ONLY ON ABC7NEWS.COM: Source says Oakland homicide detective is being retaliated against
OAKLAND, Calif. (KGO) -- ABC7 News has new information and insights into the turmoil at the Oakland Police Department.
A rapid change of leadership, four people in nine days, complicates the investigations into scandals which involve sex with an underage girl, racist texts, and the mishandling of reports.
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It's been reported that OPD Sgt. Mike Gantt had a woman he knew type up his police reports. A source with knowledge of the investigation says Sgt. Gantt believes he's being retaliated against for filing a complaint with OPD in 2014 after he received racist texts.
The scandal spilled over to Alameda County Court Wednesday. Defense attorney Annie Beles wants to know if Sgt. Mike Gantt, the primary detective in a 2013 homicide, did something to taint the case.
"What is concerning to me is the secrecy of it. I have received no information regarding allegations against Sgt. Gantt except for through the press," Beles said.
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Those allegations are that Sgt. Gantt had a woman he knew type up three witness statements.
Beles is representing Mario Floyd, one of the men accused of killing popular Oakland dog walker Judy Salamon.
"I don't know if that means transcription, as in word by word of statements, if that means transcription of I'm going to translate hand written notes," Beles said.
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A source with knowledge of the investigation tells ABC7 News Gantt had a friend type up the statements because he was under time pressure. But that's not the reason the source says Gantt is on administrative leave. The source says it's because Gantt had an argument with his wife.
The same source says Gantt believes OPD is retaliating against him for filing an Internal Affairs complaint in 2014 after receiving racist texts from Lt. Tony Jones.
According to the source, Gantt named Lt. Jones in the complaint, as well as Lt. John Lois, who is now deputy chief, along with several other homicide investigators.
The source says Sgt. Gantt also filed a similar federal EEOC complaint in 2016.
According to an emailed statement from an Oakland Police Department spokesperson, "the Oakland Police Department does not discuss or provide details regarding personnel matters and active Internal Affairs investigations."
Motions defense attorney Beles made in court Wednesday regarding Gantt will be heard in July.
