Apr 30, 2008 1:13 pm US/Pacific
Police Won't Release Johnson Investigation Report
SACRAMENTO (CBS13) ―
Sacramento's police chief says 'in hindsight' he would have handled the investigation into an allegation of sexual misconduct against Kevin Johnson 'a little differently.'
Chief Rick Braziel made the comment during a morning press conference where he addressed the issue for the first time.
The investigation stems from a case involving a 17-year-old student who told a teacher she had been inappropriately touched by Johnson. The school questioned the girl before police did. And when police were finally able to interview the student, she said she was touched but not in an inappropriate way.
Chief Braziel admitted today that police did not ask the girl why she told a different story and that police never questioned Johnson. Braziel said there was no need to talk to Johnson because police had determined no crime had been committed.
Yesterday, a group of political activists questioned how police dealt with allegations of sexual abuse against Kevin Johnson. And they want to know why records and files involved in their investigation weren't made available to the public.
Chief Braziel said just because Johnson is running for mayor, does not mean they should release the report.
Johnson's campaign responded yesterday to the uproar with the following:
"This is no 'group of women leaders.' This is a desperate tactic from the mayor's campaign consultant who knows that the mayor has little support and almost no campaign funds, and therefore has embraced a slash and burn strategy against Kevin Johnson. The goal here is to stretch a non-story to ridiculous limits."
Federal authorities are probing the allegation because it was reported at St. Hope, a school that receives federal money.
CBS13 has learned that St. Hope failed to report the allegation to federal authorities when it was first made a year ago. Administrators at St. Hope have not explained why.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
Click to enlarge
Stumble It!
Reporting
Comments