A Sunset Hills police officer's blood alcohol level was twice Missouri's legal limit hours after the crash she is accused of causing that killed four people, say prosecutors. Chrissy Miller is now charged with four counts of manslaughter and one count of assault. She is under house arrest.
"Obviously there was a problem here with an individual who went way beyond the limit and had incredibly tragic results," says St. Louis County Prosecutor Bob McCulloch. "She'd been drinking with friends at an establishment for several hours before the accident. At the hospital it was determined her blood alcohol was substantially above the recognized limit in the state of Missouri. It was a .16 about three hours later and a .15 about four hours after the accident."
Miller was allegedly going the wrong direction on Dougherty Ferry at 1:45 AM March 21. She crashed into a car carrying five people of Indian descent. Four of them: Anusha Anumolu, 23, of Charleston, IL; Satya Chinta, 25, of Aurora, IL; Anitha Lakshmi, 23, of Charleston, IL.; and Prya Muppvarapu, 22, of Charleston, IL died instantly. The driver Nitesh Adusumilli, 27, had serious injuries but survived.
Miller was arrested at home Tuesday morning, and booked in the St. Louis County jail, but she was released into her family's custody. McCulloch says Miller's head injuries are so severe, she needs to be kept on house arrest with an ankle monitor. She will only be allowed to leave for doctors' appointments. Miller can walk, but was in a wheelchair as she left the jail.
St. Louis's Indian community still mourns, but Telugu Association President Suren Pathuri says there is no anger, "It's a step in the right direction, hopefully justice will prevail," he says. "Our sympathy goes out to the Christine Miller family. It's hard for her and we hope God will give her strength to face this. Hopefully she'll be stronger."
Pathuri says some in the Indian community were worried the charges were taking too long. McCulloch says it was simply because there were no eye witnesses and reconstruction took a while. He says this case isn't treated any differently because a law enforcement officer is involved.
"You certainly might expect more from a police officer, but from a legal standpoint they're not held to a higher or lower standard. They are held to the same standard as everybody else," says McCulloch.
St. Louis County Prosecutor Robert McCulloch explained, "Her arrest was made by Missouri State Trooper Ryan Burckhardt this morning, at her home. She was taken to St. John's Hospital where she was examined and she was listed as fit for confinement, understanding she's still receiving medical attention. That's why we arranged to have her under house arrest with an ankle bracelet on."
Miller is suspended without pay from the Sunset Hills Police Department effective Tuesday.
"Hours after the crash it was determined her blood alcohol was substantially above the recognized limit in the state of Missouri. It was a .16 at about three hours later and a .15 about four hours after the accident, " stated McCulloch.
Her bond is set at $200,000 and the case will be presented to the grand jury in four to six weeks.
Miller is a 12-year veteran of the police department.
After the accident, Miller had surgery and was in critical condition at St. John's.
At the time of the accident, Nothum would not say why authorities suspected Miller had been drinking. Sunset Hills Police Chief William LaGrand added at the time that drinking and driving would be out of character for Miller, a single mother with one son.
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http://www.stltoday.com/stltoday/news/stories.nsf/stlouiscitycounty/story/46DECB2C72B02AB5862575D1000B60A9?OpenDocument
Thursday, June 11, 2009
Trooper Daniel Martin On Leave While Investigation Continues
An Oklahoma Highway Patrol trooper at the heart of a May 24 confrontation with a Creek Nation paramedic has been placed on administrative leave, authorities said Wednesday.
OHP Capt. Chris West said Trooper Daniel Martin was put on paid administrative leave June 1 while the patrol’s internal affairs investigation into the incident continues.
West emphasized that the leave is not punishment — the trooper is still being paid — but only routine while an investigation is conducted.
However, West was unable to explain why it took the patrol a week to put Martin on administrative leave. He continued working for a week after the confrontation, along U.S. 62 in Paden, seven miles east of Prague.
West said he didn’t know how long Martin would be on leave.
But he did say that a Tulsa World request under the state’s Open Records Act for the video from the trooper’s dashboard camera is being denied. West did not elaborate on the reason for the denial.
Okfuskee County District Attorney Max Cook said last week that the Highway Patrol should release the dashboard-camera video.
Cook said he would not charge either the trooper or the paramedic, Maurice White Jr., in connection with the confrontation.
“Although I do not condone their actions, I do not believe that filing charges at this time would serve the best interests of the public or the interests of justice,” he said last week.
The confrontation occurred as a Creek Nation ambulance was taking a woman to the hospital in Prague. The ambulance was not using
its emergency lights or siren.
Martin was en route along U.S. 62 to aid the Okfuskee County Sheriff’s Office with a stolen-vehicle call and was using his lights and siren, he said in his report.
He said the ambulance didn’t immediately pull over to let him pass. Eventually, the ambulance did let him pass.
Martin said he radioed the ambulance crew that they should be more vigilant.
White acknowledged receiving that transmission and said his driver, Paul Franks, threw up his hands in surprise at the call.
White said the trooper might have mistaken Franks’ response as an obscene finger gesture.
Martin claimed that as the ambulance passed by in Paden, Franks gave him the finger. Franks denies that.
Martin said he gave chase and pulled over the ambulance and approached Franks, telling him he would be cited for failure to yield and asking why he flipped him off.
White got between Franks and Martin, telling Martin that they were on their way to the hospital and that “we can continue this there.”
Martin said that despite repeated requests to White that he back off, the trooper said he tried to arrest White for obstructing an officer.
That’s when the scuffle broke out between the two, with Martin claiming that White grabbed him around the neck and White claiming Martin put him in a choke hold.
Eventually, the ambulance was allowed to go on its way. Martin was not arrested and Franks received a written warning for failure to yield.
Part of the scuffle was captured on a cell-phone camera at the scene by a witness.
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Information from the Tulsa World
OHP Capt. Chris West said Trooper Daniel Martin was put on paid administrative leave June 1 while the patrol’s internal affairs investigation into the incident continues.
West emphasized that the leave is not punishment — the trooper is still being paid — but only routine while an investigation is conducted.
However, West was unable to explain why it took the patrol a week to put Martin on administrative leave. He continued working for a week after the confrontation, along U.S. 62 in Paden, seven miles east of Prague.
West said he didn’t know how long Martin would be on leave.
But he did say that a Tulsa World request under the state’s Open Records Act for the video from the trooper’s dashboard camera is being denied. West did not elaborate on the reason for the denial.
Okfuskee County District Attorney Max Cook said last week that the Highway Patrol should release the dashboard-camera video.
Cook said he would not charge either the trooper or the paramedic, Maurice White Jr., in connection with the confrontation.
“Although I do not condone their actions, I do not believe that filing charges at this time would serve the best interests of the public or the interests of justice,” he said last week.
The confrontation occurred as a Creek Nation ambulance was taking a woman to the hospital in Prague. The ambulance was not using
its emergency lights or siren.
Martin was en route along U.S. 62 to aid the Okfuskee County Sheriff’s Office with a stolen-vehicle call and was using his lights and siren, he said in his report.
He said the ambulance didn’t immediately pull over to let him pass. Eventually, the ambulance did let him pass.
Martin said he radioed the ambulance crew that they should be more vigilant.
White acknowledged receiving that transmission and said his driver, Paul Franks, threw up his hands in surprise at the call.
White said the trooper might have mistaken Franks’ response as an obscene finger gesture.
Martin claimed that as the ambulance passed by in Paden, Franks gave him the finger. Franks denies that.
Martin said he gave chase and pulled over the ambulance and approached Franks, telling him he would be cited for failure to yield and asking why he flipped him off.
White got between Franks and Martin, telling Martin that they were on their way to the hospital and that “we can continue this there.”
Martin said that despite repeated requests to White that he back off, the trooper said he tried to arrest White for obstructing an officer.
That’s when the scuffle broke out between the two, with Martin claiming that White grabbed him around the neck and White claiming Martin put him in a choke hold.
Eventually, the ambulance was allowed to go on its way. Martin was not arrested and Franks received a written warning for failure to yield.
Part of the scuffle was captured on a cell-phone camera at the scene by a witness.
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Information from the Tulsa World
Deputy Angie Clark Accused of Killing Husband
An off-duty Lee County sheriff's deputy is on paid administrative leave Thursday night after investigators say she fatally shot her estranged husband at their home in Broadway.
Harnett County deputies responded to the home of Michael and Angie Clark at 8 Bee Hive Lane at 10:22 p.m. Wednesday after a report of a shooting there.
Michael Clark, 44, died at the scene, deputies said.
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More information & Video: http://www.wral.com/news/local/story/5331724/
Harnett County deputies responded to the home of Michael and Angie Clark at 8 Bee Hive Lane at 10:22 p.m. Wednesday after a report of a shooting there.
Michael Clark, 44, died at the scene, deputies said.
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More information & Video: http://www.wral.com/news/local/story/5331724/
Wednesday, June 10, 2009
Brian Cardall Dies After Being Tasered
An Arizona man with a recent history of mental illness died Tuesday after being Tasered by a Hurricane City Police officer southeast of Hurricane, according to family members and law enforcement reports.
Brian Cardall, 32, a doctoral student in molecular ecology at Northern Arizona University, was traveling south on State Road 59 when the incident occurred, according to a KSL news report.
Cardall was the son of KSL Editorial Director Duane Cardall and was returning home after visiting his family in Salt Lake City, the report said.
"Police and medical personnel responded to a call for assistance with an agitated subject on State Route 59," Undersheriff Jake Adams of the Washington County Sheriff's Office said in a prepared statement. "During the incident, a Hurricane City Police officer deployed a Taser and the subject lost consciousness."
Cardall was treated on the scene by medical personnel but was declared dead after being transported to Dixie Regional Medical Center. Adams said an autopsy is planned Wednesday. For further information, see Wednesday's edition of The Spectrum.
Brian Cardall, 32, a doctoral student in molecular ecology at Northern Arizona University, was traveling south on State Road 59 when the incident occurred, according to a KSL news report.
Cardall was the son of KSL Editorial Director Duane Cardall and was returning home after visiting his family in Salt Lake City, the report said.
"Police and medical personnel responded to a call for assistance with an agitated subject on State Route 59," Undersheriff Jake Adams of the Washington County Sheriff's Office said in a prepared statement. "During the incident, a Hurricane City Police officer deployed a Taser and the subject lost consciousness."
Cardall was treated on the scene by medical personnel but was declared dead after being transported to Dixie Regional Medical Center. Adams said an autopsy is planned Wednesday. For further information, see Wednesday's edition of The Spectrum.
Officer Matthew Leavitt Charged with Violating Civil Rights
A former Montgomery police officer accused of beating a black man in September has been charged with two federal civil rights violations.
In an information filed Tuesday in federal court, Matthew Leavitt is accused of beating Twan Reynolds with a "slap jack" and illegally charging his wife, Lauren Reynolds, with a DUI.
An information generally indicates a defendant is cooperating with the case and can't be filed without a defendant's permission.
"We're obviously pleased," said Reynolds' lawyer, Mike Clifford. "And it would appear that because it was done by information that some sort of plea agreement is forthcoming."
Twan and Lauren Reynolds say Leavitt and fellow officer Shawn Hutchinson hit Twan Reynolds in the head with the slap jack (a small club), kicked him in the back and sprayed him in the eyes with pepper spray at close range following a traffic stop at the 7-Eleven in Montgomery on Sept. 26.
They are suing the two officers and the town.
They also say Leavitt repeatedly used a racial epithet against Twan Reynolds. Lauren Reynolds accused Leavitt of licking her on the neck during an interrogation and saying, "Little whore, you like it like that."
@bodsub2:'I think this is a confirmation'
@bod:Clifford said that he's grateful Charles Miller, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of West Virginia, took up the case. But he's disappointed that the prosecuting attorneys in Fayette and Kanawha Counties did not touch the case. (Montgomery is on the Kanawha-Fayette border.)
Clifford said he does not believe Miller waved off either county to get the federal indictment.
"The information that I received is that did not occur, at least as of the time of the grand jury testimony," he said. "What we predominantly were interested in was a confirmation that one, what the Montgomery officers did was wrong and two, that what Twan and Lauren did was not a criminal act or in any way improper. I think this is a confirmation of that."
In December, Montgomery Police Lt. J.D. Burrow told the Gazette that Leavitt and Hutchinson threatened to arrest him when he tried to stop them from attacking Reynolds.
"These guys were on their own. They felt like they could do what they want," Burrow said at the time. "It seemed like they always had that little leeway to do what they wanted to, to me."
Burrow said he was on patrol when he saw Leavitt and Hutchinson driving to the 7-Eleven with lights flashing, according to a statement Burrow provided to the city of Montgomery.
Burrow followed the officers to the store, where they had Lauren and Twan Reynolds pulled over. Burrow says he overheard Lauren repeatedly tell Leavitt and Hutchinson that she hadn't been drinking.
In an information filed Tuesday in federal court, Matthew Leavitt is accused of beating Twan Reynolds with a "slap jack" and illegally charging his wife, Lauren Reynolds, with a DUI.
An information generally indicates a defendant is cooperating with the case and can't be filed without a defendant's permission.
"We're obviously pleased," said Reynolds' lawyer, Mike Clifford. "And it would appear that because it was done by information that some sort of plea agreement is forthcoming."
Twan and Lauren Reynolds say Leavitt and fellow officer Shawn Hutchinson hit Twan Reynolds in the head with the slap jack (a small club), kicked him in the back and sprayed him in the eyes with pepper spray at close range following a traffic stop at the 7-Eleven in Montgomery on Sept. 26.
They are suing the two officers and the town.
They also say Leavitt repeatedly used a racial epithet against Twan Reynolds. Lauren Reynolds accused Leavitt of licking her on the neck during an interrogation and saying, "Little whore, you like it like that."
@bodsub2:'I think this is a confirmation'
@bod:Clifford said that he's grateful Charles Miller, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of West Virginia, took up the case. But he's disappointed that the prosecuting attorneys in Fayette and Kanawha Counties did not touch the case. (Montgomery is on the Kanawha-Fayette border.)
Clifford said he does not believe Miller waved off either county to get the federal indictment.
"The information that I received is that did not occur, at least as of the time of the grand jury testimony," he said. "What we predominantly were interested in was a confirmation that one, what the Montgomery officers did was wrong and two, that what Twan and Lauren did was not a criminal act or in any way improper. I think this is a confirmation of that."
In December, Montgomery Police Lt. J.D. Burrow told the Gazette that Leavitt and Hutchinson threatened to arrest him when he tried to stop them from attacking Reynolds.
"These guys were on their own. They felt like they could do what they want," Burrow said at the time. "It seemed like they always had that little leeway to do what they wanted to, to me."
Burrow said he was on patrol when he saw Leavitt and Hutchinson driving to the 7-Eleven with lights flashing, according to a statement Burrow provided to the city of Montgomery.
Burrow followed the officers to the store, where they had Lauren and Twan Reynolds pulled over. Burrow says he overheard Lauren repeatedly tell Leavitt and Hutchinson that she hadn't been drinking.
Deputy Scott Benton Arrested for Indecent Behavior with 13-year-old
The St. Tammany Sheriff’s Office arrested one of their own last week on a charge of indecent behavior with a juvenile, Sheriff Jack Strain said in a statement released Tuesday.
According to the release, Scott Benton, 42, 231 Forest Loop, Mandeville, was arrested last Thursday, after a three day investigation of a complaint from the mother of a 13-year-old girl who is from the Mandeville area. The complaint was received June 1. Strain said investigators discovered that Benton allegedly had an inappropriate conversation with the girl and there was one alleged incidence of kissing involved. Strain said that no other incidents between the two are believed to have occurred.
Strain said Benton was fired from the Sheriff’s Office on June 4, the same day he was arrested.
St. Tammany Parish Sheriff's Office deputy Scott Benton, 42, was arrested last Thursday and charged with indecent behavior with a juvenile.
Capt. George Bonnett, Sheriff’s Office spokesman said that Benton has worked as a deputy for the past three years, and was on court security during that time, where he worked at the front door of the Justice Center in Covington.
Bonnett said Benton was booked into the St. Tammany Parish Jail June 4, and was released on a $25,000 bond later that evening. Bonnett said Benton has not made any statements on the incident.
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http://www.wdsu.com/news/19713295/detail.html
Tuesday, June 09, 2009
Officer Todd Prawdzik Sentenced to Probation for Assaulting Man
A Hyattsville police officer accused of assaulting an unarmed man who had done nothing to provoke the attack has been sentenced to three years of unsupervised probation.
Todd Prawdzik entered an Alford plea in Prince George's County District Court on Monday to a charge of second-degree assault. In an Alford plea, the defendant maintains his innocence but acknowledges that prosecutors have enough evidence for a conviction.
Prawdzik's twin brother, Jeff, a Riverdale Park police officer, is also charged with second-degree assault in the incident. His attorney expects that the state will place the charge on the inactive docket.
Prosecutors say Todd Prawdzik asked Melty Castillo-Hernandez and another man whether they had somewhere to go and hit Castillo-Hernandez on the head with a metal baton when he asked if they were police officers.
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http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/06/08/AR2009060803953.html
Todd Prawdzik entered an Alford plea in Prince George's County District Court on Monday to a charge of second-degree assault. In an Alford plea, the defendant maintains his innocence but acknowledges that prosecutors have enough evidence for a conviction.
Prawdzik's twin brother, Jeff, a Riverdale Park police officer, is also charged with second-degree assault in the incident. His attorney expects that the state will place the charge on the inactive docket.
Prosecutors say Todd Prawdzik asked Melty Castillo-Hernandez and another man whether they had somewhere to go and hit Castillo-Hernandez on the head with a metal baton when he asked if they were police officers.
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http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/06/08/AR2009060803953.html
Officer Christine Miller Charged with Involuntary Manslaughter
A suburban St. Louis police officer has been charged with four counts of involuntary manslaughter-driving while intoxicated for a March accident that killed four people.
Charges were filed Tuesday against 41-year-old Christine Miller. She also was arrested Tuesday and unavailable for comment. It wasn't clear if she had an attorney.
St. Louis County Prosecutor Robert McCulloch said bond was set $200,000, but because Miller is still recovering from severe head injuries suffered in the accident his office agreed to home confinement.
The accident on March 21 killed four people from India, three of whom were graduate students at Eastern Illinois Universty in Charleston.
Miller also faces a fifth charge tied to a fifth victim who was badly injured. She was a veteran officer with the Sunset Hills police department.
Charges were filed Tuesday against 41-year-old Christine Miller. She also was arrested Tuesday and unavailable for comment. It wasn't clear if she had an attorney.
St. Louis County Prosecutor Robert McCulloch said bond was set $200,000, but because Miller is still recovering from severe head injuries suffered in the accident his office agreed to home confinement.
The accident on March 21 killed four people from India, three of whom were graduate students at Eastern Illinois Universty in Charleston.
Miller also faces a fifth charge tied to a fifth victim who was badly injured. She was a veteran officer with the Sunset Hills police department.
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Officer Geoffrey Presco Arrested for Stealing Cash from Evidence
Yuma police's officer of the year in 2008 has been arrested on suspicion of stealing more than $11,000 in cash from seized evidence to support an addition to prescription drugs.
Officer Geoffrey Michael Presco was arrested at the police station Monday on one count of theft and was placed on paid leave.
The arrest came following an investigation of missing evidence.
Presco was named Yuma's patrol officer of the year in 2008.
He is being held on a $55,000 bond.
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http://www.kswt.com/Global/story.asp?S=10506469
Officer Geoffrey Michael Presco was arrested at the police station Monday on one count of theft and was placed on paid leave.
The arrest came following an investigation of missing evidence.
Presco was named Yuma's patrol officer of the year in 2008.
He is being held on a $55,000 bond.
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http://www.kswt.com/Global/story.asp?S=10506469
Officer Marty Dulworth Arrested for Drunk Driving
An Anderson police officer who was reportedly riding his motorcycle down south Muncie streets at nearly 100 mph was arrested Saturday night for drunken driving.
Marty D. Dulworth, 32, Middletown was stopped near 29th Street and Macedonia Avenue by David Fidler, an Indiana State Police trooper.
Fidler reported smelling the odor of alcohol, and Dulworth admitted he had been drinking, but refused to take a field sobriety test, according to a probable cause affidavit.
Dulworth’s blood-alcohol content was later measured at 0.19 percent. In Indiana, motorists with a BAC of 0.08 percent or higher are considered intoxicated.
Dulworth was preliminarily charged with driving while intoxicated, and taken to the Delaware County jail. Jail records indicate he was released just before 9 a.m. Sunday after posting a $2,500 bond.
Marty D. Dulworth, 32, Middletown was stopped near 29th Street and Macedonia Avenue by David Fidler, an Indiana State Police trooper.
Fidler reported smelling the odor of alcohol, and Dulworth admitted he had been drinking, but refused to take a field sobriety test, according to a probable cause affidavit.
Dulworth’s blood-alcohol content was later measured at 0.19 percent. In Indiana, motorists with a BAC of 0.08 percent or higher are considered intoxicated.
Dulworth was preliminarily charged with driving while intoxicated, and taken to the Delaware County jail. Jail records indicate he was released just before 9 a.m. Sunday after posting a $2,500 bond.
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More Information on Stephanie Lazarus Charged with 1986 Murder
Prosecutors today charged an LAPD detective with premeditated murder in connection with the fatal shooting two decades ago of her ex-boyfriend's wife.
Stephanie Lazarus, 49, could potentially face the death penalty because prosecutors alleged a special circumstance in the case: that she killed Sherri Rae Rasmussen, who was badly beaten and shot multiple times in her Van Nuys condominium on the evening of Feb. 24, 1986, during a burglary.
A decision by prosecutors to seek the death penalty would be made at a later date, said Jane Robison, a spokeswoman for the L.A. County district attorney's office.
The original homicide detectives assigned to the case did not focus on Lazarus, who was then a patrol officer who had been with the department more than two years. Instead, they pursued the theory that two men who had robbed another woman in the area at gunpoint had killed Rasmussen when she came upon them burglarizing her home, according to news reports from the time.
But detectives revisited the case in February, testing blood or saliva samples from the crime scene thought to have been from the killer. DNA tests showed that the attacker was a woman, disproving the theory that Rasmussen's killer was a man.
In a check of the case file, there was a reference to Lazarus, who had once dated the victim's husband, John Ruetten. Ruetten reportedly broke off the relationship and soon after became involved with Rasmussen, said sources familiar with the investigation who were not authorized to speak publicly.
Police sources said that Lazarus' DNA was recovered from discarded items by an undercover officer who had surreptitiously trailed her. The DNA in her saliva was compared with the DNA evidence collected from the crime scene. The genetic code in the samples matched conclusively, police said.
Lazarus, who is expected to be arraigned Tuesday, was last assigned to the LAPD's art theft detail.
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Previous Post: http://whathappenedtoprotectandserve.blogspot.com/2009/06/detective-stephanie-lazarus-arrested.html
Stephanie Lazarus, 49, could potentially face the death penalty because prosecutors alleged a special circumstance in the case: that she killed Sherri Rae Rasmussen, who was badly beaten and shot multiple times in her Van Nuys condominium on the evening of Feb. 24, 1986, during a burglary.
A decision by prosecutors to seek the death penalty would be made at a later date, said Jane Robison, a spokeswoman for the L.A. County district attorney's office.
The original homicide detectives assigned to the case did not focus on Lazarus, who was then a patrol officer who had been with the department more than two years. Instead, they pursued the theory that two men who had robbed another woman in the area at gunpoint had killed Rasmussen when she came upon them burglarizing her home, according to news reports from the time.
But detectives revisited the case in February, testing blood or saliva samples from the crime scene thought to have been from the killer. DNA tests showed that the attacker was a woman, disproving the theory that Rasmussen's killer was a man.
In a check of the case file, there was a reference to Lazarus, who had once dated the victim's husband, John Ruetten. Ruetten reportedly broke off the relationship and soon after became involved with Rasmussen, said sources familiar with the investigation who were not authorized to speak publicly.
Police sources said that Lazarus' DNA was recovered from discarded items by an undercover officer who had surreptitiously trailed her. The DNA in her saliva was compared with the DNA evidence collected from the crime scene. The genetic code in the samples matched conclusively, police said.
Lazarus, who is expected to be arraigned Tuesday, was last assigned to the LAPD's art theft detail.
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Previous Post: http://whathappenedtoprotectandserve.blogspot.com/2009/06/detective-stephanie-lazarus-arrested.html
Officer Gary Pignato Found Guilty of Coercing Woman into Having Sex
Jurors came back at 5 p.m. Monday and found suspended Greece Police Officer Gary Pignato guilty of all charges. He was accused of using his police powers to coerce a woman into having sex, and was charged with coercion, accepting a bribe, and official misconduct.
While deliberating, the jury came back twice to have testimony read back. Boiled down, it was a case of who they believed - Officer Gary Pignato or the woman who says he exerted his influence for sex.
The woman testified that she had been drinking that night and agreed to the encounter in an effort to avoid a probation violation which could have sent her to jail. But in his closing arguments Monday morning, Pignato's attorney Scott Green, painted a much different picture of what happened the night of August 24 2008.
He told jurors Officer Pignato didn't know at the time that the woman was even on probation. He then proceeded to try to break down her credibility, portraying her as a woman motivated by greed and said, "she has repeatedly lied, misspoke and shaded the truth."
Green conceded Pignato's decision to have a sexual encounter with her was maybe not smart, but in the end said, "what we have here is a consensual act between two adults."
The DA's office clearly disagreed. William Gargan said, “What occurred between those two adults was not an instance of consenting adults deciding to make a decision to engage in sexual relations later."
In his summation, Gargan called the woman a vulnerable wreck - abusing drugs and alcohol, caring for a sick mother, while being thrown out by her boyfriend and he says Pignato knew it.
Replaying a taped phone conversation between the alleged victim and Pignato, Gargan noted a portion of the conversation where Pignato seemed surprised she even knew his name.
Pignato: (How did you) find out who I was anyways? You never asked me who I was.
Woman: Yes I did. I asked you what your name was.
Gargan continued, “So it gives you a hint of what transpired the night in August. This was an incident of several hours together, but names were not shared, and again, there was one that was sober and a police officer and one that was not."
The jury deliberated for more than four hours, returning twice requesting more information. Once to have some legal definitions read back and the other to have testimony read back.
The judge did warn them not to consider the fact that Pignato did not testify at this trial.
Despite the conviction, Officer Pignato's legal problems are not be behind him. He's charged with similar conduct involving a second woman who claims she was also coerced.
When sentenced, Pignato faces two and a third to seven years in prison.
For more Rochester, N.Y. news go to our website http://www.whec.com/.
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Other information: http://www.newsday.com/news/local/wire/newyork/ny-bc-ny--policeofficerconv0609jun09,0,1755889.story
While deliberating, the jury came back twice to have testimony read back. Boiled down, it was a case of who they believed - Officer Gary Pignato or the woman who says he exerted his influence for sex.
The woman testified that she had been drinking that night and agreed to the encounter in an effort to avoid a probation violation which could have sent her to jail. But in his closing arguments Monday morning, Pignato's attorney Scott Green, painted a much different picture of what happened the night of August 24 2008.
He told jurors Officer Pignato didn't know at the time that the woman was even on probation. He then proceeded to try to break down her credibility, portraying her as a woman motivated by greed and said, "she has repeatedly lied, misspoke and shaded the truth."
Green conceded Pignato's decision to have a sexual encounter with her was maybe not smart, but in the end said, "what we have here is a consensual act between two adults."
The DA's office clearly disagreed. William Gargan said, “What occurred between those two adults was not an instance of consenting adults deciding to make a decision to engage in sexual relations later."
In his summation, Gargan called the woman a vulnerable wreck - abusing drugs and alcohol, caring for a sick mother, while being thrown out by her boyfriend and he says Pignato knew it.
Replaying a taped phone conversation between the alleged victim and Pignato, Gargan noted a portion of the conversation where Pignato seemed surprised she even knew his name.
Pignato: (How did you) find out who I was anyways? You never asked me who I was.
Woman: Yes I did. I asked you what your name was.
Gargan continued, “So it gives you a hint of what transpired the night in August. This was an incident of several hours together, but names were not shared, and again, there was one that was sober and a police officer and one that was not."
The jury deliberated for more than four hours, returning twice requesting more information. Once to have some legal definitions read back and the other to have testimony read back.
The judge did warn them not to consider the fact that Pignato did not testify at this trial.
Despite the conviction, Officer Pignato's legal problems are not be behind him. He's charged with similar conduct involving a second woman who claims she was also coerced.
When sentenced, Pignato faces two and a third to seven years in prison.
For more Rochester, N.Y. news go to our website http://www.whec.com/.
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Other information: http://www.newsday.com/news/local/wire/newyork/ny-bc-ny--policeofficerconv0609jun09,0,1755889.story
Monday, June 08, 2009
Former Officer Malik Snell Convicted of Stealing from Drug Kingpin
A jury convicted a former Philadelphia police officer of stealing from a drug kingpin and participating in a robbery.
Malik Snell drove the get-a-way car following a home invasion in Pottstown last March, which led to a high speed chase, prosecutors said.
The 36-year-old was convicted Monday on all counts. The former Marine was an officer for 11 years.
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Photo & More Information: http://www.philly.com/philly/news/breaking/20090608_Ex-Philadelphia_police_officer_convicted_on_4_counts.html
Malik Snell drove the get-a-way car following a home invasion in Pottstown last March, which led to a high speed chase, prosecutors said.
The 36-year-old was convicted Monday on all counts. The former Marine was an officer for 11 years.
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Photo & More Information: http://www.philly.com/philly/news/breaking/20090608_Ex-Philadelphia_police_officer_convicted_on_4_counts.html
Federal Corrections Officer Donnell White Arrested for Drunk Driving
A federal corrections officer arrested on suspicion of drunken driving allegedly told Vineland police, “too bad you can’t get killed like the Philly cops” — a reference to several officers in that city recently slain in the line of duty.
Donnell White, 34, of Cumberland Green Apartments in Millville, was charged late Thursday with driving while intoxicated, following a vehicle too closely, failure to maintain a lane, reckless driving, refusal to submit to a breath test and failure to exhibit a vehicle registration card.
White is a corrections officer at FCI Fairton in Fairfield, police said.
Police responded to Bennigan’s on West Landis Avenue at 10:40 p.m. Thursday for a report of a fight inside the restaurant. During the investigation, police interviewed White, who appeared to be intoxicated, said Vineland police Sgt. Vince Solazzo of the Traffic Safety Unit.
White told the investigating officers that his girlfriend could drive him home, according to a police report.
But, a short while later, police saw White driving out of the parking lot in a Ford Explorer, Solazzo said.
Police followed White’s vehicle — which they said was traveling at a high rate of speed — southbound on Route 55 before pulling the Explorer over near Sherman Avenue.
White failed field sobriety tests and was arrested on suspicion of drunken driving, according to Solazzo.
At police headquarters, he refused to take a breath test, and then made the comment about the slain Philadelphia officers to the arresting officer, Sgt. Christopher Davis, Solazzo said.
In Philadelphia, seven police officers have died in the line of duty in less than three years.
While he was being processed, White also allegedly told police, “I know how to play this game. I’m going to tell them I have a drinking problem and I’ll be back to work in 30 days,” and then laughed out loud.
White was released to an acquaintance pending a hearing in Vineland Municipal Court.
Solazzo said Monday that White’s behavior was inappropriate, especially coming from a fellow law-enforcement officer.
“It’s unacceptable, and I’m hoping the FCI feels the same way I do,” he said.
“They’ve been through a lot,” Solazzo said of Philadelphia police. “We have officers who go to the funerals. It’s just not proper. We will be monitoring this case closely.”
Donnell White, 34, of Cumberland Green Apartments in Millville, was charged late Thursday with driving while intoxicated, following a vehicle too closely, failure to maintain a lane, reckless driving, refusal to submit to a breath test and failure to exhibit a vehicle registration card.
White is a corrections officer at FCI Fairton in Fairfield, police said.
Police responded to Bennigan’s on West Landis Avenue at 10:40 p.m. Thursday for a report of a fight inside the restaurant. During the investigation, police interviewed White, who appeared to be intoxicated, said Vineland police Sgt. Vince Solazzo of the Traffic Safety Unit.
White told the investigating officers that his girlfriend could drive him home, according to a police report.
But, a short while later, police saw White driving out of the parking lot in a Ford Explorer, Solazzo said.
Police followed White’s vehicle — which they said was traveling at a high rate of speed — southbound on Route 55 before pulling the Explorer over near Sherman Avenue.
White failed field sobriety tests and was arrested on suspicion of drunken driving, according to Solazzo.
At police headquarters, he refused to take a breath test, and then made the comment about the slain Philadelphia officers to the arresting officer, Sgt. Christopher Davis, Solazzo said.
In Philadelphia, seven police officers have died in the line of duty in less than three years.
While he was being processed, White also allegedly told police, “I know how to play this game. I’m going to tell them I have a drinking problem and I’ll be back to work in 30 days,” and then laughed out loud.
White was released to an acquaintance pending a hearing in Vineland Municipal Court.
Solazzo said Monday that White’s behavior was inappropriate, especially coming from a fellow law-enforcement officer.
“It’s unacceptable, and I’m hoping the FCI feels the same way I do,” he said.
“They’ve been through a lot,” Solazzo said of Philadelphia police. “We have officers who go to the funerals. It’s just not proper. We will be monitoring this case closely.”
Deputy Lance Berkley Charged with Having Sex with Inmate
A Montgomery County sheriff's deputy is charged with having sex with a female inmate at the County Jail.
A grand jury indicted Lance Berkley, 49, on Friday. A Jail supervisor says Berkley was fired from the jail on May following an internal investigation. The trouble started when an inmate told a staff member Berkley had sex with another inmate in a laundry area.
Investigators say the incident happened in late April, and the results of the investigation were given to the grand jury.
A grand jury indicted Lance Berkley, 49, on Friday. A Jail supervisor says Berkley was fired from the jail on May following an internal investigation. The trouble started when an inmate told a staff member Berkley had sex with another inmate in a laundry area.
Investigators say the incident happened in late April, and the results of the investigation were given to the grand jury.
BGSU Officer Investigated for Providing Alcohol to Minors
Serious allegations are coming out of Bowling Green State University.
The Bowling Green Prosecutors Office is investigating a BGSU police officer for providing alcohol to minors at his home.
We're awaiting a formal statement from the university, but a spokesperson says when the allegations came to the school, the information was sent to Bowling Green City Police.
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http://toledoblade.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20090609/NEWS02/906099985/-1/NEWS
The Bowling Green Prosecutors Office is investigating a BGSU police officer for providing alcohol to minors at his home.
We're awaiting a formal statement from the university, but a spokesperson says when the allegations came to the school, the information was sent to Bowling Green City Police.
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http://toledoblade.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20090609/NEWS02/906099985/-1/NEWS
Sgt. Cher Sneider Accused of Trying to Date Suspect
The city's acting police chief is seeking the firing of a sergeant he accuses of lying and inappropriate conduct, including trying to date a suspect under investigation.
Sgt. Cher Sneider, while off duty, had an on-duty patrol officer on May 10, 2008, tap into a secure police database to get Sneider the phone number of a man who was under investigation by the department, according to administrative charges filed against her.
Sneider thought the man was "hot" and wanted to call him so she could go out with him, the charging document says.
The man, identified only as John Doe in the document, was a city resident with a known criminal history with the department. At the time, city police were investigating him and his residence on suspicion of illegal activity, including illegal drugs, the charging document states.
Sneider made four calls with her personal cell phone to the man's residence on May 10, 2008, one call the following day and two calls on May 17, 2008, the document says. She also stopped at his home May 11, but he wasn't there, the document states.
During the investigation into Sneider, she denied that she requested the man's number from the patrol officer, that she attempted to contact him and that she had a personal interest in him, the document says. Sneider has been on paid administrative leave since November.
Police Department rules require that officers engage in professional conduct, refrain from associating with people of questionable character, use city resources only for work and "speak the truth at all times."
Acting Chief Daniel Meister is asking the city's Police and Fire Commission to dismiss Sneider.
Meister says in the statement of charges that because of the pending case and Sneider's past discipline, she can "no longer testify credibly or function effectively as a law enforcement officer" in the city.
Sneider's attorney, Jennifer Dorow, said Monday that the charges are without merit and that Sneider will fight the allegations.
Sneider denies trying to have a relationship with John Doe, Dorow said. The attorney said Sneider did have contact with the man, but only in an official capacity related to a noise complaint.
"When all is said and done, you have an officer with a history of exceptional service. Seeking to fire her is ridiculous," Dorow said, noting that Sneider in the past had received a bravery medal from the department for helping to rescue a person at a fire scene.
Sneider, according to the charging document, has been disciplined four times in the past, including a one-day suspension in July 2005 for unprofessional conduct and untruthfulness. She twice received oral counseling and once received a written reprimand.
Sneider has been an officer with the department since January 2000 and was promoted to sergeant in November 2006.
The Sneider charges are the latest controversy involving the city Police Department.
Chief Gary Bach, who had been under fire, agreed to resign from the department effective Dec. 31, in exchange for a $170,000 payout. He had been on paid leave since July 23 when the city launched an investigation into him.
In a John Doe investigation started at Bach's request last fall, Sneider testified that a conspiracy existed within the Police Department to get Bach fired.
In February, Meister said Sneider's leave had nothing to do with her allegiance to Bach.
Reserve Deputy Ronnie Araiza Arrested for Arson
A Bexar County Fire Marshal's Office investigation has led to an arson charge against a man authorities believe destroyed a vehicle that he used as a Bexar County reserve deputy constable with the goal of committing insurance fraud, an arrest affidavit states.
Ronnie Lucero Araiza, 30, was arrested and released on bond over the weekend on a charge of arson of a motor vehicle, according to the affidavit.
The arrest stems from a nearly two-year-old incident in which Araiza's Chevy Blazer was spotted on fire at and Potranco Road. In the affidavit, authorities claim Araiza worked with another man on Aug. 25, 2007, to set his Blazer on fire after Araiza purchased a new vehicle.
At the time of the fire, Araiza was working as a reserve deputy constable for Precinct 2 and told officials he was near Loop 1604 and Potranco Road when the fire occurred. Using cell phone records to show calls made between Araiza and another man around the time of the fire, investigators found a call was made to Araiza from a phone that was within a half-mile of the fire scene about three minutes before the fire was reported to 911, the affidavit said.
Cell phone records showed Araiza was around Loop 1604 and Potranco Road and also Loop 1604 and U.S. 281 around the time of the fire.
Records were not available to show if the man who made the call to Araiza has been arrested.
Calls to the Precinct 2 Constable's office on Sunday were not answered and it was not clear in the affidavit if Araiza was still working as a reserve deputy at the time of his arrest Friday.
Ronnie Lucero Araiza, 30, was arrested and released on bond over the weekend on a charge of arson of a motor vehicle, according to the affidavit.
The arrest stems from a nearly two-year-old incident in which Araiza's Chevy Blazer was spotted on fire at and Potranco Road. In the affidavit, authorities claim Araiza worked with another man on Aug. 25, 2007, to set his Blazer on fire after Araiza purchased a new vehicle.
At the time of the fire, Araiza was working as a reserve deputy constable for Precinct 2 and told officials he was near Loop 1604 and Potranco Road when the fire occurred. Using cell phone records to show calls made between Araiza and another man around the time of the fire, investigators found a call was made to Araiza from a phone that was within a half-mile of the fire scene about three minutes before the fire was reported to 911, the affidavit said.
Cell phone records showed Araiza was around Loop 1604 and Potranco Road and also Loop 1604 and U.S. 281 around the time of the fire.
Records were not available to show if the man who made the call to Araiza has been arrested.
Calls to the Precinct 2 Constable's office on Sunday were not answered and it was not clear in the affidavit if Araiza was still working as a reserve deputy at the time of his arrest Friday.
Deputy Lance Berkley Charged with Having Sex with Inmate
A Montgomery County sheriff's deputy is charged with having sex with a female inmate at the County Jail.
A grand jury indicted Lance Berkley, 49, on Friday. A Jail supervisor says Berkley was fired from the jail on May following an internal investigation. The trouble started when an inmate told a staff member Berkley had sex with another inmate in a laundry area.
Investigators say the incident happened in late April, and the results of the investigation were given to the grand jury.
A grand jury indicted Lance Berkley, 49, on Friday. A Jail supervisor says Berkley was fired from the jail on May following an internal investigation. The trouble started when an inmate told a staff member Berkley had sex with another inmate in a laundry area.
Investigators say the incident happened in late April, and the results of the investigation were given to the grand jury.
Sunday, June 07, 2009
Police Brutality Caught on Tape
It's a disturbing allegation of police brutality.
It stems from a violent encounter between a Passaic, N.J., cop and a mentally ill man.
The entire incident was recorded by a surveillance camera mounted outside a nearby restaurant.
With a swollen eye and bruised ribs, Ronnie Holloway claimed to wonder what led to it all.
"I know I deserve better the way I was treated," Holloway said.
The way he was treated by Passaic Police was captured on surveillance camera at a restaurant. The 49-year-old is seen walking with his chest and belly exposed. Moments later, police arrive and, according to Holloway, tell him to cover himself, which he appears to be doing while still conversing with police. Then an officer gets out of the car ...
"He grabbed me with both hands at the collar area real physically hard and just flung me up against the police vehicle," Holloway said.
Holloway is then thrown to the ground and punched several times. Then the baton comes out, followed by swings to the ribs.
"I recall him saying, 'get down' as he swung, but he kept swinging like that," Holloway said.
Holloway is seen getting up and is pushed against the squad car again, then swung around, followed by two more baton swings to the legs. Holloway was hauled away when back-up squads arrived and insists he never resisted or said a word to Passaic Police during the entire 90-second incident, but it's clear from the video that he was saying something.
CBS 2 HD: "You don't recall saying anything, yelling anything, saying anything that was provocative?"
Holloway: "No."
Regardless of what may have been said, the family said it hardly justifies the physicality that followed.
"A lawsuit is likely," mother Betty Holloway said.
Holloway's mother also said her disabled son has schizophrenia.
"He's a good person," she said.
"Is it possible his schizophrenia may have done something to provoke police?"
Betty Holloway: "No, because he wasn't doing anything. He was standing."
Passaic Police said the incident is under investigation and won't answer any questions, including why the officer is still on active duty.
"I feel he should definitely lose his job because it's not fair to be treated that way," Ronnie Holloway said.
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Information & Video: http://www.myfoxny.com/dpp/news/local_news/new_jersey/090606_Passaic_Rally_Against_Police_Brutality
It stems from a violent encounter between a Passaic, N.J., cop and a mentally ill man.
The entire incident was recorded by a surveillance camera mounted outside a nearby restaurant.
With a swollen eye and bruised ribs, Ronnie Holloway claimed to wonder what led to it all.
"I know I deserve better the way I was treated," Holloway said.
The way he was treated by Passaic Police was captured on surveillance camera at a restaurant. The 49-year-old is seen walking with his chest and belly exposed. Moments later, police arrive and, according to Holloway, tell him to cover himself, which he appears to be doing while still conversing with police. Then an officer gets out of the car ...
"He grabbed me with both hands at the collar area real physically hard and just flung me up against the police vehicle," Holloway said.
Holloway is then thrown to the ground and punched several times. Then the baton comes out, followed by swings to the ribs.
"I recall him saying, 'get down' as he swung, but he kept swinging like that," Holloway said.
Holloway is seen getting up and is pushed against the squad car again, then swung around, followed by two more baton swings to the legs. Holloway was hauled away when back-up squads arrived and insists he never resisted or said a word to Passaic Police during the entire 90-second incident, but it's clear from the video that he was saying something.
CBS 2 HD: "You don't recall saying anything, yelling anything, saying anything that was provocative?"
Holloway: "No."
Regardless of what may have been said, the family said it hardly justifies the physicality that followed.
"A lawsuit is likely," mother Betty Holloway said.
Holloway's mother also said her disabled son has schizophrenia.
"He's a good person," she said.
"Is it possible his schizophrenia may have done something to provoke police?"
Betty Holloway: "No, because he wasn't doing anything. He was standing."
Passaic Police said the incident is under investigation and won't answer any questions, including why the officer is still on active duty.
"I feel he should definitely lose his job because it's not fair to be treated that way," Ronnie Holloway said.
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Information & Video: http://www.myfoxny.com/dpp/news/local_news/new_jersey/090606_Passaic_Rally_Against_Police_Brutality
Former Public Safety Trooper Arrested for Failure to Register as Sex Offender
U.S. Marshals arrest a man for failure to register as a sex offender.
Arturo Moreno is a former Texas department of public safety trooper, and a convicted sex offender.
DPS requested the U.S. Marshals assistance to locate and arrest Moreno.
On Tuesday Marshals and DPS located Moreno inside an apartment complex in north Laredo.
Two firearms were discovered inside the residence at the time of the arrest.
Moreno served 10 years in prison on charges of aggravated sexual assault and aggravated kidnapping of a 17 year old but failed to register as a sex offender upon his release.
If convicted, Moreno could be facing more time in prison.
Detective Stephanie Lazarus Arrested for 1986 Murder
A veteran police detective in Los Angeles, California, was arrested Friday morning on suspicion of killing a former lover's wife in 1986, marking a rare instance in which the department has arrested one of its own, Police Chief William Bratton said.
Stephanie Ilene Lazarus, 49, was on duty Friday morning when she was arrested in the Los Angeles Police Department's downtown headquarters in the slaying of Sherri Rae Rasmussen, Bratton said.
Rasmussen's husband found her bruised body in their Van Nuys condominium on February 24, 1986. She had been shot multiple times, he said.
At the time, investigators thought Rasmussen had been the victim of a fatal robbery, but with few leads, the case languished, Bratton said.
It wasn't until the department's cold case squad started re-examining the case in February that DNA evidence led to Lazarus, a 25-year veteran who had been on the force two years when Rasmussen was killed.
"The current investigation combined with technology available today led to the identification of Lazarus as the suspect in the case," Bratton said. "The investigation revealed that she had had a previous relationship with the victim's husband prior to the murder. DNA processing and analysis provided a key piece of evidence in this investigation."
New analysis of DNA from the crime scene revealed that the suspected killer was female and not male, as investigators previously suspected. Bratton said cold case detectives used surreptitious means to gather current DNA samples from Lazarus, but he did not elaborate.
Bratton commended officers for ensuring the integrity of the case while faced with the difficult task of investigating a colleague they knew.
"They did what was expected of Los Angeles police officers. They went where the truth and the facts as known to them took them," he said. "[It's] painful for them to be reviewing a case, and then determine that the leads were leading to a current member of the police force."
Deputy Police Chief Charlie Beck noted the proximity of the robbery homicide office to the division where Lazarus worked.
"These are folks, one side of the hallway, investigating a member of the other," Beck said. "You can't know a person for that long or their family and not be affected by this."
Lazarus is being held on homicide charges. The case will be presented to the Los Angeles District Attorney's Office on Monday, Beck said.
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More Information: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/06/07/us/07lapd.html?ref=global-home
http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5iSKim9DxlWXR2HZG4817ZvuewoNg
Stephanie Ilene Lazarus, 49, was on duty Friday morning when she was arrested in the Los Angeles Police Department's downtown headquarters in the slaying of Sherri Rae Rasmussen, Bratton said.
Rasmussen's husband found her bruised body in their Van Nuys condominium on February 24, 1986. She had been shot multiple times, he said.
At the time, investigators thought Rasmussen had been the victim of a fatal robbery, but with few leads, the case languished, Bratton said.
It wasn't until the department's cold case squad started re-examining the case in February that DNA evidence led to Lazarus, a 25-year veteran who had been on the force two years when Rasmussen was killed.
"The current investigation combined with technology available today led to the identification of Lazarus as the suspect in the case," Bratton said. "The investigation revealed that she had had a previous relationship with the victim's husband prior to the murder. DNA processing and analysis provided a key piece of evidence in this investigation."
New analysis of DNA from the crime scene revealed that the suspected killer was female and not male, as investigators previously suspected. Bratton said cold case detectives used surreptitious means to gather current DNA samples from Lazarus, but he did not elaborate.
Bratton commended officers for ensuring the integrity of the case while faced with the difficult task of investigating a colleague they knew.
"They did what was expected of Los Angeles police officers. They went where the truth and the facts as known to them took them," he said. "[It's] painful for them to be reviewing a case, and then determine that the leads were leading to a current member of the police force."
Deputy Police Chief Charlie Beck noted the proximity of the robbery homicide office to the division where Lazarus worked.
"These are folks, one side of the hallway, investigating a member of the other," Beck said. "You can't know a person for that long or their family and not be affected by this."
Lazarus is being held on homicide charges. The case will be presented to the Los Angeles District Attorney's Office on Monday, Beck said.
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More Information: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/06/07/us/07lapd.html?ref=global-home
http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5iSKim9DxlWXR2HZG4817ZvuewoNg
Saturday, June 06, 2009
Trooper Manuel Moreno Jr Arrested for Assault
A Texas state trooper is accused of assaulting the same man three separate times.
Trooper Manuel Moreno Jr. is a drivers license trooper in Amarillo, and was picked up by the Randall County Sheriff's Department.
Moreno faces four counts of assault and one count of deadly conduct.
According to records obtained through Potter County, on January 4, 2009 Moreno assaulted another man. Then did the same on February 1, 2009 and also choked the man bringing the deadly conduct charge. The final incident occurred on April 12th when Moreno again assaulted the man twice.
Moreno has already posted a $12,500 bond out of Randall County.
DPS officials in Austin tell us, he has been placed on paid administrative leave until an internal investigation is complete. But his uniform and other issued equipment have been confiscated.
Potter County Attorney Scott Brumley was unavailable for comment Friday afternoon, and his office said they don't comment on pending cases.
At this time it is unclear what caused Moreno and the other man to fight on three separate occasions.
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Information: http://myhighplains.com/content/fulltext/?cid=59662
Friday, June 05, 2009
Cpl Lisa Lindler Fired After DUI Arrest
An officer in the South Carolina Highway Patrol has been fired after an arrest and charge of driving under the influence.
Lance Cpl. Lisa M. Lindler was stopped in her personal vehicle and arrested by Cayce police just after 10 p.m. Wednesday, according to State Public Safety Department Director Mark Keel.
In addition to the DUI charge, Lindler also faces a charge of having an open container of alcohol, Keel said.
Keel said a review of a videotape of the arrest assured him the dismissal was warranted.
"Each and every trooper knows first hand the deadly consequences of drinking and driving,” Keel said in a statement. “At the same time, it has been made abundantly clear to every trooper the personal consequences of indulging in behavior such as this," Keel said.
Lindler had served on the patrol for nearly 24 years.
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http://www.thestate.com/local/story/814787.html
Lance Cpl. Lisa M. Lindler was stopped in her personal vehicle and arrested by Cayce police just after 10 p.m. Wednesday, according to State Public Safety Department Director Mark Keel.
In addition to the DUI charge, Lindler also faces a charge of having an open container of alcohol, Keel said.
Keel said a review of a videotape of the arrest assured him the dismissal was warranted.
"Each and every trooper knows first hand the deadly consequences of drinking and driving,” Keel said in a statement. “At the same time, it has been made abundantly clear to every trooper the personal consequences of indulging in behavior such as this," Keel said.
Lindler had served on the patrol for nearly 24 years.
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http://www.thestate.com/local/story/814787.html
Former Trooper Robert Czora Arrested for Possession of Stolen Property
For the second time in less than a week, a former state trooper has been arrested.
Robert Czora, 41, of Morrisonville was arrested last week for felony possession of stolen property after police said he was in possession of items that had been reported stolen from the Northeast Printing and Distribution Co. in Plattsburgh, Czora’s former employer.
Czora was released from custody in that case after posting $10,000 bail but during the investigation of the theft, police had searched the former cop’s residence and said they found other stolen property including Jeep wheels and tires that were allegedly stolen earlier this year from Mountain View Motors in Plattsburgh. A Jeep stolen from the dealership was recovered but without its wheels and tires.
Police said the items were found under Czora’s porch and identified by the dealership as the stolen items. A new charge of felony criminal possession of stolen property was filed against him.
Police said that the investigation is continuing and additional charges are possible. Anyone who may have purchased items recently from Czora either personally or through the Internet is asked to contact State Police investigators at 518-563-3761.
In November, 2007, Czora was charged with official misconduct, a Class A misdemeanor, after it was alleged Czora had stopped a motorist on the Northway in the town of Ausable in Clinton County and improperly obtained and processed $300 as purported bail from the motorist.
He had driven the female motorist to a nearby bank so she could withdraw the $300 he said he needed for bail but when she later contacted authorities about her court date, she found out she had never been ticketed.
Czora was fined $1,000 and fired. 6-4-09
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http://www.wcax.com/Global/story.asp?S=10480186
Robert Czora, 41, of Morrisonville was arrested last week for felony possession of stolen property after police said he was in possession of items that had been reported stolen from the Northeast Printing and Distribution Co. in Plattsburgh, Czora’s former employer.
Czora was released from custody in that case after posting $10,000 bail but during the investigation of the theft, police had searched the former cop’s residence and said they found other stolen property including Jeep wheels and tires that were allegedly stolen earlier this year from Mountain View Motors in Plattsburgh. A Jeep stolen from the dealership was recovered but without its wheels and tires.
Police said the items were found under Czora’s porch and identified by the dealership as the stolen items. A new charge of felony criminal possession of stolen property was filed against him.
Police said that the investigation is continuing and additional charges are possible. Anyone who may have purchased items recently from Czora either personally or through the Internet is asked to contact State Police investigators at 518-563-3761.
In November, 2007, Czora was charged with official misconduct, a Class A misdemeanor, after it was alleged Czora had stopped a motorist on the Northway in the town of Ausable in Clinton County and improperly obtained and processed $300 as purported bail from the motorist.
He had driven the female motorist to a nearby bank so she could withdraw the $300 he said he needed for bail but when she later contacted authorities about her court date, she found out she had never been ticketed.
Czora was fined $1,000 and fired. 6-4-09
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http://www.wcax.com/Global/story.asp?S=10480186
Search Still on for Former Deputy Derrick Yancey Wanted for Murder
A former sheriff's deputy accused of killing his wife and a day laborer was videotaped at an Atlanta bus station just hours after removing an ankle monitor in order to escape, officials said Thursday.
Derrick Yancey, who was under a $150,000 bond when he fled, boarded a westbound Greyhound bus April 4 and disappeared somewhere between Phoenix and Los Angeles, DeKalb County Sheriff Thomas Brown said.
Brown said Yancey, 49, is fluent in Spanish and may be in Mexico. A $10,000 reward is being offered for his capture.
Yancey is accused of shooting Linda Yancey, 44, and Marcial Cax Puluc, a 20-year-old Guatemalan immigrant he had hired to work at his Stone Mountain home, almost a year ago. Yancey told investigators that Puluc had killed his wife before he killed Puluc in self-defense.
He resigned from his job with the sheriff's department shortly before he was indicted on murder charges in August.
Yancey was under orders to stay at his mother's home in Jonesboro, just south of Atlanta, when he removed his ankle monitor and left. The monitoring firm BI Inc. of Colorado received an alert on Yancey's bracelet at 5:41 a.m. April 4, but the sheriff's office was not notified for hours, Brown said.
Brown said at a news conference that Yancey had cashed out his $18,000 pension and paid cash for his bus ticket.
Investigators suspect Yancey may have altered his appearance. Video from the bus station showed him with a new mustache, longer hair and the beginnings of a new beard at the Greyhound ticket counter.
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Information from: The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, http://www.ajc.com
Previous Post: http://whathappenedtoprotectandserve.blogspot.com/search?q=Derrick+Yancey
Derrick Yancey, who was under a $150,000 bond when he fled, boarded a westbound Greyhound bus April 4 and disappeared somewhere between Phoenix and Los Angeles, DeKalb County Sheriff Thomas Brown said.
Brown said Yancey, 49, is fluent in Spanish and may be in Mexico. A $10,000 reward is being offered for his capture.
Yancey is accused of shooting Linda Yancey, 44, and Marcial Cax Puluc, a 20-year-old Guatemalan immigrant he had hired to work at his Stone Mountain home, almost a year ago. Yancey told investigators that Puluc had killed his wife before he killed Puluc in self-defense.
He resigned from his job with the sheriff's department shortly before he was indicted on murder charges in August.
Yancey was under orders to stay at his mother's home in Jonesboro, just south of Atlanta, when he removed his ankle monitor and left. The monitoring firm BI Inc. of Colorado received an alert on Yancey's bracelet at 5:41 a.m. April 4, but the sheriff's office was not notified for hours, Brown said.
Brown said at a news conference that Yancey had cashed out his $18,000 pension and paid cash for his bus ticket.
Investigators suspect Yancey may have altered his appearance. Video from the bus station showed him with a new mustache, longer hair and the beginnings of a new beard at the Greyhound ticket counter.
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Information from: The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, http://www.ajc.com
Previous Post: http://whathappenedtoprotectandserve.blogspot.com/search?q=Derrick+Yancey
Thursday, June 04, 2009
Five Mesa Officers On Paid Leave After Flushing Fetus Down Toilet
Five Mesa police officers have been placed on paid leave pending the outcome of criminal and administrative investigations including an incident where an officer allegedly flushed a small fetus down a toilet.
Police Chief George Gascón said he believes one officer used excessive force in the other case.
Gascón said he became aware of both incidents Tuesday and held a news conference Wednesday.
Four officers responded to a call of a possible miscarriage Monday at the Motel 6 in Mesa where they arrested a man on suspicion of drug-related offenses and discovered a woman in the room apparently had miscarried a 4-inch fetus that was an estimated 12 to 14 weeks old, according to Gascón.
Although both Mesa fire and police were present in the motel room, Lt. Lynn Young told the officers and fire personnel over the phone not to take the fetus but to flush it down the toilet, according to Gascón.
A supervisor who was reading incident reports at the Dobson District station first came across details about the disposal of the fetus and brought it to the attention of a division commander, who contacted the assistant chief of operations who called Gascón.
Police said Young was placed on paid administrative leave along with the other three officers who responded to the call involving the miscarriage — Kristen Johnson, Robert Buquo and Glenn Pearson, who was the lead officer in the case.
In the other incident, police said officer Nicholas Webster was seen on an arrest video May 16 shoving a handcuffed man's head into the rear windshield of a patrol cruiser before repeatedly pushing his face and shoulder into a chain-link fence inside the inmate booking area.
Gascón said police plan to forward both cases to the Maricopa County Attorney's Office within the next few days to see if prosecutors will recommend any charges against any of the officers involved in the incidents.
Response from the Mesa Police Association
"It is the position of the Mesa Police Association that the press conference held last night was immensely early in regards to the preliminary investigations conducted by the Police Department. The press conference simply marked the beginning of the investigations.
The facts are not yet established. There should be no rush to judgment, bias, premature accusations or political posturing against any officer.
The MPA is urging all parties and the public to not rush to judgment and allow the investigation to establish the facts. We are concerned some statements made were prejudicial in nature and may interfere with a professional and thorough investigation.
We affirm to our members the MPA will ensure Police Officer's rights and due process are not violated. Our members will receive fair legal representation throughout this process."
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Other information: http://www.kpho.com/news/19651231/detail.html
Police Chief George Gascón said he believes one officer used excessive force in the other case.
Gascón said he became aware of both incidents Tuesday and held a news conference Wednesday.
Four officers responded to a call of a possible miscarriage Monday at the Motel 6 in Mesa where they arrested a man on suspicion of drug-related offenses and discovered a woman in the room apparently had miscarried a 4-inch fetus that was an estimated 12 to 14 weeks old, according to Gascón.
Although both Mesa fire and police were present in the motel room, Lt. Lynn Young told the officers and fire personnel over the phone not to take the fetus but to flush it down the toilet, according to Gascón.
A supervisor who was reading incident reports at the Dobson District station first came across details about the disposal of the fetus and brought it to the attention of a division commander, who contacted the assistant chief of operations who called Gascón.
Police said Young was placed on paid administrative leave along with the other three officers who responded to the call involving the miscarriage — Kristen Johnson, Robert Buquo and Glenn Pearson, who was the lead officer in the case.
In the other incident, police said officer Nicholas Webster was seen on an arrest video May 16 shoving a handcuffed man's head into the rear windshield of a patrol cruiser before repeatedly pushing his face and shoulder into a chain-link fence inside the inmate booking area.
Gascón said police plan to forward both cases to the Maricopa County Attorney's Office within the next few days to see if prosecutors will recommend any charges against any of the officers involved in the incidents.
Response from the Mesa Police Association
"It is the position of the Mesa Police Association that the press conference held last night was immensely early in regards to the preliminary investigations conducted by the Police Department. The press conference simply marked the beginning of the investigations.
The facts are not yet established. There should be no rush to judgment, bias, premature accusations or political posturing against any officer.
The MPA is urging all parties and the public to not rush to judgment and allow the investigation to establish the facts. We are concerned some statements made were prejudicial in nature and may interfere with a professional and thorough investigation.
We affirm to our members the MPA will ensure Police Officer's rights and due process are not violated. Our members will receive fair legal representation throughout this process."
_____________________
Other information: http://www.kpho.com/news/19651231/detail.html
Correctional Officer James Sheerin Arrested for Smuggling Contraband into Prison
Police arrested Wabash Valley Correctional Facility officer for attempting to smuggling contraband into the prison.
Officials said staff members stopped and searched 25-year-old James Sheerin, of Terre Haute.
Sheerin allegedly was hiding cell phones in a drink cup when he came into work. He tried to enter the correctional facility through the visitor processing center with 250 grams of marijuana.
Sheerin also had six cell phones with chargers, 75 grams of tobacco and a video game player. Officials searched his car and found an additional 18 grams of heroin and even more cell phones.
Officials arrested Sheerin after monitoring him for more than a week.
"Justice will run it course and the Wabash Valley Facility will continue to do its job protect the public and the vast majority of the folks do a very credible, very honest, very professional job," public information officer Rich Larsen said.
Sheerin is facing felony charges of possession of heroin, cocaine and marijuana, along with trafficking with an inmate. A court date has not yet been set.
The attempted smuggling has resulted in two housing units at the Wabash Valley Correctional Facility to be put under lockdown pending an investigation.
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Information: http://www.wthitv.com/dpp/news/local/news_wthi_carlisle_officertrafficking_200906041129
Wednesday, June 03, 2009
Several DeKalb Officers Accused of Having Sex While on Duty
Several DeKalb County police officers are under invesatigation, after being accused of having sex while on duty.
A source close to the investigation gave CBS Atlanta a videotape which showed a police officer meeting up with a woman miles outside his jurisdiction.
The tape, which was shot by a private investigator, shows an officer pulling into an RV park in Gwinnett County.
According to sources, the sergeant seen on the video was on duty. The sergeant goes inside the trailer with a woman. The two are inside for 2 and half hours. The officer then comes out of the trailer, kisses the woman goodbye and drives off.
On Wednesday, Police Chief Bill O’Brien and Public Safety Director Wiz Miller confirmed the investigations. But they said, at this point, they aren't sure if the incident on the video happened while the officer on the clock.
“One thing we do have to keep in mind is that we do have some police officers that are assigned take home vehicles. So, we don’t know if it was an on-duty or off-duty incident,” O’Brien said.
Several hours later, the sergeant and the woman were seen meeting up again at the sergeant's house.
The incident is one of two involving police officers in the last six months.
The second incident involves several officers at the south precinct.
An on-duty officer was accused of driving to an off-duty officer's house to have sex. According to our source, the officer made a cadet wait outside in the patrol car.
“The first thing you have to do is to reaffirm in their minds that they ave to be held to a higher standard,” Miller said.
The accused officers are still on the street until the investigations are complete, officials said.
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Information & Video: http://www.cbsatlanta.com/news/19649667/detail.html
A source close to the investigation gave CBS Atlanta a videotape which showed a police officer meeting up with a woman miles outside his jurisdiction.
The tape, which was shot by a private investigator, shows an officer pulling into an RV park in Gwinnett County.
According to sources, the sergeant seen on the video was on duty. The sergeant goes inside the trailer with a woman. The two are inside for 2 and half hours. The officer then comes out of the trailer, kisses the woman goodbye and drives off.
On Wednesday, Police Chief Bill O’Brien and Public Safety Director Wiz Miller confirmed the investigations. But they said, at this point, they aren't sure if the incident on the video happened while the officer on the clock.
“One thing we do have to keep in mind is that we do have some police officers that are assigned take home vehicles. So, we don’t know if it was an on-duty or off-duty incident,” O’Brien said.
Several hours later, the sergeant and the woman were seen meeting up again at the sergeant's house.
The incident is one of two involving police officers in the last six months.
The second incident involves several officers at the south precinct.
An on-duty officer was accused of driving to an off-duty officer's house to have sex. According to our source, the officer made a cadet wait outside in the patrol car.
“The first thing you have to do is to reaffirm in their minds that they ave to be held to a higher standard,” Miller said.
The accused officers are still on the street until the investigations are complete, officials said.
____________________________
Information & Video: http://www.cbsatlanta.com/news/19649667/detail.html
Former Officer Alex Ramirez Pleads Guilty to Charges
A former Dearborn police officer accused of fixing tickets and accepting bribes pleaded guilty Wednesday in Wayne County Circuit Court.
Alex Ramirez, 42, of Dearborn faces a maximum of 10 years in prison for embezzlement by a public official, misconduct in office, obstruction of justice, conspiracy to obstruct justice, larceny in a building and bribery charges, Wayne County Prosecutor's Office spokeswoman Maria Miller said Wednesday.
One of his codefendants, Hassan Hojaije, agreed to testify against him in exchange for 2 years of probation. According to the 21-year-old Dearborn man, Ramirez would look up the names of people who'd received parking tickets and have him contact the drivers, offering to get rid of them for $400. This happened close to two dozen times, Hojaije testified.
Ramirez, a cop for two decades, will be sentenced at 9 a.m. July 28 before Wayne County Circuit Judge Margie Braxton.
Investigators said two other men also participated in the scheme: Isoam Nimer, 28, of Dearborn, who pleaded guilty to attempted obstruction of justice, and Hasan Chamara, 21, of Dearborn, who is charged with the same offense and may have fled the country.
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http://www.wlns.com/Global/story.asp?S=10473980&nav=menu25_2
Alex Ramirez, 42, of Dearborn faces a maximum of 10 years in prison for embezzlement by a public official, misconduct in office, obstruction of justice, conspiracy to obstruct justice, larceny in a building and bribery charges, Wayne County Prosecutor's Office spokeswoman Maria Miller said Wednesday.
One of his codefendants, Hassan Hojaije, agreed to testify against him in exchange for 2 years of probation. According to the 21-year-old Dearborn man, Ramirez would look up the names of people who'd received parking tickets and have him contact the drivers, offering to get rid of them for $400. This happened close to two dozen times, Hojaije testified.
Ramirez, a cop for two decades, will be sentenced at 9 a.m. July 28 before Wayne County Circuit Judge Margie Braxton.
Investigators said two other men also participated in the scheme: Isoam Nimer, 28, of Dearborn, who pleaded guilty to attempted obstruction of justice, and Hasan Chamara, 21, of Dearborn, who is charged with the same offense and may have fled the country.
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http://www.wlns.com/Global/story.asp?S=10473980&nav=menu25_2
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