WARREN POLICE Internal probe finds no excessive force

A girl said some of the juveniles were smoking marijuana and drinking.
By PEGGY SINKOVICH
VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF
WARREN -- An internal investigation into allegations that police used excessive force during a melee in March found no wrongdoing on the part of city officers.
The results of the investigation, which was conducted by Capt. Tim Bowers, were released during a press conference Thursday.
"The officers did the job that they are hired and trained to do," Bowers' report said. "They did the job within the boundaries of the state law and the policy and procedures of the Warren Police Department."
Police Chief John Mandopoulos, who attended the conference, concurred with Bowers' report.
Bowers interviewed more than 30 people. The captain, however, said he did not interview any of the 100 to 150 juveniles that spilled onto North Park Avenue on March 15.
The report notes that Bowers tried to contact some of those involved but was unable to reach them.
The melee took place after a birthday party for a juvenile was held at the Comfort Inn downtown. There were 50 people invited but more juveniles showed up after the party let out, officials said.
Teen's statement
A 14-year-old girl, who was not arrested, gave a written statement to another officer saying some of the juveniles at the party were drinking alcohol and smoking marijuana. The girl said a fight broke out and several of the juveniles ran outside. She said police used chemical spray on the one adult they arrested.
The report, however, does note that Caren Boss of Union Street said she went to Comfort Inn on March 15 to pick up her niece when police damaged her vehicle during the arrest of a juvenile. Boss stated that police slammed a female into her car. The juvenile was arrested for curfew and resisting arrest.
"Officers grabbed the juvenile and she pulled away," the report states. "Officers grabbed the juvenile again and attempted to place her against a vehicle to gain control of her, the juvenile and the officers fell into the vehicle, during the struggle, causing a dent in the side of the vehicle."
Boss can file a claim at the law director's office for the damage done to her vehicle, the report notes.
Complaints
Bowers also said that he asked the mayor and safety service director for the names of people who had complained about police to them, but didn't get them until after the report was completed.
"I gave Capt. Bowers the names of the people that complained about one week after he requested those names," said Mayor Hank Angelo, who did not attend the press conference. "As with any investigation, I assumed that their concerns should and would be addressed but obviously based on the report they were not addressed because they were not even questioned."
Police said they arrested eight juveniles and one adult. The juveniles faced charges of delinquency by way of disorderly conduct and curfew violations. Six of the juveniles pleaded guilty and two cases are still pending, Bowers said.
The adult, Michael Simpson, 19, had said police used excessive force arresting him. However, Bowers and the chief showed the press pictures of Simpson taken right after the arrest, and no injuries were visible. Simpson pleaded guilty in municipal court last month to a charge of obstruction of justice. He received a five-day jail sentence.
Bowers noted that two officers involved were disciplined: Sgt. Bill Boldin received a written reprimand for not having his cruiser video camera on during the arrest. Another officer, Tim Ladner, also received a written reprimand for not having his audio recorder on during the arrest.