If you were judge or juror, how would you decide this case?

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Alan K
Posts: 493
Joined: Mon Nov 20, 2000 6:01 am
Location: Framingham, MA USA

If you were judge or juror, how would you decide this case?

Post by Alan K »

This report begins with the final decision, but if you read on, would you come to the same conclusion


The U. S. Court of Appeals, First Circuit has reversed a conviction of a juvenile who was carrying a dangerous weapon (a double edged knife).


A police officer, who was a member of a “gang suppression” unit in the City of Springfield, responded to complaints that alleged that gang members were congregating on Main Street in the North End section. The officer drove to the location at 11:00 PM. The juvenile was with five to eight other youths, several of whom, including the juvenile, were wearing black and yellow clothing, which the officer knew to be the colors of the Latin Kings, and that the youth was a member.

The officer, accompanied by two other officers approached the youths, with the intent of telling them to move along and to alert them that they were violating the loitering ordinance. However, before he did this, he pat frisked each member of the gang. The officer testified that although he did not observe any furtive movements of apparently suspicious activity other than the loitering, he searched them out of fear for his safety. The factors he cited were (1) the lateness of the hour (2) the large number of youths, (3) the place where he encountered the youths was a high crime area, and (4) several of the youth wore gang colors, and one was known to be member of the Latin Kings, a violent gang. In the search, the officer found the knife on the juvenile. Based on these findings, the judge found that the stop was valid because the officer personally observed the young men standing in front of a store, allegedly in violation of the loitering ordinance .The judge went on to quote from the Springfield loitering ordinance, which had not been offered in evidence. The judge listing the factors set out above, and placing reliance on Commonwealth v. Heon 44 Mass. App. Ct. 254 (1998), concluded that there was sufficient evidentiary support for the finding that the pat frisk was permissible due to the concern for the officer’s safety.

“We hold that the record does not support the judge’s conclusion that the stop was justified. The judge’s ruling was based on the officer’s having personally witnessed the juvenile and his companions allegedly committing the crime of the loitering ordinance. However, there was no evidence that the youths were obstructing, hindering or preventing others from passing by, as required by the ordinance. Prima facie mere sauntering or loitering on a public way is lawful and the right of any man, woman, or child.
The officer’s suspicion of a crime being comitted was unreasonable and not based on articulable facts. Pursuant to the ordinance, all that should have occurred was a request by the officer to move along. “Even though the officer was instructed by his supervisor to pay special attention to the North End because some residents and business owners complained of groups of alleged gang, members hanging out on the streets and sidewalks in front of their buildings and shops, he testified that he was not responding to a particular call or disruption that evening and this was the third or fourth group that he had encountered that evening. There was testimony that, even before the officer searched the individuals of the group, he inquired why they were there to which he was told that one of the individuals in the group lived in the building in front of which they were standing, and they were waiting for the juvenile’s girl friend, who lived there as well. To permit police investigative stops under the sparse facts present in this case would be to encourage unduly intrusive police practices. The problems that may face the high crime area will not be resolved any more readily by excluding the individuals who live there from the protections afforded by our Constitution .

“We reverse the order denying the motion. Without the suppressed evidence, the Commonwealth’s case at trial would have been lacking in essential proof. The judgment of delinquency is therefore reversed and judgment shall be entered for the juvenile.

Commonwealth v. Pierre P., a juvenile

For many, this was a surprise ending.

It is clear that the above decision was based upon the facts relevant to empower the police to make a stop or detain and search in a most hostile atmosphere. Despite the perceived threats to personal safety, undisputed by witnesses, this was not sufficient, despite the propensity of violence attributed to the group, and therefor to make such a search and seizure and benefit from the search.

The constitution was upheld and the possession of a double edged knife, a statutory forbidden weapon which, is a felony, was suppressed from introduction as evidence. In many cases this evidence is called the fruits of the illegal detainment and search.

Alan K
"The Goddess of Justice is Blind"
Austin Hill
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Joined: Sun Jan 04, 2004 8:35 pm

Post by Austin Hill »

In light of the evidence, I think the decision was appropriate. That does not mean that I believe the decision was in the best intrests of those who live in the neighborhood. A police officer's mere precence is considered the beginning of that officer's "use of force". This is, of course, due to the authority and power his uniform and badge represent. I propose that a group of juveniles, all wearing the colors of the Latin Kings, are exercising a use of force by simply standing on a street corner. This said, it is more than likely that one or more persons in the area avoided this "public way" due to the presence of the group, and they were, in fact, "obstructing, hindering or preventing others from passing by", in violation of the ordinace. No evidence to support this, but I don't think its much of a stretch.
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