A peek into my week tracking power domestic violence

This is just a PEEK into my mailinglist of power dv -
selected stories and posts between Dec 3 & Dec 10th, 2006


[NJ] Wife-killer Police Sgt. Vanaman's bail reDUCED? ( B L EH ! )
Instead of going to school, the 14-year-old son of Barbara and [Millville] police Sgt. Robert Vanaman learned in court about the evidence, which the state has collected, that could prove his father fatally shot his mother and slashed himself to make the crime look like self-defense... Victim Barbara Vanaman's stepfather also was present and sat on the opposite side of the courtroom from Vanaman's son... Vanaman's status as a police officer makes him more of a flight risk. "Because he's facing the rest of his life behind bars and because he is a police officer is reason to flee... As a member of law enforcement, I can think of nothing more terrifying than being in prison for the rest of my life with the people I helped put there"... [He got bail anyway.]


[US] Secret Service Special Agent In Charge Lon Garner's dv
Lon Garner, the lead U.S. Secret Service Special Agent in Denver, was charged Friday with two counts of felony second-degree assault for allegedly choking his wife... choking his wife until her ears started to ring and her peripheral vision became dark... choked her until their son, Lon Jr., struck his father on the head, knocking him down... Garner initially faced a misdemeanor assault charge... The more serious counts were filed based on the evidence... Christine Garner said she waited almost a year to come forward because her husband threatened he would "eliminate" anyone who tried to ruin his career... A restraining order was issued and he was ordered to stay away from his wife. He has also been told to wear a GPS tracking bracelet...


[NC] Wife who killed husband Officer Witherspoon - 50 new charges
...A woman accused of killing her police officer husband at their Mooresville home now faces more than 50 new charges. The 58 counts brought in Iredell County Superior Court against Misty Keller Witherspoon include allegations that she committed embezzlement, identity theft and obtained property by false pretenses...


[NC] Firefighter "Rusciano has been arrested at least 3 times"
...Rusciano has been arrested at least three times. He was arrested twice for domestic violence, and once for threatening his fellow firefighters. At his trial he was acquitted of that charge... this latest charge against Rusciano stems from an incident on Nov. 2, two days before he allegedly pointed a gun at his wife... Despite his past difficulties, he has remained a firefighter in good standing... “We feel he is pushing the limits of fairness” and “Firefighters need to know he is responsible also”... With his current troubles, Rusciano is facing two counts of communicating threats and one count of making harassing phone calls...


[TX] DALLAS ORDERED TO REHIRE OFFICER WEBB
...Prosecutors had accused Officer Jason Webb of striking his ex-wife in the face, arm and torso and then threatening to retaliate against a witness. They planned to offer evidence that he had assaulted the woman 20 times in two years...The officer was arrested and charged with assaulting a family member. He was also indicted on felony charges of retaliating against a witness... that case was dismissed when the witness refused to testify. His ex-wife became reluctant to proceed with the case, and prosecutors agreed to the plea bargain. In July 2002, the Police Department suspended Officer Webb for five days without pay for getting involved in a domestic disturbance discrediting the department. By that time, he had been suspended twice for other incidents – one day for conduct unbecoming an officer in May 2002 and one day for domestic disturbance discrediting the department in February 2001... Officer Webb's ex-wife could not be reached for comment...


[TX] Rehiring Ofc. Webb might(?) make it hard to fire cops for dv
"Dallas police Officer Jason Webb, who was fired three years ago after he pleaded no contest to assaulting his ex-wife, has to be rehired. His court-ordered reinstatement is troubling because either a state appeals court misapplied state law or Dallas police and attorneys botched his dismissal. Moreover, legal experts suggest this case might make it more difficult for police departments to fire officers who have a history of domestic violence. Let's hope the ramifications don't run that deep."


[IN] Several neighbors call police to home of Ofc. Skaggs
...Martinsville Police Chief Frans Hollanders confirmed that officer Chance Skaggs, who was already on probation from an earlier suspension, has been suspended until the internal investigation being conducted by the department is complete... The department had received several 911 calls from residents in the area... it was a domestic problem between Skaggs and his family...


[NY] Linda Erlichman - "A WONDERFUL LIFE MOURNED"
Linda Erlichman was so loved that her 50th birthday in October sparked a monthlong celebration, family and friends said Friday... Erlichman's life was cut short Wednesday when, police said, her ex-boyfriend, Craig Saboski, 48, a former New York City [NYPD] police officer, shot her to death in the Hicksville plumbing supply store where she worked. He then killed himself. Saboski, of New Hyde Park, who had a history of harassing women, seemed to have been provoked because he was being prosecuted for stalking Erlich.man, of East Meadow, who ended their relationship in the spring... He was still on probation in the case involving his ex-wife when police arrested him in September for stalking and harassing Erlichman...


[OH] Ex-Deputy Brandenburg's wife allowed to drop dv charge
...[Butler County Sheriffs Deputy Nick] Brandenburg's wife, who had accused him of assaulting her at the couple's Liberty Twp. home, filed a request Monday seeking dismissal of her complaint... Brandenburg, 27, resigned in October after an internal investigation into the domestic violence complaint led to a separate, unrelated fourth-degree felony theft charge...



[NY] Recently retired NYPD Ofc. Heilberger kills wife & self ..
...Heiberger retired from the NYPD in February... Initial police reports indicated that two people who had been shot in the head were discovered by children coming home from school... TOWN OF WALLKILL POLICE SAID THEY HAD BEEN CALLED TO THE HOUSE BEFORE, ALTHOUGH THEY COULD NOT SPECIFY WHY OR WHEN."(UNIFORMED OFFICERS) WERE FAMILIAR WITH THE RESIDENCE FROM PAST RESPONSES," SAID JOHN QUINN, DEPUTY CHIEF OF THE TOWN OF WALLKILL POLICE. "THEY WERE ALWAYS FIGHTING AND SHE'D SAY SHE COULDN'T STAND HIM," SAID A CLERK AT CITGO WHO DECLINED TO GIVE HER NAME. ANOTHER CLERK TOLD POLICE ELENA HAD BEEN IN THE STORE MONDAY NIGHT DISCUSSING DIVORCING PETER...



[NY] Father of slain Elena Hieberger about his daughter
The bodies of a retired NYPD cop and his wife - both killed in what cops believe was a murder suicide - were discovered in their Orange County home yesterday by two of her young children... "He took my daughter's life and he left my grandchildren orphans"... his daughter, who graduated from nursing school last week, had been planning to leave her husband, whom he described as "abusive." Law-enforcement sources said the couple fought bitterly Monday night about Elena's plans to seek a divorce..."She called me this morning and said, 'I've just about had it with Peter... In a weird twist, Heiberger, who retired from the force in February after 20 years, was once a partner to a cop who shot and killed his girlfriend before turning the gun on himself in their Queens apartment, according to Marmo...



[MA] Officer Karl Johnson arrested 3rd time
A [Springfield] city police officer was arrested yesterday for the third time since 2004 after failing to appear for his trial on charges of assaulting an ex-girlfriend and carrying a firearm while intoxicated... the assault and firearms charges involved a dispute between Johnson and an ex-girlfriend. Johnson tangled with the law again on Nov. 2, 2005, when he was arrested and charged with trespassing and resisting arrest...



[NJ] Sgt Vanaman who killed wife Barbara out on bail, w/kids
A Millville police sergeant accused of killing his wife [Barbara] has been released on bail and is living with his two children. Robert Vanaman returned to his home shortly before 4:30 p.m. Monday, at which time he was reunited with his 5- and 14-year-old sons... Vanaman is charged with first-degree murder, hindering prosecution, tampering with evidence, fabricating physical evidence and filing a false report with police...


[[IN] Officer Tyler, charged with battery, loses pay
A little more than a week after being charged with misdemeanor domestic battery and interfering with the reporting of a crime, Officer Clark D. Tyler of the Fort Wayne Police Department learned he would be suspended from his job without pay... His wife later told city police who investigated the case that she suffered pain from Tyler lying on top of her chest and to her wrists from being held. She also had bruises on her arm from being grabbed, court documents said. Tyler has denied any wrongdoing. He was ordered not to have any contact with his wife when he was released from jail on bond...


[IL] Fire Chief John Wu sorry for private dv & going back to work
..."I apologize for the disruption to the community and the Fire Department," Wu said in a statement. "While I consider the matter to be private, I will strive to earn back the respect and trust of the community and the department. I look forward to leading the department with integrity and honor."... "We're happy to have him back and we're happy he's coming back to work," Assistant Naperville Fire Department Chief Mike Zywanski said. "We're looking forward to his return"...


[CA] DV-killer of Officer Kaliah Harper enters not guilty plea
...The attorney for Quartus Hinton, 28, said Hinton is not claiming to be innocent in the death of Officer Kaliah Harper, but that pleading not guilty is a formal requisite to a trial...


cloud note: presuming an officer's guilt
...If I feel like calling NJ Millville Officer Robert Vanaman a wife-killer before he has his day in court, I think that's alright - since no one is arguing whether or not he killed her, just why. But some of these cases I post the officer could very likely be set up... And I am DEVASTATED at the thought of anyone being set-up. BREAKS MY HEART, I don't care who it is, what country, what job. It's just awful to think of a life that comes tumbling down because someone arranged it...


[MI] Ex Deputy, Ex Cop, Deputy Mayor Csapo dv update
Jurors needed only 35 minutes of deliberation after a daylong trial to find Traverse City Commissioner Ricky Edward Csapo guilty of domestic violence for assaulting his wife during an alcohol-fueled encounter on a downtown street... A city elected official is not removed from office because of a misdemeanor conviction, said city attorney W. Peter Doren. "There's nothing in the charter ... that talks about what happens when someone is convicted of a misdemeanor”... [Rick Csapo is a retired Deputy Sheriff of Grand Traverse County, retired Grand Traverse County police officer, a business agent for the Police Officer Association of Michigan, serving his second term as a Traverse City Commissioner and currently is mayor pro tem.]


[CT] Mayor calls firefighter Ryan's wife beating issues "personal"
eventually got upset and struck her several times in the face with his fists, eventually throwing himself on top of her in bed and continuing to strike her... The daughter -- said her father was trying get their mother to leave the house with him before the police arrived... [Mayor Joseph] Jaskiewicz said the town has not opened an internal investigation into the charges against but is doing its “due diligence” and has forwarded the information to the town attorney for review... “There's some personal issues. I don't think this has anything to do with ...[Chesterfield firefighter Shawn] Ryan's wife answered the door... distraught, and had an inch-and-a-half-long cut over her right eye and blood running down her face... She said --RyanRyanChesterfield firehouse, to be honest with you”...


[NC] Firefighter Rusciano - several dv arrests - Will keep job
...The fire department administration met this week to decide Louis Rusciano’s future. The chiefs voted to suspend, not terminate the firefighter. After all of his troubles, Rusciano is still a Charlotte firefighter. He has been arrested several times on domestic violence charges, including last week...


[TN] Lead investigator, Sgt. Charles Donald Kirby "resigns" after wife attack ...A Franklin police sergeant has resigned his position following accusations he shoved his wife and grabbed her by the neck during a Nov. 25 argument... [VIDEO SAYS THEIR NINE YEAR OLD WAS BEHIND A DOOR SCREAMING DURING THE ATTACK]


[VA] Officer DeAngelis supports wife accused of trying to kill him
...Circuit Judge Patricia West on Wednesday denied bail for Michelle DeAngelis, although her [ Virginia Beach Police Officer] husband, Albert DeAngelis, publicly supported his wife and said he would get counseling for her if she were released... Michelle DeAngelis initially denied her involvement but changed her story during interviews... Albert DeAngelis testified that he has been in close contact with his wife, who is four months pregnant - speaking to her daily and visiting her in jail once a week. Asked whether he was fearful of her, Albert DeAngelis said, "No, I am not"...


[MN] Fire Chief Bleskachek: "hard not to just collapse into shame"
(Her former domestic partner, a Minneapolis fire captain, who said [Fire Chief Bonnie] Bleskachek denied her the opportunity to advance in the department... that she was beaten at least 10 times by Bleskachek... to have suffered blackened eyes, injured ribs and head injuries.) ..."It's very, very difficult. It's hard not to just collapse into shame about it," said Bleskachek. "My greatest fear is that this has made it that much more difficult for women in fire service across the nation"...


[MN] NOT SO EASY to fire Chief Bonnnie Bleskachek
...So why don't they just fire her?... Under the terms of her employment, [Fire Chief Bonnie] Bleskachek can invoke union and civil service protections to block an attempt to fire her from the department she has headed since 2004. She also has the option to haul the city into court if she doesn't reach a settlement agreement.... Bleskachek's lawyer warned that "she won't go quietly"... According to the terms and conditions of her appointment as chief... she gets her job back as a firefighter... She could request a hearing before the city's Civil Service Commission or file a grievance under the city's collective bargaining agreement... She could file a civil rights suit, contending she was fired either because of her gender or sexual orientation, which are both protected classes...


[NJ] Sgt. Patrick O'Conner charged for killing his family's pet dog
A mentally disturbed, former Morris County sheriff's officer, who was charged in October with killing his family's golden retriever with a knife and baseball bat, was indicted Wednesday on animal cruelty and weapons' possession charges... O'Connor was on probation - on a conviction for pointing a loaded handgun at a Denville police sergeant... After the October arrest, he was also charged with violating his probation. He was sent to the Ann Klein Forensic Hospital in Trenton, where emotionally unstable defendants are housed, and then transferred on Nov. 21 to the Morris county jail, where he still remains...


[OH] Officer Krista Adams escapes Ofc. Bulman
Police say, after [New Miami Police Officer Krista] Adams told [Ex- Fairfield Township Police Officer William] Bulman their relationship was over... Bulman allegedly grabbed the handcuffs off her duty belt and handcuffed her to the footboard of the bed... "Eventually, she was able to get herself out of the handcuffs and tried to leave. He actually slammed her against the wall. She actually fell to the ground and was actually trying to crawl out of the residence at which time he grabbed her leg and was twisting her leg. She was able to get out of the residence at which time police were contacted"... Adams was taken to the hospital for treatment. Police say she suffered bruises...


[OH] When Officer Krista Adams tried to leave suicidal ex-sgt Bulman
...According to the police report, [New Miami Police Officer Krista] Adams went to [Ex- Fairfield Township Police Officer William] Bulman's home to end their relationship. She said Bulman became very upset and said, "You're not going anywhere. I will handcuff you to the bed if I have to"... handcuffed her to the footboard of his bed. Adams told Bulman to let her go because he was holding her against her will. He replied by saying, "Well add disrupting public service to (the list of charges) also," and threw his home phone and her cell phone against a wall, police said. Bulman then held Adams down on the bed and refused to let her go. He threatened to stick a gun in his mouth while she was handcuffed because, "he had nothing else to live for," according to police... He was transported to the Butler County jail and was released on his own recognizance... He was charged with abduction and assault... Fairfield Twp. police officials said Bulman was terminated in September, but did not elaborate... "He made a couple of suicidal comments. It's very disturbing that an ex-law enforcement officer would be in a situation like that." Adams told authorities Thursday wasn't the first time Bulman had made suicidal threats to her...


[IN] TONIGHT - 2 HOUR SPECIAL ON TROOPER CAMM FAMILICIDE
"...[Indiana State Trooper David] Camm gets an automatic appeal because he has life without parole; he gets an appeal to the Indiana Supreme Court. I never expected him to get a second trial. Who knows? The one thing I’ve learned in five years when it comes to the Camm case is: Don’t be surprised by anything..."


[IN] Will Trooper Camm win a 3rd trial for killing his family?
...After six years, two trials and nearly $2 million of taxpayer money, the last thing Floyd County wants to consider is the idea of twice-convicted [family] murderer [Ex Indiana State Trooper] David Camm getting a third chance...



[CT] Suicidal-dv-rapist/batterer Officer Crespo is in JAIL?
...Harkins shares today’s agenda with two officers incarcerated on felony charges: Former Vernon Officer John Troland, who has been convicted of a felony computer crime charge, and former East Windsor Officer Rafael Crespo, who has been convicted of first-degree sexual assault, said Pfeifer...


[CT] Psychiatrist: Officer Crespo's fiance' was too afraid to leave him
...A PSYCHIATRIST WHO TREATED THE UNIDENTIFIED WOMAN NOTED THAT SHE WAS TOO AFRAID OF [EAST WINDSOR POLICE OFFICER RAFAEL] CRESPO TO END THE RELATIONSHIP... "EAST WINDSOR POLICE HAVE A CODE OF ETHICS. OFFICERS ARE EXPECTED TO LIVE BY IT ON AND OFF DUTY. THAT COMMITMENT TO A HIGH STANDARD SHOULD HELP THE OTHER 25 OFFICERS RETAIN A SENSE OF PRIDE IN THEIR WORK. IN A CLOSE-KNIT DEPARTMENT, THEY ARE BOUND TO BE UPSET BY THE ARREST OF ONE OF THEIR OWN. NO TOWN IS IMMUNE FROM PROBLEMS OR PROBLEM EMPLOYEES. WHAT SETS APART AN ETHICAL ADMINISTRATION IS THE WAY IT HANDLES A CRISIS."


[VA] Bodies of Deputy Tim Jones and wife Pamela found
...bullets shattered the couple’s nearly 16-year marriage. Virginia State Police say multiple bullets pierced [Pittsylvania County Sheriff’s Deputy] Tim Jones’ body, while a single, self-inflicted gunshot wound brought an end to Pam Jones’ life... Asked whether Pamela Jones may have shot her husband before killing herself, Sgt. Robert Carpentieri said, "I can't say that for sure."...


[NJ] Ex-County Officer Brightman arrested for threats to wife
...[Former Passaic County Officer] Gregg Brightman, 30, of Bloomingdale was charged Monday with making terroristic threats, witness tampering, criminal mischief and harassment, police said. Brightman repeatedly telephoned his wife at a restaurant Sunday afternoon and threatened her and a female friend she was dining with, said Lt. Derek Bastinck. He then went to a home where his estranged wife is staying and dented the front of her friend's car... (PHOTO IS NOT BRIGHTMAN, just stock photo of what he's accused of. Innocent until proven guilty.)


[AL] Councilman/ex-deputy Barlow had a non-dv at his house
...[Satsuma City Councilman and former Mobile County Chief Deputy MarkBarlow] "has been in law enforcement for over 20 years, and he is keenly aware of the law regarding domestic violence and harassment," [his attorney Ken] Nixon said. "Mark did not harass his wife, commit domestic violence or do anything else wrong. Mark and his wife are going through a divorce... Michelle Barlow declined to comment... Barlow was unavailable... police Chief David Benefield, contacted this week, would not comment...


[AL] Cop Bass quits after dv. Girlfriend helped by another cop
...Before he resigned, [Greenville Police officer John] Bass spent Wednesday night in the Butler County jail. He made his $13,000 bond Thursday morning. Girlfriend Kristie McGough claimed in the police report that Bass choked her and struck in the face with his fists. She was able to get away by going to another policeman's home who in turned called for help...



[OH] Lucas Mayor resigns & whines before pleading guilty to dv
..."I'm just tired of the personal attacks," he said. [John I] Finley said he is also tired of the "ongoing running in circles and decisions being made without thought only to be retracted at the next meeting"... The couple said they renewed their wedding vows Nov. 15. "I think John is a different and better man today than ever before," said David Badnell, Finley's second attorney. "When John is sober, he is one of the most caring guys I know -- and he's been sober ever since that incident in August"...


[OH] Fire Lt Goolsby is back to work after fire at girlfriends garage
...Chief Metzger said fire officials began an internal investigation and interviewed [Toledo Fire Department Lieutenant Kevin] Goolsby - who has maintained his innocence - and the police detective handling the criminal case. The officials believe the situation is "not necessarily clear cut," and the department wanted to utilize Lieutenant Goolsby in some capacity while he is awaiting his due process, the chief said...



[CA] "Even toughest can fall victim" to dv"
...If anyone knew how to handle herself in a dangerous situation, it was [Richmond Police Officer Kaliah] Harper. But despite all of her street smarts and self-defense training, Harper couldn't protect herself from a former boyfriend who wouldn't take "no" for an answer...


[NY] Wife of ex-NYPD: "I think I need to get away from him"
..."Daddy, I think I need to get away from him," Victor Marmo remembers his eldest daughter Elena Heiberger] saying the day before her death. He gave her a New City lawyer's name. She told him make certain the lawyer didn't call the house, in case her husband [New York Police Officer Peter Hieberger] picked up the phone... "In beginning, he was like a hero," said her father. "But things slowly got worse and worse"... Yesterday, town police said none of the six calls to the home since 2002 were for fights between the Heibergers... Peter, according to Victor Marmo, "was a creation of the NYPD." Finbarr Mahon, a NYPD officer who Marmo said was Peter's old partner, killed his girlfriend and himself in February 2005 in their Queens apartment with his .38-caliber service revolver...