19 years ago, 2 men disappeared after getting into patrol car driven by Deputy Steven Calkins

[BlueWaveNeverEnd]

years ago, I watched an episode of "missing" about this case. it's perplexing. Calkins was fired, that's all they could do to him. He was a weird cop who went 3 years without arresting anyone. long long article about Calkins and the missing men.

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The deputy and the disappeared
A Latino man and a Black man went missing three months apart in Florida. Both vanished after getting in a patrol car driven by the same White deputy sheriff

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A few hours later, Terrance crossed paths with a deputy sheriff. He got in the deputy’s patrol car. Then he disappeared.

The deputy said he’d given Terrance a ride to a Circle K convenience store. But there was no proof that Terrance arrived at the Circle K. And his mother never saw him again.

Eventually, Marcia learned something astonishing about this deputy sheriff.

Three months earlier, another man had also taken a ride in his patrol car.

Just like Terrance Williams, Felipe Santos had been driving illegally.

Just like Williams, he encountered Cpl. Steven Calkins of the Collier County Sheriff’s Office.

And just like Williams, he disappeared right after that.

The deputy said he’d dropped Santos off at a Circle K convenience store. But there was no proof that Santos arrived at the Circle K. And his family never saw him again.

Calkins is White. Santos was Latino. Williams was Black.

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Meanwhile, investigators got to work. They searched the woods and the waters near where the missing men were last seen. They put a tracking device on Calkins’ car. They did a complete forensic inspection of the car, paying special attention to the trunk. No trace of Santos or Williams turned up.

The FBI delivered a target letter to Calkins and asked him to answer questions from a federal grand jury about the disappearances. Calkins declined.



Now 68 years old, Calkins was last known to be living in Iowa. Through his attorney, he declined multiple interview requests from CNN.

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“I’m not gonna get drug through the mud no more because a couple of scumbags are missing.”

https://www.cnn.com/interactive/2023/04/us/naples-florida-deputy-missing-men/

[dameatball]

1. That was a long but interesting read. The fact that Calkins went for so long without making any

arrests is disturbing also. Doesn't mean he wasn't making stops and not reporting anything.

[dalton99a]

2. "A judge ruled that Marcia Williams and her son's estate had to pay Calkins $5,600"

A must read about this murderer with a badge

In interviews with sheriff’s investigators, Calkins said nice things about the men who disappeared. Santos was “very courteous and polite and very cooperative,” and “very, very nice.” Williams was a “clean-cut looking young man. Very soft spoken and very, very mannerly and very respectful of me and very well-spoken.”

CNN obtained recordings of some of the Calkins interviews. They include a moment in which he apparently did not know he was being recorded. And in that moment, his description of the two men was entirely different.

In his deep, authoritative voice, Calkins was complaining about the investigation. He said he’d already given too much information. He said he wouldn’t talk anymore without representation. He said he might have broken some rules, but he hadn’t broken any laws. Finally, he said,

“I’m not gonna get drug through the mud no more because a couple of scumbags are missing.”

[lostnfound]

3. Very good article.

I’m impressed with the way they profiled the cop without pulling punches. People are often complicated and good journalism leaves that complexity in the story.

This country’s ability to dump more misery on victims of circumstance is a theme i keep noticing.

I also will note:
Migrant laborers having to pay ever-increasing amounts for driver licenses and insurance is far more unreasonable than most of us would imagine.