Friday, January 22, 2010
Judge Dismisses Arrest Warrants Against Commissioner Sharon Sutton. GBI, Sheriff Question DeKalb Handling of Situation - We Smell Scandel In The Air!
AJC article "Judge Dismisses Warrants Against Commissioner - Click here
AJC article "GBI, Sheriff Question DeKalb Handling of Wanted Commissioner -Click here
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33 comments:
Is it common practice to allow someone with four felony warrants to go free? Maybe this needs to be investigated! Who made that call?
I have to tell you, that picture must have been taken 20 years and 120 pounds ago. If you were going to serve a warrent based on the AJC picture, you would have walked by her..if you could pass in the hallway. Watch the story on WSB. Any 2 year patrol guy recognizes ALL the shifty signs of a lying perp. This pantload actually gets to serve on a committee that structures the budget?
4 warrents (felony) and no arrest? Whatif this was Joe Smith from Tucker? He would have been cuffed and processed. Didn't know about the warrents? Tell it to the judge AFTER you get processed and make bail. Some things never change. Entitlement by position or connection.
As usual people speak up before they know the facts.
It would be my guess that aside from the Officer on the scene, Sgt, and Lt that the entire incident was told to the Major and the command staff above them.
Whom I would guess agreed with the decision being made to have her turn herself in.
Now the problem with that is just this, Ms. Sutton like most in society cant be trusted to do the right thing.
Instead of doing as advised she goes the other way and calls an attorney to avoid turning herself in.
Look we all know we cant trust our Commissioners their politicians.
But the officers were damned if they did and damned if they didnt.
Nothing good can come from either decision, and I doubt that she will tell the media of the good advice she was given.
Ms Sutton you are a lieing thief and it showed with your vague answers.
You cant even look your interviewer in the eyes typical signs of a liar.
The old look away technics, and avoid eye contact is somthing a 6 year old does.
Dont blame the officers, blame the damn felon Ms Sutton, she put them in the sistuation.
There truly is no justice in this world. It just amazes me how the Dekalb and Gwinnett Police Departments bent over backwards to accommodate this criminal. I'm shocked that she was able to leave the scene without being arrested. I promise you that if it was a regular citizen or even a police officer who had these warrants, his/her picture on the news would be their booking photo. I'm also shocked that Gwinnett County just took her lame story at face value and dropped the charges.
Its times like this that truly test my love of law enforcement. When Tebo was fired I figured, if nothing else, we at least we got our integrity back. Not any more! This place is every bit as dirty as it was before. The only thing that has changed is the names on the office doors. Shame on you Director Miller, Shame on you Chief O'brien, and shame on everyone else in the Dekalb and Gwinnett County Police Departments who aided this criminal in evading justice.
I don't think that the Police Departmenual policy manual say anything about special consideration like this, especially on multiple felony warrants. All the book says is that notification will be made when somebody of note is arrested (past tense). Considering the supervisors involved, it is no surprise that they were worried about something other than just enforcing the law. Is this what the department has come to?
The officer(s) should have arrested Sutton just as they would anyone else as COMMANDED by the warrant. I hope the highest supervisor this went to gets written up. Ms. Sharon "can't keep up with her own budget) Sutton actually serving on the DeKalb Budget Committee is just funny...typical DeKalb! Where is the next city incorporating with a new police force? I need to go...
I like the way she warns us because "it could happen to anyone" (5x?). Huh? It's never happened to ME! I actually balance my account every month, and look at my statements. And she teaches business ??????
Is it not violation of your oath to let a felon go free knowing their are four valid warrants for her arrest. Whose decision was this?
She serves on the "Public Safety" Committee, not the Budget Committee....so who do YOU think she called??
Wow my very first thought was THANK GOD IT WASNT ME.. i would rather face a perp with a pistol anyday of the week than this minefield.. i concur with Ethel.. its east to say what you woulda done.. this is a hot potato..
Lt, you know better!
No need to beat around the bush on this one, lets just call it like it is. She didn't go to jail because of her status as a politician. Would the average citizen go to jail on warrants, of course! All these years I just assumed if a warrant was valid at time of arrest you went to jail. Guess next time I get a sob story I'll just call the chief or director and get permission to let the person go.
I agree with the other poster, our "leadership" should be ashamed of themselves. You've failed miserably.
If they were felony warrants, how do you pay them off at a department store.
I think its called Bad Checks , which is a misdemeanor.
Looks like the sky is falling.
Way to go DKPD!! Next time, you all start bitching about the outstanding warrants at Recorders Court, keep it to yourselves since you like doing special favors for the BOC that you BITCH so much about!
I can see why so many of my colleagues who reside in Dekalb have such harsh criticism of this department.
I know the attacks are going to come, so go right ahead. But answer this question, had this been a regular citizen, would you have done such a courtesy?
The incompetent W.Z. Miller and is starting to reveal himself.
This is really messed up!! People need to be held accountable for this!!
Not to pass the buck, but why did Gwinnett's Sheriff Office have so much trouble tracking down this fugitive?? Did they not realize they could just pick her up at any of the countless commission meetings??
It shouldn't be too hard to figure out who needs to be held accountable. Step 1, find the lady she hit. Ask her what time the wreck happened. Step 2, demand a watch list for center precinct for that time. Step 3, demand the radio traffic for that time for center precinct. What officer was dispatched? Who is that officer's Sgt? Who is the Lt.? And so on! All of this is public information!
I don't blame the line level officer. Those above that officer need to be held accountable!
What kind of message does this send?? "Oh, it's ok to write bad checks MULTIPLE TIMES, even after you have a DOCUMENTED HISTORY OF WRITING BAD CHECKS as long as you're a county commissioner!
I like this poll about Sharon Sutton resigning. Lets start a petition! :)
According to the AJC, the call to let the Commissioner go free was made by Lieutenant Whittington. Even if he tried to pass the buck and pass it on up the chain, as the Watch Commander the Lieutenant should have had the integrity to make the choice to enforce the law.
After 37 years with the Department, he should be able to make better decisions.
It’s time for him to retire and let someone who still cares about the community do the job.
My GODDD MAN!!,she's a COMISSIONER
in DeKalb County. She cant be bothered with such trivial things as reading a bank statement and balancing the account.
How did she get elected? The citizens should demand an N.C.I.C./G.C.I.C. check made on all candidates for office.
"Call the jail and tell morning watch to hose out the drunk tank..BOC en-route, ETA 7 min".
Haaa...Vern is thinking "Man, I sure am glad that aint me".
What's even worse on top of this, since I can't imagine anyone not knowing a check in such a large amount hasn't cleared their account, is she is on the Budget Committee; but she is also a school teacher in the DeKalb system - what an example for our children.
Anonymous asked, “Is this what the department has come to?”
YES! THIS IS WHAT THE DEPARTMENT HAS COME TO!
Once again we are embarrassed as a police department. I am so tired of this but this is the culture of our department. Everyone is scared to do their job. The sergeant should have told the lieutenant and the lieutenant should have said, “Take her to jail!” That whacky assistant chief over the uniform division finds fault in everything you do. You just can not win. Like someone said above, you are damned if you do and damned if you don’t.
Do you think that a "Jane Blow" from anywhere Dekalb Co would get that deal?
A teacher? A grown woman who can't do simple math?
"It could happen to anyone."
Nope, not me! I'm not an idiot!
This is one of seven people who vote on the public safety budget. She teaches business at a DeKalb County School System School (yes, business).
Not only did she have the bounced checks at a Costco:
"Court records show Sutton also had previous problems with bad checks. In 1996, she pleaded no contest in Gwinnett to writing bad checks to West Building Supply in Stone Mountain."
"Sutton said the 1996 charges happened after she "accidentally" overdrew her account.
"There are times when errors happen," she said.
"Sutton, of Stone Mountain, was elected in 2008 and serves on the commission's budget committee. She teaches business and career technology for DeKalb schools."
“DeKalb court records show she also has had her wages as a DeKalb school teacher garnished for an outstanding debt to a car financing company.”
Multiple incidents of bounced checks, wages garnished...and she's on the county commission BUDGET COMMITEE??!!!
What makes you think Gwinnett PD had anything to do with this? The warrants were issued in Gwinnett, and were probably taken out by a member of Costco management. I can assure you that being a DeKalb County Commssioner would have no effect on whether Gwinnett PD would have followed up its own case.
There won't be any scandal. There will be a few sound bites, maybe some roll call discussion reminding officers not to do anything "embarrassing", and that will be all. The sergeant that responded was all the supervisor that was needed...clear on the arrest and that's it. This was a simple arrest that needed no thought. As usual, some put politics above the oath. So sad. Maybe we need sergeants that aren't afraid to make a decision, however unpopular it may be. That's leadership.
This ij just a political attack, why wasnt she made aware of thw warrants when she was given a background check, before taking office in 2008. The media just wanted to haul this woman off to jail in front of the cameras. The police actually got it right this time. She is not part of the illumnati and therefore will be targeted by Satanic Cults...
She knew, the banks send you a letter themselves when u overdraw your account whether they cover it or not.
I feel sorry for the LT, if he arrests her per SOP his career is toast at DKPD, and more importantly for the department, making an enemy out of a commissioner who makes your budget during a revenue shortfall is stupid. Politics were played by all parties, Gwinnett never served the warrant to a public figure, Sutton uses her political authority to avoid an arrest, and the lawyers, Costco and Gwinnett all played ball on dropping the charges. The LT. will undoubtedly receive a reprimend in his record but command is also privately relived that the incident did not turn the commissioner into a DKPD opponent. I talk a lot about ethics in the county, and doing the right thing at all times. In this case, a decision was made to bypass procedure to avoid a political conflict with a commissioner. The commissioner resolved the issue the next day resulting in the warrants being dropped and the debt to Costco was made good.
Suttons history in this matter is suspect. A bad check conviction and warrants pending on another recent incident, along with a recent home foreclosure indicates Sutton has not efficiently managed her own personal finances over the last decade. The issue begs the question of Sutton's ability to manage the county budget and also Sutton's personal integrity in paying off her debts. It is apparent Sutton had no intention of paying Costco for the goods received.
Man, I am so glad I am not involved in this mess. But if I had, my action would have been to arrest as the warrants command.
As officers, we enforce laws. It is not up to us to interpret them. That is the role of the judicial system. An arrest in this matter would have been lawful and should have been made pending warrant(s) confirmation.
The interesting thing in this matter is that it appears the decision may have been influenced by the notion that it was in the best interest of the officer or officers involved to avoid negative ramifications to his/their career(s). (Based only on what I am reading here). Now, it appears one or more may have to pay a price professionally as well as personally while Ms. Sutton gets a free pass. How unfortunate.
How many wanted people have told us that "There must be some mistake." "I didn't do that." "That's not me." If we as officers are confident that the "hit" is for the person whose identity we have verified and that "hi"t is confirmed, then we make that arrest as commanded by the warrant. Enough said. The officer is covered as to liability for the action and held harmless. Our response to the arrestee is simple. "I hear that... (or) I understan, but I have no choice. This is not up to me." Come on now, how many times have we said this to everyone else in this situation?
We need to do our jobs properly and let not our integrities be compromised. If any ill-will should be implied or come, then sue 'em.
A post above stated, "The interesting thing in this matter is that it appears the decision may have been influenced by the notion that it was in the best interest of the officer or officers involved to avoid negative ramifications to his/their career(s)."
You hit the nail on the head. I know from experience that the fear of repercussions guided that officer to call for higher ups.
I pray that I never again have the misfortune to come across a politician, a VIP or an officer who has crossed the line. Doing my job is not worth going thru the grief again.
The GBI or the FBI needs to do an investigation to determine if Sharon Barnes Sutton has embezzled any county funds. Seriously, if she can write bad checks and get the warrants dropped, she could steal taxpayers dollars and feel she is above prosecution.
As for Lt. Whittington and the higher ups, if you are too scared to do your jobs by arresting politicans, then you are not fit to lead. If you don't mind corrupt officials and find a way not to arrest them then you are telling them, "trample on our rights and Consitutional freedoms because we will look away as you do so." How do you expect the rank and file to respect you when you don't respect what we were hired to stand for?
The Oath of Office, which I proudly took and believe in, does not have a line in fine print that says, "Uphold the Constitution unless the perp is a politican." If she gets mad and tries to interfere with the police budget, then file an ethics charge against her and point the misbehavior out to the voters.
The leadership dropped the ball in this case and they need to be investigated for violation of Oath of Office.
Lt. Whittington and the higher ups, shame on you!
I have a bad check in gwinnett county and i have tried to pay it for the past year and a half. after being arrested I also moved and forwarded my mail and didnt receive a notice for court, just like Sharon Sutton, but i wasnt allowed to just go in and pay for the bad check nor would they take the money and drop the charges even though the company the check was written to agreed to drop the charges. This woman had four checks and I have one. And just like she stated it wasnt on purpose. Know you tell me whats fair and why i cant get the same treatment as she did. Oh I forgot I,m just a hard working person living a normal life.
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