|
Published: April 11, 2008 11:27 pm
COPS NOTEBOOK: Arrest or sale?
Cops Notebook
By Rick Pfeiffer E-mail Rick
Niagara Gazette
In his second trip to the witness stand on Friday, retired City of Tonawanda police captain and Narcotics Detective David Bentley admitted that some of the conversations he had with accused killed Richard Matt, from a Matamoros, Mexico, jail truly bordered on the bizarre.
Take, for example, the last call. The first three calls to Bentley had come in typical jailhouse fashion, collect.
The fourth and final call came from a cell phone.
“I’m not exactly sure how he got a cell phone (in a Mexican jail),” Bentley admitted.
But the story gets even better after that.
“(Matt) told me there were drugs and prostitutes there (at the jail),” Bentley said. “He told me he could hook me up with a pound of cocaine the next day.”
Turning to the clearly confused jurors, Bentley added, “It was unclear to me whether it was for me to make an arrest or sell.”
The cocaine stash
The game of cat and mouse that gets played between drug dealers and drug agents can be fascinating to watch.
As agents from the Niagara County Drug Task Force and the DEA searched her home two weeks ago, Mindy Donovan, a former Lockport resident identified as the organizer of a large-scale cocaine distribution network was being anything but cooperative.
The agents had found a couple of “8 Balls” and a few hundred dollars, but they knew she had a bigger stash hidden somewhere. They bantered with her about her break-up with her boyfriend, which of her girlfriends was the best pool player and even her canceled plans for a May trip to Florida.
“Good thing you canceled that timeshare for May huh,” said an agent as he walked by the handcuffed woman. “You might have trouble making that date now.”
As the search continued, agents asked for permission to search her SUV, parked in the driveway of her home, but Donovan refused.
“Come on help us out,” the agents said. “You know we’re gonna get in there (with a search warrant) later. Let us do it now.”
Donovan just shook her head no.
Then came a yell from the kitchen, “I found it.”
Agent Randy Fry stepped into the room where Donovan was cuffed and dumped, from her purse, a quarter pound of cocaine and $7,000 to $8,000 cash on a table. At the same time, another agent gamely asked, “Come on, let us search the car.”
“OK,” Donovan replied.
“Huh?” replied the agent. “Now you’ll let us search it?”
“I thought my purse was in the car,” Donovan explained.
Sympathies for Shanko
It was more than a little sadness that I learned that Falls police K-9 Shanko passed away on Wednesday night.
Shanko was 14 years old and had completed his career as a police dog some years ago. That didn’t mean he was ready to stop “working.”
Shanko and his partner, Juvenile Squad Detective Shawn Larrabee, made quite a team right the end. He worked his last job last weekend providing overnight security at a coin show.
It’s sad to see him pass. Here’s hoping there was an endless supply of doggie treats and a great chew toy waiting for him at the pearly gates.
|
|
|
Photos
|
|
|
|
|
 |
Customer Service
Niagara Orleans Country Club is looking for part time help through October in club house. Some weekends required. Apply ...>MORE
Housekeeping Aide
Housekeeping Aide. Day shift. Must be able to work a flexible schedule to include some week-ends and holidays. Dependabl...>MORE
Medical Office Assistant
MED. OFFICE ASST, PT, exp pref but not necessary, Med-Dent know- ledge helpful. Email resume to: mary paones sa@yahoo.c...>MORE
Cleaners
Housekeeping, Summer/ permanent help, p/t-4 day work wk, no w/e, bonuses, car nec. 694-2810 ...>MORE
Packagers
Packagers , General Production & Assembly. 1st shift. Sanborn area. Remedy, 298-4933...>MORE
Truck Driver
TRUCK DRIVER: Local /OTR 200 mile radius. Must have dump trailer experience. 867-4663...>MORE
Spanish Teacher
SPANISH Teacher-F/T, Exp., NYS Cert. Send resume to khalgash@ wny.twcbc.com or St. Peter RC School 140 N. 6th St., Lewis...>MORE
Cooks
COOKS, Servers, part time. Apply within Joe’s Hideaway, 2230 Cayuga Dr. Ext., Whtfld 990-1261...>MORE
Store Manager
STORE MANAGER - Looking for individual with strong leadership and customer service skills to run convenience store in Lo...>MORE
Service Greeter
Service greeter wanted, part time temp assignment for 4-8 wks. Mon. Tues. Thurs. 5-9, Sat. 9-5. Apply with in David Ch...>MORE
See all ads |
FORD 1999 150
FORD 1999 150 pickup, good cond., tool box, bedliner, standard, $2500 or BO. 523-3653...>MORE
RNs
SCHOELLKOPF HEALTH CENTER
C.O.T.A.- Short Term Rehab Clinic
Opportunity to work in dynamic ...>MORE
1997 Ford Taurus GL
FORD 1997 Taurus GL, good condition, cold A/C, cruise, 1 owner, white. $1995 or BO. 990-6187....>MORE
Ford 1993 Taurus
FORD 1993 Taurus, just inspected, runs good $900 or best offer, 284-0244...>MORE
Olds 2001 Intrigue
Olds 2001 Intrigue, 130k runs great, leather, sun roof clean inside/out. $3000or BO. 628-6295...>MORE
1990 Chevy 2500
1990 CHEVY 2500 pick up, fresh paint, 160k mi, good runner, 4WD, ext cab, $2500, 716-572-9153...>MORE
2000 Chevy S-10
CHEVY 2000 S-10 pick up, 2.2L, 5 spd, ext cab, EC in & out, CD, cold AC, great gas mi. $2750. 523-7102...>MORE
Dodge 2001 SLT
‘O1 DODGE SLT, 8’ bed, cap, spray line, low miles. Never seen winters, $7,300. 998-0230...>MORE
1994 Pontiac Sunbird
PONTIAC 1994 Sunbird conv. V6, EC in & out, red w/blk top, wht int., CD, real sharp. $2850. 523-7102...>MORE
Ford Escape XLT 2001
FORD ESCAPE XLT 2001, remote start, new catalytic converter, 116K, $3800 or best offer. 480-3031...>MORE
See all ads |
|
 |
|