Fairfax County Police Museum: And now a word from Fairfax County Police Chief An...

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Todays sexual assault charges against your police: Rape case against cop begins

Todays sexual assault charges against your police: Rape case against cop begins: At first, she thought the officer was "cool," an alleged rape victim told jurors in an Orange County courtroom today. After ...

East Haven cops’ trial begins

HARTFORD >> Prosecutors on Monday said the government’s civil rights case against one-time East Haven Police Officers David Cari and Dennis Spaulding will show the two worked under the cover of law so they could break it.
The officer’s defense team argued the government is not telling the whole story.
Monday featured opening statements in U.S. District Court and testimony from a nun who acted as a legal adviser to a priest arrested in February 2009 after he videotaped the officers’ visit to a Latino-owned convenience store.
Tuesday will feature testimony from a fellow East Haven officer, a superior who worked above them.
But first Cari and Spaulding watched prosecutor Krishna Patel tell the jury about a “case about the use and abuse of police power” in her opening statement.
Alex V. Hernandez, Cari’s attorney, told jurors in his statement about the government’s “failure to tell them of important information” and that “you will hear no evidence he (Cari) profiled, no evidence of him (Cari) being violent to anyone and no connection between him (Cari) and his fellow officers to engage in a conspiracy.”
Hernandez also claimed prosecutors reached a deal with the Latino owners of the store in order for them to testify, but told jurors he would not elaborate until later in the trial. 
Cari, now retired, and Spaulding are two of four East Haven police officers indicted in January 2012 following a U.S. Department of Justice probe into racial profiling allegations. They are charged with conspiracy against civil rights, deprivation of rights for making arrests without probable cause and destruction of records during a federal investigation. 
Spaulding, who is suspended from the force, also faces charges of unreasonable force by a police officer.
His attorney, Frank J. Riccio, said in his opening remarks that he agrees “no one is above the law, not a citizen, undocumented alien, residential alien or even a priest.
“The government claims it’s (the indictment) the gospel truth and I’m not here to solve the mystery but to determine what occurred.”
Patel told jurors that the charges revolve around three specific incidents. The first was the Nov. 21, 2008, arrest of Moises Marin, the owner of the La Bamba restaurant, who prosecutors claim was beaten and jailed by Spaulding after he took photos of Spaulding sitting in his cruiser in Marin’s parking lot.
The second incident occurred on Jan. 21, 2009. Prosecutors allege Spaulding and Officer Jason Zullo arrested Jose Luis Albarracin and two friends in the La Bamba parking lot under false pretenses. Spaulding is accused of filing a false arrest report. Zullo, named in the indictment, pleaded guilty last year to a single count of filing a false police report after his cruiser was involved in a collision with a motorcycle.
Zullo will not be sentenced until the trial of Spaulding and Cari is finished.
The third incident occurred at the Latino-owned My Country Store at 677 Main St. on Feb 19, 2009. Cari arrested Rev. James Manship, pastor of St. Rose of Lima Church in New Haven, after Manship began videotaping Cari and Spaulding directing store employees to remove license plates attached to the wall.
Licensed immigration attorney Sister Mary Ellen Burns described at-length Monday her legal resume and her ties to Manship and the church. She acknowledged parishioners in the predominately Latino church had complained to Manship about the police in East Haven. Burns said she joined Manship in at least two meetings prior to his arrest where they spoke with Latinos and determined that one way to prove police harassment was to start filming.
From there, Hernandez questioned her about whether she thought communication was important to her job. She agreed, “not just religiously but in everyday lives,” she pointed out, and from there he led her to disclose that East Haven police officers were never invited to the two meetings.
Burns told Hernandez she warned Manship about interfering with police business but Hernandez then repeatedly questioned the extent of her criminal law background. 
More questioning led to an event not mentioned in the indictment.
Days before the My Country Store incident, Manship reportedly filmed Spaulding conducting a traffic stop. Spaulding’s report indicates Manship was standing between 5 and 10 feet away from his police cruiser. He told Manship several times to back away from his police cruiser, warning him about interfering. 
“Are you familiar with state statutes on stalking,” Hernandez asked Burns, to which she replied positively.
Another round of questioning dealt with Manship’s handheld 3-inch long camera, which Cari in his report claimed Manship was concealing. Hernandez had Burns answer questions about Manship’s height and the size of his hands. She estimated he stands at least 6-feet, 5-inches tall.

“Yes, I imagine his hands are proportionate size to his body,” she acknowledged.
In the video Cari can be heard asking Manship why he is filming.
Prosecutors later pointed out that the evidence bag holding the camera, which was in police possession for several weeks, did not list the times it was removed and inspected.
A second witness who oversees the software used by the East Haven Police Department also testified Monday. Timothy Murray, of East Haven-based NexGen Public Safety Solutions, said his company specializes in providing software for fire and police departments. As chief technology officer has can view whatever appears on department computer screens. 
Murray confirmed to prosecutor Richard J. Schechter that printed copies of in-cruiser computer correspondence between Zullo and Spaulding were accurate. The messages, archived since February 2009, show car-to-car chats. One message from Spaulding, posted more than a week after the My Country Store incident, shows he told Zullo “we are cops, we provoke, that’s our job, not to sit on our heels.”

Hernandez pointed out there was no evidence the message referred to the incident.
Monday’s trial saw several supporters and family members of Cari and Spaulding attend, including East Haven Police Detective Robert Ranfone. In an unrelated case, Ranfone was named in a lengthy internal affairs probe stemming from a January traffic stop in New Haven. Ranfone is currently awaiting a disciplinary hearing regarding the matter.
The trial will continue Tuesday at 9:30 a.m.

Murray will return to complete his testimony and several new witnesses will appear, including East Haven Police Capt. Joseph Slane and Sgt. George Kammerer.
Marin, the man prosecutors allege was beaten by Spaulding, will also testify.
The fourth officer arrested, Sgt. John Miller, pleaded guilty to lesser charges and will testify at a later date.

MPD officer charged with DUI back on the job, reports to jail on weekends

Thomas Ray was arrested in Fayette County in September 2012. He was accused of driving an ATV, getting into an accident leaving the scene, and having a handgun while intoxicated.

According to documents from Fayette County Circuit Court, on August 30, 2013, Ray entered a plea arrangement in which some counts were dismissed and for others, he got probation.

A felony vehicular assault indictment was pleaded down to misdemeanor reckless driving, for which he was not eligible for diversion. He was sentenced to 30 days in jail. It is time he will serve over the course of 15 weekends.

So far, he completed three weekends.

Ray reports to the Fayette County Jail on Friday and leaves on Sunday. During the week, he reports to his day job as a police officer with Memphis Police Department.

MPD says Ray is on non-enforcement status -- desk duty. He will not be professionally disciplined until after an administrative hearing, which thus far has not happened in this case.

Officer charged with stealing gas retires

A Pawtucket police officer charged with stealing gas from the city has retired, the NBC 10 I-Team reported.Ken Provost was on the job for more than 30 years before he was arrested and charged by state police this summer.He told NBC 10 he put in his retirement papers on Friday.State police said he was caught on tape pumping city gas into a personal car and gas can. He's free on personal recognizance and due in court Wednesday

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Another HPD Officer Charged With Oppression

(HOUSTON)– A grand jury indicts a Houston police officer for official oppression.Officer Garret Lindsey is accused of kicking a man in the head while handcuffed to a bench.  According to court documents, the incident happened in January.

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Clay County Sheriff Pleads Guilty to Federal Wiretapping Charge

U.S. Attorney’s Office September 17, 2013

Southern District of West Virginia (304) 345-2200

CHARLESTON, WV—Clay County Sheriff Miles J. Slack pleaded guilty today to illegal wiretapping, a federal felony, U.S. Attorney Booth Goodwin announced. Appearing today in federal district court, Mr. Slack, who resigned as sheriff last Friday as part of his plea agreement with Goodwin, admitted to surreptitiously installing a keystroke logger on a computer belonging to the Supreme Court of Appeals of West Virginia.
The compromised computer was a government computer assigned to Mr. Slack’s then-wife, Lisa Slack, who works in the office of a Clay County magistrate. Computers in the offices of circuit judges and magistrates throughout West Virginia are owned and maintained by the state’s Supreme Court and are connected to a central Supreme Court computer network.
Mr. and Ms. Slack were in the midst of a divorce when he illegally tapped her computer. Mr. Slack admitted that he intended to monitor his ex-wife’s activity on the computer, including messages she sent through Internet chat and e-mail programs. He said he also wanted to capture his ex-wife’s usernames and passwords for various Internet services. Mr. Slack acknowledged that the wiretap device he installed captured everything that was typed on his ex-wife’s computer, including information about court business and the personal information of defendants in Clay County magistrate court.
Mr. Slack installed the hidden device in late April of this year, and it remained in place for over two weeks.
“It’s a shame that Clay County’s chief law enforcement officer chose to illegally tap a government computer,” said U.S. Attorney Goodwin. “Our elected officials and law enforcement officers have to respect the law like everyone else. If they don’t, there are consequences.”
“These days, it seems like every detail of our lives is being bounced around the world on computer networks,” Goodwin continued. “Imagine learning that someone was secretly monitoring everything you did on your own computer, without any legal authority. It’s a very serious breach of privacy. That’s why the laws against wiretapping are so important.”
Keystroke logging devices can be purchased from a number of Internet-based sellers. The devices, usually one to two inches long, are attached to a computer’s keyboard cable. Once installed, they can intercept everything typed on the keyboard, including e-mail and information transmitted to Internet sites.
Because the devices are unobtrusive and normally hidden behind the computer targeted for surveillance, they can go undetected for long periods of time. Though small in size, some keystroke loggers can store two gigabytes of information, enough to record more than a billion keystrokes.
Slack served as a Clay County deputy sheriff for around 16 years. In early 2012, while acting as chief deputy for the Clay County Sheriff’s Department, Slack announced he was running for sheriff. Then-Sheriff Randy Holcomb, however, quickly demoted Slack to the rank of sergeant, a move that threatened Slack’s election bid. Under West Virginia civil service laws, deputy sheriffs other than the chief deputy may not run for public office. In order to remain in the race, Slack resigned from the department and became Chief of Police for Clay, West Virginia, the county seat of Clay County.
In the May 2012 primary election, Slack soundly defeated two other candidates for the Democratic nomination for sheriff, receiving nearly 78 percent of the vote. He ran unopposed in the November 2012 general election and took office January 1, 2013. Slack’s first projects as sheriff included expanding evening patrols and seeking funding for a new home confinement officer.
The case is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the West Virginia State Police, with assistance from the Supreme Court of Appeals of West Virginia. The prosecution is being led by Counsel to the United States Attorney Steven Ruby.
Slack faces up to five years in prison when he is sentenced on December 19, 2013, by United States District Judge John T. Copenhaver, Jr.

Former CCPD Officer Charged in Police Shooting

SELMA, TX - A former Corpus Christi police officer is facing charges for shooting two police officers outside San Antonio.
Authorities confirmed Jesse Hernandez Jr. used to work for CCPD. He was terminated about five years ago for misconduct.
Late Thursday night, police in Selma say he opened fire on two of their officers who were responding to a domestic disturbance call at a home where Hernandez was staying with his wife and kids. One of the officers fired back, hitting Hernandez twice. He was taken to the hospital and is now in Bexar county jail facing charges for aggravated assault on a public servant.
Both officers are expected to be okay.
In 2007, Hernandez was placed on administrative leave after shooting two suspects who rammed his patrol car.

police officer returning to work after plea of guilty

GALION — A veteran Galion police officer will return to work later this week after pleading guilty to dereliction of duty.
John Bourne, who has been on the force for seven years, pleaded guilty Thursday in Crawford County Municipal Court. He received a suspended 30-day jail sentence, was placed on non-reporting probation and ordered to pay court costs.
He pleaded guilty as charged to a fourth-degree misdemeanor.
Bourne was accused of stealing money from a resident during an arrest. He has been on paid administrative leave since Aug. 14.
On Aug. 4, Bourne and his partner, Officer Andrew Knee, went to a residence in the 300 block of Grove looking for a man wanted on a warrant. They contacted a 42-year-old man who was acting suspiciously, according to the police report.
When Bourne approached the man, he became “fidgety,” ran inside and admitted flushing an eighth of an ounce of marijuana down the toilet, police said.
Bourne arrested the man on charges of tampering with evidence and obstructing official business and seized more than $700 from him.
The next day, the Crawford County Prosecutor’s Office said it would not be charging the man and advised police to release him and return his property.
“(The prosecutor’s office) said the officer didn’t have reason to go into the house,” Galion police Chief Brian Saterfield previously told the News Journal.
The man was released Aug. 5, but didn’t get his property back until Aug. 13. He alleged that not all of his money had been returned and that he believed Bourne stole it.
While the man never made a formal, written complaint, Bourne was placed on paid leave.
Saterfield said Bourne probably would return to work Friday.
“It’s pretty much resolved,” the chief said.
Saterfield said he had no qualms about Bourne coming back to work. He declined further comment.
Bucyrus Law Director Robert Ratliff said he did not know if Bourne took any money and explained the charge.
“It’s essentially a negligent charge,” Ratliff said. “This seemed like the proper resolution.”

The Madison Police Department has suspended an officer couple

MADISON (AP) — The Madison Police Department has suspended an officer couple after a shooting incident involving alcohol at their home in rural Columbia County.

Investigators said Friday that Officers Gary and Emily House, who are married, were socializing with acquaintances Jan. 3. During the evening, their guns were fired from the backyard toward an unpopulated area.

Investigators believe no one was in danger, but Columbia County sheriff's deputies called to the scene determined that Cary House fired a gun under the influence. He was arrested on suspicion of intoxicated use of a firearm. He pleaded no contest to disorderly conduct and paid a $200 fine.

Internal affairs investigators found that Emily House had likely driven a vehicle while intoxicated the same evening. She was not charged but received a reprimand.

The investigation summary said Cary House was suspended without pay for 30 days, with 10 days held in abeyance for one year, for violating department policies involving firearms safety, unlawful conduct and the care and use of city-owned property.

Emily House was suspended for nine days without pay, with three days held in abeyance, for violating department policies involving unlawful conduct and firearms safety. Police said she handled but didn't fire a gun in the incident.

The investigation summary noted that Cary House was hired by the police department in 2008 and had four commendations on his record, while Emily House was hired in 2007 and had received 13 commendations.

Officer Suspended Criminal Investigation

LAKELAND | Another Lakeland police officer is under criminal investigation, although the department won't confirm what the case involves, Assistant Police Chief Larry Giddens said Monday.

A source, who asked not to be named, told The Ledger the allegations are of a sexual nature and happened while on duty.

The subject of the investigation, Julio Pagan, 31, was suspended with pay Friday night, Giddens said. The seriousness of the allegations facing Pagan caused Chief Lisa Womack to cancel her vacation plans.

"This is an active administrative and criminal investigation that is ongoing," Giddens said. "We will not be releasing any information about this case until the conclusion of the investigation."

Pagan, formerly of the Bartow Police Department, was hired by LPD in 2011 and is paid $43,789, according to LPD records. He did not return a call for comment Monday.

Pagan worked as a Bartow police officer from 2006 to 2011, when he left on good terms to take the job at LPD, according to Bartow's records.

LPD Detective Nick Marolda, who also is the president of the West Central Florida Police Benevolent Association, said he is aware of the investigation and said the union is waiting to hear the outcome of the criminal investigation before taking any steps to represent Pagan.

Following department policy, the criminal investigation into Pagan will be conducted before the administrative investigation begins.

The allegations are not part of the ongoing sexual misconduct scandal that has plagued the department for months, Giddens said. "This is a separate incident."Pagan's case comes as the department wraps up its monthslong investigation into sexual misconduct on and off duty by numerous officers and city employees. This new case also comes after numerous reforms in policy and procedure were put into place by Womack, who emphasized officer ethics at a recent presentation to the Lakeland Police Advisory Commission.

The advisory board is compiling its final report to present to the City Commission next month. The commission, which is made up of volunteers, was created by Lakeland Mayor Gow Fields and is tasked with reviewing a multitude of problems at LPD, including the large sexual-misconduct case involving numerous employees, and recommending reforms.

Officer with Alvarado Police Department Admits Leaking Law Enforcement Sensitive Information in Anabolic Steroid Investigation

U.S. Attorney’s Office September 17, 2013

Northern District of Texas (214) 659-8600

DALLAS—Brent Dickey, 42, an officer with the Alvarado, Texas Police Department, appeared in federal court today and pleaded guilty to an Information charging one count of misprision of a felony. He faces a maximum statutory penalty of three years in federal prison and a $250,000 fine. Dickey, a resident of Burleson, Texas, will remain on bond pending sentencing, which is set for January 8, 2014, before U.S. District Judge Ed Kinkeade. Today’s announcement was made by U.S. Attorney Sarah R. Saldaña of the Northern District of Texas.
According to documents filed in the case, in February 2010, Dickey was assigned to the Stop The Offender Program-Special Crimes Unit (STOP-SCU), a Johnson County law enforcement task force that investigated drug crimes occurring in the county. Dickey knew that a particular individual, Person A, was unlawfully distributing anabolic steroids, and he failed to make this felony known to some judge or other person in civil or military authority under the United States, such as a federal grand jury or an FBI agent.
On February 5, 2010, another STOP-SCU task force officer received information that Person A was unlawfully distributing anabolic steroids. This task force officer told Dickey that he planned to make a case against, and arrest, Person A. Unbeknownst to this task force officer, Person A had been supplying Dickey with anabolic steroids.
Two days later, Dickey went to Person A’s home and leaked this law enforcement sensitive information to Person A so that Person A would avoid getting caught, arrested or prosecuted, for this felony drug offense.
The FBI and the Texas Ranger Division of the Texas Department of Public Safety are investigating. Deputy Criminal Chief Assistant U.S. Attorney Gary Tromblay and Assistant U.S. Attorney J. Mark Penley are in charge of the prosecution.