BY ANDY GARDNER
North Country This Week

MASSENA – Records obtained through a Freedom of Information Law request show a beleaguered village police officer has been officially disciplined twice prior to the event where he was seen on camera damaging a suspect’s car.

Ptl. Brandon Huckle has been on leave since March. He was caught on a home security video on March 16 inside of Bernie Russo’s garage in the village of Massena. Officers on that date executed a search warrant at Russo’s residence, allegedly discovering narcotics and U.S. currency. Huckle has also been charged with felony criminal mischief for allegedly damaging Russo's car.

The video shows Huckle entering the garage and striking the vehicle with the door as he enters, then looking off camera and striking the car with the door two more times. Each of the three impacts are clearly audible on the recording.

Huckle’s disciplinary file says he was cited in 2016 for violating police policies governing “obedience to rules of conduct,” “adherence to department rules,” “conduct unbecoming” and “conduct and behavior.

In the 2017 incident, he was cited for violating police policies governing “conduct unbecoming,” “public statement or appearance,” “conduct and behavior,” “respect for fellow officers and employees” and “private conduct.”

At the time of both incidents, the chief was Adam Love, who has since retired.

Here are the details.

On Dec. 4, 2016, Huckle admitted to allowing someone associated with the 2013 “Operation Problem Child” case to be present in his house after an altercation at the Open Net Lounge. The disciplinary record says the person was also charged in 2013 with kidnapping and attempted kidnapping.

Operation Problem Child was a federal case that dismantled a narcotics distribution ring in Massena. It resulted in multiple arrests and convictions, and led to the seizure of powder cocaine, crack cocaine, heroin, firearms and cash.

“On Sunday, December 4, 2016, Ptl. Brandon Huckle did allow [redacted] and [redacted] with [redacted] and [redacted] were associated with [redacted] in the ‘Operation Problem Child’ sting operation that was a drug distribution ring in the North Country. [Redacted] and [redacted] were federally charged in the drug distribution ring. [Redacted] was also arrested in 2013 for kidnapping and was convicted for attempted kidnapping,” the redacted disciplinary record reads.

It says he was penalized by forfeiting 12 hours of accrued vacation time with the letter remaining in Huckle’s personnel file. He was ordered to “conduct himself in a manner (on and off duty) that meets standards set by department policy, rules, regulation and procedures.”

The 2017 incident was twofold. First, the suspended patrolman admitted to making a “highly intoxicated female” leave his house naked when another female showed up at Huckle’s house.

“On Sunday, July 16, 2017, at about 3:15 a.m., Ptl. Brandon Huckle did make a highly intoxicated female, one [redacted], exit his bedroom window naked because another female, one [redacted] that he had been hanging with all day Saturday and Saturday night at Open Net bar came to his house. [Redacted] was made to leave Ptl. Huckle’s room after trying to hide in the closet. [Redacted] left Ptl. Huckle’s window fully nude and in her hands, she had two shirts and her purse. [Redacted] had no pants, bra and no shoes. At 5:20 a.m., [redacted] was observed walking into the Quality Inn, so she could call for a taxi ride home. [Redacted] was wearing a shirt and had her purse on her arm,” the disciplinary record reads.

Additionally, Huckle admitted to sending “obscene, derogatory” texts about the Massena Police Department and a village police sergeant.

“On Sunday, July 16, 2017, Ptl. Huckle did make several texts to a [redacted] that criticized and ridiculed the Massena Police Department and a sergeant with the Massena Police Department. The texts were obscene, derogatory towards the department,” the records say.

Chief Jason Olson said he's not able to comment on the matter, but says the current charges are working their way through the proper channels. He was not chief at the time of the 2016 and 2017 incidents.

"I am not at liberty to discuss any specific details regarding Brandon Huckle's criminal case or his administrative case. What I can say is that since his suspension in March, his administrative case has been moving through the civil service system pending an article 75 hearing, which is the standard process for all civil service employees. The criminal case is moving through the court process as usual. I was not the Chief or in administration at the time of the other two incidents or had any role in any part of those incidents and have no knowledge regarding them. Chief at that time was Adam Love. I am unable to comment further on this issue due to both cases (administrative and criminal) still going through the necessary procedures and hearings in their respective courts," Olson said.