By LeaAnne Klentzman

Veteran Richmond Police officer Steve Eiteman is back at his regular job after charges against him were dismissed last week.

On December 9, 2009, Eiteman drove past Rosenberg police officer Justin Pannell who had a violator stopped along the side of the road. According to testimony presented in the Administrative License Revocation (ALR) hearing in April of 2010, Officer Pannell ordered Eiteman to stop because he (Eiteman) did not have a front license plate on his car. According to Pannell’s testimony in the ALR hearing, Eiteman failed to follow his commands as an officer which put him (Pannell) in fear for his life.

Portions of the video of the traffic stop were played during the ALR hearing. The ruling by the Administrative Judge of the ALR hearing was that the officer had no probable cause to arrest

See CHARGES, page 10

Eiteman for the charge of Driving While under the Influence (DWI). Eiteman’s driver’s license was not suspended nor was he suspended from work. During the time his case worked its way through the justice system, Eiteman was assigned to desk duty at the Richmond police department.

Last Monday, on Eiteman’s 64th birthday, a jury was selected in the DWI case. Tuesday morning, out of the presence of the jury, motions were heard. After the judge viewed the video and heard testimony from Pannell regarding the motions, the case was dismissed.

After his first day back to regular duties, Eiteman said he was glad the ordeal was over. He said he certainly sees things from a very different perspective. He declined to comment on any future plans, he just reiterated how glad he was to have it all behind him.

Eiteman has served as a Richmond Police officer for well over 35 years. Pannell testified that he has been with Rosenberg for 2 years.

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