2007-07-20 Police Commission Minutes

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Hawaii County Police Commission Regular Session Minutes July 20, 2007 Page 4 SOUZA stated that there is history to his complaints. He was one of five witnesses in a felony. He and his family have been stalked and harassed by the officer both off and on duty for years and up to date. He ended a long -term relationship with his ex and the officer has used it against him. There was a TRO. He was originally going to be charged with four violations, but Mr. Childers called Kohala and had them charge him with nine violations. The officer followed him and parked at his church. He spoke to Captain Kealoha about his concerns, and it stopped for awhile. Vice Chair Morimoto told Mr. Souza that he needed to be specific as to what happened in the past 60 days. SOUZA stated that on January 11, 2007, the officer followed him in North Kohala. He was arrested on a Saturday, supposedly on a warrant. Incidents go on and on. It's basically revenge for him making a statement in a threatening case. He has had his storage area broken into. Commissioner Lundkvist asked Mr. Souza to tell them in one sentence what his complaint against the officer is for the past 60 days. SOUZA stated that there are many incidents over a long period of time. He has had things broken into. He has been charged. The officer is stalking and harassing him and using his job to do this. On Saturday, he was arrested and told it was under his orders. Commissioner Sumja asked Mr. Souza to give them specific dates of the incidents. SOUZA stated that on June 11, 2007, he came by the house. On April 19, 2007, he drove by the house. He lives in Kona, and his concern is with his family. The instances were in Kohala and Waimea. The last instance was in North Kona. The majority of the instances were in North Kona. There were witnesses to him standing outside the church and the house. JOSEPH SOUZA (Complaint HPC 07 -39): This complaint is against Officer Bartsch. Officer Bartsch has been trying to catch him for a TRO violation. He has been trying to stay out of Kohala. If Bartsch is on duty, he will be followed. Recently, he got notified of a TRO violation. An incident took place where his wife called the police that he drove by her house. They arrested him and took him back to the station. They asked if he would consent to a search of his vehicle. He agreed but wanted to be a witness. During that time, his dog was taken from his vehicle. They found one of his firearms in his vehicle, one that he reported stolen. Officer Bartsch asked him what it was for, and he said it was to blow his head off (Souza's). He played a recording of a telephone message in which Officer Jonathan Bartsch told him it was