http://www.azcentral.com/news/articles/0111nebriefs0111.html
Scottsdale/Northeast Valley briefs.
Jan. 11, 2006 12:00 AM
Scottsdale police officer faces inquiry in pursuit
SCOTTSDALE - A Scottsdale police officer is under investigation after his patrol car hit a fleeing suspect while attempting to block the man's path, police said.
The accident review board will likely examine if the officer, Cody Dikeman, was following policy when he chased a man who was fleeing police on foot, said Detective Sam Bailey, a department spokesman. The man's leg was broken during the pursuit.
If the board finds Dikeman violated policy, he could face disciplinary action, Bailey said.
Dikeman was responding to a burglary call about 2 p.m. Saturday when he saw the suspect running from police through a yard at the 7500 block of East Beatrice Street.
The officer turned into a driveway to block the man's path, and the patrol car slid into the man, pinning him against the house when gravel landscaping provided less traction than expected, Bailey said.
The suspect, Greg Griffo, 45, suffered a broken leg and was taken to Scottsdale Healthcare Osborn where he was treated and arrested upon release.
Dikeman, a military reservist who returned from Iraq about six months ago, is a "fine officer" who has had no disciplinary problems since he joined Scottsdale police about six years ago, Bailey said.
http://www.eastvalleytribune.com/index.php?sty=56812
Police to look into patrol car crash
By Amanda Lee Myers, Tribune January 10, 2006
A Scottsdale police officer whose patrol car skidded into a suspect he was chasing will be investigated by the departments accident review board, police said.
"Theyre going to have to take a hard look at this," said detective Sam Bailey, police spokesman.
Officers responded to 7520 E. Kinsey Lane about 2 p.m. Saturday after a homeowner called to report a man was in his house.
The homeowner, whose name was not released, has not been living on the house and was just checking it, Bailey said.
Forty-five-year-old Gregg Griffo ran when he saw police, ending up in a yard in the 7500 block of East Beatrice Street.
Officer Cody Dikeman pulled into the driveway and tried to cut him off in the gravel yard, Bailey said.
Dikeman was not able to control his skid and pinned the man with his car against the house, he said.
Griffo was taken to Scottsdale Healthcare Osborn hospital with a broken leg. He was released and arrested.
Dikeman, also a military reservist who served in Iraq last year, has not had any disciplinary difficulties on the force since he joined six years ago, Bailey said.
"Hes a good guy," he said.
Griffo is in a Maricopa County jail on suspicion of criminal trespassing, resisting arrest with physical injury, possession of drug paraphernalia, possession of burglary tools and a probation violation.
In June, Griffo pleaded guilty to attempted sexual assault and vehicle theft. Both are felonies.
He was sentenced in July to lifetime probation for the sexual assault, one year of probation for the theft and ordered to pay a fine of nearly $2,500.
He also was ordered to register as a sex offender and not drink alcohol.
Contact Amanda Lee Myers by email, or phone (480) 970-2330