What started as a minor traffic stop became something more, when Cincinnati City Council member Laketa Cole handed her cell phone to the officer who had just pulled her over. On the phone: an assistant police chief.
And he wasn't the only high level city official Cole called as the officer checked drivers licenses. She also called the city manager from the side of the road.
It all started Wednesday afternoon about 3:30. Cole was operating a red motorcycle while her friend, Cornelius Scroggins, rode a black motorcycle along Mitchell Avenue.
That’s when Cincinnati Police Officer Dennis Zucker pulled them over at the corner of Mitchell and Spring Grove avenues.
As the police car camera rolled, Officer Zucker asked the pair, “May I see your driver's license and proof of insurance please?"
Cole answered, "Sure. Can I ask what did we do?"
Zucker: "Yes, ma'm. You crossed the solid white line back there. That's a violation."
But it wasn't the only one. Once Zucker ran the plates and license information, he found that Scroggins had a series of driving violations and license suspensions which led to an "ALS", or Auto License Seizure. It’s a a designation that means the officer must impound that driver’s vehicle.
On the tape, Zucker explains: "The law requires that I seize the motorcycle."
Zucker called for a tow truck. But Cole was making a call herself. On the tape you can see her hand her cell phone to officer Zucker, as he responds respectfully to a superior.
"Yes, sir. How are you?" he says. On the line was assistant police chief Lt. Col Mike Cureton. He wouldn't talk to 9News on camera but confirmed that Cole called him and that he talked to Officer Zucker at the scene.
After Zucker hands the phone back to Cole, he walks toward his police car and you can hear him tell another officer, "He just told me not to take the motorcycle. Now what do you do?"
Zucker clearly had one understanding of that call; Cureton says he never asked the officer not to tow a motorcycle. He says Cole told him it was her cycle about to be towed. Once the officer told him it was Scroggins' bike, Cureton says that was it.
On the police tape you can hear Zucker asking, "Miss Cole, did he want to speak with me again?" Zucker then instructs the tow truck driver to take the bike, which went to the police impound lot.
Cole dialed more than the assistant chief. City Manager Milton Dohoney confirms that she called him too. “Councilwoman Laketa cole did call me from the scene, explained to me that she had been pulled over, and inquired why there were three police vehicles at a traffic stop. I told her I wasn’t sure. She did not ask for any special treatment,” Dohoney says in a statement to the I-Team.
And Assistant Chief Cureton also says this wasn't a play at favoritism and that he takes calls like this from anyone who has his number.
9News left a voice mail for Cole Friday afternoon but haven't heard back. They’re due in court Tuesday, May 26.
Laketa Cole Comments On I-Team Report:Laketa Cole:
"I never asked for any special favors. I never mentioned my name. I'd never ask for a favor, because I think that would be inappropriate. My only concern was how to tow the bike so it would not be damaged.”Hagit Limor:
“Were your calls to the city manager and assistant police chief an attempt to influence? ”
Laketa Cole:
"Not at all. My first concern was there were three cop cars. I asked the city manager, why the need?”
Hagit Limor:
" “Did you tell Assistant Chief Cureton it was your motorcycle about to be towed?”
Laketa Cole:
"I never said it was my bike. He may have assumed at first because I called, but I told him it wasn't my bike. I called him because I wanted to make sure a flatbed tow truck would come so the bike would not be damaged. It could have been scraped [otherwise].”
