A Peel Regional Police officer accused of stealing bogus bricks of cocaine from a delivery truck in Mississauga testified today that he saw his immediate boss take a box containing the unknown substance from the vehicle and walk away with it.
Cst. Sheldon Cook, 40, told court he didn't know why Det. Marty Rykhoff removed the box from inside the truck on the night of Nov. 16, 2005. But he suspected Rykhoff had a good reason because of his morality experience.
Cook, one of several officers working under Rykhoff that night, is accused of stealing 15 of 102 bricks of the "cocaine" seized hours earlier from a courier cargo truck at the force's Lakeshore community station in Mississauga.
Cook has pleaded not guilty to seven criminal charges.
The drugs turned out to be flour, part of a botched RCMP controlled delivery from Peru to Canada that went missing 12 hours earlier after arriving at Mississauga's Pearson International Airport.
Cook, a 14-year veteran, said he never thought the drugs he's accused of stealing were real.
Having some street crime experience with drugs, Cook rubbed a bit of the white, chalky, powdery substance found in a football-sized beige package between his fingers to see if he could tell what it was.
"Usually cocaine has a crystal look and it breaks down into an oily substance when it's rubbed between your fingers," Cook said. "This was dull. It remained chalky. There was also no odour usually associated with cocaine or heroin ..."
In February, Rykhoff denied taking any of the boxes with the cocaine-like substance when he testified as a federal Crown witness in the trial that began last November.
He also denied framing Cook by stealing what he thought were bricks of cocaine and then placing them in the trunk of the accused man's police cruiser.
Rykhoff, a 24-year-veteran officer, also denied telling Cook to “secure” the box - and that he would return it to morality the following day.
Defence lawyer Pat Ducharme has suggested this trial that Cook didn’t take any of the suspected drugs and didn’t know anything about them until he opened the trunk of his cruiser at the end of his shift.
He suggested Cook took the box home and put it in his garage under Rykhoff’s orders, believing his immediate boss would pick it up the next day. But Rykhoff didn’t show up. Instead, he went to Halifax with friends for a college football game, faking illness and phoning in sick.
Rykhoff was subsequently convicted of Police Act offences and docked five days pay. He was also suspended until mid-January 2006.
Two days later, RCMP investigators used a GPS signal hidden in the missing box to locate the 15 bricks in a compartment in a Sea-Do in the garage at Cook’s Cambridge home. Officers executing a search warrant also found marijuana and several MP3 players allegedly taken from an un-related investigation.
Federal prosecutors David Rowcliffe and Ania Weiler say Cook took the fake bricks of cocaine, which he believed were real, during his involvement as part of Rykhoff’s crew.
Cook is charged with attempting to possess a controlled substance for the purpose of trafficking, possession of marijuana for the purpose of trafficking, possession of stolen property (MP3 players) from a police investigation and breach of trust as a police officer. He remains suspended with pay.
The trial continues this afternoon.
Monday, August 17, 2009
Corrections Officer Accuses Superiors of Sexual Harassment
OMAHA, Neb.
A former Dakota County corrections officer has sued the county, its sheriff and other superiors alleging they pressured female employees into sexual relationships and those who refused their advances were treated as outcasts.
The lawsuit, filed in U.S. District Court in Omaha last week on behalf of Toni Duncan, calls the work environment she chose to leave in 2007 a "cesspool" in which superiors misused their power for their own sexual gratification. It seeks unspecified damages.
Attorneys for the Sioux City, Iowa, woman say she's not the first and won't be the last to raise issues with the problems in the northeastern Nebraska county.
The county investigated related claims in 2007, but its findings were never made public, according to Duncan's lawsuit, which alleges a cover-up.
"This is a genuine mess. The more we get into it, the more messy it gets," said attorney Dewey Sloan, who along with Brian Buckmeier represents both Duncan and Williams.
An attorney for the county called Duncan's allegations mystifying and suspicious.
"I have no clue where these allegations are coming from," attorney Vince Valentino said Monday.
Sloan also represents Charvette Williams, another corrections officer who sued the county in June alleging unfair pay and harassment. The Sioux City woman alleged the hostile work environment left her feeling trapped in a sexual relationship with a chief deputy.
Sloan said he and Buckmeier are working to file several other lawsuits in coming weeks making similar claims.
Valentino said neither Duncan nor Williams took their sexual harassment allegations to the Nebraska Equal Opportunity Commission or its federal counterpart to investigate. He said that's always the first step for anyone serious about such claims.
Dewey said Williams did file a claim with the state commission, although it didn't address sexual harassment. It wasn't until later, when Williams became less fearful, that she felt willing to talk about the additional allegations.
In Duncan's case, she waited too long to take the claim to the state commission, Dewey said.
Duncan quit in November 2007, after a little over a year with the county, according to her lawsuit.
The Nebraska Equal Opportunity Commission can investigate employment claims within 300 days of when the alleged harassment happened.
The report completed by a private law firm in 2007 was recently sealed by the Dakota County Board to protect people who offered confidential information, board Chairman Bill McLarty said.
McLarty said he never read the report and couldn't discuss its findings.
The report was shared with Attorney General Jon Bruning's office, which found that the allegations did not rise to the level of a criminal matter, according to a letter dated July 30, 2007.
A spokeswoman for Bruning couldn't immediately comment on the report or the attorney general's conclusions.
A former Dakota County corrections officer has sued the county, its sheriff and other superiors alleging they pressured female employees into sexual relationships and those who refused their advances were treated as outcasts.
The lawsuit, filed in U.S. District Court in Omaha last week on behalf of Toni Duncan, calls the work environment she chose to leave in 2007 a "cesspool" in which superiors misused their power for their own sexual gratification. It seeks unspecified damages.
Attorneys for the Sioux City, Iowa, woman say she's not the first and won't be the last to raise issues with the problems in the northeastern Nebraska county.
The county investigated related claims in 2007, but its findings were never made public, according to Duncan's lawsuit, which alleges a cover-up.
"This is a genuine mess. The more we get into it, the more messy it gets," said attorney Dewey Sloan, who along with Brian Buckmeier represents both Duncan and Williams.
An attorney for the county called Duncan's allegations mystifying and suspicious.
"I have no clue where these allegations are coming from," attorney Vince Valentino said Monday.
Sloan also represents Charvette Williams, another corrections officer who sued the county in June alleging unfair pay and harassment. The Sioux City woman alleged the hostile work environment left her feeling trapped in a sexual relationship with a chief deputy.
Sloan said he and Buckmeier are working to file several other lawsuits in coming weeks making similar claims.
Valentino said neither Duncan nor Williams took their sexual harassment allegations to the Nebraska Equal Opportunity Commission or its federal counterpart to investigate. He said that's always the first step for anyone serious about such claims.
Dewey said Williams did file a claim with the state commission, although it didn't address sexual harassment. It wasn't until later, when Williams became less fearful, that she felt willing to talk about the additional allegations.
In Duncan's case, she waited too long to take the claim to the state commission, Dewey said.
Duncan quit in November 2007, after a little over a year with the county, according to her lawsuit.
The Nebraska Equal Opportunity Commission can investigate employment claims within 300 days of when the alleged harassment happened.
The report completed by a private law firm in 2007 was recently sealed by the Dakota County Board to protect people who offered confidential information, board Chairman Bill McLarty said.
McLarty said he never read the report and couldn't discuss its findings.
The report was shared with Attorney General Jon Bruning's office, which found that the allegations did not rise to the level of a criminal matter, according to a letter dated July 30, 2007.
A spokeswoman for Bruning couldn't immediately comment on the report or the attorney general's conclusions.
Captain William Frontz Arrested for DWI
A Myrtle Beach police officer is on personal leave after being arrested for DWI in North Carolina over the weekend.
The Myrtle Beach Police Department says Captain William Frontz was arrested in Guilford County, that's in the Greensboro area. Fontz was off-duty at the time.
He's been with the department since 1987.
The Myrtle Beach Police Department is conducting an internal investigation.
The Myrtle Beach Police Department says Captain William Frontz was arrested in Guilford County, that's in the Greensboro area. Fontz was off-duty at the time.
He's been with the department since 1987.
The Myrtle Beach Police Department is conducting an internal investigation.
Rookie Officer Christine Thurston Arrested for Brandishing Weapon
A 23-year-old rookie San Diego police officer has been placed on administrative leave after being cited by Carlsbad police on suspicion of being drunk in public, officials said Monday.
The patrol officer, Christine Thurston, was at Hennessey's Tavern on Roosevelt Street, near Grand Avenue, Friday evening. About 10 p.m., a restaurant manager called police to report that someone was brandishing a weapon inside the tavern, said Carlsbad police spokeswoman Lynn Diamond.
When officers arrived, they found Thurston waiting outside with some bouncers. The weapon that had been in her purse was being held for police inside, Diamond said.
“Someone in the bar did take it away from her when the 911 call was made,” Diamond said. “The weapon had been taken away and she was outside with the bouncers awaiting our arrival.”
Officers determined that Thurston took her gun out of her purse at some point while inside the bar, but she did not display it in a threatening manner, Diamond said.
“The elements of brandishing a weapon were not felt to be met based on the interviews at the scene,” Diamond said. The weapon was removed from the purse, but never drawn, she said.
Thurston was taken by officers to Carlsbad police headquarters, where she was released to a family member about 1 a.m. Saturday. San Diego police officers were sent to Carlsbad to retrieve the officer's gun, which was issued to her by the department, Diamond said.
Thurston is scheduled to appear in Vista court on the misdemeanor charge.
The patrol officer, Christine Thurston, was at Hennessey's Tavern on Roosevelt Street, near Grand Avenue, Friday evening. About 10 p.m., a restaurant manager called police to report that someone was brandishing a weapon inside the tavern, said Carlsbad police spokeswoman Lynn Diamond.
When officers arrived, they found Thurston waiting outside with some bouncers. The weapon that had been in her purse was being held for police inside, Diamond said.
“Someone in the bar did take it away from her when the 911 call was made,” Diamond said. “The weapon had been taken away and she was outside with the bouncers awaiting our arrival.”
Officers determined that Thurston took her gun out of her purse at some point while inside the bar, but she did not display it in a threatening manner, Diamond said.
“The elements of brandishing a weapon were not felt to be met based on the interviews at the scene,” Diamond said. The weapon was removed from the purse, but never drawn, she said.
Thurston was taken by officers to Carlsbad police headquarters, where she was released to a family member about 1 a.m. Saturday. San Diego police officers were sent to Carlsbad to retrieve the officer's gun, which was issued to her by the department, Diamond said.
Thurston is scheduled to appear in Vista court on the misdemeanor charge.
Saturday, August 15, 2009
Deputy Cornelius Flowers Charged with Theft
A Peach County sheriff’s deputy and a Fort Valley contractor are accused of selling stolen lawn tractors, authorities said.
Cornelius Flowers was charged with one count of theft by taking, three counts of theft by receiving stolen property and three counts of theft by deception, said Craig Rotter, assistant special agent in charge of the GBI’s Perry office.
deputy
Flowers, 41, who headed the shared Peach County drug unit, has been under investigation for several months, Rotter said.
Darreyl Bryant, 43, a Fort Valley contractor, also was charged with one count of theft by taking, three counts of theft by receiving stolen property and three counts of theft by deception, Rotter said.
Flowers allegedly helped Bryant sell stolen Kubota and John Deere lawn tractors, including a Kubota lawn tractor stolen March 23 from Walker Rhodes Tractor Co. in Perry. That lawn tractor was recovered in Taylor County, and the Taylor County Sheriff’s Office contacted the Perry Police Department, which was investigating the theft. The agencies contacted the GBI for assistance.
Peach County Sheriff Terry Deese said he was notified by the GBI about the investigation about four months ago.
“It was really hard to believe. I’ve known him (Flowers) all those years and he’s been a really good employee all those years,” Deese said.
After his arrest Aug. 4 by the GBI, Flowers was suspended without pay pending his expected termination, Deese said.
Flowers, who has worked for the sheriff’s office for 19 years, had no prior disciplinary action, the sheriff said. “He’s always been one of our best,” Deese said. “It just goes to show you that even good people make poor decisions.”
Flowers is free on a $62,500 bond, and Bryant is free on a $22,500 bond, Rotter said.
Anyone who may have purchased equipment from Flowers or Bryant is asked to contact the GBI at 987-4545.
Otherwise, should the GBI recover more stolen equipment, the person who has possession of it may be charged with theft by receiving stolen property, Rotter said.
Judge Will Decide if Drew Peterson's Murder Trial Should be Moved
A Will County judge says he'll decide Oct. 2 if Drew Peterson's murder trial should be moved because of pretrial publicity.
Judge Stephen White listened Friday to arguments from both sides. Peterson has pleaded not guilty to first-degree murder in the death of his third wife, Kathleen Savio.
Peterson's attorneys say much of the intense publicity surrounding the case has been negative and inflammatory and would prevent Peterson from getting to get a fair trial in Will County.
They also say Peterson may have arrested or ticketed potential jurors or their family members during his three decades as a police officer.
State's Attorney James Glasgow says a fair trial is possible, but if it became clear during jury questioning that it wasn't, he'd agree to a move.
Judge Stephen White listened Friday to arguments from both sides. Peterson has pleaded not guilty to first-degree murder in the death of his third wife, Kathleen Savio.
Peterson's attorneys say much of the intense publicity surrounding the case has been negative and inflammatory and would prevent Peterson from getting to get a fair trial in Will County.
They also say Peterson may have arrested or ticketed potential jurors or their family members during his three decades as a police officer.
State's Attorney James Glasgow says a fair trial is possible, but if it became clear during jury questioning that it wasn't, he'd agree to a move.
Aaron James Joseph Accused of Pointing Weapon at Wife's Head
A Tacoma police officer accused of pointing a gun at his wife’s head and threatening to kill one of his colleagues pleaded not guilty Friday to two felonies.
Aaron James Joseph, 27, was allowed to remain free on the $15,000 bail he posted following his arrest Thursday by Puyallup police. Joseph is charged with second-degree assault and felony harassment.
The Tacoma Police Department put Joseph on paid administrative leave Aug. 5 after learning that he reportedly had committed an act of domestic violence against his wife and also had threatened a fellow officer, the department said in a statement released Friday afternoon.
The department launched an internal investigation and asked Puyallup police to investigate the case for possible criminal charges, according to the statement.
Joseph works as a night-shift patrol officer and has been on the force for nearly three years, Tacoma police spokesman Mark Fulghum said.
Puyallup police Lt. Dave McDonald said Friday his department established probable cause to arrest Joseph and took him into custody Thursday without incident.
“We got to a point where we needed to arrest him for the safety of all involved,” McDonald said.
Joseph’s wife has accused her husband of pointing a gun at her and threatening to kill her on June 16 during “an argument surrounding her alleged infidelity,” Puyallup police said in a news release.
McDonald said Joseph later threatened to kill the Tacoma police officer he suspects was having an affair with his wife.
Joseph’s wife, Lindsey Joseph, sought a protection order against her husband on Tuesday.
In it, she accuses him of putting a gun to her head “for no more than 5 seconds” and of threatening to kill her and then himself.
Her husband allegedly told her, “It will be like Braim (sic). I will do you and then me,” she wrote in her petition. A Superior Court commissioner granted her a temporary protection order based on her statements.
Tacoma police chief David Brame fatally shot his wife, Crystal, then himself in 2003.
Joseph is expected to hire an attorney and return to court Sept. 1 for a pre-trial hearing.
Aaron James Joseph, 27, was allowed to remain free on the $15,000 bail he posted following his arrest Thursday by Puyallup police. Joseph is charged with second-degree assault and felony harassment.
The Tacoma Police Department put Joseph on paid administrative leave Aug. 5 after learning that he reportedly had committed an act of domestic violence against his wife and also had threatened a fellow officer, the department said in a statement released Friday afternoon.
The department launched an internal investigation and asked Puyallup police to investigate the case for possible criminal charges, according to the statement.
Joseph works as a night-shift patrol officer and has been on the force for nearly three years, Tacoma police spokesman Mark Fulghum said.
Puyallup police Lt. Dave McDonald said Friday his department established probable cause to arrest Joseph and took him into custody Thursday without incident.
“We got to a point where we needed to arrest him for the safety of all involved,” McDonald said.
Joseph’s wife has accused her husband of pointing a gun at her and threatening to kill her on June 16 during “an argument surrounding her alleged infidelity,” Puyallup police said in a news release.
McDonald said Joseph later threatened to kill the Tacoma police officer he suspects was having an affair with his wife.
Joseph’s wife, Lindsey Joseph, sought a protection order against her husband on Tuesday.
In it, she accuses him of putting a gun to her head “for no more than 5 seconds” and of threatening to kill her and then himself.
Her husband allegedly told her, “It will be like Braim (sic). I will do you and then me,” she wrote in her petition. A Superior Court commissioner granted her a temporary protection order based on her statements.
Tacoma police chief David Brame fatally shot his wife, Crystal, then himself in 2003.
Joseph is expected to hire an attorney and return to court Sept. 1 for a pre-trial hearing.
Undercover Officer Charged with Street Racing
An undercover Durham Regional Police officer had his cover blown Wednesday by an unlikely suspect: the Ontario Provincial Police, who charged him with street racing and impounded his unmarked police car.
The incident was No. 3 in a curious summer string of embarrassing driving-related arrests involving GTA emergency personnel. In late June, a Toronto deputy fire chief was charged with street racing. In July, a Toronto paramedic and union leader was charged with stealing an ambulance.
The 34-year-old male Durham officer, a 10-year veteran of the force, was accused of driving 150 km/h or faster on Highway 115 in Peterborough County on Wednesday afternoon. The OPP would not release his name for fear the disclosure would compromise his work.
In addition to losing his police car, the officer's driver's licence was suspended for a week. He could face professional discipline, depending on the facts and outcome of the case, said Durham Insp. Bruce Townley. He said the incident was "extremely disappointing," given the force's focus on road safety.
Toronto deputy fire chief Daryl Fuglerud's driver's licence was suspended and his department SUV was impounded when he was charged for driving faster than 150 km/h on June 26. He said he was late for a funeral.
Glenn Fontaine, a paramedic and the ambulance unit chair of Local 416 of the Canadian Union of Public Employees, was charged with theft and mischief after an ambulance with a union poster on it was abandoned with its lights flashing outside city hall early on June 22, the first day of the city workers' strike.
The incident was No. 3 in a curious summer string of embarrassing driving-related arrests involving GTA emergency personnel. In late June, a Toronto deputy fire chief was charged with street racing. In July, a Toronto paramedic and union leader was charged with stealing an ambulance.
The 34-year-old male Durham officer, a 10-year veteran of the force, was accused of driving 150 km/h or faster on Highway 115 in Peterborough County on Wednesday afternoon. The OPP would not release his name for fear the disclosure would compromise his work.
In addition to losing his police car, the officer's driver's licence was suspended for a week. He could face professional discipline, depending on the facts and outcome of the case, said Durham Insp. Bruce Townley. He said the incident was "extremely disappointing," given the force's focus on road safety.
Toronto deputy fire chief Daryl Fuglerud's driver's licence was suspended and his department SUV was impounded when he was charged for driving faster than 150 km/h on June 26. He said he was late for a funeral.
Glenn Fontaine, a paramedic and the ambulance unit chair of Local 416 of the Canadian Union of Public Employees, was charged with theft and mischief after an ambulance with a union poster on it was abandoned with its lights flashing outside city hall early on June 22, the first day of the city workers' strike.
Friday, August 14, 2009
David Burke & James Guedry Indicted for Beating & Tasering Man
Two Beaumont police officers indicted Thursday on charges they improperly beat and Tasered a man during a routine traffic stop have been placed on administrative leave until the case is resolved, department officials said.
Officers David Todd Burke and James Cody Guedry were indicted by a Jefferson County grand jury on misdemeanor charges of official oppression in the Aug. 24, 2007, arrest of Beaumont resident Derrick Newman.
The charges carry punishment of as much as a year in jail and a fine of up to $4,000.
The officers, who were not available for comment Thursday, will be paid while they are on administrative leave.
Attorney Mitch Adams of the Combined Law Enforcement Association of Texas said his group will represent the officers.
The indictments disappointed the officers, Adams said.
Newman said the officers not only should receive the maximum punishment, but no longer should be allowed to continue their careers in law enforcement.
"The actions that the police officers made wasn't right. Their actions were unnecessary and uncalled for," Newman said Thursday after learning of the indictments.
"I feel vindicated now that the grand jury felt that I was right. They believed me," Newman said.
Officers David Todd Burke and James Cody Guedry were indicted by a Jefferson County grand jury on misdemeanor charges of official oppression in the Aug. 24, 2007, arrest of Beaumont resident Derrick Newman.
The charges carry punishment of as much as a year in jail and a fine of up to $4,000.
The officers, who were not available for comment Thursday, will be paid while they are on administrative leave.
Attorney Mitch Adams of the Combined Law Enforcement Association of Texas said his group will represent the officers.
The indictments disappointed the officers, Adams said.
Newman said the officers not only should receive the maximum punishment, but no longer should be allowed to continue their careers in law enforcement.
"The actions that the police officers made wasn't right. Their actions were unnecessary and uncalled for," Newman said Thursday after learning of the indictments.
"I feel vindicated now that the grand jury felt that I was right. They believed me," Newman said.
Former Chief David Baker Pleads Guilty to DUI
Former Alexandria police chief David P. Baker pleaded guilty Friday to driving under the influence and is expected to turn himself in to the Arlington County jail to serve a five-day sentence.
Baker's plea before Arlington General District Court Chief Judge Dorothy H. Clarke brought to a swift end an embarrassing episode that began last month for the popular chief. Baker was arrested July 25 after his city-issued Ford Explorer collided with another vehicle in Arlington County and he failed a series of sobriety tests. Arlington records indicate that he had a blood alcohol level of 0.19, more than twice the 0.08 legal limit in Virginia. Baker acknowledged with his guilty plea Friday that his blood alcohol content was between 0.15 and 0.20.
Baker retired from the Alexandria Police Department three days after the incident, ending a 40-year career that many have called exemplary with a remorseful letter to the officers he supervised. Baker has not said publicly what he did that Saturday night before the crash. Instead of enduring an internal police investigation, Baker instead accepted responsibility for his actions.
"He is supposed to be a role model, an example," said James Clark, Baker's attorney. "He believes he made a mistake and he should pay the appropriate price for it. . . . He used bad judgment; he drank too much, and he got behind the wheel of a car."
Clarke accepted the plea without comment during a brief hearing, sentencing Baker to 180 days in jail and imposing a fine of $1,500. The judge suspended 175 days of the sentence, meaning Baker will have to serve the mandatory five-day minimum sentence for driving at such a high level of intoxication. Clarke also suspended all but $300 of the fine and ordered Baker to attend the county's Alcohol Safety Action Program for DUI offenders. Baker will also lose his driver's license for the next year.
Baker said little in court other than to answer the judge's questions in a soft voice. When asked whether he was pleading guilty because he was driving with a blood alcohol level of 0.15 to 0.20, he answered: "Yes, your honor."
In a written statement released after the hearing, Baker apologized to the woman whose car he ran into as he merged onto Interstate 66 from North Fairfax Drive, and he praised Arlington officials for treating him fairly and with dignity during his arrest and detention. He also noted that drinking and driving is dangerous and against the law and that as police chief he "had an even higher responsibility not to engage in such behavior."
"As much as it pained me, resigning from my post as Chief was the appropriate decision given my actions," Baker said in the statement, saying he let down the community he has loved and served for 19 years. "I offer no excuses for my bad decisions and behavior because there are none. And I am, and will be, forever haunted by the personal embarrassment and humiliation I caused to those who have supported, mentored and guided me through my personal life and long and rewarding public safety career."
Clark said that Baker did not have to retire from police service but that he decided that as the public face of the police department, it would be "impossible to overcome" the repercussions of his arrest. By retiring, Baker will collect his city pension.
Arlington Sheriff Beth Arthur, who runs the county jail, said Friday that she considers Baker a "high-profile, high-security-risk inmate" and will keep him separated from the approximately 515 other inmates there during his brief jail term.
"Because of his history in law enforcement in the area and his high-profile job over the past few years, I'm concerned about his safety and well-being while incarcerated," Arthur said, adding that Baker will not be in the general population and will have his own cell, although he will not enjoy any special privileges. "We understand the possibility that he has crossed paths with some of the people here."
Also Friday, Arlington police announced the department's participation in an intensive national campaign against drunken driving that runs from Aug. 21 to Sept. 7, known as "Drunk Driving. Over the Limit. Under Arrest." Police announced a focus on drunken driving during high-risk nighttime hours, which coincidentally was when Baker was caught.
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Baker's plea before Arlington General District Court Chief Judge Dorothy H. Clarke brought to a swift end an embarrassing episode that began last month for the popular chief. Baker was arrested July 25 after his city-issued Ford Explorer collided with another vehicle in Arlington County and he failed a series of sobriety tests. Arlington records indicate that he had a blood alcohol level of 0.19, more than twice the 0.08 legal limit in Virginia. Baker acknowledged with his guilty plea Friday that his blood alcohol content was between 0.15 and 0.20.
Baker retired from the Alexandria Police Department three days after the incident, ending a 40-year career that many have called exemplary with a remorseful letter to the officers he supervised. Baker has not said publicly what he did that Saturday night before the crash. Instead of enduring an internal police investigation, Baker instead accepted responsibility for his actions.
"He is supposed to be a role model, an example," said James Clark, Baker's attorney. "He believes he made a mistake and he should pay the appropriate price for it. . . . He used bad judgment; he drank too much, and he got behind the wheel of a car."
Clarke accepted the plea without comment during a brief hearing, sentencing Baker to 180 days in jail and imposing a fine of $1,500. The judge suspended 175 days of the sentence, meaning Baker will have to serve the mandatory five-day minimum sentence for driving at such a high level of intoxication. Clarke also suspended all but $300 of the fine and ordered Baker to attend the county's Alcohol Safety Action Program for DUI offenders. Baker will also lose his driver's license for the next year.
Baker said little in court other than to answer the judge's questions in a soft voice. When asked whether he was pleading guilty because he was driving with a blood alcohol level of 0.15 to 0.20, he answered: "Yes, your honor."
In a written statement released after the hearing, Baker apologized to the woman whose car he ran into as he merged onto Interstate 66 from North Fairfax Drive, and he praised Arlington officials for treating him fairly and with dignity during his arrest and detention. He also noted that drinking and driving is dangerous and against the law and that as police chief he "had an even higher responsibility not to engage in such behavior."
"As much as it pained me, resigning from my post as Chief was the appropriate decision given my actions," Baker said in the statement, saying he let down the community he has loved and served for 19 years. "I offer no excuses for my bad decisions and behavior because there are none. And I am, and will be, forever haunted by the personal embarrassment and humiliation I caused to those who have supported, mentored and guided me through my personal life and long and rewarding public safety career."
Clark said that Baker did not have to retire from police service but that he decided that as the public face of the police department, it would be "impossible to overcome" the repercussions of his arrest. By retiring, Baker will collect his city pension.
Arlington Sheriff Beth Arthur, who runs the county jail, said Friday that she considers Baker a "high-profile, high-security-risk inmate" and will keep him separated from the approximately 515 other inmates there during his brief jail term.
"Because of his history in law enforcement in the area and his high-profile job over the past few years, I'm concerned about his safety and well-being while incarcerated," Arthur said, adding that Baker will not be in the general population and will have his own cell, although he will not enjoy any special privileges. "We understand the possibility that he has crossed paths with some of the people here."
Also Friday, Arlington police announced the department's participation in an intensive national campaign against drunken driving that runs from Aug. 21 to Sept. 7, known as "Drunk Driving. Over the Limit. Under Arrest." Police announced a focus on drunken driving during high-risk nighttime hours, which coincidentally was when Baker was caught.
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Previous post:
http://whathappenedtoprotectandserve.blogspot.com/2009/07/chief-david-baker-ends-40-year-career.html
Sgt Bill Arganda Accused of Using Database to Meet Women
The Westminster Police Department has given a termination notice to a sergeant accused of using law enforcement databases to meet women, investigate romantic rivals and keep tabs on ex-girlfriends.
The department announced this morning only that it has sent the District Attorney's Office a case against an unnamed sergeant for personal use of the CLETS system, which connects to DMV and state and federal law enforcement databases. The department did not disclose any details about the investigation of Sgt. Bill Arganda, 39, or other allegations against him.
Arganda has also been accused of domestic violence against two women.
The first accusation, which did not lead to criminal charges, resulted in an unpaid suspension in 2007.
Arganda has been on administrative leave since late May of this year, when the Orange Police Department went to Arganda's house on a domestic violence call.
In a follow-up interview with Orange police detectives the next day, Arganda's girlfriend "disclosed that her boyfriend placed a gun to her head on a different occasion," according to a restraining order issued by the Orange Police Department.
The Orange Police Department has finished its investigation and sent the case to the District Attorney's office for review, said Sgt. Matt Miller.
Arganda, an 18-year veteran of the Westminster Police Department, was already under investigation by his own department when he was recently suspended.
The internal investigation, which started April 4 with a citizen complaint, found that Arganda used the CLETS system to look up thousands of names and license plates for his personal use.
Among the more than 4,000 names searched are a blond Fox news correspondent, a woman from a gym class, a mother from his daughter's kindergarten class, his ex-wife and ex-girlfriends as well as the new men in their lives.
None of the people that investigators contacted had given Arganda permission to conduct the searches, according to a search warrant.
In the period of April 2007 to May 2009, Arganda ran 1,020 searches on CLETS, according to a warrant. By comparison, of the eight other sergeants the department employed during the time, five conducted no searches, and the other three averaged around 100 searches each.
The district attorney has not yet filed charges.
Arganda is still employed and paid by the Westminster Police Department; the "intent to terminate" notice he received is the start of a disciplinary procedure required by law for his dismissal.
Contacted Thursday morning, Arganda declined to comment for this report.
Arganda joined the department in January 1991 and was promoted to sergeant in April 2004, but his career started to hit the rocks late in 2006. He often argued with his wife - Cyndie Sanders-Arganda, who is the risk manager for the city of Westminster - while at work, to the point that they were told to avoid contact during work hours.
In October 2006, his sister-in-law accused him of beating his wife. Sanders-Arganda denied the claims at the time, taking her husband's side.
Then in December, Arganda abandoned his post as watch commander to drive home in the middle of the night.
That incident led to the first black mark on his resume; Arganda was denied an annual pay raise and given an unpaid week off.
Around the same time, a dispatcher that had been fired - in part because of Arganda -accused him of propositioning her for sex in exchange for giving her job back.
In Arganda's account to police officials, he writes of the accusation: "An investigation was initiated and to the best of my knowledge everything originally inquired upon has proven NOT to be true. I don't know the final outcome as of yet, but was told no violations were found on my part."
On May 14, amid a contentious divorce, Sanders-Arganda went to city officials, including the police chief, and said her sister had been telling the truth about the abuse.
The Westminster Police Department issued a restraining order against him, which states: "Family and friends have reported that Cindy (sic) has been victim of emotional and physical abuse over the past several months. Today, Cindy admitted to being victim of abuse…"
The department suspended him the next day.
Sanders-Arganda's accusation was supported by a letter sent May 19 by her doctor regarding a visit on Dec. 20, 2006: "… she had contusions on her left thoracic region, left rib region, left lateral wrist and right deltoid regions as well as her left scalp. These appeared to be caused by someone grabbing her tightly and squeezing these areas…. it was disclosed that these contusions were the result of an altercation with her husband and there had been many of these attacks."
Sanders-Arganda went to the police the day after a confrontation with Arganda on Mother's Day, 2007, when she went to pick up their two children. She gives her account in a request for a court protective order: "At that time, our children were coming down the stairs and the Respondent (Arganda) started telling our children that I had 'traded' them for other kids. He further said that 'there are other children calling me mommy, that they should not call me mommy and that I chose to be with other kids instead of them this weekend…'
"I immediately started to cry and said that I won't leave without my kids. The Respondent then went outside to his car, as though he was leaving, but returned to our home and said, 'No, I am not leaving, you need to leave.' The Respondent then told our son… that 'the reason that mommy and daddy are getting a divorce is because mommy sends naked pictures of herself to other men.' 'Do you want to see them?' He then opened his phone to show the pictures to (him). I said, 'No, no, I will leave.'"
After an argument at their daughter's school the following morning ended with Arganda chasing her in his car and throwing a can of soda at her car, she went to work in tears and told her supervisor what had been happening, according to the request for court order.
She accused Arganda of hitting, slapping, pushing, hair-pulling, threatening to rape her, threatening to kill her, and of manipulative and pyschologically abusive behavior.
Arganda denied the accusations of abuse in a court filing, saying that she and her mother were telling the children lies about him.
The department announced this morning only that it has sent the District Attorney's Office a case against an unnamed sergeant for personal use of the CLETS system, which connects to DMV and state and federal law enforcement databases. The department did not disclose any details about the investigation of Sgt. Bill Arganda, 39, or other allegations against him.
Arganda has also been accused of domestic violence against two women.
The first accusation, which did not lead to criminal charges, resulted in an unpaid suspension in 2007.
Arganda has been on administrative leave since late May of this year, when the Orange Police Department went to Arganda's house on a domestic violence call.
In a follow-up interview with Orange police detectives the next day, Arganda's girlfriend "disclosed that her boyfriend placed a gun to her head on a different occasion," according to a restraining order issued by the Orange Police Department.
The Orange Police Department has finished its investigation and sent the case to the District Attorney's office for review, said Sgt. Matt Miller.
Arganda, an 18-year veteran of the Westminster Police Department, was already under investigation by his own department when he was recently suspended.
The internal investigation, which started April 4 with a citizen complaint, found that Arganda used the CLETS system to look up thousands of names and license plates for his personal use.
Among the more than 4,000 names searched are a blond Fox news correspondent, a woman from a gym class, a mother from his daughter's kindergarten class, his ex-wife and ex-girlfriends as well as the new men in their lives.
None of the people that investigators contacted had given Arganda permission to conduct the searches, according to a search warrant.
In the period of April 2007 to May 2009, Arganda ran 1,020 searches on CLETS, according to a warrant. By comparison, of the eight other sergeants the department employed during the time, five conducted no searches, and the other three averaged around 100 searches each.
The district attorney has not yet filed charges.
Arganda is still employed and paid by the Westminster Police Department; the "intent to terminate" notice he received is the start of a disciplinary procedure required by law for his dismissal.
Contacted Thursday morning, Arganda declined to comment for this report.
Arganda joined the department in January 1991 and was promoted to sergeant in April 2004, but his career started to hit the rocks late in 2006. He often argued with his wife - Cyndie Sanders-Arganda, who is the risk manager for the city of Westminster - while at work, to the point that they were told to avoid contact during work hours.
In October 2006, his sister-in-law accused him of beating his wife. Sanders-Arganda denied the claims at the time, taking her husband's side.
Then in December, Arganda abandoned his post as watch commander to drive home in the middle of the night.
That incident led to the first black mark on his resume; Arganda was denied an annual pay raise and given an unpaid week off.
Around the same time, a dispatcher that had been fired - in part because of Arganda -accused him of propositioning her for sex in exchange for giving her job back.
In Arganda's account to police officials, he writes of the accusation: "An investigation was initiated and to the best of my knowledge everything originally inquired upon has proven NOT to be true. I don't know the final outcome as of yet, but was told no violations were found on my part."
On May 14, amid a contentious divorce, Sanders-Arganda went to city officials, including the police chief, and said her sister had been telling the truth about the abuse.
The Westminster Police Department issued a restraining order against him, which states: "Family and friends have reported that Cindy (sic) has been victim of emotional and physical abuse over the past several months. Today, Cindy admitted to being victim of abuse…"
The department suspended him the next day.
Sanders-Arganda's accusation was supported by a letter sent May 19 by her doctor regarding a visit on Dec. 20, 2006: "… she had contusions on her left thoracic region, left rib region, left lateral wrist and right deltoid regions as well as her left scalp. These appeared to be caused by someone grabbing her tightly and squeezing these areas…. it was disclosed that these contusions were the result of an altercation with her husband and there had been many of these attacks."
Sanders-Arganda went to the police the day after a confrontation with Arganda on Mother's Day, 2007, when she went to pick up their two children. She gives her account in a request for a court protective order: "At that time, our children were coming down the stairs and the Respondent (Arganda) started telling our children that I had 'traded' them for other kids. He further said that 'there are other children calling me mommy, that they should not call me mommy and that I chose to be with other kids instead of them this weekend…'
"I immediately started to cry and said that I won't leave without my kids. The Respondent then went outside to his car, as though he was leaving, but returned to our home and said, 'No, I am not leaving, you need to leave.' The Respondent then told our son… that 'the reason that mommy and daddy are getting a divorce is because mommy sends naked pictures of herself to other men.' 'Do you want to see them?' He then opened his phone to show the pictures to (him). I said, 'No, no, I will leave.'"
After an argument at their daughter's school the following morning ended with Arganda chasing her in his car and throwing a can of soda at her car, she went to work in tears and told her supervisor what had been happening, according to the request for court order.
She accused Arganda of hitting, slapping, pushing, hair-pulling, threatening to rape her, threatening to kill her, and of manipulative and pyschologically abusive behavior.
Arganda denied the accusations of abuse in a court filing, saying that she and her mother were telling the children lies about him.
Kyle Willaford Pleads Guilty to Drug Charges
There is a guilty plea from a retired Bartlesville Police officer to a number of drug charges.
On Thursday, 10th Judicial District Judge John Kane accepted a guilty plea to 14 counts of felony larceny of a controlled dangerous substance from Kyle Willaford.
The 48-year-old Willaford was originally charged with 18 counts of the crime, but on Wednesday, the state dropped four of the counts. The charges were the result of the alleged theft of drugs, including Lortab and Hydrocodone, from the Bartlesville Police Department's evidence room.
The thefts began in 2000 while Willaford was employed by the Bartlesville Police Department. He later retired.
Sentencing is set for September 10th.
Officer Joseph Gray Pleads Guilty to DUI
Peoria police Officer Joseph A. Gray pleaded guilty Friday to driving under the influence of alcohol and causing criminal damage to government property for breaking the window of a Metamora Police Department cruiser.
A separate charge of failure to reduce speed to avoid an accident was dropped.
By pleading guilty, Gray, who appeared before Woodford County Circuit Judge John Huschen, waived his right to a jury trial.
Gray, 33, who has been with the Peoria Police Department since September 1999, has been on unpaid leave since March, after the charges were filed. On Friday, Doug Burgess, the spokesman for Peoria police, said Gray's status remains unchanged.
"Until we see the court ruling and receive all the paperwork, he is still on unpaid leave." Burgess said. "We'll address it after that."
Gray, a Metamora resident, was arrested in March for driving under the influence after a single-vehicle rollover accident on Hickory Point Road near Santa Fe Trail in Metamora.
In a statement after the incident, Woodford County State's Attorney Mike Stroh said police found Gray alone in his car after the crash and arrested him for DUI based on their observations.
While being transported to the county jail, Gray apparently began hitting and kicking the rear passenger-side window of the Metamora squad car, which resulted in a broken window and trim.
Kicking out the window of a Metamora squad car, which is government-supported property, is a Class 4 felony, which carries maximum penalties of three years in prison and a $25,000 fine. A convicted felon cannot legally carry a weapon. Gray is scheduled for sentencing on Sept. 28.
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Previous Post: http://whathappenedtoprotectandserve.blogspot.com/2009/03/officer-joseph-gray-charged-with-dui.html
A separate charge of failure to reduce speed to avoid an accident was dropped.
By pleading guilty, Gray, who appeared before Woodford County Circuit Judge John Huschen, waived his right to a jury trial.
Gray, 33, who has been with the Peoria Police Department since September 1999, has been on unpaid leave since March, after the charges were filed. On Friday, Doug Burgess, the spokesman for Peoria police, said Gray's status remains unchanged.
"Until we see the court ruling and receive all the paperwork, he is still on unpaid leave." Burgess said. "We'll address it after that."
Gray, a Metamora resident, was arrested in March for driving under the influence after a single-vehicle rollover accident on Hickory Point Road near Santa Fe Trail in Metamora.
In a statement after the incident, Woodford County State's Attorney Mike Stroh said police found Gray alone in his car after the crash and arrested him for DUI based on their observations.
While being transported to the county jail, Gray apparently began hitting and kicking the rear passenger-side window of the Metamora squad car, which resulted in a broken window and trim.
Kicking out the window of a Metamora squad car, which is government-supported property, is a Class 4 felony, which carries maximum penalties of three years in prison and a $25,000 fine. A convicted felon cannot legally carry a weapon. Gray is scheduled for sentencing on Sept. 28.
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Previous Post: http://whathappenedtoprotectandserve.blogspot.com/2009/03/officer-joseph-gray-charged-with-dui.html
Vancouver Officer Charged with Incest & Sexual Assault
A long-serving Vancouver police officer has been charged with incest and sexual assault after being arrested by Burnaby RCMP officers Thursday afternoon.
The male officer was arrested in south Burnaby after a tip led Mounties to investigate allegations of sexual assault, said Burnaby RCMP Sgt. Jane Baptista.
Mounties started investigating the officer last week, Baptista said. The alleged sexual assault occurred between July 31 and August 1.
Charges of one count of sexual assault and one count of incest were sworn against the man on Friday morning.
Baptista said incest was a rare charge and involves sexual relations with a blood-relative.
"According to Section 155 of the Criminal Code, everyone commits incest knowing another person is by blood relationship his or her parent, child, brother, sister, grandparent or grandchild, and as the case may be, has sexual intercourse with that person. Brother and sister, respectively, include half-brother and half-sister," Baptista said.
"As you can see from that, it does not pertain to any specific age group, sex or anything else," she said.
Baptista said she did not know if the officer had any previous run-ins with the law.
The Vancouver Police Department immediately suspended the officer with pay according to the Police Act. The department has the option of suspending pay after 30 days.
The department's professional standards section will be shadowing the RCMP's criminal investigation.
"The VPD considers the nature of the offense to be very serious and abhors the actions attributed to this member," said Insp. Mario Giardini from the Vancouver police department's professional standards section. Vancouver police department officials would not say how long the officer had been serving or which division he worked in.
The RCMP are not releasing any further details about the identities of anyone involved in the case due to a strict publication ban.
"At this point we are not allowed to say any names or give any information to do with the people involved," Baptista said. "That's quite common in many, many sexual assault cases. It's usually in order to protect the victims and any revictimization of anybody associated with [the case]."
The male will appear in Vancouver Provincial Court in September.
The male officer was arrested in south Burnaby after a tip led Mounties to investigate allegations of sexual assault, said Burnaby RCMP Sgt. Jane Baptista.
Mounties started investigating the officer last week, Baptista said. The alleged sexual assault occurred between July 31 and August 1.
Charges of one count of sexual assault and one count of incest were sworn against the man on Friday morning.
Baptista said incest was a rare charge and involves sexual relations with a blood-relative.
"According to Section 155 of the Criminal Code, everyone commits incest knowing another person is by blood relationship his or her parent, child, brother, sister, grandparent or grandchild, and as the case may be, has sexual intercourse with that person. Brother and sister, respectively, include half-brother and half-sister," Baptista said.
"As you can see from that, it does not pertain to any specific age group, sex or anything else," she said.
Baptista said she did not know if the officer had any previous run-ins with the law.
The Vancouver Police Department immediately suspended the officer with pay according to the Police Act. The department has the option of suspending pay after 30 days.
The department's professional standards section will be shadowing the RCMP's criminal investigation.
"The VPD considers the nature of the offense to be very serious and abhors the actions attributed to this member," said Insp. Mario Giardini from the Vancouver police department's professional standards section. Vancouver police department officials would not say how long the officer had been serving or which division he worked in.
The RCMP are not releasing any further details about the identities of anyone involved in the case due to a strict publication ban.
"At this point we are not allowed to say any names or give any information to do with the people involved," Baptista said. "That's quite common in many, many sexual assault cases. It's usually in order to protect the victims and any revictimization of anybody associated with [the case]."
The male will appear in Vancouver Provincial Court in September.
Deputy Accused of Sexual Assault
A Bexar County deputy is accused of sexually assaulting a woman on the South Side on Tuesday morning while he was on duty, authorities said Wednesday.
A San Antonio police officer was called to a home for a disturbance around 11 a.m. and found the deputy naked on the woman's couch, with his uniform and gear nearby, according to an incident report.
The deputy, a 23-year veteran whose name has not been released, has not been arrested, officials said.
He has been removed from the Judicial Service Division Civil Warrants section and placed on administrative leave pending the criminal investigation, said Deputy Ino Badillo, a Sheriff's Office spokesman.
The woman told police she was walking home around 9:15 a.m. when the deputy stopped her in his patrol car. She said the deputy has approached her in the past and checked her for outstanding warrants, which he did Tuesday, the report states. He told her she had warrants and asked where she lives. The woman, thinking she was being arrested, got into the patrol car, but the deputy drove her home, according to the report.
As she was unlocking the door, the report states he moved her out of the way to get inside. He told her that he likes Hispanic women and said, “You know, we can take care of these warrants,” the report states, and she alleges he then grabbed her by the neck and sexually assaulted her.
He left the home soon after, and she then called a man for help.
According to the report, which does not identify the man the victim called, she was on the phone with that man when the deputy returned.
At that time, the deputy allegedly showed the woman a piece of paper that he claimed was her warrant. She stayed on the phone and told the deputy she was talking to a girlfriend, and according to the report, the deputy suggested that she tell her friend to come over for a threesome.
The man on the phone said the woman “sounded distraught and wouldn't make sense at times,” and he realized the alleged assailant had returned, so he called police to report the disturbance.
That's when the officer found the deputy naked on the couch, the report states.
A Police Department spokeswoman said no arrests had been made in connection with the alleged assault. Badillo said police contacted the Sheriff's Office around 5 p.m. Tuesday afternoon to inform them of the allegations. He declined to further discuss the details of the incident — specifically, why it took deputies so long to learn of the investigation.
San Antonio police will continue to investigate the alleged assault, a spokeswoman said. Badillo said once police complete the criminal investigation, the Sheriff's Office will review the incident further.
A San Antonio police officer was called to a home for a disturbance around 11 a.m. and found the deputy naked on the woman's couch, with his uniform and gear nearby, according to an incident report.
The deputy, a 23-year veteran whose name has not been released, has not been arrested, officials said.
He has been removed from the Judicial Service Division Civil Warrants section and placed on administrative leave pending the criminal investigation, said Deputy Ino Badillo, a Sheriff's Office spokesman.
The woman told police she was walking home around 9:15 a.m. when the deputy stopped her in his patrol car. She said the deputy has approached her in the past and checked her for outstanding warrants, which he did Tuesday, the report states. He told her she had warrants and asked where she lives. The woman, thinking she was being arrested, got into the patrol car, but the deputy drove her home, according to the report.
As she was unlocking the door, the report states he moved her out of the way to get inside. He told her that he likes Hispanic women and said, “You know, we can take care of these warrants,” the report states, and she alleges he then grabbed her by the neck and sexually assaulted her.
He left the home soon after, and she then called a man for help.
According to the report, which does not identify the man the victim called, she was on the phone with that man when the deputy returned.
At that time, the deputy allegedly showed the woman a piece of paper that he claimed was her warrant. She stayed on the phone and told the deputy she was talking to a girlfriend, and according to the report, the deputy suggested that she tell her friend to come over for a threesome.
The man on the phone said the woman “sounded distraught and wouldn't make sense at times,” and he realized the alleged assailant had returned, so he called police to report the disturbance.
That's when the officer found the deputy naked on the couch, the report states.
A Police Department spokeswoman said no arrests had been made in connection with the alleged assault. Badillo said police contacted the Sheriff's Office around 5 p.m. Tuesday afternoon to inform them of the allegations. He declined to further discuss the details of the incident — specifically, why it took deputies so long to learn of the investigation.
San Antonio police will continue to investigate the alleged assault, a spokeswoman said. Badillo said once police complete the criminal investigation, the Sheriff's Office will review the incident further.
Thursday, August 13, 2009
Felony Cases Under Review Following Arrest of Jonathan Bleiweiss
The slayings of Broward sheriff's deputies Paul Rein and Brian Tephford are among the dozens of felony cases under review following last week's arrest of Deputy Jonathan Bleiweiss.
Prosecutors Wednesday released a list of 118 cases in which Bleiweiss' name is listed as either a witness or an arresting officer.
Of those cases, 56 were felonies, including first-degree murder, sexual assault and felony fraud, according to the list provided by the Broward State Attorney's Office.
Bleiweiss, 29, is accused of performing sexual acts on at least eight undocumented migrants he picked up during traffic stops in Oakland Park.
His role in each of the pending criminal cases was not immediately available. Prosecutors and defense attorneys say his involvement could be as mundane as being the deputy directing traffic at a crime scene or as significant as being the lead officer in an arrest.
Prosecutors have been reviewing each case to determine whether they would be able to move forward without Bleiweiss' testimony, said State Attorney's Office spokesman Ron Ishoy. At least one felony case has already been dismissed.
Late Tuesday, prosecutors announced to Broward Circuit Judge Dale Cohen that they were no longer seeking charges against Michael King, 53, arrested in March and charged with battery on a law enforcement officer and resisting arrest.
Ishoy said Bleiweiss was the alleged victim in the case and the only witness.
The two deputy slayings are the highest-profile cases on the list. Tephford was killed in November 2006 while conducting a traffic stop in Tamarac. There are three defendants.
Michael Mazza is accused of killing Rein on Nov. 7, 2007, while en route to trial on a bank-robbery charge. He could be sentenced to death.
Among the other cases under review are two unrelated first-degree murders, two DUIs with injuries, several robberies and stalking. The rest of the cases are misdemeanors.
Bleiweiss is being held in protective custody without bail. A bond hearing is scheduled for Friday. His attorney, Eric Schwartzreich, wants to question Bleiweiss' alleged victims, whose names have not been released.
``My client has been sitting in a jail cell for weeks now based on their accusations. We want the ability to debunk and cross-examine these undocumented immigrants,'' Schwartzreich told the judge.
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Previous Post: http://whathappenedtoprotectandserve.blogspot.com/2009/08/jonathan-bleiweiss-arrested-for-sexual.html
Prosecutors Wednesday released a list of 118 cases in which Bleiweiss' name is listed as either a witness or an arresting officer.
Of those cases, 56 were felonies, including first-degree murder, sexual assault and felony fraud, according to the list provided by the Broward State Attorney's Office.
Bleiweiss, 29, is accused of performing sexual acts on at least eight undocumented migrants he picked up during traffic stops in Oakland Park.
His role in each of the pending criminal cases was not immediately available. Prosecutors and defense attorneys say his involvement could be as mundane as being the deputy directing traffic at a crime scene or as significant as being the lead officer in an arrest.
Prosecutors have been reviewing each case to determine whether they would be able to move forward without Bleiweiss' testimony, said State Attorney's Office spokesman Ron Ishoy. At least one felony case has already been dismissed.
Late Tuesday, prosecutors announced to Broward Circuit Judge Dale Cohen that they were no longer seeking charges against Michael King, 53, arrested in March and charged with battery on a law enforcement officer and resisting arrest.
Ishoy said Bleiweiss was the alleged victim in the case and the only witness.
The two deputy slayings are the highest-profile cases on the list. Tephford was killed in November 2006 while conducting a traffic stop in Tamarac. There are three defendants.
Michael Mazza is accused of killing Rein on Nov. 7, 2007, while en route to trial on a bank-robbery charge. He could be sentenced to death.
Among the other cases under review are two unrelated first-degree murders, two DUIs with injuries, several robberies and stalking. The rest of the cases are misdemeanors.
Bleiweiss is being held in protective custody without bail. A bond hearing is scheduled for Friday. His attorney, Eric Schwartzreich, wants to question Bleiweiss' alleged victims, whose names have not been released.
``My client has been sitting in a jail cell for weeks now based on their accusations. We want the ability to debunk and cross-examine these undocumented immigrants,'' Schwartzreich told the judge.
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Previous Post: http://whathappenedtoprotectandserve.blogspot.com/2009/08/jonathan-bleiweiss-arrested-for-sexual.html
Anthony Rollins Accused of Sexual Assault Gets Free Attorney
Prosecutors are unhappy with a judge's decision to provide a court-appointed attorney to an Anchorage police officer accused of sexually assaulting women while on duty.
Assistant District Attorney Brittany Dunlop filed a motion asking for a hearing to review Superior Court Judge Philip Volland's decision. She said suspended officer Anthony Rollins and his wife own housing and land valued at more than $1.1 million.
Besides the property, the motion noted that Rollins was making at least $35 an hour, with about $70 an hour for overtime. Rollins' wife, Denise Rollins, is also an officer with the Anchorage Police Department.
To qualify for a free lawyer in Alaska, the accused has to be an "indigent person" with few assets and little income, according to state law.
Rollins, 41, was indicted by a grand jury last month on multiple charges of sexual assault and other offenses. He pleaded not guilty to 14 felonies and six misdemeanors. The authorities allege he assaulted six women over a span of three years.
The lawyer Rollins initially hired dropped out after realizing how much work was involved and how unlikely it would be for the officer to pay him. Rollins would be paying attorney's fees at $250 to $500 an hour, plus money for experts, independent investigators and voluminous court documents and evidence.
"At this point, I think the case is large and complex enough that Mr. Rollins is going to need appointed counsel," the lawyer, Steve Wells, told the Anchorage Daily News.
Rollins and his wife own their Anchorage home and two rental properties, a four-unit building in Fairview and another four-unit building in Muldoon. They also own a tract of land worth about $140,000, according to a database of public records.
David Weber, the officer's court-appointed lawyer, told the court that Rollins owes more on the houses than they are worth.
No date has been set for a review of whether a free lawyer in justified. Rollins remains in the city jail pending a bail hearing Friday. The prosecution wants the judge to keep bail set at $100,000.
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http://www.adn.com/news/alaska/crime/story/896661.html
Assistant District Attorney Brittany Dunlop filed a motion asking for a hearing to review Superior Court Judge Philip Volland's decision. She said suspended officer Anthony Rollins and his wife own housing and land valued at more than $1.1 million.
Besides the property, the motion noted that Rollins was making at least $35 an hour, with about $70 an hour for overtime. Rollins' wife, Denise Rollins, is also an officer with the Anchorage Police Department.
To qualify for a free lawyer in Alaska, the accused has to be an "indigent person" with few assets and little income, according to state law.
Rollins, 41, was indicted by a grand jury last month on multiple charges of sexual assault and other offenses. He pleaded not guilty to 14 felonies and six misdemeanors. The authorities allege he assaulted six women over a span of three years.
The lawyer Rollins initially hired dropped out after realizing how much work was involved and how unlikely it would be for the officer to pay him. Rollins would be paying attorney's fees at $250 to $500 an hour, plus money for experts, independent investigators and voluminous court documents and evidence.
"At this point, I think the case is large and complex enough that Mr. Rollins is going to need appointed counsel," the lawyer, Steve Wells, told the Anchorage Daily News.
Rollins and his wife own their Anchorage home and two rental properties, a four-unit building in Fairview and another four-unit building in Muldoon. They also own a tract of land worth about $140,000, according to a database of public records.
David Weber, the officer's court-appointed lawyer, told the court that Rollins owes more on the houses than they are worth.
No date has been set for a review of whether a free lawyer in justified. Rollins remains in the city jail pending a bail hearing Friday. The prosecution wants the judge to keep bail set at $100,000.
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http://www.adn.com/news/alaska/crime/story/896661.html
Officer Devin Staten Accused of Molesting 14-year-old
An LAX police officer is out on bail after being accused of molesting a 14-year-old foster child under the care of his mother.
Police were called to the Inglewood home after a report of a possible sexual assault, said Mike McBride of the Inglewood Police Department.
A teenager at the home accused Officer Devin Staten of touching her in an "inappropriate way" Monday night, McBride said.
The foster care home is owned and operated by Staten's mother.
The 31-year old officer also lives at the house in a converted garage.
Los Angeles County Department of Children and Family Services has been notified.
Investigators say two 18-year-old foster girls and a 10-year-old foster boy also live at the home, McBride said.
Police were called to the Inglewood home after a report of a possible sexual assault, said Mike McBride of the Inglewood Police Department.
A teenager at the home accused Officer Devin Staten of touching her in an "inappropriate way" Monday night, McBride said.
The foster care home is owned and operated by Staten's mother.
The 31-year old officer also lives at the house in a converted garage.
Los Angeles County Department of Children and Family Services has been notified.
Investigators say two 18-year-old foster girls and a 10-year-old foster boy also live at the home, McBride said.
Deputy Donald Harder Charged with Forcing Woman into Sex Act
A Saratoga County sheriff's deputy is charged with a felony tonight, accused of forcing a woman into a sex act while he was on duty in his patrol car.
According to Sheriff James Bowen, 28-year-old Donald Harder had just finished helping someone move a trailer in Edinburgh, when he struck up a conversation with a 27-year-old woman who happened to be there.
The sheriff says those two wound up in the front seat of the patrol car around 8:00 last night.
Bowen would not discuss evidence, nor would he say exactly how the woman was forced. He says the State Police crime lab was part of the investigation.
According to Sheriff James Bowen, 28-year-old Donald Harder had just finished helping someone move a trailer in Edinburgh, when he struck up a conversation with a 27-year-old woman who happened to be there.
The sheriff says those two wound up in the front seat of the patrol car around 8:00 last night.
Bowen would not discuss evidence, nor would he say exactly how the woman was forced. He says the State Police crime lab was part of the investigation.
Sgt Jeff Vanderwiere Accused of Assaulting Teen
A Kalamazoo Public Safety officer was recently suspended, accused of assaulting a teenage suspect.
Sergeant Jeff Vanderwiere was suspended for ten days for hitting a handcuffed teen, an incident that was caught on tape.
The teenager was approached by police around 1:45 on the morning of April 5th, in the 1300 block of Cobb Avenue. Sergeant Vanderwiere and another officer were investigating a report of shots fired. They approached a group of three people, when the 16 year old became belligerent, yelling profanities at police.
There was a scuffle, and Sergeant Vanderwiere took the already handcuffed teen to the ground. An internal report says that Vanderwiere put his knee on the teens chest to keep him on the ground.
On the video which captured the event, it appears that the teen spits at the officer, to which Vanderwiere responds with three quick punches to the head of the teen.
Officers took the screaming 16 year old to the patrol call, and on the ride to the county jail, he continued kicking the car, yelling out profanities and threats.
An internal investigation found that Sergeant Vanderwiere was over the line when he punched the teen, that it was not reasonable force. It also says the Sergeant failed to photograph any injuries, and that he failed to have his microphone on.
A report submitted by Assistant Chief Lynn Wetmore says that Vanderwiere gave no verbal warning, didn't consider using other techniques to get the teen to stop spitting, and didn't request assistance from the other nearby officer.
The report also concludes that the strikes were delivered out of frustration that the teen wasn't compliant.
When interviewed about the incident, Vanderwiere told investigators that the teen had spit directly into his face, and that the spit went into his eyes.
The reports states that Vanderwiere says it was an assault on his person, and he didn't want to get spit on again, so he delivered the jabs.
The Kalamazoo Police Supervisors Association has reportedly filed a grievance on the suspension.
Sergeant Jeff Vanderwiere was suspended for ten days for hitting a handcuffed teen, an incident that was caught on tape.
The teenager was approached by police around 1:45 on the morning of April 5th, in the 1300 block of Cobb Avenue. Sergeant Vanderwiere and another officer were investigating a report of shots fired. They approached a group of three people, when the 16 year old became belligerent, yelling profanities at police.
There was a scuffle, and Sergeant Vanderwiere took the already handcuffed teen to the ground. An internal report says that Vanderwiere put his knee on the teens chest to keep him on the ground.
On the video which captured the event, it appears that the teen spits at the officer, to which Vanderwiere responds with three quick punches to the head of the teen.
Officers took the screaming 16 year old to the patrol call, and on the ride to the county jail, he continued kicking the car, yelling out profanities and threats.
An internal investigation found that Sergeant Vanderwiere was over the line when he punched the teen, that it was not reasonable force. It also says the Sergeant failed to photograph any injuries, and that he failed to have his microphone on.
A report submitted by Assistant Chief Lynn Wetmore says that Vanderwiere gave no verbal warning, didn't consider using other techniques to get the teen to stop spitting, and didn't request assistance from the other nearby officer.
The report also concludes that the strikes were delivered out of frustration that the teen wasn't compliant.
When interviewed about the incident, Vanderwiere told investigators that the teen had spit directly into his face, and that the spit went into his eyes.
The reports states that Vanderwiere says it was an assault on his person, and he didn't want to get spit on again, so he delivered the jabs.
The Kalamazoo Police Supervisors Association has reportedly filed a grievance on the suspension.
Officer Ronald Montgomery Arrested for Domestic Violence
A Tulsa police officer is on the other side of the law. Bixby police arrested Tulsa officer Ronald Montgomery Friday.
Montgomery was charged Tuesday in Tulsa County District Court with domestic assault and battery in the presence of a child, pointing a weapon and interfering with an emergency telephone call.
Bixby Police say he got into an argument with his wife and she told them Montgomery pulled his service weapon on her.
Records show she later showed up at a Tulsa hospital with bruising and swelling and that Montgomery told officers there had been an argument, but it wasn't physical.
In a news release, Tulsa Police say Montgomery has been on administrative leave without pay since last Friday.
Man Dies After Being Tasered
A man who allegedly failed to obey police commands died after officers shot him with a Taser gun in Moreno Valley, authorities said today.
The man became unruly after he was confronted Sunday morning by officers from the Moreno Valley Police Department in the middle of a residential street, according to the Riverside County Sheriff's Department, which is investigating the incident. The officers had responded to reports of a man who was banging on doors.
After the man was Tasered, he was handcuffed, then began suffering from a seizure, the department said. Officers began giving the man first aid until an ambulance arrived. He was taken to Riverside County Regional Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead.
His name was not released pending notification of relatives.
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http://www.pe.com/localnews/inland/stories/PE_News_Local_S_webtaze10.15f825c.html
The man became unruly after he was confronted Sunday morning by officers from the Moreno Valley Police Department in the middle of a residential street, according to the Riverside County Sheriff's Department, which is investigating the incident. The officers had responded to reports of a man who was banging on doors.
After the man was Tasered, he was handcuffed, then began suffering from a seizure, the department said. Officers began giving the man first aid until an ambulance arrived. He was taken to Riverside County Regional Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead.
His name was not released pending notification of relatives.
----------------------------
http://www.pe.com/localnews/inland/stories/PE_News_Local_S_webtaze10.15f825c.html
Ranger Dorian Curry Arrested for Sexual Assault
Both victims in a pair of Glacier Bay National Park sexual assault cases were coworkers with their alleged attacker and had both passed out drunk before being violated, according to court documents fleshing out the charges.
Seasonal law enforcement ranger Dorian B. Curry, 31, was arrested Monday by the Alaska State Troopers on two felony counts of sexual assault. The District Attorney's office is expected to present the case to a grand jury on Friday. The state alleges Curry had sex with the two women on separate occasions near Gustavus.
One victim told investigators that she had drank alcohol on July 4 until she blacked out, according to court documents. She told investigators that she woke up on the floor next to Curry on July 5 and said her groin hurt like she had had "rough sex."
Curry admitted to her that they had sex, and obtained a morning after pill for her, according to court documents. The victim told investigators she was not aware that Curry was having sex with her after she passed out.
Court documents allege that another incident occurred in 2008 under similar circumstances. Two witnesses said they watched Curry carry a passed out woman into his bedroom.
The National Park Service contacted the state troopers in mid-July after conducting an internal investigation into the sexual assault of the two park employees.
"Once it became apparent that there was some kind of potential illegal behavior actually taking place, that's when they contacted us," state trooper spokeswoman Megan Peters said.
Investigators looked into the 2008 case after the July case came to light. That victim alleged Curry had intercourse with her while she was passed out after a party at the park lodge in Bartlett Cove on Sept. 1, 2008. She said she went to Curry's house with several other park employees and woke up the next day in bed with Curry with no pants or underwear on and a used condom on the bed, according to court documents. She confronted Curry, who denied having sex with her.
Troopers interviewed the defendant's former roommate, who said he witnessed Curry pick up the victim while she was passed out and take her into his bedroom, according to court documents. A second witness said the victim had been drinking a lot and passed out on the floor before Curry picked her up and dragged her into his room to have sex with her.
Curry later admitted to troopers that he had sex with both alleged victims, according to court documents.
As the investigation proceeded, Curry was put on administrative leave with the park service and his law enforcement commission was suspended, according to a press release. The federal agency is taking steps to terminate his employment.
A seasonal law enforcement ranger has a variety of duties at Glacier Bay National Park, from monitoring possible fishing violations to backcountry patrols. Seasonal rangers are required to go through a special National Park Service law enforcement academy.
Curry is a graduate of the U.S. Coast Guard Academy in New London, Conn.
This is not the first law enforcement official in Alaska to be arrested this summer on charges of sexual assault. Anchorage Police Department officer Anthony Rollins was arrested last month for allegedly sexually assaulting six women over the past three years.
"In the public's eye (law enforcement officials) are certainly held to a higher standard and when something like this does happen it seems to catch everyone's attention and they are appalled by it, rightfully so," Peters said.
Peters stressed that at this point Curry has been accused of committing sexual assault.
"Whether or not he is found guilty is to be determined," she said.
The felony charges are each punishable by up to 10 years in prison and a $100,000 fine. Curry, who has been living in Washington when not working in Alaska, is being held in the Lemon Creek Correctional Center on $20,000 bail.
Wednesday, August 12, 2009
Officer Brian Kenneth Sawicki Arrested for Indecnet Exposure
A Santa Barbara Police Officer is facing several charges including indecent exposure.
On Monday afternoon, two young girls were walking down a trail at Refugio Beach when they saw a man lying down and masturbating. The girls alerted a State Park Ranger who then chased after the suspect and arrested him.
The state park ranger arrested 33-year-old Brian Kenneth Sawicki. Turns out, Sawicki is a sworn officer of the Santa Barbara Police Department. He faces charges of indecent exposure, annoying a child under 18 and resisting a peace officer.
His bail has been set at $2,500.
On Monday afternoon, two young girls were walking down a trail at Refugio Beach when they saw a man lying down and masturbating. The girls alerted a State Park Ranger who then chased after the suspect and arrested him.
The state park ranger arrested 33-year-old Brian Kenneth Sawicki. Turns out, Sawicki is a sworn officer of the Santa Barbara Police Department. He faces charges of indecent exposure, annoying a child under 18 and resisting a peace officer.
His bail has been set at $2,500.
_________________________
Officer Zsolt Dornay Arrested for DUI
Grays Harbor County, WA
Sometimes irony is not lost even on somebody who has the audacity to shoot an unarmed man in a dark alley and then try to sue the shooting victim. Seattle Police Officer Zsolt Dornay was arrested last month for DUI while driving his motorcycle in Ocean Shores, Washington. The arrest was made by the Washington State Patrol.
Dornay, somewhat infamous for shooting Seattle DUI Attorney James Walker in Seattle's Post Alley in 2006, faces DUI charges in Grays Harbor District Court.
Dornay has been placed on administrative reassignment while an internal investigation at the Seattle police department is conducted.
According to police reports, Dornay, and his younger brother, were stopped for going 49 miles per hour in a 25 mph zone. Both men admitted to drinking and agreed to perform field sobriety tests.
Zsolt Dornay's breath alcohol level registered 0.149 and 0.172 percent. While both results exceed Washington State's legal limit of 0.08 percent, the difference in the two results illustrates how fickle DUI breath testing can be. To Dornay's credit, he could have refused to take the test.
Sometimes irony is not lost even on somebody who has the audacity to shoot an unarmed man in a dark alley and then try to sue the shooting victim. Seattle Police Officer Zsolt Dornay was arrested last month for DUI while driving his motorcycle in Ocean Shores, Washington. The arrest was made by the Washington State Patrol.
Dornay, somewhat infamous for shooting Seattle DUI Attorney James Walker in Seattle's Post Alley in 2006, faces DUI charges in Grays Harbor District Court.
Dornay has been placed on administrative reassignment while an internal investigation at the Seattle police department is conducted.
According to police reports, Dornay, and his younger brother, were stopped for going 49 miles per hour in a 25 mph zone. Both men admitted to drinking and agreed to perform field sobriety tests.
Zsolt Dornay's breath alcohol level registered 0.149 and 0.172 percent. While both results exceed Washington State's legal limit of 0.08 percent, the difference in the two results illustrates how fickle DUI breath testing can be. To Dornay's credit, he could have refused to take the test.
Officer Gregory Renggli Arrested for Domestic Violence
East Wenatchee police officer Gregory W. Renggli was arrested Tuesday at his East Wenatchee home on suspicion of fourth-degree assault, domestic violence. He was booked into the Chelan County Regional Justice Facility but later posted $10,000 bail and was released.
Police Chief Randy Harrison said Renggli, 46, is on paid administrative leave pending the outcome of the charge. East Wenatchee officers initially responded to a call of a domestic disturbance at the Renggli residence at 9:52 a.m. but later turned the case over to Wenatchee police to avoid a conflict of interest, Harrison said.
Wenatchee police said no weapon was involved and Renggli was not on duty at the time of the alleged assault. They referred further questions to Harrison, who said the initial phone call made to the RiverCom dispatch center indicated that a father had struck his 17-year-old son in the chest. No one was taken to the hospital in connection with the incident.
Police Chief Randy Harrison said Renggli, 46, is on paid administrative leave pending the outcome of the charge. East Wenatchee officers initially responded to a call of a domestic disturbance at the Renggli residence at 9:52 a.m. but later turned the case over to Wenatchee police to avoid a conflict of interest, Harrison said.
Wenatchee police said no weapon was involved and Renggli was not on duty at the time of the alleged assault. They referred further questions to Harrison, who said the initial phone call made to the RiverCom dispatch center indicated that a father had struck his 17-year-old son in the chest. No one was taken to the hospital in connection with the incident.
Officer Michael Williams Arrested for Stealing iPhone
An Athens-Clarke County police officer was fired after he was accused of stealing a University student's iPhone after investigating an incident in her apartment.
On Tuesday, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation charged ACC officer Michael R. Williams with felony theft by taking and violation of oath of office. Williams, 45, was a recruit police officer in training when he answered the July 19 call for service at the student's apartment. Williams was fired from the police department Tuesday.
The student reported theft of the iPhone on July 24 and the ACCPD requested the GBI to conduct a criminal investigation of the matter.
Williams was released from the Clarke County Jail uesday after posting $10,000 bond.
On Tuesday, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation charged ACC officer Michael R. Williams with felony theft by taking and violation of oath of office. Williams, 45, was a recruit police officer in training when he answered the July 19 call for service at the student's apartment. Williams was fired from the police department Tuesday.
The student reported theft of the iPhone on July 24 and the ACCPD requested the GBI to conduct a criminal investigation of the matter.
Williams was released from the Clarke County Jail uesday after posting $10,000 bond.
Former Trooper Paul Galietti Pleads Guilty to Unauthorized Use of Database
A former state trooper whose cousin was a top salesman in James Galante's garbage empire was spared jail time Wednesday in U.S. District Court at his sentencing for illegally checking the license plate of a competing trash hauler on a law enforcement database.
Paul Galietti, 41, pleaded guilty in October before Judge Ellen Bree Burns to intentionally exceeding his authorized access to a government computer, a crime punishable by up to a year in prison.
But a plea agreement between federal prosecutors and his lawyer, Gary A. Mastronardi, called for a maximum jail sentence of six months, which Burns spared him altogether Wednesday by imposing a $1,000 fine during sentencing proceedings that lasted about 10 minutes.
When Galietti pleaded guilty, Assistant U.S. Attorney Raymond Miller said in court that federal agents overheard Galietti talking to his cousin, Richard Galietti, who at the time was sales manager for Galante-controlled Automated Waste Disposal, on a call in September 2004.
During the call, Miller said, Richard Galietti asked his cousin to run a check on a Connecticut license plate. Minutes later federal agents heard Paul Galietti giving Richard Galietti the name of the person the car was registered to.
The person was affiliated with a small trash hauling company in Danbury that was not participating in the so-called "property rights system" that artificially kept prices for trash collection in the area high, Miller said.
After he gave his cousin the information, agents overheard Paul Galietti warning of the risks of other people finding out about the check, Miller said.
"Never tell anybody I did that for you, because you'll get me fired," Miller quoted Galietti as saying. "It's a serious thing now, OK?"
According to Miller, when Richard Galietti then told his cousin that his brother, a sheriff in Florida, had gotten in trouble for the same reason, Paul Galietti said: "Yeah, no really, the federal government pinches you now. That's a real f---ing serious thing."
Later, Miller said, state police checked the law enforcement database Galietti accessed and found that a query of the plate had occurred during the wiretapped conversation, from the troop Galietti was assigned to.
Galietti resigned from the state police after being indicted as part of the Galante probe. As part of his plea agreement, he agreed never to seek any employment in law enforcement.
All 33 people arrested as a result of the federal investigation into trash hauling in the area have pleaded guilty.
Galante himself is serving an 87-month prison sentence on racketeering, wire fraud and tax evasion charges. He also forfeited ownership of 25 trash hauling companies, a Southbury residence, six race cars and nearly $450,000 in cash seized during the investigation.
Paul Galietti's day in court he pleaded guilty to exceeding his authorized access to a government computer in October 2008. n Plea agreement called for a jail sentence up to six months and a fine of up to $5,000. n U.S. District Judge Ellen Bree Burns sentenced Galietti on Wednesday to a $1,000 fine.
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http://www.courant.com/news/local/statewire/hc-ap-ct-trashprobeaug12,0,3596851.story
Paul Galietti, 41, pleaded guilty in October before Judge Ellen Bree Burns to intentionally exceeding his authorized access to a government computer, a crime punishable by up to a year in prison.
But a plea agreement between federal prosecutors and his lawyer, Gary A. Mastronardi, called for a maximum jail sentence of six months, which Burns spared him altogether Wednesday by imposing a $1,000 fine during sentencing proceedings that lasted about 10 minutes.
When Galietti pleaded guilty, Assistant U.S. Attorney Raymond Miller said in court that federal agents overheard Galietti talking to his cousin, Richard Galietti, who at the time was sales manager for Galante-controlled Automated Waste Disposal, on a call in September 2004.
During the call, Miller said, Richard Galietti asked his cousin to run a check on a Connecticut license plate. Minutes later federal agents heard Paul Galietti giving Richard Galietti the name of the person the car was registered to.
The person was affiliated with a small trash hauling company in Danbury that was not participating in the so-called "property rights system" that artificially kept prices for trash collection in the area high, Miller said.
After he gave his cousin the information, agents overheard Paul Galietti warning of the risks of other people finding out about the check, Miller said.
"Never tell anybody I did that for you, because you'll get me fired," Miller quoted Galietti as saying. "It's a serious thing now, OK?"
According to Miller, when Richard Galietti then told his cousin that his brother, a sheriff in Florida, had gotten in trouble for the same reason, Paul Galietti said: "Yeah, no really, the federal government pinches you now. That's a real f---ing serious thing."
Later, Miller said, state police checked the law enforcement database Galietti accessed and found that a query of the plate had occurred during the wiretapped conversation, from the troop Galietti was assigned to.
Galietti resigned from the state police after being indicted as part of the Galante probe. As part of his plea agreement, he agreed never to seek any employment in law enforcement.
All 33 people arrested as a result of the federal investigation into trash hauling in the area have pleaded guilty.
Galante himself is serving an 87-month prison sentence on racketeering, wire fraud and tax evasion charges. He also forfeited ownership of 25 trash hauling companies, a Southbury residence, six race cars and nearly $450,000 in cash seized during the investigation.
Paul Galietti's day in court he pleaded guilty to exceeding his authorized access to a government computer in October 2008. n Plea agreement called for a jail sentence up to six months and a fine of up to $5,000. n U.S. District Judge Ellen Bree Burns sentenced Galietti on Wednesday to a $1,000 fine.
--------------------------------
http://www.courant.com/news/local/statewire/hc-ap-ct-trashprobeaug12,0,3596851.story
Airport Officer Arrested for Touching 14-year-old
A man employed as a Los Angeles airport police officer has been arrested for allegedly touching a 14-year-old girl inappropriately at a foster care home in Inglewood operated by his mother, authorities said today.
Police went to the home in the 9300 block of 11th Avenue near the Hollywood Park race track Tuesday afternoon to investigate a possible sexual assault, said Mike McBride of the Inglewood Police Department.
The teen alleged that Devin Staten had touched her in an “inappropriate way” late Monday night, McBride said.
The foster care home is owned and operated by Staten’s mother. Two 18-year-old foster girls and a 10-year-old foster boy also live at the home, McBride said. There were no further reports of misconduct at the home aside from Tuesday’s alleged incident, he said.
Investigators say they have notified officials with the Los Angeles County Department of Children and Family Services.
Staten, 31, works for the Los Angeles Airport Police Department and lives at the house in a converted garage, McBride said. He was released from the Inglewood jail on $20,000 bail.
A spokesman for the airport police did not return phone calls seeking comment.
Police went to the home in the 9300 block of 11th Avenue near the Hollywood Park race track Tuesday afternoon to investigate a possible sexual assault, said Mike McBride of the Inglewood Police Department.
The teen alleged that Devin Staten had touched her in an “inappropriate way” late Monday night, McBride said.
The foster care home is owned and operated by Staten’s mother. Two 18-year-old foster girls and a 10-year-old foster boy also live at the home, McBride said. There were no further reports of misconduct at the home aside from Tuesday’s alleged incident, he said.
Investigators say they have notified officials with the Los Angeles County Department of Children and Family Services.
Staten, 31, works for the Los Angeles Airport Police Department and lives at the house in a converted garage, McBride said. He was released from the Inglewood jail on $20,000 bail.
A spokesman for the airport police did not return phone calls seeking comment.
Officer Scott Gabbei Accused of Sexual Misconduct with Minor
A Pittsboro Police Officer is accused of arranging a meeting with a 14-year-old girl, taking her to a remote location in the Pittsboro City Park. The girl told a clergy member that the incident produced a hug and an open mouth kiss.
The Hendricks County Sheriff's Department arrested 33-year-old Scott Gabbei of Mooresville on a warrant charging him with sexual misconduct with a minor. He was released from the Hendricks County after posting bond of $25,000.
Investigators say Gabbei was in uniform and transported the girl in his police vehicle. He drove her home after the encounter.
Pittsboro Police Chief Christi Peterson is recommending that Gabbei be fired. He is suspended with pay pending a hearing August 24th before the Town Council.
The Hendricks County Sheriff's Department arrested 33-year-old Scott Gabbei of Mooresville on a warrant charging him with sexual misconduct with a minor. He was released from the Hendricks County after posting bond of $25,000.
Investigators say Gabbei was in uniform and transported the girl in his police vehicle. He drove her home after the encounter.
Pittsboro Police Chief Christi Peterson is recommending that Gabbei be fired. He is suspended with pay pending a hearing August 24th before the Town Council.
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