National Official Crime Watch -- May 28-31 : Indybay

National Official Crime Watch -- May 28-31.

All persons are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law by a jury of their peers.

The news items listed here were extracted using Google News from internet news sources of unproven accuracy. "Four

Featured Story(s)

Sorensen plans to plead guilty in gas-theft case
Former Salt Lake County Auditor Craig Sorensen -- accused of stealing more than $10,000 worth of gasoline -- plans to plead guilty to a lesser charge and face the consequences, his attorney said Friday after Sorensen's first court appearance. [...] Sorensen, a Republican who resigned this week and publicly admitted stealing gas, was charged Thursday with felony misuse of public money for allegedly filling up a non-county vehicle with his county gas card. [...] Sorensen is the only official so far to face a criminal charge in the scandal over misuse of Salt Lake County vehicles and gas cards. The county's chief financial officer, Randy Allen, stepped down after admitting he twice towed his boat to Lake Powell with his county-owned Ford Explorer. And Greg Curtis, legal counsel to Mayor Nancy Workman and also House majority leader, has repaid nearly $800 in mileage reimbursements he received from the state while driving a county-provided SUV.

Announcement(s)!

Infoshop/AMP releases new Copwatch 101 booklet

Downloa Copwatch 101 booklet *here* (.pdf) "The

Infoshop.org and the Alternative Media Project are pleased to announce the public release of our new Copwatch 101 booklet. This is the first booklet in the pamphlet series published by our Breaking Glass Press imprint. The booklet is filled with useful information on setting up your own local Copwatch group, how to do Copwatch activities by yourself or with others, and suggestions on legislative solutions to poor policing practices. We feel that Copwatch is an important project that should be in every community that has a police force. Setting up your own neighborhood Copwatch is an act of solidarity with your neighbors and against the enforcement arm of the state.

Texas Copwatch describes Copwatch as "a group of ordinary people who observe and record police activity on the streets. We do this because we believe that police brutality is widespread in our communities and that the only way to stop it is to challenge it directly." Copwatch groups are spreading across the United States and the movement has also gone international.

Download Copwatch 101 [PDF] "Eight

The Usual Suspects...

Police: Officer broke into home, beat up man
WFAA (subscription), TX - May 29, 2004
A Dallas police officer arrested early Saturday on a felony charge of burglary of a habitation is accused of breaking into his ex-girlfriend's home and beating ...

Kiddie porn added to cop's indecency charge
Cincinnati Enquirer, OH - May 28, 2004
ELIZABETHTOWN, Ky. - An officer arrested on child pornography charges had been suspended from the police department after being accused of exposing himself to ...

Officer indicted in Cabrini arrest
Chicago Tribune (subscription), IL - May 29, 2004
By Jeff Coen. A Cook County grand jury has returned an indictment charging a Chicago police officer with official misconduct and ...

Decree reform lagging
Los Angeles Daily News, CA - May 30, 2004
... costs of enforcing it will remain because the LAPD has beefed up its internal affairs and auditing functions to ensure that officer misconduct is identified ...

Police Officer Charged With Child Pornography
Lex 18, KY - May 30, 2004
Brian Leasor was suspended with pay after he was charged Tuesday for allegedly exposing himself to children on a school bus. He ...

The `two-step' around Miranda
Boston Globe, MA - May 29, 2004
... Patrice's interrogation began shortly after she was awoken by a police officer charged with arresting her at 3 am in the hospital bed in which she was sleeping ...

Former Parole Officer Charged with Cashing In on Parolees
WDJT, WI - May 28, 2004
Milwaukee-A former Wisconsin Department of Corrections parole officer has been charged with stealing money from her parolees. Alkaynetta ...

City officer charged with wife's slaying
AL.com, AL - May 28, 2004
His wife, Angele Marie Jackson, 38, was shot twice Tuesday around 6 pm and died in a hallway of the couple's home on Arcadia Road. ...

Three Seymour Officers Fired For Misconduct
INDYchannel.com, IN - 8 hours ago
SEYMOUR, Ind. -- Three of five Seymour police officers that had been suspended for six months because of misconduct against two ...

charged in shooting
Honolulu Star-Bulletin, HI - May 29, 2004
... Police said the officers fired an estimated 30 rounds at Ronald Lowery, 34, who was cornered by police on Old Government Road near Plantation Road and the 7 ...

Former Wayne Co. Deputy Arrested for Internet Sex Attempt
WXYZ, MI - May 29, 2004
By Associated Press. A former Wayne County sheriff’s deputy is behind bars for allegedly trying to meet a minor over the Internet for sex. ...
felony charge filed against him. ...

State trooper charged in break-in
The News Journal, DE - May 30, 2004
By VICTOR GRETO. A Delaware state trooper has been charged with criminal trespassing, criminal mischief and terroristic threatening ...

Virginia State Trooper Charged As Pedophile
NBC 4.com, DC - May 29, 2004
WASHINGTON -- A Virginia state trooper has been arrested for allegedly arranging a rendezvous with a 13-year-old he met over the Internet, News4 reported. ...

Illinois Mayor Arrested in Gambling Raid
Casino City Times, MA - 3 hours ago
"But the Illinois attorney general's office - which said Friday night that the town's police chief had been charged with official misconduct in connection with ...

Watergate Prosecutor Cox Dead At 92
Boston Channel.com, MA - 6 hours ago
... The firing of Cox also gave rise to the law creating independent counsels -- special prosecutors to investigate official misconduct. ...

Around the Nation
Washington Times, DC - 16 hours ago
... Chief Morris was charged with one count of official misconduct, while Mr. Delaney and the others were charged with one count of conspiracy to commit gambling. ... (another victimless crime law snags one of our finest -- and a pol ;-)

Fomer New Jersey Firefighter Gets Three Years For Arson
Firehouse.com (subscription) - May 29, 2004
... do. Kleinfelder pleaded guilty to charges of conspiracy to commit arson and official misconduct in connection with an arson. National ...

Perrysburg Justice Pleads Guilty To Official Misconduct
WXXA, NY - May 29, 2004
Police say Perrysburg Town Justice Tina Armstrong pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor charge of official misconduct in Cattaraugus County Court. ...

Suffolk Prosecutor Calls Mixed Verdicts Issued by Judge in ...
New York Times - May 28, 2004
... Ms. Strebel of the felony charges against her, like grand larceny, but convicted her of falsifying business records and official misconduct misdemeanors. ...

DA dismisses case against former jail deputy
Coos Bay World, OR - May 28, 2004
... Charges of first-degree criminal mistreatment, fourth-degree assault, harassment and first-degree official misconduct against then-Sgt. ...

Oakland's new system to weed out bad officers
San Francisco Chronicle, CA - 11 hours ago
... It's not only a part of minimizing police brutality victims, it's simple economics, because as citizens, we're paying for it,'' she said. ...

The Radicals
Savannah Morning News, GA - 17 hours ago
... Summit" that will focus on: the Savannah River Site; Sept. 11 questions; police brutality in the southeast; and Middle East policy.

Reopened Till case hinges on three key questions
Palm Beach Post, FL - May 29, 2004
... An attorney for Mr. Beauchamp, however, Kenneth P. Thompson -- who represented Abner Louima in a notorious police brutality case in New York -- said in a ...

Ben Bova: Abuse of Iraqi prisoners was betrayal of standards, ...
Naples Daily News, FL - May 29, 2004
... of life. Americans have constitutional guarantees against cruel and unusual punishment and other forms of police brutality. Our ...

Police Brutality Activist Dies in Police Custody
Infoshop News - May 28, 2004
Outraged community residents threw down the gauntlet against business as usual in Thursday’s police board meeting, leaving their seats to surround board ...

Quannel X leads protest against sheriff's deputy-related ...
News 24 Houston, TX - 1 hour ago
... My son did not deserve to die.”. Sabrina Goel reports that they want an investigation into use of excessive force by Sheriff's Deputy William Wilkinson.

Richmond threatened with suit over police pact
Contra Costa Times, CA - 11 hours ago
... of Richmond over a settlement with its police union that could force the watchdog Police Commission to drop 12 active complaints of excessive-force and civil ...

Yvette Contreras awaits her day in court: More than two years ...
Newzcentral.com, CA - 17 hours ago
... Nonetheless, Yvette Contreras is suing for various reasons listed in an amended complaint, including excessive force, wrongful death, negligence and ...

Store security guard cleared in 2000 choking death
WHNT, AL - May 28, 2004
... Civil rights leaders had complained that security guards used excessive force to subdue shoplifting suspects and weren't adequately trained. ...

Agents raid N. Calilf. casino, tribal leaders' homes
AZ Central.com, AZ - May 28, 2004
... Priscilla Hunter, the tribe's chairwoman, issued a statement that said authorities used "excessive force" to execute a search warrant at her home. ...

Police watchdogs question strip searches
San Francisco Chronicle, CA - May 28, 2004
... this month after allegedly firing shots at police had filed a federal civil rights lawsuit accusing Oakland police of using excessive force and insensitivity ...

[Robert Perkinson]The banality of Abu Ghraib
Korea Herald, South Korea - May 28, 2004
... state's entire penal system was pervaded by a "culture of sadistic and malicious violence." Texas prison guards regularly rely on excessive force, the judge ...

Family of chokehold victim suing City of Dallas
WFAA (subscription), TX - May 28, 2004
... A lawsuit filed Thursday contends police used excessive force, but also that they failed to provide medical care for Simpson after he passed out from choking. ...

Vegas cop turns in badge over shooting of unarmed man
KRNV, NV - May 28, 2004
... has turned in his badge while facing federal and internal affairs investigations in the killing of an unarmed man who was shot in the back while surrendering ...

AWOL NYPD Officer Found
Officer.com - 5 hours ago
... old. On the day of his disappearance, Shepard left behind his badge, wallet and off-duty revolver as he headed toward the St. George ...

Another brawl at nightclub
Kentucky Post, KY - 18 hours ago
... The fight that took place about 2 am Saturday and resulted in the arrest of five men -- including two off-duty Hamilton County Sheriff's Office deputies -- was ...

Off-Duty Firefighter Charged With Punching Police Officer
WABC-TV, NY - 22 hours ago
(New York-WABC, May 30, 2004) — An off-duty firefighter has been arrested for allegedly punching an officer while running from a bar fight. ...

Wedding bells to peal for SF's badge buddies of porn
San Francisco Chronicle, CA - May 29, 2004
... Sanders, you'll recall, was accused along with other SFPD brass of conspiring to obstruct justice in the probe of three off-duty cops accused of assaulting a ...

Officer shoots, kills shoplifter
Times Picayune, LA - May 29, 2004
... A store employee flagged down an off-duty police officer, who joined the manager in his pursuit, but the two soon lost sight of the suspect, Defillo said. ...

Police: Profiling not a problem
York Daily Record, PA - May 28, 2004
... sheriff's deputies Frederick Nestlerode and Matthew Kerr of violating his civil rights by stopping his late-model Lexus he was driving while off duty last year ... (well of course they feel that way...)

Police chief is placed on leave
Fort Worth Star Telegram (subscription), TX - May 29, 2004
By Jane Holleman. The White Settlement police chief is on paid administrative leave after a city employee accused him of sexual harassment ...

Credibility check for G + J
New York Daily News, NY - May 28, 2004
... Commission!". There's a misconception, he said, "that I was a weasel and ratted on cops" to the police corruption panel of the 1970s. ...

Off Main Street
Buffalo News, NY - May 30, 2004
... Pankow was later indicted for - but acquitted of - tax evasion and bribery. And before Pankow, the guy in the mayor's seat was jewelry store owner Joseph Mruk. ...

Siegelman's legacy to be tainted, experts say
AL.com, AL - May 30, 2004
... State and federal prosecutors charged him and lobbyist Lanny Young last year in a bribery scheme, to which they pleaded guilty. ...

Former Va. Governor to Make Mayoral Bid
Sarasota Herald-Tribune, FL - May 30, 2004
... 200,000, in recent years has had one of the nation's highest murder rates and has had two council members convicted within the last year of bribery and tax ...

IRAQ: Chalabi and the Cheney gang: Thieves fall out
Green Left, Australia - May 30, 2004
... had not been charged, US occupation officials told the Chronicle that charges — including theft of government property, extortion, bribery and kidnapping ...

Travel, meet new people
Indianapolis Star, IN - May 29, 2004
... Where mutual interests and high-level bribery don't get private enterprise in the door, just take the place by force and declare it a public works project. ...

Maricopa County assessor indicted
AZ Central.com, AZ - May 29, 2004
... But the office has a history of controversy: One predecessor was indicted on bribery charges and at least two others were investigated for financial ...

Former state labor chief guilty of bribery
The Journal News.com, NY - May 29, 2004
A Yorktown Heights man who formerly served as the state labor commissioner was convicted of bribery, tax evasion and mail fraud in federal court in White ...

Former FCI guard will serve year on bribery conviction
Petersburg Progress Index, VA - May 29, 2004
... announced that Quincy Deward Williams, 30, of Richmond, was sentenced Friday to 12 months and one day of imprisonment based on his conviction for bribery. ...

Code officer gets 3-day suspension
Miami Herald (subscription), FL - May 29, 2004
BY AMY SHERMAN. The on-again/off-again investigation of a Dania Beach code enforcement officer accused of bribery appears to be on again. ...

Bribery trial to begin Tuesday for JP
Brownsville Herald, TX - May 28, 2004
... Torres’ second-degree felony bribery trial is slated for Tuesday afternoon in the 107th state District Court with visiting Judge Mark Luitjen of San Antonio ...

Kaufman , Klein , others eye Guy ’ s seat
Bronx Times, NY - May 28, 2004
... parts of the north Bronx and lower Westchester, became available after Velella, a Republican who held the seat for 18 years, resigned amid bribery charges. ...

TIMELINE: Building a case against a governor
AL.com, AL - May 28, 2004
... Former Siegelman aide Nick Bailey and lobbyist Lanny Young plead guilty to bribery and income tax charges arising out of a federal investigation of the ...

Case against city police officer moved to new court
Stamford Advocate, CT - May 28, 2004
NORWALK - The police officer accused of bribery and extortion appeared in state Superior Court yesterday for the first time since his arrest one month ago. ...

Federal agents shut gun shop
Chicago Tribune (subscription), IL - May 28, 2004
... $150,000 in a federal lawsuit over his dismissal, and seven Ford Heights police officers, including the chief, were convicted in a federal bribery investigation ...

Further challenge planned over same-sex registry in Cleveland ...
Akron Beacon Journal (subscription), OH - May 28, 2004
... Partners, under penalty of perjury, must specify that they share a common residence, have a "relationship of mutual interdependence," are at least 18 years old ... (has everyone gone stupid with all of these stupid fucking laws?)

Ex-Pima County prosecutor disbarred for allowing false testimony
Tucson Citizen, AZ - May 28, 2004
... III. Godoy, who retired from TPD and also works in Storts' office, was cleared in Pima County Superior Court of perjury charges.

Lawyers press for investigation of DA, staff
Lompoc Record, CA - May 28, 2004
... Dunlap filed a complaint against the county seeking $10 million in damages after his acquittal last June on six charges, including perjury, witness intimidation ...

Ex-police chief, wife arraigned in child stealing
NewsOK.com (subscription), OK - May 28, 2004
Larry Osmond faces one count of perjury and one count of child stealing. Carol Osmond faces one count of child stealing. Their trial is scheduled Oct. 25. ...

Blast from the past...

National Official Crime Watch -- May 28-31