By Carlos Miller
East Haven (Conn.) Police claimed they feared for their lives when an activist priest began filming them as they frisked an immigrant in an Ecuadorian-operated store last month.
Police stated they did not know whether Father James Manship was “holding a camera or a possible weapon” when he approached them during the incident, which is why they arrested him.
However, the confiscated video, which was obtained by Manship’s lawyer two weeks after the incident, contradicts police statements.
Shocking, isn’t it?
According to the New Haven Independent:
The police report, David Cari, one of two arresting officers, states that he didn’t know what the New Haven priest was holding. He wrote that he saw an “unknown shiny silver object” that Manship had “cupped” in his hands, and was afraid for his safety.
The footage clearly shows that the arresting officers knew that Manship was holding a camera, not an “unknown shiny silver object.”
In the video, the Officer Cari twice refers to the object as a camera.
“Sir what are you doing? Is there a reason that you have a camera on me?” says Cari, in the video.
Thanks Andrew for the heads up on this story.
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I am a multimedia journalist who has been fighting a lengthy legal battle after having photographed Miami police against their wishes in Feb. 2007. Please help the fight by donating to my Legal Defense Fund in the top left sidebar. To keep updated on the latest articles, join my networks at Facebook, Twitter and Friendfeed.
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16 responses so far ↓
1 matiokawa // Mar 13, 2009 at 9:16 AM
What are the possible consequences that a police officer face after lying to cover his unlawful actions?
2 Carlos Miller // Mar 13, 2009 at 9:20 AM
From what I’ve seen, absolutely nothing.
3 Karl Mansoor // Mar 13, 2009 at 9:30 AM
In this case with the priest, he’ll have to go to confession…
“Forgive me Father for I have sinned…”
4 the bulldog // Mar 13, 2009 at 10:14 AM
how many hail mary’s do you get for beating up a priest?
5 sickntired // Mar 13, 2009 at 10:26 AM
I hope the priest sue the cops for false arrest and for filing a false report..
6 Bub // Mar 13, 2009 at 11:01 AM
Periodically I check in on this blog, and I’m never disappointed. Keep up the good work, Carlos!
7 Andrew DeFilippis // Mar 13, 2009 at 2:57 PM
No problem Carlos.
Seems like the officer forgot that he was being video taped when he made his report. And the whole interfering with police investigation arguments don’t work considering other guests in the store would be able to walk around and videotape/photograph what was happening while the officers were working there. And what would have happened if a news crew with full camera gear happened to be in there?
What would the officers have said then?
8 louie // Mar 13, 2009 at 6:50 PM
See this? The only way to change this is to study hard in school, get into law school, graduate, pass the bar, and sue the towns and individuals responsible until they are forced to live in rags for the rest of their lives.
9 Rob // Mar 14, 2009 at 2:08 AM
“This officer asked Manship again what he was doing and what he was concealing in his hands. Manship at this time still did not
answer this officer.”
Oh what a lie!
10 Ms Calabaza // Mar 14, 2009 at 3:29 PM
cops lie?
11 Carlos Miller // Mar 14, 2009 at 3:52 PM
Bub,
Thanks for reading. And stick around because it never gets boring around here.
Karl and Bulldog,
Good ones! I tried to come up with something funny but I had 15 minutes to head to an appointment, so I kept it short and simple.
Andrew,
What cops don’t seem to understand is that the media does’t have any more legal rights than your average citizen.
Ms S and Rob,
They lie like rugs which unfortunately makes all cops look bad.
12 Ed // Mar 14, 2009 at 4:30 PM
Louie @ 8: If anybody tried that they would be disbarred.
13 P Smith // Mar 21, 2009 at 1:51 AM
So, when the pigs are filming crowds in public places and the public are not committing crimes, does that mean the public has the legal right and authority to confiscate the pigs’ cameras?
Didn’t think so. Typically fascist hypocrites.
Those who enforce the law should be held to a higher standard than the average citizen. Instead, when “law enforcement” breaks the law, they get a slap on the wrist instead of a stiffer sentence.
14 Karl Mansoor // Mar 27, 2009 at 7:53 PM
Charges dropped
http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5jRpD__HKwH3BnXMC85MtgBMiUoSAD975UAG81
15 Carlos Miller // Mar 28, 2009 at 1:53 AM
Thanks, Karl.
http://carlosmiller.com/2009/03/28/charges-dropped-against-connecticut-priest-after-cops-bear-false-witness/
16 Karl Mansoor // Mar 28, 2009 at 2:14 AM
No problemo.
I tried emailing you the info but my email was down briefly.
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