ROGERS, Ark.
A former Barton County sheriff turned himself in to authorities last week in Rogers, Ark., where he was arrested on suspicion of domestic battery and violating an order of protection.
Buck Causey, 61, was arrested last Thursday at the Rogers, Ark., Police Department on the charges and was booked in to the Benton County Jail in Arkansas. He did not have to pay a fine for his release, a jail officer said.
The Rogers Police Department had issued two warrants for Causey's arrest; the battery reportedly occurred April 4, while the violation of the protection order occurred April 20, Rogers Police Corp. Angel Murphy-Pearce confirmed.
Murphy-Pearce said Causey faces a "level three" battery charge, or a charge of the least severity signifying no serious bodily injury was involved. She could not reveal who filed the order of protection, or a protection-from-abuse order, against Causey.
Causey reported both a Rogers, Ark., address and a Great Bend address, according to the arrest report, Murphy-Pearce said. No place of employment was listed.
He is scheduled to make a court appearance June 2 in Rogers, Ark., District Court for arraignment.
This is not the first time domestic violence allegations have surfaced against Causey.
Barton County sheriff's deputies responding to a 911 call in June 2008 were dispatched to Causey's Great Bend home, after family members of Causey's wife, Linda Causey, called to report concern for her welfare after an alleged domestic violence incident. No arrest was made, however, and no charges were filed.
Although Buck Causey had filed a divorce petition in Reno County against his wife last June, he told The News in July 2008 the petition was "on hold." His attorney, Dan Forker of Hutchinson, had indicated the couple was trying to work things out.
Last month, Causey filed another divorce petition - this time in Barton County - requesting a divorce from his wife of nearly 35 years, citing incompatibility, according to the Great Bend Tribune.
Linda Causey filed a response last week, agreeing to the divorce, the Tribune reported.
Attempts by The News to reach both Buck and Linda Causey were unsuccessful.
Buck Causey previously indicated to The News last summer that he filed the first divorce petition in Reno County to avoid publicity.
Last November, Causey was defeated by Independent candidate Greg Armstrong in a hotly contested race for the sheriff's position. While Causey was initially unopposed in the race, Armstrong decided to run after the official filing deadline after reports had surfaced of alleged domestic violence in the Causey home.
Armstrong mounted a successful petition drive, garnering 650 signatures for a spot on the ballot, and then defeated Causey in the election 5,793 to 4,857 votes, or by 936 votes.
Thursday, May 14, 2009
Cops High-Five Each Other After Kicking Man
NBC Chicago highlights a nasty piece of police brutality that was caught on tape in El Monte, California. After leading police on a high-speed chase, a suspect flees on foot but quickly realizes he can't escape and lies on the ground with his hands and legs spread awaiting arrest. A cop runs over and promptly, and viciously, kicks him in the face. As NBC Chicago notes, the police added insult to injury by high-fiving each other after the incident. More details can be found here.
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For More information & Video Please visit:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/05/13/police-brutality-cops-pun_n_203245.html
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For More information & Video Please visit:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/05/13/police-brutality-cops-pun_n_203245.html
Officer Robert Cirello Accused of Throwing Tobacco Juice At Two Motorists
The Baltimore police officer who was arrested in connection with a traffic altercation in Bel Air last week is accused of throwing a cup of tobacco juice at two motorists and flashing his Glock handgun at them, according to arrest documents on file with the Harford County District Court.
Robert G. Cirello, a decorated seven-year veteran of the force and a member of its SWAT team, was off duty when he turned right into a northbound lane of Emmorton Road about 12:30 p.m. May 8. The driver of second car, who felt he cut them off, honked at Cirello, according to police documents.
Cirello, 30, of Abingdon, then stopped his sport utility vehicle, and as the second car slowed down and attempted to pass, Cirello tossed a cup of tobacco juice through its open windows, striking the driver and another occupant, they told police. The men allege that Cirello pointed a black handgun at them before driving away, court documents said.
When state police later stopped Cirello's vehicle near Routes 24 and 1, they noticed a black .40-caliber Glock pistol protruding from his waistband and arrested him without incident. Cirello, who is licensed to carry a weapon, admitted throwing the tobacco juice but denied pointing the handgun, documents say.
City officer accused of road rage Cirello, a New Jersey native and former paramedic who responded to the scene of the collapsed Twin Towers on Sept. 11, 2001, won a departmental commendation and was invited to the Maryland governor's mansion after being shot in the line of duty in Patterson Park in September 2006. He served in the Southeast District of the Baltimore force for five years.
Cirello, who did not respond to messages seeking comment, was charged with two counts each of first-degree assault, second-degree assault and reckless endangerment. He was released on $20,000 bond. A court date is scheduled for June 4. Cirello is suspended from the police force until the criminal and departmental investigations are complete.
"The commissioner takes these kinds of matters extremely seriously," said Anthony Guglielmi, a spokesman for the Baltimore City Police. "The department is committed to seeing how the legal process plays itself out, of course, but behavior of the kind alleged will not be tolerated."
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Robert G. Cirello, a decorated seven-year veteran of the force and a member of its SWAT team, was off duty when he turned right into a northbound lane of Emmorton Road about 12:30 p.m. May 8. The driver of second car, who felt he cut them off, honked at Cirello, according to police documents.
Cirello, 30, of Abingdon, then stopped his sport utility vehicle, and as the second car slowed down and attempted to pass, Cirello tossed a cup of tobacco juice through its open windows, striking the driver and another occupant, they told police. The men allege that Cirello pointed a black handgun at them before driving away, court documents said.
When state police later stopped Cirello's vehicle near Routes 24 and 1, they noticed a black .40-caliber Glock pistol protruding from his waistband and arrested him without incident. Cirello, who is licensed to carry a weapon, admitted throwing the tobacco juice but denied pointing the handgun, documents say.
City officer accused of road rage Cirello, a New Jersey native and former paramedic who responded to the scene of the collapsed Twin Towers on Sept. 11, 2001, won a departmental commendation and was invited to the Maryland governor's mansion after being shot in the line of duty in Patterson Park in September 2006. He served in the Southeast District of the Baltimore force for five years.
Cirello, who did not respond to messages seeking comment, was charged with two counts each of first-degree assault, second-degree assault and reckless endangerment. He was released on $20,000 bond. A court date is scheduled for June 4. Cirello is suspended from the police force until the criminal and departmental investigations are complete.
"The commissioner takes these kinds of matters extremely seriously," said Anthony Guglielmi, a spokesman for the Baltimore City Police. "The department is committed to seeing how the legal process plays itself out, of course, but behavior of the kind alleged will not be tolerated."
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Previous Information:
Former Deputy Aaron Hundersmarck Accused of Sexually Molesting Teen
A former Canyon County Sheriff's deputy is accused of sexually abusing a teen girl.
John Bujak, Canyon County prosecutor, says Aaron Hundersmarck of Nampa sexually molested a 16-year-old. He's charged with two counts of sexual battery with a 16 or 17-year-old.
According to court documents, the alleged abuse occurred in April when Hundersmarck went to the teen girl's house and expressed an interest in the girl. The mother of the teen apparently saw her daughter's hand on Hundersmarck's genitalia.
Documents later allege that Hundersmarck continued to touch the teen. He also is alleged to ask the teen's mother to have sexual relations with her daughter.
Prosecutors say Hundersmarck was a deputy with the Canyon County Jail from 2001 to 2003.
Former Officer Carl Beckman Receives 3-Year Sentence
He went from putting people behind bars to being behind bars himself.
Former Sylvania officer Carl Beckman received a 3-year sentence Thursday.
Beckman was one of the oldest officers in the Sylvania Police Department. The detective assigned to the case knew him for years, and was stunned. Why?
Because Beckman was the one who trained him.
"It's probably been one of my worst cases I've had to investigate when you have to investigate your own fellow officers," said Mike Yunker of the Sylvania Police Department.
Beckman worked court security at Sylvania Municipal Court by himself. For the last 13 years he embezzled money from the property room.
"In the past, he may have taken money out of the newer cases to pay for some of the older cases," said Yunker.
No one noticed that he stole the money seized in drug cases over time. The tally was nearly $30,000.
"We understand he is behind on some payments with some things. But he didn't live a lavish lifestyle," Yunker said. "Those in public trust have to uphold the law and do what they're sworn to do by their oath."
Now Beckman is left explaining himself to the judge after pleading guilty to theft in office.
"I want to apologize to the court and the citizens of Sylvania, the city I served for 36 years."
Beckman's attorney asked for probation, saying police officers in prison are a target to other inmates.
But the judge issued a three year sentence, showing that no one is above the law.
Former Sylvania officer Carl Beckman received a 3-year sentence Thursday.
Beckman was one of the oldest officers in the Sylvania Police Department. The detective assigned to the case knew him for years, and was stunned. Why?
Because Beckman was the one who trained him.
"It's probably been one of my worst cases I've had to investigate when you have to investigate your own fellow officers," said Mike Yunker of the Sylvania Police Department.
Beckman worked court security at Sylvania Municipal Court by himself. For the last 13 years he embezzled money from the property room.
"In the past, he may have taken money out of the newer cases to pay for some of the older cases," said Yunker.
No one noticed that he stole the money seized in drug cases over time. The tally was nearly $30,000.
"We understand he is behind on some payments with some things. But he didn't live a lavish lifestyle," Yunker said. "Those in public trust have to uphold the law and do what they're sworn to do by their oath."
Now Beckman is left explaining himself to the judge after pleading guilty to theft in office.
"I want to apologize to the court and the citizens of Sylvania, the city I served for 36 years."
Beckman's attorney asked for probation, saying police officers in prison are a target to other inmates.
But the judge issued a three year sentence, showing that no one is above the law.
Officer Sarah Messier Placed on Administrative Leave
Richmond Police Officer Sarah Messier has been placed on administrative leave. No reason was given.
Messier thinks it may have to do with a call she placed to Chief William Miller. She claims she called Miller after hours to discuss a rumor she heard about her future with the department.
Messier filed a complaint with the town last year claiming she was passed up for a promotion given to someone who was less qualified for the job.
Messier thinks it may have to do with a call she placed to Chief William Miller. She claims she called Miller after hours to discuss a rumor she heard about her future with the department.
Messier filed a complaint with the town last year claiming she was passed up for a promotion given to someone who was less qualified for the job.
Wednesday, May 13, 2009
Former Officer Travis Rector Found Guilty of Assault
A district court judge found former Hendersonville Police Officer Travis Rector guilty of assault on a female Wednesday stemming from an altercation with his wife, Kelli.
Rector said he will appeal the conviction to Superior Court. Chief Herbert Blake said Rector is no longer a police officer, effective Wednesday.
During testimony, Rector said he had an argument with Kelli because “(I) wasn’t faithful to my wife.” The argument became heated and Rector said he attempted to leave the room.
Kelli threw a snack cake in his face, which made it difficult for him to breathe and caused him pain.
Rector said he pushed Kelli away but never hit her. Kelli stumbled backward and sat down against the wall, where she started to cry, Rector said.
“I told her I didn’t mean for her to get hit like that,” he added.
Rector tried to comfort her, but she told him to leave her alone and went into the bathroom. Kelli eventually left the apartment to go to her brother’s home, and Rector drove to his sister’s house in Transylvania County.
James Patterson, Kelli’s brother, said Kelli pulled into his driveway and got out of the car.
“She walked up, and I could tell she had been crying,” Patterson said.
He noticed that Kelli “had a black eye.” She was shaking and not coherent, he said.
Prosecuting Attorney David Norris showed Patterson a photo of Kelli taken after the incident. He was asked if the photo accurately represented Kelli’s injuries.
“To me, she looked worse than that,” Patterson said.
Henderson County Sheriff’s Deputy Steve Ridgeway contacted Rector and met him at the apartment later in the evening. Rector jumped out of his truck and spoke with Ridgeway.
“He said ... ‘She came at me first. It was self-defense,’” Ridgeway said.
Rector showed Ridgeway where the confrontation took place. When asked to explain what happened in detail, Ridgeway said Rector stated, “She bruised easily.”
He said he saw no marks or injuries on Rector, but did see slight remnants of the snack cake on his shirt.
Rector was cooperative during the conversation and when he was placed under arrest, Ridgeway said. A magistrate allowed Rector to bond immediately after the arrest, waving the normal 48-hour period because of concerns of Rector’s safety in the jail.
Rector’s attorney, Trey Yelverton, said the prosecution’s witnesses had inconsistencies in their stories. He added that a jury would not convict Rector because his client was clearly acting in self-defense.
Judge Patricia Young sentenced Rector to 12 months supervised probation and ordered him to complete a 26-week domestic violence course. With the appeal, Rector has the right to a jury trial and will not serve Young’s sentence if he gets a new trial.
Rector and Kelli are supposedly back together. A court order had barred him from having contact with Kelli. The order was dropped at her consent.
Resource Officer Jason Casper Accused of Unwanted Sexual Contact
MILTON
A Janesville teenager has accused Milton Police Department's school resource officer of "unwanted sexual contact," according to a Janesville Police Department incident report.
The report lists Jason W. Casper, 38, Milton, as the suspect. Casper works for Milton police in the Milton School District.
A Milton Police Department news release said Monday that a department employee who worked in the school district had been put on paid administrative leave as part of a criminal investigation. Casper is the department's sole school resource officer, according to the department's Web site.
Milton police, Janesville police, the Wisconsin Division of Criminal Investigation and the Rock County Sheriff's Office are investigating the case.
According to the incident report, an 18-year-old woman contacted Janesville police late Saturday night about unwanted sexual contact from Casper. The alleged contact took place between Sept. 1 and Nov. 30, when the girl was 17, according to the report.
The alleged incident happened in Milton's jurisdiction, but Milton asked the Janesville Police Department to investigate, said Lt. Tim Hiers with the Janesville Police Department. He referred all questions to the Milton Police Department.
Milton police learned about the allegations Sunday, Chief Jerry Schuetz said.
Schuetz declined to comment on what kind of sexual contact the incident involved or what evidence has been collected. He did not say if there are other potential victims.
He hopes to release more information by the end of the week, he said.
Casper has been the department's school district liaison since about 2000, according to a 2004 Janesville Gazette story.
A Janesville teenager has accused Milton Police Department's school resource officer of "unwanted sexual contact," according to a Janesville Police Department incident report.
The report lists Jason W. Casper, 38, Milton, as the suspect. Casper works for Milton police in the Milton School District.
A Milton Police Department news release said Monday that a department employee who worked in the school district had been put on paid administrative leave as part of a criminal investigation. Casper is the department's sole school resource officer, according to the department's Web site.
Milton police, Janesville police, the Wisconsin Division of Criminal Investigation and the Rock County Sheriff's Office are investigating the case.
According to the incident report, an 18-year-old woman contacted Janesville police late Saturday night about unwanted sexual contact from Casper. The alleged contact took place between Sept. 1 and Nov. 30, when the girl was 17, according to the report.
The alleged incident happened in Milton's jurisdiction, but Milton asked the Janesville Police Department to investigate, said Lt. Tim Hiers with the Janesville Police Department. He referred all questions to the Milton Police Department.
Milton police learned about the allegations Sunday, Chief Jerry Schuetz said.
Schuetz declined to comment on what kind of sexual contact the incident involved or what evidence has been collected. He did not say if there are other potential victims.
He hopes to release more information by the end of the week, he said.
Casper has been the department's school district liaison since about 2000, according to a 2004 Janesville Gazette story.
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Detective Daniel Clayton Bell Arrested for Drunk Driving
An off-duty detective was drunk and texting on his cell phone when he crashed into a parked car in Hallam during the early morning hours of May 3, police said.
Daniel Clayton Bell, 35, of the first block of Buttonwood Lane, Hellam Township, was charged Wednesday with driving under the influence-general impairment, driving under the influence-highest rate of alcohol, accidents involving damage to unattended property and careless driving.
Just after 3 a.m., Hellam Township police were called to a crash in the 400 block of East Market Street, Hallam, where they found Bell's silver Jeep Cherokee overturned in the middle of road.
Bell's Jeep hit a parked vehicle so hard that it knocked off a passenger-side rear tire, according to court records.
Bell, a detective with the Columbia Borough Police Department in Lancaster County, left the scene and was found a few blocks away, according to court records. Police found Bell's wallet, identification, driver's license, police badge and .25-caliber handgun inside his wrecked car, court records state.
Bell was treated for cuts to his left arm and face and taken back to the crash scene.
He was arrested for drunken driving after police smelled alcohol on him and noted Bell's eyes were glassy and bloodshot, according to court records. Police also noted Bell had slurred speech.
Bell was taken to Memorial Hospital for a blood test, which determined Bell had a 0.184 percent blood-alcohol content - more than twice the limit at which a driver is considered drunk in Pennsylvania.
Bell told police he started drinking about 5 p.m. May 2 and drank with several friends in Lancaster, court records said.
During a ride back home to Hellam Township, Bell apologized several times and said his career as a police officer was over, according to police. Bell told police he hoped he could be a learning experience for younger police officers.
Bell admitted he was texting a message on his Blackberry when he struck the parked car, according to court records.
Bell is suspended with pay pending the outcome of the charges, according to a Columbia department spokesperson.
Bell could not be reached Wednesday for comment.
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http://www.wgal.com/news/19450195/detail.html
Daniel Clayton Bell, 35, of the first block of Buttonwood Lane, Hellam Township, was charged Wednesday with driving under the influence-general impairment, driving under the influence-highest rate of alcohol, accidents involving damage to unattended property and careless driving.
Just after 3 a.m., Hellam Township police were called to a crash in the 400 block of East Market Street, Hallam, where they found Bell's silver Jeep Cherokee overturned in the middle of road.
Bell's Jeep hit a parked vehicle so hard that it knocked off a passenger-side rear tire, according to court records.
Bell, a detective with the Columbia Borough Police Department in Lancaster County, left the scene and was found a few blocks away, according to court records. Police found Bell's wallet, identification, driver's license, police badge and .25-caliber handgun inside his wrecked car, court records state.
Bell was treated for cuts to his left arm and face and taken back to the crash scene.
He was arrested for drunken driving after police smelled alcohol on him and noted Bell's eyes were glassy and bloodshot, according to court records. Police also noted Bell had slurred speech.
Bell was taken to Memorial Hospital for a blood test, which determined Bell had a 0.184 percent blood-alcohol content - more than twice the limit at which a driver is considered drunk in Pennsylvania.
Bell told police he started drinking about 5 p.m. May 2 and drank with several friends in Lancaster, court records said.
During a ride back home to Hellam Township, Bell apologized several times and said his career as a police officer was over, according to police. Bell told police he hoped he could be a learning experience for younger police officers.
Bell admitted he was texting a message on his Blackberry when he struck the parked car, according to court records.
Bell is suspended with pay pending the outcome of the charges, according to a Columbia department spokesperson.
Bell could not be reached Wednesday for comment.
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http://www.wgal.com/news/19450195/detail.html
Former Trooper Jonathan Williams Arrested for Indecent Behavior with Teen
A former state trooper arrested in April in Monroe on two counts of indecent behavior with a juvenile has been booked into East Baton Rouge Parish Prison on similar counts.
The 29 year-old Jonathan Dennis Williams, of West Monroe, was booked Monday on one count each of indecent behavior with a juvenile and pornography involving a juvenile.
An affidavit of probable cause says Williams received a lewd photo from a 16-year-old boy on Jan. 6 while attending the State Police academy in Baton Rouge. The affidavit said Williams sent a lewd photo to the juvenile two days later.
Williams was fired in April from his position as a probationary officer assigned to Troop F in Monroe.
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Information: http://www.wafb.com/Global/story.asp?S=10355241&nav=menu57_2
The 29 year-old Jonathan Dennis Williams, of West Monroe, was booked Monday on one count each of indecent behavior with a juvenile and pornography involving a juvenile.
An affidavit of probable cause says Williams received a lewd photo from a 16-year-old boy on Jan. 6 while attending the State Police academy in Baton Rouge. The affidavit said Williams sent a lewd photo to the juvenile two days later.
Williams was fired in April from his position as a probationary officer assigned to Troop F in Monroe.
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Information: http://www.wafb.com/Global/story.asp?S=10355241&nav=menu57_2
Former Deputy Terrence Greenwald Charged with Sexual Crimes Against Children
A preliminary hearing will be held July 1 for the former Waukesha County sheriff's deputy charged with sexual crimes involving two children.
Terrence L. Greenwald, 55, of Summit made his initial appearance Wednesday in Waukesha County Circuit Court.
He was charged last month with seven counts of first-degree sexual assault, three counts of second-degree sexual assault, eight counts of child enticement and one count of causing a child ages 13 to 18 to view sexual activity. All the charges are felonies.
The alleged incidents occurred between July 1, 1997, and Sept. 1, 2008, according to court records.
Greenwald, who was a court bailiff, retired from the Sheriff's Department on Dec. 7, 2007.
Bail was set at $100,000 last month for Greenwald, who posted the cash last month.
His attorney, Jennifer Dorow, asked Commissioner Martin Binn on Wednesday to reduce bail to $50,000. Binn declined.
"The allegations are numerous. He is facing hundreds of years' imprisonment if convicted of all of these offenses. This court does not believe that the $100,000 cash bail previously set is unreasonable under the circumstances," Binn said.
Future court proceedings will be handled by Jefferson County Circuit Judge William F. Hue. He has been appointed to handle the case because Greenwald is a former Waukesha County deputy.
A special prosecutor, Robert Repischak, an assistant district attorney from Racine County, also has been appointed.
Terrence L. Greenwald, 55, of Summit made his initial appearance Wednesday in Waukesha County Circuit Court.
He was charged last month with seven counts of first-degree sexual assault, three counts of second-degree sexual assault, eight counts of child enticement and one count of causing a child ages 13 to 18 to view sexual activity. All the charges are felonies.
The alleged incidents occurred between July 1, 1997, and Sept. 1, 2008, according to court records.
Greenwald, who was a court bailiff, retired from the Sheriff's Department on Dec. 7, 2007.
Bail was set at $100,000 last month for Greenwald, who posted the cash last month.
His attorney, Jennifer Dorow, asked Commissioner Martin Binn on Wednesday to reduce bail to $50,000. Binn declined.
"The allegations are numerous. He is facing hundreds of years' imprisonment if convicted of all of these offenses. This court does not believe that the $100,000 cash bail previously set is unreasonable under the circumstances," Binn said.
Future court proceedings will be handled by Jefferson County Circuit Judge William F. Hue. He has been appointed to handle the case because Greenwald is a former Waukesha County deputy.
A special prosecutor, Robert Repischak, an assistant district attorney from Racine County, also has been appointed.
Former Officer Jamie Buford Receives 6-Year Sentence
A former South Bend Police officer will spend six years behind bars for selling stolen guns and drugs.
Back in February, former St. Joseph County Officers Andrew Taghon and Ryan Huston and former South Bend Officer Jamie Buford all pleaded guilty to wire fraud, drug, and weapons charges.
They took drugs, guns, and electronics from two trailers and sold them with the help of a convicted felon.
On Thursday, Buford was sentenced to six years behind bars.
Taghon was sentenced on Wednesday and will spend six and a half years behind bars.
Huston will learn his punishment for the crime in July.
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http://www.wsbt.com/news/local/44921282.html
Back in February, former St. Joseph County Officers Andrew Taghon and Ryan Huston and former South Bend Officer Jamie Buford all pleaded guilty to wire fraud, drug, and weapons charges.
They took drugs, guns, and electronics from two trailers and sold them with the help of a convicted felon.
On Thursday, Buford was sentenced to six years behind bars.
Taghon was sentenced on Wednesday and will spend six and a half years behind bars.
Huston will learn his punishment for the crime in July.
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http://www.wsbt.com/news/local/44921282.html
Former Officer Daniel Griffin Arrested for Impersonating Officer
A former Kingston police officer fired in 2007 still acts like he’s a cop at times and his antics got him arrested for impersonating a police officer in Berks County, according to charges filed Wednesday.
Daniel Griffin, 45, was captured in downtown Wilkes-Barre on Wednesday morning on an arrest warrant from Fleetwood Borough police. The warrant claims he pulled a badge and identified himself as a cop when police pulled him over in a personal vehicle customized to look like an unmarked police car.
Kingston officials fired Griffin in 2007. He was later convicted for altering documents and forging a signature of his police chief to obtain a tactical shotgun manufactured only for police departments.
“If you remember, we arrested him. Nothing surprises me,” said Kingston police Chief Keith Keiper. “He kept saying he was a police officer after he was arrested.”
Griffin, of Swoyersville, is charged with impersonating a police officer and providing false information to law enforcement. Magisterial District Judge Michael Dotzel of Wilkes-Barre Township released Griffin on unsecured bail. Dotzel ordered Griffin to answer to the charges in Berks County within 10 days.
After his arraignment, Griffin spoke to reporters and called his arrest a “political issue” and retaliation by Kingston officials for filing a federal lawsuit against them after his arrest. He insisted he was never fired, but retired because of a disability. Griffin claims the charges in Berks County are “false” and said he “took no official action whatsoever.”
According to arrest papers:
Police on May 7 spotted a 2003 gray Ford Crown Victoria Interceptor that “appeared to be an unmarked police vehicle.” The car had a black front license plate that says “POLICE” and red “K-9” decals on the trunk. After clocking the vehicle traveling 60 mph in a 35 mph zone, police stopped the car.
Griffin immediately hopped out of the vehicle, waving a police badge. He ignore commands to return to his vehicle, approached the officers, identified himself as a Kingston cop, and flashed a gold Kingston police badge. He then handed over an expired state-issued police identification card.
Griffin said the car he was driving is his personal vehicle, but he uses it for police work. He said he’s retired, but still works as a K-9 officer and undercover detective.
Griffin was issued a warning for speeding. Police later contacted Keiper, who advised Griffin was terminated and was told not to associate himself with the department.
Police in Fleetwood did not say whether the badge Griffin flashed was authentic. Keiper on Wednesday said Griffin had relinquished his department-issued badge at the time he was fired.
In December 2008, Griffin filed a federal lawsuit against Kingston, its administrator, police chief and civil service commission, alleging the charges stemming from the gun purchase were “planned, conceived and plotted” with the intent of “ruining his reputation.” Police said Griffin bought the gun in 2003, but they weren’t tipped off to the purchase until May 2007 when Griffin submitted a reimbursement form to the municipality under the auspice of his uniform allowance.
Griffin, the department’s firearms instructor, claimed he purchased the gun for the department’s use. He has appealed his conviction and says his sentence of probation has been “stayed,” pending the appeal.
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Other Information: http://www.philly.com/philly/news/pennsylvania/20090513_ap_firedpacopaccusedofimpersonatingofficer.html
Daniel Griffin, 45, was captured in downtown Wilkes-Barre on Wednesday morning on an arrest warrant from Fleetwood Borough police. The warrant claims he pulled a badge and identified himself as a cop when police pulled him over in a personal vehicle customized to look like an unmarked police car.
Kingston officials fired Griffin in 2007. He was later convicted for altering documents and forging a signature of his police chief to obtain a tactical shotgun manufactured only for police departments.
“If you remember, we arrested him. Nothing surprises me,” said Kingston police Chief Keith Keiper. “He kept saying he was a police officer after he was arrested.”
Griffin, of Swoyersville, is charged with impersonating a police officer and providing false information to law enforcement. Magisterial District Judge Michael Dotzel of Wilkes-Barre Township released Griffin on unsecured bail. Dotzel ordered Griffin to answer to the charges in Berks County within 10 days.
After his arraignment, Griffin spoke to reporters and called his arrest a “political issue” and retaliation by Kingston officials for filing a federal lawsuit against them after his arrest. He insisted he was never fired, but retired because of a disability. Griffin claims the charges in Berks County are “false” and said he “took no official action whatsoever.”
According to arrest papers:
Police on May 7 spotted a 2003 gray Ford Crown Victoria Interceptor that “appeared to be an unmarked police vehicle.” The car had a black front license plate that says “POLICE” and red “K-9” decals on the trunk. After clocking the vehicle traveling 60 mph in a 35 mph zone, police stopped the car.
Griffin immediately hopped out of the vehicle, waving a police badge. He ignore commands to return to his vehicle, approached the officers, identified himself as a Kingston cop, and flashed a gold Kingston police badge. He then handed over an expired state-issued police identification card.
Griffin said the car he was driving is his personal vehicle, but he uses it for police work. He said he’s retired, but still works as a K-9 officer and undercover detective.
Griffin was issued a warning for speeding. Police later contacted Keiper, who advised Griffin was terminated and was told not to associate himself with the department.
Police in Fleetwood did not say whether the badge Griffin flashed was authentic. Keiper on Wednesday said Griffin had relinquished his department-issued badge at the time he was fired.
In December 2008, Griffin filed a federal lawsuit against Kingston, its administrator, police chief and civil service commission, alleging the charges stemming from the gun purchase were “planned, conceived and plotted” with the intent of “ruining his reputation.” Police said Griffin bought the gun in 2003, but they weren’t tipped off to the purchase until May 2007 when Griffin submitted a reimbursement form to the municipality under the auspice of his uniform allowance.
Griffin, the department’s firearms instructor, claimed he purchased the gun for the department’s use. He has appealed his conviction and says his sentence of probation has been “stayed,” pending the appeal.
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Other Information: http://www.philly.com/philly/news/pennsylvania/20090513_ap_firedpacopaccusedofimpersonatingofficer.html
Encounter with 2 King County Deputies Leaves Man in Coma
SEATTLE
Conflicting reports are emerging about when two King County Sheriff’s deputies identified themselves to a man who ran from them Sunday morning in Seattle’s Belltown neighborhood.
Christopher Harris, 29, is now on life support in a coma with severe head injuries after hitting his head on a wall as he was being arrested.
According to the Seattle Times, an attorney for Harris’ family says deputies Matthew Paul and Joseph Eshom both wore black uniforms and yelled at Harris from a half-block away in a darkened alley. Attorney Sim Osborn says one witness reported the deputies did not identify themselves as officers until Harris began running down the alley. Osborn said Harris eventually stopped running after realizing who was chasing him.
But other witnesses say they thought Paul and Eshom yelled “police” right away.
A King County sheriff’s spokesman, Sgt. John Urquhart, would not comment to the Times because the investigation is still ongoing.
The arrest happened outside the Cinerama Theater and there is surveillance video that reportedly gives a clear view of the arrest. Urquhart said the sheriff’s office plans to release the video after the initial investigation is completed.
Osborn said he hasn’t seen the video, but he says a witness told investigators that Harris held his hands up and then was blindsided.
"From what I understand, the video is fairly sickening,” Osborn told the Times.
Paul, 26, is the one who made the arrest. Urquhart says he is being placed on paid administrative leave, which is standard in cases like these. Eshom, 28, will be back on the job tonight. Both are assigned to the graveyard shift for Metro Transit police, which patrols bus routes and shelters.
On Sunday morning at about 1 a.m., the pair was on foot patrol when they responded to a stabbing at a convenience store. The sheriff’s office said someone identified Harris as a suspect, leading to the chase and arrest. Surveillance video from the convenience store shows Harris was not involved in the stabbing, but the deputies did not know that at the time.
It’s still not clear why Harris ran in the first place. Doctors can’t yet say if Harris will recover.
After the sheriff’s office investigation, Seattle police will conduct a review to confirm the findings. Harris’ family wants an independent investigation by the Washington State Patrol.
Even if they are cleared of criminal wrongdoing, Paul and Eshom could face disciplinary action by the department.
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http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2009213641_arrest13m.html
Conflicting reports are emerging about when two King County Sheriff’s deputies identified themselves to a man who ran from them Sunday morning in Seattle’s Belltown neighborhood.
Christopher Harris, 29, is now on life support in a coma with severe head injuries after hitting his head on a wall as he was being arrested.
According to the Seattle Times, an attorney for Harris’ family says deputies Matthew Paul and Joseph Eshom both wore black uniforms and yelled at Harris from a half-block away in a darkened alley. Attorney Sim Osborn says one witness reported the deputies did not identify themselves as officers until Harris began running down the alley. Osborn said Harris eventually stopped running after realizing who was chasing him.
But other witnesses say they thought Paul and Eshom yelled “police” right away.
A King County sheriff’s spokesman, Sgt. John Urquhart, would not comment to the Times because the investigation is still ongoing.
The arrest happened outside the Cinerama Theater and there is surveillance video that reportedly gives a clear view of the arrest. Urquhart said the sheriff’s office plans to release the video after the initial investigation is completed.
Osborn said he hasn’t seen the video, but he says a witness told investigators that Harris held his hands up and then was blindsided.
"From what I understand, the video is fairly sickening,” Osborn told the Times.
Paul, 26, is the one who made the arrest. Urquhart says he is being placed on paid administrative leave, which is standard in cases like these. Eshom, 28, will be back on the job tonight. Both are assigned to the graveyard shift for Metro Transit police, which patrols bus routes and shelters.
On Sunday morning at about 1 a.m., the pair was on foot patrol when they responded to a stabbing at a convenience store. The sheriff’s office said someone identified Harris as a suspect, leading to the chase and arrest. Surveillance video from the convenience store shows Harris was not involved in the stabbing, but the deputies did not know that at the time.
It’s still not clear why Harris ran in the first place. Doctors can’t yet say if Harris will recover.
After the sheriff’s office investigation, Seattle police will conduct a review to confirm the findings. Harris’ family wants an independent investigation by the Washington State Patrol.
Even if they are cleared of criminal wrongdoing, Paul and Eshom could face disciplinary action by the department.
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http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2009213641_arrest13m.html
Officer Dina Hoffman Investigated for Perjury
A Montgomery County Police officer who is being investigated for criminal perjury remains on duty with no restrictions, police officials said Tuesday.
"We do treat these allegations seriously. We have to let this process take place," Lt. Paul Starks, a police spokesman, said.
Officer II Dina Hoffman testified in April that she arrested a Rockville man for driving under the influence behind the wheel of a parked car. A recording from a security camera showed the man was lying down in the back seat, with his feet out the open passenger side door, when she approached him.
The Montgomery County State's Attorney's Office referred the case to the Howard County State's Attorney's Office because county prosecutors might be questioned, said Seth Zucker, a spokesman for the Montgomery County State's Attorney's Office.
Howard County's State's Attorney's Office has been notified and is waiting to receive the case against Hoffman, its spokesman, Wayne Kirwan, said Tuesday.
Starks acknowledged that the department is concerned that Hoffman's testimony in other cases might be impugned as she continues on duty.
"In situations like that, there is always that concern," Starks said.
George Zaliev, 56, of Rockville, was arrested about 7:30 p.m. May 3, 2008, for DUI at the parking lot of Sarkissian Interiors at 8537 Atlas Drive in Gaithersburg. Police said a preliminary breath test showed a blood alcohol content of 0.15, nearly twice the legal limit.
At his Montgomery County District Court trial, Hoffman testified 11 times that she found Zaliev in the front driver's seat. She said she shook him awake and he was not cooperative in doing field sobriety tests.
Zaliev's attorney, Paul E. Mack of Columbia, used a laptop computer to show a video from a security camera at Sarkissian that recorded the arrest.
The footage shows Hoffman arrived and immediately walked up to Zaliev as he was lying in the back seat.
Hoffman, a three-year veteran, has not returned messages or requests for interviews.
After Judge Dennis A. McHugh viewed the tape, he ruled the arrest lacked probable cause. The judge found Zaliev not guilty.
"I've done enough of these that I know, without the video, it would have been my client's word against the officer's and I probably wouldn't have won," Mack said in an interview.
Mack contacted reporters after receiving a transcript of the trial.
By lying in the back seat of the car, Zaliev did nothing illegal and should not have been arrested, Mack said.
Zaliev, an upholsterer, was waiting in his friend's car for his friend to get off work and drive him home, Mack said.
In her testimony at the April 2 trial, Hoffman claimed she approached Zaliev on the left side of the car where he sat behind the wheel asleep. She described shaking his shoulder to wake him.
"He was just sitting in the front seat, kind of sitting there sleeping," Hoffman testified.
After the recording was played in the courtroom, Hoffman was asked whether she was wrong about Zaliev's position in the car.
"Yeah, I must have been," Hoffman testified. "My apologies. It's been over a year. I deal with a lot of these cases every day so my apologies."
But Hoffman then said Zaliev "must've admitted to me that he was driving the vehicle at some point."
If Zaliev had been convicted, he would have faced a maximum sentence of $1,000 fine and a year in jail.
"If it was determined there's perjury in this case, this is the kind of case that would undermine the authority of police and the perception of good officers out there doing their job," said Christopher Heffernan, chairman of the Maryland State Bar Association's litigation committee. "This would damage the police officers who are doing a good job out there to protect us. This is disturbing to everyone who looks up to the police and relies on them to protect us from the bad guys."
Emily White of the Montgomery County State's Attorney's office said the office did not know how many cases might have to be dropped or delayed because prosecution depends on Hoffman's testimony.
Hoffman has eight traffic cases pending and no criminal cases, Starks said. But Hoffman could be called as a witness in cases where she responded to a call from another officer.
Although allegations of perjury are not uncommon, it is very rare that such cases are ever brought to trial, and Heffernan said he could not remember any that involved police officers.
Asked whether Montgomery County Police had faced perjury allegations against an officer recently, Starks said he asked internal affairs to check through 2005 and found no cases.
"We do treat these allegations seriously. We have to let this process take place," Lt. Paul Starks, a police spokesman, said.
Officer II Dina Hoffman testified in April that she arrested a Rockville man for driving under the influence behind the wheel of a parked car. A recording from a security camera showed the man was lying down in the back seat, with his feet out the open passenger side door, when she approached him.
The Montgomery County State's Attorney's Office referred the case to the Howard County State's Attorney's Office because county prosecutors might be questioned, said Seth Zucker, a spokesman for the Montgomery County State's Attorney's Office.
Howard County's State's Attorney's Office has been notified and is waiting to receive the case against Hoffman, its spokesman, Wayne Kirwan, said Tuesday.
Starks acknowledged that the department is concerned that Hoffman's testimony in other cases might be impugned as she continues on duty.
"In situations like that, there is always that concern," Starks said.
George Zaliev, 56, of Rockville, was arrested about 7:30 p.m. May 3, 2008, for DUI at the parking lot of Sarkissian Interiors at 8537 Atlas Drive in Gaithersburg. Police said a preliminary breath test showed a blood alcohol content of 0.15, nearly twice the legal limit.
At his Montgomery County District Court trial, Hoffman testified 11 times that she found Zaliev in the front driver's seat. She said she shook him awake and he was not cooperative in doing field sobriety tests.
Zaliev's attorney, Paul E. Mack of Columbia, used a laptop computer to show a video from a security camera at Sarkissian that recorded the arrest.
The footage shows Hoffman arrived and immediately walked up to Zaliev as he was lying in the back seat.
Hoffman, a three-year veteran, has not returned messages or requests for interviews.
After Judge Dennis A. McHugh viewed the tape, he ruled the arrest lacked probable cause. The judge found Zaliev not guilty.
"I've done enough of these that I know, without the video, it would have been my client's word against the officer's and I probably wouldn't have won," Mack said in an interview.
Mack contacted reporters after receiving a transcript of the trial.
By lying in the back seat of the car, Zaliev did nothing illegal and should not have been arrested, Mack said.
Zaliev, an upholsterer, was waiting in his friend's car for his friend to get off work and drive him home, Mack said.
In her testimony at the April 2 trial, Hoffman claimed she approached Zaliev on the left side of the car where he sat behind the wheel asleep. She described shaking his shoulder to wake him.
"He was just sitting in the front seat, kind of sitting there sleeping," Hoffman testified.
After the recording was played in the courtroom, Hoffman was asked whether she was wrong about Zaliev's position in the car.
"Yeah, I must have been," Hoffman testified. "My apologies. It's been over a year. I deal with a lot of these cases every day so my apologies."
But Hoffman then said Zaliev "must've admitted to me that he was driving the vehicle at some point."
If Zaliev had been convicted, he would have faced a maximum sentence of $1,000 fine and a year in jail.
"If it was determined there's perjury in this case, this is the kind of case that would undermine the authority of police and the perception of good officers out there doing their job," said Christopher Heffernan, chairman of the Maryland State Bar Association's litigation committee. "This would damage the police officers who are doing a good job out there to protect us. This is disturbing to everyone who looks up to the police and relies on them to protect us from the bad guys."
Emily White of the Montgomery County State's Attorney's office said the office did not know how many cases might have to be dropped or delayed because prosecution depends on Hoffman's testimony.
Hoffman has eight traffic cases pending and no criminal cases, Starks said. But Hoffman could be called as a witness in cases where she responded to a call from another officer.
Although allegations of perjury are not uncommon, it is very rare that such cases are ever brought to trial, and Heffernan said he could not remember any that involved police officers.
Asked whether Montgomery County Police had faced perjury allegations against an officer recently, Starks said he asked internal affairs to check through 2005 and found no cases.
Former Officer Jerry Bowens Declared Unfit to Stand Trial
NEW YORK
A judge has declared a former New York City police officer accused of fatally shooting his girlfriend unfit to stand trial.
The lawyer for Jerry Bowens says state Supreme Court Judge Matthew D'Emic ruled last week that his client was unfit to stand trial in the March killing of Bowens' girlfriend Catherine D'Onofrio and wounding D'Onofrio's best friend, Melissa Simmons.
Defense attorney Wayne Bodden says the 43-year-old will enter a psychiatric facility.
Bowens has said in a statement that he was trying to kill himself when he accidentally shot his girlfriend in the head. Simmons suffered graze wounds.
Bowens will be treated and re-examined from time to time. It's possible he eventually will be declared fit to face the charges.
D'Onofrio's mother, Jane, expressed disappointment in the ruling.
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Information from: http://www.nydailynews.com/news/ny_crime/2009/05/13/2009-05-13_excops_ruled_unfit_to_stand_trial_for_murder.html
A judge has declared a former New York City police officer accused of fatally shooting his girlfriend unfit to stand trial.
The lawyer for Jerry Bowens says state Supreme Court Judge Matthew D'Emic ruled last week that his client was unfit to stand trial in the March killing of Bowens' girlfriend Catherine D'Onofrio and wounding D'Onofrio's best friend, Melissa Simmons.
Defense attorney Wayne Bodden says the 43-year-old will enter a psychiatric facility.
Bowens has said in a statement that he was trying to kill himself when he accidentally shot his girlfriend in the head. Simmons suffered graze wounds.
Bowens will be treated and re-examined from time to time. It's possible he eventually will be declared fit to face the charges.
D'Onofrio's mother, Jane, expressed disappointment in the ruling.
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Information from: http://www.nydailynews.com/news/ny_crime/2009/05/13/2009-05-13_excops_ruled_unfit_to_stand_trial_for_murder.html
Officer Shawn Jenkins Faces Federal Robbery Charges
A veteran New York City police officer has been arrested on charges that he plotted to steal hundreds of thousands of dollars believed to be hidden in an apartment where a drug dealer once lived.
The officer, Shawn Jenkins, faces federal robbery charges.
Prosecutors said that Officer Jenkins was recorded by an informant talking about a scheme to subdue the current tenant of an Upper Manhattan apartment and retrieve $900,000 that was rumored to have been hidden under the floor.
Police officers and federal agents were waiting to arrest the officer on Tuesday night when, they said, he arrived there.
The tenant told the authorities that burglars have repeatedly been attracted to the home since a cocaine dealer who previously lived there was arrested.
Last year, someone ripped up the floorboards while the tenant was on vacation.
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http://www.nydailynews.com/news/ny_crime/2009/05/13/2009-05-13_cops_dirty_cop_busted_plotting_to_rob_drug_dealer_of_1_million_cash.html
The officer, Shawn Jenkins, faces federal robbery charges.
Prosecutors said that Officer Jenkins was recorded by an informant talking about a scheme to subdue the current tenant of an Upper Manhattan apartment and retrieve $900,000 that was rumored to have been hidden under the floor.
Police officers and federal agents were waiting to arrest the officer on Tuesday night when, they said, he arrived there.
The tenant told the authorities that burglars have repeatedly been attracted to the home since a cocaine dealer who previously lived there was arrested.
Last year, someone ripped up the floorboards while the tenant was on vacation.
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http://www.nydailynews.com/news/ny_crime/2009/05/13/2009-05-13_cops_dirty_cop_busted_plotting_to_rob_drug_dealer_of_1_million_cash.html
Jury Selection Begins for Officer Michael Recio
Jury selection begins Monday in the case of a Jackson police officer who was accused of civil rights violations along with late Mayor Frank Melton.
Michael Recio, the mayor's former bodyguard, and Melton were accused in the 2006 sledgehammer attack on a duplex Melton considered a crack house.
Melton died May 7, just days before the trial was to begin.
U.S. District Judge Daniel Jordan said during a hearing Thursday that he needed to know if the case against Recio wouldn't go forward because 700 potential jurors have been contacted.
Prosecutor Mark Blumberg said plea negotiations came to a "grinding halt" and the government plans to move forward.
Prosecutors moved to dismiss the charges against Melton on Wednesday.
Michael Recio, the mayor's former bodyguard, and Melton were accused in the 2006 sledgehammer attack on a duplex Melton considered a crack house.
Melton died May 7, just days before the trial was to begin.
U.S. District Judge Daniel Jordan said during a hearing Thursday that he needed to know if the case against Recio wouldn't go forward because 700 potential jurors have been contacted.
Prosecutor Mark Blumberg said plea negotiations came to a "grinding halt" and the government plans to move forward.
Prosecutors moved to dismiss the charges against Melton on Wednesday.
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Tuesday, May 12, 2009
Lt Gerald Copeland Arrested for Abducting Prostitute and Raping Her
Gerald Copeland, a retired Lieutenant with the Fulton County Police Department was back in trouble with the law Thursday. Police said Copeland's crimes involve a prostitute.
In a widening investigation, another prostitute is claiming Copeland abducted her, robbed her and raped her.
Union City police have charged Copeland in connection with the discovery of a half-clothed Atlanta prostitute found wandering in a subdivision off Highway 92.
A passerby found the victim wandering down a deserted road. The woman was described as half beaten, robbed and raped.
The 48-year old former cop was arrested in Fayette County last month, charged in similar crimes with two other alleged prostitutes.
Police said other victims had also been taken to vacant subdivisions, where Copeland is accused of raping, assaulting and robbing them.
Investigators searched Copeland's home in North Fulton County. Copeland remained in the Fayette County Jail without bond Thursday.
Police said the Fayette County crimes happened in April, the Union City assault happened in March.
Police said they suspect there are many more victims out there who are too afraid to come forward.
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http://www.ajc.com/services/content/metro/atlanta/stories/2009/05/14/ex_fulton_cop_charged.html
In a widening investigation, another prostitute is claiming Copeland abducted her, robbed her and raped her.
Union City police have charged Copeland in connection with the discovery of a half-clothed Atlanta prostitute found wandering in a subdivision off Highway 92.
A passerby found the victim wandering down a deserted road. The woman was described as half beaten, robbed and raped.
The 48-year old former cop was arrested in Fayette County last month, charged in similar crimes with two other alleged prostitutes.
Police said other victims had also been taken to vacant subdivisions, where Copeland is accused of raping, assaulting and robbing them.
Investigators searched Copeland's home in North Fulton County. Copeland remained in the Fayette County Jail without bond Thursday.
Police said the Fayette County crimes happened in April, the Union City assault happened in March.
Police said they suspect there are many more victims out there who are too afraid to come forward.
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http://www.ajc.com/services/content/metro/atlanta/stories/2009/05/14/ex_fulton_cop_charged.html
Deputy Brian Vigil Charged with Robbing Pharmacy
A Rio Arriba County sheriff's deputy is facing charges following an armed standoff with police after he allegedly robbed a pharmacy.
Santa Fe Police Capt. Gary Johnson says negotiators got 37-year-old Brian Vigil to give up Monday afternoon and he was transported to a Santa Fe hospital.
Police say they followed Vigil from the pharmacy to a nearby field, where he alternated between sitting down, standing up and cursing at police, all while holding a gun to his own head.
No one was injured and no shots were fired during the two-hour standoff.
Vigil faces charges of robbery, tampering with evidence and five counts of possession of a controlled substance.
Vigil had been on light duty since January because of a head injury he received while on the job.
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Information from: The Santa Fe New Mexican, http://www.sfnewmexican.com
More Information: http://www.kcbd.com/Global/story.asp?S=10345696
Santa Fe Police Capt. Gary Johnson says negotiators got 37-year-old Brian Vigil to give up Monday afternoon and he was transported to a Santa Fe hospital.
Police say they followed Vigil from the pharmacy to a nearby field, where he alternated between sitting down, standing up and cursing at police, all while holding a gun to his own head.
No one was injured and no shots were fired during the two-hour standoff.
Vigil faces charges of robbery, tampering with evidence and five counts of possession of a controlled substance.
Vigil had been on light duty since January because of a head injury he received while on the job.
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Information from: The Santa Fe New Mexican, http://www.sfnewmexican.com
More Information: http://www.kcbd.com/Global/story.asp?S=10345696
Cpl Michael Wootton Accused of Shooting Neighbor's Dog
What are they thinking up in Essex? A police officer is charged with a crime involving a gun, yet the department fails to immediately relieve him of duty. For the sake of keeping the public's trust, the officer should have been placed on leave until the matter is settled.
Cpl. Michael J. Wootton is accused of shooting and killing a neighbor's dog which was fighting with his own dog and was charged with animal cruelty after a state police investigation. The crime is a misdemeanor punishable by up to a year in prison, a fine of up to $2,000 or both.
In a news release issued Tuesday, The Essex Police Department stated in part: "The department continues to review the incident administratively. At this time, Corporal Wootton has not been placed on administrative leave and we cannot comment further due to the ongoing administrative investigation."
This refusal to comment on an investigation into the conduct of a police officer has become an all too familiar refrain that undermines confidence in law enforcement. An employer needs to respect the right of privacy in a personnel matter, but a government has to weigh that right against the public interest, which requires transparency when looking into charges of wrongdoing.
The least the Essex Police Department should do is put the officer at a desk in a job that doesn't involve guns and involves minimal contact with the public until the matter is settled, and let the public know that this action has been taken.
A better move would be to put in him on leave and out of uniform until his court case runs its course, if for no other reason than to reassure the public that the department takes the safety of the public seriously.
We don't know all the circumstances surrounding the shooting of the dog, but the bare facts are enough to raise concern about Wootton's judgment when it comes to the use of his gun. If there are good reasons to allow the officer to remain on duty and carry a gun, they need to be made clear to the public.
Until the concerns can be cleared up -- and without passing judgment on Cpl. Wootton -- the officer should not be placed in an official role that involves carrying a gun.
When a police officer has been charged with a crime, his superiors must do everything it can to protect the reputation of the department and ensure the public's faith in the police. So far, the Essex Police Department's response to the Wootton affair serves neither interest well.
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http://www.fox44.net/Global/story.asp?S=10347893
Cpl. Michael J. Wootton is accused of shooting and killing a neighbor's dog which was fighting with his own dog and was charged with animal cruelty after a state police investigation. The crime is a misdemeanor punishable by up to a year in prison, a fine of up to $2,000 or both.
In a news release issued Tuesday, The Essex Police Department stated in part: "The department continues to review the incident administratively. At this time, Corporal Wootton has not been placed on administrative leave and we cannot comment further due to the ongoing administrative investigation."
This refusal to comment on an investigation into the conduct of a police officer has become an all too familiar refrain that undermines confidence in law enforcement. An employer needs to respect the right of privacy in a personnel matter, but a government has to weigh that right against the public interest, which requires transparency when looking into charges of wrongdoing.
The least the Essex Police Department should do is put the officer at a desk in a job that doesn't involve guns and involves minimal contact with the public until the matter is settled, and let the public know that this action has been taken.
A better move would be to put in him on leave and out of uniform until his court case runs its course, if for no other reason than to reassure the public that the department takes the safety of the public seriously.
We don't know all the circumstances surrounding the shooting of the dog, but the bare facts are enough to raise concern about Wootton's judgment when it comes to the use of his gun. If there are good reasons to allow the officer to remain on duty and carry a gun, they need to be made clear to the public.
Until the concerns can be cleared up -- and without passing judgment on Cpl. Wootton -- the officer should not be placed in an official role that involves carrying a gun.
When a police officer has been charged with a crime, his superiors must do everything it can to protect the reputation of the department and ensure the public's faith in the police. So far, the Essex Police Department's response to the Wootton affair serves neither interest well.
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http://www.fox44.net/Global/story.asp?S=10347893
Sgt Steven Mark Flamm Arrrested for Shoplifting & Child Endangerment
A Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department sergeant could face charges of grand theft and child endangerment in connection to the shoplifting of $790 in clothing from a store in Thousand Oaks, authorities said Tuesday.
Sgt. Steven Mark Flamm, 42, was booked into Ventura County Jail Monday after he turned himself in at the Thousand Oaks police station, said Detective Eric Buschow, a spokesman for the Ventura County Sheriff’s Department.
Flamm, of Simi Valley, came to the police station voluntarily after Ventura County sheriff’s investigators contacted him and explained he was a suspect in the theft of two jackets worth a total of $790 from the Nordstrom store at The Oaks, Buschow said.
Flamm was initially stopped by Nordstrom’s loss prevention officers outside the store after the alleged theft, which occurred on the afternoon of May 1.
A Ventura County sheriff’s deputy responded to the scene at 346 W. Hillcrest Drive, and decided, along with store officials, to release Flamm pending further investigation, Buschow said. Authorities determined they had probable cause to arrest Flamm after reviewing surveillance video and the circumstances of the incident, he said.
Flamm was booked into jail on suspicion of felony grand theft and misdemeanor child endangerment, Buschow said. The child endangerment charge relates to Flamm’s alleged use of his young daughter as a participant in the crime, he said.
The girl is younger than 10 years old, Buschow said. He declined to discuss the specifics of the girl’s alleged involvement in the theft.
Flamm was released from custody Monday on $10,000 bail, Buschow said. He is scheduled to be arraigned in Ventura County Superior Court on May 18.
He could not be reached for comment Tuesday.
Flamm has been relieved of his law enforcement powers and placed on paid leave from the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, said department spokesman Steve Whitmore.
If the Ventura County District Attorney charges Flamm with a felony, he will be placed on unpaid leave, Whitmore said.
Emphasizing that Flamm is presumed innocent until proven guilty, Whitmore said the allegations are disturbing.
Flamm will remain on leave until the criminal proceedings are concluded, Whitmore said. If he is found guilty, he could be fired.
A member of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department since 1988, Flamm recently worked in the department’s training bureau, Whitmore said.
Los Angeles County sheriff’s sergeants can earn between $75,000 and $98,000 a year, plus overtime, according to documents posted on the county’s Web site.
Sgt. Steven Mark Flamm, 42, was booked into Ventura County Jail Monday after he turned himself in at the Thousand Oaks police station, said Detective Eric Buschow, a spokesman for the Ventura County Sheriff’s Department.
Flamm, of Simi Valley, came to the police station voluntarily after Ventura County sheriff’s investigators contacted him and explained he was a suspect in the theft of two jackets worth a total of $790 from the Nordstrom store at The Oaks, Buschow said.
Flamm was initially stopped by Nordstrom’s loss prevention officers outside the store after the alleged theft, which occurred on the afternoon of May 1.
A Ventura County sheriff’s deputy responded to the scene at 346 W. Hillcrest Drive, and decided, along with store officials, to release Flamm pending further investigation, Buschow said. Authorities determined they had probable cause to arrest Flamm after reviewing surveillance video and the circumstances of the incident, he said.
Flamm was booked into jail on suspicion of felony grand theft and misdemeanor child endangerment, Buschow said. The child endangerment charge relates to Flamm’s alleged use of his young daughter as a participant in the crime, he said.
The girl is younger than 10 years old, Buschow said. He declined to discuss the specifics of the girl’s alleged involvement in the theft.
Flamm was released from custody Monday on $10,000 bail, Buschow said. He is scheduled to be arraigned in Ventura County Superior Court on May 18.
He could not be reached for comment Tuesday.
Flamm has been relieved of his law enforcement powers and placed on paid leave from the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, said department spokesman Steve Whitmore.
If the Ventura County District Attorney charges Flamm with a felony, he will be placed on unpaid leave, Whitmore said.
Emphasizing that Flamm is presumed innocent until proven guilty, Whitmore said the allegations are disturbing.
Flamm will remain on leave until the criminal proceedings are concluded, Whitmore said. If he is found guilty, he could be fired.
A member of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department since 1988, Flamm recently worked in the department’s training bureau, Whitmore said.
Los Angeles County sheriff’s sergeants can earn between $75,000 and $98,000 a year, plus overtime, according to documents posted on the county’s Web site.
Deputy Scott Payne Arrested for Theft and Drug Charges
A Gordon County Sheriff’s deputy has been arrested after an investigation linked him to the theft of fuel.
Scott W. Payne, 37, of Derby Lane, Calhoun, has been terminated as a deputy sheriff and jailed on theft and drug charges, Gordon County Sheriff Mitch Ralston said.
According to Ralston:
Upon assuming office on Jan. 1, 2009, Ralton ordered a thorough audit and review of the operation of the Sheriff’s Office.
Part of this audit included an examination of fuel consumption in official vehicles. A serious discrepancy was noted concerning a particular deputy sheriff in the patrol division. As this discrepancy appeared very serious, Ralston contacted the Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) to conduct an independent criminal investigation.
This investigation, which began in April, spanned several weeks and concluded with Payne’s arrest Monday by the GBI on theft charges.
When Payne was being allowed to retrieve personal belongings from a patrol car, he attempted to grab and destroy a cigarette box found to contain what is believed to be marijuana.
In addition to the theft charge, Payne will be charged with violation of the Georgia Controlled Substances Act by the GBI. He was booked at the Gordon County Jail and housed in a neighboring jurisdiction pending bond proceedings.
Payne had been employed in the Sheriff’s Office since November 1995, serving under two previous administrations. He was certified as a peace officer in October 1997.
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http://www.coosavalleynews.com/np80763.htm
Scott W. Payne, 37, of Derby Lane, Calhoun, has been terminated as a deputy sheriff and jailed on theft and drug charges, Gordon County Sheriff Mitch Ralston said.
According to Ralston:
Upon assuming office on Jan. 1, 2009, Ralton ordered a thorough audit and review of the operation of the Sheriff’s Office.
Part of this audit included an examination of fuel consumption in official vehicles. A serious discrepancy was noted concerning a particular deputy sheriff in the patrol division. As this discrepancy appeared very serious, Ralston contacted the Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) to conduct an independent criminal investigation.
This investigation, which began in April, spanned several weeks and concluded with Payne’s arrest Monday by the GBI on theft charges.
When Payne was being allowed to retrieve personal belongings from a patrol car, he attempted to grab and destroy a cigarette box found to contain what is believed to be marijuana.
In addition to the theft charge, Payne will be charged with violation of the Georgia Controlled Substances Act by the GBI. He was booked at the Gordon County Jail and housed in a neighboring jurisdiction pending bond proceedings.
Payne had been employed in the Sheriff’s Office since November 1995, serving under two previous administrations. He was certified as a peace officer in October 1997.
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http://www.coosavalleynews.com/np80763.htm
Officer Robert Cirello Arrested for Road Rage
A Baltimore City police officer who is no stranger to controversy was arrested Friday and charged with assault and reckless endangerment in connection with a road rage incident in Harford County, Maryland State Police said Monday.
Officer Robert G. Cirello, 30, of Abingdon was driving in Bel Air about noon Friday when he and another driver got into an unspecified disagreement in traffic, state police said.
As the two vehicles reached Emmorton and Plumtree roads, the second driver said Cirello, who was off duty, flashed a gun, according to Sgt. Arthur Betts, a state police spokesman. The driver called police with a description of the vehicle.
Shortly afterward, officers located a vehicle matching that description at U.S. 1 and Route 24, found Cirello in possession of a handgun and made the arrest, Betts said. Cirello was booked at the Harford County Detention Center on two counts of first-degree assault, two of second-degree assault and two of reckless endangerment, police said.
He was released on $20,000 bond. Cirello did not immediately respond to phone messages left by The Baltimore Sun.
A New Jersey native and seven-year veteran of the city police, Cirello was the key figure in a 2006 incident in which four men said the officer improperly arrested them as they finished a game of pickup basketball in Patterson Park.
A jury agreed and awarded them a total of $1.85 million last May. The city ultimately settled the case for $320,000.
The men had said Cirello - in attempt to "prove he was King of the Park," according to court documents - drew his weapon in the process of arresting two of them, used pepper spray on the two and called for backup. Some spent weeks or months in jail awaiting trial before a jury acquitted all the men of assault charges.
Cirello asserted in a countersuit that the men converged on him in a hostile manner, one brandishing a knife, as he tried to evict them from the closed park. The jury rejected those counterclaims.
In a subsequent filing, the officer implied the men were responsible for an incident in which he was shot while patrolling the same park later that year.
As TheSun reported at the time, unknown assailants ambushed Cirello as he got out of his patrol car in Patterson Park on Sept. 7, 2006, shooting him twice in the chest at close range. Police said body armor saved him.
That part of Cirello's countersuit was dropped when the plaintiffs requested documents related to the shooting investigation.
A paramedic before becoming a police officer, Cirello was among those who aided victims at the World Trade Center towers in New York after the terror attacks of Sept. 11, 2001.
Cirello has been suspended from police duty pending the outcome of the criminal case and a department investigation, said Detective Nicole Monroe, a city police spokeswoman.
His preliminary hearing is set for June 4 in Harford County District Court.
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http://www.abc2news.com/news/local/story/City-Officer-Charged-in-Road-Rage-Incident/rWwxh9RH1kyuvXg7yE1feQ.cspx
Officer Robert G. Cirello, 30, of Abingdon was driving in Bel Air about noon Friday when he and another driver got into an unspecified disagreement in traffic, state police said.
As the two vehicles reached Emmorton and Plumtree roads, the second driver said Cirello, who was off duty, flashed a gun, according to Sgt. Arthur Betts, a state police spokesman. The driver called police with a description of the vehicle.
Shortly afterward, officers located a vehicle matching that description at U.S. 1 and Route 24, found Cirello in possession of a handgun and made the arrest, Betts said. Cirello was booked at the Harford County Detention Center on two counts of first-degree assault, two of second-degree assault and two of reckless endangerment, police said.
He was released on $20,000 bond. Cirello did not immediately respond to phone messages left by The Baltimore Sun.
A New Jersey native and seven-year veteran of the city police, Cirello was the key figure in a 2006 incident in which four men said the officer improperly arrested them as they finished a game of pickup basketball in Patterson Park.
A jury agreed and awarded them a total of $1.85 million last May. The city ultimately settled the case for $320,000.
The men had said Cirello - in attempt to "prove he was King of the Park," according to court documents - drew his weapon in the process of arresting two of them, used pepper spray on the two and called for backup. Some spent weeks or months in jail awaiting trial before a jury acquitted all the men of assault charges.
Cirello asserted in a countersuit that the men converged on him in a hostile manner, one brandishing a knife, as he tried to evict them from the closed park. The jury rejected those counterclaims.
In a subsequent filing, the officer implied the men were responsible for an incident in which he was shot while patrolling the same park later that year.
As TheSun reported at the time, unknown assailants ambushed Cirello as he got out of his patrol car in Patterson Park on Sept. 7, 2006, shooting him twice in the chest at close range. Police said body armor saved him.
That part of Cirello's countersuit was dropped when the plaintiffs requested documents related to the shooting investigation.
A paramedic before becoming a police officer, Cirello was among those who aided victims at the World Trade Center towers in New York after the terror attacks of Sept. 11, 2001.
Cirello has been suspended from police duty pending the outcome of the criminal case and a department investigation, said Detective Nicole Monroe, a city police spokeswoman.
His preliminary hearing is set for June 4 in Harford County District Court.
_________________________
http://www.abc2news.com/news/local/story/City-Officer-Charged-in-Road-Rage-Incident/rWwxh9RH1kyuvXg7yE1feQ.cspx
Trooper Charles Davis Arrested for Hitting Boy with Handgun
A veteran Florida Highway Patrol trooper was fired today after he was arrested this weekend for allegedly hitting a 17-year-old boy with his handgun.
Charles Davis, 47, was booked into the Orange County Jail Sunday morning on a charge of aggravated battery. He has since been released.
According to police reports, Davis had two separate altercations with teens in his Lake Como neighborhood early Sunday morning. The first incident occurred around 1:40 a.m. when Davis left his house to buy peanuts.
He found a group of teens, three girls and a boy, standing near his front yard and asked them to leave because they were being noisy. Davis thought they were in the area for a party because there were several cars in the neighborhood.
He and a teen, Lucas L. Lopez, began arguing and Davis allegedly swung his fist at the teen. Lopez grabbed Davis and put him in a "choke hold" and told the man he would let him go if he calmed down.
Davis told the teen he would calm down and was released. He told the teens he was going to get his gun, so they ran toward a car and left the area, reports show.
Shortly after this incident, Davis began yelling at another group of teens who were standing across the street from his home. He swung his gun at 17-year-old Justin Roy's head and shoulder, which caused a cut and a scrape, reports show.
During the investigation by Orlando Police, Davis was allegedly verbally abusive toward officers. While filling out a statement, he told police, "next time he would kill them and leave the bodies for us to clean up on his lawn," an officer wrote in a report.
While officers were at his house, Davis left in his marked, FHP patrol car. He was arrested when he returned.
Davis, who has been with FHP since 1984, investigated by the Florida Highway Patrol in 2007 for disorderly conduct. Records also show he was arrested by Orlando Police in 2006 for a similar charge. It's unknown if the two are related.
A spokeswoman for the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles said said Davis faced an 80-hour suspension after the 2006 incident.
Charles Davis, 47, was booked into the Orange County Jail Sunday morning on a charge of aggravated battery. He has since been released.
According to police reports, Davis had two separate altercations with teens in his Lake Como neighborhood early Sunday morning. The first incident occurred around 1:40 a.m. when Davis left his house to buy peanuts.
He found a group of teens, three girls and a boy, standing near his front yard and asked them to leave because they were being noisy. Davis thought they were in the area for a party because there were several cars in the neighborhood.
He and a teen, Lucas L. Lopez, began arguing and Davis allegedly swung his fist at the teen. Lopez grabbed Davis and put him in a "choke hold" and told the man he would let him go if he calmed down.
Davis told the teen he would calm down and was released. He told the teens he was going to get his gun, so they ran toward a car and left the area, reports show.
Shortly after this incident, Davis began yelling at another group of teens who were standing across the street from his home. He swung his gun at 17-year-old Justin Roy's head and shoulder, which caused a cut and a scrape, reports show.
During the investigation by Orlando Police, Davis was allegedly verbally abusive toward officers. While filling out a statement, he told police, "next time he would kill them and leave the bodies for us to clean up on his lawn," an officer wrote in a report.
While officers were at his house, Davis left in his marked, FHP patrol car. He was arrested when he returned.
Davis, who has been with FHP since 1984, investigated by the Florida Highway Patrol in 2007 for disorderly conduct. Records also show he was arrested by Orlando Police in 2006 for a similar charge. It's unknown if the two are related.
A spokeswoman for the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles said said Davis faced an 80-hour suspension after the 2006 incident.
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Officer Scott Crawford Accused of Brutality for 7th Time
A local police officer is accused of brutality for a seventh time. He's now racked up lawsuits in all of those cases, and has been caught on camera twice allegedly using excessive force. CBS 2 Investigator Dave Savini exposes an officer accused of "Abusing the Badge."
John Thompson, a champion pool player, was playing a game in a Round Lake Heights bar in March of 2008. That's when he says an out-of control police officer brutally beat him. It was caught on a bar security camera.
"He punched me full force," Thompson said. "It hurt enough to knock me down."
The 37-year-old truck driver says he accidentally bumped a female customer during a shot.
"I tried to apologize to her, but she didn't want to accept my apology," Thompson said.
Thompson continued to play pool. Meanwhile police officers start talking to his friend.
Then as he's about to take a shot, Round Lake Heights Police Officer Scott Crawford grabs the stick.
"It just happened so quick, I can't believe the officer punched me," Thompson said.
The punch threw Thompson to the ground, and two more officers from another department, Round Lake Beach, tried to hold him there.
"They were stepping on me, kneeing me in the back," Thompson said.
Even though they had three officers on top of Thompson, a fourth whips out a Taser gun and fires.
"I got hit in the chest here, right where my heart is, I got hit here," Thompson said.
Then, from a different camera, you can see a light flashing. That's yet another officer Tasering Thompson while he's on the ground.
"They hit me in the chest, they hit me in the leg," Thompson said.
Thompson showed CBS 2 his Taser wounds and his bruised face from Crawford's punch, but it's not the first time Crawford's been caught on camera punching someone.
In 2001, Crawford, as a Waukegan police officer, was caught on camera hitting a handcuffed man in the back of his squad car. That man sued, and the case settled.
Crawford next became a Marengo police officer, and again was accused of police brutality.
"He tackled me to the ground," said Marengo teen Nicole Surber.
Nicole Surber, and Brian and Kevin Gaughn, are among the five residents who are suing Marengo for police brutality; all the cases involve Scott Crawford.
"I had a cerebral concussion right here," Brian Gaughn said.
"I can't stop thinking about what happened, I was terrified," Kevin Gaughn said.
The 2 Investigators discovered that when Crawford applied for his Marengo job, he checked 'no' when asked if he had ever been involved in a lawsuit, despite being sued in Waukegan.
Back to Thompson's case: Crawford arrested him for aggravated battery of a police officer saying Thompson hit him with a pool stick.
But Thompson's lawyer Paul Oleksak says watch the video and you'll see Crawford lied about being struck. And a judge convicted Thompson on a reduced charge of disorderly conduct.
"How can somebody like Officer Crawford continue to maintain a job as a police officer?" Oleksak said. "It's absolutely incredulous that he can go from Waukegan to Marengo to Round Lake Heights, and still keep his job."
CBS 2 tried talking to Crawford, but he called the police on us.
"I refer all questions to my attorney," Crawford said.
"I don't think it's coincidental, I think he's he a hothead," Thompson said. "He's got a bad temper and he shouldn't be an officer."
John Thompson has filed a lawsuit against all of the officers and both police departments involved in his case.
In an e-mail, the attorney representing Round Lake Heights Police said Thompson became verbally and physically aggressive towards Crawford and that Crawford denies he acted unreasonably.
Round Lake Beach's attorney has not returned our call.
The Marengo cases are ongoing.
To send a tip to the 2 Investigators, click here.
John Thompson, a champion pool player, was playing a game in a Round Lake Heights bar in March of 2008. That's when he says an out-of control police officer brutally beat him. It was caught on a bar security camera.
"He punched me full force," Thompson said. "It hurt enough to knock me down."
The 37-year-old truck driver says he accidentally bumped a female customer during a shot.
"I tried to apologize to her, but she didn't want to accept my apology," Thompson said.
Thompson continued to play pool. Meanwhile police officers start talking to his friend.
Then as he's about to take a shot, Round Lake Heights Police Officer Scott Crawford grabs the stick.
"It just happened so quick, I can't believe the officer punched me," Thompson said.
The punch threw Thompson to the ground, and two more officers from another department, Round Lake Beach, tried to hold him there.
"They were stepping on me, kneeing me in the back," Thompson said.
Even though they had three officers on top of Thompson, a fourth whips out a Taser gun and fires.
"I got hit in the chest here, right where my heart is, I got hit here," Thompson said.
Then, from a different camera, you can see a light flashing. That's yet another officer Tasering Thompson while he's on the ground.
"They hit me in the chest, they hit me in the leg," Thompson said.
Thompson showed CBS 2 his Taser wounds and his bruised face from Crawford's punch, but it's not the first time Crawford's been caught on camera punching someone.
In 2001, Crawford, as a Waukegan police officer, was caught on camera hitting a handcuffed man in the back of his squad car. That man sued, and the case settled.
Crawford next became a Marengo police officer, and again was accused of police brutality.
"He tackled me to the ground," said Marengo teen Nicole Surber.
Nicole Surber, and Brian and Kevin Gaughn, are among the five residents who are suing Marengo for police brutality; all the cases involve Scott Crawford.
"I had a cerebral concussion right here," Brian Gaughn said.
"I can't stop thinking about what happened, I was terrified," Kevin Gaughn said.
The 2 Investigators discovered that when Crawford applied for his Marengo job, he checked 'no' when asked if he had ever been involved in a lawsuit, despite being sued in Waukegan.
Back to Thompson's case: Crawford arrested him for aggravated battery of a police officer saying Thompson hit him with a pool stick.
But Thompson's lawyer Paul Oleksak says watch the video and you'll see Crawford lied about being struck. And a judge convicted Thompson on a reduced charge of disorderly conduct.
"How can somebody like Officer Crawford continue to maintain a job as a police officer?" Oleksak said. "It's absolutely incredulous that he can go from Waukegan to Marengo to Round Lake Heights, and still keep his job."
CBS 2 tried talking to Crawford, but he called the police on us.
"I refer all questions to my attorney," Crawford said.
"I don't think it's coincidental, I think he's he a hothead," Thompson said. "He's got a bad temper and he shouldn't be an officer."
John Thompson has filed a lawsuit against all of the officers and both police departments involved in his case.
In an e-mail, the attorney representing Round Lake Heights Police said Thompson became verbally and physically aggressive towards Crawford and that Crawford denies he acted unreasonably.
Round Lake Beach's attorney has not returned our call.
The Marengo cases are ongoing.
To send a tip to the 2 Investigators, click here.
Monday, May 11, 2009
Trooper Joshua Giddings Arrested for Sexual Exploitation
A 7-year Delaware State Police trooper has been arrested and charged with sexual exploitation.
Corporal Joshua Giddings, who was assigned to Troop 9 in Odessa, has been arrested on charges of sexual exploitation, receiving a bribe and official misconduct.
State Police say the officer arrested a 39-year old New Castle woman on March 19th for shoplifting at the Christiana Mall. Following the arrest, investigators say Corporal Giddings and the woman agreed that the woman wouldn't be taken immediately to court if she agreed to perform a sexual favor. Instead, the officer issued a a summons to appear in court at a later date.
The woman told investigators the officer then drove to a secluded area and engaged in a sexual act with the woman, then drove her home.
Corporal Giddings has been placed on suspension without pay and benefits with the intent to dismiss him from the police force.
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http://www.wmdt.com/topstory/displaystory.asp?id=12981
Corporal Joshua Giddings, who was assigned to Troop 9 in Odessa, has been arrested on charges of sexual exploitation, receiving a bribe and official misconduct.
State Police say the officer arrested a 39-year old New Castle woman on March 19th for shoplifting at the Christiana Mall. Following the arrest, investigators say Corporal Giddings and the woman agreed that the woman wouldn't be taken immediately to court if she agreed to perform a sexual favor. Instead, the officer issued a a summons to appear in court at a later date.
The woman told investigators the officer then drove to a secluded area and engaged in a sexual act with the woman, then drove her home.
Corporal Giddings has been placed on suspension without pay and benefits with the intent to dismiss him from the police force.
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http://www.wmdt.com/topstory/displaystory.asp?id=12981
Officer Robert Cirello Arrested for Road Rage
Officer Robert Cirello was arrested over the weekend after Maryland State Police say he was involved in a road rage incident around noon on May 8th.
According to charging documents obtained by ABC2 News, Cirello is accused of cutting off a car along Route 924 near Singer Road in Harford County. That car's driver honked at Cirello, who then stopped, forcing the other car to drive around him. When the two were side by side, the two victims say Cirello threw a cup of "tobacco juice" on them and pointed his 40 caliber Glock handgun at them.
Cirello was arrested by Maryland State Police and was scheduled for a suspension hearing on Monday.
Officer Robert Cirello was shot near Patterson Park in 2006 while on patrol after a rash of robberies. He was saved by his bullet proof vest.
In a separate incident, Officer Joseph Hannerman was arrested on May 8th just before 11pm for allegedly choking and punching his girlfriend in the face. The alleged assault occurred on the front porch of 2935 Mosher Street in Southwest Baltimore.
Hammerman is also scheduled for a suspension hearing Monday.
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http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/local/harford/bal-cirello0511,0,280671.story
According to charging documents obtained by ABC2 News, Cirello is accused of cutting off a car along Route 924 near Singer Road in Harford County. That car's driver honked at Cirello, who then stopped, forcing the other car to drive around him. When the two were side by side, the two victims say Cirello threw a cup of "tobacco juice" on them and pointed his 40 caliber Glock handgun at them.
Cirello was arrested by Maryland State Police and was scheduled for a suspension hearing on Monday.
Officer Robert Cirello was shot near Patterson Park in 2006 while on patrol after a rash of robberies. He was saved by his bullet proof vest.
In a separate incident, Officer Joseph Hannerman was arrested on May 8th just before 11pm for allegedly choking and punching his girlfriend in the face. The alleged assault occurred on the front porch of 2935 Mosher Street in Southwest Baltimore.
Hammerman is also scheduled for a suspension hearing Monday.
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http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/local/harford/bal-cirello0511,0,280671.story
Former Officer Christian Torres Sentenced to 10 years for Robbing Bank
PHILADELPHIA
A former New York transit officer who pulled a gun on three bank tellers, one of them nine months pregnant, during a Reading bank heist was sentenced Monday to 10 years in prison.
Christian Torres, 22, still faces charges in New York for two bank heists there.
Torres, of New York City, told the judge he regrets letting down his fiancee and his family, defense lawyer Angelo MacDonald said.
In his youth, Torres had won a scholarship to Rye Country Day School and attended the John Jay College of Criminal Justice before leaving to enter the police academy, the lawyer said.
"It is a shame," MacDonald said. "He's a bright kid, and he seems like a nice kid."
U.S. District Judge Thomas Golden sentenced Torres at the bottom of the sentencing range. Torres has provided authorities information in the New York case, but his lawyers plan to wait to see the evidence before deciding if he will plead to those charges.
He also has met with Sovereign Bank officials since his arrest to discuss security measures, lead defense lawyer Paul Missan said.
Torres admitted he pulled the April 2008 "takeover" heist of the Sovereign Bank branch in Reading, which occurred as the bank was opening for the morning. Wearing a hat and wig, he approached a bank employee in the parking lot, followed her inside and forced employees into a vault at gunpoint before making off with $113,000.
Police had been notified early on, and Torres was arrested , and the money recovered , a short time later.
The Pennsylvania crime followed a pair of 2007 robberies at a Sovereign branch in New York, in which he is charged with teaming up with an ex-girlfriend who worked there. Former teller Christina Dasrath admitted she shared bank security measures with Torres, helped stage the robberies and took a cut of the more than $100,000 in proceeds.
Dasrath is serving a 30-month federal term.
"I think the fact that they got away with it empowered them, it sort of led to the next one, and then the next one," MacDonald said Monday.
Torres has been in prison since his arrest after the Reading robbery. He used his service revolver in that holdup, the defense said. His sentence includes a mandatory seven-year sentence on the firearm charge, Assistant U.S. Attorney Joseph A. LaBar said.
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http://wfmz.com/view/?id=911770
A former New York transit officer who pulled a gun on three bank tellers, one of them nine months pregnant, during a Reading bank heist was sentenced Monday to 10 years in prison.
Christian Torres, 22, still faces charges in New York for two bank heists there.
Torres, of New York City, told the judge he regrets letting down his fiancee and his family, defense lawyer Angelo MacDonald said.
In his youth, Torres had won a scholarship to Rye Country Day School and attended the John Jay College of Criminal Justice before leaving to enter the police academy, the lawyer said.
"It is a shame," MacDonald said. "He's a bright kid, and he seems like a nice kid."
U.S. District Judge Thomas Golden sentenced Torres at the bottom of the sentencing range. Torres has provided authorities information in the New York case, but his lawyers plan to wait to see the evidence before deciding if he will plead to those charges.
He also has met with Sovereign Bank officials since his arrest to discuss security measures, lead defense lawyer Paul Missan said.
Torres admitted he pulled the April 2008 "takeover" heist of the Sovereign Bank branch in Reading, which occurred as the bank was opening for the morning. Wearing a hat and wig, he approached a bank employee in the parking lot, followed her inside and forced employees into a vault at gunpoint before making off with $113,000.
Police had been notified early on, and Torres was arrested , and the money recovered , a short time later.
The Pennsylvania crime followed a pair of 2007 robberies at a Sovereign branch in New York, in which he is charged with teaming up with an ex-girlfriend who worked there. Former teller Christina Dasrath admitted she shared bank security measures with Torres, helped stage the robberies and took a cut of the more than $100,000 in proceeds.
Dasrath is serving a 30-month federal term.
"I think the fact that they got away with it empowered them, it sort of led to the next one, and then the next one," MacDonald said Monday.
Torres has been in prison since his arrest after the Reading robbery. He used his service revolver in that holdup, the defense said. His sentence includes a mandatory seven-year sentence on the firearm charge, Assistant U.S. Attorney Joseph A. LaBar said.
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http://wfmz.com/view/?id=911770
Cpl. Joshua Giddings Arrested for Sexual Extortion
The Delaware State Police arrested a seven-year veteran patrol trooper for Sexual Extortion, Receiving a Bribe and Official Misconduct after an investigation revealed he engaged in a sex act with a 39-year-old New Castle woman.
This arrest culminates an investigation by DSP of alleged misconduct brought to the attention of the State Police by a woman arrested by Cpl. Joshua A. Giddings, 32, who was assigned to Troop 9 in Odessa.
The woman alleged that she and Giddings engaged in a sexual act while he was acting in his official capacity as a trooper. Information was provided and the investigation later substantiated that on Thursday, March 19 at approximately 8:06 pm, Giddings was working in a patrol capacity when he was dispatched to JC Penney's at the Christiana Mall for a report of a female shoplifter in custody. The investigation determined that Giddings arrested the woman for a single count of Shoplifting and for capias charges from a local court related to traffic offenses. Following the arrest, the woman and Giddings agreed that if the woman performed a sexual favor that Giddings would not take her forthwith to court to face the shoplifting charges and capiases. Instead, he issued her a criminal summons to appear at a later date in court.
With the woman under arrest and detained in the police vehicle, Giddings drove to a nearby, secluded area and engaged in a sexual act with her. He then drove her home.
Once DSP was notified of this allegation, an investigation was immediately launched and Giddings was suspended with pay and benefits. During the investigation, detectives secured a clothing item belonging to the victim. Consequently, detectives later obtained a search warrant to obtain DNA from Giddings.
The physical evidence obtained by detectives from the victim’s clothing and the DNA sample obtained from Giddings were sent to the state’s Office of the Chief Medical Examiner (OCME) for comparison. The two samples matched the DNA profile of Mr. Giddings and supported the allegation.
Arrest warrants were obtained and today, Giddings was informed of the arrest warrant and voluntarily turned himself in to investigators at Troop 2 in Glasgow. He was formally charged and upon arraignment, was issued an $8,000.00 unsecured bond.
Because of the arrest, Colonel Thomas F. Mac Leish has placed Giddings on suspension without pay and benefits with the intent to dismiss him from the division.
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http://www.wmdt.com/topstory/displaystory.asp?id=12981
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