Cops admit planting marijuana to cover murder of 92-year-old

Discussion in 'General Discussion' started by melbo, Apr 28, 2007.


  1. melbo

    melbo Hunter Gatherer Administrator Founding Member

    Disgusting.

    http://www.mpp.org/site/apps/nl/content2.asp?c=glKZLeMQIsG&b=1847069&ct=3829713

    3 Atlanta Police Officers Charged in Drug Raid Death of 92-Year-Old Woman

    2 Plead Guilty
    Harry R. Weber, Associated Press
    April 26, 2007
    <cite>San Diego Union-Tribune</cite>

    ATLANTA — Two police officers pleaded guilty Thursday to manslaughter in the shooting death of a 92-year-old woman during a botched drug raid last fall. A third officer still faces charges.

    Officer J.R. Smith told a state judge Thursday that he regretted what had happened.

    "I'm sorry," the 35-year-old said, his voice barely audible. He pleaded guilty to manslaughter, violation of oath, criminal solicitation, making false statements and perjury, which was based on claims in a warrant.

    Former Officer Gregg Junnier, 40, who retired from the Atlanta police in January, pleaded guilty to manslaughter, violation of oath, criminal solicitation and making false statements. Both men are expected to face more than 10 years in prison.

    In a hearing later in federal court, both pleaded guilty to a single charge of conspiracy to violate a person's civil rights, resulting in death. Their state and federal sentences would run concurrently.

    The charges followed a Nov. 21 "no-knock" drug raid on the home of Kathryn Johnston, 92. An informant had described buying drugs from a dealer there, police said. When the officers burst in without warning, Johnston fired at them, and they fired back, killing her.

    Fulton County prosecutor Peter Johnson said that the officers involved in Johnston's death fired 39 shots, striking her five or six times, including a fatal blow to the chest.

    He said Johnston fired only once through her door and didn't hit any of the officers. That means the officers who were wounded likely were hit by their own colleagues, he said.

    Junnier and Smith, who is on administrative leave, had been charged in an indictment unsealed earlier Thursday with felony murder, violation of oath by a public officer, criminal solicitation, burglary, aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, and making false statements.

    The third officer, Arthur Tesler, also on administrative leave, was charged with violation of oath by a public officer, making false statements and false imprisonment under color of legal process. His attorney, William McKenney, said Tesler expects to go to trial.

    Tesler, 40, is "very relieved" not to face murder charges, McKenney said, "but we're concerned about the three charges."

    Both men could have faced up to life in prison had they been convicted of murder. Instead, Junnier will face 10 years and one month and Smith 12 years and seven months. No sentencing date was immediately set, and the sentences are contingent on the men cooperating with the government.
    The deadly drug raid had been set up after narcotics officers said an informant had claimed there was cocaine in the home.

    When the plainclothes officers burst in without notice, police said, Johnston fired at them, and they fired back.

    Assistant U.S. Attorney Yonette Sam-Buchanan said Thursday that although the officers found no drugs in Johnston's home, Smith planted three bags of marijuana in the home as part of a cover story.
    The case raised serious questions about no-knock warrants and whether the officers followed proper procedures.

    Atlanta Police Chief Richard Pennington asked the FBI to lead a multi-agency probe. He also announced policy changes to require the department to drug-test its nearly 1,800 officers and require top supervisors to sign off on narcotics operations and no-knock warrants.
    To get the warrant, officers told a magistrate judge that an undercover informant had told them Johnston's home had surveillance cameras monitored carefully by a drug dealer named Sam.

    After the shooting, a man claiming to be the informant told a television station that he had never purchased drugs there, leading Pennington to admit he was uncertain whether the suspected drug dealer actually existed.

    The Rev. Markel Hutchins, a civil rights activist who serves as a spokesman for Johnston's family, said the family was satisfied with Thursday's developments.

    "They have never sought vengeance. They have only sought justice," he said.

    Hutchins said the family is considering civil action against the police department.

    "I think what happened today makes it very clear that Ms. Johnston was violated, that her civil rights were violated," he said.
    Associated Press writer Jason Bronis in Atlanta contributed
    to this report.
     
  2. RightHand

    RightHand Been There, Done That RIP 4/15/21 Moderator Moderator Emeritus Founding Member

    Re: Cops admit planting marijuana to cover murder of 92-year

    Do ya think.....

    I'd like to think that this type of thing rarely takes place but I'm afraid I'd probably be incorrect. Every LEO and legislator should be required to start the day with an oral recitation of the Constitution and Bill of Rights.
     
  3. E.L.

    E.L. Moderator of Lead Moderator Emeritus Founding Member

    Re: Cops admit planting marijuana to cover murder of 92-year

    NO!!
     
  4. Blackjack

    Blackjack Monkey+++

    Re: Cops admit planting marijuana to cover murder of 92-year

    The sentences weren't nearly harsh enough.
     
  5. ChemicalGal

    ChemicalGal Monkey+++

    Re: Cops admit planting marijuana to cover murder of 92-year

    First I'll state All LEO's are not bad. Then I'll say I am very pleased to see that some justice was done in this case, I really thought it would be swept under the rug. The plant doesn't surprise me, what does is that they were caught on it.

    This No Knock thing can be deadly on both sides, there has to be a better way....No Knock is not it.

    Anyway, 10 years to a cop in prison can be more than a lifetime.
    CG
     
  6. E.L.

    E.L. Moderator of Lead Moderator Emeritus Founding Member

    Re: Cops admit planting marijuana to cover murder of 92-year

    I agree wholeheartedly. It results in the death of a lot of innocents. I know most of us here have firearms readily available. I would hate to think what would happen if mistakenly Johnny Law was given the wrong address and ended up at my house. May God forgive the both of us, as it will not end well.
     
  7. Blackjack

    Blackjack Monkey+++

    Re: Cops admit planting marijuana to cover murder of 92-year

    Not enough.... I want them dead. They disregard a persons constitutional rights, break into the house and murder them..... and then plant drugs to cover it up. I want them dead!

    It's bad enough when the bad guys do it, any officer who we entrust with that power that misuses it should get 10 times the punishment. We cannot, as a nation, stand for this kind of abuse.
     
  8. Seacowboys

    Seacowboys Senior Member Founding Member

    Re: Cops admit planting marijuana to cover murder of 92-year

    I don't disagree with that reasoning. The oath to protect and serve has been replaced with harass and intimidate in too many instances. Television shows like "COPS" has gone further and both glorified and turned the abuse of due process into entertainment. The whole concept of LEO as opposed to policeman both frightens and angers me. I grew up knowing to respect and trust our uniformed policeman but I have only learned to fear and loathe the armed soldier wanna-be's that kick in our doors in the name of LEO. Hollywood sold us the hero "Bad-ass" cop image now lets see them make a show about Joe Citizen fighting back. How about "Unintended Consequences" the movie?
     
  9. Minuteman

    Minuteman Chaplain Moderator Founding Member

    Re: Cops admit planting marijuana to cover murder of 92-year

    [winkthumb] Now that would be a blockbuster!!!
     
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