Sheriff’s Detective Kari Abbey Arrested in Shooting Death of Rita Elias

Arrest in Off-Duty Shooting Kari Abbey, a six year employee of the Stanislaus County Sheriff’s Department, was arrested today for the shooting death of Rita Elias. “This is a tragedy for everyone involved” said Sheriff Adam Christianson. “We offer our deepest condolences to the Elias family.” Sheriff Christianson said in an earlier statement that the shooting appeared to be self-defense. That statement was based upon the only information available to him at the time of the incident. Evidence was subsequently uncovered during the ongoing investigation, including the presence of an additional witness, that led to the referral of criminal charges. The shooting, which occurred on September 24, 2010 in the 1700 block of Donald Street in Modesto, was investigated by the Sheriff’s Homicide Team and then turned over to the Stanislaus County District Attorney’s Office. The Stanislaus County Sheriff’s Department will make no further comments regarding this pending criminal prosecution. For information regarding this press release please contact: Stanislaus County District Attorney’s Office (209) 525-5550 Sheriff Christianson, you can’t cover-up for your deputies shooting people any longer…”Sheriff you need to RESIGN you position for the good of the citizens of Stanislaus County” said former Mayor of Modesto Carmen Sabatino.

Kari Abbey Charged with Second Degree Murder and Voluntary Manslaughter

Modesto, California – Stanislaus County District Attorney Birgit Fladager announced today that Sheriff’s deputy Kari Abbey has been arrested and charged for the September 24, 2010 killing of Rita Elias. Kari Abbey was arrested on May 2, 2011 pursuant to an arrest warrant. A complaint has been filed in Stanislaus County Superior Court alleging charges of second degree murder and voluntary manslaughter. In addition, violations of Conspiracy, Embezzlement from a Government Entity, Cultivation of Marijuana, Receiving Stolen Property and Child Endangerment are also charged on the complaint. Bail has been set in the amount of $300,000. Abbey may be arraigned as early as today. Pursuant to Stanislaus County’s Officer Involved Shooting Protocol enacted in 2007, the District Attorney’s Office has completed its review of the circumstances surrounding the fatal shooting of Rita Elias by off-duty sheriff’s deputy Kari Abbey. A determination has been made that the shooting was not justified. District Attorney Fladager said, “This is certainly a tragic situation. Charges have been filed following a thorough investigation. We will now seek to bring this matter to a fair and just conclusion.” There will be no further public statements about this now active criminal case. Any comments will only be made within the courtroom setting.

“You’re Not Aware of Everything I Know” Says Sheriff

“You’re Not Aware of Everything I Know” By Emerson Drake That was Sheriff Christianson’s response to the question this morning before the County Board meeting when I asked , “Why did you cover up for Kari Abbey when she killed Rita Elias.” I pointed out to the Sheriff, we here at the Voice of Modesto had interviewed many of the same witnesses his department had just two days after the shooting and the official story didn’t jive with what the witnesses were telling us. Well, I’ll give the Sheriff this, it makes for a nice bedtime story that the big bad person had to be shot five times by the good police detective, but that isn’t what has been brought forward recently. Now the recent search warrant turned up most of the ”landlord illegally breaks into the tenants home, intimidates them, shuts off the utilities (again illegally) and takes their deposits while refusing to provide rental contracts so utilities can be obtained” information. But the orginal shooting facts were mostly known then and the Sheriff apparently, in our opinion, thought he could pull off a bluff and the whole thing would blow over. After all he had the Modesto Bee cooperating with him when they refused to allow one of their “real” reporters to look at the evidence the Elias family wanted to bring out to further the investigation. They tried to shunt the family off to Jeff Jardine, who can hardly be called a investigative reporter. This decision was made by Managing Editor Dave Lyghtle who recently sent police on a wild goose chase after a man down around Merced, who was just trying to get his story out. So when Sheriff Christianson gave me the slight grin (some call a leer) and the condescending look he might have given the Bee before they allowed him to place his propaganda piece in the Community letters section, I wasn’t surprised. So I looked him in the eye I asked him a second time why he covered for Kari Abbey after she shot and killed Rita Elias, he repeated “You’re not aware of everything I know", grinned and turned away. And this is the man who wants Stanislaus County to believe he can turn things around down at the Sheriff’s Department? I could only turn away as I was shaking my head.

A Wife's Poem

He didn't like the casserole And he didn't like my cake. My biscuits were too hard, Not like his mother used to make. I didn't perk the coffee right He didn't like the stew. I didn't mend his socks, The way his mother used to do. I pondered for an answer I was looking for a clue. Then I turned around and smacked him, Like his Mother used to do.

Silly joke of the day

A grasshopper walks into a bar and the bartender says, "we have a drink named after you." "That's silly the grasshopper says, Who names a drink Bob?"

Is Bill Zoslocki Staging a Sneak Attack on Garrad Marsh?

Recently the Fair Political Practices Commission exonerated Councilman Garrad Marsh of conflict of interest charges filed against him by the Building Industry Association (BIA). The complaint alleged that Marsh stood to gain from his votes regarding the freezing of water and sewer connection fees. Maybe a little background is in order. One of Marsh’s opponents in the coming mayoral race is Bill Zoslocki. Now Zoslocki is a former President of the BIA, is currently on the BIA’s Board of Directors and is serving as Secretary/Treasurer of the BIA. Also on the BIA’s Board of Directors is George Petrulakis lawyer, political dirty trickster and cashbag man for candidates interested in running for local office. Good old boy George Petrulakis is brought in by the Bee to provide a warning and to intimadate candidates considering a run for public office at their workshops. It appears that Bill Zoskolcki and George Petrulakis were planning ahead as usual.

Kari Abbey Arraignment Scheduled for Today

Kari Abbey is scheduled to be arraigned on seven felony counts today at 1:30 Room 8.. ABBEY, KARI PATRICIA DEFENDANT Count Degree Code Description 1 Felony PC 187(A) MURDER 2 Felony PC 192(A) VOLUNTARY MANSLAUGHTER 3 Felony PC 182(A)(1) CONSPIRACY:COMMIT CRIME 4 Felony PC 504 EMBEZZLE PROPERTY BY PUBLIC/PRIVATE OFFICER 5 Felony HS 11358 PLANT/CULTIVATE/ETC MARIJUANA/HASHISH 6 Felony PC 496(A) RECEIVE/ETC KNOWN STOLEN PROPERTY [$400 OR LESS] 7 Felony PC 273A(A) WILLFUL CRUELTY TO CHILD:POSSIBLE INJURY/DEATH