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Public News Items Of Interest.
The Good, The Bad, The Ugly. Nobody is spared!
(Latest items at the top, scroll down for earlier items)
"Confidential Informant" test no longer part of telephone tips
(Or, " Finally, logic has prevailed, after all these years ! ")
District Court says that 9-1-1 calls can justify DUI stop.
(Some Background): " Used to be," if dispatch got a phone call reporting almost any (especially traffic) violation, passed it to you, and you acted on it, you'd get the perp but you could usually kiss the court case goodbye. "Why", you ask? Because back then existing case law required the same test as for an "informant", who had to "be developed". That is to say, the informant had to be used enough times to generate confidence in the information. Extremely frustrating.
"But No More!. Thanks, 4th District Court, you are a ray of sunshine!
The Case:
A driver will stand trial for drunken driving after the District Court Judge denied a request to drop the charges.Robert VanDyke, 42, was arrested on Sept. 25 after leaving the Spanish Fork Sports Park in what 911 callers (that's a telephone tip) believed to be an intoxicated state (that's a report from a citizen).
His attorney, (naturally) asked for the case to be dropped "since the phone call was insufficient to justify the arrest."
The District Court ruled that the 9-1-1 caller, dispatch notes and the Spanish Fork police officer's observations, were enough to substantiate an arrest, and VanDyke will go to trial in April.
"When a drunk driver is reported by a citizen, the totality tips the balance in favor of public safety and lessens the requirement of ... corroboration," the Judge said.
VanDyke is in the Utah County Jail on $100,000 cash-only bail.
That means, Troops, that when you get a phone report from citizen do your homework: Get to the area, find the perp, and observe briefly as you are preparing to stop the violator. Most of the time you'll develop reasonable grounds or probable cause before you ever manage to get the violator stopped. If your observations make you think that there is indeed some problem, then proceed with the case IAW your department policy. The phone call from citizen, triggering your own observation, is valid substantiation now.
The entire background on this case can be enjoyed at the Deseret News
"Suicide by Cop"?
Man shoots at police, killed by return fire.
South Salt Lake police identified the man shot and killed on Wednesday as Ron E. Larsen, 53.
Officers were called to an active domestic violence situation at 3100 South Washington Street (240 West) about 1:20 p.m. on Wednesday. When they arrived, Larsen stepped onto the porch, brandished a handgun and then fired at the officers, said South Salt Lake police detective Gary Keller.
The officers returned fire, striking Larsen who died a short time later at a local hospital. The officers remained Thursday on standard paid administrative leave pending the outcome of an investigation by the Salt Lake District Attorney.
Full story is at the Deseret News.
Donuts, or Mac-y-Dees?
(Which is more dangerous; a donut shop or McDonalds? ")Apparently the only place more dangerous than between some cops and their donuts is between some cops and their "Mac-Y-Dees".
CLEARWATER Florida
75-year-old Jean Merola was waiting in her car at a McDonald's, exactly where the employees told her to wait, for her order to be finished. She was patiently waiting for her food when a local officer of the law told her to move her car.
Merola told the officer she was parked where employees told her to park, and she was waiting for her food. Which, it seems, waiting where you're told to wait appears reasonable. You've paid your money, you don't want them to forget where you are, do you?
Besides, your order should be finished before the one behind you, shouldn't it? Unless, perhaps, the order behind you might be just a fast cup of (free?) coffee.
Police report says she "refused to pull forward as the officer ordered her to...", so the officer arrested her for "disorderly conduct", slapped the stainless bracelets on her and hauled her off to jail.
So, what is "Disorderly Conduct", in Florida?
- Florida State Law: "Disorderly Conduct:"
- Abstract: 877.03 Breach of the peace; disorderly conduct.
- --Whoever commits such acts as are of a nature to corrupt the public morals, or outrage the sense of public decency, or affect the peace and quiet of persons who may witness them, or engages in brawling or fighting, or engages in such conduct as to constitute a breach of the peace or disorderly conduct, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor of the second degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082 or s.
Seems some cops lately are real handy at "ordering" people to do things.
"...I order you...",
"...I command you...".
Makes a person wonder which midnight movie some of them are getting their training films from.
The city jailers might be laughing, but Mrs. Merola's children and eight grandkids apparently are not amused.
She was released from the slammer about an hour and a half later "on her own recognizance". Wonder why. Probably when some supervisor finally stumbled out of the office and discovered what had taken place. On private property, yet.
Let's see; the property owner tells you to park one place, a passing cop tells you to park somewhere else. You're 75 years old, you've paid your money, still don't have your food, not sure the employees remember they still owe you the food, you're still hungry, so you figure you better wait right where they told you to.
Still trying to figure out what this 75 year-old Granny was doing so wrong that constituted "disorderly conduct" in the great state of Florida.
Wonder who actually controls private property in Florida; the property owner or the city cops?
Lawsuit? Who knows. One thing is for sure though; the city sure wouldn't want a bunch of our jurors on that case.
Eagle Mountain Mayor Bound Over For Trial
(Or, " Just because I didn't go to the meeting doesn't mean I shouldn't get paid for it ")
Brian Brent Olsen, Ex-State Trooper then Ex-Eagle Mtn. mayor, bound over for trial.
Olsen, 36, faces felony charges of misuse of public funds for allegedly requesting travel reimbursements for conferences and meetings he never attended. Ex-Eagle Mtn. mayor is bound over for trial
Olsen's attorney, Ron Yengich, argued Friday in American Fork's 4th District Court that the case should be dismissed because there was no legal groundwork in the young city regarding how reimbursements were to be made or how over-reimbursement payments were to be corrected.
"You're not suggesting that a mayor of the city could say to himself, 'I could use a $2,000 loan?" asked 4th District Court Judge David Mortensen.
"No, I'm not saying he could do that," Yengich said. "What I'm saying is that under recognized principles of criminal statute, there has to be some process by which we determine what is or what is not authorized. Given Eagle Mountain's lack of policy whatsoever in this regard ... there is no underlying crime for which this man may be bound over."
Prosecutor Chad Grunander disagreed and argued that Olsen knew exactly what he was doing, repeating the alleged illegal requests seven times.
The next hearing is scheduled for February, at which time a trial date will most likely be set.
The long version, with all the arguments, may be viewed at the Deseret News
Thank You, Trooper, For That Ticket...
(Or, "You saved our lives!")
The Highway Patrol was out in force over Thanksgiving Holiday weekend watching for people breaking the law.
Rarely do troopers get a "thank you" when they stop a motorist, but one Price family is doing just that; saying a Trooper's ticket prevented a tragedy.
Trooper Terry Woodward was able to save their lives. He cited a mother for not having her two-year-old daughter properly restrained, as Utah law requires. Just one hour after that ticket was issued at "Point of the mountain" that same mother and daughter were involved in a head-on collision with a semi-truck on Hwy 6 --and survived.
The mother received serious injuries in the crash, had to be extricated from her twisted 4x4 truck, but she is doing well. The baby got away with a few bruises and a black eye. Thanks to being properly restrained in her car seat.
If you've ever seen a head-on contest between a passenger car and a semi truck, you know how good this news is.
In fact, just on the chance it might get archived and therefore not available, we have a copy of the photo for you.
And what does the baby's family think about that ticket her mother got from the Trooper?
You can read the whole story, the family's feelings, and the Hitchcock twist we're not going to tell you about Right Here
And for a graphic chart, easy to read, on how to place a child seat, the National Highway Transportation Safety page has a good quick reference for you. Search the words "Child Seat" in their search window.
A real good idea. Love your family? Buckle them up!
Major drug sweep on I-80 yields big hauls
(Or, " Trafficking corridor under surveillance by UHP. ")
The Utah Highway Patrol wrapped up a massive drug sweep Friday along I-80 in southern Utah, seizing 213 pounds of marijuana (street value of $2.1 million), 55 pounds of cocaine (street value over $1 million) and more than $11,000 in drug dealer cash. 19 people were arrested in the concerted four day effort.
Troopers from all over the state had been assigned to work the highway most of the preceding week. They collectively made several hundred traffic stops that also yielded significant results.
The drugs seized were not actually destined for Utah. Instead, UHP troopers said, they were headed toward Colorado, Oklahoma, Ohio, South Carolina and New York. In addition to I-80, drug traffickers frequent I-70, which also cuts through Utah.
Trooper Rob Nixon and his K-9 companion named "Kilo" were part of the interdiction effort. He stops a high volume of vehicles but most of them are normal traffic safety matters which deserve either a warning or a ticket.
"Most drivers are nervous," Rob says, "but when there are inconsistencies in their stories I ask a few more questions. On one stop this week when I got up to the driver he was smoking a joint. Usually that's a dead giveaway..."
Captain Mike Rapich says I-80 is a known drug corridor.
The entire Deseret News story can be found at This Link.
Hearing Postponed For Fake Trooper
(Or, "Damn... Be thankful it wasn't a Trooper who caught you!")
A court case was postponed Tuesday for a former state trooper accused of robbing motorists in central Utah. Meanwhile, he is accused of the same crime in another county. Christopher Topham is charged in Sevier County with seven counts of robbery and three counts of impersonating a police officer. On Tuesday, his preliminary hearing was rescheduled to Feb. 19.
The Sevier County Sheriff's Office arrested Topham in July after motorists on Interstate 70 reported being pulled over by a man wearing police clothing and carrying a badge and gun. The motorists then said the man robbed them after asking for their license and registration. Some of the victims identified Topham in a photo lineup, the sheriff's office said.
In October, Topham was charged in Utah County with one robbery count and one impersonating charge. He has a Jan. 4 scheduling hearing to discuss those charges.
Topham was a Utah Highway Patrol trooper from 1990 to 2003. The robbery charges are felonies punishable by up to life in prison while the impersonating charges are misdemeanors.
The whole story at The Salt Lake Tribune.
Painful Encounter of the Third Kind
(Or, "NO, I'm not going to sign that ticket!")
(Also see why you might prefer to simply "Sign the ticket".)
YouTube threats target trooper
Thousands of people angry over a video showing a Utah Highway Patrol trooper using a Taser on a man stopped for speeding have vented on the Internet.
But some are writing about more than just calling the UHP to complain, or debating the merits of a traffic stop.
"OMG this cop needs to be killed," one person wrote on the Internet site YouTube, where the traffic stop video was first posted.
"I'm seriously going to kill this cop!!! I'm going to utah," wrote another.
"Someone please gut this officer," another posted. "Let him bleed out on the side of the road."
Some of those online comments have prompted the Utah Department of Public Safety to investigate the seriousness of the threats, as state public safety officials decide what to do about the initial traffic stop near Vernal that has become an Internet sensation, viewed nearly a million times.
Some online posts also threaten violence against Jared Massey and his wife, who were pulled over in the videotaped traffic stop.
"Right now, we have no substantial evidence or concern that the officer's life is in danger, but we will follow up," UHP Sgt. Jeff Nigbur said Monday. "We also want to look into that on behalf of Jared Massey's family."
Massey wished the online threats would stop.
"I wish people would have some common decency every once in a while," he said Monday. "When I posted the video it wasn't to vilify the guy, demean him or destroy him, and that's one of the things I hate about this."
"I wish people would realize and think about this: Trooper Gardner is a real person, he's got a real family. Real lives are being affected," Massey added.
The Utah Highway Patrol has received thousands of phone calls and e-mails from people on both sides of the traffic stop debate. A majority say the trooper was wrong to use the Taser.
"I think mostly it's people blowing off steam, and that's fine," Nigbur said. "But you can't say you're going to endanger somebody's life."
Massey said his family also received a few calls criticizing their decision to post the video on YouTube. There have been online posts saying Gardner would have been justified in shooting the Masseys.
Massey called the posts "unintelligent" and said those behind the hurtful messages aren't adding anything to the debate over the use of Tasers by police. He still stands by his decision to post the video on the Internet.
"I think it's a good thing that people know about it so we can say, 'How can we fix it so it doesn't happen again if it's wrong,' but not so we can act like morons," Massey said.
The clip, nearly 10 minutes long, shows UHP trooper Jon Gardner stopping an SUV being driven by 28-year-old Jared Massey on Sept. 14 on U.S. 40 near Vernal. On the tape, Massey can be heard refusing to sign a citation and arguing with Gardner if he was actually speeding, demanding to see the speed limit sign. The trooper ordered Massey out of his car, and the man begins walking toward the posted speed limit sign when Gardner pulls his Taser.
"Turn around, put your hands behind your back," Gardner says. "What the hell is wrong with you?" a stunned Massey asks.
As Gardner repeats the command, Massey starts to walk back to the SUV. Part of his right hand is seen in his pants pocket.
"What the heck's wrong with you?" Massey asks as Gardner fires his Taser into the man's back.
Massey immediately stiffens and falls backward onto the road, screaming in pain. His wife, Lauren, gets out of the SUV screaming and is ordered back into the car or be arrested.
Massey got the dash-cam tape through a public records request and asked a friend to post the clip on YouTube after, he said, the UHP didn't respond quickly enough to his complaint about the traffic stop. The tape has become must-see online, and Massey has appeared on national TV talking about what happened to him.
It has also sparked a healthy debate over a person's rights when being pulled over. In Utah, a person can be arrested for failing to sign a citation. However, an officer has the discretion to simply write "refused to sign" and tell the person they must face the charge in court.
The UHP said it has expedited its investigation into the traffic stop and may render a decision by the end of the week. There has been discussion among UHP leadership about further training for troopers about traffic stops and Taser use.
"Are we going to learn from this? Absolutely," Nigbur said. "If we need to continue to train on the issue, that's something that we'll do."
Massey has said he is considering a lawsuit against the UHP.
,.According to the UHP, (Administrative Review in progress) Gardner could have simply wrote that Massey "refused to sign" the ticket and handed it to him. Instead, the trooper pulled his Taser as he attempted to arrest him.
So, was the motorist required to sign the ticket or not? Find out Here
"The Rest Of The Story",...
and the world-famous video, may be viewed at this "Trib" link:
The Salt Lake Tribune
(Thanks as always to the "Trib" for their ongoing permission to quote their stories.)
Below is part of another lengthy, but interesting, post at another location. Their entire discussion thread, pro and con,
may be viewed at: The Democratic Underground. "...
55. IGNORANCE AND TRUTH
Deception is partial truth and lies. The heading of this post, "Utah Highway Patrolman tasers & arrests man for refusing to sign a ticket", is literally deception, whether done in ingorance (not knowing any better) or intentional.
Watch the FULL video in three parts on You Tube.
"Utah Highway Patrolman arrests man for refusing to sign a ticket, then tasers him for refusing to obey a clear, direct order" is the truth.
Does the other heading have truth? Well the guy did get arrested for refusing to sign the ticket, but saying he got tasered first is a lie, and that is the way it is phrased, which is deceptive.
Saying "his pregnant wife" is also a load of bunk, as it has nothing to do with the matter............."
Chapter Two of the above story
(But, "Internal Investigation Ongoing.")
Trooper cleared: State says Taser use justified, but other agencies to review traffic stop. An investigation has concluded that a Utah Highway Patrol trooper was justified in shooting a man with a Taser during a videotaped traffic stop that became painfully public when it was posted on YouTube.
The Utah Department of Public Safety announced the results of its initial probe into trooper Jon Gardner's use of a Taser on Jared Massey. A 10-minute clip posted online has been viewed more than 1 million times, and Gardner has been placed on paid administrative leave primarily to protect him because of death threats he has received from angry Internet commentators.
"We found that trooper Gardner's actions were lawful and reasonable under the circumstances," UHP Col. Lance Davenport said Friday.
The Utah Attorney General's Office has been asked to conduct an independent probe to see if any criminal violations occurred. The Utah Peace Officer Standards and Training Council may also become involved. DPS has also ordered a review of its Taser-use policy.
Massey told the Deseret Morning News on Friday night that he has mixed emotions about the results of the investigation.
"I don't feel the use of the Taser was justified because I feel the police officer is the one who is the professional and escalated this situation to where he had to use it," he said. "However, I appreciate that they investigated it."
Massey spoke with DPS Commissioner Scott Duncan on Friday to learn the results of the probe. He said he was grateful other agencies will investigate the traffic stop.
"Based on our review to this point, there are three main issues we are addressing," Davenport said. "First, a communication breakdown between trooper Jon Gardner and Mr. Massey. Second, a delay in the investigative process of this incident. Third, the use of the Taser."
On Sept. 14, Massey was pulled over on U.S. 40 near Vernal and cited with speeding. He refused to sign a citation and argued with the trooper, who ordered him out of his car.
As Massey walked toward a speed-limit sign and then back to his SUV, Gardner pulled his Taser and ordered the man to put his hands behind his back. Massey's hand is seen fidgeting around his pocket.
"What the heck's wrong with you?" Massey asks as Gardner fired the Taser into his back, causing him to stiffen, scream and fall backward. Gardner fired the Taser at Massey a second time as the 28-year-old man refused to comply with orders once on the ground, the UHP said.
"Officers are often forced to make split-second decisions or judgments in circumstances that are tense, uncertain or rapidly evolving," Davenport said, adding that Gardner did not know if Massey had a weapon.
But in justifying Gardner's use of the Taser, DPS officials said there were other problems.
"There was a lack of communication on the part of the trooper," Davenport said.
The UHP concedes that Gardner had options that could have de-escalated the situation. He could have written "refused to sign" on the ticket, handed it to Massey, and let the courts handle it. Instead, he arrested Massey.
After the Tasering, when a backup officer arrived and asked what happened, Gardner replied: "Oh, he took a ride with the Taser."
"That comment was inappropriate," Davenport said Friday.
The dash-cam video of the traffic stop was posted on YouTube by Massey, who complained UHP took too long to respond to his complaint. That's because he never filed one, DPS officials said Friday. It did come to the attention of DPS brass when it became a hit on YouTube.
Massey was also scheduled to meet with internal affairs investigators Wednesday but was unable to do so because his attorney was out of town. Investigators also questioned Gardner, who admitted in hindsight that he had other options but was fearful of his safety at the time.
"The Taser was used because Mr. Massey did some things that indicated to the trooper that there may be a danger out there," DPS Commissioner Scott Duncan said.
On the Internet, the 10-minute clip has taken on a life of its own. Thousands of people have commented on the merits of the traffic stop, mostly raging against Gardner. The UHP has also received thousands of phone calls and e-mails.
"We have heard from hundreds of people across the country and the world, with the Internet the way it is," said Duncan.
DPS is also investigating numerous death threats that were posted on the Internet against Gardner and Massey. Duncan said Gardner was on leave for his safety, and security measures were offered for Massey's family.
Gardner could still face disciplinary action from the state, depending on the final outcome of all the investigations.
"It will be reviewed," Davenport said.
Gardner has had a few complaints lodged against him in his 14-year career with the UHP, Davenport said, but most have been unfounded.
Massey said Friday he will consult with his attorney to decide what his next step might be, and said he is still considering a lawsuit against Gardner and the UHP.
Utah Public Sees Rare Hot Wheels
(Or, "Starting at the Miller Motor Park...")
During the next few days you might be lucky enough to see some rare, expensive cars on the road.
They're part of the annual Utah Fast Pass -- a four-day rally in which car owners get to show off their wheels while helping Utah's troopers.
Today was all about speed. Owners of some very sexy cars got to let loose at the Miller Motorsports Park. Car owner Brian Bacigalupo has a 1970 Shelby GT 500. And Tom Benjamin owns a 200 BMW Z8, one of the first models made.
These and other drivers reached speeds of over 100 miles per hour at the Larry H. Miller MotorSports Park.
32 cars were registered in this year's "Fast Pass" event. They were all first inspected by Utah Highway Patrol troopers, to make sure the vehicles are street-legal.
For the next three days these cars will cruise through Utah.
Landline Phone Best For 9-1-1 Calls
(Or, " Here's Why: ")
Cell phones may offer the convenience of placing a call wherever needed, but officials are warning that homes should still have a traditional phone connected by wires.
In a power outage, a landline will likely be a home's only lifeline in the event of an emergency, according to the National Emergency Number Association (NENA). They are teaming up with telecommunications provider Qwest to teach people the importance of having a landline phone.
When calling 9-1-1 from a landline phone in an enhanced service area, the number and address of the caller is automatically displayed for emergency dispatchers. That is not the case with some (most) cell phone calls, which may not transmit location data to emergency responders
So, if you have to use a cell phone to report an emergency, be sure to report the location so the dispatcher can send responders to the proper place.
EX-trooper Goes Into Private Business
(Or, " UHP Not Amused ")
Ex-trooper accused of stopping, robbing motorists on highway
A retired Utah Highway Patrol officer was arrested in Sevier County on Thursday for allegedly making illegal traffic stops while posing as a trooper in order to rob drivers.
Christopher Mark Topham, who worked as a UHP trooper from 1990 to 2003, was arrested on suspicion of aggravated robbery, aggravated kidnapping, theft and impersonation of a peace officer, the Sevier County Sheriff's Office reported.
Topham allegedly posed as an officer on May 23 and stopped a driver on Interstate 70 near Richfield. He then allegedly stole money from the driver after asking to see his wallet and registration.
On June 28, another driver complained that Topham stopped him on I-70 and allegedly stole money from his wallet and the wallet of a passenger in his car, the sheriff's office reported.
The last complaint occurred June 30 when Topham allegedly stopped five men in a car and stole $9,000 from them. They told investigators Topham had a gun and was wearing police clothing.
Six of the nine known victims were able to identify Topham from a photo lineup, the sheriff's office reported.
UHP spokesman Jeff Nigbur said Topham was on the force for nearly 13 years and was never a disciplinary problem
"He was a good trooper," Nigbur said.
The UHP was shocked and upset when they heard of Topham's arrest, Nigbur said.
"We're upset he used some old Highway Patrol equipment and an old badge," Nigbur said of the allegations. "To use the Highway Patrol's name, that upsets us."
(That last sentence has been nominated for "The Year 2007's Global Prize in Absolute Classic Polite Understatement.")
...Christopher Mark Topham, who worked as a UHP trooper from 1990 to 2003, faces eight first-degree felony counts of aggravated robbery and four misdemeanor counts of impersonating an officer, court records show.... Six of the nine known victims were able to identify Topham from a photo lineup.
Topham remained in the Sevier County jail Monday night July 23, 2007. Bail was set at $304,070.00. His attorney has requested a reduction in bail, but prosecutors want to see bail denied altogether. A judge will review the amount in a future hearing.
Click It, Or Ticket
(Or, " UHPA President Saving Lives "
Trooper Todd Johnson is also the President of our UHPA. Presiding over meetings he shares information from Troopers all over the State regarding crash causes, injury severity and problems from around the State. Like the rest of us, Todd is convinced of the truth that "Seatbelts Saves Lives".
This photo shows Todd at Provo High School's parking lot, scrutinizing passing students in their vehicles. Todd rewards students on this day with candy bars, for wearing seat belts. No tickets here today, he is just trying to change some habits so that students might get the vision; "Seatbelts Save Lives".Full Story at Deseret News
Updating the FBI Firearms Database
Utah reports mental problem records to FBI firearms database
Many states don't send mental health records to gun check database, but Utah does
Since 1968, federal law has prohibited the sale of guns to anyone adjudged mentally ill.
But more than half the states cannot - or will not - supply the necessary mental health records to the FBI database that is used to conduct background checks on would-be gun buyers.
The states that do report at least some mental health records to the FBI are Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Florida, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Michigan, Missouri, New Hampshire, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, South Carolina, Tennessee, Utah, Virginia, Washington and Wyoming, according to the FBI.
Parking Lot Racetracks
" About as safe as the freeway "
Crash in mall lot injures an off-duty W.V. officer
An off-duty West Valley police officer was injured in a two-car accident in a mall parking lot Saturday afternoon. The officer was traveling through the Valley Fair Mall parking lot, 3601 S. 2700 West, about 4:30 p.m. when a car broadsided her on the passenger side.
Want To Sell A Gun?
" Just make sure who you are selling it to! "
U.S. attorney calls unlicensed gun sales a hazard
U.S. Attorney for Utah Brett Tolman says people who sell guns without a federal license at gun shows are putting the public at risk.
Story at this link
"Friendly Fire?"
" Having a difficult time with that term... "
Friendly fire likely killed N.Y. trooper
Friendly fire apparently killed a New York state trooper in a gunfight that erupted as he searched a farmhouse for a suspect in the shooting of a colleague, officials said Friday.
Woman Roughed-Up by Deputy Sheriff
" Headed for hospital to see her Dad. "
Your Dad had a heart-attack,
was taken to the hospital?
Don't get stopped by a Florida sheriff!
Here's Why!
How Very, Very, Embarrassing!
And, " It really hurt, too! "
(How many reasons do you need to wear your seat belt?)
NJ governor to pay for accident care
Gov. Jon S. Corzine will forgo his state health insurance and spend hundreds of thousands of his own money to pay for his medical care from a serious car accident, a spokesman said Friday. The spokesman for Corzine, a multimillionaire from his days leading Goldman Sachs, made the announcement after the governor posed Thursday for photos and told The Associated Press: "I'm the most blessed person who ever lived."
Link To Story
How Safe Is Parking At TRAX Lots?
(Or, " Parking Lots Never Change ")
TRAX crime: Parking lots targets for vandalism, robbery, assault. There's no question that for many commuters, light rail is a cost-effective alternative to freeway gridlock and high gas prices. But KSL News reports today that there is another cost for some Utahns who park their cars at TRAX parking lots to catch a train: crime.
SLTrib Story Here
Trooper Drug Busts Now Over A Half-Ton
" So far in 2007 "
So far this year, the Utah Highway Patrol has confiscated more than 1,000 pounds of marijuana and other drugs like methamphetamine, cocaine and Ecstasy from Utah interstates considered major pipelines for drug trafficking.
SLTrib Story Here
Fla. deputy suspended over rough arrest
A sheriff's deputy was suspended for manhandling a sobbing woman who was speeding to a hospital to see her ailing father and didn't want to wait for him to write a ticket. After Deputy Kevin Stabins stopped Melissa Langston a second time in the hospital parking lot, video from his cruiser's dashboard shows him yanking her from her car and slamming her against it.
Link to story
U.S. Supreme Court Ruling
" High-speed Chase Suspects Cannot Sue Police "
The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday gave police officers significant protection from lawsuits by suspects who lead them on car chases. The justices ruled 8-1 against Georgia teenager Victor Harris, who was left a quadriplegic after a police vehicle rammed his car off the road in 2001.
Full story at CNN.com
If you want to drive fast, really fast, do it Here, and not on the highway!
Update on Investigation, Trolly Square Killings
(Or, " Prior Gun Owners likely About To Get Educated "
Salt Lake police investigating 3 who owned gun before Talovic: Federal charges could be screened as early as next week against several people who possessed the .38-caliber handgun that Sulejman Talovic used in his killing spree at the Trolley Square mall Feb. 12. Link To DesNews Story
Selling a firearm? Really know who the buyer is? Click on this Trooper's Link, he explains it as well as anyone: Firearms Transfer
Hot Pursuit This Week (Or, "Officer thinks safety first in pursuit"
When Marian Harman of West Jordan awoke last Wednesday and discovered her 2001 Lexus had been stolen from her garage, the nightmare had just begun. Link To SLTrib Story
More Hot Pursuit (Or, " Police nab ex-cons in high-speed chases"
In separate incidents, two former jailbirds tried to outrun police this weekend when traffic infractions threatened to return them to their old roost. Instead, Utah Highway Patrol troopers caught them, cuffed them and sent them back to jail with a list of new offenses. Link to SLTrib Story
Trooper Can Hardly Keep From Laughing (Or, "Mystery Passenger In The Rear Seat "
When a driver suspected of being drunk was arrested by a Utah Highway Patrol trooper last year, he began berating the trooper, claiming he had friends in high places and the trooper's job would be toast after he told his influential buddies how badly he was treated. He was unaware that sitting right behind him in the trooper's car was Governor Jon Huntsman Jr., wearing a baseball cap. Huntsman, who didn't know the man, likes to go on ride-alongs with the troopers. He related that story last week at the Utah Police Chiefs Association's annual dinner.
From SLTrib.com
Ex-Sheriff Back On Payroll (Or, "You Can't Keep A Good Man Down"
The driver of the pickup wore a black cowboy hat. The passenger in the truck's bed wore an orange jumpsuit. The hat and jumpsuit are symbols of the law in this rural town. Inmates at the Beaver County jail wear the orange. The former sheriff, Kenneth Yardley, is known for wearing the black hat. And although Yardley has been investigated for using inmate labor for projects at his home, he is back to work for the sheriff's office - overseeing inmate labor. Yardley's successor, Sheriff Cameron Noel, has no qualms about it. "He's still a certified peace officer, and it's difficult to find certified peace officers," Noel said.
Link To SLTrib Article
Veteran who cops beat needs surgery (Or, "If you're an old guy who just enjoys feeding the ducks, don't do it in Salt Lake City."
Miles Lund, who claims he was attacked by Salt Lake City police officers in Liberty Park last fall, is suffering from a brain injury that needs immediate operative care, Lund's attorney said Monday. But Salt Lake City lawyer Clark Newhall, a former emergency room doctor, said the Veterans Administration Medical Center took too long to provide Lund proper diagnostic treatment and now appears to be “dragging its feet” in caring for his potentially deadly injury. Witnesses say Lund, a regular fixture at the duck pond at Liberty Park, was tackled by police officers on Nov. 25. The officers apparently believed Lund was carrying a gun.
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Eleven-car pileup on I-15 (Or, "Can't anybody around here just slow down?"
A series of accidents damaged 11 cars this morning and slowed traffic on Interstate 15 in Salt Lake City. The Utah Highway Patrol was helping remove the damaged cars from the right, northbound shoulder as of 7:30 a.m., but troopers say all traffic lanes were open. "Right now they're just trying to get them all cleaned up," said UHP Trooper Preston Raban. "But there are no injuries - just a mess." It began earlier in the morning with three or four cars entangling in an accident near 2900 South, Raban said. As traffic slowed, subsequent accidents followed, he said. There were five separate accidents. Raban did not know the cause of the original wreck. The wrecks closed two lanes of traffic briefly, Raban said.
U.S. Marshals team arrests 5 violent fugitives (Or, "Has Utah become a hideout-of-choice for crooks?")
The goal of the U.S. Marshals Service's Joint Criminal Apprehension Team in Utah is to round up violent fugitives. And lately, they've been on quite a roll. In just the past two weeks the JCAT has arrested five men wanted for murder from across the United States and Mexico, including one who has been on the run for more than two decades. Those arrests have also raised the question of whether Utah has become a desirable hiding ground for wanted felons.
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Duchesne attorney suspected of DUI (Or, "Didn't you hear what we said? THERE'S NO SUCH THING as a DUI warning!"
Duchesne County's former chief law enforcement officer was jailed Tuesday, suspected of driving under the influence of prescription drugs. Karen Allen, who served an appointed term as county attorney from 2004 to 2006, was arrested following a single-car accident that occurred as she was driving to the 8th District Court building in Duchesne to file paperwork. Utah Highway Patrol trooper Rex Olsen said Allen lost control of her car at about 11 a.m. and slid off an embankment on the right side of the road.
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Officer may face charge in fatality (Or, "What else is there to say when the news is so bad?"
District Attorney Lohra Miller said Tuesday she is considering a charge of negligent homicide against a Taylorsville police officer who hit and killed a man while attempting to join a nearby police chase.
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New Davis jail still needs to fill positions (Or, "It isn't an easy job, but there are a lot worse"
Davis County's expanded jail opened for business at the beginning of March - is fully staffed, except for 10 corrections clerks. County Personnel Director Steve Baker said that 36 sworn correctional officers have been hired. Of the 46 clerk openings - those are unsworn positions - 39 signed on and three recently resigned.
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