#1 As an African American woman, I am very concerned about the Dibor Roberts case. I feel as though I have been put on notice by the Yavapai County Sheriff’s Department. Driving on Beaverhead Flat Road is no longer a beautiful, comfortable drive for me at any time of the day or night. It seems to me that the officer’s actions toward Dibor Roberts were inappropriate; breaking out the rear window of her car, taking her cell phone from her so that she could not call her husband in the dark of night, throwing her to the ground and putting his knee in her back to handcuff her – all for alleged charges of speeding 10 miles over the speed limit and trying to get to a well lit area before stopping. And, as if that were not enough, she was thrown in jail for 6 days. All women in Yavapai County have been put on notice. But, as an African American woman, having experienced racial and gender injustice in America, this case is frightening. I pray that the courts will be just with Mrs. Roberts. I know Dibor Roberts and she deserves nothing less than justice. - SPN

#2 “Damage Control”

After attending the January 15th “press conference” called by Yavapai County Sheriff Waugh, I have questions.

First, how much more money are taxpayers going to be charged to defend the arrest of Dibor Roberts on July 29, 2007?

Second, is it usual and customary for a Sheriff to call a “press conference” to explain and defend the actions of one of his officers?

Third, as the Sheriff stated this situation has “snowballed into something unfortunate,” why has he not used his position to stop the snowball?

Fourth, if the traffic stop was, again in the exact words of Sheriff Waugh, “just a traffic violation,” why has Dibor Roberts been charged with two felonies instead of being issued a traffic ticket? Also, when does a traffic violation necessitate spending six days in jail and a $20,000 bond?

Fifth, Sheriff Waugh said, “Of the County’s forty thousand traffic stops, this is the first one resulting in this kind of situation.” One in forty thousand tells me there was an obvious problem with this particular stop. Should Sheriff Waugh question what went wrong with this one in forty thousand stop?

Sixth, Sheriff Waugh said his Sergeant had to forcefully stop Dibor Roberts before she became a potential danger by entering a “highly populated area.” Did the Sergeant consider the town of Cornville a highly populated area? The Sergeant forced Mrs. Roberts’s car to the side of the road just after the intersection of Beaverhead Flat and Cornville Roads.

Seventh, if the Sergeant made the stop “by the book” as the Sheriff claimed, why did the officer pull his service revolver and why did the Sheriff omit this significant detail as he told the County’s version of the traffic stop/arrest? When stopping someone for speeding, is it “by the book” to draw a gun and use a baton to break the window of the person’s car?

Finally, if the forced stop was justified to protect the safety of others in “highly populated” Cornville, why did the officer also risk his safety and that of a citizen by a) not running the license plate of the car, b) not calling for back-up and c) forcibly stopping a “suspect” in a dark area?

I believe it is time for the County to dismiss the charges against Dibor Roberts for the second time (Judge Sterling dropped all charges against Mrs. Roberts on November 2, 2007). The County could also use this situation to create a positive outcome – the creation of a “universal signal” for citizens to use (perhaps turning on the car’s emergency flashers) to convey their desire to continue to a lighted area before stopping.

It is time for the County to stop defending their actions and for Mrs. Roberts to be cleared of unjustifiable felony charges. It is time for all of us to be able to feel safe driving in the dark and to have faith that our law enforcement officers are acting to protect us from actual criminals.

Mary M.

#3  This is outrageous! Our law enforcement officers need to be made to understand on no uncertain terms that this type of reckless and aggressive behavior is not acceptable. Jeff Neunum should be disciplined and Sheriff Waugh should apologize.