FBI agents seize deputy sheriffs computer

August 4, 2008

By KAREN VELIE and DANIEL BLACKBURN

A San Luis Obispo County sheriff’s deputy is the target of an FBI investigation which has included a search of the deputy’s house and the seizure of his computer.

Bryan Goossens, a 20-year employee of the sheriff’s department, was placed on paid administrative leave July 11 by Sheriff Pat Hedges.

Additional information about the ongoing federal investigation is currently unavailable. FBI and sheriff’s officials declined comment on Goossens’ situation.

Eight days after being placed on leave, Goossens caused a five-car accident in Atascadero. According to a police report, a witness substantiated Goossens’ claim that he was driving at “normal speeds.” Contacted by CalCoastNews.com, the witness, Iris Florez, said she did not notice Goossens’ pickup truck prior to its slamming into four parked vehicles and rolling over twice. According to the report, police did not cite the suspended deputy.

The official report on the incident apparently failed to travel through normal channels. Officer Scott Pipan said he generally sees all traffic reports, but more than a week after Goossens’ mishap, Pipan said he knew nothing about it.

Prior to the search of his home, Goossens worked patrol duty out of the sheriff’s Templeton office. Hired in 1988, Goossens spent three years working as a corrections officer before becoming a deputy in 1991.

Goossens hung up on a reporter and has not responded to requests for comment.


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By: Anonymous on 8/23/08

…or the cops and the reporters are all flaked out together somewhere smoking fatties and playing Obama bin Biden speeches backwards.


You know you believe it!

By: Anonymous on 8/12/08

…or the cops are getting sick of the media and reporters getting it all wrong. Especially the Fib-une.

By: Anonymous on 8/11/08

The Atascadero police log linked on the Tribune website has been blank for at least a few days. This either means that Atascadero has been utterly crime free or…

By: Anonymous on 8/11/08

So a cop being investigated by the FBI is the same as a lawyer smoking pot. Get real.


Also, how does news about one cop make them all look bad. They are like everyone else, some ethical and some criminal.

By: Anonymous on 8/9/08

You go Goossens!

By: Anonymous on 8/9/08

true, true.

By: Anonymous on 8/9/08

Only sinking ships have leaks…

By: Anonymous on 8/9/08

Well are ya, Frank?

By: Anonymous on 8/9/08

Let's look at this article for what it really is. An opportunity for the cop bashers to rip on cops, and for the hard working cops out there to take a type written bashing until the next big drama surfaces. Hey, did anyone read about the local attorney that got arrested for some harmless marijuana??

By: Anonymous on 8/9/08

To Anonymous,point well taken, it's definitely more accurate with all discussion of various departments,that sweeping generalizations aren't made about the quality of the officers.

By: Anonymous on 8/8/08

To Serpico: My LEA comment, "I pitty any fool who tries to rob a Starbucks." Banks would be better served if they served free Java. (JMHO)

By: Anonymous on 8/8/08

Dear soccer mom, you should get a ticket if you were breaking the law. No doubt driving a suburban, sucking down a latte and talking on a cell phone at the same time you were speeding or running a stop sign. Both of which will kill innocent others including your kids. As far as the tweekers, give me a break, every one that they can collar, they do! They get way more personal satisfaction out of collaring a real bad guy that having to babysit drivers who are operating HUA.

By: Anonymous on 8/8/08

Atascadero PD is a great organization and would NEVER cover up for anyone, no, not even a fellow law enforcement officer. Everyone will soon know what the FBI is investigating and at this point, speculation is not an option.


By: Anonymous on 8/8/08

What? The APD does a great job of giving soccer moms tickets while the tweakers roam free in town.

By: Anonymous on 8/8/08

Ahhhhhhhhhhh it is MR INNOCENT again. lol


Why doesn't Atascadero just fire the whole Department and bring in some new blood?Perhaps at that point the citizenry would feel comfortable with the actions of the Department.

By: Anonymous on 8/7/08

Maybe he was just speeding. Though to hide the coverup those in the know had to hide the incident. Do you think they knew about the FBI investigation?

By: Anonymous on 8/6/08

Sure. Maybe the report disclosing the whereabouts of Jimmy Hoffa is also behind that file cabinet in Officer Pipans office.


By: Anonymous on 8/6/08

Who hid the report from officer Pipan? It looks like thats what happend here. This would indicate that somebody knew that Goossens had done something very wrong. Like maybe he was hauling ass and crashed 4 cars on Traffic Way.

By: Anonymous on 8/6/08

I guess the report fell behind the file cabinet!!!

By: Anonymous on 8/6/08

Actually, the story says that Goossens was placed on leave eight days before this accident. July 11:Leave. July 19: accident.

By: Anonymous on 8/5/08

From the City website: http://www.atascadero.org/index.php?option=com_co


(last paragraph) If you would like additional information on the Traffic Division, have a question about the California Vehicle Code, or would like to discuss a complaint about a traffic problem, contact Senior Police Officer Scott Pipan at 805/470-3268 or (spipan@atascadero.org).

By: Anonymous on 8/5/08

Did you read the story? You said, "what an amazing coincidence that he would be involved in an accident shortly before the fbi abscond with his computer."


The story said the accident was eight days before Goossens was placed on leave.


Pipan said he reviews traffic reports, he is an A town officer who is responsible for reviewing traffic reports. Not brain science.

By: Anonymous on 8/5/08

Hey, the question stands. Who the hell is pipen? Ok, he is an Atascadero cop. So? Is he in charge of records and this one is mysteriously gone? Fallen behind the cabinet? I just thought the reference was obscure without an identifier.


That said, what an amazing coincidence that he would be involved in an accident shortly before the fbi abscond with his computer. Of course we don't know that for sure yet.

By: Anonymous on 8/5/08

I posted to wrong thread, excuse me. In case your wondering I don't smoke said tea. Moving on to correct thread… (-<)


By: Anonymous on 8/5/08

What ever happened to STATES RIGHTS!!! We need a California Tea Party!(that could be fun} What has the Fed done for you lately? Then again what has the state government done for you….

By: Anonymous on 8/5/08

Sheriff's underlings are "deputies." Police are "officers." Only one city involved here. Get it?

By: Anonymous on 8/5/08

You mention Pipan like he is a known character. How about identifying his position? Like "Sheriff's Department Scott Pipan, who oversees officer related accidents, has yet to receive the report". Is Pipan CHP, Atascadero PD or an off duty Walmart employee. Sloppy stuff.

By: Anonymous on 8/5/08

to badge heavy bozo


what's the matter bozo? did a cop break up your keg party in high school? did a big bad cop take your little bag of weed? your bias against cops is so obvious you lack any credibility at all.

By: Anonymous on 8/4/08

This is just really too much. Now I hear that there is still more. Stay tuned folks.

By: Anonymous on 8/4/08

It's just electronic gossip…

By: Anonymous on 8/4/08

READ. THE. WORDS.


I didn't say Dan and Karen should reveal their sources. I said they should give their facts accreditation. There is a difference.


"As long as it's the truth whats your problem?" Your statement speaks for itself.


By: Anonymous on 8/4/08

Yes, I agree. They should keep rewriting press releases regardless of who sends them. Stories about Goossens should only become public if those in power deem it so. And then with their slant regardless of political leanings.

By: Anonymous on 8/4/08

I hope real news agencies in the county — regardless of political bent or whatever — don't stoop to this level.

By: Anonymous on 8/4/08

Also to to the editors says:

"Would it be better to say sources said or to stand on reputation?"


NEWSFLASH! NBC News reports that Al Gore has just won the presidency!

By: Anonymous on 8/4/08

You are right about the rules taught in journalism classes. Though I do think journalism rules are changing. With all the PR spin, it is hard to get to the truth through traditional venues. Would it be better to say sources said or to stand on reputation?

By: Anonymous on 8/4/08

Why don't you F'en people get a LIFE? Cut the guy some slack and go back to your vidio games. It will all come out in time.

By: Anonymous on 8/4/08

Karen doesn't have to give her stories validity by teliing you who told her something. She has never been wrong and the facts are the facts. Her sources are no ones business and investigative journalisum couldn't exist without private sources. As long as it's the truth whats your problem. Like I said she always come out "right on the money".


By: Anonymous on 8/4/08

There is no attribution listed for the facts stated in your lead paragraph. Where did this FBI investigation info come from?


In my opinion, it would enhance the legitimacy of your news service to provide such info.


"Blah blah blah blah," Source said. Or something like that. When I was a journalism student a long time ago, attributing your source was vital to the integrity of a story, especially in the lead. Maybe things have changed.


Maybe the rules are different for blogs. This is all new to me. Perhaps some body out there can tell me if I'm nuts, or just behind the cyber-times…


By: Anonymous on 8/4/08

I can't wait to see what the

Tribune prints. They won't have any choice but to print this story. I wonder what facts they'll leave out and what spin they'll put on it.

By: Anonymous on 8/4/08

to Fact vs. conspiracy


You assume all cops are good or all cops are bad. Apparently at least one cop doesn't approve of this coverup.

By: Anonymous on 8/4/08

The answer to your question about the brotherhood is NO. You forget that there is now a sisterhood.

By: Anonymous on 8/4/08

This is just unbelievable to me. What in the world is going on? I understand letting someone off from a traffic violation but dah?? Does anyone get the magnitude of all this. If this is going on then what else is going on. This is probably just the tip of the iceberg. I can't believe this. A high ranking detective put his name on the report? Did he go out on the call? Why did a detective go out on the call? What did he do with the report after he completed it?

By: Anonymous on 8/4/08

Facts:

1.Goossens crashed.

2.Goossens is on leave and being investigated by the FBI.


Conspiracy theory:

1.Officer Wilshusen is somehow protecting Goossens.

2.Cops will go to bat for other cops no matter the circumstance, crime, or otherwise.

3.There is some sort of multi agency cover up trying to keep all this from the media, and only Mike Brennler can fix it.


Anyways,it doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure out the leak is possibly from inside the blue brotherhood or whatever you'd like to call it. So, if that's case, doesn't that destroy the notion of the supposed code of brotherly conduct?

By: Anonymous on 8/4/08

Typical badge heavy boyscout.


How do you know that "stupid conspiracy theory garbage is ridiculous at best"? You're making a statement of fact. What FACTS do you have to back up your statement?


The answere is NONE. And the FACT is that cops cannot be trusted to investigate themselves. They are too inbred and corrupt. Your response is a perfect example of this. That is why outside agencies step in, such as the FBI.


We'll see how your boy looks in the light of day.


By: Anonymous on 8/4/08

Maybe we should all wait and see what kind of story you officials can come up with. We've all seen the spin befor. Go ahead figure out what your going to say. Get your stories straight. Better make sure you figure out where the leaks are first.

By: Anonymous on 8/4/08

All of you that are engaging in the non stop maybe game are rather ridiculous. Gee, maybe this is what happened, or, maybe that is what happened. Stop feeding off one another and try to get a grip on reality. Or, wait til more facts come out.


All this stupid conspiracy theory garbage is ridiculous at best. Typical cop basher feeding frenzy, only this time it's being spread aournd multiple agencies at once.

By: Anonymous on 8/4/08

I'm listening to 920 AM KVEC. They just said that Karen Velie is going to be on shortly.

By: Anonymous on 8/4/08

Hey, where are all the LE a$$hats that claim the public should only know whatever lying happycrap is issued by their own PR departments?

By: Anonymous on 8/4/08

LOL. Yeah Brennlers been quite effective. The harder he ties to lay down the law the stupider he looks. He spends more time trying to create order than Adolf did himself.

By: Anonymous on 8/4/08

All will be revealed soon – but not by the limp d*cked Trib!


HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!

By: Anonymous on 8/4/08

I'm not saying he-Goossens is guilty, I'm saying I know why and that it's not so secret. The APD detectives deffinetly could have also known at the time of the accident.

By: Anonymous on 8/4/08

Stealing knitting patterns. I knew it.

By: Anonymous on 8/4/08

Derbs, you seem like just another badge heavy boyscout Bozo in denial who'd lucky to be night watching a 7-11.

By: Anonymous on 8/4/08

I know (for a fact) why he was suspended. If I know then many others know. The reason has already been mentioned on this blog and it is the correct reason.

By: Anonymous on 8/4/08

Jeff is a boy cop. I wonder if the girl cops are mad at him? Maybe one of them decided to out him! For those folks who don't get it, go back and look at the story about the APD male officers filing a complaint at city hall about the female APD officers. Too Funny

By: Anonymous on 8/4/08

to can't believe my eyes


news that someone has been placed on administrative leave usually travels pretty fast. but, the reasons for being placed on admin leave are rarely disclosed and all these posts are, at best, speculative.


By: Anonymous on 8/4/08

How many of you posting here work for a government agency?

5:00 pm is coming and the posts probably will stop!

By: Anonymous on 8/4/08

Cute, Derbs. How do you think UNSLO heard about it? A seance?

By: Anonymous on 8/4/08

to think about it


law enforcement personnel issues are strictly confidential and cannot be disclosed. since not even his co workers know what his leave is about, i seriously doubt someone from an outside agency would know.

By: Anonymous on 8/4/08

kiss kiss insider,

t a l d a

By: Anonymous on 8/4/08

The detective from APD most likely was aware about Gooseens being on suspention and would have also known why.

By: Anonymous on 8/4/08

Damn it, I'm really pissed off. I can almost understand how a responding officer might be inclined to give another leo a break but for a higher up to step in and do it. That is really outrageous, just outrageous. I'm calling Mike Brennler and asking him to take a look at this.

By: Anonymous on 8/4/08

Did a 'higher-up' do this? In law enforcement as elsewhere, the 'lower-downs' don't have the juice, or the CYA inclination. Read the tea leaves.

By: Anonymous on 8/4/08

You are just so full of it. Brennler is the best thing that happend to all of us in a long time, keep quacking.

By: Anonymous on 8/4/08

to insider


i was not addressing your post specifically. i was addressing the "either or" nature of some other posts, claiming to know the only reasons the feds would take someone's computer. anytime a compuer is used to commit any crime it becomes an instrumentality of that crime and can be seized for inspection. the reasons are as limitless and varied as the criminals who use them. again, goossens has not been charged with committing any crime. he is entitled to a presumption of innocence. you vultures out there who think you know all about police culture from having watched a few episodes of 'cops' or 'law and order' are as ignoirant as you sound.

By: Anonymous on 8/4/08

I meant to log on as "Wants to know about Wilhusen". I didn't mean to insinuate that it was him posting.I'm not used to this blogging yet.

By: Anonymous on 8/4/08

Brennler has made every average citizen that disagreed with him a victim of revenge under the guise of law and order. Lets see what he does with this. I bet nothing. Any takers?

By: Anonymous on 8/4/08

Is he really a high ranking detective? Somebody lied about the witness statement and kept it from going through normal channels. I want to know if a higher up did it. This is bullshit. I really mean it, I want to know.

By: Anonymous on 8/4/08

The public will certainly be seeking some answers now.

By: Anonymous on 8/4/08

Good God Insider. Please stop this love affair with Smokey the Bear – it has just taken on a life of it's own now. Kiss, kiss….


By: Anonymous on 8/4/08

Is this really true? If it is, is it normal for a high ranking detective to go out on an accident call? I don't think anyone knew who had been in the accident unless Iris called 911 after speaking to the driver and gave his name to them. I wonder if the officer who wrote the report isn't the one that responded? Maybe Jeff decided to take over when hefound out who the driver was? Maybe Mike Brennler really should take a look at this.

By: Anonymous on 8/4/08

Jeff Wilshusen is a high ranking detective in the PD.

Hmmm.

By: Anonymous on 8/4/08

If you don't have any idea what the FBI raided his house for then it isn't what your worried that it could be. Doesn't that just make simple sense.

By: Anonymous on 8/4/08

to derbs


I never even sugested such a thing. But you sure just threw it out there. With friens like you he doesn't need any enemies.

By: Anonymous on 8/4/08

It really could be any number of reasons that the computer was seized. Who knows, maybe he was doing money transfers for Karen Guth. Maybe he's hiding a couple of million for Gearhart or Miller. But I doubt it.

By: Anonymous on 8/4/08

has everybody out there forgotted the presumption of innocence? this officer hasn't even been charged with anything and you guys have already pegged him as a pedophile. you should all be ashamed of yourselves

By: Anonymous on 8/4/08

Where's Smokey the Bear Brennler when you need him? Finally some real corruption and in law inforcement. In Atascadero. How can Mike stand idly by? Afterall doesn't he stand for Truth, Justice, and Transparency in all of the public realm? Please Super Mike step in and make some sense of all this for us. Is this not more important than a smirk at City Council?

By: Anonymous on 8/4/08

The name of the officer sure was fast. Is he a young newbie?

By: Anonymous on 8/4/08

I know the name of the officer that was on the scene and took the report. It's Jeff Wilshusen. Anybody know him?

By: Anonymous on 8/4/08

It's against the law to steal and sell from the entertainment industry. There are FBI earnings on all th DVD's. Maybe that could be what he did. Our neighborhood is very upset. The phones around here are ringing.

By: Anonymous on 8/4/08

The next obvious question is who was the officer on the scene of the accident? But then it wouldn't be a very good coverup if we could get answers would it?

By: Anonymous on 8/4/08

Music downloads. You're joking, right?


Well, maybe he was just d/l'ing knitting patterns.


Stitch one, pearl one.


HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH!!!!


By: Anonymous on 8/4/08

I wonder if the original report was written in PENCIL?


HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!

By: Anonymous on 8/4/08

I'm more interested in the computer right now. It should'nt take long to find out what this is all about. This sounds very serious and 20 years on the force, oh geez. How long does it take to go through a hard drive even if it's been erased? Probably not long. They must already have proff of what they are looking for anyway or they wouldn't have taken the computer. This is very disconcerting. What has been going on in our little town? Hopefully he was downloading pirated music and software.

By: Anonymous on 8/4/08

You can crash but you can't hide from uncoveredslo. Remember people that officer Pipan never received the report. Must have been a clerical error somewhere between the officer who wrote the report and???

By: Anonymous on 8/4/08

Looks like Officer Pipan is in charge of the traffic accident reports. Now we know why it never got into the RLRU. Somebody hid it …

By: Anonymous on 8/4/08

I feel bad for the officer who screwed the report up. Mr G. (his "brother") should have warned him about the trouble that was already hanging around his neck.

By: Anonymous on 8/4/08

Karen and Dan are doing an excellent job. What a follow up this is..

By: Anonymous on 8/4/08

Cop's aren't usually smart enough to engage in any geek activities that would bring on the FBI. If they were that capable they wouldn't be patrol officers, they would be a least detectives or the like (if they were in law enforcement at all).

By: Anonymous on 8/4/08

To Not Funny,

OK.

By: Anonymous on 8/4/08

Does anyone understand how serious this is? This man lives in our neighborhood. If the allegations are correct what else do you think he might have been doing? Take your jokes and stick then where thesun doesn't shine.

By: Anonymous on 8/4/08

I heard it has naked pictures of Jerry Clay's Walmart tatoo.

By: Anonymous on 8/4/08

I heard he has e-mails between Tom O'Malley, Wade McKinney, the Rottman Group,insider and Wal-Mart!!

By: Anonymous on 8/4/08

I agree with Cindy but I also know that she knows what the allegations are, and it's not about part time geek activities.

By: Anonymous on 8/4/08

Dan and Karen,

This site is killer. It's time that you do an all out push for more coverage. Everyone who is politically savy knows about you and reads your site. I know of people who check this site constantly but there are still many citizens that don't know about you. They need to know.


By: Anonymous on 8/4/08

So not only is this guy in more serious trouble than the DUI and wreckless driving he may or may not have deserved. We will never know. Some probably young cop in Atascadero has put his career on the line covering up for a potentially bad, and sleazy cop. Maybe Brennler knows this guy and decided he better get out of the local enforcer position while the getting was good.

By: Anonymous on 8/4/08

I agree with Anonymous. Please lets be very careful not to make those accusations. This can be damaging beyond repair and it can follow an innocent person for many years. I know some people here can be mean spirited but this isn't politics. This is a man's reputation and future. We don't know what the facts are apart from what Karen and Dan have reported. Let's be the decent citizens that I know we all really are at heart. Wait to see what he is charged with, if he is even charged. There are many reason’s that the FBI could want his computer. Maybe he’s a part time Geek and broke into some private records , get the drift.

P.S. Yes I think he was speeding on 7/19/08 at 9:40 AM on Traffic Way.

By: Anonymous on 8/4/08

Where there is smoke, there is fire. Nine times out of ten.

By: Anonymous on 8/4/08

True, he is on leave while being investigated, but child/sex/accusations follow you like a shadow, guilty or not…ask the landscaper Armett (sp) about that

By: Anonymous on 8/4/08

We know it has naked pictures of which GOB's were in bed with who and when. Also I heard that the infamous condom cartoon wasn't located on a certain persons head afterall.

By: Anonymous on 8/4/08

It's no allegation that he was suspended from duty and that the FBI took his computer. Do you really think the FBI confiscates computers and searches people homes unless they have something hard to go on? What is usually on computers that causes the FBI to get involved? Terrorist activities or kiddie porn, thats what. Take your pick.

By: Anonymous on 8/4/08

My inquiring mind wants to know what else u-slo knows. How do they get all this info? Why can't other reporters get this info. I bet Karen and Dan had a good time watching everyone blog about the accident and allegations of a coverup knowing what they were going to add to the story next.So there was a coverup! There really was one. I wonder if the cop that wrote the false report and tried to hide it knew that this guy was in some other nasty trouble?

By: Anonymous on 8/4/08

This is becoming very dangerous…accusations with nothing to substanciate guilt.

By: Anonymous on 8/4/08

I'll make it a hundred bucks that Mud Hole Mike is right.

By: Anonymous on 8/4/08

Fifty bucks says child porn.

By: Anonymous on 8/4/08

Does anyone know what might have been on this computer that the FBI is interested in? Apart from the fact that it has insiders IP address on it.

By: Anonymous on 8/4/08

Now, its obvious that there was a cover up. Uncoveredslo.com ROCKS… This is going to become the #1 source of factual reporting in the county. Goodbye Tribune.

By: Anonymous on 8/4/08

Ny guess is that he knows the true idenity of Insider and the FBI is on it.