Washingtonville chief defends July 4th arrests
By LEONARD GLENN CRISTWASHINGTONVILLE - What started as a minor altercation between a business owner and a police officer during the Fourth of July weekend escalated into threats, resisting arrest and assault on a police officer, said Washingtonville Police Chief Frank Anderson.
But answering allegations of police misconduct and selective enforcement made by former mayor Charles R. Morrow at a village council meeting earlier this month, Anderson said his officers did everything by the book.
In the early morning hours of July 4, police arrested the former mayor's son, Charles Allen Morrow, and the son's live-in girlfriend, Sherry Weyandt, charging each with a number of misdemeanors. Charles Allen Morrow, 52, of 160 School Street, owns a television repair shop in the village, as well as a number of rental properties. It was Morrow's third significant brush with the law in the last several months.
On June 25, Morrow was cited with three counts of walking a dog without a leash and one count of disorderly conduct. According to a police report, Morrow uttered vulgar language with children nearby while Patrolman Charles Fusco issued the dog leash citations, which led to the disorderly conduct citation.
Morrow's father termed the citations "selective enforcement."
Anderson admits Morrow's was the first citation given this year by village police for walking a dog without a leash. But, he said village council had asked for increased enforcement of the leash law and Morrow's was the first violation actually witnessed by police. Earlier that week, police had taken a report of a dog attacking a resident, Fusco said.
On April 24, Morrow was charged with three felonies after allegedly interfering with a traffic stop in front of his home. According to his affidavit, Fusco twice told Morrow to step away from the stopped vehicle, but Morrow continued to interfere by using profanity and inciting the driver to not obey police requests. When Morrow was told he was under arrest, he fled to a rear door in his residence and released two German Shepard dogs and then struck the officer while resisting arrest, according to the affidavit.
Morrow had faced three felony charges - escape, assault on a peace officer, and obstruction of official business - but on June 11, a grand jury declined to indict Morrow.
Charles R. Morrow has alleged his son is being targeted by Fusco, an allegation Fusco considers absurd.
"I don't know the man outside of the village," Fusco said.
Anderson said he has never had any problems with Fusco. Fusco's personnel files at both the Washingtonville Police Department and the New Waterford Police Department, where he also works, show no prior disciplinary action taken or complaints filed against Fusco. His file did have a commendation from former Washingtonville Police Chief James M. Craven thanking him for his "support and excellent service."
The July 4 incident, however, did not involve Fusco. Washingtonville patrolmen Ken Faust and Justin Beveridge and Leetonia Patrolman Curtis Wetzel handled the arrests that morning, with Anderson, who is also a deputy clerk, on hand at the police station to sign the arrest warrants.
According to Washingtonville police reports, the events unfolded as follows:
At 7:25 p.m. July 3, Faust was at the police station, taking a break and speaking with his daughter Ashley when Charles Allen Morrow, who lives catty-corner to the station, walked into the police garage and office. Morrow told Faust he wanted to see whose cars were parked at the station. Faust stated it was none of his business. Morrow then reportedly used a vulgar word to describe Faust's daughter. Faust told Morrow to leave the station. Morrow replied he "owns this place" and he pays more taxes than anyone in the village. Morrow then left the station. A few moments later, Mayor Norm Sommers arrived at the station because Morrow had called him. Morrow then came back to the station. A second argument ensued between Morrow and Faust.
"[Morrow] got in my face and I told him to step away and that I smelled alcohol on his breath and that he needed to leave," Faust wrote in his report. "As he was walking away, I noticed that he was swaying when he was walking."
After Morrow spoke with Sommers, Morrow left the station and Faust returned to his patrol.
A short while later, Faust received a phone call from village council President William Jones, who stated he received a "disturbing" voice mail from Morrow. The message was reportedly left at 7:50 p.m. Faust listened to the message and went to Jones' home to take a statement.
Morrow's message was transcribed in Jones' statement: "I have an issue with the town and either you or someone else will fix it, or believe me, I want $4.7 million. So you settle with me or get something done or I am going to blow your [behinds] out of the water."
Jones wrote in his statement, "After hearing that message I felt in danger for myself and the people who live in the village."
Anderson later listened to the message via phone. Anderson asked Jones if he wanted to press charges and Jones said yes. Anderson then came to the station to sign an arrest warrant for telephone harassment.
At 8:40 p.m., Faust was parked at Huntington Bank when Morrow pulled into the bank parking lot. "He wanted to apologize for his actions," Faust wrote. "I did not respond to him."
At 12:30 a.m. July 4, Faust, Beveridge and Wetzel went to Morrow's home to serve the warrant. They were met at the door by a woman later identified as Morrow's girlfriend, Sherry Weyandt, who allegedly stated, "He's unavailable," and slammed the door shut.
A moment later, Morrow appeared at the door with Weyandt. The officers advised Morrow of the warrant. Morow stated, "I don't understand." Officers then began to enter the home. Weyandt allegedly tried to block the door with her body, grabbed Faust by the shirt and tried pulling him off Morrow. Weyandt was removed by Wetzel and then Faust took control of Weyandt while the other two officers attempted to take Morrow into custody.
As the officers attempted to arrest Morrow, he reportedly resisted by trying to pull away from both officers, according to a report written by Beveridge. Beveridge placed Morrow on his knees but Morrow continued to resist by pulling his arms in front of him. Beveridge used force to handcuff Morrow. Morrow was then transported to Columbiana County Jail.
After the officers left, Weyandt reportedly called Columbiana County 911 to complain about the arrest.
Anderson later signed an arrest warrant for Weyandt for obstructing official business due to her attempts to stop Morrow's arrest.
According to Beveridge's report, at 2:35 a.m., officers returned to Morrow's home to arrest Weyandt. As the officers arrived, Weyandt was on the telephone. She was advised by Faust to get off the phone, to which she replied, "I'm on the phone."
The phone was removed from her hand by Faust and she was escorted outside by all three officers, cuffed and placed in the cruiser and transported to the police station, the report stated. Upon arrival, Weyandt refused to exit the back seat. She was told three times by Beveridge to exit the vehicle but did not comply.
Beveridge then pulled Weyandt from the back seat, the report stated. She screamed, "Rape, rape, rape," and fell dead weight to the garage floor. She was picked up by Beveridge and sat in a chair in the office. She was told to stay seated but did not comply and was placed back in the chair by Beveridge. Weyandt again stood up and began walking around the office. She was told to sit, did not comply and the officer placed her back in the chair. Weyandt then raised her foot and allegedly kicked Beveridge in the groin. She then reportedly said, "I know, another [...] charge, assaulting a police officer." Once paperwork was completed, Weyandt was transported to the Columbiana County Jail.
When all was said and done, Morrow was charged with one count each of telephone harassment, resisting arrest, criminal trespass and disorderly conduct. Weyandt was charged with one count each of assault, obstructing official business and obstructing justice.
Anderson said if it wasn't for the telephone harassment against Jones, Morrow would not have been arrested. Faust was willing to let the earlier incidents at the police station go without charges, Anderson said.
Asked whether Morrow's reported threat to sue the village and "blow [their behinds] out of the water" was a serious threat of harm against Jones or the village, Anderson said the police department can't assume anything.
"We don't take that type of wording lightly," Anderson said. "It's a possible terrorist act."
Prior to this year, Anderson said the police department had never had any problems with Morrow. In fact, at a council meeting in early January, Morrow was one of five candidates considered for two vacant seats on council. William Jones, who was the recipient of Morrow's July 3 telephone message, and Jim Smith were ultimately appointed to council.
Morrow's dissatisfaction with the police department and the village appears to have its roots in comments reportedly made in a behind-closed-doors executive session of village council in February. According to Anderson, Morrow felt somebody had slandered him in the executive session. Morrow threatened litigation, but the issue was apparently resolved, as no litigation ever materialized.
The former mayor, Charles R. Morrow, said he will pursue a civil complaint against the village pending the outcome of his son's criminal charges.
Messages left seeking comment from Charles A. Morrow and his attorney, Lawrence W. Stacey II, were not returned.
Morrow and Weyandt's pretrials are set for 1:30 p.m. Sept. 9 before Columbiana County Municipal Court Judge Carol Ann Robb.
Leonard Glenn Crist can be reached at lcrist@salemnews.net
|
WatchDog
|
|
|---|---|
|
07-24-08 8:30 AM
|
Oh and Mr. Crist at the Salem News...Great newsreporting!
|
|
WatchDog
|
|
|
07-24-08 8:28 AM
|
4.7 million dollars? Interesting amount for someone just to be caught off guard in their claims. Hmmm...looks the Morrow family had this pre-meditated plan already tallied up. They just had to find away to put the plan and civil suit in action. As it appears they did enough to provoke the incidents. My heart goes out to Chief Anderson and his troops and the village residents. These people are absolute nut cases.
|