Baxter Co. deputy arrested for allegedly bugging apartment

Last updated Friday, April 6, 2007 8:57 PM CDT in News

    The Associated Press

    MOUNTAIN HOME -- A Baxter County Sheriff's Office deputy has been arrested for allegedly planting a listening device in his neighbor's apartment.

    David Paul, 35, was fired after the illegal microphone was discovered, Sheriff John Montgomery said. Paul was arrested Thursday on misdemeanor charges of harassment and criminal mischief.

    Mountain Home Police Chief Carry Manuel said Paul allegedly accessed his neighbor's upstairs apartment by going through his own ceiling. Authorities noted four holes in the ceiling of Paul's apartment, and authorities said Paul admitted to cutting the holes and trying to eavesdrop on his neighbors.

    The neighbor who complained to authorities said he noticed the microphone when he walked across the carpet and felt something underneath, Manuel said. The neighbor made a small cut in the carpet and found a computer type microphone.

    Police wouldn't discuss a motive for the alleged crime. They also did not identify the neighbor in a news release and a police spokesman was not immediately available Friday for comment.

    When authorities asked Paul to come in for questioning, Paul asked to change his clothes and pulled the base of a computer microphone from beneath his bullet proof vest, police said. Police also found a portion of the broken microphone cord in a trash can.

    "It is sad when someone who has the public trust betrays that trust and tarnishes the badge of law enforcement," Montgomery said. "When one officer fails, it reflects badly on all officers, no matter what branch of law enforcement they serve in. I believe law enforcement must be held to a higher standard."

    Paul was booked in the Baxter County Jail before he was released on his own recognizance.

    Reader Comments (5 comment(s))


    The following comments are provided by readers and are the sole responsibility of their authors. The Morning News does not review comments before their publication, nor do we guarantee their accuracy. By publishing a comment here you agree to abide by our comment policy. If you see a comment that violates our policy, please notify the web editor.

    Another case of the ''Stinky Badge'' wrote on Apr 8, 2007 12:58 PM:

    " The state = unnecessary force The state has to justify its existence no matter how peaceful the populace is. Eventually we will all be criminals because SOMETHING we will be doing will be against a "law." I say, let's try something unique...how about NO police, NO legislature, NO governors or senators or any other agent of the state for a trial period of five years. Let's see what happens. Will self-government prevail or will we revert to barnyard animals and rob,sexually assualt, and pillage? I think not. Most likely it will be the same as it was when I was driving along that one day, but I just won't be seeing any patrol cars. " "

    Police raid finds tomato growing operation wrote on Apr 8, 2007 1:10 PM:

    " Police raid finds tomato growing operation by Rory Curtiss, KNDO/KNDU-TV April 6, 2007 PULLMAN, Wash. -- Guns drawn, police serving a marijuana search warrant at a Pullman apartment found green leafy plant material. It just wasn't the kind they normally find in residences in the college town. It was tomato plants. Eight officers entered the apartment where a landlord reported seeing possible drug growing paraphernalia, including a specialized plant growing lamp inside a closet. That gave police probable cause to get a search warrant last weekend. Pullman Police Commander Chris Tennant says he empathizes with the three startled roommates. However, he says it's the department's duty to investigate all credible complaints of marijuana growing operations. "

    I love my country and my freedom grabbing government wrote on Apr 8, 2007 1:34 PM:

    " "We need more money for the police. I'm voting to raise taxes even higher for our police. HE Ha Whoopee I want bigger government, more cops , you should too. My motto is bigger government, more violent cops, less freedom. People don't need rights only bureaucrats need rights. Higher taxes, more regulations to criminalize all, no guns, $5.00 gasoline,legalize listening devices, and razorback sports thats all I need and want how about you. I love our violent men and woman in government , I want more of them." "

    The Devil made him do it wrote on Apr 8, 2007 1:49 PM:

    " I bet my life this deputy who was fired never read article 2 of the arkansas constitution. He the deputy will get his job back by saying these magic words'' I planted the listening device because I Feared for my Life. "

    tomato growing operation wrote on Apr 8, 2007 5:01 PM:

    " In America, your home can be raided by police, solely because it's alleged that you possess a heat lamp for growing plants -- an item so common it's sold in virtually all hardware stores, garden shops, at Target stores, etc. If America is not yet a police state, then Police Commander Chris Tennant, who thinks possession of a heat lamp is "credible" evidence of a crime, will be reprimanded or fired. If America is not yet a police state, then the judge who issued a search warrant on the basis of a heat lamp allegation will be removed from the bench. Or, if America is a police state, then this raid was nothing much newsworthy, and this will probably be the last you'll hear of it. "


    *Member ID:
    *Password:
      Forgot Your Password?
     

    Not already registered?
    Register Now

    E-Edition


    Click here to get it all!

    Sponsors

















    Media Partners

    Fayetteville Free Weekly

    Stephens Media

    Arkansas News Bureau

    La Prensa

    Hawgs Illustrated

    Washington County Newspaper

    McDonald County Press

    KUAF

    Channels 40/29