Posted on 09/18/2015 9:25:33 PM PDT by ExyZ
A police detective’s refusal to turn over the name of a confidential informant to prosecutors has cast a public spotlight on a private rift between the Waco Police Department and the McLennan County District Attorney’s office.
Police Chief Brent Stroman, Assistant Chief Frank Gentsch and Sgt. Phillip Zboril brought Waco City Attorney Jennifer Richie, who hired Waco attorney Rick Bostwick to represent the department.
Waco’s 19th State District Judge Ralph Strother then ordered police to disclose the informant’s identity to prosecutors and himself so he could determine if it should be revealed to the defense.
But Strother said as he presided over Friday’s hearing that not long after he issued that order, Kingrey and Zboril visited him in his chambers and objected to the disclosure to anyone, including prosecutors. They claimed disclosure, even to the DA’s office, could put the informant’s safety in jeopardy and compromise the investigation, the judge said.
The judge rescinded his order, while Jarrett and West continued to push Kingrey to divulge the informant.
A source with knowledge of the case said Waco officers also complained that while Kingrey, Gentsch and Zboril had a private meeting in District Attorney Abel Reyna’s office to discuss the disclosure of the informant’s name, a member of Reyna’s staff had an 11-minute phone conversation with a close friend who is a family member of one of the seven defendants being investigated by Kingrey.
“I have a strong suspicion that there is more here than meets the eye,” the judge said at the hearing.
(Excerpt) Read more at wacotrib.com ...
"Bloodied bodies were lying all over. Guns and knives were strewn about everywhere," officer Phillip Zboril wrote in a 724-page incident report.
http://www.live5news.com/story/30063629/apnewsbreak-waco-police-bullets-hit-bikers-in-may-melee
“I have a strong suspicion that there is more here than meets the eye,” the judge said at the hearing.
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I suspect that is very much a huge understatement.
IBTG
Some interesting developments.
IBTG
Yes. Per the article, 2.5 years ago Waco police detectives refused to reveal the name of a confidential informant to McLennan County prosecutors over fears of leaks within the DA’s office. In fact, according to the article, there were secret meetings going on between the detectives and the judge. Now, in the biker case, 8800 pages and some video has found its way to the AP, but from where?
I see a lot of overlap of the names names in both news stories.
Here is a follow-up story:
Unusual situation
Jarrett, first assistant to the district attorney, told the judge he and those who have worked 25 years in his office have never heard of a situation where a police detective has declined to reveal an informant if asked by a prosecutor.
“This is an unusual situation that the first assistant has created,” Waco Assistant Police Chief Frank Gentsch responded after the hearing. “I have been a policeman for 31 years, and I have never seen a prosecutor go to such lengths to get confidential information that the judge himself, after reviewing the file, found to be peripheral in nature.”
You’ve got to have nothing but pity for any poor soul unfortunate enough to get caught up in that fetid cesspool of a criminal justice system -
“I can deal with legal rulings,” the judge said. “I can’t solve the trust issue for y’all. I suggest you get together, old-fashioned style, and talk face to face instead of airing your differences out on Facebook and text messages.”
Me too. While I’m sure there are some good people in there somewhere. ... the several dealings I’ve had with the “legal system” have left a permanent bad taste in my mouth and a distrust that is probably insurmountable. I will never voluntarily interact with it again. I settle things on my own.
something smells in Waco.
all I have wanted from day one is the truth.
the longer the truth is hidden the greater the smell.
IBTG
TG busy. Big $ OT for all LEO
This may show old mistrust, but the article was from Feb 2013. Headshake
There are plenty of other weirdness in the Wac(k)o legal system to make it suspect. Much of it centers around their asset forfeiture persuits.
Posting article from.....
Thursday, February 7, 2013
??????
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To: ExyZ
“I have a strong suspicion that there is more here than meets the eye,” the judge said at the hearing.
I suspect that is very much a huge understatement.
IBTG
2 posted on 9/19/2015 12:36:09 AM by House Atreides (CRUZ or lose!)
To: ExyZ
IBTG
4 posted on 9/19/2015 1:22:45 AM by kiryandil (Maya: "Liberalism Is What Smart Looks Like to Stupid People")
To: kiryandil
IBTG
TG busy. Big $ OT for all LEO
9 posted on 9/19/2015 6:28:15 AM by hadaclueonce (I thought Ethanol was the devil, now i find it is America is an Oligarchy)
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