Police State

Principal, sheriff’s deputy sued after arresting student having seizure

"A vice principal at an Upper Kanawha Valley high school and a sheriff’s deputy assigned to it are accused of falsely imprisoning and arresting a special education student. Andrew Johnson, vice principal at Riverside High School, and Cpl. Richard Lane are named as co-defendants in civil rights suit filed by Betsy Frame. In her suit, filed Sept. 10 in Kanawha Circuit Court, Frame, 41 and a Belle resident, alleges Johnson and Lane illegally detained and arrested her daughter nearly two years ago when they mistook her reaction to waking up from a seizure-induced nap as an act of aggression." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingPrincipal, sheriff’s deputy sued after arresting student having seizure

Officer convicted of assault after shooting and killing man and his dog

"Virgillo’s version of events had Chrisman barging into the trailer after Rodriguez had asked for a warrant, with Chrisman putting his weapon to Rodriguez’s head and responding that the gun served as his warrant. Rodriguez’s mother, Elvira Fernandez, took the witness stand when jurors were asked to determine whether Chrisman’s decision to point a gun at the head of Rodriguez caused emotional distress for Rodriguez’s family. Fernandez was moved to tears as she described her guilt over calling police that afternoon to report that her son had thrown something against the wall of their trailer and scared her, telling jurors that she thinks every day of her decision to call police." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingOfficer convicted of assault after shooting and killing man and his dog

Former deputy gets two weeks work-release for burglary

"A former Snohomish County sheriff's deputy convicted of burglary was sentenced Friday to two weeks on work release. A King County Superior Court judge granted James Hager a first-time offender waiver, allowing him to participate in work release. He faced up to three months in jail. A jury convicted Hager of second-degree burglary. He was accused of stealing a wood-burning stove, stove pipe and some cedar flooring from a vacation home in the Skykomish area. Hager was off-duty at the time. When the allegations surfaced in November he was placed on administrative leave. Hager was fired in January. He had been a deputy for six years." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingFormer deputy gets two weeks work-release for burglary

Former MNPD Officer Attempted Child Porn Framing Of Ex-Girlfriend

"A former Metropolitan Nashville Police officer was arrested after authorities said he used his resources as a cop to try to get his ex-girlfriend fired from her job. In April, authorities said McShepard sent an anonymous letter to the Commissioner of the Department of Children's Services making allegations of prostitution and pornography against a DCS employee. The letter contained confidential biographical information and provocative photos of the employee, who was McShepard's ex-girlfriend. An investigation proved those allegations were unfounded and that McShepard sent the information in attempt to cause her harm at work after they broke up." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingFormer MNPD Officer Attempted Child Porn Framing Of Ex-Girlfriend

Lawsuit settled accusing former police officer of stalking in uniform

"The city of Roseville has settled a lawsuit accusing a former police officer of stalking and harassing a married Roseville woman while he was on duty and in full uniform. The lawsuit, filed in July, accuses former Roseville police officer Tom Cabral of using his authority to stalk a woman he was sexually obsessed with. Court documents describe the story from the perspective of plaintiffs Victoria Guthrie and her husband Matthew Tullgren. They claim Cabral committed a series of major ethical violations while attempting to establish a sexual relationship with Guthrie. When she filed a complaint with the department, the couple said Roseville police officers ransacked their apartment." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingLawsuit settled accusing former police officer of stalking in uniform

Veteran Sacramento Sheriff’s Deputy Arrested For Child Molestation

"A Sacramento County Sheriff’s deputy was arrested on lewd acts with a child charges, authorities confirmed Tuesday evening. Deputy Donald Black – a 23-year veteran of the department – was arrested by Nevada County deputies Tuesday and booked into Nevada County Jail, the Nevada County Sheriff’s Office says. He faces five counts of lewd acts with a child under 14 charges. The case was a Nevada County investigation. Sacramento Sheriff’s say they are cooperating fully with the case. So far there is only one known victim, but investigators are looking if there are more. Black is on paid administrative leave." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingVeteran Sacramento Sheriff’s Deputy Arrested For Child Molestation

$3.4M settlement in deadly 2011 SWAT raid near Tucson

"The family of a man killed in a barrage of gunfire during a SWAT raid at a home southwest of Tucson has settled a lawsuit with four police agencies involved in the operation. Guerena, 26, was shot and killed by SWAT team members on May 5, 2011, when they raided his house. The former Marine had been asleep after working a night shift and was awakened by his wife, who thought intruders were in the yard. He was holding an AR-15 rifle when he was shot. A spokeswoman for the Pima County Sheriff’s Department disagreed with the decision to settle, but hinted a prolonged trial could wind up costing taxpayers even more." Continue reading →

Continue Reading$3.4M settlement in deadly 2011 SWAT raid near Tucson

Mahoning County sheriff’s deputy sentenced for drunk driving

"A Mahoning County sheriff's deputy is sentenced after being convicted of drunk driving. A judge in county court on Tuesday found 53-year old Kenneth O'Rourke of Canfield guilty of operating a vehicle under the influence. O'Rourke was fined $500 and placed on probation for five years. O'Rourke, a six-year veteran of the department, was arrested in May at Raccoon and Mellinger Roads in Canfield after his car hit an unoccupied vehicle. O'Rourke was off duty at the time. His blood alcohol level was more than three times the legal limit. At the time, Sheriff Jerry Greene placed O'Rourke on paid administrative leave." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingMahoning County sheriff’s deputy sentenced for drunk driving

Police in Peel Region using city buses to nab distracted drivers

"Did you hear Peel Regional Police officers are sitting on Mississauga buses and spying on would-be distracted drivers in cars below? Sound like something out of East Berlin when they were behind the wall. But it’s true. Be warned, if you are talking or texting while driving in Mississauga look up and smile if you notice a MiWay bus driving by you. Or quickly hide that smartphone, iPad, burrito, coffee or burger. But if you are soon pulled over by Peel copper and get a ticket you will know it was too late. Gotchya. Big Brother at work with a little help from public transit." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingPolice in Peel Region using city buses to nab distracted drivers

Charges reduced for officer who ran over teens while fiddling with phone

"Felony hit-and-run charges against fired Manchester police sergeant Stephen Coco have been reduced to misdemeanors, charges that would allow the 17-year police veteran to avoid a state prison sentence in the high-profile case. Last Thursday, the special prosecutor in the case filed Class A misdemeanor charges of vehicular assault against Coco, claiming he was fiddling with a cell phone last March when he hit two Bedford teenagers outside their Harrod Lane homes. He was driving an unmarked Manchester police vehicle at the time." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingCharges reduced for officer who ran over teens while fiddling with phone