Yet Another Apparent Failure of Polygraph Screening: Columbus, GA Police Officer Hired Three Months After Allegedly Aiding and Abetting Bank Robbery

[George W. Maschke]

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:

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.

[Anonymous]

Wait... that's not possible. The FBI, CIA and other big times agencies use the polygraph. It has to detect lies!

[Ends sarcasm]

[Sergeant1107]

Wait... that's not possible. The FBI, CIA and other big times agencies use the polygraph. It has to detect lies!

[Ends sarcasm]

Give them another chance...

This time, when they look at the charts, they'll see there was clearly deception indicated on the responses regarding undisclosed crimes.

Isn't that what they did with Aldrich Ames?  He passed and then, after he was arrested for espionage, they looked at his charts again and determined he'd actually been lying....  How impressive...

[Ed Earl]

Sergeant why would they have asked him about undisclosed crimes?
He was taking a specific issue test not a pre employment test.

In fact didn't they ask him about her disappearance when  technically she hadn't disappeared? She was laying dead and uncovered in a public park.

[nopolycop]

Gee, perhaps a more thorough background investigation, instead of blind reliance on the polygraph would be in order.  Ya think?

[George W. Maschke]

Sergeant why would they have asked him about undisclosed crimes?
He was taking a specific issue test not a pre employment test.

In fact didn't they ask him about her disappearance when  technically she hadn't disappeared? She was laying dead and uncovered in a public park.

I think you've confused this message thread with the one about the polygraph examination of Ingmar Guandique.

[George W. Maschke]

More on the case of Shatoya Wright:

http://www.wltz.com/news/local/40693797.html

Columbus Police Officer Arrested in Connection to Bank Robbery, Released on Bail
Maria Jones

Story Created: Mar 3, 2009 at 10:04 PM CST
(Story Updated: Mar 3, 2009 at 10:04 PM CST)

The Columbus Police Officer accused of assisting a bank robbery suspect was released on bond, this afternoon. A hearing in Federal Court for Shatoya Nicole Wright was held today at 2:30pm. US Magistrate Judge Mallon informed Wright of her legal rights and a Not Guilty Plea was entered on her behalf. According to court documents, in 2007 Wright worked as a bank teller at the Wachovia Bank on Milgen Road. Suspected Bank Robber, Odis Christopher Hailstock told officials, Wright assisted him in robbing the bank, suggesting which day was best and informing him not to bring a weapon. Wright was arrested yesterday after Investigators say she gave a several false statements about her involvement and knowledge of the bank robbery. Telling officials she had no contact with Hailstock. Cell Phone records obtained by investigators show Wright in contact with the suspect on more than one occasion after the 2007 bank robbery. Hailstock pled guilty to committing the robbery yesterday in Federal Court. Wright was granted a 5-thousand dollar bond and advised not to leave the state. Judge Mallon told the court, he expects an indictment in this case. Wright remains on administrative leave from the Columbus Police Department.

[hondachik]

This happened in Columbus GEORGIA, not Columbus Ohio.

[OhioDeputy]

Hi, George!

Excellent article, however the Columbus Police referred to here is not Columbus, Ohio - it's in Columbus, Georgia. I just thought I'd point that out.

By the way, I like the site. Thanks!

[George W. Maschke]

OhioDeputy,

Thanks for the correction! (Thanks also to hondachik, whose earlier correction I somehow missed.) I have edited the original post to correct my mistake.

I'm glad you like the site. Your participation is most welcome!