A Sheriff's lieutenant arrested last month on suspicion of driving under the influence has been charged with two misdemeanor counts in the case.
Lt. Erin Lorraine Giudice, 48, lost her job as Harbormaster and was reassigned to Orange County Jail after she was arrested April 14 by Irvine police.
Giudice was charged with one DUI count and one count of driving with a blood alcohol level of 0.08 or more.
Giudice had a blood alcohol level of 0.14 two hours after the arrest, prosecutors said.
At around 9 p.m. on April 14, Giudice was driving an unmarked Sheriff's Department vehicle north on 5 freeway, and rear-ended another car stopped at a red light on the Jamboree Road offramp, prosecutors said.
When the arrest was initially reported, the Sheriff's Department declined to say whether Giudice had been driving a department vehicle at the time.
The other car had minor damage and the driver was uninjured, prosecutors said.
When Irvine police arrived at the scene of the accident, they found that Giudice was slurring her speech, had bloodshot and watery eyes, and poor balance, prosecutors said.
Giudice is scheduled to be arraigned June 19 at Harbor Justice Center in Newport Beach.
The case will be prosecuted by Deputy District Attorney Keith Bogardus of the Special Prosecutions Unit, which handles prosecution of law-enforcement officers, among other duties.
Capt. Dave Nighswonger, who oversees the sheriff's internal affairs unit, said after the arrest that the department did not have a specific policy addressing consequences for a DUI conviction.
"We have department policies that require employees to obey the law," Nighswonger said. "Then there's canons of ethics that hold our department employees accountable."
Thursday, May 28, 2009
NYC Man Sues City for $220 Million for Police Sodomizing Him
A New York City man who says police beat and sodomized him on a subway station platform sued the city, the police department and the accused officers for $220 million on Thursday for civil rights violations.
Three New York City police officers pleaded innocent in December to criminal charges that one of them sodomized Michael Mineo on October 15 with a police baton on a subway platform and two others helped cover up the crime.
"When you distill it, it was a male on male rape," Kevin Mosley, a lawyer for Mineo, said on Thursday.
"The amount of damages, which is the aggregate of the 11 counts, is reflective of the wrong and the suffering that this young man went through and will go through for the rest of his life," he said.
Detective Richard Kern is charged with aggravated sexual assault and other charges and faces up to 25 years in prison. Andrew Morales and Alex Cruz are charged with participating in an attempted cover up, which included writing a summons for the victim. If convicted, each faces up to four years in prison.
According to prosecutors, Kern and Morales observed Mineo, who works at a tattoo parlor, smoking a marijuana cigarette as they sat in an unmarked police car in the early afternoon on October 15 near Brooklyn's Prospect Park.
Cruz and another officer arrived to provide backup and Kern and Cruz followed Mineo into a subway station where Kern anally assaulted Mineo with a retractable baton, prosecutors said.
The criminal case is due to move forward in state court in Brooklyn in June.
The incident sparked charges of police brutality and recalls the 1997 case of Abner Louima, a Haitian immigrant who was attacked with a broomstick in a Brooklyn police station.
In the Louima case, one New York City police officer was sentenced to 30 years in prison for his role in the attack, and a second officer was given a five-year prison sentence for perjury.
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Other information: http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5g_46kF6K6Tj5kM5j66fC5XVnruSA
Three New York City police officers pleaded innocent in December to criminal charges that one of them sodomized Michael Mineo on October 15 with a police baton on a subway platform and two others helped cover up the crime.
"When you distill it, it was a male on male rape," Kevin Mosley, a lawyer for Mineo, said on Thursday.
"The amount of damages, which is the aggregate of the 11 counts, is reflective of the wrong and the suffering that this young man went through and will go through for the rest of his life," he said.
Detective Richard Kern is charged with aggravated sexual assault and other charges and faces up to 25 years in prison. Andrew Morales and Alex Cruz are charged with participating in an attempted cover up, which included writing a summons for the victim. If convicted, each faces up to four years in prison.
According to prosecutors, Kern and Morales observed Mineo, who works at a tattoo parlor, smoking a marijuana cigarette as they sat in an unmarked police car in the early afternoon on October 15 near Brooklyn's Prospect Park.
Cruz and another officer arrived to provide backup and Kern and Cruz followed Mineo into a subway station where Kern anally assaulted Mineo with a retractable baton, prosecutors said.
The criminal case is due to move forward in state court in Brooklyn in June.
The incident sparked charges of police brutality and recalls the 1997 case of Abner Louima, a Haitian immigrant who was attacked with a broomstick in a Brooklyn police station.
In the Louima case, one New York City police officer was sentenced to 30 years in prison for his role in the attack, and a second officer was given a five-year prison sentence for perjury.
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Other information: http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5g_46kF6K6Tj5kM5j66fC5XVnruSA
Retired Officer David Jones Arrested for Impersonating Officer
A retired police officer ends up arrested by the force he used to be on.
Jeffersontown police say David Jones, a retired police officer, was hired by a local company to work a bad check case as a private citizen.
Jeffersontown's police chief says it was a U.S. treasury check and it was stolen.
Police say Jones went to the man's home that the check was made out to and demanded money.
The man said he was going to call police. Police say Jones said he was the police and showed a badge and a weapon.
Jefferstown police say Jones retired as a police officer back in 1994.
He is charged with multiple charges including intimidation and impersonating a peace officer.
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http://www.wlky.com/news/19594298/detail.html
Jeffersontown police say David Jones, a retired police officer, was hired by a local company to work a bad check case as a private citizen.
Jeffersontown's police chief says it was a U.S. treasury check and it was stolen.
Police say Jones went to the man's home that the check was made out to and demanded money.
The man said he was going to call police. Police say Jones said he was the police and showed a badge and a weapon.
Jefferstown police say Jones retired as a police officer back in 1994.
He is charged with multiple charges including intimidation and impersonating a peace officer.
____________________
http://www.wlky.com/news/19594298/detail.html
William Nolan Sues City After Wrong Arrest
William Nolan tried to tell the cop who arrested him. He tried to tell the judge. He even tried to tell the jailers who gave him his jumpsuit.
But it was only after the Indianapolis man had spent five days in jail last year that authorities realized that what Nolan had been insisting was true: They had the wrong man.
Police, including a top warrants official, now suspect that a detective may have mistakenly slapped Nolan's Social Security number on the auto theft arrest warrant for another man.
But not just any other man. Another man named William Nolan.
"For people that have names that are shared by other people, this is a horror story," said Joel Schumm, clinical professor of law at Indiana University School of Law-Indianapolis. "I mean, this is something that should scare them."
Though it remains unclear just how the wrong William Nolan ended up in jail for five days, he is pretty sure someone is responsible -- and he has filed a wrongful imprisonment lawsuit against the city, set for trial in June 2010.
The mistaken-identity mess traces all the way back to August 2007. That's when someone stole a black 1997 BMW from J Frank Motors.
Jan Frank told Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Detective Donna Hayes he suspected a man who had been hired just a few days earlier to wash cars: a tall black man named William Nolan.
According to Hayes' affidavit, a woman who said that William Nolan had been staying with her said she last saw Nolan the day of the theft -- driving a black 1997 BMW.
Fast-forward to March 2008, when IMPD officer Brady Ball was making a routine check of the names in the registry of a Far-Southside motel. One name, he later testified, matched the warrant for a stolen BMW: William Nolan.
Nolan, 48, was staying at the motel while repairs were being made on his fire-damaged home. Ball knocked on his room door. Nolan answered. Ball placed him under arrest in the car theft case.
Still, Ball wasn't quite sure he had the right person. The warrant listed William Nolan as black. This William Nolan was white.
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Rest of the story: http://jconline.com/article/20090528/NEWS09/90528006
But it was only after the Indianapolis man had spent five days in jail last year that authorities realized that what Nolan had been insisting was true: They had the wrong man.
Police, including a top warrants official, now suspect that a detective may have mistakenly slapped Nolan's Social Security number on the auto theft arrest warrant for another man.
But not just any other man. Another man named William Nolan.
"For people that have names that are shared by other people, this is a horror story," said Joel Schumm, clinical professor of law at Indiana University School of Law-Indianapolis. "I mean, this is something that should scare them."
Though it remains unclear just how the wrong William Nolan ended up in jail for five days, he is pretty sure someone is responsible -- and he has filed a wrongful imprisonment lawsuit against the city, set for trial in June 2010.
The mistaken-identity mess traces all the way back to August 2007. That's when someone stole a black 1997 BMW from J Frank Motors.
Jan Frank told Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Detective Donna Hayes he suspected a man who had been hired just a few days earlier to wash cars: a tall black man named William Nolan.
According to Hayes' affidavit, a woman who said that William Nolan had been staying with her said she last saw Nolan the day of the theft -- driving a black 1997 BMW.
Fast-forward to March 2008, when IMPD officer Brady Ball was making a routine check of the names in the registry of a Far-Southside motel. One name, he later testified, matched the warrant for a stolen BMW: William Nolan.
Nolan, 48, was staying at the motel while repairs were being made on his fire-damaged home. Ball knocked on his room door. Nolan answered. Ball placed him under arrest in the car theft case.
Still, Ball wasn't quite sure he had the right person. The warrant listed William Nolan as black. This William Nolan was white.
__________
Rest of the story: http://jconline.com/article/20090528/NEWS09/90528006
Officer Hidayatullah Khalil Arrested for Mortgage Fraud
An Elk Grove police officer has been charged by federal authorities for allegedly lying on mortgage loan applications to buy two homes that later went into foreclosure.
Hidayatullah Ali Khalil, 29, was arrested Thursday by the FBI on a three-count complaint and made an initial appearance in Sacramento federal court before being released on a $75,000 unsecured bond.
According to a sworn statement from FBI special agent John Sommercamp, Khalil bought homes in Elk Grove and Watsonville in 2005, indicating both would be his primary residence.
At the time, Khalil was still a deputy with the Santa Cruz County Sheriff's Department. Sommercamp said Khalil grossly inflated his income to purchase both homes, and failed to list the other property as a liability.
According to the complaint, Khalil pulled more than $100,000 in cash out of the Elk Grove house in two separate transactions. Property records show both homes were sold at auction last year.
Elk Grove police spokesman Christoper Trim said Khalil has been with the department since 2006, and has been placed on leave pending an internal investigation.
"Everyone's surprised," said Trim, "He's a hard-working officer, dedicated to the community. He takes his job very seriously and it's unfortunate that this incident came to light."
The FBI said its investigation into Khalil was continuing, with possibly more searches and arrests to come.
Khalil's brother and sister-in-law also made an intial federal court appearance Thursday for their role in an alleged equity-stripping scheme involving a house in El Dorado Hills that later went into foreclosure. They, too, were released on bond.
IRS criminal investigator Christopher Fitzpatrick said Amanullah and Muzdha Khalil lied on a refinancing application to pull nearly $200,000 in cash out of the house at 1288 Souza Drive. According to the complaint, the couple said they lived in the house at the time when it was actually a rental.
Hidayatullah Ali Khalil, 29, was arrested Thursday by the FBI on a three-count complaint and made an initial appearance in Sacramento federal court before being released on a $75,000 unsecured bond.
According to a sworn statement from FBI special agent John Sommercamp, Khalil bought homes in Elk Grove and Watsonville in 2005, indicating both would be his primary residence.
At the time, Khalil was still a deputy with the Santa Cruz County Sheriff's Department. Sommercamp said Khalil grossly inflated his income to purchase both homes, and failed to list the other property as a liability.
According to the complaint, Khalil pulled more than $100,000 in cash out of the Elk Grove house in two separate transactions. Property records show both homes were sold at auction last year.
Elk Grove police spokesman Christoper Trim said Khalil has been with the department since 2006, and has been placed on leave pending an internal investigation.
"Everyone's surprised," said Trim, "He's a hard-working officer, dedicated to the community. He takes his job very seriously and it's unfortunate that this incident came to light."
The FBI said its investigation into Khalil was continuing, with possibly more searches and arrests to come.
Khalil's brother and sister-in-law also made an intial federal court appearance Thursday for their role in an alleged equity-stripping scheme involving a house in El Dorado Hills that later went into foreclosure. They, too, were released on bond.
IRS criminal investigator Christopher Fitzpatrick said Amanullah and Muzdha Khalil lied on a refinancing application to pull nearly $200,000 in cash out of the house at 1288 Souza Drive. According to the complaint, the couple said they lived in the house at the time when it was actually a rental.
Indiana Officer Drives Drunk & Crashes Cruiser With Passengers
An Indiana police officer faces drunk driving charges. He's accused of crashing his cruiser with several passengers in the back.
It happened Sunday night.
Witnesses say the officer was speeding and took out two fences before hitting a tree.
"I thought maybe they were chasing somebody or something," said a witness. "It shook our house. That's how hard it hit. It shook the house, and we're two houses down."
The officer blew a point 0.12, well over the legal limit. He was arrested and booked at the local jail.
No one inside the cruiser was hurt.
It happened Sunday night.
Witnesses say the officer was speeding and took out two fences before hitting a tree.
"I thought maybe they were chasing somebody or something," said a witness. "It shook our house. That's how hard it hit. It shook the house, and we're two houses down."
The officer blew a point 0.12, well over the legal limit. He was arrested and booked at the local jail.
No one inside the cruiser was hurt.
EMT in Confrontation With Trooper
An Emergency Medical Technician who was involved in a scuffle with an Oklahoma Highway Patrol trooper is speaking out about the incident.
Maurice White, Jr. is a critical care paramedic with the Creek Nation EMS. He was nearly arrested after the confrontation, which was captured by the cell phone of Kenyada Davis.
Paul Franks was the driver of the ambulance, which was transporting a patient to a hospital in Prague.
White says he saw the trooper approaching from behind at a high rate of speed with lights activated, but he did not hear a siren. He says Franks had a car in front of him that his attention was focused on and hadn't seen the trooper before he was within a few feet of the ambulance.
"I called out to my partner and told him to pull to the side because there was a State Trooper behind us," White says.
White says as the trooper passed them, he made radio contact, telling Franks "you should consider checking your rearview mirrors".
White says a few blocks after this incident, another trooper entered the road at a high rate of speed, cutting in front of a car driven by a family member of the patient. White says he then saw another trooper approaching from the rear.
"As my partner was pulling onto the shoulder, the cruiser came alongside our unit and gestured for my driver to pull over," White says. "When the officer came to a complete stop behind the ambulance, I noticed a woman in the front seat. Based on the officer's erratic driving behavior, I thought that the woman in the front seat of the cruiser was in need of immediate medical attention; hence I exited the rear of the ambulance in order to assess the situation."
White says the officer was in a rage when he approached them and yelled "get your a-- back here! I am giving you a ticket for failure to yield." White says he told the trooper they had a patient in the ambulance and that they were on their way to the hospital.
"He ignored my statement, became even more belligerent, and demanded my partner come to his patrol car so he could write him a ticket," White says. "I calmly told the officer that we were transporting a patient and we could continue this at the hospital."
White says the trooper then approached him and shouted "you are under arrest for obstructing a police officer" and grabbed his arm to handcuff him. A brief struggle followed, at which point the trooper grabbed White by the throat. The cell phone captured this incident on video.
White says the trooper later told him they could continue on to the hospital, but that he would be under arrest once they got there. White was never arrested, but says troopers told him he should be prepared to turn himself in if a warrant was issued.
To read White's entire statement, click here.
Watch video of the confrontation
Other Information: http://www.ktul.com/news/stories/0509/626531.html
Maurice White, Jr. is a critical care paramedic with the Creek Nation EMS. He was nearly arrested after the confrontation, which was captured by the cell phone of Kenyada Davis.
Paul Franks was the driver of the ambulance, which was transporting a patient to a hospital in Prague.
White says he saw the trooper approaching from behind at a high rate of speed with lights activated, but he did not hear a siren. He says Franks had a car in front of him that his attention was focused on and hadn't seen the trooper before he was within a few feet of the ambulance.
"I called out to my partner and told him to pull to the side because there was a State Trooper behind us," White says.
White says as the trooper passed them, he made radio contact, telling Franks "you should consider checking your rearview mirrors".
White says a few blocks after this incident, another trooper entered the road at a high rate of speed, cutting in front of a car driven by a family member of the patient. White says he then saw another trooper approaching from the rear.
"As my partner was pulling onto the shoulder, the cruiser came alongside our unit and gestured for my driver to pull over," White says. "When the officer came to a complete stop behind the ambulance, I noticed a woman in the front seat. Based on the officer's erratic driving behavior, I thought that the woman in the front seat of the cruiser was in need of immediate medical attention; hence I exited the rear of the ambulance in order to assess the situation."
White says the officer was in a rage when he approached them and yelled "get your a-- back here! I am giving you a ticket for failure to yield." White says he told the trooper they had a patient in the ambulance and that they were on their way to the hospital.
"He ignored my statement, became even more belligerent, and demanded my partner come to his patrol car so he could write him a ticket," White says. "I calmly told the officer that we were transporting a patient and we could continue this at the hospital."
White says the trooper then approached him and shouted "you are under arrest for obstructing a police officer" and grabbed his arm to handcuff him. A brief struggle followed, at which point the trooper grabbed White by the throat. The cell phone captured this incident on video.
White says the trooper later told him they could continue on to the hospital, but that he would be under arrest once they got there. White was never arrested, but says troopers told him he should be prepared to turn himself in if a warrant was issued.
To read White's entire statement, click here.
Watch video of the confrontation
Other Information: http://www.ktul.com/news/stories/0509/626531.html
Officer Adam Tietchen Pleads Guilty to Lying to Officers
EDISON
A police officer today pleaded guilty in Superior Court in New Brunswick to lying to officers conducting an investigation of a township company.
Officer Adam Tietchen, 64, who has more than 29 years service with the department, pleaded guilty to a disorderly person's charged of obstruction of the administration of law, Middlesex County Prosecutor Bruce Kaplan said in joint statement Edison police Director Brian Collier and Edison Police Chief Thomas J. Bryan.
Tietchen, an Edison resident, admitted providing false and misleading information to police during an investigation, Kaplan said.
Under a plea agreement reached with Middlesex County Assistant Prosecutor Brian Gillet, Tietchen must resign from the police department, can never work in law enforcement, and will be sentenced to a probationary term of one year, according to the statement.
Tietchen has been suspended without pay since he was charged May 21, 2009.
According to Kaplan, Edison police were investigating the Birnwell Apparel company on Brunswick Avenue, where Tietchen had performed security work. Authorities today said the investigation of the company is on-going and declined to release any details.
On Feb. 3, police asked Tietchen if he knew an employee of the company, and Tietchen admitted knowing the man, but said he rarely spoke with him, Kaplan said.
However, investigators later determined Tietchen frequently talked with that employee, the prosecutor said.
Jim O'Neill, spokesman for the prosecutor office, said there was no allegation of Tietchen tipping off the employee about the investigation.
"Officer Tietchen not only betrayed the public trust, but he betrayed the dedicated men and women of the Edison Police Department. My administration has a zero tolerance policy concerning any type of police misconduct," Police Chief Bryan said.
Anyone with information on the on-going investigation of Birnwell Apparel is asked to call Lt. Greg Formica of the Edison Police Department at (732) 248-7424.
A message left with Steven Cahn, the Edison lawyer representing Tietchen
A police officer today pleaded guilty in Superior Court in New Brunswick to lying to officers conducting an investigation of a township company.
Officer Adam Tietchen, 64, who has more than 29 years service with the department, pleaded guilty to a disorderly person's charged of obstruction of the administration of law, Middlesex County Prosecutor Bruce Kaplan said in joint statement Edison police Director Brian Collier and Edison Police Chief Thomas J. Bryan.
Tietchen, an Edison resident, admitted providing false and misleading information to police during an investigation, Kaplan said.
Under a plea agreement reached with Middlesex County Assistant Prosecutor Brian Gillet, Tietchen must resign from the police department, can never work in law enforcement, and will be sentenced to a probationary term of one year, according to the statement.
Tietchen has been suspended without pay since he was charged May 21, 2009.
According to Kaplan, Edison police were investigating the Birnwell Apparel company on Brunswick Avenue, where Tietchen had performed security work. Authorities today said the investigation of the company is on-going and declined to release any details.
On Feb. 3, police asked Tietchen if he knew an employee of the company, and Tietchen admitted knowing the man, but said he rarely spoke with him, Kaplan said.
However, investigators later determined Tietchen frequently talked with that employee, the prosecutor said.
Jim O'Neill, spokesman for the prosecutor office, said there was no allegation of Tietchen tipping off the employee about the investigation.
"Officer Tietchen not only betrayed the public trust, but he betrayed the dedicated men and women of the Edison Police Department. My administration has a zero tolerance policy concerning any type of police misconduct," Police Chief Bryan said.
Anyone with information on the on-going investigation of Birnwell Apparel is asked to call Lt. Greg Formica of the Edison Police Department at (732) 248-7424.
A message left with Steven Cahn, the Edison lawyer representing Tietchen
Wednesday, May 27, 2009
Judge Upholds Firing of Officer John Powers
A Seattle police officer fired after allegations of professional misconduct surfaced -- including attempting to break up a domestic-violence arrest -- was correctly barred from working in law enforcement, a King County judge ruled Wednesday.
Officer John Powers was dismissed in November 2005 after department managers came to believe, among other allegations, he was hampering investigations into Belltown clubs for which he provided security when off-duty. Additionally, Seattle Police Department managers alleged Powers distributed Viagra to squad members and gave cocaine to his girlfriend.
Following his dismissal, Powers appealed the department's action and ultimately filed a lawsuit against the state Criminal Justice Training Commission, the state agency that oversees licensing of police officers. In a separate action late last year, the City of Seattle paid Powers' attorney $12,000 in fees to settle a suit alleging that city officials had leaked details of the misconduct investigation to the press.
On Wednesday, Superior Court Judge Steven Gonzalez issued a written ruling finding that the state commission acted correctly when members revoked Powers' certification to work as a law officer.
According to the ruling, Gonzalez found that "clear, cogent, convincing and substantial evidence" that Powers, for personal gain, interfered with a domestic-violence arrest at the request of his private, off-duty employer. Evidence presented in court documents and in testimony given Tuesday also supported claims that Powers delivered Viagra to three officers between January 2002 and December 2004.
"We're very pleased with the decision of course, especially since the conduct here involved a claim of official misconduct," said Assistant Attorney General Melanie Tratnik, who represented the commission in the case.
That misconduct, according to court documents, included a Feb. 21, 2004, incident in which Powers attempted to intercede as officers moved to arrest a man spotted accosting a visibly pregnant woman.
That evening, two West Precinct officers on patrol near Belltown's Club Medusa saw a man pull the woman from a car and slam her to the ground. According to court documents, the patrol officers had arrested the man when Powers, an eight-year veteran of the department, approached them asking to take over the call.
At the time, Powers was in charge of recruiting and scheduling off-duty officers to work at Medusa and other nearby clubs, earning $4,500 to $5,000 annually in addition to his departmental pay for his efforts. Police later learned the arrested man had served as best man at the Medusa Club owner's wedding.
One of the patrol officers told the training commission he believed Powers sought to "'unarrest' the man and to possibly cover up the crime," Tratnik alleged in court documents.
Calls to Powers' attorney were not returned Wednesday. He has 30 days to appeal the court's decision.
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http://www.seattlepi.com/local/406618_powers28.html
Officer John Powers was dismissed in November 2005 after department managers came to believe, among other allegations, he was hampering investigations into Belltown clubs for which he provided security when off-duty. Additionally, Seattle Police Department managers alleged Powers distributed Viagra to squad members and gave cocaine to his girlfriend.
Following his dismissal, Powers appealed the department's action and ultimately filed a lawsuit against the state Criminal Justice Training Commission, the state agency that oversees licensing of police officers. In a separate action late last year, the City of Seattle paid Powers' attorney $12,000 in fees to settle a suit alleging that city officials had leaked details of the misconduct investigation to the press.
On Wednesday, Superior Court Judge Steven Gonzalez issued a written ruling finding that the state commission acted correctly when members revoked Powers' certification to work as a law officer.
According to the ruling, Gonzalez found that "clear, cogent, convincing and substantial evidence" that Powers, for personal gain, interfered with a domestic-violence arrest at the request of his private, off-duty employer. Evidence presented in court documents and in testimony given Tuesday also supported claims that Powers delivered Viagra to three officers between January 2002 and December 2004.
"We're very pleased with the decision of course, especially since the conduct here involved a claim of official misconduct," said Assistant Attorney General Melanie Tratnik, who represented the commission in the case.
That misconduct, according to court documents, included a Feb. 21, 2004, incident in which Powers attempted to intercede as officers moved to arrest a man spotted accosting a visibly pregnant woman.
That evening, two West Precinct officers on patrol near Belltown's Club Medusa saw a man pull the woman from a car and slam her to the ground. According to court documents, the patrol officers had arrested the man when Powers, an eight-year veteran of the department, approached them asking to take over the call.
At the time, Powers was in charge of recruiting and scheduling off-duty officers to work at Medusa and other nearby clubs, earning $4,500 to $5,000 annually in addition to his departmental pay for his efforts. Police later learned the arrested man had served as best man at the Medusa Club owner's wedding.
One of the patrol officers told the training commission he believed Powers sought to "'unarrest' the man and to possibly cover up the crime," Tratnik alleged in court documents.
Calls to Powers' attorney were not returned Wednesday. He has 30 days to appeal the court's decision.
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http://www.seattlepi.com/local/406618_powers28.html
Officer Kirk Newkirk Charged with Stalking
An area police officer and assistant coach charged with stalking a woman has had his court date rescheduled until mid-June.
Kirk D. Newkirk, 42, of Renee Court, faces a charge of misdemeanor stalking after a May 8 arrest. He is accused of harassing 21-year-old Amanda Leigh Corsey and causing her to fear for her safety.
Newkirk has been employed with the Kenansville Police Department for the last 13 months. He has been suspended without pay until the resolution of the charge against him, said Kenansville Police Chief Mike Webster.
Newkirk also served as a volunteer assistant coach for football and basketball at Jacksonville High School during the 2008-2009 school year, said Earl Taylor, spokesman of Onslow County Schools.
"In accordance with board policy 5010 ‘School Volunteers' and the Volunteer Coach Agreement, Mr. Newkirk will be prohibited from serving as a volunteer coach or any capacity in the Onslow County Schools, effective immediately," Taylor said in a faxed response to questions by The Daily News.
Newkirk, who has also been previously employed by the Jacksonville Police Department and the Onslow County Sheriff's Department, is represented by Jacksonville lawyer Walter Vatcher. The attorney asked the court Tuesday for a continuation of Newkirk's case, which was rescheduled for June 15.
Messages left at Vatcher's office were not returned by press time.
According to a complaint attached to Newkirk's arrest warrant, he has been following Corsey and has accosted her at her place of employment.
"Mr. Newkirk has been following me, trying to get into my car, tried to get me into his car," Corsey wrote in the complaint. "He tried to get me drunk underage. He sits outside my house."
In the section on the complaint that delineates relationship between the complainant and the accused, Corsey marked "stranger."
Corsey declined comment when contacted by phone Wednesday afternoon.
The Jacksonville Police Department was dispatched to Corsey's residence on Decatur Road on May 8 in reference to her stalking complaint. The JPD opened an investigation, and Corsey filed papers charging Newkirk with stalking.
Newkirk was released on a $500 unsecured bond.
Kirk D. Newkirk, 42, of Renee Court, faces a charge of misdemeanor stalking after a May 8 arrest. He is accused of harassing 21-year-old Amanda Leigh Corsey and causing her to fear for her safety.
Newkirk has been employed with the Kenansville Police Department for the last 13 months. He has been suspended without pay until the resolution of the charge against him, said Kenansville Police Chief Mike Webster.
Newkirk also served as a volunteer assistant coach for football and basketball at Jacksonville High School during the 2008-2009 school year, said Earl Taylor, spokesman of Onslow County Schools.
"In accordance with board policy 5010 ‘School Volunteers' and the Volunteer Coach Agreement, Mr. Newkirk will be prohibited from serving as a volunteer coach or any capacity in the Onslow County Schools, effective immediately," Taylor said in a faxed response to questions by The Daily News.
Newkirk, who has also been previously employed by the Jacksonville Police Department and the Onslow County Sheriff's Department, is represented by Jacksonville lawyer Walter Vatcher. The attorney asked the court Tuesday for a continuation of Newkirk's case, which was rescheduled for June 15.
Messages left at Vatcher's office were not returned by press time.
According to a complaint attached to Newkirk's arrest warrant, he has been following Corsey and has accosted her at her place of employment.
"Mr. Newkirk has been following me, trying to get into my car, tried to get me into his car," Corsey wrote in the complaint. "He tried to get me drunk underage. He sits outside my house."
In the section on the complaint that delineates relationship between the complainant and the accused, Corsey marked "stranger."
Corsey declined comment when contacted by phone Wednesday afternoon.
The Jacksonville Police Department was dispatched to Corsey's residence on Decatur Road on May 8 in reference to her stalking complaint. The JPD opened an investigation, and Corsey filed papers charging Newkirk with stalking.
Newkirk was released on a $500 unsecured bond.
Officer Jerrell Strong Arrested for Drunk Driving
A Lexington police officer has been removed from patrol and placed on administrative duties after his arrest in southern Indiana.
Officer Jerrell L. Strong was arrested Saturday morning in Jeffersonville on a charge of driving while intoxicated, according to the Clark County, Ind., jail. Strong was released later that day on his own recognizance. He is scheduled to appear in court June 8.
Lexington police will begin an internal investigation after Strong's criminal investigation ends, Lexington police Sgt. Ann Gutierrez said. The division of police relieved Strong of his patrol duties pending the outcome of the internal investigation.
Strong has been on the police force since March 2003, according to police records.
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Information: http://www.kentucky.com
Officer Jerrell L. Strong was arrested Saturday morning in Jeffersonville on a charge of driving while intoxicated, according to the Clark County, Ind., jail. Strong was released later that day on his own recognizance. He is scheduled to appear in court June 8.
Lexington police will begin an internal investigation after Strong's criminal investigation ends, Lexington police Sgt. Ann Gutierrez said. The division of police relieved Strong of his patrol duties pending the outcome of the internal investigation.
Strong has been on the police force since March 2003, according to police records.
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Information: http://www.kentucky.com
Former Officer Philip Dileo Suspected in Double Murder-Suicide
BOULDER
Police say a 61-year-old former police officer is suspected of pulling the trigger in a double murder-suicide that rocked a quiet neighborhood in Boulder this week.
Boulder County Coroner Thomas Faure says 63-year-old Elizabeth Schwarzenbach-Dileo, 61-year-old Philip F. Dileo and 23-year-old Philip C. Dileo were found dead in their home.
A housekeeper, who was scheduled to clean the home, found the scene around 11:30 a.m. on Tuesday in the 2400 block of Bluff Street and flagged down police.
Boulder Police say Elizabeth Schwarzenbach-Dileo came to them in 2005 and asked about buying a gun because her husband had made threats against her. They say there were indications the former officer had made threats against his son as well.
Police found two guns at the scene, one of which - a .22 semi-automatic handgun - was equipped with a silencer. It was found in the kitchen, near Elizabeth Schwarzenbach-Dileo's body.
The second gun, a .357 Magnum revolver, was found upstairs near Philip F. Dileo's body, according to authorities.
Police say they found a note spelling out the former officer's requests for funeral arrangements in a spare bedroom.
According to police, Dileo was a Boulder Police officer from October 1972 to June 1973, then again from October 1975 to November 1975, but he was let go after police say he violated department policy multiple times.
Autopsies were planned for Wednesday and Thursday on the bodies.
Neighbors say the family had lived in the home for a long time, some even remembered the son as a little boy playing outside. They say he moved back to the quiet neighborhood as a young adult.
"She was really sweet and really private," Marianne Martin, a neighbor, said of the woman who lived in the home. "She loved to do her gardening and walk her dogs."
A couple two houses down says they were doing yard work Monday at 10:30 a.m. when they heard three distinct bangs, what they believe were gunshots. If that's the case, the housekeeper found the bodies about 25 hours later.
Police continue to investigate.
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Other Information: http://www.9news.com/news/article.aspx?storyid=116514&provider=top
Police say a 61-year-old former police officer is suspected of pulling the trigger in a double murder-suicide that rocked a quiet neighborhood in Boulder this week.
Boulder County Coroner Thomas Faure says 63-year-old Elizabeth Schwarzenbach-Dileo, 61-year-old Philip F. Dileo and 23-year-old Philip C. Dileo were found dead in their home.
A housekeeper, who was scheduled to clean the home, found the scene around 11:30 a.m. on Tuesday in the 2400 block of Bluff Street and flagged down police.
Boulder Police say Elizabeth Schwarzenbach-Dileo came to them in 2005 and asked about buying a gun because her husband had made threats against her. They say there were indications the former officer had made threats against his son as well.
Police found two guns at the scene, one of which - a .22 semi-automatic handgun - was equipped with a silencer. It was found in the kitchen, near Elizabeth Schwarzenbach-Dileo's body.
The second gun, a .357 Magnum revolver, was found upstairs near Philip F. Dileo's body, according to authorities.
Police say they found a note spelling out the former officer's requests for funeral arrangements in a spare bedroom.
According to police, Dileo was a Boulder Police officer from October 1972 to June 1973, then again from October 1975 to November 1975, but he was let go after police say he violated department policy multiple times.
Autopsies were planned for Wednesday and Thursday on the bodies.
Neighbors say the family had lived in the home for a long time, some even remembered the son as a little boy playing outside. They say he moved back to the quiet neighborhood as a young adult.
"She was really sweet and really private," Marianne Martin, a neighbor, said of the woman who lived in the home. "She loved to do her gardening and walk her dogs."
A couple two houses down says they were doing yard work Monday at 10:30 a.m. when they heard three distinct bangs, what they believe were gunshots. If that's the case, the housekeeper found the bodies about 25 hours later.
Police continue to investigate.
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Other Information: http://www.9news.com/news/article.aspx?storyid=116514&provider=top
Former Officer Shanita McKnight Sentenced to 20 Years
A former Lake City police officer will spend 20 years in prison for conspiring with drug dealers to keep them from getting busted.
Shanita McKnight was very emotional and sobbed very loudly at times. She begged the judge to have mercy on her, saying she needed to get home to her young daughter and son.
McKnight's family and friends gathered outside the courthouse following her sentence. They could barely contain their emotions.
"This has been a hard pill to swallow today," said Eric Daniels, a close friend.
"Obviously we've disappointed today with the sentencing but we all believe in her," said Peggy Sells, McKnight's former coach.
Wednesday morning, a judge gave the former lake city police officer 20 years for drug conspiracy and extortion. In October, a federal jury convicted McKnight for tipping off drug dealers in lake city so they wouldn't get caught.
Sheriff Kenney Boone said, "You had a police officer who took an oath to enforce the laws of the state and use that oath and their position against justice, and we feel like justice has been served."
McKnight's family says justice won't be served until she's released from prison. They plan to urge mcknight to appeal her 20 year prison sentence.
Eight people spoke to the judge during the sentencing hearing saying McKnight was a good officer, who cared about Lake City.
When released from federal prison, McKnight will be on supervised release for five years.
Shanita McKnight was very emotional and sobbed very loudly at times. She begged the judge to have mercy on her, saying she needed to get home to her young daughter and son.
McKnight's family and friends gathered outside the courthouse following her sentence. They could barely contain their emotions.
"This has been a hard pill to swallow today," said Eric Daniels, a close friend.
"Obviously we've disappointed today with the sentencing but we all believe in her," said Peggy Sells, McKnight's former coach.
Wednesday morning, a judge gave the former lake city police officer 20 years for drug conspiracy and extortion. In October, a federal jury convicted McKnight for tipping off drug dealers in lake city so they wouldn't get caught.
Sheriff Kenney Boone said, "You had a police officer who took an oath to enforce the laws of the state and use that oath and their position against justice, and we feel like justice has been served."
McKnight's family says justice won't be served until she's released from prison. They plan to urge mcknight to appeal her 20 year prison sentence.
Eight people spoke to the judge during the sentencing hearing saying McKnight was a good officer, who cared about Lake City.
When released from federal prison, McKnight will be on supervised release for five years.
K-9 Dog Dies After Being Left Unattended in Car
The district attorney's office is set to decide Monday whether to file charges against an Alameda police K-9 officer whose dog died after he allegedly left it unattended while he was on duty.
The officer, who has not been named, was attending a training exercise May 5 when he left the animal unattended for about three hours and 15 minutes inside his personal vehicle, police said.
When the officer returned to the vehicle, which was in a parking lot in the 2200 block of Lincoln Avenue, he found the 6 1/2-year Belgian Malinois in "distress," Alameda police Lt. Bill Scott said.
The dog was brought to the Bay Area Veterinary Emergency Clinic San Leandro, where it died.
"It was a tragic accident," Scott said. "There was no intention on the officer's part for this to happen, whatsoever."
Investigators presented a possible criminal case on the animal's death to Alameda County Assistant District Attorney Charlotte Green on Wednesday morning.
Green is expected to announce Monday whether she plans to file charges, Scott said.
The officer is also currently the subject of an internal affairs investigation. He remains on duty, however, and has not been placed on administrative leave.
Along with not naming the officer, police declined to reveal how long he has served with the department.
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Information:
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2009/05/27/BASS17S4TL.DTL
The officer, who has not been named, was attending a training exercise May 5 when he left the animal unattended for about three hours and 15 minutes inside his personal vehicle, police said.
When the officer returned to the vehicle, which was in a parking lot in the 2200 block of Lincoln Avenue, he found the 6 1/2-year Belgian Malinois in "distress," Alameda police Lt. Bill Scott said.
The dog was brought to the Bay Area Veterinary Emergency Clinic San Leandro, where it died.
"It was a tragic accident," Scott said. "There was no intention on the officer's part for this to happen, whatsoever."
Investigators presented a possible criminal case on the animal's death to Alameda County Assistant District Attorney Charlotte Green on Wednesday morning.
Green is expected to announce Monday whether she plans to file charges, Scott said.
The officer is also currently the subject of an internal affairs investigation. He remains on duty, however, and has not been placed on administrative leave.
Along with not naming the officer, police declined to reveal how long he has served with the department.
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Information:
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2009/05/27/BASS17S4TL.DTL
Officer Patrick Beesley Charged with Drunk Driving
A Noblesville police officer has been placed on paid administrative leave after being charged with drunken driving.
Officer Patrick E. Beesley, 32, Noblesville, could face penalties ranging from a brief suspension to termination, based on the outcome of an internal investigation. He also faces up to a year in jail and $5,000 in fines if he is convicted.
Beesley could not be reached for comment.
"Obviously, this is a serious situation," Noblesville Police Chief Kevin Jowitt said Tuesday, his first day on the job.
Beesley caught the attention of a Hamilton County sheriff's deputy about 12:30 a.m. Sunday. His vehicle was swerving in its lane and was going off the road, said Vicky Dunbar, public information officer for the sheriff's office.
Deputy Paul Miller stopped Beesley on Greenfield Avenue, just west of Marilyn Road, Dunbar said.
Miller smelled alcohol when he talked to Beesley and noticed that Beesley's eyes were bloodshot, Dunbar said.
Beesley, who was not driving his squad car, identified himself as a Noblesville police officer, according to Dunbar.
Beesley failed field sobriety tests, authorities said, and a breath test registered his blood-alcohol level at 0.18, more than twice the level (0.08) at which a driver in Indiana is considered intoxicated.
The police report did not say where Beesley had been or where he was going, according to Dunbar, and Jowitt did not have that information.
Beesley was charged with operating a vehicle while intoxicated with a blood-alcohol level of 0.15 or greater, a Class A misdemeanor.
He posted bond and was released from the Hamilton County Jail at 1:30 p.m. Sunday, according to a news release.
Beesley has been with the Noblesville department for about 21/2 years, Jowitt said. Before that, he worked for the Chicago Police Department.
An Elkhart officer also was arrested on drunken-driving charges this past weekend.
Authorities said Cpl. Benjamin Kruszynski, 38, was off-duty Sunday night when he crashed his squad car into two fences and a tree.
His blood-alcohol level was 0.12, authorities said. He will be placed on administrative leave pending the result of the investigation, according to Elkhart Police Chief Dale Pflibsen.
Officer Patrick E. Beesley, 32, Noblesville, could face penalties ranging from a brief suspension to termination, based on the outcome of an internal investigation. He also faces up to a year in jail and $5,000 in fines if he is convicted.
Beesley could not be reached for comment.
"Obviously, this is a serious situation," Noblesville Police Chief Kevin Jowitt said Tuesday, his first day on the job.
Beesley caught the attention of a Hamilton County sheriff's deputy about 12:30 a.m. Sunday. His vehicle was swerving in its lane and was going off the road, said Vicky Dunbar, public information officer for the sheriff's office.
Deputy Paul Miller stopped Beesley on Greenfield Avenue, just west of Marilyn Road, Dunbar said.
Miller smelled alcohol when he talked to Beesley and noticed that Beesley's eyes were bloodshot, Dunbar said.
Beesley, who was not driving his squad car, identified himself as a Noblesville police officer, according to Dunbar.
Beesley failed field sobriety tests, authorities said, and a breath test registered his blood-alcohol level at 0.18, more than twice the level (0.08) at which a driver in Indiana is considered intoxicated.
The police report did not say where Beesley had been or where he was going, according to Dunbar, and Jowitt did not have that information.
Beesley was charged with operating a vehicle while intoxicated with a blood-alcohol level of 0.15 or greater, a Class A misdemeanor.
He posted bond and was released from the Hamilton County Jail at 1:30 p.m. Sunday, according to a news release.
Beesley has been with the Noblesville department for about 21/2 years, Jowitt said. Before that, he worked for the Chicago Police Department.
An Elkhart officer also was arrested on drunken-driving charges this past weekend.
Authorities said Cpl. Benjamin Kruszynski, 38, was off-duty Sunday night when he crashed his squad car into two fences and a tree.
His blood-alcohol level was 0.12, authorities said. He will be placed on administrative leave pending the result of the investigation, according to Elkhart Police Chief Dale Pflibsen.
Cpl Joshua Giddings Committs Suicide After Arrest
Delaware State Police Cpl. Joshua A. Giddings, 32, apparently committed suicide at his Smyrna home Tuesday, May 26. Giddings was arrested May 11 after an investigation revealed he engaged in sexual relations with a woman he had arrested in exchange for not taking her to court.
Delaware State Police reported that emergency personnel were dispatched at about 6 p.m., to a home in the unit block of Wheeler Circle in Smyrna after receiving a report of an unresponsive man.
The man was found in the shed at the residence. He was unresponsive. Emergency personnel pronounced him dead at the scene.
He was identified as Joshua A. Giddings.
Foul play is not suspected, police said. The incident is a suspected suicide, but the investigation is continuing by the Smyrna Police Department.
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Previous Story: http://whathappenedtoprotectandserve.blogspot.com/2009/05/cpl-joshua-giddings-arrested-for-sexual.html
Delaware State Police reported that emergency personnel were dispatched at about 6 p.m., to a home in the unit block of Wheeler Circle in Smyrna after receiving a report of an unresponsive man.
The man was found in the shed at the residence. He was unresponsive. Emergency personnel pronounced him dead at the scene.
He was identified as Joshua A. Giddings.
Foul play is not suspected, police said. The incident is a suspected suicide, but the investigation is continuing by the Smyrna Police Department.
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Previous Story: http://whathappenedtoprotectandserve.blogspot.com/2009/05/cpl-joshua-giddings-arrested-for-sexual.html
Officer Richard Beck Accused of Illegally Accessing Database
A crumbling marriage ultimately cost a Goodyear police veteran his badge.
Richard Beck has relinquished his badge in the wake of accusations that he illegally accessed law-enforcement databases to look up information about a man he believed was having an affair with his estranged wife, and later lied about it.
The agreement reached between Beck, 35, and the Arizona Peace Officer Standards and Training Board last week permanently strips him of his ability to work as a police officer in Arizona.
According to a board compliance specialist report and a Goodyear police internal investigation, Beck visited the home of his estranged wife, an Avondale police dispatcher, in the middle of the night in January 2008. He knocked on the door to confront his wife and a man, an Avondale police officer, but neither answered the door. Beck suspected they were having an affair.
The Avondale officer said Beck contacted his soon-to-be ex-wife the next morning through the social networking Web site MySpace and that Beck could have only discovered her name through a police database, the reports show. Using the database for non-police purposes is a Class 6 felony, unauthorized access to criminal history.
Beck told Goodyear investigators he used the database toward the end of December 2007 to run the license plate of a vehicle parked outside of the house and discovered it belonged to the Avondale officer, according to the reports. Investigators reviewed database access records and found that Beck ran that officer's license plate the day before the attempted confrontation in January.
Beck, who was off-duty at the time, told Goodyear police he received a call that night from an acquaintance telling him about a suspicious car at the house, the reports said. Police reviewed phone records and found no support for the claim.
Beck maintains he was truthful about the incident but said he was going through a "difficult and bitter divorce at the time" that affected him emotionally and left his mind in a fog.
"I was in a pretty bad place around that time," he said in an interview Tuesday.
Beck claims he never denied running the officer's license plate, but said he felt cornered and that investigators were unwilling to believe that he didn't have malicious intentions.
"I didn't run that plate . . . to try to find out information about him. . . . I knew who he was, (my wife) had told me about him, she had admitted to the affair and everything, so I knew there was very little I'd be able to gain by doing something like that," he said. "I didn't care about him. At the time, I was more concerned with trying to keep my family together."
"I was just amazed because I had an outstanding record and everybody knew me, everybody trusted me. I kind of felt like I got a raw deal," he added.
He said his wife's infidelity with another police officer and the handling of the investigation led him to resign from the Goodyear force and give up his certification.
"I'd been a police officer for going on about 13 years and I really believed in what I did," he said. "I just felt like everything that I'd believed in as far as law enforcement and the unity was just taken away from me, and it was the first time in 13 years where I just didn't like coming to work anymore."
Beck said he has found a new job in law enforcement but declined to say where.
Richard Beck has relinquished his badge in the wake of accusations that he illegally accessed law-enforcement databases to look up information about a man he believed was having an affair with his estranged wife, and later lied about it.
The agreement reached between Beck, 35, and the Arizona Peace Officer Standards and Training Board last week permanently strips him of his ability to work as a police officer in Arizona.
According to a board compliance specialist report and a Goodyear police internal investigation, Beck visited the home of his estranged wife, an Avondale police dispatcher, in the middle of the night in January 2008. He knocked on the door to confront his wife and a man, an Avondale police officer, but neither answered the door. Beck suspected they were having an affair.
The Avondale officer said Beck contacted his soon-to-be ex-wife the next morning through the social networking Web site MySpace and that Beck could have only discovered her name through a police database, the reports show. Using the database for non-police purposes is a Class 6 felony, unauthorized access to criminal history.
Beck told Goodyear investigators he used the database toward the end of December 2007 to run the license plate of a vehicle parked outside of the house and discovered it belonged to the Avondale officer, according to the reports. Investigators reviewed database access records and found that Beck ran that officer's license plate the day before the attempted confrontation in January.
Beck, who was off-duty at the time, told Goodyear police he received a call that night from an acquaintance telling him about a suspicious car at the house, the reports said. Police reviewed phone records and found no support for the claim.
Beck maintains he was truthful about the incident but said he was going through a "difficult and bitter divorce at the time" that affected him emotionally and left his mind in a fog.
"I was in a pretty bad place around that time," he said in an interview Tuesday.
Beck claims he never denied running the officer's license plate, but said he felt cornered and that investigators were unwilling to believe that he didn't have malicious intentions.
"I didn't run that plate . . . to try to find out information about him. . . . I knew who he was, (my wife) had told me about him, she had admitted to the affair and everything, so I knew there was very little I'd be able to gain by doing something like that," he said. "I didn't care about him. At the time, I was more concerned with trying to keep my family together."
"I was just amazed because I had an outstanding record and everybody knew me, everybody trusted me. I kind of felt like I got a raw deal," he added.
He said his wife's infidelity with another police officer and the handling of the investigation led him to resign from the Goodyear force and give up his certification.
"I'd been a police officer for going on about 13 years and I really believed in what I did," he said. "I just felt like everything that I'd believed in as far as law enforcement and the unity was just taken away from me, and it was the first time in 13 years where I just didn't like coming to work anymore."
Beck said he has found a new job in law enforcement but declined to say where.
Officer William Mosley & Wife in Court on Domestic Violence Charges
WORCESTER
A Worcester police officer, recently charged with domestic assault, and his wife were the subject of separate hearings in Central District Court today in cases involving allegations against one another.
The case against Officer William D. Mosley, 32, of Ashmore Road, alleges he assaulted his wife May 19. He was arrested on charges of aggravated domestic assault and battery, and threatening to commit a crime. His case was the subject of a pretrial hearing today. The officer is on restricted duty.
Meantime, his wife, Stacey M. Mosley, of Glenn Ellen Road, who is pregnant, was in the courthouse for a hearing on a motion relating to a criminal harassment charge filed against her husband.
Both cases were continued.
In the case against the officer, according to court records, the officer was outside his home with his wife, who has a different home address from Officer Mosley. Mrs. Mosley told police that Officer Mosley yelled at her and said he didn’t want her at his home, the records say. Mrs. Mosley told police her husband forcefully grabbed her left arm and dragged her toward her car, according to court records. She also said he threatened to assault her, police reports said. Police were called and Officer Mosley was arrested. Yesterday, in an interview with the Telegram & Gazette, Mrs. Mosley said she planned to ask the court to dismiss the charges against her husband. That did not happen.
Within the last six months, Mr. Mosley sought legal action against his wife.
According to court documents, Mr. Mosley reported four incidents to the Worcester Police between Dec. 26 and Jan. 26. Mr. Mosley told police that Mrs. Mosley showed up at his house and began knocking on his door and yelling for about 20 minutes outside until he called police. On Jan. 1, Mr. Mosley alleged that Mrs. Mosley parked outside his house. On Jan. 26, Mr. Mosley alleged that Mrs. Mosley had been continuously calling him and driving by his house for the previous four to six weeks, and on this date, walked into his house unannounced, according to court documents.
Police Chief Gary J. Gemme has said Officer Mosley was put on restricted duty recently, is assigned to the Service Division, and that the officer’s firearms license has been temporarily suspended.
A Worcester police officer, recently charged with domestic assault, and his wife were the subject of separate hearings in Central District Court today in cases involving allegations against one another.
The case against Officer William D. Mosley, 32, of Ashmore Road, alleges he assaulted his wife May 19. He was arrested on charges of aggravated domestic assault and battery, and threatening to commit a crime. His case was the subject of a pretrial hearing today. The officer is on restricted duty.
Meantime, his wife, Stacey M. Mosley, of Glenn Ellen Road, who is pregnant, was in the courthouse for a hearing on a motion relating to a criminal harassment charge filed against her husband.
Both cases were continued.
In the case against the officer, according to court records, the officer was outside his home with his wife, who has a different home address from Officer Mosley. Mrs. Mosley told police that Officer Mosley yelled at her and said he didn’t want her at his home, the records say. Mrs. Mosley told police her husband forcefully grabbed her left arm and dragged her toward her car, according to court records. She also said he threatened to assault her, police reports said. Police were called and Officer Mosley was arrested. Yesterday, in an interview with the Telegram & Gazette, Mrs. Mosley said she planned to ask the court to dismiss the charges against her husband. That did not happen.
Within the last six months, Mr. Mosley sought legal action against his wife.
According to court documents, Mr. Mosley reported four incidents to the Worcester Police between Dec. 26 and Jan. 26. Mr. Mosley told police that Mrs. Mosley showed up at his house and began knocking on his door and yelling for about 20 minutes outside until he called police. On Jan. 1, Mr. Mosley alleged that Mrs. Mosley parked outside his house. On Jan. 26, Mr. Mosley alleged that Mrs. Mosley had been continuously calling him and driving by his house for the previous four to six weeks, and on this date, walked into his house unannounced, according to court documents.
Police Chief Gary J. Gemme has said Officer Mosley was put on restricted duty recently, is assigned to the Service Division, and that the officer’s firearms license has been temporarily suspended.
Former Detective Daniel Griffin Charged with Illegally Carrying Firearm
Former Kingston police Detective Daniel Griffin is in trouble with the law again.
The ex-cop who already faces charges of impersonating a cop was illegally in possession of a loaded handgun when he was apprehended earlier this month in Wilkes-Barre, city police said Tuesday.
Griffin now faces a charge of carrying a firearm without a license.
The 45-year-old was a police officer in Kingston for 22 years before being fired in 2007 for forging a superior’s signature to but a specialty shotgun.
This is now the third time he has been charged with a crme in less than two years.
Griffin was captured May 13 in downtown Wilkes-Barre on an arrest warrant filed by Fleetwood Borough police in Berks County.
The warrant claims he pulled a badge and identified himself as a cop on May 7 when police pulled him over in a personal vehicle customized to look like an unmarked police car.
The 2003 gray Ford Crown Victoria Interceptor “appeared to be an unmarked police vehicle,” according to arrest papers. The car had a black front license plate that says “POLICE” and red “K-9” decals on the trunk.
Wilkes-Barre police impounded the vehicle when Griffin was arrested on the warrant in the city. A loaded pistol was later seized from the car, police said. Police determined Griffin does not have a permit to carry a firearm in Pennsylvania, police said.
Earlier this month, Griffin insisted he was never fired, but retired from the police force and still does police work on the side. He said his convictions for the 2007 charges have been “stayed,” pending an appeal. He called his arrest on the Berks County charges a “political issue” being drummed up as revenge by Kingston officials.
In an unrelated matter, Swoyersville police on Friday issued Griffin a summary citation regarding stray and unattended dogs, according to court records. Details about the citation could not be obtained Tuesday.
Griffin remains free on bail.
The ex-cop who already faces charges of impersonating a cop was illegally in possession of a loaded handgun when he was apprehended earlier this month in Wilkes-Barre, city police said Tuesday.
Griffin now faces a charge of carrying a firearm without a license.
The 45-year-old was a police officer in Kingston for 22 years before being fired in 2007 for forging a superior’s signature to but a specialty shotgun.
This is now the third time he has been charged with a crme in less than two years.
Griffin was captured May 13 in downtown Wilkes-Barre on an arrest warrant filed by Fleetwood Borough police in Berks County.
The warrant claims he pulled a badge and identified himself as a cop on May 7 when police pulled him over in a personal vehicle customized to look like an unmarked police car.
The 2003 gray Ford Crown Victoria Interceptor “appeared to be an unmarked police vehicle,” according to arrest papers. The car had a black front license plate that says “POLICE” and red “K-9” decals on the trunk.
Wilkes-Barre police impounded the vehicle when Griffin was arrested on the warrant in the city. A loaded pistol was later seized from the car, police said. Police determined Griffin does not have a permit to carry a firearm in Pennsylvania, police said.
Earlier this month, Griffin insisted he was never fired, but retired from the police force and still does police work on the side. He said his convictions for the 2007 charges have been “stayed,” pending an appeal. He called his arrest on the Berks County charges a “political issue” being drummed up as revenge by Kingston officials.
In an unrelated matter, Swoyersville police on Friday issued Griffin a summary citation regarding stray and unattended dogs, according to court records. Details about the citation could not be obtained Tuesday.
Griffin remains free on bail.
Detective Hector Ortiz Arrested for DUI
A Merced Police Detective finds himself on the wrong side of the law, after he's arrested on suspicion of DUI… for the second time.
It turns out this is Hector Ortiz's second drunk driving arrest this year.
The 46-year-old Ortiz was arrested this week after he reportedly rear-ended another vehicle. Ortiz's passenger suffered minor injuries but didn't have to go to the hospital. The driver in the other car was not injured.
The crash happened near Merced College in Merced, which was not far from where Ortiz was arrested on suspicion of DUI back in January. He pled no contest to that charge and was sentenced to a fine, probation and a program for DUI offenders.
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Information: http://abclocal.go.com/kfsn/story?section=news/local&id=6835365
It turns out this is Hector Ortiz's second drunk driving arrest this year.
The 46-year-old Ortiz was arrested this week after he reportedly rear-ended another vehicle. Ortiz's passenger suffered minor injuries but didn't have to go to the hospital. The driver in the other car was not injured.
The crash happened near Merced College in Merced, which was not far from where Ortiz was arrested on suspicion of DUI back in January. He pled no contest to that charge and was sentenced to a fine, probation and a program for DUI offenders.
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Information: http://abclocal.go.com/kfsn/story?section=news/local&id=6835365
Officer Jerrell Strong Arrested for DUI
A Lexington police officer faces an internal investigation after he was arrested in Indiana over the weekend on a DUI charge.
Officer Jerrell Strong was arrested on Saturday in Jeffersonville, Indiana. Lexington police say they have placed Strong on administrative duties and an internal investigation is underway.
Authorities in Indiana say Strong was released on his own recognizance.
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Officer Jerrell Strong was arrested on Saturday in Jeffersonville, Indiana. Lexington police say they have placed Strong on administrative duties and an internal investigation is underway.
Authorities in Indiana say Strong was released on his own recognizance.
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Information: http://www.kentucky.com/181/story/809787.html
Chief John Josten Arrested for Domestic Violence
The police chief of a small Van Buren County community has been arrested following a domestic violence incident, the county sheriff’s office reports.
John Josten, the head and sole officer of the department in Bloomingdale, Mich., was arraigned Friday in Allegen County on charges stemming from the incident.
Sgt. Scott Schmitt of the Van Buren County Sheriff’s Department said Josten works in Bloomingdale, a community in the northern part of the county, but lives in Allegen. His wife, who he is accused of throwing a glass at, is also a deputy with the Allegen County Sheriff’s Office, Schmitt said.
Josten’s employment status remained uncertain Wednesday. That decision has been turned over to the Bloomingdale village manager, Schmitt said.
“He is not to possess any firearms until (his) trial date,” Schmitt added, noting the obvious problem that creates for a law enforcement professional.
No immediate decision about Josten’s status is expected, pending an investigation and outcome of the trial.
John Josten, the head and sole officer of the department in Bloomingdale, Mich., was arraigned Friday in Allegen County on charges stemming from the incident.
Sgt. Scott Schmitt of the Van Buren County Sheriff’s Department said Josten works in Bloomingdale, a community in the northern part of the county, but lives in Allegen. His wife, who he is accused of throwing a glass at, is also a deputy with the Allegen County Sheriff’s Office, Schmitt said.
Josten’s employment status remained uncertain Wednesday. That decision has been turned over to the Bloomingdale village manager, Schmitt said.
“He is not to possess any firearms until (his) trial date,” Schmitt added, noting the obvious problem that creates for a law enforcement professional.
No immediate decision about Josten’s status is expected, pending an investigation and outcome of the trial.
Tuesday, May 26, 2009
Officer Michael Wooton Pleads Not Guilty to Shooting Neighbor's Dog
An off-duty Essex police officer accused of shooting his neighbor's dog after it got into a fight with his Pug pleaded not guilty in court Tuesday morning.
Police say Michael J. Wootton, 34, of Waterville, shot and killed his neighbor's mixed-breed dog earlier this month.
The shooting happened after Wootton's dog went to a neighbor's property and got into a fight with a dog owned by Melinda Maskell. Police say Wootton then went home, got a handgun and fired one shot at the dog.
"If he would have had his dog on a leash, none of this would have happened," Maskell said.
Maskell showed us pictures of her dog Hooch, in happier times. She described the mixed-breed as well-mannered.
"I mean the dog sat pretty, that's how well he minded, he knew commands, he went to obedience school for a year," Maskell said.
Court records show Hooch was shot in the stomach. Maskell says her two year old daughter was just feet away from Wootton, when it happened.
"They're supposed to serve and protect us and to have to explain to my children why they murdered my dog, in front of my child, is one of the hardest parts to it," Maskell said.
Maskell understands court proceedings could be far from over.
"My family and I are going to pursue this until we get justice, one way or the other," Maskell said.
Maskell said she was surprised there wasn't a reckless endangerment charge against Wootton, since her daughter was nearby at the time of the alleged incident.
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http://whathappenedtoprotectandserve.blogspot.com/2009/05/officer-michael-wooton-accused-of.html
More Information: http://www.fox44.net/Global/story.asp?S=10428016
Police say Michael J. Wootton, 34, of Waterville, shot and killed his neighbor's mixed-breed dog earlier this month.
The shooting happened after Wootton's dog went to a neighbor's property and got into a fight with a dog owned by Melinda Maskell. Police say Wootton then went home, got a handgun and fired one shot at the dog.
"If he would have had his dog on a leash, none of this would have happened," Maskell said.
Maskell showed us pictures of her dog Hooch, in happier times. She described the mixed-breed as well-mannered.
"I mean the dog sat pretty, that's how well he minded, he knew commands, he went to obedience school for a year," Maskell said.
Court records show Hooch was shot in the stomach. Maskell says her two year old daughter was just feet away from Wootton, when it happened.
"They're supposed to serve and protect us and to have to explain to my children why they murdered my dog, in front of my child, is one of the hardest parts to it," Maskell said.
Maskell understands court proceedings could be far from over.
"My family and I are going to pursue this until we get justice, one way or the other," Maskell said.
Maskell said she was surprised there wasn't a reckless endangerment charge against Wootton, since her daughter was nearby at the time of the alleged incident.
_______________________
Previous Post:
http://whathappenedtoprotectandserve.blogspot.com/2009/05/officer-michael-wooton-accused-of.html
More Information: http://www.fox44.net/Global/story.asp?S=10428016
Lawsuit Settled in Excessive Force Case
HARTLAND TOWNSHIP, Mich.
A woman who sued officers over the death of her father during an arrest for driving a bulldozer on an expressway has settled with two of them.
The deal came Tuesday before U.S. District Judge John Feikens in Detroit.
Amanda Landis settled with Livingston County sheriff's Deputy Jim Lynch and ex-Deputy Jason Baker. Terms weren't announced.
The case continues against state Trooper Greg Galarneau.
The suit says officers used excess force while arresting Charles Keiser, holding him face-down in a swamp on Thanksgiving 2004. It happened in Hartland Township, about 40 miles west-northwest of Detroit. Sheriff Bob Bezotte tells the Livingston County Daily Press & Argus in Howell the deputies acted appropriately.
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Information from: Livingston County Daily Press & Argus, http://www.dailypressandargus.com
A woman who sued officers over the death of her father during an arrest for driving a bulldozer on an expressway has settled with two of them.
The deal came Tuesday before U.S. District Judge John Feikens in Detroit.
Amanda Landis settled with Livingston County sheriff's Deputy Jim Lynch and ex-Deputy Jason Baker. Terms weren't announced.
The case continues against state Trooper Greg Galarneau.
The suit says officers used excess force while arresting Charles Keiser, holding him face-down in a swamp on Thanksgiving 2004. It happened in Hartland Township, about 40 miles west-northwest of Detroit. Sheriff Bob Bezotte tells the Livingston County Daily Press & Argus in Howell the deputies acted appropriately.
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Information from: Livingston County Daily Press & Argus, http://www.dailypressandargus.com
Cpl Tony Finn Charged with Assault
WALNUT COVE, N.C.
Walnut Cove officials said one of their police officers was suspended after allegations of assault.
Town Manager Homer Dearmin told WXII 12 News that Cpl. Tony L. Finn will be suspended without pay pending an investigation.
On May 25, Walnut Cove police arrested Finn on two charges of simple assault and assault agaisnt a female.
Dearmin would not go into any more detail.
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Information: http://www.wxii12.com/news
Town Manager Homer Dearmin told WXII 12 News that Cpl. Tony L. Finn will be suspended without pay pending an investigation.
On May 25, Walnut Cove police arrested Finn on two charges of simple assault and assault agaisnt a female.
Dearmin would not go into any more detail.
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Information: http://www.wxii12.com/news
Sheriff Terrry Jones & Undersheriff Charged with Taking Money During Traffic Stop
The McIntosh County Sheriff's Department is facing some tough challenges after their sheriff and undersheriff were both accused of taking money during a traffic stop.
Sheriff Terry Jones and Undersheriff Mykol Brookshire face federal charges and could spend up to a year in prison if convicted. Jones has now resigned from his post.
McIntosh County has a brand new 8-million dollar jail and no sheriff to operate it. It's supposed to open in July. That's why county commissioners are scrambling to find someone to run it.
"To have something like this happen, now we've got to go back and look at that again," says District Two Commissioner Tim Pendley.
It was Friday when county commissioners first learned the sheriff had resigned.
"Yeah, it was a shock," says District Three Commissioner Ronnie Layman. "Nobody expected something like that to happen."
Jones and Brookshire were detained Friday. It is alleged they stole money from an individual during a traffic stop.
"Really thought we'd be represented better," says Bridgette, a resident of Eufaula. "He's supposed to be looking out for our community, not taking from it. I would have expected something different."
Jones and Brookshire are innocent until proven guilty. But, some feel it's a black eye for other elected officials.
"Makes it look bad on all elected officials," says District One Commissioner Bob James. "I feel like it does. You're kinda guilty by association I guess."
Commissioners say they have confidence in the sheriff's department, for those stepping in and covering all the shifts. To the citizens of McIntosh County, they say they will get through it.
We spoke with U.S. Attorney Sheldon Sperling, who says we should know more details about the former sheriff in court later this week. There, Jones is expected to answer the charges against him.
Sheriff Terry Jones and Undersheriff Mykol Brookshire face federal charges and could spend up to a year in prison if convicted. Jones has now resigned from his post.
McIntosh County has a brand new 8-million dollar jail and no sheriff to operate it. It's supposed to open in July. That's why county commissioners are scrambling to find someone to run it.
"To have something like this happen, now we've got to go back and look at that again," says District Two Commissioner Tim Pendley.
It was Friday when county commissioners first learned the sheriff had resigned.
"Yeah, it was a shock," says District Three Commissioner Ronnie Layman. "Nobody expected something like that to happen."
Jones and Brookshire were detained Friday. It is alleged they stole money from an individual during a traffic stop.
"Really thought we'd be represented better," says Bridgette, a resident of Eufaula. "He's supposed to be looking out for our community, not taking from it. I would have expected something different."
Jones and Brookshire are innocent until proven guilty. But, some feel it's a black eye for other elected officials.
"Makes it look bad on all elected officials," says District One Commissioner Bob James. "I feel like it does. You're kinda guilty by association I guess."
Commissioners say they have confidence in the sheriff's department, for those stepping in and covering all the shifts. To the citizens of McIntosh County, they say they will get through it.
We spoke with U.S. Attorney Sheldon Sperling, who says we should know more details about the former sheriff in court later this week. There, Jones is expected to answer the charges against him.
Monday, May 25, 2009
Bail Set at 2 Million for Officer Richard Bolling Charged with Fatal Hit-and-Run
Bail was set at $2 million Sunday for a veteran Chicago police officer accused of being drunk behind the wheel while causing a fatal hit-and-run accident that killed a 13-year-old boy on the South Side.
Richard Bolling, 39, was charged with aggravated driving under the influence, leaving the scene of an accident where a death or injury occurred and reckless homicide. Bolling, who has worked in the Chicago Police Department for 17 years, reportedly had been at a bar not long before the crash early Friday morning, said Sally Daly, a Cook County sheriff's office spokeswoman.
Bolling of the 8600 block of South Wolcott Avenue was arrested soon after his Dodge Charger allegedly drove through the intersection at 81st Street and Ashland Avenue about 1:28 a.m. and killed 13-year-old Trenton Booker, officials said.
Trenton had sneaked out of his home and was riding his bicycle with friends, his family said.
Trenton was riding with a friend on Ashland, traveling north in the southbound lane. Bolling was driving his car in the southbound lane and, according to witness accounts, raced through the intersection and hit Trenton, who ended up sprawled on the street, Daly said.
Bolling is alleged to have continued without stopping. He was arrested minutes later after two other Chicago police officers saw the car about five blocks away going the wrong way down a one-way street near 1900 W. 82nd St. They also noticed that the car had damage to the bumper and windshield, Daly said.
The officers saw an open bottle of beer in the car, and they conducted a field sobriety test on Bolling on the scene, she said. Daly did not have the results of the sobriety test available. Chicago police said in a statement that the officer was also cited for going the wrong way down a one-way street and transportation of alcohol.
Richard Bolling, 39, was charged with aggravated driving under the influence, leaving the scene of an accident where a death or injury occurred and reckless homicide. Bolling, who has worked in the Chicago Police Department for 17 years, reportedly had been at a bar not long before the crash early Friday morning, said Sally Daly, a Cook County sheriff's office spokeswoman.
Bolling of the 8600 block of South Wolcott Avenue was arrested soon after his Dodge Charger allegedly drove through the intersection at 81st Street and Ashland Avenue about 1:28 a.m. and killed 13-year-old Trenton Booker, officials said.
Trenton had sneaked out of his home and was riding his bicycle with friends, his family said.
Trenton was riding with a friend on Ashland, traveling north in the southbound lane. Bolling was driving his car in the southbound lane and, according to witness accounts, raced through the intersection and hit Trenton, who ended up sprawled on the street, Daly said.
Bolling is alleged to have continued without stopping. He was arrested minutes later after two other Chicago police officers saw the car about five blocks away going the wrong way down a one-way street near 1900 W. 82nd St. They also noticed that the car had damage to the bumper and windshield, Daly said.
The officers saw an open bottle of beer in the car, and they conducted a field sobriety test on Bolling on the scene, she said. Daly did not have the results of the sobriety test available. Chicago police said in a statement that the officer was also cited for going the wrong way down a one-way street and transportation of alcohol.
Judges Finds Sheriff Arpaio Attempted to Intimidate ACLU Director
PHOENIX
A federal judge ruled late last week that the arrest of an ACLU legal director by Maricopa County's controversial Sheriff Joe Arpaio was an attempt to intmidate the director "from future First Amendment activity." The judge found that the deputies who arrested legal director Dan Pochoda knew of his position with the ACLU and conferred with Arpaio or a representative about arresting him after he attended a demonstration against the sheriff.
Arpaio and three of his officers sought dismissal of the suit, claiming they had probable cause to arrest Pochoda as he left the demonstration. But U.S. District Judge Neil V. Wake found that Pochoda's arrest was an attempt to "intimidate (him) from future First Amendment activity" since the officers knew of Pochoda's position in the ACLU, saw him speaking with the protest's organizer and consulted with Arpaio "or his representative about whether to arrest him on a misdemeanor charge."
Pochoda said two deputies who were patrolling a parking lot near the demonstration approached him on Nov. 3, 2007 and questioned him for five minutes. He says the officers told him he could not park in the lot and stood between him and his car. After Pochoda asked one of the deputies to identify himself, since he was in street clothes, Pochoda says he was handcuffed, taken to the county jail and booked on criminal trespassing charges.
Pochoda claims that the officers violated his Fourth Amendment rights by stopping him from leaving the parking lot.
But Judge Wake found that the officers had the right to stop and question him after. However, once Pochoda made it clear that he was leaving the property, the officers should have let him go, Wake said.
Judge Wake ruled that the deputies "are not immune from Pochoda's claim of unlawful detention and arrest" because Pochoda never refused to leave the parking lot and was prevented from doing so by the officers.
The sheriff and the officers denied Pochoda's claim of malicious prosecution, saying they had probable cause to arrest him, but Judge Wake found the arrest motivated by "deterrence or retribution for First Amendment activities."
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http://www.courthousenews.com
A federal judge ruled late last week that the arrest of an ACLU legal director by Maricopa County's controversial Sheriff Joe Arpaio was an attempt to intmidate the director "from future First Amendment activity." The judge found that the deputies who arrested legal director Dan Pochoda knew of his position with the ACLU and conferred with Arpaio or a representative about arresting him after he attended a demonstration against the sheriff.
Arpaio and three of his officers sought dismissal of the suit, claiming they had probable cause to arrest Pochoda as he left the demonstration. But U.S. District Judge Neil V. Wake found that Pochoda's arrest was an attempt to "intimidate (him) from future First Amendment activity" since the officers knew of Pochoda's position in the ACLU, saw him speaking with the protest's organizer and consulted with Arpaio "or his representative about whether to arrest him on a misdemeanor charge."
Pochoda said two deputies who were patrolling a parking lot near the demonstration approached him on Nov. 3, 2007 and questioned him for five minutes. He says the officers told him he could not park in the lot and stood between him and his car. After Pochoda asked one of the deputies to identify himself, since he was in street clothes, Pochoda says he was handcuffed, taken to the county jail and booked on criminal trespassing charges.
Pochoda claims that the officers violated his Fourth Amendment rights by stopping him from leaving the parking lot.
But Judge Wake found that the officers had the right to stop and question him after. However, once Pochoda made it clear that he was leaving the property, the officers should have let him go, Wake said.
Judge Wake ruled that the deputies "are not immune from Pochoda's claim of unlawful detention and arrest" because Pochoda never refused to leave the parking lot and was prevented from doing so by the officers.
The sheriff and the officers denied Pochoda's claim of malicious prosecution, saying they had probable cause to arrest him, but Judge Wake found the arrest motivated by "deterrence or retribution for First Amendment activities."
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http://www.courthousenews.com
Officer Benjamin Kruszynski Arrested for Drunk Driving
Police say a City of Elkhart police officer was arrested for operating a vehicle while intoxicated after he was involved in an accident late Sunday along County Line Road.
Officer Benjamin Kruszynski, 38, crashed an Elkhart City squad car into a tree near the intersection of Brummitt and Ash roads about 11:10 p.m.
There were four passengers in the car at the time — a 43-year-old male and three 18-year-old females, according to police.
Elkhart Police Spokesman Lt. Ed Windbigler would not say if Kruszynski was driving his own squad car or another officer's.
A witness said the car went airborne when hitting the tree and leaving the roadway on the Elkhart County side of the road.
The Elkhart County Sheriff's Department responded to the scene and arrested Kruszynski for OWI. A departmental supervisor was also sent to the scene to assist the officer and continue the investigation.
No one was injured.
Kruszynski has been with the Elkhart Police Department since 2000.
Officer Benjamin Kruszynski, 38, crashed an Elkhart City squad car into a tree near the intersection of Brummitt and Ash roads about 11:10 p.m.
There were four passengers in the car at the time — a 43-year-old male and three 18-year-old females, according to police.
Elkhart Police Spokesman Lt. Ed Windbigler would not say if Kruszynski was driving his own squad car or another officer's.
A witness said the car went airborne when hitting the tree and leaving the roadway on the Elkhart County side of the road.
The Elkhart County Sheriff's Department responded to the scene and arrested Kruszynski for OWI. A departmental supervisor was also sent to the scene to assist the officer and continue the investigation.
No one was injured.
Kruszynski has been with the Elkhart Police Department since 2000.
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Sunday, May 24, 2009
Judge James Heath Kills Self After Drunk Driving Arrest
HAMILTON TWP.
A Warren County Common Pleas Court judge who was arrested this weekend for the second time in seven months was found dead in his home the next day, according to police.
James Heath, 47, was found in the master bedroom of his Nunner Road home just after 2 p.m. Sunday, May 24, by his estranged wife, according to Hamilton Twp. Police Lt. Jeff Braley.
“She had been trying to reach him by phone and could not and went to check on him at the house,” Braley said.
Braley said although nothing has been confirmed, Heath’s death is being investigated as a suicide. An autopsy is scheduled to be performed Tuesday, May 26, he said.
Heath was arrested at 8:30 p.m. Saturday, May 23, at mile marker 11 on Ohio 48, according to Sgt. Karla Taulbee, spokeswoman for the Ohio State Highway Patrol.
Transported to a patrol post, Heath refused a breathalyzer test, Taulbee said. He was charged with operating a vehicle while impaired and a marked lanes violation and released to someone who was able to drive, she said.
Heath was arrested last October in Clinton County on the same charge. He pleaded guilty in December to the lesser charge of reckless operation of a motor vehicle.
As a result of the plea, Heath was found not guilty of the original charge of driving under the influence of alcohol.
Warren County Judge Donald Oda II said Sunday he had known Heath for 14 years and was “completely shocked” when he heard of his death.
“We all thought the world of Judge Heath,” Oda said. “He was a good man. The Warren County judges ... our bench is certainly less today than it was yesterday.”
Warren County Commissioner C. Michael Kilburn said his heart goes out to Heath’s family. “We just never know what burdens people are carrying with them,” he said. “It’s just a terrible, terrible situation.”
Earlier this year, Kilburn criticized Heath for his behavior, showed a video of him pleading with a state trooper not to arrest him and called on him to resign. Following Kilburn’s comments, Heath admitted he made a mistake, apologized for his actions and said he was taking steps to ensure they did not happen again.
Heath, a Miami University graduate, first took the bench of the Warren County Court in December of 1994, according to the court’s Web site. He is survived by his wife and three children.
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http://news.cincinnati.com/article/20090524/NEWS0107/90524007/Warren+judge+is+dead
A Warren County Common Pleas Court judge who was arrested this weekend for the second time in seven months was found dead in his home the next day, according to police.
James Heath, 47, was found in the master bedroom of his Nunner Road home just after 2 p.m. Sunday, May 24, by his estranged wife, according to Hamilton Twp. Police Lt. Jeff Braley.
“She had been trying to reach him by phone and could not and went to check on him at the house,” Braley said.
Braley said although nothing has been confirmed, Heath’s death is being investigated as a suicide. An autopsy is scheduled to be performed Tuesday, May 26, he said.
Heath was arrested at 8:30 p.m. Saturday, May 23, at mile marker 11 on Ohio 48, according to Sgt. Karla Taulbee, spokeswoman for the Ohio State Highway Patrol.
Transported to a patrol post, Heath refused a breathalyzer test, Taulbee said. He was charged with operating a vehicle while impaired and a marked lanes violation and released to someone who was able to drive, she said.
Heath was arrested last October in Clinton County on the same charge. He pleaded guilty in December to the lesser charge of reckless operation of a motor vehicle.
As a result of the plea, Heath was found not guilty of the original charge of driving under the influence of alcohol.
Warren County Judge Donald Oda II said Sunday he had known Heath for 14 years and was “completely shocked” when he heard of his death.
“We all thought the world of Judge Heath,” Oda said. “He was a good man. The Warren County judges ... our bench is certainly less today than it was yesterday.”
Warren County Commissioner C. Michael Kilburn said his heart goes out to Heath’s family. “We just never know what burdens people are carrying with them,” he said. “It’s just a terrible, terrible situation.”
Earlier this year, Kilburn criticized Heath for his behavior, showed a video of him pleading with a state trooper not to arrest him and called on him to resign. Following Kilburn’s comments, Heath admitted he made a mistake, apologized for his actions and said he was taking steps to ensure they did not happen again.
Heath, a Miami University graduate, first took the bench of the Warren County Court in December of 1994, according to the court’s Web site. He is survived by his wife and three children.
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http://news.cincinnati.com/article/20090524/NEWS0107/90524007/Warren+judge+is+dead
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