Taking bribes is like a box of chocolates..... you never know what your gonna get.
Posted on 08/20/2005 8:34:26 PM PDT by Excuse_My_Bellicosity
SPRINGDALE -- An Elm Springs police officer was arrested Friday, on charges he extorted money from drivers.
Timothy Payne, 40, 2415 N. Mountain Road, Springdale, was arrested Friday on a theft of property, criminal attempt to commit theft of property and abuse of office warrant, according to a Arkansas State Police probable cause affidavit filed in Benton County.
Payne resigned from the Elm Springs Police Department on Aug. 15.
Payne stopped individuals, the affidavit states, while in uniform and driving an Elm Springs police car and allowed the drivers to go free after paying him a "roadside fine."
Ken Martin, Elm Springs Police Chief, said no one is above the law.
"I'm disappointed but not surprised," Martin said Friday. "These incidents happened while I was away on vacation. When I returned, I asked the State Police to investigate."
Sgt. Steven Coppinger, a member of the State Police Criminal Investigation Division, conducted the investigation and filed the affidavit.
Sergio Herrera of Springdale reported he was stopped on July 30 by Payne on Arkansas 112, just inside Tontitown city limits. Herrera did not have a license and Payne asked him to pay $200 cash as a fine. Payne took the money and drove off, without writing a ticket, according to Herrera's statement in the affidavit. Herrera was stopped again by Payne on Aug. 1, north of Elm Springs on Arkansas 112 in Benton County. Herrera said he had only $100 and Payne took the money and drove away, the affidavit states.
Eddie Ricardo Herrera, a cousin of Sergio Herrera, reported he was also stopped by Payne on Arkansas 112 near Elm Springs on Aug. 1. When asked to pay a $100 fine for driving without a license, Herrera told Payne he had only $20. Payne suggested Herrera call a friend or relative for the money. Herrera called his uncle Javier Herrera, asking him to bring the money.
Javier Herrera gave Payne $100 to but insisted on a receipt. Later, Javier and Eddie Herrera went to the Elm Springs Police Department to check on the legality of Payne's actions and identified Payne as the officer who took the money, according to the affidavit.
Coppinger compared the writing on the receipt to traffic tickets issued by Payne. He interviewed Payne on Aug. 15, who at first denied collecting cash, then admitted his actions after undergoing a polygraph examination.
The Benton County Prosecutor's Office is checking for similar incidents.
"I encourage anyone else who may have information regarding other acts of coercion by former officer Payne to contact this office," Robin Green, county prosecuting attorney said Friday.
Payne was released from the Benton County Jail Friday on $1,000 bond.
BTTT
Funny story...AND, just a few miles down the road from me.
BTW, the Robin Green mentioned in the story is quite the hottie!
"No one is above the law".
(Except the Democrats;)
Taking bribes is like a box of chocolates..... you never know what your gonna get.
I lived in Ecuador, SA as a child and I recall that the company driver was constantly being pulled over by police in Guayaquil for any reason they chose. It always cost $100 sucres ($5.00 American at the time) and we were back on our way to the next corrupt cop.
Welcome to Mexico. Quanto tiene usted?
Okay...I know Skippy left the service, but since when did he move to Arkansas and become a cop?
Must be an ex Chicago cop. When I keft back there in the mid 60's a 10 spot paper clipped to ones driver's lic. was SOP.
Hell, one night in Cicero over a trumped up traffic violation, the wife and I paid off two cops with our last $2.25 in pocket change, and the cheapos took it.
Nice.
Left to go to college 40+ years ago..back once for a funeral. Chitown --never gonna change, still Daley, still corrupt.
Isn't Tontitown the home of the steak place, we all use to go to in college?
That practice in Chicago is legendary. Royko used to write about it all the time.
Mary Maestri's, perhaps...
there was another one, also, but I can't think of the name...it's no longer in business...
Had to be the other one, will call a friend and see if he remembers.
Please let me know, and I'll also ask around...if I wasn't trying to think of the name, I could remember. I know the exact one...you usually had a wait to get in, I remember...kind of an beige brick building, I believe...
Now I remember! The Venesian Inn!
Now I remember! The Venesian Inn!
I know what you mean, I took a number of pretty young things to eat there and the name of the place, just slips by.
I actually prefered the AQ(?) Chicken place in Springdale and of course the one in Russelville while traveling the pig trail.
yes, it's a funny story unless you know Tim. Then you know he didn't do it and is being framed.
Never believe everything you read.
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