Post by WaTcHeR on Jul 26, 2006 13:37:04 GMT -5
07.26.2006 - Two area sheriff's deputies were arrested Tuesday and two others abruptly resigned amid an FBI probe into their association with a Palmetto strip club.
Manatee County sheriff's Deputy Charles E. Elsenheimer, 34, was charged with 13 counts of dealing in stolen property for reportedly buying caseloads of liquor that he thought was stolen. His cousin and fellow deputy, Gary P. Harrison, 23, was charged with two counts.
Authorities say both men worked off-duty at Cleopatra's strip club, a windowless bar along a fast stretch of U.S. 41 on the northern edge of Palmetto.
Elsenheimer also reportedly leaked confidential law-enforcement information to an undercover detective who posed as a patron of the club.
Harrison and Elsenheimer resigned Tuesday after interviews with internal affairs investigators.
In Sarasota, sheriff's Deputies Alfred B. Ainscoe and Edward P. Falcone also resigned amid allegations connected to the criminal case in Manatee. Neither was immediately charged with a crime, however. It is unknown whether Ainscoe and Falcone also worked at Cleopatra's.
The sheriffs of both counties remained tight-lipped Tuesday, and neither would comment on the ongoing FBI probe.
"We're a law enforcement agency, not a law-breaking agency," Manatee County Sheriff Charlie Wells said.
Elsenheimer, a sheriff's deputy for nearly nine years, and Harrison, who became a deputy in 2001, could not be reached for comment.
Elsenheimer was released on $13,000 bail; Harrison is free on $2,000 bail. Arraignment is scheduled for Sept. 1 in Manatee County Circuit Court.
Ainscoe, 45, a youth services deputy, and Falcone, 36, who works special investigations, could not be reached Tuesday evening. The 10-year employees did not give a reason for their resignations, Sarasota Sheriff Bill Balkwill said.
The Sarasota Sheriff's Office will do its own internal investigation after Manatee officials conclude their criminal investigation, the sheriff said.
Any criminal findings, Balkwill said, would be turned over the Florida Department of Law Enforcement.
Manatee County authorities began investigating the case after several tips -- including complaints from fellow deputies -- were passed to administrators in August 2005.
The tipsters said sheriff's deputies were working at Cleopatra's.
Department policy forbids sheriff's deputies from working off-duty at bars. Elsenheimer and Harrison did not tell supervisors about their money-making side venture. "They absolutely knew we would refuse," Wells said.
Two Hillsborough County sheriff's deputies slipped into Cleopatra's undercover to investigate claims that Manatee sheriff's deputies were working at the bar.
Harrison talked to an undercover officer who said he could provide large amounts of liquor at a discounted price, authorities said.
Over the next several months, Harrison and Elsenheimer reportedly bought caseloads of brand name rum, vodka and other liquor for cut-rate prices.
One time, Elsenheimer reportedly bought cases of Barcardi rum, Crown Royal whiskey, Grey Goose vodka, Captain Morgan Rum and Jagermeister for $150; the wholesale value of the alcohol was $862.
Another time, Elsenheimer reportedly was given a free case of Bacardi for his "protection services."
The undercover officer told the duo that the liquor was cheap because it was stolen, according to sheriff's reports.
Sometimes, Elsenheimer said the orders were on behalf of Cleopatra's. Other times he said the booze was for personal use.
Elsenheimer brought his source to his New Year's Eve party and ordered more alcohol, sheriff's officials said.
Investigators used audio and video to record transactions, which were made at the bar.
Wells said Harrison and Elsenheimer were taken off road patrol during the probe. Elsenheimer worked the front desk at the Sheriff's Office; Harrison was in the warrants unit for a time.
On Tuesday, several Manatee sheriff's deputies wearing ski masks gathered inside the entrance to Cleopatra's at 4 p.m.
The deputies had executed a search warrant at 2 p.m. and still had not wrapped up the work by the evening, said Manatee sheriff's Lt. Bill Jordan, who led the operation.
The deputies loaded what appeared to be boxes of evidence into a white utility van.
A handful of club dancers and customers pulled in but were turned away from the Egyptian-themed establishment.
Jordan said the club's owner, Mark Shepherd, was cooperating with the investigation and would be free to reopen after the deputies finished.
Sheriff Wells said the investigation has not turned up evidence that will hurt criminal cases going through the court system.
www.heraldtribune.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060726/NEWS/607260310
Manatee County sheriff's Deputy Charles E. Elsenheimer, 34, was charged with 13 counts of dealing in stolen property for reportedly buying caseloads of liquor that he thought was stolen. His cousin and fellow deputy, Gary P. Harrison, 23, was charged with two counts.
Authorities say both men worked off-duty at Cleopatra's strip club, a windowless bar along a fast stretch of U.S. 41 on the northern edge of Palmetto.
Elsenheimer also reportedly leaked confidential law-enforcement information to an undercover detective who posed as a patron of the club.
Harrison and Elsenheimer resigned Tuesday after interviews with internal affairs investigators.
In Sarasota, sheriff's Deputies Alfred B. Ainscoe and Edward P. Falcone also resigned amid allegations connected to the criminal case in Manatee. Neither was immediately charged with a crime, however. It is unknown whether Ainscoe and Falcone also worked at Cleopatra's.
The sheriffs of both counties remained tight-lipped Tuesday, and neither would comment on the ongoing FBI probe.
"We're a law enforcement agency, not a law-breaking agency," Manatee County Sheriff Charlie Wells said.
Elsenheimer, a sheriff's deputy for nearly nine years, and Harrison, who became a deputy in 2001, could not be reached for comment.
Elsenheimer was released on $13,000 bail; Harrison is free on $2,000 bail. Arraignment is scheduled for Sept. 1 in Manatee County Circuit Court.
Ainscoe, 45, a youth services deputy, and Falcone, 36, who works special investigations, could not be reached Tuesday evening. The 10-year employees did not give a reason for their resignations, Sarasota Sheriff Bill Balkwill said.
The Sarasota Sheriff's Office will do its own internal investigation after Manatee officials conclude their criminal investigation, the sheriff said.
Any criminal findings, Balkwill said, would be turned over the Florida Department of Law Enforcement.
Manatee County authorities began investigating the case after several tips -- including complaints from fellow deputies -- were passed to administrators in August 2005.
The tipsters said sheriff's deputies were working at Cleopatra's.
Department policy forbids sheriff's deputies from working off-duty at bars. Elsenheimer and Harrison did not tell supervisors about their money-making side venture. "They absolutely knew we would refuse," Wells said.
Two Hillsborough County sheriff's deputies slipped into Cleopatra's undercover to investigate claims that Manatee sheriff's deputies were working at the bar.
Harrison talked to an undercover officer who said he could provide large amounts of liquor at a discounted price, authorities said.
Over the next several months, Harrison and Elsenheimer reportedly bought caseloads of brand name rum, vodka and other liquor for cut-rate prices.
One time, Elsenheimer reportedly bought cases of Barcardi rum, Crown Royal whiskey, Grey Goose vodka, Captain Morgan Rum and Jagermeister for $150; the wholesale value of the alcohol was $862.
Another time, Elsenheimer reportedly was given a free case of Bacardi for his "protection services."
The undercover officer told the duo that the liquor was cheap because it was stolen, according to sheriff's reports.
Sometimes, Elsenheimer said the orders were on behalf of Cleopatra's. Other times he said the booze was for personal use.
Elsenheimer brought his source to his New Year's Eve party and ordered more alcohol, sheriff's officials said.
Investigators used audio and video to record transactions, which were made at the bar.
Wells said Harrison and Elsenheimer were taken off road patrol during the probe. Elsenheimer worked the front desk at the Sheriff's Office; Harrison was in the warrants unit for a time.
On Tuesday, several Manatee sheriff's deputies wearing ski masks gathered inside the entrance to Cleopatra's at 4 p.m.
The deputies had executed a search warrant at 2 p.m. and still had not wrapped up the work by the evening, said Manatee sheriff's Lt. Bill Jordan, who led the operation.
The deputies loaded what appeared to be boxes of evidence into a white utility van.
A handful of club dancers and customers pulled in but were turned away from the Egyptian-themed establishment.
Jordan said the club's owner, Mark Shepherd, was cooperating with the investigation and would be free to reopen after the deputies finished.
Sheriff Wells said the investigation has not turned up evidence that will hurt criminal cases going through the court system.
www.heraldtribune.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060726/NEWS/607260310