[NY] STILL-A-COP??? Schenectady police officer John Lewis arrested SIXTH time -

EXCERPTS FROM BELOW:

...[Schenectady police officer John] Lewis says he went to Ellis Hospital to seek medical treatment, which would be a permissible condition of his suspended license. But prosecutors aren't buying it... Lewis was drunk, with an open can of beer in the vehicle and he refused two blood tests...

...In the past two years, Lewis has been arrested a half-dozen times on assorted domestic and drunken-driving charges...

...Lewis was charged with third degree stalking and second degree aggravated harassment for allegedly threatening his wife... both in person and over the phone, allegedly telling her he would kill her and whoever she was with...

...Lewis already is scheduled to go on trial next month on charges stemming from an earlier drunken-driving arrest. He also pleaded not guilty to a 10-count indictment last month charging him with eavesdropping, stalking, aggravated harassment, computer trespass, computer tampering and tampering with a witness - accused of using a former girlfriend's computer to hack into his ex-wife's e-mail accounts.

...[December 2009] Lewis suffered a knife wound to the chest while he was in Williamstown, Mass., after his current girlfriend allegedly stabbed him during a domestic dispute - 

No charges were filed...

...Lewis also is facing charges stemming from a fight with his brother, also a police officer, before damaging their mother's home...

...His attorney also disputed the prosecutor's contention that Lewis has since April 2008 failed to appear in City Court 15 times for domestic-related incidents...

...Given the allegations against Lewis you might be wondering why he still has a job tonight. The city's position is that a certain law gives Public Safety Commissioner Wayne Bennett the power to single-handedly terminate officers. But in July a State Supreme Court Justice ruled that discipline must be handled according to the union's collective bargaining agreement. That provides for an arbitrator. The court also ruled that disciplinary hearings should not be held in public...

Video:


Previous entries:

• [NY] Fired, reinstated Officer Lewis arrested for assault on his wife
• [NY] Fired, reinstated, arrested Officer Lewis arrested a 2nd time in 2 months
• [NY] Fired, reinstated, then twice arrested Officer Lewis CLEARED of dv charges
• [NY] Fired, reinstated Officer Lewis arrested 3rd time - after alleged death threats
• [NY] Officer Lewis arrested 4th time - (How much will it take?)
• [NY] Cop-on-cop domestic violence is FIFTH ARREST in 9 months for STILL-A-COP John Lewis
• [NY] Fire Officer Lewis? We'll believe it when we see it. 
• [NY] Fired, reinstated, ARRESTED FIVE TIMES, suspended Officer Lewis is rejecting the plea deal

SCHENECTADY COP JOHN LEWIS CHALKS UP ARREST #6
The North Country Gazette
24 of January , 2010
[Excerpts] The charges continue to pile up against suspended Schenectady police officer John Lewis, now in the Schenectady County Jail without bail. Lewis, 40, indicted last month for allegedly using an ex-girlfriend’s computer to hack into his wife’s computer to read her emails, was arrested Saturday night following an auto accident in the parking lot of Ellis Hospital. Police reports say officers responded to the hospital parking lot about 6 p.m. Saturday for the report of an intoxicated male, Lewis, who had left the emergency room and struck a vehicle in the parking lot. Lewis had left the scene by the time police arrived but was located a short time later... Last month, Lewis suffered a knife would to the chest while he was in Williamstown, Mass., after his current girlfriend allegedly stabbed him during a domestic dispute. He was treated and at the North Adams Regional Hospital emergency room and released. No charges were filed... The latest arrest is Lewis’ sixth in the last year. He was indicted last month by a Schenectady County grand jury and charged with 10 counts including eavesdropping, computer trespass, aggravated harassment and stalking... Last January, Lewis was charged with fourth degree criminal mischief for allegedly destroying a kitchen table at an Oregon Ave. home during a domestic dispute involving his mother and brother who is a police officer in the City of Albany. In November, Lewis was charged with third degree stalking and second degree aggravated harassment for allegedly threatening his wife... both in person and over the phone, allegedly telling her he would kill her and whoever she was with. Lewis pleaded not guilty in that case... Lewis was charged with driving while intoxicated last December following an automobile accident... Lewis, a 15-year veteran of the Schenectady Police Department, had been arrested in May 2008 after his ex-wife accused him of grabbing and pushing her during an argument about custody of their three-year-old son. A charge of harassment against him was dismissed by City Court Judge Guido Loyola and he was acquitted of the assault charge in June 2008 following a jury trial... In 1998, Lewis had been fired from the police agency for using a racial slur in the presence of three people including a black YWCA counselor who was working at the police department. An arbitrator ruled he had been fired in the absence of sufficient cause and he was reinstated... [Full article here]

SUSPENDED COP HELD AFTER DWI
Schenectady's John Lewis held after police say he fled after his car hit vehicle in parking lot
Albany Times Union
By Kenneth C. Crowe II
January 25, 2010
[Excerpts] A suspended city police officer is behind held without bail in Schenectady County Jail after he allegedly drove his car into a vehicle at a parking lot at Ellis Hospital on Saturday night. John Lewis was arrested Saturday night and charged with first-degree aggravated unlicensed operation, driving while intoxicated and leaving the scene of a property damage accident. Lewis was arraigned before Schenectady City Court Judge Christine Clark and sent to jail without bail... Lewis already is scheduled to go on trial next month on charges stemming from an earlier drunken-driving arrest. He also pleaded not guilty to a 10-count indictment last month charging him with eavesdropping, stalking, aggravated harassment, computer trespass, computer tampering and tampering with a witness. In that case, Lewis is accused of using a former girlfriend's computer to hack into his ex-wife's e-mail accounts. Earlier this month, prosecutors dropped a contempt charge against Lewis stemming from his alleged violation of an order barring him from contact with his ex-wife. Lewis also is facing charges stemming from a fight with his brother, also a police officer, before damaging their mother's home. Last month, he suffered a stab wound in Massachusetts, allegedly at the hands of his girlfriend. Lewis also faces internal disciplinary charges... Lewis has not worked in uniform since March 2008. That year, a judge acquitted Lewis of harassment. Prosecutors had argued he fought with his ex-wife over custody of their son. Lewis has filed a notice of claim, contending the city conspired with Alison Lewis to get him fired. [Full article here]

SUSPENDED SCHENECTADY POLICE OFFICER ARRESTED AGAIN
CBS6Albany.com
Evan Frost
January 25, 2010
[Excerpts] ...Officer Lewis is currently on unpaid suspension, and is facing termination from the Police Department. The termination hearing for Officer Lewis has been completed and the department is awaiting the decision of the arbitrator. [Full article here]

SCHENECTADY POLICE OFFICER WILL STAY BEHIND BARS
fox23news.com
January 25, 2010
[Excerpts] A suspended Schenectady police officer will be spending more time behind bars. A judge has revoked Officer John Lewis' bail following his DUI arrest over the weekend. Officer Lewis had his right hand in a splint and appeared to be limping as he made two court appearances this morning. In city court, bail was set at $25,000 cash and $50,000 bond for three charges relating to incidents police say happened Saturday evening. They include aggravated unlicensed operation of a vehicle in the first degree, driving while intoxicated and leaving the scene of a property damage accident at Ellis Hospital. Officer Lewis says he went to Ellis Hospital to seek medical treatment, which would be a permissible condition of his suspended license. But prosecutors aren't buying it. They say Lewis was drunk, with an open can of beer in the vehicle and that he refused two blood tests while there... Judge [Karen] Drago revoked bail, saying it has nothing to do with the merits of this latest case, but rather because she had warned Lewis just a few weeks ago that if he didn't stay out of trouble, he'd stay in jail... Lewis has pleaded not guilty to the recent indictment, which includes allegations of stalking and harassment... [Full article here]

SUSPENDED OFFICER IN JAIL WITHOUT BAIL
Albany Times Union
By Paul Nelson
Tuesday, January 26, 2010
[Excerpts] John Lewis' latest brush with the law over the weekend has landed the suspended cop behind bars after a judge rescinded bail resulting from an earlier criminal matter stemming from a domestic altercation. Schenectady County Court Judge Karen Drago on Monday reminded Lewis, 40, about her warnings last month during a bail hearing that he stay out of trouble and not leave New York in the aftermath of a clash in the Berskshires involving his new girlfriend. "I was hurt and needed to get to the hospital," Lewis explained to Drago regarding allegations that he fled the scene Saturday night after a drunken-driving, hit-and-run accident in the parking lot of Ellis Hospital... Assistant District Attorney Michael Tiffany revealed that authorities discovered an open can of beer in Lewis' 1988 BMW on Saturday. The officer had twice refused a chemical test, and prosecutors had video evidence. "The defendant showed a repeated refusal to follow the court's instructions," Tiffany said in asking the $20,000 bond Lewis posted Dec. 23 be revoked. Earlier Monday in City Court, Judge Guido Loyola set bail during Lewis' arraignment on the latest incidents at $25,000 cash. He is scheduled Thursday for a preliminary hearing on that matter. Schenectady County Sheriff Dominic Dagostino said Monday afternoon that jail officials would need to complete the prisoner intake process before determining if Lewis would be housed with the general population. In the past two years, Lewis has been arrested a half-dozen times on assorted domestic and drunken-driving charges... Lewis also is facing charges stemming from a fight with his brother, also a police officer, before damaging their mother's home. Last month, he suffered a stab wound in Massachusetts, allegedly at the hands of his girlfriend... Lewis has filed a notice of claim contending the city conspired with Alison Lewis to get him fired. Lewis' battles with the department date back to 1998, when an arbitrator reversed his firing over his use of a racial slur at the police station... [Full article here]

Video:


INFORMATION FROM CBS6ALBANY.COM, VIDEO 2:

- First Lewis was accused then acquitted of grabbing and pushing his now ex wife.

- The judge issued a protection order which Lewis allegedly violated. That charge was dropped.

- Arrested again for allegedly threatening to KILL his ex-wife.

- Then charged with driving drunk and hitting a parked car.

- Charged with destroying a kitchen table while fighting with his brother.

- In December Lewis made headlines back to back, pleading not guilty to a 10-count indictment and then the next day being stabbed in the chest during a domestic with his new girlfriend.

- He's facing 3 new charges from the latest incident: driving without a license, driving drunk, and leaving the scene of an accident.

- Now he is being held without bail, but whether he keeps or loses his job is ultimately up to the arbitration process.

- In 1998 when the city tried to fire Lewis, through arbitration he was ordered reinstated.

- Now Lewis awaits arbitration again, at least one criminal trial, and the outcome of his own lawsuit alleging his ex wife and the police department conspired against him to get him fired.

Desk anchor:

Schenectady Police Spokesperson Eric Clifford issued a news release indicating that there would be no comment on when or where Lewis was arrested last night. We also tried to reach attorneys for Officer John Lewis and the police union (unsuccessfully). Given the allegations against Lewis you might be wondering why he still has a job tonight. The city's position is that a certain law gives Public Safety Commissioner Wayne Bennett the power to single-handedly terminate officers. But in July a State Supreme Court Justice ruled that discipline must be handled according to the union's collective bargaining agreement. That provides for an arbitrator. The court also ruled that disciplinary hearings should not be held in public.

SINCE THE LAST BLOG POST:


SCHENECTADY’S COMMISH STARTING NEW HEARINGS FOR COP DISCIPLINE
Albany Times Union
Mike Goodwin
February 26, 2009
[Excerpts] Shortly after taking over as Schenectady’s top cop, Public Safety Commissioner Wayne Bennett announced he was going to take advantage of a court ruling that allows him to preside over all police discipline cases. In the past, the city and police union used an outside arbitrator. But Bennett, with the backing of Mayor Brian Stratton, said the law gave him the power to serve as judge in internal disciplinary matters... [Full article here]

SCHENECTADY COP SUSPENDED WITHOUT PAY IN WAKE OF CRIMINAL INDICTMENT
CBS 6 Staff
Michelle Kim
December 15, 2009
[Excerpts] A suspended Schenectady police officer has been indicted on felony charges of eavesdropping, computer trespass, computer tampering, harassment and stalking in connection with a series of incidents between November 2008 and November 2009. As a result of the indictment, Officer John Lewis has been suspended from the department for a period of 30 days without pay, said Sgt. Eric Clifford. Lewis was arrested on five charges last year, including: physically harassing his ex-wife (he was acquitted), violating an order of protection, threatening to kill his ex-wife and anybody she dated, driving drunk and hitting a parked car, and criminal mischief stemming from an allegedly drunken bar fight with his brother... [Full article here]

SCHENECTADY COP SUSPENDED AGAIN FOR ALLEGED E-MAIL HACKING
Albany Times Union
By Paul Nelson
December 15, 2009
[Excerpts] In the middle of his disciplinary hearings, embattled city cop John Lewis has been indicted by a grand jury for allegedly hacking into his former wife's personal e-mail account and threatening her. The 10-count indictment charges him with eavesdropping, stalking, aggravated harassment, computer trespass, computer tampering and tampering with a witness. The alleged computer hacking took place on Halsey Drive on Nov. 3 and 4, 2008 and four days later on Plymouth Avenue... The grand jury report alleges Lewis intended to "harass, annoy or alarm" his former wife Alison Lewis, causing her to "fear physical injury." He allegedly used his girlfriend's computer for the hacking, according to people familiar with the investigation. As a result of the indictment, Lewis, whom police brass have publicly said they want to fire, will again be suspended 30 days without pay... Lewis was already facing charges for allegedly harassing his ex-wife, driving drunk and getting into a physical fight with his police officer brother before he damaged their mother's home. His attorney, Michael Horan has said John Lewis was receiving treatment for substance abuse. Last year, a judge acquitted Lewis of harassment. Prosecutors had argued he fought with his then-wife over custody of their 3-year-old son. Lewis, who is 40 and has been on the force since 1994, has filed a notice of claim, contending the city conspired with [his ex-wife] to get him fired and that senior police officers have created a hostile work environment and tried to publicly embarrass him... [Full article here]

NO CRIMINAL CHARGES TO BE FILED IN SCHENECTADY POLICE OFFICER STABBING
CBS6Albany.com
Michelle Kim
December 17, 2009
[Excerpts] Police officer John Lewis was treated for a stab wound in Williamstown, Mass., the same day he was indicted on criminal charges and suspended from his job. The Williamstown Police Department said it responded to the North Adams Regional Hospital Emergency Department after getting a call about a man being treated for what appeared to be a knife wound to the chest area. Lewis told Williamstown police officers the wound was the result of an accident. He was treated and released from the hospital. Lewis was suspended without pay from the Schenectady Police Department for a period of 30 days... The suspension resulted from a criminal indictment unsealed against Lewis for a series of stalking and harassment incidents between November 2008 and November 2009. Williamstown Police said no charges will be filed in the stabbing. [Full article here]

SUSPENDED SCHENECTADY COP STABBED IN BERKSHIRES
Injuries are latest problem for officer already facing criminal and internal affairs charges
Albany Times Union
By Paul Nelson
December 17, 2009
[Excerpts] Suspended Schenectady police officer John Lewis suffered a stab wound following an unspecified accident in Massachusetts, according to police in the Berkshires. Williamstown police said that at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday they were summoned to the North Adams Regional Hospital's emergency room for a report of man being treated for a knife wound to the chest area... several sources familiar with the situation confirm that Lewis was stabbed by his current girlfriend... [Full article here]

COP'S BAIL SET AT $20G; RESIDENCY AT ISSUE
Troubled officer arraigned on charges of stalking an ex-girlfriend; put on leave
Albany Times Union
By Paul Nelson
December 23, 2009
[Excerpts] A spirited debate erupted between attorneys over where suspended Schenectady cop John Lewis lives during his arraignment on charges he allegedly harassed his former wife using his then-girlfriend's computer. His attorney, Michael Horan, told Schenectady County Judge Karen Drago Tuesday that Lewis, 40, lives with his mother at her Oregon Avenue home in the city. That is where he sees his young son several times a week under a visitation agreement with his ex-wife. Horan asked that bail be set between $2,000 and $2,500 for Lewis who is currently out on $500 bail from City Court. But the prosecutor, Christina Tremante-Pelham, countered that she had three domestic incident reports involving Lewis, and for two of them, he gave police his address at the home of his current girlfriend in Williamstown, Mass. The prosecutor requested bail be set at $20,000 cash and the same amount for bond. Lewis does not face charges in any of three alleged incidents this month and last month in Massachusetts... Horan argued that his client is still employed with the Schenectady Police... His attorney also disputed the prosecutor's contention that Lewis has since April 2008 failed to appear in City Court 15 times for domestic-related incidents. Tremante-Pelham pointed out that while some of those no-shows were because he was in treatment for substance abuse, he still continued to get re-arrested. In the end, Drago said she had "serious concerns" about Lewis' residency status and set bail at $20,000 cash... A bail bondsman posted the amount and Lewis walked out of court... [Full article here]

DA DROPS CHARGE AGAINST COP
With a contempt count behind him, John Lewis still faces DWI charges
Albany Times Union
By Paul Nelson
Tuesday, January 12, 2010
[Excerpts] The district attorney's office dropped a second-degree criminal contempt charge against suspended city cop John Lewis on Monday moments after a nonjury trial began. With that accusation now behind him, Lewis and his attorney must now decide if he will take his chances before the judge or a jury at trial next month on drunken-driving allegations. Outside court, Assistant District Attorney Christina Tremante-Pelham said Monday's decision to forego the trial before Judge Guido Loyola on charges of flouting a restraining order was in the "best interest" and "wishes" of the alleged victim who is Lewis' former wife... More recently, Lewis suffered a non-life-threatening stab wound in the Berkshires during a domestic dispute with a new girlfriend. The incident was days after he was indicted on 10 counts charging him with eavesdropping, stalking, aggravated harassment, computer trespass, computer tampering and tampering with a witness. The eavesdropping count stems from allegations that Lewis used an ex-girlfriend's computer on multiple days in November at two different locations to "harass, annoy or alarm" his former wife, causing her to "fear physical injury." Police disciplinary hearings that could result in Lewis being fired from the police force recently wrapped up and is now being considered before a hearing officer... [Full article here]
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