Among Other Things .... Here's a sentence you don't read every day: A sign reading "closed" was posted on the front door of the King City Police Department Tuesday. Powers said the police station's front office cannot remain open because so many officers were arrested. (Larson) King City is a town of around thirteen thousand in Monterey County, California, with a police department staffing seventeen officers. Five of those officers, as well as the former police chief, are currently under arrest by federal officials investigating an auto theft ring: Monterey County District Attorney Dean Flippo said King City's top law enforcers became lawbreakers when they orchestrated a scheme victimizing the most vulnerable residents in King City. "The victims were economically disadvantaged persons of Hispanic descent who were targeted by having their vehicles impounded, towed and stored by Miller's Towing," Flippo said. Investigators said police ordered hundreds of vehicles in King City to be towed and owners never got their cars back because they could not afford to pay impound fees or could not speak English. Police officers kept the cars for free, or sold them to make money, Flippo said. Even those who generally presume corruption in police departments ought to take a moment to reflect on how unusual this case sounds. The toll so far: • Sgt. Bobby Javier Carrillo: Conspiracy to commit a crime. Accepting a bribe. Bribing an executive officer. • Acting Police Chief Bruce Edward Miller: Accepting a bribe. • Civilian Brian Albert Miller, Owner of Miller's Towing and brother of Bruce Miller: Conspiracy to commit a crime. Bribing an executive officer. • Former Chief Nick Baldiviez: Embezzlement by a public officer. • Officer Mario Alonso Mottu, Sr.: Embezzlement a by public officer. • Officer Jaime Andrade: Possession of an assault weapon. Illegal storage of a firearm. • Sgt. Mark Allen Baker: Making criminal threats. I would say I can't wait to see the movie, but, neither can I imagine this would make so dramatic a script. Maybe a farce. You know, straight-to-video. Still, and maybe that's the thing, as alleged crime rings go, this one is pretty flaccid. Small town, small racket. ____________________ Notes: Larson, Amy. "King City Police Chief and Ex-Chief arrested". KSBW. February 25, 2014. KSBW.com. February 26, 2014. http://www.ksbw.com/news/central-ca...iller-and-exchief-baldiviez-arrested/24662946
