Post by WaTcHeR on Sept 28, 2006 13:28:11 GMT -5
09.28.2006 - LORAIN -- The FBI in Cleveland has been contacted by local officials to investigate threats against a Lorain cop and a Plain Dealer reporter, who is claiming Lorain police officers have harassed him and his family because he is working on a story about the department.
On Sept. 22, Plain Dealer Managing Editor Tom O'Hara sent a letter to Mayor Craig Foltin, Law Director Mark Provenza and police Chief Cel Rivera alleging his reporter ''has been told by a number of well-positioned confidential sources of threats of physical violence and intimidation against him by police officers and their associates.''
O'Hara lists two specific incidences in the letter. He alleged that while two Plain Dealer reporters were looking through records, the air was let out of a tire on one reporter's vehicle.
In a separate incident, O'Hara wrote that the same reporter was attending a Lorain Admiral King High School football game on Sept. 8 when four police officers ''lurked'' near his family and at one point confronted the reporter's son as he was returning from the snack bar, according to the letter.
''Given the fact that there were rumors about the people who were being investigated being unhappy, I felt it was prudent to alert some city officials,'' O'Hara said. ''If the chief felt getting the FBI involved was the right thing to do, that's fine with me.''
O'Hara said his reporter is working on an investigative story about the Lorain Police Department.
FBI spokesman Scott Wilson confirmed yesterday that they are aware of the alleged threats against the reporter and Officer Jesus Sanchez and are reviewing the information to determine what their involvement will be.
''We were initially contacted regarding threats to an officer, not the reporter, but we are aware of both incidences,'' Wilson said. ''The FBI will review the information and determine what action will be taken in the future.''
Rivera said his department did a preliminary investigation into the allegations of threats but determined they didn't have any merit. At the conclusion of the investigation, Rivera referred the allegations to the FBI.
Foltin said he was aware of the allegations and the letter and simply said: ''I cannot see any of our officers harassing a reporter.''
Law Director Mark Provenza said the city is taking the allegations seriously and, based on the findings of the FBI, will take the appropriate actions. He did, however, say that incidences of criminal damaging are not uncommon in the city hall parking lot. He cited several examples of air being let out of tires and smashed windows.
Sanchez, who is involved in a civil suit regarding allegations of sexual misconduct by him and other Lorain police officers, told Rivera he had been threatened by ''unknown parties possibly within the department,'' according to past reports.
Lorain Sgt. Mark Carpentiere opened an investigation into the allegations, but Sanchez was uncooperative, according to past reports. Carpentiere suspended the investigation pending further cooperation from Sanchez.
www.morningjournal.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=17245882&BRD=1699&PAG=461&dept_id=46371&rfi=6
On Sept. 22, Plain Dealer Managing Editor Tom O'Hara sent a letter to Mayor Craig Foltin, Law Director Mark Provenza and police Chief Cel Rivera alleging his reporter ''has been told by a number of well-positioned confidential sources of threats of physical violence and intimidation against him by police officers and their associates.''
O'Hara lists two specific incidences in the letter. He alleged that while two Plain Dealer reporters were looking through records, the air was let out of a tire on one reporter's vehicle.
In a separate incident, O'Hara wrote that the same reporter was attending a Lorain Admiral King High School football game on Sept. 8 when four police officers ''lurked'' near his family and at one point confronted the reporter's son as he was returning from the snack bar, according to the letter.
''Given the fact that there were rumors about the people who were being investigated being unhappy, I felt it was prudent to alert some city officials,'' O'Hara said. ''If the chief felt getting the FBI involved was the right thing to do, that's fine with me.''
O'Hara said his reporter is working on an investigative story about the Lorain Police Department.
FBI spokesman Scott Wilson confirmed yesterday that they are aware of the alleged threats against the reporter and Officer Jesus Sanchez and are reviewing the information to determine what their involvement will be.
''We were initially contacted regarding threats to an officer, not the reporter, but we are aware of both incidences,'' Wilson said. ''The FBI will review the information and determine what action will be taken in the future.''
Rivera said his department did a preliminary investigation into the allegations of threats but determined they didn't have any merit. At the conclusion of the investigation, Rivera referred the allegations to the FBI.
Foltin said he was aware of the allegations and the letter and simply said: ''I cannot see any of our officers harassing a reporter.''
Law Director Mark Provenza said the city is taking the allegations seriously and, based on the findings of the FBI, will take the appropriate actions. He did, however, say that incidences of criminal damaging are not uncommon in the city hall parking lot. He cited several examples of air being let out of tires and smashed windows.
Sanchez, who is involved in a civil suit regarding allegations of sexual misconduct by him and other Lorain police officers, told Rivera he had been threatened by ''unknown parties possibly within the department,'' according to past reports.
Lorain Sgt. Mark Carpentiere opened an investigation into the allegations, but Sanchez was uncooperative, according to past reports. Carpentiere suspended the investigation pending further cooperation from Sanchez.
www.morningjournal.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=17245882&BRD=1699&PAG=461&dept_id=46371&rfi=6