http://www.newsobserver.com/1185/story/484084.html
Off-duty activities looked at
Lead investigator in case has issues
Matt Dees, Staff Writer
DURHAM - Durham police Sgt. Mark Gottlieb's off-duty activities have been a matter of intense interest among people following the lacrosse rape case in which he is the lead investigator.
Most recently, he was placed on administrative duties in July after he and four other officers were questioned about an assault outside a Raleigh sports bar. After an investigation by Raleigh detectives, two of the Durham officers were charged with misdemeanor assault.
Gottlieb and the others were returned to active duty, though an internal Durham police investigation of the incident is under way. A report is expected to be made public next week.
Gottlieb ran a red light and struck another vehicle last year but did not receive a ticket.
Gottlieb struck Joseph George Stevens on March 30, 2005, on Creedmoor Road in northwest Raleigh. He caused $7,000 in damage, according to an accident report that faulted Gottlieb. No injuries were reported.
In 2004, Raleigh Police Chief Jane Perlov said the department's policy was "to take enforcement action by issuing citations in traffic accident cases where probable cause exists that a violation has occurred and a responsible subject is identified."
Still, said Raleigh police spokesman Jim Sughrue, the handling of the Gottlieb accident was not unusual. For many years, he said, the unwritten rule among Raleigh police officers was to not issue citations in wrecks unless there was a serious injury or alcohol was involved. That continued even after Perlov's policy change, Sughrue said.
Sughrue doesn't see any evidence that Gottlieb was treated differently than most people involved in wrecks. "It was not the exception," he said.
Staff writer Matt Dees can be reached at 956-2433 or matt.dees@newsobserver.com.
So... What's up with all the Gottlieb stories? Is Nifong about to throw Gottlieb under the bus and try to save his own worthless hide?