500+ Guns Missing From Texas Police Dept Evidence Room – FBI, Texas Rangers Investigating
It all started when a pawn shop over in Humble, Texas, was subjected to a search by the Department of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives. ATF had a warrant, and they took possession of 112 guns that — come to find out — were last seen in the evidence locker of a Texas police department.
How’d they get into a pawn shop from a police evidence room? No one knew, and an investigation began.
Now, it seems that the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the Texas Rangers are working together to solve this mystery. Their latest tally? Over 500 guns are missing from the Cleveland Police Department.
While the FBI and the Texas Rangers both keep their ongoing investigations pretty darn quiet until they’re good and ready to reveal things, they do have to file a document in court now and then in order to do their job. And, the media has been monitoring court documents with both the Dallas Morning News and the Houston Chronicle keeping tabs on this Missing Gun Mystery.
Piecemealing so far, we know that a Liberty County Sheriff’s Department Captain, name of Harold Kelley, together with some others whose names we don’t know (yet) were allegedly in a gun-trafficking scheme. Seems Captain Kelley was the Custodian of the Evidence Room, and had one of only two keys for the place. Who had the other key? Man name of Henry Patterson … Henry was serving as the assistant police chief at the time.
And, here’s the smoking gun — Kelley’s signature was on the official evidence files for 98 of those guns found in the Humble pawn shop. He’d signed to confirm that the guns had been destroyed.
What about the rest of the 500? The Texas Rangers and the FBI are out there, looking for them. Betcha they DON'T find them, too ….
http://www.dallasjustice.com/dallascrim ... estigating
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Texas Police "Lose" 500 Guns
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Texas Police "Lose" 500 Guns
by WaTcHeR » 28 Jul 2010, Wed 4:25 pm
"Cops that lie, need to die! Police officers that lie so that a person is fined, arrested or convicted should be shot in the head. If a cop ruins an innocent family's life, then the life of that cop and his family should be ruined as well."
"In the U.S., a cop with a gun can commit the most heinous crime and be given the benefit of the doubt."
"The U.S. Government does not have rights, it has privileges delegated to it by the people."
"In the U.S., a cop with a gun can commit the most heinous crime and be given the benefit of the doubt."
"The U.S. Government does not have rights, it has privileges delegated to it by the people."
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WaTcHeR - Moderator
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Re: Texas Police "Lose" 500 Guns
by WaTcHeR » 08 Aug 2010, Sun 2:51 pm
HOUSTON -- A law enforcement officer is facing charges. He's accused of swiping weapons from a police property room, and investigators are releasing new details about the case. The case has been unfolding for the last year in Cleveland.
The former Cleveland police officer faces an indictment with more than 100 violations, from possession of a stolen firearm to conspiracy to commit mail fraud. On Thursday, he turned himself in and faced a federal judge.
It started when a new administration took over at Cleveland Police Department at the beginning of 2009 and started taking inventory at 226 Peach Street.
During the weapons count, officers recorded fewer than 50 weapons in the property room. Court records show just two years before, there were 10 times as many.
"We should be able to trust them to do what's right, because they are supposed to be protecting us," Livingston resident Willy Barnes said.
After more than a year of digging, investigators zeroed in on the man who was custodian of the police department's property room from July 2007 until early 2009 -- Officer Harry Kelley. Since that time, he has worked as a captain at the Liberty County Sheriff's Office.
"The alleged criminality in the indictment is breathtaking in its scale," U.S. Attorney John Bales said.
On Thursday, Kelley was formally charged with 103 counts of possession of a stolen firearm and four related charges.
The indictment claims while Kelley drafted disposal orders for firearms, he never actually had them destroyed. Instead, court documents say he sold them to Gary Lee, the owner of a gun store.
"Public servants cannot be allowed to be permitted to abuse their office, their authority or their positions for their own personal benefit," Bales said.
Lee has since cooperated with investigators and pleaded guilty to possession of stolen firearms and ammunition.
Prosecutors say they intend to prove that Kelley also took ammunition provided to the Cleveland Police Department by federal agents. Bullets are commonly given to local departments in exchange for the use of their gun range.
"If he's a cop, he should be doing the right thing, not a bad thing," Cleveland resident BJ Bailey said.
Eyewitness News has been following the investigation since early this year when we asked Kelley questions regarding the allegations. He said Kelley wasn't there.
On Thursday, the 55-year-old veteran law enforcement officer surrendered to authorities.
While the ATF has recovered dozens of guns during the investigation, hundreds are still missing.
"There's no telling where they are. They could be going back on the streets," Cleveland resident Rachel Toczek said.
Kelley retired from Cleveland police in 2009, and prosecutors say there is no evidence of wrongdoing while at Liberty County. However, the Liberty County Sheriff's Office says as a result of the indictment, the captain will be placed on administrative leave without pay.
If convicted, Kelley could face decades in prison because each possession count can carry up to 10 years.
http://abclocal.go.com/ktrk/story?secti ... id=7594804
The former Cleveland police officer faces an indictment with more than 100 violations, from possession of a stolen firearm to conspiracy to commit mail fraud. On Thursday, he turned himself in and faced a federal judge.
It started when a new administration took over at Cleveland Police Department at the beginning of 2009 and started taking inventory at 226 Peach Street.
During the weapons count, officers recorded fewer than 50 weapons in the property room. Court records show just two years before, there were 10 times as many.
"We should be able to trust them to do what's right, because they are supposed to be protecting us," Livingston resident Willy Barnes said.
After more than a year of digging, investigators zeroed in on the man who was custodian of the police department's property room from July 2007 until early 2009 -- Officer Harry Kelley. Since that time, he has worked as a captain at the Liberty County Sheriff's Office.
"The alleged criminality in the indictment is breathtaking in its scale," U.S. Attorney John Bales said.
On Thursday, Kelley was formally charged with 103 counts of possession of a stolen firearm and four related charges.
The indictment claims while Kelley drafted disposal orders for firearms, he never actually had them destroyed. Instead, court documents say he sold them to Gary Lee, the owner of a gun store.
"Public servants cannot be allowed to be permitted to abuse their office, their authority or their positions for their own personal benefit," Bales said.
Lee has since cooperated with investigators and pleaded guilty to possession of stolen firearms and ammunition.
Prosecutors say they intend to prove that Kelley also took ammunition provided to the Cleveland Police Department by federal agents. Bullets are commonly given to local departments in exchange for the use of their gun range.
"If he's a cop, he should be doing the right thing, not a bad thing," Cleveland resident BJ Bailey said.
Eyewitness News has been following the investigation since early this year when we asked Kelley questions regarding the allegations. He said Kelley wasn't there.
On Thursday, the 55-year-old veteran law enforcement officer surrendered to authorities.
While the ATF has recovered dozens of guns during the investigation, hundreds are still missing.
"There's no telling where they are. They could be going back on the streets," Cleveland resident Rachel Toczek said.
Kelley retired from Cleveland police in 2009, and prosecutors say there is no evidence of wrongdoing while at Liberty County. However, the Liberty County Sheriff's Office says as a result of the indictment, the captain will be placed on administrative leave without pay.
If convicted, Kelley could face decades in prison because each possession count can carry up to 10 years.
http://abclocal.go.com/ktrk/story?secti ... id=7594804
"Cops that lie, need to die! Police officers that lie so that a person is fined, arrested or convicted should be shot in the head. If a cop ruins an innocent family's life, then the life of that cop and his family should be ruined as well."
"In the U.S., a cop with a gun can commit the most heinous crime and be given the benefit of the doubt."
"The U.S. Government does not have rights, it has privileges delegated to it by the people."
"In the U.S., a cop with a gun can commit the most heinous crime and be given the benefit of the doubt."
"The U.S. Government does not have rights, it has privileges delegated to it by the people."
-
WaTcHeR - Moderator
- Posts: 7816
- Joined: 04 Mar 2007, Sun 1:25 pm
- Location: Quis custodiet ipsos custodes?
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