Officer Robert Vargas sentenced for stalking police officer who arrested him for May 2007 stalking incident.
Lansing police officer sentenced to probation for stalking officer in Jackson County
by Danielle Quisenberry
Jackson Citizen Patriot
Thursday May 28, 2009, 3:27 PM
http://www.mlive.com/news/jackson/index.ssf/2009/05/lansing_police_officer_sentenc.html
A former Lansing police officer convicted of stalking a Blackman Township public safety officer was sentenced Thursday to five years probation.
As a condition of his probation, Robert Vargas, 39, is not to have any contact with Officer Joseph Merritt or his family, said Jackson County Circuit Judge Thomas Wilson.
A jury convicted Vargas, who recently retired as an officer after he was given a duty disability pension, of misdemeanor stalking and acquitted him on a charge of malicious use of a telephone.
Merritt testified at the trial that Vargas twice called him and made threatening statements after Merritt arrested Vargas in 2007 on misdemeanor charges of domestic violence and telephone harassment.
In that case, Vargas was convicted of telephone harassment and was sentenced in October 2007 to 15 months probation.
Four days after his probation ended, Vargas first called Merritt and said, "You are going to need an attorney ... you're dead," according to testimony.
Thursday, Vargas turned to Merritt, who was sitting in the courtroom, and apologized. "Joe, I am truly sorry that things got to this point," he said. "I wish you all the best in the future."
His lawyer, Fred Blackmond, said Vargas is "changing his life."
Merritt said it did not seem as though Vargas had gotten over Merritt arresting him.
According to you, I have some general disdain for you. That's not true," Merritt said.
He said he never wanted to arrest a police officer, but had to make a difficult decision, which, as a former police officer, Vargas should understand.
Merritt said Vargas deserved jail time, but asked Wilson not to send him to jail. "I would ask Mr. Vargas to move on with his life and get past all this."
Wilson said he had planned to order Vargas to jail for "impact purposes," but did not.
A few years down the road, if Vargas has done well, Wilson said he may consider taking Vargas off probation.
Vargas was placed on paid administrative leave from the police department after he was first charged with crimes in 2007. Since then he was granted the pension.
In April 2004, Vargas was shot four times and killed one suspect during what authorities said was a robbery in progress.
Jackson County jury finds former Lansing police officer guilty of misdemeanor stalking
by Danielle Quisenberry
Jackson Citizen Patriot
Tuesday April 21, 2009, 5:23 PM
http://www.mlive.com/news/jackson/index.ssf/2009/04/jackson_county_jury_finds_form.html
A jury found a former Lansing police officer guilty on Tuesday of stalking a Blackman Township public safety officer who arrested him in 2007.
After nearly a day of deliberations, jurors acquitted Robert Vargas, 39, of Mason of aggravated stalking, a felony, and convicted him of the lesser charge of misdemeanor stalking.
They also found him not guilty of malicious use of a telephone, a misdemeanor.
Circuit Judge Thomas Wilson is to sentence Vargas May 28. His crime is punishable by up to a year in jail and a $1,000 fine.
Public Safety Officer Joseph Merritt testified that Vargas twice called him in April 2008 and made threatening statements.
The threats occurred after Merritt arrested Vargas in 2007 in Blackman Township on a domestic violence charge.
A Jackson County jury found Vargas not guilty of domestic violence, but guilty of harassing his former girlfriend with a telephone. He was sentenced to probation.
Soon after his probation ended, Vargas called Merritt, according to Merritt and cell phone and court records.
Chief Assistant Prosecutor Mark Blumer argued the threats "terrified" Merritt, who sent his wife and children from their home after he received the first call.
Merritt testified he worried often about Vargas, who lives within a half mile of Merritt's home.
"I think about it when I am out plowing snow, I think about it when I am weeding flower beds. I think about it all the time," Merritt testified.
Defense lawyer Fred Blackmond argued Merritt was not really afraid of Vargas.
Blackmond said the elements to prove the felony charge of aggravated stalking "weren't really there."
Blackmond said Vargas, who suffers from post-traumatic stress disorder, is retired from the Lansing Police Department. He received a duty disability pension after he was shot four times and killed one of the suspects during a robbery in progress in April 2004.
Jury deciding if former Lansing police officer was stalking Blackman Township officer
Published: Tuesday, April 21, 2009, 7:53 AM
Updated: Tuesday, April 21, 2009, 7:55 AM
By Mike D. Lammi
The Jackson Citizen Patriot
http://www.mlive.com/news/jackson/index.ssf/2009/04/jury_deciding_if_former_lansin.html
When Blackman Township Officer Joseph Merritt picked up his cell phone in April 2008, a male voice told him, "You are going to need an attorney. ... You're dead."
He was so bothered by the threat, Merritt sent his wife and two daughters away from their home, he testified Monday at the trial for Robert Vargas, who is accused of stalking Merritt.
Both sides rested their cases Monday. A jury is to continue deliberations today.
Vargas, 39, a retired Lansing police officer, is charged with aggravated stalking, a felony punishable by up to five years in prison, and malicious use of a telephone, a misdemeanor.
Merritt said Vargas twice called him on his personal cell phone and made foreboding statements, first on April 21, 2008, and again four days later.
In the second call, Vargas said, "Judgment day is coming, Joe," and hung up the phone, Merritt testified.
Merritt arrested Vargas in spring 2007 in Blackman Township, where Vargas' former girlfriend lived. He was arraigned in May 2007 on misdemeanor charges of domestic violence and telephone harassment. A jury acquitted Vargas of domestic violence but found him guilty of telephone harassment, and he was sentenced in October 2007 to 15 months probation.
Four days after Vargas' probation ended, Merritt received the first call, said Chief Assistant Prosecutor Mark Blumer, who showed court and telephone records to the jury.
Prior to that call, Merritt said Vargas followed him around Meijer in Mason while Merritt, who lives in Mason, shopped there with his family.
When questioned by defense lawyer Fred Blackmond, Merritt said he was not intimidated by Vargas at that time. "He was being a jerk," Merritt said.
Blackmond contended Merritt was not seriously threatened by Vargas, who Merritt learned during his domestic violence investigation lived within a half mile of Merritt's home.
Merritt said Monday he did not know if Vargas still lived in such close proximity.
If he was seriously frightened of Vargas, he would know this, Blackmond said.
"He is not scared of Mr. Vargas; he thinks he is a jerk," Blackmond said in his closing argument.
Merritt said he knew, through his work on the domestic violence case, Vargas had a cabinet full of guns in his home.
Vargas was placed on paid administrative leave after he was first charged with the crime in May 2007. He is now retired, his lawyer said. Vargas applied last year for a duty disability pension.
On April 29, 2004, Vargas was shot four times and killed one suspect in what authorities called a robbery in progress in Lansing.
Former police officer's fate in hands of jury
Tuesday, April 21, 2009
By Danielle Quisenberry
http://www.mlive.com/news/citpat/index.ssf?/base/news-28/1240322711224300.xml&coll=3
When Blackman Township Officer Joseph Merritt picked up his cell phone in April 2008, a male voice told him, ``You are going to need an attorney. ... You're dead.''
He was so bothered by the threat, Merritt sent his wife and two daughters away from their home, he testified Monday at the trial for Robert Vargas, who is accused of stalking Merritt.
Both sides rested their cases Monday. A jury is to continue deliberations today.
Vargas, 39, a retired Lansing police officer, is charged with aggravated stalking, a felony punishable by up to five years in prison, and malicious use of a telephone, a misdemeanor.
Merritt said Vargas twice called him on his personal cell phone and made foreboding statements, first on April 21, 2008, and again four days later.
In the second call, Vargas said, ``Judgment day is coming, Joe,'' and hung up the phone, Merritt testified.
Merritt arrested Vargas in spring 2007 in Blackman Township, where Vargas' former girlfriend lived. He was arraigned in May 2007 on misdemeanor charges of domestic violence and telephone harassment. A jury acquitted Vargas of domestic violence but found him guilty of telephone harassment, and he was sentenced in October 2007 to 15 months probation.
Four days after Vargas' probation ended, Merritt received the first call, said Chief Assistant Prosecutor Mark Blumer, who showed court and telephone records to the jury.
Prior to that call, Merritt said Vargas followed him around Meijer in Mason while Merritt, who lives in Mason, shopped there with his family.
When questioned by defense lawyer Fred Blackmond, Merritt said he was not intimidated by Vargas at that time. ``He was being a jerk,'' Merritt said.
Blackmond contended Merritt was not seriously threatened by Vargas, who Merritt learned during his domestic violence investigation lived within a half mile of Merritt's home.
Merritt said Monday he did not know if Vargas still lived in such close proximity.
If he was seriously frightened of Vargas, he would know this, Blackmond said.
``He is not scared of Mr. Vargas; he thinks he is a jerk,'' Blackmond said in his closing argument.
Merritt said he knew, through his work on the domestic violence case, Vargas had a cabinet full of guns in his home.
Vargas was placed on paid administrative leave after he was first charged with the crime in May 2007. He is now retired, his lawyer said. Vargas applied last year for a duty disability pension.
On April 29, 2004, Vargas was shot four times and killed one suspect in what authorities called a robbery in progress in Lansing.
Lansing officer arrested for stalking
WWMT News, Channel 3
July 9, 2008 - 8:08AM
http://www.wwmt.com/news/lansing_1351025___article.html/officer_side.html
LANSING, Mich. (NEWSCHANNEL 3) - A Lansing police officer has found himself on the wrong side of the law.
It's not the first time he's been there.
Officer Rob Vargas, an eleven year veteran of the LPD, is accused of aggravated stalking and making harassing phone calls.
He was placed on paid administrative leave last year after being arrested on similar charges. At that time he was charged with domestic assault, but the court only found him guilty of verbally abusing his girlfriend.
Lansing Police Chief Mark Alley says he can't discuss any specifics of the case while it's in the courts, but he is very disappointed by what has happened.
Officer Vargas is out on a $5,000 personal bond. He is expected back in court later this month.
Reaction to Officer Arrested
WLNS NEWS, TV 6 Lansing Michigan
Posted: July 9, 2008 06:52 AM CDT
http://www.wlns.com/Global/story.asp?S=8645553&nav=0RbQ
Instead of being out on the streets stopping crimes, one local police officer is charged with one.
It's not the first time the Lansing officer has had a brush with the law. Officer Rob Vargas faces stalking and harassing charges. It all stems back to another incident that happened last year. That's when Vargas was arrested after an altercation with his girlfriend and was later convicted of a misdemeanor harassment charge. Now the Jackson County assistant prosecutor says Vargas stalked the same officer that originally arrested him.
He wore the badge for 11 years, and even became a hero when he was shot 4 times during a robbery gone bad. Now Lansing Police Officer Rob Vargas is on the other side of the law.
Chief Mark Alley, Lansing Police Department: "Obviously not only myself, but the organization are very disappointed that we find ourselves in this position."
It's a position not many are used to. The Jackson County Prosecutor's Office says they've never seen a case like it.
Mark Blumer, Assistant Prosecutor: "Handled a number of cases against corrupt police officers, and I've never had one alleging stalking by a police officer, that's a new one."
It might be unusual, but officials say they're treating it like just any other case.
Chief Mark Alley: "I'm not here to make a judgement about Officer Vargas, other than we're disappointed that he's been charged by the Jackson County prosecutor, but once again, we know that we need to do an investigation to get all the facts before we make judgements about what happened."
While the Lansing police department conducts its own investigation, Vargas is on paid administrative leave. Meantime, he's expected back in court on July 29th for his preliminary hearing.
Lansing cop faces charges of stalking, threatening officer who arrested him
Jackson Citizen Patriot
Wednesday, July 09, 2008
By Danielle Quisenberry
http://www.mlive.com/jackson/stories/index.ssf?/base/news-25/1215612316178030.xml&coll=3
A Lansing police officer is facing charges he stalked a Blackman Township public safety officer who arrested him last year on a domestic violence charge.
Robert Vargas, 38, of Mason was arraigned late last week in Jackson County District Court on charges of aggravated stalking, a felony punishable by up to five years in prison, and malicious use of a telephone, a misdemeanor.
Vargas, who is on paid administrative leave, is accused of making life-threatening phone calls to Blackman Township Public Safety Officer Joseph Merritt.
Merritt arrested him last spring in Blackman Township, where Vargas' former girlfriend lived; Vargas was arraigned May 23, 2007, on misdemeanor charges of domestic violence and telephone harassment.
In September, a Jackson County jury acquitted him of domestic violence, but found him guilty of telephone harassment; he was sentenced in October to 15 months probation.
Jackson County Chief Assistant Prosecutor Mark Blumer said Tuesday that Vargas' probation was reduced to six months, and he began calling Merritt in mid-April, shortly after he came off probation.
Merritt, through Blackman Township Public Safety Director Mike Jester, declined comment.
Michigan State Police Lt. Jim Shaw, who commands the Jackson post, which handled the investigation, said the calls were ``threatening in nature.''
As defined in the Michigan statute, aggravated stalking involves threats to kill another individual or inflict physical injury.
At one time, Merritt, who has been a public safety officer for five years, ran into Vargas in a store and had concerns Vargas was following him, Shaw said.
Lansing Police Chief Mark Alley said Vargas has been on paid administrative leave since he was first charged with crimes in May 2007.
At that time, the department launched an internal investigation, but Vargas has since applied for a duty disability pension, which is under review by the department pension board.
The investigation was put on hold pending the board's review of his application. A decision is expected this month, Alley said.
If his request is granted, he will no longer be employed by the Lansing Police Department, Alley said. If the application is accepted, the investigation will resume, the chief said.
On April 29, 2004, Vargas was shot four times and killed one of the suspects, Alley said.
Vargas had interrupted what authorities called a robbery in progress at a town home in Lansing, according to news reports at the time.
Policeman accused of stalking another cop
Lansing officer faces felony charge in Jackson Co.
July 9, 2008
Christine Rook
Lansing State Journal
http://www.lansingstatejournal.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080709/NEWS01/807090347
A Lansing police officer is accused of stalking and harassing a Blackman Township police officer who arrested him on a criminal complaint in 2007.
Robert Vargas, 38, was arraigned July 3 on one count of felony aggravated stalking and one count of misdemeanor telephone harassment, according to prosecutors in Jackson County.
He has been released on a personal bond of $5,000.
The accusations come less than a year after Vargas was convicted of misdemeanor telephone harassment involving a former girlfriend and sentenced to probation.
During that September conviction, Vargas was acquitted of a misdemeanor domestic violence charge in the May 2007 incident, Jackson County officials said.
Vargas completed his probation in that case.
Mark Blumer, chief assistant prosecutor for Jackson County, said that in April, Vargas began harassing the Blackman Township police officer who had arrested him on the previous case.
Authorities wouldn't comment further about what form the harassment took.
"We're disappointed that we find ourselves in the position of these charges being filed," Lansing police Chief Mark Alley said Tuesday.
Vargas has been on paid administrative leave since the original incident with his former girlfriend in May 2007. Vargas and union representatives could not be reached for comment Tuesday evening.
Vargas has worked for the Lansing Police Department since the summer of 1997.
Following his conviction, he had applied for duty disability pension, the chief said, and was awaiting an official ruling on both the pension and possible disciplinary action from the department.
Vargas' preliminary exam on the new charges is set for July 29 before 12th District Court Judge R. Darryl Mazur in Jackson.
The felony stalking charge carries a possible maximum sentence of five years in prison, Blumer said. The harassment charge carries a maximum of six months.
In addition, a police internal affairs review is likely to go over the entire series of events and determine how it might affect Vargas' work status, said Lansing police spokesman Lt. Noel Garcia.
"It has to be determined on a case-by-case basis," Garcia said.
Vargas made headlines as an officer in 2004 when he was shot four times after he interrupted a robbery.
While wounded, he shot and killed one of two men involved in the break-in. It was determined that Vargas' use of deadly force was justified.
LANSING COP ARRESTED FOR STALKING
WKHM 970AM, Jackson Michigan
July 09, 2008
http://www.wkhm.com/story.php?more_group=83&more_block=news&more_item=70540
AN ELEVEN YEAR VETERAN OF THE LANSING POLICE DEPARTMENT IS FACING UP TO FIVE YEARS IN PRISON FOR ALLEGEDLY STALKING JOSEPH MERRITT, AN OFFICER WITH THE BLACKMAN TOWNSHIP DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY.
ACCORDING TO POLICE REPORTS MERRITT ARRESTED ROBERT VARGAS IN MAY OF 2007 FOR A DOMESTIC VIOLENCE INCIDENT INVOLVING HIS GIRLFRIEND.
HE WAS LATER ACQUITTED OF THE DOMESTIC VIOLENCE CHARGES, BUT HE WAS CONVICTED ON THE MALICIOUS USE OF A TELEPHONE CHARGE.
ONCE HE COMPLETED HIS PROBATION FROM THAT CASE, IT IS ALLEGED THAT VARGAS STARTED STALKING MERRITT WITH PHONE CALLS. A COMPLAINT WAS FILED AND VARGAS TURNED HIMSELF INTO THE MICHIGAN STATE POLICE LAST WEEK.
HE IS NOW FACING THE SAME CHARGES HE WAS CONVICTED OF LAST YEAR. VARGAS WAS RELEASED ON $5,000 BOND. HIS PRELIMINARY HEARING IS SCHEDULED FOR THE END OF THE MONTH. CURRENTLY VARGAS IS ON PAID LEAVE FROM THE LANSING POLICE DEPARTMENT SINCE HIS FIRST ARREST IN 2007.
Lansing Police Officer Charged With Stalking
WLJA News, Lansing Michigan
July 8, 2008 - 8:18PM
http://www.wlaj.com/news/officer_12501___article.html/vargas_lansing.html
ABC 3 News has learned a Lansing Police officer has been charged with stalking.
Officer Rob Vargas was arrested in Jackson County.
Here is a statement from the Lansing Dept:
On July 1, 2008 the Jackson County Prosecutor issued an arrest warrant for Lansing Police Officer Rob Vargas. On July 3, 2008 Officer Vargas was arraigned on charges of Felony Aggravated Stalking and Misdemeanor Malicious Use of Telecommunications.
Officer Vargas was hired on August 22, 1997 and was most recently assigned to the uniform patrol division. Officer Vargas was placed on paid administrative leave on May 23, 2007 due to a criminal investigation in Jackson County. Since that time Officer Vargas has applied for a duty disability pension. The Pension Board is currently reviewing his request.
Lansing Police Chief Mark Alley said today that the Lansing Police Department does not tolerate criminal misconduct by any of its members and that allegations of wrongdoing by any member of the agency are thoroughly investigated.
"We have and will continue to hold ourselves to the highest possible standards of integrity and professional conduct in law enforcement," Chief Alley said. "We will not compromise our core values and will assure that those values are applied to all our personnel on or off duty. The Lansing Police Department will maintain the integrity of our disciplinary process by following the policies, procedures and union contract, which details the disciplinary process."
Chief Alley noted that Officer Vargas's situation remains in the criminal justice system and therefore it would be inappropriate to discuss the details of his case.
Lansing Police Officer Charged with Stalking Another Officer
Posted: 5:24 PM Jul 8, 2008
Last Updated: 11:54 PM Jul 8, 2008
Reporter: Jamie Edmonds
http://www.wilx.com/news/headlines/24079909.html
Thirty-eight year old Robert Q Vargas - a Lansing police officer for 11 years - was charged Thursday in Jackson County with felony stalking and illegal use of a telephone... a misdemeanor.
The alleged victim in this case? Another police officer.
"The victim of the alleged stalking is the Blackman Township police officer who arrested Mr. Vargas," Jackson County Prosecutor Mark Blumer said.
Back in May 2007, Vargas was arrested and charged with domestic violence and malicious use of a telephone - the same misdemeanor charge he faces this time around.
The victim that case was his girlfriend.
"He was convicted by a jury on the malicious use of a telephone," Blumer said, "but he was acquitted on the domestic violence charge."
Blumer said Vargas had just completed his probation from that case in April when he began stalking the arresting officer from Blackman Township.
"Part of the stalking crime occurred here in Jackson," he said. "If I call you and your in Jackson, then part of the crime occurred in Jackson."
Vargas was on paid administrative leave from the Lansing Police Department since his previous criminal case, but before the Lansing Police Department made any decision on his future, Vargas filed for medical pension relating to a shooting in 2004.
"The most appropriate thing to do was to put a hold on the internal investigation until the medical doctors could do a review of Mr. Vargas," Lansing Chief Mark Alley said.
Which means Vargas is still on paid leave from the department.
He's also out on $5,000 bond in Jackson County until his preliminary hearing on the new charges at the end of this month.
Vargas could face up to five years in prison.
Lansing cop facing charges he stalked Blackman officer
Jackson Citizen Patriot
Posted by Danielle Quisenberry
July 08, 2008 23:32PM
http://blog.mlive.com/citpat/2008/07/lansing_cop_facing_charges_he.html
A Lansing police officer is facing charges he stalked a Blackman Township public safety officer who arrested him last year on a domestic violence charge.
Robert Vargas, 38, of Mason, was arraigned late last week in Jackson County District Court on charges of aggravated stalking, a felony punishable by up to five years in prison, and malicious use of a telephone, a misdemeanor.
Vargas, who is on paid administrative leave, is accused of making life-threatening phone calls to Blackman Township Public Safety Officer Joseph Merritt.
Lansing police officer charged
WLNS NEWS
Posted: July 8, 2008 05:13 PM CDT
http://www.wlns.com/Global/story.asp?S=8643322&nav=0RbQ
Vargas is free on a $5,000 dollar bond and will have a preliminary hearing on July 29th.
Lansing Police Officer Charged with Stalking Another Officer
WILX News, Lansing Michigan
Posted: 4:24 PM Jul 8, 2008
Last Updated: 10:54 PM Jul 8, 2008
Reporter: Jamie Edmonds
http://www.wilx.com/news/headlines/24079909.html
Thirty-eight year old Robert Q Vargas - a Lansing police officer for 11 years - was charged Thursday in Jackson County with felony stalking and illegal use of a telephone... a misdemeanor.
The alleged victim in this case? Another police officer.
"The victim of the alleged stalking is the Blackman Township police officer who arrested Mr. Vargas," Jackson County Prosecutor Mark Blumer said.
Back in May 2007, Vargas was arrested and charged with domestic violence and malicious use of a telephone - the same misdemeanor charge he faces this time around.
The victim that case was his girlfriend.
"He was convicted by a jury on the malicious use of a telephone," Blumer said, "but he was acquitted on the domestic violence charge."
Blumer said Vargas had just completed his probation from that case in April when he began stalking the arresting officer from Blackman Township.
"Part of the stalking crime occurred here in Jackson," he said. "If I call you and your in Jackson, then part of the crime occurred in Jackson."
Vargas was on paid administrative leave from the Lansing Police Department since his previous criminal case, but before the Lansing Police Department made any decision on his future, Vargas filed for medical pension relating to a shooting in 2004.
"The most appropriate thing to do was to put a hold on the internal investigation until the medical doctors could do a review of Mr. Vargas," Lansing Chief Mark Alley said.
Which means Vargas is still on paid leave from the department.
He's also out on $5,000 bond in Jackson County until his preliminary hearing on the new charges at the end of this month.Vargas could face up to five years in prison.
Lansing officer faces stalking charge
Midday update
Lansing State Journal
July 8, 2008
http://www.lansingstatejournal.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080708/NEWS01/807080365/1002/NEWS01
JACKSON - A Lansing police officer is accused of stalking and harassing a Blackman Township officer.
Robert Vargas, 38, was arraigned July 3 on one count of felony aggravated stalking and one count of misdemeanor telephone harassment, according to prosecutors in Jackson County.
Vargas also was found guilty in 2007 of verbally abusing his former girlfriend over the telephone and was sentenced to 15 months of probation.
Vargas now is accused of harassing the Blackman Township officer who investigated the case against him last year.
Since 2007, Lansing police said, he has been on paid administrative leave. Vargas has since applied for a duty disability pension.
Vargas could not be reached for comment.
