Posted on 06/20/2019 9:23:10 AM PDT by stan_sipple
The Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals sided with the argument put forth by the National Police Association in the amicus brief it filed on behalf of the City of Ferguson, Missouri; former Ferguson Police Chief Thomas Jackson, and former Ferguson Police Officer Darren Wilson, supporting their motion to dismiss in the case of Johnson v. City of Ferguson, et al.
The issue was whether the plaintiff, Dorian Johnson was seized at the time that Officer Wilson had only ordered him to get off the street, and whether the qualified immunity rule applied to Officer Wilson. The brief argued Plaintiff Johnson was not seized by Officer Wilson, that the qualified immunity rule should apply and that the lawsuit should be dismissed.
On August 9, 2014, in Ferguson, Missouri, Michael Brown and the plaintiff in this lawsuit, Dorian Johnson were observed by Officer Wilson to be walking in the roadway. Defendant Darren Wilson testified he ordered them to move to the sidewalk. After Brown and Johnson refused to comply, they approached Wilson with Brown attacking Officer Wilson in his police vehicle. A fight commenced over control of Wilson’s handgun. Brown and Johnson then fled, with Wilson in pursuit. Brown turned to attack Wilson again and was fatally shot by Wilson.
Violent protests followed the encounter. Repeating false claims that Brown had surrendered before he was shot, protesters chanted, “Hands up, don’t shoot.” Protests, vandalism and looting, continued for over a week in Ferguson.
In the aftermath of these events an erroneous narrative of police misconduct has produced what is now known as the “Ferguson Effect”. The Ferguson Effect has become so prevalent as to embolden suspects to refuse to comply with police commands, instigate violence against officers and bring civil actions against police who are guilty of nothing more than doing their job. The result of the Ferguson Effect has been a reduction in proactive law enforcement by agencies across the country and corresponding increases in violent crime.
On March 4, 2015, the U.S. Department of Justice reported the conclusion of its own investigation. It found forensic evidence supported Officer Darren Wilson’s testimony and that of the witnesses who corroborated Officer Wilson’s account.
Despite the findings of the U.S. Department of Justice, on April 29, 2015, Johnson filed this lawsuit seeking money damages against the defendants claiming he had been seized unlawfully by Wilson. The lower court denied the defendant’s motion to dismiss. An appeal to the 8th Circuit followed.
The Fourth Amendment issues and consequences to individual law enforcement officers in this case were of the utmost importance – importance not only to those who dedicate their careers and place their lives in harm’s way to protect their fellow citizens but to those citizens and their communities. It is the responsibility of the National Police Association to raise these issues and by doing so serve the interests of those who serve us all so selflessly. The National Police Association is grateful the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals reversed the lower court’s refusal to dismiss.
The National Police Association was represented by Kent S. Scheideger of the Criminal Justice Legal Foundation. The case is 16-1697 Dorian Johnson v. City of Ferguson, et al in the United States Court of Appeals for the 8th Circuit.
The ruling can be found here
The Amicus Brief filed by the National Police Association can be found here
“No? Then I won’t tell it.”
Thanks.
You are more than welcome.
P.S. I seem to be running into FReepers from Michigan in replies lately.
We have to be prepared for a big election battle as I see so many socialists around (Turn Off Fox News on car), between the lawn signs of “One Human Family”-—they just love those illegals. Sheesh.
“...damn feral savages are STILL being encouraged to disrespect the police and getting away with it.”
Police, storekeepers, our borders, & laws in general being disrespected— with encouragement from the left.
City of Dallas opts not to bother prosecuting thieves/ shoplifters, when theft is under $750.
So shoplifters just suckerpunch the old guy at WalMart who asks to see a receipt.
Or the thieves holler “racism.” & think they’re justified in stealing.
The Gibson Bakery / Oberlin College lawsuit is another example of the “Ferguson Effect” mentioned in the OP. But the tide may be turning. The good guys are starting to win.
The lefty college smeared the bakery owners as “racist” & backed a boycott of the business-— for stopping a black kid with 2 bottles of wine in his pants.
When bakery sued, Oberlin even tried —unsuccessfully— to suppress police reports which showed the majority of the store’s shoplifters were Oberlin students-— and were WHITE!
Bakery prevailed. Jury awarded them $44 million.
It’s a mell of a hess. I totally agree, and I see bit by bit the tide turning.....;)
Brown dindu nuffin...
Thank you for correcting me. Then, let it be:
Bad, bad, Michael Brown...
Baddest man in the whole damn town...
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