Metro is reviewing recommendation after cop acquitted

Keith Paul

Friday, Jan. 26, 2001 | 10 a.m.

A Metro Police internal investigation completed months after an officer was accused of a drug-related crime in 1999 recommended he be fired. But since a jury acquitted the officer on the charges this week, Metro officials are reviewing that recommendation.

Officer Jon Aaron Brown, who nearly died from a drug overdose in May 1999, could still face the possibility of losing his job.

Department officials withheld any punishment after the internal investigation, saying they wanted to wait until after his trial on drug trafficking and being under the influence of drugs, Undersheriff Richard Winget said.

Brown had filed a complaint alleging he was being treated more harshly than other officers accused of similar actions. Winget said the complaint had nothing to do with the original decision to delay imposing the discipline.

The trial -- completed Tuesday -- was about 20 months after the original arrest. The jury decided the verdict without hearing testimony from the case's lead detective, Vinten Hartung, who quit the department last week before an internal investigation was completed into his sexual relationship with a 16-year-old boy.

Lydia Gorzoch, who was charged along with Brown in the case, refused to talk with internal affairs investigators, but she has since talked with the detectives.

"Internal affairs was directed to reopen the case and consider the new evidence and determine if they need to reconsider the recommendation," Winget said.

Brown said he should be allowed to go back to work.

"I understand why I needed to be investigated and I don't hold anything against the department," said Brown, who was on administrative leave with pay for more than 20 months while his case moved through the courts. "I want to go back."

While on paid administrative leave Brown took the exam for sergeant and scored well.

Brown vowed to fight to keep his job and could appeal the decision if he is fired.

Brown's trouble started on May 25, 1999, when he spent the night partying with Gorzoch. After a night of drinking, Gorzoch called 911 saying Brown was unconscious and had taken gamma hydroxybutyrate, commonly known as GHB or the date-rape drug, and Ecstasy at her apartment.

Police searched Gorzoch's apartment and found materials used to make GHB and 108 grams of the drug inside a water bottle. Gorzoch, who was also charged, cut a deal with prosecutors and testified at Brown's trial.

Brown said he accidentally drank the GHB and believes someone slipped Ecstasy into his drink at a bar. Gorzoch testified Brown knowingly took the Ecstasy.

The jury apparently didn't believe Gorzoch. Eric Jorgenson, a chief deputy district attorney, said a subpoena wasn't issued for Hartung. He avoided saying why Hartung wasn't subpoenaed.

Brown's attorney, Kevin Kelly, tried to have Hartung subpoenaed last Friday as a defense witness, but the server was unable to serve him.

Kelly wouldn't say he was going to question Hartung about his recent resignation or possible criminal charge of furnishing alcohol to a minor.