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This Week's Corrupt Cops Stories

Submitted by Phillip Smith on (Issue #714)

In Fernandina Beach, Florida, the Nassau County Sheriff's Office is being investigated by the FBI in a wide ranging corruption and civil rights abuses probe. Allegations include Sheriff Tommy Seagraves blocking the drug prosecution of the wife of a close friend, detectives using steroids, job-related kickbacks, marijuana grow lamps and beer keg taps that disappeared after being seized in drug raids, physical assaults on drug suspects, improper use of department property, and ongoing misconduct in the narcotics unit. Part one of the Florida Times Union's two-part investigative report on the sordid story is available at the link above. Part two is forthcoming.

In Rogersville, Tennessee, a former Hawkins County sheriff's narcotics detective was indicted December 15 on charges he was stealing drugs from the evidence room. Brad Depew was hit with a 68-count indictment after he was caught on videotape breaking into the locked evidence room with a screwdriver and exiting with evidence envelopes containing drugs. A subsequent search of his home turned up unspecified quantities of  the Schedule II narcotics oxycodone and methadone, the Schedule III narcotic dihydrocodeinone, and Schedule IV tranquilizers alprazolam, diazepam and clonazepam, which matched the kinds of pills missing from the evidence room. The search also turned up 26 grams of cocaine, a half gram of meth, and drug paraphernalia, including scales, baggies, a pipe, screens, spoons and straws. None of that come from the evidence room, though. He faces 47 counts of evidence tampering, as well as possession of cocaine with intent to deliver, possession of meth with intent to deliver, official misconduct, four counts of burglary, four counts of possession of burglary tools, two counts of possession of drug paraphernalia, two counts of theft under $500 for the actual evidence envelopes, and six counts of misdemeanor drug possession for the drugs found at his residence. Depew worked as a detective on the HCSO Narcotics Unit and 3rd Judicial District Drug Task Force for more than a decade. He is free on $100,000 bond pending trial.

In Atlanta, two Talbot County sheriff's deputies pleaded guilty December 14 to ripping off drugs and money from motorists they targeted. Deputies Alvin Malone and Jeff Sivell admitting using a confidential informant to identify vehicles carrying drugs and drug money, then seizing the dope and cash and splitting it with the snitch. Each pleaded guilty to one count of violating the Hobbs Act, or attempted extortion by a public official. They will be sentenced in February and are looking at up to 20 years in federal prison.

In St. Louis, a former St. Louis sheriff's deputy pleaded guilty December 14 to charges he bought heroin while on duty and chauffeured a drug dealer around the city. Jason Stewart, 31, copped to a single count of being a drug addict in possession of a firearm. He went down after he went to an area of the city known for drug dealing that happened to be under federal and local police surveillance. He had just conducted a transaction when he was pulled over, and police found a fifth of a gram of heroin, drug paraphernalia, and a bottle of urine wrapped in a hand warmer, which he said he carried with him to thwart drug tests. He faces up to 10 years in prison, but will reportedly be sentenced to 18 to 30 months.

In Beaumont, Texas, a Beaumont police officer resigned Monday after being accused of leaking confidential information in a drug investigation. Officer Eugene Wilson had been suspended with pay. No charges are being filed against him.

In Haskell, Texas, a former Haskell police officer was sentenced Monday to seven years probation for planting drugs in a man's vehicle. William Glass had resigned from the department last year just before he was about to take a lie detector test over an allegation that he planted methamphetamine in a man's vehicle during a traffic stop. He was indicted on charges of fabricating physical evidence, possession of a controlled substance, and official oppression, but he copped a plea to just the first count. The meth had come from an earlier drug bust.

Permission to Reprint: This content is licensed under a modified Creative Commons Attribution license. Content of a purely educational nature in Drug War Chronicle appear courtesy of DRCNet Foundation, unless otherwise noted.

Comments

Justin Auldphart (not verified)

You know I read these every month and most of the cases involve love of money over common sense, a condition inherent in human beings. But that prick who planted the meth is an insult to common decency and should have had his privates put in a wringer.He walks away with only the lesser charge and probation. What did the poor guy who had the drugs planted on him get before this was investigated?

Wed, 12/21/2011 - 10:07am Permalink
billy396 (not verified)

Police officers and Detectives in Columbus, Ohio routinely steal firearms from citizens with complete impunity.  One law-abiding citizen who has a concealed-carry license was called to his company when the alarm went off at night. (He owns the company and the building)  When he arrived, the police told him to go inside the building and turn off the alarm, which was still blaring.  He balked at entering the building because he didn't know if burglars were still present in the building.  The police insisted that he turn off the alarm.  He started to enter the building and pulled his LEGAL pistol from his holster to protect himself.  At that point the police slammed him to the ground and confiscated his pistol, even though he showed them his license to legally carry a firearm.  Weeks later, after a judge cleared him of any wrongdoing, he was given a piece of paper and told to go to the police evidence room to recover his pistol.  When he gave the receipt to the evidence room officer, he was told that the pistol couldn't be found.  He has NO legal recourse even though the police took his property and refuse to produce it.  Of course, he could sue the police and spend thousands of dollars, but he still wouldn't get HIS gun back.  This is standard operating procedure in Columbus.  A 15 year-old boy was forced to shoot 2 home-invasion robbers. They died.  Upon examining the evidence, the detective concluded that he was, indeed, forced to kill these two men to protect himself.  He was NOT charged with ANY wrongdoing.  When his father arrived home, the police forced him to open his gun safe, which had been locked the entire time.  They proceeded to take every gun that was in the safe, with the detective telling him that he didn't have anything to worry about.  He called the detective in charge of the case no less than 10 times over 12 months, and he kept getting the same line, that he would get his guns back.  When he consulted an attorney, he was told in no uncertain terms that he'd never see any of those very valuable guns again unless he was willing to spend at least $20,000.00 to take the cops to court, and even then, he probably wouldn't ever see his guns again. An insider stated that it's very common for police and detectives to split up confiscated guns among themselves, since they know that no normal person is going to take the police department to court to recover their property.  Of course, wealthy individuals don't get treated this way, just normal people.

Thu, 12/22/2011 - 2:21pm Permalink
Bill Smeathers (not verified)

Courts, Prosecutors and Police at their absolute best. Drug cops trying to set people up! Taking what they want! I am shocked! . . . Prosecutors making fools of them selves sending people to prison for such nonsense. Judges/Courts sending people to prison for drugs. Governments caring less and protecting child perversion. I hate these sick drug cop freaks, Judges and Prosecutors for what they did to my child. What Illinois Governor Pat Quinn and Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan are doing to allow it to continue! Andrew Scheroeder Badge #6969 of the Illinois State Police, August 15, 2007 led a drug raid on my home with a dirty search warrant. During this raid my then 9 year old daughter was permitted to use the bathroom. As a child (in passing) she looked into her bedroom and observed this individual standing over her laundry basket with a pair of her soiled panties up to his face. Illinois Governor Pat Quinn and Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan should be arrested immediately! They knowingly allow their State Police to commit acts of deviant perversion to a child and then look the other way and pretend it doesn’t happen! Neither Illinois Governor Pat Quinn, nor Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan have the slightest concern over their rouge cops. A close look at the social unrest or acts of civil disobedience and you will quickly find that the underlying problem is almost always created and/or caused by the police.

Thu, 12/22/2011 - 2:29pm Permalink
Bill Smeathers (not verified)

Courts, Prosecutors and Police at their absolute best. Drug cops trying to set people up! Stealing what ever they want. I am shocked! . . . Prosecutors making fools of them selves sending people to prison for such nonsense. Judges/Courts sending people to prison for drugs. Governments caring less and protecting child perversion. I hate these sick drug cop freaks, Judges and Prosecutors for what they did to my child. What Illinois Governor Pat Quinn and Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan are doing to allow it to continue! Andrew Scheroeder Badge #6969 of the Illinois State Police, August 15, 2007 led a drug raid on my home with a dirty search warrant. During this raid my then 9 year old daughter was permitted to use the bathroom. As a child (in passing) she looked into her bedroom and observed this individual standing over her laundry basket with a pair of her soiled panties up to his face. Illinois Governor Pat Quinn and Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan should be arrested immediately! They knowingly allow their State Police to commit acts of deviant perversion to a child and then look the other way and pretend it doesn’t happen! Neither Illinois Governor Pat Quinn, nor Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan have the slightest concern over their rouge cops. A close look at the social unrest or acts of civil disobedience and you will quickly find that the underlying problem is almost always created and/or caused by the police.

Thu, 12/22/2011 - 2:31pm Permalink
i luv thesmell… (not verified)

the Nassau sheriff several years ago got caught re selling seized cocaine off Interstate 95 back in the 80"s. some of his deputy went to prison. PULL PEOPLE OVER ON THE INTERSTATE AND RUN THEIR LIVES AND RE SELL THEIR DRUGS AND TAKE THEIR PROPERTY. I HATE COPS.JUDGES TO.

Thu, 12/22/2011 - 10:53pm Permalink
dee (not verified)

Ending the war on drugs will end all of this corruption. If a meth addict steals, arrest for the theft and not the drug use. Only go after the drug cartel and not the people that purchase. Quit arresting for drug use and hurting families from supporting themselves with legal jobs.  If you want to kill yourself using drugs, do it; its your own body. Marijuana should not even be illegal. It is safer than alcohol and it does not kill you and is proven to heal. If you want to get stoned recreational for a couple hours who cares; it is ok to get plastered by drinking. This is all ridiculous in my opinion.

Sat, 12/24/2011 - 11:54pm Permalink

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