Post by WaTcHeR on Aug 25, 2006 12:04:18 GMT -5
08.25.2006 - STATE COLLEGE -- A former State College police officer surrendered Thursday to face charges he repeatedly slashed tires and vandalized a car belonging to an ex-girlfriend -- actions state police said were caught on surveillance video.
Officer Jeffrey Chiston, 45, who resigned from the force when an investigation into stalking allegations became public, was arraigned before Senior Magisterial District Judge Robert Shoff and released on his own recognizance. The former officer is charged with four counts of criminal mischief and single counts of stalking and harassment.
"He is a good cop. He's a good guy," said Chiston's attorney, Karen Muir. "He just made a mistake in his personal life."
Chiston tendered his resignation June 30 after a judge granted a protection-from-abuse order application filed by his ex-girlfriend. As part of the order, the judge prohibited Chiston from possessing any weapons or entering the State College Municipal Building, home to the police department.
His resignation ended an 18-year career with the borough.
The woman, in papers filed in Centre County Court requesting a protection-from-abuse order, noted that video cameras taped the vandalism. State College officers identified Chiston as the man vandalizing her vehicle in those surveillance videos, state police said.
State police executed a search warrant June 10 and seized knives and clothing Chiston allegedly wore in one of the incidents caught on camera, in which $2,740 worth of damage was caused to the woman's car. He also is accused of spray painting the car with a "white substance" that caused $2,927 in damage, according to the criminal complaint filed Thursday.
The woman said in court papers that Chiston has been stalking her since January 2005.
"Because Jeff could be facing termination of his employment, the fact that he is facing criminal charges and that he has used weapons to intimidate me in the past, I am very fearful of my safety," the woman wrote in her application for a protection-from-abuse order.
The vandalism captured by the cameras occurred April 14, April 22 and June 8, court documents indicate.
Muir said she's hopeful a plea agreement can be worked out with Centre County District Attorney Michael Madeira that will someday allow Chiston to again serve as a police officer.
"We're hoping he can move past this," Muir said. "But I don't believe he has any future with the State College Police Department."
Madeira said it would be premature to discuss possible plea agreements. Chiston's 18 years of service as a police officer will have no effect on what transpires legally, he said.
"I'm not treating this case any differently because he was a police officer," Madeira said.
www.centredaily.com/mld/centredaily/15355621.htm
Officer Jeffrey Chiston, 45, who resigned from the force when an investigation into stalking allegations became public, was arraigned before Senior Magisterial District Judge Robert Shoff and released on his own recognizance. The former officer is charged with four counts of criminal mischief and single counts of stalking and harassment.
"He is a good cop. He's a good guy," said Chiston's attorney, Karen Muir. "He just made a mistake in his personal life."
Chiston tendered his resignation June 30 after a judge granted a protection-from-abuse order application filed by his ex-girlfriend. As part of the order, the judge prohibited Chiston from possessing any weapons or entering the State College Municipal Building, home to the police department.
His resignation ended an 18-year career with the borough.
The woman, in papers filed in Centre County Court requesting a protection-from-abuse order, noted that video cameras taped the vandalism. State College officers identified Chiston as the man vandalizing her vehicle in those surveillance videos, state police said.
State police executed a search warrant June 10 and seized knives and clothing Chiston allegedly wore in one of the incidents caught on camera, in which $2,740 worth of damage was caused to the woman's car. He also is accused of spray painting the car with a "white substance" that caused $2,927 in damage, according to the criminal complaint filed Thursday.
The woman said in court papers that Chiston has been stalking her since January 2005.
"Because Jeff could be facing termination of his employment, the fact that he is facing criminal charges and that he has used weapons to intimidate me in the past, I am very fearful of my safety," the woman wrote in her application for a protection-from-abuse order.
The vandalism captured by the cameras occurred April 14, April 22 and June 8, court documents indicate.
Muir said she's hopeful a plea agreement can be worked out with Centre County District Attorney Michael Madeira that will someday allow Chiston to again serve as a police officer.
"We're hoping he can move past this," Muir said. "But I don't believe he has any future with the State College Police Department."
Madeira said it would be premature to discuss possible plea agreements. Chiston's 18 years of service as a police officer will have no effect on what transpires legally, he said.
"I'm not treating this case any differently because he was a police officer," Madeira said.
www.centredaily.com/mld/centredaily/15355621.htm