Domestic violence charges dismissed against South Bend officer

By PABLO ROS, Tribune Staff Writer

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Wayne Boocher

Wayne Boocher (photo provided)

By Tiffany Griffin

Story Created: Jun 26, 2008 at 10:25 AM EDT

Story Updated: Jun 26, 2008 at 10:53 AM EDT

SOUTH BEND — Prosecutors dismissed domestic battery charges against a South Bend police officer who was placed on unpaid leave after his wife accused him of hitting her in front of their children in January 2007.

Lisa Boocher, the wife of Wayne Boocher, told a St. Joseph Superior Court judge Thursday morning that while she formerly told police that her husband had hit her outside a Target store, causing some bleeding, she in fact had hurt herself.

A St. Joseph County deputy prosecutor asked Judge Roland W. Chamblee Jr. to dismiss charges against Boocher because the victim no longer wished to prosecute and because a copy of a videotape recording of the incident had not been admitted at trial.

Boocher’s trial for felony domestic violence was to start Monday.

Friday, Jul 4 at 2:35 AM Brian Gaffigan wrote ...

Wayne is a good man and a good father also, let it go and you need to worry about your own lifes instead of looking around at everyone elses lives, were all tax payers no matter what kind of line of work we are in. The charges are dropped and if you were sitting in the same seat, I bet the story would be different... The ones that always talk negative are the ones that are mothers warned us about...

Friday, Jun 27 at 10:04 AM Anonymous wrote ...

andrea- you need to wake up he is NOT by any means taking care of those children...why dont you go ask them how they are doing im POSITIVE you will be very surprised with their answer since your so sure he is a great father!

Friday, Jun 27 at 3:34 AM Soldier In Iraq wrote ...

I know both Wayne and Lisa and have always known them to be Great Parents, Good Neighbors and Hard Working Individuals. I am glad to hear this is over. This would have never been an issue if Wayne was not a public servant. Because he is... He was charged. It was investigated, and now has been dismissed. "Justice...slow as it is, has been served". Let these Good People now put their lives back together and and continue being who they are and NOT who you think they are. Good Luck Wayne and Lisa.

Friday, Jun 27 at 12:13 AM Child Molester wrote ...

Look at him, he looks like a child molester. I think that he did it. This is only the second time in 2 days that the honorable police men have been in the news about intimidation and abuse. What wrong here?.

Thursday, Jun 26 at 10:56 PM dee wrote ...

most cop's wives recant. they are scared, threatened, pressured, and/or realize what it means if he loses his weapons. so all the woman-haters can believe she bloodied herself in the parking lot... but i know that six eye-witnesses said he laid in wait for her to come outside of the Target & attacked her, BUT that everyone under fear of him - his wife and kids - said that's not true - that she attacked him. doesn't take a genius. BEHIND THE BLUE WALL http://behindthebluewall.blogspot.com

Thursday, Jun 26 at 8:10 PM Anonymous wrote ...

The Witch hunt is finally over. Pay the man his back pay and let him get on with his life. His pay should come out of Dvorak's account. They never had a case and He knew it.

Thursday, Jun 26 at 7:17 PM Now you know... wrote ...

I know this family. They are both crazy. They both need help. There's not a lot of morals in either of them. They also both drive school bus for LaVille schools... says a lot for that district huh...

Thursday, Jun 26 at 7:04 PM T Gaskill wrote ...

Since the charges were dropped by his wife I'm confident the guy didn't probably do anything otherwise the state would have picked up the charges. Why wasn't the video presented in court? Probably because it showed a different story than what the wife told.

Thursday, Jun 26 at 5:35 PM Anonymous wrote ...

hes still a loser

Thursday, Jun 26 at 5:22 PM A good friend wrote ...

Wayne is a very close friend of mine. I am here to tall you that his wife has many issues. He has been vigorously trying to help her, and she refuses the help. you can't help the unwilling. Fact of the matter is this, if you have met lisa and Wayne, if he had hit her she would not have had a small spot on her lip bleeding. some of my friend are officers who have seen the tape, and have said nothing was shown of him assulting her. Quit being so quick to judge another human being!

Thursday, Jun 26 at 5:02 PM Yea, leave him wrote ...

Yea, your wife should leave you and marry a retired "police man", they rock

Thursday, Jun 26 at 4:58 PM I/N Tek wrote ...

Don't worry loser, you can come out to I/N Tek and work as a guard here. Then you can go out drinking with us and drive home in your squad car. According to that idiot retired police officer, thats what we do out here, drink & drive. Truth is you are both idiots. You are a violent wife abuser and the other is a typical police liar.

Thursday, Jun 26 at 4:39 PM CURIOUS wrote ...

Shouldn't she be charged with falsifying the report and have to pay him back his lost wages?

Thursday, Jun 26 at 4:25 PM anontn wrote ...

well, what happened to charges for falsely reportinga crime? That may make her think twice if she is lying now, and if not, then she deserves punishment for ruining her husbands name.

Thursday, Jun 26 at 4:24 PM Larry wrote ...

mishawaka..less time on the computer, more time studying for that G.E.D. "Under the jail"? who do you aspire to be...Jimmy Hoffa?

Thursday, Jun 26 at 4:09 PM Andrea Boocher Edholm wrote ...

My brother never touched my sister-in-law - she lied - period - she is not afraid of him - she is not being bullied by the SBPD. She has some issues that my brother has been trying for 2 yrs to get help for her. All of you are so quick to judge because you read the garbage that is printed or put on TV - Our family and friends know what happended and that Wayne is innocent -he is a wonderful father and takes care of his family. People who live in glass houses should not cast the first stone!

Thursday, Jun 26 at 3:38 PM mishawaka wrote ...

hay bee u sure no alot about the south and all the terms they all use so im takeing it that u are hillbilly must be here on vaca

Thursday, Jun 26 at 3:35 PM Kristin wrote ...

why should she go to jail what did she do???

Thursday, Jun 26 at 2:49 PM Bee wrote ...

Hey Mishabilly...The state did pick up the charges, then dismissed them. You watch too much Alabama Lawyer, this ain't the south. P.S. You ain't got to swear out no warrant. The state will pick up the charges. Signed....Buford T. Justice

Thursday, Jun 26 at 2:29 PM In the know wrote ...

Have you any clue on how many times a year this happens with everyday people? All the time for one reason or another. She recanted, period! You can't move forward with an uncooperative witness. Not because she's afraid of us (cops) If he did it, he deserves to be fired after a conviction. But that's gonna happen so quit trying to say we cover for each other etc etc. Not one of us can help him or the next guy in any way when this stuff happens. Bunch of Cop haters! I should've been a fireman!

Thursday, Jun 26 at 1:20 PM Anonymous wrote ...

She should go to jail, and he needs to find another job.

Thursday, Jun 26 at 1:04 PM Show the Tape wrote ...

That will certainly alleviate any misconceptions the public has about preferential treatment! I doubt this will help the reputations of anyone involved. Might make for a script for athe standard battered woman TV show though.

Thursday, Jun 26 at 12:56 PM Renee wrote ...

Not a good picture!

Thursday, Jun 26 at 12:35 PM Anonymous wrote ...

Why are you guys just guessing the events and circumstances of someone's life. These events are important to the character and reputation of the people involved. Unless you know the truth - why speak at all.

Thursday, Jun 26 at 12:32 PM mishawaka wrote ...

y didnt the state pick up the charges

Thursday, Jun 26 at 11:43 AM shak wrote ...

I think the police officers wife is totally afraid,,cause she probably fears the whole police department is behind her husband,,,,and to think we have this officer in our police department,,,I wonder how he handles domestic violence distrubances,,,,,,,does he take the husbands side?

Thursday, Jun 26 at 11:39 AM no one wrote ...

Why wasn't the tape submitted? Did she drop the charges because she was lying, or as it sounds to me, a classic case of an abused wife.....Police are not above the law. This needs to get down to the truth.

Thursday, Jun 26 at 11:33 AM mishawaka wrote ...

just because he is a cop he got off just like any outher cop that does something wrong never any jail time if that was me i would be under the jail

Thursday, Jun 26 at 11:28 AM Anonymous wrote ...

Did she really hurt herself or did he do it and he threten her life to drop charges or else?

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