Latest news with #GenevaPoliceDepartment
Yahoo
22-05-2025
- Yahoo
Special prosecutor will be assigned to former Geneva officer's case
ROCHESTER, N.Y. (WROC) — A special prosecutor is being assigned to the case of Michael Tapscott, the former Geneva police officer accused of selling drugs on duty. Ontario County DA James Ritts announced that his opponent in this year's election, Ontario County Attorney Jason MacBride, exchanged texts with Tapscott. It was alleged that MacBride was seeking Tapscott and the Geneva Police Department's endorsement for DA. The texts, according to Ritts, happened over several months before Tapscott was arrested. Ritts said that, in light of these accusations, the DA's Office will seek a special prosecutor from outside Ontario County to ensure all defendants are brought to justice without impropriety. 'Although I am disappointed there is a need for a Special Prosecutor in this case, prosecutorial ethics require me to take this action,' Ritts said in a statement. News 8 has reached out to the DA's Office and MacBride for further comment on this matter. The Ontario District Attorney's Office declined to provide any further comment and directed us to the Wayne County District Attorney, who will be the special prosecutor for the case. Tapscott, a former D.A.R.E. officer, was arrested earlier this month for allegedly selling drugs to someone at a local business in Geneva while in uniform and operating a police car. Investigators said they found evidence that Tapscott provided a form of Adderall. Tapscott was charged with fifth-degree criminal sale of a controlled substance and official misconduct. He was arraigned and released on his own recognizance. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
09-05-2025
- Yahoo
Two more Geneva PD members on leave ahead of criminal investigation
ROCHESTER, N.Y. (WROC) — Two additional members of the Geneva Police Department have been placed on administrative leave ahead of a criminal investigation by the Ontario County Sheriff's Office, a release from the Geneva Police Department confirmed Friday. Chief Ronald Eveland said the placement of the members on leave stems from Wednesday's announcement that 13-year-veteran Officer Michael Tapscott was placed on leave pending an investigation and subsequent arrest. Former Geneva police officer accused of selling drugs while on duty Officer Tapscott submitted a letter of resignation to Geneva Police Tuesday before he was charged with criminal sale of a controlled substance in the fifth degree, and official misconduct relating to the sale of a form of Adderall. It's alleged this happened while the officer was on duty and operating a police car. 'If true, the allegation against Mr. Tapscott is deeply unsettling. However, we trust and faith in our judicial system to conduct a thorough investigation resulting in the appropriate outcome,' Chief Eveland said in a statement. 'This is an extremely difficult time not only for our police department family, but for the Geneva community and for any innocent parties involved.' The Ontario County Sheriff's Office released a statement shortly after Chief Eveland's letter to the community. 'We understand that the allegations in this case are troubling, and the public wants to know the extent of criminality involved.' Sheriff David Cirencione said in a statement. The Ontario County Sheriff's Office remains committed to conducting a thorough, unbiased investigation, and we are going to continue to pursue our findings, wherever they lead. Further information will continue to be released as appropriate to maintain the integrity of the investigative process.' Sheriff Cirencione urged anyone with information relating to the case to contact or utilize 'Submit a Tip' on the 'OntarioSheriffNY' mobile app. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
18-04-2025
- Yahoo
Geneva honors police
GENEVA — Members of the Geneva Police Department were honored on Monday evening during a city council meeting. Michael Smith, who joined the department in 2022, was named Officer of the Year and commended for his work making traffic stops in the city, Geneva Police Chief John Camper said. He said Smith also received the Ashtabula County Safe Communities Officer of the Year, as well. Brittany Brantley received the Dispatcher of the Year award, and was honored for her work in communicating information to other departments. Lynn Gersper was honored as part-time Officer of the Year. She has been on the department since 1975, Hamper said. He commended all the members of the department. 'You guys have been very easy to work with,' he said. Hamper discussed his hopes that the canine unit will be up and running by August, with Smith as the potential canine handler. City Councilman Jeff Griffiths asked Hamper to provide a full budget for the proposed program. Geneva City Manager Joseph Varckette said the details of the program are still being decided, and council will have a chance to approve the program before it is finalized. Camper said he believes a canine unit is needed in the city. He said many city residents have asked him about a canine unit, which was discussed as a possible addition to the city during a 2019 levy campaign that passed by four votes. Camper said the department is 'more or less' at full staff, but still struggling to keep employees. He said the department will soon need a radio system update, new Tasers and body cameras.
Yahoo
01-04-2025
- Yahoo
Geneva man acquitted in death of 2-year-old boy
An Ontario County jury Friday acquitted a Geneva man accused of manslaughter in the death of a 2-year-old. Jarrid Mix was charged with manslaughter in the September 2022 death of a 2-year-old boy, the son of Mix's then-girlfriend. Mix, now 25, was arrested in March 2023. Geneva police said the boy suffered severe internal injuries to his abdomen and torso areas. The prosecution contended that the injuries occurred while the child was in the care of Mix. The defense argued that the boy had fallen down some stairs several days prior to the recognition of his injuries, and that the fall could have been at the root of the injuries, according to trial coverage by WHAM-TV. Assistant Ontario County Public Defender Mollie Dapolito, who represented Mix, said in a statement that the jury clearly was convinced of his innocence. 'Both the verdict, and the swiftness of the verdict, speaks volumes about Jarrid Mix's undeniable innocence,' she said. 'Jarrid Mix is grateful to the jury for their care and attention to his case, and is looking forward to rebuilding his life.' In a statement Ontario County District Attorney Jim Ritts said, "We are deeply disappointed in the verdict in the Mix case. However, the difficulties inherent in the investigation and prosecution of cases involving the death of a child are real. "While we accept the jury's decision, the verdict does not take away from the hard work and relentless pursuit of justice by both the Geneva Police Department and my office. Unfortunately, in our criminal justice system, we are not always satisfied by the outcome." — Gary Craig is a veteran reporter with the Democrat and Chronicle, covering courts and crime and more. You can reach Craig at gcraig@ He is the author of two books, including "Seven Million: A Cop, a Priest, a Soldier for the IRA, and the Still-Unsolved Rochester Brink's Heist." This article originally appeared on Rochester Democrat and Chronicle: Jarrid Mix acquitted in death of 2-year-old boy
Chicago Tribune
21-03-2025
- Chicago Tribune
Candlelight vigil held in Aurora for 19-year-old killed in officer-involved shooting
Around 100 people gathered for a candlelight vigil in Aurora for Christopher Lepe, 19, on Thursday evening. Held outside the Aurora Police Department headquarters at 1200 East Indian Trail Road in Aurora, the vigil – made up of community members and Lepe's family – remembered Lepe, who was identified Thursday by the Kane County Coroner's Office as the individual fatally shot by Aurora police on Wednesday following a vehicle chase. Silver, star-shaped balloons were given out to those attending the vigil. A community member set up candles in the center of the Aurora Police Department parking lot, where the group had gathered. Several people carried signs reading 'We are Christopher' and 'Justice for Christopher.' At the vigil, Lepe's mother, Yanet, expressed her distress at not having seen Lepe's body yet to identify him as her son. 'Above everything else, I need to know that that is my son,' organizer Pablo Puga said on Yanet Lepe's behalf, translating her words from Spanish to English. 'I don't know if that is my son.' At Thursday's vigil, attendees demanded answers about the circumstances of Lepe's death. In the early hours of Wednesday morning, a man who police say displayed a weapon following a car chase was shot and killed by Aurora police on the city's East Side, according to past reporting. According to a press release from the Geneva Police Department that Geneva officials said was a related incident, the man had previously been stopped by Geneva police for allegedly being intoxicated. The man refused to exit his car and drove away, dragging the officer a short distance in the parking lot on the 1500 block of South Randall Road, the release said. The Geneva officer was taken to Northwestern Medicine Delnor Hospital in Geneva with serious injuries, but is listed in stable condition, the release from Geneva police said. Around 1:30 a.m. on Wednesday, Aurora police responded to a mutual aid request attempting to locate a man wanted in connection with an aggravated battery to a Geneva police officer, according to past reporting. Upon locating the individual using the license plate of his vehicle and a description of the suspect, Aurora police pursued him after they said he refused to stop. Officers ultimately stopped the individual near Route 25 and Ashland Avenue in Aurora, police said. Police said the driver displayed a weapon, and two Aurora police officers discharged their guns at the driver, who was struck by gunfire, a release from the police department said on Wednesday. Officers performed aid on the man until he was taken to a local hospital, where he was pronounced dead a short time later, officials said. The man killed was later identified as Christopher Lepe, 19, of Aurora, according to a press release from the Kane County Coroner's Office. The Kane County Major Crimes Task Force has launched an investigation into the officers' actions. No officers from the Aurora Police Department will be involved in the investigation, officials have said. Three officers from the city have been placed on administrative leave – two who were involved and one who was present during the shooting, which is standard procedure for officer-involved deaths, according to a press release from the Aurora police. At the vigil on Thursday, Lepe's family and community members criticized the information that had and hadn't been released to the public about the shooting. 'We do find it very, very suspicious that the footage … still has not been released,' Puga said at the vigil. Chants of 'We want to see the video' and 'Let her see her son' erupted throughout the crowd as Lepe's family and community members spoke. Body-worn camera footage of the shooting will not be released yet, Kane County State's Attorney Jamie Mosser said at a press conference at Aurora City Hall on Wednesday. Mosser said Wednesday that the investigation will wait at least 72 hours before interviewing the involved officers, and that the SAFE-T Act requires police officers not view this footage before giving a statement or making a police report about an incident like this. Mosser said they plan to release the footage at a later date. Officials at Wednesday's press conference said they cannot yet release the identity of the officers involved or any details on the weapon police said the driver displayed. 'We don't want to jump to any conclusions,' George Gutierrez, of Aurora, said at the vigil. 'We know that they like to cover things up. At the same time, if it was justified, we still want answers.' At the vigil, Lepe's brother, Brian Lepe, said that a Kane County detective showed him an image of Lepe during the incident. The Aurora police released two still images from police dashboard cameras from the incident on Thursday evening. They reiterated that body-worn camera footage would be released at a later date 'to comply with provisions of the SAFE-T Act and not interfere with the independent review process.' 'You see this mother crying, and you have the nerve to release a blurry picture,' Puga said outside the police department about the photos released by the Aurora police. At around 8 p.m., the individuals gathered at the vigil Thursday marched away from the police department down Indian Trail Road chanting 'justice for Chris.' They returned to the police department building at about 8:30 p.m., still chanting.
