Sanford police took one position on Trayvon shooting in public, another in paperwork to prosecutors

[Baitball Blogger]

SANFORD — While publicly saying one thing — that they did not have enough evidence to arrest George Zimmerman — Sanford police did essentially the opposite: filing paperwork saying they had enough to charge him with manslaughter.

It's something the department kept secret for two months, according to documents recently released by the special prosecutor in the case.

Here are their words versus their actions on three key dates, all from one tumultuous week about two weeks after Zimmerman shot and killed Trayvon Martin, an unarmed black 17-year-old:

At 4 p.m. March 12, Sanford police Chief Bill Lee Jr. stood in City Hall plaza in front of a hostile crowd and dozens of reporters and insisted his agency could not arrest Zimmerman because investigators had failed to establish probable cause, the minimal standard of evidence to justify filing a criminal case.

http://articles.orlandosentinel.com/2012-07-07/news/os-george-zimmerman-sanford-police-lied-20120707_1_special-prosecutor-angela-corey-chief-bill-lee-arrest-warrant

Spin?

[russspeakeasy]

1. They were waiting to see which way the wind was going to blow.

[Baitball Blogger]

2. Sanford Police: We were really on your side. Honest.

How common is it for authorities to spread misinformation to the public in other places? It's pretty common where I live.

[russspeakeasy]

3. If memory serves me, this is not the first time the Sanford PD

has had a problem with facts fitting the crime.

[Baitball Blogger]

5. I'm getting the impression they're trying to protect Wolfinger.

The last couple sentences were interesting:

Sanford police say they did not arrest Zimmerman because attorneys in Wolfinger's office advised them that night and in following days that they did not have enough evidence.

Prosecution records verify that those conversations took place but not what was said.

[Brother Buzz]

4. I can't discount that theory

[DrewFlorida]

6. The Sanford police were trying to sweep this under the rug!

The Sanford Police Department has a long history of racial bias.
I believe they were trying to sweep this one under the rug, thinking nobody would care, in an attempt to curry favor to Zimmerman's father, a retired judge.
Investigation protocol in all homicides, whether they have been deemed intentional or not, is to do a toxicological test and report, on the shooter, that was not done! There are numerous other protocols for collection of specific types of evidence regarding shootings, which were never done. The investigator who was originally in charge of the investigation, did not believe Zimmerman's story and wanted to press charges, he was relieved of the case by the Chief of police.

If it walks like a duck, and quakes like a duck, it probably is a duck.

[Baitball Blogger]

8. The fact that they didn't even try to gather data does seem to

contradict their story that they were trying to pursue this case.

[dmr]

7. I wonder if they were afraid if they charged Zimmerman that the

NRA wouldn't swoop in and run roughshod over the police department and the DA. The town of Sanford may have just been too chicken to face the NRA and ALEC bullies.

Think about it, the NRA & ALEC have spent a lot of time and money pushing this law not only in Florida, but several other states, as well.

If I remember correctly, the investigating police detective was somewhat honest with Trayvon's parents early on, and also, there were leaks coming out of the PD, showing how badly Zimmerman behaved that night.

The best thing that happened was Trayvon has smart, loving parents, & the public became passionately outraged - nationally and internationally!

This outrage has weakened ALEC and the NRA's stance on this issue. It's more difficult for them to come into town with their high-priced lawyers, bully-pulpit talk and whatever other bullshit they could muster to intimidate the locals.

I don't doubt there was some racism involved, but I also wonder if the PD either didn't know how, or was just too afraid to face the NRA bullies and the loony right wing public with their crazy antics.

Imagine how that would have played out. Zimmerman would be home, doing public appearances, doing a book tour - an over-night wealthy success & poster boy for the 2nd Amendment.

Just brainstorming here ....

[Baitball Blogger]

9. I don't think you're off the mark.

As I said before, they rely on misinformation to confuse the public. While the public is in chaos, the authorities see what they can get away with.