Cop Who Allegedly Struck Cyclist and Fled Is Acquitted of Felonies

[rafeh1]

Source: chi.streetsblog



An off-duty Chicago cop who apparently struck a female cyclist with his truck while drunk, fled the scene, and then lied about the incident on a police report, was acquitted of both felony charges he faced: leaving the scene of an accident and filing a false police report. However, last Thursday Cook County Judge James Linn did find Officer Michael Bergeson, 34, guilty of misdemeanor failing to provide aid and information at an accident involving injury.



On August 3, 2012, around 3:25 a.m., Nina Pilacoutas, 27, was cycling west home from her bartending job with boyfriend Clayton Meyer when they came to California and Wabansia, a skewed intersection with four-way stop signs. Bergeson was allegedly driving his Ford F150 pickup northbound on California when he blew a stop sign. Pilacoutas went over the hood of the truck and landed face-first on the pavement, suffering a concussion, facial injuries, broken bones in her feet, and bruises on her body.



Read more: http://chi.streetsblog.org/2014/02/10/cop-who-allegedly-struck-cyclist-and-fled-is-acquitted-of-felonies/#.UvowlWdZLug.twitter

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US has a very criminal justice system. One rule for the rulers and another for the ruled.

I wish we had a non criminal justice system or just a justice system

[valerief]

1. I'd like to say this is amazing but I can't. Not in fascist America. nt

[Dopers_Greed]

2. BS like this...

Is exactly the reason why so many people were cheering Chris Dorner on.

[LiberalArkie]

3. The Fraternal Order of Police needs to be eliminated, then we might have justice.

They might think that they are citizens instead of our overlords.

[Dawson Leery]

34. I agree and have stated my opposition to law enforcement "unions".

The position is not popular around here. I believe that any entity with the enforcement authority of the state does NOT need union representation. They have enough power. Republican Calvin Coolidge and Democrat Franklin Roosevelt agree.

[DeSwiss]

4. K&R

"Every nation gets the government it deserves." ~Joseph de Maistre - 1811

[SamKnause]

5. I am so sick of these lawless fuckers !!!

[QuestForSense]

6. Once again, if only they protected the public as well as they protect their own.

Let's see: You struck a cyclist while drunk, injured her badly, fled the scene, then lied about it. What are the chances you'd be acquitted of all charges? Disgraceful.

[malthaussen]

12. I dunno, how much money you got?

Cops are just poor rich people.

-- Mal

[mahatmakanejeeves]

7. That first picture:

It's a stock photograph. Some time ago, it was used in connection with an article about a struck cyclist in Washington, DC.

ETA: this:

Cyclist Struck By Charter Bus Near Union Station

[freshwest]

42. Why do they do this? Don't they know it casts doubt on their reports? n/t

[cvoogt]

43. yeah

and that looks like the UK, or Holland.

[alarimer]

8. Again, I ask, what is wrong with juries?

How can they so frequently acquit cops? Are they intimidated? Reflexively authoritarian? I don't get it.

[QuestForSense]

10. It was a bench trial.

[blackspade]

21. That explains it.

Corruption.

[Plucketeer]

9. Brownshirts.

That sums it up.

[Kelvin Mace]

11. I remember being in a locker room at the gym once

with a group of cops who were talking about the "us versus them" situation. I was in the shower just coming out when I heard one say "Well, there are two kinds of people in the world: cops and perps." General agreement was espoused by the group.

At this point I stuck my head around the corner and added "That observation is as valid as me saying 'There are two kinds of criminals in the world: Those with badges and those without'. It seems to me that divisive stereotypes beget divisive stereotypes."

Nasty looks ensued, though one fellow did have the grace to look ashamed.

People like to defend the police by saying that "not all cops are bad". But the good cops know who the bad cops are and they keep their mouth shut, which makes them "bad cops".

[SamKnause]

13. Your last sentence is 100% correct !!!

[jsr]

14. +1.

[mrmpa]

15. Where's Serpico when we need him? eom

[radhika]

18. He was ashamed for not checking who was in the shower room first n/t

[Enthusiast]

31. Oh, I'm telling you, it's only a few bad apples.

[jollyreaper2112]

33. I fucking hate cops

Was at a New Years Party where a retired cop was holding forth about 2nd amendment gunner bullshit and about how he's protecting himself and goddamn that Obama etc. I had to go get myself another drink because I was sorely tempted to smash a bottle over his head and ask him how his gun protected him from that.

Goddamn donut pushers are a bigger menace to society than what they're supposed to be protecting us against.

Worked at a computer shop frequented by cops and they would brag to the owner about all the laws they broke. One guy was pleased as punch about participating in an entrapment case against an aviation parts dealer. Another one was chortling about how the newbies get stuck on "fag patrol" in the public restrooms at the beach. There's tales to tell here.

Frankly, I'm amazed, both at your poise and that they didn't smash your head into the floor and say you slipped.

[Kelvin Mace]

40. Despite getting angry at the injustice of the

world, I try not to hate people. Life is to short to waste it on hate, no matter how justified.

I am not always successful, but I do make the effort.

I have plenty of reason to hate the police. A dead mother comes immediately to mind, which is why I don't want to.

I don't want to become like them.

[Ikonoklast]

37. The cops at my gym usually talk about the best place to buy steroids.

When they think no one is around.

[frylock]

38. fuckin-a right

[MrScorpio]

16. Yay cops! They're the best nt

[AtheistCrusader]

17. “It’s a common thing for someone to flee the scene of a crash involving an injury and only get conv

convicted of a 403"

Sounds to me, from the bike advocate's perspective, this shit happens all the time, police officer or no.

Cop ought to know better and be held to a higher standard, but it sounds like this is an alarming regularity, regardless of vocation.

[PumpkinAle]

19. He should be fired.

It makes you wonder how much he has lied about all his actions. May be a review of every case he has come into contact with would be appropriate. Of course, who am I kidding this may happen in a just world, but not with today's police forces in America.

[blackspade]

20. What a fucking dickbag.

This cop should be fired and in jail.

[Enthusiast]

30. +1 a whole bunch.......nt

[AAO]

22. How does anyone get out of that?

Are the police REALLY above the law? I know there have been some examples of this, but this was not a grey area. He fled the scene of a hit and run She could have easily died. WTF!!??!!

[Enthusiast]

28. Yes.

They actually are above the law. Thus completely undermining the law that they are paid to enforce.

[damnedifIknow]

23. Why be a good cop?

The bad cop gets to do anything he/she wants with no consequences. Really needs to change people.

[Javaman]

24. Something is coming folks...

and it won't be pretty.

[Enthusiast]

26. Ya think?

[Javaman]

29. I'm not saying now, tomorrow or next year...

things like that take many years and much more intence destruction of our rights before it actaully happens, but happen it will.

nothing lasts forever, least of all empires.

[Enthusiast]

32. I'm with you, brother.

It's just a matter of time. And it won't be pretty.

[A Simple Game]

36. I know what you mean, I think we are nearing the breaking point.

Some times it almost feels tangible.

It wouldn't take too much either, anonymous and randomly picked civilian review boards with real power would be a good start.

[Dawson Leery]

35. Grand Jury refuses to indict homeowner for shooting Sheriff Deputy in self defense.

abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/grand-jury-indict-man-shot-texas-deputy-22394749

[Enthusiast]

25. One of a very minuscule number of bad apples.

[gopiscrap]

27. Fucking asshole cops

and they wonder why people hate 'em?

[frylock]

39. fuck tha police

[CFLDem]

41. Corruption runs deep

in the Daley machine.