An Illinois State Police investigation has cleared SIUC Police officer Charles Diggins of a bribery allegation brought against him Jan. 30.

I wasn’t concerned about [the allegations] because the allegations were false and malicious as far as I’m concerned, Diggins said. I know there was no wrong doing on my part.

After being ticketed Jan. 12, Sachiko Oishi waited three weeks and filed a complaint with SIUC Police. The complaint alleged Diggins solicited a bribe during a routine traffic stop. Both parties were unaccompanied at the time of the traffic stop.

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On Jan. 30, SIUC Police Director Sam Jordan received the formal complain from Oishi.

Jordan said in a separate interview, that breakdowns in communication occasionally happen during traffic stops because of language barriers, especially in diverse towns like Carbondale.

Oishi said there was no break down of communication at the time of the stop.

Jackson County State’s Attorney Mike Wepsiec told Diggins March 19 he was cleared of all criminal charges based on the case report conducted by District 11 State Police.

An internal investigation of the allegation is being conducted by Lt. Kay Doan of the SIUC Police. The internal investigation is expected to be complete in about one week, Diggins said. Lt. Doan was unavailable for comment.

Diggins said he is soured about Oishi’s claims against him, and that the allegations brought against him have made the last two months difficult.

When something like this happens, people look at it and you’re branded, Diggins said. This is a deliberate attempt by Oishi to discredit me as an officer because she was upset that she got a ticket. And that’s one reason why I feel like it was very irresponsible of her.

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Working where I do and around people I work with, you get smart little comments from people all the time, Diggins said. So that’s something I’ve had to live with the last two months.

Diggins reserves the right to bring charges against Oishi for filing a false police report. Because of the nature of the charges, however, it would be difficult to prove that Oishi knowingly or maliciously filed a false complaint against Officer Diggins.

Oishi says she is concerned about a counter suit, but her statements are true and is concerned about too many police in Carbondale. Oishi said she has contacted Lt. Doan in regards to taking a lie detector test, but a time for the test has not been established.