I HeArTE JADE

Occupationally Mobile

2012-02-05T20:07:00.015-05:00

Be assured my lack of updates on here is not a sign I’m inactive out there. I’ve merely been, as is said, broadening my horizons:

Glory Days indeed. Unlike Troopers ‘round these parts, West Virginia ones don’t seem to mind being photographed. Nor are they afraid to get their vehicles dirty.

Yessir, that’s definitely my idea of a pot o’ gold.

During my travels, I got pulled over by the most beautiful Virginia State policeman my eyes have ever beheld: Tpr. D. A. Dean, Jr.

If only he lived forty miles closer... we’d be banging at least once a day and twice on Sundays. Seriously. Anyhotness, he didn’t write me up for speeding -- ;) --, however he did issue a citation for “DEFECTIVE EQUIpment TAg LightS ouT” [sic] -- :(. My right brake bulb has been rather cantankerous lately. I could just pay the ticket immediately, except, really, how can I, of all people, be expected to not take advantage of ogling this particular Trooper again? Thus I will be going to Shenandoah General District Court (Traffic) in Woodstock, VA, on Mar 6, 2012, at 900AM.

Hopefully I’ll get some pictures of the guy so y’all can see I am not exaggerating how very attractive he is.

As for the obligatory I HeArTE JADE Task-Force-related content:

According to this snippet from The Hook, Jefferson Area Drug Enforcement uses GPS tracking. Well, nah! But I do wonder how that little info-share came about.

And NBC 29 News has this dull press release from the US Attorney’s Office, Western District; I haven’t read them yet, but I assume the comments from the peon gallery are much livelier.

As one can surmise, by this image below, neither have I abandoned the locals:

Big News

2011-12-18T16:20:00.005-05:00

Local task force makes big drug bust

The Jefferson Area Drug Enforcement task force seized more than $150,000 worth of drugs this week.

Officers uncovered more than 100 pounds of marijuana, more than 300 grams of cocaine and four firearms when they executed two search warrants Thursday and Friday.

Police arrested and charged Paul Wendell Williams with possession of cocaine with the intent to distribute, possession of more than five pounds of marijuana with the intent to distribute, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and possession of a firearm while possessing cocaine.

The Blue Ridge Task Force, Greene County Sheriff’s Office and the Buckingham County Sheriff’s Office assisted in the searches.

The incident remained under investigation Friday with additional arrests and charges pending.

(Source)

Accumulation

2011-11-28T18:54:00.006-05:00

This is the problem when one doesn’t post frequently: stuff piles up. Hmm... let’s see... where to begin?

According to City of Charlottesville General District Court records, on June 2, 2011, the sexy hot -- my adjectives, not the judicial system’s -- Granville Fields was deemed not guilty of his March reckless driving charge. Surprise! Oh, no, wait; a surprise would’ve been the opposite verdict. Naturally he had an attorney, Jessica Phillips, which, regardless of if you aren’t an officer and are darn certain you’re going to get away with your misdeeds, is always a sharp move.

Not a sharp move is agreeing to let Law Enforcement without a warrant search your property. Granted, they’ll invariably be granted the necessary paperwork, but, no matter how persuasive men with badges can be -- and they can, indeed, be persuasive -- and how innocent you’re positive you are, sheesh, assert your rights people!

Philip Cobbs consented to a warrantless search and look where it got him. The majority of ‘net commentators on his ordeal seemed to have either gotten sidetracked by the least significant part: the amount of marijuana discovered on Mr. Cobbs’ land -- as if two pot plants aren’t as illegal as a dozen or a thousand -- or turned it into yet another excuse to rail about legalization. Hello? Members of the Virginia State Police and Jefferson Area Drug Enforcement Task Force didn’t even bother to document alleged evidence. Since it wasn’t a pat-on-the-back-worthy bust, they, I believe, plunked it in toto on the lap of County Officer Trevor Ross a month later. I surmise, true to their typical cocky selves, the Boys In Blue knew a judge would merely take them on their word for the way it went down, how they behaved, and what precisely they saw. They were correct the first round. I wish the Rutherford Institute best of luck battling against such odds in the next.

Settled out of court was the Gerry Mitchell vs Albemarle County Police Department lawsuit. One of their fine officers, Gregory Davis, while in his patrol car struck a wheelchair-bound man crossing the road. Originally when I watched the cruiser cam video of the incident, I was willing to give the cop the benefit of the doubt; I thought perhaps the ACPD driver hadn’t seen Mr. Mitchell because the front frame of the auto at the left of the windshield on his vehicle obscured the view of the area the pedestrian was in. Then I heard Davis was texting a woman at the time of the hit. This was later confirmed. Speaking from experience, mobile phones can be quite distracting to lawmen especially when a kitty is on the other end. Me-yow.

Eric Abshire was convicted in October of murdering his wife Justine. I’d been mildly interested in the case and my State Policeman, Tony Gattuso Jr., having worked on it a bit, kindly provided me inside details. VSP Special Agent Gattuso also told me that since the evidence was circumstantial he thought Mr. Abshire would likely walk away from the crime a free man; I disagreed, simply because juries are incredibly stupid and have no concept of “reasonable doubt.” I’d published on the web some of the information supplied to me by my darling Tony and one site I posted it on promptly deleted it. Hilarious that media are more concerned about what a leaky Virginia State Policeman did or said than the Agency he belongs to is.

I haven’t recently added anything to the My State Policeman blog. I need to type a narrative of a disturbing phone conversation Tony and me had about his living situation and girlfriend, but, frankly, I haven’t been much inspired to write -- obviously. Once I get around to it though I can hark back to the mundane copying and pasting of our email exchanges. I’d intended to wrap up the site at the point our relationship ended, however, upon a subsequent three-month-long investigation of my former sweetheart’s activities pre- and post-me, there’s uber oodles of fabulous turpitudes that I unearthed for me to terminate it there now. From my contact with Troopers’ wives he used to bang back in the days when he was a lowly Trooper himself to tracking multiple craigslist sex ads hookups he’s had, I’ve been rather a busy detective slash spy. Can ya believe I was not Tony’s sole other lover from February 2010 on? I reiterate: thank heavens I documented every ounce of “us.” There’s a couple of loose pieces his ex-pseudo-wife Brenda Priebe could help tie up for curious me if she’d be so inclined; shame she’s one of those uppity things, a big important person who strictly associates with clones of herself. I guess he didn’t lie about everything.

Sadly it’s apparent Tony never actually liked me. I’ve concluded he deliberately targets females to con that he feels -- erroneously or not -- are super intelligent. Keeping the wool pulled over their eyes is his idea of reassuring himself he’s smart. Unfortunately for him, he’s not bright enough to pull it off with everyone. Funny, he probably would’ve been successful on that front with Miz Priebe had it not been for me. Hoo-ah! Yeah, that completes my psychoanalyzing Anthony Gattuso.

An unidentified-to-the-public Albemarle County officer shot his own hand during weapon training at the Rivanna Rifle and Pistol Club. Numerous ACPD officials state accidents of this type wouldn’t occur if their department had its own facility to practice at, thereby increasing the amount of firearm preparedness.

The same county has a fresh armada of police vehicles coming in. Chief Steve Sellers said “To our officers it represents a new beginning, a fresh start as a police department and a commitment to the community.” I’m not certain what anybody else in his community thinks but I’d prefer to have cops who know how to handle their guns than have ones with new cars.

At least one lawyer I’m acquainted with is doing a happy dance that Randall Snead did not get elected Sheriff of Greene County.

In a strange twist, I got a lada nada to report on the Charlottesville Police Department as a whole. Individually? Loose lips revealed that CPD Chief Timothy Longo has been compelled to remark in specific company that Officer Brian N. O’Donnell and I were not involved sexually. Whatever. Despite Joe Hatter having had a few personal issues subsequent to my last update, none of them belong here. Rumor has it that Paul Best and his fiancée broke up. Or they got married. Perfect example of why two sources are not necessarily better than one.

A daily visitor to I HeArTE JADE has offered yours truly a round-trip ticket to Europe. I’m still considering the invitation. On the one side, I’m all for meeting regular readers. On the other, I’m not particularly interested in Germany.

Search Engine results, featuring names, from yesterday:

chad vernon
charlottesville Scott Cox
chip rilley albemarle police
detective DJ HArris, charlottesville
eric kudro
"investigator snead" virginia
lieutenant don campbell charlottesville
logan woodzell charlottesville p
logan woodzell charlottesville police
lt. odonell charlottesville
marc brake charlottesville
mark greene charlottesville
"michael moore" agency
michael flaherty
officer chip riley albemarle county virginia
rodney snead va
trooper parham vsp

Hiya Kenny! Want This One, Too?

2011-10-04T10:08:00.004-04:00

You know from the same date your Virginia State Police buddy there, Agent Gattuso, was supposed to be in Lunenburg County Circuit Court to testify?

‘Twas I believe a drug case, to boot -- albeit, unfortunately, not handled by the Jefferson Area Drug Enforcement (JADE) Task Force.

It All Started With An Ewwwwww...

2011-09-27T21:09:00.005-04:00

Yours truly is now officially Facebooking. Which is odd, because I have been extremely vocal about what a bad idea it is to belong to social networking sites. Aside from the majority, I believe, of participants being unaware of how much personal information they are unwittingly making publicly available -- Think you’ve got your page under heavy lockdown? Think again! --, your merely signing up gives Facebook the authority to do anything they so wish with what you publish:

Sharing Your Content and Information

You own all of the content and information you post on Facebook, and you can control how it is shared through your privacy and application settings. In addition:

1. For content that is covered by intellectual property rights, like photos and videos (IP content), you specifically give us the following permission, subject to your privacy and application settings: you grant us a non-exclusive, transferable, sub-licensable, royalty-free, worldwide license to use any IP content that you post on or in connection with Facebook (IP License).

What triggered my mind change enough to disregard my feelings about the abovementioned was that I recently got disturbingly sickening details about Special Agent Gattuso and I was compelled to comment on it. However, it doesn’t yet go with the flow of my blog about him and I’m trying not to clutter up I HeArTE JADE with stuff about the guy -- not too much, that is. Plus, since pictures in web tables do not look pretty on blogspot, I wanted a convenient place to create a photo album for my My State Policeman site.

Mostly I think it’ll be interesting to finally have a corner where I’m not limited to specific topics; I can blather about anything. Hoorah!

For kicks, I’ve sent friend requests to various members of Law Enforcement who know me to see if they’ll be daring enough to accept.

/Waves At Virginia State Police High Tech Unit Surveillance Agent Kenneth Hicks

2011-09-19T13:13:00.006-04:00

Given that you seem to have taken a special interest in the other one from my post, I can tell you there are beaucoup more for your stash:

Oh, yeah, and congratulations on becoming my very first “K” entry label.

;)

How I Spent My Sunday Vacation

2011-09-18T23:35:00.004-04:00

This was supposed to be a strictly State-Police Sunday for me.

But...

Usually I’m content to “shoot and scoot;” -- you know, snag a photograph or twelve of a traffic stop or radar control then move on before subjecting myself to a vindictive-given sham citation.

It’s a little after 2:30PM. Impulsively I decide to swing by the Area Three Division Headquarters. Considering it’s a weekend, I believe there will be no chance of me encountering BCI Special Agent Jason Trent.

I motor the short distance down Police Tower Rd. Often there are specialty vehicles at the far expanse -- same place I almost got my first picture of SA Tony Gattuso -- however I don’t detect anything remarkable today. Instead I proceed into the front part of the lot at the main building on 3rd Division Loop. There are two cars present but since neither appear official, I drive around to the back. Now I remember why I don’t bother with this place on Sundays. The concrete square dominates the sparse smattering of metal on wheels stationed in betwixt the painted white lines. I circle to make my way out. I am about to go right at the T, intending to leave. I glance left, in case of unexpected oncomers, before pulling forward. Is that... oh my gosh... that looks like... Curiosity forces me to dart where I gazed.

I haven’t seen the Beater belonging to the Jefferson Area Drug Enforcement Task Force in eons but, wow, the ugly rusted Chevy sitting in the space close to the double towers sure seems to be it. So much time has passed, I can’t even remember its license plate. Without slowing, I edge the block of bricks and head west down the narrow plot of pavement out. An east-bound marked gray and blue cruiser is traveling in my direction. My brain is so focused on recalling the JADE tag, I devote nearly no attention to the VSP officer as we cross paths.

Because it’s bugging me, and for the sake of blog fodder, I return to where the abandoned Beater is. Once I break the corner, I observe the abovementioned Trooper’s prowler. I ignore it and bring my Toyota to a halt beyond its rear bumper. Feh, I’m not doing anything wrong. I tug my camera out of the bag and power it up. I adjust the settings, debate for another moment whether JFW-4327 is familiar, aim, and push the shutter. What in the world is it doing all the way the hell down here in my neck of the woods? They donate it to the VSP?

In my side mirror, I catch the Trooper approaching me.

I can direct quote the following because I’m all audio-record-y like that.

“Ma’am, is there something I can help you with?” asks the young man wearing the hat -- not especially politely, I might add.

“No.”

I glimpse his name badge then pivot my face away from him. He inquires about my purpose for being there.

“Oh. I wanted to take some pictures” I declare.

You can imagine how he handled the information.

His tone oozing with superfluous suspicion, he queries “What’s your name?” I supply my first. Once it dawns on him I’m going to leave him hanging on my last, he progresses to “Pictures? Of what?”

I’m not going to lie. “Well, of your --” And I totally blank on what it is. “Umm, that, uh, tank… thing.”

“Tank thing? Ma’am, I have no idea what you’re talking about.”

That’s great ‘cause I have no idea what I’m talking about, either. “You know, big, boxy thing -- it’s silver -- you use it for... I can’t remember what it’s called. Your Tac team uses it. I thought y’all kept it here.”

Though he’s now aware of what I’m referring to, he fails to assist me with its title. “We have several of them. It’s in Richmond.”

“Them” implies plural. “It’s” implies singular. Heh. I don’t point out his inconsistency. Rather, I state the obvious. “That’s far away.”

He glares at me through his pricey sunglasses. “Yes ma’am.”

“Okay” I smile.

He bids me a good afternoon and spins on his heels, returning to his ride.

What a d... I am not giving up on capturing a close-up of the possible JADE assault SUV. Dismissing the existence of the PITA with a Sig Sauer, I remain in position. I hold the Canon up again and zoom in on the Beater.

I spot the Trooper come tearing back at me full speed. Good grief. My eyes roll. I drop the device between my seat and door panel and pick up my cellular phone.

When the Trooper tries to communicate to me this time, I raise my index finger at him to shush him and make him wait. He listens silently to the monologue I have with my Samsung. When I decide he’s been adequately delayed, I hit the end call button and direct my brown orbs at him to signal he can continue.

At that point, the uniformed fellow gets quite aggressive. He notifies me that, although I am “not violating any laws,” I must vacate the premises or he will arrest me for “trespassing.”

“I can’t take pictures?” I question.

“You can take pictures during normal business hours” he responds and starts to ramble about opening at 9AM tomorrow and something-something speak to a supervisor then.

I can… take pictures… during… normal… business… hours?! Ahahahaha… Hahahahaha… Bwahaha… It is one of the most nonsensical things I’ve ever heard one of these guys say.

Ridiculousness aside, awful nice of him to give me a great opportunity to intel gather. “Who is your supervisor?” He identifies the higher-up.

“Do you have a number for him?”

“352…” He pauses as I grab paper and pen and jot down “Randy Campbell.”

He resumes “7…”

I realize he’s merely going to offer the general Appomattox number for the Virginia State Police, so I end up writing the rest of the digits -- 128 -- faster than he says them. “And your name?” I stare at his pin, as if I haven’t read it already.

“Buzzard. Trooper Buzzard. Like the bird.”

“Ha.” I mention my maiden name to him. “Like the bird.”

He nods. “It’s kind of the same thing, yeah.”

The uniform-donned male advises me to drive safe and I encourage him to do the same. As I exit I see he’s animatedly rushing into the small structure, his cell phone plastered to his ear.

I don’t trouble sneaking a still of Trooper Buzzard or his duty-sedan; I have enough of a site story as it is.

The most hilarious part is I got all this, believe it or not, just because I planned on scanning in, for my other site, a copy of a hotel receipt from one of my and VSP Special Agent Gattuso naughty romps. I’ve redacted his home address but notice he listed Virginia State Police under company when he checked in:

From The Pads Of Fingertips...

2011-09-14T07:59:00.006-04:00

Thanks to my operating, like, 25 thousand blogs, I’ve learned a lot about html, formatting, and specialty scripts. It’s remarkable how even a tiny string of coding can accomplish oodles. A key set of lines inserted for a site can reveal beaucoup information about visitors -- from their location right down to their bookmarks. Currently I am studying how to create web tables.

-- ♥ --

Also, I’ve discovered IP anonymizers seriously do not work the way folks assume they do. The gist of clandestine surfing software is to secret personal data. What happens, though, is that stats simply show the user went to a proxy then the proxy came to the site one hoped to conceal that he or she is visiting. In other words, when people go through a proxy to look at my sites, not only do I know who they are, I know that they are making an effort to hide who they are from me. Fascinating, eh? Bottom line: you want to be undetectable and unidentifiable? Stay. Off. The. Frigging. Internet. Definitely don’t come to my cyberspots.

-- ♥ --

Strangely enough the traffic to My State Policeman is practically double that of I HeArTE JADE. Daily readership includes, but is not limited to, Department of Justice (DOJ) and Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) personnel, a handful of County of Henrico employees, several distinct Troopers, the spouse of a Trooper, a Bedford Sheriff’s officer, an acquaintance of Brenda Priebe, and a freelance journalist from overseas. I’m not sure if they’re interested in Tony’s activities or mine.

-- ♥ --

Incidentally, judging by the relationship status recently added to Facebook, my State Policeman, Tony Gattuso, and pseudo wife apparently had a pseudo break-up; I guess that makes her pseudo single. I’m sorry, but, ya’d think that with all her education and all his training, they woulda come up with a little more innovative con. His repairing her house and mowing her lawn as she keeps better sight on him than a hawk does a snake just doesn’t represent separation. Lest it isn’t obvious by my tone, I don’t believe their split is legit.

-- ♥ --

Speaking of dumb and dirty State Policemen, on the 23rd of this month my bout with local VSP Trooper Brandon Long will be finalized. I intended weeks ago to finish my account of the interaction I had with him and Sgt. Bailey, however my hard drive died -- taking the audio of the exchange with it. It’s subsequently been resurrected plus backed-up, backed-up, backed-up. I hope to type the remainder of the report soon.

-- ♥ --

I got pulled over the other night for one of my tag lights being out. Of course when the officer ran my plate and license, the dispatcher kicked back all the gratuitous nonsense -- gang member with known drug ties, infamous anti-Law-Enforcement chick, ad vomitus. Next thing I know I’ve got a stationary train of three cruisers behind me with their bubbles flashing in full glory and a request to search my vehicle. Normally I would’ve refused on principle, but, feh, I was in the mood for some entertainment. “Knock yourselves out” I told them. I stood behind the car and chattered openly with one badge-wearer, watching as the pair of others nosed inside my auto. During the process, to check what kind of bulb I’d need to fix the violation I leaned over and barely bumped the unlit one. It illuminated immediately! Jeez. Only me.

The officials located the pouch of handgun ammunition, which I carry, again, on principle, in my trunk and emphasized worry. “What exactly is it about a bag of loose ammo that ‘concerns’ you? Whatcha think I’m gonna do -- flick a bullet at you?” I was impressed when the lawman I directed that at grinned. By that time, my demeanor had plainly put them all at ease anyway.

They let me go without a citation. I love me some decent cops.

-- ♥ --

“What about JADE?” you ask. “JADE who?” I reply. Ha! Well… my two years of “good behavior” are coming to an end. Freedom at last! Thing is, I can’t say I really give half a dang what the Jefferson Area Drug Enforcement Task Force or its members are doing these days. I suppose I HeArTE JADE might become a place for ecumenical Law Enforcement coverage, although, shoot, it’s kinda that already, huh? By the by, good call Chief Longo. ;)

-- ♥ --

In conclusion, albeit with zero proper segue, a new or replacement scanner is still top o’ my wish list. C’mon. Help a girl out?

-- ♥ --

Obligatory police-related photographs:

T-Bone Thursday

2011-09-01T20:22:00.011-04:00

News Of The Day

2011-08-31T20:00:00.002-04:00

Man gets 22 years for local drug ring
August 2011

A New York man was sentenced to 22 years in federal prison Wednesday after pleading guilty earlier this year to operating a large drug distribution ring through Charlottesville.

Rodney Wayne Barnes, 44, of Queens, N.Y., was sentenced in U.S. District Court in Charlottesville on charges of conspiring to distribute crack cocaine, heroin and powder cocaine and money laundering.

Barnes, who was been in jail since his arrest in July 2010, was the kingpin of a drug distribution ring that brought drugs through Charlottesville to other cities in Virginia and North Carolina.

His drug activities attracted police attention after residents on Altavista Avenue reported suspicious activities going on in a neighboring house, officials said at his guilty plea earlier this year.

Ron Huber, assistant U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Virginia, said the sentence brings an end to a drug case that brought drugs through Charlottesville for more than a year.

“[The Jefferson Area Drug Enforcement task force] did a great job in this case,” Huber said. “Once they got word [Barnes] was bringing drugs into the area they got to working on it and broke up the ring.”

Barnes’ 14 co-defendants have also entered guilty pleas to their roles in the conspiracy and have been sentenced, Huber said. Those sentences ranged from 16 months to more than 144 months in federal prison, he said.

(Source)

Care To Guess What Sort Of Mood I’m In?

2011-08-29T13:34:00.005-04:00

investigation
mexicans at the maya
JADE Task Force bad boys

♥

There once was a cop from Charlottesville
Who gulped down his booze like it was swill
And when he was toast
The Boys In Blue would he roast
Giving me grist for the mill.

♥

trees strewn, storm got ya
you ‘n she leave at eight-ish
your same life, juiceless.

♥

The badges from the County
Guns, tasers, and bounty
The men wear it all proud
So the chicks will be wowed
And go for an on-duty mount-y.

♥

trooperman, my crush
en route to division one
‘til we meet again

All In Good Fun

2011-08-25T19:34:00.005-04:00

Huge-known fact: When I cruise around, I will take photographs of random officers and later occasionally mock said officers on the Internet.

Little-known fact: When officers cruise around, they will take photographs of random persons and later occasionally mock said persons on the Internet.

The Blog Is Mightier Than The Badge -- Henrico County Court (Part 4)

2011-08-19T22:15:00.011-04:00

(Part1) (Part 2) (Part 3)

Uncertain of what SA Tony Gattuso would be alleging on this date, prior to court I’d compiled and organized an enormous stack of, well, everything I possibly reckoned could be applicable.

Plausibly Tony would cite the blogs -- yes, both of them, though one hadn’t existed at the time of my last judicial appearance -- his girlfriend, their residence, his and my romance and our sole short-term break-up, the Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms Agent’s trial, and the Virginia State Police’s both criminal and internal affairs investigations of him and their outcomes.

Hence here I was in court armed with copies of chat logs, emails, and images. Though they were printed out in their entirety to preserve context, I’d highlighted strictly the germane. Additionally, I had my phone which contained recordings and text messages. No less than a hundred pieces of documentation, I swear. My ally had done everything from laugh to shake her head in shock going over them on the trip up.

While Tony had been talking, I’d been carefully rearranging the above items to address each of his comments in the order he’d made them.

I’d actually placed some stuff related to Tony and I regarding the ATF John Stoltz harassment garbage on top but chose not to correct his half-lie. Meh. It’s not even worth moving my tongue for.

Instead, I expelled a single sentence that Tony was cognizant from the get-go about me, and how my site operated.

As an example of Tony’s true sentiment about the blog, I provided the judge with a written exchange Tony and I had about the posting of his vehicle on my site months ago and a printout of the entry itself -- made fifteen minutes subsequent to our discussing it. After the judge asked me to clarify whose email address was whose, she read his approval, his jokes about his VSP-issued Ford Expedition becoming “famous,” and his agreement to let me know if his colleagues said anything about it to him. I followed that up with an email received by me three days later, which bore an attachment of a photograph of another VA State Police vehicle. The email exposed Tony himself had taken the picture and urged me to post it.

Next I submitted to the judge the I HeArTE JADE entry in its entirety showing the home Tony lives in. To demonstrate the abode was not some secret hideaway, I presented a paper version of a real estate website that had an identical photograph to mine plus an address and assorted data, and then the government website for Petersburg, VA, property information depicting, again, an identical photograph and address, along with owner’s name and more. With my finger I tapped the date stamp, set off in hot pink marker, of my own site entry, and read it aloud: February of this year.

The judge had started to voice something, then abruptly cut herself off. “That’s from February?” she inquired. I responded in the affirmative. Her eyebrows shot up. She focused her gaze on Tony and in stern tone said to him “It concerns me that is from February and you are only now bringing it up.” Uh-huh. That’s the reason he didn’t print the whole blog post with the picture he’d introduced; he didn’t want to yield the date. I am heavens-glad I brought mine.

That’s when I learned Tony really, really, sucks at being impromptu. Without a script, he rambled something awful. He said he’d begged me to take the pictures down but that I replied I didn’t care about him; he said he requested that I not blog about him but that I replied I didn’t care about him; he said he reminded me that I protect my sources. Did he just admit in open court he’s one of my sources? Yikes. And guess what he said I replied? Right; that I didn’t care about him. He drags me into court, fibs, and then whines that I don’t care about him?! I felt like doing a face-plant on the polished wood in front of us. He contended I was publishing our communications and writing about our intimacy. “I just don’t know what she’s capable of anymore.” Yeah. I might possibly… make a typo.

It went downhill for Special Agent Anthony Gattuso Jr. from there.

I countered every argument he delivered by whipping up a sheet for the judge from the stash I’d carried in.

Tony articulated he’d attempted to dissolve our relationship in mid-to-late 2010. I fanned a substantial sheaf in the air as proof he’d euphorically continued our affair months past then.

“I have nude pictures he sent me recently of himself” I announced. The judge quickly shot her palm up and uttered “I don’t need to see those.” Aww… okay, but you’re totally missing out.

Tony went into damage control mode. He reiterated he’d tried to terminate things, this time modifying his story slightly with assertions that he was afraid if he didn’t stay with me I would write about our involvement. It was the only moment during testimony I looked straight at him. “You were scared so you tried to end it with me by sending me nude pictures of yourself?” I moved my gaze away immediately. The judge waited for Tony’s riposte but he had no comeback for that one.

I maintained Tony was pursuing me all along, enthusiastically at that. Drawing attention to my pile of evidence, I referenced his ongoing contact with me, most of which he’d initiated -- as fresh as two weeks earlier, the very night before he’d acquired the preliminary protective order.

I described the statcounter on my site which tracks visitors and their search terms. I told the judge that Tony had often sent me messages through the I HeArTE JADE navigation bar -- including “hearting jade in Richmond” and even a jealously-produced growl. I had emails and Google chats where we’d bantered about his doing so.

I gave the judge the Stat Counter Internet logs to examine. She requested I explain what she was studying. I indicated the part where, on July 31, 2011, Tony utilized the search field and what he’d typed in it: see me tomrrow before work........;). She wanted to hear how I knew it was from Tony. I had her flip to the first page to verify this particular log contained records exclusively from the Virginia State Police. I said Tony was the only one from their agency to communicate with me in that manner and that he was the only one I knew who used weird ellipses. “See the long string of dots after the message?” From all the Gmails and Gchats the judge had gone over thus far, she could perceive it was congruent with Tony’s writing habits. Plus I have no control over the statcounter nor the ability to generate the Virginia State Police’s IP and Richmond location.

Tony tried to deny it came from him, but by then it was clear the sharp judge wasn’t falling for his bunk.

She asked Tony if I had ever threatened him. He began his answer by supposing a theoretical someone may use the material on my blog to target him due to his being a cop… then ran on to my maplink tagging where the Virginia State Police Surveillance Unit is… blah, blah, blah… until finally wrapping it up with the fact that where he lives is under lone ownership of his girlfriend. Whoa. What a tangent. None of that means I’m dangerous. Wait; from my photograph without an address, dumb yet hostile criminals are going to find a dwelling that isn’t even associated with your name and harm you?

Based on her expression, the judge seemed as unconvinced as me. Given that Tony hadn’t answered her question, she repeated it to him exactly. “Has she ever threatened you?” “Uh, no” he confessed. The judge gave him one more opportunity. “Has she threatened you indirectly?” “No.”

Tony commenced blubbering about my having a cyberjoint devoted specifically to him. The judge promptly enlightened the man. “Even if I grant you this order, I can’t stop her from blogging about you.” Booyah! This judge is uber on. the. ball.

For roughly half a minute the courtroom was silent. Then…

Case dismissed.

To the stares of humored onlookers, I literally danced all the way out of the courthouse.

I can’t help but wonder if Tony didn’t deliberately sabotage himself at the hearing. One of the things I loved about my State Policeman is his intelligence. It wasn’t smart of him to pull this stunt, period, but to be as unprepared in court as he was besides -- not that he had anything to use against me anyway -- is puzzling. I mean, honestly, he must’ve anticipated his solo performance and meager three photocopies were going to be no match against the tons of my hard evidence, which he knew I had, and a deponent.

Despite what he might’ve led his agency and his girlfriend to believe, Tony and I had a beautiful relationship for a year-and-a-half. I’m ultra-sad this officer I was topsy-turvy in-love with turned out to be nothing more than a dirty cop and con artist.

Good for Special Agent Gattuso neither the VSP nor his sweetheart mind his behavior. Good for me they don’t have to.

First He, Then Me -- Henrico County Court (Part 3)

2011-08-19T21:38:00.012-04:00

(Part 1) (Part 2)

The uniformed fellow manning the metal detector at the Henrico County Courthouse slipped part of my evidence -- a pretty green cellular -- into a tiny manila envelope and sealed it with sticker tape before placing it back in my hand and waving me on.

Scanning for my name, my belly filled with imaginary and, I should add, rambunctious, butterflies, I perused the dockets at each of the thresholds leading to the four available courtrooms. The purple, silver, gray and black, high heels on my feet clicked rhythmically as I made my way across the long stretch of floor. Last door. Figures! There it was, adjacent to the person’s name who was responsible for my being there: Gattuso Jr., Anthony.

I pointed it out to the friend slash witness who’d come with me. I noticed the time “9 AM” scrawled in red pen above the respective civil case. Instantly my eyes swelled in panic. According to the paperwork I’d been served, the hearing was scheduled for 9:30. My thoughts reflected a sudden overwhelming feeling of anxiety. Oh my God! What if I’m late? What if it already happened, and because I wasn’t here he won by default? Can I appeal? This bites.

Upon entering the courtroom, my trepidation only worsened. I didn’t spot my opponent, Tony, anywhere amid the smattering of people inside. Earlier in the week I’d hypothesized he, knowing how ridiculous this was, would perhaps not even attend but now, considering the possibility what we were present for had already transpired, not seeing him intensified my worry.

As my companion joined the various folks seated on the solid pews, I approached one of the lawmen up front and touched him on the arm to quietly get his attention. I conveyed my problem to him. I inhaled a sigh of assuagement when he returned from checking with the clerk and informed me it was indeed set for the time I’d been given. Thanking him, I sat in the open expanse next to my comrade.

Seconds later, the same bailiff approached me and queried whether I had met with a victim/witness advocate yet. I smiled and shook my head negatively, guessing what he supposed. Leaning towards my friend, I whispered “Isn’t it funny how they assume because I’m female I’m the ‘victim’?”

Catching bits of conversation among the court employees, I gathered which woman was a victim/witness advocate and overheard her say something to the gist that she would bring in the complainant. That must mean he’s here. Hahaha… I can’t believe it!

In the meantime, the judge, a plain yet attractive African-American lady, excused herself from her bench.

Whenever I’m in court -- either as a defendant or casual observer -- like most, if I hear the door behind me gap I pivot around to check out the incomer. During one of these instances on this day, I glimpsed Tony. Dang, he is so handsome in business attire. I told the gal pal who’d gone with me that I’d never seen Tony in head-to-toe official garb before. She replied “Well you’ve seen him in his birthday suit; now you’ve seen him in a regular suit.”

Shortly thereafter, the judge exited from her chambers, settled in her chair, and called our names. This is it.

Standing in front of her Honor, from left to right: I, the person I’d identified as a victim/witness advocate, Tony, and another man who was apparently also a victim/witness advocate. Sheesh. How many of these freakin’ people does he need?!

In the side-telling, Tony went first.

Much like VSP Trooper Brandon Long had when he and I battled out my “improper stopping on highway” traffic ticket in the Bedford Court, Tony’s words were exceedingly deceptive and designed to manipulate in his favor.

Reading from a typed leaf, Mr. Gattuso, naturally, kicked things off by introducing himself as a Special Agent with the Virginia State Police. Hey judge, I’m a cop. Wink, wink. Nudge, nudge. Furthermore, he described his work in the Surveillance Unit as “covert.” Hell, why not just claim to be an undercover?

Over the last year and a half, Tony had always called my site by its name “I heart jade.” Eight seconds in a courtroom and he was calling it “I hate jade.” He afforded the judge a printout of my blog banner, encouraging her to take note of its capitalization. She displayed the document to me. I merely nodded, not bothering to rectify the title-misrepresentation. Why get hung up on extraneous details?

Tony didn’t stop there as a spin doctor. He declared my blog “could be construed as anti-Law-Enforcement.” Oh? Then how come you, Mr. Law Enforcement member, were supplying me with content for an anti-Law-Enforcement site? I remained mute about that assertion as well.

He disclosed I had “been arrested and prosecuted for stalking.” Of course he neglected to mention that not only had I not been convicted, but that he had assisted me with the charge.

He went on to report I had posted a photograph of his house on I HeArTE JADE, and labels with his name appeared on said blog too. He pretended the activity was illegal. What the…? He knows I haven’t committed a crime! The judge interrupted his speech to tell him that was irrelevant to the matter at hand and that the allegation was beyond her scope of authority. Hmm… that was… interesting… of her to concede.

Tony extended a duplicate of the snapshot I’d published of his house, which the judge accepted. The picture was huge, spanning the full length of the 8x11; I’m not sure the original version was included in toto. By printing it like that, it failed to even reveal where it came from. That seriously makes no sense.

Then came my chance to defend myself.

(Part 4)

PPO -- Henrico County Court (Part 2)

2011-08-17T22:47:00.021-04:00

(Part 1)

On July 31, 2011, Tony sent me a message through the navigation bar of I HeArTE JADE: meet me tomrrow before work.......;). I took the winking emoticon as a sign he was in high spirits, and looked forward to seeing him.

Unfortunately I was running late the next morning which prevented me from arriving where I’d intended; instead I cruised to the plaza where Tony’s office is located. Also unfortunately, Tony when he arrived was, by then, in a severe funk. He was stressed and depressed.

Though his yo-yo-ing had gotten tiresome, I loved him so I let him blow off steam. After he shouted for several minutes, he calmed down. He remarked I couldn’t understand what he was going through. He mentioned his mom was sad, his dad was confused, his girlfriend was mad, and he was hurting me. He verbalized that he thought everyone would be better off without him then he held his thumb and index finger about a quarter-inch apart and announced “I am this close to eating my gun.”

It was the third reference in a month he’d made to suicide. Though I didn’t necessarily feel he was going to hightail it home and put a bullet in his head, I was really worried about him; if he was saying those kind of things, he ought to talk to someone who was equipped to deal with such.

His mental health was more important than our future together. At 10:30 AM, I buzzed the same Sergeant as before and relayed my concerns. He seemed sympathetic and said he would call Tony’s Surveillance Unit to let them know.

At 4-something that afternoon, I returned to the lot at Tony’s place of business to find out if he was okay. Within moments, two marked local police cars entered and the operators who got out of them approached me. One asked for my name, which I provided. He requested I step out of my vehicle. I wanted to know why. He had a “Preliminary Protective Order” for me. Seriously? At least I wasn’t under arrest.

I was cooperative and the lawmen were extremely nice, answering a bunch of questions I posited. The hearing date scheduled was in two weeks, on August 15, 2011. One of the guys had to leave to fetch a copy for me, hence I hung out with the one that remained. Obviously out of curiosity, he fished for information and I ended up sharing with him a fair amount of the story of my and Tony’s affair. When the departing cop came back, he was trailed by a third. I voiced fears about accidentally running into Tony, who would be out of work at any minute, and they kindly volunteered to stand by until I’d had enough time to hit the highway.

The only thing I could think of as I drove off was that Tony couldn’t have possibly instigated this without coercion. Good grief. He’d. Told. Me. To. Come. See. Him. And I had proof! Best as I could figure, since my earlier phone call to the IAD revealed to them Tony had violated the terms of his punishment by being in contact with me, either the VSP or pseudo-wife had backed him into a corner over it. It wasn’t unreasonable to imagine that Tony, to shield himself, had insisted it was I who’d contacted him. No one other than Tony or me knew he’d initiated the get-together. I could just hear him being advised in response to take out a so-called restraining order. What might he say to that: uh, ah, uhm, no, I can’t? That would seem plenty odd. Then again, was this his version of damage control or was it anger- or embarrassment-induced retaliatory? Regardless, it was the last straw. I could tolerate his having a girlfriend, his insecurities, and his PMS-ing, but did he for realiously believe I would let him tie a protective order to my name just so he could cover his butt and save face? Talk about your blatant abuse of the system!

I decided to attempt to file a complaint against him with the Virginia State Police, mainly to gain some insight. I spoke with three Richmond-area VSP individuals: Blackman, Woodhouse, and Moore. All were familiar with me. Blackman and Moore were actually polite; Woodhouse, Tony’s direct supervisor, on the other hand was an obnoxious jerk. I couldn’t determine from any of our dialogues whether Tony had lied to them or they were lying to me. As I’d surmised, they refused to let me make my grievance official.

There was nothing left for me to do but call the Henrico County Court to learn exactly what Tony had claimed to get the temporary restraint, so I could prepare a defense. The clerk had no idea -- “he went in front of a judge” -- however I did garner Tony had waited until 3:00 PM -- approximately five hours after my chat with the Sergeant -- to do so.

I know what y’all are thinking. Boomslang asked me if perhaps Tony was merely trying break it off with me all this time. I weighed out the possibility. The thing is, even when Tony was down or strained, he was consistently communicating with me -- and in a sweet, flirty, romantic manner besides. I have the evidence to show it.

(Part 3)

The Set-Up -- Henrico County Court (Part 1)

2011-08-17T22:40:00.009-04:00

Way back near the end of February, 2011, my State Policeman, Tony Gattuso, sent word that he, because of his relationship with me, was under investigation by his agency, the Virginia State Police. They’d found out about us due to Law Enforcement’s illegal seizure and search of my property in late 2010.

Originally the VSP was treating their probe of Tony as a criminal matter, inferring he was one of my beloved sources. If I recall correctly, Tony told me it was a fellow named Lyons who was handling the case against him. Tony wrote that he could no longer have contact with me during the process lest he get fired. The VA State Police, unable to unearth Tony’s illegal activities, eventually dumped it in the lap of their Internal Affairs Division weeks later.

When I first heard the news, I was devastated. I even decided to stop updating my site. Frequently over the years I’d invariably avowed that I would blog “as long as nobody got hurt.” Well, suddenly someone I cared very much about was being hurt.

I’d always suspected that any officer caught with me would be dealt with as a “traitor.” Once I knew it to be true for certain, I immediately alerted Boomslang and JumpOut. I reluctantly gave them the option to distance themselves from me to avoid their being subjected to the same fate as Tony; I was on top of the world when each of them declined.

Despite Tony’s assertion that he couldn’t interact with me at all anymore, he continued to keep in touch. It was almost as if nothing had changed. We still exchanged emails and texts, still saw each other. We still had a rockin’ hot sex life, though there was a brief period where it wasn’t as often. The only difference was Tony had developed intense mood swings. He’d go from being supernaturally elated to angst-riddled. Off and on he’d tell me he couldn’t have contact with me then he’d turn right around and contact me.

Ultimately the Virginia State Police concluded their scrutiny of Tony. This past June, 2011, according to Tony, my lover was reprimanded for his involvement with me and the disciplinary action taken forbid him to have contact with me for three years. I was livid. Maybe they have a right to control personnel during working hours but how dare the VSP dictate who its employees associate with even on their personal time? Tony said “It’s because it’s you.”

I rang up their IAD to hash it out. I spoke to a Sergeant acquainted with the situation but, of course, got essentially nowhere.

Tony and I discussed ways to bypass the order without risking him losing his job. I rattled off a few tactics Boomslang, JumpOut, and I use to avoid detection and records.

Tony and I remained closely connected until August 1, 2011.

(Part 2)

News Of the Wired

2011-08-17T16:23:00.003-04:00

Charlottesville Man Gets 10 Years on Drug Charges
August 15, 2011

A Charlottesville man, who previously pleaded guilty to possessing powder cocaine, was sentenced Monday in Charlottesville.

Roderick Lee Johnson, 57, previously pleaded guilty to one count of possessing with the intent to distribute over 500 grams of powder cocaine. He was sentenced to ten years in prison and eight years of supervised release thereafter.

"Mr. Johnson has been justly punished for his role in a drug business that operated in Charlottesville for several years," United States Attorney Timothy J. Heaphy said.

Johnson was charged in January 2011 after an investigation lead [sic] authorities to believe he was involved in drug trafficking. During the execution of a search warrant at Johnson's residence, investigators discovered over half a kilogram of powder cocaine.

The investigation of the case was conducted by the Jefferson Area Drug Task Force, Albemarle County Police Department and the Albemarle County Commonwealth Attorney's Office.

(Source)

(Western District of Virginia Press Release)

I Happy-Danced All The Way Out Of The Courthouse

2011-08-15T23:36:00.005-04:00

OMG... Hide The Epsom!

2011-08-11T21:50:00.007-04:00

4 Arrested in Bath Salt Ring Bust
August 11, 2011

The Augusta County Sheriff's Office has arrested four people for allegedly distributing bath salts in Craigsville.

The Rush Drug Task Force raided the suspects homes and found more than $10,000 worth of the illegal drug. Over the past few weeks, multiple people in the Craigsville area have died from an overdose of these drugs.

Holly Sprouse, Billy Ryder, Timothy Lancaster and Kenneth Cash were charged with the possession of Schedule I narcotic drugs. Sprouse was also charged with distribution of the drugs.

The task force raided three homes on Augusta Springs Road and one on the 3800 block of Little Calk Pasture Highway.

Police believe the suspects were crossing state lines to buy the illegal drugs and traffic them back to the county. The Federal Drug Enforcement Administration is also involved in the investigation because of the alleged trafficking.

The Augusta County police and the DEA are continuing to investigate the case.

(Source)

Okay so it wasn’t a JADE operation, but can’t you just picture members of the Jefferson Area Drug Enforcement Task Force rolling around on the street slugging it out with ~~Bath Salt~~ Mephedrone dealers? Hahaha...

JADE Rock(s)!

2011-08-11T21:34:00.004-04:00

Man pleads guilty to drug charges from 1 month after leaving prison
Published: August 10, 2011

A Charlottesville man involved in a 2008 shooting of a juvenile pleaded guilty Wednesday to unrelated drug, weapons and probation violation charges.

Pee Wee Carmello Martinez, 22, pleaded guilty in Charlottesville Circuit Court to charges of possession of cocaine with the intent to distribute, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, possession of cocaine and a probation violation.

Martinez was arrested in February after drugs were found in a car he was traveling in, prosecutors said. He had been out of prison for less than a month at the time of his arrest.

Martinez was one of two people arrested on Feb. 21 during a traffic stop on Interstate 64 in eastern Albemarle County. Members of the Jefferson Area Drug Enforcement task force found more than 2 ounces of powder cocaine in the vehicle at the time of the stop, Albemarle County Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney Elliott Casey said in court Wednesday.

The driver of the car, 21-year-old Deshanta Trent of Charlottesville, was found guilty in July in Albemarle County Circuit Court on a charge of purchasing a firearm for a convicted felon, court records show.

After the pair was arrested, investigators found a loaded 9 mm handgun and an additional 3.2 grams of crack cocaine in Trent’s Charlottesville apartment, prosecutors said. Prosecutors said Trent bought the gun for Martinez in the weeks before they were arrested.

Martinez admitted after his arrest to traveling up to New York to buy drugs and said the cocaine belonged to him, Casey said. Martinez had also sold drugs to members of JADE in the weeks before the traffic stop, prosecutors said.

(More)

PD In My City

2011-08-02T20:42:00.011-04:00

Local Law Enforcement members where I live are pretty darn nifty. Most of them are nice and the few that aren’t, aren’t mean either. Overall grade: A+

That last one’s my favorite -- picture, that is, not the officer. ;)

Tacet Thursday

2011-07-21T16:13:00.010-04:00

40 In A 45

2011-07-21T15:56:00.000-04:00

Boosting Gattuso Google Rankings

2011-07-18T14:48:00.002-04:00

I added a recent picture of my Virginia State Policeman, Special Agent Anthony (Tony) Gattuso, to the sidebar of one of my other sites.

Notice just the hint of a smile on his face? The image doesn’t do him justice; he’s positively gorgeous!

DC Federal Bureau Of Investigation Demands End To ID Checking

2011-07-13T13:11:00.003-04:00

Shout Out To All My Department Of Justice Readers, Yo!

2011-07-13T13:01:00.003-04:00

FBI Dodge Charger XVX-7684

2011-07-13T12:50:00.001-04:00

News That Makes You Go “Hmm…”

2011-07-08T14:26:00.003-04:00

Charlottesville man arrested during jail visit

A Charlottesville man was arrested on drug charges Sunday when he went to visit someone in the Charlottesville-Albemarle Regional Jail, police officials said.

The arrest comes less than five months after Indio Martinez, 22, was released from state prison for his role in a 2008 shooting of a Charlottesville teenager.

Martinez was arrested on Sunday on two counts of distribution of cocaine, according to information from the Albemarle County Police Department.

He was being held without bond Wednesday in the jail where he was arrested.

Court records show an Albemarle County grand jury indicted Martinez on the drug charges on June 6.

Albemarle County Police Sgt. Darrell Byers said jail officials called the police Sunday evening after Martinez showed up for inmate visitation.

“It is routine for the jail to check for warrants when someone comes in for visitation,” Byers said on Wednesday. “We got a call from the jail that a wanted person was in their lobby and we went over and picked him up.”

Byers said he did not know specifics about the charges against Martinez or if they are related to the drug case against his older brother, Pee Wee Carmello Martinez, also 22.

Pee Wee Carmello Martinez was arrested on Feb. 21 after members of the Jefferson Area Drug Enforcement task force initiated a traffic stop on Interstate 64 in eastern Albemarle County, according to a JADE media release at the time.

At the time of Pee Wee Carmello Martinez’ arrest, investigators said there were more arrests expected in the case.

(More)

Electrochemical Cells

2011-07-07T17:30:00.007-04:00

I remember way back when, Detective Paul Best informed me his primary role in the Jefferson Area Drug Enforcement (JADE) Task Force was playing electronic handy-man; he’d fix up the dilapidated devices employed by their officers so that they would be in at least quasi-functional shape for surveillance operations. While we spoke in length about the sorry condition of much of their gear, I never thought to ask him about what powers the equipment -- a point that’s kind of weird for somebody like me, who thrives on minutia, to neglect. Too late now to fish for such information from any of their members myself.

These are the batteries utilized by the Virginia State Police (VSP) Criminal Intelligence Division (CID) Technical Support Unit (TSU):

According to my super-sexy source, the VSP are only permitted to use each electricity supplier once per investigation because they can’t risk having an old one go dead when they’re surreptitiously, say, taping a suspect confessing illegal activities to a wire-wearing snitch. Makes sense.

I’m told, however, at the Parham Road Richmond office, the voltaic piles are recycled. Upon removal they’re dropped in a box, and Special Agents and Troopers are free to take and install them in incidental contraptions non-essential to work-conducted procedures.

It may or may not be ironic that the AAs which run the camera I tote to shoot pictures of VA State Policemen and the AAAs which drive the Olympus I carry to also record them came out of that very box. It definitely is, though, in my opinion, wicked funny.

Sentencing And... Stereotyping ?

2011-06-27T21:26:00.006-04:00

June 2011
Large meth ring operated out of Southwood trailer park

Two men are set to be sentenced today in federal court in Charlottesville for their role in a drug-trafficking pipeline that funneled Mexican methamphetamine into Southwood Mobile Home Park, according to officials.

From Southwood, the meth was parceled out for sale as far away as Lexington, according to Brian McGinn of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Virginia.

Charlottesville itself wasn’t a major market for the drug, said city police Lt. Don Campbell, who heads the local narcotics task force. Rather, said Assistant U.S. Attorney Nancy Healey, the trailer park was used as a distribution hub...

Confidential witnesses have told police that at least as early as December 2009 dealers were making the trips to Georgia...

Excessive cutting of the drug was sometimes a source of conflict among the dealers, Campbell said...

The meth coming in from Mexico is cooked in labs there, and is quite pure to start with, according to Campbell.

“It’s not the cheap biker-type meth or the meth that people cook locally,” he said.

Even people relatively low in the now-dismantled organization were selling relatively large quantities of the drug, Campbell said.

Campbell described the local operation as being led by Salmeron-Duque, with a more loosely organized group below him.

“They said that they were the main source for meth [in Central Virginia] at that time,” Campbell said.

(More)

Two other articles, neither of which mention the Jefferson Area Drug Enforcement Task Force’s role:

Two Men Involved in Meth Ring Face Jail Time and Deportation

Two Men Sentenced in Connection with Albemarle County Drug Ring

Speed And State Police Don’t Mix

2011-06-27T11:21:00.005-04:00

(I was only going to post this on my VA State Police blog, but this one gets more worldwide readership and the other has mostly statewide viewers.)

State Trooper Dies In Weekend Crash In King George County

A 28-year-old Virginia State Police trooper died on Friday night when his patrol car was struck at an intersection while he was responding to a call for assistance.

Adam M. Bowen, a resident of Warsaw, Va., was pronounced dead at the scene on Route 3 (Kings Highway) near the intersection with Madison Drive.

According to the police report, Bowen's Ford Crown Victoria patrol car was passing through the intersection westbound when it collided with a Hyundai Elantra. The patrol car left the road and struck a traffic light pole with enough impact to split the car in half. The front end continued into a parking lot and hit three vehicles.

The driver and passenger in the Hyundai Elantra that Bowen hit were transported to Mary Washington Hospital and treated for minor injuries.

(Source)

The pictures of the demolished cruiser actually make me physically ill to see:

It’s heartbreaking.

Keyword Activity

2011-06-23T20:04:00.008-04:00

In no particular order, these recent terms brought site viewers:

jade task force details
albemarle county officer quillon
mike marshall uva police
da maneira que eu gosto
drug bust keswick 26 robert st
nick rudman charlottesville va
tony gattuso va
37 ford in side sun visor
albemarle co. va.statistics illegal drugs
craig sorokti
Dinwiddie county drug bust
drug raids in charlottesville va.
Ian Diner Meth
intellectual types
jade taskforce
mystatepoliceman.blogspot. com
tavis coffin police officer charlottesville va
triple homicide in greene county

Based on the amount of search hits I get daily on him, there are either an awful lot of Craig Soroktis running around or the Charlottesville guy is one popular fella.

Sometimes I think when it comes to name queries, it’s just the officers looking themselves up.

I’m a little disappointed to find out tony gattuso va ranks a sorry #48 on Google. But that’s probably because I have him on my site as Anthony Gattuso.
Tony Gattuso
Virginia
Tony Gattuso
State
Tony Gattuso
Police
Tony Gattuso
Special
Tony Gattuso
Agent
Tony Gattuso
VA
There. That oughta fix that, eh?

mystatepoliceman.blogspot. com [sic] is so very specific. I’m elated my newest blog about Richmond Petersburg Virginia State Police Special Agent Anthony (Tony) Gattuso is garnering such explicit attention.

Seeing “intellectual types,” “jade taskforce,” and “drug …” lookups together make me laugh.

I have no idea why I HeArTE JADE would appear as a result for a 37 Ford anything.

My favorite still rocks the search engine wars:

And So It Begins...

2011-06-21T16:45:00.004-04:00

Just being Honest....

from D J
to TFJADE
date Fri, Feb 26, 2010 at 11:54 AM
subject Just being Honest....
mailed-by gmail.com
signed-by gmail.com

What kind of car do you have?

Not being ugly or confrontational.... I just don't want my picture taken when I walk into one of the offices.

I just missed being in one of your pictures by not much once.

Just being honest.

:)

(mystatepoliceman.blogspot.com)

Hmm... Can A Crack Pipe Be Categorized As A “Gadget”?

2011-06-20T22:35:00.010-04:00

Barred from observing JADE-conducted operations, I’ve been occasionally studying, shall we say, the flip-side of their local drug world instead. It’s certainly been interesting socializing with dealers and users, although I admit it’s not quite as much fun as watching members of my favorite Task Force in action. For one thing, despite that some of them are undeniably crafty in the ways they run or do their illegal business, the drug scenists don’t exactly have… professional, if you will, training in their given field; for another, not every single one of these people is armed to the hilt.

Unlike I often do with Law Enforcement, I don’t dare record these contacts. After all, I figure -- I hope, anyway -- officers are kind of limited in how they can react upon finding I’m getting them on tape. I imagine dope-fiends and cocaine sellers aren’t gonna be as inhibited in their responses if any of them ever were to discover a wire on me.

I’ve got a few good stories probably worthy of posting on I HeArTE JADE, however, for obvious reasons, I’d have to be ultra careful not to provide the slightest identifying information about persons involved.

In the meanwhile, here is some random stuff I’ve learned:

For all their paranoia about “doing time,” dealers really. don’t. care. about. JADE. Sure a few will mention the boys, but taking serious precautionary measures to avoid being hooked-up? Yeah, not so much.

Adverse to the area’s public’s popular belief, there is more than a fair share of gangbangers present in the ‘hood, several of whom have ties to New York, one with what I’d deem an impressive Los Angeles connection.

Contrary to what I’ve repeatedly read about the hardcore substances crowd not being so share-y with their narcotics, they’re just as quick and friendly as the pro-marijuana masses to offer “wanna get high?” ‘Course that might merely be ‘cause I’m a girl; albeit I’ve had females extend the invitation as well. And none seem to take issue with a “no thanks,” always my response -- good gawd I’ve got enough going on in my head without adding mind-altering materials to the mix.

They’ll also happily give up their paraphernalia if someone tells them she needs it for “later”:

Hey, it’s not my fault the guy didn’t think to ask if I was planning to smoke crack with his pipe or just take a picture of it!

What Happened: The Trooper Long Report (Part 1)

2011-06-13T22:44:00.009-04:00

(It’s been, like, forever, since I wrote wrote anything, but, yesterday, something pleasing happened to inspire me; so, lessee if I remember how to type out a semi-literate story.)

The scene screamed “potential perfect photograph.” Across the roadway from me sat a Virginia State Policeman’s car. The blue and gray patrol vehicle all by its lonesome in the lot, at rest by a special gasoline pump, was beautifully reflecting the afternoon sun. I trained my device on it and quickly netted a few stills. Know what would be even better? To capture it at another angle, closer. Crossing the four lanes that separated me from my objective, I, intending to catch the setting from the nearer side of the street, passed by the VSP’s small area office in Bedford County with nary a glance and spun a U-turn at the overlooking Super 8 Motel. In my cute Toyota, now rolling downhill at practically a snail’s pace, I cautiously raised my camera with my right hand and pressed its shutter.

“Stop! What are you doing? Stop right there!” Apparently the operator of the cruiser -- very much to my astonishment, I might add -- was actually present attending the fill-up of his government-issued auto. Oops!

Never one to disobey a member of Law Enforcement, I followed his instruction; I pressed the brake to the floor, bringing my wheels to an immediate halt in the road. 10mph to 0mph in less than one surprised breath. Standing approximately 120 feet away, his face contorted in rage, the Trooper furiously pointed and shouted at me “You can’t take my picture!”

Since that technically wasn’t an order, and armed with the knowledge I have the legal right to ignore his assertion, I depressed the snapshot button several times succinctly.

The apoplectic man took a few steps toward me. Sensing the uniformed dude and I were going to have words over the topic, in one move I plunked the camera on the seat next to mine and scooped up my audio recorder from the console and activated it.

“I can so take your picture” I slung back, just loud enough for him to hear me. I watched his nostrils burst out as his voice exploded “No you can’t!” Sheesh. Here we go.

He’d been steadily moving in my direction and I waited for him to span the final hurdle that divided us: a grass-covered knoll. Perhaps it was the heat of the day combined with the heat of his temper that prompted him to rethink the trek. Through gritted teeth, the balance of his body rigid on the concrete at the edge of the greenery, he magisterially declared “You are not allowed to take my picture.”

Is he one of those jerks that genuinely believe it’s against the law to take a picture of a policeman? Or is he bluffing, with the hope that I don’t know any better?

It’s tough to be defiant of an officer who is saying something so authoritatively and with such conviction. If I, considering the circumstances and his tone, were an uninformed citizen, I might’ve been convinced I was doing a deed prohibited by law; I may have even apologized for my actions and his upset. Fortunately I am savvy on statutes concerning this particular “crime.” I proceeded to give the uneducated badge-possessor what amounts to a verbal booty-kicking about a photographer’s rights. It didn’t take but about four sentences from my mouth for the man to realize he wasn’t messin’ with no twitty kitty.

His eyes flickered as he rapidly scanned our surroundings. Oh gee, I wonder what he’s checking for. Get. Real. Mister. On the barely used drive, there were of course no witnesses to his outburst -- which, I suspected, was what he wanted to avoid.

Clearly he had no desire to hash it out with me in our current placements; he gestured at the station house’s parking entrance and commanded me to pull in. Naturally I complied, albeit I saw it for exactly what it was: him attempting to control the situation and get the upper hand. Home field advantage and all that jazz.

Upon the repositioning of my sedan, the Trooper approached my rolled-down passenger window and again launched into his no-picture-taking claptrap. There wasn’t a chance in hell I was going to bow down on this one, and I let him hear so.

“I absolutely am ‘allowed’ to photograph you -- anyone” I insisted. “Not without my permission” he retorted.

I started the process of thinking I should’ve paid attention to his name pin -- before he’d bent over to yell at me -- when abruptly he directed me to park. I asked why. He then informed me he was going to write me a ticket!

“For taking your picture?!” By that time I’d already figured out he knew good and well I was not in the wrong about the legalities of public photography, so I was flabbergasted he would so bodaciously dare issue me a citation for it. He had to be aware a judge would toss that out of court in a minute -- and with two seconds to spare.

There was a strange, long, pause before he responded. I could seriously smell him reining himself in and finally regaining his composure. “No,” he says calmly, “for improper stopping on a highway.”

My eyes spread wide, my brows rose up. I was for realiously impressed! He mightn’t have been quick on the uptake when he was mad but that gray matter in his head had life in it when he wanted it to. I laughed out loud. “Oooohhh… yoooouuuu’rrrrre good.”

Highly excited to learn how this would play out, I drove my car appropriately to a nearby space. The red light from my recorder indicated it, too, was still listening...

Is It Wrong That I Find This Amusing?

2011-06-10T15:13:00.003-04:00

Virginia State Police On the Look-Out for Missing Vehicle

From Virginia State Police:

State and local law enforcement are on the look out for a missing Ford Expedition belonging to the Virginia State Police. The black 2001 Ford Expedition was discovered missing from the parking lot of the state police Appomattox Division headquarters late Wednesday (June 8, 2011). The headquarters is located off of Route 460 in Appomattox.

The Ford Expedition is a spare vehicle equipped with a blue light attached to the passenger-side sun visor and one blue LED light in the rear window. Its Virginia license plate is XPX 2447.

Upon the vehicle's disappearance, state police immediately initiated an investigation into the vehicle's whereabouts. Law enforcement statewide and throughout the region have also been notified of the vehicle's disappearance.

Anyone who might recognize the vehicle or know anything about its disappearance is asked to please contact the Virginia State Police toll-free at 1-800-552-0962 or (434) 352-7128.

And Another Three Bite The Dust

2011-06-03T16:27:00.003-04:00

3 Charlottesville Men Plead Guilty to Drug Charges
June 3, 2011

Three Charlottesville men pleaded guilty Friday morning to charges related to a conspiracy to distribute cocaine and ecstasy.

Michael Samuel Scott, 23, Kevin Thomas, 38 and Omar Perez Taylor, 23, were indicted in February 2011 on charges related to a conspiracy to distribute drugs in the Charlottesville area.

“Stopping the distribution of illegal drugs in our community will always be a substantial law enforcement priority. We will vigorously prosecute those who profit from the drug trade,” United States Attorney Timothy J. Heaphy said.

Scott pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute ecstasy and one count of possession with the intent to distribute 28 grams or more of crack cocaine. He faces a penalty of up to 20 years incarceration on the conspiracy count and up to 40 years incarceration on the crack cocaine count.

Thomas pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute ecstasy and one count of conspiracy to distribute 500 grams or more or [sic] powder cocaine. He faces a penalty of up to 20 years incarceration on the conspiracy count and up to 40 years incarceration on the powder cocaine count.

Taylor pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute ecstasy and two counts of possessing a firearm after previously being convicted of a felony. He faces a penalty of up to 20 years incarceration on the conspiracy count and 10 years for each firearm offense.

Sentencing hearings for all three have been scheduled for August 31.

(Source)

Aren’t They All?

2011-06-02T15:42:00.005-04:00

Not Really News (To Me, Anyway)

2011-06-01T08:20:00.004-04:00

Warrantless cell phone searches spread to more states
By Amy Gahran

(CNN) -- Think about all the data -- photos, videos, text messages, calendar items, apps, call log, voice mail, and e-mail -- on your cell phone right now. If you're arrested, could the police search your cell phone? And would they need a warrant?

That depends on which state you're in.

In California, it is legal for police to search an arrestee's cell phone without a warrant -- ever since a January decision by the California Supreme Court.

California civil rights advocates are pushing back. The Electronic Frontier Foundation is supporting California Assembly Bill SB 914, which would require police in that state to get a warrant before searching an arrestee's cell phone.

EFF also recently filed an amicus brief in the Oregon case of James Tyler Nix, a criminal suspect who was arrested and placed in a holding cell.

According to EFF, "Forty minutes after the arrest, without a warrant, an investigator fished through the suspect's cell phone looking for evidence related to his alleged crime. Law enforcement officials claim they didn't need a warrant because the search was 'incident to arrest' -- an exception to the warrant requirement intended to allow officers to perform a search for weapons or to prevent evidence from being destroyed in exigent circumstances."

EFF senior staff attorney Marcia Hofmann contended: "This is an empty excuse from the police -- the suspect was in custody and unable to destroy evidence on his cell phone."

Meanwhile, in Florida, an appellate court decision upheld warrantless cell phone searches, defining the phone as a kind of "container." This case may be considered by the Florida Supreme Court.

A similar Georgia appellate court decision upheld a warrantless search of a cell phone found in an arrestee's car (not on her person).

In contrast, the Ohio Supreme Court has barred warrantless cell phone searches.

The Michigan State Police (MSP) use data extraction devices to pull data off arrestee's smartphones. This is done only with a warrant, according to a state police press release.

But when the Michigan chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union filed a Freedom of Information Act request to obtain details about how these devices are being used, they encountered serious obstacles.

"MSP claimed that the cost of retrieving and assembling the documents that disclose how five of the devices are being used is $544,680. The ACLU was then asked to pay a $272,340 deposit before the organization could receive a single document," said a Michigan ACLU statement.

"In order to reduce the cost, the ACLU of Michigan narrowed the scope of its request. However, each time the ACLU submitted more narrow requests, MSP claimed that no documents exist for that time period and then it refused to reveal when the devices were used so a proper request could be made."

The pattern appears to be that around the U.S., some state and local police officers are taking the initiative to search arrestees' cell phones. In some cases this yields information relevant to the alleged crime, which has contributed to indictments and convictions.

Only then do some of these cases wind up in appellate or state supreme courts in a process that often takes years.

If you're concerned about police or anyone else getting into your cell phone, a basic precaution is to configure your phone's security settings to always require a passcode or pattern to access any of the phone's data or functions.

According to Catherine Crump of the American Civil Liberties Union, "The police can ask you to unlock the phone -- which many people will do -- but they almost certainly cannot compel you to unlock your phone without the involvement of a judge."

Data extraction devices used for cell phone forensics can bypass passcode security in some cases, but so far there appears to be little evidence that police are using these devices without warrants.

(Source)

The pseudo-intellectual types would call this photograph "Art"

2011-05-31T14:19:00.005-04:00

Ongoing News

2011-05-27T07:50:00.003-04:00

Man Involved in Charlottesville-New York Drug Ring to Serve 87 Months
May 2011

One of the men involved in a Charlottesville to New York drug ring learned his sentence Thursday in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Virginia .

Kasheen Osborne, 20, of Manassas will serve 87 months in a federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release. Back in March, Osborne pleaded guilty to conspiring to distribute cocaine and heroine, as well as money laundering.

In court Thursday, Osborne apologized for participating in the ring and said that he has learned his lesson.

(Source)

“I want to recognize the officers who worked so hard to penetrate and dismantle this criminal organization. The Jefferson Area Drug Enforcement Task Force led by its supervisor Lt. Don Campbell and the two primary agents who began this investigation and who saw it through to a successful conclusion, Det. Jon McKay of the Albemarle County Police Department and Det. Brian O’Donnell with the Charlottesville Police Department deserve a great deal of recognition and thanks.” -- Tim Heaphy, United States Attorney for the Western District of Virginia

JADE Greene News

2011-05-27T07:20:00.006-04:00

Man wanted in wake of Greene homicides now in custody
May 2011

A Charlottesville man wanted in connection with a May 3 home invasion in Stanardsville was arrested Sunday night.

But Greene County sheriff’s officials have not charged Taybronne Altereik White, 26, in connection with the shooting deaths of three people found less than an hour after and less than two miles away from the home invasion scene on Ford Avenue.

Greene County Sheriff’s Maj. Randall Snead has said in previous interviews that the home invasion is connected to the triple homicide, but he declined to provide more detail.
[...]

White was joined by family members when he turned himself over to members of the Jefferson Area Drug Enforcement Task Force in Charlottesville on Sunday night, said Charlottesville Police Sgt. T.V. McKean. White was then turned over to Greene County detectives who had been looking for him since Wednesday, Snead said.

(More)

Anyone with information in the home invasion or the triple homicide can call the Greene County Sheriff’s Office at 434-985-2222 or Crime Stoppers at 434-989-2110.

Pulp Reality

2011-05-25T14:26:00.004-04:00

Due to antagonism by the Virginia State Police towards me and one of their own, I believe penning a paperback “The VSP Screwed-Up My Sex Life” is adequate recourse. Perhaps in the same vein as:

Sugared vulgarity and all.

As readers might have noticed, here I am once more.

2011-05-25T00:45:00.012-04:00

There’s a long, complex, story behind my absence but, for the sake of prudence, I’ll keep it quasi-short -- for now. I’ve always maintained I would blog as long as nobody got hurt. A few months ago I was led to believe that someone I cared very much about was being harmed because of my activities with I HeArTE JADE. I felt I couldn’t, with good conscience, continue to update. I never would have guessed that I would become a victim of my own con, nor that I would be mulcted in such a way by Law Enforcement, but, like most folks, I’ve been conditioned to believe whatever handsome men with shiny badges in positions of authority tell me. You’d think I’d know better by now. Ha! Fortunately I’ve deduced the entire thing was capital B capital S, thus… hello again! At the moment expect sporadic entries.

Hmm... what else is there to share?

I have continued throughout to periodically post on my VSP site. Well, hell, I never implied I would abandon my other projects. By the way, if there’s a Virginia State Policeman out there who isn’t deceitful or a moron or a coward, or, worse, all three, I’d love to talk to him. I have arrant faith he indeed exists. Somewhere.

On 03/29/2011, the fantastically sexy Granville Fields was cited in Charlottesville for reckless driving. Do you know how bad what he did had to be for that to happen?! Naturally he got himself a lawyer, Jessica Phillips, and probably, much like former Albemarle County Policeman Eric Kudro did when he was charged with the same, he’ll get out of it. His next court date is scheduled for 06/02/2011, 9:05AM.

Speaking of cutie Kudro, last word I got on him was that his resignation from the ACPD stemmed from his refusal to submit to a random drug test. Since he does have a bit of a reputation as a “partier,” I’m inclined to buy this as a valid explanation.

The Jefferson Area Drug Enforcement Task Force has only minimally made the news during my down time. I’m not convinced the stuff is at all worth mentioning, although any reference to JADE boosts my stats.

I am dying for a new scanner. The ones I’m eyeballing cost the big bucks, which means I may actually die before I accumulate the necessary funds.

Last and least relevant, I’m plumb gaga over The Voice. Plus SouthLAnd, in all its killerism, has been renewed for another season -- hoorah!

THIS Could ONLY Happen To Me

2011-05-24T22:49:00.004-04:00

I'm running an overnight stakeout on an officer -- no, not anyone in JADE ‘cause that’s still legally unacceptable -- and A. Freaking. Bird. soars in my car window!

I scream, my binoculars go flying, dogs in the neighborhood all launch into a chorus of high alert, the cardinal swoops around the interior twice then glides out the open glass on the driver’s side.

So much for me being “low key.”

I just can’t believe under parallel circumstances this kind of preposterous bizarreness ever befalls members of Law Enforcement.

I, HeArTEbroken

2011-02-28T14:09:00.002-05:00

The End.

JADE Press Release

2011-02-23T07:49:00.004-05:00

To: All Media
From: Sgt. John Baber,
Date: February 22, 2011

On 2/21/2011 at 11:36 p.m. members of the Jefferson Area Drug Enforcement Task Force, Albemarle County Police and the Virginia State Police initiated a traffic stop on I64 in the eastern portion of Albemarle County.

Detectives seize approximately 55 grams of powder cocaine. PeeWee Carmello Martinez B/M DOB 8/17/1988 of Charlottesville was arrested for possession of cocaine with intent to distribute and transporting narcotics into the Commonwealth. Deshanta Trent B/F DOB 10/23/1989 of Charlottesville was arrested for possession of cocaine with intent to distribute.

Further investigation led detectives to search a residence at 2025 Michie Drive C and the seizure of approximately 4.7grams crack cocaine and a 9mm handgun.

Additional charges placed on Martinez for possession of a firearm after being a convicted felon and possession of a firearm while in possession of a schedule II substance.

This is an ongoing investigation with additional charges and arrest pending. No further information regarding this case will be released at this time.

Sergeant John Baber
Jade Task Force
970-3561

“Intricate Manipulation”

2011-02-17T10:27:00.006-05:00

From the confines of my vehicle, I keep an eye on people coming and going through the doors of the building I’m watching. Not all of those scurrying about are officers, but, cooped inside those four walls, members of Law Enforcement are certainly the majority. I’m seeking the whereabouts of one of them in particular.

I’m dressed casual, though there’s a stylish blazer hung over the seat next to me; such, combined with the sling-back heels on my feet, is all it’ll take to transform my ordinary clothes into daywear any professional type would be proud of.

Tucked between the gear shift and my leg are a couple of empty folders and a medium-sized Manila envelope. In preparation for my ruse, I pull the coverings out and shove various inconsequential papers loosely inside: real estate publications, printouts detailing the inner-workings of a video camera, topped off with a yellow copy of an old speeding ticket protruding from the edge to encourage an impression of “official looking.”

In short time I spot someone exiting the establishment whom I judge to be susceptible to my subterfuge. I quickly yank on my jacket. Documents in hand, I move from car to parking lot towards the policeman.

He’s mildly attractive -- decent height, nice body -- and coming in my direction at a relaxed gait. The sides of his lips lift nicely when his eyes catch mine.

Feigning an expression of relief, I first gander at his face before deliberately switching my gaze to drift over the place of occupation he’s come from. Reaffixing my focus on his mug, I expel the words “Hi; can you… help me?”

He’s more than willing to. Inwardly I smirk -- do I know how to pick ‘em or what?

Making a display of the items in my grasp, I tell the accommodative fellow all about how I’ve planned to drop something off to a certain someone. “Am I at the right place?” “Is he working now, ‘cause I’m sort of early you know?”

I haven’t lied, exactly, though it is entirely my fault he’s been led to believe what my hands contain are currently supposed to go to one of his co-workers. Hey, I’ve learned from the best how to stage-manage the thought processes of the unknowledgeable; Law Enforcement is notorious for doing so.

Through communication I gather, yes, the guy I’m searching for is at this location, merely out-of-office for the day. Ha! The information is as I suspected.

I respectfully thank the gentleman in front of me for his assistance. As I pivot around to return to my auto, he generously offers to, later, bring the things I’m holding to their intended, or at least escort me inside to leave them with somebody else who can pass them along.

“Ah, kind of you, but I’d rather deliver them in-person” I say.

He laughs and gestures at himself. “Don’t you trust me?”

“Oh I always trust a man with a badge. It’s my weakness.” With a wink and a wave, I then depart.

2 Stories

2011-02-14T18:52:00.003-05:00

I’ll Follow ‘Em Even AFTER Hell Freezes Over...

2011-02-12T09:33:00.005-05:00

Or at least until I ALMOST run out of gasoline...

The Po-Po’s Ho-Ho

2011-02-07T23:23:00.016-05:00

Commonwealth's Attorney to Run for Re-Election
February 7, 2011

Denise Lunsford, the Commonwealth Attorney for Albemarle County plans to announce her decision to run for re-election during a press conference on Thursday.

Lunsford will make the announcement in front of the Albemarle County Courthouse at 12:30 p.m.

Lunsford says she appreciates the opportunity she has had to serve Albemarle County and wants the chance to do more for the community.

"During my time as Commonwealth's Attorney I have raised community confidence in my office and greatly improved relations with law enforcement. I have appreciated the opportunity to serve the citizens of Albemarle County and hope to continue to enhance our community through my work in this office," said Lunsford.

Lunsford has served as Albemarle County's Commonwealth Attorney since 2007.

(Source)

Is it too very vain of me for thinking Miz Lunsford should give some credit to I HeArTE JADE for her ameliorated bond with Law Enforcement? ;)

With Sources Like These...

2011-02-07T12:29:00.007-05:00

So the Virginia State Police Tactical Team, along with VSP Bureau of Criminal Investigation members from Richmond, were called out to assist Dinwiddie County Sheriff’s Office last night and nobody bothered to give me a head’s up on it.

Oh, yeah, and this ends up being my 500th post on I HeArTE JADE.

Double meh.

Dangerous suspect sought by police
Published: February 07, 2011

On the night of February 6, 2011, the Dinwiddie County Sheriff’s Office responded to a domestic violence incident in the 21000 Walkers Mill Road. Once arriving on scene, the sheriff’s deputies had information that a male subject had barricaded himself inside the residence. The sheriff’s office contacted the Virginia State Police Division I Tactical Team and special agents with the Virginia State Police Bureau of Criminal Investigation, Richmond Field Office to assist. In the early hours of February 7, 2011, the Virginia State Police Tactical Team made entry into the residence in an attempt to locate the male subject, who was not located.

Authorities are looking for Brandon L. Pegram, 22, of Dinwiddie County who may be traveling to the City of Richmond. Pegram is described as a black male, 6’02”, 180 pounds, with brown eyes and black hair. Pegram may be traveling in a light green Ford Taurus. The Taurus is a Dinwiddie County vehicle with public use license plates and C23 on the left bumper. Pegram has several warrants for his arrest to include felony strong armed robbery and threatening to burn a structure and misdemeanor domestic assault and assault. Pegram is considered dangerous.

Virginia State Police and the Dinwiddie County Sheriff’s Office are asking for information on the whereabouts of Pegram and the county vehicle. All information is confidential. Anyone with information should contact the Virginia State Police Division I Dispatch Center at (804) 553-3445, the Dinwiddie County Sheriff’s Office at (804) 469-3755 or Petersburg/Dinwiddie Crime Solvers at (804) 861-1212.

VSP Ford Expedition JTS-6549

2011-02-04T05:31:00.005-05:00

Car-in Fever

2011-01-31T09:54:00.013-05:00

Cold News

2011-01-21T16:00:00.005-05:00

Unhealthy situation? Friends question jailed man’s death
by Lisa Provence
published 5:15pm Wednesday Jan 19, 2011

Jimmy Gunn was in poor health and concerned about his upcoming 30-day jail sentence for dealing pot, say friends. Perhaps he had a premonition: Nine days after entering the Albemarle Charlottesville Regional Jail, he was dead.
[...]
After he sold marijuana to an undercover officer, the Jefferson Area Drug Enforcement Task Force raided his house and found approximately four pounds of pot in dozens of plastic baggies, according to an inventory that went to a forensic lab. An old shotgun added a felony possession of a firearm charge.

(More)

Don’t You Just Love The Double Standard?

2011-01-21T15:30:00.007-05:00

Jefferson Area Drug Enforcement Task Force Press Release

On 1/18/2011 at 9:30 pm members of the Jefferson Area Drug Enforcement Task Force and members of the Albemarle County Police Department executed a search warrant at 4680 Fair Hill Lane in the west side of Albemarle County.

Narcotic Detectives seized over a ½ kilo of cocaine and $1,560.00 U.S. Currency. Roderick Lee Johnson B/M DOB 6/14/1954 of 4680 Fair Hill Lane was arrested for possession of cocaine with intent to distribute. The street value of the cocaine is estimated at $50,000.00.

This is an ongoing investigation with additional charges and arrest pending. No further information regarding this case will be released at this time.

Sergeant John Baber
Jade Task Force

Eric Kudro Is No Longer One Of My Favorite Albemarle County Police Department Officers.

2011-01-18T23:38:00.006-05:00

Because Eric Kudro is no longer an Albemarle County Police Department officer.

He and another ACPD policeman, David Moody, simultaneously recently up and resigned from the force.

Rumors -- from the perfectly plausible to the plainly preposterous -- about their emergent departure are rampant, and with everybody participating in the gossip, it’s doubtful anybody is ever going to get to the whole truth. Near as I’ve gathered, it’s just another squalid mess in which the innocent are mostly the only affected.

Whatever the deal, due to this latest stunt of his, I’ve lost a significant piece of site-filler. It’s totally the equivalent of having an awesome character on a favorite teevee show killed off. Thus…

Dear former Officer Kudro,

Please join the Virginia State Police.

That is all.

ATF Ford Fusion JYZ-1969

2011-01-17T15:20:00.004-05:00

DEA: Meth Production Increasing In Virginia

2011-01-17T14:37:00.004-05:00

January 2011

Government figures show methamphetamines production is rebounding in Virginia.

The Virginian-Pilot reported Monday that the Drug Enforcement Administration's latest numbers show authorities found 28 meth labs in Virginia in 2009. The number of labs had declined from a peak of 79 in 2004 through 2008.

The DEA attributes the increase to higher production by Mexican drug cartels and dealers figuring out how to get around restrictions on pseudoephedrine sales. The over-the-counter medicine is a key ingredient in meth and requires identification to buy in limited quantities.

The DEA says meth producers now pay people to buy pseudoephedrine for them.

(Source)

Hmm... I wonder... did the Drug Enforcement Administration include this stupendously astute JADE Task Force “Meth lab” bust in the alleged 28 found?

There Is No Such Thing As A “Restraining Order”

2011-01-12T20:26:00.009-05:00

Today was my scheduled hearing for the Order of Protection that Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives Agent John A. Stoltz requested the court grant him.

Back in August 2010, prior to my arrest at his behest, Mr. Stoltz had gone and gotten an Emergency Protective Order (EPO) against me.

Lemme explain the deal with these gooftard EPO thingies. Essentially anyone can get an EPO against anyone -- without notice to the other party. Pretty much all the alleged “victim” has to do is tell a compelling story to a magistrate. The tale doesn’t really have to be true, merely believable enough to get the chosen authority to sign off on the object. It’s not uncommon for vindictive people to venally embellish or out-and-out lie to get an EPO and considering the magistrate never needs evidence or to verify anything spoken or shown to him, there’s nothing to induce honesty or reasonableness in the procedure.

Case in point: according to records, Mr. Stoltz misquoted, in writing, things I published on I HeArTE JADE. It had to be deliberate; it’s not as if my words aren’t preserved here to be quoted verbatim. Hell, he could’ve carried in a printout if it was too much trouble for him to ink the exact comments down on paper by hand! Ya gotta figure if I’m as bad as he tried making me out to be, he wouldn’t have had to make stuff up. Plus, the magistrate could’ve adequately read my site to, at minimum, have some context, yet he did not. Shame on both of them.

Honestly, take yourself a close, serious, look at it and it’s not hard to understand how and why this what-otherwise-could-be-beneficial legal procedure is often abused.

Oh, did I mention an EPO is valid for only 72 hours? That’s right. Apparently it can’t go on, like, endlessly. Because somewhere along the line the person whom the EPO is not in favor of, gee, has to be afforded the opportunity to defend himself or herself in front of a judge. Isn’t that swell?

In my case, by the time The Game actually got around to slinging silver bracelets on me, the Emergency Protective Order Mr. Stoltz was granted had already expired without ever being served on me! Then due to the arrest, the conditions of my bail/bond, in addition to the interminable courtroom drama, basically I was subjected, with no objection from me, to an ongoing temporary Protective Order. Once my trial was over -- aw yeah -- a date was selected for my entitled full hearing on the issue.

Lemme explain the deal with these Order of Protection thingies. They can last for up to 2 years. They can contain any conditions and restrictions, imposed all at the discretion of a judge. Chilling. Yeah, that about covers it.

So. I arrived at the Greene County Courthouse at precisely 9:12AM.

The estimable Mr. Stoltz didn’t. even. bother. to. show. up.

I’d like to believe that after Agent Stoltz revealed himself as a fool, and a manipulative yellow-bellied government hire, during the past trial, and worried I would, in front of the, yes, same judge as always, debunk his antecedent prevarications to the magistrate, he was too embarrassed and conscience-afflicted to be present. Probably, though, the real reason is that he was just plain too dang lazy to come.

Regardless, guess this matter wasn’t as grave or important to him as he’d implied.

Well. The only thing the judge needed to do was release me from the binds of the temporary Order of Protection, which he did.

Wondering where this leaves me in the grand scheme of things relating to the spectacular ATF Agent Mr. John Stoltz? Right back where I started, I suppose. Free to ridicule him as I see fit. And post concomitant images. I’m free to do that again, too.

The Only Thing A Cop Looks Better In Than A Suit Is SKIN!

2011-01-09T18:50:00.003-05:00

Confidential Informant Conveyor

2011-01-05T18:23:00.002-05:00

Correction

2011-01-02T18:29:00.004-05:00

So. When he told me the Judge is a former Virginia cop, I thought he meant, you know, “former Virginia State Policeman.” Not “former policeman in the State of Virginia.” Meh. Even though there is a factual difference, a‘least my brain blunder doesn’t negate my overall theory. Nope, the Judge himself ruined that one for me.

Merry Chri... Happy New Ye... Uhm, Great Sunday?

2011-01-02T17:58:00.007-05:00

In December I’d expected to hit 500 entries before the end of 2010

But...

Plus I was going to let one of my favorite Albemarle County Police Officers, Eric Kudro, wish all my readers a Merry Christmas

But…

Then I had a pile of photographs, that ever-so-neatly avoided violating the conditions, prepared to accompany a prospective mainstream news story about a bust by Jefferson Area Drug Enforcement (JADE) Task Force

But…

And naturally I planned on posting a facetious snippet, or picture to kick off the new year

But…

The past couple of weeks I’ve been up to my cortex in a confection of necessary business, amazing friends, sexy men, and plenty of a fabulous concoction of Beer, Limes, and Tequila -- mostly set to Drop It Low and parallel lyrical euphonies at an insane eardrum-throbbing volume. What else can I say

But…

Here’s to a wonderful 2011!

Infinitesimal Reflections AKA Evidence Locker #3

2010-12-28T22:45:00.010-05:00

(Left: ATF Agent Michael Moore
Center: CPD Detective Todd Lucas
Right: ATF Agent Dave Stone)

From my last court experience, I learned:

The fantastic fanatic ATFer David Stone is purportedly in the Richmond VA area, not Washington DC as I’d been led to believe. Kinda cool since I don’t make many trips to DC, whereas I do venture over the Richmond way quite a bit these days. Now, let’s see, where, oh where, is that Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives office located again?
Charlottesville Detective (and have I ever mentioned gang aficionado?) Todd Lucas is not merely good-natured, he’s borderline comedian.
Scott Cox looks better in a Greene County Sheriff’s Office uniform than he did in an Albemarle County Police Department uniform. But he’s decidedly yummiest in Tac garb.
Whom. Eons back, VSP Bureau of Criminal Investigations’ Special Agent Jason Trent blurted out to me that I’d published photographs of a car belonging to a Jefferson Area Drug Enforcement Task Force Confidential Informant. ‘Twas news to me. So, for the purpose of removing said images from I HeArTE JADE, I begged him to tell me which; he, being LEO-typical contrite to helpfulness, refused. Here it is, like, hello, over a year later, and thanks to Greene County Commonwealth Attorney Ron Morris and ATF Agent John Stoltz inadvertent rendering, I have the information! Only… I don’t want to delete pictures of the vehicle at this point because:

They’ve already been on the site for, like, hello, over a year.
They’re in a hilarious post, stemming from a hilarious event.
The victim of the CI is wise to who snitched him out anyway.
I don’t want to draw any more attention to them than, well, than I just did.

jastoltz

they

Nah ner nah ner nah ner

Officers do a very good job of weaseling out of answering questions they don’t want to.
Officers don’t do a very good job of appearing as if they aren’t trying to weasel out of answering questions they don’t want to.
If I had a penny for every time one of the local rank and file cops as well as Federal Agents name-dropped C-ville’s Chief of Police, Tim Longo, I’d be able to pay off all my court costs.
When I grow up I reallyreallyreally really want to be a Computer Forensic Expert. Or maybe a Fairy Princess.
There are both advantages and disadvantages to not setting the time and date correctly on one’s camera.
My court-appointed lawyer was the uber-awesomest.
Finally, I learned that a Judge -- even one who’s a former State Trooper -- will not always side with members of Law Enforcement. ‘Specially if doing so puts him at risk of seeming plumb brainsick.

ROFL

2010-12-28T04:55:00.013-05:00

Three complimentary-use items found in the men’s bathroom at the Virginia State Police Academy -- as photographed by a VSP acquaintance of mine:

1. POWERSTICK Deodorant

2. Bottle of “MACHO”

3. PETROLEUM JELLY

There’s gotta be a joke there somewhere...

Left, Left, Left Right Left

2010-12-28T04:55:00.005-05:00

Virginia State Police Understaffed

2010-12-23T10:19:00.003-05:00

Virginia State Police are heading into the holiday season with staffing levels some say are the worst in decades.

On January 1, Virginia State Police will be down 249 sworn officers. The money is there to pay their salaries, but $52 million in budget cuts since 2006 have held up schools to produce new troopers.

On Friday Governor Bob McDonnell asked legislators for funding for three new trooper schools over the next two years to replenish the agency's thinning ranks. The General Assembly convenes Jan. 12.

Because of the staffing levels, many jurisdictions have no troopers on duty overnight. Many others cover wide areas with limited or no backup.

State Police Superintendent Colonel Steven Flaherty said the staffing levels are putting troopers' lives at risk.

(Source)

Welcome The Newest Member Of...

2010-12-13T22:23:00.008-05:00

The JADE Task Force Command Group!

Albemarle County Press Release:

Albemarle County is pleased to announce the hiring of Steve Sellers as its new Police Chief effective Tuesday, January 18th. Sellers is a 28 year veteran of the Fairfax County Police Department and most recently held the position of Deputy Chief of Police for Fairfax police.

"We are very happy to bring someone of Steve Sellers' caliber to Albemarle County to serve as our next police chief," said County Executive Bob Tucker in making the announcement. "His experience, expertise and proven leadership will certainly continue the outstanding accomplishments and innovative direction of the County's Police Department."

Among the many highlights of his career in Fairfax, Sellers was responsible for developing a plan to improve criminal intelligence and information sharing between local, state and federal law enforcement and helped to create the Northern Virginia Regional Intelligence Center following the events of September 11, 2001. He also led the Washington Area Sniper Prosecution Taskforce which was responsible for the successful prosecution of Lee Malvo and John Mohammed. In cooperation with his counterpart in Prince William County, Seller's role was to lead the 26 member team responsible for the investigation and prosecution of the Washington area snipers.

From 2004 to 2009, Sellers provided key leadership for a project team responsible for the design, development and implementation of a significant public safety IT system. In addition to this multi-million IT project, Sellers provided leadership for a multi-million project for the construction and design of a regional McConnell Public Safety Transportation Operations Center in Fairfax, VA.

"I am privileged and honored to be afforded with the opportunity to become a member of the County's leadership team, serving as the Chief of Police for Albemarle County," said Sellers in accepting the appointment. "I am thankful to the Board of Supervisors for allowing me the privilege of leading a progressive police agency with outstanding officers and civilian employees and I look forward to serving the citizens of Albemarle County in fighting crime and making our highways safer through collaboration and engagement. As Chief of Police it is my intention to be highly visible, accessible and community oriented and I look forward to building strong working relationships with our citizens, county staff, Board of Supervisors and community leaders as well as each member of the Police Department."

Sellers' family includes his wife Jennifer, twin daughters Jaimie & Justine and stepson Jon.

Sellers holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Business Administration and a Masters Degree in Public Administration from Virginia Tech. Additionally he is a graduate from the FBI National Academy and is a graduate and alumni of Leadership Fairfax. He is a member of the International Association of Chiefs of Police, FBI National Academy Associates, Virginia Association of Chief's of Police and the Major Cities Chiefs Association.

9 Months Later, A Sentencing Is Born

2010-12-12T15:11:00.004-05:00

December 2010

Woman gets time for cocaine charges

A Charlottesville woman whose family home was a center of drug activity has been sentenced to incarceration.

Judge Edward L. Hogshire sentenced Keisa Annette Bell on Friday in Charlottesville Circuit Court to 20 years in prison with all but 18 months suspended. Bell, 34, pleaded guilty in August to two counts of possession of cocaine with the intent to distribute.

Authorities have said the Jefferson Area Drug Enforcement task force targeted Bell’s home after neighbors complained about traffic at the house. Bell’s charges related to a Feb. 24 cocaine sale to a police informant and her presence during a drug interaction by her boyfriend, Leandra Isiah Henderson.

Bell testified Friday that she has been involved in the Albemarle-Charlottesville Regional Jail’s Therapeutic Community. The mother of three said she understands why her neighbors were upset over the drug sales in their Rose Hill neighborhood and wouldn’t want her children living in or near a drug den.

Bell also must spend three years in supervised probation, be on good behavior for 20 years and pay $200 restitution to the task force.

Henderson, 21, faces up to 80 years in prison when he is sentenced Jan. 10 after previously pleading guilty to drug possession charges.

(Source)

I Just Noticed...

2010-12-08T21:28:00.004-05:00

In the picture from my previous entry, CPD Detective Todd Lucas was captured in the reflection by his buddy Det. Rudman:

Image Courtesy Of Nicholas Rudman

2010-12-08T20:14:00.003-05:00

The above photograph was taken on my camera by City of Charlottesville Detective Nick Rudman when he “accidentally” -- “accidentally” according to his and his fellow Detective Todd Lucas’ sworn testimony -- rifled through the device the day it was seized. ‘Twas snapped 17 minutes and 16 seconds after the last image I captured, to be precise.

What disturbs me most about this is that apparently Mr. Rudman’s unintentional pictures turn out better than my intentional ones.

Trooperman

2010-12-07T18:43:00.001-05:00

The Verdict Is In

2010-12-01T19:56:00.010-05:00

NOT GUILTY.

So there!

OMG An Update!

2010-11-30T18:29:00.003-05:00

So tomorrow is my “trial.” Yes, I know, y’all’ve heard that before -- regarding the same stinkin’ case, no less.

My family, friends, and attorney believe I’m going to be found innocent of the allegation since nothing I’ve done actually meets the criteria of the charge. They apparently still have faith in the system and are optimistically overlooking who my judge is, or, more aptly, what he was.

I am not so naïve. My honest expectation of this farce is that after the several anserine ATFers, Detectives, and Investigator, all give their synthetic spiels on how they feel I am homicidal evil epitomized, then I testify before a suddenly predominantly deaf audience that ridiculing the ridiculous is perfectly legal, the outcome will be a guilty verdict. Upon which I shall immediately appeal.

Considering there are no unbearable bail bond impositions on me this time around -- not contacting a guy I was already not contacting is pretty easy to do -- I intend to fight this one all the way up the judicial ladder. I certainly don’t mind countless Law Enforcement members being endlessly dragged into numerous courts in front of judge after judge after judge over a misdemeanor. Hell, I might even get to see every suit and tie each of the officers own by the time this is completely over. Woohoo! ‘Cause nothin’ says “sexy” quite like a policeman in dress clothes! ‘Cept maybe for an Armani-scented Bouncer in the Star City of the South. And that should clue ya in on what I’ve been doin’ lately.

À Bientôt!

Nic Nick Nicky Nicholas Rudman

2010-11-07T15:31:00.006-05:00

Yes I know I already had an entry with this title, but it seemed to be missing... something. Something important to I HeArTE JADE. Something like...

An address?

No, that’s not it.

Phone number?

Nope, not that either.

Hmm...

Aha, I’ve got it!

Pictures.

Of Mr. Charlottesville Police Department Detective Nicholas Rudman:

He’s cuter in person.

Sorta.

Nic Nick Nicky Nicholas Rudman

2010-11-04T17:49:00.006-04:00

Here ya go, sweetheart, since I caught you looking, I’ve made it nice and easy for you to track yourself on this site; oh, and I included your name here, too, for others who seek you out as well -- ‘cause I’m all courteous like that. I also added Greene County Sheriff’s Office Investigator Rodney Snead to my Entry Labels list. Can’t have him feeling left out or anything.

Speaking of searches, recently a mass amount of New Yorkers have landed here due to their Craig Sorokti queries. In fact, according to last month’s keyword activity, Officer Sorokti actually exceeded superterrif ACPD honey Eric Kudro in hits. I never thought I’d see the moment anyone would surpass him!

Lessee… Incomers for Marc Brake (under several variations), the usual iheartejades and i hearte jades, someone wanting Michael Hogberg’s court date, plus a Sirchie.

And one CESAR RUIZ AYALA NUPCIAS TUXTLA GUTIERREZ. Yeah, no, I haven’t the muzziest what that’s about either.

How Many Times CAN One Put Re- In Front Of Arrested?

2010-11-01T23:31:00.010-04:00

Generally I categorize this site as humorous or entertaining. When things aren’t funny or fun to me, it makes it rough to update. I enjoy mocking the ridiculousness of various Law Enforcement members, along with the habitually-ludicrous frequently-oppressive judicial system, and often I forget how very real the absurdity and onerousness is; on rare occasions when I get a heavy enough dose of its reality, it truly makes me sad. Too sad to write, let alone write well.

This past Wednesday, October 27, 2010, was my trial in Greene County. Only there was no trial. Because the Commonwealth Attorney decided not to prosecute me. Instead he had me re-arrested. In court. For the same charge. Not for any new activity. No kidding.

In order to pull a nolle prosequi, the prosecutor has to show “just cause.” In this instance, CA Mr. Morris basically said “Well, gee, Your Honor, we think we may have found a better way to get her.” Which, people, is not “just cause.” But the former-State-Trooper judge I coincidentally keep getting shoved in front of was all like “Anything you want Mr. Morris. Slurp, slurp.”

So. The only thing that has changed is rather than the opposition being confined to substantiating the allegation within the scope of August 24, 2009 - August 24, 2010, the range goes from August 30, 2009 - August 30, 2010 -- the date they clicked the cuffs on me the first time ‘round for this. No new activity.

Oh. And I now have two arrests on my record for the same effin thing, involving the same effin people, and the same effin “evidence.” There is that.

Legal manipulation at its finest.

Kinda like ending up with Obstruction of Justice convictions in two different places for the same incident -- one in the City of Charlottesville, the other in Albemarle County.

Good thing I like balance… symmetry… stuff in pairs… all that. Yeah.

Ahem. To continue. I have a new trial date. In December.

Details from Wednesday:

32 degrees is not a comfortable temperature for a government building.
It didn’t take as many hours to get to the point as it did the time before, but it might as well have.
I was once more offered this joke of a “deal.” Naturally it wasn’t until I once more refused it that I was arrested and re-charged.
ATFers David Stone and Michael Moore were present. Nice of them to come all the way from Washington to not testify in a planned-non-occurring trial. They will again be traveling all the way from Washington in December. Have I mentioned this is a misdemeanor case?
I dredged my brain but couldn’t for the life of me recall Mr. Stone’s name; I had to look it up when I got home.
Additional officers present included Charlottesville Detective Todd Lucas, Greene County Investigator Rodney Snead, and The Complainant. I didn’t see CPD Detective Nicholas Rudman, though that doesn’t mean he wasn’t there. Have I mentioned this is a misdemeanor case?
Not a shocker, Mr. Stone self-segregated in the special room with the other shield-swinging snoots. In remarkable contrast, Mr. Moore actually sat on a bench in the courtroom with all us riffraff. I think he just likes to show off his super-sparkly shoes. But it was cool to see him in there regardless.
I am out on a $2500.00 (personal recognizance) bond. I don’t even remember if that’s the same amount as it was before or if it’s the sole different thing to break up the monotony.

Happy Halloween!

2010-10-31T11:02:00.002-04:00

Did I mention...

2010-10-26T23:20:00.007-04:00

The judge in my Greene County case is the same as my City of Charlottesville judge is the same as my County of Albemarle judge? I never knew “coincidental” could be spelled Y-E-A-H-R-I-G-H-T.

Said judge is a former State Trooper? Gee. That explains... well, everything.

The Jefferson Area Drug Enforcement Task Force has a new member? Jefferson Area Drug Enforcement Task Force has a new member!

Those officers I wrote of weren’t in the special room because they had to be, they were in there because they wanted to be? ‘Twas legit ridic. I ♥ arrogant snobby pricks.

Allegedly someone swiped the AUTHORIZED PERSONNEL ONLY sign from the door to the Task Force’s office? They prolly took the dang thing down themselves, the cheezballs.

Now-notorious JADE vehicles, if multiple sources are to be believed, can no longer be found in the lot overnight or on weekends? Meh. Who cares?

The Jefferson Area Drug Enforcement Task Force has a new member? In case you missed me mentioning it the first two times.

On my final stay at Albemarle-Charlottesville Regional Jail, an inmate recognized me from the print edition of The Hook? Ya seriously want me to autograph your copy -- not-uh! Lemme get a pen…

The items seized from my car were sent to JMU for examination? My sigh of relief when I found this out was so huge that people in California thought it was an earthquake.

I Can Be Just As Reasonable As The Prosecutor

2010-10-26T08:39:00.007-04:00

My lawyer left me a voicemail last night. The Greene County Commonwealth Attorney is offering me a deal: plead guilty to the charge of stalking and take down the I HeArTE JADE website, and receive a twelve month suspended sentence.

?!

I... I’... I’m... sorry, but...

?!

That’s not a deal! How is that a deal? What freakin’ JADE-seized drugs was the CA on when he thought I’d actually even consider that?

I haven’t returned my attorney’s call yet, but I think when I do I’m going to suggest he make this counter-offer to Mr. Morris: drop the charge, and I won’t ridicule you for ~~twelve~~ ~~six~~ two ~~months~~ weeks.

Currently The Best. Thing. Ever.

2010-10-25T21:58:00.009-04:00

“On Sunday [October 17, 2010], The [Richmond] Times-Dispatch published a lengthy article about the salaries of state employees, and made them available online.”

Open Government: State Salaries

State issues e-mail to employees regarding FOI request for salaries

So curious me started searching specific officers merely to see what they’re taking in. First in the query box was of course the JADE Task Force’s Virginia State Policeman Joe Fleming ($53,331), followed by BCI Special Agent Jason Trent ($57,352).

By the time I was looking up Mikes Monroe ($73,780) and Bailey ($69,753), Joseph Rader ($80,135), Dino Cappuzzo ($51,008), not to mention Fox ($!!,!!!), I realized I wasn’t making the most of this fabulous resource.

So info-junkie me limited searches strictly to Job Title. I also discovered how handy the Federal Classification Title link is when coupled with that option. Name after name after name displayed! And y’all know what I think of that: once you’ve got a name, you’ve got everything.

Hafta love free entertainment.

Google “Search Story”

2010-10-25T15:20:00.003-04:00

See, I Told You So -- Eric Kudro Is Just MADE For JADE!

2010-10-23T10:30:00.009-04:00

October 2010

Albemarle County Police arrested two men for possession of narcotics, including crack cocaine and marijuana, following a traffic stop early Thursday morning.

Officer Kudro, of the County Police Department, stopped a vehicle in the 1000 block of Seminole Trail around 12:30am Thursday. While conducting the traffic stop, the officer reports noticing a smell of marijuana coming from the vehicle. He also determined the passenger of the vehicle was wanted for an outstanding felony warrant.

Upon search of the vehicle, Officer Kudro located 133.2 grams of crack cocaine, 15 grams of marijuana, a 9mm handgun and $644 in cash.

(More)

5368 5139 5319 420ACM

2010-10-19T18:25:00.012-04:00

I HeArTE JADE, quite purveyed,
How does your website grow?
With Taskforce tells and Dealer sells,
And State Troopers all in a row.

Sequestrate The Elite

2010-10-15T10:43:00.004-04:00

Wednesday I had to go to Greene County Courthouse for a motions’ hearing.

It was scheduled for 9AM.

We made it in front of the judge after 2PM.

Between others’ and mine, 7½ hours of proceedings.

Probably far more entertaining for me than for the gang of officers there for my case.

They did their waiting in a special room.

Oh. Yeah. By The Bye, I’m Out.

2010-10-11T21:03:00.002-04:00

♫ No more cellblocks.
♫ No more crooks.
♫ No more guards’ dirty looks!

Five days served.

What. A. Total. Time-suck.

Da Maneira Que Eu Gosto

2010-10-11T19:51:00.011-04:00

Silently interrupting our conversation I thrust my index finger frontward sharply to point at something through the windshield. From the passenger seat of my parked car, my Virginia State Policeman, Fox -- a more fitting pseudonym for him there is not, looks to see what I find important enough to disturb our chat. Across the road, in a separate lot, one of his breed is rounding a building in a marked cruiser.

Inundated by an explosion of excitement, I ask “Can you read the tag?”

The pulchritudinous man beside me casually but swiftly maneuvers himself until he gets a decent unblocked-by-botanies view of the license plate, then rattles off four numbers. Fox is so very accommodating. Armed with the digits, I ransack my mind all the way to the recesses to ascertain whether I’ve got photographs of that particular Trooper; at the same time I mentally try to establish where in the automobile my camera is. “I have 5288…” Under my seat? “And 5226…” Glove compartment maybe? “5446 too…” In the back on the floorboard? Upon comprehensive internal numeration I determine I do not, in fact, have any pictures of the Blue and Gray in question.

Fox has been watching me keenly, a flare of amusement mixed with I-don’t-know-what at my behavior. Perhaps he’s experiencing jamais vu -- though it’s not as if he isn’t familiar with my enthusiasms regarding chance encounters with officers. Shoot; on one of our first get-togethers, he had to practically drag me away by my hair to prevent me from examining a police car that, right before our eyes, had been inexplicably left wide open -- completely unsecured, windows down -- by its uniformed operator in an otherwise-empty parking lot! It so happens the reason for the abandonment was a flat tire, but, still, what kind of cop leaves his patrol vehicle wide open like that?!

Reminiscing about onset meetings with him brings to mind I HeArTE JADE activities and before I can stop myself, I blurt out at Fox “Do you think I’m obsessed with Law Enforcement?”

He cerebrates for a moment before giving me a carefully constructed answer, the kind I’d expect from a lawman -- even a scrupulous one: adequately ambiguous, designed to be favorable to any given person’s position. He has never vilipended my Jefferson Area Drug Enforcement habit though, thus I am content to accept his reply. Plus he’s hot, so who really cares what he has to say?

Fox and I carry on with our visit, but I surreptitiously keep tabs on the mystery Trooper. I track him moving to yet another square of pavement, and while I lose sight of him there neither do I observe his departure from the immediate area.

After my delicious VSP-man and I disentangle ourselves from each other and bid farewells, I roll off in the direction of where I suspect the unknown Trooper will be found.

Final 24

2010-10-09T15:50:00.004-04:00

Tonight is my last twenty-four hours in Albemarle-Charlottesville Regional Jail. Hooray!

Last weekend’s lockup was, for the most part, uneventful. They stuck me in an enormous cell by myself, presumably to keep me out of trouble -- as if I’d, I don’t know, incite a riot in general population -- and essentially ignored me for the next 40-something hours. I did have another run-in with the Bed Nazi. Her sole job and joy in life seems to be upholding the integrity of sheet and blanket placement on a narrow half-inch-thick mat. She totally cracks me up!

Still, I’m glad it’ll be done with. I have definitely learned my lesson from the overall experience. Granted, it’s probably not the lesson the darling JADE Task Force and their sycophants intended for me but, hey, contrary to their belief, they can’t win ‘em all.

Seasonal News

2010-10-09T09:30:00.006-04:00

Sellers plead guilty in drug ring
October 2010

Salespeople in a Charlottesville-area drug ring, some of whom deposited the proceeds into a Wachovia Bank account, pleaded guilty to charges Friday in Charlottesville’s federal court.

Authorities said that Keith Aubrey Marks, Tangelia Lashiel Bulluck, Melissa Ann Putnam, Sherri Lynette White and David Anthony Payne were involved in the drug conspiracy between June 2009 and July 2010. Ronald Huber, assistant U.S. attorney, said in court that it is estimated the conspiracy moved 1.5 kilos of crack, more than 100 grams of heroin and some powder cocaine.

Rodney Wayne Barnes and five others were indicted Sept. 22 by a federal grand jury in connection with the drug ring. The indictment said Barnes, who pleaded not guilty to all charges during a Sept. 24 hearing, “developed relations with other drug traffickers” while he was selling drugs.

[...]

Detectives from the Jefferson Area Drug Enforcement task force and their informants began buying drugs from some of the salespeople in the spring, Huber said in court. After Putnam was arrested on an outstanding warrant from a state court, the prosecutor said in court, she told authorities that she had been selling drugs and sending money orders to Barnes in New York.

[...]

The five salespeople, all of whom are incarcerated except for Bulluck, are scheduled to be sentenced Jan. 10. Barnes is scheduled to have a three-day trial in November.

(More)

Through-My-Eyes Thursday

2010-10-07T09:03:00.014-04:00

1½ Minutes Out Of My 2nd 48 Hours At Camp ACRJ

2010-10-05T10:09:00.008-04:00

Outfitted in a decorous dark-colored uniform rather than the frequently-seen gray Polo shirt and true-navy-blue slacks the guards wear, he pokes his head in my cell. “You request the Chaplain?”

Why -- do I look like I need my last rites? Oh. Wait. That’s a Catholic Priest, not a jail Chaplain. I smile broadly and tell the Correctional Officer “no.”

“What are you reading?” he asks, a glint of amusement in his eye.

In response, I flip up the large paperback in my hands which I’d dug out of the limited-selection book box from Intake.

“That’s a ‘girl book’’” he wrinkles up his nose and wisecracks; I laugh out loud.

Whatcha Doin' This Weekend?

2010-10-02T10:47:00.003-04:00

Tonight officially begins my second 48 hours in the slammer. Depending on the capriciousness of they that run the place, I may be in there for 72. Any which way, here’s to great site fodder!

Some random stuff relating to last week:

On I HeArTE JADE blogging… I am so glad I held back publishing my account of the month in 2009 I spent in Albemarle-Charlottesville Regional Jail. Aside from possibly incurring the beastliness of a handful of Correctional Officers during this recent stint, half my tricks for survival would’ve been rendered useless.

On hitchhiking there… I made sure I got to the area in plenty of time lest I had to walk the whole way to ACRJ from where I parked my car. The upside was I caught a ride as soon as I crossed the street and stuck out my thumb; the downside was I arrived at the establishment ridiculously early and had to hang around their waiting room before they’d let me check in.

On Intake… Through the pseudo-glass partitions I got a glimpse of my favorite ACPD troublemaker: Officer Eric Kudro himself. I thought of a million witty things to holler at the boyish-looking powerhouse who’s known for getting sloshed and slurping syrup but, considering he’s been being almost good lately, I just grinned at him and left it at that.

On ACRJ personnel… I recognized a lot of the guards from last time. Truth be told, a few are triple evil, a few are honest-to-heaven angels, and the majority are completely indifferent to everyone around them.

On hitchhiking back… ‘Twas a dark and stormy night. A mother of two, traveling alone, in a minivan picked me up. It got me thinking that maybe Jefferson Area Drug Enforcement should spitcan all their officers and replace them with soccer moms -- since they seem to be a lot less fearful than current Task Force members.

Me, You, And A Dog Named Camo Green

2010-09-29T21:19:00.002-04:00

2 Minutes Out Of My 48 Hours At Camp ACRJ

2010-09-29T06:57:00.006-04:00

The eminent male Corrections Officer, who, really, belongs in a Calvin Klein ad not a jail, unlocks my cell and swings open its door. “The nurse wants to see you.” I pad along behind him in my mismatched-by-bleach blue inmate-issued shoes to a compact room where perched at a desk sits a blonde woman wearing a white coat and more mascara than Drew Barrymore.

Nurse Imperious: Have you gotten a [mandatory] PPD recently?

Me: Not since the other one I got here last time -- over a year ago.

Nurse Imperious: You know if we give you one now, you can’t be checked until…

Me: I thought that’s why you called me in here -- to check it; y’all already gave me a shot.

Nurse Imperious: Didn’t I ask you if you’d had one recently? Didn’t I ask her if she’d had one recently?

Me: Oh, I thought you meant prior to this one. Forgive me for thinking the facility who just administered the thing to me two days ago would actually have a record of doing so.

La-Dee-Da-Dee-Dee La-Dee-Da-Dee-Da

2010-09-28T13:20:00.004-04:00

Mkay here’s the story on the five days:

Remember back in July of 2009 when I sat in jail for, like, a month? All those days trapped in there? Well, that time apparently counts for…

Nothing!

When I was arrested this past March for the “violation of court order,” Denise Lunsford, the Albemarle County Commonwealth Attorney, had the charge amended to the original obstruction of justice charge -- purely so she could invoke the six month suspended sentence I’d been given in that case. In order to still have a remaining amount to hold over my head (dare I continue endlessly teasing the police via the Internet), Miz Lunsford asked the General District Court judge that I be given only sixty days out of the six months; instead the judge, the man who found me guilty, gave me ten days -- which I’m told is pretty standard for violations.

At some point it dawned on Miz Lunsford -- presumably when word trickled back to her I was making inquiries into it -- that by her having the charge amended, I would be entitled to credit for the time I’d already served.

This is how my attorney put it

“Under Virginia Law the Violation of Probation and Good Behavior is not a separate new offense, but merely the imposition by the court of all or a portion of the original sentence.” “Under Code Section 53.1-187, time must be credited for all time spent in confinement with respect to a charge and [I am] clearly entitled to a credit of 29 days…”

So this month Miz Lunsford went into Albemarle Circuit Court, where, of course, a different judge, a woman, was presiding, and rabidly insisted I was arrested under the charge she earlier denied in General District Court that I was brought in for. Not only that, she demanded the judge not rule on the matter at all and leave it up to Albemarle-Charlottesville Regional Jail’s discretion whether I get the credit!

Obviously the only reason the CA would ever request such a thing is because she already knew what the jail’s position would be. I later learned she had, in fact, been burning up the phone lines with the facility.

The judge ruled she didn’t have to rule. My fate to be determined by the detention center.

Wait, it gets better.

My lawyer asked for one week to allow us an opportunity to work out the applicable credit issue with ACRJ. The judge refused and declared she was not going to allow for that “because someone else might ask for the same thing.”

That’s seriously what she said. “Someone else might ask for the same thing.” She considers that a legitimate reason?! That’s the kind of hairball “logic” coughed up from authority figurines these days?! And women wonder why men deprived them for so long of even the right to vote. Really. The judge didn’t even bother trying to look sensible.

Denying me a week’s extension doesn’t prevent anyone else in the future from asking for a decent minimal amount of time to sort a questionable situation out. And why should anyone be thwarted from doing so regardless? More importantly, what kind of judge bases her decisions on hypothetical other people and what they may imaginarily do?

I can’t even ridicule it; it’s so perfectly ridiculous on its own.

The end result is that I am to serve weekends until five days total incarceration is achieved.

What happened to my ten day sentence, you ask? Well, there’s this systemish thing about time for good behavior; the gist is you serve half and you get credit for half -- one serves six months for a year-long sentence, thirty days for a sixty-day sentence, five days for ten, et cetera.

That’s right folks; I don’t get credit for the time I already spent on the inside, but I do get credit for the time I’ll never have to spend there.

‘Tis too bad I don’t have unlimited funds to take these malevolent people to task in a lawsuit. Lucky for me I’m content forthcoming mild mockery of five specific officers will somewhat balance the injustice of it all. What fun! On that note, can you believe one of Charlottesville’s policemen is highfalutin enough to live in a gated community?

30 Seconds Out Of My 48 Hours At Camp ACRJ

2010-09-28T00:00:00.002-04:00

The churlish endomorphic Corrections Officer steps into my cell to glower “don’t you know how to make a bed?”

Blink. Blink. Yes ma’am, I do. But that cold chunk of concrete with the oversized overweighted doormat on it is not a bed.

Wrongful Imprisonment

2010-09-25T15:58:00.007-04:00

I’ll try to fully explain later, but for now:

I am off to jail for the next 48 hours to re-serve time I’ve already served. The Hook may or may not have a story about it while I’m incarcerated.

I will say in brief:

One would imagine the twits who control the City and County would be doing everything in their power to keep me out of their Kingdom rather than repeatedly dragging me into it on purpose. They seriously seem to have all the logic and critical thinking skills of a dust mite, so, you know, duh!

Also:

Given that Albemarle-Charlottesville Regional Jail provides no parking for “weekenders,” and I am not local to the area, I’ll be leaving my vehicle at a place where it won’t get towed or ticketed, and hitchhiking the rest of the way there. Obviously I’m assuming I won’t wind up dead in a field but I figure I should have my travel plans on the record -- just in case.

Until next week:

Kiss, kiss!

Car 54, Wear Are You?

2010-09-24T16:29:00.006-04:00

If you’re going to treat a courtroom full of people to a view of your backside for any length of time, do make sure your trousers aren’t eating your coattails.

First-Thing-In-The-Morning Munitions

2010-09-23T18:56:00.006-04:00