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WTOP interview: DC Police Chief Robert Contee shares why he’s leaving after 33 years

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:16:28 GMT

On his last working day on the job, D.C. Police Chief Robert Contee reflected back on his more than three decades on the force, acknowledging the personal toll being D.C.’s top cop takes and why he feels he’s leaving this chapter of his career on his own terms.Last month, Contee surprised just about everyone in public safety when the mayor announced he was leaving to become a deputy director at the FBI. Contee joined the DC Police Department as a 17-year-old cadet and rose through the ranks under multiple administrations and other chiefs.“Interestingly enough, there were people back then who’d say, ‘You’re going to be chief one day!'” Contee told WTOP in an exit interview. “No, really, people said that. And I just wanted to be a sergeant!”Contee said as a “kid coming from Carver Terrace” — a neighborhood in Northeast D.C. — he was proud to make it on the force. “And then be able to make it to a sergeant,” ...

Death sentence reduced to life in prison for man who killed North Dakota student

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:16:28 GMT

FARGO, N.D. (AP) — The death sentence for a Minnesota man who killed a North Dakota college student 20 years ago has been officially changed to life in prison.Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals Judge Ralph Erickson signed the sentence amendment for Alfonso Rodriguez Jr. last week, according to court records. Rodriguez, a sex offender, was convicted in 2007 of kidnapping 22-year-old Dru Sjodin on Nov. 22, 2003, from a Grand Forks shopping mall. He then sexually assaulted her, cut her throat and left her to die in a ravine near Crookston, Minnesota.The body of Sjodin, who was a University of North Dakota student, was found five months later.U.S. Attorney Mac Schneider in North Dakota filed a notice in federal court in March withdrawing his effort to seek the death penalty. He said he did so at the direction of U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland.That left life in prison without parole as the only possible sentenced for Rodriguez.Rodriguez’s death sentence was overturned in Septem...

Former Kansas police officer sentenced for sexual assaults, window peeping

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:16:28 GMT

HUTCHINSON, Kan. (AP) — A former Kansas police officer has been sentenced to 23 1/2 years in prison for a series of sexual assaults committed while he was an officer. Todd W. Allen, 52, pleaded guilty in April to 12 felony sex crime charges and five breach of privacy charges. Prosecutors said the sexual assaults involving 10 female victims, including a 15-year-old girl, occurred while Allen was a Hutchinson police officer.Allen was arrested on Aug. 17, 2022, and was initially charged with 24 counts, including 17 felonies. He was sentenced on Monday. Prosecutors said Allen stopped vehicles carrying the victims and ordered them out of their cars, claiming he wanted to question them about drugs. He then took them to the back of the car and assaulted them, The Hutchinson News reported.The invasion of privacy charges alleged Allen looked through windows at victims’ homes. He committed those crimes while he was a security guard after he left the police department in 2019. Allen’s la...

$19 million settlement reached for Christian Glass' family

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:16:28 GMT

DENVER (KDVR) -- The family of Christian Glass, a 22-year-old man who was shot and killed by a deputy last June after calling 911 for help, has reached a settlement with the sheriff's office, county and city."Sally and Simon Glass announce that they have reached agreements to settle all claims relating to the death of their beloved son, Christian Glass, for the amount of $19 million with Clear Creek County, the State of Colorado, the Town of Georgetown, and the City of Idaho Springs," a press release from Rathod Mohamedbhai LLC, the Glass family's attorney, said. Officers charged with killing Christian Glass to face trial Clear Creek County contributed the most settlement funds with $10 million "for settlement of the wrongful death claims for compensation directly relating to 'personal physical injuries or physical sickness,'" according to a release from Clear Creek County.Clear Creek County Sheriff's Office also issued an apology, which stated that the initial press release "did ...

‘She was my angel’: Upper Deck bartender performs CPR on unresponsive customer, credited for saving his life

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:16:28 GMT

NEW FRANKLIN, Ohio (WEWS) — A typical day on the golf course took a turn for the worse for Uniontown resident Shawn Cavanaugh but ended with a life-long bond between him and a bartender named Taylor Lyn Kemerer, who is credited for saving his life.On Friday, May 12, Cavanaugh was out on the Turkeyfoot Lake Golf Links with a group of friends, enjoying their tradition of “Stress-Free Friday” golf league. They’ve done it every week for 25 years.“Beautiful day. Couldn’t have played any better, actually. Had a lot of fun. Laughs all day like I do with them all the time, they’re a bunch of great guys,” he recalled.Cavanaugh was running late to the tee time and wasn’t able to pick up the waters and Gatorade he normally brings for a day on the links. He attributes what happened later that day to being dehydrated.After the round of golf, Cavanaugh and his friends went across the street to Upper Deck Bar and Grill for a bite to eat. The gr...

Harvard Pilgrim says patient information may have been taken during hack

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:16:28 GMT

Patient information may have been stolen during a ransomware incident that hit Harvard Pilgrim earlier this year, the healthcare company said this week. Point32Health, which serves as the parent company for Harvard Pilgrim, said it learned about the incident on April 17 and took systems offline while working to identify the cybersecurity problem. Just over a month later, Harvard Pilgrim said an investigation into the breach showed signs that data was copied and taken from Harvard Pilgrim systems between March 28 and April 17 before systems went offline. Information that may have been taken during the incident, officials said, includes patients’ social security numbers, taxpayer information and phone numbers. Harvard Pilgrim said the beach could impact current or former subscribers and dependents, as well as contracted providers. In its statement, Point32 said law enforcement has been contacted and cybersecurity experts are still reviewing what happened. “Harvard Pilgr...

Suspect in murder of Concord, NH couple indicted on additional charge 

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:16:28 GMT

The person accused of murdering a Concord, New Hampshire couple last year has been indicted on another charge, state and local officials announced Tuesday. New Hampshire Attorney General John Formella and Concord Police Chief Bradley Osgood said a Merrimack County Grand Jury indicted Logan Clegg, 27, last week on a charge of falsifying physical evidence. Clegg was previously indicted on other charges including second degree murder and other falsifying physical evidence charges after prosecutors said he allegedly killed Stephen and Djeswende Reid on April 18 of last year.The couple was found on a hiking trail near their home. Clegg, officials alleged, later destroyed or removed information from his laptop computer on April 21.Clegg was arrested in October of last year at a library in South Burlington, Vermont. He later pleaded not guilty to various charges at an arraignment in January.Clegg was being held without bail as of Tuesday. 

Chicago Bears general manager Ryan Poles buys $2M Lincolnshire home

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:16:28 GMT

Chicago Bears general manager Ryan Poles and his wife, Katie, in November paid $2.07 million for a newly built, five-bedroom, 5,200-square-foot house in Lincolnshire.Poles, 37, was hired as the Bears’ general manager in January 2022 after a lengthy career as an executive for the Kansas City Chiefs.In Lincolnshire, the couple’s new home was constructed in 2022 by Arthur J. Greene Custom Builders. The two-story, modern farmhouse-style home first had been listed for $2 million and sold for above its asking price, likely due to certain upgrades.Because Ryan and Katie Poles bought the house from a homebuilder, very few details are available. The house has a wood and stone exterior with a four-car garage.The couple bought the house through an opaque land trust that conceals their names. Real estate agent Lori Glattly, who represented Ryan and Katie Poles in their purchase, declined to comment on the deal.Ryan and Katie Poles previously had sold their five-bedroom, 3,182-square...

South Carolina ready to renew abortion ban around 6 weeks of pregnancy after Senate vote

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:16:28 GMT

By JAMES POLLARD (Associated Press/Report for America)COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — The South Carolina Senate approved a bill Tuesday that would ban most abortions after around six weeks of pregnancy — before most people know they are pregnant – and sent it to the governor who has promised to sign it.The proposal restores a ban South Carolina had in place when the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade last year — a ban that, once it took effect, was overturned by the state’s highest court because it violated the state Constitution’s right to privacy.Republicans have been searching for an answer to that ruling because it left abortion legal through 22 weeks of pregnancy and sharply increased the number of abortions taking place in South Carolina as most other Southern states enacted stricter laws.The bill includes exceptions for fatal fetal anomalies, the patient’s life and health, and rape or incest up to 12 weeks. Doctors could face felony char...

Nikki Haley hits New Hampshire as Republican field grows

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:16:28 GMT

Nikki Haley is back in the Granite State just as Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis is expected to announce he’s joining her in the GOP presidential field.Haley announced she would make a requisite yet traditional campaign stop for breakfast in New Hampshire.Haley, who served as ambassador to the United Nations under former President Donald Trump, will be in Goffstown Wednesday morning at the Saint Anselm College for the “Politics and Eggs” speaker series.Presented by The New England Council and The New Hampshire Institute of Politics & Political Library at Saint Anselm College, the morning event is a pre-presidential “must stop” and has been since its start in 1995.Though Haley is the first declared candidate to take the stage in Goffstown, she isn’t the only presidential prospect to stop for scrambled eggs and bacon this cycle.The event has already hosted Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson, though before he announced his campaign, as well as former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo ...