Details are emerging surrounding the arrest of a Bethlehem police dispatcher earlier this month.
An arrest report obtained by way of the Freedom of Information Law reveals a redacted police narrative of the events of April 2, when dispatcher Eric Kerr was arrested on three misdemeanor charges after allegedly pointing a handgun at his ex-girlfriend.
The recovered report says Kerr pursued the victim around town before she contacted Bethlehem Police Officer James Cross by text message, saying, [Kerr’s] only a little psycho no problem I was only home alone with a loaded gun pointed at me.
Cross, on duty at the time, alerted the shift supervisor, who in turn alerted Lt. Thomas Heffernan. Police then established contact with the victim via phone and advised her to come to the Bethlehem Police Station, according to the arrest report.
Police met her there and observed Kerr’s white pickup truck entering and leaving the department parking lot, according to police. The victim allegedly was crying and didn’t have any shoes on when police arrived to escort her into the station.
Police discovered Kerr was at his parent’s house, and he apparently made a statement to police when they arrived, the majority of which was redacted from the report.
In fact, except for in one officer’s supplemental report that indicated Kerr had said he was emotional that night, every statement Kerr made to police was redacted from the arrest report.
In many instances, it appears as if Kerr threatened violence on himself or the victim if she attempted to call 911, such as in this portion of shift supervisor Sgt. Christopher Shunk’s supplemental statement:
`[Redacted] stated Eric threatened to kill himself and kill [redacted] if she called 911. [Redacted] also stated Eric pointed a black handgun at her.`
Bethlehem police Sgt. Robert Helligrass said this alleged behavior did not warrant additional charges against Kerr, in part because the victim was able to contact police.
`I don’t know if we really got that there was any actual prevention [in contacting police],` he said. `We’re not there. It’s how the person feels, and if they actually are prohibited from calling the police.`
Police seized Kerr’s pistol permit and two handguns: a S/W Walter PPS and a Glock 23. As a dispatcher, Kerr was not issued a sidearm through the department.
Kerr remains on paid suspension from the department.
Kerr was recognized for his role as an Albany County EMT in rescuing a Delmar teen from a December house fire. County Undersheriff Craig Apple said while Kerr has not been suspended from his position with the department, he will not be scheduled to work any hours.
`Our intention is to just remove him from the schedule until this is sorted out,` he said. `Once it gets sorted out, we’ll take whatever action necessary at that point.`
Kerr usually only works one or two days per month as an EMT. A misdemeanor conviction does not bar a person from serving as a county EMT but would be weighed in any decision regarding employment, Apple said.
The Spotlight sought police records and court documents regarding Kerr’s arrest after police declined to discuss several details of the incident for an article that ran April 7, including information about the locations of the arrest and alleged domestic incident.
Records have revealed a number of these facts, but The Spotlight is not printing some information in order to avoid identifying the alleged victim in this case. The paper’s policy is to not identify victims or alleged victims of domestic violence.
Many parts of the obtained arrest report were redacted, including the entirety of a supplemental report made by a Bethlehem police detective.
Helligrass said information was withheld to preserve evidence as the case moves toward court.
`While the cases are ongoing, there are evidentiary items in there that cannot be released,` he said. `We have to be protective of our case.`
The FOIL requires copies of documents like arrest reports be produced upon request, but does allow records that would interfere with judicial proceedings to be withheld.
The recovered report is available on www.spotlightnews.com.“
