Springfield, MA - Police are accused of destroying possible excuplatory cell phone video evidence.
Springfield, MA – A police sergeant acknowledged Monday never mentioning that officers confiscated a possible cellphone video in his report on a violent struggle and arrest last year in the entertainment district.
“In retrospect, I wish I had,” Sgt. Steven Kent said during a pre-trial hearing for Middletown, Conn., resident Michael Ververis, who is facing assault and battery on a police officer, attempted larceny of a firearm and other charges from the January 2011 incident on Worthington Street.
“Was that a mistake?,” asked Northampton defense lawyer Luke Ryan.
“It was an oversight,” Kent replied.
Kent was one of nine witnesses testifying Monday in Springfield District Court on a defense motion to dismiss all charges against Ververis. In his motion, Ryan argued that police seized the cellphone from the witness, then erased the video, effectively destroying evidence that could exonerate his client.
http://www.masslive.com/news/index.ssf/2012/02/springfield_police_grilled_by.html
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