Minneapolis GOONs strike again

[GunGoogler]

Wow, did they high tail it out of that place or what? No sooner does the victim hit the ground than you see four people doing their best Usain Bolt impersonation out of the patio and into the parking lot.

Looks like the charges have been upgraded to 1st degree assault. I'll post a link from the most reputable and reliable source in the Twin Cities, the City Pages! (it's a few stories down)
http://blogs.citypages.com/blotter/

To be fair, the two people who were closest to the camera stayed behind. They didn't help or anything, but still.

That said, pretty damning evidence. The "puncher" is a thug, regardless of his profession.

[fjrdc]

AND then he evaded arrest , hid in his house lights off while the authorities were pounding on his door. Big boys own up to their actions right OR wrong . Apparently he does not have a pair. Society allows thugs to get off with a slap on the wrist, so they think it's ok to sunday someone.
Did he have a weapon on him ? ( gun/knife) if he did and was drinking he proabably was afraid for his job .
Actions have consequences..... MAN UP!!!!

[redaudi]

I think, on duty or off, he should be held to a higher standard than an average joe. As military, I certainly am.

[jshuberg]

Being a police officer and being a criminal are not mutually exclusive, and this guy is both.

Without medical attention his victim would have died, which is why the charges were changed to first-degree assault. He actually required 2 separate brain surgeries to survive. This cop used lethal force to prevent someone behind him from swearing. He needs to go to prison for a very long time.

http://www.startribune.com/local/north/163123536.html

[ijosef]

http://www.twincities.com/localnews/ci_ ... will-stand

Minneapolis cop will stand trial in Anoka County assault

The Minneapolis police officer accused of assaulting a man at a bar while off duty last summer is on his way to trial.

At a hearing Wednesday, Dec. 5, Anoka County District Judge Lawrence Johnson denied a motion by Sgt. David Clifford's attorney to dismiss the charges based on the assertion the lead detective on the case mishandled the investigation.

"Let me lay to rest any hope you have to dismiss the case ... that is not going to happen," Johnson said.

Defense attorney Fred Bruno argued dismissal was warranted based upon "misconduct" on the part of Anoka County Detective Thomas Strusinski when he interviewed two key witnesses.

Those witnesses were a husband and wife who had been with Clifford at Tanner's Station bar in Andover June 16 when the former SWAT team leader allegedly punched Brian Vander Lee, causing the 43-year-old Ramsey man to fall and hit his head on the bar's concrete patio. He later underwent multiple brain surgeries.

Transcripts reveal both the husband and wife separately told Strusinski they saw Vander Lee stand up before Clifford swung at him, suggesting the officer acted in self defense, Bruno said.

Strusinski followed up by asking what each would say if he told them video surveillance showed Vander Lee remained seated throughout the altercation.

"That is categorically untrue," Bruno said, arguing the detective misrepresented the facts. "When you slow down (the video tape)... you can see (Vander Lee)... is on his feet...
and in the process of throwing a left hook," Bruno said.

Other witnesses at the bar told investigators they saw Clifford approach Vander Lee while he was sitting at a table and initiated a "verbal confrontation" before punching him in the mouth area, according to the criminal complaint.

The video from the bar was submitted into evidence Wednesday.

Anoka County Assistant Attorney Blair Buccicone argued against dismissal, saying the Minnesota Supreme Court has authorized law enforcement to use hypothetical statements, such as "what if," when questioning witnesses.

He also pointed to Strusinski's spotless career in law enforcement.

"It's a frivolous motion... impugning Detective Strusinski's character," Buccicone said.

Also at the hearing, Johnson took under advisement a separate motion filed by Bruno asking the court to order Vander Lee to submit to drug testing on one of his hair follicles to indicate whether he was on stimulants, such as methamphetamines, at the time of the incident.

Buccicone argued the defense had not met the standard to be granted such a request but said Vander Lee did not object to providing the sample.

Johnson also agreed to take unspecified sanctions related to Strusinski's investigation techniques under advisement.

Clifford, who is on administrative leave, has served on the Minneapolis police force since 1993.

Supporters wearing blue ribbons in his honor packed the courtroom Wednesday.

Bruno said his client, recipient of two Medals of Valor, did not wish to comment following the hearing.

His trial is set to begin in April.

[rtk]

A picture tells a thousand words. A video, well.....

[20mm]

A picture tells a thousand words. A video, well.....

That seems to be the case when it comes to police interactions.

[MasonK]

Even though its the exception to all the numerous things that don't go sideways, that's still really disturbing.

[Collector1337420]

I think, on duty or off, he should be held to a higher standard than an average joe. As military, I certainly am.

Indeed.

That's exactly why his profession is not irrelevant.

Both videos are disturbing.

[ijosef]

I wonder why Sgt. Clifford and his legal team are taking it to trial. I"m sure there's a metric ton of info not available to the public that they're banking on, but still... I wonder what kind of defense they'll use against the charges. Do you think, from the information available right now, that he has a legitimate claim to self defense? Was Vanderlee in the process of throwing a left hook, which Clifford saw coming (due to his extensive training) and pre-empted with a stiff right to Vanderlee's jaw?

Let's say that Clifford gets convicted of 1st degree assault and goes to sentencing. According to the MN sentencing guidelines, someone with no criminal history would get between 74 and 103 months in prison (provided no durational departure). Let's go further and assume he gets the minimum of 74 months (6.17 years), 2/3rds of which he'll spend behind bars before being placed on supervised release. That's a little over four years in prison. I wonder where they'll put him, given his profession.

[ijosef]

Guilty on three charges.
http://www.startribune.com/local/north/202799531.html
http://www.twincities.com/crime/ci_2301 ... ramsey-man
http://www.myfoxtwincities.com/story/21 ... -finds-sgt

I'm glad it worked out this way. Police officers shouldn't have a separate set of rules that apply to them, even though many times they do. If Sgt. Clifford had been in uniform and on duty, I wonder if he would've been "cleared" after a "thorough internal investigation."

[Erik_Pakieser]

The lesson I see in all of this - you're always going to be better off to walk away from a confrontation, no matter who you are.

[darkwolf45]

The lesson I see in all of this - you're always going to be better off to walk away from a confrontation, no matter who you are.

Or at least make an honest attempt to.

[20mm]

The lesson I see in all of this - you're always going to be better off to walk away from a confrontation, no matter who you are.

Or at least make an honest attempt to.

Buccicone asked why Clifford didn’t just walk away in the first place, instead of throwing a punch.
“He’s not trained to do that,” the prosecutor said. “He’s trained to win.”

[tenmilmag]

The lesson I see in all of this - you're always going to be better off to walk away from a confrontation, no matter who you are.

Or at least make an honest attempt to.

Buccicone asked why Clifford didn’t just walk away in the first place, instead of throwing a punch.
“He’s not trained to do that,” the prosecutor said. “He’s trained to win.”

Well, he failed.