[NY] Deputy Heven Hewitt fired after ex-boyfriend's report of on-duty armed threat & assault

...Stephen Bills, who is the victim of the incident -- claims she showed up at his house uninvited, on duty, armed and driving a sheriff's vehicle shortly after 6 a.m. Nov. 19. Bills claims Hewitt became enraged about another woman spending the night with him during a domestic confrontation, punched him in the face and clenchered her county issued firearm while threatening his life. He alleges she unsnapped her gun from its holster ...

Tweddell fires Hewitt and confirms she was on duty
The Evening Tribune Justin Head
Fri Dec 12, 2008, 05:37 PM EST
Bath, N.Y. -

Steuben County Sheriff Richard Tweddell fired Deputy Heven Hewitt today.

Hewitt, 23, of Russell St., Canisteo, was charged Nov. 20 with second-degree harassment and fourth-degree criminal mischief. The charges stem from a Nov. 19 fight with her ex-boyfriend, Stephen Bills, at the Howard home they shared.

A press release from the sheriff's office alleges Hewitt caused damage to someone's property and struck another person at her former residence on County Route 109 in the Town of Howard, but failed to include that she was a deputy and if she was on duty or not during the event.

"All I can tell you is that she has been on administrative leave and she is no longer employed," said Tweddell who met with Hewitt in an administrative meeting earlier today.

Tweddell said Hewitt has been on administrative leave since the incident happened and he terminated her today.

He refused to comment on the nature of the case, but answered "yes, she was" when asked if she was on duty during the time of the incident.

Tweddell said he was instructed not to talk to about the case with the media, but he would not say by whom.

The Leader interviewed her ex-boyfriend, Stephen Bills, who is the victim of the incident and he claims she showed up at his house uninvited, on duty, armed and driving a sheriff's vehicle shortly after 6 a.m. Nov. 19.

Bills claims Hewitt became enraged about another woman spending the night with him during a domestic confrontation, punched him in the face and clenchered her county issued firearm while threatening his life. He alleges she unsnapped her gun from its holster during the conflict.

The Leader reports Bills thought the case was going well until he heard Hewitt was offered a deal that would allow her to plead guilty to a single count of harassment. He said she should face more serious consequences.

Hewitt appeared in Howard town court before Judge Mary Ann Remchuk Nov. 25 and is due to appear again Jan. 27.

Assistant District Attorney Patricio Jimenez is handling the case against Hewitt. [LINK]

Ex-boyfriend: Deputy threatened to kill me
Binghamton News - The Corning Leader
Thu, 11 Dec 2008 17:41:54 -0600

A Steuben County sheriff's deputy charged in connection with a domestic dispute at her ex-boyfriend's home was on duty and armed at the time of the alleged incident, the alleged victim said Thursday.

Deputy Heven M. Hewitt, 23, allegedly unsnapped her agency-issued firearm and threatened to kill Stephen Bills during the dispute Nov. 19 at Bills' Turnpike Road home in Howard, the ex-boyfriend said.

Hewitt also punched him in the face, Bills said.

"She screamed 'I'll (expletive) kill you,'" Bills said of the confrontation. "I saw her hand clench her weapon."

Hewitt, of Russell Street, Canisteo, was charged with fourth-degree criminal mischief and second-degree harassment following the incident.

Efforts to reach Hewitt on Thursday were unsuccessful. It is unclear if she is still on duty, although Bills' attorney, Susan BetzJitomir, said the deputy has an administrative hearing scheduled for today.

County Attorney Fred Ahrens and Sheriff Richard Tweddell both said they could not comment on the case.

According to Bills, Hewitt showed up uninvited to his home shortly after 6 a.m. Nov. 19. She was on duty, armed and driving a sheriff's vehicle, he said.

"She was pounding on my door," Bills said. "I let her in."

A verbal encountered ensued, Bills said, and when Hewitt discovered a woman was in Bills' bedroom, Hewitt attempted to confront the woman.

Bills said he got between Hewitt and the bedroom door. At that point, Hewitt allegedly pushed and slapped Bills.

Bills said he then backed Hewitt into a corner to keep her under control, at which time she clenched her weapon and threatened to kill him. Hewitt then punched him, he said.

Bills eventually persuaded Hewitt to leave.

"I know for a fact she unsnapped her weapon," Bills said. "Because when (we were walking to the door), she said 'I have to snap it back up so it doesn't fall out.'"

Bills said he called police once Hewitt was outside. He contends she punched some windows at his home after she exited his residence.

By the time other sheriff's deputies responded to Bills' home, Hewitt had already left, he said.

Bills gave a written statement to a sheriff's investigator, and Hewitt was charged. Bills said the sheriff's office handled the case like professionals.

"The investigator handled it to the fullest," Bills said. "He did his job and beyond."

Bills said he thought the case was going well until he heard Hewitt was offered a deal that would allow her to plead guilty to a single count of harassment. He said she should face more serious consequences.

Steuben County District Attorney John Tunney was unavailable for comment Thursday.

Hewitt and Bills were a couple for eight years before breaking up in September, Bills said.

Hewitt is scheduled to appear in court next month.

A Steuben County sheriff's deputy charged in connection with a domestic dispute at her ex-boyfriend's home was on duty and armed at the time of the alleged incident, the alleged victim said Thursday. [LINK]
[TAGS: POLICE OFFICER INVOLVED DOMESTIC VIOLENCE OIDV TERRORISTIC THREATENING THREATS]