Thread: OR: Officer in fatal shooting linked to sex abuse

Officer in fatal shooting linked to sex abuse

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Story Published: Jul 13, 2008 at 10:35 AM PDT

Story Updated: Jul 14, 2008 at 7:32 AM PDT
By KATU Web Staff & News Services
Video

SILVERTON, Ore. - A Silverton police officer who fatally shot a 20-year-old Irish national while investigating a burglary last week was arrested Saturday in connection with sex abuse charges involving a minor female.

Officer Tony Gonzalez, 35, was lodged in the Marion County jail on charges of first-degree and third-degree sex abuse, the Marion County District Attorney announced Sunday. He is being held without bail.

The charges came after a woman and her minor daughter from Keizer reported to police on Saturday multiple incidents of sex abuse and identified Gonzalez as the culprit, prosecutors said.

Authorities did not describe the abuse, name the accusers or release any more details about the allegations.

When he was arrested, Gonzalez was on administrative leave from the Silverton Police Department, pending the outcome of an investigation into the fatal shooting of Andrew Hanlon.

The case has generated wide publicity and outrage in Ireland, where police shootings are rare.

Hanlon's mother, Dorothea Carroll, was in the U.S. Friday looking for answers and said her son's death appeared to be a case of "unreasonable and excessive force" by a police officer.

Hanlon was shot seven times in the abdomen, arm, thigh and back, according to a statement from his family.

Carroll had a face-to-face meeting with investigators on Friday, and afterward a law firm issued a statement on behalf of his family. It expressed hope prosecutors would pursue the case "with integrity and diligence."

"We trust that this process will result in justice and accountability for what seems to us to be a clear case of unreasonable and excessive force," the statement said. "While we mourn our loss and await the outcome of the process, we ask for respect and privacy, and will be referring all media inquiries to our lawyers."

Deputy Marion County District Attorney Matthew Kemmy declined to discuss what happened at the meeting but said he expects the case to go to a county grand jury within two weeks.

According to a family member, Carroll wasn't granting interviews after Friday's meeting.

After the June 30 shooting, Carroll went on Irish radio to criticize police and prosecutors for not providing her with information about the shooting of her son. The death has shaken her family, Carroll said.

"No mother and no family expects to lose a 20-year-old son," she said. "And to lose a son is one thing, but to lose a child, literally to be blasted away, to be shot to death, I mean my God, it's a violent end. It's a violent end."

Hanlon had been visiting the United States for the past year and lived in Silverton during his stay.

Hanlon was described by his family as mentally ill. He was killed when Gonzalez responded to a report of a burglary.

Hanlon's sister and brother-in-law live in Silverton. They say Hanlon was in the habit of banging on their door when he wanted a place to stay the night, and he may have just gotten confused and knocked on the wrong door.

Earlier this week, the Silverton Police Officers' Association created a stir when it issued a statement saying that the group thought the actions by Gonzalez were justified.

"As members of the community we serve, we agree that the truth of this recent event should be known by all as quickly as is possible," said Rich Budry, a Silverton detective. "We strongly believe the district attorney's office and grand jury investigation will prove the use of force was justified under the statute."

In response, the Marion County district attorney's office publicly chastised the police association, saying the group should keep quiet until an investigation into an officer-involved shooting is complete.

The district attorney's office said the association's comments could mislead the public into thinking that the investigation of the shooting will be an in-house affair.

A multi-agency team is investigating the shooting, and its results will be reviewed by the district attorney's office and most likely will go before a grand jury.

"To be clear, no member of the Silverton Police Department is involved in the investigation or has access to the evidence," the district attorney's office said.

- The Associated Press contributed to this report


http://www.katu.com/news/24960124.html

Recent related post: http://www.alipac.us/ftopict-123320.html

Hanlon had been visiting the United States for the past year and lived in Silverton during his stay.

Typical of any report at least partially crafted by the AP... there was no mention that the Irish 'victim' entered the US on a tourist visa and had overstayed... making him officially an IA. He also worked at a restaurant in the area as well - which is a second crime. I can't say I think much of being drunk and banging on stranger's doors at 11:30pm either.