Thursday, January 11, 2007

01112007 - Deputy David Chandler - Sentenced - Berrien County SD

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Deputy David Chandler charged with domestic violence [Dec 07, 2006]




In brief
Chandler quits Baroda-Lake police

Posted: Friday, January 19, 2007 12:00 am
http://www.heraldpalladium.com/localnews/in-brief/article_1f822a46-210b-59e0-83da-f5acefa0446d.html

BARODA — David Chandler has resigned from his part-time patrolman position with the Baroda-Lake Township Police Department, according to Gary Ruhl, chief of police. Chandler had been demoted from captain to lieutenant in the Berrien County Sheriff's Department as the result of an internal investigation of a domestic violence incident. Chandler will no longer head the detective bureau but will continue to work as a detective.

Chandler earlier this month was sentenced in Berrien County Trial Court to serve nine months on probation and pay a fine and costs of $625. He pleaded guilty on Wednesday to domestic violence, a misdemeanor.The charge stemmed from a Dec. 7 fight between Chandler and his 18-year-old daughter, Jacqueline Chandler, at the family's home in Pipestone Township.













Board must decide what to do with 2 part-time officers

Posted: Wednesday, January 17, 2007 12:00 am
By WILLIAM F. AST III, H-P Staff Writer
The Herald-Palladium
http://www.heraldpalladium.com/localnews/board-must-decide-what-to-do-with-part-time-officers/article_1c275938-d369-52d3-b84a-44cba27afc68.html

BARODA — The Baroda-Lake Township Police Board will have to decide the job status of Berrien County Sheriff's Department Lt. Dave Chandler and Bridgman Police Department officer Dean Jones, both of whom are part-time patrolmen with the township department.

Baroda Township Supervisor Jim Brow said police Chief Gary Ruhl on Monday gave the Township Board an update about the two officers. Ruhl said he will make a recommendation soon, and Brow said the police board will likely have a special meeting to decide on it.

Chandler has been demoted from captain to lieutenant in the Sheriff's Department as the result of an internal investigation of a domestic violence incident. Chandler last week was sentenced in Berrien County Trial Court to serve nine months on probation and pay a fine and costs of $625. He had pleaded guilty to domestic violence, a misdemeanor.

The charge stemmed from a Dec. 7 fight between Chandler and his 18-year-old daughter, Jacqueline Chandler, at the family's home in Pipestone Township.

Ruhl has issued a ticket to Jones, charging him with disregarding a stop sign.

A patrol car Jones was driving collided with a minivan at the corner of Hinchman Road and Cleveland Avenue in Baroda Township early Jan. 1. He was on his way to help at Baroda-Lake Township police officer.

Jones also faced internal discipline from Bridgman Police Chief Ted Post. Post said the disciplinary action has been administered and Jones remains on the police force, but the chief would not say what the punishment was.

Brow is a member of the Baroda-Lake Township Police board. He said other members are: Chairman Terry Eichler and Tom Carson, both Lake Township Board trustees; Baroda Township Treasurer Susan Newcomer; and Baroda Village Council President Bob Getz.

The board normally meets the second Tuesday every two months and already met in January, Brow said.

The Baroda-Lake Township Police Department has three full-time officers and 13 part-time officers.

Also Monday, Brow told the board the Baroda Fire Department will soon get its new pickup truck, and a new Jeep is on the way as well. Both vehicles will be used to fight grass fires and for other purposes, he said.

Once the two vehicles are on hand, Baroda will have equipment "as good as anyone has," Brow said. He recently retired from the Fire Department after some 22 years of service.The department's old pickup truck will be sold to the Drummond Island Fire Department, which needs a grass rig, Brow said.

In other matters, the board discussed extending the days that the recycling bin is available near the Fire Department.Brow said the bin is now available the second and last Saturdays of each month. The township is going to get a quote from Michiana Recycling of Niles on how much it would cost to have the bin available all the time, he said.











In brief
Chandler demoted over home incident

Posted: Saturday, January 13, 2007 12:00 am
http://www.heraldpalladium.com/localnews/in-brief/article_a8226e32-4155-553b-967d-2d22517ccaab.html

ST. JOSEPH — David Chandler has been demoted from captain to lieutenant in the Berrien County Sheriffs Department as the result of an internal investigation of a domestic violence incident, Sheriff Paul Bailey said Friday.

Chandler will no longer head the detective bureau but will continue to work as a detective, Bailey said.

Bailey said he met with Chandler Friday and informed him of the decision. Chandler was taken off administrative leave status and will return to work in two weeks after he uses some vacation time.

On Thursday, Chandler was sentenced in Berrien County Trial Court to serve nine months on probation and pay a fine and costs of $625. He pleaded guilty on Wednesday to domestic violence, a misdemeanor.

The charge stemmed from a Dec. 7 fight between Chandler and his 18-year-old daughter, Jacqueline Chandler, at the family's home in Pipestone Township.












Officer draws fine, probation

Posted: Friday, January 12, 2007 12:00 am
By WILLIAM F. AST III, H-P Staff Writer
DENNIS COGSWELLH-P Region Editor
H-P Staff Writer Julie Swidwa contributed to this report.
The Herald-Palladium
http://www.heraldpalladium.com/localnews/officer-draws-fine-probation/article_d78b74a6-d4db-5483-af0a-e4751f8100f8.html

ST. JOSEPH — Capt. David Chandler of the Berrien County Sheriff's Department was sentenced Thursday to nine months' probation and a fine and costs of $625 for misdemeanor domestic violence.

Chandler pleaded guilty to the charge Wednesday.

Berrien County Trial Court Judge Al Butzbaugh ordered Chandler to continue to attend counseling and to have no personal contact with the victim, his 18-year-old daughter, Jacqueline Chandler. Butzbaugh said they can have phone and e-mail contact in the meantime.

Jacqueline Chandler in court Thursday asked that she be allowed to have personal contact with her father. Butzbaugh declined to permit that but said he will review his order after Chandler attends more counseling sessions.The case stemmed from a fight between Chandler and his daughter at their home in Pipestone Township on Dec. 7. Jacqueline Chandler told state police that she, her mother, Victoria, one of Jacqueline's friends and the friend's 3-year-old daughter were watching television when her father came home. She told her father she had gotten a puppy, which had soiled the floor.

When the 3-year-old started playing with the puppy in a cage, David Chandler became annoyed and asked his daughter to do something about it, according to a state police report in the court files.

Jacqueline Chandler said she replied that it wasn't her child, telling her father, "Why do you have to be such a jerk?"

She told a police investigator that her father struck her in the face with the palm of his hand.

He then said to her, "If you are so big and bad, let's fight" and pinned her to the floor, striking her in the face several times, she told police.

Jacqueline Chandler said she suffered a fat lip and her face was discolored and bruised. Her friend told police the young woman's mouth and nose were bleeding.

Jacqueline Chandler told police she has been physically abused by her father before, according to the report. The report did not contain a statement from David Chandler.

Chandler's lawyer, Andrew Burch, told Butzbaugh that Chandler is "going to be a success in the counseling sessions." He called his client "an honorable man who has served our community well for 30 years."

State police from Fifth District headquarters in Paw Paw investigated the accusation against Chandler. Because Berrien County prosecutors know Chandler, the information was forwarded to the Allegan County prosecutor's office to avoid possible conflicts of interest. That office authorized the assault charge.Chandler was placed on paid administrative leave on Dec. 8 while the investigation took place, Berrien County Sheriff Paul Bailey said Thursday.The department is conducting its own internal investigation of the incident, and that investigation will be complete on Monday, Bailey said. The department at that time will make a decision on Chandler's status, he said.Victoria Chandler last year lost a bid for re-election as a Berrien County commissioner.












Sheriff's captain pleads guilty to domestic violence
Posted: Thursday, January 11, 2007 12:00 am
By WILLIAM F. AST III, H-P Staff Writer
http://www.heraldpalladium.com/localnews/sheriff-s-captainpleads-guilty-todomestic-violence/article_4a81d0bd-f3a1-55fb-8121-ee9bc6b506f3.html

ST. JOSEPH — Berrien County Sheriff's Department Capt. David Chandler pleaded guilty Wednesday morning in Berrien Trial Court to a misdemeanor charge of domestic violence.

Police and court officials have been being tight-lipped about the details of the case. However, numerous sources familiar with the case have confirmed it involved an altercation between Chandler and a daughter.

Chandler was scheduled to be sentenced today by Berrien Trial Court Judge Alfred Butzbaugh. The charge carries a penalty of up to 93 days in jail.State police at the Niles post investigated the incident and gave the information to Berrien County Prosecutor Art Cotter. It was then forwarded to the Allegan County Prosecutor's Office, as Chandler is a police officer in Berrien County.

"I really don't feel comfortable" releasing any details, said Allegan Chief Assistant Prosecutor Margaret Bakker, who reviewed the case and authorized the charge. "The case involves family and I want to respect their privacy at this point."

Chandler had been placed on paid administrative leave during the investigation, Berrien County Sheriff Paul Bailey said in an earlier story.

Chandler is the husband of Victoria Chandler, who last year lost a bid for re-election as a Berrien County commissioner.




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