01152005 - Sheriff Scott Fewin - Grand Traverse County SD

Also See:

Deputy Justin Revnell [Sheriff Scott Fewin's nephew] - Charged with domestic violence

http://michiganoidv.blogspot.com/2004/12/december-30-2004-detective-justin.html

The Traverse City Record-Eagle disclosed that Grand Traverse Sheriff Scott Fewin spoke with the victim / witness in the case against Detective Revnell on three different occassions, after Revnell was charged with the assault...and before the victim / witness disappeared...AND THAT SHERIFF FEWIN WAS DETECTIVE REVNELL'S UNCLE.
 
 
 
Detective's case raises concerns over conflicts
Traverse City Record-Eagle
March 30, 2005
http://www.record-eagle.com/2005/mar/30edit.htm

Say what you want about Julius Caesar, the guy understood public opinion.

When his wife, Pompeia, became entangled in an alleged sordid affair, he divorced her, telling his advisers that while there was no solid proof of her unfaithfulness "Caesar's wife must be above suspicion."

Fast forward a couple of millennia to Grand Traverse County, where an officeholder somewhat less exalted than emperor - the county sheriff - finds himself in a no-less-embarrassing situation.

Sheriff Scott Fewins is learning the hard way that it's not always good public service to employ a relative, in his case a nephew.

Justin Revnell, 26, is one of his uncle's detectives, and until he was accused of manhandling his ex-girlfriend he was a junior high school liaison officer. He apparently also has more than a passing familiarity with the grape.

The woman told authorities the detective, on one occasion, threw her to the ground during an argument and another time held her in a headlock. She also said his judgment was affected by his drinking. He was legally drunk when state police interviewed him shortly after the alleged incident.

He denied the accusations, saying she was having a difficult time dealing with their breakup.

Fewins, showing a judgment lapse of his own, spoke directly with the woman about her allegations against his nephew. It was an odd situation for the sheriff to allow himself to be placed. Here the sheriff-uncle of the detective-nephew was talking with the ex-girlfriend-accuser of the detective-nephew. Talk about conflict.

Whatever else they talked about, Fewins said that during their three conversations, the woman said she would not testify or make a complaint against Revnell.

Interestingly, that's exactly how the case concluded.

The woman disappeared. Dust to the wind.

The investigative prowess of law enforcement was useless against the wile of a 26-year-old alleged abuse victim.

Not to worry, though, the public was assured there had been an exhaustive search. But because it was fruitless, charges against the sheriff's nephew would have to be dropped. After all, without a witness what could be done?

The whole affair does nothing to instill confidence in the county's legal system, still recuperating from a couple of body blows to its judiciary.

The sheriff should have stayed out of the case against his nephew. It should have been entirely turned over to the state police and the state attorney general's office for a full investigation and detailed report to the people.

"Above suspicion" applies to cops as well as emperors' wives.

01102005 - Deputy Justin Revnell - Suspended - Grand Traverse County SD

Grand Traverse County Sheriff Department, Detective Justin Revnell [nephew of Grand Traverse County Sheriff Scott Fewins], allegedly pushed his ex-girlfriend during an altercation on December 30, 2004. During an interview with the Michigan State Police, the victim told the police of another domestic violence altercation that had taken place a few months prior.

During the previous  altercation [August or September of 2004], the victim claimed that Detective Revnell had put her in a head lock, knocked her feet out from under her, bent her arm back and pushed her face down into the floor. Misdemeanor domestic violence charges were filed on this incident in January 2005.

ALSO SEE:

DEPUTY JUSTIN REVNELL, DECEMBER 30, 2004  ASSAULT

http://michiganoidv.blogspot.com/2004/12/december-30-2004-detective-justin.html

DEPUTY JUSTIN REVNELL, MARCH 2004: SIX- PAGE DEPARTMENT WRITE-UP

http://michiganoidv.blogspot.com/2004/03/deputy-justin-revnell-grand-traverse.html

Detective off job without any pay
Sheriff Fewins' nephew facing assault charges
By IAN C. STOREY
Record-Eagle staff writer
January 15, 2005
http://www.record-eagle.com/2005/jan/15revnel.htm

TRAVERSE CITY - A Grand Traverse County Sheriff's detective charged with domestic assault is suspended without pay until his legal problems are resolved.

Sheriff Scott Fewins said Justin Revnell, 26, was removed from paid administrative leave and suspended on Thursday.

"That is probably where this will stay until the criminal part of this is over," said Fewins, who also is Revnell's uncle. "Then we will close our internal investigation at that time and make a decision if there are any other sanctions that need to be imposed."

Revnell, a liaison officer at a local junior high school, was arraigned in 86th District Court Wednesday on one misdemeanor charge of domestic assault for a Dec. 30 incident involving his ex-girlfriend at the couple's Barney Road home.

The crime is punishable by up to 93 days in jail and fines.

Revnell pleaded not guilty. As a condition of bond, Judge Thomas Phillips instructed him to surrender his personal firearms, restricted him from contacting the alleged victim, and ordered him to submit to daily alcohol tests.

"Other officers have continued to work (while being charged with crimes)," said Fewins. "We just decided that is not the way we are going to do it."

A Michigan State Police report stated that the alleged victim told troopers she and Revnell had an altercation early Dec. 30 when Revnell allegedly pushed her to the ground after she confronted him about his alcohol use.

A breath test performed by troopers just before 6 a.m. found Revnell's blood alcohol to be .08.

The woman also told police Revnell allegedly assaulted her months ago when he put her in a headlock and forced her to the ground.


If convicted, under state law Revnell could carry a firearm once cleared by the courts, but under federal law he would not be able to carry a handgun because of a conviction.













Detective to be charged with assault
Sheriff's nephew admits drinking, denies attack
Traverse City Record Eagle, MI
January 11, 2005
By IAN C. STOREY
Record-Eagle staff writer
http://www.record-eagle.com/2005/jan/11deputy.htm

TRAVERSE CITY - A Grand Traverse County detective who's also the nephew of Sheriff Scott Fewins faces criminal charges for allegedly assaulting a woman while intoxicated.

Justin Revnell, 26, a police liaison officer at Traverse City West Junior High, is charged with one count of domestic assault, a misdemeanor punishable up to 93 days in jail.

"He could be arraigned as early as Wednesday," said county Prosecutor Alan Schneider.

Fewins said he was contacted by the prosecutor's office on Monday and immediately placed Revnell on indefinite paid, administrative leave.

Fewins said his nephew has admitted to drinking in excess at times, but denied the assault claims.

An internal investigation likely will be conducted by the head of the detective's bureau. A complaint taken by the Michigan State Police states that Revnell's former girlfriend told officers the two had an altercation early Dec. 30. Revnell allegedly shoved her to the ground after she confronted him about his alcohol use.

The woman told police she arrived at the couple's Barney Road home that night just after midnight, but couldn't find Revnell, according to a police report.

Later, she said she found Revnell, 26, drinking at a Long Lake Township bar and offered to drive him home, but he refused. Revnell later contacted her by phone and told her he was driving home but didn't want to talk, the report stated.

After he arrived, the woman attempted to talk to Revnell about his drinking before he allegedly grabbed her and threw her to the ground, she told police.

The woman called 911 and left the house before being interviewed by troopers at the county jail. At 5:20 a.m. on Dec. 30, police contacted Revnell at his home. Revnell denied he had a verbal argument or assaulted the woman, and stated she was having "difficulty with the relationship ending."

Revnell did not return messages left for him at West Junior High.

During the interview on Dec. 30, Revnell also allegedly denied to officers that he had an alcohol problem and that he hadn't been intoxicated during the incident. But a breath test performed on Revnell just before 6 a.m. found his blood-alcohol to be .08, the state's legal limit for public intoxication.

The woman also told police that Revnell allegedly assaulted her three to four months ago when he put her in a "head lock" before knocking her feet out from underneath her. He also allegedly bent her arm behind her back and pushed her face down into the floor.

Fewins said Revnell was placed on administrative leave around noon on Monday. "Whenever someone is put on leave, I take their ID, weapon, and we take them home. Being out on leave is normally not too long before it would realize reinstatement or suspension," he said.

Fewins said the girlfriend contacted him three times since the incident and told him she never considered herself a victim and would not testify or make a complaint.

"We were awaiting what the prosecutor would do and I did not anticipate the prosecutor would file a complaint," said Fewins, who said he did not try to sway the victim from pursuing charges.

According to a report, the woman told police Revnell often drove intoxicated and that drinking was affecting his life and prompting him to call in sick for work.

"Obviously, this is not a good day for the sheriff personally and for the whole department," saidFewins. "It is not the kind of thing I like to see happen, but it needs to be brought out. It will work out. I have faith in the court system."