08/26/2005 - BOISE -- Boise
officers are looking to arrest one of their own.
Police
Chief Mike Masterson said one of his patrol officers is accused of
sexual contact with a minor. The incident allegedly happened back in
May.
Masterson
says one of his officers was giving a ride along to a 17-year-old girl.
At some point during the evening, the two went back to his Boise home.
It was a
month and a half later the victim called the chief's office to report
the incident.
The
next day, 28-year-old Richard Beal was put on administrative leave, and
a week later he resigned.
"Beal
is accused of having sexual contact with the girl at his Boise home
while on duty," said Masterson.
Earlier
this week a grand jury found probable cause to arrest Beal. But as of
right now, no one knows exactly where he is.
Details
on the investigation are being kept quiet for now, but Masterson says
his department is taking this issue very seriously.
Beal had
been a patrol officer for two-and-a-half years.
He
worked the valley region, which includes the downtown Boise area. A
warrant has been issued for Beal’s arrest.
"Yes,
he knows that he faces the likelihood of criminal investigation, and
yes he knows that of the recent actions of the prosecutor’s
office in
issuing the warrant," said Masterson.
Ride
alongs are nothing new to the Boise Police Department. Masterson says
on average, the department gives around 175 ride alongs a year.
Passengers
include community members, business people, as well as high school
students who need the experience for a class.
Masterson
says due to this criminal investigation, the ride along program will be
reevaluated.
If convicted
of the charges, Beal faces up to life in prison, and/or a $50,000 fine,
plus mandatory sex offender registration.
***********
06/21/2005 - Nampa, Idaho - Police in this southwestern Idaho
town
raided the wrong duplex, throwing a powerful noisemaking device through
the unit's window and standing outside with guns drawn.
John
Simpson, convinced he was under attack Wednesday, said he hit the floor
of his home, and took his wife down with him.
"I
guess we're going to have to seek psychological help, I hate to say
that," Simpson said Thursday. "I'm not nuts or anything, but I'm still
shaking. Put a shotgun next to your ear and pull the trigger to get an
idea of the noise."
A
Nampa police officer had confused Simpson's window for that of
residents who share a duplex with the 62-year-old Vietnam veteran,
Assistant Chief Tim Vincent said. Police had intended to serve a search
warrant in the adjacent unit. The officer threw the so-called
"flash-bang" device in the window, breaking the glass and setting off a
loud noise and light.
Simpson,
a house painter, said he picked up the first thing he could find - a
vacuum hose - and ran out the duplex's door to defend himself.
The
police department quickly fixed the window, Vincent said. The agency
also will pay for any other damages, he said. Because the officers were
involved in a drug investigation, the raid was considered a high-risk
operation, Vincent said.
Federal
Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms officials assisted.
Police
subsequently arrested Simpson's 20-year-old neighbor. They allege he
had 4 ounces of marijuana with the intent to deliver.
**************
Preston's former police chief said Friday that allegations of
misconduct, including a sexual relationship with a drug suspect, are
untrue, and that an independent review of the allegations was
"unprofessional."
Scott
Shaw was fired by the Preston City Council on Jan. 12. Shaw filed a
federal lawsuit against the city, saying he was not given any reason
for his termination, nor a chance to respond, as required in the city
policy manual.
The
manual states that a department head has the right to a hearing before
the City Council, according to court documents.
On
Feb. 23, Shaw was reinstated to his position, but suspended with pay.
In court documents, Shaw stated that he never cashed the checks or took
any pay.
In
the reinstatement letter, Shaw was directed by mayor Neal Larson to
answer any questions asked of him by Larson, the City Council, or
anyone appointed to them.
He was also
asked to take a polygraph test, but refused.
According
to documents submitted to the court by Shaw's attorney, the city sent a
letter to Shaw on March 3 alleging he "used his position and authority
to coerce and/or influence (the drug suspect) into an inappropriate
sexual relationship with him, and that she was not charged with
drug-related offenses that she had apparently committed."
"That's
patently untrue," Shaw said. "Some of the allegations are, quite
frankly, ridiculous."
Shaw
said he went to the woman to get a handgun from her, and that a deputy
was in the parking lot the entire time he was in the home, and no one
else was in the area, meaning the city's informant could not have
witnessed any sexual misconduct.
The
allegations were brought to the surface in spring 2003, and he was
cleared of any wrongdoing by then-mayor Jay Heusser and the City
Council, Shaw said.
Shaw
said the woman has apologized for the accusations. He said she was not
charged with drug offenses because she was going to testify against
another drug offender in court and was later diagnosed with a mental
disorder.
In
the letter, Shaw is also accused of taking $882 intended for training,
and for displaying poor judgement in his handling of property acquired
during a drug seizure in January 2003.
**********
Officer
Involved: Geremy Earl
Location:
Idaho
5/04/04
-- Geremy Earl, a former police officer arrested in Arizona is awaiting
extradition back to Idaho, for assaulting underage girls.
