Phoenix officer could face charges over breast photos

Phoenix officer could face charges over breast photos

by Laurie Merrill - Mar. 28, 2012 11:55 AM
The Republic | azcentral.com

Chandler police have submitted the case of a Phoenix police officer accused of photographing his ex-girlfriend's breasts to the Maricopa County Attorney's Office with a recommendation to charge him with surreptitious photographing.

Officer Jason Toth, a 25-year veteran, has been placed on administrative leave. Authorities said he told his supervisor that the woman is a drinker and that she had, in fact, given permission for the photos to be taken.

The woman, who had been dating Toth for several months, said she never consented to having him take the pictures.

The photos depict the Chandler woman asleep on her couch with her shirt up and her breasts exposed.

According to a Chandler Police Department report, Toth sent her a copy of the photo in early March, which frightened the woman, whose name is being withheld by The Republic. She had already grown wary of Toth, whom she said lied to her, yelled at her, ignored her and insulted her, according to the report.

The woman told police she feared Toth had drugged her the night he photographed her and wondered if he had taken other pictures too. She remembered him trying to take a photo of her when she was on the toilet, according to the report.

He sent her nude photos of himself, but she told Chandler police she did not respond in kind, the report said.

In a 2010 incident, a female Transportation Safety Administration employee filed an internal compliant against Toth, saying he sent her nude pictures of himself and "harassing texts," the police report said. The woman did not wish to push charges, the report says.

On March 14, Toth was handcuffed, read his rights, fingerprinted and photographed by Chandler police and told he was under arrest. He was released until a court appearance, said Chandler Sgt. Joe Favazzo.

The woman has obtained an order of protection and Toth has relinquished his service weapons.

Toth, who'd been assigned to the airport bureau before his arrest, is also the subject of an internal investigation by Phoenix police.

 

Had enough?  Write to the Speaker of the House, U.S. House of Representatives, Washington, DC 20515 and demand federal hearings into the police problem in America.  Demand mandatory body cameras for cops, one strike rule on abuse, and a permanent  DOJ office on Police Misconduct.