A Sharon township police officer faces charges after being arrested early Saturday morning.
Worthington Police Lt Micheal Daugherty says that Officer Terrell Latour was pulled over in the area of Huntley Road for traffic violations.
Daugherty says Latour showed signs of intoxication and refused to take breath and urine tests.
Latour has been charged with driving while intoxicated, failure to signal, speeding as well as a felony charge of improper handling of a firearm.
The officer was also ordered to a license suspension as well.
Latour is scheduled to appear in Franklin County Municipal court Monday.
Wednesday, August 13, 2008
Seattle officer involved in biker shooting was disciplined before
The Seattle police officer who reportedly shot a known member of the Hells Angels motorcycle gang at a weeklong rally in South Dakota was previously disciplined, once for taunting fans at a football game and another time for allegedly threatening to shoot a restaurant manager who had asked him to leave.
Police officials have not released the name of the officer involved in the shooting, or four other officers with him at the time, but sources have confirmed he is a 43-year-old detective who works for the Seattle police Pawn Shop Squad and is a police guild board member. The officer also is known throughout the department as an avid motorcycle rider.
South Dakota investigators have obtained videotape of the shooting that Seattle union leaders believe will exonerate the officer of any wrongdoing in the altercation that left a Hells Angels member wounded.
"I think it's going to be pretty evident that the officer was fearful of his safety and life and that's why he had to fire," said Sgt. Rich O'Neill, president of the Seattle Police Officers' Guild.
O'Neill said Seattle officers are now concerned for all of their safety because of the Hells Angels' reputation of violent retaliation if one of their members is attacked. "There is a real threat," he said.
Authorities have said the officer and four others at the scene all identified themselves as members of the Iron Pigs, a motorcycle club made up mostly of police officers and firefighters.
Ryan Soderlin / Rapid City Journal
Police Officers Jon Pike, left, and Mike DeBruin, who were hired for the motorcycle rally in Sturgis, S.D., monitor Sturgis' Main Street in front of the Loud American Roadhouse on Saturday. A vacationing Seattle police officer was involved in a shooting that occurred at the bar on Saturday about 1 a.m.
Of the other four officers at the scene, one has been identified as a sergeant who at one time ran the security detail for former Seattle Mayor Norm Rice.
The two men were with a group of officers who had traveled to Sturgis, S.D., to join the annual motorcycle rally there.
The shooting happened around 1 a.m. Saturday at the Loud American Roadhouse, a popular bar that held as many as 500 patrons at the time. Sturgis police reported that there was an altercation between some Hells Angels gang members in the bar and members of the Iron Pigs, all of them Seattle police officers on vacation.
Authorities have not said what led to the confrontation, though sources said it might have been sparked because the officers were displaying colors or other identifying markings associated with their club.
At some point, the confrontation became physical, and one of the officers allegedly fired two shots, striking and wounding one of the Hells Angels.
O'Neill said he spoke with some of the officers who attended the Sturgis motorcycle rally and that based on early indications, he believes the officer was defending himself from a "completely unprovoked" attack that might have involved choking.
"It's unfortunate that it had to end like this," O'Neill said. "All the same, the indications are that somebody was totally jumped and beaten. If that's what the investigation says, they have a right to defend themselves."
Seattle Police Chief Gil Kerlikowske has relieved all five officers of duty, pending the outcome of the investigation by South Dakota authorities, according to a statement released on Saturday.
The chief also sent a team of detectives to Sturgis to learn more about the incident, including homicide Lt. Jim Dermody, homicide detectives and a sergeant with the Office of Professional Accountability. The team arrived Saturday, but there was no information available on Sunday as to what they might have learned.
"Our job isn't to interfere with the investigation, but to gather information for our internal purposes," said Seattle police spokesman Sean Whitcomb.
The group of Seattle officers has attended past Sturgis motorcycle gatherings without problems, O'Neill said.
Federal law allows off-duty officers to carry their guns, and the Seattle Police Department's manual gives each officer the option to carry one while off duty.
"One of the reasons for that federal law is that police officers, unlike anyone else, are almost on duty all the time," he said. "You never know when you might run into someone who you arrested."
All are looking forward to "getting back to this side of the mountains," he said.
The officer implicated in the shooting has not been arrested or charged with any crime, but has been disciplined in the past. The detective was suspended for two days for conduct unbecoming an officer during a Seahawks football game on Jan. 8, 2005.
He arrested a fan he said had assaulted him, but other witnesses said the officer's comments at the conclusion of a game the Seahawks lost to the Rams had provoked the crowd. He allegedly taunted the Seahawks fans by pretending to cry like a baby and yelling out, "Go Rams."
The man he arrested had objected, yelled at him and, during a melee, the detective was struck with a megaphone the man was holding.
The officer contended the man had assaulted him and so arrested him, but other witnesses said the blow was accidental.
According to the city's investigation documents on the matter, a witness told investigators, " 'Had the officer not said a word, it would never have happened." She adds police "are supposed to keep the peace, not rile up the crowd.' "
The department disciplined the detective but continued to permit him to work off-duty security at the football stadium if he worked in a different part of the field.
On Aug. 12, 2005, he was again accused of getting into an altercation, that time at a Tacoma restaurant while off duty.
He at one point allegedly threatened to shoot the restaurant manager, who had asked him to leave.
According to internal documents, Tacoma city authorities declined to prosecute the officer, finding there was no evidence that he intended to carry out his threat, but he received a written reprimand for the incident.
But at least one witness said most regular patrons of the restaurant knew he was a cop, and that he was known to always carry a gun.
The police guild is offering moral support to the officer and his family, O'Neill said, and the union's attorney is aware of the shooting.
"The decision to fire is up to each individual officer. Only you know when you feel the time is right and your life is in danger," he said, adding, "It's a traumatic incident any time someone has to fire a handgun.
Police officials have not released the name of the officer involved in the shooting, or four other officers with him at the time, but sources have confirmed he is a 43-year-old detective who works for the Seattle police Pawn Shop Squad and is a police guild board member. The officer also is known throughout the department as an avid motorcycle rider.
South Dakota investigators have obtained videotape of the shooting that Seattle union leaders believe will exonerate the officer of any wrongdoing in the altercation that left a Hells Angels member wounded.
"I think it's going to be pretty evident that the officer was fearful of his safety and life and that's why he had to fire," said Sgt. Rich O'Neill, president of the Seattle Police Officers' Guild.
O'Neill said Seattle officers are now concerned for all of their safety because of the Hells Angels' reputation of violent retaliation if one of their members is attacked. "There is a real threat," he said.
Authorities have said the officer and four others at the scene all identified themselves as members of the Iron Pigs, a motorcycle club made up mostly of police officers and firefighters.
Ryan Soderlin / Rapid City Journal
Police Officers Jon Pike, left, and Mike DeBruin, who were hired for the motorcycle rally in Sturgis, S.D., monitor Sturgis' Main Street in front of the Loud American Roadhouse on Saturday. A vacationing Seattle police officer was involved in a shooting that occurred at the bar on Saturday about 1 a.m.
Of the other four officers at the scene, one has been identified as a sergeant who at one time ran the security detail for former Seattle Mayor Norm Rice.
The two men were with a group of officers who had traveled to Sturgis, S.D., to join the annual motorcycle rally there.
The shooting happened around 1 a.m. Saturday at the Loud American Roadhouse, a popular bar that held as many as 500 patrons at the time. Sturgis police reported that there was an altercation between some Hells Angels gang members in the bar and members of the Iron Pigs, all of them Seattle police officers on vacation.
Authorities have not said what led to the confrontation, though sources said it might have been sparked because the officers were displaying colors or other identifying markings associated with their club.
At some point, the confrontation became physical, and one of the officers allegedly fired two shots, striking and wounding one of the Hells Angels.
O'Neill said he spoke with some of the officers who attended the Sturgis motorcycle rally and that based on early indications, he believes the officer was defending himself from a "completely unprovoked" attack that might have involved choking.
"It's unfortunate that it had to end like this," O'Neill said. "All the same, the indications are that somebody was totally jumped and beaten. If that's what the investigation says, they have a right to defend themselves."
Seattle Police Chief Gil Kerlikowske has relieved all five officers of duty, pending the outcome of the investigation by South Dakota authorities, according to a statement released on Saturday.
The chief also sent a team of detectives to Sturgis to learn more about the incident, including homicide Lt. Jim Dermody, homicide detectives and a sergeant with the Office of Professional Accountability. The team arrived Saturday, but there was no information available on Sunday as to what they might have learned.
"Our job isn't to interfere with the investigation, but to gather information for our internal purposes," said Seattle police spokesman Sean Whitcomb.
The group of Seattle officers has attended past Sturgis motorcycle gatherings without problems, O'Neill said.
Federal law allows off-duty officers to carry their guns, and the Seattle Police Department's manual gives each officer the option to carry one while off duty.
"One of the reasons for that federal law is that police officers, unlike anyone else, are almost on duty all the time," he said. "You never know when you might run into someone who you arrested."
All are looking forward to "getting back to this side of the mountains," he said.
The officer implicated in the shooting has not been arrested or charged with any crime, but has been disciplined in the past. The detective was suspended for two days for conduct unbecoming an officer during a Seahawks football game on Jan. 8, 2005.
He arrested a fan he said had assaulted him, but other witnesses said the officer's comments at the conclusion of a game the Seahawks lost to the Rams had provoked the crowd. He allegedly taunted the Seahawks fans by pretending to cry like a baby and yelling out, "Go Rams."
The man he arrested had objected, yelled at him and, during a melee, the detective was struck with a megaphone the man was holding.
The officer contended the man had assaulted him and so arrested him, but other witnesses said the blow was accidental.
According to the city's investigation documents on the matter, a witness told investigators, " 'Had the officer not said a word, it would never have happened." She adds police "are supposed to keep the peace, not rile up the crowd.' "
The department disciplined the detective but continued to permit him to work off-duty security at the football stadium if he worked in a different part of the field.
On Aug. 12, 2005, he was again accused of getting into an altercation, that time at a Tacoma restaurant while off duty.
He at one point allegedly threatened to shoot the restaurant manager, who had asked him to leave.
According to internal documents, Tacoma city authorities declined to prosecute the officer, finding there was no evidence that he intended to carry out his threat, but he received a written reprimand for the incident.
But at least one witness said most regular patrons of the restaurant knew he was a cop, and that he was known to always carry a gun.
The police guild is offering moral support to the officer and his family, O'Neill said, and the union's attorney is aware of the shooting.
"The decision to fire is up to each individual officer. Only you know when you feel the time is right and your life is in danger," he said, adding, "It's a traumatic incident any time someone has to fire a handgun.
Chamblee Sgt Bredan Parks Arrested for Reckless Conduct
LOGANVILLE
A Chamblee police officer was arrested at his home in Loganville Sunday morning, officials said.
Neighbors said they heard dozens of gunshots coming from Sgt. Brendan Parks' backyard off Rosebud road around 4 a.m. Sunday. He is an officer with the Chamblee police department. Officials with that department have confirmed his arrest.
Parks was taken to the Gwinnett County detention center. He has met bond. He is facing charges of reckless conduct, discharging a firearm and pointing a gun. He was not available for comment.
Officer Christopher McClendon Charged with Accepting Unlawful Compensation
A Sanford police officer arrested this morning on allegations he was unlawfully compensated for helping repossess automobiles was suspended in the past, officials just said.
Christopher McClendon, who faces a charge of accepting unlawful compensation, was suspended twice without pay in 2007, Sanford Police spokeswoman Cleo Cohen said.
The first time, in July, was for 36.9 hours for insubordination. The second, in September, was for 43 hours for discussing the case with other officers, she said.
McClendon, who has been with the Sanford agency since February 2004, was arrested this morning after a nine-month investigation by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement into allegations he was unlawfully compensated for assisting an auto sales company in making repossessions.
He was released from the Seminole County Jail after posting $2,000 bail. If convicted, he faces up to 15 years in prison, said FDLE spokeswoman Sharon L. Gogerty.
McClendon used his position as a police officer to assist a business in making repossessions and, in return, his personal auto loan with the same company was forgiven, Gogerty said. The compensation he received was about $8,000, she said.
McClendon, who has been with the Sanford agency since February 2004, has been suspended without pay, said Sanford Police spokeswoman Cleo Cohen.
Her agency received the complaint about McClendon Oct. 30 and turned it over to FDLE in mid-November, she said.
Christopher McClendon, who faces a charge of accepting unlawful compensation, was suspended twice without pay in 2007, Sanford Police spokeswoman Cleo Cohen said.
The first time, in July, was for 36.9 hours for insubordination. The second, in September, was for 43 hours for discussing the case with other officers, she said.
McClendon, who has been with the Sanford agency since February 2004, was arrested this morning after a nine-month investigation by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement into allegations he was unlawfully compensated for assisting an auto sales company in making repossessions.
He was released from the Seminole County Jail after posting $2,000 bail. If convicted, he faces up to 15 years in prison, said FDLE spokeswoman Sharon L. Gogerty.
McClendon used his position as a police officer to assist a business in making repossessions and, in return, his personal auto loan with the same company was forgiven, Gogerty said. The compensation he received was about $8,000, she said.
McClendon, who has been with the Sanford agency since February 2004, has been suspended without pay, said Sanford Police spokeswoman Cleo Cohen.
Her agency received the complaint about McClendon Oct. 30 and turned it over to FDLE in mid-November, she said.
Sunday, August 10, 2008
UPDATE: Officer Charged in Prank Gone Wrong
An Austin resident working as a police officer for the Amboy/Vernon Center Police Department has been charged with misconduct after allegedly asking a teenage girl to flash her breasts to avoid arrest for drinking, according to the Star Tribune.
Steven P. Boyle has been charged with one gross misdemeanor count of misconduct of a public official by the Blue Earth County Attorney’s Office.
According to the Tribune, the criminal complaint said the incident occurred the night of July 4 at Pumpkinland near Vernon Center.
Boyle allegedly told a sheriff’s investigator he’d been contacted earlier by the young woman’s friend, who’d requested he play a prank of her.
The Tribune said he approached a camper at the farm market and pretended to question the group there. The young girl fled, the report said, though Boyle soon caught her and administered a preliminary breath test.
She failed, and was handcuffed and placed in his squad car.
The Tribune said fellow campers suggested Boyle allow her to show her breasts to avoid transport to jail.
She agreed after Boyle allegedly approached her with the idea, and showed her breasts surrounded by others at a campfire after her handcuffs were removed, according to the Tribune.
She was allegedly told the situation was a joke immediately following.
Boyle is scheduled to appear Aug. 22. The maximum penalty for his crime is one year in prison and/or a $3,000 fine.
Steven P. Boyle has been charged with one gross misdemeanor count of misconduct of a public official by the Blue Earth County Attorney’s Office.
According to the Tribune, the criminal complaint said the incident occurred the night of July 4 at Pumpkinland near Vernon Center.
Boyle allegedly told a sheriff’s investigator he’d been contacted earlier by the young woman’s friend, who’d requested he play a prank of her.
The Tribune said he approached a camper at the farm market and pretended to question the group there. The young girl fled, the report said, though Boyle soon caught her and administered a preliminary breath test.
She failed, and was handcuffed and placed in his squad car.
The Tribune said fellow campers suggested Boyle allow her to show her breasts to avoid transport to jail.
She agreed after Boyle allegedly approached her with the idea, and showed her breasts surrounded by others at a campfire after her handcuffs were removed, according to the Tribune.
She was allegedly told the situation was a joke immediately following.
Boyle is scheduled to appear Aug. 22. The maximum penalty for his crime is one year in prison and/or a $3,000 fine.
Recently Promotoed Chief Philip Palmere is Found Guilty of Perjury
The man recently promoted to be chief of the state Department of General Services Police had once been recommended for termination from the Baltimore Police Department after an administrative board found him guilty of perjury and making a false statement in a court document.
A Circuit Court judge ruled that the police trial board held in 1999 had erred by not allowing Philip Palmere to present two character witnesses. The court ordered a new hearing into allegations that he reported seeing a man - whom he had arrested - toss a gun to the ground when he had actually found the weapon in an apartment.
The department dismissed the charges and Palmere resigned from the force, ending a 15-year career in what his attorney described as a mutual agreement between the two sides. Prosecutors then dropped the gun case, sparing the defendant what could have been a 30-year prison sentence, and later dropped charges against another man Palmere had arrested.
Two years later, Palmere joined the DGS Police, a 200-member force responsible for protecting state office buildings in Baltimore and Annapolis, including the State House.
Dave Humphrey, a DGS spokesman, said in a statement that the department performed "a full background investigation, including a review of his Baltimore City Police personnel file. He retired in good standing with a service pension from the city force."
Christine Hansen, a spokeswoman for Gov. Martin O'Malley, said that Palmere has performed well since he was hired.
A public Circuit Court file containing Palmere's appeal of his trial board conviction details the case made against him and the city Police Department's attempts to fire him. The board of his peers recommended that Palmere be suspended for 150 days for misconduct, making a false statement and two counts of improperly filing a report.
Then-police Commissioner Thomas C. Frazier decided the punishment wasn't harsh enough. In an August 1999 letter that is contained in the court file, he wrote, "The egregious nature of the false statement requires termination." A police commissioner can overrule punishment recommendations by trial boards.
Secretary of General Services Alvin C. Collins declined through a spokesman to be interviewed for this article. He elevated Palmere to chief of the DGS Police on June 25. Three weeks later, the department issued a news release noting that the new chief has "brought new energy and new ideas" to the force.
Palmere referred calls to Michael Davey, the Fraternal Order of Police union attorney who represented him at his city police trial board. The attorney said the city department dismissed the internal charges and he believes his client's internal investigation file should have no bearing on his ability to lead the DGS police force.
"He was never charged criminally with perjury," Davey said. "He was never charged criminally with anything."
Baltimore City internal affairs detectives began investigating Palmere and his partner, Drew Dorbert, after they arrested Tavon Anderson in 1996 on gun and drug charges. Palmere wrote a statement of probable cause - a legal document to justify charges - that he saw Anderson throw a gun from his waistband and then watched it "spinning on the floor," according to court documents.
It was later revealed, according to court documents, that Palmere found the gun under a cabinet in the defendant's East Baltimore apartment. Drugs were also found in the apartment, he wrote.
Then-Assistant State's Attorney Mary Koch dropped charges against Anderson when she learned about the inconsistencies in the statement of charges. Palmere and Dorbert were brought up on internal charges. Dorbert retired from the Police Department before his trial board.
Palmere said in his May 1999 trial board hearing that he based his statement of probable cause on his partner's incident report, which said the defendant tossed the gun. Palmere said he only signed the statement of probable cause because he trusted the judgment of his partner.
"Officer Palmere stated he believed his decision to be a poor one," according to minutes taken during trial board and contained in the Circuit Court file.
After the gun and drugs were found, Palmere said, Anderson became worried that a drug boss would accuse him of cooperating with police. The defendant "began to cry stating that he was going to be killed ... for giving up the gun," according to a brief filed in Palmere's defense.
But, Koch, the prosecutor, said the officers could have protected the defendant without providing a false statement. "All he had to do was write a vague statement of charges then see the prosecutor," Koch said, according to the minutes kept in a court file.
The administrative trial board found Palmere guilty of misconduct, making a false statement, violating a law by making a false statement and two charges of improperly filing a report. Members said they recommended a 150-day suspension in part because of the officer's "exemplary record with the department over a fourteen year career."
Members also said that commanders said they "were willing to supervise Officer Palmere despite sustained charges" and "believed Officer Palmere's career was worth salvaging."
Frazier disagreed, writing in his letter that the "false statement could have lead to the unlawful incarceration of a citizen for several years under the mandatory sentencing guidelines. ... As evidenced by the trial transcript, Officer Palmere admitted that he signed his name to an affidavit he knew to be false."
Davey said that after his client's case was returned for a rehearing, it lingered until after Frazier left the department. "They finally decided, 'We'll just dismiss the case and let him retire,'" the attorney said. "It wasn't part of any official agreement. The department looked at it as a way to get rid of [the case]. My guy was happy to retire."
Philip Palmere's career
March 1985: Joins Baltimore Police Department.
February 1996: He and another officer arrest Tavon S. Anderson and charge him with drug dealing and handgun possession.
October 1996: Prosecutors drop all charges against Anderson.
December 1997: Administrative charges are brought against Palmere, alleging he wrote in court documents that he saw Anderson throw a gun to the ground. Police say he found the gun inside an apartment.
June 1999: A three-member police trial board finds him guilty of perjury and making a false statement. Board recommends that he be suspended for 150 days without pay.
August 1999: Then-police Commissioner Thomas C. Frazier increases the penalty to termination.
September 1999: Palmere appeals to Baltimore Circuit Court.
January 2000: Circuit Judge Alfred Nance remands the matter to the trial board, concluding that Palmere should have had the opportunity to bring two additional character witnesses to testify on his behalf.
March 2000: Palmere retires from Baltimore City Police Department.
August 2002: Joins Department of General Services Police.
June 2008: Palmere named DGS chief.
A Circuit Court judge ruled that the police trial board held in 1999 had erred by not allowing Philip Palmere to present two character witnesses. The court ordered a new hearing into allegations that he reported seeing a man - whom he had arrested - toss a gun to the ground when he had actually found the weapon in an apartment.
The department dismissed the charges and Palmere resigned from the force, ending a 15-year career in what his attorney described as a mutual agreement between the two sides. Prosecutors then dropped the gun case, sparing the defendant what could have been a 30-year prison sentence, and later dropped charges against another man Palmere had arrested.
Two years later, Palmere joined the DGS Police, a 200-member force responsible for protecting state office buildings in Baltimore and Annapolis, including the State House.
Dave Humphrey, a DGS spokesman, said in a statement that the department performed "a full background investigation, including a review of his Baltimore City Police personnel file. He retired in good standing with a service pension from the city force."
Christine Hansen, a spokeswoman for Gov. Martin O'Malley, said that Palmere has performed well since he was hired.
A public Circuit Court file containing Palmere's appeal of his trial board conviction details the case made against him and the city Police Department's attempts to fire him. The board of his peers recommended that Palmere be suspended for 150 days for misconduct, making a false statement and two counts of improperly filing a report.
Then-police Commissioner Thomas C. Frazier decided the punishment wasn't harsh enough. In an August 1999 letter that is contained in the court file, he wrote, "The egregious nature of the false statement requires termination." A police commissioner can overrule punishment recommendations by trial boards.
Secretary of General Services Alvin C. Collins declined through a spokesman to be interviewed for this article. He elevated Palmere to chief of the DGS Police on June 25. Three weeks later, the department issued a news release noting that the new chief has "brought new energy and new ideas" to the force.
Palmere referred calls to Michael Davey, the Fraternal Order of Police union attorney who represented him at his city police trial board. The attorney said the city department dismissed the internal charges and he believes his client's internal investigation file should have no bearing on his ability to lead the DGS police force.
"He was never charged criminally with perjury," Davey said. "He was never charged criminally with anything."
Baltimore City internal affairs detectives began investigating Palmere and his partner, Drew Dorbert, after they arrested Tavon Anderson in 1996 on gun and drug charges. Palmere wrote a statement of probable cause - a legal document to justify charges - that he saw Anderson throw a gun from his waistband and then watched it "spinning on the floor," according to court documents.
It was later revealed, according to court documents, that Palmere found the gun under a cabinet in the defendant's East Baltimore apartment. Drugs were also found in the apartment, he wrote.
Then-Assistant State's Attorney Mary Koch dropped charges against Anderson when she learned about the inconsistencies in the statement of charges. Palmere and Dorbert were brought up on internal charges. Dorbert retired from the Police Department before his trial board.
Palmere said in his May 1999 trial board hearing that he based his statement of probable cause on his partner's incident report, which said the defendant tossed the gun. Palmere said he only signed the statement of probable cause because he trusted the judgment of his partner.
"Officer Palmere stated he believed his decision to be a poor one," according to minutes taken during trial board and contained in the Circuit Court file.
After the gun and drugs were found, Palmere said, Anderson became worried that a drug boss would accuse him of cooperating with police. The defendant "began to cry stating that he was going to be killed ... for giving up the gun," according to a brief filed in Palmere's defense.
But, Koch, the prosecutor, said the officers could have protected the defendant without providing a false statement. "All he had to do was write a vague statement of charges then see the prosecutor," Koch said, according to the minutes kept in a court file.
The administrative trial board found Palmere guilty of misconduct, making a false statement, violating a law by making a false statement and two charges of improperly filing a report. Members said they recommended a 150-day suspension in part because of the officer's "exemplary record with the department over a fourteen year career."
Members also said that commanders said they "were willing to supervise Officer Palmere despite sustained charges" and "believed Officer Palmere's career was worth salvaging."
Frazier disagreed, writing in his letter that the "false statement could have lead to the unlawful incarceration of a citizen for several years under the mandatory sentencing guidelines. ... As evidenced by the trial transcript, Officer Palmere admitted that he signed his name to an affidavit he knew to be false."
Davey said that after his client's case was returned for a rehearing, it lingered until after Frazier left the department. "They finally decided, 'We'll just dismiss the case and let him retire,'" the attorney said. "It wasn't part of any official agreement. The department looked at it as a way to get rid of [the case]. My guy was happy to retire."
Philip Palmere's career
March 1985: Joins Baltimore Police Department.
February 1996: He and another officer arrest Tavon S. Anderson and charge him with drug dealing and handgun possession.
October 1996: Prosecutors drop all charges against Anderson.
December 1997: Administrative charges are brought against Palmere, alleging he wrote in court documents that he saw Anderson throw a gun to the ground. Police say he found the gun inside an apartment.
June 1999: A three-member police trial board finds him guilty of perjury and making a false statement. Board recommends that he be suspended for 150 days without pay.
August 1999: Then-police Commissioner Thomas C. Frazier increases the penalty to termination.
September 1999: Palmere appeals to Baltimore Circuit Court.
January 2000: Circuit Judge Alfred Nance remands the matter to the trial board, concluding that Palmere should have had the opportunity to bring two additional character witnesses to testify on his behalf.
March 2000: Palmere retires from Baltimore City Police Department.
August 2002: Joins Department of General Services Police.
June 2008: Palmere named DGS chief.
Officer Accused of Stealing Coconuts
SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico
A police officer in Trinidad has been charged with copping more than US$260 worth of coconuts from palm trees surrounding a station in the island's northwest.
Police Constable Max Constantine says the officer and a handyman stole the fruit from trees next to the Maraval Police Station. A local newspaper reports that the officer is accused of stealing 88 coconuts.
The Trinidad & Tobago Express reported Saturday that both men pleaded not guilty to absconding with the coconuts and will appear in court in October.
Constantine said the station has several palm trees. He said that officer Earl Logan no longer works there. It was unclear if he planned to sell the coconuts.
A police officer in Trinidad has been charged with copping more than US$260 worth of coconuts from palm trees surrounding a station in the island's northwest.
Police Constable Max Constantine says the officer and a handyman stole the fruit from trees next to the Maraval Police Station. A local newspaper reports that the officer is accused of stealing 88 coconuts.
The Trinidad & Tobago Express reported Saturday that both men pleaded not guilty to absconding with the coconuts and will appear in court in October.
Constantine said the station has several palm trees. He said that officer Earl Logan no longer works there. It was unclear if he planned to sell the coconuts.
Nashville Officer Arrested on Sex Charges
Nashville police Sgt. Michael Dioguardi has been placed on administrative leave following his arrest on charges of solicitation of a minor and providing obscene material to minors.
Dioguardi, 41, a 13-year police department veteran, was arrested Friday by Rutherford County authorities.
He was placed on administrative leave, and an internal investigation was begun, department officials said in a news release. He also was decommissioned, meaning he turned in his badge and weapons.
He is to appear in court on Sept. 10.
Dioguardi, 41, a 13-year police department veteran, was arrested Friday by Rutherford County authorities.
He was placed on administrative leave, and an internal investigation was begun, department officials said in a news release. He also was decommissioned, meaning he turned in his badge and weapons.
He is to appear in court on Sept. 10.
Officer Charged in Prank Gone Wrong
A Southern Minnesota police officer says it was a prank, but it's one that could cost him his job.
The Amboy Minnesota police officer is also a native of Austin.
23-year-old Steven Boyle has been suspended and charged with a gross misdemeanor.
He allegedly questioned a group of people who were drinking.
Then he handcuffed a woman and put her in his squad car.
He then said he would release her if she showed him her breasts.
The 18-year-old woman didn't know it was a prank so she flashed him in exchange for her release.
Boyle is charged with misconduct of a public official.
We tried to get a comment from Boyle at his home in Austin.
We knocked on the door, but no one would answer.
The Minnesota Board of Peace Officer standards and training will review the case.
****************
Doesn't sound like a prank to me...he just thought he could get away with doing what he did.
The Amboy Minnesota police officer is also a native of Austin.
23-year-old Steven Boyle has been suspended and charged with a gross misdemeanor.
He allegedly questioned a group of people who were drinking.
Then he handcuffed a woman and put her in his squad car.
He then said he would release her if she showed him her breasts.
The 18-year-old woman didn't know it was a prank so she flashed him in exchange for her release.
Boyle is charged with misconduct of a public official.
We tried to get a comment from Boyle at his home in Austin.
We knocked on the door, but no one would answer.
The Minnesota Board of Peace Officer standards and training will review the case.
****************
Doesn't sound like a prank to me...he just thought he could get away with doing what he did.
Protect and Serve, and Freebies for doing Job?
It's maybe the last great perk a beat cop can get.
A free cup of coffee, a discount on a greasy burger.
Though many police departments officially frown on freebies, coffee houses and restaurants around the city and suburbs give the gratis, and the officers' bosses seem to look the other way.
But there's another unwritten rule: Cops can't demand the free stuff. And that's just what officials say Chicago Police Officer Barbara Nevers did, demanding free coffee and pastries from a half-dozen Starbucks stores over the years, until she was banned from one of the java joints and a memo was sent to other stores.
The 55-year-old veteran of more than a decade was suspended for 18 months and recommended for counseling after showing her gun and badge to intimidate employees into giving her free coffee, according to documents released Thursday.
Nevers' actions may have cemented one of the oldest stereotypes about cops—you know, the one about the certain circular pastry they're supposed to love. But she also took advantage of a time-honored tradition: giving hard-working public servants a little gastro-love.
A few Dunkin' Donuts employees around Chicago said they often give 10 percent discounts to cops and the elderly. A 7-Eleven employee at 180 N. Franklin St. said she gives officers who visit a free cup of coffee.
At the Golden Angel in the Lincoln Square neighborhood Thursday, a waitress said, yes, they give 50 percent discounts to the cops who frequent.
"There's a few sitting right here," Julie Paterno said as she watched them munch on chicken-fried steak.
Paterno said customers like the feeling of safety when a police officer is around, and the restaurant feels like it's helping out some public servants.
"I'm thinking most restaurants do it for protection, so they'll keep an eye on the place," she said.
In Lincolnwood, at the all-night Whistler's Restaurant, owner Chris Dimas says it's a give and take. He likes officers to be around his restaurant late at night, and they like his food.
"At night, you don't know the people around, so it is good for them to be here, eating my food," said Dimas, who has owned the place for more than 30 years. There are some officers who don't accept his freebies because their bosses don't like it, and some officers he doesn't know and thus doesn't offer the discount, he said.
"If they feel comfortable with us, we feel comfortable with them and appreciate what they do," he said.
Starbucks has no official policy regarding free coffee for police, leaving that decision up to each franchise, company officials said Thursday. According to testimony before the Chicago Police Board, which decides cases of misconduct, employees in several North Side Starbucks said they often give free 12-ounce coffee or tea to officers on duty. But Nevers would often ask for a larger size or multiple drinks, employees said.
Some employees testified that between 1999 and 2004 Nevers frequented their stores weekly, often in street clothes, and flashed a badge or flipped her jacket to reveal her gun if they asked for payment. In 2004, she was accused of stealing a juice drink from one Starbucks, but eventually was acquitted.
One manager at a Starbucks in the 1700 block of West Diversey Parkway testified that Nevers started asking for free pastries too, and got angry when the store employees refused. The manager told Nevers she wasn't welcome in the store anymore, and testified that Nevers walked behind the store counter, asking angrily if she wasn't welcome, before leaving.
"She was vehement about getting the free pastries," the manager testified.
Several employees said most officers who come in are friendly and always offer to pay before being told that it is on the house. But Nevers was unprofessional, they said, and rarely talked with employees before demanding free coffee. Her actions made even other officers who went to the Starbucks suspicious, believing she could be a police impersonator, one employee testified.
A district manager eventually sent out a memo to stores Nevers frequented, saying free coffee wasn't allowed for her anymore, according to the testimony.
Nevers joined the force when she was 41 but after an injury in training spent most of her time off the street at "call-back," where officers write reports and handle calls. She denied that she demanded coffee or flashed her gun to intimidate the employees, and said she only took free coffee when offered.
"I don't demand anything," Nevers told the Police Board, adding that she always put $2 in a tip jar when she was offered free coffee. Her attorney said Nevers was only accepting what had been a custom in Chicago.
It's a custom that's not likely to change any time soon, rules or no rules. At the Golden Angel on Thursday, Paterno tallied up the bill she'd given the two police officers who stopped by—$6, after the 50 percent discount. The cops didn't forget their waitress, though.
"They both left $2 apiece," she said.
A free cup of coffee, a discount on a greasy burger.
Though many police departments officially frown on freebies, coffee houses and restaurants around the city and suburbs give the gratis, and the officers' bosses seem to look the other way.
But there's another unwritten rule: Cops can't demand the free stuff. And that's just what officials say Chicago Police Officer Barbara Nevers did, demanding free coffee and pastries from a half-dozen Starbucks stores over the years, until she was banned from one of the java joints and a memo was sent to other stores.
The 55-year-old veteran of more than a decade was suspended for 18 months and recommended for counseling after showing her gun and badge to intimidate employees into giving her free coffee, according to documents released Thursday.
Nevers' actions may have cemented one of the oldest stereotypes about cops—you know, the one about the certain circular pastry they're supposed to love. But she also took advantage of a time-honored tradition: giving hard-working public servants a little gastro-love.
A few Dunkin' Donuts employees around Chicago said they often give 10 percent discounts to cops and the elderly. A 7-Eleven employee at 180 N. Franklin St. said she gives officers who visit a free cup of coffee.
At the Golden Angel in the Lincoln Square neighborhood Thursday, a waitress said, yes, they give 50 percent discounts to the cops who frequent.
"There's a few sitting right here," Julie Paterno said as she watched them munch on chicken-fried steak.
Paterno said customers like the feeling of safety when a police officer is around, and the restaurant feels like it's helping out some public servants.
"I'm thinking most restaurants do it for protection, so they'll keep an eye on the place," she said.
In Lincolnwood, at the all-night Whistler's Restaurant, owner Chris Dimas says it's a give and take. He likes officers to be around his restaurant late at night, and they like his food.
"At night, you don't know the people around, so it is good for them to be here, eating my food," said Dimas, who has owned the place for more than 30 years. There are some officers who don't accept his freebies because their bosses don't like it, and some officers he doesn't know and thus doesn't offer the discount, he said.
"If they feel comfortable with us, we feel comfortable with them and appreciate what they do," he said.
Starbucks has no official policy regarding free coffee for police, leaving that decision up to each franchise, company officials said Thursday. According to testimony before the Chicago Police Board, which decides cases of misconduct, employees in several North Side Starbucks said they often give free 12-ounce coffee or tea to officers on duty. But Nevers would often ask for a larger size or multiple drinks, employees said.
Some employees testified that between 1999 and 2004 Nevers frequented their stores weekly, often in street clothes, and flashed a badge or flipped her jacket to reveal her gun if they asked for payment. In 2004, she was accused of stealing a juice drink from one Starbucks, but eventually was acquitted.
One manager at a Starbucks in the 1700 block of West Diversey Parkway testified that Nevers started asking for free pastries too, and got angry when the store employees refused. The manager told Nevers she wasn't welcome in the store anymore, and testified that Nevers walked behind the store counter, asking angrily if she wasn't welcome, before leaving.
"She was vehement about getting the free pastries," the manager testified.
Several employees said most officers who come in are friendly and always offer to pay before being told that it is on the house. But Nevers was unprofessional, they said, and rarely talked with employees before demanding free coffee. Her actions made even other officers who went to the Starbucks suspicious, believing she could be a police impersonator, one employee testified.
A district manager eventually sent out a memo to stores Nevers frequented, saying free coffee wasn't allowed for her anymore, according to the testimony.
Nevers joined the force when she was 41 but after an injury in training spent most of her time off the street at "call-back," where officers write reports and handle calls. She denied that she demanded coffee or flashed her gun to intimidate the employees, and said she only took free coffee when offered.
"I don't demand anything," Nevers told the Police Board, adding that she always put $2 in a tip jar when she was offered free coffee. Her attorney said Nevers was only accepting what had been a custom in Chicago.
It's a custom that's not likely to change any time soon, rules or no rules. At the Golden Angel on Thursday, Paterno tallied up the bill she'd given the two police officers who stopped by—$6, after the 50 percent discount. The cops didn't forget their waitress, though.
"They both left $2 apiece," she said.
Detention Officer Accused of Smuggle Drugs into Jail
CLOVIS, N.M.
A Curry County detention center officer accused of trying to smuggle drugs into the jail has been arrested and fired.
Sheriff's deputies on Thursday arrested 36-year-old Julian Patrick Garcia on charges of possession with intent to distribute cocaine and possession with intent to distribute marijuana.
He's also charged with bringing contraband into a jail, conspiracy to distribute controlled substances, attempt to commit a felony by furnishing drugs to a prisoner and a misdemeanor count of possession of drug paraphernalia.
Bond was set at $56,000.
The arrest stems from an investigation into allegations an inmate was arranging for drugs to be smuggled in.
A Curry County detention center officer accused of trying to smuggle drugs into the jail has been arrested and fired.
Sheriff's deputies on Thursday arrested 36-year-old Julian Patrick Garcia on charges of possession with intent to distribute cocaine and possession with intent to distribute marijuana.
He's also charged with bringing contraband into a jail, conspiracy to distribute controlled substances, attempt to commit a felony by furnishing drugs to a prisoner and a misdemeanor count of possession of drug paraphernalia.
Bond was set at $56,000.
The arrest stems from an investigation into allegations an inmate was arranging for drugs to be smuggled in.
Charges Filed Against Detroit Mayor
A list of the criminal charges filed against Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick and their potential penalties:
_Count 1: Assaulting or obstructing a police officer in the furtherance of their duties, up to 2 years in prison or a fine of $2,000.
_Count 2: Assaulting or obstructing a police officer in the furtherance of their duties, up to 2 years in prison or a fine of $2,000.
Charges filed March 24 and modified July 22:
_Count 1: Conspiracy to obstruct justice, up to five years in prison.
_Count 2: Obstruction of justice, up to five years. He's accused of firing Detroit Deputy Police Chief Gary Brown as part of an effort to illegally hamper a criminal investigation and committing perjury to hide the firing of Brown or a relationship between the mayor and former Chief of Staff Christine Beatty.
_Count 3: Misconduct in office, up to five years. He's accused of firing Brown to hamper a criminal probe of Kilpatrick's personal conduct or the conduct of his security unit and committing perjury to hide the firing.
_Count 4: Misconduct in office, up to five years. He's accused of authorizing the city to settle a whistle-blowers' lawsuit with the motive of preventing the release of embarrassing text messages involving the mayor, Beatty and other women.
_Count 5: Perjury in court, up to 15 years. He's accused of lying under oath in August 2007 by saying he didn't fire Brown, didn't know Brown was investigating him or a rumored party at the mayor's official residence and testifying falsely as to other circumstances surrounding the termination of Brown.
_Count 6: Perjury in court, up to 15 years. He's accused of falsely testifying in August 2007 that he didn't have a romantic or sexual relationship with Beatty and others.
_Count 7: Perjury outside court, up to 15 years. He's accused of swearing falsely before a notary public in June 2003 as to the circumstances surrounding the "un-appointment" of Brown.
_Count 8: Perjury outside court, up to 15 years. He's accused of swearing falsely before a notary public in October 2004 as to the circumstances surrounding the "un-appointment" of Brown.
_Count 1: Assaulting or obstructing a police officer in the furtherance of their duties, up to 2 years in prison or a fine of $2,000.
_Count 2: Assaulting or obstructing a police officer in the furtherance of their duties, up to 2 years in prison or a fine of $2,000.
Charges filed March 24 and modified July 22:
_Count 1: Conspiracy to obstruct justice, up to five years in prison.
_Count 2: Obstruction of justice, up to five years. He's accused of firing Detroit Deputy Police Chief Gary Brown as part of an effort to illegally hamper a criminal investigation and committing perjury to hide the firing of Brown or a relationship between the mayor and former Chief of Staff Christine Beatty.
_Count 3: Misconduct in office, up to five years. He's accused of firing Brown to hamper a criminal probe of Kilpatrick's personal conduct or the conduct of his security unit and committing perjury to hide the firing.
_Count 4: Misconduct in office, up to five years. He's accused of authorizing the city to settle a whistle-blowers' lawsuit with the motive of preventing the release of embarrassing text messages involving the mayor, Beatty and other women.
_Count 5: Perjury in court, up to 15 years. He's accused of lying under oath in August 2007 by saying he didn't fire Brown, didn't know Brown was investigating him or a rumored party at the mayor's official residence and testifying falsely as to other circumstances surrounding the termination of Brown.
_Count 6: Perjury in court, up to 15 years. He's accused of falsely testifying in August 2007 that he didn't have a romantic or sexual relationship with Beatty and others.
_Count 7: Perjury outside court, up to 15 years. He's accused of swearing falsely before a notary public in June 2003 as to the circumstances surrounding the "un-appointment" of Brown.
_Count 8: Perjury outside court, up to 15 years. He's accused of swearing falsely before a notary public in October 2004 as to the circumstances surrounding the "un-appointment" of Brown.
Former Officer Shannon Madry Arrested for Stealing from Dillards
A former Huntsville police officer has appealed a conviction in Huntsville Municipal Court on a charge of misdemeanor theft to the Madison County Circuit Court.
Shannon Madry, 27, pleaded guilty in municipal court on July 15 to stealing two pairs of jeans and a shirt, valued at $130, from Dillard's department store, according to court records. Madry was working an off-duty security job at the store in October 2007 and was not in uniform when he allegedly committed the theft, police said.
According to the criminal complaint in the court record, Madry, who had been a Huntsville police officer for two years, took the merchandise into a room at the store, put it into a bag and left the premises without paying for it.
Municipal Judge Charles Rodenhauser sentenced Madry to 30 days in jail and ordered him to pay a fine of $300 and $198 in court costs. But Rodenhauser suspended the jail term and placed Madry on probation for a year.
Madry filed an appeal bond of $700 to the municipal court, and his appeal was entered in the circuit court on July 29. The appeal to the circuit court means Madry can have a trial before a jury on the misdemeanor theft charge. During a jury trial, the prosecutor will disregard Madry's guilty plea in municipal court.
Madry has resigned from the police force, according to police.
Shannon Madry, 27, pleaded guilty in municipal court on July 15 to stealing two pairs of jeans and a shirt, valued at $130, from Dillard's department store, according to court records. Madry was working an off-duty security job at the store in October 2007 and was not in uniform when he allegedly committed the theft, police said.
According to the criminal complaint in the court record, Madry, who had been a Huntsville police officer for two years, took the merchandise into a room at the store, put it into a bag and left the premises without paying for it.
Municipal Judge Charles Rodenhauser sentenced Madry to 30 days in jail and ordered him to pay a fine of $300 and $198 in court costs. But Rodenhauser suspended the jail term and placed Madry on probation for a year.
Madry filed an appeal bond of $700 to the municipal court, and his appeal was entered in the circuit court on July 29. The appeal to the circuit court means Madry can have a trial before a jury on the misdemeanor theft charge. During a jury trial, the prosecutor will disregard Madry's guilty plea in municipal court.
Madry has resigned from the police force, according to police.
Friday, August 08, 2008
Officer Frank White Charged in Road Rage Shooting
An off-duty San Diego police officer pleaded not guilty July 29 to charges relating to the shooting of a mother and her 8-year-old son in March.
Franklin “Frank” White is charged with one felony count of gross negligent discharge of a firearm with two enhancements for great bodily injury, and one misdemeanor count of exhibiting a firearm.
If convicted, he faces up to nine years in prison, according to the District Attorney’s Office.
Rachel Silva and her son, Johnny, were shot March 15 after she and White, 28, were involved in a traffic dispute that prompted the off-duty officer to fire five shots into Silva’s car at a home-improvement store parking lot in the 100 block of Old Grove Road in Oceanside, according to court documents.
Before White fired into Silva’s vehicle, striking her twice in the arm and her son twice in the leg, Silva allegedly pursued and struck White’s vehicle, which contained him and his wife, court documents state. Further, Silva allegedly nearly caused a collision with another vehicle just prior to the incident with White.
“Every officer-involved shooting is carefully reviewed by the District Attorney’s Office to determine if criminal charges should be filed,” District Attorney Bonnie Dumanis said in a press release. “Based on the evidence and the law, these charges are appropriate.”
Police Chief William Lansdowne declined to comment on the charges.
White has been placed on unpaid leave pending an internal investigation that could take up to 90 days, said Monica Munoz, a spokeswoman with the San Diego Police Department.
Last month, after reviewing 2,500 pages of documents, including an accident reconstruction report, the state Attorney General’s Office concluded that there was insufficient evidence surrounding the circumstances of Silva striking White’s car to file assault charges against her.
However, because she’d allegedly been driving with a .15 blood alcohol level, the state charged her with child endangerment, driving under the influence and possession of marijuana.
The state Attorney General’s Office took over Silva’s investigation from the San Diego District Attorney’s Office last month after the two agencies met with the Oceanside Police Department, which initially investigated the case.
Silva, who was driving on a suspended license at the time of incident, is currently in a court-ordered rehabilitation center, her attorney Michael Pancer said.
“She’s pleased to see the District Attorney’s office took some action and feels somewhat vindicated,” Pancer said of Silva’s feelings about White being charged.
This is the first time since 1995, when former San Diego Police Officer Christopher Chaney shot a fleeing suspect in the arm and was charged with assault with a deadly weapon, that an officer has been charged in connection with an officer-involved shooting, Steve Walker, a spokesman for the District Attorney’s Office, said.
A jury acquitted Chaney after only a few minutes of deliberations, Walker said.
Civil lawsuits have been filed against the San Diego Police Department, Lansdowne and White by Silva and her ex-husband on behalf of their son. In addition to monetary damages, the suit also seeks policy changes for law enforcement personnel of the San Diego Police Department.
Pancer, who’s also representing Silva in her civil case, said he believed the criminal charges against White “impacted the civil claims a great deal.”
Franklin “Frank” White is charged with one felony count of gross negligent discharge of a firearm with two enhancements for great bodily injury, and one misdemeanor count of exhibiting a firearm.
If convicted, he faces up to nine years in prison, according to the District Attorney’s Office.
Rachel Silva and her son, Johnny, were shot March 15 after she and White, 28, were involved in a traffic dispute that prompted the off-duty officer to fire five shots into Silva’s car at a home-improvement store parking lot in the 100 block of Old Grove Road in Oceanside, according to court documents.
Before White fired into Silva’s vehicle, striking her twice in the arm and her son twice in the leg, Silva allegedly pursued and struck White’s vehicle, which contained him and his wife, court documents state. Further, Silva allegedly nearly caused a collision with another vehicle just prior to the incident with White.
“Every officer-involved shooting is carefully reviewed by the District Attorney’s Office to determine if criminal charges should be filed,” District Attorney Bonnie Dumanis said in a press release. “Based on the evidence and the law, these charges are appropriate.”
Police Chief William Lansdowne declined to comment on the charges.
White has been placed on unpaid leave pending an internal investigation that could take up to 90 days, said Monica Munoz, a spokeswoman with the San Diego Police Department.
Last month, after reviewing 2,500 pages of documents, including an accident reconstruction report, the state Attorney General’s Office concluded that there was insufficient evidence surrounding the circumstances of Silva striking White’s car to file assault charges against her.
However, because she’d allegedly been driving with a .15 blood alcohol level, the state charged her with child endangerment, driving under the influence and possession of marijuana.
The state Attorney General’s Office took over Silva’s investigation from the San Diego District Attorney’s Office last month after the two agencies met with the Oceanside Police Department, which initially investigated the case.
Silva, who was driving on a suspended license at the time of incident, is currently in a court-ordered rehabilitation center, her attorney Michael Pancer said.
“She’s pleased to see the District Attorney’s office took some action and feels somewhat vindicated,” Pancer said of Silva’s feelings about White being charged.
This is the first time since 1995, when former San Diego Police Officer Christopher Chaney shot a fleeing suspect in the arm and was charged with assault with a deadly weapon, that an officer has been charged in connection with an officer-involved shooting, Steve Walker, a spokesman for the District Attorney’s Office, said.
A jury acquitted Chaney after only a few minutes of deliberations, Walker said.
Civil lawsuits have been filed against the San Diego Police Department, Lansdowne and White by Silva and her ex-husband on behalf of their son. In addition to monetary damages, the suit also seeks policy changes for law enforcement personnel of the San Diego Police Department.
Pancer, who’s also representing Silva in her civil case, said he believed the criminal charges against White “impacted the civil claims a great deal.”
Officer Carlos Peralta Charged with Rape
A New Orleans police officer was charged with rape Thursday by the Orleans Parish district attorney's office.
Carlos Peralta, 38, was charged with forcible rape in connection with an assault in March 2007. Peralta has worked for the New Orleans Police Department since 1996 and was assigned to the 4th District as a patrol officer at the time of the incident, according to Civil Service records.
This is the second time Peralta has been charged in connection with the incident. In December, the district attorney's office filed a bill of information charging Peralta with second-degree battery in the same assault, which Assistant District Attorney Robert White said was part of a plea deal that the woman had consented to. But last month, Peralta declined to plead guilty to the battery charge, prompting White to file the forcible rape charge, a far more serious charge that carries a sentence of up to 40 years.
White said the second-degree battery charge made sense only as part of a plea deal. "The elements of the crime would most closely match up with forcible rape," he said.
Also on Thursday, the DA's office charged a former New Orleans police officer, Joseph Lusk, with malfeasance; he is accused of tipping off a woman to drug surveillance activity.
In the rape case, Peralta was investigated by an internal police unit as well as the district attorney's office, White said.
Peralta's attorney, Robert Jenkins, has denied that Peralta ever intended to take a plea deal. He called the new charge an attempt by the district attorney's office to pressure his client to plead guilty and he reiterated his commitment to fight the case.
"We're ready to go," Jenkins said. "Mr. Peralta is innocent and we're going to prove it."
During a recent City Council hearing, New Orleans Police Superintendent Warren Riley was asked about the case, and said Peralta has been assigned to desk duty pending the outcome of the criminal case.
Peralta allegedly raped a woman at a party attended by several off-duty police officers, Riley said. The Police Department did not terminate Peralta because of "conflicting stories" in the initial police report, he said, adding that officers could not locate the alleged victim for some time.
"We are not going to terminate somebody when we have conflicting statements from witnesses," Riley said. "Until the case goes to trial, that person is not guilty."
The Metropolitan Crime Commission, a watchdog group, has been monitoring the case at the request of the woman, who has since moved out of state. Rafael Goyeneche, the commission's president, said the woman will cooperate with prosecutors.
Also on Thursday, Lusk, 46, was charged with malfeasance in office. He resigned from the Police Department in April, the day after a woman told officers that Lusk had warned her via a cell phone text message about drug surveillance in Algiers to help her avoid arrest when she bought drugs. Lusk was booked with malfeasance by the NOPD's Public Integrity Bureau the following week.
Lusk, who was a 4th District task force officer, denies the allegations, said Frank DeSalvo, his attorney. "I think Joe has a valid defense and we are going to pursue it," he said.
Carlos Peralta, 38, was charged with forcible rape in connection with an assault in March 2007. Peralta has worked for the New Orleans Police Department since 1996 and was assigned to the 4th District as a patrol officer at the time of the incident, according to Civil Service records.
This is the second time Peralta has been charged in connection with the incident. In December, the district attorney's office filed a bill of information charging Peralta with second-degree battery in the same assault, which Assistant District Attorney Robert White said was part of a plea deal that the woman had consented to. But last month, Peralta declined to plead guilty to the battery charge, prompting White to file the forcible rape charge, a far more serious charge that carries a sentence of up to 40 years.
White said the second-degree battery charge made sense only as part of a plea deal. "The elements of the crime would most closely match up with forcible rape," he said.
Also on Thursday, the DA's office charged a former New Orleans police officer, Joseph Lusk, with malfeasance; he is accused of tipping off a woman to drug surveillance activity.
In the rape case, Peralta was investigated by an internal police unit as well as the district attorney's office, White said.
Peralta's attorney, Robert Jenkins, has denied that Peralta ever intended to take a plea deal. He called the new charge an attempt by the district attorney's office to pressure his client to plead guilty and he reiterated his commitment to fight the case.
"We're ready to go," Jenkins said. "Mr. Peralta is innocent and we're going to prove it."
During a recent City Council hearing, New Orleans Police Superintendent Warren Riley was asked about the case, and said Peralta has been assigned to desk duty pending the outcome of the criminal case.
Peralta allegedly raped a woman at a party attended by several off-duty police officers, Riley said. The Police Department did not terminate Peralta because of "conflicting stories" in the initial police report, he said, adding that officers could not locate the alleged victim for some time.
"We are not going to terminate somebody when we have conflicting statements from witnesses," Riley said. "Until the case goes to trial, that person is not guilty."
The Metropolitan Crime Commission, a watchdog group, has been monitoring the case at the request of the woman, who has since moved out of state. Rafael Goyeneche, the commission's president, said the woman will cooperate with prosecutors.
Also on Thursday, Lusk, 46, was charged with malfeasance in office. He resigned from the Police Department in April, the day after a woman told officers that Lusk had warned her via a cell phone text message about drug surveillance in Algiers to help her avoid arrest when she bought drugs. Lusk was booked with malfeasance by the NOPD's Public Integrity Bureau the following week.
Lusk, who was a 4th District task force officer, denies the allegations, said Frank DeSalvo, his attorney. "I think Joe has a valid defense and we are going to pursue it," he said.
Jury Awards Former Officer $35,000
ALBUQUERQUE
Federal jurors have awarded $35,000 to a former state police officer who contended he was battered and unjustly arrested by Albuquerque police three years ago.
The jury ruled yesterday that Albuquerque police used excessive force against former officer Saul Canizales and wrongfully arrested him.
Canizales and another rookie state police officer were off duty in May 2005 when they got into a confrontation with Albuquerque officers.
Canizales and the other officer resigned shortly after their arrests.
Canizales' sued the Albuquerque police, alleging he was falsely arrested and suffered emotional distress after being battered.
The lawsuit contended Canizales was not threatening but was attacked by an officer.
Federal jurors have awarded $35,000 to a former state police officer who contended he was battered and unjustly arrested by Albuquerque police three years ago.
The jury ruled yesterday that Albuquerque police used excessive force against former officer Saul Canizales and wrongfully arrested him.
Canizales and another rookie state police officer were off duty in May 2005 when they got into a confrontation with Albuquerque officers.
Canizales and the other officer resigned shortly after their arrests.
Canizales' sued the Albuquerque police, alleging he was falsely arrested and suffered emotional distress after being battered.
The lawsuit contended Canizales was not threatening but was attacked by an officer.
Officer Sandy Casey Accused of Mishandling Funds
LITHOPOLIS
State auditor officials are considering doing a second audit of the village of Lithopolis' books in light of allegations about the former fiscal officer's handling of tax dollars.
Village officials contacted the state Auditor's Office and Fairfield County prosecutor in July alleging Former Fiscal Officer Sandy Casey was engaging in a pattern of corrupt activity.
Casey, who was appointed to the position in January 2006, resigned July 23, said Mayor Eric Sandine.
Sandine declined to say what behavior led to the pattern of corrupt activity. Sandine declined to discuss any specifics of the allegations.
Many village residents learned of the allegations and Casey's resignation after receiving the latest copy of the Lithopolis Newsletter at their residences Tuesday.
Christina Goodwin was one of the residents who received the newsletter.
"I'm surprised, but then again, how many times have you heard of this happening?" Goodwin said.
"I mean, I'm surprised, but then, I'm not surprised."
Sandine said Casey chose to resign from her position as fiscal officer rather then face a hearing before the Lithopolis Village Council.
"The disciplinary process would have put her on administrative leave until the council would have had a hearing," Sandine said.
Casey could not be reached for comment Wednesday.
Emily Frazee, deputy press secretary for the state Auditor's Office, said the office was working on an audit for the village when they received information about the allegation.
"We are at the end of the village's current audit and so now we will need to decide whether we want to wait and hold this audit or start a new audit narrowed down to this concern," Frazee said.
Fairfield County Prosecutor David Landefeld said his office will take the appropriate steps if an investigation is conducted.
The newsletter sent to residents alleges Casey admitted to the facts of the village's investigation during an administrative interview. It was signed by the mayor.
Mel Meloy, president of the Lithopolis Marketing Association, learned of the allegations this week.
Meloy said Casey once served as treasurer of the Lithopolis Marketing Association.
"She resigned from the position of treasurer in March, but then stayed on another month after that," Meloy said. "She didn't say why she resigned. I assumed it was because she was just overworked."
Sandine stated in the newsletter that information will continue to be released to the public as permitted regarding the incident.
He said the village won't suffer any financial loss because Casey had a position bond, or an insurance policy for people who work with money.
Sandine said fiscal officers carry a position bond in the case of any wrongdoing in office
State auditor officials are considering doing a second audit of the village of Lithopolis' books in light of allegations about the former fiscal officer's handling of tax dollars.
Village officials contacted the state Auditor's Office and Fairfield County prosecutor in July alleging Former Fiscal Officer Sandy Casey was engaging in a pattern of corrupt activity.
Casey, who was appointed to the position in January 2006, resigned July 23, said Mayor Eric Sandine.
Sandine declined to say what behavior led to the pattern of corrupt activity. Sandine declined to discuss any specifics of the allegations.
Many village residents learned of the allegations and Casey's resignation after receiving the latest copy of the Lithopolis Newsletter at their residences Tuesday.
Christina Goodwin was one of the residents who received the newsletter.
"I'm surprised, but then again, how many times have you heard of this happening?" Goodwin said.
"I mean, I'm surprised, but then, I'm not surprised."
Sandine said Casey chose to resign from her position as fiscal officer rather then face a hearing before the Lithopolis Village Council.
"The disciplinary process would have put her on administrative leave until the council would have had a hearing," Sandine said.
Casey could not be reached for comment Wednesday.
Emily Frazee, deputy press secretary for the state Auditor's Office, said the office was working on an audit for the village when they received information about the allegation.
"We are at the end of the village's current audit and so now we will need to decide whether we want to wait and hold this audit or start a new audit narrowed down to this concern," Frazee said.
Fairfield County Prosecutor David Landefeld said his office will take the appropriate steps if an investigation is conducted.
The newsletter sent to residents alleges Casey admitted to the facts of the village's investigation during an administrative interview. It was signed by the mayor.
Mel Meloy, president of the Lithopolis Marketing Association, learned of the allegations this week.
Meloy said Casey once served as treasurer of the Lithopolis Marketing Association.
"She resigned from the position of treasurer in March, but then stayed on another month after that," Meloy said. "She didn't say why she resigned. I assumed it was because she was just overworked."
Sandine stated in the newsletter that information will continue to be released to the public as permitted regarding the incident.
He said the village won't suffer any financial loss because Casey had a position bond, or an insurance policy for people who work with money.
Sandine said fiscal officers carry a position bond in the case of any wrongdoing in office
Undercover Officer Resigns After Posting Online Sex Ads
OVIEDO, Fla.
An Oviedo police officer who posted naked pictures of himself online has resigned.
The photos were next to graphic ads for sex.
Investigators said that they did not know anything about the sex ads online until they received a tip. The pictures of undercover agent Scott Woodlee were posted on Craigslist. He posted several dozen naked pictures on the site advertising sex with men and women.
"I've been in the business for 20 years and this is very disturbing," said Lieutenant George Ilemsky of the Oviedo Police Department. "It's conduct unbecoming of an officer. There is nothing criminal here. It is strictly administrative."
Investigators said they were able to identify Woodlee in the pictures, because of his tattoos. Channel 9 obtained a copy of the taped interview when Woodlee was confronted and tried to explain his actions.
"Well, like I said, I could sit here and tell you I did it for entertainment purposes, because most of the stuff on there is 90 percent 'BS' anyways, to be quite honest with you," stated Woodlee.
He told investigators that he posted the ads after a long day at work.
"I see maybe if we want to call it poor judgment. I did it on my time and by no means am I minimizing or justifying my actions," said Woodlee.
It is unsure if he will lose his job.
An Oviedo police officer who posted naked pictures of himself online has resigned.
The photos were next to graphic ads for sex.
Investigators said that they did not know anything about the sex ads online until they received a tip. The pictures of undercover agent Scott Woodlee were posted on Craigslist. He posted several dozen naked pictures on the site advertising sex with men and women.
"I've been in the business for 20 years and this is very disturbing," said Lieutenant George Ilemsky of the Oviedo Police Department. "It's conduct unbecoming of an officer. There is nothing criminal here. It is strictly administrative."
Investigators said they were able to identify Woodlee in the pictures, because of his tattoos. Channel 9 obtained a copy of the taped interview when Woodlee was confronted and tried to explain his actions.
"Well, like I said, I could sit here and tell you I did it for entertainment purposes, because most of the stuff on there is 90 percent 'BS' anyways, to be quite honest with you," stated Woodlee.
He told investigators that he posted the ads after a long day at work.
"I see maybe if we want to call it poor judgment. I did it on my time and by no means am I minimizing or justifying my actions," said Woodlee.
It is unsure if he will lose his job.
Arraignment for Officer Accused of Forcibly Fondling Prostitute Postponed
SAN DIEGO
The arraignment for a San Diego County sheriff's detective accused of forcibly fondling a prostitute in February was postponed Thursday because he has not yet hired an attorney. Thomas Sadler, 47, is likely waiting for word from the Deputy Sheriffs' Association, which was voting Thursday afternoon on whether to pay for his defense.
An arraignment has been rescheduled for Aug. 28.
Sadler appeared somber during his appearance in San Diego Superior Court Thursday, nearly one week after attempting to commit suicide following his July 31 arrest.
Deputy District Attorney Jeff Dort requested the judge increase Sadler's bail “due to the defendant planning not to be here today.” But Judge David Szumowski declined, leaving bail at $250,000.
Sadler, accompanied by a woman, remained silent and looked straight ahead as television cameras followed him onto the sidewalk of the courthouse and surrounded him after the proceedings. He eventually gave a slight nod of the head when asked if he was declining to comment.
A 20-year veteran of the department, Sadler is charged with sexual battery by restraint, assault and battery by an officer, false imprisonment, and two counts of accessing a computer to defraud.
He was arrested at the Santee home he shares with his wife after a six-month investigation by San Diego police. He was released from jail early the next morning after posting bail.
San Diego police said Sadler forced a self-admitted prostitute into his unmarked Ford Taurus in North Park while on duty the morning of Feb. 6 and drove her to a parking lot in Mission Valley.
He then forcibly groped her until three witnesses intervened and she escaped, said San Diego police acting Assistant Chief Jim Collins.
Authorities have said the deputy used a confidential computer system hours after the alleged incident to check whether his vehicle license plate was listed as wanted and for information about the location of the incident.
Sadler, who is assigned to the Lemon Grove station, is on unpaid leave pending the outcome of the case.
He faces up to six years and eight months in prison, if convicted.
According to a federal lawsuit, Sadler was accused of similar behavior while on duty in 2002.
Nicole Bowman, 34, claims he stopped her in a parking lot after leaving a Santee bar, pulled up her bra and looked down her pants during a search.
Bowman said she filed the lawsuit in 2003 only after getting nowhere with sheriff's Internal Affairs investigators. The county agreed to pay her $10,000 to settle the case a year later, according to documents.
The arraignment for a San Diego County sheriff's detective accused of forcibly fondling a prostitute in February was postponed Thursday because he has not yet hired an attorney. Thomas Sadler, 47, is likely waiting for word from the Deputy Sheriffs' Association, which was voting Thursday afternoon on whether to pay for his defense.
An arraignment has been rescheduled for Aug. 28.
Sadler appeared somber during his appearance in San Diego Superior Court Thursday, nearly one week after attempting to commit suicide following his July 31 arrest.
Deputy District Attorney Jeff Dort requested the judge increase Sadler's bail “due to the defendant planning not to be here today.” But Judge David Szumowski declined, leaving bail at $250,000.
Sadler, accompanied by a woman, remained silent and looked straight ahead as television cameras followed him onto the sidewalk of the courthouse and surrounded him after the proceedings. He eventually gave a slight nod of the head when asked if he was declining to comment.
A 20-year veteran of the department, Sadler is charged with sexual battery by restraint, assault and battery by an officer, false imprisonment, and two counts of accessing a computer to defraud.
He was arrested at the Santee home he shares with his wife after a six-month investigation by San Diego police. He was released from jail early the next morning after posting bail.
San Diego police said Sadler forced a self-admitted prostitute into his unmarked Ford Taurus in North Park while on duty the morning of Feb. 6 and drove her to a parking lot in Mission Valley.
He then forcibly groped her until three witnesses intervened and she escaped, said San Diego police acting Assistant Chief Jim Collins.
Authorities have said the deputy used a confidential computer system hours after the alleged incident to check whether his vehicle license plate was listed as wanted and for information about the location of the incident.
Sadler, who is assigned to the Lemon Grove station, is on unpaid leave pending the outcome of the case.
He faces up to six years and eight months in prison, if convicted.
According to a federal lawsuit, Sadler was accused of similar behavior while on duty in 2002.
Nicole Bowman, 34, claims he stopped her in a parking lot after leaving a Santee bar, pulled up her bra and looked down her pants during a search.
Bowman said she filed the lawsuit in 2003 only after getting nowhere with sheriff's Internal Affairs investigators. The county agreed to pay her $10,000 to settle the case a year later, according to documents.
Two California Officers Arrested in Tijuana
TIJUANA
Two Northern California police officers could face up to 20 years in a Mexican prison after being caught in Tijuana with firearms and about 6,000 rounds of ammunition, authorities said.
The officers, identified as Hermonegenes Llanos and Jorge Luis Matos, were arrested Friday afternoon by Mexican authorities. Both are from the Monterey area.
Llanos is a patrol officer and eight-year veteran of the Soledad Police Department in Monterey County. Police Chief Richard Cox confirmed the arrest yesterday and said an internal affairs probe is under way.
Matos was identified as a civilian police sergeant at the Presidio of Monterey, an Army installation.
A U.S. consular official in Tijuana, speaking on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the case, said the officers could face a variety of charges, most of them involving the possession of weapons and equipment restricted under Mexican law to military use.
The official said the charges carry penalties ranging from three to 20 years in prison.
Lauren Mack, a spokeswoman for U.S. Immigrations and Customs Enforcement, said Llanos and Matos were in custody at the La Mesa Penitentiary in Tijuana. However, the consular official said a Mexican federal judge ordered Llanos released on bail yesterday.
The two officers had just crossed the border at the San Ysidro port of entry when their SUV was pulled over by Mexican customs officers for a random inspection, Mack said.
The officers found two handguns and “well over 5,000 rounds of ammo” in the vehicle, one official said. A later estimate put the ammunition at 6,000 rounds, Mack said.
Two Northern California police officers could face up to 20 years in a Mexican prison after being caught in Tijuana with firearms and about 6,000 rounds of ammunition, authorities said.
The officers, identified as Hermonegenes Llanos and Jorge Luis Matos, were arrested Friday afternoon by Mexican authorities. Both are from the Monterey area.
Llanos is a patrol officer and eight-year veteran of the Soledad Police Department in Monterey County. Police Chief Richard Cox confirmed the arrest yesterday and said an internal affairs probe is under way.
Matos was identified as a civilian police sergeant at the Presidio of Monterey, an Army installation.
A U.S. consular official in Tijuana, speaking on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the case, said the officers could face a variety of charges, most of them involving the possession of weapons and equipment restricted under Mexican law to military use.
The official said the charges carry penalties ranging from three to 20 years in prison.
Lauren Mack, a spokeswoman for U.S. Immigrations and Customs Enforcement, said Llanos and Matos were in custody at the La Mesa Penitentiary in Tijuana. However, the consular official said a Mexican federal judge ordered Llanos released on bail yesterday.
The two officers had just crossed the border at the San Ysidro port of entry when their SUV was pulled over by Mexican customs officers for a random inspection, Mack said.
The officers found two handguns and “well over 5,000 rounds of ammo” in the vehicle, one official said. A later estimate put the ammunition at 6,000 rounds, Mack said.
Wednesday, August 06, 2008
Probation Officer Willie Baker Charged with Sex Crime
COLUMBIA
A probation officer with a county misdemeanor supervision program, who formerly served as mayor of Mt. Pleasant, has been indicted on a sex charge.
A Maury County grand jury returned a charge of sexual battery by an authority figure against 76-year-old Willie Baker.
Baker was a probation officer with the South Central Human Resource Agency’s misdemeanor program that serves General Sessions Court. The charges are in connection to his job.
He also served on the Mt. Pleasant City Commission.
A probation officer with a county misdemeanor supervision program, who formerly served as mayor of Mt. Pleasant, has been indicted on a sex charge.
A Maury County grand jury returned a charge of sexual battery by an authority figure against 76-year-old Willie Baker.
Baker was a probation officer with the South Central Human Resource Agency’s misdemeanor program that serves General Sessions Court. The charges are in connection to his job.
He also served on the Mt. Pleasant City Commission.
Officer Arrested for Drunk Driving
A New Bern police officer found himself on the other side of the law this weekend.
According to documents in the Craven County Clerk of Court’s office, 37-year-old Michael White was arrested early Saturday morning and charged with driving while impaired.
His blood alcohol level was 0.09. The legal limit in North Carolina is 0.08.
The documents also say he was driving 46 mph in a 35 mph zone. His license has been revoked for 30 days.
A New Bern Police Department spokesman White is on administrative duties while the department conducts an internal investigation.
According to documents in the Craven County Clerk of Court’s office, 37-year-old Michael White was arrested early Saturday morning and charged with driving while impaired.
His blood alcohol level was 0.09. The legal limit in North Carolina is 0.08.
The documents also say he was driving 46 mph in a 35 mph zone. His license has been revoked for 30 days.
A New Bern Police Department spokesman White is on administrative duties while the department conducts an internal investigation.
Retired Officer Arrested on Multiple Felonies
Waynesboro Police recently arrested a retired Charlottesville Police Officer who was wanted in South Carolina for multiple felonies.
60-year old Harry Edsel Shaffer is wanted in South Carolina on three felony charges for sexually assaulting a minor.
Shaffer is a Waynesboro resident, but worked for the Charlottesville Police Department from 1989 to 2007. Shaffer is now retired.
Shaffer is being charged in Waynesboro as a fugitive from South Carolina and is being held without bond.
60-year old Harry Edsel Shaffer is wanted in South Carolina on three felony charges for sexually assaulting a minor.
Shaffer is a Waynesboro resident, but worked for the Charlottesville Police Department from 1989 to 2007. Shaffer is now retired.
Shaffer is being charged in Waynesboro as a fugitive from South Carolina and is being held without bond.
Officer Antonio Allums Committing Crimes While in Uniform
BIRMINGHAM, Ala.
A Lipscomb police officer has lost his probation and has been sent to the Jefferson County Jail after being charged with harrassment a second time.
Officer Antonio Allums was already serving two years of probation on a misdemeanor conviction when got a new harassment charge in June.
Assistant District Attorney James Butler said the 44-year-old officer has been committing the crimes while in uniform. He has been placed on unpaid leave.
Allums is accused of harassing a woman when their paths crossed at a gas station the day after he issued her traffic tickets. He allegedly told her he hadn't yet turned in the tickets and could make them go away in exchange for favors.
In the original charge, another woman said Allums entered her home unannounced and fondled her the day after pulling her over in a traffic stop.
A Lipscomb police officer has lost his probation and has been sent to the Jefferson County Jail after being charged with harrassment a second time.
Officer Antonio Allums was already serving two years of probation on a misdemeanor conviction when got a new harassment charge in June.
Assistant District Attorney James Butler said the 44-year-old officer has been committing the crimes while in uniform. He has been placed on unpaid leave.
Allums is accused of harassing a woman when their paths crossed at a gas station the day after he issued her traffic tickets. He allegedly told her he hadn't yet turned in the tickets and could make them go away in exchange for favors.
In the original charge, another woman said Allums entered her home unannounced and fondled her the day after pulling her over in a traffic stop.
Sheriff and wife accused of stealing campaign signs
CHARLOTTE
Michigan State Police are investigating an allegation that Eaton County Sheriff Mike Raines and his wife tried to steal his Republican primary election opponent’s campaign signs.
Eaton County Prosecutor Jeff Sauter confirmed today that his office received a complaint about a Monday night incident involving a sign belonging to Raines’ challenger, Tom Reich.
Stealing a campaign sign is a misdemeanor crime.
Reich, 53, who is running against Raines in today’s Republican primary, said he began staking out locations where his signs were placed because more than 150 of his campaign signs had gone missing in recent weeks.
On Monday night, Reich said he saw Raines’ wife, Laurie, bending over one of his signs as if to steal it. He said he also saw Mike Raines’ minivan drive away.
Reich reported it to Michigan State Police, who are investigating the incident.
“I just can’t believe what I’ve seen,” Reich said in an interview today. “I’m just as floored as anybody else.”
A Michigan State Police officer who investigated the call reported he did not notice any of Reich’s signs in the minivan that he could observe from outside.
The winner of today’s primary election runs unopposed in the November general election because there is no Democratic challenger.
Michigan State Police are investigating an allegation that Eaton County Sheriff Mike Raines and his wife tried to steal his Republican primary election opponent’s campaign signs.
Eaton County Prosecutor Jeff Sauter confirmed today that his office received a complaint about a Monday night incident involving a sign belonging to Raines’ challenger, Tom Reich.
Stealing a campaign sign is a misdemeanor crime.
Reich, 53, who is running against Raines in today’s Republican primary, said he began staking out locations where his signs were placed because more than 150 of his campaign signs had gone missing in recent weeks.
On Monday night, Reich said he saw Raines’ wife, Laurie, bending over one of his signs as if to steal it. He said he also saw Mike Raines’ minivan drive away.
Reich reported it to Michigan State Police, who are investigating the incident.
“I just can’t believe what I’ve seen,” Reich said in an interview today. “I’m just as floored as anybody else.”
A Michigan State Police officer who investigated the call reported he did not notice any of Reich’s signs in the minivan that he could observe from outside.
The winner of today’s primary election runs unopposed in the November general election because there is no Democratic challenger.
Officer Arrested for Having Sex with 16-year old
ALTOONA, BLAIR COUNTY
An Altoona police officer is arrested, accused of having sex with a 16-year old girl.
State police say 49-year old Rick Johnson is accused of having sex a number of times with a teen from Indiana state. Police say the two met online and Johnson drove to Indiana to pick her up, before taking her to hotel in Ohio, and then his home in Altoona.
State police say the two met back in December on a site called policelink.com. It's like facebook or myspace, but for people interested in law enforcement.
They say the two began talking and at first, Johnson was like a mentor to the girl.
They say the girl even said 49-year old Johnson was like a dad to her. They say the girl and her family came to Altoona several times, in March, May, and the beginning of July.
Police say last Monday, Johnson picked up the girl from her home in Indiana. They say the girl had told Johnson she had developed feelings for him and wanted to lose her virginity to him.
Johnson then took her to a hotel in Ohio, and the two had sex.
Police say Johnson they took the girl to his home in Altoona and they had sex again. When we were in his neighborhood last week, neighbors told us Johnson's wife was out of town.
Police say the girl sent text messages to Johnson from her friend's phones because hers couldn't send him.
Those friends called police in Indiana, who called police in Altoona. That's when police went to Johnson's house and picked the girl up. They raided his home and found four condoms, a bed spread and bed sheets they are using as evidence.
Police say Johnson admitted to the crime.
He now faces charges of endangering the welfare of a child and corruption of a minor. Under our state's law he can't be charged with statutory rape because the girl is 16. He had a preliminary hearing and was released.
An Altoona police officer is arrested, accused of having sex with a 16-year old girl.
State police say 49-year old Rick Johnson is accused of having sex a number of times with a teen from Indiana state. Police say the two met online and Johnson drove to Indiana to pick her up, before taking her to hotel in Ohio, and then his home in Altoona.
State police say the two met back in December on a site called policelink.com. It's like facebook or myspace, but for people interested in law enforcement.
They say the two began talking and at first, Johnson was like a mentor to the girl.
They say the girl even said 49-year old Johnson was like a dad to her. They say the girl and her family came to Altoona several times, in March, May, and the beginning of July.
Police say last Monday, Johnson picked up the girl from her home in Indiana. They say the girl had told Johnson she had developed feelings for him and wanted to lose her virginity to him.
Johnson then took her to a hotel in Ohio, and the two had sex.
Police say Johnson they took the girl to his home in Altoona and they had sex again. When we were in his neighborhood last week, neighbors told us Johnson's wife was out of town.
Police say the girl sent text messages to Johnson from her friend's phones because hers couldn't send him.
Those friends called police in Indiana, who called police in Altoona. That's when police went to Johnson's house and picked the girl up. They raided his home and found four condoms, a bed spread and bed sheets they are using as evidence.
Police say Johnson admitted to the crime.
He now faces charges of endangering the welfare of a child and corruption of a minor. Under our state's law he can't be charged with statutory rape because the girl is 16. He had a preliminary hearing and was released.
Tuesday, August 05, 2008
Officer Alejandro Lopez Arrested for Murdering Family
Police said today they arrested a state investigator and six other men for allegedly stabbing and shooting to death six members of a family in connection with an extortion bid.
Police officer Alejandro Lopez sent gunmen to the family's house in Ciudad Guzman, in the western state of Jalisco, last week to demand US$100,000, state prosecutors alleged in a statement.
Lopez, a Jalisco investigator, then showed up at the house pretending to make a casual visit, prosecutors said. When he encountered the gunmen, he allegedly encouraged the family to turn over the money so the assailants would go away.
Lopez, who had helped investigate the kidnapping of the family's teenage son in April, is believed to have staged the robbery after becoming aware of the family's access to large sums of money, prosecutors said.
Investigators said they found US$100,000 in Lopez's home.
The family members were killed when they figured out that Lopez was behind the assault, authorities said.
Their bodies were found Wednesday in their house, which was previously owned by Mexican Agriculture Secretary Alberto Cardenas, the prosecutor's office said. They had been dead for at least a day and a half.
Four of the victims, including two children, were shot in the head. A teenage boy had his throat slashed and his mother was asphyxiated with a plastic bag.
Cardenas has said the family bought the house from him and two months ago because they thought they would be safer there after the boy's kidnapping.
Police officer Alejandro Lopez sent gunmen to the family's house in Ciudad Guzman, in the western state of Jalisco, last week to demand US$100,000, state prosecutors alleged in a statement.
Lopez, a Jalisco investigator, then showed up at the house pretending to make a casual visit, prosecutors said. When he encountered the gunmen, he allegedly encouraged the family to turn over the money so the assailants would go away.
Lopez, who had helped investigate the kidnapping of the family's teenage son in April, is believed to have staged the robbery after becoming aware of the family's access to large sums of money, prosecutors said.
Investigators said they found US$100,000 in Lopez's home.
The family members were killed when they figured out that Lopez was behind the assault, authorities said.
Their bodies were found Wednesday in their house, which was previously owned by Mexican Agriculture Secretary Alberto Cardenas, the prosecutor's office said. They had been dead for at least a day and a half.
Four of the victims, including two children, were shot in the head. A teenage boy had his throat slashed and his mother was asphyxiated with a plastic bag.
Cardenas has said the family bought the house from him and two months ago because they thought they would be safer there after the boy's kidnapping.
Former Officer Charged with Drug Possession
A former township police officer has been charged with possession of cocaine, heroin and marijuana and endangering the welfare of a child.
Joseph Morano, 41, and Jennifer Phalon, 34, both of the same Seaspray Road address, were arrested after a motor vehicle stop of a 1994 Ford Explorer on Route 72 in Stafford about 11:20 p.m. Friday, said Capt. Robert Urie of the Ocean County Prosecutor's Special Operations Group.
Morano is the son of Township Committeeman Len Morano.
The couple was riding in Morano's Ford Explorer with a 4-year-old child inside when it was stopped by a member of the Special Operations Group and the Stafford Township Police Department.
The Prosecutor's Office, Stafford police and members of the Ocean County Regional SWAT executed a search warrant at the couple's Seaspray Road home and found five bags of heroin and marijuana in the home, Urie said.
The couple was also charged with possession of drug paraphernalia, he said.
Bail was set at $50,000 with no 10 percent option for both, set by Ocean County Superior Court Judge James DenUyl.
Morano and Phalon were lodged in the Ocean County Jail and released on Saturday.
Morano has a history of substance abuse issues dating back to 2003, when he was suspended for 30 days on matters connected to alcohol abuse while he was a Barnegat police officer. Subsequent arrests and indictments over prescription drug matters led to his resignation as a police officer in 2005.
Joseph Morano, 41, and Jennifer Phalon, 34, both of the same Seaspray Road address, were arrested after a motor vehicle stop of a 1994 Ford Explorer on Route 72 in Stafford about 11:20 p.m. Friday, said Capt. Robert Urie of the Ocean County Prosecutor's Special Operations Group.
Morano is the son of Township Committeeman Len Morano.
The couple was riding in Morano's Ford Explorer with a 4-year-old child inside when it was stopped by a member of the Special Operations Group and the Stafford Township Police Department.
The Prosecutor's Office, Stafford police and members of the Ocean County Regional SWAT executed a search warrant at the couple's Seaspray Road home and found five bags of heroin and marijuana in the home, Urie said.
The couple was also charged with possession of drug paraphernalia, he said.
Bail was set at $50,000 with no 10 percent option for both, set by Ocean County Superior Court Judge James DenUyl.
Morano and Phalon were lodged in the Ocean County Jail and released on Saturday.
Morano has a history of substance abuse issues dating back to 2003, when he was suspended for 30 days on matters connected to alcohol abuse while he was a Barnegat police officer. Subsequent arrests and indictments over prescription drug matters led to his resignation as a police officer in 2005.
Police officer arrested for DUI
A South Bend Police officer is arrested for a D.U.I and police say his blood alcohol level was nearly twice the legal limit.
Nappanee police arrested Sgt. Mark Szweda just before 1 a.m. Monday.
They say he was going 62 m.p.h. in a 35 m.p.h. zone.
Officers say Szweda failed field sobriety checks and a test showed his blood alcohol level at .14
Szweda is currently on paid administrative leave with the South Bend Police Department pending a review by the board of public safety.
Juvenile Correction Officer David Ware Accused Of Soliciting Sex From Child
LEESBURG, Va.
A man was arrested at Loudoun County High School Sunday for allegedly using a communication system to solicit sex from a female minor, according to the Leesburg Police Department.
Police said David Ware had been communicating with the girl through MySpace and other electronic forms for a couple of weeks.
He traveled from Fauquier County to Leesburg, where he was arrested at the high school at about 12:45 a.m. Sunday, according to police.
Ware is a juvenile correction officer in Culpeper County.
He is being held without bond.
Officer Bobby Paige Beats Wife
The wife of a Louisville Metro Police officer claims he pinned her against a wall, injured her arm while grabbing her and then shoved her to the ground during an argument, according to court records.
Officer Bobby Paige, 36, was arrested about 7 a.m. Saturday at his home off Fegenbush Lane in southern Jefferson County by members of the department’s Public Integrity Unit, which investigates criminal misconduct in the department, police said.
Paige, who was charged with assault 4th degree, had been placed on administrative leave, said Officer Phil Russell, a police spokesman.
Paige, who has been an officer since 2004, posted a $500 bond on Sunday and was released from Metro Corrections. He will be arraigned on Wednesday.
Russell said he could not discuss the case since the investigation is continuing.
Officer Bobby Paige, 36, was arrested about 7 a.m. Saturday at his home off Fegenbush Lane in southern Jefferson County by members of the department’s Public Integrity Unit, which investigates criminal misconduct in the department, police said.
Paige, who was charged with assault 4th degree, had been placed on administrative leave, said Officer Phil Russell, a police spokesman.
Paige, who has been an officer since 2004, posted a $500 bond on Sunday and was released from Metro Corrections. He will be arraigned on Wednesday.
Russell said he could not discuss the case since the investigation is continuing.
Detective Cassie Watson Accused of Rape
NORTH CHARLESTON, SC
It's a sight rarely seen in Charleston County bond court. Monday afternon, 40 year old Hanahan Police Detective Cassie Watson found himself on the other side of the legal fence.
Watson is accused of raping a woman Sunday night in her North Charleston home. The woman told police she met Watson through a dating service two years ago.
"We've had enough black eyes from officers doing things in the community across the country, that it still hurts you when something like this comes up," a stunned Hanahan Police Chief Donald Wilcox said.
According to court affidavits, the woman told police Watson pointed a gun in her face, forced her to remove her clothes and get on all fours. She told cops she felt if she didn't do what he said, she would end up in a body bag.
"We take every allegation even if it's just a speeding ticket complaint, seriously," Chief Wilcox said. "But when you're talking about potential felony cases, that's just unheard of, unbelievable."
This is not the first time Detective Watson had been on the news. Last April, he asked news reporters to help him solve of all things, a rape case.
"We have a face, no name, and this takes place, so it's almost as if a stranger has assaulted her out of the clear blue sky," Watson said at the time. Now the officer himself is a rape suspect, who will eventually have his day in court.
"As with anybody, innocent until proven guilty, and we'll have to see how the investigation goes," Chief Wilcox said.
Watson is facing three charges, including Criminal Sexual Conduct 1st Degree and Kidnapping. A judge set his bond at $325,000. Chief Wilcox said Watson has been suspended with pay pending the outcome of the investigation.
Monday, August 04, 2008
Boone Officer Charged with Sexual Exploitation of a Minor
During an investigation by the Buncombe County Sheriff’s Department, a former Boone Police officer was arrested and charged with six counts of sexual exploitation of a minor.
According to the State Bureau of Investigation, 34-year-old Marvin Eric Tart of 113A West Virginia Street, Boone, was arrested on Friday. The S.B.I. charged Tart with six counts of second-degree sexual exploitation of a minor.
Noel Talley of the North Carolina Department of Justice said the charges stemmed from child pornography possession.
Talley also explained the Buncombe County Sheriff’s Department was involved because they are part of the North Carolina Internet Crimes Against Children Taskforce. The organization is headed up by the S.B.I., and according to Talley, they investigate online crimes against children, which includes solicitation of minors or child pornography.
The Boone Police reported that Tart resigned from the department on Thursday. Since Tart’s resignation, he receives no salary from the Town of Boone.
Although personnel regulations restricted him from making many comments regarding Tart, Boone Police Chief, Bill Post, said he requested assistance from the S.B.I. after learning about possible criminal activity in Boone. Post explained, “When we found there were potential criminal offenses that occurred in Boone, I requested the S.B.I. to come in and work that case.”
Tart had been a member of the Boone Police Department since 1999.
Former Officer Charged with Rape
A former Baltimore police officer has been arrested on charges that he forcibly raped a 16-year-old girl last year while on the force, officials announced yesterday.
Rohan Mays, 27, of the 800 block of Rose Haven Road near White Marsh was indicted Friday by a city grand jury on a charge of second-degree rape.
The charge means no weapons are alleged to have been used in the crime.
The rape is alleged to have occurred between June and July last year. Baltimore police spokesman Donny Moses confirmed yesterday that Mays was on the force during that time.
Mays resigned from the Police Department last month, prosecutors said.
The former officer is being held without bail until a hearing is set. Burns declined to say where Mays is jailed.
In January, a Baltimore officer, William D. Welch of Timonium, was accused of having sex with a 16-year-old girl inside a station house. In that case, prosecutors dropped a second-degree rape charge in exchange for Welch's no-contest plea to misconduct in office. Under that plea, he did not admit guilt but conceded that the state had enough evidence to convict him.
Welch resigned from the force.
Rohan Mays, 27, of the 800 block of Rose Haven Road near White Marsh was indicted Friday by a city grand jury on a charge of second-degree rape.
The charge means no weapons are alleged to have been used in the crime.
The rape is alleged to have occurred between June and July last year. Baltimore police spokesman Donny Moses confirmed yesterday that Mays was on the force during that time.
Mays resigned from the Police Department last month, prosecutors said.
The former officer is being held without bail until a hearing is set. Burns declined to say where Mays is jailed.
In January, a Baltimore officer, William D. Welch of Timonium, was accused of having sex with a 16-year-old girl inside a station house. In that case, prosecutors dropped a second-degree rape charge in exchange for Welch's no-contest plea to misconduct in office. Under that plea, he did not admit guilt but conceded that the state had enough evidence to convict him.
Welch resigned from the force.
DetectiveThomas Sadler Accused of Fondling Prostitute While on Duty
A sheriff's detective who is accused of forcibly fondling a prostitute while on duty was named in 2003 lawsuit alleging similar behavior with a woman he pulled over in Santee, according to court records.
Thomas J. Sadler, 47, a 20-year veteran of the county Sheriff's Department, was arrested by San Diego sex-crimes detectives Thursday afternoon at the Santee home he shares with his wife.
“Obviously, it's very disturbing to all law enforcement,” San Diego police acting Assistant Chief Jim Collins said in a news conference yesterday. “Especially when he's on duty with his police car and showing his badge and weapon.”
El Cajon attorney Eric Hart, who represented the woman in 2003, said he's upset that Sadler remained on the street after the sexual-battery lawsuit five years ago. The case was settled out of court in 2004, and the terms are confidential.
“We spent a lot of time with internal affairs before we filed the lawsuit,” Hart said yesterday. “Our only goal was to see justice served, and they completely blew us off. We suspected someone else would be a victim.”
Undersheriff Bill Gore said yesterday that he could not discuss prior personnel issues and had not reviewed the lawsuit, which named Sadler and the county.
In the most recent case, Sadler, who is assigned to the Lemon Grove station, was on duty and driving his assigned, unmarked Ford Taurus at 10:30 a.m. Feb. 6 when he pulled up alongside a prostitute sitting on a bus bench on El Cajon Boulevard in North Park, according to an arrest warrant.
He identified himself as a “sheriff's officer” and ordered the woman to get into his car. He drove her to Camino Del Rio South in Mission Valley, next to Dave & Buster's restaurant, and parked. Police said he fondled the woman's genitals, then pulled up her bra and groped her breasts.
At least three witnesses saw the incident and called 911 to report a kidnapping in progress, Collins said.
When the woman was finally released, she tried to take a picture of the car's license plate, but Sadler took the phone and disabled it, according to the arrest warrant.
The woman called San Diego police six days later to say she had spotted Sadler and had written down the plate number of his car.
Police went to the Lemon Grove station to question him, but he refused to give a statement, the warrant said.
The next day, the woman and two witnesses identified Sadler in a photo lineup.
Sadler was charged Thursday with sexual battery by restraint, assault and battery by an officer and false imprisonment. He was released on $250,000 bail.
Collins said part of the reason the investigation took so long was because Sadler was a peace officer. “Obviously, when a law enforcement officer is involved, we make sure we have pretty good information to make the charges,” he said.
Sadler has been placed on unpaid leave pending the outcome of the case.
An arraignment is scheduled for Thursday in San Diego Superior Court.
“We're all saddened,” Gore said. “But we take it very seriously because of the need to have the public's confidence.”
Nicole Bowman, 34, said yesterday that the incident was eerily similar to an encounter she had with Sadler in 2002.
In a federal lawsuit, she claimed Sadler pulled her over in a dark Vons parking lot on Mission Gorge Road after she left a Santee bar about 11:30 p.m. June 29, 2002
She had not been drinking, Bowman said, but only stopped at the bar to take care of details for her birthday party to be held there the following day.
Sadler found a friend's methamphetamine pipe in her car and then said he'd have to search her. He put her in the patrol car and drove deeper into the parking lot behind some bushes, the lawsuit states.
Outside the vehicle, he pulled up her halter top and bra, exposing her breasts, and shined his flashlight on her chest, the lawsuit said. Having been told that Bowman wasn't wearing underwear, he then pulled out her waistband and shined the flashlight down the front and back of her pants, according to the lawsuit.
The incident ended, Bowman said, when he drove her back to her car and wished her a happy birthday.
“I was shaking,” Bowman recalled. “I didn't understand what his intent was.”
Sadler denied the allegations in court records.
Bowman filed a complaint with the sheriff's internal affairs investigators, where it became her word against his.
“How do I report a cop to a cop and expect anything other than what I got out of it? They thumbed their nose at me,” Bowman said.
Thomas J. Sadler, 47, a 20-year veteran of the county Sheriff's Department, was arrested by San Diego sex-crimes detectives Thursday afternoon at the Santee home he shares with his wife.
“Obviously, it's very disturbing to all law enforcement,” San Diego police acting Assistant Chief Jim Collins said in a news conference yesterday. “Especially when he's on duty with his police car and showing his badge and weapon.”
El Cajon attorney Eric Hart, who represented the woman in 2003, said he's upset that Sadler remained on the street after the sexual-battery lawsuit five years ago. The case was settled out of court in 2004, and the terms are confidential.
“We spent a lot of time with internal affairs before we filed the lawsuit,” Hart said yesterday. “Our only goal was to see justice served, and they completely blew us off. We suspected someone else would be a victim.”
Undersheriff Bill Gore said yesterday that he could not discuss prior personnel issues and had not reviewed the lawsuit, which named Sadler and the county.
In the most recent case, Sadler, who is assigned to the Lemon Grove station, was on duty and driving his assigned, unmarked Ford Taurus at 10:30 a.m. Feb. 6 when he pulled up alongside a prostitute sitting on a bus bench on El Cajon Boulevard in North Park, according to an arrest warrant.
He identified himself as a “sheriff's officer” and ordered the woman to get into his car. He drove her to Camino Del Rio South in Mission Valley, next to Dave & Buster's restaurant, and parked. Police said he fondled the woman's genitals, then pulled up her bra and groped her breasts.
At least three witnesses saw the incident and called 911 to report a kidnapping in progress, Collins said.
When the woman was finally released, she tried to take a picture of the car's license plate, but Sadler took the phone and disabled it, according to the arrest warrant.
The woman called San Diego police six days later to say she had spotted Sadler and had written down the plate number of his car.
Police went to the Lemon Grove station to question him, but he refused to give a statement, the warrant said.
The next day, the woman and two witnesses identified Sadler in a photo lineup.
Sadler was charged Thursday with sexual battery by restraint, assault and battery by an officer and false imprisonment. He was released on $250,000 bail.
Collins said part of the reason the investigation took so long was because Sadler was a peace officer. “Obviously, when a law enforcement officer is involved, we make sure we have pretty good information to make the charges,” he said.
Sadler has been placed on unpaid leave pending the outcome of the case.
An arraignment is scheduled for Thursday in San Diego Superior Court.
“We're all saddened,” Gore said. “But we take it very seriously because of the need to have the public's confidence.”
Nicole Bowman, 34, said yesterday that the incident was eerily similar to an encounter she had with Sadler in 2002.
In a federal lawsuit, she claimed Sadler pulled her over in a dark Vons parking lot on Mission Gorge Road after she left a Santee bar about 11:30 p.m. June 29, 2002
She had not been drinking, Bowman said, but only stopped at the bar to take care of details for her birthday party to be held there the following day.
Sadler found a friend's methamphetamine pipe in her car and then said he'd have to search her. He put her in the patrol car and drove deeper into the parking lot behind some bushes, the lawsuit states.
Outside the vehicle, he pulled up her halter top and bra, exposing her breasts, and shined his flashlight on her chest, the lawsuit said. Having been told that Bowman wasn't wearing underwear, he then pulled out her waistband and shined the flashlight down the front and back of her pants, according to the lawsuit.
The incident ended, Bowman said, when he drove her back to her car and wished her a happy birthday.
“I was shaking,” Bowman recalled. “I didn't understand what his intent was.”
Sadler denied the allegations in court records.
Bowman filed a complaint with the sheriff's internal affairs investigators, where it became her word against his.
“How do I report a cop to a cop and expect anything other than what I got out of it? They thumbed their nose at me,” Bowman said.
Officers Indicted on Charges of Aggravated Assault
Two local law enforcement officers were indicted last week on charges stemming from an incident involving firearms that occurred at a party at one of their homes, authorities said Saturday.
Metro Police officer Michael Rocha, 25, was charged with felony aggravated assault with a deadly weapon after he allegedly threatened a person with a weapon during a party at his home on April 13, authorities said.
Harris County Precinct 6 Reserve Deputy Enrique Torres, 24, who also is a former Metro employee, was charged with discharging his duty weapon, a misdemeanor, at the same party, authorities said.
Rocha, who has been a patrol officer for Metro for two years, was discharged about six weeks ago after an administrative investigation into the incident took place, said Metro Police Chief Tom Lambert.
Rocha does not have a previous record of misconduct with the department, Lambert added.
"We have very high expectations and standards for our employees," Lambert said.
Torres was fired by Metro Police after he was involved in an incident for which the details are unknown about a year ago, Lambert said.
Harris County Precinct 6 spokesman Danny Perez said Torres has been with the constable's office since March and was released from duty following the indictment.
"Anytime this happens with an officer it's disappointing because it's a reflection on our department, " Perez said.
Metro Police officer Michael Rocha, 25, was charged with felony aggravated assault with a deadly weapon after he allegedly threatened a person with a weapon during a party at his home on April 13, authorities said.
Harris County Precinct 6 Reserve Deputy Enrique Torres, 24, who also is a former Metro employee, was charged with discharging his duty weapon, a misdemeanor, at the same party, authorities said.
Rocha, who has been a patrol officer for Metro for two years, was discharged about six weeks ago after an administrative investigation into the incident took place, said Metro Police Chief Tom Lambert.
Rocha does not have a previous record of misconduct with the department, Lambert added.
"We have very high expectations and standards for our employees," Lambert said.
Torres was fired by Metro Police after he was involved in an incident for which the details are unknown about a year ago, Lambert said.
Harris County Precinct 6 spokesman Danny Perez said Torres has been with the constable's office since March and was released from duty following the indictment.
"Anytime this happens with an officer it's disappointing because it's a reflection on our department, " Perez said.
UPDATE: Caldwell Officer free on Bond
CALDWELL
A Caldwell Police sergeant charged with sexual battery was in a Canyon County court today.
Dennis Schat, 38, posted a $100,000 bond and was released from jail.
He is accused of fondling a 17-year-old girl in May while off duty.
Schat is not allowed to have contact with his victim or any other minors under 18.
The case is being handled by the Ada County Prosecutor's Office due to a possible conflict of interest in Canyon County.
A Caldwell Police sergeant charged with sexual battery was in a Canyon County court today.
Dennis Schat, 38, posted a $100,000 bond and was released from jail.
He is accused of fondling a 17-year-old girl in May while off duty.
Schat is not allowed to have contact with his victim or any other minors under 18.
The case is being handled by the Ada County Prosecutor's Office due to a possible conflict of interest in Canyon County.
Officer Accused of Knowingly Making False Statements
FLEMINGTON
Another officer in the Hunterdon County Sheriff's Department has been accused of misconduct by the state, according to authorities.
Investigator John A. Falat Jr., 36, of Bayonne was charged Tuesday, July 29, with "knowingly making false statements" by "providing false, inaccurate, or incomplete answers" to questions on his employment application with the Hunterdon County Sheriff's Office, according to a summons complaint acquired from the Hunterdon County Prosecutor's Office.
Prosecutor's Office Deputy Chief Dan Hurley said Falat was released on his own recognizance after his arrest.
"We are not commenting on the matter," Hurley said.
"We are in the dark on it," said Undersheriff Michael Russo, who noted that he was authorized to speak on behalf of Sheriff Deborah Trout. "We honored a subpoena from the prosecutor's office."
Russo said the sheriff's office had reviewed Falat's records, and that the summons was "a complete surprise" to them.
"We have no idea what it's about, he's still on the job," Russo said. "The sheriff stands behind investigator Falat."
Falat did not immediately return a call seeking comment.
In addition to Falat, sheriff's investigator Gregory Ezekian Jr., 32, also has been accused of making false statements on his employment application for the department.
Another officer in the Hunterdon County Sheriff's Department has been accused of misconduct by the state, according to authorities.
Investigator John A. Falat Jr., 36, of Bayonne was charged Tuesday, July 29, with "knowingly making false statements" by "providing false, inaccurate, or incomplete answers" to questions on his employment application with the Hunterdon County Sheriff's Office, according to a summons complaint acquired from the Hunterdon County Prosecutor's Office.
Prosecutor's Office Deputy Chief Dan Hurley said Falat was released on his own recognizance after his arrest.
"We are not commenting on the matter," Hurley said.
"We are in the dark on it," said Undersheriff Michael Russo, who noted that he was authorized to speak on behalf of Sheriff Deborah Trout. "We honored a subpoena from the prosecutor's office."
Russo said the sheriff's office had reviewed Falat's records, and that the summons was "a complete surprise" to them.
"We have no idea what it's about, he's still on the job," Russo said. "The sheriff stands behind investigator Falat."
Falat did not immediately return a call seeking comment.
In addition to Falat, sheriff's investigator Gregory Ezekian Jr., 32, also has been accused of making false statements on his employment application for the department.
Officer Accused of Threaten
TEXAS CITY
An arrest warrant will be issued next week for a College of the Mainland police officer accused of retaliating against a college employee, Galveston County District Attorney Kurt Sistrunk said.
On Wednesday, a grand jury issued a true bill in the case against officer Kent Dowdy, meaning the grand jurors found sufficient evidence for Dowdy to be charged and prosecuted.
Dowdy could not be reached for comment Thursday afternoon, and Sistrunk declined to discuss details of the case.
State law defines retaliation as a felony that occurs when someone harms or threatens another person who is a public servant, witness, prospective witness or informant.
Dowdy is accused of retaliating against Jennifer Johnson, 34, an employee in the college’s human resources department.
A Texas City Police Department report shows Johnson went to the police department July 18 to complain about threats, and the case was referred to College of the Mainland police.
College officials declined to discuss details of the case but said they were cooperating with the district attorney’s office. College spokesman Jim Higgins said the case is unrelated to an ongoing investigation and lawsuit over the college’s Center for the Advancement of Process Technology.
An arrest warrant will be issued next week for a College of the Mainland police officer accused of retaliating against a college employee, Galveston County District Attorney Kurt Sistrunk said.
On Wednesday, a grand jury issued a true bill in the case against officer Kent Dowdy, meaning the grand jurors found sufficient evidence for Dowdy to be charged and prosecuted.
Dowdy could not be reached for comment Thursday afternoon, and Sistrunk declined to discuss details of the case.
State law defines retaliation as a felony that occurs when someone harms or threatens another person who is a public servant, witness, prospective witness or informant.
Dowdy is accused of retaliating against Jennifer Johnson, 34, an employee in the college’s human resources department.
A Texas City Police Department report shows Johnson went to the police department July 18 to complain about threats, and the case was referred to College of the Mainland police.
College officials declined to discuss details of the case but said they were cooperating with the district attorney’s office. College spokesman Jim Higgins said the case is unrelated to an ongoing investigation and lawsuit over the college’s Center for the Advancement of Process Technology.
Officer Accused of Drunk Driving Has History of Speeding Tickets
A city police officer accused of driving drunk and crashing into three parked vehicles Wednesday night has a history of speeding tickets and refusing to take a blood alcohol test amid suspicion of driving while impaired.
Officer Paul V. Khoury, 44, of Brockton also refused to take a blood alcohol test after the most recent incident and will lose his license for a year. He was off-duty at the time of the 10:45 p.m. Wednesday accident.
Khoury had slurred speech, and a police sergeant at the crash scene detected a “slight odor of alcohol” on his breath after the crash on Rockland Street, according to papers filed in Brockton District Court.
Khoury pleaded innocent at his arraignment Thursday to charges of operating under the influence, a second offense, and failure to use care while driving. He was freed on personal recognizance. The case was continued to Aug. 11.
Khoury, who became a police officer in July 1997, was taken after the crash to Caritas Good Samaritan Medical Center, where he refused a blood alcohol test, according to court papers.
As a result, his driver’s license has been suspended for one year for refusing to take the test.
In 1990, Khoury lost his license for 120 days for refusing to take the blood-alcohol test, according to the state Registry of Motor Vehicles.
Khoury went through a DWI alcohol program in Yarmouth in 1984. Both cases occurred before Khoury became a police officer.
Khoury’s driving record also includes speeding tickets in 1990, 1991 and 1984 in Bourne, Brockton and Yarmouth, a surchargable accident in 2001 in Easton and failure to display his license plate in 1991, according to Registry records.
A surchargable accident means his auto insurance premium was raised for a period of time.
Police Chief William Conlon said Khoury will be working inside the station and will not be on the street while the case is pending.
Conlon said Khoury, who normally works the day shift in dispatch, was off-duty and driving his personal vehicle at the time.
In the crash, one parked vehicle was pushed through a fence, while another was spun around on the street, witnesses to the aftermath said.
“Everything was a mess,” said Paula Gebrayel, whose son’s vehicle was struck. “It looked like a war zone.”
She said the impact knocked the wheels off cars and left her son’s vehicle totaled.
She said her son, Michael, had just parked his Jeep on the street and was walking into a friend’s yard when the crash occurred.
“A minute earlier, he would have been in his car,” she said.
She said she was stunned by the damage to the vehicles.
“I couldn’t imagine how anybody could have made it through that,” she said.
Khoury told officers he was driving north on Rockland Street and hit his gas pedal by mistake, causing him to lose control of his vehicle, according to papers filed in court.
He said he had “only” two beers about two hours before the crash, the court papers noted.
Khoury was taken to the hospital for treatment of minor injuries and then arrested, the chief said. Khoury was bailed from the hospital.
“We had probable cause to make an arrest,” Conlon said.
The chief declined to say what the probable cause was.
Officer Paul V. Khoury, 44, of Brockton also refused to take a blood alcohol test after the most recent incident and will lose his license for a year. He was off-duty at the time of the 10:45 p.m. Wednesday accident.
Khoury had slurred speech, and a police sergeant at the crash scene detected a “slight odor of alcohol” on his breath after the crash on Rockland Street, according to papers filed in Brockton District Court.
Khoury pleaded innocent at his arraignment Thursday to charges of operating under the influence, a second offense, and failure to use care while driving. He was freed on personal recognizance. The case was continued to Aug. 11.
Khoury, who became a police officer in July 1997, was taken after the crash to Caritas Good Samaritan Medical Center, where he refused a blood alcohol test, according to court papers.
As a result, his driver’s license has been suspended for one year for refusing to take the test.
In 1990, Khoury lost his license for 120 days for refusing to take the blood-alcohol test, according to the state Registry of Motor Vehicles.
Khoury went through a DWI alcohol program in Yarmouth in 1984. Both cases occurred before Khoury became a police officer.
Khoury’s driving record also includes speeding tickets in 1990, 1991 and 1984 in Bourne, Brockton and Yarmouth, a surchargable accident in 2001 in Easton and failure to display his license plate in 1991, according to Registry records.
A surchargable accident means his auto insurance premium was raised for a period of time.
Police Chief William Conlon said Khoury will be working inside the station and will not be on the street while the case is pending.
Conlon said Khoury, who normally works the day shift in dispatch, was off-duty and driving his personal vehicle at the time.
In the crash, one parked vehicle was pushed through a fence, while another was spun around on the street, witnesses to the aftermath said.
“Everything was a mess,” said Paula Gebrayel, whose son’s vehicle was struck. “It looked like a war zone.”
She said the impact knocked the wheels off cars and left her son’s vehicle totaled.
She said her son, Michael, had just parked his Jeep on the street and was walking into a friend’s yard when the crash occurred.
“A minute earlier, he would have been in his car,” she said.
She said she was stunned by the damage to the vehicles.
“I couldn’t imagine how anybody could have made it through that,” she said.
Khoury told officers he was driving north on Rockland Street and hit his gas pedal by mistake, causing him to lose control of his vehicle, according to papers filed in court.
He said he had “only” two beers about two hours before the crash, the court papers noted.
Khoury was taken to the hospital for treatment of minor injuries and then arrested, the chief said. Khoury was bailed from the hospital.
“We had probable cause to make an arrest,” Conlon said.
The chief declined to say what the probable cause was.
Officer Ben Jones III Facing Fraud Charges
A Tutwiler police officer is facing felony false pretense and fraud charges in Quitman County on an insurance claim for a fire investigators say never occurred at a residence where they say he never resided.
Ben Jones III, 39, of Marks was arraigned Thursday morning before Judge Charles Webster on the two-count indictment, according to a news release from the attorney general’s office.
According to the indictment, Jones reported to Allstate Insurance Co. he had suffered a loss of personal property following an April 30 fire at a residence he rented in Marks.
"An investigation by our Insurance Integrity Enforcement Bureau determined that a fire did occur at that residence on April 23, 2008, but that Jones did not rent or otherwise reside or keep personal belongings at that address," said Attorney General Jim Hood said in the news release.
Jones is free on a $5,000 written bond. If convicted of felony false pretense, he faces up to 10 years in prison and a $10,000 fine. If convicted of insurance fraud, he faces up to three years of imprisonment and a fine of $5,000 or double the value of the fraud, whichever is greater.
Ben Jones III, 39, of Marks was arraigned Thursday morning before Judge Charles Webster on the two-count indictment, according to a news release from the attorney general’s office.
According to the indictment, Jones reported to Allstate Insurance Co. he had suffered a loss of personal property following an April 30 fire at a residence he rented in Marks.
"An investigation by our Insurance Integrity Enforcement Bureau determined that a fire did occur at that residence on April 23, 2008, but that Jones did not rent or otherwise reside or keep personal belongings at that address," said Attorney General Jim Hood said in the news release.
Jones is free on a $5,000 written bond. If convicted of felony false pretense, he faces up to 10 years in prison and a $10,000 fine. If convicted of insurance fraud, he faces up to three years of imprisonment and a fine of $5,000 or double the value of the fraud, whichever is greater.
UPDATE: Officer Accused of Fondling Teen is Out of Jail
CALDWELL
A Caldwell Police sergeant accused of sexually abusing a teenager appeared in court Friday morning.
Dennis Schat, 38, was arraigned in a Canyon County courtroom.
Caldwell Police Chief Chris Allgood says Schat is accused of fondling the teen and he was not on duty at the time of the attack. The chief also says his staff took the news hard and felt both sorrow and anger.
Schat is on paid administrative leave.
The indictment allegest the abuse happened back in April. Because Schat posted his $100,000 bond he's not out of jail.
Deputy Accused of Sexual Assault Attempts Suicide
A San Diego County sheriff's deputy facing five felony charges for an alleged on-duty sexual assault on a prostitute on El Cajon Boulevard tried to commit suicide according to Sheriff's Department officials.
Authorities say Thomas J. Sadler, 47, was being treated at a hospital following the suicide attempt Friday.
The deputy was arrested at his Santee home Thursday afternoon on five felony charges and released hours later after posting $250,000 bail, authorities said.
Sheriff's officials said he tried to kill himself Friday afternoon, but they declined to provide details.
Sadler, a 20-year veteran of the department who works as a detective out of the Lemon Grove station, was placed on unpaid leave after his arrest.
He is scheduled to be arraigned Thursday on charges that include sexual battery by restraint, assault and battery by an officer, and false imprisonment.
San Diego police said Sadler forced an admitted prostitute into his unmarked Ford Taurus while on duty the morning of Feb. 6 and drove her to a parking lot in Mission Valley.
He then forcibly groped her until three witnesses intervened and she escaped, said San Diego police acting Assistant Chief Jim Collins.
Officer Arrested While Trying to Smuggle Firearms into Mexico
SOLEDAD, Calif.
A Soledad police officer and a Presidio of Monterey police officer were arrested Friday while trying to smuggle firearms into Mexico, police said.
Police said Mexican police arrested Presidio of Monterey Sgt. Jorge Matos and the Soledad officer as they tried to enter Mexico with several firearms and ammunition. Matos is a former employee of the Soledad Police Department.
Inspectors said they recovered 5,000 rounds of ammunition, tactical training equipment and two laptop computers.
Soledad Police Chief Richard Cox said officials from the Department of Homeland Security notified his office of the arrest on Friday.
Cox said an internal audit of the Soledad Police Department armory did not show any weapons missing. The Presidio of Monterey's police department also said it had no weapons unaccounted for.
Matos was fired during his probationary period after three AR-15 rifles disappeared from his home and could not be found.
The identity of the Soledad police officer was not released.
The two men will spend a minimum of 60 to 90 days in a Mexican prison before being brought before a judge.
If convicted, they could face a minimum of 15 years in a Mexican prison.
A Soledad police officer and a Presidio of Monterey police officer were arrested Friday while trying to smuggle firearms into Mexico, police said.
Police said Mexican police arrested Presidio of Monterey Sgt. Jorge Matos and the Soledad officer as they tried to enter Mexico with several firearms and ammunition. Matos is a former employee of the Soledad Police Department.
Inspectors said they recovered 5,000 rounds of ammunition, tactical training equipment and two laptop computers.
Soledad Police Chief Richard Cox said officials from the Department of Homeland Security notified his office of the arrest on Friday.
Cox said an internal audit of the Soledad Police Department armory did not show any weapons missing. The Presidio of Monterey's police department also said it had no weapons unaccounted for.
Matos was fired during his probationary period after three AR-15 rifles disappeared from his home and could not be found.
The identity of the Soledad police officer was not released.
The two men will spend a minimum of 60 to 90 days in a Mexican prison before being brought before a judge.
If convicted, they could face a minimum of 15 years in a Mexican prison.
Off Duty Officer Accused of Punching other Officer
LAKE GEORGE
An off-duty police officer from Connecticut spent Thursday night in the Warren County Correctional Facility after sheriff’s officers said he punched an off-duty peace officer in the head.
Leonard E. Alterio, 43, of Monroe Conn., a 11-year-officer with the Bridgeport Police Department, is facing charges of resisting arrest, a misdemeanor; and second degree harassment, a violation. No assault charges were lodged.
Undersheriff Robert Swan said that Alterio was observed by an off-duty Lake George village peace officer, who Swan did not identify, on Canada St., near Sheppard Park around 1 a.m. Friday.
Swan said the peace officer noticed the man had some minor facial injuries and appeared to be highly intoxicated. When the peace officer asked Alterio if he was alright, Swan said Alterio punched the officer in the head, an act allegedly witnessed by an on-duty peace officer who was nearby on Canada St. Swan said Alterio fought with both officers until he was subdued.
According to court records, the two peace officers were Ronald Rock Jr. and Jason Quinones.
Assistance was requested from the Warren County Sheriff’s office which responded and assisted the peace officers. They also charged Alterio with resisting arrest, Swan said. Alterio was held overnight in the county jail until he was arraigned Friday morning in Lake George Court. He was released on bail to appear in court at a later date. 8-1-08
An off-duty police officer from Connecticut spent Thursday night in the Warren County Correctional Facility after sheriff’s officers said he punched an off-duty peace officer in the head.
Leonard E. Alterio, 43, of Monroe Conn., a 11-year-officer with the Bridgeport Police Department, is facing charges of resisting arrest, a misdemeanor; and second degree harassment, a violation. No assault charges were lodged.
Undersheriff Robert Swan said that Alterio was observed by an off-duty Lake George village peace officer, who Swan did not identify, on Canada St., near Sheppard Park around 1 a.m. Friday.
Swan said the peace officer noticed the man had some minor facial injuries and appeared to be highly intoxicated. When the peace officer asked Alterio if he was alright, Swan said Alterio punched the officer in the head, an act allegedly witnessed by an on-duty peace officer who was nearby on Canada St. Swan said Alterio fought with both officers until he was subdued.
According to court records, the two peace officers were Ronald Rock Jr. and Jason Quinones.
Assistance was requested from the Warren County Sheriff’s office which responded and assisted the peace officers. They also charged Alterio with resisting arrest, Swan said. Alterio was held overnight in the county jail until he was arraigned Friday morning in Lake George Court. He was released on bail to appear in court at a later date. 8-1-08
Sunday, August 03, 2008
Officer Accused of Giving Alcohol to Two Teen Girls
Thirty-five year old Richard Corbin is accused of giving alcohol to two teen girls, ages thirteen and fifteen, and then having sex with both.
Neighbors say police swarmed his home on Moore Avenue in Union Township Wednesday night.
The Pennsylvania State Police say Corbin faces several charges including statutory sexual assault, corruption of minors, and furnishing liquor to minors. They will not say, however, how the officer knew the two girls.
"All I know he was a city policeman who worked alot, he was in and out, he was real quiet, he never bothered anyone. It was a surprise when I heard about what was going on.",says Julie Jaskola, neighbor.
The New Castle Police Department did release a written statement saying they will not comment while this matter is in the courts.
Officer Corbin is on leave, and he's set to appear in Lawrence County Central Court next Wednesday for a preliminary hearing
Neighbors say police swarmed his home on Moore Avenue in Union Township Wednesday night.
The Pennsylvania State Police say Corbin faces several charges including statutory sexual assault, corruption of minors, and furnishing liquor to minors. They will not say, however, how the officer knew the two girls.
"All I know he was a city policeman who worked alot, he was in and out, he was real quiet, he never bothered anyone. It was a surprise when I heard about what was going on.",says Julie Jaskola, neighbor.
The New Castle Police Department did release a written statement saying they will not comment while this matter is in the courts.
Officer Corbin is on leave, and he's set to appear in Lawrence County Central Court next Wednesday for a preliminary hearing
Officer Celia Frattin Charged with Kicking Suspect in Head During Arrest
EDMONTON
A female constable with the Edmonton police was charged with assault Thursday for allegedly kicking a suspect in the head during an arrest.
The police force said in a news release that the constable's unmarked police car was stolen while she was standing outside the vehicle looking for a robbery suspect in February 2007.
Two other officers located a male suspect nearby. He was not seriously hurt in the incident.
Celia Frattin, 38, was charged after the Professional Standards Branch received a complaint from a police department employee.
A female constable with the Edmonton police was charged with assault Thursday for allegedly kicking a suspect in the head during an arrest.
The police force said in a news release that the constable's unmarked police car was stolen while she was standing outside the vehicle looking for a robbery suspect in February 2007.
Two other officers located a male suspect nearby. He was not seriously hurt in the incident.
Celia Frattin, 38, was charged after the Professional Standards Branch received a complaint from a police department employee.
Officer Daniel Smith Charged with Teen Sexual Assault
WORCESTER
A Clark University campus police officer, who also works as a police officer in Berlin, is facing sexual assault crimes in New Jersey for allegedly inappropriately touching and fondling a teenage girl last year at his family’s New Jersey home.
Daniel J. Smith, 26, of 1 Autumn St., has been placed on administrative suspension from his job as a part-time police officer in Berlin, a position he started in April, according to Berlin Police Chief Otto F. Rhode Jr.
According to Clark University officials, Officer Smith worked at Clark from June 2003 to July 2006, when he went to New York to become a police officer there. Officer Smith returned to Clark in September 2007. He is now on administrative leave from that job pending the investigation, according to Jack Foley, Clark vice president for government and community affairs and campus services.
Officer Smith will appear in Pequannock Municipal Court, in New Jersey, on Monday to face the sexual assault charges. So will his brother, Curtis Smith, who lives in Pequannock Township, where the family is from.
Yesterday, Officer Smith was brought to Central District Court on a fugitive from justice charge. He was arrested by Worcester police while heading to work at Clark Wednesday night, on a warrant from New Jersey.
The warrant, however, was recalled because Officer Smith’s mother posted his $75,000 bail Wednesday night. According to paperwork obtained by the Telegram & Gazette, Nationwide Bail Bonds posted the bail for Officer Smith. His mother paid $7,500 to the bail bond company.
The charge of being a fugitive from justice was dropped pre-arraignment yesterday, meaning it will not show up on Officer Smith’s record, according to Pequannock police. He was released and planned to head to New Jersey for his court appearance Monday.
Affidavits on file in the New Jersey courts allege Officer Smith started a relationship with a young teenage girl — she was 12 and 13 at the time of the alleged incidents — in summer 2007.
The girl would sleep over at the Smith home in Pequannock Township. Another girl also allegedly slept over at the home. Authorities allege Curtis Smith sexually assaulted the other teenage girl.
In a June interview with Pequannock detectives, the girl told them Daniel Smith would send text messages to her. The girl said she sent return messages and described the messages’ content as in a “flirting manner,” court affidavits said.
Officer Smith is accused of sending her numerous pictures of his genitals as well.
Court affidavits allege the relationship between Officer Smith and the girl first started with kissing and touching, but then progressed. He is accused of rubbing himself in a sexual manner on the girl, kissing her inappropriately and digitally raping her.
Witnesses told police they knew the girl slept over at the house starting in summer 2007.
Detectives interviewed Officer Smith on Tuesday after he voluntarily went to the police station. He told them the victim had a crush on him and he did text-message her. He allegedly said he spent time with her when she slept over but denied any sexual activity. He then left and returned here.
Arrest warrants were issued for the Smith brothers on Wednesday.
Curtis Smith is accused of raping the other girl who slept over at the family’s home, starting in summer 2007. He is accused of text-messaging the girl — 13 at the time of the allegations — and touching her inappropriately, court affidavits said. He is also accused of digitally raping her and making her touch him inappropriately.
Witnesses told investigators they saw Curtis Smith in bed with the alleged victim and on one occasion she was topless.
Officer Smith is charged with two counts of second-degree sexual assault, one count of fourth-degree criminal sexual contact and one count of third-degree endangering the welfare of a child. Curtis Smith is facing the same charges, except that he is facing only one count of second-degree sexual assault.
A Clark University campus police officer, who also works as a police officer in Berlin, is facing sexual assault crimes in New Jersey for allegedly inappropriately touching and fondling a teenage girl last year at his family’s New Jersey home.
Daniel J. Smith, 26, of 1 Autumn St., has been placed on administrative suspension from his job as a part-time police officer in Berlin, a position he started in April, according to Berlin Police Chief Otto F. Rhode Jr.
According to Clark University officials, Officer Smith worked at Clark from June 2003 to July 2006, when he went to New York to become a police officer there. Officer Smith returned to Clark in September 2007. He is now on administrative leave from that job pending the investigation, according to Jack Foley, Clark vice president for government and community affairs and campus services.
Officer Smith will appear in Pequannock Municipal Court, in New Jersey, on Monday to face the sexual assault charges. So will his brother, Curtis Smith, who lives in Pequannock Township, where the family is from.
Yesterday, Officer Smith was brought to Central District Court on a fugitive from justice charge. He was arrested by Worcester police while heading to work at Clark Wednesday night, on a warrant from New Jersey.
The warrant, however, was recalled because Officer Smith’s mother posted his $75,000 bail Wednesday night. According to paperwork obtained by the Telegram & Gazette, Nationwide Bail Bonds posted the bail for Officer Smith. His mother paid $7,500 to the bail bond company.
The charge of being a fugitive from justice was dropped pre-arraignment yesterday, meaning it will not show up on Officer Smith’s record, according to Pequannock police. He was released and planned to head to New Jersey for his court appearance Monday.
Affidavits on file in the New Jersey courts allege Officer Smith started a relationship with a young teenage girl — she was 12 and 13 at the time of the alleged incidents — in summer 2007.
The girl would sleep over at the Smith home in Pequannock Township. Another girl also allegedly slept over at the home. Authorities allege Curtis Smith sexually assaulted the other teenage girl.
In a June interview with Pequannock detectives, the girl told them Daniel Smith would send text messages to her. The girl said she sent return messages and described the messages’ content as in a “flirting manner,” court affidavits said.
Officer Smith is accused of sending her numerous pictures of his genitals as well.
Court affidavits allege the relationship between Officer Smith and the girl first started with kissing and touching, but then progressed. He is accused of rubbing himself in a sexual manner on the girl, kissing her inappropriately and digitally raping her.
Witnesses told police they knew the girl slept over at the house starting in summer 2007.
Detectives interviewed Officer Smith on Tuesday after he voluntarily went to the police station. He told them the victim had a crush on him and he did text-message her. He allegedly said he spent time with her when she slept over but denied any sexual activity. He then left and returned here.
Arrest warrants were issued for the Smith brothers on Wednesday.
Curtis Smith is accused of raping the other girl who slept over at the family’s home, starting in summer 2007. He is accused of text-messaging the girl — 13 at the time of the allegations — and touching her inappropriately, court affidavits said. He is also accused of digitally raping her and making her touch him inappropriately.
Witnesses told investigators they saw Curtis Smith in bed with the alleged victim and on one occasion she was topless.
Officer Smith is charged with two counts of second-degree sexual assault, one count of fourth-degree criminal sexual contact and one count of third-degree endangering the welfare of a child. Curtis Smith is facing the same charges, except that he is facing only one count of second-degree sexual assault.
Milwaukee Officer Accused of Stealing During Sting
MILWAUKEE
A Milwaukee police officer has been suspended after being accused of stealing money.
Jeffrey Buckson has been charged with two felony counts of misconduct in office and misdemeanors of theft and receiving or concealing stolen property.
The department set up a sting after other officers reported misconduct by the five-year veteran. Officers had a person loiter near a vehicle, prompting a search by Buckson and his partner.
A criminal complaint says the 44-year-old is accused of taking $100 from $530 in cash he and his partner found in the vehicle.
The pair seized the money and a gun, but Buckson only placed the gun and $430 in inventory.
The complaint says Buckson admitted taking the cash and said he was having money problems.
A Milwaukee police officer has been suspended after being accused of stealing money.
Jeffrey Buckson has been charged with two felony counts of misconduct in office and misdemeanors of theft and receiving or concealing stolen property.
The department set up a sting after other officers reported misconduct by the five-year veteran. Officers had a person loiter near a vehicle, prompting a search by Buckson and his partner.
A criminal complaint says the 44-year-old is accused of taking $100 from $530 in cash he and his partner found in the vehicle.
The pair seized the money and a gun, but Buckson only placed the gun and $430 in inventory.
The complaint says Buckson admitted taking the cash and said he was having money problems.
Officer Gives Ex's New Boyfriend a Traffic Ticket
A Lafayette police officer was arrested on suspicion of giving his ex’s new boyfriend a traffic ticket, keeping both under “surveillance” and damaging the hood of her car during an argument, according to police reports.
James Edward Stafford, 34, turned himself in Wednesday. He was arrested by the Boulder County Sheriff’s Office on suspicion of harassment/stalking, official misconduct and criminal mischief related to domestic violence. The harassment count is a class 5 felony.
Because he’s charged with a felony, Stafford is on unpaid leave in accordance with Lafayette police policy. He was unreachable Thursday.
The ex-girlfriend, a manager at Sonic in Lafayette whose name wasn’t released, told police she met Stafford last summer and they had an on-and-off relationship. During part of that relationship, they lived together in her Broomfield apartment. For the last three months, the woman was dating a Sonic employee.
The official misconduct charge stems from the traffic ticket, issued July 23.
Stafford, while driving an unmarked Lafayette police truck equipped with warning sirens, gave the woman’s boyfriend a ticket for weaving. Stafford then sent the woman a text message that said, “Your boyfriend just received a ticket, ha ha,” according to the arrest affidavit.
Lafayette police have since cleared the ticket.
In an interview with police, Stafford said he pulled the man over after he swerved over the yellow line into the oncoming lane of traffic, believing the man might be drunk. He told police he didn’t know the driver was the new boyfriend until after he pulled the man over.
He also told police that he sent the text message to the woman because the two had become friends and he didn’t want her to be upset about the ticket.
Lafayette police weren’t able to recover video footage of the stop from the truck’s dash-mounted camera.
The other charges stem from various incidents.
Stafford tried to lure the boyfriend to the woman’s home, impersonating her in text messages, according to police reports. He also scared her by punching a pillow next to her head after accusing her of cheating, she told police.
In another incident, she told police she met Stafford and he started yelling at her in the street to “just hit me.” As she backed away in her car, she told police, Stafford jumped on the hood of her truck, denting the hood and breaking her bug shield.
In an interview with police, Stafford denied damaging the woman’s truck.
In June, the woman told police, Stafford called her boss at Sonic and told him to fire her because she was stealing money and dating an employee.
Last week, she told police, Stafford sent her text messages while she was at work that indicated he was watching her. This week, she told police, she found comments on his MySpace page that scared her, including that he’s “going to take matters into his own hands.”
The Sonic employee told police he recently quit because he feared retaliation from Stafford.
The employee said he was “terrified” after receiving a text message from Stafford stating, “I will find you,” according to police reports. The employee also said Stafford later followed him and confronted him about his relationship with the woman, with Stafford telling him, “I will be watching you like a hawk.”
Before receiving the traffic ticket, the employee told police, Stafford left a note on his car in an apartment parking garage warning that it would be towed if it wasn’t moved.
Stafford has posted a $5,000 personal recognizance bond and was released Wednesday. Police also took 13 guns from Stafford’s home for safe keeping, including rifles, pistols and a shotgun.
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