United States News
See other United States News Articles
Title: Federal lawsuit calls officer in Breonna Taylor shooting a 'dirty cop' with a 'vendetta'
Source:
Louisville Courier-Journal
URL Source: https://www.courier-journal.com/sto ... shooting-dirty-cop/5210355002/
Published: May 18, 2020
Author: Tessa Duvall
Post Date: 2020-06-11 19:09:17 by Deckard
Keywords: None
Views: 965
Comments: 3
LOUISVILLE, Ky. — An ongoing federal lawsuit accuses one of the narcotics detectives in the shooting death of 26-year-old ER tech Breonna Taylor of harassing suspects with unnecessary arrests and planting drugs on them. Kendrick Wilson filed suit against Officer Brett Hankison in October 2019, saying his mistake was "attracting the unwanted and undeserved attention” of Hankison who had decided that Wilson, “for one reason or another, had to be engaging in illegal activity, and that he had to ensure his conviction.” Hankison denied all allegations against him in a response filed a month later. Accusations contained in a civil lawsuit represent only one side of the story and do not constitute evidence in a court of law. Hankison, Sgt. Jonathan Mattingly and Officer Myles Cosgrove are on administrative reassignment while an internal investigation is underway into the March 13 shooting of Taylor. All three are being sued by Taylor's family. Also:What we know about Breonna Taylor's boyfriend and the charges against him Taylor was shot eight times by the officers who entered her apartment just before 1 a.m. Police have said the officers were serving a search warrant as part of a narcotics investigation, but no drugs were found at the home. Taylor's boyfriend, Kenneth Walker, said he thought intruders were breaking in and fired one shot that struck Mattingly in the leg. The officers then returned fire, expending more than 20 rounds. Walker is facing attempted murder charges for allegedly shooting Mattingly. Taylor's death has ignited a firestorm across the nation in recent weeks, as prominent voices questioned why an unarmed black woman had been gunned down by white officers. But years earlier, Hankinson was accused of harassing Wilson, who said the officer targeted him and even planted drugs. Wilson's civil suit is unrelated to Taylor's death and Walker's criminal charges. Wilson's suit outlines three times in which Hankison arrested Wilson in 2016 and 2018, all of which originated at bars where Hankison sometimes worked as off-duty security. It also says that Wilson and Hankison have had various interactions outside of the arrests, “including over a relationship with the same woman.” The first arrest was in 2016 at the Tin Roof bar, when Hankinson arrested Wilson for assault. The charges were dismissed in November. In June 2018, outside the Tin Roof bar, Hankinson arrested Wilson again. The arrest citation Hankison wrote states that a police dog indicated the “presence of a narcotic odor” in Wilson’s pocket. Wilson empties his pockets, which the suit said showed they contained only money. Related:Who are the 3 Louisville officers involved in the Breonna Taylor shooting? What we know 'No-knock' searches vs. 'stand your ground' laws: A deadly duo in Breonna Taylor shooting The citation said Hankison recovered a plastic bag of suspected powder cocaine on the ground and arrested Wilson. But the lawsuit, citing body camera footage, said Hankison located the bag “on the sidewalk several feet away from where the altercation took place.” “He then jokes with other LMPD officers about ‘planting dope’ when Mr. Wilson expressed shock over the locating of these drugs,” the suit says. “Also visible on the body camera is an unnamed civilian, who can be heard communicating with Mr. Wilson that he saw an officer drop the drugs on the sidewalk before he retrieved them,” the suit says. On the way to jail, Wilson said Hankison has a "vendetta" against him, and is a "dirty cop" who needs to be exposed, according to the lawsuit. Wilson spent the night in jail before posting bond. The suit says Wilson also “incurred the cost of drug tests, which all yielded negative results, in attempts to support his claim that he is not involved with narcotics.” Wilson's criminal case remains pending in circuit court. In September 2018, Wilson filed a report to LMPD’s Internal Affairs that “Hankison was unfairly targeting him.” However, he discontinued his complaint because his legal case was pending and he did not have an attorney with him. he next month, Hankison arrested Wilson a third time, this time at Sullivan’s Tap House. Hankison wrote on the arrest citation that he located a “large bag of powder cocaine” that weighed “an excess of 5 grams" on Wilson. A civilian video taken of the incident showed Hankison “taunting” Wilson’s girlfriend and telling her that “he was planting ‘dope’ again,” according to the suit. The charges were dropped two months later. Laboratory testing later revealed the powder Hankison claimed to have located “came back negative for any controlled substances,” according to the suit. In October 2019, LMPD officers executed a warrant at Wilson’s home and barbershop, kicking in the door of his home and pointing guns at his girlfriend before handcuffing her during the search. They seized a legally owned gun and Wilson’s license and cell phone, according to the suit, which accused Hankison, a narcotics detective, of playing "a role in the issuance of these warrants, which were carried out by narcotics officers.” Wilson’s lawsuit accuses Hankison of malicious prosecution and violating his constitutional rights and seeks reimbursement for Wilson’s legal fees and punitive damages.
Post Comment Private Reply Ignore Thread
Top • Page Up • Full Thread • Page Down • Bottom/Latest
Begin Trace Mode for Comment # 2.
#2. To: Deckard (#0)
Several feet away from the altercation??? How could it have possibly gotten there??? Must have been planted. No other explanation.
There are no replies to Comment # 2. End Trace Mode for Comment # 2.
Top • Page Up • Full Thread • Page Down • Bottom/LatestBut the lawsuit, citing body camera footage, said Hankison located the bag “on the sidewalk several feet away from where the altercation took place.”
Replies to Comment # 2.
[Home] [Headlines] [Latest Articles] [Latest Comments] [Post] [Mail] [Sign-in] [Setup] [Help] [Register]