Hanford
ex-cop sentenced in drug case
HANFORD — Disgraced former police officer Ernesto Servin was
sentenced this morning to 180 days in jail and 3 years of formal probation.
Servin, 30, pleaded no contest in late January to carrying
narcotics with intent to sell. Prosecutors said he exchanged the drugs while on
duty to secure sexual favors from women.
Judge Thomas DeSantos accused the ex-cop of violating the
public’s trust.
“People look up to police officers. They respect the badge,”
he said. “Mr. Servin, you’ve left a black mark on every person who has ever
worn the badge.”
As the judge passed sentence, Servin stood wearing a white
shirt and tie, his hands clasped in front of him. His only response was a “Yes,
sir” when ordered to report to the Kings County Sheriff’s Office later today.
Despite requests from his lawyer, Servin may be forced to
serve his time locally, instead of in Kern County where he now lives. That
decision will be up to KCSO, DeSantos said.
The story made headlines last May when investigators
searched Servin’s car and found a bottle of perscription meds and three grams
of marijuana. Servin claimed he had confiscated them from a man, but never
reported it to his superiors.
He resigned from the Hanford Police Department before being
booked into the county jail.
Police Chief Carlos Mestas said he is pleased that, with a
felony on his record, Servin will no longer be able to work as a police
officer.
“This was a major black eye for the Hanford Police
Department and all law enforcement,” he said. “We’re happy to put it behind
us.”
North
Chicago officer charged Lake Shore Drive crash that killed 2
A North Chicago police officer was charged Saturday with
felony drunken driving and reckless homicide a day after he allegedly drove the
wrong way on Lake Shore Drive and collided with a vehicle in a crash that left
two college students dead.
Terrell Garrett faces two counts each of aggravated driving
under the influence and reckless homicide after his SUV smashed into a Jeep
carrying Joaquin Garcia, 25, and Fabian Torres, 27, early Friday according to
the Cook County state's attorney's office.
Garrett, who turned 35 on the morning of the accident, was
put on administrative leave, according to a release from the North Chicago
Police Department.
On Saturday, Garcia's mother and siblings said the accident
has left them reeling.
Cecilia Garcia stood in the cold with her other three
children outside the North Lawndale neighborhood home of Torres' family, whom
they sought to offer condolences.
The Torres family wasn't home and couldn't be reached for
comment.
"He is supposed to be protecting us," Cecilia
Garcia said of Garrett. "My son did not deserve to die like this."
Joaquin Garcia and his three siblings grew up in northwest
suburban Elgin, his family said. Joaquin was preparing to graduate in the
spring from Malcolm X College on the city's West Side, with hopes of becoming a
surgical technician, according to his sister, also named Cecilia.
Fabian Torres attended DePaul University, according to his
and Garcia's friends.
So proud was Cecilia Garcia of her son's achievements that
on Saturday she carried the Malcolm X College certificate that commemorates
Joaquin making the honor roll during the fall term.
"I wanted them to have accomplishments and be
successful and have a better life," his mother said. "Then this man
took everything from him."
Authorities on Saturday did not have information about
Garrett's blood-alcohol content. He was traveling north at more than 60 mph in
the southbound lanes near Belmont Avenue when the crash occurred, police said.
Garrett remained hospitalized Saturday with a fractured hip, authorities said.
"It's very frustrating," Garcia's sister said.
"We were supposed to go to his graduation in a couple of months. Instead
we're planning for his funeral."
Shinnston
police officer charged with drug crimes
SHINNSTON — The FBI may join the further investigation
involving a Shinnston police officer arrested this week on state charges,
Harrison Prosecutor Joe Shaffer said.
Officer Charles Roscoe Henning III, 38, of West Union, was
charged with seven counts alleging he unlawfully acquired or obtained
possession of a controlled substance by fraud, forgery, deception or
subterfuge.
Henning, who was fired as soon as the city learned he was
charged, remained jailed Wednesday morning on $175,000 bond after an initial
appearance before Harrison Chief Magistrate Keith Marple.
The defendant had been arrested Tuesday by the SWAT team of
the Harrison County Sheriff’s Department, according to Shaffer. The arrest
occurred as Henning reported for work around 11:30 p.m.
Cop
arrested for DUI threatened other drivers, authorities say
A Philadelphia police officer drove drunk Monday night,
crashed into two cars in Southwest Philadelphia, and then threatened the
occupants of the other cars, authorities said Tuesday.
Joseph Kelly, 53, a 23-year veteran assigned to the Traffic
Unit, has been charged with several offenses, including driving under the
influence, criminal mischief, terroristic threats, simple assault, intimidation
and reckless endangerment, according to the District Attorney's Office.
The D.A.'s office and police said Kelly hit two cars on
Woodland Avenue near 49th Street around 9:20 p.m. Monday and subsequently
failed a Breathalyzer test. A spokeswoman for the office wouldn't specify the
threats Kelly allegedly made.
Kelly was arraigned Tuesday and held on $25,000 bail for the
incident, and is scheduled to appear in court again March 28.
Police said Kelly has been assigned to administrative duty
pending the outcome of the investigation.
Police
officer suspended after DWI charge
The Shelbyville Police Department has suspended one of its
own after an officer was arrested on an intoxicated driving charge.
Aaron Calvert of Shelbyville, was involved in a motor
vehicle accident early Sunday in Shelby County. Sheriff's department deputies
arrested the SPD officer on a charge of operating a motor vehicle while
intoxicated. He was not on duty.
Calvert was booked into the Shelby County Jail and released
on Monday morning.
A news release from SPD this morning says Calvert has been
suspended without pay while his court case proceeds.
Newport
News police officer charged with perjury in connection to DUI case
NEWPORT NEWS — A Newport News police officer has been
charged with perjury after authorities said they found “discrepancies” in his
testimony during a driving under the influence case in Newport News General
District Traffic Court.
Newport News police were informed on Nov. 13 about the
incident involving the officer, Scott A. Mounger, 49, and began a criminal
investigation. Police said after “an extensive investigation” and multiple
interviews the case was presented to the Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office.
A special prosecutor was appointed to handle the case, who
presented it to a grand jury on Monday. The grand jury indicted Mounger on one
count each of perjury and falsely summoning or giving false reports to law
enforcement officials.
Mounger was arrested at the department’s South Precinct on
Monday afternoon and later released on his recognizance by a magistrate. He is
scheduled to appear in Circuit Court on Tuesday. Mounger has been placed on
administrative leave without pay.
Mounger had been recognized in the past for having the most
drinking-and-driving arrests in the department. He won the Chief’s Award for
DUI arrests in 2009 for having the most DUI arrests in 2008, when he had 42. In
2007, Mounger arrested some 60 drivers.
In a 2008 interview with the Daily Press, Mounger said he
was determined to boost the number of DUI arrests after being assigned to the
“target rich” Jefferson Avenue area of the South Precinct.
“In my own mind, I felt that DUI enforcement was an ignored
problem,” he said at the time. “I thought I’d take it on myself to see if I
could get more DUIs on the precinct.”
He continued, “I got aggressive and I kept thinking about
something a previous officer when I was a young rookie told me, that I should
identify a problem, go after it and try to be the best at it. I decided to make
it DUIs. Before I knew it, I had 60.”
Mounger first joined the department in 2005
Traffic
Officer Arrested, Charged With DUI in 3-Car Crash
An off-duty Philadelphia traffic officer has been arrested
and charged with driving under the influence following a late night crash in
the Southwest section of the city.
Only NBC10 was on the scene of a three-car accident that
resulted in Officer Joe Kelly, a 23-year veteran of the force, being cuffed and
having his gun taken from him.
Witnesses say the Kelly rear-ended a car at a stoplight on
49th Street and Woodland Avenue, causing that car to hit another.
"He had a badge around his neck and said he was an
officer. He pulled out a wallet and flashed an said he was police and pull
over," victim Douglas Kelley told NBC10's Tim Furlong. "I said I
wouldn't pull over 'til I see an actual police car."
Douglas Kelley was in the first car that was hit. Two of his
grandchildren were in the car at the time of the accident and were taken to
Children's Hospital of Philadelphia to be checked out.
Kelly, 52, was arrested this morning and charged with DUI,
criminal mischief, intimidation, harassment, making terroristic threats, simple
assault and reckless endangerment. He posted 10 percent of $25,000 bail and was
released ahead of his next court appearance on March 28, according to court
records.
He has been placed on administrative leave and both a
criminal and an internal affairs investigation are underway, police said.
Douglas Kelley said that the officer smelled of alcohol.
"He was a little arrogant about the whole situation,
like it was somebody else's fault and not his..." Kelley said.
Police
Officer Charged With Driving While Drunk
Police Officer Lester Sanchez, 29, was arrested for drunk
driving early Saturday, cops said. BAY RIDGE — A 29-year-old police officer was
busted for driving while intoxicated early Saturday morning, cops said. Lester
Sanchez was collared around 4:53 a.m., police said. He is charged with DWI,
refusal to take a breath test and reckless endangerment.
NYPD
Officer Charged With DWI
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) — An off-duty New York City police
officer was arrested this weekend and charged with driving under the influence.
Officer Lester Sanchez, 29, was arrested at 4:53 a.m.
Saturday in the 68th Precinct, which is located in southern Brooklyn and
includes the neighborhoods of Bay Ridge, Dyker Heights and Fort Hamilton.
Sanchez was charged with driving while intoxicated, refusing
to take a breathalyzer test, and reckless endangerment.
Further details of the arrest were not immediately
available.
1st
ex-Altoona cop sentenced in fight, cover up
ALTOONA, PA. — A former central Pennsylvania police officer
will serve four years on probation for his role in an off-duty bar fight and
the subsequent cover up.
The Altoona Mirror reports ( http://bit.ly/Wpy4EO)
32-year-old Eric Krimer was sentenced Wednesday.
Another former officer, Duane Eichenlaub, faces sentencing
April 29 for his conviction on seven counts, including aggravated assault and
tampering with public records.
Authorities say Eichenlaub and Kriner beat up a man who
allegedly fondled Eichenlaub's wife and lifted her dress at an Altoona bar in
May 2010.
The officers then tried to get fellow police who responded
to overlook the incident.
Kriner pleaded guilty and testified against Eichenlaub at
his trial in January.
Kriner told the Blair County judge who sentenced him,
"I should have come forward and said what happened."