Trial against Tulsa Police lieutenant charged with helping cover up 2020 shooting begins
The trial against one of three Tulsa Police officers charged with helping cover up a 2020 south Tulsa shooting began on Tuesday. The trial of Lieutenant Marcus Harper, one of three Tulsa Police officers charged with helping cover up a 2020 shooting involving former Officer Latoya Dythe, began on Tuesday. Prosecutors allege that Harper and Ananais Carson helped cover up Dythe's involvement in the shooting because she was dating a known gang member. The third officer, who also advised Dythe on how to proceed after she found bullet holes and shell casings in her car, also lied to TPD Captain Jamie Kirby. The defense argues that Harper was only asked to participate in a cover-up and was dragged into the case due to his familiarity with his colleagues. The case has been seen as a blemish on TPD's reputation and trust in the community.
发表 : 11 个月前 经过 在 General
TULSA, Okla. — The trial against one of three Tulsa Police officers charged with helping cover up a 2020 south Tulsa shooting began on Tuesday.
Lieutenant Marcus Harper is charged with helping now Former Officer Latoya Dythe cover up the fact that she was dating a known gang member who then used her personal car during a shooting in August 2021. The third officer Ananais Carson also had a hand in advising Dythe on how to proceed after she found bullet holes and shell casings in her car.
"I was lied to. I felt deceived," said TPD Captain Jamie Kirby who was the supervisor called out to Kirby's apartment after prosecutors said Harper and Carson helped Dythe, her boyfriend, and another shooter who was a passenger in the car get rid of evidence.
Kirby was the first witness on the stand saying at first she thought Dythe's car was involved in another shooting TPD didn't know about, but then Dythe said the car was involved in a shooting at 61st and Peoria already under investigation by TPD.
Kirby and another officer took the stand on Tuesday morning talking about what is was like trying to get the truth out of Dythe and her boyfriend about how bullet holes ended up in the car.
Their body camera video was played before the judge because this is a non-jury trial. In the video, Dythe repeatedly talked about speaking with Carson about what to do next. Carson told her she had to call their employer, TPD, and file a formal report because if she just took it to a body shop, the shop is obligated to call TPD to report they had a car with bullet holes in it anyways.
But what is in question is what Dythe did before she called Kirby and others to come and make an official report.
Prosecutors are building the case saying Harper and Carson went to Dythe's apartment after she called them to say her car was involved in the shooting. Court documents state Harper and Carson told Dythe, her boyfriend, and the other shooter to destroy the guns used in the shooting, clear the car of all spent rounds and shell casings, and then skip town.
Kirby said on the stand about her body camera video that she could not find any shell casings proving shots were fired in the car, or any spent rounds showing the car had been shot at. Kirby believed Dythe's car was simply driving through 61st and Peoria at just the right time bullets were flying.
"She said her car had bullet holes in it, and it has been at 61st and Peoria," Kirby said Dythe told her making the first connection that the car was involved in gang violence.
At one point, Carson even showed up and spoke with Kirby who was filling out a report on Dythe's car.
But it's the actions of Dythe and Carson that Harper's defense team are focusing on
The defense says Dythe asked Carson and Harper to come to her apartment, and it was only after Harper arrived with Carson that he realize he was being asked to take part in a cover up. Harper's defense counsel said he wanted nothing to do with it in opening statements, and said at one point Harper frustratingly asked "why did you bring me here?".
Harper's attorneys said there were corrupt cops in the case, Dythe and Carson, but Harper was merely dragged into all of this simply because he is friendly with his colleagues. They said he offered no assistance whatsoever to Dythe.
"Dythe lied throughout the entire investigation," Harper's Attorney Danny Williams said while claiming Harper was as much of a victim of the confusion as Kirby.
Tulsa Police Chief Wendell Franklin said in a news conference in November 2021 that the entire case was a blemish on TPD's reputation and trust in the community.
"The public has a right to trust law enforcement. They should be able to trust us," Franklin said.
Carson pleaded no contest to a lesser charge in exchange for possibly testifying against Harper. He is serving one year probation. Dythe pleaded guilty to one Federal charge of illegally purchasing a gun for her boyfriend. She received five years probation.
Harper was offered one final plea deal on Tuesday before trial started that would have forced him to resign from TPD, surrender his CLEET certification which would keep him from being employed in law enforcement ever again, probation, and also giving up the right to sue Tulsa Police and the City of Tulsa. He and his counsel declined the offer.
话题: Crime