Prosecutor: Account that he, police chief opted not to arrest Martin's shooter a 'lie'

CNN ^ | April 2, 2012 | CNN Wire Staff

[Cboldt]

An "outraged" Florida prosecutor fired back on Monday at the family of Trayvon Martin, describing as "outright lies" their account that he and a local police chief met and decided not to follow a detective's advice and arrest the teenager's killer. ...

In the letter delivered Monday, the Martin family said that a Sanford police detective "filed an affidavit stating that he did not find Zimmerman's statements credible in light of the circumstances and facts surrounding the shooting."

The family said Sanford Police Chief Bill Lee and State Attorney Norm Wolfinger met the night of the shooting and disregarded the detective's advice, letting Zimmerman go.

Neither Sanford police nor prosecutors have confirmed the existence of such an affidavit, which ABC News first reported. Sanford officials and special prosecutor Angela Corey's office declined comment.

But Wolfinger, who stepped aside in the case last month, vehemently denies that any "such meeting or communication occurred" between him and Lee.

[hoosiermama]

In the letter from Zimmerman’s family member to the NAACP the author mentioned Z involvment in that case. Saying he passed out flyers, organized meeting, was the only none black person at the meeting etc.

I thought it odd that this incident was mentioned when Z has worked with youth, tutored etc. and it wasn’t mentioned.

And reading through the threads it hit me that politics inside the department might be involved. That someone might have a grudge against Z. Look how relaxed the police and Z are in the video. (He’s worked with them before, when they were on the same side)

Is Collinson’s father mentioned by name anywhere?

[spacejunkie2001]

Nope, not there. I looked through the likely links and couldn’t find the quote, but there is definitely a quote form the City of Sanford that talks about the erroneous information of an investigator wanting to bring charges.

I wish I could find it.

[spacejunkie2001]

Nope, not there. I looked through the likely links and couldn’t find the quote, but there is definitely a quote from the City of Sanford that talks about the erroneous information of an investigator wanting to bring charges.

I wish I could find it.

[hoosiermama]

Dad being high or drunk the night before would be a good reason to wait till morning to call....Just sayin

[Cboldt]

-- Did you also notice on that Herald story police said a doctor's report confirmed Zimmerman's injuries? --

Didn't notice it, but recall reading that the police took lots of pictures.

The "no injury video" and "audio is not Zimmerman" themes are smoke.

[GOPJ]

... let's recap. For the MSM promoted story of Trayvon Martin to be true... The Prosecutor and the Police Chief conspired to discount the detective The arresting officer covered up a murder The EMTs pretended to provide first aid to cover up for Zimmerman's non-injury. So we need at least 5 public officials conspiring with Zimmerman to cover up a murder. Yuh. This makes a lot of sense. *sheesh*

The ONLY people out there dumb enough to believe the above are members of the MSM. If it falls from the mouth of a democrat, they believe.

[hoosiermama]

Do you have a link to the original police reports? Two are signed and other officers names are mentioned. Thought it was linked to town site, but haven’t found it.

[Cboldt]

I think this is the routine transmission; from Sanfor PD to the State Attorney. I think the absence of arrest pissed off the mob. Keep in mind that Tracy Martin has called for a CONVICTION. He wants the process to work, as lkong as the process yields a guilty verdict. Anyway, somebody fabricated a story that Lee and Wolfinger met on 26/27 February, and overrode a detain and hold recommendation of Serino (as if Lee lacks that authority of his own accord). Enlist Matt Gutman of ABC news, mission accomplished.

Statement from State Attorney Norm Wolfinger - March 13, 2012

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE--March 13, 2012

Statement from State Attorney Norm Wolfinger

The Eighteenth Judicial Circuit State Attorney's Office in Sanford, Florida, on this date received an investigation case package from the Sanford Police Department concerning facts and circumstances surrounding the death of 17-year-old Trayvon Martin.

State Attorney Norm Wolfinger recognizes that Trayvon Martin and his family, interested persons, and the public-at-large are entitled to no less than a through, deliberate and just review of the information provided, along with any other evidence that may or may not be developed in the course of the review process. We intend to honor that commitment.

Just how long that process will take is subject to many factors and setting a specific completion date at this time would be mere speculation. As with any proper investigation, information will not be released until it becomes public record under the laws of Florida.

The concern shown through email and other correspondence is expected and appreciated, but please understand that charging decisions will be based on the law and the evidence and that we will invest our time in the investigation and not replying to individual emails.

[Cboldt]

-- IMO the Martin team is reading in material that is just not there. Someone says they consulted with the state AG, a few sentences later they say "they" decided not to press charges and the family reads into it that the 'they' includes the state AG. --

The State AG is the entity that presses charges, or not; at least for criminal infractions. So, even if the family was confused, by luck they got that part right.

The police are authorized, under the laws of the state of Florida, to arrest and detain people. They do it all the time, without getting an "ok" to arrest from the State AG. The threshold for arrest is probable cause, something less than "preponderance of the evidence" (more likely than not). The arresting officer has to have something that would cause a reasonable person to have suspicion.

What I'm seeking is a source, before Matt Gutman's March 27 or thereabouts piece, that has Wolfinger and Lee in a "conspiracy" on 26/27 Feb, to release Zimmerman. By conspiracy, I mean ANYTHING that has them in contact, either by phone or in person, on the night of Feb 26.

[hoosiermama]

Ayala Ricardo first reporter
T Smith arrive first on scene
Ricardo arrives.
Sgt Rulmando helps with CPR
Sgr McCoy arrives helps with CPR till EMT arrive

OFC Mead,Wagner,Robertson secure crime scene and tape off

Lt Taylor arrives and request Major Crime scene investigators

Mead and Wagner interview neighbors statements from ALL witnesses at the scene.

....Turn over to Investigator Singleton at police office for interogation,

No where is there mention of others being at the scene.

[hoosiermama]

Ayala Ricardo first reporter
T Smith arrive first on scene
Ricardo arrives.
Sgt Rulmando helps with CPR
Sgr McCoy arrives helps with CPR till EMT arrive

OFC Mead,Wagner,Robertson secure crime scene and tape off

Lt Taylor arrives and request Major Crime scene investigators

Mead and Wagner interview neighbors statements from ALL witnesses at the scene.

....Turn over to Investigator Singleton at police office for interogation,

No where is there mention of others being at the scene.

[hoosiermama]

Listed all the names in the police report night of the incident. Is Serino from the Major Crime Scene department? That seems to be the only way he could have been involved at the scene with collection of evidence etc.

Since Ricardo was the first reporter and entered the gun into evidence, which Smith,first responder, had collected, don't see how there would be that much “evidence” material for him to observe.

Only forty five minutes from first arrival until they got to SPD IIRC.

[hoosiermama]

In letter to ABC town deals with a narcotic officer (leaked by a member of the department) being involved in the case.

Obviously the department is not very large. Sure would like to see a list of all in the department and who their partners are.

Are we dealing with a rotten apple in the barrel? One that they (Town and AG) don’t want to spoil the entire department? Is the leaker trying to throw suspicion on others to protect himself?

[SaraJohnson]

If that should ever happen, I hope the media who have promoted the bloodshed are the first to be hunted down. We are going to need a wanted poster on each of them.

[Cboldt]

-- Is Serino from the Major Crime Scene department? --

Major Crimes Investigator
Member: International Homicide Investigators Association

He's also one of the PD members who contacted Tracy Martin on the 27th.

[SaraJohnson]

That is the truth. The media and the race hate activists have so twisted the truth, no one knows what is real and what is a lie at this point. The same happened in the Duke Lax case.

This is FALSE WITNESSES going to town on our Nation’s people and justice system, violating one of the big ten in life! Lies preclude justice and guarentee hate and violence in a society.

[Cboldt]

-- In letter to ABC town deals with a narcotic officer (leaked by a member of the department) being involved in the case. --

I wouldn't trust anything attributed to "leaked by the department." But, the story line there is that the FIRST person who questioned Zimmerman was not a homicide detective. That's it, that's the entire depth of the complaint.

-- Obviously the department is not very large. Sure would like to see a list of all in the department and who their partners are. --

From the PD Website: "Currently the City of Sanford Police Department has an authorized staffing level of 140 sworn officers and 24 civilian employees." There is no breakdown of assignments. The Wiki page for the Sanford PD is interesting.

-- Are we dealing with a rotten apple in the barrel? One that they (Town and AG) don't want to spoil the entire department? Is the leaker trying to throw suspicion on others to protect himself? --

Assuming there is a leaker, motivations vary. Could be getting paid to leak, could be doing it for a friend, could have a social or political agenda, could be seeking revenge, etc.

There is another possibility, and this would be darn funny. The leaker is feeding Crump and/or Matt Gutman material that the leaker knows is false. Again, motives could be anything from revenge on the media, to a desire to incite a race war, and anything you might imagine in between.

Yet another possibility is there is no leaker. Matt Gutman will claim press privilege if he is ever challenged to divulge sources (and I can't think of a reason he would be subpoenaed to divulge sources anyway - he can make up false attribution all day long to prop up a purely fictitious narrative).

[hoosiermama]

LT Chris C is the name of the officer who son beat the homeless man. It brought a lot of attention because no arrest was made until the media made big news out of it....Sent you a thread.

[martinidon]

Any facts that do come out will be spun by the media. Look at what has happened with the few facts that are available. NBC edits the 911 calls to make Zimmerman look like a racist. I had no idea this was edited; even if NBC makes a retraction most people will not hear about it or will ignore the facts. They already have some “expert” company that has supposedly analyzed the recordings has claimed it is not Zimmerman. This is just going to be a big cluster .....

[hoosiermama]

Interesting....Good thing he didn’t go to CVS rather than 711 for treats. We would have known his problem if he had.