Saturday, October 6, 2007

Former DART police officer indicted on federal civil rights charges

By Pegasus News wire

DALLAS — A federal grand jury in Dallas returned an indictment earlier this week, which was unsealed yesterday, charging former Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART) police officer Lance Kendall Bonner with federal civil rights violations. Rena J. Comisac, Acting Assistant Attorney General for the Department of Justice's Civil Rights Division, Richard B. Roper, U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Texas, and Robert E. Casey Jr., Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Dallas Field Office, announced the indictment.

Photo not provided by DART, US Dept. of Justice

Pictured: the enemy lurks amidst us

The indictment alleges that on Oct. 10, 2004, Bonner-who was on duty, wearing a DART uniform, driving a DART patrol vehicle, and armed with a handgun-violated a woman's civil rights by kidnapping and sexually assaulting her.

"Officers of the Dallas Area Rapid Transit authority are employed to serve and protect DART passengers and others who live in and visit Dallas," said Acting Assistant Attorney General Comisac. "Under no circumstances can we allow a police officer to abuse his power to commit violent acts. The Justice Department is committed to vigorously investigating and prosecuting any police officer who engages in such conduct."

"Law enforcement officers have been given tremendous power by the government but they must enforce the law and ensure justice when they perform their duties. Preventing abuse of this authority, however, is equally necessary," said Special Agent in Charge Casey. "The FBI is the lead federal agency for investigating 'color of law' abuses and this indictment reflects the FBI's continued commitment in the investigation of civil rights violations."

An indictment is only an allegation, and a defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

Source: U.S. Department of Justice

Related stories

• Former Dallas Transit police officer pleads guilty to violating civil rights of woman in 2004 (April 14, 2008)

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• Crime > Sexual Assault
• Transportation > DART