Tequesta police force loses 2 in slaying probe
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  1. #1
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    Tequesta police force loses 2 in slaying probe

    TEQUESTA — A longtime police supervisor resigned and a second remains on paid leave in the wake of an investigation into the village's first homicide in two decades.

    The two might have failed to preserve the crime scene properly, an attorney involved in the case said.


    Michael Morrill, an operations lieutenant who also handled internal affairs investigations and media inquiries, left the department Thursday. He had been a village officer for more than 25 years.

    Sgt. Zed Albrecht was placed on administrative leave when Tequesta police turned their investigation over to the Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office on Wednesday. Albrecht joined the village police force more than 18 years ago.

    Both men responded early Aug. 2 to a burglary call at James Fantin's house on Golfview Drive. They found Paul Mantwill, 41, lying outside, bleeding from two gunshot wounds to the chest.

    Paramedics flew Mantwill to St. Mary's Medical Center in West Palm Beach, where he died about 8 a.m.

    Sheriff's investigators now have a two-part case to unravel: whether Fantin should face charges in Mantwill's death, and whether Tequesta police mishandled the initial investigation.

    Asked why police handed off the case to the sheriff's office, Tequesta police spokesman Peter Allen said, "They have more resources and more manpower. The case is a little more complicated than a man burglarizing and a guy shooting him."

    The investigation into police actions also appears to be a little more complicated.

    Mitchell Beers, an attorney representing Fantin, said investigators asked the Fantins for bleach and a broom on the morning of the shooting. When Beers' investigators later visited the Fantins' home, they saw blood spatter on the doors but no blood on the ground.

    "The police might have cleaned some of that up," Beers said. "I'm sure there were pools of blood that were washed away."

    Sheriff's and police officials declined to say how many police personnel, in addition to Morrill and Albrecht, were at the Fantin home that morning.

    Morrill could not be reached for comment. Albrecht declined to speak about the case.

    Sheriff's spokesman Paul Miller declined to comment on any details of the agency's investigation.

    "We're looking at all aspects," he said. "Maybe some protocol wasn't followed."

    Regarding the shooting, Miller said sheriff's investigators would consider interviews, physical evidence and any medical examiner's reports before handing their findings to the state attorney's office.

    Beers maintains that Fantin was defending himself, his wife, Sabrina, and their 8-year-old son when he shot at Mantwill.

    "I represent a very, very gentle man, a nice man who was terrified on that particular evening," Beers said.

    Fantin may give investigators a walk-through explanation of how events unfolded, according to Beers.

    "I'm very confused as to why a gentleman like Mantwill was at the house at 2:30 a.m. pulling on doors," Beers said.

    Mantwill apparently lived at his parents' home on Yacht Club Place. His relatives could not be reached for comment.

    Beers said the Fantins have been staying with family members since the incident, too distraught to return to their home.

    When all else fails send in the Sheriff!

  2. #2
    Guest

    Re: Tequesta police force loses 2 in slaying probe

    Quote Originally Posted by Anonymous
    TEQUESTA — A longtime police supervisor resigned and a second remains on paid leave in the wake of an investigation into the village's first homicide in two decades.

    The two might have failed to preserve the crime scene properly, an attorney involved in the case said.


    Michael Morrill, an operations lieutenant who also handled internal affairs investigations and media inquiries, left the department Thursday. He had been a village officer for more than 25 years.

    Sgt. Zed Albrecht was placed on administrative leave when Tequesta police turned their investigation over to the Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office on Wednesday. Albrecht joined the village police force more than 18 years ago.

    Both men responded early Aug. 2 to a burglary call at James Fantin's house on Golfview Drive. They found Paul Mantwill, 41, lying outside, bleeding from two gunshot wounds to the chest.

    Paramedics flew Mantwill to St. Mary's Medical Center in West Palm Beach, where he died about 8 a.m.

    Sheriff's investigators now have a two-part case to unravel: whether Fantin should face charges in Mantwill's death, and whether Tequesta police mishandled the initial investigation.

    Asked why police handed off the case to the sheriff's office, Tequesta police spokesman Peter Allen said, "They have more resources and more manpower. The case is a little more complicated than a man burglarizing and a guy shooting him."

    The investigation into police actions also appears to be a little more complicated.

    Mitchell Beers, an attorney representing Fantin, said investigators asked the Fantins for bleach and a broom on the morning of the shooting. When Beers' investigators later visited the Fantins' home, they saw blood spatter on the doors but no blood on the ground.

    "The police might have cleaned some of that up," Beers said. "I'm sure there were pools of blood that were washed away."

    Sheriff's and police officials declined to say how many police personnel, in addition to Morrill and Albrecht, were at the Fantin home that morning.

    Morrill could not be reached for comment. Albrecht declined to speak about the case.

    Sheriff's spokesman Paul Miller declined to comment on any details of the agency's investigation.

    "We're looking at all aspects," he said. "Maybe some protocol wasn't followed."

    Regarding the shooting, Miller said sheriff's investigators would consider interviews, physical evidence and any medical examiner's reports before handing their findings to the state attorney's office.

    Beers maintains that Fantin was defending himself, his wife, Sabrina, and their 8-year-old son when he shot at Mantwill.

    "I represent a very, very gentle man, a nice man who was terrified on that particular evening," Beers said.

    Fantin may give investigators a walk-through explanation of how events unfolded, according to Beers.

    "I'm very confused as to why a gentleman like Mantwill was at the house at 2:30 a.m. pulling on doors," Beers said.

    Mantwill apparently lived at his parents' home on Yacht Club Place. His relatives could not be reached for comment.

    Beers said the Fantins have been staying with family members since the incident, too distraught to return to their home.

    When all else fails send in the Sheriff!
    Apparently Tequesta PD doesn't know how to properly contain a crime scene. Also I heard they called Jupiter to do the crime scene and even they wouldn't touch it. Like the other guy said when all else fails they call upon big brother to take control.

  3. #3
    Guest
    THIS IS A PRIME EXAMPLE OF OTHER POLICE AGENCIES IN PALM BEACH COUNTY THAT CAN'T HANDLE MAJOR INVESTIGATIONS. IF YOU CAN'T HANDLE IT, DON'T GIVE THE B.S. EXCUSE OF, "WE DON'T HAVE THE RESOURCES OR MANPOWER." THAT IS JUST LAZINESS OR IN THIS CASE CLEAR NEGLECT AND DERELECTION OF POLICE 101. ONLY ONE, MAYBE TWO VCD HOMICIDE DETECTIVES ARE ASSIGNED TO EACH MURDER, SO IT SOUNDS LIKE A TYPICAL DUMP UNLESS ITS A SMOKING GUN CASE.
    MY ADVICE TO THE WANNA BE AGENCIES, "IF YOU WANNA PLAY POLICEMAN, GO GREEN!" OR BECOME A FIREMAN AND WAIT TILL THE ALL CLEAR SINGAL AND THEN GO IN.

  4. #4
    Guest
    Quote Originally Posted by Anonymous
    THIS IS A PRIME EXAMPLE OF OTHER POLICE AGENCIES IN PALM BEACH COUNTY THAT CAN'T HANDLE MAJOR INVESTIGATIONS. IF YOU CAN'T HANDLE IT, DON'T GIVE THE B.S. EXCUSE OF, "WE DON'T HAVE THE RESOURCES OR MANPOWER." THAT IS JUST LAZINESS OR IN THIS CASE CLEAR NEGLECT AND DERELECTION OF POLICE 101. ONLY ONE, MAYBE TWO VCD HOMICIDE DETECTIVES ARE ASSIGNED TO EACH MURDER, SO IT SOUNDS LIKE A TYPICAL DUMP UNLESS ITS A SMOKING GUN CASE.
    MY ADVICE TO THE WANNA BE AGENCIES, "IF YOU WANNA PLAY POLICEMAN, GO GREEN!" OR BECOME A FIREMAN AND WAIT TILL THE ALL CLEAR SINGAL AND THEN GO IN.
    So true

  5. #5
    Guest
    The truth is, Tequesta police officers covered up a homicide by cleaning up the crime scene. The truth will come out once the criminal and administrative investigations have been completed. This type of action once again demonstrates the need for one countywide policing agency, not the good ol boy system presently in place.

  6. #6
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    How are these people in charge of the law...

    I first met officer Zed Albrecht as a MINOR

    https://twitter.com/mollyskyebrown/s...880077314?s=21

  7. #7
    Unregistered
    Guest
    Do any of you idiots know that this happened more than 20 year ago? Of course not because you were all in elementary school "graduating" every year and getting a trophy for being a loser hence you think your shit doesn't stink now that your at PBSO. Get your facts together before posting such BS.
    PBSO is not the greatest agency in the county. Far from it with all the ethical bullshit that goes on here every single day.
    Look in the mirror before casting stones.

  8. #8
    Junior Member LEO Affairs Recruit
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    Mar 2022
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    Quote Originally Posted by ;1083252
    THIS IS A PRIME EXAMPLE OF OTHER POLICE AGENCIES IN PALM BEACH COUNTY THAT CAN'T HANDLE MAJOR INVESTIGATIONS. IF YOU CAN'T HANDLE IT, DON'T GIVE THE B.S. EXCUSE OF, "WE DON'T HAVE THE RESOURCES OR MANPOWER." THAT IS JUST LAZINESS OR IN THIS CASE CLEAR NEGLECT AND DERELECTION OF POLICE 101. ONLY ONE, MAYBE TWO VCD HOMICIDE DETECTIVES ARE ASSIGNED TO EACH MURDER, SO IT SOUNDS LIKE A TYPICAL DUMP UNLESS ITS A SMOKING GUN CASE.
    MY ADVICE TO THE WANNA BE AGENCIES, "IF YOU WANNA PLAY POLICEMAN, GO GREEN!" OR BECOME A FIREMAN AND WAIT TILL THE ALL CLEAR SINGAL AND THEN GO IN.
    Very agree.mapquest driving directions

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