HARTLAND TOWNSHIP, Mich.
A woman who sued officers over the death of her father during an arrest for driving a bulldozer on an expressway has settled with two of them.
The deal came Tuesday before U.S. District Judge John Feikens in Detroit.
Amanda Landis settled with Livingston County sheriff's Deputy Jim Lynch and ex-Deputy Jason Baker. Terms weren't announced.
The case continues against state Trooper Greg Galarneau.
The suit says officers used excess force while arresting Charles Keiser, holding him face-down in a swamp on Thanksgiving 2004. It happened in Hartland Township, about 40 miles west-northwest of Detroit. Sheriff Bob Bezotte tells the Livingston County Daily Press & Argus in Howell the deputies acted appropriately.
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Information from: Livingston County Daily Press & Argus, http://www.dailypressandargus.com
Tuesday, May 26, 2009
Cpl Tony Finn Charged with Assault
WALNUT COVE, N.C.
Walnut Cove officials said one of their police officers was suspended after allegations of assault.
Town Manager Homer Dearmin told WXII 12 News that Cpl. Tony L. Finn will be suspended without pay pending an investigation.
On May 25, Walnut Cove police arrested Finn on two charges of simple assault and assault agaisnt a female.
Dearmin would not go into any more detail.
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Information: http://www.wxii12.com/news
Town Manager Homer Dearmin told WXII 12 News that Cpl. Tony L. Finn will be suspended without pay pending an investigation.
On May 25, Walnut Cove police arrested Finn on two charges of simple assault and assault agaisnt a female.
Dearmin would not go into any more detail.
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Information: http://www.wxii12.com/news
Sheriff Terrry Jones & Undersheriff Charged with Taking Money During Traffic Stop
The McIntosh County Sheriff's Department is facing some tough challenges after their sheriff and undersheriff were both accused of taking money during a traffic stop.
Sheriff Terry Jones and Undersheriff Mykol Brookshire face federal charges and could spend up to a year in prison if convicted. Jones has now resigned from his post.
McIntosh County has a brand new 8-million dollar jail and no sheriff to operate it. It's supposed to open in July. That's why county commissioners are scrambling to find someone to run it.
"To have something like this happen, now we've got to go back and look at that again," says District Two Commissioner Tim Pendley.
It was Friday when county commissioners first learned the sheriff had resigned.
"Yeah, it was a shock," says District Three Commissioner Ronnie Layman. "Nobody expected something like that to happen."
Jones and Brookshire were detained Friday. It is alleged they stole money from an individual during a traffic stop.
"Really thought we'd be represented better," says Bridgette, a resident of Eufaula. "He's supposed to be looking out for our community, not taking from it. I would have expected something different."
Jones and Brookshire are innocent until proven guilty. But, some feel it's a black eye for other elected officials.
"Makes it look bad on all elected officials," says District One Commissioner Bob James. "I feel like it does. You're kinda guilty by association I guess."
Commissioners say they have confidence in the sheriff's department, for those stepping in and covering all the shifts. To the citizens of McIntosh County, they say they will get through it.
We spoke with U.S. Attorney Sheldon Sperling, who says we should know more details about the former sheriff in court later this week. There, Jones is expected to answer the charges against him.
Sheriff Terry Jones and Undersheriff Mykol Brookshire face federal charges and could spend up to a year in prison if convicted. Jones has now resigned from his post.
McIntosh County has a brand new 8-million dollar jail and no sheriff to operate it. It's supposed to open in July. That's why county commissioners are scrambling to find someone to run it.
"To have something like this happen, now we've got to go back and look at that again," says District Two Commissioner Tim Pendley.
It was Friday when county commissioners first learned the sheriff had resigned.
"Yeah, it was a shock," says District Three Commissioner Ronnie Layman. "Nobody expected something like that to happen."
Jones and Brookshire were detained Friday. It is alleged they stole money from an individual during a traffic stop.
"Really thought we'd be represented better," says Bridgette, a resident of Eufaula. "He's supposed to be looking out for our community, not taking from it. I would have expected something different."
Jones and Brookshire are innocent until proven guilty. But, some feel it's a black eye for other elected officials.
"Makes it look bad on all elected officials," says District One Commissioner Bob James. "I feel like it does. You're kinda guilty by association I guess."
Commissioners say they have confidence in the sheriff's department, for those stepping in and covering all the shifts. To the citizens of McIntosh County, they say they will get through it.
We spoke with U.S. Attorney Sheldon Sperling, who says we should know more details about the former sheriff in court later this week. There, Jones is expected to answer the charges against him.
Monday, May 25, 2009
Bail Set at 2 Million for Officer Richard Bolling Charged with Fatal Hit-and-Run
Bail was set at $2 million Sunday for a veteran Chicago police officer accused of being drunk behind the wheel while causing a fatal hit-and-run accident that killed a 13-year-old boy on the South Side.
Richard Bolling, 39, was charged with aggravated driving under the influence, leaving the scene of an accident where a death or injury occurred and reckless homicide. Bolling, who has worked in the Chicago Police Department for 17 years, reportedly had been at a bar not long before the crash early Friday morning, said Sally Daly, a Cook County sheriff's office spokeswoman.
Bolling of the 8600 block of South Wolcott Avenue was arrested soon after his Dodge Charger allegedly drove through the intersection at 81st Street and Ashland Avenue about 1:28 a.m. and killed 13-year-old Trenton Booker, officials said.
Trenton had sneaked out of his home and was riding his bicycle with friends, his family said.
Trenton was riding with a friend on Ashland, traveling north in the southbound lane. Bolling was driving his car in the southbound lane and, according to witness accounts, raced through the intersection and hit Trenton, who ended up sprawled on the street, Daly said.
Bolling is alleged to have continued without stopping. He was arrested minutes later after two other Chicago police officers saw the car about five blocks away going the wrong way down a one-way street near 1900 W. 82nd St. They also noticed that the car had damage to the bumper and windshield, Daly said.
The officers saw an open bottle of beer in the car, and they conducted a field sobriety test on Bolling on the scene, she said. Daly did not have the results of the sobriety test available. Chicago police said in a statement that the officer was also cited for going the wrong way down a one-way street and transportation of alcohol.
Richard Bolling, 39, was charged with aggravated driving under the influence, leaving the scene of an accident where a death or injury occurred and reckless homicide. Bolling, who has worked in the Chicago Police Department for 17 years, reportedly had been at a bar not long before the crash early Friday morning, said Sally Daly, a Cook County sheriff's office spokeswoman.
Bolling of the 8600 block of South Wolcott Avenue was arrested soon after his Dodge Charger allegedly drove through the intersection at 81st Street and Ashland Avenue about 1:28 a.m. and killed 13-year-old Trenton Booker, officials said.
Trenton had sneaked out of his home and was riding his bicycle with friends, his family said.
Trenton was riding with a friend on Ashland, traveling north in the southbound lane. Bolling was driving his car in the southbound lane and, according to witness accounts, raced through the intersection and hit Trenton, who ended up sprawled on the street, Daly said.
Bolling is alleged to have continued without stopping. He was arrested minutes later after two other Chicago police officers saw the car about five blocks away going the wrong way down a one-way street near 1900 W. 82nd St. They also noticed that the car had damage to the bumper and windshield, Daly said.
The officers saw an open bottle of beer in the car, and they conducted a field sobriety test on Bolling on the scene, she said. Daly did not have the results of the sobriety test available. Chicago police said in a statement that the officer was also cited for going the wrong way down a one-way street and transportation of alcohol.
Judges Finds Sheriff Arpaio Attempted to Intimidate ACLU Director
PHOENIX
A federal judge ruled late last week that the arrest of an ACLU legal director by Maricopa County's controversial Sheriff Joe Arpaio was an attempt to intmidate the director "from future First Amendment activity." The judge found that the deputies who arrested legal director Dan Pochoda knew of his position with the ACLU and conferred with Arpaio or a representative about arresting him after he attended a demonstration against the sheriff.
Arpaio and three of his officers sought dismissal of the suit, claiming they had probable cause to arrest Pochoda as he left the demonstration. But U.S. District Judge Neil V. Wake found that Pochoda's arrest was an attempt to "intimidate (him) from future First Amendment activity" since the officers knew of Pochoda's position in the ACLU, saw him speaking with the protest's organizer and consulted with Arpaio "or his representative about whether to arrest him on a misdemeanor charge."
Pochoda said two deputies who were patrolling a parking lot near the demonstration approached him on Nov. 3, 2007 and questioned him for five minutes. He says the officers told him he could not park in the lot and stood between him and his car. After Pochoda asked one of the deputies to identify himself, since he was in street clothes, Pochoda says he was handcuffed, taken to the county jail and booked on criminal trespassing charges.
Pochoda claims that the officers violated his Fourth Amendment rights by stopping him from leaving the parking lot.
But Judge Wake found that the officers had the right to stop and question him after. However, once Pochoda made it clear that he was leaving the property, the officers should have let him go, Wake said.
Judge Wake ruled that the deputies "are not immune from Pochoda's claim of unlawful detention and arrest" because Pochoda never refused to leave the parking lot and was prevented from doing so by the officers.
The sheriff and the officers denied Pochoda's claim of malicious prosecution, saying they had probable cause to arrest him, but Judge Wake found the arrest motivated by "deterrence or retribution for First Amendment activities."
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http://www.courthousenews.com
A federal judge ruled late last week that the arrest of an ACLU legal director by Maricopa County's controversial Sheriff Joe Arpaio was an attempt to intmidate the director "from future First Amendment activity." The judge found that the deputies who arrested legal director Dan Pochoda knew of his position with the ACLU and conferred with Arpaio or a representative about arresting him after he attended a demonstration against the sheriff.
Arpaio and three of his officers sought dismissal of the suit, claiming they had probable cause to arrest Pochoda as he left the demonstration. But U.S. District Judge Neil V. Wake found that Pochoda's arrest was an attempt to "intimidate (him) from future First Amendment activity" since the officers knew of Pochoda's position in the ACLU, saw him speaking with the protest's organizer and consulted with Arpaio "or his representative about whether to arrest him on a misdemeanor charge."
Pochoda said two deputies who were patrolling a parking lot near the demonstration approached him on Nov. 3, 2007 and questioned him for five minutes. He says the officers told him he could not park in the lot and stood between him and his car. After Pochoda asked one of the deputies to identify himself, since he was in street clothes, Pochoda says he was handcuffed, taken to the county jail and booked on criminal trespassing charges.
Pochoda claims that the officers violated his Fourth Amendment rights by stopping him from leaving the parking lot.
But Judge Wake found that the officers had the right to stop and question him after. However, once Pochoda made it clear that he was leaving the property, the officers should have let him go, Wake said.
Judge Wake ruled that the deputies "are not immune from Pochoda's claim of unlawful detention and arrest" because Pochoda never refused to leave the parking lot and was prevented from doing so by the officers.
The sheriff and the officers denied Pochoda's claim of malicious prosecution, saying they had probable cause to arrest him, but Judge Wake found the arrest motivated by "deterrence or retribution for First Amendment activities."
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http://www.courthousenews.com
Officer Benjamin Kruszynski Arrested for Drunk Driving
Police say a City of Elkhart police officer was arrested for operating a vehicle while intoxicated after he was involved in an accident late Sunday along County Line Road.
Officer Benjamin Kruszynski, 38, crashed an Elkhart City squad car into a tree near the intersection of Brummitt and Ash roads about 11:10 p.m.
There were four passengers in the car at the time — a 43-year-old male and three 18-year-old females, according to police.
Elkhart Police Spokesman Lt. Ed Windbigler would not say if Kruszynski was driving his own squad car or another officer's.
A witness said the car went airborne when hitting the tree and leaving the roadway on the Elkhart County side of the road.
The Elkhart County Sheriff's Department responded to the scene and arrested Kruszynski for OWI. A departmental supervisor was also sent to the scene to assist the officer and continue the investigation.
No one was injured.
Kruszynski has been with the Elkhart Police Department since 2000.
Officer Benjamin Kruszynski, 38, crashed an Elkhart City squad car into a tree near the intersection of Brummitt and Ash roads about 11:10 p.m.
There were four passengers in the car at the time — a 43-year-old male and three 18-year-old females, according to police.
Elkhart Police Spokesman Lt. Ed Windbigler would not say if Kruszynski was driving his own squad car or another officer's.
A witness said the car went airborne when hitting the tree and leaving the roadway on the Elkhart County side of the road.
The Elkhart County Sheriff's Department responded to the scene and arrested Kruszynski for OWI. A departmental supervisor was also sent to the scene to assist the officer and continue the investigation.
No one was injured.
Kruszynski has been with the Elkhart Police Department since 2000.
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Sunday, May 24, 2009
Judge James Heath Kills Self After Drunk Driving Arrest
HAMILTON TWP.
A Warren County Common Pleas Court judge who was arrested this weekend for the second time in seven months was found dead in his home the next day, according to police.
James Heath, 47, was found in the master bedroom of his Nunner Road home just after 2 p.m. Sunday, May 24, by his estranged wife, according to Hamilton Twp. Police Lt. Jeff Braley.
“She had been trying to reach him by phone and could not and went to check on him at the house,” Braley said.
Braley said although nothing has been confirmed, Heath’s death is being investigated as a suicide. An autopsy is scheduled to be performed Tuesday, May 26, he said.
Heath was arrested at 8:30 p.m. Saturday, May 23, at mile marker 11 on Ohio 48, according to Sgt. Karla Taulbee, spokeswoman for the Ohio State Highway Patrol.
Transported to a patrol post, Heath refused a breathalyzer test, Taulbee said. He was charged with operating a vehicle while impaired and a marked lanes violation and released to someone who was able to drive, she said.
Heath was arrested last October in Clinton County on the same charge. He pleaded guilty in December to the lesser charge of reckless operation of a motor vehicle.
As a result of the plea, Heath was found not guilty of the original charge of driving under the influence of alcohol.
Warren County Judge Donald Oda II said Sunday he had known Heath for 14 years and was “completely shocked” when he heard of his death.
“We all thought the world of Judge Heath,” Oda said. “He was a good man. The Warren County judges ... our bench is certainly less today than it was yesterday.”
Warren County Commissioner C. Michael Kilburn said his heart goes out to Heath’s family. “We just never know what burdens people are carrying with them,” he said. “It’s just a terrible, terrible situation.”
Earlier this year, Kilburn criticized Heath for his behavior, showed a video of him pleading with a state trooper not to arrest him and called on him to resign. Following Kilburn’s comments, Heath admitted he made a mistake, apologized for his actions and said he was taking steps to ensure they did not happen again.
Heath, a Miami University graduate, first took the bench of the Warren County Court in December of 1994, according to the court’s Web site. He is survived by his wife and three children.
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http://news.cincinnati.com/article/20090524/NEWS0107/90524007/Warren+judge+is+dead
A Warren County Common Pleas Court judge who was arrested this weekend for the second time in seven months was found dead in his home the next day, according to police.
James Heath, 47, was found in the master bedroom of his Nunner Road home just after 2 p.m. Sunday, May 24, by his estranged wife, according to Hamilton Twp. Police Lt. Jeff Braley.
“She had been trying to reach him by phone and could not and went to check on him at the house,” Braley said.
Braley said although nothing has been confirmed, Heath’s death is being investigated as a suicide. An autopsy is scheduled to be performed Tuesday, May 26, he said.
Heath was arrested at 8:30 p.m. Saturday, May 23, at mile marker 11 on Ohio 48, according to Sgt. Karla Taulbee, spokeswoman for the Ohio State Highway Patrol.
Transported to a patrol post, Heath refused a breathalyzer test, Taulbee said. He was charged with operating a vehicle while impaired and a marked lanes violation and released to someone who was able to drive, she said.
Heath was arrested last October in Clinton County on the same charge. He pleaded guilty in December to the lesser charge of reckless operation of a motor vehicle.
As a result of the plea, Heath was found not guilty of the original charge of driving under the influence of alcohol.
Warren County Judge Donald Oda II said Sunday he had known Heath for 14 years and was “completely shocked” when he heard of his death.
“We all thought the world of Judge Heath,” Oda said. “He was a good man. The Warren County judges ... our bench is certainly less today than it was yesterday.”
Warren County Commissioner C. Michael Kilburn said his heart goes out to Heath’s family. “We just never know what burdens people are carrying with them,” he said. “It’s just a terrible, terrible situation.”
Earlier this year, Kilburn criticized Heath for his behavior, showed a video of him pleading with a state trooper not to arrest him and called on him to resign. Following Kilburn’s comments, Heath admitted he made a mistake, apologized for his actions and said he was taking steps to ensure they did not happen again.
Heath, a Miami University graduate, first took the bench of the Warren County Court in December of 1994, according to the court’s Web site. He is survived by his wife and three children.
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http://news.cincinnati.com/article/20090524/NEWS0107/90524007/Warren+judge+is+dead
Gregory Rold Dies After Being Tasered
SALEM, Ore.
A 37-year-old Salem man is dead and four police officers were placed on administrative leave after an arrest for trespassing turned violent.
Four officers with the Salem Police Department were called to Carriage Apartments on SE Royvonne Ave. about 7:30 Saturday night after receiving reports of a trespasser. They found Gregory Rold in an apartment and tried to arrest him.
The police department said Rold "violently resisted arrest" and the officers had to use their tasers and batons to "subdue him." Salem Officer Jacob Pratt was injured during the arrest attempt and altercation, according to the department. He was treated at Silverton Hospital.
Neighbors said Rold had been living at his mother's apartment but had recently been banned from the complex for lude behavior.
"He supposedly had been exposing himself to one of the neighbors," said resident Brandy King. "He used to peek into our windows and say things to the other women around here," she said.
According to neighbors, Rold had been warned that if he returned to the apartment complex, he would be trespassing. They said he showed up around 6:30 Saturday night, and police were at his mother's apartment soon after.
"They (police) got in, you could hear a struggle and the next thing you heard were the tasers," said Shelietha Edwards, a neighbor.
What happened next, according to Edwards, had the entire complex in disbelief.
"I heard at least 13 tasers going off. I heard him being beaten with the night sticks and they let the dog attack him," recalled Edwards. "(Rold's) mom and brother were in the house watching and his mom went to the window and started telling everyone that they were killing her son," she said.
A statement from the department released to KGW on Sunday morning made no mention of excessive force or of a canine unit.
Once the officers had wrestled Rold to the ground and handcuffed him, they realized he was unconscious and unresponsive, according to the department.
"In the beginning, you could hear him yelling, screaming and then all of a sudden he was quite, but you still heard the tazers and you still heard the beating going on," said Edwards.
Officers tried to stabilize Rold and called for emergency medical assistance. He was taken by ambulance to Salem Hospital where he died about 9:30 p.m.
The four officers - Jacob Pratt, Eric Brown, Adam Waite and Corporal Darron Mumey - are on administrative leave while Rold's death is investigated by Oregon State Police and the Marion County District Attorney's Office.
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http://www.nwcn.com/statenews/oregon/stories/NW_052509ORN-salem-police-custody-death-SW.16cf4ceb.html
A 37-year-old Salem man is dead and four police officers were placed on administrative leave after an arrest for trespassing turned violent.
Four officers with the Salem Police Department were called to Carriage Apartments on SE Royvonne Ave. about 7:30 Saturday night after receiving reports of a trespasser. They found Gregory Rold in an apartment and tried to arrest him.
The police department said Rold "violently resisted arrest" and the officers had to use their tasers and batons to "subdue him." Salem Officer Jacob Pratt was injured during the arrest attempt and altercation, according to the department. He was treated at Silverton Hospital.
Neighbors said Rold had been living at his mother's apartment but had recently been banned from the complex for lude behavior.
"He supposedly had been exposing himself to one of the neighbors," said resident Brandy King. "He used to peek into our windows and say things to the other women around here," she said.
According to neighbors, Rold had been warned that if he returned to the apartment complex, he would be trespassing. They said he showed up around 6:30 Saturday night, and police were at his mother's apartment soon after.
"They (police) got in, you could hear a struggle and the next thing you heard were the tasers," said Shelietha Edwards, a neighbor.
What happened next, according to Edwards, had the entire complex in disbelief.
"I heard at least 13 tasers going off. I heard him being beaten with the night sticks and they let the dog attack him," recalled Edwards. "(Rold's) mom and brother were in the house watching and his mom went to the window and started telling everyone that they were killing her son," she said.
A statement from the department released to KGW on Sunday morning made no mention of excessive force or of a canine unit.
Once the officers had wrestled Rold to the ground and handcuffed him, they realized he was unconscious and unresponsive, according to the department.
"In the beginning, you could hear him yelling, screaming and then all of a sudden he was quite, but you still heard the tazers and you still heard the beating going on," said Edwards.
Officers tried to stabilize Rold and called for emergency medical assistance. He was taken by ambulance to Salem Hospital where he died about 9:30 p.m.
The four officers - Jacob Pratt, Eric Brown, Adam Waite and Corporal Darron Mumey - are on administrative leave while Rold's death is investigated by Oregon State Police and the Marion County District Attorney's Office.
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http://www.nwcn.com/statenews/oregon/stories/NW_052509ORN-salem-police-custody-death-SW.16cf4ceb.html
Saturday, May 23, 2009
Sgt Mark Fitzpatrick Arraigned on Sexual Assault Charge
LOS ANGELES
A Los Angeles County sheriff's sergeant has been arraigned on charges of sexually assaulting a woman and inappropriately searching two others in separate incidents while on duty.
Mark Fitzpatrick pleaded not guilty to four felony counts and one misdemeanor Friday in Superior Court.
Prosecutors say Fitzpatrick threatened one woman with arrest or deportation while he sexually assaulted her during a traffic stop.
Sheriff's spokesman Steve Whitmore says investigators began a criminal investigation immediately after getting a report of the alleged misconduct last year.
Whitmore says Fitzpatrick was assigned to a desk job at the Compton station then was suspended without pay after the charges were filed.
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More information: http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-sheriff23-2009may23,0,3979260.story
A Los Angeles County sheriff's sergeant has been arraigned on charges of sexually assaulting a woman and inappropriately searching two others in separate incidents while on duty.
Mark Fitzpatrick pleaded not guilty to four felony counts and one misdemeanor Friday in Superior Court.
Prosecutors say Fitzpatrick threatened one woman with arrest or deportation while he sexually assaulted her during a traffic stop.
Sheriff's spokesman Steve Whitmore says investigators began a criminal investigation immediately after getting a report of the alleged misconduct last year.
Whitmore says Fitzpatrick was assigned to a desk job at the Compton station then was suspended without pay after the charges were filed.
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More information: http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-sheriff23-2009may23,0,3979260.story
Time Line in Case Against Ex-Cop Drew Peterson
Prosecutors claimed Friday that Drew Peterson tried to hire someone in 2003 to kill his third wife, Kathleen Savio, for $25,000. Authorities say he is also a suspect in the disappearance of his fourth wife, Stacy Peterson. A brief synopsis of what has happened in the case:
2004
--March 1, 2004: Kathleen Savio found dead in a bathtub. Her death is originally ruled an accidental drowning.
2007
--Oct. 29, 2007: Stacy Peterson reported missing, a day after she fails to show up at a relative's home.
--Nov. 9, 2007: Illinois State Police declare Drew Peterson a suspect in his wife's disappearance; they also say they've formally launched an investigation into the 2004 drowning death of Kathleen Savio, saying it does not appear to be an accident as originally determined.
--Nov. 9, 2007: Judge signs an order to exhume Savio's body.
--Nov. 12, 2007: Drew Peterson resigns from the Bolingbrook Police Department, where he's been an officer for 29 years.
--Nov. 13, 2007: Savio's body is exhumed and an autopsy is conducted.
--Nov. 16, 2007: Forensic pathologist Dr. Michael Baden conducts autopsy on Savio's remains at the request of her family; says it looks like she was murdered.
2008
--Jan. 24, 2008: Will County state's attorney's office acknowledges publicly for the first time that a grand jury has been convened to investigate Stacy Peterson's disappearance and Savio's death.
--Feb. 21, 2008: Will County state's attorney announces that Savio's death officially declared a homicide.
--May 21, 2008: Peterson turns himself in to police on a weapons charge unrelated to the disappearance of his wife. He was released from custody after an adult son posts a 10 percent bond.
--November 2008: Peterson meets with divorce attorney.
--November 20, 2008: Gun charges dropped against Peterson after Will County prosecutors refuse to hand over internal documents leading to their decision to arrest him.
--May 7, 2009: Murder indictment issued for Peterson; Peterson arrested during traffic stop.
--May 22, 2009: Judge refuses to reduce Peterson's $20 million bail after prosecutors claim Peterson tried to pay somebody $25,000 in 2003 to kill Savio.
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Other Information: http://www.suntimes.com/news/peterson/1587229,drew-peterson-savio-murder-offer-money-052209.article
2004
--March 1, 2004: Kathleen Savio found dead in a bathtub. Her death is originally ruled an accidental drowning.
2007
--Oct. 29, 2007: Stacy Peterson reported missing, a day after she fails to show up at a relative's home.
--Nov. 9, 2007: Illinois State Police declare Drew Peterson a suspect in his wife's disappearance; they also say they've formally launched an investigation into the 2004 drowning death of Kathleen Savio, saying it does not appear to be an accident as originally determined.
--Nov. 9, 2007: Judge signs an order to exhume Savio's body.
--Nov. 12, 2007: Drew Peterson resigns from the Bolingbrook Police Department, where he's been an officer for 29 years.
--Nov. 13, 2007: Savio's body is exhumed and an autopsy is conducted.
--Nov. 16, 2007: Forensic pathologist Dr. Michael Baden conducts autopsy on Savio's remains at the request of her family; says it looks like she was murdered.
2008
--Jan. 24, 2008: Will County state's attorney's office acknowledges publicly for the first time that a grand jury has been convened to investigate Stacy Peterson's disappearance and Savio's death.
--Feb. 21, 2008: Will County state's attorney announces that Savio's death officially declared a homicide.
--May 21, 2008: Peterson turns himself in to police on a weapons charge unrelated to the disappearance of his wife. He was released from custody after an adult son posts a 10 percent bond.
--November 2008: Peterson meets with divorce attorney.
--November 20, 2008: Gun charges dropped against Peterson after Will County prosecutors refuse to hand over internal documents leading to their decision to arrest him.
--May 7, 2009: Murder indictment issued for Peterson; Peterson arrested during traffic stop.
--May 22, 2009: Judge refuses to reduce Peterson's $20 million bail after prosecutors claim Peterson tried to pay somebody $25,000 in 2003 to kill Savio.
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Other Information: http://www.suntimes.com/news/peterson/1587229,drew-peterson-savio-murder-offer-money-052209.article
Trooper Ariel Valentin Arrested for Rape
Palm Springs Police charged a Florida Highway Patrol trooper with raping a woman who'd just been in a minor accident. Following his arrest, Ariel Valentin resigned his position. This is not the first time the trooper has been investigated for inappropriate conduct.
The arrest report says two women "tapped each other" with their cars on Lake Worth Road. As the two women were leaving the scene, Trooper Valentin pulled up. The report says Valentin told one woman to go, but followed the other to her home nearby.
There the arrest report says Valentin told the woman that he needed to search her, and "suggested that they go into her residence." The woman told officers she thought that was "weird," but was worried because her registration had expired. Inside the apartment, the report says Valentin and the woman had sex. The woman said she was "scared of going to jail."
Police say while Trooper Valentin initially denied involvement, he later admitted to having sex with the woman, saying it was consensual. The police report says Valentin acknowledged he believed the victim was emotionally unstable.
Highway Patrol documents we obtained show two years ago after a traffic stop, Valentin asked a woman if he could go to her house and measure her in a bathing suit. He got a written reprimand.
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More Information:
http://www.wpbf.com/news/19553887/detail.html
The arrest report says two women "tapped each other" with their cars on Lake Worth Road. As the two women were leaving the scene, Trooper Valentin pulled up. The report says Valentin told one woman to go, but followed the other to her home nearby.
There the arrest report says Valentin told the woman that he needed to search her, and "suggested that they go into her residence." The woman told officers she thought that was "weird," but was worried because her registration had expired. Inside the apartment, the report says Valentin and the woman had sex. The woman said she was "scared of going to jail."
Police say while Trooper Valentin initially denied involvement, he later admitted to having sex with the woman, saying it was consensual. The police report says Valentin acknowledged he believed the victim was emotionally unstable.
Highway Patrol documents we obtained show two years ago after a traffic stop, Valentin asked a woman if he could go to her house and measure her in a bathing suit. He got a written reprimand.
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More Information:
http://www.wpbf.com/news/19553887/detail.html
Reserve Officer Richard Carr Arrested for Rape
A Columbus reserve police officer was fired Wednesday after he was arrested in Oktibbeha County on statutory rape charges.
Reserve officer Richard Carr, 45, was “relieved of his duties as a police officer” Wednesday after Oktibbeha County officials notified the Columbus Police Department the officer had been arrested on the sex charges.
As of Thursday, police had released no details of the charges, as the investigation was ongoing and was being handled by the Mississippi Bureau of Investigation.
As of Thursday afternoon, no bond had been set and Carr remained in the Oktibbeha County Jail awaiting his initial court appearance.
Columbus Police Chief Joseph St. John this morning noted the investigation was turned over to MBI as soon as he was notified of the charges.
“As quickly as we could, he was placed under arrest, and he is terminated immediately,” St. John added. “Even though he was reserves, he’s one of us, and any time we have, not even probable cause, but reasonable suspicion, we turn it over to another agency.
“Really right now, the rest of it is really in (MBI’s) hands.”
Reserve officer Richard Carr, 45, was “relieved of his duties as a police officer” Wednesday after Oktibbeha County officials notified the Columbus Police Department the officer had been arrested on the sex charges.
As of Thursday, police had released no details of the charges, as the investigation was ongoing and was being handled by the Mississippi Bureau of Investigation.
As of Thursday afternoon, no bond had been set and Carr remained in the Oktibbeha County Jail awaiting his initial court appearance.
Columbus Police Chief Joseph St. John this morning noted the investigation was turned over to MBI as soon as he was notified of the charges.
“As quickly as we could, he was placed under arrest, and he is terminated immediately,” St. John added. “Even though he was reserves, he’s one of us, and any time we have, not even probable cause, but reasonable suspicion, we turn it over to another agency.
“Really right now, the rest of it is really in (MBI’s) hands.”
City Settles Third Brutality Lawsuit This Year
WORCESTER
The city has agreed to pay a city man $48,750 to settle his federal civil rights lawsuit alleging that a Worcester police sergeant unjustly punched him in the head and struck him with a baton while he was on his knees being arrested for trespassing on railroad tracks.
The police brutality lawsuit brought by Raymond E. Dennison, who alleged that he was beaten by Sgt. Ronald F. LaPointe in June 2003, had been set to go to trial in U.S. District Court in Worcester on June 1.
The $48,750 settlement, which will be paid by the city with taxpayer money, comes less than two months after the city paid $30,000 to settle a police brutality lawsuit filed by an Upton man.
So far this year, the city has settled three police brutality lawsuits at a total cost of $107,750, according to city records. Last year, the city paid $320,000 in public money to settle five police brutality lawsuits.
“As we’ve said in the past, it’s a business decision between myself, the law department and the city administration,” Police Chief Gary J. Gemme said of the settlements. “When we settled this case, there’s no admission of wrongdoing by the officers.”
The department’s Bureau of Professional Standards, formerly called Internal Affairs, cleared Sgt. LaPointe of any wrongdoing in its investigation, Chief Gemme said.
“It was difficult, rocky terrain with steel railroad tracks and a lot of brush overgrowth, and this individual was combative, and, as a result, there was force used that was reasonable to effect the arrest, and there were some injuries,” Chief Gemme said.
Mr. Dennison’s lawyer, Hector E. Pineiro, declined to comment on the alleged beating or the settlement other than to say, “My client is satisfied that the case has been resolved.”
In court papers, Mr. Dennison alleged that he was on his knees with his hands behind his back to be arrested when an agitated Sgt. LaPointe punched him in the left ear twice. When Mr. Dennison complained and demanded the officer’s badge number, Sgt. LaPointe allegedly took a swing at the man with his collapsible baton.
Mr. Dennison alleged that he suffered a broken finger trying to ward off a baton strike aimed at his head and shoulder area.
In his version of events, Sgt. LaPointe alleged that Mr. Dennison was uncooperative and had been reaching toward his waistband in an apparent attempt to grab something, possibly a weapon, according to a pretrial memorandum filed with the court by city lawyer Janet J. McGuiggan.
“While lying in a prone position on the ground, Dennison again reached for his waistband. Still fearful for his safety, LaPointe struck Dennison in the muscle of the upper right arm with his service baton in an effort to prevent Dennison from possibly pulling a weapon from his waistband and to handcuff him,” Ms. McGuiggan wrote.
The city did not dispute that Mr. Dennison was treated for a fractured third metacarpal — a broken finger on his right hand — and for a perforated eardrum at UMass Memorial Medical Center after he was released from custody. The city noted that Mr. Dennison was drunk at the time of the incident with a blood alcohol level of .14 percent, according to court records.
“Plaintiff’s medical records reveal that his eardrum healed in approximately one month and the finger fracture healed as well,” Ms. McGuiggan wrote in her motion.
The city has agreed to pay a city man $48,750 to settle his federal civil rights lawsuit alleging that a Worcester police sergeant unjustly punched him in the head and struck him with a baton while he was on his knees being arrested for trespassing on railroad tracks.
The police brutality lawsuit brought by Raymond E. Dennison, who alleged that he was beaten by Sgt. Ronald F. LaPointe in June 2003, had been set to go to trial in U.S. District Court in Worcester on June 1.
The $48,750 settlement, which will be paid by the city with taxpayer money, comes less than two months after the city paid $30,000 to settle a police brutality lawsuit filed by an Upton man.
So far this year, the city has settled three police brutality lawsuits at a total cost of $107,750, according to city records. Last year, the city paid $320,000 in public money to settle five police brutality lawsuits.
“As we’ve said in the past, it’s a business decision between myself, the law department and the city administration,” Police Chief Gary J. Gemme said of the settlements. “When we settled this case, there’s no admission of wrongdoing by the officers.”
The department’s Bureau of Professional Standards, formerly called Internal Affairs, cleared Sgt. LaPointe of any wrongdoing in its investigation, Chief Gemme said.
“It was difficult, rocky terrain with steel railroad tracks and a lot of brush overgrowth, and this individual was combative, and, as a result, there was force used that was reasonable to effect the arrest, and there were some injuries,” Chief Gemme said.
Mr. Dennison’s lawyer, Hector E. Pineiro, declined to comment on the alleged beating or the settlement other than to say, “My client is satisfied that the case has been resolved.”
In court papers, Mr. Dennison alleged that he was on his knees with his hands behind his back to be arrested when an agitated Sgt. LaPointe punched him in the left ear twice. When Mr. Dennison complained and demanded the officer’s badge number, Sgt. LaPointe allegedly took a swing at the man with his collapsible baton.
Mr. Dennison alleged that he suffered a broken finger trying to ward off a baton strike aimed at his head and shoulder area.
In his version of events, Sgt. LaPointe alleged that Mr. Dennison was uncooperative and had been reaching toward his waistband in an apparent attempt to grab something, possibly a weapon, according to a pretrial memorandum filed with the court by city lawyer Janet J. McGuiggan.
“While lying in a prone position on the ground, Dennison again reached for his waistband. Still fearful for his safety, LaPointe struck Dennison in the muscle of the upper right arm with his service baton in an effort to prevent Dennison from possibly pulling a weapon from his waistband and to handcuff him,” Ms. McGuiggan wrote.
The city did not dispute that Mr. Dennison was treated for a fractured third metacarpal — a broken finger on his right hand — and for a perforated eardrum at UMass Memorial Medical Center after he was released from custody. The city noted that Mr. Dennison was drunk at the time of the incident with a blood alcohol level of .14 percent, according to court records.
“Plaintiff’s medical records reveal that his eardrum healed in approximately one month and the finger fracture healed as well,” Ms. McGuiggan wrote in her motion.
Friday, May 22, 2009
Deputy Robert Kijanka Arrested for Smuggling Porn into Juvenile Detention Facility
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla.
A Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office deputy was arrested Friday, accused of smuggling pornography into the juvenile section of the county jail.
Robert Kijanka, 39, was charged with one count of smuggling contraband into a detention facility and three counts of contributing to the delinquency of a minor.
According to the arrest report, an 18-year-old inmate at the jail told detectives Kijanka, who is responsible for the juvenile dorm at the main detention center, brought a pornographic DVD into the jail and showed it to inmates in a classroom.
The juveniles described the DVD as "naked men and women having sex," according to the report.
Inmates said Kijanka also showed them a picture on his cell phone of his girlfriend wearing only her bra and short pants.
One of the inmates told detectives watching the DVD made their day "go by smoother," the report stated.
Detectives said Kijanka admitted to showing the DVD to inmates.
"Was it stupid on my part? Yes, it was," Kijanka told detectives, the report stated.
Kijanka was released on $3,000 bond and has been placed on paid leave.
A Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office deputy was arrested Friday, accused of smuggling pornography into the juvenile section of the county jail.
Robert Kijanka, 39, was charged with one count of smuggling contraband into a detention facility and three counts of contributing to the delinquency of a minor.
According to the arrest report, an 18-year-old inmate at the jail told detectives Kijanka, who is responsible for the juvenile dorm at the main detention center, brought a pornographic DVD into the jail and showed it to inmates in a classroom.
The juveniles described the DVD as "naked men and women having sex," according to the report.
Inmates said Kijanka also showed them a picture on his cell phone of his girlfriend wearing only her bra and short pants.
One of the inmates told detectives watching the DVD made their day "go by smoother," the report stated.
Detectives said Kijanka admitted to showing the DVD to inmates.
"Was it stupid on my part? Yes, it was," Kijanka told detectives, the report stated.
Kijanka was released on $3,000 bond and has been placed on paid leave.
Officer Julian Steele Arrested for Sexual Battery
Cincinnati Police Officer Julian Steele was arrested Friday afternoon, charged with coercing oral sex from the mother of a child he is accused of falsely booking into Hamilton County’s juvenile jail.
He was charged with sexual battery, a felony.
Steele, 46, of Springfield Township is accused of forcing the woman “knowingly and by means that would prevent resistance by a person of ordinary resolution.”
The incident is alleged to have happened May 14.
Steele will be arraigned today SAT and his case most likely will go to the grand jury next week, said Kathy Harrell, president of the Fraternal Order of Police. She does not know what plea he will make.
Steele, an officer since 1998, was stripped of his police powers and put on desk duty this week as an investigation by the Hamilton County prosecutor’s office proceeded. He turned in his badge and gun on Tuesday and was reassigned from District 5’s investigative unit to the telephone reporting unit.
Harrell said earlier this week that Steele said he had probable cause to make the juvenile arrest.
Steele’s personnel file contains several commendations from citizens and one reprimand for a 1999 traffic stop. His job evaluations classify his overall performance as “exceeds standards.”
“His beat knowledge was a tremendous asset and his input helped with the arrests of key leaders of the Taliband CQ Gang operating in Northside,” one of his supervisors, Sgt. Matthew Hassert, wrote in his latest evaluation dated Jan. 11.
That roundup of those gang members was the largest of its kind in the history of the Police Department, Hassert noted.
Sexual battery is a felony carrying a maximum prison sentence of five years.
Officer Phillip Brooks Arrested for Selling Impounded Cars
DAYTON, Ohio
A Dayton police officer has been indicted on more than 20 felony counts on allegations he illegally sold impounded cars.
Phillip Brooks, 43, was indicted today, May 21, on charges including grand theft, forgery, and tampering with evidence.
Brooks is accused of using the police database to find the owners of impounded cars, forging fake documents, and selling the cars in his name. Investigators said he has been doing it for at least four years and they found out about the scam when one of the vehicle's legitimate owners tried to reclaim a car.
Brooks could get up to 59 years in prison if convicted.
Brooks was booked into the jail April 9 for contempt of court when he refused to submit a handwriting sample in connection to the case. He was released several hours later when he provided the sample.
Brooks was removed from his patrol position last month when the case emerged. He's scheduled to be arraigned June 4.
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http://www.daytondailynews.com/news/ohio-news/dayton-police-officer-indicted-in-illegal-sales-129776.html
Information from the Dayton Daily News was used in this report.
A Dayton police officer has been indicted on more than 20 felony counts on allegations he illegally sold impounded cars.
Phillip Brooks, 43, was indicted today, May 21, on charges including grand theft, forgery, and tampering with evidence.
Brooks is accused of using the police database to find the owners of impounded cars, forging fake documents, and selling the cars in his name. Investigators said he has been doing it for at least four years and they found out about the scam when one of the vehicle's legitimate owners tried to reclaim a car.
Brooks could get up to 59 years in prison if convicted.
Brooks was booked into the jail April 9 for contempt of court when he refused to submit a handwriting sample in connection to the case. He was released several hours later when he provided the sample.
Brooks was removed from his patrol position last month when the case emerged. He's scheduled to be arraigned June 4.
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http://www.daytondailynews.com/news/ohio-news/dayton-police-officer-indicted-in-illegal-sales-129776.html
Information from the Dayton Daily News was used in this report.
Officer Jason Anderson Takes Stand in Wrongful Death Case
MINNEAPOLIS
Officer Jason Anderson took the stand in his own defense Wednesday in the wrongful death of Fong Lee. Lee’s family claims their son wasn't armed, and that a gun found on him was planted by police in what's known as a "drop gun."
Surveillance video at City View Elementary shows the shooting in brief parting glimpses, with Officer Anderson chasing Lee. According to court documents, Anderson shot Lee eight times.
Anderson said as he came around the corner he had his gun up, pointed at Lee. He says Lee was holding a gun in his right hand, then fell to the ground after the shooting, but raised the gun again.
Trooper Craig Benz was Anderson’s partner that July night three years ago. The two had never met before. Benz testified he also saw Lee with a gun, but didn't see the actual shooting, as he was several steps behind Anderson.
Anderson testified he didn't approach Lee or the gun after the shooting.
"I didn't secure the gun. I didn't want to be accused of putting it there," said Anderson.
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http://www.startribune.com/local/45860627.html?elr=KArksLckD8EQDUoaEyqyP4O:DW3ckUiD3aPc:_Yyc:aUUJ
Officer Jason Anderson took the stand in his own defense Wednesday in the wrongful death of Fong Lee. Lee’s family claims their son wasn't armed, and that a gun found on him was planted by police in what's known as a "drop gun."
Surveillance video at City View Elementary shows the shooting in brief parting glimpses, with Officer Anderson chasing Lee. According to court documents, Anderson shot Lee eight times.
Anderson said as he came around the corner he had his gun up, pointed at Lee. He says Lee was holding a gun in his right hand, then fell to the ground after the shooting, but raised the gun again.
Trooper Craig Benz was Anderson’s partner that July night three years ago. The two had never met before. Benz testified he also saw Lee with a gun, but didn't see the actual shooting, as he was several steps behind Anderson.
Anderson testified he didn't approach Lee or the gun after the shooting.
"I didn't secure the gun. I didn't want to be accused of putting it there," said Anderson.
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http://www.startribune.com/local/45860627.html?elr=KArksLckD8EQDUoaEyqyP4O:DW3ckUiD3aPc:_Yyc:aUUJ
Chicago Pays out $20 Million in Police Brutality Settlements
Last week former Chicago Police Commander Jon Burge was in the news again, narrowly avoiding testifying in the case of a convicted murderer who says Burge’s underlings tortured him. Burge allegedly performed and oversaw the torture of dozens of individuals in Chicago police custody during the 1980’s and was arrested by U.S. Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald last October for obstruction of justice and perjury. What’s all this cost the city of Chicago in settlements?
About $20 million, so far, to four of the more than 100 men who claim they were tortured.
Chicago Alderman approved settlements totaling $19.8 million in January of 2008 to four men who claimed they were tortured by Burge or his officers: Aaron Paterson received $5 million for being convicted of murder by a confession allegedly obtained by torture, Stanley Howard received $800,000 in restitution and another $1 million for attorney fees, Leroy Orange was paid $5.5 million for his 19 years in prison, and Madison Hobley received $1 million up front then another $6.5 million after being acquitted of his arson charge.
With this gesture, Mayor Daley and the City Council hoped to close a “tragic chapter” in Chicago’s history. And they did, as far as the Mayor is concerned. The $19.8 million settlement came with some strings attached: the plaintiffs would not name Mayor Richard Daley as a defendant in a civil rights, obstruction of justice, and racketeering conspiracy case; they wouldn’t pursue Daley’s deposition; they wouldn’t criticize Daley in any public statements made in connection with the settlement; and the above terms would remain secret and would not be put in the written agreement.
But this money has only been paid out to 5 of the dozens of alleged torture victims. The statute of limitations has expired on the most gruesome of Burge’s alleged crimes, making it increasingly unlikely that the remaining accusers will have their day in court.
Because Burge was never convicted, or even formally charged, in a criminal torture case, these alleged victims face what the Chicago Defender describes as an uphill legal battle in seeking their share of compensation from a civil suit. Attorney General Lisa Madigan’s office took on 25 cases of alleged torture in 2003. Since then, over 11 have been resolved. Most alleged torture cases have resulted in pardons.
About $20 million, so far, to four of the more than 100 men who claim they were tortured.
Chicago Alderman approved settlements totaling $19.8 million in January of 2008 to four men who claimed they were tortured by Burge or his officers: Aaron Paterson received $5 million for being convicted of murder by a confession allegedly obtained by torture, Stanley Howard received $800,000 in restitution and another $1 million for attorney fees, Leroy Orange was paid $5.5 million for his 19 years in prison, and Madison Hobley received $1 million up front then another $6.5 million after being acquitted of his arson charge.
With this gesture, Mayor Daley and the City Council hoped to close a “tragic chapter” in Chicago’s history. And they did, as far as the Mayor is concerned. The $19.8 million settlement came with some strings attached: the plaintiffs would not name Mayor Richard Daley as a defendant in a civil rights, obstruction of justice, and racketeering conspiracy case; they wouldn’t pursue Daley’s deposition; they wouldn’t criticize Daley in any public statements made in connection with the settlement; and the above terms would remain secret and would not be put in the written agreement.
But this money has only been paid out to 5 of the dozens of alleged torture victims. The statute of limitations has expired on the most gruesome of Burge’s alleged crimes, making it increasingly unlikely that the remaining accusers will have their day in court.
Because Burge was never convicted, or even formally charged, in a criminal torture case, these alleged victims face what the Chicago Defender describes as an uphill legal battle in seeking their share of compensation from a civil suit. Attorney General Lisa Madigan’s office took on 25 cases of alleged torture in 2003. Since then, over 11 have been resolved. Most alleged torture cases have resulted in pardons.
Thursday, May 21, 2009
East Chicago Officer Accused of Biting and Scratching Woman
Highland police are investigating the allegations and have confirmed they involve an East Chicago officer, Highland police Cmdr. George Georgeff said.
Highland police would not release the incident report and would not confirm the name of the officer because no charges have been filed and because it still is under investigation, Georgeff said.
Georgeff said a woman filed a report at the Highland police station Wednesday morning. She indicated some things were taken from her, and she had bite marks and minor scratches resulting from an incident Wednesday morning at Corker's Tavern & Grill, 9500 Indianapolis Blvd.
The woman gave police the name of the man whom she said caused the injuries and told Highland police he was an officer in East Chicago. Highland police advised the East Chicago Police Department of the incident, and its administration is aware, Georgeff said.
East Chicago police are investigating the case and checking with Highland authorities to see if the allegations are accurate, city spokesman Damian Rico said.
No action has been taken against the officer so far, as East Chicago police verify the accuracy of the accusations, Rico said.
Once that is complete, East Chicago will determine what happens from there with the officer, Rico said.
Highland police would not release the incident report and would not confirm the name of the officer because no charges have been filed and because it still is under investigation, Georgeff said.
Georgeff said a woman filed a report at the Highland police station Wednesday morning. She indicated some things were taken from her, and she had bite marks and minor scratches resulting from an incident Wednesday morning at Corker's Tavern & Grill, 9500 Indianapolis Blvd.
The woman gave police the name of the man whom she said caused the injuries and told Highland police he was an officer in East Chicago. Highland police advised the East Chicago Police Department of the incident, and its administration is aware, Georgeff said.
East Chicago police are investigating the case and checking with Highland authorities to see if the allegations are accurate, city spokesman Damian Rico said.
No action has been taken against the officer so far, as East Chicago police verify the accuracy of the accusations, Rico said.
Once that is complete, East Chicago will determine what happens from there with the officer, Rico said.
Officer Johnathon Rogers Arrested for Larceny
A Marion police officer has been fired because of criminal charges he faces, Marion Police Chief Willie L. Smith said.
Johnathon M. Rogers, 27, of Gresham was arrested May 11 by Marion County sheriff’s deputies on larceny, counterfeiting and forgery charges.
Rogers is accused of stealing a Social Security card and birth certificate from a woman’s purse, according to a Marion County Sheriff’s Office incident report.
The report said Rogers admitted to claiming the victim’s daughter on his federal income tax. Rogers isn’t related to the victim and provided deputies with a copy of his 2008 tax returns.
Rogers was a police officer when he was arrested, but Smith said Rogers cannot serve on the force with those charges against him and was dismissed. Smith said he thought Rogers had been with the police department for about two years.
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http://www.carolinalive.com/news/news_story.aspx?id=303195
Johnathon M. Rogers, 27, of Gresham was arrested May 11 by Marion County sheriff’s deputies on larceny, counterfeiting and forgery charges.
Rogers is accused of stealing a Social Security card and birth certificate from a woman’s purse, according to a Marion County Sheriff’s Office incident report.
The report said Rogers admitted to claiming the victim’s daughter on his federal income tax. Rogers isn’t related to the victim and provided deputies with a copy of his 2008 tax returns.
Rogers was a police officer when he was arrested, but Smith said Rogers cannot serve on the force with those charges against him and was dismissed. Smith said he thought Rogers had been with the police department for about two years.
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http://www.carolinalive.com/news/news_story.aspx?id=303195
Former Officer Calvin Schaffer Remains Free on Fraud Charges
A former Goddard police officer will remain free as he continues to face a federal fraud charge.
The former officer, Calvin Schaffer, 44, entered a not-guilty plea Wednesday in his first court appearance since being charged last month.
Unless Schaffer violates terms of his release, he will remain free. His bond has been set at $10,000.
Authorities have alleged that Schaffer offered to help dismiss a DUI charge against a woman he arrested if she would have sex with him.
Authorities also alleged that while Schaffer was an officer, he used a Goddard police computer to send photos of himself -- nude and seminude -- in e-mails to the woman.
Schaffer is charged with defrauding the Goddard Police Department and the people of Goddard.
________________________________
http://www.fox4kc.com/news/sns-ap-ks--kansascop-fraud,0,5100436.story
http://www.kansas.com/topstories/story/820877.html
The former officer, Calvin Schaffer, 44, entered a not-guilty plea Wednesday in his first court appearance since being charged last month.
Unless Schaffer violates terms of his release, he will remain free. His bond has been set at $10,000.
Authorities have alleged that Schaffer offered to help dismiss a DUI charge against a woman he arrested if she would have sex with him.
Authorities also alleged that while Schaffer was an officer, he used a Goddard police computer to send photos of himself -- nude and seminude -- in e-mails to the woman.
Schaffer is charged with defrauding the Goddard Police Department and the people of Goddard.
________________________________
http://www.fox4kc.com/news/sns-ap-ks--kansascop-fraud,0,5100436.story
http://www.kansas.com/topstories/story/820877.html
Officer Vanessa Mason Accused of Tipping Off Drug Dealers
A Rochester police officer accused of tipping off drug dealers about narcotics investigations and taking money to help pick up and deliver drugs made her first court appearance Thursday.
Vanessa Nicole Mason, 31, is charged with three felony and two gross misdemeanor counts. The complaint was filed in mid-April. Mason has been on administrative leave since April 7.
Olmsted District Judge Joseph Chase ordered that Mason be released on her own recognizance. Chase ordered Mason not to initiate contact with the people in the complaint and to terminate the conversation if one of them phones her.
Her next hearing is July 7. Some evidence must still be analyzed by the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension.
After the complaint was filed, her attorney, Fred Bruno of Minneapolis, called the case "a piece of garbage that's based on the uncorroborated word of criminals looking for favors." He said Mason denies the allegations.
Mason has been a patrol officer in Rochester for 41/2 years.
The case is being prosecuted by Rice County Attorney Paul Beaumaster to avoid any conflict of interest.
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http://kaaltv.com/article/stories/S943409.shtml?cat=10226
Vanessa Nicole Mason, 31, is charged with three felony and two gross misdemeanor counts. The complaint was filed in mid-April. Mason has been on administrative leave since April 7.
Olmsted District Judge Joseph Chase ordered that Mason be released on her own recognizance. Chase ordered Mason not to initiate contact with the people in the complaint and to terminate the conversation if one of them phones her.
Her next hearing is July 7. Some evidence must still be analyzed by the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension.
After the complaint was filed, her attorney, Fred Bruno of Minneapolis, called the case "a piece of garbage that's based on the uncorroborated word of criminals looking for favors." He said Mason denies the allegations.
Mason has been a patrol officer in Rochester for 41/2 years.
The case is being prosecuted by Rice County Attorney Paul Beaumaster to avoid any conflict of interest.
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http://kaaltv.com/article/stories/S943409.shtml?cat=10226
Five Birmingham Officers Fired After Videotape Shows Them Beating Suspect
An attorney for five Birmingham police officers who were fired after being shown on videotape beating an inert suspect said Thursday they thought the man was conscious and armed.
Attorney Gayle Gear said the officers who approached Anthony Warren had not seen him thrown from his van when it overturned at the end of a police chase, and they assumed he was a threat.
Gear said the officers were following their training to force Warren to submit and they have appealed their dismissal to the Jefferson County Personnel Board.
As Gear defended their actions, an attorney for Warren said a lawsuit is expected to be filed this week against the officers and the police department. An internal investigation was ordered by Police Chief A.C. Roper to determine if others in the department knew about the beating, recorded by a patrol car camera, but did not report it.
The video surfaced by surprise in March more than a year after the Jan. 23, 2008 chase. Warren, 38, was nearing trial for attempted murder, a charge stemming from the chase, and a copy of the video given to prosecutors didn't include the beating. But when the chief prosecutor sought the original tape for technical reasons, the beating was discovered.
Warren's attorney, Wendy Crew, said the suit would seek monetary damages and ask the court to order the city to change the way it trains police officers.
Gear said the officers responded at the end of a hair-raising chase in which Warren appeared to try to hit several vehicles and a Hoover police officer.
"He was trying to hit everybody. You can't just run from police like that," Gear said.
She said the officers who first arrived didn't know if Warren was armed and assumed he had a weapon under his body. She said the officers were not trying to injure Warren, but hit him in pressure spots, such as behind the neck, that would force him to submit.
She said David Doran was the first officer to approach Warren and shouted "show me your hands." She said Doran then struck Warren with a baton to get him to comply. She said one officer hit Warren on a part of the leg to disable him.
Birmingham police have not released the names of the police officers. But Gear identified them as Doran, Heath Boackle, Thomas Cleveland, Barrett Dewitt, and Kenneth Prevo. The officers were fired by the police chief on accusations they used unnecessary and excessive force and failed to submit required reports.
Governor Bob Riley said Thursday the officers appeared to over-react to the situation.
"You have to give police officers some latitude, to go through what they go through every day, and the adrenaline's pumping and everything is moving very quickly, but you should never tolerate that type of reaction from any segment of law enforcement," Riley said.
A spokesman for Birmingham police, Sgt. Johnny Williams, said Roper decided to fire the officers based on the department's policies and procedures and "the actions he observed" on the video.
Crew questioned why police were chasing Warren in the first place. She said he never was charged with any drug offense, which was the alleged reason police first approached him.
"We are seeking systematic changes in the Birmingham Police Department," Crew said. She said business has been conducted in the department in a way that creates "a culture of tolerance for this type of behavior."
She said it concerns her that the incident involved at least five police officers and that it took 14 months before the videotape surfaced and details of the incident were revealed to the public.
"This was not just one rogue police officer," Crew said. "It took many more than the five officers involved in this to keep it from coming to life for 14 months."
Williams said the officers were disciplined as soon as top police officials became aware of the videotape.
"Chief Roper addressed it right off," Williams said.
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http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/8060950.stm
Attorney Gayle Gear said the officers who approached Anthony Warren had not seen him thrown from his van when it overturned at the end of a police chase, and they assumed he was a threat.
Gear said the officers were following their training to force Warren to submit and they have appealed their dismissal to the Jefferson County Personnel Board.
As Gear defended their actions, an attorney for Warren said a lawsuit is expected to be filed this week against the officers and the police department. An internal investigation was ordered by Police Chief A.C. Roper to determine if others in the department knew about the beating, recorded by a patrol car camera, but did not report it.
The video surfaced by surprise in March more than a year after the Jan. 23, 2008 chase. Warren, 38, was nearing trial for attempted murder, a charge stemming from the chase, and a copy of the video given to prosecutors didn't include the beating. But when the chief prosecutor sought the original tape for technical reasons, the beating was discovered.
Warren's attorney, Wendy Crew, said the suit would seek monetary damages and ask the court to order the city to change the way it trains police officers.
Gear said the officers responded at the end of a hair-raising chase in which Warren appeared to try to hit several vehicles and a Hoover police officer.
"He was trying to hit everybody. You can't just run from police like that," Gear said.
She said the officers who first arrived didn't know if Warren was armed and assumed he had a weapon under his body. She said the officers were not trying to injure Warren, but hit him in pressure spots, such as behind the neck, that would force him to submit.
She said David Doran was the first officer to approach Warren and shouted "show me your hands." She said Doran then struck Warren with a baton to get him to comply. She said one officer hit Warren on a part of the leg to disable him.
Birmingham police have not released the names of the police officers. But Gear identified them as Doran, Heath Boackle, Thomas Cleveland, Barrett Dewitt, and Kenneth Prevo. The officers were fired by the police chief on accusations they used unnecessary and excessive force and failed to submit required reports.
Governor Bob Riley said Thursday the officers appeared to over-react to the situation.
"You have to give police officers some latitude, to go through what they go through every day, and the adrenaline's pumping and everything is moving very quickly, but you should never tolerate that type of reaction from any segment of law enforcement," Riley said.
A spokesman for Birmingham police, Sgt. Johnny Williams, said Roper decided to fire the officers based on the department's policies and procedures and "the actions he observed" on the video.
Crew questioned why police were chasing Warren in the first place. She said he never was charged with any drug offense, which was the alleged reason police first approached him.
"We are seeking systematic changes in the Birmingham Police Department," Crew said. She said business has been conducted in the department in a way that creates "a culture of tolerance for this type of behavior."
She said it concerns her that the incident involved at least five police officers and that it took 14 months before the videotape surfaced and details of the incident were revealed to the public.
"This was not just one rogue police officer," Crew said. "It took many more than the five officers involved in this to keep it from coming to life for 14 months."
Williams said the officers were disciplined as soon as top police officials became aware of the videotape.
"Chief Roper addressed it right off," Williams said.
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http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/8060950.stm
Deputy Eric Kennedy Arrested for Stealing Football Cards
A Polk County Sheriff's deputy could lose his job after being accused of stealing from a Casey's convenience store.
Polk County Sheriff Bill McCarthy said Wednesday that Eric Kennedy, 36, was on duty and in uniform when he walked into this Casey's near Highway 65 in Bondurant.
The store manger saw him put several packs of football trading cards in his pockets and leave without paying for them.
"It's beyond me," McCarthy said. "I absolutely do not understand that."
The Manager called the Sheriff's Department and they installed a hidden camera. When the footage seemed to show Kennedy taking more cards, Kennedy was arrested and charged him with fifth-degree theft.
Investigators said they found boxes of trading cards in his squad car. They said they think he was selling the cards online to buyers all over the country.
The stolen cards were worth about $140, investigators said.
"I've been around long enough to know that people and people and they succumb to weakness," McCarthy said. "It's disappointing and it does reflect on the department, unfortunately."
McCarthy said most of his 150 deputies are good workers. He said he has put Kennedy on suspension and may base his fate on the outcome of his legal case.
"We have to move forward and not have him part of the sheriff's office," said McCarthy.
Polk County Sheriff Bill McCarthy said Wednesday that Eric Kennedy, 36, was on duty and in uniform when he walked into this Casey's near Highway 65 in Bondurant.
The store manger saw him put several packs of football trading cards in his pockets and leave without paying for them.
"It's beyond me," McCarthy said. "I absolutely do not understand that."
The Manager called the Sheriff's Department and they installed a hidden camera. When the footage seemed to show Kennedy taking more cards, Kennedy was arrested and charged him with fifth-degree theft.
Investigators said they found boxes of trading cards in his squad car. They said they think he was selling the cards online to buyers all over the country.
The stolen cards were worth about $140, investigators said.
"I've been around long enough to know that people and people and they succumb to weakness," McCarthy said. "It's disappointing and it does reflect on the department, unfortunately."
McCarthy said most of his 150 deputies are good workers. He said he has put Kennedy on suspension and may base his fate on the outcome of his legal case.
"We have to move forward and not have him part of the sheriff's office," said McCarthy.
Wednesday, May 20, 2009
Officer J.T. Root Arrested for Domestic Violence
An officer with the Cartersville Police Department was arrested today on a domestic violence charge.
According to police reports:
J.T. Root of Cartersville was arrested and charged with battery under the Family Violence Act.
An internal investigation has been initiated and Root has been placed on administrative suspension.
The incident will be forwarded to Georgia Peace Officer Standards and Training for investigation by their staff.
According to police reports:
J.T. Root of Cartersville was arrested and charged with battery under the Family Violence Act.
An internal investigation has been initiated and Root has been placed on administrative suspension.
The incident will be forwarded to Georgia Peace Officer Standards and Training for investigation by their staff.
Officer James Manor Dies After Driving 109 MPH Without Lights & Sirens
Las Vegas police officer James Manor was not using his lights and sirens while responding to a domestic violence call May 7, the night he was killed in a traffic collision.
At a 3 p.m. news conference today, Clark County Sheriff Doug Gillespie also said Manor was traveling more than 100 mph at the time of the collision.
Gillespie said charges against the other driver in the crash are being re-examined in light of the new information.
Manor was also not wearing a seat belt, Gillespie said.
Also, it was revealed that the blood alcohol level for Calvin Darling, initially charged with drunken driving in Manor's death, was .035 percent. A second blood test an hour later showed his level was .021 percent.
Darling's lawyer said last week his client saw no emergency lights and heard no sirens before turning in front of the oncoming patrol car.
Darling saw three oncoming vehicles before the crash, but they were a “sufficient distance away, which led him to believe that he could safely cross Flamingo,” the statement from Sean P. Sullivan said.
Darling, an engineer at Bellagio, turned his pickup truck left in front of a patrol car driven by Manor, 28, who died shortly after the violent collision at the intersection of Flamingo Road and Ravenwood Drive, near Tenaya Way just a few blocks from Darling’s house.
At a news conference the day of the crash, Gillespie was emphatic that two patrol cars had lights and sirens on as they headed to the domestic violence call.
Under the Metropolitan Police Department’s policy, officers can drive with lights and sirens, called Code 3, in four situations, including responding to a felony in progress, an officer who needs help in a volatile situation and a call where a citizen’s life could be in danger.
If a patrol car is not responding Code 3, the officer is required to use due care and observe traffic laws, he said at the time.
Before making his left turn, Darling checked the oncoming traffic and saw no lights, his lawyer’s statement said.
After the crash he told investigators he had “three or four beers,” police said. He smelled of alcohol and failed a field sobriety test that measures eye movements, leading to charges of drunken driving causing death and failing to yield to an emergency vehicle. He was released from jail a day later when a test revealed his blood-alcohol content was under the legal limit of 0.08 percent.
____________________________
http://www.lasvegassun.com/news/2009/may/20/police-officer-killed-crash-drove-109-mph-no-light/
At a 3 p.m. news conference today, Clark County Sheriff Doug Gillespie also said Manor was traveling more than 100 mph at the time of the collision.
Gillespie said charges against the other driver in the crash are being re-examined in light of the new information.
Manor was also not wearing a seat belt, Gillespie said.
Also, it was revealed that the blood alcohol level for Calvin Darling, initially charged with drunken driving in Manor's death, was .035 percent. A second blood test an hour later showed his level was .021 percent.
Darling's lawyer said last week his client saw no emergency lights and heard no sirens before turning in front of the oncoming patrol car.
Darling saw three oncoming vehicles before the crash, but they were a “sufficient distance away, which led him to believe that he could safely cross Flamingo,” the statement from Sean P. Sullivan said.
Darling, an engineer at Bellagio, turned his pickup truck left in front of a patrol car driven by Manor, 28, who died shortly after the violent collision at the intersection of Flamingo Road and Ravenwood Drive, near Tenaya Way just a few blocks from Darling’s house.
At a news conference the day of the crash, Gillespie was emphatic that two patrol cars had lights and sirens on as they headed to the domestic violence call.
Under the Metropolitan Police Department’s policy, officers can drive with lights and sirens, called Code 3, in four situations, including responding to a felony in progress, an officer who needs help in a volatile situation and a call where a citizen’s life could be in danger.
If a patrol car is not responding Code 3, the officer is required to use due care and observe traffic laws, he said at the time.
Before making his left turn, Darling checked the oncoming traffic and saw no lights, his lawyer’s statement said.
After the crash he told investigators he had “three or four beers,” police said. He smelled of alcohol and failed a field sobriety test that measures eye movements, leading to charges of drunken driving causing death and failing to yield to an emergency vehicle. He was released from jail a day later when a test revealed his blood-alcohol content was under the legal limit of 0.08 percent.
____________________________
http://www.lasvegassun.com/news/2009/may/20/police-officer-killed-crash-drove-109-mph-no-light/
Former Officer Timothy Radogna Charged with Possession of Methamphetamines
Prosecutors charged a former Glendora police officer today with possession of methamphetamines for the purpose of sale.
Timothy Radogna, 33, was arrested this morning in connection with an incident last September in which he allegedly stole hundreds of dollars from the Police Department and was found to have narcotics in his possession.
Prosecutors did not specify how much they allege Radogna stole but said it was more than the $400 required to qualify as felony grand theft.
If convicted of all charges, Radogna would face a maximum term of nine years and eight months in state prison.
Timothy Radogna, 33, was arrested this morning in connection with an incident last September in which he allegedly stole hundreds of dollars from the Police Department and was found to have narcotics in his possession.
Prosecutors did not specify how much they allege Radogna stole but said it was more than the $400 required to qualify as felony grand theft.
If convicted of all charges, Radogna would face a maximum term of nine years and eight months in state prison.
Officer Scott Geving Faces New Charges Of Harassing Woman
A Stillwater police officer who was last summer charged with attempted inappropriate sexual conduct now faces new charges of harassing a woman he pulled over.
According to the Washington County Attorney, an adult woman reported that Officer Scott Geving, 50, had harassed her and made unwelcomed sexual advances on her in 2006.
According to the charges, the woman was pulled over on suspicion of drunken driving. When she failed a preliminary breath test, Geving allegedly gave her a ride home instead of arresting her.
He then began getting "a little flirty," according to the woman. Before long, she reported seeing him sitting in his squad car outside her house repeatedly. He also called her and reminded her that he'd done her the favor of dropping her off at home.
Ultimately, according to the woman, he arrived at her house in uniform, kissed and fondled her. When she told him to leave, he said he'd come back later.
The next night, she and a friend saw him standing outside her window.
She claimed being very frightened by his repeated appearances, which trailed off after she told him her boyfriend would be moving in and that he should stop coming around.
The woman said that she brought the case to the attention of authorities after reading about another alleged harassment case reported last summer.
Last August, a woman reported Geving made unwanted sexual advances towards her while in uniform when she was working at a Stillwater motel. According to charges filed by the Dakota County Attorney, she accompanied him through the hallways and, at one point, started rubbing her back and offered to "relieve that stress."
He returned later in street clothes and started whispering things to her at the front desk and asked what the price of a room was. The woman told him that he needed to go home, at which time he left the motel.
Geving has been charged with a pattern of harassing conduct, a felony, as well as gross misdemeanor counts of harassment, stalking and fifth-degree criminal sexual conduct.
_______________________
http://www.twincities.com/allheadlines/ci_12399120
According to the Washington County Attorney, an adult woman reported that Officer Scott Geving, 50, had harassed her and made unwelcomed sexual advances on her in 2006.
According to the charges, the woman was pulled over on suspicion of drunken driving. When she failed a preliminary breath test, Geving allegedly gave her a ride home instead of arresting her.
He then began getting "a little flirty," according to the woman. Before long, she reported seeing him sitting in his squad car outside her house repeatedly. He also called her and reminded her that he'd done her the favor of dropping her off at home.
Ultimately, according to the woman, he arrived at her house in uniform, kissed and fondled her. When she told him to leave, he said he'd come back later.
The next night, she and a friend saw him standing outside her window.
She claimed being very frightened by his repeated appearances, which trailed off after she told him her boyfriend would be moving in and that he should stop coming around.
The woman said that she brought the case to the attention of authorities after reading about another alleged harassment case reported last summer.
Last August, a woman reported Geving made unwanted sexual advances towards her while in uniform when she was working at a Stillwater motel. According to charges filed by the Dakota County Attorney, she accompanied him through the hallways and, at one point, started rubbing her back and offered to "relieve that stress."
He returned later in street clothes and started whispering things to her at the front desk and asked what the price of a room was. The woman told him that he needed to go home, at which time he left the motel.
Geving has been charged with a pattern of harassing conduct, a felony, as well as gross misdemeanor counts of harassment, stalking and fifth-degree criminal sexual conduct.
_______________________
http://www.twincities.com/allheadlines/ci_12399120
Sgt Eric Downey Arrested for Domestic Violence & DUI
Police say a veteran officer, with 20 years of service, was arrested early today, accused of domestic battery and driving under the influence.
Police arrested Sgt. Eric Downey, an afternoon shift patrol supervisor, at his home in the 1300 block of Fairview Street after his wife filed a battery complaint with police about 11:55 p.m. Tuesday.
According to Capt. Phil Trent, South Bend Police spokesman, an officer went to Downey’s home to take the complaint, which stemmed from an earlier incident. The exact details of the complaint are not known, but allege that Downey battered his wife, Trent said.
As officers interviewed his wife, Downey reportedly arrived at home, driving his own vehicle. Officers talked with Downey, who appeared to be intoxicated. A test at the St. Joseph County jail would reveal a 0.09 blood-alcohol level, according to Trent.
Police booked Downey into the jail, accused of domestic battery and driving under the influence. According to jail records, he is scheduled to appear in court for a bond hearing at 1:30 p.m. today.
Police arrested Sgt. Eric Downey, an afternoon shift patrol supervisor, at his home in the 1300 block of Fairview Street after his wife filed a battery complaint with police about 11:55 p.m. Tuesday.
According to Capt. Phil Trent, South Bend Police spokesman, an officer went to Downey’s home to take the complaint, which stemmed from an earlier incident. The exact details of the complaint are not known, but allege that Downey battered his wife, Trent said.
As officers interviewed his wife, Downey reportedly arrived at home, driving his own vehicle. Officers talked with Downey, who appeared to be intoxicated. A test at the St. Joseph County jail would reveal a 0.09 blood-alcohol level, according to Trent.
Police booked Downey into the jail, accused of domestic battery and driving under the influence. According to jail records, he is scheduled to appear in court for a bond hearing at 1:30 p.m. today.
________________________
Five Officers Fired for Alleged Beating
Birmingham Police Chief A.C. Roper and Birmingham Mayor Larry Langford said that five officers who participated in an alleged beating in January 2008 have been fired from the Birmingham Police Department.
The incident in question comes from the alleged beating of 38-year-old Anthony Shannon Warren.
The beating occurred after Warren led Birmingham Police on a high speed chase that started in Birmingham and ended in Hoover.
During the chase, Hoover Police Officer Mike Lucas was struck by Warren's vehicle while attempting to place spike strips on the roadway.
At the end of the chase, the van overturned on the I-459 on-ramp, ejecting Warren, who lay motionless as officers ran toward him. The video shows them beating him with fists, feet and a billy club.
Officials in the Birmingham Police Department released a statement saying that "police brutality and misconduct will not be tolerated".
Police Chief A.C. Roper said the officers, who were not identified, were seasoned veterans but acted in a "shameful" manner.
Roper said the department had "terminated 50 years of combined service due to 10 seconds of injustice." The officers can appeal the decision.
He said disciplinary action may be taken against supervisors. The Alabama Bureau of Investigation will review possible criminal charges.
Authorities believe numerous Birmingham officers and as many as a half-dozen supervisors saw the video over the past year, but none reported it.
"In addition to these terminations, we're also reviewing our supervisor's actions, reporting mechanisms and policies," Roper said.
Warren, who had been held under $1 million bond after the chase, pleaded guilty in March 2009 to first-degree assault and was sentenced to 20 years in prison. Because of his plea, no trial was held.
_____________________
http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5hf2W6z_dNifY1dTDfKRu29ZgyeigD98A7KUG0
The incident in question comes from the alleged beating of 38-year-old Anthony Shannon Warren.
The beating occurred after Warren led Birmingham Police on a high speed chase that started in Birmingham and ended in Hoover.
During the chase, Hoover Police Officer Mike Lucas was struck by Warren's vehicle while attempting to place spike strips on the roadway.
At the end of the chase, the van overturned on the I-459 on-ramp, ejecting Warren, who lay motionless as officers ran toward him. The video shows them beating him with fists, feet and a billy club.
Officials in the Birmingham Police Department released a statement saying that "police brutality and misconduct will not be tolerated".
Police Chief A.C. Roper said the officers, who were not identified, were seasoned veterans but acted in a "shameful" manner.
Roper said the department had "terminated 50 years of combined service due to 10 seconds of injustice." The officers can appeal the decision.
He said disciplinary action may be taken against supervisors. The Alabama Bureau of Investigation will review possible criminal charges.
Authorities believe numerous Birmingham officers and as many as a half-dozen supervisors saw the video over the past year, but none reported it.
"In addition to these terminations, we're also reviewing our supervisor's actions, reporting mechanisms and policies," Roper said.
Warren, who had been held under $1 million bond after the chase, pleaded guilty in March 2009 to first-degree assault and was sentenced to 20 years in prison. Because of his plea, no trial was held.
_____________________
http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5hf2W6z_dNifY1dTDfKRu29ZgyeigD98A7KUG0
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