Police Abuse in Ohio

[John7878]

Hope Steffey and her attorneys should pay for the repairs. You probably wore the computer out on their behalf.

Well wore down the phone battery today. Called Paul Scarsella and asked for information, he said I'd have to have a written request.

I tried to ask a couple questions, but he flat out said he wouldn't talk about it, I'd have to file the request in writing.

Gee these people have nothing to hide. :cursing:

Do the phone books there have any listing for the Steffey's??? I called the number in the police report, but it had since changed owners.

[John7878]

Heres the letter I'm sending, but I get so PO'd while doing it I am probably missing something...give me some pointers....


Greetings Mr Paul Scarcella

I am writing this to request information on the Hope Steffey case under FOIA & your states Sunshine laws.

I would like a unedited copy of the nurse interview, where Stark County personnel determine that Hope Steffey made suicidal comments.

Christy Palmer’s report also states that jail psychologist Thomas Anuszkiewicz approved putting Steffey on precautions, but the report I already have indicates only Nurse Coren Lennon put her on precautions. I would like to have any paperwork that states that Thomas Anuszkiewicz actually had anything to do with this, or phone records that show that he was even contacted, or when.
From video I have seen it seems that even if he was contacted, it would have been ‘after the fact’.

I would like a copy of the 911 call.

I would like any records that an inspection was done of the camera that Stark County claims failed to record. Or any investigations into if this camera had ever failed before this incident or since.

In Christy Palmer’s reports she references statements taken from Hope Steffey during her investigations. I would like a copy of these.

I contacted the sheriff’s dept May 5th of 2008, about the “missing” beginning of the strip video, they never denied the existence of this video, and said it would be released to Steffey’s lawyers during discovery.
Now I have a copy of Christy Palmer’s report that references this same video that she claims shows Hope Steffey being lowered to the floor. You inferred on the phone that this video does not exist, but if it doesn’t why does she refer to it? (I will include a copy of her report to verify this statement.)
And why did the sheriff’s dept acknowledge its existence when I called?
It would seem this video does exist, and I am requesting a copy of it.

In Christy Palmer’s reports, she references Steffey’s “physical resistance”. I have most of the video from the BCI investigation, the tapes from the jail. But all the video I have seen she’s in cuffs the whole time, and has at LEAST 2 people flanking her at all times. I see no proof of any of the jail staff’s allegations.

And the only time I have seen her react badly is after being assaulted by the police, (in the arresting officers cruiser) or in the process of being assaulted by the police (the strip video).
The rest of the time I see nothing of what the police allege.
If there is more video that I have not seen, like the booking area, I would like to see any video that shows her “physical resistance” without being abused by the police.
And include any reports or evidence as to why the investigator would accept these allegations with no proof.

In her report Christy Palmer also comes to the conclusion that no strip search was ever done on Hope Steffey.
With the camera being deliberately swung away during the “mat change” on the strip video, I would like any report that explains how she comes to that conclusion.

As would I like to see any report with an explanation for why she accepted and thought the excuse of eight jail staff “could not take the chance” of asking a cuffed Steffey to remove her own clothes.
I would also like to have any evidence of what was done to Steffey during the mat change.

The hallway video also shows that the staff immediately reopened Steffey’s cell door, and some of them reentered it, while a male staff member stands by the door.
I would like any documentation as to why & what they were doing during this time. And why it also was not recorded.

The hallway video also shows a male staff member that was not involved in the removal of Steffey’s clothes, making his way down to the cell while the door is open. Of course like all the Stark County videos, it seems to be incomplete, so we never see if he enters the cell, or just takes a look. However it seems the time marks on this video do not match the recording once the recording “jumps”.
Do you have any explanation or documentation as to why his presence is needed? Or why this video’s end is also “missing”?

Stark County rules also state that a woman on her period can not have her panties removed. I would like any documentation as to WHO determined this, and WHEN.

I have seen the video of Deputy Richard T. Gurlea Jr telling Steffey that even though he is arresting her, he will still investigate the assault. But then in the court transcripts, he is testifying under oath, that the investigation was never finished.
If that is true, then why does the original arrest report also charge Steffey with assault, the one that she had reported??

Along with the fact that investigating officers only took two written statements, from the niece that supposedly had attacked Steffey & her brother. From all the evidence I have seen it looks as though the police are trying to frame the victim for the crime against her!

I’d also like any documentation that shows why the BCI or its investigator thought Richard T. Gurlea Jr’s lying under oath, plus false arrest & trying to frame the victim, didn’t rise to the level of “criminal culpability” in their investigation.
Or why the obvious flimsy excuse of the jail staff, as to why Steffey was never asked to remove her own clothes, was ever accepted, when none of the evidence ever showed any of their allegations to be true.

[Terry99]

Good letter John. I don't think you left anything out. As a matter of fact, you usually pick up on things I miss.

I would probably have thrown in the fact that the male standing outside the cell door previously had been looking in while Hope's clothes were being removed. I'd like to know what his position is at the jail and why he was even there. Legally it doesn't mean anything but I'd put it in just because it's disgusting behavior and shows how they operate at that jail. There probably isn't any audiotape of what they were discussing in the hallway after that same guy laughed and the other males came out and stood by him. I'm sure that would be interesting.

I would like to hear more of what was being said when she was being booked - before she was brought to the nurse. That was when she was asked whether she had weapons or whether she wanted to harm herself and she replied "now or at any time". That sounds like someone asking for a clarification; not making a threat. To me it suggests she was not thinking of harming herself at that time.

[Terry99]

Another inconsistency in their story. Hope Steffey was so physically threatening that the staff couldn't take off the cuffs so she could remove her own clothes. Then the cuffs are removed, the males leave the cell and women don't hesitate to walk back in without any apparent concern about being harmed.

[John7878]

Another inconsistency in their story. Hope Steffey was so physically threatening that the staff couldn't take off the cuffs so she could remove her own clothes. Then the cuffs are removed, the males leave the cell and women don't hesitate to walk back in without any apparent concern about being harmed.

Thanks Terry, I added some more about that.

Been gone for a few days, the wife's father passed away, and we had to make a trip down to Arkansas.
Just got back yesterday, to find the computer's internet on the fritz!
I guess we lost power while we were away...all good now though....

[John7878]

Please understand that I'm on Steffey's side 10,000%. LE people in Scarsella's position need requests in writing for various reasons.

I'm sure I've missed some really important points about written requests, but this is just off the top of my head. Let me repeat again, I am 10,000% for Steffey. I think the GJ was a farce.

And its also good for me, because I then have a hard copy of everything I have asked for, when I asked for it, and how much of my questions were answered.

I wish I would have done it at the start of this, so I could prove that I have been asking for this information for over a year, instead of just saying that I had.

I also wish that I had had some of this information when I talked to Stark County Prosecutor John Ferrero & Paul Scarsella the first time. Because they were still talking back then. I didn't have all the info I have now to ask some REAL questions. But I suppose they would have clammed up even faster then.

I wonder how many times the lawsuit against the jail contractors will be delayed while they hash out the settlement numbers?

[John7878]

Another inconsistency in their story. Hope Steffey was so physically threatening that the staff couldn't take off the cuffs so she could remove her own clothes. Then the cuffs are removed, the males leave the cell and women don't hesitate to walk back in without any apparent concern about being harmed.

Thanks Terry I added this to the letter....I need to write back to the FBI also and see what their problem is that they can't release information.

[John7878]

Thanks Terry I added this to the letter....I need to write back to the FBI also and see what their problem is that they can't release information.

I have both letters done, one to the FBI & the other to Paul Scarsella at the Ohio Attorney General's office.

Will get them in the mail today....I don't expect much response though....:cursing:

[John7878]

The CantonRep has this letter to the editor:
http://www.cantonrep.com/opinion/letters/x593070302/Corruption-seems-to-be-everywhere

Heres my comment, which I never expect them to print:

As some of you know I have been looking into the Hope Steffey Case for over a year.
I have posted links to prove that the Stark County police lied about this case, using their own reports.
I know you have seen some of this before, but the part I don't get is WHY all the rest of the people that “investigated” this helped to cover this up this obvious case of abuse by the police.

A news paper the CantonRep deliberately wrote up a misleading article about this. They put stuff in the article that they KNEW were lies.
As an example they put in their ‘Award winning’ story ‘What Happened To Hope Steffey’ that Swanson had claimed that Steffey had been given a chance to remove her clothes and had refused.
This statement is TRUE, this IS what the sheriff claimed.
BUT the BCI investigation was VERY clear that she had NOT been given a chance to remove her clothes, and the CantonRep KNEW this. And I know they knew this because the author is the one that pointed me to the information!! And they acknowledged the source in the article.
Here’s a link to the BCI report:
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y39/Zemo999/BCI-Report.jpg

(This report also claims how Steffey resisted the police, which is another lie, disproved by many videos. Here’s a link to the first in a series that show the cops lied:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zEhyDgQojKs
Look at the rest of the videos in the series for proof.)

So the paper printed a LIE from the sheriff that they KNEW was a lie....WHY!??!?
That’s what gets me, does the sheriff and his gang have that much influence?

Also the BCI investigation was a joke, so information they gave to the grand jury would have been the same.
It wasn't so much an investigation, as it was a smear campaign against Hope Steffey.
But WHY did the BCI also cover for these criminals?

And it looks as though the FBI "investigation" is going the same way.
But WHY?!?!?
Isn’t there anyone out there that is above being corrupted?

A couple of other things NEVER reported in the news is that Steffey's assailant was arrested the month before, for another assault. And the cops knew this, because they are on tape discussing it.
And another thing never reported in ANY news source is that Steffey was not just arrested for disorderly conduct & resisting, but also for the assault that she had reported!!
But yet Richard T. Gurlea Jr., testified at Steffey's trial, under oath, that the 'investigation' into the assault was never finished.
REALLY?!!? Then how do you explain the assault charges against Steffey???

BTW his excuse for not finishing the investigation was that Steffey was in no shape to help with the investigation. So I guess any crime victims that are unconscious or dead have NO chance of having their cases investigated by the Stark County Sheriff's Dept. (All their excuses are just as lame as this one, or even worse.)

But the point is WHY was there no news source that made any of this public??
Even the original TV WKYC report never even made mention of this.
How can you skip over info that shows the cops were trying to frame the crime victim?!?!?

Makes me question every newspaper article....how many others leave out facts that they KNOW are out there, and would change the whole look of the case, but are never made public??
And HOW did we ever get to this point, that this could happen in our country?

[sandyfromoh]

And HOW did we ever get to this point, that this could happen in our country?

John we are getting to the point of no return in this country!!! Cuyahoga County (Cleveland) has the FBI investigating them! Do you want to run for office???

[John7878]

And HOW did we ever get to this point, that this could happen in our country?

John we are getting to the point of no return in this country!!! Cuyahoga County (Cleveland) has the FBI investigating them! Do you want to run for office???

Yeah I see cuyahoga County Sheriff Gerald McFaul resigned.

Funny how this investigation into him started after he criticized Stark County.

And even funnier is the stuff they were accusing him of.

Illegal fund raising - Gee didn't they have an article about Swanson having inmates set up his campaign booth at the fair??

Favoritism- You can fail a psychological exam and STILL be hired by Swanson.

Cash in his birthday cards- I'm sure no one reports birthday money to the Feds, including Swanson.

So they get this guy to resign, and Swanson gets re-elected....

What can I say? :flamemad::flamemad::flamemad:

[John7878]

The CantonRep has this letter to the editor:
http://www.cantonrep.com/opinion/letters/x593070302/Corruption-seems-to-be-everywhere

Heres my comment, which I never expect them to print:



I called the CantonRep. Tried to call the editor, but ended up talking to the city editor.

I asked why they kept information out of the article. I gave him the examples of the incident report when Steffey was actually charged with the assault she reported.
He said she was not tried on that charge, I said of course not, if she had been the whole thing would have been exposed for the BS arrest it was.
But when I pressured him into WHY this stuff was left out he said to contact the author, he switched me over to him, but there was no answer.

But will Shane Hoover even have the answers??

[John7878]

[B]
A couple of other things NEVER reported in the news is that Steffey's assailant was arrested the month before, for another assault. And the cops knew this, because they are on tape discussing it.


Steffey's niece was also arrested for assault the month before this.

006 CRB 01168 LEANNE N PRESTON

2919.25A M1-DOMESTIC VIOLENCE Reduced to 2917.11A MM-DISORDERLY CONDUCT

09-18-2006 DATE OF ARREST : 9/17/2006
09-18-2006 2919.25A (M1) - DOMESTIC VIOLENCE

https://www.starkcountycjis.org/cjis/list_index_frame


I'm thinking this involves her brother NEHEMIAH PRESTON, but can't confirm it for sure.

[John7878]

UPDATE

Steffey's lawsuits against the jail contractors are supposed to be settled now too.

[John7878]

Link when you can, tia

Nothing to link to....there isn't anything in the news about it. I have emailed Tom Myers to find out if they are going to cover the story.

I found out through a phone call.

I knew these cases would never get to a trial either.

[John7878]

Nothing to link to....there isn't anything in the news about it. I have emailed Tom Myers to find out if they are going to cover the story.

I found out through a phone call.

I knew these cases would never get to a trial either.

Called Stark County Prosecutor, John Ferrero
(Telephone: (330) 451-7897)

But he was out to lunch. Left my #, lets see if he calls.....:cursing:

[John7878]

Just asking....you say the case is settled. There must be terms. Can you post a verifiable source to those?

There is no news source for it, YET, but I had Stark County Prosecutor
John D. Ferrero's number to try. Sad to say that his staff isn't up to speed on this, but you can ask them. (Just don't let them steer you to the States Atty)

(330) 451-7897

Or you might try Stark County Jail, Vivianne Whalen Duffrin
the Director of Human Resources there.
330-430-3867

Or you could try the Special Prosecutions Ohio Attorney General, and talk to Paul Scarsella, the Section Chief. (But the last time I tried he refused to talk to me.)

614-644-0729


Good Luck!

[sandyfromoh]

There is no news source for it, YET, but I had Stark County Prosecutor
John D. Ferrero's number to try. Sad to say that his staff isn't up to speed on this, but you can ask them. (Just don't let them steer you to the States Atty)

(330) 451-7897

Or you might try Stark County Jail, Vivianne Whalen Duffrin
the Director of Human Resources there.
330-430-3867

Or you could try the Special Prosecutions Ohio Attorney General, and talk to Paul Scarsella, the Section Chief. (But the last time I tried he refused to talk to me.)

614-644-0729


Good Luck!

Great Job with all you've done John, but think it's now a losing battle!

[John7878]

Great Job with all you've done John, but think it's now a losing battle!

No thats what Stark County is wanting everyone to think, that its all done and time for everyone to go home, and leave them alone.

And I will....just as soon as this BS is stopped.

This isn't just about Steffey, or the five other women & the teen girls....this is about ALL of us.

This treatment of people is UNACCEPTABLE! UNACCEPTABLE!
Even for the criminals, let alone the victims.
Stark County has to be shown its UNACCEPTABLE.
And this has to be stopped now.
For good.

BTW Got another form letter from the FBI yesterday.....Grrrrr

[John7878]

UPDATE:


WOW, talked to the Stark County Prosecutor's office, twice.

I had left a message for John Ferrero to return, but I got someone from their criminal division.
They claimed to know nothing, and referred me to the State Investigators.
I said if you people asked for the investigation, why would you know nothing about it? Didn't they send you a report?

She claimed no report was sent, until I told her that I had already talked to Paul Scarsella, and had already seen the report that they sent.
THEN she said they did receive a letter. But that the investigation was handled by the state and if I wanted info I should contact them.

So then I asked about the settlement, she claimed she was in the criminal division and didn't know anything about the settlement.
So I asked if there was ANYONE there that would know. She said someone from the civil division should know, and asked if I wanted to talk to them. So she passed my name & number to them.

So this guy from the civil division then claims they know nothing about the settlement, that it was done through the insurance company.

So I ask about the 'policy change' that was part of the lawsuit.

He said that had not been changed, and that they will continue to "save people's lives".
I said they didn't save her life, the sheriff's manufactured evidence wouldn't fool anyone with half a brain. She was being sarcastic, NOT suicidal.

So I asked who WOULD know the settlement. His suggestion was to call Steffey.
I said you have a case that went national, and NO ONE there knows anything??
So I asked for the insurance company, just to see if he'd offer it up.

He did. But theres more than a good chance theres going to be a brick wall there too.

AMAZING that NO ONE at the Prosecutors office knows anything about a case that went national & that they asked the state to come into investigate!!

And a call to the County commissioners gets no one except a referral to call the Sheriff's Dept.....I think I'm seeing a pattern here....Grrrrr

[Terry99]

I called the Federal District Court in Cleveland (216-357-7000) and was told that the case has been resolved. The only matter that still has to be decided by the court is the amount of the fees to be paid to Hope Steffey's attorneys. The clerk said the agreement was between the parties and since it did not go to trial she did not have any information as to the terms of the settlement.

[John7878]

so, is the case settled or not?

I called the Federal District Court in Cleveland (216-357-7000) and was told that the case has been resolved. The only matter that still has to be decided by the court is the amount of the fees to be paid to Hope Steffey's attorneys. The clerk said the agreement was between the parties and since it did not go to trial she did not have any information as to the terms of the settlement.

Thanks for the info Terry...glad to see someone else is still plugging away at this besides me... LoL

Just got off the phone with Vivianne Duffrin, still trying to get the nurse interview and the rest of the information I have been asking for.

[John7878]

It would seem, especially that it's a state agency, that the details would be available.

Oh Vivianne Duffrin knew the details, she just wouldn't say what the settlement was, since in her definition the case wasn't over yet, because the lawyers were still settling for fees.

She keeps dragging this out and then wonders why people don't trust them?!?!

I did ask if the policy change had been part of the settlement and she DID confirm that there was NO policy change.

We then got into Steffey's nurse interview that I had asked for and never received. She claimed that Steffey said she was suicidal, and I said "NO, she was being sarcastic, NOT suicidal".
Then she says but she DID say that. And I replied, "yeah, but in a sarcastic tone, you people don't know the difference?"

She just stayed with "what was said", even though you can hear the tape and KNOW she was being sarcastic, but she never denied that she was sarcastic & not suicidal.

So she keeps claiming that they were in the right, while squirming to avoid direct answers.

She also claimed that Steffey had fought with police before. Under a different last name from her first husband.
I haven't had the chance to check this out yet, but what I HAVE checked out shows her divorce, it was in 1987.
So it was at LEAST before she was 22 yrs old.

Gezzz so Vivianne is trying to argue that this is more relevant than her niece getting arrested a MONTH before on domestic battery?!?!

Give me a break....:cursing:

[Terry99]

I can't stand these people. All that matters is what Hope Steffey did and said at the time of her arrest. She wasn't accused of violence against the arresting officer. Basically, he said he told her to shut up and she kept interrupting him so he took her to jail. The resisting arrest charge came from the fact that when she was told to put her hands behind her back, she tried to slip around him. At the jail, they said she was resisting because when they were walking, she sometimes slowed down or stopped. All of the violence came from them, not her. This Duffrin person is dragging up things they didn't even know at the time of she was taken to jail. They hadn't completed their investigation so they weren't even aware of what transpired between her and her niece on that night. There was no justification for the level of force used by jail staff. Their arrogance is beyond belief.

[John7878]

She also claimed that Steffey had fought with police before. Under a different last name from her first husband.
I haven't had the chance to check this out yet, but what I HAVE checked out shows her divorce, it was in 1987.
So it was at LEAST before she was 22 yrs old.


Oh may as well post the PROOF, so everyone can check it out for themselves.

Heres the records search, just choose to search ALL the courts & ALL the records:

https://www.starkcountycjis.org/cjis2/docket/main.html

Then search for Hope Barbera, you should get this:

D87-1957

HOPE BARBERA AND GREGORY BARBERA
Type Of Action : DISSOLUTION - WITH CHILDREN
Judge : No judge entered
Case Status : open
Filed On: 11/01/1987

There are NO other cases listed against Hope under that name.

SURPRISE huh? Another lie from Stark County???

[John7878]

http://www.cantonrep.com/communities/canton/x1972887065/Attorneys-for-woman-in-strip-search-case-seek-624-000

Attorneys for woman in strip-search case seek $624,000

I notice that the commenting interface is off on this story.

Way to go CantonRep protect the criminals yet again.....:cursing:


.

[John7878]

I can't stand these people. The resisting arrest charge came from the fact that when she was told to put her hands behind her back, she tried to slip around him.

I believe the resisting description is the cops version, but since that video is "missing" too, after dealing with these people I'd need proof.

CONTACT on FaceBook

Ohioans Enraged by the Hope Steffey Police Brutality

http://www.facebook.com/home.php?ref=home#/group.php?gid=81791597489

[John7878]

Ok I called the CantonRep last week and jumped them about running a story that left out stuff and printed stuff that they knew was not true.
The editor I got a hold of said that it was a 'fair & bablanced' piece, but when I pointed out lies, he told me to get a hold of the author.

He also said that they would be willing to print a rebuttal from me. I sent it in on Nov 4th, nothing so far.

Heres what I sent them:

This letter is in response to the latest Hope Steffey story “Attorneys for woman in strip-search case seek $624,000”, dated Nov 02,2009.
First I’d like to point out that the comments are always off on these stories, and that it seems as if the media is protecting Sheriff Swanson.
And I’d like to point out some facts & opinion that just never came out in this, or ANY news sources.
I have been sending out FOIA requests, that the sheriff’s dept has been dragging their feet on, but I have still managed to get a large portion of the evidence from the state.
I was always puzzled by all the news sources saying that there was "confusion" when the cops arrived.

I'm thinking what "confusion"? All the evidence I have contradicts that.
They have everyone there saying that Steffey was the victim; even the cousin is saying it on video. Plus the brother of the attacker calls the cops on his own sister.
Heck even in the court transcripts, the cop testifies under oath that he went to his car to document Steffey's injuries. His testimony seems to point out that he knew who the victim was.
And the cops are on tape talking about Steffey's niece getting arrested the month before for another assault charge, and Gurlea testifies that he has everyone looking for Steffey’s missing hair.
Plus Gurlea is on the arrest tape talking to Steffey as if he knows she is the victim, telling her that even though he is arresting her for disorderly & resisting, he will still investigate the assault she had reported.
So WHY are the papers saying there was "confusion"!?!?
It doesn’t make sense.

Well first of all Gurlea testified at court that he did not finish the assault investigation as he had told Steffey he would on the arrest video. His excuse was that Steffey was in no shape to help with the investigation.
Would that mean that every victim that is knocked unconscious or killed will never have a chance to have their case solved?
Plus it leaves out the fact that Steffey went back to the station 4 days later to file complaints. So she was still in no shape to help with the investigation?
This also seems on the surface to make no sense.

But then I found out that the police did go as far as to take TWO written witness statements, and they were from Steffey's alleged attacker & her brother... (Who she no doubt threatened into it, since she didn't know at that time he was the one who called the cops)...and the woman that she thought had called the police did testify at court that she had threatened her.
But why just two statements?
Testimony at the trial said there were several people present. Why not get statements from everyone there that was a witness?
Again, these police actions seem to make no sense.

So we have the arresting cop, Richard T. Gurlea Jr., testifying at Steffey's trial that the 'investigation' into the assault was never finished.

REALLY?!!? Then how do they explain the assault charges against Steffey in the incident report they filled out?
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y39/Zemo999/Incident-Report-Assault.jpg

Yes, that’s right, no news source ever reported that Steffey was listed in the incident report as being arrested for the assault that she had reported!!

NOW if you go back and look at their actions that “made no sense”, suddenly this last piece of the puzzle seems to put it all together.
It would seem to indicate that the cops were slanting the evidence to try to frame Steffey for the assault that she had reported!

They of course never tried to charge her with the crime, because even with slanting the investigation by taking only witness statements from her alleged attacker they probably knew they’d never get a conviction on that charge.

Another thing no news source ever reported was that Steffey was NEVER given a chance to remove her own clothes, even though this was made very clear in the BCI’s own report. But news sources always reported that Swanson had said that she had been given a chance, even after they knew this was not true.

Also never reported in any news sources is the fact that after they had stripped Steffey and videoed the cell being locked, it was IMMEDIATELY opened again, and some entered her cell without video taping evidence.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YgmyQvB3XSQ

There is also a lot of video posted on YouTube. All the videos seem to disprove the officer’s claims that she was physically abusive. But people can see for themselves.
Here’s the first in a series. This video shows Steffey when she first arrives at the station:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zEhyDgQojKs

These aren’t the only lies I have caught the Stark County Sheriff’s Dept in, or omissions I have caught the news in, but for that I’d need to write a book instead of a rebuttal.