Cops Accused of Forcing Woman to Delete Video of Husband’s Arrest Sparked by ‘Unloaded’

The Blaze ^ | 25 September, 2013 | Jason Howerton

[marktwain]

A man in Crawford County, Mich., was arrested and charged with felony assault with a deadly weapon on Sunday after he called authorities about a trespassing suspect on his property, his wife tells TheBlaze. There are also serious allegations being made about officers demanding that video footage of the incident — taken by the man’s wife — be deleted.

Thomas Donald, a military veteran, was reportedly out hunting with his 11-year-old son and armed with an “unloaded” single-shot .410-gauge shotgun (his son chose to use a crossbow instead) when he confronted a man riding a dirt bike on his 10 acres of land. The man and his son then reportedly escorted the trespasser to the front of his property and told his wife, Heather, to call the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) to file a “recreational trespass.”

What happened when the Crawford County Sheriff’s Department arrived shocked them both, though Sheriff Kirk Wakefield tells TheBlaze quite a different story.

In an exclusive interview with TheBlaze, Heather Donald recounted what happened from the couple’s perspective. Her husband, Thomas, declined to speak with us on the advice of his attorney and due to the charges against him. His attorney also declined an interview request.

[DeWalt]

Counties insurance payed.

[DeWalt]

Thanks

[DeWalt]

Don’t even know if grand jury even heard the case.

[Rusty0604]

Well, if they did take the cop’s pensions to pay victim’s families maybe they would think twice before they shoot.

[maine-iac7]

scroll down for photos - this should be "carried" whenever carrying - records several GB’s at HD. ou coulld start video taping at minute one.

they wouldn't even know they're being video taped - maybe tape with phone and then when the say turn it off - ‘comply’ - they would think they had neutralized you

http://www.zetronix.com/DVR-Sunglasses/c82/index.html

[zeugma]

which happens every time the video doesn’t back up their version of an incident

What juries need to start doing is just return not guilty verdicts any time the police "lose" such evidence. If the case is against the officer, convict.

Every single time, for every single crime.

[MeganC]

A recording of police attempting to stop a recording device should be prima facie evidence of deprivation of rights under color of law.

And, in certain circumstances, it should also be justification for a law abiding citizen to use lethal force to protect themselves from an armed attacker. Just because someone has a badge shouldn't give them a pass on committing murder and just because an attacker has a badge shouldn't mean that a citizen has an obligation to die in the face of 'official' criminal force.