If you heard that a group of six men beat up a defendant in a courthouse, you would probably think they were rival gang members or other criminals. Nope. Sorry. It was the police:
Cop’s scuffle with suspect leaves attorney injured
MORE THAN a half-dozen Philadelphia police officers jumped and beat an agitated defendant in a hallway outside a Criminal Justice Center courtroom last Friday, a takedown in which an officer’s errant fist punched a female public defender in the head, the defender and other witnesses said.
The incident prompted a complaint to Internal Affairs, additional criminal charges for defendant Anthony C. Jones, 22, and hospital treatment for assistant defender Paula Sen.
It also left seasoned courthouse observers deeply shaken.
“The officers overstepped their authority,” said longtime lawyer Richard Hoy, who was sitting on a hallway bench when the violence erupted a few feet away. “He was no threat to anybody. He was loud and obnoxious. He wasn’t threatening them – or anybody. The officers are there to protect people, but they didn’t protect anybody. They abused their power.”
There are many good police, but there are undoubtedly many “bad apples” too. It is true that the bad apple spoils the bunch. Lack of transparency, lack of training and a sense of entitlement has allowed certain cops to abuse their power and brutalize citizens. Furthermore, they undermine all the good, professional and hardworking police officers out there.
Justin McShane
PA DUI attorney Justin J. McShane is the President/CEO of The McShane Firm, LLC - Pennsylvania's top criminal law and DUI law firm. He is the highest rated DUI attorney in PA as rated by Avvo.com. Justin McShane is a double Board certified attorney. He is the first and so far the only Pennsylvania attorney to achieve American Bar Association recognized board certification in DUI defense from the National College for DUI Defense, Inc. He is also a Board Certified Criminal Trial Advocate by the National Board of Trial Advocacy, a Pennsylvania Supreme Court Approved Agency.