Jailed Occupy Atlanta protesters asks for case to be dismissed
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By Trey Thomas, All News 106.7
Occupy Atlanta protesters ask a judge to dismiss a case on October 12, 2012.
ATLANTA -
Occupy Atlanta protesters claim Atlanta police have not given them key evidence they need to defend themselves. Attorneys for dozens of protesters asked a municipal judge to dismiss the charges on Friday.
Democratic state Sen. Vincent Ford was among the more than 50 Occupy Atlanta protesters arrested last year for refusing to leave Woodruff Park.
His attorney and others are now saying the case should be dismissed because police can't produce the photos and videos they took of the arrests.
"There were more electronic equipment in Woodruff Park that night than there is in the Best Buy superstore. And they're telling us that they can't produce this evidence," said Fort.
"Our motions ask them, specifically request and demand of them to preserve that evidence. So they either lost it, which is sheer incompetence or destroyed it, which is brazen," said defense attorney Musa Ghaneyem.
In court, City Solicitor Andrew Taylor told the judge he didn't know what happened to the video.
"Sgt. Hodge told me that there was some video that was taken, however they could not access it," said Taylor.
Taylor says at least one police officer streamed the video online but didn't save it
Photos presented in court appear to show several police officers recording video of the arrests.
Defense attorneys accuse the police department of stonewalling them.
"It's an insult to our intelligence that they would take the time to give each one of these officers handheld video cameras and then turn around and just throw them away. That's absurd.," said Mawuli Mel Davis.
Attorneys for the Occupy Atlanta defendants may subpoena Atlanta Police Chief George Turner to explain what happened to the video and pictures.
The judge has set a preliminary trial date for the week of December 17.
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Occupy Atlanta protesters ask a judge to dismiss a case on October 12, 2012.
