Woman Files for Restraining Order Against Police Officer Who’s Investigating Her Boyfriend for Robberies–and Guess What Happens?
In the amazing story below, a woman sought a restraining order against a police detective who was investigating her boyfriend for a string of burglaries. It’s a clever way for a suspect or possible co-conspirator to derail a police investigation. And of course, since we have very little judicial oversight on restraining orders, the judge just went ahead and rubberstamped the order anyway.
The writers, Cary Spivak and Dan Bice, see the story as humorous, but it’s no joke to all of the innocent men who are tossed out of their homes by false restraining orders. Spivak and Bice can be contacted by phone at (414) 223-5468 or e-mail at sb@journalsentinel.com. Their blog is www.jsonline.com/links/spiceblog.
The judge was Court Commissioner David Pruhs. The story is a couple years old. Thanks to Mark, a reader, for sending it.
Woman enlists court to ditch the law
Cary Spivak and Dan Bice
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
October 15, 2006
There are many ways to avoid the cops: Some folks run, some lie and others hide. But one creative Milwaukee woman came up with a novel idea, one that police hope never catches on.
She got a temporary restraining order in family court against a detective.
“I’ve had suspects talk about doing this before, but this is the first time I ever saw it,” Milwaukee County sheriff’s Detective John Davis said last week. “I was somewhat amused by it, but it was a little aggravating.”
The creative strategy was tried by Latoya Anderson, a west side resident who Davis said is the girlfriend of a man he wants to question about a string of burglaries. The first time Davis went to Anderson’s home, the man — whom he declined to name — wasn’t there. But Anderson reached him on her cell phone. Not surprisingly, the man declined to stop over to chat with the detective.
The next day, Davis and a Milwaukee detective returned. This time nobody would let them in, even though Davis said it looked like somebody was home.
Anderson’s response: She rushed to the courthouse, filed a petition accusing Davis of harassment and received a temporary restraining order banning him from harassing her or coming near her home. Thousands of similar orders are issued annually.
Anderson’s petition actually makes a pretty compelling case for why she needed protection from what sounded like an abusive ex.
“John came over banging, knocking, kicking at the door,” she wrote. “He was looking through my blinds. He took the plates off my car. He also had my car towed. He was calling my house asking for someone who does not live there.” (more…)
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Stumble It!
February 6th, 2008 at 7:25 am
Nope… women don’ t lie…… Women don’t falsely accuse… nope…. the black robes never ever ever just assume… nope….
Move along.. nothing to see here……
February 6th, 2008 at 9:23 am
“The story is a couple years old”
And I wonder if she has spent the intervening few years in jail for perverting justice. And has the Judge been sacked?
I won’t hold my breath waiting for a ‘yes’ to either question.
February 6th, 2008 at 2:29 pm
And that folks, is what is wrong with ex parte practice! The magical means of imposing a restriction on a person’s liberty WITHOUT such person even knowing about it and having a chance to respond.
I understand that David Letterman is now an expert on this interesting little field of “law”.
February 6th, 2008 at 8:34 pm
At least she’s perverting this law to defend her man, instead of stomping his face into the earth the way most women do.