Detective in Zimmerman case said he was pressured to file charges

miamiherald.com ^ | 12 July, 2012 | Frances Robles

[marktwain]

Records released Thursday show a federal law-enforcement agent accompanied George Zimmerman to his police interrogations, and FBI interviews did not turn up any sign of racial bias in the shooting of Trayvon Martin.

The lead Sanford Police investigator who sought manslaughter charges against George Zimmerman told the FBI that a sergeant and two other officers tried to pressure him into making an arrest in the controversial case — even though he didn’t think there was enough evidence.

Sanford Police Officer Chris Serino first made headlines when evidence released in the case showed he sought manslaughter charges against Zimmerman even while his chief publicly said there was no probable cause to arrest him. But a document released late Thursday casts doubt on Serino’s prior sworn affidavit seeking criminal charges, and raises questions about the credibility of the star law-enforcement witness in the murder case against Zimmerman for the shooting death of a black teenager, Miami Gardens high school junior Trayvon Martin..

Telling the FBI that he was concerned that people inside the police department were leaking information, Serino cited Sgt. Arthur Barnes, officers Rebecca Villalona and Trekelle Perkins “as all pressuring him to file charges against Zimmerman after the incident,” an FBI report said. “Serino did not believe he had enough evidence at the time to file charges.”

The summary of Serino’s statement does not mention the race of the officers who allegedly pressured him, but sources told The Miami Herald that Barnes and Perkins are black, and Villalona is married to an African-American man. All three, the source said, had been called in by their supervisor and questioned about leaking information in the case.

A request Thursday evening to the Sanford Police Department for comment about Serino’s statement went unanswered.

[mass55th]

"There should be a full investigation of these three..."

I'd still throw Serino into the mix for an investigation. Initial evidence released shows him pursuing manslaughter charges, yet he never said anything about being pressured by those officers until interviewed by the FBI. Obviously the man has a problem with the truth.

It's interesting to note that these three officers were pushing Serino to charge Zimmerman, not based on the law and the lack of evidence, but because an arrest would keep the black community from rioting. It didn't matter that Zimmerman could be innocent of any wrong-doing. To them it was all about race. So how many other arrests have gone forward from this precinct simply because the victim was black, and the accused white or hispanic? If we had a true Justice Dept., this would be properly investigated.

[expat1000]

Ah, good find.

I have no idea what she is talking about regarding the cats.

“It takes a village to raise a child” is an old ‘phrase’ [sic]? I guess she means ‘saying’ or ‘adage’, but it’s one I never heard of. And who’s the child - the cats? Anyway, who cares..

[mass55th]

"I also recall during the bail hearing, the lead investigator was asked about things like medical records and he said he had not seen them."

If he claims he hadn't seen them, then he's lying. Any medical reports would have had to have been included in any report he submitted. When I worked as a Sergeant in NY's prison system, anytime inmates were involved in any kind of scuffle, they all had to be seen by facility medical staff, and a copy of their findings had to be included with whatever other paperwork I was required to submit to complete the package. And it all had to be done before I could go home that night.

[Cyber Liberty]

Isn’t the real crime here the leaking of information, by police officers, concerning an active investigation.

That's the way I see it, too.

[SeminoleCounty]

The prosecution case is totally crumbling

Its time for Gov Scott and AG Bondi to stop this nonsense they created. I will make sure they are primaried out in 2014. No conservative should vote for anyone who sides with Black Racists, and works with groups to take away our rights to Self Defense and the 2d Amendment

Free Zimmerman Now

[SeminoleCounty]

Judge Richard Lester is up for Election in 2014. As a Seminole County resident, I will do my best to make sure he is not re-elected.

Most likely, after this travesty blows up in his face, he will not run for re-election

[Cyber Liberty]

So, one of the cops actually involved in the beating of the homeless guy that Zimmerman stood up for is one of the officers who pressured Serino to file charges against Zimmerman? And is probably responsible for leaking the story to the press as well?

Oh well. Small town, right? Right.

[moehoward]

"Smells like self-serving B.S. to me."

It certainly does. They may have pressured him, but the Chief was agreeing with him. Now that Serino is outed, he wants to take a few with him.

[patriot08]

While the Zimmerman/Martin ‘white’ on black killing is covered 24/7 on the MSM with an outpouring of rage and charges of a racial hate crime, where is the concern- where is the rage about the home invasion, torture, beating, rape and murder of the elderly white couple by a gang of feral blacks in Tulsa, Oklahoma just a few months ago?

The 90 year old war veteran husband was beaten and his jaw broken. He was shot in the face numerous times with a BB gun and sent to the hospital in critical condition.

The 85 year old partially blind wife was RAPED and then BEATEN TO DEATH.

Can you just imagine the pain, the humiliation, the horror that dear old lady experienced being gang raped by that pack of feral animals?

(the autopsy states she was raped. Don’t think all of these animals didn’t all participate)

And can you imagine the pain, the horror of that dear old husband having to witness this?

Mr. Strait died from his injuries last week.

There’s a lot more involved here than a home invasion and robbery.

WHERE ARE THE CHARGES OF A RACIAL HATE CRIME??

90 year old husband’s jaw broken and shot in face with a BB gun numerous times?

85 wife year old semi blind wife RAPED and BEATEN to death??

Why does it take a foreign press to enlighten America as to this henious crime?

WHERE IS THE NATIONAL OUTRAGE?

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2117695/Brutal-home-invasion-Oklahoma-couple-ends-65-year-romance-meeting-blind-date.html

__________________________

Have they caught the rest of the gang of feral blacks who raped, tortured and murdered this elderly woman? Are they even looking? Not a word about it in the media.

[Jaded]

His attorney made a comment to the effect of “when the discovery is released it will show a different picture of the events.” That may be why O’Mara is not the pit bull that people think he should be because like yesterday’s doc dump, it will disprove everything that has been bandied about in the LSM.

[Jaded]

That guy was FDLE not SPD.

[GOPJ]

...an FBI report said. “Serino did not believe he had enough evidence at the time to file charges.”

My local paper reported that "Serino, a 15 year veteran of the department... was demoted last month to overnight patrol." The liberal lynch mob is getting pumped and primed...

[Tunehead54]

Arresting someone because of extortion by racists of any color is wrong.

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Really going out on a limb there ... but I agree bump! ;-)