KING CITY, Calif. —Prosecutors revealed details
Thursday on how a car-towing scheme was allegedly masterminded by King City
Police Sgt. Bobby Carrillo.
Before the Monterey County District Attorney put
six King City police officers in jail in February, Bruce Miller was the Acting
Police Chief, and his brother, Brian Miller, owned a tow yard company.
While testifying on Thursday, Brian Miller told the
court that he met Carrillo in 2009, when the police sergeant began stopping by
his tow yard to say hi.
One day, Carrillo stopped by and mentioned that he
liked a 2001 Ford Expedition that was in the tow yard and wanted it for his
wife, Brian Miller testified.
Carrillo then asked Brian Miller if he would
"make a deal," in which Carrillo would pull over vehicles while out
on patrol, order the cars be towed by Miller's Towing, and get free cars in exchange.
Prosecutors said Carrillo made a lot of unnecessary
traffic stops to carry out this scheme. He also intentionally did not follow
the police department's policy of calling dispatch before ordering a vehicle to
be impounded. Brian Miller said Carrillo got him 20 cars in just one
weekend.
Carrillo received eight cars for free, prosecutors
said, and he either sold them for cash or gave them away to other police
officers.
Prosecutors said Bruce Miller was eventually looped
into the scheme when Carrillo arraigned for the chief to receive a 1995 Nissan
Maxima for free that was seized in a drug bust.
District Attorney Dean Flippo said the scheme
targeted the most vulnerable residents in King City. Car owners never got their
cars back because they could not afford to pay impound fees or could not speak
English.
"The victims were economically disadvantaged
persons of Hispanic descent who were targeted by having their vehicles
impounded, towed and stored by Miller's Towing," Flippo said in
February.
"Some officers dishonored their badge. Any
time you end up investigating those who are sworn to uphold the law and treat
everyone fairly -- and you have violations of that oath -- that is
difficult," Flippo said.
Charges against the seven are:
Sgt. Bobby Carrillo: Conspiracy to commit a crime.
Accepting a bribe. Bribing an executive officer.
Acting Police Chief Bruce Miller: Accepting a bribe.
Civilian Brian Miller, Owner of Miller’s Towing and brother of Bruce Miller: Conspiracy to commit a crime. Bribing an executive officer.
Former Chief Nick Baldiviez: Embezzlement by a public officer.
Officer Mario Alonso Mottu, Sr.: Embezzlement a by public officer.
Officer Jaime Andrade: Possession of an assault weapon. Illegal storage of a firearm.
Sgt. Mark Allen Baker: Making criminal threats.
Acting Police Chief Bruce Miller: Accepting a bribe.
Civilian Brian Miller, Owner of Miller’s Towing and brother of Bruce Miller: Conspiracy to commit a crime. Bribing an executive officer.
Former Chief Nick Baldiviez: Embezzlement by a public officer.
Officer Mario Alonso Mottu, Sr.: Embezzlement a by public officer.
Officer Jaime Andrade: Possession of an assault weapon. Illegal storage of a firearm.
Sgt. Mark Allen Baker: Making criminal threats.