City of Rohnert Park Settles for $415,000 in Lawsuit Alleging Its Officers Stole Cannabis From Travelers Just After a Second Suit Alleging More Corruption Was Filed

Zeke Flatten Rohnert Park Police and FIre

Zeke Flatten and a Rohnert Park Police and Fire patch.

A story that began in Redheaded Blackbelt has now led to a new lawsuit with allegations of conspiracy to commit robbery and extortion against not only the police officers who directly stopped and confiscated cannabis and cash from drivers along Hwy 101 but also against the entire public safety department of Rohnert Park.

And, in a telling concession, yesterday, the City of Rohnert Park settled with Zeke Flatten, whose story of being stopped and robbed by men claiming to be law enforcement unfolded before readers on our site last year.

“I settled my case with [the City of Rohnert Park] for $415,000,” Flatten emailed us today. “I feel this is a victory not only for me but for all other victims of [Rohnert Park] corruption who have not or were not able take action against [their] widespread corruption.”

In December of 2017, two men claiming to be federal ATF agents stopped Flatten, a former undercover investigator just north of the Sonoma County line in Mendocino County. Flatten was carrying three pounds of cannabis from Humboldt County which the men confiscated quickly.

Flatten was immediately suspicious. “I was pretty sure these were legitimate cops not doing legitimate work,” he later told us. (For more on why he was suspicious, click here.)

After stories written about the seizure of his cannabis and certified letters of complaint to multiple agencies in Mendocino County, then former Mendocino County Undersheriff Randy Johnson who was then in charge of investigating Mr. Flatten’s allegations because it occurred in their jurisdiction sent us a press release he said showed that Mr. Flatten had actually been pulled over legally by the Rohnert Park Department of Public Safety (Rohnert Park’s police force).

This “press release” from the City of Rohnert Park (see here for more information) was a critical thread that led to unraveling a knot of corruption. From investigations that we did, we determined that the press release had not only inaccurate but falsified information.

This led to investigations by KQED, the Press Democrat, and by attorneys for Zeke Flatten—together these led to the lawsuit filed last Friday against the entire public safety department of Rohnert Park. The suit says the “press release” indicates “conspiracy to commit thefts, robberies, extortion, tax evasion, money laundering and obstruction of justice (all are RICO [Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act] predicate crimes).”

Among the several cases recounted is that of a Mr. Joshua Surrat. The lawsuit alleges:

Ultimately Sergeant Tatum discovered a bin filled with twenty-six pounds of cannabis. Mr. Surrat then explained that he was lawfully transporting the cannabis, and that he was in possession of all the required paperwork. Tatum told him his paperwork was invalid. Mr. Surrat said that he didn’t think a judge would see it that way.

In response, Tatum became enraged and told Mr. Surrat that he had two options: The officers could seize his truck, his belongings, and his marijuana and arrest him for felonies, or Mr. Surrat could surrender the cannabis and the officers would be on their way.

Mr. Surrat answered, “Obviously option B, if you put it like that.” Tatum then moved very close to Mr. Surrat’s face and said, “You don’t tell anyone about this either. Not your lawyer, not the collective where the herb is going, no one. If we don’t hear from you, you won’t hear from us. If your lawyer comes calling asking around the department or anything like that, we will come up to your property in Ukiah. I bet we could find some more felonies if we came up there, huh?”

Officer Huffaker then pulled out Mr. Surrat’s driver’s license and took a picture of it with his phone, then took a picture of Mr. Surrat’s license plate. Tatum repeated, “Do you understand me? We don’t hear from you, you don’t hear from us.”

The officers then unhandcuffed Mr. Surrat and began to pull away, leaving Mr. Surrat and the contents of his vehicle on the side of road, but then stopped as Huffaker rolled down his window and asked Mr. Surrat “What strains are in here?”

Several of the five cases named in the lawsuit (one is that of Southern Humboldt man, Jason Harre) note that the officers requested the names of the marijuana strains–an odd request from law enforcement as the only reason for knowing the strain types would be to facilitate sales.

In an excellent article in the Press Democrat, Izaak Schwaiger points out, “The worst case scenario is the Department of Public Safety is an outright criminal enterprise that needs to be shut down, and that’s precisely what we’ve alleged in this complaint. We believe that to be the case.”

Earlier:

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The Real Brian
Guest
The Real Brian
4 years ago

So incredible.

Congratulations to Zeke for his drive for justice, and to Kym Kemp for her great investigative journalism.

FBI Look at MCSO
Guest
FBI Look at MCSO
4 years ago
Reply to  The Real Brian

Funny thing is, growing up in Mendo I learned this is the norm, they pull you over, they steal your weed and cash, then they let you go, if you try to claim the cash or challenge the asset forfeiture, the DA Eyster will charge you with posession, if you let them keep the money and weed, you will not hear back from them, I know first hand of deputies who would sell the weed and take their kids clothes shopping and the deputy was MCSO for decades…. corruption is real in these departments, the deputies all engage in this type of activity at one point or another including stealing money during the execution of search warrants. Been going on for a long time, where is the FBI?

.
Guest
.
4 years ago

FBI? Ahhh they got pockets of their own to fill with illicit cash and drugs. Can’t be bothered with some podunk backwater popo department full of thieves with guns and badges.

Joe Dirt
Guest
Joe Dirt
4 years ago
Reply to  The Real Brian

There used to be a big extortion ring going on in Willits with the Sheriff’s Department and other officials. Most of it was stopped by the bypass stopping a multi-million dollar money, and marijuana, grab. Rohnert Park gets to pay while these dirty cops go on doing Dirty Deeds. somewhere else not really justice but hopefully it will make them find good people for the job.

Richard
Guest
Richard
4 years ago

Hopefully he sends you a thank you note with a little cash in it for bring this story to the public…Great job Kym…

Joe
Guest
Joe
4 years ago
Reply to  Richard

Good for you, Zeke!

Joe
Guest
Joe
4 years ago
Reply to  Kym Kemp

Congratulations, Kym! You deserve it!

Ernie Branscomb
Guest
4 years ago
Reply to  Kym Kemp

Kym
It is seldom that I eat crow, but I need to now.

I know that there is much corruption in some police departments. Power corrupts, and absolute power corrupts absolutely. I predicted on this blog site that this would just blow away like nothing happened, just like we have all seen before, but you sunk your teeth in it and would not let go. Congratulations on your much deserved award!

I was reading just this morning that it is becoming impossible to recruit new police officers, and the ones that are being recruited are not the quality that they once were. It is a no-win situation, police are not supported because they make so many mistakes. Yet, we need to support them to gain quality officers. It’s a catch-22.

You and I both have very good friends in law enforcement, and we both know that there are some very good officers out there, but the only way that the police can gain general support, like they once had, is to praise the good that they do, and not tolerate their screw-ups and corruption.

Again, congratulations on your win, but now you have a very long ways to go… Keep the broom handy.

Joe Dirt
Guest
Joe Dirt
4 years ago
Reply to  Kym Kemp

Hopefully Zach well hit that new donate button make for a good happy ending to the great story from beginning to ?

(Without you the extortion and other crimes would probably still be going on)

Joe Dirt
Guest
Joe Dirt
4 years ago
Reply to  Kym Kemp

——————–;;-;;–;;;;;
I remember: how exciting it was the first story and the ongoing saga of events worthy of a miniseries. CorRuptioN within the police department.

I guess we’ll just have to be patient for the redheaded Blackbelt upgrade server site with all the bells and whistles.
Redheaded Blackbelt internet cafe with coffee and crumpets with local news that can change the world

THoGM
Guest
THoGM
4 years ago
Reply to  Kym Kemp

Kym, could you please post the gofundme or patreon link where we can preorder the book you are (presumably) writing? (Nudge, hint, wink!)

I assume there will be a chapter on Jeff’s ordeal, as well as one on the Kettenpom murder/attempted murders, and other pot crime stories, interspersed with feel-good true tales of life in SoHum.

Billy Casomorphin
Guest
Billy Casomorphin
4 years ago

The officer here was paid off to leave.
Zeke Flatten, whose story was unbelievable and ever changing in the first place, was eventually also paid to go away. As I predicted.
Now there are other suits, but, I suspect that Rohnert Park will similarly sweep this under the rug…

My perception of law enforcement has changed, and, this opinion joins many others relating to competence and quality in professional level employees.

I hope that the officers involved never find law-enforcement jobs again, but I suspect that pirates of all kinds eventually find their environment, their level.

This is one more drug-related crime unpunished on all sides, and the level of entitlement and the refusal of all parties to behave with responsibility, and any amount of circumspection, bodes ill for the future of California and our society…

Let’s hope that bad cops are called on their questionable procedure and actions, and let’s hope that drug traffickers become more careful and learn to document their actions.

You got away with this one, Zeke, but I would avoid Sonoma and Mendocino Counties in the future…

Billy Casomorphin
Guest
Billy Casomorphin
4 years ago
Reply to  Kym Kemp

In Humboldt, folks hate the police. It’s simplistic, but following “Murder Mountain”, the feelings obviously have been earned over long experience.

Mr Flatten’s story smelled, well, not too good from the start, but as the story was told and retold, even I admitted that the procedures on the LEO side, were not up to any standard, and, the records indicated that the officers involved were way outside the lines…

Obviously, attorneys attack the weakest point, and, the only reasonable way for RP to extricate itself and to put some distance between itself and all the principles here, was and is to pay everyone off and forget about it. Maybe hire better quality staff, too. Some attorney for the city no doubt came up with the scheme, so that RP would not be further embarrassed in court.

This is not the same as justice. It is a smelly substitute, and, it may well fail to improve the behavior of LEO’s in general. One hopes that traffickers and LEO’s learn something from this, but it probably won’t have much effect on business as usual.

I admitted already, that my opinions have changed, but I still have a tendency to trust LEO’s over drug traffickers.

Billy Casomorphin
Guest
Billy Casomorphin
4 years ago

And, cities carry insurance to protect from liabilities caused by poor quality employees.

Obviously, the game of “lawbreakers vs LEO’s” has been going on
here for many years, but your attitude that marijuana growers and traffickers are always righteous, and that LEO’s are always evil, seems de-constructive, divisive and highly simplified.

Prohibition results in a big mess, that nobody can clean up. Hopefully things will improve, but the form legalization has taken in California will probably just cause the whole game to proceed.

I have frequently called for pot farmers and transporters to use electronic recording devices on farms, vehicles, and storage/processing buildings, and to protect themselves more carefully.

As long as there exist helpful attorneys who will take on cases, which will profit themselves, easy-looking victories will continue.

Rohnert Park looks operationally poor, but I doubt this is more than a minor inconvenience to the folks in charge there…

So yay! Big win! In my world, Zeke is a small bug on a large animal, a minor annoyance…

A tawdry story makes good copy, but that is all it is…

Central HumCo
Guest
4 years ago

For shame on you, Billy!

~just because you refuse to recognize a BIG step towards justice, a Score for the people, and Kym’s brain and directive hand in this, brought to us as it unfolds, doesn’t mean the rest of us are blinded to it.

Kym was honored with a journalism award, for Pete’s sake – she deserves loud rounds of applause, a ticker-tape parade and maybe some time off –Not downplayed by a sneering jester.

Billy Casomorphin
Guest
Billy Casomorphin
4 years ago
Reply to  Central HumCo

CH,
Whatever your perception of realty, this is not a win.

It is, however, a great pleasure to be chastised by a comment-er of your stature…

The people have not won, justice has not been served. The people have been bought off, and the game plays on…

More of a wake-up call to the authorities.

ernestine
Guest
ernestine
4 years ago

Ernie: i hear you re: our policing problem.
I think the answer lies in the leadership and the education.
When EPD was having such difficulties, they hired a Chief who made it policy to hire officers with college eductaion. Things changed dramatically.

People want to be policed and they want to like cops, but they gotta be able to have trust in them.

I hope we can recruit chiefs and sheriffs who hold masters degrees and encourage them to hire officers and deputies who have at least a bachelor’s degree.

Central HumCo
Guest
4 years ago
Reply to  ernestine

“People want to be policed ”

~hold the phone.

It’s not like each incorporated city’s charter doesn’t have qualifications spelled out. They’re just overlooked whenever its convenient. Eureka’s charter is specific in who hires the Chief of Police, what their political status is, how many years they have to live in Eureka prior, how many police per capita, etc.

Government Cheese
Guest
Government Cheese
4 years ago
Reply to  Kym Kemp

Great job kym. Bleed those fuking thieving Hippocratic [edit] dry! Reminds me of Mexico, except there I paid them to give my coke back!

Government Cheese
Guest
Government Cheese
4 years ago
Reply to  Kym Kemp

Diet Coke. (Lol)

SmallFry
Guest
SmallFry
4 years ago
Reply to  Kym Kemp

No, really tho, it did just happen, Mexico returns Recreational Cocaine..

https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2019/08/step-mexico-judge-approves-recreational-cocaine-190821055455190.html

Shana
Guest
Shana
4 years ago
Reply to  Kym Kemp

Fantastic and well deserved!
Congratulations!

Ghost Town Kid
Guest
Ghost Town Kid
4 years ago

“Flatten, a former undercover investigator just north of the Sonoma County line in Mendocino County.”

So he’s a Fed?

Billy Casomorphin
Guest
Billy Casomorphin
4 years ago
Reply to  Kym Kemp

Zeke’s previous employment status is another story that changes with each telling.

Disingenuous, or secret, or plain false? Which is it?

I thought he was a researcher, making marijuana nasal spray for – horses? Dogs?

A thought-provoking story, rather fantastical at times, never seemed too factual at all, and frequently changing.

The basic facts are, Zeke was pulled over, searched, either 3 or 60 pounds were confiscated, no records, apparently were kept, and Zeke lawyered up, eventually resulting in a settlement (same as RP pleading “no contest”)… The slipshod LEO was paid off to resign quietly.

This is not really a victory, it is a default.

Billy Casomorphin
Guest
Billy Casomorphin
4 years ago

Here is another account, describing Mr Flatten as “a Texas man”:

https://www.kqed.org/news/11706921/lawsuit-rohnert-park-hopland-police-conspired-to-steal-cannabis-and-cash-on-highway-101

He has also been described as a “former school district police officer”…

https://www.kqed.org/news/11706921/lawsuit-rohnert-park-hopland-police-conspired-to-steal-cannabis-and-cash-on-highway-101

Obviously, bad policy and procedure by the officers involved, but RP has admitted no wrongdoing.

Billy Casomorphin
Guest
Billy Casomorphin
4 years ago
Central HumCo
Guest
4 years ago

~wanna hear the world’s smallest violin?

Billy Casomorphin
Guest
Billy Casomorphin
4 years ago
Reply to  Kym Kemp

You are remarkably brave, to cover this story so tenaciously. I sincerely applaud your exposition of this story.
Whatever else I believe, I was personally pulled over by CHP outside Lakeport, at 0645 on a Thursay morning. The officer stuck his nose in my car, implied that I had been stopped for suspicion of possession of tinted windows, possible speeding, and, “no front plate”…
When he smelled no weed in my Acura, he quickly let me go on to work at the hospital, and before I drove away, he had pulled over a Tacoma with a shell.
I am convinced that he was looking for “pounds”, but I didn’t stick around to watch…
I am now absolutely convinced that marijuana is seized by officers, who are very likely to be bending law, and acting beyond their authority. I would have been quite entertained to watch this play out in court, but I don’t think that any case against these officers will actually be tried, and it seems likely that Rohnert Park will pay off complainants in all cases.
I also believe that there is satellite surveillance of known traffickers, that interstate transporters are in mortal danger at all times, and that all marijuana farming operations are mapped, and that your daily activities are watched!
Hell, why not?

I certainly don’t recommend a career as a black-market pot farmer, or a career as a transporter of illegal amounts of undocumented marijuana.

Clearly, whatever Mr Flatten may say he does for a living, he also transports, and may have many other ties to illegal activities.

Also, he was by his own admission transporting 3 pounds (or 30 pounds) (apparently not 60, my error) and may have possessed concentrates in some amount not specified. We will just never know. We will also never know just exactly what happened that night on the 101. What we do know, is that Rohnert Park disposed of two sworn officers because they failed to follow established procedure and failed to keep required records. RP also disposed of Mr Flatten’s case, without admitting anything at all. Didn’t cost them more than the insurance premium….

Thank you for your service, Ms Kemp. The award was well deserved.

Billy Casomorphin
Guest
Billy Casomorphin
4 years ago
Reply to  Kym Kemp

By his report. Which may or may not be, accurate…

I was stopped before the report of Mr Flatten’s misadventure, so at the time, I thought it was odd, but I didn’t really pay that much attention, and I was not cited.

To be fair, I have long hair, and I was wearing scrubs, driving a big silver Acura RL, and maybe I looked like a suspicious old guy…

I can’t really see why the officer would have reported 30 pounds, if there were 3.

I guess the marijuana did not make it into the evidence locker, and maybe it wasn’t really wasn’t Sgt Tatum’s fault that it disappeared and was not properly accounted for, but I doubt it.

Thanks for an entertaining story, and I wouldn’t criticize your writing skills, I hope! You have real courage to dedicate space to a story that few news agencies appear to be interested in…

Billy Casomorphin
Guest
Billy Casomorphin
4 years ago
Reply to  Kym Kemp

Thanks for the info!

Has “60 Minutes” offered you a job yet?

Billy Casomorphin
Guest
Billy Casomorphin
4 years ago

While I do appreciate the first concise digest of the salient points, I consider the whole incident a bit differently:

This episode of cosmic chaos was the result of the collision of a charismatic/drifter/grifter/con-man and the two worst and least responsible crooked cops in the history of incompetent, dishonest and un-professional policemen. Since Mr Flatten may have had at least a semester of Police Science 3, and may have understood basic police procedure, he found an angle to sue, after a considerable amount of fuss, and following a consult with local stars of journalism, he found a lawyer to file a suit. Actually, this part was kind of clever, and that he was able to discover the material that came to light about the Rohnert Park Police Department is a bit amazing. At any rate, in my opinion, Mr Flatten’s attorney probably advised Mr Flatten to settle, and since the attorney probably is going to receive a large percentage of the award, I would advise Mr Flatten to run off now, produce some movies, or research a new use for cannabis, or write a book, or some damn thing… Money in the bank!

Point is: I worked in a hospital last Summer, where a total con-man came to town, promised to “save the hospital” by buying it for his “company”. An election was held, and over 80% of the citizens voted to sell the hospital to the con-man. I said, “wait a minute, this guy is an obvious crook!”, but they wouldn’t listen. A local journalist basically said the same thing, and they called her “a crazy old lady”…

Well, the con-man actually handed over some money, $800,000 by some reports, traded his “commercial lab”, which turned out to be an empty building, for the hospital, and then went straight to fraudulently billing Medicare, in the hospital’s name. The company he claimed was his, was immediately buried in lawsuits, and the con-man, well, he disappeared!

Honestly, this happened! I couldn’t make up a story like this!
See: Cadira and Surprise Valley Hospital

https://californiahealthline.org/news/community-frets-as-buyer-for-cherished-rural-hospital-slips-from-view/

https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/4451070-Surprise-Valley-Community-Hospital-Bankruptcy.html

http://publicvoicesforruralhealth.com/2018/03/23/whos-beau-gertz/

https://ballotpedia.org/Surprise_Valley_Health_Care_District,_California,_Measure_I,_Permit_to_Sell_Assets_to_Qualified_Buyers_(June_2018)

et al… See the Modoc Record/Jean Bilodeaux/ Surprise Valley Hospital

So, what’s the point?

Con-men are everywhere, grifters drift, bad cops exist, and this story is not exactly a journalist’s sexy dream.

I still don’t believe Mr Flatten, didn’t believe him in 2017, never will. I can’t believe that the “Pair of Deuces” kiddie cops managed to be employed anywhere at all, ever, and, the two cops and Mr Flatten’s confluence, due to the phase of the moon and the season or whatever, was truly the piece of resistance! Wow!

I am glad the story has an end, since I am tired of it, and I sincerely do believe that all current employees of the Rohnert Park Police Department should be terminated, every one of them!

I hope Mr Flatten stays in Texas, gives up transporting illegal amounts of highly controlled substances, and makes a movie about his time in crazy-land!

So, as they say on “The People’s Court”, as reported by Rain-Man, “don’t just take it, take it to court!”

Peace.

Just the facts
Guest
Just the facts
4 years ago
Reply to  Kym Kemp

Billy is a good writer and a conspiracy theorist and is respectful of you (Which is a very good thing, right?).

His response to your facts is; may have, could have, and if it happened then this could have happened. Zeke might, may have had, I can’t really see why the officer would have, I don’t believe, may have understood basic police procedure (Never mind that there are more than a few other cases where the exact same thing happened and RP will probably pay handsomely.) etc etc..

When you showed him the facts of the case to show how his “may haves, could haves, I don’t believes” he just goes on to change the subject.

Like I said, he is a good writer and is respectful but is also a conspiracy theorist without evidence (In this case anyway.). I see this too often and just end up butting my head against the wall trying to debate/argue with them.

Extraordinary job Kym on this topic.

popo be trolling my a$$
Guest
popo be trolling my a$$
4 years ago

Effing taxpayer funded, thug, criminal, terrorists! We need a better way to protect ourselves from these thugs.

The Real Brian
Guest
The Real Brian
4 years ago

Kym,

Last big paragraph. I dont think you want the “is” before “indicates conspiracy to commit….”

Ancient alien theorists say Yes.
Guest
Ancient alien theorists say Yes.
4 years ago

Good job Zeke!

Guest
Guest
Guest
4 years ago

So that’s it the city settles out of court? What about prosecution of the “officers” I hope those two “officers” see the deepest darkest cell for a very long time.

tech
Guest
tech
4 years ago
Reply to  Guest

That’s what I was thinking. Goes to show it is never about justice today, it is all about the $$$. Notice how no other agency would run the prints of the suspects? Notice how the MCSO are implicated in the case by confirming a fraudulent report filed by corrupt officers? Where is the FBI? Where’s the Inspector General? Disgusting. Absolutely disgusting. Along as asset forfeiture is legal and exploited and actions like these go unpunished this kind of behavior will only get worse.

Central HumCo
Guest
4 years ago
Reply to  tech

~we should be filing litigation DAILY. Sue each one of ’em in their personal capacity. Cram their Administration rooms. Prove that their so-called laws are unjust with no remedy available.

Billy Casomorphin
Guest
Billy Casomorphin
4 years ago

Nice pull! The trafficers are certainly winning, on the North Coast…

Bad procedure, and cover-ups are out of style. I guess a bit of money is a substitute for accountability in certain police forces.

Apparently Zeke won here, whether he actually had a case or not. At least he wasn’t actually arrested.

Other LEO’s and state and local agencies are put on notice. Meanwhile, if you traffic, get in-vehicle and voice recording cameras.

My picture of the average LEO is forever altered.

MikeyC
Guest
MikeyC
4 years ago

Please don’t stop pursuing this until Officer Huffaker and his associates are put in jail. Settling with the city does nothing to deter this behavior. Makes me sick. This is coming from someone who is generally pro-LEO.

tax payer
Guest
tax payer
4 years ago
Reply to  MikeyC

i thought it was only up to the DA to pursue on behalf of the county or city

tax payer
Guest
tax payer
4 years ago
Reply to  tax payer

if the DA doesnt do anything then people need to press their elected officials and tell them that they wont be reelected if they dont do something and maybe even removed early because of corruption. then send a copy of the letter to a good journalist (like Kym) and make a big stink of it and raise public concern.

W
Guest
W
4 years ago
Reply to  tax payer

Is it up to the DA in mendo to charge them,since that’s where it happened?

Central HumCo
Guest
4 years ago
Reply to  W

~sometimes i wish i wouldn’t have taken the red pill.

Indignant 1
Guest
4 years ago

Cops are just crooks who understand how to avoid being caught better than those who dont work in law enforcement.
Occasionally they screw up and get snagged.
No one questions an extra 50 to 100 thousand dollars per year law enforcement officers launder and pocket.
I’m under no illusion that police/sheriff’s are good people, or better in any way than any other cross section of American citizens.
Absolute power corrupts absolutely.

Rod Gass
Guest
Rod Gass
4 years ago
Reply to  Indignant 1

Yes power corrupts enforcement same as everyone else.

My older brother, retired Shasta CO Deputy, while we enjoyed our whiskey one evening … told an enlightening story about the investigation he ran into the paper shredder. His boss the elected Sheriff was the culpable crook. It was over prostitution in the county. OMG he didn’t want that knowledge, but his hero was dirty.

tax payer
Guest
tax payer
4 years ago
Reply to  Rod Gass

rod would you agree that not every law is a good law

Rod Gass
Guest
Rod Gass
4 years ago
Reply to  tax payer

When I study the effects of the first marijuana law 215, I’ll reply that a good law can be ruined and distorted by those in power.

Why vote for any law that historically, repeatedly is corrupt?

Do you think $64 is good law?

tax payer
Guest
tax payer
4 years ago
Reply to  Rod Gass

no not really. i told everyone to vote against it when it was on the ballot

Rod Gass
Guest
Rod Gass
4 years ago
Reply to  tax payer

Party time. Thanks taxpayer. I salute your candor.

Life is Good
Guest
Life is Good
4 years ago

Makes me wonder how much MET is pocketing from all the raids they do.

gunther
Guest
gunther
4 years ago

Hard telling how often something like this has happened, but I imagine a lot. Disgusting.

Silverlining
Guest
Silverlining
4 years ago

They should owe a lot more than that.
I knew someone who is now dead that got rolled by these assholes and it traumatized him.

Indignant 1
Guest
4 years ago

The difference between the so-called criminals in our community and criminal police is:
Our community are entrepreneurs that happen to do work that government is attempting to regulate.
That makes us criminals in their minds.
Criminals that work in law enforcement are most often thieves.
I prefer the hard-working entrepreneurs!

Mendocino Mamma
Guest
Mendocino Mamma
4 years ago

It’s absolutely nothing new. 🤡 This has been going on for so long and it’s totally ridiculous. Any time, or most of the time that the officers or whoever else involved get called on corruptness and incorrect behavior it gets swept under the rug. OH NO it is poo-pooed and the victims of these creeps are threatened. Then to seal the deal the people are bullied and labeled a bunch of idiots for complaining. WAY TO GO ZEKE! Thats putting those lemons to good use!
❤🍋🍋🍋🍋🍋🍋🍋🍋🍋🍋🍋🍋🍋❤

Ullr Rover
Guest
Ullr Rover
4 years ago

The most expensive 3#s of weed in history.

$138,333.33 per #

10 toes
Guest
10 toes
4 years ago
Reply to  Ullr Rover

Like 2 chains ⛓ says your mf right . Now let’s see how fast these cops escape charges and get a new police job as desk paper pushers , or jailers . They will still be hired by some bs police force .

tech
Guest
tech
4 years ago
Reply to  Ullr Rover

Damn Ullr Rover you’re right. The city of Rohnert Park just got turned into the biggest custies in history. Bwahahaha

Burnt Roach (new handle)
Guest
Burnt Roach (new handle)
4 years ago

Congratulations Kim. That’s a good one. Congrats to Mr. Flatten too. Guess those two city cops messed with the wrong guy. He “Flattened them, too.” Sorry, couldn’t resist. Hey cops, impersonating a Fed is a felony to you, too. Stealing three pounds? Are you kidding me? Guys, that’s shoplifting up here. You could have swept that up off the floor at harvest time and saved yourselves some serious trouble. City of Rohnert Park paid over $138,333 per pound because of you. Got to be a record. Nice work Mr Flatten. You too, Kim.

allheros
Guest
allheros
4 years ago
Reply to  Kym Kemp

It’s possible the only reason he’s alive is because of you and the other reporters who chimed in.

Sometimes reporters save lives.

I hope the next lawsuit breaks the whole damn thing open and goes all the way. Nothing more dangerous to society than a well organized group of dirty cops. Bandits. And the politicians who protect them out of self interest.

David
Guest
David
4 years ago

Good job Kim!! So dope!

Herb Alicious
Guest
Herb Alicious
4 years ago

$138,000 a pound, that’s a real good price these days

MCSO Your Next
Guest
MCSO Your Next
4 years ago

Now onto uncovering Mendocino County Sheriff Department Corruption…..

Glen
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Glen
4 years ago

That’s gotta feel good, Ms. Kemp. Is there any possibility of the city going after the $75,000 payout to Huffaker or criminal charges for either of these officers?

This story reminds me of Blue Lake’s finest: Chief David Gunderson. My understanding is that what was covered by local press was just the tip of the iceberg.

Pissed off Marine
Guest
Pissed off Marine
4 years ago

Noooooooo. Police are the good guys. They teach it from kindergarten. I remember !

Sparkelmahn
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Sparkelmahn
4 years ago

Thank you, Kym, for being part of a process that exposes cops [edit]

Cattle Great 🐄💨😷
Guest
Cattle Great 🐄💨😷
4 years ago

It just goes to show that scammers don’t always get away sometimes they do get caught.

SmallFry
Guest
SmallFry
4 years ago

Excellent work Kym.. THX! Congrats to Zeke! The Rohnert Park police are so Ultimately corrupt.. Dirty dealings! Hopefully this will prevent future extortions!

Central HumCo
Guest
4 years ago

Magnificent!

~as they say, a feather in your cap, Kym.

***SCORE for RHBB’s the Emerald Triangle***

Congratulations all the way around.

Leo's should start policing themselves
Guest
Leo's should start policing themselves
4 years ago

Theives are THE worst type of criminal, my name says it all. One bad apple ruins the bunch. I don’t trust cops for my own reasons but this is crazy. Wtf happened with their internal investigation? These f****rs need to start actually giving a shit, or pick a different line of work. Good job for finally exposing this stuff Kym! Congrats on your award and keep it up 👍💪👏

Geezeringvard
Guest
Geezeringvard
4 years ago

The potential to be the 21st century Serpico movie, only on steroids.

Betrayed their Oath, betrayed Our American Constitution / Bill of Rights, betrayed their fellow officers, betrayed their families, betrayed the civilians of every color and creed.

Pray that justice be blind yet swift.

We the people by the people United we stand!!!!!
Guest
We the people by the people United we stand!!!!!
4 years ago

This is still happening in the triangle on a weekly basis, its happening with not only law enforcement but with our dirty corrupt elected officials as well !!!!!
Great coverage, and props on getting the recognition you deserve!!!!!!

Central HumCo
Guest
4 years ago

Lawsuit alleges county in Oklahoma running debtor’s prison
https://www.apnews.com/4e2a1796233b44a5a6867b7dc3192714 March 2019

Alabama Town Running Debtors Prison Ordered To Pay $680K Settlement
https://www.mintpressnews.com/alabama-town-running-debtors-prison-ordered-pay-680k-settlement/225974/ March 2017

~it’s out there. Truth is Universal, constant, and can’t be destroyed.

shak
Guest
shak
4 years ago

That’s great news to hear that the bad ones were held accountable and that the good ones didn’t have to suffer for the actions of the bad ones.
To which people respond with ‘but the good ones should hold the bad ones accountable and get this corruption stopped’.
To which the officers respond “we tried’.

Central HumCo
Guest
4 years ago
Reply to  shak

shak, and others in here of the same frequency;

The only way to defeat the new world order (it’s not new, and there is no order).
http://jahtruth.net/plan.htm

~knowing the mechanics of the Matrix we find ourselves in is extremely empowering and liberating. There’s a saying, “If you’re not wondering if you’re under mind control, you probably are.”

shak
Guest
shak
4 years ago
Reply to  Central HumCo

Wow, that’s wordier than you and me put together. I’ll take a looksee through it later.

Speaking of mind control, the other day GooGhoul said they want to make it so that there is only one answer to every search. Thankfully, there are other search engines like Dogpile and Startpage that they haven’t purchased yet. Zerohedge has an interesting headline today https://www.zerohedge.com/news/2018-05-12/search-engine-most-powerful-source-mind-control-ever-invented

Curious
Guest
Curious
4 years ago

I am wondering if these criminal cops [edit] as going to prosecuted. This, I think, are/were all civil cases. Can the local DAs prosecute? Can the feds prosecute? Where is the FBI? I may have missed something as there is a lot of information in these reports regarding this whole story.

Emily
Guest
4 years ago

It’s fantastic that you are getting thoughts from this article as well as from our dialogue made
at this place.

Guy
Guest
Guy
4 years ago

I don’t understand why these two cops are not in jail if it was anybody else they would’ve been arrested and put in jail this is ridiculous and on top of that they pay $75,000 unbelievable

Theresa
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Theresa
4 years ago

I got arrested the rohnertpark never read me my rights