Our first Read the Lead for the December ’13/January ’14 edition of Disclosure, on stands now, originated about two weeks ago when the internet-usage habits of a Marion public official came under scrutiny.
Apparently, Marion’s chief of police, John Eibeck, is quite used to leading media around by the nose, and attempted to exert that influence on us when we ran a brief on the arrest and charges regarding former Marion cop, Steve Waterbury. When it didn’t work, he went into a tirade on his Facebook page, and redoubled his efforts when he was the subject of a stinging NewsCap. Naturally, he had no idea how it looked to the scrutinizing public…since he, like many public officials, lives in his own little world. In fact, at last check, he’s STILL griping over the whole thing, doing some really limp projection by trying to say that we are the ones who’ve had a meltdown instead of him.However, his ongoing online tirades have had some unintended consequences, which we’re exploring in more detail in upcoming editions.
In the meantime, here’s the initial part of the investigation in your first Read the Lead, “Chief melts down“:
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MARION—A meth arrest kept quiet throughout the month of November exploded all over print and online nearly a month after it happened, following a very public meltdown of Marion’s chief of police over a headline error.
And now, Marion’s police department has been subjected to very pointed Freedom of Information Act requests regarding internet usage that may hearken back to the days of at least a couple of their officers cavorting with badge bunny Brittney Lane…and chief John Eibeck’s possible association with either covering up or facilitating said cavorting.
Waterbury’s arrest obscured somewhat
Steve Waterbury
Disclosure learned that on November 15, 2013, a meth bust had occurred which involved one Steven C. Waterbury.
Waterbury, 61, of Marion, was not reported to have been arrested and charged in connection with the incident—which is reported to have taken place at his home in the 700 block of Garfield Street in Marion—until December 10, however, for whatever reason.
Williamson County sources advise that he was actually arrested at the time of the meth bust; there has been no explanation for the delay in reporting the incident by authorities.
The charge was a single count of Use of a Vehicle, Structure or Property to Manufacture Meth, in this case, Waterbury’s home and/or garage.
Waterbury is well-known across Williamson County, as both a former major league ballplayer as well as a former cop.
Waterbury came to play for the St. Louis Cardinals in September 1976 for about a season (according to available baseball stats), gaining fame as a “mean fastball” pitcher with a clocked speed of 99 mph on throws. He was traded to the Philadelphia Phillies in June 1977, was released from Philadelphia in 1979, and in January of that year was signed by the Chicago Cubs, at which time his ball career basically fell into obscurity.
The son of a local osteopathic physician and the owner of a respected dress boutique in Marion, Waterbury is reported by friends to have had a problem early on accessing his father’s supply of meds to augment a habit he was developing at the time.
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Read the rest of the story by clicking this link to get started with your online subscription, or pick up a print version at these vendors! You can get your print copy of Disclosure in Williamson County at ROC One-Stop in Marion on DeYoung, and in Johnston City; Pit Road Racing in downtown Marion; and Hunter’s Cove Barber Shop in Marion on DeYoung!
What does the Brittster have to do with John Eibeck? Read this article to find out.