This scandal?
The News & Observer *
February 1, 1992
**Police* probe a relief to city SBI will study call girl charge*
Author: JANE STANCILL; Staff writer
Edition: *DURHAM*
Section: NEWS
Page: B1
/Index Terms:/
*Durham*
*police*
SBI
DCC
*prostitution*
LEAD
Estimated printed pages: 2
Article Text:
*DURHAM* -- Now that state and federal agents are looking into
allegations of wrongdoing surrounding the *Durham* *Police* Department,
everyone from City Hall to Main Street is breathing a sigh of relief
that outside agencies are finally entering the case.
District Attorney Ronald L. Stephens has called the SBI into the
investigation involving allegations that a *prostitution* ring operated
out of the *police* department and the handling of an in-house probe of
the charges. He's asked agents to look at possible obstruction of
justice, intimidation of witnesses and even perjury involving the
complex case.
"There needed to be someone totally independent to come in and in a
professional manner review all of this and make some determination on
substantiated facts as to whether things were done appropriately and
legally," Stephens said.
*Police* Chief Trevor A. Hampton says he also has asked the SBI -- as
well as the FBI -- to enter the case.
On Friday, City Council members said it was time outside investigators
came onto the scene. "I think it will raise the comfort level of
everyone involved," said member Sylvia S. Kerckhoff.
Others said the *police* department should never have been investigating
itself in the first place.
"Hindsight is 20-20," said Mayor Harry E. Rodenhizer Jr. "We were not
aware of the first two investigations. But I would have been in favor of
an outside investigation from the start."
An internal investigation was conducted over five weeks late last year
by officers from the force's own organized crime division. That's when
allegations of the call-girl operation and other sexual misconduct
surfaced, but no criminal wrongdoing was uncovered.
The department's investigation focused on five employees, including
Wiley Davis Jr., former career development manager, who resigned earlier
this week amid allegations that he falsified his academic credentials to
attain his city position.
But some have speculated the investigation may have been compromised
from the very beginning. It started out in the department's own
professional standards division and then was handed over to the vice
officers.
Hampton has said the vice officers may have violated federal laws by
making some procedural errors during the probe. But Capt. George B.
Hare, who leads the vice unit, has staunchly defended his investigators.
And on Friday, he welcomed the outside agencies into the case.
"It will get a fair review," he said. "I have a lot of confidence in SBI
and any federal investigations. So far, the chief has been in full
control of information presented to the City Council and the public.
There are more details."
Meanwhile, officers on the street said morale has already started to
rise with news of the pending investigations. During the past three
weeks, some officers have said it was hard to
concentrate on doing their jobs.
"This has been an explosive issue to everyone," Hare said. "Maybe with
the SBI, we can get things back in perspective and get back to what
we're supposed to do."
Beginning early next week, several agents will start reviewing documents
and conducting interviews at the department.
"I hope it won't take long," said SBI director Charles J. Dunn Jr. "But
you never know until you get into it."
###(Shorter version of this story appears in final edition, page 3B)
Copyright 1992 by The News & Observer Pub. Co.
Record Number: RNOB70363
(Hat tip xoxoxox)
In the news:
http://media.www.dukechronicle.com/media/storage/paper884/news/2006/10/16/Editorial/OneSided.Program.Reflects.Campus.Sentiment-2351939.shtml?sourcedomain=www.dukechronicle.com&MIIHost=media.collegepublisher.com
Editorial
10/16/06
One-sided program reflects campus sentiment
http://media.www.dukechronicle.com/media/storage/paper884/news/2006/10/16/News/Lacrosse.Team.Duke.Respond.As.Indicted.Players.Tell.Story.On.National.Tv-2351916.shtml?sourcedomain=www.dukechronicle.com&MIIHost=media.collegepublisher.com
10/16/06
Lacrosse team, Duke respond as indicted players tell story on national TV
Jared Mueller
http://media.www.dukechronicle.com/media/storage/paper884/news/2006/10/16/News/Campus.Tunes.In.To.60.Minutes-2351914.shtml?sourcedomain=www.dukechronicle.com&MIIHost=media.collegepublisher.com
10/16/06
Campus tunes in to '60 Minutes'
Program calls facts about prosecutorial conduct 'disturbing'
Adam Eaglin
http://www.newsobserver.com/1185/story/499220.html
Published: Oct 16, 2006 12:30 AM
Modified: Oct 16, 2006 05:45 AM
Suspects, dancer contradict accuser
Anne Blythe, Staff Writer
See also sidebar:
Kim Roberts' public statements
The "60 Minutes" interview is the latest given to the national media by Kim Roberts, the second woman hired to dance at the March lacrosse team party. When the media were trying to identify her, Roberts on April 19 sent an e-mail message to a New York publicist:
"Although I am no celebrity and just an average citizen, I've found myself in the center of one of the biggest stories in the country," Roberts wrote. "I'm worried about letting this opportunity pass me by without making the best of it and was wondering if you had any advice as to how to spin this to my advantage. I am determined not to let any negative publicity about my life overtake me.......Thanks for your time, The 2nd Dancer."
In subsequent published media interviews, Roberts said:
April 20, The Associated Press
"I was not in the bathroom when it happened, so I can't say a rape occurred and I never will...
"In all honesty, I think they're guilty. And I can't say which ones are guilty ... but somebody did something besides underage drinking. That's my honest-to-God impression."
The AP said Roberts did not talk extensively about the party but confirmed some of what the other dancer told police, including that the women initially left the party after one of the players threatened to sodomize the women with a broomstick.
About her e-mail to the publicist: "Why shouldn't I profit from it? I would like to feed my daughter."
April 24, ABC's 'Good Morning America'
"I never saw a rape occur. I was there from the beginning to the end. The only thing I did not see was the rape, because I was not in the bathroom at that particular moment. Everything leading up to it, I was here. Everything leaving from it, I was there. And mind you, I believe I was the only sober person in the place. I even hesitate to say that I didn't believe a rape occurred, you know. One of the reasons why I hesitated to say that is because I didn't want to -- make any, you know, make anybody else biased. I didn't want to hurt the integrity of the case. I probably am going to say that too many times, but I did not want people to make any judgments based upon my judgment. If they're innocent, they should have nothing to worry about."
May 1, Newsweek cover story
Roberts said the men at the party gave each of the women mixed drinks. Roberts says she did not drink but the other dancer did, knocking her cup over after finishing half her drink, then drinking from Roberts'.
But when the two began their show about midnight, the other woman began having trouble. "She started stumbling," Roberts said. "When I think back on it, she had a glassy look in her eyes."
Roberts told Newsweek that the men referred to her with a racial slur. Roberts acknowledged that she was the woman who called 911 on March 14 saying people at the house were yelling a racial slur.
May 11, The News & Observer
Roberts said of her immediate thoughts after the party: "I just thought it was a weird evening. And it was over."
June 14, National Public Radio's 'Morning Edition'
ROBERTS: "I can't say for sure if they requested white girls, but I know that at least one white girl was requested, and the other girl that they expected was Hispanic. And being that I am of mixed race, I'm sure that they assumed that I was the Hispanic one; and they were, of course, waiting now for the white girl to arrive. And almost -- it's kind of funny, because almost as soon as all this conversation was going on, lo and behold, here comes the other dancer around the corner and she's obviously not a white girl.
JUAN WILLIAMS: "Are they upset? Do they object?"
ROBERTS: "Well, yeah. They are very hesitant now if they want to continue with this. They're not exactly sure, you know. So, anyway, they decided, you know, to go for it."
NEWS & OBSERVER RESEARCHER BROOKE CAIN CONTRIBUTED TO THIS REPORT
Blogs:
http://liestoppers.blogspot.com/
Monday, October 16, 2006
Still Stripping
http://johninnorthcarolina.blogspot.com/
Sunday, October 15, 2006
60 Minutes' Hoax episode: A first take
http://blogs.newsobserver.com/editor/index.php?title=naamp_o_lacrosse_case_coverage_looking_b&more=1&c=1&tb=1&pb=1
http://blogs.newsobserver.com/ruth/index.php
Monday, October 16, 2006
The blogosphere's take on 60 Mins
That lends the possibility of "coverup" despite that he SAID he was glad for an outside investigation.
It is my understanding, at least in my area, that attorneys wait so they can get in front of particular judges whose rulings they are familiar with.
I think that lends to the possibility that the cops knew EXACTLY who they were dealing with when they got the call. WE KNOW that BOTH girls had alcohol on their breath. Of course, the trick is whether the keys were in the ignition or not. No matter. Most cops would run the plates regardless. Remember "Check on the kiddies".