L.A. Jury Awards Teacher $18 Million For False Arrest

AP ^

[ExcursionGuy84]

You're very absolutely right; having your name tarnished is something very, very tragic when you have not comitted a crime.

[Michael.SF.]

Based upon what limited information is in the article... I have a hard time finding fault with the officers actions

What do you want, the transcripts of the trial?

Seriously, both sides made their cases to the jury and the jury found the police liable. I will trust the jury on the decision against the police.

What seems to be in dispute is what is to be fair compensation, yet you are suggesting the jury was wrong in finding him guilty? At first I thought 18 million was high, but consider that this cost this guy his job, time in jail, his reputation, his chances of future employment and has dragged on for what, maybe three or four years?

[JamesP81]

It's weird that police are so desperate for a conviction they'll even take the guy if they know its not the right guy just to get the conviction. Man that's messed up.

I'm glad I don't live in a metro area. The cops and DAs in large cities seem to be horribly corrupt.

[KarlInOhio]

Although I don't know all the details, as presented here I think the sheriff and his deputies should be held personally responsible for this instead of the department. If it were me, I would be far happier with a smaller settlement and a stack of badges from people who would never be in law enforcement again.

[doc30]

No, I think it's probably a culture that has developed in that department. Otherwise, why would a cop knowingly supress evidence and push for prosecution?

[Stark_GOP]

Try and account for that period of time on your resume.

Q: Mr. Ramirez, I noticed a gap on your resume. Could you explain this?
A: Yes, Sir. I was falsely accused of raping a sixteen year old girl after kidnapping her at gunpoint. During the time in question, I was an involuntary guest at the state correctional facility.

He can also use the guys on his old cell block as references.

[MrEdd]

Great way of getting away with a crime. Hand my ATM and cell phone over to my wife. Tell her to call me at a certain time, when I'm robbing a convenience store and when she's on the phone, ask her to got to the nearest ATM pull $20 for me.

Won't work, sorry. Although the article doesn't mention it, ATMs also film you using them, so they can identify the odd machine theft. Your wife will need a ski mask - and you will need a reason to tell the jury (about why you had to wear a ski mask)...

[Bommer]

Sorry. There is nothing in the article about "Photographic Proof"

A jury found Ramirez not guilty after he produced ATM receipts and cell phone records showing he was miles from the scene when the crime occurred.

The ruling ALONE shows there there was no photographic proof

A judge later made the rare finding that he was "factually innocent."

How is someone "Factually Innocent" with photographical proof?

[PETEPARSLEY]

Mr. Ramirez will not have to worry about teaching EVER again.....is the money TAX FREE??????

[FreePaul]

Eighteen million dollars sounds like a lot of money to award for this case. BUT, the fact that the officer and prosecutors are still employed and being defended makes me think that it isn't enough. Something will have to get the attention of the sheriff and his henchmen and impress on them that this conduct by officers can't be allowed.

[Sabramerican]

I disagree with you.

In a case where the Police would deliberately subject an innocent man to an arrest and build a false case, no monetary figure in high enough.

And the Police perpetrators should be criminally prosecuted.

[Salvation]

Wondering if any of the false accusations against priest would be resolved in this way?

[stinkerpot65]

Detectives and prosecutors who hide evidence should do prison time.

[Michael.SF.]

See my post # 22. This article is not about rehashing the whole case, at some point we need to take it for granted that the jury and the judge made a decision based on the evidence in front of them.

[jazusamo]

"No, I think it's probably a culture that has developed in that department."

I can tell you that is not true. I am retired from LACo, not the sheriff's dept. but I know many of them that are active and retired. The culture thing you mention is no different than the culture of corruption that Pelosi and Reid espouse on a daily basis. When something like this happens, many people are quick to blame a whole dept. or police in general. That is unfair to the extreme. I can possibly go along with a small unit of a dept. doing something of this kind, but a whole dept? No way. There are thousands on the LACo Sheriff's dept.

[FreePaul]

Try and account for that period of time on your resume.

I can tell you how one guy accounted for it. We had an employee who described killing his wife to another employee. I had to check that out. Seems that he found his wife in bed with another man and shot her ("Right between the eyes, just a lucky shot"). He didn't really cover it up but the employment agency did. They listed his employment with them for the ten years he was in prison. We got rid of him and the agency.

[RicocheT]

"Maybe then they'd know what it's like to walk in Mr Ramirez's shoes."

Since he has already got $18 million and may get even more, those shoes are going to be made by Prado or Gucci. That's just too much $$$. This jury award needs to be overturned.

[tfecw]

"Sorry. There is nothing in the article about "Photographic Proof""

You should know by now articles are always skimpy on the details.

Here's an LA times article ( link)

with more information as to the creditability of the girls eye wittiness accounts. You'll want to note the part about how she told police her attacker had a scar on his face and a creased chin. Ramirez has neither. Also she didn't "see" Ramirez, she saw a she thought looked like her attackers car and reported the plate. I can go on, but i don't want to spoil the rest ;)

I tried to look around for the transcripts, but my googling skills aren't up to par yet.

[tfecw]

" We had an employee who described killing his wife to another employee. I had to check that out. Seems that he found his wife in bed with another man and shot her ("Right between the eyes, just a lucky shot"). He didn't really cover it up but the employment agency did. "

So did you fire him cause he killed his wife and lied on his resume, or because he was stupid enough to not keep his mouth shut? ;)

[L98Fiero]

"This is the clue. He doesn't really mean no military."

Yes, I will give 1 mil to anyone who will call the cops and tell them I raped them. Payable after the lawsuit, of course.