MN - Justine Damond, 40, fatally shot by Minneapolis LE, 15 July 2017 #3

[Via Marple]

Prosecutors on Tuesday attacked the credibility of Minneapolis police Sgt. Shannon Barnette, the supervisor on the scene after officer Mohamed Noor shot and killed 911 caller Justine Ruszczyk.

Barnette has emerged as a key figure in the trial of Noor, who faces murder and manslaughter charges in Ruszczyk's 2017 shooting death. She has refused to cooperate with a state investigation into the shooting.

According to trial witnesses and prosecutors, Barnette deactivated her body camera multiple times during the night of the shooting, jumped to conclusions about whether Noor and his partner had been startled before Noor shot, and told another officer that Ruszczyk was "probably a drunk or a drug addict" after she was killed.

Toxicology tests showed Ruszczyk did not have any alcohol or drugs in her system.

Noor trial: Prosecution raps police supervisor who shut off bodycam

Something stinks and it's not the week old tuna in my fridge.

And the life of a drunk or drug addict did not matter to a serving officer?

IMHO all those responsible for this cover up should be tried as accessories after a crime.

 

[mickey2942]

Oh yes something stinks alright and this Barnette is emblematic of a police department that IMO has attempted to cover up this horrible crime perpetrated by one of their own. The lack of cooperation by many police officers is shocking and rephrehensible. I hope and pray that Noor is convicted and there is justice for Justine.

This is not isolated to Minneapolis. Police shootings happen often enough that there should be a federal mandate standard procedure to follow. Because right now, every jurisdiction is all over the map with their process with LEO shootings. Nothing is consistent.

 

[Rocco]

And the life of a drunk or drug addict did not matter to a serving officer?

IMHO all those responsible for this cover up should be tried as accessories after a crime.

Of all the officer involved shootings I've followed, this is the worst of the worst. Refusing to cooperate, turning the body cams off and on, adding details like the loud thump on the car days later----and there's no disputing it. One would think they'd be somewhat embarrassed with the way they acted but that doesn't appear to be the case. I don't think the jury will take very long with their deliberations.

 

[Via Marple]

Of all the officer involved shootings I've followed, this is the worst of the worst. Refusing to cooperate, turning the body cams off and on, adding details like the loud thump on the car days later----and there's no disputing it. One would think they'd be somewhat embarrassed with the way they acted but that doesn't appear to be the case. I don't think the jury will take very long with their deliberations.

I am not familiar with officer shootings in the US, but for me it is shocking how a police force acts like a gang with a law unto themselves, like in a 3rd world country. And I can't even name a 3rd world country that does that. This is not US bashing.... just shocking to me. I hope justice will be the same for all humans the world over.

 

[ilovewings]

Of all the officer involved shootings I've followed, this is the worst of the worst. Refusing to cooperate, turning the body cams off and on, adding details like the loud thump on the car days later----and there's no disputing it. One would think they'd be somewhat embarrassed with the way they acted but that doesn't appear to be the case. I don't think the jury will take very long with their deliberations.

I absolutely agree with you 110 percent
The coverup started from the second the bullet left the chamber

 

[Rocco]

Minneapolis police chief Medaria Arradondo said Monday, April 15, he heard nothing about a thump or noise startling Mohamed Noor before the officer fired, killing 911 caller Justine Ruszczyk, and that the idea of a thump surfaced only days after the shooting.

Arradondo also told prosecutors at Noor's trial there were no concerns that night about Noor and his partner, officer Matthew Harrity, driving into a potential ambush in Ruszczyk's Fulton neighborhood alley.

Noor trial: Chief says no talk of thump on squad after Ruszczyk...

(Arradondo was not the police chief at the time of the shooting)

 

[they'll get you]

Many responding officers turned their body cameras on and off at will; one had his camera recording while headed to the scene and shut it off upon arrival.

"These are extremely troublesome things," said Phil Turner, a defense attorney and former federal prosecutor in Chicago who is not connected to the case. "They're law enforcement officers and they are supposed to enforce the law equally, whether someone is a sworn law enforcement officer or not."
Minnesota police shooting trial raises questions about code of silence

 

[they'll get you]

It also raised questions about a "blue wall of silence" as prosecutors said they had to convene a grand jury to compel officers' testimony because many refused to provide statements.
Officer Jesse Lopez told Noor: "Just keep to yourself. Keep your mouth shut until you have to say anything to anybody."

Minnesota police shooting trial raises questions about code of silence

This sounds like the code of a crime gang

 

[they'll get you]

Prosecutors also have told the court that about 20 police officers refused to talk to investigators and met with union officials to discuss withholding information.
Minnesota police shooting trial raises questions about code of silence

Surely there is a law against withholding information.

Justice for this innocent woman.

 

[they'll get you]

US police supervisor's credibility questioned in murder trial for Justine Damond Ruszczyk

Sergeant Barnette was tasked with getting the basic facts before handing them over to an investigative agency, the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA).

But in a Minneapolis court on Tuesday (local time), prosecutors suggested Sergeant Barnette was more concerned with protecting Mr Noor.
Prosecutor Amy Sweasy asked Sergeant Barnette why she switched off her body camera before speaking to Mr Noor.

Sergeant Barnette was unable to offer an explanation besides claiming it was a "private conversation".

The body cameras used by Minneapolis police only store the last 30 seconds of vision — without audio — when they have been switched off.

A silent video was played in court and showed Sergeant Barnette talking to Mr Noor in the passenger seat of a squad car.

In the video, Mr Noor appears to raise both hands and aim in what the prosecution alleged was a simulation of the shooting.

Sergeant Barnette denied he demonstrated anything or that the conversation went beyond her asking how he was feeling.

Prosecutors slam US police supervisor who turned off bodycam after Sydney woman was shot

The lies!!

 

[they'll get you]

Prosecutor Patrick Lofton claimed in one incident that Mr Noor was "driving around doing circles to avoid taking calls".

The day's testimony set the scene for the much-anticipated appearance of Mr Noor's partner, who could speak as early as tomorrow.
Prosecutors slam US police supervisor who turned off bodycam after Sydney woman was shot

I hope he is truthful.

 

[mickey2942]

I absolutely agree with you 110 percent
The coverup started from the second the bullet left the chamber

The police cameras should be on for the entire shift. Only off for lunch and breaks.

I don't think that the officers like Noor, or support his actions, but the one officer who breaks rank, and talks, realizes it is career suicide to tell the truth. And sadly, it is.

 

[Rocco]

Noor trial: Prosecution raps police supervisor who shut off ...
Barnette testified that she wasn't concerned about the condition of the victim. Additionally, prosecutor Sweasy quoted from a BCA interview where Noor asked Barnette about the status of Ruszczyk. Barnette replied, "I'm not going to worry about that right now. I'm worried about you," according to the transcript Sweasy cited.

 

[JerseyGirl]

Justine Damond shooting: trial raises fears about police protecting their own

 

[human]

Following cases on here about police shootings, this is nothing new. Even shooting someone in the back is ok.

 

[Rocco]

The bicyclist, who was 16 at the time, says he saw Ruszczyk Damond in the alley with a phone to her ear and an arm in the air trying to get the attention of police. When he saw the officers, the teen says he put his head down to avoid them because he had marijuana in his pocket and did not want to be stopped. Shortly after, he says he heard gunshots.

Teen Bicyclist Who Was In Alley Where Shooting Occurred Testifies In Noor Trial

 

[Tippy Lynn]

Noor trial: Teen who biked by shooting takes stand

Jurors are hearing from a teen bicyclist who recorded the aftermath of the shooting of Justine Ruszczyk Damond in 2017.

The 17-year-old was biking past the alley at the moment of the shooting and recorded 29 seconds of the aftermath on his cell phone.

He testified Wednesday in the murder trial of former Minneapolis police officer Mohamed Noor.

The teen's video shows Noor's partner, Matthew Harrity, on the ground with Justine saying "Stay with me," and Noor is also crouched over.

The teen walks forward and says, "What's happening, sir?" and Noor approaches him and says, "just back up," you can record, but back up.

 

[PrairieWind]

Minneapolis police chief Medaria Arradondo said Monday, April 15, he heard nothing about a thump or noise startling Mohamed Noor before the officer fired, killing 911 caller Justine Ruszczyk, and that the idea of a thump surfaced only days after the shooting.

Arradondo also told prosecutors at Noor's trial there were no concerns that night about Noor and his partner, officer Matthew Harrity, driving into a potential ambush in Ruszczyk's Fulton neighborhood alley.

Noor trial: Chief says no talk of thump on squad after Ruszczyk...

(Arradondo was not the police chief at the time of the shooting)

Arrondondo's testimony is compelling. It seriously undermines the defense theory of the case.

 

[PrairieWind]

Many responding officers turned their body cameras on and off at will; one had his camera recording while headed to the scene and shut it off upon arrival.

"These are extremely troublesome things," said Phil Turner, a defense attorney and former federal prosecutor in Chicago who is not connected to the case. "They're law enforcement officers and they are supposed to enforce the law equally, whether someone is a sworn law enforcement officer or not."
Minnesota police shooting trial raises questions about code of silence

Body cams are still new devices and rules for use are often unclear. However, as a defense attorney, I can tell you that getting video that cuts in and out because the officer is turning the camera on and off (while not exactly common) isn't exactly uncommon. The thing about this is this: body camera footage almost always supports the officer's story. So when you get discovery where the officer has shut off his camera, you naturally can reasonably assume it is done to hide something. Officers HAVE to learn this.

 

[mickey2942]

Noor trial: Teen who biked by shooting takes stand

Jurors are hearing from a teen bicyclist who recorded the aftermath of the shooting of Justine Ruszczyk Damond in 2017.

The 17-year-old was biking past the alley at the moment of the shooting and recorded 29 seconds of the aftermath on his cell phone.

He testified Wednesday in the murder trial of former Minneapolis police officer Mohamed Noor.

The teen's video shows Noor's partner, Matthew Harrity, on the ground with Justine saying "Stay with me," and Noor is also crouched over.

The teen walks forward and says, "What's happening, sir?" and Noor approaches him and says, "just back up," you can record, but back up.

Good thing he was recording the scene. It appears that the officers were not. Even the ones who arrived.