Wheeling has fired Police Officer Matthew Kotson after learning he had violated a domestic violence protection order, and drove without an active licence. I'm wondering how long the department knew of the several accounts of sexual assault....Wheeling Police Chief Robert Matheny said his department has been aware of the situation involving Kotson, and the officer was placed on unpaid administrative leave on Monday... "Nothing that we are aware of ever happened while the officer was on duty"... During the investigation, [State Police Sgt. Scott] Adams interviewed several females who had prior relationships with Kotson. Every woman alleged Kotson had made persistent, aggressive sexual advances toward them on different occasions. One of the females interviewed accused Kotson of holding her down and forcing her to engage in unconsensual sex on three separate occasions. On one of those occasions, she said, her juvenile daughter was present.... City Manager Robert Herron fired Kotson on Dec. 2 after learning that the officer had been in violation of a domestic violence protective order and an incident in which he had driven a city police cruiser without a driver's license...
EXCERPTS FROM DECEMBER 2ND THROUGH DECEMBER 11TH NEWS:
WHEELING POLICE OFFICER CHARGED IN SEX ASSAULT: Accused of Sex Assault; Caught Looking in School Window
Wheeling Intelligencer
By Tyler Reynard
December 2, 2011
[Excerpts] West Virginia State Police arrested Wheeling Police Officer Matthew Kotson Thursday on sexual assault charges after he was allegedly seen peering in the window of a local Catholic grade school where one of the alleged witnesses in the case is employed... "One of the witnesses in the case is a school teacher. The officer was caught looking in the window at the school," [State Police Sgt. Scott] Adams said. One of Kotson's alleged victims arrived at the West Virginia State Police Wheeling detachment Thanksgiving Day, claiming she was sexually assaulted by the officer earlier that morning... During the investigation, Adams interviewed several females who had prior relationships with Kotson. Every woman alleged Kotson had made persistent, aggressive sexual advances toward them on different occasions. One of the females interviewed accused Kotson of holding her down and forcing her to engage in unconsensual sex on three separate occasions. On one of those occasions, she said, her juvenile daughter was present. Wheeling Police Chief Robert Matheny said his department has been aware of the situation involving Kotson, and the officer was placed on unpaid administrative leave on Monday... "Nothing that we are aware of ever happened while the officer was on duty," Matheny said... Ohio County Magistrate Patricia Murphy arraigned Kotson on four counts of second-degree sexual assault Thursday. He was released after posting $40,000 bond. A special magistrate is expected to be appointed to the case because of Kotson's status with the Wheeling Police Department... [Full article here]
HANCOCK PROSECUTOR NAMED TO KOTSON CASE
Wheeling Intelligencer
By Tyler Reynard
December 9, 2011
[Excerpts] Hancock County Prosecutor Jim Davis has been appointed as special prosecutor in the sexual assault case against former Wheeling police officer Matthew Kotson. Kotson, 31, is free on $40,000 bond after being charged with four counts of second-degree sexual assault... Kotson's employment with the department was terminated Dec. 2, about one week after a woman told West Virginia State Police the eight-year department veteran sexually assaulted her Thanksgiving Day... City Manager Robert Herron said he received a recommendation Nov. 28 from Police Chief Robert Matheny that Kotson's employment be terminated, which prompted a meeting between the three men. The two areas of concern discussed during that meeting, Herron said, were a domestic violence protective order filed against Kotson on Nov. 24 and an incident in which he allegedly drove a police cruiser without a license. Kotson's license was suspended after he was charged with driving without insurance in an off-duty incident... [Full article here]
WHEN COPS GO BAD: BEHAVIOR LINKED TO POWER, GREED
The Intelligencer / Wheeling News-Register
By Fred Connors
December 11, 2011
[Excerpts] ...Kotson is accused of sexually assaulting two women, the last on Thanksgiving Day. State Police arrested him Dec. 1 and Wheeling City Manager Robert Herron fired him Dec. 2. Kotson, free on $40,000 bond, faces a Dec. 20 preliminary hearing in Ohio County Magistrate Court... City Manager Robert Herron fired Kotson on Dec. 2 after learning that the officer had been in violation of a domestic violence protective order and an incident in which he had driven a city police cruiser without a driver's license... Wheeling Police Chief Robert Matheny said candidates for his department must undergo written and physical ability tests, a background check, polygraph and psychological exams. "They are put through extensive psychological evaluations at the academy," he said. Ohio Attorney General spokeswoman Eve Mueller said the state leaves psychological testing to the discretion of the hiring agency. "West Virginia is a post state, Ohio is a home rule state," she said. "Post state dictates mandatory policy and procedure for law enforcement. Home rule state leaves it up to the county, city, village or township agencies." [Full article here]
[police officer involved domestic violence oidv intimate partner violence ipv abuse law enforcement public safety serial rapist rape repeat hx west virginia state politics]
I received a phone call from a local attorney last December 2011. His name was Jay McCamick. He was representing a woman by the last name of Rohrig.
ReplyDeleteRohrig had dated wheeling police officer Will Ward. During a dispute between the couple, the woman attempted to leave while Ward blocked her from closing her vehicle door. When she pulled it shut, Ward accused her of domestic assault. He then sent officers to her home to arrest Rohrig, who was booked and her mugshot was placed on WVNRJ website.
Ward downloaded her photo and posted it on his facebook page with a message stating "Men get abused too"
Evidently Rohrig hired McCamick to get the charges dropped. I was told that Ward was disciplined over the incident and charges were dropped.
The reason the attorney contacted me is because I had a pending lawsuit against Ward and WPD after being falsely arrested and assaulted by Ward. Being 110 lb female with no record and 53 yrs old, evidently I still have some credibility.
Just wondering why such offenses as against this woman is not published. I realize it is small in comparison, but he has such a bad temper that others need to be aware, both those he comes in contact with and future girlfriends.
Well Ward must have gotten his badge back, the little Napoleon of Wheeling seen in his cruiser.
ReplyDeleteWheeling is a very sick town to live in. I know many nice cops, great people that would go out of their way for you. Im sure their job has to suck at times, especially working with some of the real dopes.
Kotson got off on one charge. Bet he doesnt on the rest. Who does the psychologicals on these guys?