As of the writing of this blog post, San Francisco Public Defender Jeff Adachi is in the process of announcing that 40 criminal cases involving officers implicated for conducting illegal searches on suspects in the SFPD surveillance video scandal will be dropped, bringing the total number of cases dropped to 57.
What happened was that recently released video from separate drug busts at two residential hotels shows that the SFPD officers involved allegedly violated search and seizure laws and committed perjury with falsified police reports. This started with claims that San Francisco police broke into homes, then lied about it under oath.
According to KTVU Channel 2 News in Oakland, the FBI is involved in the investigation as well. KTVU got a copy of another video and reports:
Investigative Conflict Of Interest?
It's reported that the investigation into the SF Video Surveillance Scandal will be led by former SF PD police chief District Attorney George Gascon, who was in charge at the time of the incidents. However, while Mr. Adachi does think it's a conflict of interest to have him involved, he told KTVU "I have spoken to the district attorney and he's assured me that he will conduct an independent investigation."
Stay tuned.
What happened was that recently released video from separate drug busts at two residential hotels shows that the SFPD officers involved allegedly violated search and seizure laws and committed perjury with falsified police reports. This started with claims that San Francisco police broke into homes, then lied about it under oath.
According to KTVU Channel 2 News in Oakland, the FBI is involved in the investigation as well. KTVU got a copy of another video and reports:
On Thursday, KTVU obtained a copy of the new surveillance video from a different narcotics bust in which some of the same officers, who are under investigation on similar charges, raided a similar residential hotel room.
The tape showed San Francisco plainclothes police officers serving a bench warrant after they kicked in the door of a room at the Hotel Royan and arrested a 28-year-old man for possession of crack cocaine.
"It appears that they altered the facts in their report in order to appear they lawfully seized the item," said Qiana Washington of the San Francisco’s Public Defender's office.
The San Francisco’s Public Defender’s office alleged that the officers didn't properly identify themselves and illegally searched the room.
Investigative Conflict Of Interest?
It's reported that the investigation into the SF Video Surveillance Scandal will be led by former SF PD police chief District Attorney George Gascon, who was in charge at the time of the incidents. However, while Mr. Adachi does think it's a conflict of interest to have him involved, he told KTVU "I have spoken to the district attorney and he's assured me that he will conduct an independent investigation."
Stay tuned.
