Mainstream News

Officer indicted for illegal drug prescriptions, fake disability claims

"Authorities say Driscoll, who was in his police uniform, went to a CVS Pharmacy in Burlington on July 10, seeking to obtain Percocet pills. Burlington police were notified and an investigation was launched. Officials allege Driscoll had presented five fraudulent prescriptions to CVS pharmacy between May and July of 2013, and that he received more than 260 Percocet tablets through these false prescriptions. Officials said they also learned Driscoll passed false prescriptions for pain medication at an Osco Pharmacy in a Burlington supermarket. In all but one instance, Driscoll is accused of dropping off and picked up medications while in his police uniform." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingOfficer indicted for illegal drug prescriptions, fake disability claims

Delcambre officer accused of altering pain med prescriptions

"A Delcambre police officer has been arrested after being accused of altering his pain medication prescriptions. Police Chief James Broussard asked Louisiana State Police to investigate, and state police detectives discovered Raleigh Cheramie, 38, altered his prescriptions seven times between March 2013 and August 2013, according to Trooper Stephen Hammons. 'He would alter them so he could receive more than the prescribed number of pills,' he said." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingDelcambre officer accused of altering pain med prescriptions

Lawsuit Claims New Haven Police Violated Civil Rights

"According to his attorney, Diane Polan, Luna was riding his bike on Crown Street on the morning of Sept. 25, 2011, when he noticed the incident and stopped to record it on his iPhone. It's not clear exactly what Luna saw, but Polan said he 'observed several police officers interacting with civilians.' Those officers confronted Luna and placed him under arrest. His phone was confiscated and the video erased, according to Polan. Polan said Luna is a former photojournalist. He was charged with interfering with an officer and was held overnight at the police department. The charges were brought before the New Haven Superior Court and later dropped." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingLawsuit Claims New Haven Police Violated Civil Rights

Brazilian district bans sales of toy guns to ‘change the culture of violence’

"A Brazilian territory is believed to have become the first region in Latin America to ban the sale of toy guns as the country attempts to staunch an epidemic of firearm-related crime. The initiative to ban the sale and manufacture of toy guns was part of a government program to protect victims of violence. Children were asked to turn over their toy guns in exchange for a book. Local authorities set a four-month deadline and provided trade incentives to stores saddled with stocks of toy guns they can no longer sell. In 2005, the government of then president Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva (2003-2010) called a referendum to ban the sale of firearms nationwide, but 64 percent voted against." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingBrazilian district bans sales of toy guns to ‘change the culture of violence’

Victim in bra-shakedown case: Officer got off easy

"The case dates back to May 21 when Officer Dustin Fetz asked Zoe Brugger to shake out her bra during a traffic stop. A report released to the media on Wednesday afternoon revealed the results of an FBI investigation that Fertz did not violate Brugger’s civil rights. The report also said Officer Fetz would be retrained. Chief Lisa Womack did decide to suspend Fetz for one day. Earlier this month, the State Attorney called Fetz’s actions 'demeaning' and 'egregious.' Fetz pulled Brugger and her boyfriend over for a broken headlight but at one point believed Brugger may have had drugs so he asked her to 'pull her shirt up, pull her bra out from her breasts, and to shake.' Fetz never found any drugs." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingVictim in bra-shakedown case: Officer got off easy

Pittsburgh Residents Being Fined For Parking In Their Own Driveway

"It sounds absurd: tickets and warning letters for parking in your own driveway. But Pittsburgh City Councilman Corey O’Connor says it’s happened on two city streets – one in the West End and one in Squirrel Hill. A pregnant mother of seven who lives across the street is trying to follow the rule, but can’t get out of the driver’s side of her van anymore. She has to crawl out of the passenger’s side when she parks the vehicle between her home and her neighbor’s. O’Connor says the tickets and warning letters are issued by the Bureau of Building Inspection. KDKA was unable to reach anyone from that office Wednesday night. He says one family ended up paying a $2,400 fine." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingPittsburgh Residents Being Fined For Parking In Their Own Driveway

Police run over and kill man after running from alleged seatbelt violation

"The family of a Florida man killed by a police cruiser during a pursuit released shocking dash cam footage of the incident on Wednesday, described by their attorney as an 'execution in a vegetable garden.' Marlon Brown, 38 and a father of three, died on May 8 under the car driven by DeLand officer James Harris, who was chasing Brown over a seat-belt violation. The rookie policeman was fired May 31. Last week a grand jury decided not to indict Harris. On Wednesday Brown's ex-wife, Krystal Brown, released the video of the fatal crash and stated: 'We feel betrayed by our criminal justice system.'" Continue reading →

Continue ReadingPolice run over and kill man after running from alleged seatbelt violation

Family of bystander killed during high-speed police chase sues police

"Mr. Collins, 64, was killed when a Toledo police cruiser smashed head-on into his vehicle as he was driving north on I-75. The cruiser, driven by Officer David O’Brien, was chasing Brian Everett Lipp, 48, of Lambertville when Lipp drove the wrong way onto I-75 and Officer O’Brien followed him. Lipp, who was ultimately shot and killed by police later that day, had been pursued for two days by police as a suspect in a home invasion and two robberies. The suit contends that the city and the police department treated Mr. Collins’ death as a mere traffic accident, did not investigate it or present it to a grand jury, and did not contact the family to express regrets or offer assistance of any kind." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingFamily of bystander killed during high-speed police chase sues police

Woman sues officers for seizing $31,000 cash from real estate sale

"The suit said Dutton was traveling from Azle to Amarillo to visit a friend when Fry pulled her over for a suspected speeding violation. Fry claimed he smelled marijuana in the vehicle and asked to search it, but Dutton refused. Dutton told the officers that the money they found inside the vehicle, still wrapped in bank wrappings, was the proceeds from a recent real estate transaction. Later, Jolly arrived with a drug dog that alerted on Fry’s vehicle and the officers seized more than $31,000 in cash from the pickup, the suit said. In January, District Attorney Luke Inman’s office refused to accept charges in the case." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingWoman sues officers for seizing $31,000 cash from real estate sale

Kentwood police chief pleads not guilty to stealing burglary proceeds

"Kentwood Police Chief Gregory Newton, arrested earlier this year in an evidence tampering case, pleaded not guilty Thursday in 21st Judicial District Court. Newton, 59, was arrested following a citizen’s complaint that $2,000 was missing from money recovered in a burglary in late 2012, State Police has reported. Newton and another officer drove to Pike County, Miss., to retrieve $11,000 that was confiscated from two juveniles accused of stealing the money, state police said, but only $9,000 was returned to the victim of the burglary. Newton remains free in lieu of $50,000 bail. If convicted, he faces up to five years and a fine of up to $5,000 on each count." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingKentwood police chief pleads not guilty to stealing burglary proceeds