Arrest made following porn search at wrong house in Spokane[Washington]

AP ^ | 05 Oct 2006 | AP

[MrNationalist]

SPOKANE, Wash. -- A man sought in a pornography raid at what turned out to be the wrong house is now in custody, and Spokane County Sheriff Ozzie D. Knezovich says the conduct of deputies in the search will be reviewed.

A "very cooperative, very embarrassed and very contrite" Robert M. Sherman, 42, was arrested Wednesday for investigation of telephone harassment involving about 30 obscene calls - mostly voicemail messages - to women studying at Whitworth College, sheriff's Sgt. R. David Reagan wrote in a news release.

Following the arrest, investigators learned "that Sherman began calling Whitworth students after calling phone sex lines became prohibitively expensive," Reagan wrote.

In a news conference earlier in the day, Knezovich said he would look into complaints by a 67-year-old man whose house was wrongly raided on Sept. 27 after Detective Timothy D. Hines was one digit off when he sought the location of a telephone number to which the obscene calls had been traced.

Computers, CDs, floppy disks, VHS tapes and other items taken from the house were returned after the blunder was discovered Monday when more obscene calls were reported.

"This is very serious," Knezovich said. "People can get hurt if this happens."

Knezovich said supervisors who review search warrant applications will now be required to compare the information with supporting documents which, in turn, must now be attached to the applications.

He said he accepted responsibility for procedural problems in the foul-up but warned that if the homeowner's assertions of rudeness and humiliation by deputies are substantiated, they could face penalties ranging from verbal warnings to written reprimands for unprofessional conduct.

The homeowner said that Hines humiliated him in front of neighbors by telling deputies to take photos outside the house and then "go inside and find some porn."

Inside, the man said, a female deputy "giggled" about remarks at his expense.

"If that happened, I will deal with that," Knezovich said. "That's not professional, and I will deal with that aspect."

The sheriff said he also was concerned about the owner's assertion that Hines told him he could prevent news coverage if he confessed.

"You don't make a statement that you can't back up because, if you do, you lose your credibility," Knezovich said.

[MrNationalist]

"Knezovich said supervisors who review search warrant applications will now be required to compare the information with supporting documents which, in turn, must now be attached to the applications."

Duh. Measure twice, cut once.

[Mr. Jeeves]

Following the arrest, investigators learned "that Sherman began calling Whitworth students after calling phone sex lines became prohibitively expensive," Reagan wrote.

OK, this is the LOL line of the week! ;)

[antiRepublicrat]

Computers, CDs, floppy disks, VHS tapes and other items taken from the house were returned after the blunder was discovered Monday

I'm surprised. They usually keep this stuff as long as they can to harrass the victim. They didn't even scour the drives to find anything embarrassing or prosecutable? For shame, they will be reprimanded for not following procedure.

but warned that if the homeowner's assertions of rudeness and humiliation by deputies are substantiated, they could face penalties ranging from verbal warnings to written reprimands for unprofessional conduct.

Maybe they should have just shot him so they could get medals. After all, we're all guilty, right?

[rhombus]

He said he accepted responsibility for procedural problems in the foul-up but warned that if the homeowner's assertions of rudeness and humiliation by deputies are substantiated, they could face penalties ranging from verbal warnings to written reprimands for unprofessional conduct.

Does anyone doubt that a bunch of county cops acted this way? Of course they are innocent until prove guilty but it sure fits a stereotype. IMHO, verbal warnings and phony reprimandes are not severe enough to stop this tuype of unprofessional behavior.

[art_rocks]

After they shot him, they would have had to place porn on the premise.

What a joke, verbal warning and written reprimands.

[Darteaus94025]

"Maybe they should have just shot him so they could get medals."

Don't worry Comrade, we will teach this insolent one later. For now, the people must still believe that the Government is their friend.

[kenth]

In a news conference earlier in the day, Knezovich said he would look into complaints by a 67-year-old man whose house was wrongly raided on Sept. 27 after Detective Timothy D. Hines was one digit off when he sought the location of a telephone number to which the obscene calls had been traced.

Were that the truth, it would be more understandable. But, in this digital era, how likely would phone records show up one digit off? It sounds as if the detective himself went by his faulty memory when cross referencing the number for an address.

[zeugma]

Maybe they should have just shot him so they could get medals. After all, we're all guilty, right?

He should just shut up about it and thank his lucky stars that they didn't shoot him on the spot. /sarcasm 

[monday]

"warned that if the homeowner's assertions of rudeness and humiliation by deputies are substantiated, they could face penalties ranging from verbal warnings to written reprimands for unprofessional conduct."

You have got to be kidding! They don't even pretend that police officers will actually be punished for screwing up. This is why people hate police. They take no responsibility for their actions.

These officers should be made to kneel before the homeowner and kiss his feet during an official press conference held to apologize for their mistake.

[monday]

" It sounds as if the detective himself went by his faulty memory when cross referencing the number for an address."

The article says that it was the detective who was one digit off. It was all his fault.

[Triggerhippie]

Wow. While I was trolling at DU, I found a post identical to yours.

[ironmaidenPR2717]

All that EVER happens to Spokane police is a slap on the wrist (if that) & and maybe a few weeks paid leave; then comes media spin & damage control, an in-house "investigation" which predictably blames the victim and clears all the officers involved.

If you don't believe me, Google "Otto Zehm", a mentally-challenged guy minding his own business but some schoolgirls thought he was acting weird so called said police. In this instance, however, there was a video at which, I'm sure, the police gnashed their teeth. I'm certain they'll make sure all videos are confiscated next time this happens.

In fact, this past year after a middle-aged fire fighter had sex with a 16 y.o. AT THE FIRE STATION and took pictures, his superiors told him to get rid of the damning pics. He ended up resigning but only because this all came out publicly and no one could bury it bureaucratically, but I believe he was never charged with anything.

I also vaguely remember there was another mentally-challenged guy shot by Spokane police for nothing a few years back but, sadly, I've forgetten his name. (And we should NEVER forget.)

[ironmaidenPR2717]

Upon reflection, I feel the need to postscript that I don't in any way mean to denigrate all Spokane police officers. For every "bad" cop, there are 100 great ones who actually are "peace officers".

[Mark was here]

What is the deal with cops going into a house dumping every thing out of the drawers, making a mess of things then leaving? They should be required to leave the premises as they found it. Destroying ones property, on a whim is wrong. If someone is found guilty then they could suffer a property loss, but not before.

I think the cop who made the mistake and the Judge who signed the warrant should have their houses raided and ransacked by thugs who lack a respect for the property of others.