Ramsey Detective 'Made Mistakes,' Chief Testifies
Testimony Comes In Federal Lawsuit Against Boulder Police
DENVER -- Boulder Police Chief Mark Beckner has testified
that detective Linda Arndt (pictured, left) had made mistakes in the JonBenet Ramsey
investigation and that defending her reputation would have been a "lie."
Beckner's testimony Monday came in Arndt's federal lawsuit against the
city of Boulder and department officials. She accuses Beckner and
former police chief Tom Koby of violating her First Amendment
rights by preventing her from countering news media claims that she
bungled the Ramsey investigation.
Beckner said that the reports were substantially accurate, and
defending her would have been misleading.
"I would not allow an officer to knowingly mislead the
public," Beckner said on the witness stand.
He pointed to an article that appeared in Vanity Fair published
in October, 1997, that said Arndt lifted JonBenet's body and put it
under a Christmas tree, that JonBenet's mother Patsy collapsed on
the body, and that Arndt was in close contact with Patsy Ramsey and
her friends in the weeks after the homicide.
Beckner said that the information in the article was accurate.
Arndt's lawsuit accuses department officials of trying to blame
her for mistakes made in the handling of the investigation of the
6-year-old's death. No arrests have been made and John and Patsy
Ramsey have not been ruled out as suspects.
Arndt was the only police officer in the Ramsey home when John
Ramsey found his daughter beaten and strangled in the basement,
brought her body upstairs and covered her with a blanket.
In the last of her four days of testimony Monday, Arndt said
That seeing John Ramsey carry his daughter's body up from the basement
stunned her.
"That JonBenet would be in her home, searched by three cops,
would be inconceivable," she said. "In an instant, the worst
fears and an inconceivable result was what each of us faced."
Defending her actions on Dec. 26, 1996, the day JonBenet's body
was found, Arndt said that she called the detective's office two or
three times for reinforcements. She said that she had difficulty
controlling several adults in the house that day.
Beckner testified that Arndt could have used her police radio to
call for backup if she needed help.
Beckner's testimony Monday came in Arndt's federal lawsuit against the
city of Boulder and department officials. She accuses Beckner and
former police chief Tom Koby of violating her First Amendment
rights by preventing her from countering news media claims that she
bungled the Ramsey investigation.
Beckner said that the reports were substantially accurate, and
defending her would have been misleading.
"I would not allow an officer to knowingly mislead the
public," Beckner said on the witness stand.
He pointed to an article that appeared in Vanity Fair published
in October, 1997, that said Arndt lifted JonBenet's body and put it
under a Christmas tree, that JonBenet's mother Patsy collapsed on
the body, and that Arndt was in close contact with Patsy Ramsey and
her friends in the weeks after the homicide.
Beckner said that the information in the article was accurate.
Arndt's lawsuit accuses department officials of trying to blame
her for mistakes made in the handling of the investigation of the
6-year-old's death. No arrests have been made and John and Patsy
Ramsey have not been ruled out as suspects.
Arndt was the only police officer in the Ramsey home when John
Ramsey found his daughter beaten and strangled in the basement,
brought her body upstairs and covered her with a blanket.
In the last of her four days of testimony Monday, Arndt said
That seeing John Ramsey carry his daughter's body up from the basement
stunned her.
"That JonBenet would be in her home, searched by three cops,
would be inconceivable," she said. "In an instant, the worst
fears and an inconceivable result was what each of us faced."
Defending her actions on Dec. 26, 1996, the day JonBenet's body
was found, Arndt said that she called the detective's office two or
three times for reinforcements. She said that she had difficulty
controlling several adults in the house that day.
Beckner testified that Arndt could have used her police radio to
call for backup if she needed help.
Previous Stories:
- June 8, 2001: Testimony: Ramsey Detective Didn't File Report
- June 5, 2001: Testimony: Ramsey Detective Wasn't At Fault
- May 28, 2001: Ramsey Detective Lawsuit To Begin
- May 15, 2001: Ramsey Detective's Case Dealt Setback
- January 10, 2001: Ramseys Claim They Were Set Up
Copyright 2002 by TheDenverChannel.com. The Associated Press contributed to this report. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
