From: Oakland Tribune
Martin Ricard
11/1/06
A San Leandro police officer charged last week with unlawfully detaining and inappropriately touching two women while on the job is expected to enter a plea on Nov. 7.
Patrol Officer Greg Cannedy, a five-year police veteran, surrendered Monday at the Hayward Police Department, where he was booked and released on $27,000 bail, said his attorney, Michael Rains.
“We’ll have to study the complaint,” Rains said. “But more likely than not, we’ll go in and enter a not guilty plea.”
Cannedy, 42, has been on paid administrative leave since mid- September, when the incidents first came to light, said San Leandro Police spokesman Lt. Marc DeCoulode. In the meantime, the Police Department will be conducting its own investigation on Cannedy’s background during his tenure with the force.
The Alameda County District Attorney’s Office filed charges Friday against Cannedy, who faces two counts of felony false imprisonment, one count of misdemeanor sexual battery and three counts of battery. Both women are over 18, DeCoulode said last week.
“There will be an internal investigation and a review of his employment status,” DeCoulode said. “So he could possibly be placed on unpaid leave because he has criminal charges pending. … But to our knowledge, this behavior hasn’t come to our attention before.”
On Sept. 12, Cannedy allegedly leaned over a woman in her apartment kitchen and began kissing her neck while forcing her to rub her hand over the groin area of his clothing, according to a police statement filed in court that detailed the incidents leading to Cannedy’s arrest. The woman also reported in the statement that she felt unable to leave her apartment because Cannedy was holding her.
Sometime last year, Cannedy also allegedly assaulted a woman during a traffic stop, the statement said. Cannedy was talking with the driver when he leaned inside her car and attempted to kiss her, and she then tried to avoid him, court records said. At that point, according to the statement, Cannedy placed his hand behind the woman’s neck and pulled her toward him so that he could kiss her neck.
Rains, an East Bay attorney whose law firm represents more than 100 California law enforcement agencies, has represented the San Leandro Police Officers Association in the past.
He is best known for taking on the high-profile cases, involving the Oakland Riders, the BALCO investigation of San Francisco Giants slugger Barry Bonds and, most recently, the former wife of John Mark Karr.
Rains said he expects a similar outcome with Cannedy’s case.
“I think this is a case that clearly has two sides to it,” Rains said. “And, frankly, the side that has been fed to the DA’s Office probably won’t turn out to be very accurate. I think there’s going to be an interesting revelation as the case plays out.”