News
October 11, 2008
Complaint filed against police in Cedar Grove
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CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- Three police officers, including one suspended in Montgomery last month after allegedly beating a man, allegedly sexually assaulted and harassed a woman earlier this year, according to a complaint filed Friday.

According to the complaint, Matthew Leavitt, a Cedar Grove officer at the time, along with another Cedar Grove officer and a Kanawha County sheriff's deputy, held Patricia O'Scha on a hill across from Riverside High School. The three told her that if she would have sex with any of the officers, she would not have to go to jail.

O'Scha's car has been impounded since the incident on March 15, when Leavitt pulled her over, said Mike Clifford, O'Scha's lawyer. A petition of forfeiture was filed on O'Scha's vehicle and the money found inside just last week, Clifford said.

"There was finally a petition filed that I could respond to in court," said Clifford, who plans to file a lawsuit on O'Scha's behalf next week.

On March 15 O'Scha was pulled over by Leavitt, who told her to get out and go to the rear of her car. Leavitt then did a pat down of O'Scha, according to the filing, "including placing his hands on her breasts, her [rear end], and between her legs."

O'Scha said Leavitt found several prescription pills inside the vehicle, along with about $1,000. O'Scha said that at the time she was addicted and abusing prescription medications.

Leavitt then put the woman in his cruiser in handcuffs and drove her to the top of the hill across from Riverside High School. There Leavitt, a Cedar Grove officer identified only as Curry and a sheriff's deputy identified as Kegler each did a full-body pat down of O'Scha, touching her breasts, rear end and all over her body, according to the court filing.

"They held her on the hill for over an hour and advised her that if she would have sex with any of the officers, she would not have to go to jail," according to the filing.

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Posted By: 2EachHisOwn (9:24pm 10-15-2008)
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In regards to CityK9Cop's comment: You really must not be a well rounded person. Surely to goodness you know there are bad cop's out there. Leavitt has shown that. He has shown his colors. Had O'Scha, or I'm sorry "Crack Head" as you referred to her, been the fist to make a complaint against Leavitt, then maybe, it may have put a question in anyone's mind. But since she is NOT A CRACKHEAD, she is a person who has been taken advantage of by a person who has taken advantage of his authority AND OTHERS HAVE ALREADY MADE COMPLAINTS AGAINST LEAVITT, then I would have to say she is right in making the complaint! Maybe they (all 3 of the cops) should have done the right thing and taken her to the police station for questioning instead of up on a hill! Last time I checked, that is where they actually done police business!!! Maybe you are a crooked cop taking up for a crooked cop! Don't label people! See how I just labeled you a crooked cop...how did you like it? Bet you didn't!

Posted By: cityk9cop (12:32am 10-13-2008)
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2good4u I to am training all the time, and in fact I am a Law Enforcement instructor in several areas, please try to understand that most not all agencies require some OJT after the academey, for those that dont well then unfortunatly its up to the officer to try to learn what he "needs" for the street, I just get tired of hearing that everybody thinks its always the cops fault, that they could have, would have , or should have done it different, now understand that I wasnt there, so I cant make a "first hand observation" but I have in fact dealt with the complainant before, and this is in my opinion just a way for her to try to get out of the drug charges, at any rate, in my nearly 10 years of being a cop, Ive seen both the good and the bad cops and Ive seen what it does to us good ones name and reputation, but take heart in knowing that "we dont like them either".

Posted By: 2good4U (8:58am 10-13-2008)
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Do you honestly think that 4 months of training is enough training to carry a gun and have the authority to shoot and beat someone????? Wow!!! Proof??? What about the camera in the cars? Were they turned off? Oh, by the way----------I was actually trying to take up for you concerning the training. I didn't know you could know everything in 4 months. I learn and retrain all the time. Yes, there are some "good cops" and I appreciate all that they do. But you have to admit corruption can get the best of some. Let me say this one last thing and I will not respond to anymore of this nonsense. I personally feel Officer Leveitt does not need to "Protect and Serve" anymore. I do know him and that article was his "MO".

Posted By: cityk9cop (7:52am 10-13-2008)
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just how long would you, 2good4u, say is long enough for us to be trained? I guess the 4 months of non stop training at the WV State Police Academey isnt enough, maybe they should extend that to a year or so, or maybe we should all take a day off and see how the public likes us. This reminds me of a saying in law enforcement- you can please some of the people all of the time but, never all the people all of the time. And of course when we do something right, or you NEED us we're the greatest thing in the world, but when someone just says we did something, no proof or anything, oh my how we're worth nothing, it is that same kind of attitude, that often makes me wonder why i've spent almost 10 years in Law Enforcement. But then again there are people with commen sense that we do get to help, and i guess thats why i still do it, for them.

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