NY cops seek legal action for 'planting evidence' video
Attorneys who specialize in defamation are being sought after a viral video threatened the integrity of Utica police officers
UTICA, N.Y. — The Utica Police Department PBA and the Utica Police Union are consulting with attorneys who specialize in defamation after a newspaper claimed that a heavily edited viral video shows officers planting evidence.
The Utica Phoenix posted a correction and an apology after an edited video surfaced that appeared to show officers placed drugs in the hands of a suspect after a traffic stop, but publisher Cassandra Harris-Lockwood, declined to say she was sorry, according to WKTV. The damage, however, is already done, said the union president — apologies and corrections aside.
"If she apologizes to the officers, it's still out there. These officers, some of their integrity and credibility has somewhat been diminished," UPD PBA President Dominick Nitti said.
Police recently released the full 30 minute video to show all of the circumstances surrounding the incident after the black community, crying racism, said the edited one minute, 40-second snippet — titled "UPD Caught on Tape" — shows an officer place a baggie on the car of a driver he'd just pulled over...
..."It's just irresponsible journalism on the part of the Phoenix, that's the main thing there and us as a union, we're going to protect our members so legal action will be taken against the Phoenix," Nitti said.
Mr Nitti, irresponsible and journalism are synonymous and if you expected anything but yellow journalism from current media you do need your head examined.
If you want to see the doctored video, go here.
If you want to see what really happened watch this. At 515 you will see the search of the driver and a mini-drug store pulled from the man's coat. Later (around 1100) the passenger is searched and narcotics are found on her. But the one minute propaganda piece cut that out and will only show the officer putting the evidence inside the car. In other words the lied about the officers. If the Phoenix didn't vet this information they are guilty of liable and I hope the union takes them for all they got.
Great post...It's an unfortunate incident; however, instead of suing the paper "out of business," I would suggest that police department's lawyers attempt to force the paper to make significant, structural changes and enact safeguards to make sure that the event doesn't happen again. That way, people in the area will have access to a news source which is fair/objective.
ReplyDeleteThanks Anthony
ReplyDeleteI'm almost finished The Girl with the Rose Tattoo and in it the protagonist was convicted of slander because he wrote an article on an industrialist. What I found interesting is Norway has a government board to handle this issue type of issue and the standard for liable/slander is much lower than it is in the US. An equivalent would be of Andrea Mitchell calling the head of FEDEX something. Fred Smith is a public figure and basically cannot win anything unless there is malice.
These two cops on the other hands...they are not public figures in any measure of the word. Or they were not before pulling that couple over. And the idiot editors should have been more careful on that. But I think a large part of the forth estate wants to be first out with the next Rodeny King video. Truth and context are not necessary.
Have a great week man!