgraceful" and said he did not want the charges to tarnish the department's reputation for helping people.
"This is a shocking aberration in stark contrast to the outstanding work that the men and women of the New York City police department do every day on the streets of our city," Kelly said. "The public needs to know that the police are there to protect them. And I believe that they do."
The two officers were working the late shift in the 9th Precinct that night as the woman, identified as 27-year-old professional, was out drinking with friends at a bar in Brooklyn. Her blood alcohol was at least double the legal limit and possibly more, investigators said, when her friends put her in a taxi and told the driver to take her to her apartment in Manhattan.
When the driver got to her address, she was so drunk she couldn't get out of the taxi, so he called 911 for help, prosecutor said. Mata, 27, and Moreno, 41, responded within minutes. Surveillance tape shows them helping the woman into her building and leaving a few minutes later.
But the tape also shows the officers entering and leaving the building two more times, when they had been assigned to respond to other incidents in the precinct, prosecutors said. The officers were inside the building 17 minutes the first time they returned and 34 minutes the next time, prosecutors said.
While they were in the apartment, Moreno, who has been a police officer for 17 years, raped the woman as she lay physically helpless on her bed, Morgenthau said. Mata acted as a lookout for Moreno, and "knew his partner was having sex with a semiconscious woman," but did nothing to stop it, Morgenthau said.
The woman reported the sexual assault the next morning and was treated at Beth Israel Hospital and released, investigators said. She reported the charges to the sex crimes unit of the district attorney's office.
Both officers were indicted on first-degree rape charges, two counts of second-degree burglary for re-entering the apartment twice, and nine counts of official misconduct.
Mata, who has been an officer for three years, also was indicted on charges of criminal facilitation and tampering with evidence for refusing to hand over his memo book used to record shift details and for not stopping the rape, prosecutors said.
During the investigation, a packet of heroin was found in Moreno's police locker, and he was also charged with criminal possession of a controlled substance, prosecutors said.
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More Information & Photos: http://www.nydailynews.com/news/ny_crime/2009/04/28/2009-04-28_nypd_cops_charged_in_rape_of_druken_woman_they_escorted_home.html
Rochester Woman Claims Police Brutality
A Rochester woman is alleging brutality from two Gates police officers and is meeting with two investigators this morning to talk about the incident.
Terasa Harris, 49, today said at 9:30 p.m. March 27 she was sitting in her car in an empty parking lot on Chili Avenue when an officer approached her vehicle because of an expired registration. After that, she alleges that one officer lunged toward her from the passenger side to remove her keys while the second officer pulled her out of her vehicle and dragged her toward the patrol car.
She said she suffered scratches all over the left side of her face and her chin.
“I couldn’t believe this was happening,” said Harris, who was also a third-degree burn victim. “When I complained to the officers to tell them I was in pain and felt scratches on my face, one officer told me I ‘already had scars and a few more wouldn’t be noticeable.’”
Gates Supervisor Ralph Esposito today said he discussed the issue with Gates Police Chief David DiCaro and is waiting to read Harris’ statement before deciding whether an internal investigation will take place.
“We just want to get the firsthand account of what occurred that night before going forward,” Esposito said.
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http://www.whec.com/news/stories/S902675.shtml?cat=566
Terasa Harris, 49, today said at 9:30 p.m. March 27 she was sitting in her car in an empty parking lot on Chili Avenue when an officer approached her vehicle because of an expired registration. After that, she alleges that one officer lunged toward her from the passenger side to remove her keys while the second officer pulled her out of her vehicle and dragged her toward the patrol car.
She said she suffered scratches all over the left side of her face and her chin.
“I couldn’t believe this was happening,” said Harris, who was also a third-degree burn victim. “When I complained to the officers to tell them I was in pain and felt scratches on my face, one officer told me I ‘already had scars and a few more wouldn’t be noticeable.’”
Gates Supervisor Ralph Esposito today said he discussed the issue with Gates Police Chief David DiCaro and is waiting to read Harris’ statement before deciding whether an internal investigation will take place.
“We just want to get the firsthand account of what occurred that night before going forward,” Esposito said.
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http://www.whec.com/news/stories/S902675.shtml?cat=566
Monday, April 27, 2009
Officers Kenneth Moreno & Franklin Mata Charged with Rape
A grand jury in Manhattan has voted to indict two New York City police officers in the December rape of a woman who claimed she was sexually attacked after the officers escorted her from a taxicab to her apartment in the East Village while she was intoxicated, according to law enforcement officials and other people familiar with the case.
The grand jury last week charged both officers — Kenneth Moreno and Franklin L. Mata — though the details of the indictment were not immediately disclosed, according to the people, who spoke on the condition of anonymity.
The officers, who have been on modified duty, stripped of their guns and badges and working in administrative assignments, are expected to surrender on Tuesday morning and face arraignment in criminal court.
“Since I haven’t been advised of the formal charges, I am not in a position to comment at this time,” said Edward J. Mandery, a lawyer for Officer Mata.
Stephen C. Worth, a lawyer for Officer Moreno, said: “My client will appear in court tomorrow and enter a plea of not guilty. We look forward to a rigorous examination of the district attorney’s evidence.”
The case came to light in March when officials disclosed the nature of the investigation. Officials said the woman, who was not identified, went to the hospital on Dec. 7, the morning of the reported rape, and also contacted prosecutors who notified the Police Department’s Internal Affairs Bureau, law enforcement officials said.
Although both officers were at the woman’s apartment, only one of them is suspected of raping the woman, according to a person who has been briefed on the investigation. Investigators have been looking at a theory of rape in which someone has intercourse with a person too intoxicated to give consent, the person said. State law differentiates between rape under that circumstance and forcible sex.
Video surveillance helped internal investigators unravel what they say occurred.
The video, from a surveillance camera at a bar near the woman’s building, shows two uniformed officers helping her into the building at 1:10 a.m. and then returning twice over the next two hours — spending 34 minutes in the building during their final visit, according to the bar owner, who gave the video to the district attorney’s office.
During the investigation, the authorities said, officials were unable to find Officer Mata’s memo book — a notebook officers use to log their activities and movements.
At some point after the officers escorted the woman back to her apartment, they were dispatched on a ”radio run,” to report to the scene of an accident, according to one person briefed on the investigation.
After finishing at the accident scene, the officers returned to the woman’s apartment, but they did not report that they had completed their run, the person said. Instead, according to the surveillance tape, the officers did not indicate that their duties at the accident site were completed until after they left the woman’s apartment for the final time, at 3:33 a.m., the person said.
In a search of Officer Moreno’s locker on Dec. 19, police officials found a packet of heroin, the authorities said. The drugs were believed to be unrelated to the rape allegations, but it is unclear why the heroin was in the locker.
The person familiar with the case said the officer could be charged with possession of a controlled substance — though the officer could argue that he had confiscated the heroin but simply forgot to formally turn it in as evidence.
Alicia Maxey Greene, a spokeswoman for the office of the Manhattan district attorney, Robert M. Morgenthau, declined to comment on the developments.
The grand jury last week charged both officers — Kenneth Moreno and Franklin L. Mata — though the details of the indictment were not immediately disclosed, according to the people, who spoke on the condition of anonymity.
The officers, who have been on modified duty, stripped of their guns and badges and working in administrative assignments, are expected to surrender on Tuesday morning and face arraignment in criminal court.
“Since I haven’t been advised of the formal charges, I am not in a position to comment at this time,” said Edward J. Mandery, a lawyer for Officer Mata.
Stephen C. Worth, a lawyer for Officer Moreno, said: “My client will appear in court tomorrow and enter a plea of not guilty. We look forward to a rigorous examination of the district attorney’s evidence.”
The case came to light in March when officials disclosed the nature of the investigation. Officials said the woman, who was not identified, went to the hospital on Dec. 7, the morning of the reported rape, and also contacted prosecutors who notified the Police Department’s Internal Affairs Bureau, law enforcement officials said.
Although both officers were at the woman’s apartment, only one of them is suspected of raping the woman, according to a person who has been briefed on the investigation. Investigators have been looking at a theory of rape in which someone has intercourse with a person too intoxicated to give consent, the person said. State law differentiates between rape under that circumstance and forcible sex.
Video surveillance helped internal investigators unravel what they say occurred.
The video, from a surveillance camera at a bar near the woman’s building, shows two uniformed officers helping her into the building at 1:10 a.m. and then returning twice over the next two hours — spending 34 minutes in the building during their final visit, according to the bar owner, who gave the video to the district attorney’s office.
During the investigation, the authorities said, officials were unable to find Officer Mata’s memo book — a notebook officers use to log their activities and movements.
At some point after the officers escorted the woman back to her apartment, they were dispatched on a ”radio run,” to report to the scene of an accident, according to one person briefed on the investigation.
After finishing at the accident scene, the officers returned to the woman’s apartment, but they did not report that they had completed their run, the person said. Instead, according to the surveillance tape, the officers did not indicate that their duties at the accident site were completed until after they left the woman’s apartment for the final time, at 3:33 a.m., the person said.
In a search of Officer Moreno’s locker on Dec. 19, police officials found a packet of heroin, the authorities said. The drugs were believed to be unrelated to the rape allegations, but it is unclear why the heroin was in the locker.
The person familiar with the case said the officer could be charged with possession of a controlled substance — though the officer could argue that he had confiscated the heroin but simply forgot to formally turn it in as evidence.
Alicia Maxey Greene, a spokeswoman for the office of the Manhattan district attorney, Robert M. Morgenthau, declined to comment on the developments.
Sheriff Charlie Morris Pleads Not Guilty to Money Laundering
A suspended Florida sheriff pleaded not guilty to money laundering and conspiracy charges on Monday, two days after two of his former deputies were killed by a National Guard soldier they were trying to arrest.
Okaloosa County Sheriff Charlie Morris and Teresa Adams, his administrative assistant, made no comments following the brief hearing.
On Sunday, Interim Sheriff Ed Spooner, who was appointed by Gov. Charlie Crist to take over the troubled department just eight weeks ago, met with his department's 300 employees to try and explain what went wrong in the weekend shooting that left two deputies and the man they were trying to arrest for domestic battery dead.
Another deputy, Anthony Forgione, died in July after he was shot by a suicidal man who had barricaded himself in a home.
"All the things that keep happening, it's like a scab that keeps getting peeled back over and over," said Larry Carter, the department's senior chaplain.
FBI agents arrested Morris in February while he was on a gambling trip to Las Vegas.
Morris and Adams were indicted by a federal grand jury Thursday in a scheme to create fictitious bonuses for department employees and pocket the money.
Carter said employees had been preparing a May memorial service for Forgione and trying to put Morris' arrest behind them when Deputies Burt Lopez and Warren "Skip" York were killed.
Lopez and York had no warning a confrontation would occur when they tried to arrest Joshua Cartwright, 28, in the parking lot of a gun range, Spooner said. The deputies used a stun gun to subdue Cartwright, but he was able to start shooting at them from the ground.
"Within seconds he sat up and began firing a weapon that came out of nowhere, it was somewhere on his body we assume," Spooner said as employees joined hands in prayer, cried and hugged Sunday night.
Cartwright was killed in a shootout at a roadblock after a car chase into a neighboring county. The deputies had gone to a shooting range to arrest him after his wife sought treatment for domestic abuse injures at an area hospital.
Spooner said the deputies had no information to make them think Cartwright would turn his weapons on them.
"This went from zero to 100 in a matter of minutes. In three minutes it turned from a passive discussion to a shooting, it was one heck of a mess," the sheriff said.
According to a domestic violence report, Cartwright's wife, Elizabeth Marie Cartwright, 21, told deputies after her husband died that he believed the government was conspiring against him and that he had been upset by Barack Obama's election.
Authorities said the National Guard solider was interested in militias and in weapons training.
Both deputies were shot in areas not protected by their bulletproof vests, Spooner said.
In the chase that followed, Cartwright's truck flipped on its side after spikes at a roadblock punctured the tires. The soldier came out shooting, Spooner said.
Investigators say Cartwright and deputies at the roadblock exchanged about 60 rounds in 30 to 40 seconds before he was killed.
Both Lopez and York had retired from careers with the Air Force at nearby Eglin Air Force Base when they joined the department. A joint visitation for the officers is planned for Wednesday in Crestview. Lopez's funeral is set for Thursday afternoon in Niceville, and services for York are scheduled for Friday morning in Pensacola.
Capt. J.D. Peacock said Lopez, a father of five, was especially good at defusing tense situations such as domestic abuse calls.
"He was the person you would want in a confrontation because he calmed people down," he said.
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Other Information: http://www.abcnews.go.com/Blotter/story?id=7438388&page=1
Sunday, April 26, 2009
Corrections Officer Angelo Vickers Arrested for Molestation Teen
A corrections officer at Terrebonne’s Juvenile Detention center is accused of having sex with two teen inmates and offering the teenage girls favors in exchange, deputies said.
The officer denies the allegations.
Angelo Knighton Vickers, 47, 390 Monarch Drive, Houma, was arrested Thursday and charged with two counts each of molestation of a juvenile and sexual malfeasance in prison.
The investigation is ongoing, said Maj. Malcolm Wolfe of the Sheriff’s Office.
It’s unclear whether there are more victims.
The investigation began after a former inmate of the center contacted officials and claimed she had sex with a corrections officer while incarcerated, according to deputies. Another girl made similar allegations during the investigation.
In exchange for sex, Vickers offered the girls favors, such as free phone calls and snacks, deputies said. The inmates were 15 and 16 at the time.
The incidents happened within the past year, Wolfe said.
Vickers was questioned at the Sheriff’s Office before his arrest and denied the accusations, deputies said.
Vickers, who was fired after the allegations surfaced, worked as a corrections officer for Terrebonne Parish government, Wolfe said.
He has worked at the Juvenile Detention Center for six and a half years, said Jason Hutchinson, the center’s director. At the time of his arrest, Vickers was working as a watch commander, supervising a security team of about nine.
“We’ve all been devastated by this,” Hutchinson said. “We’re terribly disappointed. It’s a sad situation for everyone.”
Vickers is being held at the Terrebonne Courthouse Annex Jail on $200,000 bond.
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http://www.dailycomet.com/article/20090426/HURBLOG/904269979/1223?Title=Terrebonne-Juvenile-Detention-Center-worker-jailed-on-molestation-charges
The officer denies the allegations.
Angelo Knighton Vickers, 47, 390 Monarch Drive, Houma, was arrested Thursday and charged with two counts each of molestation of a juvenile and sexual malfeasance in prison.
The investigation is ongoing, said Maj. Malcolm Wolfe of the Sheriff’s Office.
It’s unclear whether there are more victims.
The investigation began after a former inmate of the center contacted officials and claimed she had sex with a corrections officer while incarcerated, according to deputies. Another girl made similar allegations during the investigation.
In exchange for sex, Vickers offered the girls favors, such as free phone calls and snacks, deputies said. The inmates were 15 and 16 at the time.
The incidents happened within the past year, Wolfe said.
Vickers was questioned at the Sheriff’s Office before his arrest and denied the accusations, deputies said.
Vickers, who was fired after the allegations surfaced, worked as a corrections officer for Terrebonne Parish government, Wolfe said.
He has worked at the Juvenile Detention Center for six and a half years, said Jason Hutchinson, the center’s director. At the time of his arrest, Vickers was working as a watch commander, supervising a security team of about nine.
“We’ve all been devastated by this,” Hutchinson said. “We’re terribly disappointed. It’s a sad situation for everyone.”
Vickers is being held at the Terrebonne Courthouse Annex Jail on $200,000 bond.
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http://www.dailycomet.com/article/20090426/HURBLOG/904269979/1223?Title=Terrebonne-Juvenile-Detention-Center-worker-jailed-on-molestation-charges
Chatham Officer Investigated for Firing Shots at Fleeing Vehicle
The Sangamon County Sheriff's department is investigating an incident in which a Chatham police officer fired shots at a fleeing vehicle after a traffic stop.
A 19-year-old Springfield man, Anthony Crawford Jr., was arrested shortly after the incident Friday night.
Sangamon County Sheriff Neil Williamson and Chatham Police Chief Roy Barnett declined to release the officer's name on Saturday. Barnett confirmed the officer is on leave and that the sheriff's office has been asked to handle the investigation.
Williamson said Chatham police arrested Crawford on an outstanding warrant for retail theft as well as driving on a suspended driver's license, fleeing and eluding a police officer and an equipment violation for not having a front license plate.
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Information from: The State Journal-Register, http://www.sj-r.com
A 19-year-old Springfield man, Anthony Crawford Jr., was arrested shortly after the incident Friday night.
Sangamon County Sheriff Neil Williamson and Chatham Police Chief Roy Barnett declined to release the officer's name on Saturday. Barnett confirmed the officer is on leave and that the sheriff's office has been asked to handle the investigation.
Williamson said Chatham police arrested Crawford on an outstanding warrant for retail theft as well as driving on a suspended driver's license, fleeing and eluding a police officer and an equipment violation for not having a front license plate.
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Information from: The State Journal-Register, http://www.sj-r.com
Tulsa PD Suspends 3 Officers in Drinking Probe
Drinking during a barbecue at the Tulsa Police Department's training center last year led to the totaling of a police car and the suspensions of three officers, Police Chief Ron Palmer told the Tulsa World.
Nearly 20 Tulsa police officers, including one who crashed the patrol car, drank alcohol during the cookout, an investigation has revealed.
The Oct. 16 cookout ended a week of training for the agency's Special Operations Team, Palmer said.
Officer Danny Bean told investigators that he drank two beers before heading home in his department- issued squad car, Palmer said. He reportedly knocked over a power pole and crashed into a security gate as he left the facility at 6066 E. 66th St. North.
Bean was suspended for 80 hours without pay and will not be allowed to take his new patrol car home for 120 days, Palmer said.
Neither Bean nor his lawyer, Scott Wood, returned telephone calls seeking comment.
Palmer said the suspensions were handed down this month and emphasize the increased level of responsibility that officers must meet.
"It should be a higher standard; there's no doubt in my mind," he said. "Anybody, lay person or police person, can see that it's conduct unbecoming" an officer.
The department's Internal Affairs Unit found that Bean was not given a field sobriety test and that his blood-alcohol level was never measured. Palmer said it also wasn't clear who brought the beer or how many officers were drinking at the event.
Several supervisors talked with Bean after the crash and said he didn't show any signs of intoxication, Palmer said.
Bean, who works in the department's Gilcrease Division, was a newer member of the Special Operations Team and stayed late to help clean up after the barbecue. He was driving nearly 55 mph when he rounded a curved stretch of road as he was leaving, police records show.
His 2007 Dodge Charger police car crashed into a power pole shortly after 10:30 p.m. and then hit a gate, according to an accident report. The cruiser, valued at $19,774, was destroyed.
Sgt. Luke Sherman, who was in charge of the barbecue, was suspended for five days without pay for failure to supervise and for conduct unbecoming an officer.
Capt. John Brooks was suspended for two days without pay and was removed as the Special Operations Team's interim commander for the same offenses, Palmer said.
The police union appealed the decision shortly after the officers were suspended, said Ron Bartmier, chairman of the union's board.
Bartmier would not discuss the appeal because it is an ongoing personnel issue.
Palmer said the department's lack of a specific alcohol policy likely is behind the appeal.
Beer isn't specifically banned at the training center, but Palmer said the department follows the city of Tulsa's broader rules about drinking, which prohibit city employees from drinking at work or coming to work drunk.
"It's my desire to make those policies stricter so there's no misunderstanding," he said.
Nearly 20 Tulsa police officers, including one who crashed the patrol car, drank alcohol during the cookout, an investigation has revealed.
The Oct. 16 cookout ended a week of training for the agency's Special Operations Team, Palmer said.
Officer Danny Bean told investigators that he drank two beers before heading home in his department- issued squad car, Palmer said. He reportedly knocked over a power pole and crashed into a security gate as he left the facility at 6066 E. 66th St. North.
Bean was suspended for 80 hours without pay and will not be allowed to take his new patrol car home for 120 days, Palmer said.
Neither Bean nor his lawyer, Scott Wood, returned telephone calls seeking comment.
Palmer said the suspensions were handed down this month and emphasize the increased level of responsibility that officers must meet.
"It should be a higher standard; there's no doubt in my mind," he said. "Anybody, lay person or police person, can see that it's conduct unbecoming" an officer.
The department's Internal Affairs Unit found that Bean was not given a field sobriety test and that his blood-alcohol level was never measured. Palmer said it also wasn't clear who brought the beer or how many officers were drinking at the event.
Several supervisors talked with Bean after the crash and said he didn't show any signs of intoxication, Palmer said.
Bean, who works in the department's Gilcrease Division, was a newer member of the Special Operations Team and stayed late to help clean up after the barbecue. He was driving nearly 55 mph when he rounded a curved stretch of road as he was leaving, police records show.
His 2007 Dodge Charger police car crashed into a power pole shortly after 10:30 p.m. and then hit a gate, according to an accident report. The cruiser, valued at $19,774, was destroyed.
Sgt. Luke Sherman, who was in charge of the barbecue, was suspended for five days without pay for failure to supervise and for conduct unbecoming an officer.
Capt. John Brooks was suspended for two days without pay and was removed as the Special Operations Team's interim commander for the same offenses, Palmer said.
The police union appealed the decision shortly after the officers were suspended, said Ron Bartmier, chairman of the union's board.
Bartmier would not discuss the appeal because it is an ongoing personnel issue.
Palmer said the department's lack of a specific alcohol policy likely is behind the appeal.
Beer isn't specifically banned at the training center, but Palmer said the department follows the city of Tulsa's broader rules about drinking, which prohibit city employees from drinking at work or coming to work drunk.
"It's my desire to make those policies stricter so there's no misunderstanding," he said.
Saturday, April 25, 2009
Captain Randy Burke Accused of Stealing $100
An internal investigation into theft and misconduct has led to the firing of a Bunnell Police Department captain.
According to the Daytona Beach News-Journal, Captain Randy Burke was fired after he was accused of stealing $100 meant as a gift for a former officer in 2007.
According to the internal investigation documents, police department employees pooled together $100 and some household items to help out fired officer Ed Culver.
Investigators say because Burke lived next door to Culver, they asked him to present the gifts to Culver.
When the department moved into its new facility, officers told investigators the household items were found in Burke's old office.
Investigators say Burke told them he forgot to give the donations to Culver.
The investigation couldn't confirm Burke stole the money, but concluded he did misappropriate it.
__________________________
http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/local/state/orl-bk-bunnell-police-captain-fire-042509,0,243821.story
According to the Daytona Beach News-Journal, Captain Randy Burke was fired after he was accused of stealing $100 meant as a gift for a former officer in 2007.
According to the internal investigation documents, police department employees pooled together $100 and some household items to help out fired officer Ed Culver.
Investigators say because Burke lived next door to Culver, they asked him to present the gifts to Culver.
When the department moved into its new facility, officers told investigators the household items were found in Burke's old office.
Investigators say Burke told them he forgot to give the donations to Culver.
The investigation couldn't confirm Burke stole the money, but concluded he did misappropriate it.
__________________________
http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/local/state/orl-bk-bunnell-police-captain-fire-042509,0,243821.story
Taser Policy Examined
The video, now made famous by youtube and other sites, shows San Louis Obisbo man Christopher Felch tasered by police at the Coachella Music Festival. Police asked the man to put his clothes on. He refused and resisted when officers tried dressing him. They eventually used their taser to subdue the man. Law enforcement's use of tasers varies which each department.
"Some departments are going to the taser prior to going to the baton or if theres an incident with a lot of people or a closed indoor area you may not want to use the pepper spray and therefore go directly to the taser so each department has there own policy and procedure that they follow," says David Chandler, President of the Coachella Valley Security Academy.
Three officers made the arrest, two from Indio P.D.and one Banning, he's the one who tasered the man police say was drunk in public. We couldn't reach the Banning Police Department for comment. Video shows the officers tasing the man several times after the first tase. Dozen sat and watched the incident unfold, making it hard for officers to use other non-lethal weapons.
"From somebody looking on from a distance it may look like it's excessive force but it's a lot less lethal then using a baton on someone or pepper spray on entire crowd," says Chandler.
There's a difference between a consumer taser and a law enforcement taser. The consumer taser's last 30 seconds so the victim can taser the suspect can drop the taser and run away. Law Enforcement taser's last 5 seconds just enough time for the officer to gain control of the suspect.
Some festival-goers supported Felch, some even going up and shaking the man's hand. They voiced their anger after police tasered the man. The incident has the internet community talking. Indio Police are confident they did what's right.
"Everybody's entitled to give there opinions and what not. All our purpose is that people are safe and enjoy themselves and be able to leave on there own terms and not break the law," says Indio Police Department's Ben Guitron.
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News Video: After the Arrest: Law Enforcement Taser Policy Examined (4/24)
"Some departments are going to the taser prior to going to the baton or if theres an incident with a lot of people or a closed indoor area you may not want to use the pepper spray and therefore go directly to the taser so each department has there own policy and procedure that they follow," says David Chandler, President of the Coachella Valley Security Academy.
Three officers made the arrest, two from Indio P.D.and one Banning, he's the one who tasered the man police say was drunk in public. We couldn't reach the Banning Police Department for comment. Video shows the officers tasing the man several times after the first tase. Dozen sat and watched the incident unfold, making it hard for officers to use other non-lethal weapons.
"From somebody looking on from a distance it may look like it's excessive force but it's a lot less lethal then using a baton on someone or pepper spray on entire crowd," says Chandler.
There's a difference between a consumer taser and a law enforcement taser. The consumer taser's last 30 seconds so the victim can taser the suspect can drop the taser and run away. Law Enforcement taser's last 5 seconds just enough time for the officer to gain control of the suspect.
Some festival-goers supported Felch, some even going up and shaking the man's hand. They voiced their anger after police tasered the man. The incident has the internet community talking. Indio Police are confident they did what's right.
"Everybody's entitled to give there opinions and what not. All our purpose is that people are safe and enjoy themselves and be able to leave on there own terms and not break the law," says Indio Police Department's Ben Guitron.
-----------------------------
News Video: After the Arrest: Law Enforcement Taser Policy Examined (4/24)
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