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[VA] Keeping policework painfully professional in Newport News Virginia - ...Officer Christopher Miner was arrested after what police call a "social evening"... A couple of weeks before this incident, a Newport News police lieutenant was arrested in York County after he "attempted to force himself" on a woman he knew...
Former Newport News police officer acquitted of abduction
Daily Press, Newport News
By Peter Dujardin 247-4749
February 24, 2010
[Excerpts] A former Newport News police officer was acquitted Tuesday of abducting a woman with the intent to defile her — ending a year of prosecution against the officer in two separate cases. Christopher E. Miner, 38, was found not guilty on the allegation that he used leather restraints to tie a woman's wrists to his bed against her will, then tried to block her from leaving his home. The verdict came a month after a separate jury acquitted Miner of rape and sodomy on another woman. Both cases were he said-she said disputes between Miner and women who had been willing past sexual partners of Miner, with Miner and the women drinking in both cases. "I got my life back," Miner said as he hugged friends, fellow officers and his attorney, Robert W. Lawrence, after the verdict. "It's been a stressful year." Miner — the Newport News Police Department's 2006 Officer of the Year — lost his job over the incidents, though he said he plans to fight to win it back... Because Miner was a Newport News police officer, the case was prosecuted by the Isle of Wight Commonwealth's Attorney's Office instead of Newport News prosecutors... [Full article here]
Former Newport News police officer speaks out about his trials
WTKR Your NewsChannel 3
Feb 24, 2010
[Excerpts]
[Excerpts] A former Newport News officer says he wants to get on with his life after a jury acquitted him on abduction and sex charges. He tells NewsChannel 3 he wants to get back to the job he loves. Former Newport News police officer, Christopher Miner, was looking at 20 years to life on abduction and sex charges. "I felt yesterday was one of the most difficult days in my entire life," Miner said. Now Miner can breathe a sigh of relief after the jury acquitted him on the charges yesterday. "I actually had to go into a side room and I broke down," he said. It's the second time a jury has cleared him of sex charges... "I was scared to death because you never know what a jury is going to decide." For 11 months Miner was on house arrest until last month when another jury acquitted Miner of rape and sodomy charges in a separate case. In both cases the accusers were women he has dated and both times jurors said prosecutors could not prove their case... [Full article here]
Will ex-cop get job back after acquittals?
Daily Press, Newport News
By Peter Dujardin 247-4749
February 24, 2010
[Excerpts] Now that former police officer Christopher E. Miner has been acquitted of all charges in two separate jury trials, will he get his job back?... In one [case] Miner had been accused of raping a woman and forcing her to commit sodomy. In another, he was accused of abducting a woman with the intent to defile. Miner had had previous sexual relationships with both women... Police spokesman Lou Thurston said he couldn't comment on Miner's job situation because it's a personnel matter. He referred the call to city spokeswoman Kim Lee, who declined to comment specifically on Miner... Miner's attorney, Robert W. Lawrence, said the officer's grievance is already under way. "We're going to fight to get his job back," Lawrence said. Lawrence said the December termination letter cited only the two criminal charges. "Now that the criminal charges have disappeared, they can't come forward with new information," he said... [Full article here]
LAST MONTH:
UPDATE: Newport News cop acquitted of sexual assault charges
Daily Press, Newport News
By Peter Dujardin 247-4749
January 26, 2010
[Excerpts] After deliberating for just under an hour, a Newport News Circuit Court jury on Tuesday acquitted a former Newport News police officer of both of the sexual assault charges against him. Christopher E. Miner — who faced charges of rape and forcible sodomy — was found not guilty of both counts. Prosecutors had earlier withdrawn an abduction charge against the officer... Miner was a Newport News police officer when arrested, though he was fired last month because of the charges against him. "I'm delighted," said Miner's mother, Sue DeTorres, adding she always believed in him. "He's my son and he's a very, very, very truthful person. He's the most truthful person I've ever encountered." The case came down to a "he said-she said" case, with a member of the jury, Don Thompson, saying afterward that the jury unanimously agreed "there's just wasn't enough" to warrant a conviction... [Full article here]
Newport News cop acquitted of sexual assault charges
Daily Press, Newport News
By By Peter Dujardin
January 26, 2010| | 247-4749
[Excerpts] As a court clerk pronounced him not guilty Tuesday of two sexual assault counts against him, former Newport News Police Officer Christopher E. Miner turned to his attorney and tearfully embraced him... Miner had been held in home confinement over much of the last year with an electronic monitoring system, but turned in his ankle bracelet on Tuesday afternoon and walked free. One of the jurors, Don Thompson, 57, of Newport News, said outside the courthouse that the 12 jurors were in agreement at the outset of deliberations that "there just wasn't enough there." "We listened to both sides," Thompson said. "We felt collectively that the prosecution did not have enough evidence to warrant a conviction. ... We needed more to convict this man"... [Full article here]
[police officer involved domestic violence oidv intimate partner violence (IPV) abuse law enforcement public safety cleared he-said she-said virginia state]
Officer Miner WAS NOT terminated because of the charges brought against him...Officer Miner was fired because of the Internal Affairs investigation that was brought against him. There were statements from the victims, their witness's, fellow officers and "other female victims." So, NO, he was NOT fired contingent upon the charges from the two women whom, courageously, came forward.
ReplyDeleteVery courageous!
ReplyDeleteThank you for saying that I'm courageous...although it doesn't feel that way. Ive been through hell and he got his job back...did I mention with back pay?? I am technically victim #1 by date, but victim #2, as far as charges go. He was charged with Rape, Forcible Sodomy, and Abduction with Intent to defile. However, without my knowledge, the commonwealth dropped the Abduction charge and offered Miner a plea agreement prior to the trial. (the morning of....) I won't drive in the city of Newport News anymore.
ReplyDeleteTo go even further, someone stole my police statement from the department, hacked into my facebook account and emailed my 59 page statement to hundreds of people. The first page of the document stated my full legal name, my social security number, my physical address, birth date and phone number. Im a single mom...how safe do you think I feel??
I am sure there are others...
DeleteIf anyone said they feel "safe" when involved in a case like this I'd say they were in denial. I have talked to many victims of officer-involved cases who have had records disappear and who have hacked accounts.
ReplyDeleteAnd I get the single mom thing. There's more to protect than yourself.
If you can - consider living somewhere else. Location isn't a solution but it helps.
ReplyDeletePOLICE SAY NN OFFICER TIED UP, THREATENED WOMAN
ReplyDeleteChristopher E. Miner denies any wrongdoing during "a social evening" at his home, lawyer says.
Daily Press, Newport News
Peter Dujardin
Jan 13, 2009.
[Excerpts] The Newport News police officer arrested on an abduction charge Sunday is accused of tying a woman to a bed with leather and chain restraints, taking her picture and threatening to post the image online if she refused to spend the night with him. When the 27-year-old Newport News woman broke free of the wrist restraints and attempted to get up, Officer Christopher E. Miner "grabbed her around the throat with his left hand and forced her back onto the bed," according to a criminal complaint filed in Newport News General District Court. The woman, who was fully clothed during the incident, then tried to use her cell phone, the complaint said. But Miner "grabbed the phone from her hand and ran from the room." When she tried to leave the house, the complaint said, "Miner blocked the door and would not let her leave." After "at least two or three minutes," he gave her the phone back and allowed her to leave his house on Harpersville Road... [Miner's attorney, Robert] Lawrence said that though Miner "acknowledges the restraints were used," he "disagrees that anything was done inappropriately" and "denies that he wouldn't let her leave"... After the woman lay down on his bed, Miner "grabbed her forcefully by the back of the head and hair and started to kiss her," the complaint said. Though she "struggled and told him to stop," the complaint said, he straddled her and "reached up to the headboard of the bed, where he produced the leather and chain restraints." After he snapped her picture with a digital camera, she demanded to know why he did so. He "said that if she stayed the night, he would delete the photograph," the complaint said. "If she did not stay with him, he would post the photograph on the Internet"...
NEARS NEAR YOU
Around The State - Newport News
Richmond Times - Dispatch
Jan 15, 2009. pg. B.2
[Excerpt] ...The Newport News Police Department said Monday that Christopher F. Miner, 37, was arrested Sunday on a charge of abduction for immoral purpose...
POLICE COPE WITH COP ARRESTS
All officers are feeling the pain of the recent incidents, chief says.
Daily Press, Newport News
David Macaulay
Jan 24, 2009
[Excerpts] The arrests of three Newport News police officers personally hurt Police Chief James Fox, but he said the incidents highlight the department's culture of transparency... Officer Christopher E. Miner was arrested on an abduction charge and placed on administrative leave... "When the incidents happened, it really hurt because I wear this," Fox said, pointing to his police badge. "We feel the hurt when someone does something wrong. But I think the organization knows (that) as the chief, I have to deal with the facts... When one does something wrong on a team like this where we all wear the same uniform, carry the same badge," he said, "the ones that care respond the same way as I do. They get disappointed ... it really hurts. Then they talk about it and say we have to move on"... And Fox said he's told new recruits that if they fail to report even minor indiscretions, they'd be fired. "It's a trust issue. Trust's the most critical thing... It's critical in a city like this. Police departments that aren't trusted aren't going to be effective," Fox said. But the worst thing that could happen is if police "try to play games" and cover up incidents, he said...
NN OFFICER NOW FACES SEX ASSAULT CHARGES
ReplyDeletePolice say the victim came forward after learning that Christopher Miner was charged with felony abduction.
Daily Press, Newport News
Feb 13, 2009.
[Excerpts] A police officer arrested in January in the abduction of a 27-year-old woman has been charged with the December rape of another woman. Christopher Miner, 37, was arrested Thursday evening and charged with one count each of rape, abduction with the intent to defile and forcible sodomy. The charges come after special victims unit detectives investigated a Dec. 6 incident at Miner's residence. The victim is a 37-year-old female acquaintance of Miner who lives in Newport News... [Miner] is being held at the Newport News City Jail without bail.
OFFICER'S ATTORNEY QUESTIONS NEW ARREST
Charges came months after the alleged rape, and police approached the woman, lawyer says.
Daily Press, Newport News
Peter Dujardin
Feb 14, 2009.
[Excerpts] A Newport News police officer charged this week with sexually assaulting a woman at his home in December will be held behind bars until at least Wednesday. Officer Christopher E. Miner was arrested Thursday and charged with rape, forcible sodomy and abduction with intent to defile, and has been held at the City Jail since his arrest... When charged with that offense, Miner, 37, of Harpersville Road, had been out on bond on a January abduction charge... At a Friday arraignment regarding the latest charges, Miner's attorney, Robert W. Lawrence, requested that Miner be released to home monitoring -- paid for by the officer... But General District Court Judge Bryant L. Sugg ordered Miner to stay in jail until a full bond hearing is held Wednesday... The Isle of Wight Commonwealth's Attorney's Office, rather than the Newport News office, is prosecuting the case because a police officer is involved.
NEWPORT NEWS OFFICER CONFINED ALONE UNTIL HEARING ON RAPE CHARGE
Daily Press, Newport News
Duane Bourne
Feb 14, 2009.
[Excerpts] A Newport News police officer, accused of sexually assaulting and abducting a female acquaintance in December, is being confined alone at the city jail... Officer Christopher E. Miner was ordered held without bail pending a bond hearing. He was placed in a single cell for his protection...
OFFICER ACCUSED IN RAPE RELEASED TO HOME CONFINEMENT
ReplyDeleteMiner must stay in his house until an April court date on charges from two incidents
Daily Press, Newport News
Peter Dujardin
Feb 19, 2009.
[Excerpts] A Newport News police officer left the City Jail Wednesday following a judge's order to place him in home confinement pending an April court date on rape, forcible sodomy and abduction charges. General District Court Judge Bryant L. Sugg ordered Officer Christopher E. Miner, 37, to stay in his Harpersville Road house at all times -- except for medical reasons. To be released, Miner - who also faces another abduction charge stemming from a separate incident -- also had to post a $50,000 bond... Five people -- Miner's half brother, two fellow police officers and two female friends -- testified at the bond hearing, saying they would ensure the officer stayed home. But Assistant Commonwealth's Attorney Georgette C. Phillips, a prosecutor from Isle of Wight handling the case, requested Miner remain jailed... Sugg ordered Miner's release to his house on the condition that that Newport News Sheriff's Office agree to set up the electronic home monitoring system... The judge did not order Miner's friends and relatives to stay with him...
POLICE CHIEF SAYS HE WAS TAKEN ABACK BY SPATE OF OFFICER ARRESTS
Daily Press, Newport News
David Macaulay
Apr 5, 2009.
[Excerpts] Police Chief James Fox is the first to admit the arrests of eight Newport News police officers in less than a year is undermining the image of a police department fighting a surge in gangs and gun violence. The spate of bad headlines has led to internal meetings, a tightening up of the recruitment process and much soul searching. But it's hard to find answers... Fox said the police department had remained committed to transparency. "We are not going to cover up anything." In the wake of the problems, the police department has looked at its hiring and application process, Fox said. Senior officers have scrutinized the interview questions and the polygraph test. "We have to make sure we are asking the right questions. We have had some staff meeting discussions. I have discussed it with the advisory board and with lieutenants and sergeants... All types of people have personal problems and sometimes personal problems lead to some of the incidents that we have had to deal with it. When it happens you deal with it up front, and it's on the front page when it happens... Ever since I have been here I have been working very hard to develop what I call the trust account. It's critical that the community trusts us ... when things like this happen it affects our trust account... We have an outstanding organization. What has happened had hurt them," Fox said... Officer Christopher E. Miner, 37, has been charged with rape, forcible sodomy and abduction with intent to defile a female victim. He is also facing an abduction charge on another woman. On Friday, the charge was certified to Circuit Court... John Thomas Kerstetter, 24, was charged with a misdemeanor assault on his 2-year-old child in October. He was issued a summons last month and is no longer a police officer... Bernadette Schraudt, 42, was charged with a misdemeanor count of domestic assault on her husband...
TAMARA DIETRICH COLUMN: THE 'PERFECT VICTIM' IS RARE IN RAPE TRIALS
ReplyDeleteDaily Press, Newport News, Va.
Tamara Dietrich tdietrich@dailypress.com
Feb 12, 2010.
[Excerpts] A few readers took issue with Sunday's column, critical of a recent rape acquittal... And since Virginia law essentially says that, once a woman consents to sex, no fair changing your mind midstream, and since it boiled down to her word against his, Miner was acquitted. His defenders were quick to write me, mostly to accuse his accuser of being a "liar," "slut," "tramp" and "whore." Nice... So, after decades of fighting base stereotypes, a woman who accuses a man of rape can still be dismissed as nothing but a lying whore. And yet, amazingly, a man's long-standing physical relationship with a "lying whore" doesn't reflect badly on him. That's not just a double standard -- that's having no standards at all... "We still have very high expectations when it comes to sexual assault cases -- for victims," says Kristina Korobov of the National Center. "We expect them to report it immediately, to sob uncontrollably when talking about it, to never have sex again. We expect them to be the perfect victim. We don't have those expectations for any other (crime) victim." All things considered, it's safe to say rapists are far more likely to get away with it, than are innocent men to be charged and convicted...
BRIEF: Newport News cop goes to trial today
Daily Press, Newport News
Peter Dujardin
Feb 22, 2010.
[Excerpts] A former Newport News police officer goes to trial today in an abduction case. Christopher E. Miner -- found not guilty last month of rape and forcible sodomy charge over allegations involving another woman -- faces the charge of abduction with intent to defile. In that case, a woman who had willingly come back to Miner's home after a night out said that Miner used leather restraints to tie her to a bed. She accuses Miner of taking a picture of her with his cell phone camera and that he would delete the photo if she spent the night, then not letting her leave his house when she tried to leave. Miner has been fired from the police force because of the charges against him.
BRIEF: SECOND DAY OF TRIAL FOR ABDUCTION CHARGE BEGINS FOR FORMER NEWPORT NEWS COP
Daily Press, Newport News
Peter Dujardin
Feb 23, 2010.
[Excerpts] Final arguments were made today in the second day of a trial for a former Newport News police officer facing a charge of abduction...
FORMER NEWPORT NEWS POLICE OFFICER ACQUITTED OF ABDUCTION
ReplyDeleteDaily Press, Newport News
Peter Dujardin
Feb 24, 2010
[Excerpts] A former Newport News police officer was acquitted Tuesday of abducting a woman with the intent to defile her -- ending a year of prosecution against the officer in two separate cases.
Christopher E. Miner, 38, was found not guilty... Both cases were he said-she said... "I got my life back," Miner said as he hugged friends, fellow officers and his attorney, Robert W. Lawrence, after the verdict. "It's been a stressful year"... ... Because Miner was a Newport News police officer, the case was prosecuted by the Isle of Wight Commonwealth's Attorney's Office instead of Newport News prosecutors...
WILL EX-COP GET JOB BACK AFTER ACQUITTALS?
Daily Press, Newport News
Peter Dujardin
Feb 25, 2010.
[Excerpts] Now that former police officer Christopher E. Miner has been acquitted of all charges in two separate jury trials, will he get his job back?... Miner was fired by Police Chief James Fox, who cited the pending criminal charges... Police spokesman Lou Thurston said he couldn't comment on Miner's job situation because it's a personnel matter... Miner's attorney, Robert W. Lawrence, said the officer's grievance is already under way... "Now that the criminal charges have disappeared, they can't come forward with new information," he said... If Miner is reinstated, another question is whether prosecutors will agree to use him as a courtroom witness.
With two other officers, Commonwealth's Attorney Howard E. Gwynn has said his office would not prosecute cases in which the officers were witnesses, saying he no longer trusts their veracity...
NEWPORT NEWS RE-HIRES ACQUITTED POLICE OFFICER
Daily Press, Newport News
Peter Dujardin
Mar 7, 2010.
[Excerpts] A Newport News police officer who was acquitted in two recent jury trials was fully reinstated by the police department on Friday. Christopher E. Miner, 38, who was put on paid administrative leave in January 2009 and fired on Dec. 14, will go back to work as a senior police officer on March 16, his attorney, Robert W. Lawrence said Friday. His reinstatement spares a protracted battle to win back his job through a grievance process... Miner -- the Police Department's Officer of the Year in 2006 -- will also get three months of back pay from December to March... On Friday afternoon, another police officer delivered to Miner's home letters from Police Chief James Fox and Assistant City Manager Cynthia D. Rohlf, who oversees the police department. Lawrence said he believes Fox and Rohlf jointly made the decision to reinstate the officer. "Considering the factors of your acquittal, I find no basis to uphold the two ... administrative charges against you," Rohlf wrote to the officer. Rohlf told Miner that a separate offense of excessive alcohol consumption would remain in the officer's disciplinary record. "I now consider this grievance resolved," she wrote. "He understands that alcohol is detrimental," Lawrence said. "He's not going to use it anymore."
To the person who sent a comment today - try the Jerry Springer show.
ReplyDeleteMs. Gamble is a sick individual.
ReplyDeleteWell, arrested AGAIN... Public Nudity.
ReplyDeleteGoes by the name of Officer Chris Roush now. Changed his name.
Sometimes, just sometimes, the cop is rotten.
That is so deep. I will check it out.
Delete[VA] Date-rape-acquitted Officer Miner changed name to Officer Rousch but now rearrested
ReplyDeletehttp://behindthebluewall.blogspot.com/2013/04/va-date-rape-acquitted-officer-miner.html