An Interesting Anecdote About My Life (Recent)

[Memphetic]

Hey all! I know I'm not very active on here anymore, but I figured some of you would like to take a read into what's going on in my life I had to prepare a timeline to make it easier to follow for the attorney I spoke with, so I decided why not share it with you? We'll start with this:

Man Accused of Threatening to Kill Off-Duty Jefferson County Cop ? exploreJeffersonPA.com

Names are not changed, because I don't figure anyone can be harmed that hasn't already been named in the press.

Timeline of Events

Beginning of May 2014
I was contacted by Bruce CRAMER, Officer in Charge of Reynoldsville Police Department, who had asked if I would be interested in re-joining the police force. I accepted this offer, and had made plans to fulfill the prerequisite requirements for employment as a police officer.

Beginning of July 2014
I completed firearms qualification and CPR re-certification. The CPR card does not arrive as timely as is anticipated.

08/01/14
On or about 1055 Hrs. on this date, I was driving an F250 diesel truck, accompanied by passenger Dakota STANLEY, on Grand Avenue Extension traveling west toward Clarion Borough. I had been following David HUFNAGEL JR., who was in his personal vehicle. HUFNAGEL stopped to speak with Bryan TAVEL, who lived on the corner of Greenville Pike Ext. and Grand Ave Ext. TAVEL was accompanied by his two small boys and wife, Sierra TAVEL.

I waited behind him for them to finish talking, and proceeded forward afterward. As I drove past TAVEL, I heard obscenities shouted at me and promptly reversed my vehicle. I informed TAVEL that he was providing a poor example to his two children, to which he responded that I was on private property. I, in fact, was in my vehicle on a public roadway, and informed him of this. He responded that if I did not leave his property (which I was not on in the first place), he would go into his house, retrieve his shotgun, and “blow [my] brains out”. I simply responded “You won't do it”, and he walked off. At this point, I began driving away after speaking non-aggressive words to Sierra TAVEL along the lines that she should keep her husband's temper under control.

Shortly thereafter, I heard a pop, and noticed in my rear view mirror TAVEL standing with a shotgun and smoke cloud directed toward my vehicle. I asked my passenger if he had seen what happened, and he told me that TAVEL went into his house, came out with a shotgun, racked it, and fired a round in the direction of our vehicle (and Clarion Borough). At this point, I moved to the parking lot of Zacherl Motors and called PSP. HUFNAGEL had not left the scene, and saw most of it through his rear view mirror shortly down the road.

08/06/14
I call the Municipal Officer Education and Training Commission to request the date which my MPOETC certification will expire. I am informed that it already expired on 08/01/2014. I relay this information to the mayor and Bruce CRAMER. It is intended that I re-take the certification test.

The CPR card still has not arrived, and was the last thing required to be reinstated as a police officer prior to 08/01/14.

08/11/14
I am contacted in the morning by Trooper WILSON, who was assigned as primary officer to the case. I am informed of the preliminary hearing date and time, and informed that TAVEL had told them I removed myself from my vehicle and shoved him onto the ground. TAVEL also told WILSON that I hit his son in the face with a rock as I was driving past. As a result, WILSON intended to file citations against me, regardless of my witnesses against these claims.

08/11/14
On or about 1553 Hrs, I am contacted by Bruce CRAMER. CRAMER informs me that because of my impending citations and expiration of the MPOETC number, the police committee has decided to revoke my job offer.

08/26/14
Preliminary Hearing for TAVEL at 1345, continued from 08/12/14 at 1100 Hrs.
Prior to this hearing, a friend of mine, Jordan HRINYA, contacted TAVEL to ask him what was going on. During this conversation, HRINYA received screenshots of Facebook messages that never transpired. I print them, along with the correct records from Facebook, in the event that I would need them. I also print the comment (seemingly) left by TAVEL on exploreclarion.com's news release stating that I had hit his son in the face with a rock, removed myself from the truck, and held a gun to TAVEL's chest saying I was going to kill him.

On the day of the hearing, I am told that TAVEL wishes to have another continuance so that he can field an attorney other than the public defender. The fake Facebook messages are presented to the ADA, which I respond to by presenting the proper messages and entreat the ADA to subpoena the records. The continuance is granted, set for 09/09/14 at 1130 Hrs, then continued again to 09/30/14 at 1045 Hrs. I also speak with Tpr WILSON regarding the citations against me in the interest of relaying the information to Reynoldsville. He states that he is holding the citations, but has not filed them.


09/30/14
I receive no contact, written or otherwise, from PSP, the DA's office, or the District Court from the time of the last hearing until now. I am not informed of the date or time of the preliminary hearing.

As a friend of mine works for the paper, she checks the docket sheets daily. She contacted me on or about 1030 Hrs. to say good luck at the hearing, to which I did not know what she was talking about. She informs me of the time of the hearing, and I arrive to it approximately 10 to 15 minutes late. The charges against TAVEL are withdrawn. Neither of the witnesses were subpoena'd or informed of the hearing date, and no one on prosecution made an attempt to determine whether any of us had intended to show up.

I am infuriated, and speak with the DA and trooper about the lack of communication. The DA says that he will meet with me in the coming days to discuss refiling; I am never contacted by him again.


11/01/14
I receive a letter in the mail from the District Court. It is my assumption that it would contain a subpoena and hearing time for TAVEL. Much to my dismay, it instead contains two citations, as previously discussed with Tpr WILSON.

To this day, charges on TAVEL have not been refiled and I remain unemployed.

01/11/15
It is to be the day of the hearing for my summary citations. The hearing is continued until 02/17/15.

One of my witnesses's mother is a Captain at the state prison which I previously interviewed for (and was told that I would be going to training after a physical test). She asks me why I hadn't been hired yet. I informed her that they told me something was on my background, and that central office would be contacting me to discuss it. I never received a call or mail, so she said she would speak to her friend in HR.

The following week, she informs me that they removed my name from the civil service list due to two outstanding citations, and that I likely will never get the job, as they don't intend to hire for the next few years. Job #2 down the drain.

[CoopKill]

Time to seek a new judge, and file something against the DA... Unfortunately unemployed means lawyer fees are hard to come by. No explaination as to what went down?

How is it you get citations, and he did not? Some fishy shit goin on here...

[Memphetic]

That's what I figured... it honestly reeks of injustice (though, I'm a bit biased, of course). I feel as if a reasonable and prudent human being should be able to review the facts and circumstances and be able to make the CLEAR JUDGEMENT that I'm being screwed by everyone involved.

I never wanted to be a whistleblower, because I know how much people hate them, but honestly the trooper has left his duties high and dry. It's against my victim's rights, as indicated by PA statute, that I wasn't served a subpoena or contacted about the date/time of the preliminary hearing (and ensured that I would be there). You're actually required to provide a ride to the case if necessary.

I could press the issue, file grievance against the trooper for the way the case was handled (as neither of my witnesses were subpoena'd either), file a victim's rights complaint, go to the media, etc... but I honestly just want my job back. That's it. I don't even care if this guy goes to jail, gets fined, pays me restitution, etc. At this point it's a matter of saving face.

[J-Groove]

This is really messed up. I'm sorry man. Any update on this?

Why was Bryan TAVEL cussing at you to begin with? What is your history with him?

Why was David HUFNAGEL JR. not a witness since he saw the entire thing and knows both parties, you and Tavel?

-John

[Memphetic]

I have history with Tavel stemming back from high school... we hung out a couple times through someone else, despite the fact that I had heard how many people disliked him. He was always known as a liar and "douchebag" was the most commonly thrown around term for him.

When I saw how he acted, I stopped talking to him. He resurfaced years later when he started talking to Hufnagel, who is one of my good friends (and I guess what you would call a business associate). He owns a garage around here... Tavel started trash talking him publicly on facebook - on Hufnagel's facebook, mind you, so that everyone could see it that he was friends with. This didn't fly with me because 90% of the things he said were either not true or twisted. I called him out on it.

Tavel would say things like "I know about this stuff because my cousin builds engines and I grew up around him"... "I know how to run a business because my family has a lumber business and made millions"... direct quotes, mind you. I'm sorry, but both Hufnagel and I build engines OURSELVES and run businesses OURSELVES. So essentially, being that lying is my biggest pet peeve (especially when it's about insignificant things that don't need to even be lied about, such as who he has slept with or had a threesome with), it wasn't a good thing for me.

Hufnagel will be called as a witness to my case, and I had also brought him to testify against Tavel in the first place - but that was continued, and subsequently dismissed. Why was he not subpoena'd, as well as the rest of us? I have no clue.

[green-lantern]

That is screwed up, hopefully you get it straightened out soon.

This hardly sounds like the end of the world though. I hope you've moved on from that nonsense you were talking before. Trust me things can always be worse. My two biological children are deceased. Somehow I've managed to keep a gun out of my mouth.

[CoopKill]

You have the power to include/exclude those that have a negative affect in your life. Most of the time the power is given to those that do you harm, by you. Learn to mitigate bullshit from your life, surround yourself with posative people you look up to, and be happy, or continue the road, and cope...

I can repeat what I just said in many ways, but will leave it as is. No matter what the circumstances are, YOU have the power to navagate your life.

[HilbillyHomeboy]

Few things that don't add up here.

You stated you were in your vehicle the whole time. Article says you got back into your vehicle and then dude came out with the shotgun and fired the weapon in your direction as you were driving off.

In your 08/26 timeline you state the hearing was continued until 09/30 at 1045. Then on 09/30 state you had no idea it was that day.

You mention that none of the witnesses were subpoenaed. That would be your job to subpoena your witnesses. Depositions should have been done, etc. Were you pro se???

Jeremy

[Memphetic]

Few things that don't add up here.

You stated you were in your vehicle the whole time. Article says you got back into your vehicle and then dude came out with the shotgun and fired the weapon in your direction as you were driving off.

Yes, they published the information PSP gave them - which included the part that I "got back into my vehicle", as told by Tavel.

In your 08/26 timeline you state the hearing was continued until 09/30 at 1045. Then on 09/30 state you had no idea it was that day.

I knew it had been continued. I was never told until when. I discovered that it was continued twice after showing up, and was told both dates.

You mention that none of the witnesses were subpoenaed. That would be your job to subpoena your witnesses. Depositions should have been done, etc. Were you pro se???

Jeremy

I was represented by the Commonwealth at that point, as I was the victim. That's why it's THE COMMONWEALTH'S job to subpoena the witnesses, as well as myself, to ensure that we all get the proper paperwork from the courts. It's the Commonwealth's job to inform the victim, whether it come from the DA's office, the trooper, or the courts (which, had I been subpoena'd, would have been in the form of a registered letter or hand-delivered by the trooper or sheriff's department. In PA, you are to serve subpoenas face-to-face.)

[Memphetic]

Updated today.