Former Officer Bob Ingle Convicted of Raping Child

A Mobile County Jury convicted a former Chickasaw Police Officer of sexually abusing his step-daughter. Bob Ingle was convicted of raping and sodomizing the 10-year-old. For Rebecca McEvoy's family, the verdict has been long overdue.

It took several years for the case to make it to a courtroom. But it took a jury less than two hours to find Bob Ingle guilty of raping and sodomizing his ten year old step daughter, Rebecca McEvoy.

It's a bitter sweet verdict for Rebecca's father.

"Been a long three years and Rebecca finally got justice, and took a pervert off the streets so other kids can be safe," said Aden McEvoy, Rebecca's father.

Rebecca died in a car accident in 2008, before the case could be heard. Her death played a part in the delay because in Alabama, a defendant has the right to cross examine a witness.

So, Assistant District Attorney Ella Byrd called on Rebecca's best friend, and Rebecca's sister to tell her story of sexual abuse. The state showed Rebecca shared with them, the horror she suffered at the hands of her step father.

"I didn't know what the verdict was going to be, if they were going to find him innocent, I didn't know how I would act. When they said guilty, all I could do was look up and say thank you Becca, thank you God," said Nina Tucker, Rebecca's sister.

Bob Ingle, now a convicted child rapist, faces life in prison for raping and sodomizing Rebecca. A little girl whom her father said had a contagious smile.

Ingle will be allowed to remain out on bond until a hearing in February. Judge Michael Youngpeter ordered Ingle to wear a monitoring device and have no contact with children. Ingle will be sentenced February 25, 2010.
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Officer Michael Kavenius & Sgt. Paul Brown Firing Upheld for Tasering 76-year-old Man

Officials in the small Wyoming town of Glenrock have upheld the firing of two police officers who chased and Tasered a 76-year-old man driving a tractor in a parade.

The Glenrock Town Council voted Monday night to uphold last year's terminations of Officer Michael Kavenius and Sgt. Paul Brown.

According to a state review of the incident, Bud Grose was shocked five times with Kavenius' Taser during Glenrock's annual Deer Creek Days Parade in August.

Grose was driving an antique tractor in the parade and disobeyed Kavenius' traffic command, police said. Brown pulled a police vehicle in front of Grose's tractor, and the tractor collided with it.

Neither former officer was present at the council meeting. A lawyer representing the two has said they violated no police policies or procedures and deserved to be reinstated.

"Sgt. Brown and Officer Kavenius are decent, hardworking men who have generously volunteered to the community and worked in the law enforcement establishment for years," Casper lawyer John H. Robinson said last year.

Grose didn't attend the meeting either but said in a telephone interview afterward he was grateful to the Glenrock community and the council. Glenrock has a population of about 2,300 and is about 25 miles east of Casper.
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"It just kind of shows what people can accomplish when they hang together," Grose said. He said he's been consulting with a lawyer but hasn't decided whether he will sue over the incident.

The incident drew an angry mob, with many people shouting that police mishandled the situation, according to investigators' reports. It has since focused attention on the performance of Glenrock's seven-member police department.

"About everybody thinks it was uncalled for, it could have been handled strictly different," Grose said.

His son, Mike Grose, attended Monday's meeting and thanked the council for making what he called a hard but just decision.

Councilor Bruce Vinolla was among the three who voted to uphold the officers' firings. "As the process went forward, everything just kind of pointed toward the decision," he said after the meeting. "It just kind of made itself."

Vinolla said he believes many in the community were concerned that the situation would be swept under the rug. But he noted that the town called in outside law enforcement agencies to investigate, and said such things take time.

Glenrock Mayor Steve Cielinski and a fourth councilor didn't take part in the vote; the mayor was involved in the investigation, and the councilor had connections to people involved.

Glenrock Police Chief Tom Sweet said after the council vote that he had recommended the firings be upheld. He said the officers were put on administrative leave in August and terminated in September.

"It's been highly emotional for the community - for everyone involved," Sweet said. He said he expects to have two new officers working by this summer.

"I just hope that the community will have confidence in and support the police department as a whole, and the individual officers as they're trying to do their jobs," Sweet said. "I think this incident kind of brought to light even bad things happen in small communities, and your officers have to be professional whether they're in Glenrock, Wyoming, or New York City."

Officer Nick Petrone Accused of Firing Weapon During Argument with Wife

Bond was set Thursday morning at $1,500 for an Horry County police officer charged a day earlier with criminal domestic violence after being accused of firing a shot during an argument with his wife.

Nick Petrone, 40, was charged Wednesday after being taken into custody on Sunday, police said. The bond requires cash or surety before Petrone will be released from J. Reuben Long Detention Center.

Petrone, a patrol officer who has been an employee of the department since February 2006, has been suspended without pay, according to Horry County spokeswoman Lisa Bourcier.

An Horry County police officer was arrested on criminal domestic violence charges after being accused of firing a shot during an argument with his wife.

Patrol Officer Nick Petrone was booked into J. Reuben Long Detention Center Wednesday, and a bond hearing for him is pending, according to jail officials.

Petrone, 40, an employee of the department since February 2006, has been suspended without pay, according to Horry County spokeswoman Lisa Bourcier.

An Horry County police officer was arrested today and charged with criminal domestic violence.

A statement released by Horry County Public Information Officer Lisa Bourcier says Patrol Officer Nick Petrone has been booked into J. Reuben Long Detention Center on the charge.

Petrone, 40, who worked for the department since February 2006, also has been suspended without pay, according Bourcier.

Authorities say a South Carolina police officer was charged with criminal domestic violence after firing a gun and threatening his wife in their coastal home.

Investigators say 40-year-old Horry County police officer Nick Petrone was arrested Sunday after he became angry with his wife because she wouldn't hang out with his friends, breaking bar stools in his garage and damaging the door.

Authorities say Petrone and his wife kept arguing and he grabbed a gun and walked outside. She called 911 after hearing a gunshot.

On Sunday, police said Petrone grabbed a loaded semi-automatic handgun and fired a shot while friends were at his home, making his wife afraid for her life after the two argued in their Loris-area home, according to the arrest warrant.

Petrone denied the allegations when interviewed by Horry County police.

An incident report said Petrone was put in emergency protective custody immediately after the incident and was taken Sunday to Conway Medical Center to be evaluated.

Police said Petrone and his wife argued after she went inside to cook dinner, while he was drinking and hanging out in the garage with friends.

She told officers that Petrone became upset because she wasn't hanging out, and tried to talk her into coming back outside, according to the incident report.

After she told him to, "Just stop," Petrone allegedly went to the garage and began breaking bar stools and messing up the light over the pool table, according to the report.

His wife then went upstairs to hide his duty belt and his service weapon in a closet, because she was scared.

Petrone followed her to the bedroom, went to his night stand and took out a pistol, then went down the stairs, the police report stated.

His wife said she heard a shot as she was trying to leave through another exit with the children, and she said she heard Petrone say he "couldn't live like this."

She then called police.

The woman told officers that Sunday's behavior was out of character for her husband.

Police found Petrone sitting in the yard and found the pistol in his front pocket.

He told officers he made no threats to himself or his wife and did not fire his weapon.

Petrone said he only damaged his property, but did not break any laws.

He said he just went for a walk and always carries a gun when he leaves the house.

When interviewed, the children said they heard a gunshot.

Officer Michael Minor Arrested for Beating Girlfriend

A Philadelphia police officer was arrested for allegedly beating his girlfriend and threatening to kill her family.

Philadelphia Police Officer Michael Minor, 36, was arrested after Upper Darby police responded to a 911 call for an alleged domestic dispute 1:45 a.m. Wednesday at Minor’s home on the 7000 block of Clover Lane, police say.

“The officer was met by a 26-year-old female who stated her boyfriend, Michael Minor, struck her in the face and dragged her off the couch and onto the floor,” Chitwood said, according to delcotimes.com. “Furniture was broken. She said he threatened to come back and shoot the family.”

The couple has two children, Chitwood told the delcotimes.com.

The woman was brought to Delaware County Memorial Hospital where she was treated for a bruised and swollen forehead and abrasions on her neck and leg.

“The victim advised the emergency-room nurse that she was assaulted, choked, punched in the face multiple times and kicked by her son’s father,” Criminal Investigator Matthew Rowles wrote in the affidavit.

But a Fraternal Order of Police lawyer says he questions the alleged victim's story, saying it has changed at least once.

Minor was arraigned Wednesday and is being held in lieu of $50,000 bail on charges including simple assault and harassment.

Pending its review of the arrest, the Philadelphia Police Department will be assigned to desk duty when he is released from Delaware County Prison.

Lt Howard Watson Arrested for Coercing Two Woman into Performing Sexual Acts on Him

A Dallas County constable lieutenant was arrested Wednesday and charged with multiple felonies as part of an investigation by the district attorney's office into activities at some constable offices, authorities said.

Lt. Howard Watson, 66, of Dallas is a senior officer in Constable Jaime Cortes' Precinct 5 office in Oak Cliff. His arrest is the first to come from a months-long investigation of constables by the DA's public integrity division.

Watson was booked into Dallas County Jail late Wednesday afternoon, sheriff's officials said. He is being charged with sexual assault, bribery, official oppression, the unauthorized use of two motor vehicles and tampering with government records.

Watson is accused of, among other things, coercing two women into performing sexual acts with him in exchange for not arresting them on outstanding warrants. Watson also used an incorrect address for a certificate that allowed him to help register voters, court records show.

Peter Schulte, an attorney for Cortes, said the constable "understands the seriousness of the allegations" and has placed Watson on leave until further notice.

Schulte said Cortes is opening an internal investigation on the matter.

Watson's wife, Janette, 64, also was arrested late Wednesday. She is charged with providing a false seller's name and previous owner's name on a vehicle title certificate. She also is charged with tampering with a government record by altering a vehicle title.

The Watsons were unavailable for comment.

Watson was one of several Precinct 5 officers who aroused suspicions in the county tax office about two years ago by driving personal vehicles with 30-day registration tags.

In August, The Dallas Morning News reported that the deputies had been renewing the temporary permits every month, paying $25 each time, leading some officials to wonder whether they had title to the vehicles.

The transactions raised questions about where the constables were getting the vehicles, some of which were in salvage yards after being damaged in crashes. The constables, however, wouldn't say where they got the vehicles.

At the time of the News report, County Judge Jim Foster said he wanted to make sure the vehicles did not come from Dowdy Ferry Auto Services, the towing company whose contracts with Cortes and Precinct 1 Constable Derick Evans have been questioned by county officials.

Some constable officers using the paper tags only recently applied for titles to their vehicles, with Watson seeking a bonded title. A bonded title can protect your against future claims to a vehicle. It is generally sought after the state denies a title application because of a lack of proper ownership evidence.

It's unclear from the indictment whether the situation described by The News is tied to Watson's and his wife's arrests.

The News' investigation found that Watson received a bonded title in July for a 2000 Ford Crown Victoria he was driving with temporary tags, records show. He also was driving a 2001 Cadillac Catera with paper tags. That car, originally registered in Florida, was sold at auction in Texas in April 2007. Records don't indicate when and how Watson obtained the car.

Title records show that Watson's wife became the owner of the Cadillac in August.

Foster said some information compiled by a special investigator helped make the arrests possible. In September, county commissioners hired former FBI agent Danny Defenbaugh to conduct a civil investigation into operations at the Precinct 5 and Precinct 1 constable offices.

As part of that investigation, which is continuing, Defenbaugh turned over evidence of crimes to the DA's public integrity division.

The district attorney's office declined to comment on the arrests.

Foster said he hopes Wednesday's arrests are just the beginning.

"I just wish that this would have happened sooner," he said. "It's very serious. And I'm looking forward to all these issues being resolved."

Cortes hired Watson in July 2007 when county commissioners appointed Cortes to replace former Constable Mike Dupree, who resigned while facing criminal charges.

Previously, Watson worked briefly at two small Ellis County police departments – three months at the Maypearl Police Department and five months at the Life School ISD police department, state records show.

Watson lost his ability to park his Dallas County constable vehicle at his home about a year and a half ago after wrecking it while off-duty.

Commissioner Kenneth Mayfield said he hopes more arrests will follow.

In recent months, numerous current and former deputy constables from Precincts 1 and 5 have reported wrongdoing to some of the commissioners and to the district attorney.

Mayfield said several more deputies are scheduled to appear before the grand jury investigating constable affairs.

"It's somewhat encouraging," Mayfield said about Wednesday's arrests. "It's a good sign. We'll wait to see what follows."

Officer Alex Alvarez Avoids DWI Conviction After Arresting Officer Fails to Appear

An Hidalgo County judge killed a McAllen policeman’s criminal case after one of the defendant’s fellow officers failed to appear in court and testify against him, court records state.

Judge Jay Palacios of Hidalgo County Court-at-law No. 2 dealt a “fatal” blow to the prosecution’s case, Hidalgo County District Attorney Rene Guerra said, when he granted a motion to suppress evidence in Officer Alex Alvarez’s pending case on a charge of driving while intoxicated.

McAllen police arrested Alvarez on July 5, 2009, after they found him in his red Ford pickup truck at Chili’s, 521 E. Nolana. An anti-theft locking device was still attached to the steering wheel as he allegedly attempted to leave the restaurant while drunk. In the process, his truck collided with a parked car.

“The outcome of last night may determine his future,” McAllen Police Chief Victor Rodriguez said the day after Alvarez’s arrest.

But in criminal court, at least, it appears Alvarez may have avoided a DWI conviction. The arresting officer failed to appear for a court hearing where he was to explain why Alvarez had been arrested.

“Nobody showed up to testify,” said Alvarez’s attorney, Toribio “Terry” Palacios. “We got all the evidence suppressed. There’s not much I can comment on.”

Alvarez refused a breath test and would not submit to other sobriety tests at the police station, according to Monitor archives.

Restaurant employees told police Alvarez had been bothering four female customers and was told to return to his table. The restaurant manager suspected Alvarez was too drunk to drive and called a taxi to take him home. While waiting for the cab to arrive, the manager tried to stall Alvarez, who apparently stripped a pair of glasses from his head and threw them to the floor.

District Attorney Guerra said he learned Wednesday that the case was set for dismissal when a Monitor reporter contacted him about the matter. Guerra said he would ask Palacios to reconsider his decision to suppress the evidence in the case.

“Legally, I don’t know if he can reconsider it,” the district attorney said. “I don’t know until I try.”

But why the arresting officer missed the court date remains unclear.

Court records show the officer was served a subpoena Jan. 12 to appear in court for the scheduled hearing one week later.

Guerra said he learned the arresting officer had worked the graveyard shift the night before the hearing and missed the Jan. 19 court date.

McAllen’s Police Chief Rodriguez said he believed the officer was hospitalized. Rodriguez provided no further details.

Two officers from the McAllen police force’s internal affairs division were in the courtroom that day as part of their administrative investigation, Guerra said.

“They knew he had been subpoenaed and failed to show up,” the district attorney said.

Alvarez, meanwhile, remains on unpaid administrative leave — as he has since his arrest last summer, Rodriguez said.

No decision has been made about any consequences the 14-year police veteran could face, the chief said, but those could range from suspension to Alvarez’s firing. The arresting officer could face administrative consequences for failing to appear in court, as well.

“Now I need to figure out what will happen in this one,” Rodriguez said.

Former Officer Pierre Dorsey Charged with Impersonating a Police Officer

A former city police officer is due in court this morning after being charged with posing as an undercover officer at a Southwest Baltimore high school.

School police say 26-year-old Pierre Dorsey of the 4400 block of Shamrock Ave. told an officer he was working for the principal of Edmondson High School on an undercover detail to investigate illegal activities occurring in the school and crimes that involved students at nearby Edmondson Village Shopping Center.

But Dorsey said he did not have any identification, and the principal said that she had not asked Dorsey to conduct any observation, according to records. She believed he had been assigned there by the Police Department. When she approached him, he had flashed a yellow Baltimore City license and said he was not required to carry a badge in his undercover capacity, records show.

Anthony Guglielmi, a city police spokesman, confirmed that Dorsey worked for the department from 2005 until his resignation in 2007. Citing personnel rules, Guglielmi said he could not reveal whether Dorsey had been facing internal discipline when he resigned.

Dorsey told school police that he was assigned to the Southwestern District and gave the name and phone number of Duane Verderaime from the City Union of Baltimore. Verderaime did not return phone messages.

Officers towed Dorsey's vehicle from the school and inside found a black bag with books containing tickets for traffic and criminal citations, as well as citizen contact tickets.

According to court records, Dorsey's wife, Centria Dorsey, works at Edmondson High School and also told police that her husband was working on behalf of the principal. Edie House-Foster, a city schools spokeswoman, confirmed that Centria Dorsey was an employee and said that Pierre Dorsey had been visiting the school beginning in October, though she said he was not there every day.

A phone number for Pierre and Centria Dorsey was out of service, and neither could be reached for comment. Records show that they faced foreclosure proceedings last month.

Officer Mark Young Pleads Guilty to Misuse of Data System

A former Marion police officer pleaded guilty to one count related to the misuse of the law enforcement automated data system.

Mark A. Young, 56, pleaded Wednesday in Marion County Common Pleas Court, said Assistant County Prosecutor Dave Stamolis.

Young's trial on three counts of improper use of a telecommunications device, all fifth-degree felonies, was to begin today. He resigned in February, the same day he pleaded not guilty to the three charges. His trial had been continued multiple times since then because of unavailability of counsel and witnesses.

He faces up to a year in prison and a $2,500 fine on the single charge. The other two counts were dismissed in a plea agreement.

Stamolis said the prosecutor's office likely will recommend community-control with some jail time. He requested a presentence investigation.

Sentencing has not been scheduled.

Prosecutor Brent Yager said his office did the plea agreement in large part because the incidents "all happened fairly close to one another in time." He said he doubted the "outcome would be any different" regarding the sentence had Young been convicted of all three charges.

Local attorney J.C. Ratliff was appointed to represent Young. He could not be reached for comment.

Yager said Young's being a police officer wasn't a factor in the prosecutor's handling of the case.

"I think what you try to do is treat it like other cases," Yager said. "He broke the law. Should he be punished worse because he's a police officer? Maybe not, because being a police officer is why he had access to LEADS (the database). You really can't violate that section if you're not a police officer, and it's not a crime of violence or anything. We try to treat people equally."

If sentenced to serve time, it wouldn't be Young's first stay behind bars.

He was convicted of misdemeanor violation of a protection order after a fight with his estranged wife in December 1999. Young was fired the same month for using his badge to try to obtain information at a hotel about the estranged wife, who he suspected was there.

An arbitrator later ruled Young should be reinstated as a police officer, though the city had found four violations of general rules of officer conduct.

The arbitrator ruled three of the complaints were minor violations, not warranting termination. They included conduct unbecoming of an officer, abuse of official position and concealment of material facts.

The city had filed a final grievance - that Young had committed a criminal violation. But the arbitrator ruled Young had not been found guilty in court before his termination.

Before his February resignation, Young had signed a last-chance agreement after a series of conduct violations. Young was a police officer for about 19 years. He was paid $25.84 an hour and $53,747 a year.

Officer Philip Spaman Admitts to Fondling Teen

The Ilion police officer who admitted to charges this week in connection with the fondling a teenager is resigned from the department, officials said.

Philip Spaman submitted his resignation – effective immediately – to the Ilion Village Board during their meeting Wednesday night, Chief Timothy Parisi said today.

Spaman, 47, was with the department for more than eight years.

Initially accused of forcible touching, Spaman to have his case heard in front of a jury Tuesday when he pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor charge of endangering the welfare of a child. He is due to be sentenced to three years of probation on Tuesday, March 23.

He will not have to register as a sex offender.

With Spaman’s immediate resignation, Parisi said the department can now move past the shadow of Spaman’s allegations.

“As far as the department performing its duties, we still have a job to do,” Parisi said. “Despite adversities, whether they come from internal or external forces, we still have those challenges to face on a daily basis to protect the community.”

According to a grand jury indictment, Spaman had grabbed the teen’s genitals on several occasions between September 2007 and October 2008. The teen is now 18.

Spaman was the regional representative for the New York Police Juvenile Officers Association, whose members attend training workshops that explore investigative techniques for dealing with sex crimes against children. Spaman was suspended from the group after he was charged.

Former Deputy Richard Miller Charged with Sending E-Mail Threats

A former Blue Earth County sheriff’s deputy has been charged with a felony for an alleged e-mail threat he sent to other deputies in November.

The terroristic threats charge was filed Wednesday against Richard Glenn Miller, 36, of Mankato. Miller resigned from his job as a deputy in December after being placed on paid administrative leave Nov. 11.

That was the day Miller allegedly sent an e-mail, with the subject “Union Contract,” to 14 other deputies at 5:46 a.m. He was the only deputy on duty at the time, the criminal complaint said.

After discussing upcoming union negotiations, Miller allegedly ended the e-mail with, “We absolutely need to have this added to our contract and if we don’t I’m gonna bring a gun into our office and shoot this place and everyone to hell.” The e-mail allegedly ended with “MILLER” in all capital letters.

Miller was put on administrative leave later that day after the e-mail was shown to Lt. David Karge and Capt. Rich Murry. Miller allegedly told Karge and Murry, who went to his house to confront him, that the e-mail was a joke, and he ends all of his e-mails with a “bit of his sense of humor,” the complaint said. Miller’s squad car, M16 rifle and handgun were taken at that time.

All of the deputies who received the e-mail, as well as Karge and Murry, were interviewed by Sgt. Steve Collins of the Scott County Sheriff’s Department. Three of the deputies said they felt threatened by the e-mail and several said they felt “slightly alarmed,” Collins reported.

Others said they weren’t threatened but could understand how the e-mail could be perceived as a threat, the complaint said.

Miller said Wednesday that he never intended to harm or threaten anyone.

“It was an expression meant in a humorous way, and it was taken out of context,” Miller said. “It was a phrase that’s commonly used.

“If I would have known I was going to threaten someone with what I said, I most certainly wouldn’t have said it.”

Miller also said it might have been a mistake to make the comment in an e-mail because it’s more difficult to convey that a phrase is meant to be humorous. If he would have said it in person, the other deputies would have seen him smiling and understood it wasn’t meant to be a threat, he said.

“They were co-workers and friends,” Miller said. “It’s a real tight group of people. Whenever you’re dealing with union negotiations, you always try to lighten the mood.

“It’s really hurtful that someone would think I’m capable of something like that. I’ve spent the last 13 years of my life trying to help people. To be accused of something like that is really hurtful.”

After Miller’s resignation, Blue Earth County Chief Deputy Mike Maurer would not disclose why Miller had been placed on paid leave or the reason for his resignation. Maurer would only say there was an internal investigation and that the Scott County department had been asked to do a criminal investigation.

The investigation ended in early January and was turned over to the Brown County attorney’s office to decide if any criminal charges should be filed. Scott and Brown counties were asked to help to avoid any conflicts of interest, Maurer said.

Miller, who had been a Blue Earth County deputy since 1999, had been disciplined twice before by superiors, according to personnel records available to the public.

In 2005, he was suspended for 10 hours without pay for failing to complete two training courses. He also was suspended without pay for one work week in February 2002 after he was arrested for driving while intoxicated. In that incident, Miller also was accused of distracting a state trooper so he would be pulled over instead of an intoxicated friend who was driving another car.

Former Deputy Carl Graves Accused of Raping 13-year-old

Jurors heard opening statements Wednesday afternoon in the trial of a former Brevard County sheriff's deputy accused of raping a 13-year-old girl.

An attorney for Carl E. Graves, 47, said he maintains that he is innocent of six counts of sexual battery and three counts of molestation. Each charge is a second-degree felony, punishable by up to 15 years in prison.

A two-day jury selection process wrapped up Tuesday in Circuit Judge George Maxwell’s courtroom at the Moore Justice Center in Viera.

Legal wrangling between Graves and his attorneys over their possible withdrawal from the case halted proceedings until this afternoon. Attorneys resumed about 2 p.m. to go forward with opening statements.

Sheriff's deputies arrested Graves in May 2007, a month after his former girlfriend went to police with allegations that she caught the Cocoa man holding her daughter against a wall and trying to kiss her, according to an arrest affidavit.

Police said the teen told them that the sexual contact progressed from inappropriately touching her during trips to buy the girl candy, soda and cigarettes to forcing her to have sex several times in summer 2006.

Officials said Graves was fired in February 2007 before the rape allegations.

Deputy Richard Heverly Charged with Bringing Weapon to Court

A San Bernardino County sheriff's deputy facing criminal charges for allegedly holding a gun to a man's head while off duty has been charged with an additional felony for allegedly bringing his service weapon to court on his trial date.

Richard Charles Heverly, 43, of La Verne arrived last week at the Larson Justice Center in Indio in full uniform, with his duty belt and service weapon, according to an arrest declaration written by the bailiff in the courtroom.

His trial date was postponed, and a new court date was set for Monday. Prior to the Monday court appearance, prosecutors filed criminal charges against Heverly for unlawful possession of a weapon in a public building.

When Heverly returned to the court, he was arrested on the gun charges. He was released from custody after posting $20,000 bail.

Heverly appeared in court on Wednesday to be arraigned on the new charge, but the hearing was postponed to Feb. 9. A jury trial in Heverly's prior case is also set for that date.

Heverly remains employed by the Sheriff's Department and is assigned to work at West Valley Detention Center in Rancho Cucamonga, sheriff's spokeswoman Arden Wiltshire said.

"He is not on any type of paid administrative leave or anything like that," Wiltshire said.

In August 2008, Heverly was arrested by California Highway Patrol officers after he allegedly held a gun to a tow truck driver's head and threatened to kill him in an apparent off-duty road rage incident.

Prosecutors have charged Heverly with four felonies for his role in the incident, which occurred on the 10 Freeway about 50 miles east of Indio.

One of the officers who arrested Heverly testified in a preliminary hearing last year that Heverly claimed he felt threatened by the tow truck driver and said he was acting in self-defense.

Law enforcement officers are allowed to carry weapons in courthouses and other public buildings if they are there carrying out their official duties. Heverly allegedly violated the law because he was armed during an appearance in a case where he was the defendant.

Heverly and his attorney did not return calls seeking comment Wednesday.

Former Officer Anthony Tuleta Indicted for Purchasing Steroids

Dr. Ramon Scruggs was indicted for illegally writing prescriptions for Schedule III Steroids. Anthony Tuleta, a Cleveland Police Officer, was indicted for illegally purchasing the steroids.

Dr. Scruggs, 61, of Santa Ana, California, prescribed Schedule III Steroids over the internet for non-medical purposes from January 2003 to June 2007. Prosecutors say Anthony Tuleta illegally bought and submitted insurance claims to Medical Mutual.

Medical Mutual contacted the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) after it identified excessive amounts of steroids being prescribed. Dr. Scruggs pleaded guilty to 5 counts of drug trafficking. On December 14, 2009, Dr. Scruggs was sentenced to 3 years in prison.

Anthony Tuleta's trial is scheduled for tomorrow, January 27, 2010, at 9:00 am in front of Judge John O'Donnell.

Lt Brian Leary Faces Drunk Driving Charges

A city police lieutenant faces drunken driving charges after his car rear-ended another vehicle while he was off-duty over the weekend, the chief said.

Lt. Brian Leary, 48, will be summoned to Brockton District Court to face charges of operating under the influence in connection with the accident on Saturday, Police Chief William Conlon said.

Leary was also cited for following too closely, the chief said.

Conlon said the accident occurred Saturday, around dinner time, at Court and Cary streets. Leary was driving his personal vehicle and was off-duty at the time, Conlon said.

Leary was not arrested at the scene because he was taken to the hospital after suffering head trauma when the airbag deployed, Conlon said.

The other driver was not injured, the chief said.

Leary could also face disciplinary action by the department even though the crash occurred while off-duty. “It is a serious occurrence,” Conlon said.

Leary has not been back to work since the accident, he said.

The chief said Leary has been a hard-working officer and is considered “a great officer, a smart guy.”

However, Conlon said police officers must be held to a high standard.

“Incidents such as this are unacceptable,” he said.

Officer Sean O'Brien Arrested for Hitting Handcuffed 14-year-old

A Chattanooga police officer has been arrested and relieved of duty after he reportedly hit a teenager in juvenile custody. Members of the Internal Affairs Division arrested Officer Sean O'Brien Wednesday.

Investigators say the alleged incident happened at the Juvenile Detention Center. Employees there filed a complaint after they reportedly witnessed O'Brien hitting the handcuffed 14 year old who was under arrest. The juvenile was seated in the intake hallway when he reportedly exchanged words with O'Brien who then hit him on the head then pushed him to a wall.

O'Brien has been charged with simple assault and was taken to Hamilton County Jail.

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Family Says Kenneth Howe Beaten by Police

The family of a Worcester man who died after being stopped at a state police sobriety checkpoint filed a federal civil rights and wrongful death lawsuit yesterday, alleging that Kenneth R. Howe was beaten to death by police.

The family's lawyer, Frances A. King, called on the U.S. attorney to take over the investigation from the Essex district attorney's office. State police are working with the DA's office on the investigation into the Nov. 25 incident, she said, which is unacceptable.

“It is nothing short of absurd to think that the Massachusetts State Police can investigate the Massachusetts State Police,” she said at a press conference in front of the U.S. District Courthouse in Boston.

She called it outrageous that none of the officers at the checkpoint that night had been disciplined or suspended, even after the state medical examiner declared Mr. Howe's death a homicide. The medical examiner recently ruled that Mr. Howe died of “blunt impact to the head and torso with compression of chest,” and that he died as a result of a “struggle with police.” The medical examiner also said Mr. Howe had a history of high blood pressure and heart problems that might have contributed to his death.

The lawsuit noted that Mr. Howe, 45, did not receive medical attention for 46 minutes after he was arrested at the checkpoint. Had he been immediately rushed to Lawrence General Hospital, a seven-minute ambulance ride away, he might still be alive today, Ms. King said.

The lawsuit requests monetary damages, Ms. King said, as well as changes to police procedure at sobriety checkpoints. She said there is no cap to the amount of money that the family might receive, and that no figure has been requested.

Margaret Howe, Kenneth's wife, appeared at the press conference with two of their three daughters, 15-year-old Ashleigh and 10-year-old Dakota. Mr. Howe, who co-owned the Majestic Barber Shop in Clinton, also had a 1-year-old daughter, Raynemarie Howe.

“We want justice done, for me, for my kids, and for Kenny,” Mrs. Howe said yesterday. “My life hasn't been the same since he has been gone. It's hard, especially with my kids not having a dad right now.”

The lawsuit names 20 state police officers, 13 North Andover police officers, and two Essex County deputy sheriffs as possibly causing Mr. Howe's death. Ms. King said the lawsuit names every officer on the duty roster of the sobriety checkpoint that night. Ms. King said she would seek to drop the names of those officers not involved as evidence became available.

A spokesman for Essex District Attorney Jonathan Blodgett said the office's investigation continues, and he declined to comment further. A state police spokesman referred all questions to Mr. Blodgett's office. A spokesman for the North Andover Police Department was unavailable yesterday.

According to the lawsuit, on Nov. 25, Mr. Howe had gone to North Andover with two friends, Michael Garbauskas and Michael Barbour, to buy a speedboat they found in an online ad on Craigslist. Mr. Garbauskas drove a gray Chevrolet Silverado truck, Mr. Howe sat in the front seat, and Mr. Barbour sat in the back. Also in the car was Mr. Howe's pet pit bull, a fact that had not been disclosed.

After buying groceries for Thanksgiving dinner, they headed for home on Route 114. Mr. Howe was smoking a marijuana cigarette and did not have his seat belt on. Upon seeing police, Mr. Howe tried to extinguish the joint and put on his seat belt, the lawsuit said.

At the checkpoint, Mr. Garbauskas and Mr. Howe were ordered from the truck by state police. State Police Officer Jodi Gerardi “forcefully removed” Mr. Howe from the truck, according to the lawsuit.

The dog apparently started barking. The lawsuit notes that Mr. Howe's pit bull was “never commanded to attack officers, nor was it intentionally ‘released.' ” The police report noted the dog was controlled without incident.

“Trooper Gerardi forcefully removed Kenneth from the truck and screamed, ‘He assaulted me!' ” the lawsuit stated.

Police say Mr. Howe then ran away.

In the lawsuit, Mr. Garbauskas said Mr. Howe never assaulted the female trooper.

“We deny any struggle took place,” Ms. King said yesterday. “But even if a struggle did take place, there is a proper protocol for placing a person under arrest. You do not beat them to death. There's no justification and no rationale.”

The lawsuit then stated, “At that point, between 10 and 20 law enforcement officers swarmed on Kenneth.”

The arrest occurred very close to the offices of The Eagle-Tribune, a daily newspaper. Photographer Carl Russo saw the commotion from the parking lot and rushed over to photograph the scene. He shot 43 photographs, which showed Mr. Howe face down on the pavement for 10 minutes, with seven to 12 officers standing “very close” to him, according to the lawsuit. One to four officers sat on him, according to the photos, while handcuffs and leg irons were placed on his wrists and ankles.

“Between two and seven officers picked up Kenneth off the ground and dragged him to the cruiser,” the lawsuit stated. He was taken to the state police barracks in Andover. While awaiting booking, he slumped over, unresponsive. He was taken by ambulance to Lawrence General Hospital and was pronounced dead upon arrival.

Juvenile Officer Philip Spaman Pleads Guilty to Grabbing Teens Genitals

The regional representative for the New York Police Juvenile Officers Association has pleaded guilty to endangering the welfare of a child, a misdemeanor.

Philip Spaman, 47, a 12-year police officer with the Ilion Police Department, had been indicted in July for allegedly grabbing the genitals of a 17-year-old male several times between September 2007 and October 2008.

In his former role as a juvenile officer, he attended training workshops that explore investigative techniques for dealing with sex crimes against children. Spaman has resigned from that position. He is currently suspended from his job with the police department.

Spaman entered his plea after the jury had been selected for his trial on Monday but before testimony could begin.

It is expected he will be sentenced to three years of probation on March 23. He could have faced up to a year in jail and/or a $1,000 fine.

Spaman who was dating the boy’s mother and had allegedly fondled the teen for more than a year. After Spaman moved out of the house, the teen sent his mother a text message, telling her that Spaman had “violated” him.

Former Officer Craig Murrah Sentenced to 6 Months in Jail for Spanking Teen on Butt

A former Fort Worth police officer was sentenced Wednesday to six months in jail for slapping a nearly nude teen on the buttocks after discovering her having sex with her boyfriend in a north Fort Worth park in 2007.

A six-member Tarrant County jury deliberated only 50 minutes before convicting Craig Arlen Murrah of official oppression because he mistreated the 18-year-old woman after ordering her out of her car in Oakhurst Park shortly after 1 a.m. on June 22, 2007.

At Murrah’s request, 213th District Judge Louis Sturns held a 90-minute hearing before sentencing the 39-year-old to six months in jail. The Class A misdemeanor carries a maximum sentence of one year in jail. Sturns also ordered him to pay a $2,000 fine.

Murrah, who was fired after he was charged in the incident, won’t have to serve his time while he appeals his conviction. He will remain on bond until then, said his attorney, Wes Ball.

The woman, now 20, testified during the two-day trial that she and her boyfriend were having sex in the car when they saw the lights of a patrol car as it pulled into the parking lot. Because of the nature of the crime, the woman and her boyfriend are not being identified.

She said she tried to get dressed but was still nude from the waist down when Murrah made her get out of the car and put her hands behind her back. That caused her to drop the shirt covering her lower body, she said. Murrah forced her to bend over and spanked her on her naked bottom, she said.

After Murrah left the park, the woman’s boyfriend said, he called 911 while following the officer’s patrol car to a downtown police station. He said he initially gave the operator the wrong number for Murrah’s car but corrected himself after he got closer to the car.

The couple talked to an officer about the incident. But after they couldn’t reach him for several weeks, the woman and her father went to the Police Department and the woman gave a statement to Sgt. Pedro Criado.

The first officer was demoted because of his handling of the incident.

During closing arguments, Ball stopped short of saying the woman made up the allegations, although he said the couple’s testimony had discrepancies. But he criticized police for not investigating the possibility that another officer had committed the acts attributed to Murrah.

Prosecutors Lucas Allen and Sherry Whelchel dismissed defense contentions that Murrah’s activity reports support his claim that he pulled the couple over that night on a traffic stop at 1500 E. Northside Drive.

"Is he going to put down that he pulled the girl over and spanked her in the park?" Allen asked. "Of course not. That’s ludicrous."

During deliberations, jurors asked to review the 911 tape of the man frantically telling the operator what had happened while the woman cried uncontrollably in the background. They returned the verdict about 20 minutes later.

Several jurors remained in the courtroom while Sturns heard testimony from five witnesses, including two former students and the former principal of Wedgwood Middle School. The three testified that Murrah, while a teacher and coach at the school, touched the two girls on the buttocks and thighs. He resigned after a school district investigation.

Murrah’s mother and a longtime friend urged Sturns to grant him probation, saying he is a good father whose 5-year-old son would be devastated if his father were jailed.

Sturns said that he considered the impact on the boy but that Murrah’s actions breached the trust of fellow officers as well as the community.

"I believe the message has to be delivered that you can’t engage in this type of conduct and get a free pass," Sturns said.

"It’s not something I can condone."

University Officer Cory Hall Accused of Hit and Run

An Augusta State University officer is on administrative leave, accused of a hit and run with a commissioner.

Cory Hall was arrested late Tuesday night. Deputies said he rear-ended Augusta Commissioner Corey Johnson's car in Augusta on Washington Road, and drove off.

Hall was arrested a short time later.

ASU has placed Hall on leave pending an internal investigation.

Commissioner Johnson was not hurt. Hall is charged with hit and run and having an expired tag.

Corrections Officer Ryan Freeman Charged with Unauthorized Use of Database

A corrections officer in the Mahoning County Sheriff's department who is also a Braceville police officer is arrested for misusing a law enforcement computer.

Thirty-year-old Ryan Freeman of Warren is charged with unauthorized use of the Ohio Law Enforcement Gateway and obstructing justice.

He allegedly used the system improperly to search records in a heroin distribution investigation.

During that investigation, TAG Law Enforcement officers arrested 39-year-old Frederick Johnson and 26-year-old Brandy Purbaugh of Warren.

TAG Agents along with Warren police recovered a bag containing heroin, four ounces of cocaine and a firearm.

Deputy Javier Hinojosa Arrested for DWI for the Third Time

Police arrested a senior deputy constable Saturday after he allegedly lost control of his pickup truck and collided with a car driven by an elderly couple.

It was his third DWI arrest in three years.

Alamo police arrested Javier Hinojosa on driving while intoxicated and intoxication assault charges Saturday evening after he allegedly lost control of his Chevrolet Silverado pickup truck and collided nearly head-on with the elderly couple’s car.

Saturday’s DWI arrest is the second in about four months for Hinojosa — he has an August 2009 DWI case pending in Hidalgo County Court-at-Law No. 5.

Precinct 2 Constable Gilbert “Chato” Alaniz said he suspended Hinojosa for one week without pay after the DWI arrest last year.

Hired in June 2005, Hinojosa serves as senior deputy constable for Alaniz, who said he has been unable to talk with Hinojosa. The constable said he would conduct his own investigation into the matter to determine Hinojosa's job status.

“Something is going to be done, believe me,” Alaniz said. “Something is definitely going to be done.”

In his latest arrest, Hinojosa, 45, was driving on the 300 block of East Business 83 in Alamo about 6:50 p.m. Saturday when he allegedly lost control of his Chevrolet Silverado pickup truck, veered into the oncoming lanes of traffic and collided with a passenger car driven by an elderly couple, said Alamo Police Chief Arturo Espinoza.

“It looks like he went into the oncoming traffic and they collided almost head-on,” the chief said.

Hinojosa’s 12-year-old son was riding in the pickup truck with him at the time. The boy was transported to an area hospital for observation along with the elderly couple, Espinoza said. The couple, both who are in their 70s, remained hospitalized in serious condition Monday.

Hinojosa, of Edinburg, refused to provide a field sobriety test, Espinoza said.

Oddly, Hinojosa was taken to three different hospitals — Edinburg Regional, McAllen Medical Center and Rio Grande Regional Hospital — and no blood was drawn because he refused to provide submit to a blood test, Espinoza said.

State law requires anyone arrested for driving while intoxicated who is involved in an accident that causes “serious bodily injury” or death to provide a blood specimen.

Hidalgo County District Attorney Rene Guerra said he has never encountered a situation where a person arrested on intoxication assault or manslaughter charges did not provide a blood sample — and the hospital complies with a suspect’s request.

“No one has ever had an issue,” Guerra said.

Police did not try to obtain a search warrant, which would have forced Hinojosa to submit to the blood test because it was the weekend, and whatever alcohol or drugs he may have consumed had left his system, the chief said.

“We didn’t go that route as to try and get a warrant on him,” Espinoza said. “We’re going with a refusal” to submit to a blood or breath sample.

Hospital officials could not be reached for comment after business hours Monday.

Hinojosa was formally charged with intoxication assault and driving while intoxicated with a child passenger during an arraignment Sunday in Alamo Municipal Court. Bond was set at $150,000.

“It’s troubling to us when those entrusted with upholding the law don’t,” said Ana Verley, a local victims’ advocate for Mothers Against Drunk Drivers. “It’s sad and disappointing that these things happen and innocent people keep getting hurt.”

Records detailing Hinojosa’s career before he was hired by the Hidalgo County Precinct 2 Constable Office were unavailable Monday.

An open records request with the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement Standards and Education, which maintains peace officers’ career histories, was not immediately returned Monday afternoon.

Hinojosa was also arrested in January 2006 on DWI charges that were dismissed by Hidalgo County Court-at-Law No. 5 later that year, court records state. Alaniz said he did not suspend Hinojosa at that time because he was not convicted.

Hinojosa had a DWI arrest dismissed from Hidalgo County Court-at-Law No. 2 in September 2003. He also had assault charges dropped in Hidalgo County Court-at-Law No. 1 in March 2002.

Hinojosa remained at the Hidalgo County Jail on Monday. Intoxication assault is a third degree felony that has a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison and up to a $10,000 fine upon conviction. Driving while intoxicated with a child passenger is a state jail felony that has a maximum sentence of two years in jail and up to a $10,000 fine.

Hinojosa is not Alaniz’s only deputy to have been arrested on suspicion of driving while intoxicated.

In October 2007, Hidalgo County Precinct 2 chief deputy constable Sergio Hinojosa — Javier’s younger brother — was arrested for allegedly driving while intoxicated in San Juan. That case was dropped in Hidalgo County Court-at-Law No. 1 in May 2008 due to insufficient evidence. Alaniz said he fired Sergio Hinojosa after his DWI arrest.

With the latest DWI arrest, Alaniz would not say whether he intends to dismiss Hinojosa. Regardless, the constable said he plans on another suspension for his senior deputy.

“What can I say? We all do mistakes that we regret later on in life,” Alaniz said. “It’s sad, but what can we do about it?

“What’s done is done, my friend.”

Officer Bruce Jacobs Arrested for Murder

A Marion County special deputy and code enforcement officer was arrested Friday in connection with the shooting death of his neighbor in August.

Bruce Jacobs, 53, called 911 on Aug. 19 to report that he had just shot Edward Light, 48, near 20th Street and Forest Manor Avenue.

Light was pronounced dead in Jacobs' back yard.

"We received a call from his (Jacobs) home address, stating that he'd been attacked by his neighbor," said Indianapolis police Sgt. Paul Thompson. "At some point ... he felt it necessary to use deadly force, that being a firearm. He fired several shots at his neighbor, which resulted in his death."

At first it was believed that Light had attacked Jacobs with a chainsaw, but police said further investigation revealed that the chainsaw was not directly involved in the fatal shooting.

Investigators said in 2009 that Light might have damaged Jacobs' property with a chainsaw earlier in the day and that Jacobs told them he acted in self defense.

Jacobs, who was off duty at the time of the shooting, was questioned by police in August, but was never charged.

Neighbors told 6News' Sarah Cornell that Light had lived in his Forest Manor house for years and that after his father died, leaving him alone in the home, Jacobs began bullying him.

“Ed Light told me at lunch about a month before his killing that he feared for his life and that soon, he or the neighbor would be dead," said neighbor Craig Livers. "A month later, he was."

Police arrested Jacobs at his home on Friday on a preliminary charge of murder. If convicted, he could face up to 65 years in prison.

Jacobs had been suspended without pay since the shooting.

Vancouver Officer No Longer On Patrol After Arrest

One of two Vancouver police officers being investigated after a controversial arrest last Thursday is no longer on patrol.

He has been assigned to desk duty.

The Office of the Police Complaint Commissioner has been advised of the move.

Police Chief Jim Chu offered a personal apology to 44-year-old Yao Wei Wu after he was roughed up by police who went to the wrong address while investigating a domestic violence complaint.

Wu had to be taken to hospital to have facial injuries treated.

He didn't know the plainclothes officers were police because he doesn't speak English.

He also says he didn't resist them because they had guns.

Judicial Services Officer Julis Wardley Arrested for Assaulting Woman

Investigators with the Richland County Sheriff's Department say Judicial Services Officer Julius R. Wardley was arrested Wednesday after deputies say he assaulted a female victim.

Deputies say they responded to Providence Northeast Hospital where they found a woman with several facial injuries. At that point, Sheriff Leon Lott ordered an investigation, and deputies found that Wardley had assaulted the victim during an altercation.

Lott says Wardley was terminated after the investigation.

Wardley was detained at the Richland County jail but the jail's website no longer lists him as a detainee.

Sgt George Chong Accused of Using Excessive Force

A veteran Victoria police officer has been suspended with pay and is the subject of criminal and Police Act investigations after a man was assaulted in police cells, Chief Jamie Graham announced Monday.

On Jan. 15, a 33-year-old man was arrested for violating court conditions and taken to the cells in the Victoria police headquarters on Caledonia Avenue. The sergeant monitoring the cells — identified as Sgt. George Chong — is accused of using force against the man, although the reasons for doing so were not made clear at a news conference yesterday.

“During the booking-in process, an incident occurred and the prisoner received injuries that required hospital treatment,” Graham said during a news conference.

That has led to an allegation of assault against Chong, who might have violated the department’s use-of-force policy.

Provincial cabinet minister Ida Chong confirmed that her brother is the subject of the complaint.

“It’s very troubling for all of us, for him and his family,” she said in a phone interview Monday. “I can only wish the matter is dealt with quickly.”

This is not the first time Chong, who is in his late 40s, has been investigated by the department.

He pleaded guilty to an off-duty assault that occurred in June 2008, which resulted in a written reprimand from Victoria police. A provincial court judge handed Chong a conditional discharge and nine months’ probation, as well as ordering him to undergo anger-management counselling.

Ida Chong, minister of Healthy Living and Sport, said she does not know whether her brother was attending anger-management classes. She said he has the support of his wife and children, and wants to continue to serve his community as a police officer.

Graham refused to name either the injured man or the officer, but did say the sergeant has 28 years of service with the department. Chong has been with the force for 28 years.

The speed with which the prisoner received medical attention is also under investigation, said Graham, as 30 to 45 minutes passed before he was taken to hospital.

Graham was vague on the details of the incident, saying only that the man received injuries to his face. He said he can’t go into specifics because the matter is being investigated. “I intend to make the findings public when appropriate.”

The sergeant disclosed the incident to his superiors later that day, Graham said, adding that there was enough information to warrant his suspension. The officer is co-operating with the investigation, Graham said.

Members of the Vancouver Police Department, who will lead the criminal investigation, are on their way to Victoria to talk to the officer.

The incident was captured on video cameras in the jail cells. While Graham said he has not watched the recording, it will be examined by the Vancouver officers as part of the investigation.

The Victoria department’s professional standards section will conduct a parallel internal Police Act investigation, which will be monitored by the Office of the Police Complaint Commissioner.

Police Complaint Commissioner spokesman Bruce Brown said the victim has not filed a complaint. The victim has recovered from his injuries and Deputy Chief John Ducker has contacted him and apologized.

“The incident is troubling,” Graham said, but added that it has to be put in the context of the 5,000 to 7,000 inmates a year that are processed in the cells.

As a result of excessive-force allegations in the past, Graham decided that a sergeant should supervise the cells around the clock. Asked if this policy backfired, Graham said it’s too early to tell.

Graham would not say whether the prisoner did anything to provoke the officer, but police spokesman Sgt. Grant Hamilton said the 33-year-old man was sober when arrested. He did not say whether the man was known to police.

Graham could not say how long the investigations will take but added: “This will receive rapid attention. I want the facts quickly so we can make decisions quickly.”

Former Officer Brett Hobbs Guilty of Larceny

A Brunswick County jury convicted a former Leland police officer today.

The jury found Brett Hobbs guilty of felony larceny and felony possession of stolen goods. The case stems from an incident at a convenience store in Holden Beach.

Hobbs resigned from the Leland Police Department in 2005 after a conviction for selling drugs. A judge sentenced Hobbs today to five to six months in prison.

Officer James Formby Pleads Guitly to Having Sex with Woman He Was Helping

A Metropolitan Police officer has pleaded guilty to misconduct after he had sex on duty with a woman he was meant to be helping.

Pc James Formby, 31, and a colleague responded to a suspected domestic abuse incident in Bromley last September.

He stayed with the woman while a man was taken to a police station, then engaged in sexual activity with the woman, who had been drinking.

Formby, who has been suspended from the force, will be sentenced on 1 March.

'Vulnerable and scared'

The officer, based at Bromley Police station, pleaded guilty to one charge of misconduct in public office at Southwark Crown Court on Tuesday.

The investigation was carried out by the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) following a referral from the Met.

IPCC Commissioner Rachel Cerfontyne said: "Police officers hold a unique position of trust in the eyes of the public and it is disgraceful that Pc Formby abused that trust in this case.

"He should have been supporting a woman who was vulnerable and scared but instead he exploited the situation and his behaviour was completely inappropriate."

A Met Police spokesman said Pc Formby has been suspended pending disciplinary hearings, which will take place after sentencing.

Corrections Officer Charles Rowe Arrested on Drug Charges

A veteran Calipatria State Prison Corrections officer could soon be on the other side of the jail cell.

A prison official says Charles Rowe was arrested by FBI agents at his home in Brawley on Friday.

The 42-year old sits behind bars at the Imperial County Jail facing charges on drug related offenses.

We're told Rowe has worked at Calipatria State Prison for the past 17 years.

Former Officer Nathan VanFleet Charged with Rape of Child

A 31-year-old former Hunter police officer will face a jury trial in Coxsackie court on Feb. 9, answering to accusations of sexual misconduct with an underage female.

Nathan VanFleet, of Durham, was charged in Dec. 2008 with third-degree rape and third-degree criminal sex act, both felonies, as well as endangering the welfare of a child and official misconduct, both misdemeanors.

VanFleet, whose case is being prosecuted by the Columbia County District Attorney’s Office, has since had his charges reduced to two counts of sexual misconduct, a class A misdemeanor.

The original charges, filed by the New York State Police with the assistance of the Greene County District Attorney’s Office, were the result of an investigation into reports that VanFleet was engaged in an unlawful relationship with an underage female. It has been alleged that the sexual incidents occurred while he was on duty as a police officer, as well as off duty.

Town of Hunter Police Chief Jennifer Reich assisted state police in the investigation.

The case will be heard before Coxsackie Town Justice Thomas J. Fori.

Jury selection is scheduled to being on Feb. 9 at 10 a.m.

Resource Officer Louis Buck Morris Given New Court Date

Judge Stephen Kistler granted a new date for a former Stillwater Police Department school resource officer’s arraignment during a court date on Friday.

Kistler scheduled the new date for 1:30 p.m. on March 12.

Louis Alvie “Buck” Morris, 48, was charged with three counts of inappropriate acts with a child less than 16 years old and two counts of rape by instrumentation on June 16, according to court documents. All five counts are felony offenses.

If convicted on all five counts, Morris could spend life in prison without parole, according to the documents.

“Eventually the judge will get the case set for a jury trial,” said Robert Hudson, Payne County district attorney, in a phone interview Thursday.

Morris was released on bond in June, according to court documents.

Morris’ counsel couldn’t be reached for comment.

On May 20, a Stillwater citizen reported that Morris was involved in an inappropriate relationship with a 15-year-old girl, according to a June 16, Stillwater police press release.

Two investigators were assigned to the case and on June 1 they found evidence that Morris might have broken the law.

That day, Stillwater Chief of Police, Norman McNickle, asked the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation to help Stillwater police investigate, according to the press release.

Morris was suspended June 2, when investigators found cause that he could have broken the law, according to the press release.


Morris worked as a Stillwater police officer for 17 years, according to the press release.

The Stillwater Police Department declined to comment further on the case.

The girl’s father said he allowed his daughter and Morris to spend time together and thought that he could trust Morris because he was a police officer, according to the affidavit.

Morris met the girl at Stillwater Junior High School where he worked, according to an Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation affidavit.

“We’re really not changing anything (about our policies),” said Ann Caine, Stillwater Public Schools superintendent. “Our counselors are really great about telling the kids what is appropriate behavior and what’s not appropriate behavior. We weren’t aware of what was going on.”

After he found out he was under investigation, Morris spoke to a school resource officer who worked at another Stillwater school, according to the affidavit.

Morris said he was sorry; that he felt like he was 15 again.