A 22-year-old Columbus,
Ohio Georgia police officer has been arrested on federal charges of making false statements to the FBI concerning her relationship with a bank robber. It appears that despite having allegedly aided and abetted a bank robbery just three months before she was hired, officer Shatoya Wright somehow managed to pass a pre-employment polygraph screening "test." Lily Gordon
reports for the Columbus
Ledger-Enquirer: Quote:Posted on Wed, Mar. 04, 2009
Feds charge police officer
By Lily Gordon
The feds say she helped rob a bank, then became a cop.
Columbus police officer Shatoya Nicole Wright, 22, was arrested while on duty Monday and charged with giving the FBI false statements about her relationship to Odis Christopher Hailstock, who allegedly robbed a Columbus bank Oct. 6, 2007 while dressed in women’s clothes.
Columbus Assistant Police Chief Charles Rowe confirmed Wright’s arrest and said she has been placed on administrative leave without pay, pending the outcome of the case. A federal magistrate released Wright on her own recognizance Tuesday.
Wright was a teller at the Wachovia Bank on Milgen Road when the robbery occurred. Hailstock, 30, of Columbus, was arrested hours after the heist and charged with the robbery. Disguised as a woman, he entered the bank around 9:35 a.m. and handed Wright a note threatening her and demanding money, investigators said. The teller gave Hailstock $7,955. He left without injuring anyone.
According to an affidavit filed Monday against Wright, Hailstock robbed the bank “with knowledge and assistance of Wachovia Bank employee Shatoya Wright, who was acting in the role of the ‘victim teller’ during the robbery.” The affidavit goes on to say Wright “aided and abetted” Hailstock in the robbery.
Rowe said Wright, who lists an address of 7 Creek Way in Columbus, initially denied knowing the robbery suspect. But in subsequent interviews, she admitted she had contact with Hailstock outside the bank, Rowe said.
Wright was hired as a police officer Dec. 3, 2007, about three months after the robbery. She finished field training in June 2008, Rowe said.
Columbus Police Chief Ricky Boren called the situation “frustrating” but noted Wright was hired at the police department after her alleged involvement in any crime. By department policy, Wright took a polygraph test before she was hired, the chief said. Boren said he hasn’t seen the results of that test but has asked to have it pulled for his review.
“She would have to have passed the test at some point in time in order to be employed,” Boren said.
Wright had her preliminary hearing Tuesday at 2:30 p.m. in front of U.S. Magistrate Judge G. Mallon Faircloth. Clutching a wad of tissue, she listened tearfully as the judge read the charge against her and advised her of her rights.
Wright faces as many as five years in prison and a $250,000 fine. Faircloth set her bond at $5,000 but released her on her own recognizance.
Hailstock already has been indicted in connection with the Wachovia robbery.
Greg Allmendinger, Wachovia market president for the Columbus area, said the bank does not disclose any information on former or current employees, nor does it comment on any ongoing investigations.
Staff writers Alan Riquelmy and Andrea Hernandez contributed to this report.
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Yet Another Apparent Failure of Polygraph Screening: Columbus, GA Police Officer Hired Three Months After Allegedly Aiding and Abetting Bank Robbery (Read 24072 times)
