Eye roll here at Portage Police Chief Troy Williams' testimony for Mayor James Snyder's federal trial. Brought back memories of when Mayor Snyder had Chief Williams 'investigate' the unlawful police entry into my home; the resulting killing of my furbabies Abbi Mae and Bailey Su; and the consistent harassment and retaliation I endured at the hands of Portage officials and the police department.
Bet if the FBI requested copies of Chief Williams' 'investigation' into my case, they would find absolutely no documents - because Williams' job wasn't to protect me, but to protect Snyder - just saying.
NWI Times
February 07, 2019
https://www.nwitimes.com/news/local/crime-and-courts/update-towing-contracts-no-big-deal-portage-police-chief-tells/article_cac19e7f-032e-5c12-83fd-d8ca86689bdf.html
HAMMOND — Dealing with towing companies wasn't one of his priorities when Troy Williams became Portage's police chief in 2012, Williams told jurors Thursday morning.
Williams said dealing with tow companies was "no big deal," so he left it to others in his administration.
Williams testified Thursday morning in Portage Mayor James Snyder's public corruption trial. Snyder is facing two bribery counts and one tax obstruction charge. The trial is in its 14th day.
Snyder has been charged with accepting a $12,000 bribe from John Cortina for placing Cortina and his towing partner, Samson Towing, on the city's list. Samson was placed on the list less than a month after Waffco was removed. Cortina had partnered with Ambassador prior to Samson.
Cortina, Snyder's former co-defendant, pleaded guilty last month to paying Snyder the bribe.
Williams said he believed Waffco Towing had a storage yard in the city, on Old Porter Road, when he first became chief. It wasn't until January 2016, when a fellow city employee was arrested for drunken driving and Snyder and former Director of Administration Joe Calhoun went to retrieve that employee's car, that he learned Waffco had closed that lot.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Philip Benson questioned Williams about why he gave Ambassador four to five chances to correct issues before removing them from the city's tow list, while not calling Waffco to advise them of the issue before a letter was sent terminating the tow company. Benson also questioned Williams about the city's tow agreement not requiring a storage lot within city limits.
Waffco owner Kevin Farthing testified earlier he had an indoor storage yard on U.S. 6, which opened in 2015.
Williams said he learned of the U.S. 6 lot and went by it several times but believed it was closed. He also testified it did not have an outdoor secure lot, and the building appeared too small to store a sufficient number of vehicles.
Williams told jurors while it wasn't in the written agreement, the expectation of having a lot in Portage was discussed with a Waffco representative and other tow company owners in January 2016.
Williams said the decision to remove Waffco from the list was made by himself, Calhoun and Snyder.
The defense played an audiotape of an Aug. 9, 2016, meeting between Williams and Samson owner, Scott Jurgensen, who worked as an undercover agent for the FBI.
In the tape, Williams can be heard telling Jurgensen Waffco was removed because of a lack of a yard in the city.
In addition to Williams, Snyder's campaign treasurer Kenard Taylor told jurors $10,000 of the $12,000 Snyder received from Cortina was considered a loan and listed as such on campaign finance documents.
Assistant Street Department Superintendent Randy Reeder took the stand near the end of the day and is expected to continue testifying Friday.
Portage chief rebuffs claims that mayor had one tow firm bumped from city list to make way for another that paid bribe
Chicago Tribune
February 07, 2019
https://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/post-tribune/news/ct-ptb-snyder-trial-day-14-st-0708-story.html
Portage’s police chief rebuffed the idea that a tow operator was removed from the city’s tow list to make room for another company that allegedly bribed Mayor James Snyder.
Portage Police Chief Troy Williams on Thursday said it was a “collective decision” to remove Waffco, a Lake Station firm, after city officials found the company didn’t have a satisfactory yard in the city. Federal prosecutors aimed to show that the company met all the city’s requirements and was removed to open a spot for John Cortina of Kustom Auto Body, and Scott Jurgensen, of Samson’s Towing, after they gave Snyder an alleged $12,000 bribe.
Defense attorney Jayna Cacioppo asked who made the decision to terminate Waffco.
“I would say it was more a collective decision,” Williams said.
Cacioppo asked if Williams was ever directed by the mayor to remove Waffco from the tow list.
“No,” Williams said.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Philip Benson asked about the decision to get rid of Waffco, and if the mayor made the final call.
“There were conversations,” Williams said. “I was in agreement with it.”
The mayor had the authority to make that call, Benson asked.
“Yes,” Williams said.
Benson showed Williams a copy of the Portage Police Department’s vehicle release form that listed Waffco’s address in Lake Station.
Williams said it was a clerical form and he “wasn’t familiar with every form.”
Benson asked if anyone had complained about not being able to find Waffco’s yard.
“Not that I recall,” Williams said.
Kevin Farthing, owner of Waffco Towing in Lake Station, testified Tuesday that he had towed for Portage from 1998 to when the city ended the contract in July 2016.
Farthing said his company had worked out of two rented yards in Portage, even though his main Lake Station yard was only minutes from the county line. Farthing said when he began towing for the Porter County Sheriff’s Department he rented a new yard in Portage in 2015.
On July 20, 2016, Farthing said he received a letter from Joe Calhoun, the city’s then director of administration, informing him the towing contract was going to end because Waffco didn’t have a yard in Portage.
Snyder was indicted in November 2016 and charged with allegedly violating federal bribery statutes. Federal prosecutors say the mayor allegedly solicited money from Cortina and “Individual A” and gave them a towing contract for Portage.
Snyder has pleaded not guilty to the charges, according to court documents.
Cortina, who was indicted alongside the mayor, pleaded guilty to a charge that he paid bribes to Snyder to get a spot on the tow list. Cortina is expected to cooperate with federal investigators against Snyder, according to court documents.
Cacioppo asked Williams about when Cortina had previously partnered with Ambassador, which was later removed from Portage’s tow list in 2015.
Williams said the department had complaints about the company arriving late, not adequately cleaning scenes and drivers not dressing appropriately.
Cacioppo asked if Snyder could have told Williams to keep Ambassador on the list.
“Yes,” Williams said.
Benson said that even though Williams had repeated complaints about Ambassador, he continued to give them another chance unlike Waffco.
Benson said the city told Waffco it was being taken off the list for not having a yard in Portage even though the written towing agreement doesn’t say they needed that.
Federal prosecutors rested their case Wednesday after presenting evidence of Snyder’s alleged schemes for 11 days.
Prosecutors say that when Snyder first ran for mayor, he told residents he planned to automate Portage’s trash pickup, but would up allegedly steering contracts for $712,882.50 and another for $425,355 to Great Lakes Peterbilt, which was then owned by Robert and Steve Buha. Prosecutors say the deal netted Snyder a $13,000 kickback.
Great Lakes Peterbilt is now owned by a different firm.
After getting those contracts, prosecutors Great Lakes Peterbilt gave Snyder a check for $13,000 payable to his shell company, which state records showed had been dissolved.
Snyder is also charged with obstructing or impeding the IRS, according to court documents.
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