I noticed a large number of hits coming from a site called www.indianrunner.net. The site’s tag line is “A publication of opinion for Tribal Members by Tribal Members created by Members of the Morongo Band of Mission Indians.” It would appear this publication confirms that Bill Abernathie was in fact hired to head up security and not everyone is happy about it.
This was in a comment by an anonymous reader:
It was just a few years ago that now chief Pete Ortiz, Sgt Chris Allen, and POS Paul Kellner forced the tow companies in Rancho to pay for the privilege to tow from checkpoints. Then Sgt. Dave Johnson was ordered to collect $2500 from whichever company was up next on rotation and if they refused the company was skipped. A tow company out of Ontario told us it was like an old Chicago “shake down”. Several deputies met with a DA investigator to discuss this practice of “Embezzlement” in uniform. The investigator agreed it was an illegal practice and he wanted to discuss it with his boss, Ramos. Several days go by and we are contacted by the DA’s office only to be told that although it was illegal the did not want to appear to be going after the Sherrif’s Dept so soon after another investigation. When word got out, probably from the DA, an emergency traffic meeting was held. The entire division was yelled at and threatened by these three supervisors if the money collecting was ever mentioned again. Dave Johnson was opposed to this practice, knew it was illegal and directly ordered to collect by Kellner.
Again, they all got away with it because Ramos did not want to rock the boat. The good ole boys protecting the good ole boys, sound familiar?
I do not remember anything about this at all. Can anyone confirm or deny or add to the story?
Regarding the detective that went to Palm Springs with his county unit and got into the fight with the girlfriend. Then was off duty with his county unit and got drunk and crashed and totaled his county unit. He got days off and kept his stripes and transferred to the jail. I guess he will take catalano’s place. Keep in mind two violations, county car to Palm Springs and fight with the meth head then while that internal affairs investigation is going on he crashes and totals out his county while he is drunk. What a deal.
Can anyone verify this?
I just heard they promoted Don Yoder to Captain at Victorville, what a joke. I guess Hoops likes people who mess with females. Yoder had a Restraining Order against him from Deputy xxxxxx. He was 35′ing it with her and when she called it off he threatened her and started to stalk her. She obtained a Restraining Order, but he disobeyed it and continued to harass her and the department did nothing as usual. Hoops keep up the good work promoting idiots with baggage.
I just heard that Joe Catalano is being transferred back to the street. Guess he’s no longer a liability to the Sheriff’s Dept. under the Brown Act, huh?
Wouldn’t anyone else have been fired for what he did?
I posted the information I did on the incident at the Victorville fairgrounds this past weekend to see what would come out. In reality, the Explorer aspect of that situation is hardly the most serious. I’ve been surprised that the more important parts have yet to be discussed. I’m still not going to write specifics about the off-duty cop, the incompetent sergeant, the multiple priors for excessive force, or the lawsuit that will make CNN if anyone was quick enough to snap a few pictures or take a video. From what I understand, it was so egregious that citizens have come forward to complain. And once again I’d be willing to bet Sheriff Rod Hoops has not bothered to brief the BOS as to the significant liability that two of his deputies caused for taxpayers, instead hoping it will all be covered up. So what else is new?
Bobby Sherman
It was brought to my attention today that Bobby Sherman is/was a volunteer (reserve?) with the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department. He is also involved with Los Angeles Police Department, raising money and supplies for both. Someone sent me a link to his website.
I’m sure about 90 percent of our female readers are too young to know who Bobby Sherman is. Let’s just say he was the Justine Bieber of the late 60s and early 70s. Besides for Donny Osmond, he was my first big crush as he was for about every other pre-teen girl. Some may remember the show Here Comes the Bride, which was inspired by the movie Seven Brides for Seven Brothers, in which he had a starring role.
From an informant:
Deputy Benjamin from Victorville as we know was placed on admin leave for having sex with an explorer scout. Victorville Deputy Orduno and another Victorville deputy (i dont know his name) were just put on admin leave because the investigation turned out that the other two deputies knew Benjamin was having sex with the explorer and didnt report it. i dont think Orduno or the other deputy were having sex with the explorers.
Friday’s Press Enterprise confirmed much of what we have been saying for almost two years, even though many of you called us liars. Did you note that those who testified before the Grand Jury indicated that it went on for years, maybe ten years or more? Does anyone really believe now that just seven individuals, with only five benefitting since two were clerks, is all that were involved? I’m sure all the brown nosers will come in here and claim just that.
We have received a report from a citizen about yet another incident where an Explorer was put in a position they never should have been put in. It involves an excessive use of force incident at the Victorville fairgrounds this past weekend. Although we have already been able to confirm part of the story, we would appreciate added details by anyone who was at the fair and witnessed it. We suspects the lawsuits are already being prepared.
I registered with VINE to be notified with the Colonies Four were released. My contact notified me of their release about 6:30. I just received the VINE notification. I’m glad this wasn’t a safety issue or I would be dead.
We have written about San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Deputy Kevin Buchanan before. Last time I checked there were no videos. But there is one now:
From a reader:
Here is another example of the way that the powers to be at the Sheriff’s Office rule as “Do as I say not as I do”. Captain Marhoffer was contacted and asked if some of his staff could assist at the past explorer academy with instruction of some of the classes. He stated that he would not allow any member of his staff to assist in any way with classes at the explorer academy. Well I guess two days later he shows up at the explorer academy in uniform and teaches a class on “Ethics”. Can you believe it. This is the same guy who was involved in the MDC issue and the same person who was dating an explorer when he was assigned to Rancho and taking her to the bar and drinking. Then to keep everything above board he married her. Now one must wonder why does the department have the problems they do with the explorer program. That would be like Hoops giving a class on no drinking or partying on county property and then having another party in the command post. Can you believe it.
Typical.
This post is NOT for anyone under 18. The photo is on the next page. I ask again, Does iePolitics discredit the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department or is it, just perhaps, some employees of the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department who discredit it?
We really can’ make this stuff up.
I have not updated some of our stories for a while. Perhaps our readers can add to the updates.
I’m sure I have more so if there are any stories you want status on, remind me with a comment.
We often hear that this blog is for disgruntled county employees. Of those employees who post here that I know who they are, very few are simply disgruntled county employees. Most have been around a long time and remember the days before Jerry Eaves and Jim Hlawek when we could be proud to say we worked for the County of San Bernardino. As a matter of fact, a majority of those who post here are among the finest, hardest-working employees this county ever had the privilege of employing.
So why do they post? Today’s arrest of San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Deputy Anthony Benjamin is a perfect example. Behind the scenes we are hearing some negative things about him, but there are two much more notable aspects to this arrest: Cliff Reynolds and Gina Perez. Use the search button at the top to search this blog for either of those names and you will find an eyeful of information about coverup, lying, incompetence, and a host of other issues. Reynolds is his captain and Perez is in charge of the station’s Explorer Scouts.
Does anyone know the names of those Sheriff’s officials who married their Explorer Scouts?
Sharon, Gastineau is a different case than Duran. they did a pre text call on Gastineau and he admitted to being with the explorer scout on the recording. When they did a pre text call on Duran from Yucaipa he knew they were recording and denied it on the recording so now its his word against hers. Duran is still TDY to CDC jail awaiting the DA’s decision.
Ok here are all the deputies i know who have been with explorer scouts i’ll try and put them in chronilogical order. Beef of course, Jimmy West from Highland a female explorer was giving him a BJ in the unit and he swerved and hit a tree. he said a dog ran out in front of him to make him swerve lol. Freddy Johnson from Central station was caught with a female scout he was fired. Jessie Duran from Yucaipa still pending, CAC has done a criminal report on him. Now Nathan Gastineau.
Hmm . . .
I would sure like to be sure that he knows this crap keeps going on in the Sheriff’s Department and they do not do what is necessary to prevent it. My understanding is that there are several high-ranking (maybe retired) sheriff’s officials who married their Explorers.
Not sure how this one slipped past my informants, but it did. (Any chance this is the same guy as Yucaipa? I heard that one was transferred to the jail.) Thanks to the person who sent me the article from the Press Enterprise. I’m using the Sun version because I don’t get threatening letters from them.
A San Bernardino County sheriff’s deputy was arrested and placed on administrative leave late Friday, the same day the department received information he may have had sexual relations with a 16-year-old girl, according to a Sunday news release.
Nathan Gastineau, a 30-year-old Redlands resident and 1998 graduate of Redlands High School, was assigned to the sheriff’s Highland station, where he was a leader of the Explorers program.
The program gives law- enforcement training to students from 14 1/2 to 21 years old.
By Elizabeth Chambers
VICTORVILLE — Three more San Bernardino County deputies from the Victorville sheriff’s station have been suspended as part of the department’s internal investigation into allegations of sexual misconduct, and a second rape investigation may be underway.
The latest suspensions, ordered Friday by Sheriff Floyd Tidwell, brought to eight the number of officers relieved of their duties since an 18-year-old Explorer Scout told authorities she was raped by one deputy and had had sexual relations with others.
When someone from the sheriff’s department uses a county computer to look at the blog I see “County of San Bernardino” just like I do for any department. The only way I may know who it might be is if it is someone who has a static IP address and I know it. However, certain hits instead show “San Bernardino County Sheriff/IRNET.” I’m assuming that is in reference to their major narcotics team. It seems to me you would not necessarily want the average person knowing that IRNET is looking at their site. Am I wrong? I know IRNET is an acronym for other things too.
Editor’s Note: This is the second in the series of stories related to the sex scandal in Victorville Sheriff’s Department 25 years ago. This story ran in the Daily Press on February 21, 1986. Note how similar former Sheriff Tidwell’s response to this scandal is to Sheriff Hoops’ response to the POST scandal. Also of interest is that the crime that started this whole thing occurred on February 14. The case was expected to be submitted to the district attorney just 11 days later. Compare that to the POST scandal.
Tidwell says 2 could be sent home today
By Elizabeth Chambers
Daily Press Staff Writer
SAN BERNARDINO—At least two more of the Victorville station’s 43 street deputies will probably be suspended today by county Sheriff Floyd Tidwell, as an investigation into alleged sexual misconduct. continues.
So far, three deputies are under administrative leave, stripped of their badges and guns, and two have resigned. Tidwell said this morning he anticipates “two more suspensions today, and possibly a third.”
The sheriff added that he is “devastated” by the events leading to his investigation of charges that the deputies had sexual relations with an Explorer Scout from the Victorville station before she turned 18 years of age, and that one raped her Feb. 14.
The Rangers inquiries led to some interesting stories about Sheriff’s Automotive and Al Daniels. Now we know why the recommendations from San Bernardino County’s vehicle study over a year and a half after they were made have not been implemented. It seems Sheriff’s Department brass get some very special deals as do other people such as Sheriff’s Rangers.
I received information this morning about a traffic stop made yesterday by a Sheriff’s Ranger:
I saw one of these special sheriffs rangers Duane Bygum pulled over a vehicle on the northbound I-15 while he was driving an unmarked sheriffs jeep with lights today at 5:30pm. He was in jeans and a t-shirt and did not even have a gun. I do not know how this could be safe or even close to being in policy. Just an example of how the sheriffs department let’s these rangers do whatever they want.
He has been known to preach his cathloic views on traffic stops and is often seen wearing his uniform to dinner in Victorville. I wonder if it is to get a discount.
There was quite a bit more information but I do not want to print it until I get permission as it is conceivable the person who gave it to me could be identified by it.
Here is an anonymous rumor maybe someone can shed some light on:
Check out Deputy __________ from Yucaipa station. The department has transferred him to a jail tdy pending an admin and the criminal charge is sex with a 16 year old female explorer scout from Yucaipa station. Also Detective ____________ from Homicide was transferred last month to ASU after he was caught lying on the stand during a murder case. The DA is conducting a perjury case against him and he was recently put on admin leave
Also, can anyone tell me for sure what city Rick Roelle lives in?
These all come from anonymous sources. You can check them out for yourselves. Here they are:
Ok the 7 today were the ones with felonies. The other 20 will me announced at a later date after the felony indictments are handled. The 20 will be charged with PC 32 misdemeanor and they will b demoted one rank. Hope this helps u
I re-posted a memo from Sheriff Hoops from almost a year ago below. I will also re-post the newspaper articles if I can find them.
Sheriff Hoops, First off, you need to find yourself a new secretary. Secretarial skills should at least be one of the qualifications required before you hire someone for such a position! As an elected official, you are judged by what you produce. If I could have figured out a way, I would have used my handy-dandy red pen on your memo. Please try harder to have your staff produce professional-looking documents. For those who have not seen it:
Is it my imagination or are police chiefs in San Bernardino County dropping like flies? We have already heard about interest by current SB County Sheriff’s Department official(s) in one of those top spots. And we are hearing that the POST scandal investigations are being done in such a way so that the brass involved can retire with a clean jacket and pick up employment elsewhere. Perhaps one of our experts can tell us if sheriff’s department experience qualifies one to be a chief of police. It shall be interesting to see if any of the protected few gets picked up in another top spot.
10:00 PM PDT on Monday, March 14, 2011
The Press-Enterprise
San Bernardino County should prosecute misconduct in the Sheriff’s Department as sternly as corruption in the assessor’s office or other arms of county government. A county with a history of high-level official scandal cannot afford to treat alleged theft from taxpayers as a minor bending of the rules.
A special county grand jury last week indicted seven current and former sheriff’s employees on felony charges of perjury, grand theft and conspiracy. The seven are accused of falsifying records, starting in 2006, to get credit for training they had not received, in order to gain higher pay and retirement benefits. Prosecutors did not know exactly how much public money was involved, but said those indicted had boosted their compensation by amounts ranging from $2,000 to $100,000 apiece.
Editor: I’m retyping the article from February 20, 1986. I had to print it off of microfilm and it’s too dark to scan. This is the first in the series. We will print them in the order they were reported as the story unfolded. I expect to run a story every third day or as time permits.
4 other deputies suspended at valley station
By Elizabeth Chambers
Daily Press Staff Writer
SAN BERNARDINO — Five Victorville sheriff’s deputies have been suspended as sheriff’s officials investigate allegations that an 18-year-old woman was raped by one of them and the others had sex with her before she turned 18, the Daily Press has learned.
On Wednesday, the department’s Professional Standards Committee — which replaced the old Internal Affairs Division — conducted day-long interviews of deputies and witnesses, according to Capt. Phil Schuyler, head of the department’s public affairs division.
I have not posted much on the scandal in the past few days because I wanted to wait to see how things unfold. During this time I have had a chance to speak with a number of current SBSD employees. All have pointed out to me various aspects of the case that show very sloppy investigative work and questionable items in the indictments. A lot does not add up. Additionally, we have now heard from two defense counsel that there are a number of additional defendants; however, we cannot confirm if they will be handled administratively or criminally.
Today’s Press Enterprise articles on the POST scandal report two very interesting rulings. First, Judge Brian McCarville ruled that the media could be present and take photographs. Specifically, he said that the defendants are public figures with limited expectations of privacy. Strike one against cops who think they can hide behind their badges and POBR and every other obsticle they throw up to keep their crimes out of the public view.
William "Beef" Abernathie
Well, it seems there have been a few over the years. The most well known is William Beef Abernathie. We will be celebrating the anniversary of his arrest by reprinting all of the articles from the local newspapers detailing his sexual encounters with the underaged. The series will start on Monday.
We are hearing bits and pieces that San Bernardino County CAO Greg Devereaux isn’t going to play nice with the cops this next budget season. Well that’s what we hear from one district; another district says it isn’t true. We have also had a comment or two to that effect on the blog that haven’t received a bit of attention.
And he’s a local, which makes this all the better.
Deputy Stan Bennett
Deputy Sheriff Stan Bennett’s heroic actions on the night of September 16, 2010 have made him an All-Star in the eyes of his California community. Stan was driving home from his son’s cross country meet when he witnessed a pickup truck drift into oncoming traffic and slam into another car head-on. Without hesitation, Stan immediately took control of the scene of the accident, calling dispatch for assistance and directing another witness to manage traffic.
Ernie,
Your complaint is a complaint I hear often. And I have responded more than a few times. If you want good cop stories on the blog, send them to me! I will print them.
I have asked for good cop stories many times and I have yet to receive a single one. When I locate one and print it on my own, you guys still find a way to criticize the deputies involved. I have also asked to be placed on the Sheriff’s Department’s press release list. The department has ignored my requests.
Here is an excerpt from the Daily Press:
VICTORVILLE • A former Victorville sheriff’s deputy was convicted Tuesday of 15 of 24 counts in connection with soliciting bribes and sexual favors in exchange for reduced charges.
After nine days of deliberations, jurors convicted Matthew Linderman of at least one count for 10 of the 11 alleged victims.
The 33-year-old was immediately taken into custody after the verdict.
Today seven current or retired members of the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department were indicted on a variety of felonies involving falsification of training records that resulted in higher rates of pay and higher retirement allowances. Among those indicted were retired Assistant Sheriff Mike Stodelle, Lieutenant Russell Wilke, Detective David Pichotta, and retired Lieutenant Bill Maddox. Pichotta is the former son-in-law of retired Sheriff Gary Penrod.
Others indicted include retired Captain Hobart Gray, who is charged with perjury, grand theft and conspiracy; his wife Angie Gray, charged with three counts of conspiracy, two counts of attempted grand theft, and one county of grand theft; and Sallyann Christian, charged with one count of conspiracy and one count of grand theft.
We have been telling you and telling you and not one of you has had balls enough to do something about this. Do you realize that by Sheriff’ Hoops lying to you and allowing those indicted today to remain on duty, every single investigation they handled for the past two years or more is in jeopardy?
And if former Assistant Sheriff Mike Stodelle is really involved, he retired in 2006 or earlier. That means that investigations going back to 2006, and perhaps earlier, could be in jeopardy. We really have no idea the number of victims that potentially may no receive justice.
I suspect the person who sent this to me is new to the blog. I’ve been meaning to post it but just finally remembered to do so. Tomorrow we shall get back to politics, but one more cop story for tonight:
We’ve written articles on the subject of Brady cops just a time or two. For those who do not know what they are, here is an excerpt from Wikipedia:
Brady v. Maryland, 373 U.S. 83 (1963) was a United States Supreme Court case in which the prosecution had withheld from the criminal defendant certain evidence. The defendant challenged his conviction, arguing it had been contrary to the Due Process Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution.
Police officers who have been dishonest are sometimes referred to as “Brady cops.” Because of the Brady ruling, prosecutors are required to notify defendants and their attorneys whenever a law enforcement official involved in their case has a sustained record for knowingly lying in an official capacity. Brady evidence also includes evidence material to credibility of a civilian witness, such as evidence of false statements by the witness or evidence that a witness was paid to act as an informant.
So, I ask, Why do Brady cops exist? Seriously. This goes back to my post earlier today.
We were not going to post this, but rather wait a few days to see what happens. But now we have the information from two separate sources, one being the Sheriff’s Department and one being a member of the bar. As with everything, we are going to post this as rumor and see what transpires.
We are being told there will be a second round of indictments. We have been told that today’s indictments were just the felonies. We are being told that there will be 20 more misdemeanor indictments and the defendants will be charged with PC 32, which makes sense for all the brass who looked the other way and allowed this to happen.
Out of the 27 originally investigated, seven have been indicted. This is from the Sun’s website:
Six of the defendants appeared in Superior Court this morning for arraignment. They were: former Sheriff’s Capt. Hobart Gray, his wife and former sheriff’s training specialist Angela Gray, retired Assistant Sheriff Michael Stodelle, Lt. Russell Wilke, training specialist Sally Ann Christian, and Deputy David Pichotta.
Retired sheriff’s Lt. Bill Maddox failed to appear, and Judge Michael Dest ordered that a warrant be issued for his arrest if he does not appear in court on Friday for his arraignment.
Read more: http://www.sbsun.com/news/ci_17565287#ixzz1G2Rj6XsP
I am going to get as much written as I can before the press conference starts so no one can say I am writing this based on what happens in less than an hour. Any thoughts I do not get to will be written in a separate post later today.
I want to start by addressing two specific things that we are taking criticism over. First is the number 27.
We are hearing that S-23 is packed with people awaiting the arraignments of those indicted/charged today in the POST scandal. The names coming out so far are:
We will update this list as we get more names.
San Bernardino County District Attorney Michael A. Ramos will hold a news conference at 11:30 a.m. Tuesday to announce developments in a scandal at the Sheriff’s Department regarding an ongoing Peace Officers Standards and Training (POST) investigation.
I can tell by the hits that everyone is waiting to see what happens today. Honestly, I expect iePolitics will be the last to know if something goes down today. From everything I hear, if it is being done today, it is being done in secret and even if I have sources there they will be too afraid to tell me. There is a lot of misinformation being put out on purpose. Evenutally, we will all find out how many and what their names are, but I doubt it will be today.
I can tell you beyond a shadow of a doubt, there are a minimum of 27 involved plus the brass who covered it up. I can’t say with any certainty how many of those will be charged or if they will all be charged/announced at the same time.
When I switched hosts a little over a year ago, I lost all of my posts from the old blogs. It was not until this morning when I was talking to my main source on the POST scandal that I realized how long this has been going on.
We know the POST scandal was discovered in June 2009 or earlier. It was first reported on iePolitics in September 2009. That’s right—18 months ago.
I’m not sure I can. Don’t read this if you can’t. But since this is all supposed to go down in the morning, I’m hoping it is the last rumor on the subject of post.
