Posted on 10/11/2007 10:57:59 AM PDT by SmithL
NEW YORK, (AP) -- Columbia University has refused to turn over security videotape that could help identify who hung a noose on a black professor's office door, police said Thursday.
Investigators began asking on Wednesday for tapes from cameras in the building, but have been rebuffed by administrators, said Paul Browne, the New York Police Department's top spokesman.
He said police will have to get a court order to force the school to provide video they believe could crack the case.
"It's unfortunate because it adds a time-consuming step to the investigation," Browne said.
A Columbia spokesman did not immediately return a request for comment.
Authorities were testing the 4-foot-long twine noose for DNA evidence, but had no suspects as of Thursday morning.
On Wednesday, the professor who was the target of the attack, Madonna Constantine, told hundreds of faculty and students at a rally on the Ivy League campus that the incident was a "blatant act of racism" that "reeks of cowardice and fear."
"I'm upset that our community has been exposed to such an unbelievably vile incident," she said.
Police believe the noose was placed on the doorknob of Constantine's office at Teachers College — Columbia's graduate school of education — Tuesday morning, when a colleague spotted it and notified authorities.
Police declined to discuss possible motives or suspects.
Constantine, 44, told police there was "ill will" between her and another professor who had replaced her while she was on an extended leave, a police official said.
(Excerpt) Read more at sfgate.com ...
That was my reaction when I saw the grandstanding press conference in TV.
I’m betting that the tape willl show Prof. Madonna Constantine hanging the noose. I’m also betting that the tape will turn up “lost” or “damaged”.
Why shouldn't the police be required to get a warrant to get this tape?
Because it's Columbia?
Because it's a public place?
Because it's in the public interest?
Because it might embarrass somebody?
You can bet that whoever it is, it won’t jibe with the liberal stereotype of the kind of people who commit these “crimes.”
And then all of the sudden the idea of prosecuting the perp for a hate crime will completely disappear.
This whole story stunk from the beginning...
There is no LEGAL requirement for the police to obtain a warrant for to ask for surveillance video.
If they ask and are refused, then they should get a warrant.
The situation is no different than when the police ask to see the video surveillance from any gas station that's been held up, or a after a jewelry heist or rape in a parking garage, etc.
Generally, the only time the video should be refused is when it's self-incriminating.
I agree if Columbia is consistent in requiring warrants for non-emergency requests for information and if they are holding the tape instead of "accidentally" reusing it right now.
Instances of these hate crimes when investigated properly and the perp is actually found, 90% of the time the perp is the person claiming to be a victim or the supposed victim aquired the help of someone else to engage in the activity.
Rarely are they actually legitimate crimes.
Handed it over? They would have given digitally enhanced copies to all the major networks prior to even notifying the police.
I beg your pardon; I misunderstood your position.
You are incorrect. Any organization has the freedom to release their property (the video) to the police, media, whoever, as long as it is in a public area with no expectation of privacy. The question is why would the university try to conceal the identity of someone that committed such a horrible act? He/she should be hanged.
I’ll bet Madonna is the perp, as we have seen so many times in the past with these types of incidents.
It was Mahmood?
Probably with letterbox hi def version to boot.
Here is the defense. Take it to the bank.
"With the Jena 6 being in the news and not being taken seriously enough by the white populace I was only attempting to raise awareness." --Guilty Prof.
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