Corrections Officer Michael Mangarillo Arrested for Sexually Assaulting Child

A New York Corrections officer is behind bars for allegedly sexually assaulting a child.

Police say Michael Mangarillo, 55, sexually abused the 12-year-old girl last year at his Mooers home.

Police say Mangarillo knew the child and the alleged abuse happened while she was visiting him from New Jersey.

Mangarillo works at Altona Correctional Facility. He's being held without bail.

Two Sergeants Arrested After Robbery

A Good Samaritan snapped photos of what appeared to be two men impersonating police officers involved in a pistol-whipping and robbery outside a Citgo gas station on Detroit's east side on July 21.

"Several unidentified police officers were working this particular robbery case, recognized one of the suspects in the photographs as being a member of the Detroit Police Department," Chief James Craig said Monday.

Now under arrest are two police sergeants, a 47-year-old officer and 20-year veteran of the Detroit Police Department and his 42-year-old buddy from the police academy, who is a former DPD cop and 17-year veteran of the St. Clair Shores Police Department. The later recently received a distinguished service award.

"In fact, they were police officers, just not working on-duty at the time," Craig said.

One of the alleged victims identified the St. Clair Shores sergeant from a photo lineup.

It is alleged the two sergeants pulled up in a black pickup, got out of the truck with their guns drawn and their badges around their necks, detained two young men in their early twenties, searched them and pistol-whipped one of them, stealing his wallet and cell phone. The other alleged victim told police they also stole his money.

"At this time, there is no evidence to support that both sergeants were involved in any other police impersonation cases that have been reported in recent weeks," Craig said.

"Know that if we have officers engaging in criminal misconduct that we will investigate. We will always be transparent about this business and making sure that our community is aware of how we're conducting our investigations."

The Detroit police sergeant was arrested at work at the 12th Precinct on Saturday. The St. Clair Shores sergeant was picked up at his home.

While a warrant has been submitted to the Wayne County Prosecutor's Office, no charges have yet been authorized.

Meanwhile, the attorney for the St. Clair Shores sergeant said this case is not at all what it seems and that the alleged victims are far from innocent.

"I think there is going to be a totally different story to this case. These are two highly decorated police officers. They're not rogue cops. They're not cops out on the street trying to take down innocent people," said Todd Flood.

Sources said the teenage daughter of the St. Clair Shores sergeant was recently robbed of her cell phone and that the two officers were tracking down the people responsible. Flood would not confirm or deny that.

"This is a situation where there's more to it than what meets the eye or what's being reported," he said.

Deputy Chief Andi Higbee Arrested for DUI

Deputy Chief Andi Higbee, of the Burlington Police Department, has been arrested for Driving Under the Influence.

According to the Vermont State Police, Higbee was pulled over on Route 105 in Sheldon early Sunday morning. Officials say the reason he was stopped was for failing to use a turn signal. Higbee was subsequently arrested for operating a motor vehicle under the influence of alcohol. He was transported to the St. Albans Barracks and released on a citation. Higbee is due in court on August 12th.

According to Burlington Police Chief Michael Schirling, Higbee has been placed on paid administrative leave. No one from the department was available for further comment Sunday.

This is not Higbee's first arrest. In 1999, Higbee pleaded guilty to drunk driving after crashing his car in Charlotte. In both cases, Higbee was off-duty.

Officer Peter Ciollo Arrested for Attempted Rape

An off-duty New York City police officer has been arrested and charged with the attempted rape of a 16-year-old girl.

Officer Peter Ciollo, 29, is accused of having sex with the teen relative at his Staten Island house on the Fourth of July.

The victim is reportedly his sister in law's sister or other immediate relative on his wife's side of the family.

Authorities say Ciollo gave the girl alcohol to drink, then let her drive his car around the neighborhood.

Then they returned to his home, where he allegedly showed her computer porn before they started touching each other in his bed.

The girl says she doesn't remember what happened next, but she told police that when she woke up, she was in the bed and Ciollo's wife had walked in on them.

A wedding notice in the Staten Island Advance says he was married in 2009.

Ciollo is charged with attempted rape, endangering the welfare of a child, sexual abuse and unlawfully dealing with a child-alcohol. He has been an officer since 2006, assigned to the 120th Precinct.

He has been suspended without pay.

Officer Ernest Wilson Charged with Domestic Assault

A decommissioned Metro police officer has been charged for shoving his wife.

According to authorities, 43-year-old Ernest Wilson faces a misdemeanor domestic assault charge for shoving his wife into a wall during a dispute at their home last month.

Wilson's wife reported the matter to the police department's domestic violence division, and Wilson was decommissioned pending further investigation.

Wilson is an eight year police department veteran who was last assigned to the north precinct.

Officer Brian Blue Arrested for DWI

The Fort Worth Police Department is once again dealing with the arrest of an officer accused of driving while intoxicated.

On June 26th, Officer Brian S. Blue was arrested after being involved in a minor crash while off duty. He was driving his personal vehicle.

Toxicology tests are pending to determine if Blue was drunk, or under the influence of another substance.

Officer Blue remains on restricted duty.

No one was hurt in the crash.

Lt. Michael Hayes Charged with Solicitation of Minor

The second in command of a small Brunswick County police force paid a teen $60 for sex acts, an arrest warrant detailed Wednesday.

Michael Alan Hayes, 38, a lieutenant with the Northwest Police Department, surrendered to police Wednesday morning on charges of solicitation of a minor for sex and filing a false police report. He has since been released.

According to the warrant, Hayes contacted the girl via Craigslist.org and met with her Nov. 27.

The warrant also charges that on the same day, Hayes filed a false report with the Brunswick County Sheriff's Office "concerning the sources and circumstances of the damage to the vehicle" he was operating. The warrant alleges Hayes' false report prevented a deputy from fully investigating "the cause of bullet strikes to the vehicle."

According to the Brunswick County Sheriff's Office, Hayes reported he was driving his personal vehicle along River Road near Sunny Point on Nov. 27 when someone shot at his car. Hayes reported finding a dent in the body of the vehicle and a hole in his tire.

How that relates to the prostitution charge was not immediately clear.

Hayes, an eight-year veteran of the Northwest Police Department, tendered his resignation to Chief Copelan Taylor on Tuesday, Taylor said.

"I have some issues I need to attend to in my personal life," Hayes wrote in the two-sentence resignation provided to the StarNews by Taylor.

The chief said the N.C. State Bureau of Investigation contacted him Saturday to say that Hayes was being investigated. Taylor said he put Hayes on 30 days of paid leave that night.

According to Jennifer Canada, spokeswoman for the SBI, the investigation into Hayes followed a request from the Boiling Spring Lakes Police Department, which recently arrested two men in connection with a prostitution investigation that began there in November 2012.

On May 4, Boiling Spring Lakes police arrested Kyle Bradley Wolfe, 20, and Shawn Christopher Conley, 20, on charges of prostitution of a minor.

Boiling Spring Lakes Police Chief Brad Shirley said at the time of the arrests the investigation involved advertisements on the Internet via different social media websites. The warrant for Hayes names the same 17-year-old girl as the warrants for Wolfe and Conley.

Hayes has a misdemeanor death by vehicle conviction on his record from May 1991 in New Hanover County.

According to an article in the Wilmington Morning Star, Hayes was 16 when the car he was driving ran into the back of a vehicle on Gordon Road. His 14-year-old girlfriend, Jennifer Allen, was killed and two others – Sharon Shivar, 15, and Kevin Francis Dwyer, 16 – were injured. The group was on the way to school at Laney High, the article states.

Hayes was convicted of the misdemeanor in August 1993.

Chief Taylor said he was unaware of the incident, but it would not have prevented Hayes from becoming a police officer.

Former Officer Bennie Hand Charged with Sexually Abusing Vulnerable Adult

A former Wellford police officer was arrested Tuesday by state agents after they said he sexually and physically abused a vulnerable adult.

The State Law Enforcement Division said between July 1, 2012 and Jan. 1, 2013, 32-year-old Bennie Hand sexually battered and physically abused the victim, who suffers from a mental condition impairing her from providing her own care or protecting herself.

During the abuse, SLED said Hand worked as a Wellford police officer.

Wellford Mayor Thomas Watson said the city received a complaint about the allegations made against Hand and called in SLED to investigate. He was placed on administrative leave when the investigation began and was fired following his arrest, Watson said.

Hand was arrested on charges of misconduct in office, criminal sexual conduct third degree and abuse of a vulnerable adult.

State agents were called in to investigate at the request of Wellford police and the 13th Circuit Solicitor's Office will prosecute the case.

Hand is being held at the Spartanburg County Detention Center.

Officer Kristopher Landis Arrested for Drinking and Driving

A Farmington Hills police officer has been suspended without pay after investigators say he was drinking and driving.

Officer Kristopher Landis has been with the Farmington Hills police department for 7 years.

On the night of March 10, police in South Lyon say Landis crashed his Buick into an unoccupied parked car on South Parkwood Drive.

The owner of the car said his car was totaled.

According to the police report, Landis told investigators he was driving home when he hit the other car. The report says Landis' "speech was greatly slurred" and there was a "very strong odor of intoxicants on his breath".

Documents show Officer Landis had a blood alcohol content of .17 which is more than twice the legal limit of .08.

A second test showed he had a blood alcohol content of .15. Officer Landis says he plead guilty to drinking and driving. He gave this statement to 7 Action News:

"I was going through an extremely hard time in my life. I made a mistake. I'm grateful
no one was hurt. I've learned from it. I'm using it to better myself as an officer and a person.

I'm extremely grateful for all the support from my immediate family and my brothers
at the police department."

We reached out to Farmington Hills Police Chief Chuck Nebus. He says Officer Landis is a good officer with a good record. As for when Landis could be back on the force, Chief Nebus said he can't legally comment since the internal matter hasn't been resolved yet.

Officer Jefferson Taylor III Charged with DUI

A Williamson Police officer is suspended without pay after State Police charged him with driving under the influence.

Jefferson Taylor III, 23, was charged with DUI and leaving the scene of an accident after troopers in Pike County, Kentucky say he crashed his cruiser before 4 a.m. Tuesday, according to court documents.

Williamson Police Chief Dave Rockel told us his department is conducting an internal investigation into the matter which will coincide with the Kentucky State Police investigation.

Rockel also noted how surprised he was because Taylor is an educated and very promising officer.

Officer Jeffrey Taylor Arrested for Falsifying Time Sheets

The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department arrested one of its own Wednesday.

Detectives arrested Officer Jeffrey T. Taylor after he turned himself in Wednesday evening.

Taylor is charged with obtaining property by false pretense, stemming from a criminal investigation which concluded Taylor falsified time sheets while working a secondary, off-duty job at the Arboretum Shopping Center between October 2012 and January 2013.

Chief Rodney Monroe released the following statement:

"The actions of this officer do not reflect the character of the dedicated men and women that wear the badge of the CMPD with honor.

The public deserves to know that the officers sworn to protect our community are of the highest integrity. We will continue to hold our officers to the highest standards and accountable for their actions."

Taylor is now on unpaid administrative leave pending a criminal and internal investigation. He was hired by the CMPD on April 26, 1989. He was assigned to the Metro Division and worked as a school resource officer at Phillip O. Berry High School.

Former Officer Kirk Chapman Arrested for Sexually Assaulting Teen

A former Powell police officer accused of having unwanted sexual contact with a woman while on duty in 2011 has pleaded not guilty to the felony charge against him.

The attorney for Kirk B. Chapman entered the denial of the allegations on his client’s behalf at a Wednesday appearance in Park County District Court in Cody. As is the norm at such arraignment hearings, Chapman spoke only to give brief answers to routine questions from District Court Judge Steven Cranfill.

The third-degree sexual assault charge alleges Chapman used his then-position as a police officer to get a Powell woman to submit to sexual contact in September 2011. The charge was filed against Chapman in July 2012 following a Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigation and Park County Attorney’s Office review of the woman’s allegations.

Chapman had dropped the intoxicated woman off at her home after she asked police for a ride from a bar.

What happened later is what makes up the criminal allegations — and what is in dispute.

The woman says Chapman returned about an hour later. She told DCI investigators that Chapman kissed her, touched her body and genitals and rubbed himself up against her while in uniform. The woman said she told Chapman he should return to work before and during the contact, according to charging documents.

As for the allegation that Chapman used his position as a police officer to force the woman to submit, Circuit Court Judge Bruce Waters noted during a preliminary hearing last year that there are no allegations Chapman threatened the woman. However, the woman told DCI investigators she believed Chapman showed her a knife in his boot to intimidate her and believed he “used his position” to “violate” her, court records say.

For his part, Chapman flatly denied the allegations. He told DCI investigators he never returned to the woman’s residence after dropping her off. During the preliminary hearing, Chapman’s court-appointed attorney, Bill Simpson of Cody, argued the woman’s timeline of events doesn’t match up with police logs and questioned her credibility by noting past mental health issues. Simpson suggested the woman had been angry with Chapman over a misdemeanor, alcohol-related arrest from a year earlier.

Deputy Park County Attorney Sam Krone, however, highlighted a part of the woman’s account in which she recalled Chapman tripped the mic key on his radio while rubbing against her. She recounted to DCI investigators that Chapman had told dispatch he’d bumped his knee. The investigators found an audio recording of radio traffic from that early morning that appears to match the woman’s recollection of events, wrote DCI agent Andrew Hanson in the charging affidavit.

Wednesday’s arraignment had been delayed several times.

In late November, Simpson asked for the hearing to be pushed back. Simpson said he and prosecutors were “currently negotiating a plea agreement” that would take a few weeks to finish.

On Jan. 9, Simpson asked Judge Cranfill to schedule his client for a change of plea hearing — a hearing where a defendant typically switches their plea from not guilty to guilty or no contest as part of plea bargain. It was an unusual request because 1) Chapman hadn’t entered a plea to change, and 2) according to Park County Attorney Bryan Skoric, there was no deal in place. In a March filing, deputy county attorney Krone asked for the change of plea hearing to be scrapped, saying that “the parties have not entered into plea negotiations.”

Simpson didn’t respond to a request for comment about why he originally asked for the hearing.

Now that Chapman has pleaded not guilty, the case will be set for a trial.

Chapman began serving with the department in January 2007 and resigned in November 2011. The Powell Police Department placed Chapman on administrative leave after the allegations were reported in September, and he resigned without returning to duty, Powell Police Chief Roy Eckerdt has said.

Ex NYPD officer Arrested for Conspiring to Cook and Eat Women

Two more people are under arrest in connection with the so-called "Cannibal Cop", Gilberto Valle, the ex-NYPD officer convicted of conspiring to cook and eat women.


60-year old Christopher Asch was arrested at his Greenwich Village home, and was charged with conspiracy to commit kidnapping. He was initially removed from his job as a librarian at Stuyvesant High School for improperly touching male students.

Asch was charged criminally, but the case was subsequently dismissed and sealed.

A second person, Richard Meltz, was arrested Sunday in Rockaway, New Jersey. He is chief of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Police Service, based in Bedford, Massachusetts, and a former Sussex County, New Jersey law enforcement officer.

Valle was convicted last month of conspiring to kidnap women, then cook, kill and eat them. He faces life in prison when he is sentenced June 19 - his first wedding anniversary.

Authorities say Asch is quoted in the criminal complaint discussing kidnapping, killing and eating women and children, at one point calling it an "exciting proposition."

Reserve Officer Charles Shamblin Arrested for Arson

A reserve police officer for the town of Gore has been jailed on a complaint of first-degree arson.

Charles Shamblin, 45, of Webbers Falls, is being held in the Muskogee County jail after a warrant was issued for his arrest Tuesday.

According to court documents, Shamblin caused a domestic disturbance by bringing a can of gas into his home and telling his wife and daughter he was going to "burn the house down" on March 31.

Shamblin allegedly had already started one fire while his wife and daughter were inside the Webbers Falls home when he used a cigarette lighter to set a pillowcase and shirt on fire, according to a court affidavit.

Shamblin has been suspended as a reserve officer pending the outcome of these allegations, according to Gore Town Administrator Horace E. Lindley.

He is set to appear in court April 17 for a sounding docket in Muskogee County.

Sergeant Alberto Randazzo Arrested for Child Porn

A New York City police sergeant was arraigned on Tuesday on numerous child pornography charges, after internal affairs investigators found several explicit images and videos on his laptop computer. 

In several recordings found on the computer, the sergeant, Alberto Randazzo, is heard providing “verbal instructions during a cyber video chat session” to an unidentified woman lying in bed with an infant, who appears to be 1 to 2 years old, and directing the woman to “perform certain sex acts on the infant,” the police said.

Also uncovered were two videos involving a man engaged in sex acts with a girl, about 8 to 10 years old, according to a criminal complaint filed by the Queens district attorney’s office.

Prosecutors charged Sergeant Randazzo, 36, with 11 counts of use of a child in a sexual performance, 23 counts of promoting a sexual performance by a child and 23 counts of possessing a sexual performance by a child, the complaint states. He has been suspended from the force.

Sergeant Randazzo’s lawyer, Anthony DiFiore, did not return a phone call on Tuesday evening.      

Officer Ryan Mendoza Charged with DUI

Ryan Mendoza, Memphis police officer who has been charged with DUI, will go before a judge Wednesday.

Police say Mendoza crashed his truck on Interstate 40 at the Appling exit in East Memphis. Investigators say the truck rolled over after hitting two traffic signs.

According to police, Mendoza refused the sobriety test and was charged. The officer is on paid leave pending the outcome of an investigation.

He has been on the police force since 2007. Mendoza was most recently assigned to the Old Allen Station.

Captain Shawn King Demoted After Accusations of Inappropriate Sexual Behavior

A Tulsa police captain has been demoted to the rank of officer after accusations of inappropriate sexual behavior in 2008.

In a personnel order from Tulsa police chief Chuck Jordan dated Oct. 18, Cpt. Shawn King was demoted and transferred to the training division of the Tulsa Police Department until further notice.

The document states that King engaged in "inappropriate sexual behavior" while on duty and in uniform in 2008 and sent photographs of sexual activity to another employee.

A pre-termination hearing was held before the decision was made, according to the order.
King has 10 days to file an appeal.

Officer James Barnhart Accused of Helping Sex Offender

A Molalla police officer is accused of helping a sex offender avoid mandatory registration.

Officer James Barnhart, a 19-year veteran of the force, will face three misdemeanor charges.

The alleged misconduct happened several years ago but the investigation began only a few months ago, according to Molalla police Chief Rod Lucich. 

The police department asked the Clackamas County Sheriff's office to assist in the investigation.

Barnhart is now on administrative leave and is due in court Oct. 23.

Officer Marvin Blades Jr Arrested for Stealing Money During Traffic Stops

A Tulsa police officer has been arrested on a second-degree robbery complaint after a months-long robbery investigation by the Tulsa Police Special Investigation Division and the Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics. Authorities arrested Officer Marvin Blades Junior, 37, early Saturday morning for stealing cash during a traffic stop.

According to officials, investigators from the two agencies conducted an undercover operation after allegations that Blades had been targeting Hispanics during traffic stops and stealing their money. Police say on Friday night Blades pulled over an undercover OBN agent in the 2800 block of North Lewis Avenue. Investigators say Blades ordered the driver (undercover officer) to the back of the his car and instructed the driver to leave his wallet on the seat.

Authorities believe that's when the officer stole six-hundred dollars in cash before allowing the driver to leave. According to police, when the undercover cop returned to his seat he noticed that money was missing from his wallet. Once in custody, officers found six-hundred dollars cash in Blade's right pants pocket. According to officials, Blades told them that the money belonged to his wife, but investigators matched the money to serial numbers on the bills used in their investigation. Tulsa police chief Chuck Jordan credited other officers for alerting his office to Blades.

"They did the right thing. They did exactly what our community expects of them," said Jordan. Local Hispanic leaders, like Guillermo Rojas, publisher of the bilingual newspaper La Semana, said Hispanics make easy targets.

"They are afraid because everybody thinks if they are stopped - to any Hispanic, if they don't have a legal status in the country, they'll be put in jail," said Rojas. But Jordan says no one should be afraid to come forward and encourages those who have been victimized to call the robbery unit at 918-596-9137.

Police say Officer Marvin Blades was working TPD's Gilcrease division at the time of robbery. Blades is the son of former Tulsa police officer, Marvin Blades, Sr., who was suspended several times in the mid-1990s after he was accused of not following department rules and regulations.

According to 2News archives, Blades' suspensions caused local black leaders to accuse TPD of racial discrimination. Blades was booked and released on a $25,000 bond. He has a court date set for Sept 4.

Cpl. Gene Watkins Arrested for Domestic Assault and Battery

A Tulsa police officer was arrested Friday for charges of domestic assault and battery and threatening a violent act.

TPD Cpl. Gene Watkins was arrested around 4:30 p.m. and was released on a $1,500 bond within 30 minutes.

Court documents show the offense happened Aug. 21.

A not guilty plea was entered on behalf of Watkins and he has been ordered to have no contact with the victim.

Watkins is scheduled back in court Sept. 11.

Former Trooper Gregory Vrooman Convicted for Sex Crimes Against Child

A state trooper who was convicted in April of a dozen sex crimes against
 a girl younger than 14 has been given a five-year prison sentence.

District Attorney Geoffrey Rushlau, whose office prosecuted the case, said Gregory Vrooman, 46, of Nobleboro will serve 21 months in prison, with 39 months suspended.

After being sentenced last week in a courtroom in Bath, Vrooman was released on $25,000 unsecured bail, Rushlau said.

Rushlau said Vrooman's attorney, Steven Peterson of Rockport, has indicated that he plans to appeal his client's sentence to the Maine Supreme Judicial Court. Peterson could not be reached for comment Monday.

Vrooman's case took a strange turn in April, when he was attacked and injured in a Wiscasset courtroom just moments before the jury in his trial was expected to render its verdict.

Witnesses said William Harrison, 39, jumped Vrooman, who was seated next to his attorney, and landed two punches before he was subdued by court officers. Vrooman was removed from the courtroom on a stretcher.

Harrison, who lives in Charlestown, Mass., was charged with aggravated assault.

"We were on the verge of getting a verdict," Rushlau told The Portland Press Herald at the time. "This was bizarre and unprecedented."

One day later, the jury convicted Vrooman of four counts of unlawful sexual contact with a minor, four counts of unlawful sexual touching and four counts of assault.

Rushlau said it could take several months before the supreme court hears Vrooman's appeal.

Vrooman, a 24-year veteran of the Maine State Police, was arrested in November 2010.

Officer Robert Quintana Arrested for Mail Fraud

U.S. Attorney William J. Hochul, Jr. announced today that Robert Quintana, 50, of Buffalo, New York, was arrested and charged by criminal complaint with mail fraud and health care fraud. The charges carry a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison, a $250,000 fine, or both.

Assistant U.S. Attorney John E. Rogowski, who is handling the case, stated that on March 16, 2005, the defendant, a Buffalo police officer, was placed on injured on duty (IOD) status by the city of Buffalo. According to the complaint, Quintana was placed on IOD status for alleged injuries to his lower back and buttocks after he slipped and fell on icy steps while responding to a 911-call.

The complaint further states that on numerous occasions while allegedly out of work due to this injury, the defendant was observed working at a local restaurant. The observed work included the lifting of supplies, cleaning tables, stocking, kneeling and bending, and chipping ice. Nevertheless, during the course of an independent medical exam requested by the city of Buffalo in January 2012, Quintana told doctors he was unable to perform any work. The defendant remains on IOD status to this date (seven years after his initial injury) and has resisted efforts to have him return to work.

“It is the duty of all sworn police officers to uphold the law and the vast majority of officers do just that each and every day,” said U.S. Attorney Hochul. “All should also recognize that police work can be hazardous, and for that reason, communities frequently pay for officers injured in the line of duty until such time as they can return to their posts.”

Hochul further stated that “by falsely claiming to be too injured to return to work, an officer not just breaks the law, she or he hurts the credibility of those legitimately injured in the line of duty. This type of lie also leaves one less officer to patrol the streets of the city, requires working officers to perform overtime duty and thereby increase their own risk of injury, and drives up the cost of health care in these times of difficult economic circumstances. This office can and will act when presented with evidence of this type of fraud.”

“We, as members of law enforcement, are keenly aware of how dangerous it is to be a law enforcement officer,” said Steven L. Lanser, FBI Acting Special Agent in Charge. “Every day we see how the good, hardworking men and women in the Buffalo Police Department out their lives and safety on the line. The injured on duty program is in place to ensure members of the police department are secure in knowing this benefit is available should they sustain a serious injury while discharging their duties. Abuse of the IOD system is an affront to the taxpayers of the city of Buffalo.”

The criminal complaint is the culmination of an investigation by special agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Christopher M. Piehota, and the Buffalo Police Department, under the direction of Commissioner Daniel Derenda.

The fact that a defendant has been charged with a crime is merely an accusation, and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.

Joe Arpaio Facing Justice Department Lawsuit Over Alleged Civil Rights Violations

Federal authorities said Wednesday that they plan to sue Arizona sheriff Joe Arpaio and his office over allegations of civil rights violations, including the racial profiling of Latinos.

The U.S. Justice Department has been seeking an agreement requiring Arpaio's office to train officers in how to make constitutional traffic stops, collect data on people arrested in traffic stops and reach out to Latinos to assure them that the department is there to also protect them.

Arpaio has denied the racial profiling allegations and has claimed that allowing a court monitor would mean that every policy decision would have to be cleared through an observer and would nullify his authority.

DOJ officials told a lawyer for Arpaio on April 3 that the lawman's refusal of a court-appointed monitor was a deal-breaker that would end settlement negotiations and result in a federal lawsuit.

The "notice of intent to file civil action" came Wednesday from Assistant U.S. Attorney General Thomas Perez in a letter to an Arpaio lawyer.

Perez, who heads the DOJ's civil rights division, noted that it's been more than 100 days since the sheriff's office received the DOJ's findings report and federal authorities haven't met with the Maricopa County Sheriff's Office counsel since Feb. 6 to discuss the terms of a consent agreement.

At a news conference Wednesday afternoon, Arpaio defended himself in the face of the pending lawsuit.
"If they sue, we'll go to court. And then we'll find out the real story," he said. "There's lots of miscommunication emanating from Washington. They broke off communications.
"They're telling me how to run my organization. I'd like to get this resolved, but I'm not going to give up my authority to the federal government. It's as simple as that," Arpaio added.

Last December, the DOJ released a scathing report accusing Arpaio's office of racially profiling Latinos, basing immigration enforcement on racially charged citizen complaints and punishing Hispanic jail inmates for speaking Spanish in Arizona's most populous county.

The DOJ also accused Arpaio of having a culture of disregard for basic constitutional rights.
The civil rights allegations have led some Arpaio critics to call for his resignation, including the National Council of La Raza, a prominent advocacy group for Latinos.

The sheriff's office also is facing criticism over more than 400 sex-crimes investigations – including dozens of alleged child molestations – that hadn't been investigated adequately or weren't examined at all over a three-year period ending in 2007.

Arpaio has apologized for the botched cases, reopened 432 sex-crimes investigations and made 19 arrests.
Separate from the civil rights probe, a federal grand jury has been investigating Arpaio's office on criminal abuse-of-power allegations since at least December 2009. That grand jury is examining the investigative work of the sheriff's anti-public corruption squad.

The self-proclaimed toughest sheriff in America has been a national political fixture who has built his reputation on jailing inmates in tents and dressing them in pink underwear, selling himself to voters as unceasingly tough on crime and pushing the bounds of how far local police can go to confront illegal immigration

Officer Rudolfo Zermeno Arrested for Assaulting Girlfriend

A Winston-Salem police officer was in jail this morning after being charged with assault on a female, city police said in a news release.

Early yesterday morning, the police officer, Rudolfo Zermeno, 33, got in an argument with his girlfriend, Maria Fedelina Aguilar, police said, citing a complaint filed by the girlfriend later that day.

Zermeno slapped her face with an open hand and threw a TV remote control at her, hitting her elbow, police said.

Zermeno has been a Winston-Salem police officer for three years. He was placed on administrative leave, as is customary in this type of investigation, police said.

The department’s Criminal Investigations Division looked into the complaint and requested an arrest warrant, police said.

Zermeno was in the Forsyth County detention center on a $1000 secured bond.

In addition, Zermeno was ordered to have no contact with Aguilar.

Anyone with information about this incident may contact the Winston Salem Police Department at (336) 773-7700 or Crime Stoppers at (336) 727-2800.

Sheriff Deputy Andrew Field Arrested

A Bibb County Sheriff's Deputy assigned to the Detention Division was arrested Tuesday. According to a press release from the Sheriff's Office, an internal investigation led to the arrest of 26 year old Andrew Glenn Field. It says investigators arrested field for possession of drugs, crossing the guard line with drugs, and violating the oath of public office. Field is currently being held in the Bibb County Law Enforcement Complex with a bond of $17,100. Field has been placed on suspension with pay while the case is being investigated.

Officer Jonathan Romero Arrested for Domestic Violence

An Albuquerque police officer has been arrested on a domestic violence charge. Jonathan Romero, 41, was arrested over the weekend on a misdemeanor charge of battery on a household member. According to a criminal complaint, Romero was in an argument with his wife about their divorce at their Tijeras home. She later went to bed. That's when the report states that Romero went into the bedroom and tried to forcefully take her wedding ring off her finger. Romero has been released from jail. Police say Romero is a 14-year veteran on the force.

Officer Danielle Scott Arrested for Obstructing an Officer

A probationary Milwaukee police officer was arrested on a state charge of obstructing an officer, the Milwaukee police department said. Danielle Scott, 22, is accused of providing false information regarding a homicide investigation. The Milwaukee County District Attorney's Office is reviewing the case. "I have lost confidence in her ability to serve on the Milwaukee Police Department and I have terminated her employment," Milwaukee Police Chief Edward Flynn said. According to the Department, Scott served as a police aide before becoming a police officer in October and graduating from the police academy in March. The Milwaukee County District Attorney's Office is reviewing the case against her. Police sources told TODAY'S TMJ4 that officer is dating a man arrested for gunning down another man in a violent car jacking. Russell Setum was shot to death and his mother was also shot. Sources say officer Scott was found at the suspect's home. No charges have been filed yet. The two have a child together. Meanwhile, police say Chief Flynn discharged sergeant Christopher Gull last week. According to police, "Gull displayed sexually explicit photos and made inappropriate comments to co-workers and subordinates while on duty." Gull had 16 years of service with MPD and was a sergeant assigned to the Technical Communications Division. Chief Flynn is expected to answer questions about the recent discharges of personnel Wednesday afternoon.

Officer Daniel Cruz Arrested for Aggravated DUI

A Rockford police officer was arrested Monday night on charges of driving under the influence of alcohol and leaving the scene of a two-vehicle accident that left a woman critically injured, Boone County Sheriff’s officials said today.

Daniel A. Cruz, 37, of Machesney Park was arrested on charges of leaving the scene of a personal-injury accident, aggravated DUI, aggravated reckless driving, improper passing, driving in the wrong lane and operating a vehicle without proof of insurance.

The name and age of the critically injured woman and the names and conditions of three others in the same vehicle were not immediately available.

Cruz, a 13-year veteran of the department, reportedly was off-duty when the accident happened.

Witnesses said he was traveling south on Beloit Road in a gray 2010 Dodge Caravan when he entered the intersection of Town Hall Road, which is uphill, on a curve and in a no-passing zone. Cruz’s van struck a northbound vehicle, believed to be an Oldsmobile, containing four people.

According to the complaint filed in Boone County Court, Cruz left the scene of the accident by walking away. He was found a half mile from the scene, still walking.

According to the probable cause statement, Cruz admitted to consuming alcohol.

The officer described Cruz as having a “strong odor of alcoholic beverage on his breath, bloodshot-glassy eyes, unsteady on his feet and using the squad car for balance.”

Boone County State’s Attorney Michelle Courier said Cruz refused all chemical testing. A court order was eventually obtained. However, it was unknown how much time passed before the blood draw was made.

Cruz’s blood-alcohol content was not available.


Rockford police Chief Chet Epperson could not be reached today for comment.

Officer Brian foulks Arrested for Domestic Assault

The attorney for a Knoxville Police Department officer charged with domestic assault disavowed Tuesday any notion of gunplay on the part of his client in the incident.

KPD Officer Brian Foulks, 33, was arrested early Tuesday morning and jailed under traditional 12-hour "cool down" hold placed in cases of alleged domestic violence after an incident at the home of his estranged wife.

In a report on the incident, his estranged wife, Donna Foulks, told Knox County Sheriff's Office deputies that after a verbal altercation between the two at her Macmont Circle residence, he broke the screen on her laptop computer and grabbed a .38-caliber revolver from a dresser drawer and went into the bathroom with it.

"(She) said she thought she heard (him) unloading it in the bathroom before she ran out," the report states. As she was walking down the road, he followed her in his truck.

"(She) said (he) told her the gun was in the truck, but never pointed it in her direction nor said he would use it," the report states.

Attorney T. Scott Jones, who represents Officer Foulks, said his client came to the home he once shared with his 32-year-old estranged wife unarmed and in his private vehicle. He conceded the two argued but said Officer Foulks merely unloaded and disabled the gun to avoid any escalation of an already tense situation and in no way used the weapon as a threat.

"The gun was already there on a dresser," Jones said. "Once tensions escalated between he and his wife, he located the firearm, unloaded it and rendered it inoperable."

Jones said his client returned the unloaded gun to the dresser, where deputies later found it. The pair eventually wound up outside, where the argument resumed, the report stated.

Donna Foulks told deputies her husband later followed her back inside the house and, after yet another argument, broke her cellphone, knocked items off the kitchen counter and kicked a wooden dining room chair.

Donna Foulks ran to a neighbor's house and called deputies.

Jones said the incident spanned hours, and the arguments between the pair were intermittent. The couple separated in December. Officer Foulks, 33, filed for divorce last month but went to the couple's home in hopes of resolving their marital discord, Jones said.

According to Jones, Officer Foulks has been struggling with the stress of being a full-time student at Liberty University and working overtime at KPD to earn extra money.

"Officer Foulks knows there is no excuse for domestic violence," Jones said. "He's going to get counseling related to this unfortunate incident and to deal with the stress he has been under."

KPD has suspended Foulks' police powers and reassigned him to administrative duties pending an investigation by the internal affairs unit. He has been with KPD since 2006 and was the school resource officer for Central High School.

He is set to be arraigned May 15.

Officer Jason Davis Arrested for DWI

A Conway police officer is under arrest for DWI. Police say they got a call to the Centerstone apartments about an accident. When they arrived, they saw a silver truck with significant damage to the front end. When an officer walked to the driver's side door, he immediately recognized Conway police officer Jason Davis, 32, and called his supervisor. The officer says Davis was slumped over and had a cut to the bridge of his nose. The officer says he could smell alcohol coming from the truck. When the officer woke Davis up, Davis didn't know where he was and he didn't remember the accident. The officer says his speech was slurred and it was difficult to understand. His eyes were also bloodshot and watery and his eyelids were droopy. The officer was taken to a local hospital to be checked out for further injuries and to have blood drawn. He was then taken to the Faulkner County Detention Center. Authorities say Davis was put on administrative leave for previous unrelated issues before the incident. However, we're told that as of 5:00 p.m., Davis has been terminated from the Conway Police Department due to those issues.