Floyd Tidwell

A Los Angeles federal judge ruled Friday that five Mexicans whose civil rights were found to have been violated by San Bernardino County sheriff's deputies may seek damages against Sheriff Floyd Tidwell. Moreover, U.S. District Judge A. Wallace Tashima said Tidwell can be held personally liable for the damages if the jury determines that he has perpetuated a policy of misconduct among his deputies.

Former San Bernardino County Sheriff Floyd Tidwell's sentencing on felony gun charges was delayed until Nov. 30 after a county judge heard nearly three hours of arguments Thursday about whether the charges should be reduced to misdemeanors. Tidwell allegedly stole at least 523 guns from the Sheriff's Department evidence rooms while he was in office, and in May pleaded guilty to four felony counts of concealing stolen property.

Former San Bernardino County Sheriff Floyd Tidwell's sentencing on felony gun charges was delayed until Nov. 30 after a county judge heard nearly three hours of arguments Thursday about whether the charges should be reduced to misdemeanors. Tidwell allegedly stole at least 523 guns from the Sheriff's Department evidence rooms while he was in office, and in May pleaded guilty to four felony counts of concealing stolen property.

From inside his High Desert ranch home, decorated with steer horns and well-stocked with firearms, former San Bernardino County Sheriff Floyd Tidwell on Wednesday said that his safety may be at risk if prosecutors pursue felony gun charges against him. If the felonies stick, Tidwell could face jail time and would be stripped of his right to bear arms -- both of which Tidwell says would put him in grave danger. "I've put a lot of people away," Tidwell, 74, said.

SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY Supervisor District 2 Jon Mikels 15,770 Cal McElwain, inc. 10,140 S.T. Brannon 3,483 District 4 Larry Walker 13,427 Gus J. Skropos, inc. 10,490 Assessor R. Gordon Young, inc. 83,139 Donald E. Williamson 19,242 John A. Curry 17,092 Michael T. Smith 15,978 Sheriff Floyd Tidwell, inc. 115,099 Lawrence E. Henson 27,795 Superior Court Office 4 Joseph E. Johnston 69,536 Rex W. Cranmer, inc. 68,014 Office 5 Michael A. Smith 67,258 Bobby R. Vincent 64,441 Office 11 Rufus L.

Retiring San Bernardino County Sheriff Floyd Tidwell turned in his badge Monday, concluding a 38-year law enforcement career to spend more time with his grandchildren and competing on the amateur rodeo circuit. Tidwell, dubbed the last of the cowboy sheriffs by local leaders, helped shepherd the department from a small force of deputies roaming Southern California's outback to a modern law enforcement agency grappling with gangs and other urban ills.

A federal judge in Los Angeles on Friday dismissed a civil rights lawsuit against San Bernardino County and Sheriff Floyd Tidwell stemming from the controversial 1988 arrest of five Mexican men in Victorville. U.S. District Judge A. Wallace Tashima said he was dismissing the case because there was "no evidence of a custom or policy" of excessive force that would make it possible for a jury to return a verdict against the defendants.

San Bernardino County officials are investigating whether the county's former longtime sheriff, Floyd Tidwell, illegally gave his son Danial dozens of guns that belonged to the Sheriff's Department, law enforcement officials familiar with the case said Thursday. Last year, deputies searched the home of the younger Tidwell, a former sheriff's deputy, as part of a probe into allegations that he was illegally soliciting bail business for his Boone's Bail Bonds company, based in Fontana.

Floyd Tidwell, the former sheriff of San Bernardino County, pleaded guilty Monday to four felony counts of concealing stolen property as investigators said he took at least 523 guns from evidence rooms during his eight-year tenure. During his terms, from 1983 to 1991, Tidwell would walk through evidence rooms "as if shopping, to take his pick of weapons," one sheriff's official said.

From inside his High Desert ranch home, decorated with steer horns and well-stocked with firearms, former San Bernardino County Sheriff Floyd Tidwell on Wednesday said that his safety may be at risk if prosecutors pursue felony gun charges against him. If the felonies stick, Tidwell could face jail time and would be stripped of his right to bear arms -- both of which Tidwell says would put him in grave danger. "I've put a lot of people away," Tidwell, 74, said.

Floyd Tidwell, the former sheriff of San Bernardino County, pleaded guilty Monday to four felony counts of concealing stolen property as investigators said he took at least 523 guns from evidence rooms during his eight-year tenure. During his terms, from 1983 to 1991, Tidwell would walk through evidence rooms "as if shopping, to take his pick of weapons," one sheriff's official said.

San Bernardino County officials are investigating whether the county's former longtime sheriff, Floyd Tidwell, illegally gave his son Danial dozens of guns that belonged to the Sheriff's Department, law enforcement officials familiar with the case said Thursday. Last year, deputies searched the home of the younger Tidwell, a former sheriff's deputy, as part of a probe into allegations that he was illegally soliciting bail business for his Boone's Bail Bonds company, based in Fontana.

Retiring San Bernardino County Sheriff Floyd Tidwell turned in his badge Monday, concluding a 38-year law enforcement career to spend more time with his grandchildren and competing on the amateur rodeo circuit. Tidwell, dubbed the last of the cowboy sheriffs by local leaders, helped shepherd the department from a small force of deputies roaming Southern California's outback to a modern law enforcement agency grappling with gangs and other urban ills.

A federal judge in Los Angeles on Friday dismissed a civil rights lawsuit against San Bernardino County and Sheriff Floyd Tidwell stemming from the controversial 1988 arrest of five Mexican men in Victorville. U.S. District Judge A. Wallace Tashima said he was dismissing the case because there was "no evidence of a custom or policy" of excessive force that would make it possible for a jury to return a verdict against the defendants.

A Los Angeles federal judge ruled Friday that five Mexicans whose civil rights were found to have been violated by San Bernardino County sheriff's deputies may seek damages against Sheriff Floyd Tidwell. Moreover, U.S. District Judge A. Wallace Tashima said Tidwell can be held personally liable for the damages if the jury determines that he has perpetuated a policy of misconduct among his deputies.

SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY Supervisor District 2 Jon Mikels 15,770 Cal McElwain, inc. 10,140 S.T. Brannon 3,483 District 4 Larry Walker 13,427 Gus J. Skropos, inc. 10,490 Assessor R. Gordon Young, inc. 83,139 Donald E. Williamson 19,242 John A. Curry 17,092 Michael T. Smith 15,978 Sheriff Floyd Tidwell, inc. 115,099 Lawrence E. Henson 27,795 Superior Court Office 4 Joseph E. Johnston 69,536 Rex W. Cranmer, inc. 68,014 Office 5 Michael A. Smith 67,258 Bobby R. Vincent 64,441 Office 11 Rufus L.

Two deputies have resigned, three others have been suspended and three other sheriff's employees have been fired after an investigation into allegations that some had sex with a female Explorer Scout, officials said Friday. Sheriff Floyd Tidwell said the investigation, which began Monday, led to the resignations of Robert Swindle, 31, a deputy since 1978, and James Dawson, 38, who joined the department in 1981.

Attorneys representing five Mexican nationals who were allegedly beaten by San Bernardino County sheriff's deputies in Victorville filed a $15-million lawsuit in U.S. District Court in Los Angeles, accusing Sheriff Floyd Tidwell and the deputies of a conspiracy to "cover up the incident."