Cross Posted at Legal Schnauzer
Officers who are sworn to uphold the law would not violate the law, would they? Officers certainly would not terrorize a citizen who helped expose police corruption, right?
Hmmm . . . looks like we would be wrong on both counts. Recent events in Tulsa, Oklahoma, reveal that cops can turn into thugs with no problem at all.
Kelie D. Barnes is a key witness in a lawsuit against the city alleging police corruption. What kind of price has Ms. Barnes paid for stepping forward? A report in The Tulsa World helps answer that question. The cops, it turns out, could not even practice their thuggery in a competent fashion:
Five Tulsa police officers--including one who accidentally fired his weapon--served misdemeanor traffic warrants and arrested a key witness Thursday in a police corruption lawsuit against the city.
The officer who fired his weapon is under internal investigation, and police refused to release his name.
Kelie D. Barnes, 32, was arrested Thursday on outstanding municipal warrants, Tulsa Jail records show.
Barnes' warrants are all misdemeanors involving failure to wear a seat belt, expired tag, no proof of insurance, no driver's license and speeding, according to jail records.
Why were cops suddenly so interested in Kelie Barnes? The Tulsa newspaper spells it out:
Barnes was at the home of her father, Larry Wayne Barnes Sr., who is suing the city and police alleging wrongful imprisonment, records show.
In arresting Kelie Barnes, police officers forced open the door after the residents failed to open the door when police announced their presence, said Capt. Jonathan Brooks, police spokesman.
Brooks said one of the officers accidentally discharged his weapon as officers forced open the door. An internal affairs investigation has been opened into the weapon discharge, he said.
"The officers had information that Kelie was in the house and they knocked on the door and announced (police) and then forced entry when there was no response," Brooks said. "The gun was not pointed at anyone and it was discharged into the ground."
What's behind all of this ugliness?
Larry Barnes has alleged that police have retaliated against him, his lawsuit states. Retaliation includes recent attempts by police to lure him into a drug deal with an informant, his suit states.
Larry Barnes was freed from prison in July 2009 after an informant said he worked with police to frame Larry Barnes and a second daughter, Larita Annette Barnes, in 2007 for selling drugs.
Larita Barnes was also freed from prison and is suing the city for alleged wrongful imprisonment. The Barneses served about 18 months in prison before being freed.
The informant, Ryan Logsdon, and former ATF agent Brandon McFadden testified in a recent police trial that they framed the Barneses with the help of Officer Jeff Henderson.
Are the cops worse than the crooks? The folks in Tulsa must be asking themselves that question.