Federal attorneys have charged a Columbus police officer, who already is under federal investigation for misappropriating surplus government property, with threatening to shoot or stab his attorney.
Steven Dean, 49, was in federal court this afternoon on a felony count of communicating a threat. He is accused of telephoning and e-mailing the threats to his attorney, Mark Collins, on Wednesday.
Federal Magistrate Judge Terence P. Kemp ordered Dean to remain in custody after Assistant U.S. Attorney Deborah A. Solove said he is a danger to himself and to the community.
Dean, who appeared without an attorney, is scheduled for a bond hearing on Tuesday.
Dean was arrested peacefully yesterday at his home at 2940 Blossom Ave. on a state charge of aggravated menacing. Federal attorneys asked today that the charge be dropped so the federal count could be filed.
The federal case against Dean is sealed and U.S. attorneys would not discuss it today or say if other charges are pending against Dean.
Dean and at least one other officer have been under investigation for more than a year after Columbus Police Chief Kim Jacobs discovered “potential irregularities” in the handling of military surplus given to the division through a federal program.
The criminal investigation began within the Division of Police but was then handed over to the FBI, said Sgt. Rich Weiner, a division spokesman.
Surplus property the department has received includes computers, bulldozers, trucks and forklifts.
We called the Fairfax County police for help....the punks they sent threatened to arrest us. One cop tells my wife that if she keeps crying he'll arrest her and the other cop, La Forge or something, says to me "You call the police this what you get" I said that was wrong and he said "Go ahead, say more fuck'n thing prick" and I thought "Well if you insist".
Officer suspended, investigation underway into possible excessive force
KANSAS CITY, MO (KCTV) -
What happened to a man is now raising questions about whether Kansas City police went too far.
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The incident happened at 24th Street and Cypress Avenue in the middle of the afternoon Oct. 5. Witnesses said they saw a man jump out of a car and take off running with officers chasing behind. The chase ended around the corner and it left one officer suspended while an investigation continues of possible excessive force.
On the October afternoon police said they spotted Alfredo Ponce driving a car they believe had just been stolen in an armed robbery. They stopped the car at 24th and Cypress, but said Pone ran and then turned to fight police.
A witness said Ponce swung first against the officers.
"I saw the young man tee'd off on the police, he got him, he got him good," Bobbi Ealom said.
But that wasn't the end of the situation.
"They both rushed him, and he come up this way running. They caught him up here and beat him down," Ealom said.
Ponce's mug shot after the incident shows a black and blue eye and bruising on other parts of his face. He is being held at the Jackson County Jail.
When asked about the incident, police spokesman Capt. Tye Grant gave the following statement.
"During an internal review of the arrest information, which is a normal internal process, it was determined that an officer who was involved in the arrest responded in a manner that required further review. This review is currently being investigated as a possible criminal offense of assault."
No charges have been filed against the officer, so police are not releasing his name.
"When you see someone get hurt like that, it's upsetting," Ealom said.
She said the case could hurt how some people see the police around her neighborhood, but she said that won't change things for her.
"Well, to be truthful, if you wouldn't have stolen the car, hit the cop, it wouldn't have never happened," Ealom said.
Officers in two other counties have arrested Ponce in the past.
The Jackson County Prosecutor's Office would not confirm Friday whether they are looking into the case.
What happened to a man is now raising questions about whether Kansas City police went too far.
MOREAdditional Links
On the October afternoon police said they spotted Alfredo Ponce driving a car they believe had just been stolen in an armed robbery. They stopped the car at 24th and Cypress, but said Pone ran and then turned to fight police.
A witness said Ponce swung first against the officers.
"I saw the young man tee'd off on the police, he got him, he got him good," Bobbi Ealom said.
But that wasn't the end of the situation.
"They both rushed him, and he come up this way running. They caught him up here and beat him down," Ealom said.
Ponce's mug shot after the incident shows a black and blue eye and bruising on other parts of his face. He is being held at the Jackson County Jail.
When asked about the incident, police spokesman Capt. Tye Grant gave the following statement.
"During an internal review of the arrest information, which is a normal internal process, it was determined that an officer who was involved in the arrest responded in a manner that required further review. This review is currently being investigated as a possible criminal offense of assault."
No charges have been filed against the officer, so police are not releasing his name.
"When you see someone get hurt like that, it's upsetting," Ealom said.
She said the case could hurt how some people see the police around her neighborhood, but she said that won't change things for her.
"Well, to be truthful, if you wouldn't have stolen the car, hit the cop, it wouldn't have never happened," Ealom said.
Officers in two other counties have arrested Ponce in the past.
The Jackson County Prosecutor's Office would not confirm Friday whether they are looking into the case.