{img1 alig=left}As we were telling you, police from Tenaha, Texas is facing serious charges of highway robbery and power abuse from plaintiffs claiming they were threatened in many ways by police officers in order to give up their cash and jewelery.
As we previously related, Tenaha officials deny any charges brought by the plaintiff’s lawyer, David Guillory, although, according to CNN reporters, there are some several pieces of evidence that are not in the police’s favor.
A couple said they agreed on forfeiting their property after Shelby County District Attorney Lynda Russell came and threatened them of having their children taken away. The document they signed bears Russell’s signature and states that in exchange of forfeiting the cash, "no criminal charges shall be filed ... and our children shall not be turned over" to the state's child protective services agency. Through her lawyers, the D.A. denied any impropriety.
Guillory states that most targeted drivers are minorities, African-American or Latino, who won’t fight back "They are disproportionately going after racial minorities," he said. "My take on the matter is that the police in Tenaha, Texas, were picking on and preying on people that were least likely to fight back."
Texas law states that the proceeds of any seizures can be used only for "official purposes" of district attorney offices and "for law-enforcement purposes" by police departments. According to public records obtained by CNN using open-records laws, an account funded by property forfeitures in Russell's office included $524 for a popcorn machine, $195 for candy at a poultry festival, and $400 for catering.
Moreover, Russell donated money to the local chamber of commerce and a youth baseball league. A local Baptist church received two checks totaling $6,000 and one check for $10,000 went to Barry Washington, a Tenaha police officer whose name has come up in several complaints by stopped motorists. The money was paid for "investigative costs," the records state.
As we previously related, Tenaha officials deny any charges brought by the plaintiff’s lawyer, David Guillory, although, according to CNN reporters, there are some several pieces of evidence that are not in the police’s favor.
A couple said they agreed on forfeiting their property after Shelby County District Attorney Lynda Russell came and threatened them of having their children taken away. The document they signed bears Russell’s signature and states that in exchange of forfeiting the cash, "no criminal charges shall be filed ... and our children shall not be turned over" to the state's child protective services agency. Through her lawyers, the D.A. denied any impropriety.
Texas law states that the proceeds of any seizures can be used only for "official purposes" of district attorney offices and "for law-enforcement purposes" by police departments. According to public records obtained by CNN using open-records laws, an account funded by property forfeitures in Russell's office included $524 for a popcorn machine, $195 for candy at a poultry festival, and $400 for catering.
Moreover, Russell donated money to the local chamber of commerce and a youth baseball league. A local Baptist church received two checks totaling $6,000 and one check for $10,000 went to Barry Washington, a Tenaha police officer whose name has come up in several complaints by stopped motorists. The money was paid for "investigative costs," the records state.
Google News