Chris Brown probation case: Richmond, Va., police chief resigns
This article was originally on a blog post platform and may be missing photos, graphics or links. See About archive blog posts.
The police chief in Richmond, Va. -- a central figure in allegations that he and his department mishandled singer Chris Brown’s court-ordered community service related to his L.A. assault of Rihanna -- resigned Tuesday.
‘I have accepted the resignation of Bryan Norwood from his post as chief of police for the city of Richmond,’ said Richmond Mayor Dwight C. Jones, according to an online statement.
‘I know that in many ways, the Richmond Police Department and our city is better off because of his involvement, his dedication, and his concern and care for our communities,’ Jones said. ‘But we’ve reached a mutual agreement in that his time as Richmond’s police chief has come to an end.’
DOCUMENT: Motion for probation modification
Earlier this month, L.A. County prosecutors accused Brown of failing to complete the court-ordered community service he received as part of his punishment for the 2009 assault conviction.
Brown is currently on five years’ probation in connection with the attack of his girlfriend Rihanna. As part of the probation, he was required to do 180 days of community labor in Virginia.
In a 2009 letter to the Los Angeles County court, Norwood assured officials that his department would oversee Brown’s probation.
But L.A. County investigators claim Richmond police rarely checked on Brown’s progress, even though Norwood wrote again to the court in November 2011 vouching that the singer had completed more than 100 days of labor.
In addition to allegedly not completing the community service, L.A. County prosecutors say Brown violated his probation in other ways, such as failing to secure permits to allow him to travel while on probation.
A spokesperson for the L.A. County district attorney’s office declined to comment Tuesday.
Mayor Jones appointed Ray J. Tarasovic -- a former assistant chief who is currently retired but serves as a criminal justice and public safety consultant -- to serve as the new chief of police in Richmond.
ALSO:
Tow truck driver killed on Pacific Coast Highway in Malibu
Dorner manhunt: Investigators pursue 1,000 tips about ex-cop
SEIU endorses L.A. sales-tax hike but stays out of mayor’s race
-- Ari Bloomekatz