Mckinney Courier-gazette > News
Chiropractor's hearing canceled, police probe continues
David Russell
By Dan Eakin, deakin@acnpapers.com
A hearing scheduled Wednesday for Dr. David Russell, the McKinney chiropractor facing two charges of sexual assault of a child, was canceled at the State Office of Administrative Hearings.
Yvette Yarbrough, spokesperson for the Texas Board of Chiropractic Examiners, said the hearing on whether to continue to suspend Russell's license as a chiropractor was canceled because he waived his right to a hearing.
The board's Enforcement Committee was required to schedule the hearing within two weeks of Russell's suspension. Another hearing is to be scheduled within 60 days of the original suspension to determine if the suspension should continue.
Russell was arrested on Oct. 28 and again on Nov. 4 after outcries from two teenage girls. One was 16 at the time of the alleged incident two years ago, and the other, age 13, allegedly was abused by Russell a few months ago. Russell posted $100,000 bond on each charge.
McKinney police ordered an internal investigation after they discovered that complaints about Russell's behavior with teenage clients in his office and at a local dance studio had been reported to police as early as February, but that police took no action until October.
On Wednesday morning, McKinney Deputy Police Chief Scott Brewer issued a release concerning the progress of the internal investigation.
"The top priority of the McKinney Police Department (MPD) is the safety of our community," Brewer said. "In keeping with our commitment to update the public regarding the ongoing internal investigation concerning complaints made to the MPD regarding David Allen Russell, we are releasing some preliminary findings as a result of the internal investigation."
"First, one of the most important findings to note is that our Criminal Investigation Division (CID) has reviewed all referrals from the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS) received since January 1, 2011, and determined that no other referrals went without the proper response," the release stated.
Secondly, Brewer said the following procedures, work flows and functions have been identified as areas of emphasis: receiving, tracking, assigning and following up on all credible information received into the department regardless of the medium, including walk-ins at the public safety building; centralizing the function of assigning DFPS referrals; and identifying training opportunities for improved customer service.
"At a minimum," Brewer said, "the emphasis in these areas will help ensure that criminal complaints and other credible information will not go without proper response."
Brewer added, "The trust of our community and its ongoing support will continue to contribute to the successes of our department. As initially expressed, both the city of McKinney and the McKinney Police Department are taking this investigation extremely seriously. Further, the internal investigation is ongoing, and while we do not have specific findings on the complaints made regarding David Allen Russell or a specific time frame for its conclusion, we will continue to keep the citizens updated throughout the process."
The MPD became active in the case after Carla Mullendore, a former teacher at Taylor Dance Studio, called police on Oct. 12 to report alleged inappropriate behavior by Russell.
Brewer confirmed later that Mullendore and Samantha Camarillo spoke to a police officer in the lobby at the McKinney Public Safety building at about 9:45 p.m. Feb. 15 about possible sex offenses that had occurred. An internal investigation was ordered to find out why the complaints were not dealt with earlier.
Yvette Yarbrough, spokesperson for the Texas Board of Chiropractic Examiners, said the hearing on whether to continue to suspend Russell's license as a chiropractor was canceled because he waived his right to a hearing.
The board's Enforcement Committee was required to schedule the hearing within two weeks of Russell's suspension. Another hearing is to be scheduled within 60 days of the original suspension to determine if the suspension should continue.
Russell was arrested on Oct. 28 and again on Nov. 4 after outcries from two teenage girls. One was 16 at the time of the alleged incident two years ago, and the other, age 13, allegedly was abused by Russell a few months ago. Russell posted $100,000 bond on each charge.
McKinney police ordered an internal investigation after they discovered that complaints about Russell's behavior with teenage clients in his office and at a local dance studio had been reported to police as early as February, but that police took no action until October.
On Wednesday morning, McKinney Deputy Police Chief Scott Brewer issued a release concerning the progress of the internal investigation.
"The top priority of the McKinney Police Department (MPD) is the safety of our community," Brewer said. "In keeping with our commitment to update the public regarding the ongoing internal investigation concerning complaints made to the MPD regarding David Allen Russell, we are releasing some preliminary findings as a result of the internal investigation."
"First, one of the most important findings to note is that our Criminal Investigation Division (CID) has reviewed all referrals from the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS) received since January 1, 2011, and determined that no other referrals went without the proper response," the release stated.
Secondly, Brewer said the following procedures, work flows and functions have been identified as areas of emphasis: receiving, tracking, assigning and following up on all credible information received into the department regardless of the medium, including walk-ins at the public safety building; centralizing the function of assigning DFPS referrals; and identifying training opportunities for improved customer service.
"At a minimum," Brewer said, "the emphasis in these areas will help ensure that criminal complaints and other credible information will not go without proper response."
Brewer added, "The trust of our community and its ongoing support will continue to contribute to the successes of our department. As initially expressed, both the city of McKinney and the McKinney Police Department are taking this investigation extremely seriously. Further, the internal investigation is ongoing, and while we do not have specific findings on the complaints made regarding David Allen Russell or a specific time frame for its conclusion, we will continue to keep the citizens updated throughout the process."
The MPD became active in the case after Carla Mullendore, a former teacher at Taylor Dance Studio, called police on Oct. 12 to report alleged inappropriate behavior by Russell.
Brewer confirmed later that Mullendore and Samantha Camarillo spoke to a police officer in the lobby at the McKinney Public Safety building at about 9:45 p.m. Feb. 15 about possible sex offenses that had occurred. An internal investigation was ordered to find out why the complaints were not dealt with earlier.
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