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Police mistook ashes of man’s 2-year-old daughter for drugs, lawsuit claims
Nexstar ^ | 05 21 2021 | Staff

Posted on 05/22/2021 12:32:44 PM PDT by yesthatjallen

“No, no, no, bro, that’s my daughter!”

Those were the words of Dartavius Barnes captured by a Springfield, Illinois police body cam after officers allegedly mistook the ashes of his 2-year-old daughter for drugs.

Barnes is now suing the department over the April 6, 2020 traffic stop.

Video obtained by WICS first shows Barnes, handcuffed, sitting in the back of a squad car, give officers permission to “process” the vehicle.

“This was in the center console,” says one officer after searching the car, unscrewing a cylinder and showing it to another officer. “At first I thought it was heroin, then I checked for cocaine, but it looks like it’s probably molly.”

“X pills?” another officer asks.

Despite the positive results of a police field test, the powder inside the metallic container wasn’t drugs at all, it was cremated remains of Barnes’ daughter, Ta’Naja, according to the lawsuit.

The toddler died in February, 2019 after police found her unresponsive, wrapped in a urine-soaked blanket, according to WICS. She had been neglected and starved in the days leading up to her death, authorities said.

The girl’s mother, T’wanka Davis, and her mother’s boyfriend were found guilty of her murder and were both sentenced to decades in prison.

SNIP

(Excerpt) Read more at wivb.com ...


TOPICS: News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: chat; cops; copwatch; donutwatch; localnews; police; wod
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Heartbreaking.

Field drug tests are notoriously inaccurate. People have gone to prison for years for having misidentified substances in their cars.

Springfield Police Body Camera Footage in Incident with Dartavius Barnes - Part 2 - 25 mins

1 posted on 05/22/2021 12:32:44 PM PDT by yesthatjallen
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To: yesthatjallen

Suit won’t go anywhere. Probable cause is probable cause. Sigh.


2 posted on 05/22/2021 12:36:34 PM PDT by Eleutheria5 ("The impossible happens all the time. You just have to believe." Will Robinson)
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To: yesthatjallen

Frankly, the names of everyone involved is sufficient probable cause.


3 posted on 05/22/2021 12:42:14 PM PDT by ClearCase_guy ("I see you did something -- why you so racist?")
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To: yesthatjallen

“Field drug tests are notoriously inaccurate.”

They perform exactly as our overlords want them to.


4 posted on 05/22/2021 12:42:58 PM PDT by NobleFree ("law is often but the tyrant's will, and always so when it violates the right of an individual")
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To: ClearCase_guy

What do you mean?


5 posted on 05/22/2021 12:44:07 PM PDT by BenLurkin (The above is not a statement of fact. It is either opinion, or satire. Or both.)
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To: yesthatjallen

“Despite the positive results of a police field test,”

____________________

They know many of these “tests” give false positives most of the time and they like it like that.


6 posted on 05/22/2021 12:45:58 PM PDT by jacknhoo ( Luke 12:51; Think ye, that I am come to give peace on earth? I tell you, no; but separation. )
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To: yesthatjallen

Did he get her ashes back?


7 posted on 05/22/2021 12:46:17 PM PDT by Husker24 (Pp)
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To: yesthatjallen
Speaking of ashes and drugs:

Keith Richards Tells Of Snorting His Dad's Ashes With Cocaine
8 posted on 05/22/2021 12:49:40 PM PDT by Kenny Bania (Ovaltine? Why not call it Roundtine?)
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To: NobleFree
They perform exactly as our overlords want them to.

There have been lawsuits against companies who make them. It's mind-boggling police still use them or these companies haven't developed accurate tests or companies have yet to be put out of business

9 posted on 05/22/2021 12:49:55 PM PDT by yesthatjallen
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To: yesthatjallen

If we would finally Abolish the Judicial Creation called Qualified Immunity, every time a cop used a drug field test that is known to produce false positives, they would be PERSONALLY RESPONSIBLE for any Injury or Loss to a citizen.

Personally, any field test with less than 100% accuracy should be a FELONY TO ADMINISTER!


10 posted on 05/22/2021 12:51:28 PM PDT by eyeamok (founded in cynicism, wrapped in sarcasm)
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To: yesthatjallen

Who the hell drives around with the burned up remains of their two-year-old daughter in the console of the car?

Most people might carry a picture of their loved one instead of ashes.


11 posted on 05/22/2021 12:55:26 PM PDT by Responsibility2nd (Actual FR Quote: “I ain’t getting no Covid Vaccine. I’d rather get Covid and DIE before I get a jab.)
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To: eyeamok

I realize cremation isn’t something you go to hell for but it reminds me of pictures. The digital pictures aren’t permanent and th ashes can be thrown out.


12 posted on 05/22/2021 12:57:17 PM PDT by Cowgirl
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To: yesthatjallen
NEVER give consent for LE to search your vehicle.

Keep stating such.

13 posted on 05/22/2021 12:58:35 PM PDT by Deaf Smith (When a Texan takes his chances, chances will be taken that's for sure.)
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To: yesthatjallen
give officers permission to “process” the vehicle.

Big mistake right there. Say nothing and never give any permission. If a cop asks you "do you know why I pulled you over?" or "do you know how fast you were going?" it is to get you to either confess or deny knowledge of anything which makes it more difficult to make a defense. If you tell the cop on camera you don't know your speed, how can you argue to the judge that you were driving the speed limit.

14 posted on 05/22/2021 1:02:12 PM PDT by KarlInOhio (Police should refuse duty at NBA venues. Let them wallow in their desired chaos without police.)
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To: Kenny Bania

Hunter Thompson, famed Rolling Stone journalist took own life in Colorado and then had his ashes put in fireworks for funeral fireworks show.

John Kerry and Shawn Penn attended the celebration.


15 posted on 05/22/2021 1:23:51 PM PDT by tired&retired (Blessings )
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To: yesthatjallen

Once again, the true average level of IQ exposes it’s self. These hire on IQ caps have to go... Seriously.


16 posted on 05/22/2021 1:26:58 PM PDT by Openurmind (The ultimate test of a moral society is the kind of world it leaves to its children. ~ D. Bonhoeffer)
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To: eyeamok

There’s not a single test anywhere that can produce a 100% accurate result. You can get 99.9% but it still means hundreds of false positives.


17 posted on 05/22/2021 1:33:38 PM PDT by Bogey78O
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To: Responsibility2nd
People deal with grief in different ways. Being familiar with the process, I really don't find thus that odd.
18 posted on 05/22/2021 1:37:10 PM PDT by Fido969 ( Sc)
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To: yesthatjallen

No surprise...they regularly mistake Iphones for M1911’s.


19 posted on 05/22/2021 2:38:47 PM PDT by Bonemaker (invictus maneo)
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To: Bogey78O

Correct, and since it only takes One False Positive to Literally RUIN someones Life Permanently, then I will stick with 100% or it’s a FELONY


20 posted on 05/22/2021 3:10:26 PM PDT by eyeamok (founded in cynicism, wrapped in sarcasm)
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