Denver Police officer Devin Sparks on video striking Michael DeHererra for talking on phone
http://cops-busted.com/articles/56/1/Denver-Police-officer-Devin-Sparks-on-video-striking-Michael-DeHererra-for-talking-on-phone/Page1.html
Cops Busted
Cops Busted is not about bashing the Police, but that few bad apples. For the most part, most Police Officers are respectable, but in current years I am not happy with the trend and course Law Enforcement has taken. Did they forget they are Public Servants - To SERVE and PROTECT! Cops are not above the law, nor are they better than other people. By Cops Busted
Published on 08/17/2010
Denver Police Officer Devin Sparks is seen on video striking and
arresting Michael DeHerrera, while other Denver Police Officers make an
arrest on his friend.
Denver Police Officer Devin Sparks is seen on video striking and arresting Michael DeHerrera, while other Denver Police Officers make an arrest on his friend.
This is what apparently happened in this incident; Michael DeHerrera's was being arrested due to a prior incident where he allegedly entered the women's bathroom at the LoDo nightclub. I say alleged because it is not really a criminal offense unless he exposed himself or committed any other crime, which it was not mentioned he did. (i'm sure someone will call me on this)
The officers are arresting his friend when the video starts; there was an alleged witness who states that DeHererra pushed another officer moments earlier, and that Officer Devin Sparks feared DeHererra was about to strike him. But that is not seen on the video and several other witnesses disputed that DeHerrera had pushed anyone. (maybe someone fabricated a witness)
What is seen on video is when officer Devin Sparks strikes DeHererra in the face, throws him on the ground, and then the camera pans away! Well the video is being taken by the police department’s own High Activity Location Observation video surveillance system. Video released to the news media by the department shows DeHerrera doing nothing but talking on his phone with his father, a sheriff’s deputy in Pueblo, and then being attacked by Denver Police Officer Sparks.
Michael DeHerrera has described Denver police as beating him unconscious. He said he woke up in a hospital bed, with stitches in his head, and a swollen head. He said he later was diagnosed with post-concussion syndrome.
Both Johnson and DeHerrera were charged by police with interference and resisting arrest. Assistant City Attorney Vince DiCroce moved to dismiss the charges after reviewing the video “because there is no likelihood of conviction.”
The video of Officer Devin Sparks repeatedly hitting Michael DeHerrera of Denver with a department-issued piece of metal wrapped in leather, picking him up roughly and slamming a car door on his ankle has prompted Independent Monitor Richard Rosenthal to push for the firing of Sparks and Corporal Randy Murr. Rosenthal, who monitors police internal investigations, maintains Sparks and Murr are unfit for the force because they didn’t tell the truth about the April 4, 2009 incident. Rosenthal also believes the use of force by Sparks was excessive.
I have a few questions, and maybe some legal experts can help answer these:
In my view, they should not just all be fired, but also arrested and charged. The conspirators for conspiracy to battery (after the fact) and Sparks for aggravated battery and unlawful arrest!
There are way too many awesome police officers out there that deserve our respect for their hard work, and criminals like this Devin Sparks do nothing but give them a bad name, and smudge our perception of our police departments!
This is what apparently happened in this incident; Michael DeHerrera's was being arrested due to a prior incident where he allegedly entered the women's bathroom at the LoDo nightclub. I say alleged because it is not really a criminal offense unless he exposed himself or committed any other crime, which it was not mentioned he did. (i'm sure someone will call me on this)
The officers are arresting his friend when the video starts; there was an alleged witness who states that DeHererra pushed another officer moments earlier, and that Officer Devin Sparks feared DeHererra was about to strike him. But that is not seen on the video and several other witnesses disputed that DeHerrera had pushed anyone. (maybe someone fabricated a witness)
What is seen on video is when officer Devin Sparks strikes DeHererra in the face, throws him on the ground, and then the camera pans away! Well the video is being taken by the police department’s own High Activity Location Observation video surveillance system. Video released to the news media by the department shows DeHerrera doing nothing but talking on his phone with his father, a sheriff’s deputy in Pueblo, and then being attacked by Denver Police Officer Sparks.
Michael DeHerrera has described Denver police as beating him unconscious. He said he woke up in a hospital bed, with stitches in his head, and a swollen head. He said he later was diagnosed with post-concussion syndrome.
Both Johnson and DeHerrera were charged by police with interference and resisting arrest. Assistant City Attorney Vince DiCroce moved to dismiss the charges after reviewing the video “because there is no likelihood of conviction.”
The video of Officer Devin Sparks repeatedly hitting Michael DeHerrera of Denver with a department-issued piece of metal wrapped in leather, picking him up roughly and slamming a car door on his ankle has prompted Independent Monitor Richard Rosenthal to push for the firing of Sparks and Corporal Randy Murr. Rosenthal, who monitors police internal investigations, maintains Sparks and Murr are unfit for the force because they didn’t tell the truth about the April 4, 2009 incident. Rosenthal also believes the use of force by Sparks was excessive.
I have a few questions, and maybe some legal experts can help answer these:
- What is the basis for "interference and resisting arrest?" Do you or do you not need to be conducting an investigation into a "crime" for the charge of "interference", or interfering with a police investigation?
- And now, what are the requirements to meet "resisting arrest"? Do you not need to be arrested for something for this charge? So what were they being arrested for, when they resisted?
- If an officer lies in a police report when he arrested a citizen, was it not an unlawful arrest? Is unlawful arrest not a felony in most states? I think it is, it's the same as kidnapping! (look it up)
- If I go rob a bank, and get into your car and you drive me away, are you not as guilty as i am, will you not also get arrested? Why are the people filming, who witnessed the beating and opted to not record the abuse from this police officer, and the other two who stood by and watched this civil rights violation take place, why are they not as guilty as Officer Devin Sparks?
In my view, they should not just all be fired, but also arrested and charged. The conspirators for conspiracy to battery (after the fact) and Sparks for aggravated battery and unlawful arrest!
There are way too many awesome police officers out there that deserve our respect for their hard work, and criminals like this Devin Sparks do nothing but give them a bad name, and smudge our perception of our police departments!