SFPD Detective Tasered

Tonight’s investigation centers on an audio recording of a San Francisco Police detective being tasered in her own home by Antioch Police. Lynn Richardson tells the I-Team it all started when she tried to evict a tenant who was sharing her house. On June 7th, 2007, the tenant had her daughter call Antioch Police, claiming some of Richardson’s friends were threatening the tenant and her daughter.

Antioch Police Officer Santiago Martinez was one of four officers who responded to the scene; he’s also the one who tased Richardson. There are some serious discrepancies in the report Martinez filed, compared to what’s on the audio recording.

Martinez wrote the tenant “was petrified because she knew there were guns in the house since Richardson is a police officer.” On the audio, Martinez asks the tenant and her daughter, “So, are you guys scared of them or what?” The daughter answers, “No.” The tenant adds, “But we can’t sleep.” The daughter: “We don’t know what they’re liable todo because we’re gonna sleep and they come into our room.” Later, Martinez asks the tenant, “Do you know if they have any kind of weapons or guns in the house?” The tenant calmly answers, “No.” Martinez says, “Possibly.” The tenant answers, “Yes.”

Martinez also writes that one of Richardson’s friends “pushed (the tenant) into the bedroom wall and pinned her against the wall by placing her forearm along (the tenant’s) throat.” That description does not appear on the audio recording of Martinez' interview with the tenant. One defense lawyer writes the audio recording provides “a most disturbing account of officer fabricating and bolstering the facts of the incident to rise to a level of leading the witness, putting words into her mouth, and persuasion in effectuating the statements of the victims.”

All this is fodder for the lawsuit Richardson’s filed against the City of Antioch and Antioch Police. The criminal charges against her and her friends were dropped, after a judge ruled the police entry into the home was “unlawful”.

Comments

[Cohen]

Chief Fong is a complete pile of s---. She is an embarrassment to our department and she herself should be fired immediately!!!

Great story Dan, Keep the pressure on these corrupt leaders and thanks for looking out for us minions...

[Cohen]

If you really want to get a sense of some of the intense disdain for our Administration, Chief Fong and Gavy too, come visit www.insidethesfpd.com

[Chris]

Ask Ms. Fong when she is going to issue a statement re: Detective Richardson:

sfpd.online@sfgov.org

[J]

I really applaud you for showing this story, and note that the judge did make the right decision for the poor lady, Ms. Richardson. Now it is up to the Police Departments (Antioch and SFPD) to make things right for her and the community.

[The Truth]

Dan, You should ask the Fremont police or the CHP office near Antioch about how professional Richardson is. She is worried about her reputation and integrity. This woman was a Glendale cop (EDITED AS A VIOLATION OF Message Boards: House Rules) She acts indignant that she was wronged which is a laugh. She claims she was treated with disrespect and unfairly, talk to any of the police officers she has interacted with and (EDITED AS A VIOLATION OF Message Boards: House Rules). If anyone is unprofessional its her. You forgot to mention (EDITED AS A VIOLATION OF Message Boards: House Rules) She was assigned to investigate fraud and (EDITED AS A VIOLATION OF Message Boards: House Rules) The police in Antioch knew she was a police officer and would likely have a weapon, how would you approach a home where the callers said their lives were being threaten. This was not the first call they responded to at her house and met by a hostile Richardson. All she is looking for is to make a fast buck. I don't doubt that she provoke the officers into this confrontation. Ask to look at her personnel file and you be the judge.

[truth2]

(EDITED AS A VIOLATION OF Message Boards: House Rules) get rid of her and fong....what a place

[10-10]

Ok I Team...you have gotten a ton on feedback from people on the job. Now do some research on your own and stop jumping to conclusions about officer mis-conduct on the job. Try reading the prior statments from other officers who wrote in this column about Richardson and her background and conduct. Also, just because the charges were dropped does not mean a crime was not committed and believe it or not...we dont just run around tazing everyone for no reason.
Antioch PD...keep up the good work!!

[Edgar]

Unfair and unbalanced reporting done by I-Team's Dan Noyes - just like his other unbalanced SFPD blog into alleged misconduct by SFPD Officer Morgado. (reference the "Excessive Force" report and blog).

(EDITED AS A VIOLATION OF Message Boards: House Rules)

It sounds like SFPD admin is doing the right thing by keeping her suspended without pay. Chief Fong should be commended for a job well done in this regard.

Why not conduct a little fair and balanced reporting by trying to obtain a comment from a spokesperson from SFPD's POA and/or APD's POA. It's possible they can actually comment, whereas Chief Fong or APD admin cannot. We all know that you know police administrations cannot comment on personnel matters, so don't play us for fools.

There's unbelievable bias going on here on the I-Team's part. Noyes needs to level the playing field to gain any respect from the community. The community needs to hold the I-Team accountable and you, Noyes, are the first in line.

[SF 10-10]

In the end Dan, you have only set yourself up to look like a fool just like Richardson. You should have gotten all of your facts before you slander yet another agency. Do your home work Dan. When you do find out the truth of your so called victim and who she really is, the Bay will see your a fake just like her. Bay Area please believe this is only half the story. Email Dan to tell the whole truth on this (EDITED AS A VIOLATION OF Message Boards: House Rules) woman......

[4th flloor]

Dan,generrally you get it right. Not this time. (EDITED AS A VIOLATION OF Message Boards: House Rules)

[4th Floor 2]

A truer picture of how out-of-control the SFPD is has yet to be shown.
While the general public rails agaist police misconduct, they do nothing when it comes to acting against (EDITED AS A VIOLATION OF Message Boards: House Rules)
And people wonder why the SFPD is so F****D up.....

[Marie Crabtree]

Everyone should be treated with respect no matter why police may be called to a site.

The SFPD has taught me well - don't trust the police. Aug. 15th, 2005 14 officers held me hostage in my living room for two and a half hours threatening me and terrorizing me. By the third hour, two officers left at the scene, an ambulance on site, I'm suddenly informed, "Oops. We made a mistake." I lost four months of my life that I barely remember because of the trauma their actions caused and, Mayor Newson nor Heather Fong cared about what had happened.

I'm not saying that Ms. Richardson doesn't have her faults, however, the incident could have been handled in a more professional manner.

[Withheld]

One thing is sure, Mr. Noyes won't let the truth get in the way of his hatred for the SFPD and Chief Fong. I would believe his reports more if they even appeared to be balanced. Sorry Danny-boy, but you lost me (and thousands of others, probably) a long time ago.

[Dissapointed]

I was appalled to see how much editing has been done as regards posts placed on this blog board.

Where, specifically, are the rules refered to, and just what was in the posts (Above) that are so much in violation that free speech needs to be suppressed?

It appears to me any post which was negative, or had any specifics regarding Lynn Richardson were edited, while any complaint post from someone with an ax to grind against the SFPD are allowed to rant on.

Maybe someone from this board's administration can explain this to those of us who have followed this story so closely.
Inquiring minds want to know...

[The Truth]

The fact that public records comments are edited is quite sad. What house rules, this is clearly censorship of our first amendment rights. And protecting someone that does not deserve protecting.

[Zahira Cortes]

The SFPD Officer was arrested for delaying a police investigation, which is a misdemeanor, I am not saying the Officer was right or wrong but it was a misdemeanor and in San Francisco most misdemeanor arrests are dismissed. I do not believe someone charged with a misdemeanor for delaying a police investigation is that much of a threat to the public. This is once again Chief Fong over reacting to an inciden just like she did when she had a press conference for the video and suspended the Officers involved immediately without even asking one question.

[Zahira Cortes]

Police Officers have certain rights in the Police Officers Bill of Rights (POBR). People complain all the time when a Police Officer violates a citizens rights but somehow when Chief Fong violates a Police Officers rights no one seems to care. Police Officers have a dangerous job they deal with evil people and Police Officers will make mistakes in dealing with these evil people but to violate Police Officers rights because of political pressure or a perception is wrong.

[Chuck U Farley]

So Dan, let me ask you; what did the police do to you to make you such a biased person when you report your "wanna be" 60 minute reports? It sounds to me like every report that you "investigate" puts a negative spin on the Police and causes undo hatred between the police and the citizens they've sworn to protect. Were you harrassed as a child, or did you take it personnaly when you received a ticket for speeding? I think your investigative skills leave something to be desired. Just because the chiefe of police says they can not comment on the incident doesn't mean they are covering something up. Have you stopped to acutally realize that maybe by commenting they will be compromising the upcomming littigation between the city and "victim" in these cases? I guess not. You really should try and get all the facts first before airing a halfass report by someone that is concidered by many to be a criminal. Yes that's right, a criminal. Just because she was acquitted of the charges does not mean that she did not do the crime. There is a reason that she is still on unpaid administrative leave. A reason that Fong may not be able to tell you.

While I'm at it Dan, why is it that everytime you report on a police officer being shot and killed in the line of duty you say the "Officer was shot and killed." Then the bad guy gets caught, confronts the police, opens fire on them and is shot and killed himself. But when you report it you say the "Suspect was gunned down by the Police." How is it the police "gunned him down" but he mearly just shot and killed a cop? Again, your reporting is shotty at best.

DAN, MAYBE YOU SHOULD GET ALL THE FACTS ONE OF THESE DAYS BEFORE YOU FILE YOUR REPORT. MAYBE YOU WILL SAVE YOURSELF A LITTLE FACE AND NOT LOOK LIKE SUCH A JERK IN THE EYES OF THE POLICE AND THE CITIZENS THEY PROTECT.

[Elden P. Laffoon, Sr.]

This type of censorship is not uncommon for Bay Area media. Having previously lived for over 9 years in The City, I am appalled at how low KGO and the other "news teams" have sunk to get ratings! My current station here in my native Chicago (WLS ABC7) does a MUCH better job of reporting both sides of a story than you people get there! Our investigative reporter, Chuck Goudie, is light years better than Dan will EVER be! SFPD is a great department, made up of dedicated, hard-working men and women who deserve far more support than the community gives them! I'd like to see what SF would be like without ANY police officers! You'd have these weak-kneed liberals wetting themselves out of pure fear as there would be caos beyond comprehension all over the City! Think about it!

[Keeping it real]

I think it is humorous how Dan Noyes can consider this an unbiased piece of jounalism.

Noyes is more interested in trying to make a name for himself than reporting the true facts. Noyes...you will never make the big time!!!

[keeping it real]

Did anyone read the "blog rules"

It is illegal to harass or threaten anyone. We take threats, harassment and stalking very seriously. Posts that might be construed as such may be deleted and made available to the proper law enforcement officials.

Noyes takes it seriously on his blog site, but when a citizen calls and tells officers they were threatened it shouldn't be??????

I know...this will probably violate Dan's rules and be deleted!

[anon]

Why dont you guys ask the brentwood police about her pending fraud case? Oh, and she's a fraud investigator with SFPD at the time? This bitch is a crook, and SFPD should have never hired her...APD brings it when they need to!!!!!!!

***NOTE FROM DAN NOYES: This is what we're trying to avoid here with the comments -- unfounded accusations. The Brentwood Police tell me they have no case involving Richardson. No one in the above comments has raised questions about the accuracy of our report -- it is factual, based on the police reports, court documents and the audio recording. The judge ruled the police carried out an unlawful entry; there were no exigent circumstances that warranted kicking down the door. In fact, the tenant and her daughter were safe outside with police. If you have specific verifiable information we should follow up on, please provide it in an e-mail. Don't post rumor or gossip here. We verify what we report. And, our Message Board House Rules prohibit personal attacks. ***