Former Las Vegas police captain John Pelletier will be retaining his position as Maui County Police Chief.
Pelletier was named in one of the civil lawsuits against Diddy, legally known as Sean Combs. He stands accused of allegedly kidnapping a Las Vegas couple, as well as allegedly helping the now-disgraced mogul cover up one of his se*ual assault cases in California.
Pelletier has categorically maintained his innocence, and this Wednesday, the Maui Police Commission declined to place him on leave. Pelletier joined the department in 2021, prior to which he worked as a Las Vegas police captain and was in charge of The Strip.
Lawsuit against John Pelletier explored as he swears he has nothing to do with Diddy:
According to Civil Beat, the commission's decision was unanimous among all seven members and came on the heels of Maui Mayor Richard Bissen’s suggestion last week that John Pelletier be temporarily placed on leave.
The chief was one among over a dozen other prolific figures named in the March 7 civil lawsuit against Diddy, including former Miami Dolphins wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. and comedian Drew “Druski” Desbordes. The suit was filed in the U.S. District Court for Northern California by Ashley Parham and two other unidentified plaintiffs.
Parham is accusing Pelletier of allegedly being a part of Diddy's security team and reportedly helping him cover up a g*ng r*pe that allegedly occurred on March 23, 2018. However, Pelletier has denied these claims, noting that he has never even met Combs.
John Pelletier has also presented receipts in the form of emails, bank records, and credit card bills to prove he was several miles away from the scene of the alleged crime on the night the incident allegedly took place.
In a statement to the commission, Maui Mayor Richard Bissen said:
“While the allegations in the amended complaint remain unproven, they are serious in nature and involve claims of alleged criminal conduct. This approach does not constitute a presumption of guilt but ensures that the individual in question is not in a position that may compromise the integrity of the office while the matter is under review.”
Last week, a spokesperson for the county doubled down on Bissen's recommendations in a statement that said, “Widespread media attention underscores the urgent need for action.” The statement continued:
“To protect public trust and ensure a fair, independent review, Mayor Bissen stands firmly behind his recommendation that the Police Commission place Chief Pelletier on leave to allow for an impartial investigation into the allegations.”
John Pelletier's lawyer, Keola R. Whittaker, said after Wednesday's meeting that he was pleased with the commission's decision.
“I know the concerns are that if there is smoke, there is fire. But there’s not even smoke here," he said, per Civil Beat.
Read John Pelletier's statement below from last Thursday, as reported by the outlet:
“This was done without allowing me to present documented proof of my whereabouts on the dates of these alleged incidents — evidence that categorically disproves these claims.” He added, “I don’t know these individuals and I’ve never met them.”
John Pelletier also claimed that the allegations levied against him are taking a toll on his whole family, including his teenage children and wife.
“Nobody has apologized to them, to my wife, to the police department, for the pain this has caused,” he said.
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