WARREN POLICE Black leaders urge those subjected to strip-searches to report them

A city councilman says he has heard for years about routine strip-searches.
By PEGGY SINKOVICH
VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF
WARREN -- While city administrators promise to find out why at least one city police officer routinely conducts strip-searches, the city's black leaders are urging anyone who has been strip-searched to come forward.
Councilman James Pugh and Thomas Conley, CEO of the Warren-Trumbull Urban League, want people to report such searches to them as soon as possible.
"Now is the time to come forward," Conley said. "I was shocked when I read about this in The Vindicator."
The Vindicator reported Sunday that a recent internal investigation shows even people arrested on traffic violations were subjected to strip-searches by officers.
Lt. Joseph Marhulik conducted the investigation after Dominic D. Gambone, 25, filed a complaint saying police did a body-cavity search on him when he was arrested in February 2002 on charges of driving under suspension and driving slowly.
Marhulik stated in his internal report he thinks the search violated state law and departmental policy.
Routine
Officer Tim Parana, who took part in the Gambone search, said in a written report he performs a strip-search on every male he arrests.
Chief John Mandopoulos has declined to discipline the officers.
"I've heard about this going on for years, but many people are afraid to come forward," Pugh said.
Fred Harris, the city's safety-service director, said the administration would begin looking into the allegations today.
"People have to realize they don't need to be afraid anymore, that this is going to be investigated," Conley said.
Videotapes
The recent allegation comes in the wake of two videotapes that black leaders say show police abusing their power.
The first tape recorded by a neighbor and released at the end of June shows three officers arresting Lyndal Kimble near his house.
The officers can be seen wrestling with Kimble and at one point throwing him to the ground.
Mandopoulos said the officers were attempting to get crack cocaine out of Kimble's mouth. The chief said a preliminary review shows officers acted properly.
Kimble's attorneys plan to file a civil lawsuit.
Tape at nightclub
The second tape was released two weeks ago. It was recorded by a friend of LaShawn Ziegler, owner of 77 Soul club, in the club parking lot.
It shows Mandopoulos and Officer Manny Nites walking up to the man with the video recorder and putting their eyes directly in front of the lens.
Nites also shines his flashlight in the man's eyes and the chief calls the man a "nerd."
Nites is also heard telling customers the man is a snitch for police.
The chief said he and Nites were joking.
sinkovich@vindy.com