Durham Police Begin Probe Of Alleged Assault At Raleigh Bar (Investigators under investigation)

WRAL.com ^ | July 22, 2006 | WRAL .com

[TommyDale]

DURHAM, N.C. -- Officials say they are investigating an alleged assault involving Durham police officers outside a Raleigh bar.

[Mike Nifong]

This must have come out when I was on vacation, but this directly relates to the Durham PD corruption, D.A. misconduct, and Gottlieb's lineup:

"Driver wrote in court filings that before Griffin made an identification in the case, investigators had him look at more than 600 photographs in mug-shot books. Driver did not learn about the mug-shot books until he found Griffin. STATE LAW REQUIRES AUTHORITIES TO TURN OVER COMPLETE INVESTIGATIVE FILES, BUT APPARENTLY THE FILES DID NOT MENTION THE MUG-SHOT BOOKS.

Griffin told the defense lawyer that HE PICKED OUT A PHOTOGRAPH, BUT AN INVESTIGATOR TOLD HIM THAT THE PERSON HE IDENTIFIED WAS IN JAIL at the time of the shooting. Eventually, Griffin said in a sworn affidavit that he told detectives he was not sure that Watson was the right person, but THEY TOLD HIM to JUST SIGN OFF ON THE IDENTIFICATION.

"I thought that if I did not pick out a photo, the police would eventually consider me as a suspect in the murder case," Griffin said in his affidavit. "I will not be able to come to court and identify anyone ... because I did not get a good enough look at his face.""

This fits my theory !!!
When JLS pointed out the language of the Lineup on 4/4 where they basically went way out of their way to say that it wasn't a lineup, but only to ID whom was at the Party. I said at that time, that I thought Nifong was protecting himself in case the AV couldn't pick out anyone. If she didn't pick out anyone, Nifong wouldn't provide the Lineup in disovery and he would feel confident in hiding it, because his defense would be it WASN'T a Lineup.

I posted that right here that's what I suspected Nifong was up to and look at this case - the other Lineups weren't provided by the D.A. in Discovery to the Defense!

Holy snikies!

http://www.newsobserver.com/145/story/462039.html

[JoanOfArk]

How about this? I wonder if this person is on the list of 88 since she has some racist sexist comments about Duke. This is taken from a member-only message board.

(snip of quote from a newspaper article)
Senior wide receiver Deon Adams, sophomore safety Andreas Platt, and
red-shirt freshman offensive lineman Joe Suder have been dismissed
from the program for violation of team regulations.

---

(comment by Duke instructor)
Wed, Jul 26 2006 10:59 am

ok, i'm so pissed about this....not only are the racial and class
dynamics between this and the lacrosse team sadly apparent...but these
young men were in my class last semester. some of you know how hard
that class was for me, particularly because of the dynamics and energy
put out by this very same football team...but at the same time, i was
given insight into being an anthlete, and more specifically, a black,
male athlete on a campus like duke. and y'all...it ain't easy...and
academic integrity is the least of these student's priorities (or the
coach's)...but mostly i'm saddened for andreas...'cause he worked his
ass off for me...and i saw him grow and actually watched him develop a
gender consciousness and call his teammates out for their sexisms.

so anyway, im mad. this speaks loud and clear about what types of
value certain bodies at duke have...what types of things are
"forgiven" based on what you can do for the university.

alisha

--
alisha gaines
Doctoral Candidate and Instructor
Duke University
Department of English and African and African American Studies
919.824.3947

[Ken H]

Try here for the 88-- http://www.duke.edu/web/africanameric/supporters.pdf

[Mike Nifong]

This artcle on the alleged Racial Intimidation in Raleigh by the Duke investigators.

http://www.heraldsun.com/durham/4-756063.html

This article confirms something that was said on local TV, that more policemen were suspended (or restricted from normal duties) this week.

Question to Ponder: Does this suspension/restriction this week indicate the investigation turned up something?

I'd say it's possible. If they were put back in Normal status - we'd all extrapolate from that that nothing much was going to come of the investigation.

[JoanOfArk]

Thanks. She's not on it, but she works in Houston Baker's department.

[Ken H]

Question to Ponder: Does this suspension/restriction this week indicate the investigation turned up something?

Deputy Chief Hodge is really fumbling things. He flat out does not understand NC law on what constitutes public information. Credit to the reporters who had to pull teeth to get the information from Durham PD. The longer they sit on this, the worse I think it is:

Jim Sughrue, spokesman for the Raleigh Police Department, said late Wednesday afternoon that he had "nothing to report" on the case, in the way of either finding or arrests.

I demand an arrest by 5 PM, or I'm calling the Feds!

[Ken H]

I think we should compile a brief list of questions we would like to have answered from Raleigh PD. Three that come to mind--

1. Did you administer breathalyzers to all of the Durham PD officers allegedly involved?

2. If not, did you at least test the drivers before allowing them on the roads?

3. Did any of the Durham officers corroborate the Black cook's version?

[JLS]

I believe your questions 1 and 2 would be answered no. The DPD or whomever had the encounter with the cook had left by the time the Raleigh police arrived. So there was no one to test alcohol.

[Mike Nifong]

Ken,

I've seen the Drunk driving (breathalyzer) statements from many people. I believe after the incident, the police involved Drove away towards Durham. So, when the Raleigh Police arrived, the were left to interview the Cook, other Police officers at the bar (including Raleigh Police officers), and the Manager. Reportedly, Gottlieb and buddies are regulars and the Police officers at the bar knew them and provided their names to Raleigh Police.

Call the Feds. They should've been in on this case around March 20th!

I just don't see how the DPD and Patrick Baker who runs them (remember Baker is a political animal) will let this investigation affect the Duke Case. For the life of me, I can't fathom a scenario where City Manager Baker and the DPD
fire - or punish, in any meaningful way, Gottlieb.

Now for those that have faith in the system - the Raleigh investigation is different. However, I'm very confident that Nifong is lobbying his cohort in Raleigh. D.A. is an exclusive position and they communicate. Now, how much or if Nifong has any impact on the neighboring D.A. is another matter.

[Mike Nifong]

JLS beat me to it.

In practice - in real life, isn't there pressure on fellow police not to turn on your buddies? Wouldn't a Cop that turned on his co-workers be a pariah?

What happens at the bar during off-hours - stays at the Bar?

I think it would be easy for any police officer there to say I didn't hear him say that.

I'd feel better if Patrick Baker didn't run the Police Department. They report to him according to Baker.

[Ken H]

Reportedly, Gottlieb and buddies are regulars and the Police officers at the bar knew them and provided their names to Raleigh Police.

If so, it negates what Hodge said about the uninvolved officers not knowing the involved ones were there. Now, if Hodge was basing that on what the uninvolved ones told DPD investigators... that could be a problem.

Now, how much or if Nifong has any impact on the neighboring D.A. is another matter.

Hard to say. He doesn't have Nifong's constituency. Wake County is about 72% white, 20% black, and went for GWB twice by small margins. If the report is really damning, he may not want to go out on a limb.

[Mike Nifong]

If so, it negates what Hodge said about the uninvolved officers not knowing the involved ones were there. Now, if Hodge was basing that on what the uninvolved ones told DPD investigators... that could be a problem.
;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;

No, not according to Radio reports.

Hodge was speaking of other DURHAM Police officers, I believe. Reports have said that RALEIGH police knew the identities and the Bar Manager knew them as regulars.

Two different things, I think.

But, nothing would surprise me in this thing.

[sflady]

I still want to know where the NAACP, Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton are?

[Mike Nifong]

And Ruth Sheehan from the N&O has an editorial on ETHICS, but NO mention of Durham or DPD or Nifong.

I'm still waiting for that improvement from the N&O.

[abb]

Today's stories...

3 more named in affray inquiry
http://www.newsobserver.com/145/story/464669.html

Brodhead responds to Friends of Duke criticism
http://www.heraldsun.com/durham/4-756067.html

Police still investigate allegations vs. officers
http://www.heraldsun.com/durham/4-756063.html

Police assault case requires openness
http://www.heraldsun.com/opinion/hsedits/56-756024.html

Cheek To Announce Decision On DA Candidacy Thursday
http://www.wral.com/news/9582440/detail.html

N.C. Lawmakers OK Commission To Investigate Claims Of Innocence
http://www.wral.com/news/9582461/detail.html

[abb]

Well, they at least they had one story today vs. yesterday's none...

[maggief]

You are a member, TOO? :-D

Sneaky!

[Locomotive Breath]

Maybe they could do an line up with only DPD photos. No wrong answers.

[CondorFlight]

"I demand an arrest by 5 PM, or I'm calling the Feds!"

Do it! The Feds are not going to get involved in this
because it is a political hot potato.

The FBI's job description and values on its own site says :

"5. Protect civil rights
6. Combat transnational/national criminal organizations and enterprises
7. Combat major white-collar crime

FBI Core Values
• Rigorous obedience to the Constitution of the United States;
• Respect for the dignity of all those we protect;
• Compassion;
• Fairness;"

HA!
The FBI will never get involved in this unless there is massive public pressure. The NC field office is :

charlotte.public@ic.fbi.gov

"Send them a message", in the immortal words of Johnnie Cochran.

[CondorFlight]

Heads up!

Cheek is supposed to announce his decision today.

I hope he says Yes. But if he says No, then perhaps a deal has been made for him not to run in exchange for Nifong's ending the case.

I'd actually rather have #2 at this point.

But the way things have been going in Durham, I would almost expect Cheek not to run and Nifong not to drop the case. . .