(Photo: City of Rio Dell)
I am not going to go into details of Rio Dell Police Chief Jeff Conner testimony which was covered by other witnesses and details already posted in the news.
Chief Conner testified on direct that it was his opinion there were "small differences" between what Mariah Acosta told Rio Dell police and what she testified in court.
His opinion that Acosta's testimony had small differences is Chief Conner minimizing the numerous inconsistencies in Acosta's testimony and Acosta's lack of credibility. One of the differences between her testimony in court and what she told Rio Dell police was a description that was in a photo released to the media. This was stated by Chief Conner on the stand.
Chief Conner also provided some information on how he ended up helping Acosta with her U Visa. He confirmed it was DA Chief Investigator Wayne Cox who told Acosta that they would help her. Mr. Greg Rael briefly represented Acosta. Mr. Rael was Acosta's attorney only for her interview at the DA's office.
During direct, Chief Conner said he could not use language in court that he wanted to. This was in response to Deputy District Attorney Carolyn Schaffer asking him how he felt when he found out that he had to help Acosta with her visa instead of Chief Cox.
Chief Conners' unprofessional comments in court and they were made often during cross examination to Ms. Andrea Sullivan and his defensive and rude answers are not surprising in Humboldt. At least, other local law enforcement are savvy enough to mask how they feel in court. I am pro law enforcement but my positive feelings are about EPD and most of HCSO and APD. I have experienced and seen this kind of behavior from Fortuna PD, Fortuna Fire and other individual officers and deputies in Humboldt.
To see it in court on livestream is typical Humboldt arrogance.
His fellow Chiefs should be embarassed for Chief Conner unless this kind of behavior is okay for a leader of local law enforcement.
Chief Conner, it isn't Ms. Sullivan's fault or anyone else's fault that you and Sgt. John Beauchaine did a sloppy, biased, joke of a homicide investigation. I used to like the Rio Dell police department before I covered this case. I am still going to maintain that opinion of other Rio Dell officers unless they act differently in the future.
Twice during his cross examination, Judge Kelly Neel asked attorneys to approach.
The first unbecoming remark Chief Conner made was after Ms. Sullivan asked him how many homicides he had investigated in his career.
"Sorry. I was thinking of a snide comeback. I shouldn't do that in court," said Chief Conner. "This is my first homicide investigation."
Chief Conner, you should not be snide in court or outside.
When asked to describe the Violence Against Women Act, Chief Conner responded, " I can't give an intelligent answer to that."
Chief Conner was also unaware of what the Violence Against Women Act was until yesterday when it was mentioned by Ms. Sullivan that it could be used to obtain a visa for someone here illegally.
It was Mr. Rael who got a commitment from the DA about this U visa before Acosta agreed to the interview and talk to law enforcement.
Chief Conner said he had no knowledge of Acosta's domestic violence case. He was unaware of his department's efforts to follow up on the claim Acosta made about her mother being kidnapped. Chief Conner could not recall if Acosta said no.
When asked how many times he uttered bull shit to Alma Ahumamendoza when she was trying to answer his questions, Chief Conner was evasive but it was several times. He could not recall how many times Sgt. Beauchaine used bullshit.
Ms. Sullivan asked him about the threat made to Ahumadamendoza about her children being taken away and Chief Conner gave the same answer he did at the preliminary hearing. She was told CWS could take her children away.
Ms. Sullivan said that Ahumadamendoza was young, in her 20s, trying to answer his and Sgt. Beauchaine's questions with facts and they were saying bullshit to her responses.
Chief Conner retorted, "I guess that depends on your definition of a factual statement."
Chief Conner gave Ahumadamendoza two hours to get back to him about cooperating or he would author an arrest warrant.
Chief Connor told Ms. Sullivan he did have information that Johnny Renfro was involved in marijuana robberies. Ms. Sullivan asked him about the Fairwind Hotel in Arcata.
Chief Conner said Renfro checked in and rented two rooms. He was accompanied by three men. "The video was horrible" but the owner identified one of those men as Oliver Muhammad. Renfro "had an argument with one of the men and left. We attempted to contact Mr. Muhammad who was in jail but he refused to come out of the dormitory and talk to us."
Chief Conner told Ms. Sullivan none of the attempts to find the murder weapon were successful.
Previous post:
https://johnchiv.blogspot.com/2020/10/the-we-got-cell-phone-data-was-as-much.html?m=1
There is a good reason that the county took away his peace officer powers when he worked for code enforcement. I can't believe he ever passed a background check
ReplyDelete