Complaints about Portland police rise in 2003

• The department says the 48 percent jump does not necessarily reflect growing public dissatisfaction

Complaints about Portland police rose 48 percent in 2003, with rude behavior, false charges and harassment topping the list of the most common allegations against officers, according to an oversight group's report to be released today. But the Internal Police Review Division's second annual report cautioned that the jump in citizen complaints doesn't necessarily reflect growing dissatisfaction with the Police Bureau. Director Richard Rosenthal said the increase probably is the result of more people knowing about in the 21/2-year-old division, which serves as an intake center for complaints against police. Another theory is that the public's attitudes toward police have returned to where they were before the 9/11 terrorist attacks. "That's a trend in other cities," Rosenthal said. "Complaints have returned to the prior levels." The division's 164-page report shows 761 complaints, compared with 513 in 2002. [more ]

County won't pay for burial of African man shot by Maryland Cop

The family of a Cameroonian immigrant killed last month in a police shooting expressed disappointment Tuesday that the county would not pay the expenses of sending the body back to his village. "It seems like the county is pulling back on all the assistance they were going to give us," said Julius Oben, a cousin of Peter Ayompeuh Njang, who was shot Aug. 12 by a police officer after he allegedly threatened her with a box-cutter. Oben said the family faces a $7,000 bill to fly Njang's body to the central African nation, as well as a $26,500 hospital bill. The county had offered the family $1,500, but Oben said the family was told if they spent more than that, the county would offer nothing. A lawsuit is pending on behalf of Njang who was gunned down by Montgomery County police last month. Police say that Njang approached officers with box cutters, witnesses say otherwise. [more ]

Early findings justify Police shooting of Hispanic Man in Pasadena

Police Chief Dave Hinig said a preliminary investigation by his department shows an officer was justified in shooting an alleged car thief who allegedly threatened her with a 10-inch screwdriver. Arcadia police Officer Toni Caylor, a 17-year veteran of the department, was a few feet away from Cesar Baltazar, 23, of Hawthorne when he allegedly thrust the screwdriver at her, Hinig said. Baltazar was parked in a stolen Acura with his girlfriend, Bianei Miramontes, 19, when the incident occurred at 4:36 a.m. Aug. 25 at Arcadia County Park, authorities said. Caylor was investigating the car because its trunk lock and ignition were damaged, leading her to believe it had been stolen, police said. Caylor fired several shots at Baltazar, hitting him once in the arm, before he drove away, Hinig said. He and Miramontes were arrested about 90 minutes later. [more ]

Ex-Clio cop charged with brutality

Criminal charges have been filed against a former police officer who allegedly brutalized two suspects and threatened to shoot a former Clio police chief in the head. Terry Marshall, 56, is charged with three assault and battery misdemeanors stemming from two incidents in 2002 that allegedly occurred while he was a Clio police officer. The charges carry a maximum penalty of 93 days in jail. Marshall entered a not guilty plea at his arraignment Friday. A pretrial hearing is set for Sept. 23, and he is free on a personal bond. [more ]

Knife-wielding man is shot by border agent near Campo

A U.S. Border Patrol agent shot and wounded a suspected illegal immigrant who was threatening him with a knife early yesterday in the mountains near Campo, authorities said. The unidentified man suffered minor injuries when at least one bullet struck him in the leg. He was treated at a hospital and then jailed, Border Patrol spokesman Steve McPartland said. The agent was on patrol about 2 a.m. when he surprised a group of nearly 20 people walking in the rugged mountains near Old Highway 80 and Buckman Springs Road about 10 miles north of Campo, McPartland said. Seventeen people in the group were arrested, including the man who was shot, McPartland said. Border Patrol agents in San Diego County have arrested more than 118,000 people since July 1, 2003, McPartland said. [more ]

Officers cleared in shooting death of 85 year white old man

State authorities have cleared two Whitfield County sheriff's deputies who shot and killed an 85-year-old man last week. The Georgia Bureau of Investigation concluded the officers, Jason Cooley and Clay Pangle, acted appropriately because the man fired at them. A GBI report said John Smith fired one round at the deputies when they were called to his home. The deputies returned fire, hitting Smith twice in the chest. Family members disputed the GBI's account. "My brother was 85 years old. He was an invalid. He was in his own bed in his own home," sister Christine Hicks told The Daily Citizen of Dalton. [more ]