TheAgitator.com
Police Witness Intimidation in Ohio Succeeds
Tuesday, June 10th, 2008The high school principal who wrote a letter of support for Derrick Foster, the man charged with attempted murder for wounding two police officers conducting a paramilitary-style drug raid last month, has since apologized. Pickerington High School’s Scott Reeves apologized in front of 14 police officers after the Ohio Fraternal Order of Police organized a campaign against him for daring to vouch for the character of a man who mistook raiding cops for armed robbers during the raid.
Yes, Reeves wrote the letter on school letterhead. But why do I get the feeling that if he’d written a similar letter in support of say, a police officers accused of misconduct, the police union wouldn’t be calling for his head?
This is blatant witness intimidation. Foster’s character could very well factor into his trial, which will be an effort to determine if Foster knew the men breaking down the door were police officers. It isn’t at all inconceivable that Reeves might be called to testify at Foster’s trial. Same for the other 13 people who vouched for Foster’s character at his bond hearing, many of whom were also harassed by the police union, including organized boycotts of their businesses.
Maybe some criminal attorneys can help me out, here. How is it that the actions of the police union in this case don’t amount to obstruction of justice?
This quote says it all: “Angela McDowell, parent of a Pickerington student, said she was disappointed that Reeves could write a character reference for a man accused of committing a crime.”
You don’t have to be a libertarian to see a whole lot wrong with that sentence. I seem to recall some readers saying they were going to show support at the school board meeting. Did that happen yet? If so, anyone care to comment who was there?
The police (of all flavors) are the largest, most well-funded, most well-represented gang in this country. The fact that they’re able to put hits on houses at will, then railroad surviving victims in publicly-funded facilities and courts, and able to intimidate anyone who crosses them in the process, is incredible. Plus, they get to puke out the “we put our live on the line every day..” bullshit. So do the Crips, they put their lives on the line every day also.
Wow…that’s absolutely unbelieveable. I mean they’re not even trotting out that b.s. “professional courtesy” line in this one…that really is just intimidation. I wonder what the national organization of the FOP would have to say about it.
The thin blue lie-n in action. By the way, that line ,is no longer the color blue,seems to be black and camo nowadays.I hope Derrick can obtain a “very good “attorney. I also hope that the principal keeps his job,after having to eat crow.The more these TASK/SWAT types show of themselves, the sooner they go away. Either that ,or it’s facism for us.
I wonder what the national organization of the FOP would have to say about it.
I get the feeling it would be along the lines of, “Nothing to see here.”
This quote says it all: “Angela McDowell, parent of a Pickerington student, said she was disappointed that Reeves could write a character reference for a man accused of committing a crime.”
It does sum up current attitudes quite well, doesn’t it. The accused must be guilty because no one would bother to accuse an innocent person, so why would a principal (WHO CHILDREN LOOK UP TO!!!) write a letter defending such a monster? If his opinions on Mr. Foster’s character conflict with the police version of events they must be wrong.
“How is it that the actions of the police union in this case don’t amount to obstruction of justice?”
“I AM the Law!!”
-Sylvester Stalone as Judge Dredd
Technically, it’s not intimidation because they were complaining about his official use of letterhead. The FOP president says: ““He can support whoever he wants,” Gilbert said. “But the minute you put it on letterhead, you send a strong message.””
But that’s just a sham, really. They wanted to make it clear that if he publicly supports his friend, there would be consequences.
I think that puts a less authoritarian spin on her comments. Emphasis on less, not implying any sort of outright negation there.
I don’t know about that, Mike. To me it makes it worse. Just because her husband was killed in the line of duty doesn’t mean that the situations are remotely comparable or that Foster is a man who knowing shoots at police. and How does one guy writing an opinion on his office stationary make a person lose faith in the entire school system?
I’ll say it again.
Cops ≡ Criminals
Here’s a little Ohio law:
It’s not “witness intimidation” since it didn’t interfere with the witness’s performance of his duty (for whatever that means).
If the officers showed up to the meeting in uniform, it could be “interfering with civil rights” (the right being the constitutional right to free speech), which is a misdemeanor.
The most likely option would be retaliation, which makes it illegal to retaliate against a witness. The witness has to be discharging his duties, so that might be a stretch. It is, however, a felony.
I couldn’t find anything on obstruction of justice.
FWIW, I don’t practice in Ohio – I just dig legal research.
The street gang in blue strikes again.
If you find a cop raping your wife or daughter, you’d just better advise them to enjoy it, because even if the rape kit matches you’ll be facing the death penalty for killing to bastard.
Susan,
He’s not a “witness” yet.
Sydney-
That’s kind of what I was thinking. He is a potential witness at this time, and I would guess that a witness’s duty is to respond to a subpoena and appear in court, which would narrow those statutes greatly. There may be other law in Ohio that explains it, but I really do have a day job.
As for Radley’s specific question: obstruction of justice appears to only apply to people who interfere with the investigation of a crime or hide suspects. Not people who tamper with witnesses.
The FOP still has not responded to my email. Pussies.
Obstruction of justice covers another aspect as well: affecting witness testimony. It goes by different names (in Alaska its witness tampering), but it is similar. This, though, is not testimony in court. If the high school principal were to testify that Derrick Foster is a horrible human being and that testimony was a result of the FOP’s actions, then various members of the FOP could face witness tampering questions.
As it is, their cover is that they are upset this was done on school letterhead. Probably shouldn’t have been done on school letterhead, but that does not justify the actions of the FOP in this instance.
I don’t practice in Ohio so there could be different sections that apply. If I were that principal, I would make sure I obeyed the speed limit and that I followed all traffic laws.
Sometimes I think that the very existence of government policemen amounts to obstruction of justice.
P.s. Not anywhere near all the time, of course. There are some right awkward freelance private bastards out there, too, as we all know.
I’ve quoted NWA before but it bears repeating: “F— the police!” At least until they start acting like civilized humans, apologize for their screwups and stop imitimdating people exercising their right to free speech.
Gee, that sounds like a great idea!
“If I were that principal, I would make sure I obeyed the speed limit and that I followed all traffic laws.”
Do you really believe that will help him? Every license plate registered under his name and those of his family have already been passed out to the cops in the area. They will find cocaine in his trunk, guaranteed.
Would have been nice if the principal had told the FOP to stick it where the sun don’t shine, but hey, who bothers sticking up for principles these days?
This is disgusting, a blatant attempt at witness intimidation – a *crime* should you or I try it – simply because the largest gang in Ohio got butt-hurt that someone dare lift a finger during an infamous no-knock raid. Enjoy your position while you can, you *real* terrorists; the American people grow ever-more weary and angry at your open abuses of power, and they are not going to put up with this BS for much longer.
May God bless Derrick Foster and crush his newfound enemies into dust, throwing them into the wind for good.
-Uzziel-
Thank you D. Foster for doing what most gutless sheeple won’t. The more we bow down to thugs on both sides of the law, the more emboldened they become.
Well, if they came busting down his door unannounced in the middle of the night they should get shot whether they’re JBTs or not. When this once great Nation was founded there was no standing army and no standing police force either. That is what Liberty demands and requires.
The militarization of the police forces have constructed the standing army that I and the other founding fathers were concerned about. I and the others have long past and today, not enough American men have balls enough to stand against the Tyranny that is rampant. It’s ironic that our foe was King George and your current President is named George. It’s a shame that in just over 230 short years you have been castrated into a nation of wussies!
Why was “the perp” (sarcasm) placed in this situation in the first place? There must be probable cause to obtain a warrant for the forced entry and arrest. Whats up with D.Foster???
Wild behavior by the cops. Organizing boycotts of character witnesses for a defendent? Are they crazy? Shouldn’t that be grounds for reversal of a conviction? They think they can do anything they want, damn them.
But #10, David, I wouldn’t get angry about what the widow of a murdered cop said. I gotta cut some one in her position some slack and some sympathy. But the drug war fanatics who haven’t suffered such a loss need a damn good whacking (old school John Lennon meaning of the term, not calling for any more death, that’s the specialty of the drug warriors).
[...] Foster’s innocence could result in him being found
There’s something familiar about this kind of witness intimidation.If you or I did the same thing we would be promptly arrested and charged with intimidating a witness.This is supposed to be one of the worst crimes you can commit.It interferes with the whole justice process.If anyone was under the misconception that there is one law for everyone,this should convince them that it just ain’t so.The declaration of a war on drugs seems to have given the police extraordinary powers to commit crimes in order to better prevent them.It doesn’t make any sense to me either.A judge in British Columbia,Canada ruled that this kind of excessive force was illegal and threw a case out of court for the behavior.(para military drug raids)
[...] six years in federal prison as part of a six-year investigation into corruption in the county. Police Witness Intimidation in Ohio Succeeds The high school principal who wrote a letter of support for Derrick Foster, the man charged with [...]