Pittsburg, PA

Dozens of criminal cases dropped over crimes and misconduct by East Contra Costa cops, DA says

Published

2 years ago

July 14, 2022

Dozens of criminal cases dropped over crimes and misconduct by East Contra Costa cops, DA says

MARTINEZ — As the continuing federal and state prison investigation Pittsburg and Antioch law enforcement officials continues, Contra Costa prosecutors have dropped dozens of prison instances after figuring out the officers behind them can now not be trusted.

In a press release to this newspaper, Chief Assistant District Lawyer Simon O’Connell mentioned an ongoing evaluate discovered that “roughly 40” prison instances have been “compromised to the purpose they can’t be salvaged” on account of crimes and misconduct by officers who performed key roles within the investigation.

“At this cut-off date, because of the nature of the prison wrongdoing and misconduct of the concerned officers, roughly 40 instances have been compromised to the purpose they can’t be salvaged and have subsequently been dismissed,” O’Connell mentioned. “The cooperation of the Antioch and Pittsburg Police Departments has assisted significantly on this advanced endeavor.”

O’Connell mentioned the workplace “stays steadfast in preserving as many instances as potential.”

The DA’s workplace has refused to reveal which instances have been dropped, citing the continuing investigation.

Final March, the FBI and the DA confirmed there’s a joint investigation into unspecified crimes involving officers from Pittsburg and Antioch. Legislation enforcement sources, talking on situation of anonymity, have informed this newspaper the probe entails a number of officers and features a evaluate of use-of-force incidents, in addition to some form of involvement with cocaine and steroids.

The DA’s workplace has solely confirmed the investigation considerations a variety of offenses together with “crimes of ethical turpitude,” a authorized time period that refers to crimes involving, deceit or conduct that may “shock the conscience.” Notably, drug use alone shouldn’t be thought of against the law of ethical turpitude.

The evaluate entails figuring out officers suspected of prison conduct, carving them out of a case, and figuring out if sufficient proof stays for the costs to face. As an illustration, a case the place an impugned officer was the only real witness most likely wouldn’t proceed.

Moreover, the DA’s workplace has recognized about 40 different instances the place an officer beneath prison investigation was concerned, however not sufficient to swamp the prosecution. In these instances, they’ve made required disclosures to protection attorneys, O’Connell mentioned.

The authorized customary for such choices, sarcastically stems from an Appellate Courtroom case primarily based in Contra Costa, involving ex-Harmony Ofc. Matthew Switzer, who was convicted of stealing prescribed drugs from aged victims whereas on-duty. In that case, appeals court docket justices affirmed an auto theft conviction stemming from Switzer’s arrest, ruling that his testimony wouldn’t have materially modified the case. However they lambasted the prosecutor for failing to name Switzer throughout trial, writing it “smacks of gamesmanship” and that protection attorneys ought to have been concerned of Switzer’s case.

The DA’s evaluate is operating parallel to an analogous course of in federal court docket, the place no less than a dozen prosecutions have been halted or reversed, generally after the defendant already pleaded responsible or was sentenced. 5 of these instances concerned felony gun possession fees of people that have been arrested by Antioch police, a couple of by the identical officer, court docket data present.

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Pittsburg, PA

Scorned Penguins Goaltender Undefeated to Begin Conditioning Stint

Published

4 hours ago

October 31, 2024

Press Room

Scorned Penguins Goaltender Undefeated to Begin Conditioning Stint

Pittsburgh Penguins goaltender Tristan Jarry began the 2024-25 season with something to prove. After allowing 12 goals in three starts, it was evident that Jarry was becoming a liability. As a result, the Penguins reassigned him to the AHL for a two-week conditioning stint.

Since then, Jarry has started two games for the Wilkes-Barre Scranton Penguins, winning both and posting a .922 save percentage. While some of the goals he’s allowed have been on the weaker side, Jarry has generally performed well.

Team President Kyle Dubas laid out the plan for Jarry last week. “The expectations for him while down there are to play each game for Wilkes-Barre over the next 14 days and set himself to come back to Pittsburgh confident and in good form.”

Wilkes-Barre has three games remaining during those 14 days, after which the Penguins will have another tough decision.

With Jarry returning, the Penguins will have two options. Go back to a three-goalie rotation or assign rookie standout Joel Blomqvist to the AHL. Blomqvist has been stellar in his first taste of NHL action, amassing a 2-4-0 record, a.909 save percentage, and 2.2 goals saved above expected.

Despite Blomqvist’s impressive start, his assignment may be the most likely outcome, with forwards Blake Lizotte and Matt Nieto nearing returns from their respective injuries.

With little over a week remaining on Jarry’s conditioning loan, the Penguins’ goaltending situation is primed to take another turn.

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Pittsburg, PA

'The Texans Beat Them:' Rich Eisen Picks Houston Over Pittsburgh

Published

11 hours ago

October 31, 2024

Press Room

'The Texans Beat Them:' Rich Eisen Picks Houston Over Pittsburgh

The Pittsburgh Steelers are 6-2 and on top of the AFC North. The Baltimore Ravens look like a dominant team, but for now, the Steelers are better than them. The AFC has several other strong teams, too. If the Steelers ultimately do make the playoffs, they could face a tough team. The Houston Texans are young but also on top of their division. Analyst Rich Eisen believes they would beat the Steelers if the two teams played right now.

“Number eight, one spot up, I’m putting the Russell Wilson Steelers right here,” Eisen said recently on his show when revealing his power rankings. “They beat the Jets; they beat the Giants. [Wilson] is smelting. The running game’s going, T.J. Watt’s going, the special teams are going.

“All three phases are going. 6-2, they lead the AFC North. I still think if the Houston Texans play them, the Texans beat them, which is why I’m putting the Texans right here at seven.”

That’s not an unfair thing to say. The Texans have been a great team this year. They are 6-2, but their two losses weren’t awful. They got crushed by the Minnesota Vikings in Week 3, but the Vikings were rolling at that point. They also lost to the Green Bay Packers in Week 7, but the game came down to the wire.

The Texans also beat the tar out of the Steelers last year. In Week 4 of 2023, rookie quarterback C.J. Stroud dominated the Steelers, beating them 30-6. The Texans have only improved their team since then, so it isn’t a stretch to say they could do it again.

However, the Steelers have also upgraded their team this year. Their offense looks much better, especially with Wilson at quarterback. They aren’t the same team the Texans beat last year. The Steelers have been playing great recently, too, so it’s possible that they could avenge their loss from last year.

The Texans are also dealing with some huge injuries. They just lost star receiver Stefon Diggs for the year, and Nico Collins, their standout receiver last year, is on injured reserve at the moment. The Texans are deep at receiver, but replacing both those players is almost impossible.

Therefore, if the two teams played today, it wouldn’t be crazy to say the Steelers have the advantage. The Texans have a young, hotshot quarterback and a stout defense, but they might not have the playmakers to beat the Steelers.

This is all hypothetical, though. The only way the Steelers will play the Texans this year will be if they meet in the playoffs. That’s still a few months away, so if that does happen, it’s likely both teams will look slightly different. The Texans could have Collins back, or they could be suffering from more injuries. The same could be said for the Steelers. It would make for an interesting postseason matchup, though.