Skip to content
NOWCAST WBAL-TV 11 News at 6pm
Watch on Demand
Advertisement

Dozens of cases linked to controversial body-camera video dropped

Dozens of cases linked to controversial body-camera video dropped
WEBVTT RAISES QUESTIONS ABOUT THECREDIBILITY OF THE OFFICERSINVOLVED.>> EARLIER THIS WEEK, IT WASBROUGHT TO MAY ATTENTION THAT ANADDITIONAL VIDEO RAISES CONCERNSWITH ONE OF OUR PROSECUTORS ANDFURTHER REVIEW OF THE MATTER WESUBSEQUENTLY REFERRED THE MATTERTO THE BALTIMORE CITY INTERNALAFFAIRS DIVISION OF THE POLIDEPARTMENT.DAVID CITY STATE'S ATTORNEY: MARILYN MOSBY PROVIDED NOOTHER DETAILS.CITY POLICE HAVE NOT RESPONDEDTO OUR INQUIRY.MEANWHILE, THERE IS MORE FALLOUT FROM THIS POLICE BODY CAMFOOTAGE THAT REVEALS A CITYOFFICER MISHANDLING EVIDENCE.RICHARD PINEIRO REMAINSSUSPENDED.TWO OTHER OFFICERS ARE ON DESKDUTY.THE PUBLIC DEFENDER'S OFFICEFLAGGED THE VIDEO JUST BEFORETHE START OF A DRUG POSSESSIONCASE EARLIER THIS MONTH.THE STATE'S ATTORNEY'S OFFICETIED 123 CASES TO THE 3 OFFICERS.>> WE ARE SET TO DISMISS 34CASES.WE IDENTIFIED 12 VIABLE CASESWHERE ALL 12 OF THOSE DEFENDANTSARE INCARCERATED.>> THE CASES THAT HAVE BEENDISMISSED THUS FAR OR SCHEDULEDTO BE DISMISSED ARE FELONY DRUGCASES OR FREE STANDINGPOSSESSION OF FIRE ARM CASES.DAVID LAST WEEK POLICE: COMMISSIONER KEVIN DAVISCALLED THE VIDEO A SERIOUSALLEGATION OF POLICE MISCONDUCTAND PLEDGED TO GET TO THE BOTTOMOF IT.THE STATE'S ATTORNEY DECLINED TOCHARACTERIZE WHAT SHE BELIEVESTHE POLICE BODY CAM VIDEOREVEALS.RIGHT THING TO DO.>> CLEARLY THERE IS ACREDIBILITY ISSUE THAT'SIMPACTING OTHER CASES.THAT IS WHAT WE ARE HERE TOREPORT IS THAT BASED UPON THOSECREDIBILITY, WE AGAIN HAVE NOTMADE A DISTINCTION ABOUT WHATACTUALLY TOOK PLACE.DAVID: JUST A FEW MOMENTS AGO,CITY POLICE ISSUED A STATEMENTREGARDING THAT NEW POLICE ON CAMFOOTAGE THING AND INVOLVES TOARREST AND THE RECOVERY OF DRUGSDURING A TRAFFIC STOP.THERE IS A GAP IN THE VIDEOAFTER THE RECORDED RECOVERY OFDRUGS AND BEFORE THE FINALRECOVERY OF ADDITIONAL DRUGS.POLICE ARE CONFIRMING THAT ISTHAT'S INCIDENT IS UNDERINVESTIGATION.
Advertisement
Dozens of cases linked to controversial body-camera video dropped
Baltimore police body-camera video released last week is raising additional concerns as prosecutors announced Friday afternoon plans to drop a number of cases.Baltimore City State's Attorney Marilyn Mosby identified 123 cases associated with the officers mishandling evidence as seen on the body-camera video. Mosby said 34 of the cases will be dismissed, and 77 others remain under review."In the review process, we not only evaluate the merits of each individual case, but we have attempted to identify alternative ways to prove those cases where there is independent corroborative evidence. And where these officers are material and necessary witnesses, we are dismissing those cases which rely exclusively on the credibility of these officers," Mosby said. "We are set to dismiss 34 cases. We identified 12 viable cases where all 12 of those defendants are incarcerated.""The cases that have been dismissed thus far or are scheduled to be dismissed are felony drug cases or free-standing possession of firearm cases. And we made a decision in every one of those cases after a very thorough review of the facts, that we did not have a case to prosecute without the testimony of one or all of the three officers," said Antonio Gioia, chief counsel at the Baltimore City State's Attorney's Office.Richard Pinheiro is the officer whose own body camera shows him mishandling evidence. He remains suspended, and his two colleagues are on desk duty.The video dates back to Jan. 24. It was flagged by the Public Defender's Office just before a drug case was going to trial this month. What the officer is seen doing remains under internal investigation.Last week, Baltimore Police Commissioner Kevin Davis called the video a serious allegation of police misconduct and pledged to get to the bottom of it.Mosby declined to characterize what she believes the police body-camera video reveals. She said the case review is the right thing to do."Clearly, there is a credibility issue that's impacting other cases, and so that is essentially what we are here to report ... based upon those credibility (issues), we have not made a distinction about what actually what took place," Mosby said.Mosby also said there's new video that, in addition to the one already under investigation, raises questions about the credibility of the officers involved."Earlier this week, it was brought to my attention that an additional video raises concerns with one of our prosecutors and further review of the matter. We subsequently referred the matter to the Baltimore City Internal Affairs Division of the Police Department," Mosby said.Mosby did not provide details of the other police body-camera video that is raising concern.The Police Department released a statement, saying:"The criminal case mentioned today by the state's attorney involves two arrests and the recovery of drugs from a car during a traffic stop. There is a gap in the Body Worn Camera (BWC) video that occurs after the recorded recovery of drugs and before the final recovery of additional drugs. We are investigating the incident."Our Police Department has invited a heightened level of scrutiny since we have adopted one of the largest BWC programs in the nation. Our transparency efforts are ongoing as we strive to train our police officers with this new technology. When shortcomings are apparent, we will investigate and act accordingly."Since the inception of our BWC program, over 110,000 hours of police activity has been captured. We have disciplined our police officers, counseled them, and trained them in accordance with best practices associated with this technology. We remain committed to getting it right. Our relationship with the community depends on it."

Baltimore police body-camera video released last week is raising additional concerns as prosecutors announced Friday afternoon plans to drop a number of cases.

Baltimore City State's Attorney Marilyn Mosby identified 123 cases associated with the officers mishandling evidence as seen on the body-camera video. Mosby said 34 of the cases will be dismissed, and 77 others remain under review.

Advertisement

Related Content

"In the review process, we not only evaluate the merits of each individual case, but we have attempted to identify alternative ways to prove those cases where there is independent corroborative evidence. And where these officers are material and necessary witnesses, we are dismissing those cases which rely exclusively on the credibility of these officers," Mosby said. "We are set to dismiss 34 cases. We identified 12 viable cases where all 12 of those defendants are incarcerated."

"The cases that have been dismissed thus far or are scheduled to be dismissed are felony drug cases or free-standing possession of firearm cases. And we made a decision in every one of those cases after a very thorough review of the facts, that we did not have a case to prosecute without the testimony of one or all of the three officers," said Antonio Gioia, chief counsel at the Baltimore City State's Attorney's Office.

Richard Pinheiro is the officer whose own body camera shows him mishandling evidence. He remains suspended, and his two colleagues are on desk duty.

The video dates back to Jan. 24. It was flagged by the Public Defender's Office just before a drug case was going to trial this month. What the officer is seen doing remains under internal investigation.

Last week, Baltimore Police Commissioner Kevin Davis called the video a serious allegation of police misconduct and pledged to get to the bottom of it.

Mosby declined to characterize what she believes the police body-camera video reveals. She said the case review is the right thing to do.

"Clearly, there is a credibility issue that's impacting other cases, and so that is essentially what we are here to report ... based upon those credibility (issues), we have not made a distinction about what actually what took place," Mosby said.

Mosby also said there's new video that, in addition to the one already under investigation, raises questions about the credibility of the officers involved.

"Earlier this week, it was brought to my attention that an additional video raises concerns with one of our prosecutors and further review of the matter. We subsequently referred the matter to the Baltimore City Internal Affairs Division of the Police Department," Mosby said.

Mosby did not provide details of the other police body-camera video that is raising concern.

The Police Department released a statement, saying:

"The criminal case mentioned today by the state's attorney involves two arrests and the recovery of drugs from a car during a traffic stop. There is a gap in the Body Worn Camera (BWC) video that occurs after the recorded recovery of drugs and before the final recovery of additional drugs. We are investigating the incident.

"Our Police Department has invited a heightened level of scrutiny since we have adopted one of the largest BWC programs in the nation. Our transparency efforts are ongoing as we strive to train our police officers with this new technology. When shortcomings are apparent, we will investigate and act accordingly.

"Since the inception of our BWC program, over 110,000 hours of police activity has been captured. We have disciplined our police officers, counseled them, and trained them in accordance with best practices associated with this technology. We remain committed to getting it right. Our relationship with the community depends on it."

This content is imported from Twitter. You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site.
This content is imported from Twitter. You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site.