In order to participate in the GunBroker Member forums, you must be logged in with your GunBroker.com account. Click the sign-in button at the top right of the forums page to get connected.
Two troopers charged with stealing from drug deale
Josey1
Member Posts: 9,598 ✭✭
Two troopers charged with stealing from drug dealers
By Joseph A. Slobodzian
Inquirer Staff Writer
Two Pennsylvania State Police troopers were charged by federal authorities yesterday with stealing money from suspected drug dealers in unrelated incidents.
The arrests of Derek Wayns and Frank Otis China came after a two-year probe by the FBI and state police that began, federal court documents say, after China allegedly robbed a drug trafficker of $10,000. The trafficker, who was not identified, complained to authorities and then worked secretly with investigators.
Jeffrey A. Lampinski, head of the FBI in Philadelphia, told reporters at a Center City news conference that the two troopers were committing their crimes independently. There was no evidence that other troopers were involved in the crimes, Lampinski added.
Wayns, 31, of the 7400 block of Cedar Lane in Elkins Park, and China, 35, of the 6900 block of Limekiln Pike in West Oak Lane, were each charged with extortion by a law enforcement officer.
Each appeared before a federal magistrate judge and was released on $25,000 bail under 24-hour, electronically monitored house arrest.
Neither could be reached for comment. China did not have a lawyer, and one was tentatively appointed for him.
Wayns' attorney, Allan J. Sagot, said he had just been retained. Sagot said that Wayns had a drug problem. In court, Sagot waived a probable-cause hearing on the charge.
Lt. Col. Robert Werts, state police deputy commissioner for operations, said both troopers had been suspended without pay pending resolution of the charges.
Werts said Wayns had been a trooper since 1993 and since 1997 had been assigned to the King of Prussia barracks. China, Werts said, joined the state police in 1993 and since 1997 had been assigned to the Belmont Avenue barracks in Philadelphia.
U.S. Attorney Patrick L. Meehan called the arrests a "disappointing moment for law enforcement."
"Those who carry a badge with integrity are irreparably harmed by those who don't," Meehan said.
Wayns was arrested Thursday night, the federal arrest warrant and affidavit allege, in a sting operation. Wayns agreed to join an unidentified drug dealer, who was secretly working with authorities, in robbing another dealer, according to the affidavit.
The affidavit alleges that Wayns, in uniform and driving his marked patrol car, met the target at the turnpike's Fort Washington exit.
The target, however, was an undercover state trooper, and the meeting was watched by state police and FBI, the affidavit alleges.
Wayns allegedly took a bag containing $10,000 in drug money from the "dealer" and "told him to leave unless he wanted to get arrested that night."
The affidavit alleges that Wayns then drove to his Elkins Park home and stashed $3,000 of the cash inside before returning to King of Prussia to end his shift at 11 p.m.
The $3,000 in marked money was later retrieved from Wayns' house, the affidavit alleges.
Lampinski said that after Wayns' arrest, authorities decided to also arrest China, who had been under investigation in the June 28, 2000, theft of $10,000 from a drug dealer during a stop in King of Prussia near Interstate 76 and the turnpike.
Lampinski said China's victim, who became the confidential informant, told authorities that China worked with a Southwestern drug ring and helped transport large quantities of drugs from the U.S. border with Mexico to Philadelphia.
Neither Lampinski nor Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael A. Schwartz, who was present at the news conference and who has prosecuted several Southwestern marijuana traffickers, would comment on the truth of the allegations.
Lampinski said the source also said the troopers would set up and rob drug dealers who were rivals of the dealers with whom they were associated.
http://www.philly.com/mld/inquirer/4070883.htm
Contact Joseph A. Slobodzian at 215-854-2658 or jslobodzian@phillynews.com.
"If cowardly and dishonorable men sometimes shoot unarmed men with army pistols or guns, the evil must be prevented by the penitentiary and gallows, and not by a general deprivation of a constitutional privilege." - Arkansas Supreme Court, 1878
By Joseph A. Slobodzian
Inquirer Staff Writer
Two Pennsylvania State Police troopers were charged by federal authorities yesterday with stealing money from suspected drug dealers in unrelated incidents.
The arrests of Derek Wayns and Frank Otis China came after a two-year probe by the FBI and state police that began, federal court documents say, after China allegedly robbed a drug trafficker of $10,000. The trafficker, who was not identified, complained to authorities and then worked secretly with investigators.
Jeffrey A. Lampinski, head of the FBI in Philadelphia, told reporters at a Center City news conference that the two troopers were committing their crimes independently. There was no evidence that other troopers were involved in the crimes, Lampinski added.
Wayns, 31, of the 7400 block of Cedar Lane in Elkins Park, and China, 35, of the 6900 block of Limekiln Pike in West Oak Lane, were each charged with extortion by a law enforcement officer.
Each appeared before a federal magistrate judge and was released on $25,000 bail under 24-hour, electronically monitored house arrest.
Neither could be reached for comment. China did not have a lawyer, and one was tentatively appointed for him.
Wayns' attorney, Allan J. Sagot, said he had just been retained. Sagot said that Wayns had a drug problem. In court, Sagot waived a probable-cause hearing on the charge.
Lt. Col. Robert Werts, state police deputy commissioner for operations, said both troopers had been suspended without pay pending resolution of the charges.
Werts said Wayns had been a trooper since 1993 and since 1997 had been assigned to the King of Prussia barracks. China, Werts said, joined the state police in 1993 and since 1997 had been assigned to the Belmont Avenue barracks in Philadelphia.
U.S. Attorney Patrick L. Meehan called the arrests a "disappointing moment for law enforcement."
"Those who carry a badge with integrity are irreparably harmed by those who don't," Meehan said.
Wayns was arrested Thursday night, the federal arrest warrant and affidavit allege, in a sting operation. Wayns agreed to join an unidentified drug dealer, who was secretly working with authorities, in robbing another dealer, according to the affidavit.
The affidavit alleges that Wayns, in uniform and driving his marked patrol car, met the target at the turnpike's Fort Washington exit.
The target, however, was an undercover state trooper, and the meeting was watched by state police and FBI, the affidavit alleges.
Wayns allegedly took a bag containing $10,000 in drug money from the "dealer" and "told him to leave unless he wanted to get arrested that night."
The affidavit alleges that Wayns then drove to his Elkins Park home and stashed $3,000 of the cash inside before returning to King of Prussia to end his shift at 11 p.m.
The $3,000 in marked money was later retrieved from Wayns' house, the affidavit alleges.
Lampinski said that after Wayns' arrest, authorities decided to also arrest China, who had been under investigation in the June 28, 2000, theft of $10,000 from a drug dealer during a stop in King of Prussia near Interstate 76 and the turnpike.
Lampinski said China's victim, who became the confidential informant, told authorities that China worked with a Southwestern drug ring and helped transport large quantities of drugs from the U.S. border with Mexico to Philadelphia.
Neither Lampinski nor Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael A. Schwartz, who was present at the news conference and who has prosecuted several Southwestern marijuana traffickers, would comment on the truth of the allegations.
Lampinski said the source also said the troopers would set up and rob drug dealers who were rivals of the dealers with whom they were associated.
http://www.philly.com/mld/inquirer/4070883.htm
Contact Joseph A. Slobodzian at 215-854-2658 or jslobodzian@phillynews.com.
"If cowardly and dishonorable men sometimes shoot unarmed men with army pistols or guns, the evil must be prevented by the penitentiary and gallows, and not by a general deprivation of a constitutional privilege." - Arkansas Supreme Court, 1878
Comments
Anthony Spangler
Star-Telegram Staff Writer
GRAND PRAIRIE - A former Grand Prairie narcotics sergeant was fired Friday after a July audit revealed about $1,000 missing from a drug unit cash fund.
Blaine Smith, a 13-year veteran who had no prior disciplinary record, has 10 days to appeal Police Chief Glen Hill's decision to a civil service arbiter.
Police forwarded their investigation to the Dallas County district attorney Aug. 27. Prosecutors have not presented the case to a grand jury.
"He certainly denies any criminal wrongdoing," Smith's attorney, Bob Baskett, said Friday. "We will be appealing his termination as being too harsh a punishment based on the evidence."
Smith could not be reached to comment.
In July, auditors discovered cash missing from a fund
In July, auditors discovered cash missing from a fund used by narcotics officers to buy drugs from dealers. used by narcotics officers to buy drugs from street dealers. Smith was reassigned before the audit.
Detective John Brimmer, police spokesman, would not elaborate on the internal investigation.
Smith "violated department policies and procedures," Brimmer said.
Smith is a former president of the Grand Prairie Police Association and served in patrol and as a canine officer.
"We're talking about a career officer who was never trained in accounting procedures," Baskett said. "I don't know if they think he deliberately stole something or whether he made an accounting error. But it is offensive to Blaine that people have accused him of being a thief."
Detective James Wallis, police association president, said his organization has not decided whether to get involved in Smith's case.
"We have to determine what the department is alleging and take a look at the case real hard," he said.
http://www.dfw.com/mld/startelegram/news/local/states/texas/arlington/4073737.htm
Anthony Spangler, (817) 548-5412 aspangler@star-telegram.com
"If cowardly and dishonorable men sometimes shoot unarmed men with army pistols or guns, the evil must be prevented by the penitentiary and gallows, and not by a general deprivation of a constitutional privilege." - Arkansas Supreme Court, 1878
Robinson fired for violation of force policy
By REED WILLIAMS / Daily Progress staff writer
Sep 13, 2002
Albemarle County Police Chief John Miller fired Detective K.W. Robinson on Thursday, saying he used excessive force during an interrogation last year and violated several other department policies.
Robinson, a county police officer of 14 years, was convicted Aug. 30 of misdemeanor assault and battery and sentenced to 90 days in jail.
"I agree with the judge that it was an unreasonable application of force," Miller said Thursday. "Taking in the totality of the internal affairs investigation, as well as the criminal conviction, my decision was to terminate."
Three county supervisors commended Miller's decision Thursday, with Dennis Rooker declaring: "I certainly didn't like what I saw" on the videotape of the interview.
It is the second time Miller has thrown Robinson off the force following allegations of excessive force. In 1991, a Virginia State Police investigation found that Robinson kicked a man in the face during an arrest. Robinson was reinstated after a three-person panel ruled that he did not use excessive force.
As before, Robinson has the right to challenge Miller's decision. The chief said he expects Robinson will file a grievance. Neither Robinson nor his lawyer could be reached for comment Thursday.
In addition to violating the agency's use-of-force policy, Robinson broke rules related to proper conduct during interrogations, including the "application of Miranda rights," Miller said. He declined to say exactly how many rules were broken or specify which ones.
"We looked at the entire interview process from beginning to end," Miller said. "We looked at the way the person was treated and the language that was used."
During the interview of abduction suspect Corey D. Faison, Robinson and county Detective Steve Robinson provoked Faison into a fight by calling him a homosexual and telling him he was impotent, Charlottesville Commonwealth's Attorney Dave Chapman has said.
"Didn't we have evidence to the fact that the person that perpetrated this was gay?" Robinson asks Wilkins in front of Faison. "Somebody that . can't get it up."
Faison had been accused of tackling a woman while she was mowing her lawn in Free Union and exposing himself. He since has been exonerated.
About four minutes into the videotaped interrogation, Wilkins reads Faison his Miranda rights. Fifteen or so minutes later, when Robinson snaps a picture of him, Faison takes a swipe at Robinson's camera, prompting the detectives to force Faison to the floor. Robinson punches Faison at least nine times.
Miller said it is important for detectives to build a rapport with suspects during interviews, so they feel comfortable - comfortable enough to confess, detectives hope. It is also important, however, not to go overboard, the chief said.
"In interview interrogations, you don't want to go totally to their level," he said. "You don't want to demean them or dehumanize them. You have to be civil."
Miller added that Robinson was a valuable member of the department for most of his tenure, and has proven competent in working child-abuse cases, which Miller said can be particularly difficult.
"Overall, he was a good police officer," the chief said.
Miller, for the second time, defended his agency's use-of-force policy, which states that officers must use the minimum amount of force necessary to achieve a legal purpose.
"In looking at the investigation and looking at the training exercises, we stand behind our use-of-force policy," he said.
Internal affairs investigations of the three other detectives who were present during the Faison interview also have been completed. Miller declined to discuss the results, and would not say whether the other officers were punished.
Albemarle supervisors Walter F. Perkins, Charles S. Martin and Rooker - all of whom have seen at least part of the video - supported Miller's move to fire Robinson. And Supervisor David P. Bowerman said last week that, in his opinion, Robinson used excessive force.
"I feel our Chief Miller acted very appropriately," Martin said Thursday.
Said Perkins: "The record speaks for itself. The court conviction, the tape and so forth. It just seems like the right thing to do."
c 2002 Media General
Terms and Conditions
http://www.dailyprogress.com/news/MGB8GX1L16D.html
"If cowardly and dishonorable men sometimes shoot unarmed men with army pistols or guns, the evil must be prevented by the penitentiary and gallows, and not by a general deprivation of a constitutional privilege." - Arkansas Supreme Court, 1878
STAFF REPORT
Posted September 15 2002
MIAMI ? A Miami-Dade County police officer has been arrested, accused of separately arresting two girls, sexually assaulting them and then letting them go, authorities said.
Paul Brosky, 40, was charged with two counts of armed sexual battery and one count of armed kidnapping.
According to police, Brosky pulled up behind a car parked on the side of a road this month and told a 17-year-old girl and her boyfriend that they were under arrest. Brosky allegedly sexually assaulted the girl while searching her. He then let her and her boyfriend go.
Police said Brosky pulled over another vehicle Aug. 30 and found a small amount of marijuana. He then allegedly asked a 17-year-old girl and a male passenger to follow him to an isolated warehouse complex, where Brosky allegedly sexually assaulted the girl. She and her companion were released afterward, police said.
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/local/miami/sfl-pdcopsep15.story?coll=sfla-news-miami
Copyright c 2002, South Florida Sun-Sentinel
"If cowardly and dishonorable men sometimes shoot unarmed men with army pistols or guns, the evil must be prevented by the penitentiary and gallows, and not by a general deprivation of a constitutional privilege." - Arkansas Supreme Court, 1878