Posted on 11/11/2017 8:28:17 AM PST by Leaning Right
Bodycam video allegedly shows an LAPD officer planting drugs inside a black suspect’s wallet.
*snip*
The suspect, Ronald Shields, 52, was arrested at the time and charged with felony hit-and-run and possession of cocaine. Officers claimed in the police report that they found a small bag of coke in the front left pocket of Shields’ shirt.
But bodycam video apparently tells a different story.
(Excerpt) Read more at nypost.com ...
Cool, and the bodycam of one of the officers with the suspect will show a officer removing the drugs from the pocket or falling form the pocket. Kinda obvious. But, that's not what happened as of the stuff we've seen so far.
One would make it a point, from all of the officers, to record the actual search of the suspect, and the removing of items from the suspect and to clearly make sure it's on camera. That didn't happen.
You can maybe get away of the arrest part not being filmed. But the search and the filming of the suspect is critical.
And if he drugs did fall from the pocket, simply put that in the report.
> It was put in the evidence bag, just put in the wallet first. <
And that doesn’t bother you? Why not put the wallet and the drugs in different evidence bags? Or if down to the last bag, at least keep the items separate. There is no need to combine them.
Look, this suspect was evidently no good. But this fast-and-loose handling of evidence, it could happen to any of us.
Consider the interstate transportation of firearms. You’re supposed to keep the firearm and its ammunition separate from each other. A cop stops you, and searches your car (for whatever reason). He finds a gun (in its case) in your trunk, and a box of ammo under a front seat.
Is it OK with you if he tosses the ammo in your gun case?
FOR ALL WE KNOW...
The perp claimed it wasn't cocaine, so the officer in question picked it up and placed it in the perp's billfold, showing him that he was doing so, explaining that if it wasn't cocaine, then it would be in the perp's billfold safe and sound.
If he was 'winging' it , why did he do a show and tell with the other officer and the perp, and why would the other officer go along with 'winging' it ?
Finally, it matters not one whit, one iota exactly where the illegal drugs are found ON YOUR PERSON. What advantage/what benefit would the officer gain by inserting the drugs found in the shirt pocket into the billfold ?
Any drug convictions,even minor ones (small amount of pot) against the accused? Any other noteworthy convictions against the accused? Exactly what happened with the "hit and run" part of this case? (possession of narcotics is a good motive for leaving the scene of an accident).OTOH,any disciplinary actions taken against the cop(s) involved? How long has he/have they been on the force?
What I see and hear here doesn't clearly tell me what *did*,or *didn't*,happen here.
Having attended both a murder trial *and* the hearing in Connecticut a few years ago in which Michael Skakel was requesting a new trial I've seen,*up close and personal*,just how slimy defense lawyers can be.
“How about putting it in your own pocket, or in the trunk of your squad car?”
And what if the packaging leaks? I wouldn’t do it. I wouldn’t want it leaking on my fingers, either, so putting it in the suspect’s wallet seems sensible.
Having attended both a murder trial *and* the hearing in Connecticut a few years ago in which Michael Skakel was requesting a new trial I’ve seen,*up close and personal*,just how slimy defense lawyers can be.
It was almost certainly given (or sold) by the defense to the NY Post, as the defense had to have access to it to build their defense, as required by law.
I suspect there is a lot of video that we are not seeing that is *not* exculpatory.
Which is the whole reason the NYP is spreading it. Got to sell laundry detergent. Right now, police bias against 'blacks' is a key seller.
I don’t think we want to be excusing this.
I don't think it is wise to just swallow the crap you are being fed. Sure there are cases where the police are wrong/ exhibit racial bias, but this video evidence clearly shows the officer DISPLAYING the placing of the bag in the billfold to the other officer and suspect. There is nothing to gain, for the officer, in doing so. No one seems to even care to hear his explanation for why he did this IN PLAIN VIEW of the suspect and other officer.
This guy's lawyer thinks he can get the drug charge thrown based on the video. The part you have seen is edited.
Like Michael Brown and Trayvon Martin, don't let us PILE ON the COP because that is what the MEDIA is telling you to do.
At worst, this police officer is guilty of mishandling evidence, and it could be thrown out in court. The perp is still charged with felony hit and run, high speed chase to escape the police, etc., etc.
> And what if the packaging leaks? <
You’re assuming that none of the cops on scene had evidence bags on their persons, and none of them had evidence bags in the trunks of their cars. I just can’t believe that. I’m guessing that even Barney Fife had a baggie in the back of Mayberry’s squad car.
Exactly where was the abuse ? What difference does it make where the bag is located, it was found on his person ?
Whether thrown into the evidence bag by itself or placed in the billfold (which the officer clearly showed himself doing , in front of another officer and the suspect), what difference would that make ? Possession is possession. Doesn't matter if it's up your butt.
Good point. Did they ?
I’m assuming the air reeked of adrenaline, nerves were humming like high-tension lines, fine-motor control was impaired, and Monday-morning quarterbacking is one of the easier pursuits.
You mean like when they put all the evidence in AN EVIDENCE BAG and let it mingle ? What specific items do you believe should not be allowed to mingle in an evidence bag with other items ? Is there a list somewhere ?
> I’m assuming the air reeked of adrenaline, nerves were humming like high-tension lines... <
Watch the video. This wasn’t the shootout at the OK Corral.
It was the conclusion of a chase after a hit-and-run.
Are you experienced in high-stress situations?
How would you know ? You think the media would include that part ? Wouldn't be much of a RACE story if they did. Maybe the Judge got to see the other VIDEO EVIDENCE that the media is not showing to the public. Do you think that is possible ?
And if he drugs did fall from the pocket, simply put that in the report.
They didn't fall from his pocket. The police searched him and found it in his pocket. That is in the police report. ALSO, on the video, it is clear he takes it and puts it in the suspect's billfold, CLEARLY showing the action to the other officer and the suspect.
This officer NEVER said it was found in the billfold, but he repeatedly told the other officers (who may have been the Senior officers, or ones tasked with collecting and id'ing the evidence) that the BAG was in the BILLFOLD.
> Is there a list somewhere? <
Knowing the government’s fondness for rules and regulations, there probably is.
Anyway, common sense should rule. If you didn’t find two items together, don’t put them in the same evidence bag. Because even if department policy allows for that, you’ve just given the defense lawyer an argument for reasonable doubt.
I suppose we are too far apart to continue this discussion much further. So let me close by saying this. I don’t know if you are a lawyer. But if you are, the local Fraternal Order of Police should put you on retainer. (And I mean that as a compliment!)
When you have arrested a suspect and searched him, exactly how many evidence bags do you use ?
Is there a law that says you get a stiffer sentence if cocaine is found in your billfold instead of in your shirt pocket ?
Let me ask you this:
If the suspect had been white, do you think you would even have heard of this case ?
> Are you experienced in high-stress situations? <
You have obviously never met my ex-wife.
Anyway, I would hope that cops in general are trained to handle such stress. It’s an unfortunate, and inevitable, part of the job.
If a cop can’t keep himself under control, that’s in many ways understandable. It’s not an easy job. But then that cop needs to find another line of work.
Exhibit A: The Utah cop who lost his temper, and arrested that emergency room nurse.
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