My Video Makes TV News in IDAHO – Town Responds and Gaslights!

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A few days ago I posted a video showing officers from the Idaho Falls, Idaho Police Department entering a family’s home and forcing them outside. When the homeowner, who was filming, demanded a warrant, the officer claimed that he didn’t need a warrant. The problem is, they did in fact need a warrant, as I explained in the prior video. The local TV news in Idaho picked up the video and reported on it, prompting the Idaho Falls Police Department to issue a statement. Here’s the statement:

Here’s the case law I discussed in the video:

Case law regarding any claims that this entry was justified by a claim of “exigent circumstances”:

The 9th Circuit discussing the very practical reason why the Fourth Amendment rights of homeowners must be protected:

My Video Made the TV News in Utah – the Police Respond

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My last video, about the Special Olympics Medalist who was followed, and then violently arrested, by a Clearfield, Utah police officer, made the TV news in Utah. A reporter actually went to the bar and interviewed Shawn, as well as the bartender, and others, which was fantastic. The Clearfield Police Department responded. But is their response adequate?

Bully Cop Assaults Special Olympics Medalist (and his supervisor helps cover it up)

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In Clearfield, Utah, Officer Fratto of the Clearfield Police Department violently arrested (and injured) a local long-time Special Olympics medalist. Shawn was just trying to walk home from his favorite karaoke bar, but Officer Fratto thought Shawn looked suspicious, so he began to follow him (and scare him) as he was walking home. Shawn had committed no crime. No crime had been observed or reported.

Fratto eventually jumped out of his police cruiser and detained Shawn, claiming he saw him illegally jaywalk. He demanded Shawn provide his “ID.” However, Shawn answered all questions asked by Fratto, who never asked Shawn his name or date of birth. Shawn knew that he was being harassed and did not want to provide his ID to Fratto, who continue to bully him and escalate the situation. Fratto chose violence and took Shawn to the ground, injuring him. Fratto’s supervisor showed up and helped coverup the misconduct.

Luckily, Shawn had a friend from the bar who helped him get the bodycam footage and communicate to the prosecutor and judge in court, resulting in the bogus charge being dismissed. But unfortunately, the incident has had a lasting negative effect on Shawn.

Screenshot excerpts used in the video:

Cops Bust in a Home, Force the Family Outside and Handcuff the Dad (who I interview)

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Cops with the Idaho Falls, Idaho Police Department busted in an innocent family’s home, breaking their front door, looking for a third party fugitive. Though the homeowner knew his constitutional rights and demanded a warrant, the cops claimed they didn’t need a warrant because they believe a dangerous fugitive (the girlfriend’s brother) was inside. They did come inside and forced the family outside into the cold for about 30 minutes.

During this time period they handcuffed the dad, even though he was suspected of no crime and there was no search warrant for the home. The problem is, according the U.S. Supreme Court in the 1981 opinion in Steagald v. United States (1981), exigent circumstances to enter a home do not exist merely because the police know the location of a fugitive, even if they possess an arrest warrant for that person. They must also have a search warrant for the residence.

Hero State Trooper SUSPENDED After Being Shot by “Stranded Motorist”

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An on-duty New York State Trooper in a marked police cruiser pulled over to help a stranded motorist in a black Dodge Charger. As he approached the vehicle, the mystery driver began to shoot at him, wounding him in the leg. He quickly called for backup. The cavalry arrived, but the shooter was nowhere to be found. A massive manhunt ensued. But then, shortly after the wounded trooper was released from the hospital, to applause and salutes from his colleagues, authorities announced that the manhunt was canceled and the wounded trooper, Trooper Mascia, was suspended. His badge and gun were confiscated.

Cop SLAMS 70 Year-Old Man Over Traffic Ticket

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In Oklahoma City, a police officer slammed a 70 year old Vietnamese man head-first onto pavement, seriously injuring him, during a traffic detainment. Due in part to a language barrier, the officer and the Vietnamese man began to argue about traffic law. When the old man poked the officer on his chest (causing him no harm) the officer violently threw the man to the ground. He gave no warning that he was about to do so. Nor did he tell the man that he was under arrest before doing so. He just slammed him. Now the officer is on paid administrative leave and the department is investigating itself.

Here’s the raw footage showing the violent use of force:

The family’s Facebook post:

The department’s statement, also provided in Vietnamese:

The case law I cited in the video:

Casey v. City of Federal Heights:

Perea v. Baca:

My Bus Driver Client Arrested by Ignorant Cops | Charges Dropped, Lawsuit Filed

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If you think that being falsely arrested can’t happen to you, then you have to watch this video. This video shows my client being arrested for DUI even though she was stone cold sober. This can, and does, happen to innocent people across the country. Here you will see an egregious example of this happening, as it plays out in real time on the officer’s bodycam.

Here’s a copy of the lawsuit:

ElliottFiledComplaintDownload

Media report on the 600+ sober drivers arrested in Tennessee here.

Cop Follows Man Home After Traffic Stop, then Tases Him Repeatedly | 14 Other Victims | FIRED!

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In Warrenton, North Carolina, bodycam was recently released showing now-fired police officer Mark Oakley following a black man home from a traffic stop and then repeatedly tasing him in his driveway. Dwayne Hicks was originally pulled over for a minor traffic violation. Finding a pickup order in the system for Mr. Hicks’ license plate, the officer got a screwdriver and pulled the plate off Hicks’ vehicle. Then he told Hicks that he was “free to leave,” and encouraged him to leave the scene. The officer even waved as he drove away from the scene. Instead, former officer Oakley followed Mr. Hicks home and performed another traffic stop – this time in Mr. Hicks’ driveway. The encounter quickly escalated into violence.

Oakley’s statements about the incident:

Media report here.

11 Crooked Cops Busted by 1 Video | Police Chief Resigns | Officer Indicted

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All hell has broken loose within the Kissimmee (Florida) Police Department. A single bodycam video showing former Officer Andrew Baseggio entering a man’s home, without a warrant, and inflicting violence on him inside his living room, has resulted in Officer Baseggio getting indicted, which has in turn taken down 10 other police officers in that department (including the police chief), found by a grand jury to have lied in an effort to coverup Baseggio’s misconduct from investigators.

Here’s the grand jury’s full presentment:

KPD-Baseggio-Presentment_RDDownload

Here’s the response by the City of Kissimmee:

Presentment-ResponseDownload

Here are the names of the 11 officers who lied to coverup the misconduct:

Cops Tased Autistic Son – After Making Him Participate in Father’s Arrest! (then lied about it)

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A Peruvian family who resides in Bradenton, Florida, was pulled over by the Holmes Beach Police Department after an automated license plate reader flagged the vehicle’s plate as possibly being driven by someone without a valid license. The driver was Orlando Diaz, who spoke very little English. The officer asked his son, who is autistic, to translate. The officer then proceeded to have the son translate to his father that he was under arrest, rather than being given a citation. The son became quickly and visibly upset after seeing his father being placed in handcuffs. Shortly afterwards, the father would be thrown on the ground and the autistic son, Francisco Diaz, would also be thrown on the ground and tased several times.

Here’s the family’s GoFundMe:

https://www.gofundme.com/f/uwfz6-justice-for-francisco-diaz-help-us-fight