Posted on 05/19/2010 12:44:05 PM PDT by Colofornian
Lehi » The Utah Attorney General's Office reportedly has launched an investigation into whether the Lehi Police Department covered up several alleged crimes over the past five years.
KUTV News reports that the allegations come from the city's prosecutor, Dave Clark. Clark claims knowledge of eight cases -- ranging from theft and DUI to a hit-and-run crash -- that Lehi police purportedly chose to bury.
Clark, the city's prosecutor for more than seven years, says he tried to handle his complaints internally, but the city's administration has done nothing.
The City of Lehi is "where people who have committed crimes say, 'I know people in the area. Nothing's going to happen,'" Clark told KUTV.
For example, the prosecutor says, in September 2005 a four-month-old DUI case came to his attention. When he asked a lieutenant why the case had not been filed in a more timely manner, he allegedly was told the police chief had ordered the information withheld.
Clark said he reported this to the city administrator and there were promises things would change. But in March, 2006 Clark said, it happened again with a disorderly conduct charge. Then in 2008, a man called him wondering why no one had been held responsible for a farm vehicle that ran into a utility pole and damaged his house.
"There was clearly enough evidence to bring a charge of hit and run," Clark told KUTV.
Clark acknowledged his relationship with the Lehi Police Department has been strained. He said the tension stemmed from his decision not to prosecute two cases because probable cause was lacking -- decisions Clark says were supported by an internal investigation.
Asked for comment, Lehi City Administrator Jamie Davidson issued this statement: "The matter is currently under review by the Attorney General's Office and the city does not comment on on-going personnel investigations in order to protect the interests of our city staff."
Police Chief Chad Smith declined to comment, though KUTV reports that he did send the station a text reading: "I hope my name would stand for honesty."
Interesting.
You wanna quit abusing the Breaking News sidebar?
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