Videographer of alleged Melvin Jones beating could be charged with illegal wiretappin

[lajikal]

Videographer of alleged Melvin Jones beating could be charged with illegal wiretappingStephanie Barry, The Republican 08/10/2011 9:23 PM

SPRINGFIELD – The amateur videographer with the colorful vocabulary who memorialized the alleged 2009 police beating of Melvin Jones III during a traffic stop may be charged with illegal wiretapping.

One of four police officers disciplined for the incident on Nov. 27, 2009, Michael Sedergren, has filed an application for a criminal complaint against videographer Tyrisha Greene. Sedergren, who was suspended for 45 days, claims it was illegal for Greene to videotape him without his consent.

Greene made a 20-minute film that included Jones, who is black, being struck repeatedly by a white officer with a flashlight while a group of other white officers stood by without intervening. The video also included an expletive-filled commentary by Greene, 29, who sounded alarmed by the scene that unfolded on Rifle Street.

Police reports were that Jones, who had a criminal record, grabbed one of the officers’ guns as they tried to arrest him. Jones disputed this and a Hampden County grand jury rejected allegations that Jones behaved aggressively toward police. Medical records show bones all over his face were broken and he was partially blinded in one eye.

The officer at the center of the controversy is now-retired patrolman Jeffrey M. Asher, a lightning rod when he was on the police force with a past history of allegations of police brutality.

Asher was fired from the police force a day after he received a disability pension from the state. He also faces criminal charges in Chicopee District Court; his trial is pending.

Three other officers, including Sedergren, were disciplined in connection with the incident. Sedergren did not appeal his suspension but filed his own complaint against Greene in District Court in late July, alleging improper interception of wire and oral communication.

A so-called “show cause” hearing during which a clerk-magistrate will vet the alleged evidence against Greene is scheduled for Aug. 17 in Chicopee District Court.

Greene has been a reluctant witness, according to court records, and could not be reached for comment. However, her lawyer, Daniel D. Kelly, said Sedergren sought the complaint under a state law aimed at organized crime-fighting tactics.

“Even a cursory review of the law would show that the Legislature took the time to insert a preamble into the statute showing that it is specifically aimed at organized crime prosecutions,” Kelly said. The law specifically prohibits secret audiotaping without a person’s consent.

Police Sgt. John M. Delaney, aide to Commissioner William J. Fitchet, said Sedergren filed the complaint personally, not on behalf of the Police Department. “If officer Sedergren feels his rights were violated under the law then he has the opportunity to make his case in court, just like everyone else,” Delaney said.

A lawyer for Jones – who was charged with shoplifting, domestic battery and drug trafficking on separate occasions since the 2009 incident – contends Sedergren can be heard on Greene’s videotape calling Jones a racial expletive.

“They’re really just trying to intimidate and silence her, but whether she’s charged or not (the tape) can still be used in court,” said attorney Shawn P. Allyn, who represents Jones in a civil rights lawsuit against the police in U.S. District Court.

Ann Lambert, a lawyer for the American Civil Liberties Union’s Boston office, said although the ACLU opposes a “big brother” society, the law is designed to combat secret audiotaping of conversations, not amateur videographers, which are rampant.

“Just the fact that you’re unaware of it doesn’t make it illegal,” Lambert said. “It doesn’t sound like there was anything secret about it at all.”

District Attorney Mark G. Mastroianni this year charged patrolman Derek V. Cook with illegal wiretapping in connection with taping a station-house fight after which he was charged with assaulting two superiors. He pleaded guilty to assault and battery of a police officer, and, in a plea-bargained agreement, the wiretapping charge was dropped last month.

Done with humans.

 

[Lord Zero]

The cop has no reasonable expectation of privacy. He was in public and was probably being recorded by a dashboard cam. He has no case.

 

[The Sarge]

Done with humans.

I'm not. This kind of thing makes great entertainment, especially the composition of the report. "...who is black...", "...other white officers...". Good to know the races.

Thanks, media!

 

[Hoffman]

The cop has no reasonable expectation of privacy. He was in public and was probably being recorded by a dashboard cam. He has no case.

This. I can't wait though until Kirk comes in and turns the story from one cop taking this action, to the US Government taking this action.

 

[lajikal]

I'm not. This kind of thing makes great entertainment, especially the composition of the report. "...who is black...", "...other white officers...". Good to know the races.

Thanks, media!

Yup. Reverse: troubled young bunny defends himself from evil white devil. Done with humans. They all suck and/or retarded. Doesn't matter what race/job/givemedat, whatever. Done giving the little shit I did give.

 

[Josh_R]

Asher was fired from the police force a day after he received a disability pension from the state. He also faces criminal charges in Chicopee District Court; his trial is pending.

Aww, that sure was sweet of them to let him stick around long enough to get paid for by the taxpayers for the rest of his life. Fucking scumbags, gotta protect their own no matter what. "Sure there is video evidence that you broke a man's face and partially blinded him with a flashlight, but that doesn't mean you should lose that hard earned pension".

 

[Hoffman]

Aww, that sure was sweet of them to let him stick around long enough to get paid for by the taxpayers for the rest of his life. Fucking scumbags, gotta protect their own no matter what. "Sure there is video evidence that you broke a man's face and partially blinded him with a flashlight, but that doesn't mean you should lose that hard earned pension".

Unfortunately it may be a matter of loopholes in state law. Maryland has a law where public officials can still receive their pension as long as they don't get convicted while in office. Prince Georges County just had a county commissioner plead guilty to all sorts of illegal acts he performed while in office, and related to his office but because he resigned before doing so he is still getting paid out. That law is consequently getting a LOT of looks in Annapolis.

 

[Kirk Strong]

Nothing new here. Cops have been charging people with wiretapping laws for years. Apparently cops have an expectation of privacy in public places but the slaves can be recorded by cameras and get tickets for making right turns. And I know the sheeple will say its ok because they only end up doing a few days in jail and so what if the cops raid their homes but the cops are not punished and fired. They are allowed to keep doing it even though they know its not against the law.

Welcome to the police state.

War is Peace, Guilty Until Proven Innocent, Freedom is Slavery, Ignorance is Strength.

 

[Josh_R]

Unfortunately it may be a matter of loopholes in state law. Maryland has a law where public officials can still receive their pension as long as they don't get convicted while in office. Prince Georges County just had a county commissioner plead guilty to all sorts of illegal acts he performed while in office, and related to his office but because he resigned before doing so he is still getting paid out. That law is consequently getting a LOT of looks in Annapolis.

I know what you mean; Anthony Weiner and that Asian guy who just resigned from congress will be getting pensions etc even though they resigned in disgrace. My point is that this guy was FIRED, but they kept him around long enough to get all his disability paperwork and hearings done. They probably could have fired him right away and saved the taxpayers from having to pay for a cop who has history of brutality.

 

[Hoffman]

Nothing new here. Cops have been charging people with wiretapping laws for years. Apparently cops have an expectation of privacy in public places but the slaves can be recorded by cameras and get tickets for making right turns. And I know the sheeple will say its ok because they only end up doing a few days in jail and so what if the cops raid their homes but the cops are not punished and fired. They are allowed to keep doing it even though they know its not against the law.

Welcome to the police state.

War is Peace, Guilty Until Proven Innocent, Freedom is Slavery, Ignorance is Strength.

Only problem with your assertion here is this Cop in particular is;

a) Fired
b) Filing a CIVIL suit

Nice try though jack ass.