By JOHN HENDERSON, jfhenderson@naplesnews.com
Amy Stanford was a former Naples High School athletic standout, who, in
her current job as Collier County sheriff's corporal, seems to "charge
head-long into situations requiring two or more officers."
Christopher Knott is a former Navy officer, who, as a rookie deputy,
recently was praised for his fearlessness in restraining "disorderly
subjects" using "reasonable/legal force."
These are among the comments in the personnel files of the two primary
officers involved in the New Year's Eve arrest in North Naples of the
lead guitarist for the progressive rock group, Rush.
Their personnel files portray them as confident deputies noted for
exemplary performance. There are no complaints or allegations by the public or
their supervisors of police brutality.
Through Internet chat rooms and stories published worldwide, Rush fans
are questioning whether the officers were involved in police brutality.
Pictures taken of Alex Zivojinovich as he was leaving the Collier County jail on
Jan. 2 show the white shirt he was wearing that evening was covered in blood.
His nose was swollen. He said it was broken at the Ritz-Carlton, Naples,
where the altercation occurred.
Zivojinovich, a founding member of Rush known on stage as Alex Lifeson,
was arrested after what deputies describe as a drunken, violent outburst at
the resort.
Zivojinovich, 50, faces six charges that include aggravated battery on a
law enforcement officer, resisting an officer with violence, and disorderly
intoxication. Also arrested in the fracas were his 33-year-old son,
Justin Zivojinovich, and his wife, Michelle, 30.
Deputies' reports say the altercation had its origin when Justin refused
to get off stage in the ballroom where a band was playing, and escalated
when Alex interceded when deputies were escorting Justin for removal off the
Ritz property.
Arrest reports said deputies had to use a stun gun on Alex Zivojinovich
and his son. Officers accuse Alex Zivojinovich of pushing Stanford backward
down a hotel stairwell during the struggle, injuring her. And they accuse him
of spitting blood in Knott's face.
Zivojinovich's son paints a much different picture, saying deputies
broke his father's nose, and as he was spitting out the blood from the
injuries, they used a stun gun on him. He also said his father didn't push the
deputy down the stairs, but she tumbled down as she pushed him down the
stairwell.
The arrest of the guitarist is particularly shocking for Rush fans. The
picture of a rock 'n' roll terror hardly blends with the celebrated
guitarist's reputation as a gentle, friendly homebody, according to a
recent story in the Toronto Star, a newspaper in a city where the rock band has
built a stellar reputation.
In 1990, Rush performers were named Canadian Artists of the Decade and,
in 1992, they received the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Musicians
Institute in Hollywood. The accolades culminated in 1997 with the Order
of Canada. Most recently, when Toronto was suffering under the shadow of
SARS, Rush was among the headlining acts for a benefit concert, drawing a half
million people to Downsview Park.
Until now, that long, storied public life has never been tarnished by
scandal, the Toronto Star reported. Scandal hasn't seemed to follow the officers involved in the arrest
either, their personnel files show.
After joining the Sheriff's Office in September 1998, Stanford, 31,
worked her way up from corrections officer to deputy to corporal.
In high school, she was a two-time Naples Daily News High School Athlete
of the week. In her junior and senior years, her team won the high school
state softball championship. And in her senior year she was voted best
defensive player.
Her most recent job performance paints a picture of her as a deputy who
is very willing to tackle potentially hostile situations alone. It states:
"Because this deputy rushes into situations without backup, I would
like to see her skills in this area sharpened."
"The deputy seems to underestimate the danger involved with domestic
situations or other calls where batteries have occurred."
* "This member has apprehended several suspects alone. She does so when
she feels confident with the situation. I would like to see her utilize
backup more often."
But the job review also portrays a deputy who has acted with tact and
restraint in potentially hostile situations.
"This deputy has handled several domestic calls while under my
supervision, and has consistently separated parties."
This deputy consistently de-escalates situations by simply interacting
with parties, giving each person the same respect she expects from
them."
Knott, 29, was hired by the department in July 2003.
His file states that he served in the Navy from 1993 until 2001. On
board the U.S.S. Enterprise, he participated in "Operation Southern Watch"
over southern Iraq and "Operation Enduring Freedom" in Afghanistan during the
Mediterranean deployment, his resume states.
He lists body building, sky diving, and scuba diving among his
interests. His job performance commends his "excellent physical condition." It
states: "Deputy Knott chased one suspect approximately a half a mile on foot
and caught him even though the suspect had a head start on him."
"I recognize great potential in his progress as a deputy. For a new
deputy, Deputy Knott is performing well and learning every day. There
have been small bumps in the road, but they were corrected without serious
problems. Deputy Knott loves his job and does his very best to perform
it to the highest standard of the agency."
Prosecutor Rich Montecalvo said Alex Zivojinovich's scheduled
arraignment today is to be continued because the State Attorney's Office hasn't yet
decided what charges, if any, to file against Zivojinovich. He said more
investigation into the case needs to occur before this determination can
be made.
The Sheriff's Office initially files charges, but it is up to the State
Attorney's Office which ones to pursue, if any.
Zivojinovich's lawyer, Jerry Berry, has filed a written not guilty plea
on behalf his client so Zivojinovich wouldn't be required to show up in
court at the arraignment, whenever that is held.
Berry also has gone on a strong offensive even before the state has
decided whether to file formal charges.
He requested and was granted a subpoena last week by Collier Circuit
Judge Lauren Miller to force the Ritz hotel to turn over surveillance tapes
and several guest lists covering the night of the altercation.
"The defendant has a good faith belief that some or all of the incident
in question may have been captured by surveillance cameras owned and
maintained by the Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company," Berry's motion states.
January 26, 2004