What began on August 11th as a report to the Inyo Sheriff’s office of a woman with abrasions and lacerations turned into an investigation of a possible sexual assault and beating in the Bishop area. The District Attorney’s investigation has cleared the Inyo Sheriff’s deputy with whom the victim was living.
The somewhat complex case started with an officer responding to a woman’s call for help. Sheriff Bill Lutze pointed out that his department is the initial responding agency for any reported crime in the county area. Officers said that the woman involved initially told them she did not believe the deputy she was living with was involved in her assault. That story later changed, and Sheriff Lutze determined that he would turn the investigation over to the District Attorney to avoid conflict.
The alleged victim told Sierra Wave that she felt “left out of the loop” on the investigation. She claims that investigators tried to prove she had earlier had consensual sex and was not raped. She firmly denied that and alleges she was attacked after someone knocked her out. The victim told us she felt investigators were trying to make her the “bad guy”. It was the “good ole boy phenomenon in Bishop,” she said.
Sheriff Lutze said that the woman was taken to Northern Inyo Hospital where a rape kit was performed and photos of her injuries documented. The Sheriff said that the kit was sent to the Department of Justice Lab for analysis. Lieutenant Jeff Hollowell said that DNA testing will be performed by DOJ.
Officers said the deputy living with the victim was not home when she called the Sheriff”s office but returned to find the woman drunk, called another deputy and left the residence. The victim said the deputy she was living with claimed she was “drunk and popping pills and had hurt herself.” She denied that and also said that the “assistant DA agreed that her injuries did not look self-inflicted.”
Sheriff Lutze said that the investigation of this incident by the District Attorney’s office is complete and cleared the deputy associated with this case of any wrongdoing. Sheriff Lutze said the case is still open for results from the DOJ and whether they can find a match. There is apparently no suspect at this time and no charges have been filed against anyone.
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If we had any faith in our local DA, maybe we could believe in our justice system a little more. When’s the next election?
“This is too bad, Inyo should not be a dumping ground for lousy cops…..How Special”
Or lousy comments on a blog!
Written like someone who has plenty of first hand experience dealing with law enforcement.
Would you like me to name names?
Please?
How special,
Your right, you get what you pay for. Inyo SO is one of the lowest paying agencies in California.
When I gave my comments to the Sierra Wave, the ones that were printed, that coupled with the misinformation from the sherrif made my situation fodder for speculation. I would like to point out that I was attacked in the dark by a strong male who didn’t give me a chance to identify him. I was knocked unconscious and have little memory of most of the next day. It wasn’t until the investigators started telling me what the deputy was telling them that I began to suspect him..several mistruths that were even contradictory at times. He left the residence “after I open-hand slapped him and he feared for his safety”…really?? His lies and the fact that I was sexually assaulted in his home are what leave me with little doubt that he was involved. Why tell investigators that he came home the next day and unlocked the bedroom door…when that lock has been broken since I met him?…only one of many mistruths that lead me to the conclusion that he has something to hide. Sure, the evidence is circumstantial, but did the investigators have to treat me with so much disrespect, question my integrity, and the final slap in the face was granting him a restraining order when I had moved hours away and never assaulted nor threatened him in any way. I will fight this until I find justice. Meanwhile, this deputy patrols the streets of Inyo county.
I should add that there are a lot of Sheriff’s deputies who are straight up and nice guys to boot, but unfortunately, the crooked ones make the whole department stink. Maybe Lutz should clean house, unless of course, he’s one of the stinkers.
I do notice that the law is not evenly interpreted or applied by the SO, and you can only hope that you get a good deputy when you need one. This is too bad, Inyo should not be a dumping ground for lousy cops.
Sheriff Lutz is a professional and a gentleman.
Lutz is a glad handing, howdy-doody, incompetent. He won a popularity contest.
Seems like it is but I can think of a few who were born here and also had DUI’s before they have been on the force. Its sad I have 3 cousins in San Diego who are Chips and they say corruption is everywhere, but it stinks when you have to live through it.
I am sure that this is not the end of this story. More to come later…”betcha”.
The victim’s own statements make it hard to push for an arrest,let alone anytype of conviction….If the responding officers were told initially….by her….that the deputy she was living with had nothing to do with the assault.
amen!
Wayne, maybe you’ve never talked to any Sheriffs. Some of them lie, bully the “victims” and lie in their reports. She could have said it was her “room mate” and the responding cops “changed the story” for their own purposes. Now she’s accused of “changing her story” when it’s always been the same story, the cops just told it the way they wanted it to be.
Bottom line is….We all gotta know a lot more about this story,including myself,before anyone can be calling the sheriffs’,weather it be the room-mate,the responding officers,or the ones making the statements now,before anyone can be calling them liars or bullies….or trying to cover something up.If,in fact the victim changed her story,that alone would make it very difficult to get anytype of conviction if it ever did make it into a courtroom.
Why is it when the public is involved there are names but when the ” Badge” is involved-there is secrecy ?
I have never seen in my life the corruption in this town, and there are nice well meaning cops, its the good ole boys, well boys where are your names, I think I can think of a few.
Just wait till you see the real Corruption in the system…Watch what happens when the pensions end.
how can you talk like this? this person could have a family! but you dont care what they are going through cuz you all just love to gossip! im sure none of us know the whole story! just give them a break!
Amazing crap the DA’s office will do for “friends”.
Boss Hog Redux
Sheesh this deputy needs to make better choices in room mate/ lovers
Surprise! surprise! surprise! Good old boy DA’s office clears good old boy Sheriff’s office of wrongdoing! Why does that NOT surprise me. Crooked cops, crooked DA.
wOW..
THIS THING SMELLS ALL THE WAY FROM mAMMOTH