TheAgitator.com
Another Exoneration
Monday, February 4th, 2008DNA evidence frees a man who had done ten years in prison for a murder police say he committed when he was 15. They pursued him for 12 years, won a conviction, then kept in prison for a decade until the DNA evidence pointed to someone else. The evidence against him seems to be that (1) the victim was found in a park near his home, and (2) police found a series of violent drawings in his home. It looks like his mistake was cooperating with the police on the assumption that if he was innocent, he had nothing to worry about by answering their questions.
The really pathetic part of that story is that even now the cop who railroaded him insists that the kid is guilty and the D.A. still refuses to admit that they had no case against him whatsoever beyond the cop’s speculation. He hasn’t even dismissed the charges. Man, I hope Tim Masters cleans up on that city in civil court.
Cops don’t make mistakes, it’s in their genetic code. That’s why they all bleed blue in solidarity.
The sad thing is, it’s himself and his fellow taxpayers that will “pay up”. There never really seems to be any real karmic justice when law enforcement break, stretch or disregard the same laws they are supposed to uphold. In fact, the tendency to fail their way up the ladder instead of getting fired speaks loudly.
Innocence is never a substitute for keeping your mouth shut and always having a lawyer on hand. ( not a guarantee but at least it might even the odds a bit.) Guilt has nothing to do with the % of cases a police department must close to justify its budget requrest.
You got that right, CK…Remember how the Miranda reads: Anything you say can and WILL be used against you in a court of law……
I grew up in Fort Collins where this happened and Tim Master is only a couple of years older than me. When this happened it was a shock and surprise that he was convicted on the evedence that was given. Corruption in the FCPD has always been a severe issue, however the people of the city never really seemed to care. Heck they even elected an ex-cop mayor who had been accused and investagted of brutality multiple times. Of cource nothing ever came of it.
@Mike
Miranda is for when they arrest you.
My suggestion is that even when they just want “to ask you some questions”, “clear up a few points”, “find out what happened”; silence is your friend. If they invite you to the station to answer a few questions, then a lawyer is a necessity.
You might indeed be the victim of some rash act by some other citizen, be aware that being a victim does not preclude you from being victimized by the authorities after. The days are long gone, if they ever really existed outside of the afternoon cartoon shows, when the policeman could be assumed to be a friend of the righteous and a help to the innocent.
Sad thing is that I learned a long time ago, once you are taken to the police station, do not say a word until your attorney is present. It does not matter if you are guilty or innocent.
Never trust a cop. And the State will get anybody it wants to get.
Signed,
Son of a retired Cop.