Wednesday, August 14, 2013

Peoria Police Department - Criminal Report On Possible Theft at the Merle Widmer Residence

I was first able to get a copy of the police report at 5 PM today using the FOIA; I publish it in it's exact form and will make comments about the differences in the police report and the sensationalized nationally published report by JS "reporter" Matts Buedel at the end of the report.

Here is the police report dated 8/01/13. Buedel report was in the JS on 8/6/13. I was first granted a copy on 8/14/13:
"Case Summary: Known females were over at house and one of them stole some jewelry from victim."
(Officer Bond now reporting) I was dispatched to the listed address on an earlier theft.. When I arrived on the scene I spoke with Merle Widmer, who is the victim. Merle told me that his wife, Claire Widmer, is an alcoholic, and was being treated at an inpatient facility. She was released to come back home on July 19th after 9 weeks of treatment. Claire was currently sleeping in a back bedroom and did not want to talk with police.

Merle stated that he and his wife had not had sex in over 15 years. Merle says that Claire is aware that he seeks sex from other women.

Merle says that he frequents Club Cabaret in Creve Coeur. While there he met a Dancer with the stage name of :Salima". Merle said that when they became better acquainted, 'Salima' told Merle he could call her by her real name, Gabby. Merle does not know Gabby's last name. Merle described her as a mix of Hispanic and white. Merle stated that her rear end was bigger. She had long black hair and she was short in stature.

Merle told me that he set up a date to have sex with Gabby. Merle is not sure of the date that Gabby came to his house, but it was at least a  few weeks before his wife came back from treatment.

Merle stated that Gabby arrived at his home sometime after 1700 hours. Gabby had two other females with her. Gabby identified another Hispanic female as her sister. Merle told me that his sister told him she went to school in Miami, Fl. Gabby identified the third female as her aunt. Merle described the aunt as a W/F aged 50 t0 60 years old

Merle invited all three females into his house. Merle showed them his sitting room which is just off the front door, the kitchen and and his den. All of the rooms are on the north side of his house. Merle stated that he did not know what to to do with all three women so he led them through the kitchen and out onto the back porch.Two of the women sat on patio charis and the other remained standing. Merle said he chatted with the women for a short time.

Gabby then asked if she could speak with Merle in private. Merle led Gabby back through the kitchen and into the den. Merle stated Gabby kissed him on the lips and grabbed his balls. He was in the den for for approximately 5 minutes. Gabby then said she had to leave and she would come back later. Merle escorted the Gabby to the back porch and they met up with the other three women. Merle then led them out of the house.

Merle told me that a few days after Claire came home from treatment she was unable to locate her two listed necklaces. Merle stated that the necklaces were kept in a file cabinet in his office. Merle's office is located on the South side of his the house. The gold necklace was in a white box and the diamond necklace was in a gray velvet pouch. They both were stored in the second in the second of four drawers.

Merle said that he originally thought that his wife had hid them on him because she will do that sort of thing from time to time. Since the necklaces were discovered missing Merle has been looking all over the house for them and has even ruled out the safety deposit box at the bank.Merle tells me that Claire is accusing him of giving the necklaces to his daughters. Claire was adamant that she did not hid the jewelry.

I contacted Sgt. Huff and informed him of the theft. officer Tim Wong came out to the house and processed the file cabinet with negative results.I have attached a copy of the of the diamond necklace appraisal and photo to the report. The diamond necklace was appraised at $7959.00 back in 1993. Mere says it's worth $13.000 now.

I request followup by the detectives.

End of report.

JS reporter Buedel did not interview me or request an interview. His imagination took him from a four drawer file cabinet in the den to "an upstairs drawer" cleverly changing the report " from a four drawer file cabinet in the den in the BACK  of the house to upstairs drawers" from  where my office and the bedrooms are located, an area the police report clearly shows that  the women were not shown.

Why would he sensationalize the report about "taken from and UPSTAIRS DRAWER?  Because he wanted his report to to make readers believe we went there to have sex. In five minute or less??
Also, I live in a ranch style house with NO UPSTAIRS, Buedel, you liar. Also, had Buedel interviewed me, I would have told him I did not ACCUSE  anyone. Nowhere in the police report copied exactly as it was turned in and seen by Buedel, does is say I ACCUSED anyone. Re-read the report or better yet, it is a matter of public record.

Buedel a staunch Democrat,  had to add that I was a Republican and "stepped down" from his position in the fall of 2010. Now, Headlines in the January 7, 2009, Peoria Times-Observer, showed that my early announcement of my retirement come December of 2010, was ranked as the #4 story of 2008. I did not give the story to the Peoria Journal Star because from 1999-2008, they made every effort to destroy my reputation. Despite their efforts I ran for public office 8 times and was elected 7 times, my only loss was to incumbent Park Board President, the only time in history anyone had challenged the incumbent park board president.

Not mentioned is the fact that my wife is an alcoholic who was hospitalized so near death that her doctor would not let me drive her to emergency. She was down to 101 in weight, 60/40 and a very low pulse. She developed pneumonia, had a severely infected lung, cancelled her doctors appointment today as usual and spends 90% of her time bed-ridden. She will seek not seek treatment for alcoholism, a terrible disease.

Like Gary Sandberg, who I have a dozen or more JSEB clippings nailing Gary to the cross. But when he died, all was adulation by the JS about how Gary will be missed.

On 6/6/05, I wrote a blog titled _Liars". I was referring to the Peoria Journal Stat Editorial Board who wrote an editorial stating "how fair the JS is in reporting and how negativism does not fly in their newspaper". Yet they approved and article saying "Peoria elected a grossly incompetent  person to the office of mayor........ On 12/05/04, Mike Bailey, still employed by the JS, I believe, wrote a whole editorial criticizing Glen Barton who has done more for this community than the JS ever has done.
Yet when their favorite mayor, Bud Grieves got a DUI, hardly a peep about his background..Mine was splashed nationwide by Buedel, a staunch Democrat and the JS City News Desk Manager,, insinuating the Republicans made a mistake and should have elected another Democrat to already Democrat County Board.

Sorry to air dirty family affairs but remember Clinton's affairs even under his desk in the Oval Office and the Kennedy's yet they were elected and reelected to lead our country many offices many accused of infidelities were highly paid speakers at sold out appearances.

I made a bad judgment, but in my house there was no sex, no talk about sex although the night Club performer said she would be back. Doesn't mean that an 88 year old could (I had prostrate surgery in 2006 and elected to use radiation seeding to be sure all cancer would be removed and not come back) but I would might have enjoyed her company.. She didn't come back and sorry to say as late as two days ago, she had not been interviewed by any detective according to Detective Roger Martin. I did, however, identify a full page picture they showed me of her. So maybe they had interviewed her but did no want it made public.

Still, I did not accuse anyone of stealing the two missing items. When the detectives arrived, my wife did allow them to visit her bedroom and talk with her.

Anyway, as many have said "No good deed goes unpunished." I could have shut up, not reported anything. Instead, I let the JS let me 'swing in the wind' making me the entire bad guy.and insinuating all night club performers as thieves and bad girls and I'm a senile old man. Not senile, just used bad judgment. For some reading the JS article, I suggest they look in the mirror and think of all the bad things they got away with. And I suggest someone with a made reputation, never run for public office, especially as long as the JS is solvent.

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