Ewing police officer commits suicide in parking lot of police headquarters

EWING — A Ewing police officer shot himself to death this morning in the parking lot behind police headquarters, authorities said.

Officer Matthew Wallace, 39, a 14-year law enforcement veteran, committed suicide around 2:30 a.m. at the township's complex on Jake Garzio Drive, Mercer County First Assistant Prosecutor Angelo Onofri said.

Wallace was off-duty when he died from a single gunshot to the head, authorities said. His body was discovered by a fellow police officer, the prosecutor's office said in a news release.

Wallace's death was investigated at the scene by the prosecutor’s office, New Jersey State Police and the Ewing police, and the county medical examiner ruled the death a suicide, the release said.

Wallace lived in Westampton Township, was married and had children, Onofri said.

"I knew Matthew for a very long time. I coached him in soccer since he was 7 years old,"
Ewing Mayor Bert Steinmann said this morning. "It's a tragedy and it's a tremendous loss not only for the department but also for the community. his is the saddest day I’ve had as mayor."

Steinmann described Wallace as an outstanding officer. Wallace was not on duty at the time of the incident and a sergeant found him in the parking lot, Steinmann said.

Wallace received numerous awards and commendations including several Chief Commendations Awards along with an Exceptional Duty Medal.

In 2008, Wallace was one of five Ewing officers who helped rescue a 79-year-old woman from a burning home by carrying her in a wheelchair from the flames.

Officer Fred Dow, the Ewing PBA president, was one of the police trainers who brought Wallace onto the job.

"He was just a happy, outgoing guy. And he just had a smile on his face,” Dow said. “Everybody’s taking it really hard. We’re trying to do the best we can for his family.”

Onofri said the suicide occurred near the animal shelter behind the municipal building, where police headquarters are located. Wallace’s family was notified this morning, he said.

Mercer County Prosecutor Joseph Bocchini Jr. said this afternoon that Wallace was a “well-respected and well-liked member of the Ewing Police Department.”

“Matt was a caring and dedicated police officer who served the Ewing Police Department with distinction,” Bocchini said in a press release. “He was known as being the first person to volunteer for assignments and no job was ever too tough for him to handle. He will be greatly missed.”

Wallace was born and raised in Ewing and is a graduate of the public schools there, the release said. He attended Mercer County Community College, majoring in criminal justice.

Wallace was hired by the Ewing police in 1999 and assigned to the Patrol Division, where he worked the bike patrol. He was also a certified telecommunications operator and a certified Alcotest operator.

“Matt was a good cop and a very likeable guy. He will be missed by our entire police department. This event can only be summed up by one word: tragic. Our thoughts and prayers will be with Matt and his family,” Lt. Ronald P. Lunetta, the department's Officer in Charge, said in a release.

Ohio Cop Put on Paid Leave After Crazy Arrest Video Goes Viral

A police officer in Toledo, Ohio has been placed on paid leave after a video depicting him forcing people on the ground and brandishing a taser at them went viral this month. Officer Eric Hart is merely being placed on administrative leave while the Washington Township police conduct an investigation.

Hart reportedly stopped a vehicle for having an “altered” license registration sticker, at which point another local resident got out of his car and told Hart, “I’m fucking sick of you cops.” That’s when it got ugly.

Officer Hart wrote in the report that he ordered Mr. [Aaron] Tatkowski to get back; when he allegedly refused, the officer said he pointed his stun gun at Mr. Tatkowski, who yelled for spectators to videotape the encounter. The passenger from the first vehicle, Cassandra Meyers, got out of the vehicle and approached the officer, who had Mr. Tatkowski handcuffed on the ground.

The officer wrote he had his gun out and pointed through open vehicle doors.

The viral video shows Hart handcuffing the man on the ground.

 In the video, a nearby witness places a call to Toledo police, but Hart angrily confronts him and tosses his phone aside, saying it won’t be necessary.

One other person piped up, “What you’re saying is you don’t need witnesses?” Hart responded, “It’s all on camera anyway.”

Good idea to prevent crazy from getting out of hand

Phoenix officer who shot man, dog during domestic call convicted of aggravated assault

PHOENIX — A Phoenix police officer charged with fatally shooting an unarmed man during a violent confrontation at a Phoenix mobile home three years ago was found guilty of an assault charge Tuesday that could send him to prison for several years, but avoided conviction on a second-degree murder count.

Jurors hearing the case against Richard Chrisman deliberated for about four days before announcing their verdict Tuesday.

They were unable to reach a verdict on the murder charge, but convicted him of aggravated assault for putting a gun to victim Danny Rodriguez’s head when he questioned the officer about entering his house without a warrant.

Maricopa County Attorney Bill Montgomery said no decision has been made on whether to retry Chrisman on the second-degree murder and an animal cruelty charge for shooting the man’s dog. The jury also was deadlocked on that charge.

Chrisman was charged after his partner said he fatally shot Rodriguez and his dog without justification during the October 2010 encounter. Chrisman, a nine-year veteran of the force, was later fired.

He faced the aggravated assault with a deadly weapon charge for allegedly putting a gun to Rodriguez’s head. That charge carries a five- to 15-year sentence, with a presumptive term of 7½ years in state prison.

The jury reconvened Tuesday afternoon and found that the assault caused severe emotional harm to Rodriguez’s family. That finding will allow Judge Warren Granville to impose the maximum sentence. He set a status conference for Oct. 18.

In court Tuesday, Chrisman wore a dark suit and showed no reaction as the verdict was read. At one point before jurors entered the courtroom, he reached back and squeezed the hand of his wife, who was seated behind him. Other Chrisman supporters at the hearing included more than a dozen off-duty police officers. Family members of Rodriguez sat in the front row on the other side.

After the verdict was read, Chrisman, 39, was taken into custody, and his wife broke down in sobs. Rodriguez’s mother, Elvira Fernandez, was hugged by a woman sitting with her and left the court without comment.

Prosecutor Juan Martinez and defense lawyer Craig Mehrens left without comment. Joe Clure, president of the police union, said he respected the jury’s work but disagreed with the verdict.

“I believe this decision exemplifies how difficult it is to be a cop today in this country,” Clure said.

He noted the trial lasted more than a month, and jurors deliberated for four days. “Rich had a split second to make his decision,” Clure said.

The case, to a large degree, boiled down to conflicting accounts from Chrisman and his partner, officer Sergio Virgillo — the only two people, besides Rodriguez, inside the trailer to witness the escalating confrontation.

Rodriguez’s mother had called police to the home on Oct. 5, 2010, saying her son was violent.

Chrisman and Virgillo confronted Rodriguez at the door of his mother’s trailer, and Chrisman forced his way inside.

Rodriguez asked to see a warrant, and prosecutors said Chrisman then put his pistol against Rodriguez’s head and told him he didn’t need one. Mehrens told jurors that didn’t happen, but Martinez said DNA on the officer’s pistol and a bruise on the dead man’s temple show it happened the way Virgillo testified.

The two officers had difficulty controlling Rodriguez, and both fired their stun guns with little effect. Chrisman used pepper spray on Rodriguez, then shot his dog. Prosecutors say the animal was not threatening the officers.

Virgillo said Rodriguez then got his bicycle and tried to leave the tiny trailer home, but Chrisman wouldn’t allow it, and a tussle began. Virgillo testified that Rodriguez was backing away and no longer a threat when Chrisman fired. 

LRPD Officer Charged with Manslaughter Denied Recusal

LITTLE ROCK, AR -- A judge has denied a recusal request submitted by a former Little Rock Police officer charged with manslaughter.

Josh Hastings, scheduled for retrial Sept. 16, filed a motion Tuesday to dismiss the court based on what appeared to be a clerical error.

According to an order filed on Wednesday, the law clerk sent an email to the State and Judge Wendell Griffen to "confirm that both the Prosecution and Defense had complied with the Court Order entered August 27 regarding disclosure of expert witnesses," but not to the defense.

Hastings defense says the clerk's inquiry "creates the appearance of partiality" and violates a rule of the Arkansas Code of Judicial Conduct (ACJC).

Griffen's order rejects the claims, citing the same rule of ACJC, which states that a judge is permitted to communicate with only one of the parties if the matter being discussed involves scheduling, provided he or she believes neither party will gain an advantage as a result of the communications.

The order goes on to say the law clerk harmlessly omitted the defense in the email, and that the same email was later forwarded to Hastings' lead defense counsel from the lead prosecutor.

Jupiter Police Officer Charged with Beating a Suspect

Officer Kevin Jacko goes to court on Thursday to face charges in alleged beating of Cody Blankenship. A Jupiter police officer surrendered to authorities on Wednesday, following an independent probe into allegations that he beat a suspect in custody.

43-year old Kevin Jacko is charged with aggravated battery with a deadly weapon after the June incident. The alleged victim, 24-year old Cody Ross Blankenship, had been arrested for resisting arrest with violence, battery on an officer and trespassing. 

According to the Jupiter Police Department, Blankenship has a history of run-ins with authorities dating back to August of last year.

The Public Corruption Unit of the Palm Beach County State Attorney's Office opened an investigation into the alleged beating after Blankenship's mother accused the department of using excessive force.

Pelham officer fired for misconduct

PELHAM - A town police officer accused of numerous violations of department policy has been fired, the town announced on Wednesday.

Officer Eugene Stahl was terminated as of Tuesday.

Stahl, a Pelham officer for 12 years, was the focus of a public disciplinary hearing before selectmen last month, where he was accused of: Loudly berating a female drunken-driving suspect in a profanity-laced interrogation.

Drawing his gun on two apparently unarmed teens during a traffic stop.

Being heard by a Pelham police dispatcher on the radio speaking in a profane manner toward his superior officer, Lt. Brian McCarthy, and broadcasting his desire to punch one female civilian he encountered on duty "right in the face."

Crashing his cruiser while driving with unnecessary and "life-threatening" speed - at 50 mph above the listed 30 mph limit, according to the state police accident reconstruction team's report - en route to become the third officer to respond to a Pelham homeowner's complaint.

The town said in a statement issued by Pelham police that there will be no further comment on the dismissal.

Attorney David Slawsky, representing Stahl before selectmen,said during the meeting that Police Chief Joseph Roark was attempting "to hang his case on four or five minutes of video in the 12-year career of this very fine police officer."

 

Memphis police officer fired after failure to show up for hearing

A troubled Memphis police officer was fired this week after he failed to show up for his hearing on departmental charges.
Jason Webb, 39, was fired Monday, Memphis Police Department spokesman Sgt. Karen Rudolph said. He faced charges of violating departmental policy on personal conduct as well as being under criminal investigation.
He can appeal his termination with the Civil Service Commission.
Webb was indicted in July on four counts of solicitation of a minor as well as patronizing prostitution of a minor. A former member of the department’s TACT unit, Webb was suspended with pay at that time.
This makes the second time Webb has been fired from the department. Last year he was accused of pointing a weapon at two other motorists after he ran a red light. During that incident, Webb was drunk and had cocaine in his system.
During a departmental hearing in which he faced 14 charges, Webb was fired for insubordination while also being suspended for 30 days on the other charges. However, Webb appealed his firing and an arbitrator reinstated him to the force earlier this year. Webb received full back pay.
That event also marked the second time Webb failed an MPD-issued drug test. On April 17, 2006, a drug test revealed that Webb had cocaine in his system. Webb denied using cocaine.
He was suspended nine days after being accused of attacking his estranged wife on June 27, 2010, when she came to pick up their children after a visitation at his Cordova apartment. The officer “choked and struck” his wife, three witnesses told police. Webb told investigators he only grabbed her wrist, but photos showed marks on both her wrist and neck.
During that investigation, officers discovered that Webb had been listed as a suspect in more than 15 reports that included harassment or child abuse/neglect. The bulk of those reports came from Fayette County, where Webb and his ex-wife had a home.
Webb was also behind in child support as well as bills associated with the couple’s Somerville home. Investigators found that Webb repeatedly drove his MPD vehicle to Somerville on personal business.

Officer charged with assault suspended indefinitely

SAN MARCOS, Texas (KXAN) - A San Marcos police officer who allegedly injured a woman he was arresting in May has been suspended indefinitely without pay from the department.
The department completed their investigation and handed down the suspension to Cpl. James Palermo on Aug. 23.

Palermo was charged with aggravated assault a month and a half after the May 29 attack against 22-year-old Lexy Alpha . The criminal charges are now in the hands of the district attorney's office.
Palermo was upset after Alpha had walked through an area where the he was conducting a traffic stop, a suspension letter from San Marcos Police Chief Howard Williams said. After an argument between the two broke out, Palermo told Alpha to turn around as he reached to grab her.
"You did not give her time to comply with your command, and you did not tell her of your intent to arrest her," Williams said. "Miss Alpha attempted to step back away from you, but you grabbed her upper torso and pushed her backwards against the trunk of (a parked) car.  Immediately, you grabbed her behind the neck and forced her face first onto the driveway."
Alpha suffered a concussion, two broken teeth and bad bruising to her jaw as a result of the alleged assault.
The Hays County District Attorney's office has since dismissed all three charges against Alpha.
The letter to Palermo also references a March 15 event in which the officer reached around the back of a handcuffed man's neck with both hands before forcing him to the ground.
Williams said in the letter Palermo gave no commands or an explanation to the man before taking him to the ground. The use of force was a violation of the the department's general orders.
About two minutes later, Palermo applied his TASER to the man's back while he was handcuffed, also a violation of the department's general orders, according to the memo.

Off-duty cop gets bail in fatal Bloomfield bar shooting

A Pittsburgh police officer on worker's compensation since 2010 posted bail on a criminal homicide charge for allegedly shooting a longtime friend during a drunken bar fight.

Officer Kenneth Farnan's defense attorney got a judge to set bond Thursday after arguing Farnan wasn't dangerous or likely to flee despite the serious charge.

Allegheny County Deputy District Attorney Lisa Pellegrini argued against Farnan's release, saying evidence doesn't support Farnan's contention that he shot his unarmed friend in self-defense.

Police say Farnan, 50, shot 56-year-old Shawn Evans early Sunday in Condrin's Tavern after Farnan accused Evans of hitting him in the head as Farnan was passing out from drinking shots of liquor.

Police say Farnan shot Evans as the men fought and fell to the floor. Farnan's preliminary hearing is Sept. 27.

City moves forward on police brutality settlements involving former Lt. Jon Burge

September 6, 2013 (CHICAGO) (WLS) -- Chicago's city council moves forward Friday with plans to settle two more police torture lawsuits involving former Lieutenant Jon Burge.

On Friday, attorneys representing two men who say they were tortured by the police officer and were sent to prison for crimes they did not commit spoke with ABC7.

In 2010, Jon Burge was convicted for lying in a civil case about his knowledge of torture. He had been a Chicago Police lieutenant and his now serving time. Most recently, his treatment of some arrested in the 1970s and 1980s has been the reason for the city paying millions of dollars to victims.

On Friday, the city's attorney recommended they settle two more cases.

Chicago aldermen move forward with a lawsuit settlement brought by two victims of police brutality.

"There are lives behind these torture victims, there are families behind them. Most of the time, poor families, if not all the time," said Ald. Joe Moreno, 1st Ward.

Ronald Kitchen was on death row for 13 years for murders he did not commit.

Kitchen was arrested in 1988 and sued the City of Chicago for torture and coercing a false confession by the infamous former police lieutenant Jon Burge.

In 2009, Kitchen's conviction was overturned.

Marvin Reeves also served more than 20 years in prison for murders he did not commit.

Reeves and Kitchen were convicted for five murders in 1988.

Both men sued the city for the brutal treatment by Burge and his officers and the resulting false convictions.

On Friday, the city's finance committee approved a twelve million dollar settlement for the men.

"He's appreciative of the settlement. He understands that is does not change the fact that he was wrongfully imprisoned for over twenty years," said Samantha Liskow, attorney for Marvin Reeves.

"To be able now to begin and continue a process of living in the future and no longer living in the nightmare that was unfortunately Ronald Kitchen's past is a blessing," said Locke Bowman, attorney for Ronald Kitchen.

"Until there is an apology and there's full reparations to all the victims of torture, this issue is not resolved," said Flint Taylor, attorney for Ronald Kitchen.

Some aldermen shared frustration with a series of lawsuit settlements and that the city still pays Burge's pension.

"We have to continue to pay for the damage that he has done so somewhere in there someone should have to have the foresight, the sense, to say enough is enough and we shouldn't have to be responsible for him anymore," said Ald. Carrie Austin, 34th Ward.

The full city council is expected to approve the settlement next week.

On Friday, the city said it supports efforts to cut Burge's pension. A case brought by the Illinois Attorney General is now before the Illinois Supreme Court.

We have not seen the end of the cases against Burge. There are two lawsuits currently and others still in prison who claim Burge tortured them into false confessions.

Police Brutality Charges Leveled By Queens Man

The NYPD is denying charges of police brutality leveled by a Queens man who claims he was subjected to a senseless beating earlier this month that was caught on tape.

The incident, which was caught on a surveillance video camera, happened July 11th at an apartment building in Flushing where 22-year-old Oscar Arzeno was staying.
The video shows Arzeno struggling to get into the building, but before he can get in he is confronted by several undercover police officers. On the videotape, up to five police officers can be seen knocking the young man to the ground, before eventually handcuffing him and putting him into a police car. 

Arzeno's attorneys say their client has no idea why the men in plain clothes chased him down and beat him.

"Police officers did not identify themselves. Our client was running away from a person who he did know that just attacked him," said Arzeno's criminal attorney Garbiel Tapalaga.

However, the Queens District Attorney’s office says Arzeno was subdued by police because he ran from officers who were attempting to arrest him for selling cocaine to an undercover police officer on school grounds earlier that day.

Arzeno's attorneys say their client suffered a fractured jaw when one of the police officers stepped on the man’s face.


"From what I see from the video, he stands on my clients head and is actually off the ground at some point jumping up and down," says Tapalaga. "You know my client is punched in the head, punched across the body, he's being assaulted from all angles."

Arzeno spent a few days in the hospital following the incident in question. He was then transferred to jail, where he was charged with criminal sale of a controlled substance in or near school, and resisting arrest.

He was released from jail Monday on $10,000 bond.

Arzeno's attorneys say while their client has had some past run-in's with police he is really just a hard working student.

"[He has] no criminal convictions. He's really a decent, gentle human being," says Tapalaga. "He's actually enrolled as a criminal justice major, I believe, at Catherine Gibbs school."

Arzeno's attorneys wouldn't discuss the criminal charges with NY1, but they did say they are hoping the officers involved in this case are disciplined, adding that client their may pursue legal action again them.

“Out client’s rights have been brutally violated, and we’re going to prosecute his claim to the fullest extent possible and we will take it,” said attorney Jonathan Goidel. “

The NYPD’s Internal Affairs Bureau is investigating the incident.

NJ Police Captain's Home Set on Fire, Officer Suspended

Authorities have filed more charges against a suspended New Jersey police officer accused of setting fire to his police captain's home. Michael Dotro is accused of illegally accessing police computer records, slashing a woman's car tires, possessing illegal weapons and buying marijuana while in uniform and on duty as an Edison police officer.

Authorities say a search of Dotro's duty bag revealed the marijuana along with a set of brass knuckles and a small club known as a blackjack. Prosecutors say the 36-year-old engaged in a pattern of official misconduct.

Dotro has pleaded not guilty to aggravated arson and attempted murder charges stemming from a fire at the Monroe Township home of Police Capt. Mark Anderko. Authorities claim Dotro was angry about a recent transfer and a forced psychological evaluation. 

SPD officer suspended for excessive force, escalating confrontation in Etherly arrest

Seattle Police Department Patrol Officer Eric Faust has been suspended for excessive force and unnecessarily escalating a confrontation in the October 2012 arrest of Leo Etherly.
Etherly had been suspected of hit-and-run driving with a cyclist at 29th and Jefferson and was reportedly being uncooperative as police attempted to detain him. A dashboard camera taped the incident and the video was released to the public, leading to a vocal outcry. Etherly later died of a suspected drug overdose.
The Seattle Times reports that Officer Faust has been suspended without pay; he is appealing his suspension.

Interim Seattle police Chief Jim Pugel has handed an eight-day suspension to a patrol officer, finding the officer used excessive force and unnecessarily escalated a confrontation with a man suspected of hit-and-run driving, according to newly released records.

The discipline, imposed on Officer Eric Faust, addressed the type of broad issues raised by the Department of Justice when it found in 2011 that the Police Department had engaged in a pattern or practice of constitutional violations regarding use of force. The finding led to a landmark settlement last year in which the department agreed to make broad reforms.
Pugel’s findings, outlined in a June 7 disciplinary-action report, were disclosed Tuesday in documents released to The Seattle Times under a public-records request. One day of Faust’s suspension was held in abeyance for two years if he doesn’t have the same or similar misconduct.
Faust, 37, who joined the department in 2006, is appealing the suspension without pay.

Investigators warned Texas police station about officer charged with beating man during Houston traffic stop

An internal investigation in 2009 found that Harris County deputy constable Jimmy Drummond and another officer were 'statistically aberrant in the numbers of complaints they receive.' Two years later, Drummond was captured on a dash cam repeatedly kicking David Braxton Scherz Jr.

A Texas police station was warned about a former officer’s history of excessive force two years before he was caught on video repeatedly kicking a man during a traffic stop, the victim’s lawyer told the Daily News on Saturday.

An internal investigation found that Harris County deputy constable Jimmy Drummond and another officer were “statistically aberrant in the numbers of complaints they receive,” according to a memo sent to the command’s captain in 2009.

Although most of the complaints were cleared as unfounded, investigators still recommended keeping them under a watchful eye.

.

 “Patrol supervisors should closely review the activities of the two employees for the next several months for any possible aggression or rudeness toward citizens,” reads the document, which was obtained by The News.

The review found that five complaints were filed against Drummond in a two-year period — more than any other officer in the command. Only one other constable received any complaints during the same time.

Drummond was recorded by a dash cam on Sept. 10, 2011 viciously kicking David Braxton Scherz Jr. during a wild brawl with authorities outside his north Houston home.

The footage, which was recently released, shows constables harassing other family members, who were initially arrested but the charges were later dropped.

Drummond — who faces one misdemeanor charge of official oppression — made his first court appearance Friday, but did not enter a plea.

The statute of limitations will likely prevent other officers from being charged.

Randall Kallinen, the attorney representing Scherz family, said the document shows Harris County Constable Precinct 4 should have done more to prevent Drummond from engaging with people in the community.

“They knew about this guy and that he was a problem,” Kallinen said. “They do not do enough to protect citizens from officers who use excessive force.”

Officials have declined to comment any further on the case or Drummond’s history, but have maintained that excessive force is not tolerated in the department.

SC policeman arrested and dismissed after shot fired into occupied home

SPARTANBURG, SC -

A Spartanburg Police officer, who attended CCU and was a football player there until an incident with police, was arrested and fired after being accused of discharging a firearm into a dwelling.

Alvin Jamar Anderson, 25, of Duncan, was involved in the incident shortly before 4 a.m. Friday, and was taken into custody by Spartanburg County deputies.

Anderson was originally placed on leave, but was later terminated from the department.

Anderson, who is a Wellford native, started as an officer with the department earlier this year.

He played as wide receiver on the CCU football team, with appearances in all 11 games in 2007. Anderson played 8 games for the team in 2006 as a freshman"This matter is extremely disappointing, but I am grateful that no one was seriously injured or there was not a loss of life", said Colonel Jennifer Kindall.

Anderson was kicked off the CCU team in mid-Sept. 2008 when police say a fight got out of control at "Break Room Billiards," which is  just off Highway 544, near campus.

Police say Anderson screamed obscenities at them while they tried to control the crowd, so they arrested him.

Police say he smelled of alcohol. He was 20 years old at the time.

Police charged Anderson with public disorderly conduct at the time. The disposition of that case is unclear.

Anderson graduated from Byrnes High School where he led the state his senior season with 103 receptions for 1,839 yards and 21 touchdowns, earning Associated Press and High School Sports Report Class AAAA All-State honors, as well as All-Region and All-Area accolades, according to the CCU website. 

Police officer arrested for allegedly vandalizing neighborhood

ROWAN COUNTY, Ky. (WKYT) - He’s supposed to enforce the law but investigators say a central Kentucky police officer broke the law instead.

They say he vandalized a neighborhood and caused hundreds of dollars in damage.

WKYT’s Jordan Vilines spoke with folks living in that neighborhood who say they were shocked when they heard that the “vandal” was a cop:

Tucked away among Rowan County's rolling mountains sits a neighborhood considered quiet--until the other night. That's when residents had a run in with an unwelcome and unexpected visitor.

“My neighbor has a mailbox over there and I guess he ripped that apart and took the plastic thing and started beating stuff with it. I said ‘hey I’m going to call the cops’ and he said ‘call the cops, call the cops,’” said Skylar Lakin, who lives nearby.

Little did Lakin know, he was a cop. A few minutes later, Morehead Police showed up and arrested Flemingsburg Police Sergeant Lionel Aaron Workman. He was charged with alcohol intoxication and criminal mischief.

Some folks living in Roger’s Village Mobile Home Park near Morehead say they actually witnessed Workman tearing up the mailboxes in the middle of the night.

"This mailbox was pushed over on the side out of the hole which has concrete on the bottom of it and has a still pole running down into the concrete,” said Eva Hutchinson, whose mailbox was damaged.

According to the arrest citation, Workman broke eight mailboxes, a handicap ramp and several lights-- causing $801 in damages.

After his arrest, neighbors say Workman apologized but they're still on the fence about forgiving a man who they thought would protect them but instead, ending up damaging their property.

“Cops are supposed to be held to a higher standard than that,” Lakin said.

Workman is scheduled to be arraigned on Monday in Rowan County District Court.

The Flemingsburg Police Chief told the Morehead News that Workman has been suspended without pay and has been reduced in rank.

Pasadena cops beat citizen in front of his children

PASADENA Civil rights attorney Andrew Stein has filed a claim for $5 million against the city and the Police Department accusing two officers of brutality and racial discrimination against a Middle Eastern man when they arrested him at his Pasadena home in March.
Hesham Maher Gabor was arrested on March 17 in the 1000 block of South Marengo Avenue and charged with one misdemeanor count of child endangerment and one felony count of resisting an executive officer filed by the District Attorney’s Office.
Stein, who has leveled a number of other police misconduct allegations against the city in the past, said the charges and the conduct of the arresting officers, Officer Eric Butler and Cpl. Jayce Ward, were out of line.
“This should be, in my opinion, the case that rips the lid off the entire Police Department,” Stein said. “This is an upper middle class gentleman with no history of criminal violence, no gang activity, no nothing, who in his own home was assaulted and beaten by police unjustifiably.”
Stein said two officers entered Gabor’s house without permission, beat him and shocked him with a stun gun in front of his two children. Stein said Gabor also owns a home in South Pasadena and works as an engineer.
Police spokeswoman Tracey Ibarra said the officers entered Gabor’s house after one of them was flagged down by a neighbor who found Gabor’s 10-year-old son crying outside the door to the house.
Ibarra said Gabor’s other son, who is 7, opened the door for the officer and went to get his father. After the officers told Gabor he was under arrest for child endangerment, Ibarra said, he resisted arrest.
“Ultimately a struggle ensued, the officers had to overcome his resistance because he was uncooperative, but ultimately they handcuffed him,” Ibarra said, adding that the officers were also injured during the incident. “There was no excessive force used in this situation,” she said.
Ibarra said an administrative review, which is customary for all instances where officers use force, determined that the officers’ actions were “reasonable and necessary under the circumstances and within policy.”
Gabor did not file an internal affairs complaint, Ibarra added, and the officers were never placed on administrative leave.
But Stein, who filed a claim letter with the city on Aug. 20, said Gabor’s son was outside the house because of a misunderstanding with Gabor’s wife. He said Gabor was trying to ask the officer to close the door because he has allergies but instead of listening the officer “started to beat him up and choked him right in front of the kids.”
Councilwoman Jacque Robinson, who is chairwoman of the Public Safety Committee, and her fellow committee member John Kennedy both said they had not heard about the case.
Stein said after all the cases he has brought against the Police Department, Gabor’s is a “dream case” and he plans to fight it out in court.
“Police officers think they can do whatever they want,” Stein said. “There will be no settlement. We are going to air the dirty laundry of the Pasadena Police Department.”

Gabor is scheduled for a preliminary hearing for the criminal charges on Monday in Pasadena Superior Court.

Charlotte Cops kill unarmed man Jonathan Ferrell running to them for help –

A cop was charged with voluntary manslaughter after shooting a man who ran towards police for help after being involved in a car accident.

The victim, Jonathan A. Ferrell, 24, played football for Florida A&M University in 2009-10, school officials said Sunday.

Ferrell was seeking help at a nearby house early on Saturday after driving a vehicle that crashed into trees in northeast Charlotte, according to Charlotte-Mecklenburg police. A woman answered the door and, when she didn't recognise the man, called the police emergency dispatcher.

Officers responding to the breaking-and-entering call found Ferrell a short distance from the home, police said. As they approached him, Ferrell ran toward the officers and was hit with a Taser. Police said he continued to run toward them when officer Randall Kerrick fired his gun, hitting Ferrell several times. Ferrell died at the scene.

Police called Ferrell and Kerrick's initial encounter ''appropriate and lawful.'' But in a statement late Saturday, they said "the investigation showed that the subsequent shooting of Mr. Ferrell was excessive'' and "Kerrick did not have a lawful right to discharge his weapon during this encounter.''

Police said Kerrick was charged with voluntary manslaughter, which under North Carolina law involves killing without malice using "excessive force'' in exercising "imperfect self-defence.''

Police were not expected to further describe the incident Sunday, CMPD spokesman Officer Keith Trietley said, and a report was not available on Sunday.

Kerrick, 27, turned himself in for booking Saturday evening and was released on $50,000 bond, according to the Mecklenburg County Sheriff's Office website. Kerrick joined the police force in April 2011.

FAMU Interim Athletic Director Michael Smith confirmed Sunday that Ferrell played the safety position for the school's football team during the 2009 and 2010 seasons.

"Our hearts and prayers go out to his family during their time of bereavement,'' Mr Smith said in an emailed statement.

A public records search indicated that Ferrell began living in Charlotte early this year after moving from Tallahassee, Florida, home to FAMU.

Before Kerrick was charged, police chief Rodney Monroe describe the accident in a news conference.

He said the wreck was so severe Ferrell would have had to climb out of the back window to escape. Mr Monroe said he didn't know what caused the crash and didn't say whether Ferrell suffered injuries, The Charlotte Observer reported.

Ferrell apparently walked about 800 metres to the nearest house and was "banging on the door viciously'' to attract attention, Mr Monroe said.

Thinking it was her husband coming home late from work, the woman who lives there opened the door. When she saw Ferrell, she shut it and called police about 2:30am, Mr Monroe said.

Mr Monroe said he didn't think the unarmed Ferrell made threats or tried to rob the woman.