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This corruption by COPS is over the top
bpost
Member Posts: 32,669 ✭✭✭✭
WOW MAN WOW
If not for cell phone video, 47-year-old disabled veteran Douglas Dendinger could be going to prison - because of an apparent coordinated effort by Washington Parish, La. cops and prosecutors who falsely accused him of battery and witness intimidation.
As New Orleans' WWL reports, Dendinger's two-year nightmare began on Aug. 20, 2012, when he was paid $50 to serve a court summons on behalf of his nephew against Bogalusa police officer Chad Cassard in a police brutality lawsuit.
Dendinger handed Cassard a white envelope containing the documents and says he went on his way. But 20 minutes later, police showed up to Dendinger's house and arrested him. He was put in jail on charges of simple battery, obstruction of justice and intimidating a witness.
Two of those charges are felonies, and a prior cocaine conviction on Dendinger's record threatened to land him in jail for a long time as a repeat offender.
But Dendinger was confident that a mistake had been made and that he would be released without cause since two prosecutors and several police officers had seen him hand over the summons peacefully.
But that's not what happened.
A year after the incident, then-District Attorney Walter Reed brought charges against Dendinger. His case was backed by two prosecutors who asserted that Dendinger had assaulted Cassard. Seven witness statements also supported the case.
Cassard made the same claim, writing in a voluntary statement that Dendinger "slapped him in the chest" when he served the summons.
Pamela Legendre, a staff attorney who witnessed the hand-off, said she thought Dendinger had punched Cassard.
Bogalusa police chief Joe Culpepper said that Dendinger had used "violence" and "force."
And another witness said in a deposition that Dendinger used such force when he served the summons that Cassard flew back several feet.
"It wasn't fun and games, they had a plan, the plan was really to go after him and put him away. That is scary," Philip Kaplan, the attorney representing Dendinger in his civil rights case, told WWL.
"I realized even more at that moment these people are trying to hurt me," Dendinger told the news station.
Luckily for Dendinger, his wife and nephew had filmed him that day in order to prove that the court papers had been served.
Grainy video of the exchange shows Dendinger handing Cassard the summons and the former police officer walking away in the opposite direction. Though the video aired by WWL does not show the entire encounter, what it does not show is Dendinger slapping anyone or acting aggressively during the crucial moment when he served the summons.
The video also shows that the witness who claimed that Denginger's force pushed Cassard back several feet had his back turned as the scene unfolded.
After Reed was forced to recuse his office from the case, it was referred to the Louisiana attorney general who quickly dropped the charges against Dendinger.
Rafael Goyeneche, president of the New Orleans Metropolitan Crime Commission, told WWL that after viewing the video he did not see Dendinger commit battery on Cassard and that the officers and prosecutors involved could be looking at serious ethics charges.
"I didn't see a battery, certainly a battery committed that would warrant criminal charges being preferred," Goyeneche said.
"It's a felony to falsify a police report," Goyeneche continued. "So this is a police report, and this police report was the basis for charging this individual."
Kaplan made the obvious point: "If this was truly a battery on a police officer, with police officers all around him, why isn't something happening right there?"
VIDEO HERE::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
http://news.yahoo.com/video-exonerates-man-set-louisiana-cops-prosecutors-video-202632601.html
If not for cell phone video, 47-year-old disabled veteran Douglas Dendinger could be going to prison - because of an apparent coordinated effort by Washington Parish, La. cops and prosecutors who falsely accused him of battery and witness intimidation.
As New Orleans' WWL reports, Dendinger's two-year nightmare began on Aug. 20, 2012, when he was paid $50 to serve a court summons on behalf of his nephew against Bogalusa police officer Chad Cassard in a police brutality lawsuit.
Dendinger handed Cassard a white envelope containing the documents and says he went on his way. But 20 minutes later, police showed up to Dendinger's house and arrested him. He was put in jail on charges of simple battery, obstruction of justice and intimidating a witness.
Two of those charges are felonies, and a prior cocaine conviction on Dendinger's record threatened to land him in jail for a long time as a repeat offender.
But Dendinger was confident that a mistake had been made and that he would be released without cause since two prosecutors and several police officers had seen him hand over the summons peacefully.
But that's not what happened.
A year after the incident, then-District Attorney Walter Reed brought charges against Dendinger. His case was backed by two prosecutors who asserted that Dendinger had assaulted Cassard. Seven witness statements also supported the case.
Cassard made the same claim, writing in a voluntary statement that Dendinger "slapped him in the chest" when he served the summons.
Pamela Legendre, a staff attorney who witnessed the hand-off, said she thought Dendinger had punched Cassard.
Bogalusa police chief Joe Culpepper said that Dendinger had used "violence" and "force."
And another witness said in a deposition that Dendinger used such force when he served the summons that Cassard flew back several feet.
"It wasn't fun and games, they had a plan, the plan was really to go after him and put him away. That is scary," Philip Kaplan, the attorney representing Dendinger in his civil rights case, told WWL.
"I realized even more at that moment these people are trying to hurt me," Dendinger told the news station.
Luckily for Dendinger, his wife and nephew had filmed him that day in order to prove that the court papers had been served.
Grainy video of the exchange shows Dendinger handing Cassard the summons and the former police officer walking away in the opposite direction. Though the video aired by WWL does not show the entire encounter, what it does not show is Dendinger slapping anyone or acting aggressively during the crucial moment when he served the summons.
The video also shows that the witness who claimed that Denginger's force pushed Cassard back several feet had his back turned as the scene unfolded.
After Reed was forced to recuse his office from the case, it was referred to the Louisiana attorney general who quickly dropped the charges against Dendinger.
Rafael Goyeneche, president of the New Orleans Metropolitan Crime Commission, told WWL that after viewing the video he did not see Dendinger commit battery on Cassard and that the officers and prosecutors involved could be looking at serious ethics charges.
"I didn't see a battery, certainly a battery committed that would warrant criminal charges being preferred," Goyeneche said.
"It's a felony to falsify a police report," Goyeneche continued. "So this is a police report, and this police report was the basis for charging this individual."
Kaplan made the obvious point: "If this was truly a battery on a police officer, with police officers all around him, why isn't something happening right there?"
VIDEO HERE::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
http://news.yahoo.com/video-exonerates-man-set-louisiana-cops-prosecutors-video-202632601.html
Comments
One question; Why?
Because the person falsely arrested had the audacity to serve the police officer with a summons in police brutality lawsuit.
quote:Originally posted by capgun
quote:Originally posted by Flying Clay Disk
One question; Why?
Because the person falsely arrested had the audacity to serve the police officer with a summons in police brutality lawsuit.
I get that part, but why would the officers collaborate and lie like that? Why would the prosecutor ignore the video and follow through with charges. Why, why, why???
Did someone have something out for Dendinger?
One question; Why?
Corruption in that neck of the woods is well known and deeply ingrained. The good ole boy system is over 150 years old.
If I had to take a WAG as to why; it would be "they did it before to get even and it worked fine."
quote:Originally posted by capgun
quote:Originally posted by Flying Clay Disk
One question; Why?
Because the person falsely arrested had the audacity to serve the police officer with a summons in police brutality lawsuit.
I get that part, but why would the officers collaborate and lie like that? Why would the prosecutor ignore the video and follow through with charges. Why, why, why???
Did someone have something out for Dendinger?
They took personal offense at the person serving a police officer with a summons. They were going to teach him a lesson. "We take legal action against you, you do not take legal action against us". Unfortunately, power often corrupts, and these police officers and prosecutors were used to having the power.
Margaret Thatcher
"There are three kinds of lies: lies, damned lies and statistics."
Mark Twain
They should all lose their jobs.
Trinity +++
1. Why did they pay a non Court Officer/Non Sworn LEO to deliver a summons? I was under the impression it had to be an Officer of the Court or LEO.
2. A Staff Attorney was present obviously and perhaps other Officers of Court/LEOs. Why did they not serve the summons?
3. Serious Ethics charges? BS...that is felony time as they made false official statements and conspired to deprive a man of his constitutionally protected rights and liberties.
I assume that because it was his nephew who paid him to serve the summons, they felt by applying heat to Dendinger they hope he would put pressure on his nephew to drop pursuing the brutality charge.
They should all lose their jobs.
Trinity +++
No sir, the very attitude that they should only lose their jobs is why crap like this even happens.
They should go to prison and all, every one of them, have felony convictions. Though once is enough, I doubt this is a first offense for any of them. Just like they wanted to make an example of him, they should, all, be made examples of.
The "prior cocaine conviction" might have something to do with it.
With what they did to the man ON CAMERA it makes me wonder about a cocaine conviction on his record. What kind of conviction? Possession is easily trumped up by dirty officers intent on doing dirty deeds to the guy that "stole his girl friend".
of corruption, even if it's just a minor
shake down of using one's badge to get the
police discount.
I grew up in a family of cops "serving"
a small town.
Why did they pay a non Court Officer/Non Sworn LEO to deliver a summons? I was under the impression it had to be an Officer of the Court or LEO.
I don't know about other states but NY State only requires that a summons be served by a third party who then has to submit a notarized "Affidavit of Service" to the court (whom served, date and time, place, etc.). My wife served one last week to her mother's non-paying tenant.
I used to serve them in the 1970's when I lived in Buffalo for extra cash. I got $25 per summons and had to submit an Affidavit but might have to testify in court if the Affidavit was challenged by the accused.
same crap,different day. thats all, come on defenders i know your waiting in the wings. according to T.S. uncle albert, one of the i don,t give a crap crowd.
Where your cop hating twisted mind goes wrong is this.
You're sitting there EXPECTING someone, preferably some one associated with Law Enforcement ties to defend the misdeeds of another LEO on this forum, That eastbank has never, EVER happened since I've been here.
Misdeeds and coverups happen on occasion in the real world; it is note worthy because of its rarity. I for one am inclined to have a special set of laws for LEO's and hold them to the standards we all expect. I think the prosecutor, if found guilty, should get 20 years, no parole and any participating liar in uniform at least 15 years, served in the general population of a nearby state prison.
quote:Originally posted by Flying Clay Disk
One question; Why?
Corruption in that neck of the woods is well known and deeply ingrained. The good ole boy system is over 150 years old.
If I had to take a WAG as to why; it would be "they did it before to get even and it worked fine."
Yep Louisiana is known to have corruption with law enforcement and I would stay out of Mississippi too. [:D]
serf
Either Dendiger failed the police exam or he's just a cop hater.[:o)]quote:Originally posted by Flying Clay Disk
quote:Originally posted by capgun
quote:Originally posted by Flying Clay Disk
One question; Why?
Because the person falsely arrested had the audacity to serve the police officer with a summons in police brutality lawsuit.
I get that part, but why would the officers collaborate and lie like that? Why would the prosecutor ignore the video and follow through with charges. Why, why, why???
Did someone have something out for Dendinger?
Now that there is funny. [:D]
One question; Why?
One answer:
Brad Steele
quote:Originally posted by SG
Either Dendiger failed the police exam or he's just a cop hater.[:o)]quote:Originally posted by Flying Clay Disk
quote:Originally posted by capgun
quote:Originally posted by Flying Clay Disk
One question; Why?
Because the person falsely arrested had the audacity to serve the police officer with a summons in police brutality lawsuit.
I get that part, but why would the officers collaborate and lie like that? Why would the prosecutor ignore the video and follow through with charges. Why, why, why???
Did someone have something out for Dendinger?
Now that there is funny. [:D]
+1
quote:Originally posted by Flying Clay Disk
One question; Why?
Corruption in that neck of the woods is well known and deeply ingrained. The good ole boy system is over 150 years old.
If I had to take a WAG as to why; it would be "they did it before to get even and it worked fine."
This is EXACTLY correct !! Had a similar problem in Conroe, TEXAS. 45 years ago.
Asked by the police to leave town. Told them I'd been called by a girls mother (in Houston) to help her daughter who had car trouble. Her daughter and a girl friend were returning from College with presents. Told them I was looking for them.
Police Didn't care, didn't offer to help, Once more was told to leave Leave town,, Couldn't do that.
Headed back toward Houston,, turned around found a gas station & called the Texas Highway Patrol. Remember a REALLY NERVOUS (afraid?) guy listening to my conversation at the gas station.
Highway patrol showed up in about 30 minutes and the girls arrived shortly after,, seems they'd been told someone would tow their car,, so went with a guy to get them,, etc, etc.
If I'd left there COULD HAVE BEEN a big problem. Just thinking about this again makes me sick.
Get the authorities ganged up and there will be no fairness and for sure,, no justice when they control the town.
How do we know the guy is innocent. They didn't photo the entire action.
This action by the authorities is one indication:
quote:After Reed was forced to recuse his office from the case, it was referred to the Louisiana attorney general who quickly dropped the charges against Dendinger.
Didn't bother to check to see it this was a totally bogus post,, think I'll do that. I'd forgot that happens occasionally.
Added this Yahoo News Link: Looks like the same as provided with the original post.
http://news.yahoo.com/video-exonerates-man-set-louisiana-cops-prosecutors-video-202632601.html
quote:But here's my question: Why aren't the seven witnesses to Dendinger's nonexistent assault on Cassard already facing felony charges? Why are all but one of the cops who filed false reports still wearing badges and collecting paychecks? Why aren't the attorneys who filed false reports facing disbarment? Dendinger's prosecutors both filed false reports, then prosecuted Dendinger based on the reports they knew were false. They should be looking for new careers - after they get out of jail.
If a group of regular citizens had pulled this on someone, they'd all likely be facing criminal conspiracy charges on top of the perjury and other charges. So why aren't these cops and prosecutors?
I could be wrong, but my guess is that they'll all be let off due to "professional courtesy" or some sort of exercise of prosecutorial discretion. And so the people who ought to be held to a higher standard than the rest of us will once again be held to a lower one. Oh, that hurts
http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-watch/wp/2015/02/27/but-for-the-video/
Mandating that leos nationwide wear said cams only proves their worthlessness.
After a year of legal proceedings I was acquitted by jury as it was very clear as stated by eyewitnesses that I acted in lawful self defense. One thing as sure as death and taxes is some cops will lie even under oath.
Capt. Jack Sparrow.