The owner of an Arizona bond recovery company who mistakenly targeted the home of Phoenix Police Chief Joseph Yahner in search of a fugitive pleaded not guilty to charges Friday.
Brent Farley, who owns NextStar Recovery, was charged with criminal trespassing and disorderly conduct for his part in the fiasco.
Bondsmen from Farley's company, and another company called Delta One Tactical Recovery, staked out Yahner's house on the evening of August 4 after relying on an unconfirmed tip via social media that a wanted fugitive out of Oklahoma was staying there.
The bondsmen came armed, confronted Yahner, and wouldn't leave after he told them the person they were looking for was not there, according to police. Eventually, Yahner's wife called 911.
In a jail-house interview days after his arrest, Farley told ABC15 that “If I knew the police lived at that house, we never would have knocked on that door. It doesn’t make sense."
He admitted to not being licensed in Arizona and said he should have done more research.
Farley is scheduled to be back in court on November 18.
