Car-in Fever

Cold News

Unhealthy situation? Friends question jailed man’s death
by Lisa Provence
published 5:15pm Wednesday Jan 19, 2011

Jimmy Gunn was in poor health and concerned about his upcoming 30-day jail sentence for dealing pot, say friends. Perhaps he had a premonition: Nine days after entering the Albemarle Charlottesville Regional Jail, he was dead.
[...]
After he sold marijuana to an undercover officer, the Jefferson Area Drug Enforcement Task Force raided his house and found approximately four pounds of pot in dozens of plastic baggies, according to an inventory that went to a forensic lab. An old shotgun added a felony possession of a firearm charge.

(More)

Don’t You Just Love The Double Standard?

Jefferson Area Drug Enforcement Task Force Press Release

On 1/18/2011 at 9:30 pm members of the Jefferson Area Drug Enforcement Task Force and members of the Albemarle County Police Department executed a search warrant at 4680 Fair Hill Lane in the west side of Albemarle County.

Narcotic Detectives seized over a ½ kilo of cocaine and $1,560.00 U.S. Currency. Roderick Lee Johnson B/M DOB 6/14/1954 of 4680 Fair Hill Lane was arrested for possession of cocaine with intent to distribute. The street value of the cocaine is estimated at $50,000.00.

This is an ongoing investigation with additional charges and arrest pending. No further information regarding this case will be released at this time.

Sergeant John Baber
Jade Task Force

Eric Kudro Is No Longer One Of My Favorite Albemarle County Police Department Officers.

Because Eric Kudro is no longer an Albemarle County Police Department officer.

He and another ACPD policeman, David Moody, simultaneously recently up and resigned from the force.

Rumors -- from the perfectly plausible to the plainly preposterous -- about their emergent departure are rampant, and with everybody participating in the gossip, it’s doubtful anybody is ever going to get to the whole truth. Near as I’ve gathered, it’s just another squalid mess in which the innocent are mostly the only affected.

Whatever the deal, due to this latest stunt of his, I’ve lost a significant piece of site-filler. It’s totally the equivalent of having an awesome character on a favorite teevee show killed off. Thus…

Dear former Officer Kudro,

Please join the Virginia State Police.

That is all.

ATF Ford Fusion JYZ-1969

DEA: Meth Production Increasing In Virginia

January 2011

Government figures show methamphetamines production is rebounding in Virginia.

The Virginian-Pilot reported Monday that the Drug Enforcement Administration's latest numbers show authorities found 28 meth labs in Virginia in 2009. The number of labs had declined from a peak of 79 in 2004 through 2008.

The DEA attributes the increase to higher production by Mexican drug cartels and dealers figuring out how to get around restrictions on pseudoephedrine sales. The over-the-counter medicine is a key ingredient in meth and requires identification to buy in limited quantities.

The DEA says meth producers now pay people to buy pseudoephedrine for them.

(Source)

Hmm... I wonder... did the Drug Enforcement Administration include this stupendously astute JADE Task Force “Meth lab” bust in the alleged 28 found?

There Is No Such Thing As A “Restraining Order”

Today was my scheduled hearing for the Order of Protection that Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives Agent John A. Stoltz requested the court grant him.

Back in August 2010, prior to my arrest at his behest, Mr. Stoltz had gone and gotten an Emergency Protective Order (EPO) against me.

Lemme explain the deal with these gooftard EPO thingies. Essentially anyone can get an EPO against anyone -- without notice to the other party. Pretty much all the alleged “victim” has to do is tell a compelling story to a magistrate. The tale doesn’t really have to be true, merely believable enough to get the chosen authority to sign off on the object. It’s not uncommon for vindictive people to venally embellish or out-and-out lie to get an EPO and considering the magistrate never needs evidence or to verify anything spoken or shown to him, there’s nothing to induce honesty or reasonableness in the procedure.

Case in point: according to records, Mr. Stoltz misquoted, in writing, things I published on I HeArTE JADE. It had to be deliberate; it’s not as if my words aren’t preserved here to be quoted verbatim. Hell, he could’ve carried in a printout if it was too much trouble for him to ink the exact comments down on paper by hand! Ya gotta figure if I’m as bad as he tried making me out to be, he wouldn’t have had to make stuff up. Plus, the magistrate could’ve adequately read my site to, at minimum, have some context, yet he did not. Shame on both of them.

Honestly, take yourself a close, serious, look at it and it’s not hard to understand how and why this what-otherwise-could-be-beneficial legal procedure is often abused.

Oh, did I mention an EPO is valid for only 72 hours? That’s right. Apparently it can’t go on, like, endlessly. Because somewhere along the line the person whom the EPO is not in favor of, gee, has to be afforded the opportunity to defend himself or herself in front of a judge. Isn’t that swell?

In my case, by the time The Game actually got around to slinging silver bracelets on me, the Emergency Protective Order Mr. Stoltz was granted had already expired without ever being served on me! Then due to the arrest, the conditions of my bail/bond, in addition to the interminable courtroom drama, basically I was subjected, with no objection from me, to an ongoing temporary Protective Order. Once my trial was over -- aw yeah -- a date was selected for my entitled full hearing on the issue.

Lemme explain the deal with these Order of Protection thingies. They can last for up to 2 years. They can contain any conditions and restrictions, imposed all at the discretion of a judge. Chilling. Yeah, that about covers it.

So. I arrived at the Greene County Courthouse at precisely 9:12AM.

The estimable Mr. Stoltz didn’t. even. bother. to. show. up.

I’d like to believe that after Agent Stoltz revealed himself as a fool, and a manipulative yellow-bellied government hire, during the past trial, and worried I would, in front of the, yes, same judge as always, debunk his antecedent prevarications to the magistrate, he was too embarrassed and conscience-afflicted to be present. Probably, though, the real reason is that he was just plain too dang lazy to come.

Regardless, guess this matter wasn’t as grave or important to him as he’d implied.

Well. The only thing the judge needed to do was release me from the binds of the temporary Order of Protection, which he did.

Wondering where this leaves me in the grand scheme of things relating to the spectacular ATF Agent Mr. John Stoltz? Right back where I started, I suppose. Free to ridicule him as I see fit. And post concomitant images. I’m free to do that again, too.

The Only Thing A Cop Looks Better In Than A Suit Is SKIN!

Confidential Informant Conveyor

Correction

So. When he told me the Judge is a former Virginia cop, I thought he meant, you know, “former Virginia State Policeman.” Not “former policeman in the State of Virginia.” Meh. Even though there is a factual difference, a‘least my brain blunder doesn’t negate my overall theory. Nope, the Judge himself ruined that one for me.

Merry Chri... Happy New Ye... Uhm, Great Sunday?

In December I’d expected to hit 500 entries before the end of 2010

But...

Plus I was going to let one of my favorite Albemarle County Police Officers, Eric Kudro, wish all my readers a Merry Christmas



But…

Then I had a pile of photographs, that ever-so-neatly avoided violating the conditions, prepared to accompany a prospective mainstream news story about a bust by Jefferson Area Drug Enforcement (JADE) Task Force

But…

And naturally I planned on posting a facetious snippet, or picture to kick off the new year

But…

The past couple of weeks I’ve been up to my cortex in a confection of necessary business, amazing friends, sexy men, and plenty of a fabulous concoction of Beer, Limes, and Tequila -- mostly set to Drop It Low and parallel lyrical euphonies at an insane eardrum-throbbing volume. What else can I say

But…

Here’s to a wonderful 2011!

Infinitesimal Reflections AKA Evidence Locker #3

(Left: ATF Agent Michael Moore
Center: CPD Detective Todd Lucas
Right: ATF Agent Dave Stone)

From my last court experience, I learned:

• The fantastic fanatic ATFer David Stone is purportedly in the Richmond VA area, not Washington DC as I’d been led to believe. Kinda cool since I don’t make many trips to DC, whereas I do venture over the Richmond way quite a bit these days. Now, let’s see, where, oh where, is that Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives office located again?
• Charlottesville Detective (and have I ever mentioned gang aficionado?) Todd Lucas is not merely good-natured, he’s borderline comedian.
• Scott Cox looks better in a Greene County Sheriff’s Office uniform than he did in an Albemarle County Police Department uniform. But he’s decidedly yummiest in Tac garb.
• Whom. Eons back, VSP Bureau of Criminal Investigations’ Special Agent Jason Trent blurted out to me that I’d published photographs of a car belonging to a Jefferson Area Drug Enforcement Task Force Confidential Informant. ‘Twas news to me. So, for the purpose of removing said images from I HeArTE JADE, I begged him to tell me which; he, being LEO-typical contrite to helpfulness, refused. Here it is, like, hello, over a year later, and thanks to Greene County Commonwealth Attorney Ron Morris and ATF Agent John Stoltz inadvertent rendering, I have the information! Only… I don’t want to delete pictures of the vehicle at this point because:

They’ve already been on the site for, like, hello, over a year.


They’re in a hilarious post, stemming from a hilarious event.


The victim of the CI is wise to who snitched him out anyway.


I don’t want to draw any more attention to them than, well, than I just did.

Speaking of crazy admissions by the CA and Mr. Stoltz, I was shocked to hear them acknowledge jastoltz is in fact the computer login user ID of the latter. I mean, sure, obviously I knew it was, but I didn’t think they would want anyone else to know I knew. And I almost laughed out loud when Mr. Morris woefully confessed to the courtroom they’re aware I have sources but were unable to unearth them. Yes, yes, yes! I protect my CIs better than policemen do theirs! Nah ner nah ner nah ner.

• Officers do a very good job of weaseling out of answering questions they don’t want to.
• Officers don’t do a very good job of appearing as if they aren’t trying to weasel out of answering questions they don’t want to.
• If I had a penny for every time one of the local rank and file cops as well as Federal Agents name-dropped C-ville’s Chief of Police, Tim Longo, I’d be able to pay off all my court costs.
• When I grow up I reallyreallyreally really want to be a Computer Forensic Expert. Or maybe a Fairy Princess.
• There are both advantages and disadvantages to not setting the time and date correctly on one’s camera.
• My court-appointed lawyer was the uber-awesomest.
• Finally, I learned that a Judge -- even one who’s a former State Trooper -- will not always side with members of Law Enforcement. ‘Specially if doing so puts him at risk of seeming plumb brainsick.

ROFL

Three complimentary-use items found in the men’s bathroom at the Virginia State Police Academy -- as photographed by a VSP acquaintance of mine:

1. POWERSTICK Deodorant

2. Bottle of “MACHO”

3. PETROLEUM JELLY



There’s gotta be a joke there somewhere...

Left, Left, Left Right Left

Virginia State Police Understaffed

Virginia State Police are heading into the holiday season with staffing levels some say are the worst in decades.

On January 1, Virginia State Police will be down 249 sworn officers. The money is there to pay their salaries, but $52 million in budget cuts since 2006 have held up schools to produce new troopers.

On Friday Governor Bob McDonnell asked legislators for funding for three new trooper schools over the next two years to replenish the agency's thinning ranks. The General Assembly convenes Jan. 12.

Because of the staffing levels, many jurisdictions have no troopers on duty overnight. Many others cover wide areas with limited or no backup.

State Police Superintendent Colonel Steven Flaherty said the staffing levels are putting troopers' lives at risk.

(Source)

Welcome The Newest Member Of...

The JADE Task Force Command Group!

Albemarle County Press Release:

Albemarle County is pleased to announce the hiring of Steve Sellers as its new Police Chief effective Tuesday, January 18th. Sellers is a 28 year veteran of the Fairfax County Police Department and most recently held the position of Deputy Chief of Police for Fairfax police.

"We are very happy to bring someone of Steve Sellers' caliber to Albemarle County to serve as our next police chief," said County Executive Bob Tucker in making the announcement. "His experience, expertise and proven leadership will certainly continue the outstanding accomplishments and innovative direction of the County's Police Department."

Among the many highlights of his career in Fairfax, Sellers was responsible for developing a plan to improve criminal intelligence and information sharing between local, state and federal law enforcement and helped to create the Northern Virginia Regional Intelligence Center following the events of September 11, 2001. He also led the Washington Area Sniper Prosecution Taskforce which was responsible for the successful prosecution of Lee Malvo and John Mohammed. In cooperation with his counterpart in Prince William County, Seller's role was to lead the 26 member team responsible for the investigation and prosecution of the Washington area snipers.

From 2004 to 2009, Sellers provided key leadership for a project team responsible for the design, development and implementation of a significant public safety IT system. In addition to this multi-million IT project, Sellers provided leadership for a multi-million project for the construction and design of a regional McConnell Public Safety Transportation Operations Center in Fairfax, VA.

"I am privileged and honored to be afforded with the opportunity to become a member of the County's leadership team, serving as the Chief of Police for Albemarle County," said Sellers in accepting the appointment. "I am thankful to the Board of Supervisors for allowing me the privilege of leading a progressive police agency with outstanding officers and civilian employees and I look forward to serving the citizens of Albemarle County in fighting crime and making our highways safer through collaboration and engagement. As Chief of Police it is my intention to be highly visible, accessible and community oriented and I look forward to building strong working relationships with our citizens, county staff, Board of Supervisors and community leaders as well as each member of the Police Department."

Sellers' family includes his wife Jennifer, twin daughters Jaimie & Justine and stepson Jon.

Sellers holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Business Administration and a Masters Degree in Public Administration from Virginia Tech. Additionally he is a graduate from the FBI National Academy and is a graduate and alumni of Leadership Fairfax. He is a member of the International Association of Chiefs of Police, FBI National Academy Associates, Virginia Association of Chief's of Police and the Major Cities Chiefs Association.

9 Months Later, A Sentencing Is Born

December 2010

Woman gets time for cocaine charges

A Charlottesville woman whose family home was a center of drug activity has been sentenced to incarceration.

Judge Edward L. Hogshire sentenced Keisa Annette Bell on Friday in Charlottesville Circuit Court to 20 years in prison with all but 18 months suspended. Bell, 34, pleaded guilty in August to two counts of possession of cocaine with the intent to distribute.

Authorities have said the Jefferson Area Drug Enforcement task force targeted Bell’s home after neighbors complained about traffic at the house. Bell’s charges related to a Feb. 24 cocaine sale to a police informant and her presence during a drug interaction by her boyfriend, Leandra Isiah Henderson.

Bell testified Friday that she has been involved in the Albemarle-Charlottesville Regional Jail’s Therapeutic Community. The mother of three said she understands why her neighbors were upset over the drug sales in their Rose Hill neighborhood and wouldn’t want her children living in or near a drug den.

Bell also must spend three years in supervised probation, be on good behavior for 20 years and pay $200 restitution to the task force.

Henderson, 21, faces up to 80 years in prison when he is sentenced Jan. 10 after previously pleading guilty to drug possession charges.

(Source)

I Just Noticed...

In the picture from my previous entry, CPD Detective Todd Lucas was captured in the reflection by his buddy Det. Rudman:

Image Courtesy Of Nicholas Rudman

The above photograph was taken on my camera by City of Charlottesville Detective Nick Rudman when he “accidentally” -- “accidentally” according to his and his fellow Detective Todd Lucas’ sworn testimony -- rifled through the device the day it was seized. ‘Twas snapped 17 minutes and 16 seconds after the last image I captured, to be precise.

What disturbs me most about this is that apparently Mr. Rudman’s unintentional pictures turn out better than my intentional ones.

Trooperman

The Verdict Is In

NOT GUILTY.

So there!

OMG An Update!

So tomorrow is my “trial.” Yes, I know, y’all’ve heard that before -- regarding the same stinkin’ case, no less.

My family, friends, and attorney believe I’m going to be found innocent of the allegation since nothing I’ve done actually meets the criteria of the charge. They apparently still have faith in the system and are optimistically overlooking who my judge is, or, more aptly, what he was.

I am not so naïve. My honest expectation of this farce is that after the several anserine ATFers, Detectives, and Investigator, all give their synthetic spiels on how they feel I am homicidal evil epitomized, then I testify before a suddenly predominantly deaf audience that ridiculing the ridiculous is perfectly legal, the outcome will be a guilty verdict. Upon which I shall immediately appeal.

Considering there are no unbearable bail bond impositions on me this time around -- not contacting a guy I was already not contacting is pretty easy to do -- I intend to fight this one all the way up the judicial ladder. I certainly don’t mind countless Law Enforcement members being endlessly dragged into numerous courts in front of judge after judge after judge over a misdemeanor. Hell, I might even get to see every suit and tie each of the officers own by the time this is completely over. Woohoo! ‘Cause nothin’ says “sexy” quite like a policeman in dress clothes! ‘Cept maybe for an Armani-scented Bouncer in the Star City of the South. And that should clue ya in on what I’ve been doin’ lately.

À Bientôt!

Nic Nick Nicky Nicholas Rudman

Yes I know I already had an entry with this title, but it seemed to be missing... something. Something important to I HeArTE JADE. Something like...

An address?

No, that’s not it.

Phone number?

Nope, not that either.

Hmm...

Aha, I’ve got it!

Pictures.

Of Mr. Charlottesville Police Department Detective Nicholas Rudman:




He’s cuter in person.

Sorta.

Nic Nick Nicky Nicholas Rudman

Here ya go, sweetheart, since I caught you looking, I’ve made it nice and easy for you to track yourself on this site; oh, and I included your name here, too, for others who seek you out as well -- ‘cause I’m all courteous like that. I also added Greene County Sheriff’s Office Investigator Rodney Snead to my Entry Labels list. Can’t have him feeling left out or anything.

Speaking of searches, recently a mass amount of New Yorkers have landed here due to their Craig Sorokti queries. In fact, according to last month’s keyword activity, Officer Sorokti actually exceeded superterrif ACPD honey Eric Kudro in hits. I never thought I’d see the moment anyone would surpass him!

Lessee… Incomers for Marc Brake (under several variations), the usual iheartejades and i hearte jades, someone wanting Michael Hogberg’s court date, plus a Sirchie.

And one CESAR RUIZ AYALA NUPCIAS TUXTLA GUTIERREZ. Yeah, no, I haven’t the muzziest what that’s about either.

How Many Times CAN One Put Re- In Front Of Arrested?

Generally I categorize this site as humorous or entertaining. When things aren’t funny or fun to me, it makes it rough to update. I enjoy mocking the ridiculousness of various Law Enforcement members, along with the habitually-ludicrous frequently-oppressive judicial system, and often I forget how very real the absurdity and onerousness is; on rare occasions when I get a heavy enough dose of its reality, it truly makes me sad. Too sad to write, let alone write well.

This past Wednesday, October 27, 2010, was my trial in Greene County. Only there was no trial. Because the Commonwealth Attorney decided not to prosecute me. Instead he had me re-arrested. In court. For the same charge. Not for any new activity. No kidding.

In order to pull a nolle prosequi, the prosecutor has to show “just cause.” In this instance, CA Mr. Morris basically said “Well, gee, Your Honor, we think we may have found a better way to get her.” Which, people, is not “just cause.” But the former-State-Trooper judge I coincidentally keep getting shoved in front of was all like “Anything you want Mr. Morris. Slurp, slurp.”

So. The only thing that has changed is rather than the opposition being confined to substantiating the allegation within the scope of August 24, 2009 - August 24, 2010, the range goes from August 30, 2009 - August 30, 2010 -- the date they clicked the cuffs on me the first time ‘round for this. No new activity.

Oh. And I now have two arrests on my record for the same effin thing, involving the same effin people, and the same effin “evidence.” There is that.

Legal manipulation at its finest.

Kinda like ending up with Obstruction of Justice convictions in two different places for the same incident -- one in the City of Charlottesville, the other in Albemarle County.

Good thing I like balance… symmetry… stuff in pairs… all that. Yeah.

Ahem. To continue. I have a new trial date. In December.

Details from Wednesday:

• 32 degrees is not a comfortable temperature for a government building.
• It didn’t take as many hours to get to the point as it did the time before, but it might as well have.
• I was once more offered this joke of a “deal.” Naturally it wasn’t until I once more refused it that I was arrested and re-charged.
• ATFers David Stone and Michael Moore were present. Nice of them to come all the way from Washington to not testify in a planned-non-occurring trial. They will again be traveling all the way from Washington in December. Have I mentioned this is a misdemeanor case?
• I dredged my brain but couldn’t for the life of me recall Mr. Stone’s name; I had to look it up when I got home.
• Additional officers present included Charlottesville Detective Todd Lucas, Greene County Investigator Rodney Snead, and The Complainant. I didn’t see CPD Detective Nicholas Rudman, though that doesn’t mean he wasn’t there. Have I mentioned this is a misdemeanor case?
• Not a shocker, Mr. Stone self-segregated in the special room with the other shield-swinging snoots. In remarkable contrast, Mr. Moore actually sat on a bench in the courtroom with all us riffraff. I think he just likes to show off his super-sparkly shoes. But it was cool to see him in there regardless.
  
• I am out on a $2500.00 (personal recognizance) bond. I don’t even remember if that’s the same amount as it was before or if it’s the sole different thing to break up the monotony.