PETITION DRIVE UNDERWAY TO GET CHIEF HORNER TO STEP DOWN DURING PENDING LITIGATION. CITIZEN'S FEAR FOR THIER LIVES.

Here's an idea. Create a Magistrate or Referee where citizens can have criminal complaints heard and LEGALLY ruled on.

By Doug Deepe

(posted 10:45 a.m., Thursday, July 24, 2003)

Rumor has it that citizens of Portsmouth have launched a petition drive seeking signatures requesting that Portsmouth Police Chief Charles Horner be placed on administrative leave pending the outcome of lawsuits filed against Chief Horner and the City of Portsmouth.

Citizens claim that they no longer feel safe under the "non-protection" being provided to the city by Chief Horner and his police department. The citizen's claim that Chief Horner is more concerned with his own self preservation than he is in finding killers. One citizen stated to the Sentinel last night "I'm terrified of Chief Horner and the Portsmouth Police Department. They're corrupt and everyone in town knows it. It's time for the people to stand up and get them fired."

When citizens were told about Judge Howard Harcha III's ruling to dismiss a female's complaint against Portsmouth Police Officer Todd Bryant without hearing any testimony the citizen's were outraged. One man stated, "It didn't take long to find out how he stood with the cops did it. The voters won't forget it either."

Maybe what is needed is a new judicial Magistrate or Referee where citizens can go and file affidavits for complaints. This position could be part time and meet maybe once a week the same as a small claim court and allow the citizens real access to the court.

The Magistrate or Referee could send a report for a local judge to review and decide based on the ruling by the Magistrate or Referee if enough evidence is available to issue an arrest warrant or a summons to the perpetrator.

It seems like our local Judges don't want to be bothered by the people who put the Judges in office, the voters, the real owners of this county and city.

Maybe the citizens are finally waking up and discovering just how corrupt this city and county really has become and it can only be cleaned up by sweeping these Judges and Prosecutors out of office if they continue to disregard the REAL LAW OF OHIO, THE OHIO REVISED CODE.

"Local Rules" like now appear at the Portsmouth Municipal Court are illegal when it violates the Ohio Revised Code. Nobody has ever challenged these Judges about these illegal "rules" but that may soon change.

If it's a matter of fear on the Judges part of possibly being swarmed with criminal affidavits for complaints then maybe the Magistrate and/or Referee position is the answer.

The people are beginning to stir and it's not a pretty picture. People can be oppressed for so long until something has to change. The big question is what will that change look like?

The local Judges care little about the "appearance of impropriety" as this latest ruling proves. Just to reach into the Ohio Revised Code and dismiss a "sworn affidavit" that a crime was committed is unthinkable, but then again, this is Scioto County, and it's the Judges "rules" not the law that counts here.

Just ask Portsmouth Municipal Clerk Leroy Kegley.  Clerk Kegley feared Judge Kegley and Judge Schisler and their rules, more than he feared breaking the law of the Ohio Revised Code.

This should send shivers up and down the spines of every citizen. It's morally, ethically and legally wrong and someone has to stand up and make these crooked cops and/or Judges get back to the law or ensure that these people are voted out of office.

People take the town back. That's the only hope for Portsmouth and Scioto County.

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AIR FORCE SENIOR AIRMAN OFFERS FINANCIAL SUPPORT TO SENTINEL
Wouldn't it be nice if all citizens cared like this young patriot?

By Doug Deepe

(posted 9:35 a.m., Monday, July 21, 2003)

This weekend I received a very heartwarming email from a young man serving our country in the United States Air Force offering to send the Sentinel some of his hard earned military pay to help us fight corruption in Scioto County. We unfortunately had to write the young man back and tell him not to send us money. Not because we couldn't use some help, but because we wouldn't dare take something from our fighting men and women.

I was so touched by his generosity that I felt I should write to our readers and let you know that we are getting the message out and it is reaching out across the world.

This young patriot is a Senior Airman named Joe, serving in the United States Air Force; he doesn't make very much money, loves his town and wants the corruption to stop. How can we let this patriot down?

My mind made me think back to my days in the military and the struggle it was living paycheck to paycheck. It made me feel humble to know that our web-site means so much to this young man that he was willing to reach into his own pocket to send money to us to keep this venture alive.

What a disgrace it will be to that man and the other military men and women to let the corruption in Scioto County remain covered up. Don't you understand that it is your duty and right as taxpayer's to stand up to these thugs and make them answer for their crimes and unethical conduct.

When I wrote to the Senior Airman I told him we are proud of him and want him to know that we appreciate his service to our country. The people of this area should remember how lucky we are to stand up and voice our opinions knowing that some court (maybe not our local courts) will eventually help us.

Scioto County is like "little Iraq" with the dictators wearing badges and guns protected by local judges that write down local rules that violate the Ohio Revised Code. That happened this week in Portsmouth Municipal Court.

Why do we here in the county expect less from our leaders that what our men and women in the armed forces are trying to bring to other countries? While other countries are gaining their freedoms we here in Scioto County are losing ours.

Thank God for patriots like this Senior Airman Joe. As I told you in our email, keep the faith and we'll keep working back here to make this city a town you can be proud of once again.

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I’VE LOST MY HELP AND I MIGHT NOT BE ABLE TO CONTINUE THIS FIGHT BECAUSE MY FINANCES ARE ABOUT GONE. I CAN’T AFFORD TO GET MANY MORE DOCUMENTS

It’s been a great run with you all and I’m going to keep going until I’m totally broke.

By Doug Deepe

(posted 11:00 a.m., Wednesday, July 16, 2003)

Over the last four months Doug Deepe and the staff at the Sentinel have done our best to prove to you, the public, that you can fight back against the corruption in the City of Portsmouth and the County of Scioto.

When I began this struggle my initial intent was to help a very close friend of mine with a problem he was having with a local thief. He needed help bringing an individual to justice for stealing money from him and his family. While I was working on that crusade, hundreds of people flooded this web-site with requests that we help them check into scandals around the Scioto County area and in Portsmouth City Government.

I think myself and the Sentinel staff have proved that we are not intimidated by any person, elected official etc. and we have tried to bring to light the corruption that keeps this city down in the dumps.

My last few articles about MRDD brought about such a response that it breaks my heart to let people know that in the very near future the Sentinel might have to close shop. (SOON NOT YET PEOPLE)

My two partners in this venture were forced to leave town to seek work to feed their families. Myself, I’m on a fixed income and can’t afford to purchase documents, pay gas and keep my home life going without help.

I’ve personally spent over $2,000.00 in the last two months getting documents, traveling across the state and region meeting with people to get information to expose corruption in the city and county. My phone bills have ballooned to the point that I’m taking away from my family and it’s reaching a point where I’m going to have to stop until my friends return to help carry the financial burden.

This doesn’t mean that I’m not going to be working or stopping on these crooks, it just means that I have to wait to save enough money back up to get back after them again.

My wife and I have a daughter in college and being on a fixed income I don’t have much money to spare, but what little money I did have, I think went for a great cause. People are talking now, wanting to work together for the first time in a long time, and it’s good to know myself and our staff had a part in that.

Those that know my real identity and that have helped me and the Sentinel Staff I want to say thank you and we appreciate all your help.

To those of you that have documents that can be exposed, send them to our Post Office Box 1879, Portsmouth, Ohio 45662.

I’m available to go with anyone, anywhere, anytime, but you’ll have to help with the expenses. Doug Deepe is tapped out.

Maybe someone out there knows someone with the backbone to sponsor our web-site and allow us to seek advertisements. If you know anyone like that email us.

While you may read the name Doug Deepe on the stories on this web-site, the contents of the articles come from hundreds of people like yourself, willing to take a chance to expose corruption. I think you know by now that while Doug Deepe is a ficticious name, the person behind Doug Deepe is devoted to stopping corruption. Doug Deepe and the Sentinel staff have been threatened, harrassed etc., but we have never stopped, nor will we stop fighting the crooks in this town.

This might just be a pause in the battle. I think we won that battle.

OH YEAH: OAKLEY, AND MRDD PEOPLE I’M NOT STOPPING ON YOU YET. I’VE GOT ENOUGH TO KEEP ON YOU FOR A WHILE.

Thanks people.

Doug Deepe

WHY WERE PORTSMOUTH RESIDENTS MADE TO WAIT UP TO 18 MINUTES FOR CALLS TO PORTSMOUTH POLICE DEPARTMENT FOR HELP ON SUNDAY?

"Chief Horner and Lt.’s Brewer and Charles were on duty too."

By Doug Deepe, Investigative Reporter

(Posted 12:00 p.m., Monday, July 14, 2003)

While driving around Portsmouth on Sunday, July 13, 2003 between 1 a.m. and 4:30 a.m. my scanner picked up numerous calls from the Portsmouth Police Dispatcher seeking an officer to answer calls for help, but no officers were available.

One call was for help at 7^th and Broadway involving a man driving a Camero trying to physically assault a citizen. That call was backed up waiting for an officer to arrive for approximately 18 minutes.

Another call was to inform the Portsmouth Police that a suspicious car, a white Cadillac, was driving the wrong way on streets in Wayne Hills, driving in and out of parking lots. This call was backed up for approximately 18 minutes with no officer on the scene.

The last call was for help at a possible breaking and entering in the 1800 block of Highland Avenue. The call asked for help claiming that three men were running between the houses wearing black clothing. This call was backed up for over 20 minutes waiting on an officer to arrive on the scene.

Where were Chief Horner, Detective Charles and Detective Lynn Brewer while these calls were going unanswered? Why was Officer Debbie Brewer at the dispatch desk for over 90 minutes without leaving to patrol the streets of Portsmouth?

All these people apparently were on duty as they were observed driving the streets of Portsmouth in unmarked or marked Portsmouth Police vehicles.

One informant claims that while Portsmouth citizens were waiting on help, Chief Horner was out trying to get information on New Boston Police Sgt. Matt Powell.

Either Chief Horner is incapable of setting out a schedule to ensure that all of Portsmouth is covered with enough officers, or he is using his force to get information on Sgt. Powell and becoming derelict in his duty.

On Sunday, July 13, 2003, from 1:00 a.m. to 4:30 a.m., I did not hear once response from an officer in the Sciotoville area. Isn’t Sciotoville part of Portsmouth’s jurisdiction?

Maybe someone can answer the public as to why Chief Horner is out running the streets that late at night. Even using a red Pontiac Sunfire on Saturday morning, Chief Horner is patrolling the streets of Portsmouth, but he isn’t answering calls for help from citizens.

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NEW REVELATIONS IN SGT. MATT POWELL CASE
INVESTIGATION AGAINST SGT. POWELL BEGAN WITH
MEMO SENT BY CAPTAIN DAVID THOROUGHMAN.

Here’s the connection. David Thoroughman was an ex-boyfriend of Teresa Fraley.

By Doug Deepe, Investigative Reporter.

(UPDATED 11:00 a.m., July 10, 2003) (see correction note below)

The Sentinel in reviewing the original memo’s found in the investigation of Sgt. Matt Powell has uncovered a new revelation. Sgt. Matt Powell’s current girlfriend, Teresa (Pokie) Fraley Blankenship is the ex-girlfriend of Portsmouth Police Captain David Thoroughman. Fraley Blankenship confirmed to the Sentinel that she did date David Thoroughman prior to Thoroughman’s marriage.

In reviewing the first memo inquiring into activities by the Portsmouth Police Department the Sentinel discovered that it was Captain Thoroughman that wrote the first memo.

On 3/12/03 Captain Thoroughman wrote a memo to Sgt. Carl Compton that reads as follows:

"Carl, please submit a To & From describing in full detail the incident involving Matt Powell requesting your assistance in conducting a drug deal at Teresa Fraley’s residence.

The memo is signed by Captain David Thoroughman.

Instead of Sgt. Compton responding to Captain Thoroughman, Lt. R. Ware writes the following memo back to Captain David Thoroughman:

"In regards to your memo to Sgt. Compton, I told him I would take care of letting you know what had happened. If my letter does not suffice then let me know and I will have him (Compton) send you one.

I do not recall the specific date in question, but Sgt. Compton came to me and stated that Powell had called dispatch looking for Officer Eveland. When dispatcher Artis told him (Powell) that Eveland was not working, he (Powell) asked the dispatcher who was working. When Artis told him, he (Powell) said he was having drugs delivered to his girlfriend’s house (Fraley) and wanted an officer (Sgt. Compton) to help him. The dispatcher had no other information nor a contact number to reach Powell.

When the dispatcher told Sgt. Compton of the request, he came to me. Sgt. Compton told me that he did not want to be involved in anything associated with Matt Powell and that he did not trust Matt Powell.

I share Compton’s concerns in regards to Powell and the manner in which he conducts himself and I further had concerns about him bringing Teresa Fraley into a drug buy. Powell had not given a number to our dispatcher to call and had not said when this deal was to take place.

I am and was at the time, the officer in charge of this shift. I do not think it is appropriate for an outside agency of any kind to hand choose people to become involved in their operations and then not contact the supervisor of these officers before trying to solicit their assistance. As the officer in charge, I have an obligation to the safety of my men as well as to ensure that they are not getting caught up in illegal or questionable activities.

I advised the dispatcher to contact me as soon as he heard back from Powell so I could talk to him and find out just what he had planned. That phone call never happened before the shift ended.

I have seen and heard enough about Matt Powell that I am not going to say ok to his requests without getting some details about it. Even after getting the information, I still may consult with the Chief or yourself before committing. Furthermore, he (Powell) should speak to me if he is wanting our assistance for anything other than the standard mutual aid.

I do not know what the reason for your request is but I hope that this has shed light on the matter. If you need anything else, let me know."

The memo is signed, "Respectfully Lt. R Ware."

This exchange of memos is very telling.

Sgt. Matt Powell and Teresa Fraley Blankenship have a very different version of this request for a so called "drug buy" at Fraley’s home.

Sgt. Powell states, and Fraley Blankenship confirms, that Sgt. Powell received a telephone call from a drug dealer coming through Portsmouth asking Sgt. Powell if he was interested in purchasing some drugs. Sgt. Powell was at home, (he and Fraley Blankenship live together) and was told that he had to make the deal later that night. The drug dealer told Sgt. Powell the type of vehicle that he was driving and asked to meet Sgt. Powell.

Sgt. Powell first called Lt. Grant at the New Boston Police Department and told him that he had received the telephone call and was going to come to New Boston to try to make the buy.

Teresa Blankenship says she told Sgt. Powell that he had been working to many hours and she (Blankenship) did not want Sgt. Powell to go out on his night off. Blankenship asked Sgt. Powell to call the Portsmouth Police Department and have them stop the guy when he came through Portsmouth. Sgt. Powell made a call to the Portsmouth Dispatcher and asked her to have someone call him at home so that a Portsmouth Police Officer could come to his residence to listen to the telephone call the drug dealer was going to make with Sgt. Powell later that night.

Sgt. Powell inquired if Officer Eveland was working because Officer Eveland was in charge of the drug K-9 unit and Sgt. Powell wanted to alert Officer Eveland that a vehicle with drugs was going to be passing through the City of Portsmouth.

Sgt. Powell and Blankenship both state that Sgt. Powell requested that either Sgt. Carl Compton or the Officer in Charge (OIC) call Sgt. Powell back if Portsmouth was interested in trying to catch the dealer.

Sgt. Powell was willing to have Portsmouth Police Officers come to his and Blankenship’s residence to only listen to the telephone calls, he was not willing to allow a drug buy in his residence because Teresa Blankenship’s children were in the home in bed.

Why would Lt. Ware not respond to a call requesting assistance to catch a drug dealer? Sgt. Powell and Blankenship reside in the City of Portsmouth and Sgt. Powell did what he should have done. He called the local authorities for help but was refused assistance.

Lt. Ware’s comments about Sgt. Matt Powell are interesting. A Lieutenant of the Portsmouth Police Department allegedly has "seen and heard enough about Matt Powell".

Why didn’t Lt. Ware make a call to the New Boston Police Department with his concerns about Sgt. Powell? Why is there no written communication between Chief Charles Horner and New Boston Police Chief Darrold Clark about this specific incident?

In fact, where is any letters of reprimand on Sgt. Powell prior to this incident concerning Sgt. Powell’s alleged behavior? There is none. Sgt. Matt Powell’s personnel file is full of commendations and awards but no reprimands.

So, was this all started over an ex-boyfriend trying to protect his ex-girlfriend?

This is getting very interesting.

(NOTE: THIS IS AN UPDATED VERSION OF AN EARLIER STORY THE SENTINEL PUBLISHED AT 10:00 A.M., July 10, 2003. THAT STORY HAD FACTUAL ERRORS MADE BY THIS REPORTER. I HAD PRINTED THE FIRST STORY OUT FOR SGT. POWELL AND TERESA FRALEY TO REVIEW AND THEY INFORMED ME THAT THEY DID NOT OFFER THEIR HOUSE FOR A DRUG BUY. ANY ERRORS IN THE 10:00 A.M. POSTING ARE THE ERROR OF THIS REPORTER. I APOLOGIZE TO SGT. POWELL AND TERESA BLANKENSHIP FOR THIS ERROR. Doug Deepe, Investigative Reporter

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MINFORD CITIZENS CLAIM PORTSMOUTH POLICE CAPTAIN DROVE PORTSMOUTH POLICE CRUISER TO PARTY FOR DAUGHTER AT MINFORD ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

Portsmouth Police Officers say this was a violation of police policy.

By Doug Deepe, Investigative Reporter

(posted 9:30 a.m., Friday, July 4, 2003)

The Sentinel has been shown a video tape recording of a Portsmouth Police Captain attending a party at Minford Elementary School on the last day of classes for the 2002-2003 school year. The video tape recording is approximately two hours in length and shows this Portsmouth Police Captain in uniform laughing and joking with other parents. (We will not name the Captain out of respect to his young daughter at this time.)

The video tape recording shows a Portsmouth Police cruiser in the Minford Elementary parking lot but the cruiser number is not clearly identifiable. The person with the video camera was able to record the Portsmouth Police Captain getting in the Portsmouth Police cruiser and driving off.

Parents that attended the party indicate that the Portsmouth Police Captain was at the party as a parent of a girl in the classroom and was not at the school on official police business. Two parents of children in the classroom notified the Sentinel that they asked the Captain if he was on duty and he said "No, I’m just here to have fun with my daughter."

This video raises two very interesting questions. Was this Police Captain off on vacation time to attend this party? Was this Police Captain violating Portsmouth Police Department policies and procedures by taking a Portsmouth Police cruiser to a "private function not an official duty assignment?"

The Sentinel was able to show the video to a retired Portsmouth Police Officer yesterday and was informed by this retired officer that the Police Captain violated at least one policy on the Portsmouth Police Department internal policies and procedures involving where an officer can drive a Portsmouth Police cruiser.

"The Captain should be reprimanded for taking that cruiser to this elementary building to attend this party. If he, (the Captain) had wrecked the cruiser on the way to or from that building the Portsmouth Police Department and the City of Portsmouth would have been held liable. You can hear him on the tape say he’s not on official business, so he’s definitely in the wrong, but he’s one of Chief Horner’s protege’s so he won’t have any discipline brought against him." stated the retired officer.

Chief Horner, it’s not hard to figure out which Captain is on the video tape recording. He was sitting next to you in Judge Marshall’s courtroom at the Scioto County Courthouse around 2:20 p.m. on Wednesday afternoon.

The Sentinel wonders if Chief Horner will discipline this Captain for this misuse of Portsmouth City property. It’s clear he will never prosecute him for misuse of the property but a reprimand or suspension is in order.

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MAYOR BAUER AND WNXT DISC JOCKEY CONTINUE TO TELL THE PUBLIC
HOW WELL PORTSMOUTH IS LOVED BY OUTSIDERS

"Isn’t it funny these outsiders always find their way into Steve Hayes business."

By Doug Deepe

(posted 11:00 a.m., Wednesday, July 2, 2003)

Today, July 2, 2003, the Portsmouth Mayor Greg Bauer and WNXT Disc Jockey Steve Hayes did their "Morning With The Mayor Program". As always, we listened intently as the Mayor and Steve Hayes went about their weekly routine telling people in the area how great things are and how "outsiders love the Portsmouth area."

Today Steve Hayes talked about a man coming into "his business" on Market Street and telling how that man lived in Los Angeles, California, and how he just "happened to stop by Hayes business" and told Hayes how he just loved the City of Portsmouth. Hayes went on to tell the story how this man loved the "downtown area". Then he went on about the murals (probably the only true statement made during his spewing) and how beautiful they are and how people like to go down and look back at our history.

Then once again, Hayes and the Mayor hit on the so called "negative people" in the area and that the "negative people" don’t really know what we have in Portsmouth.

Steve Hayes either doesn’t get it or he just can’t sell it. It was Steve Hayes that put the halt to allowing Sentinel reporters on WNXT radio after he allowed the Mayor of Portsmouth to slander us on the airways. The Sentinel was asked by the WNXT staff to bring in our documents, not our opinions, and prove what we had. After the staff reviewed our information, Gary Rhea and Misty Cook set out to provide two (2) hours of airtime to let the Sentinel come on the air and expose the corruption we have uncovered.

It’s clear that Steve Hayes has the agenda. If the corruption is revealed, Steve Hayes may get that revitalized downtown area that he so dearly rants about daily on his radio show, but then again, that might cut into his personal businesses.

Just like the Daily Times Editor wrote in this Saturday’s Editorial, the Mayor of Portsmouth has everything to lose in the Mike Blackburn matter. The computer may be the tip of the ice-burg. Since Hayes is such a close personal friend of Mayor Bauer maybe he knows things the taxpayers don’t and that’s why he put the halt to airing our information. Steve Hayes radio show is "informational" only when Hayes wants it to be informational.

We always find it amazing how all the "so called out of towners" find their way to Hayes businesses. Is it a coincidence or fantasy?

We’re still waiting on WNXT to keep their word to allow us to air our information. It will probably never happen as long as Steve Hayes is on the air.

We at the Sentinel, and our over 21000 readers now know the truth. Maybe it’s time to turn off the radio and call WNXT and tell them we are sick of listening to the "Morning With The Mayor" lies.

We affected their website hits (and they know what website we are talking about). Maybe if people stop listening to the radio, and advertisers stop advertising with them, maybe Hayes will get the point. The only way to stop their spewing is to hit them where it hurts, in the bank account.

The Sentinel staff will debate Hayes, Bauer and any other public official any place, anywhere and any time. You have our number. Call it and let the people decide. You keep saying there are only a few "negative" people in town. We say there are only a few "positive" people in town. You’re afraid to listen to the people. We did listen and by the thousands, illegal information is flowing about public officials.

That’s the bottom line, getting these corrupt officials. Hayes can be a help or a hindrance. Right now he wants to hinder not help.

If Portsmouth is such a great place to live Hayes, why do you live elsewhere and not in the City of Portsmouth? Explain that one. You take the money and spew your words but go home outside the City of Portsmouth. Move in the city then you have a right to voice your opinions like you do on the air.

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