Oakland police gave jay walking ticket to journalist taking photographs of cops. city pays him $9500

[Liberal_in_LA]

Oakland settles with journalist for $9,500 over jaywalking ticket


The city of Oakland has agreed to pay $9,500 to an independent journalist known for documenting police misconduct who filed a lawsuit accusing officers of wrongfully detaining him and writing him a jaywalking ticket to deter him from his work.

The city agreed in closed session on Tuesday to settle the lawsuit filed by videographer Jacob Crawford, the founder of wecopwatch.org.

Crawford said he was given a “groundless” citation on July 19, 2013, for jaywalking on the 500 block of 14th Street after he took photos of Oakland police monitoring demonstrators at a downtown rally who were protesting the acquittal of George Zimmerman in the shooting death of Florida teenager Trayvon Martin. He had also asked for the officers’ names, Crawford said.

Sgt. Darrin Downum told Officer Melissa Baddie to write Crawford the citation, said the suit filed by attorney Rachel Lederman. Crawford was handcuffed for several minutes, the suit said, and the ticket was eventually dismissed in traffic court.

http://www.sfgate.com/crime/article/Journalist-who-sued-Oakland-cops-over-jaywalking-6276292.php

[daredtowork]

1. It's a shame the city needs to spend money on this, but

if any police force (after Chicago and Oakland) needs to be schooled, its Oakland. They seem to be making an honest attempt to clean up their act, though. If I remember correctly, there was also an issue with the office that was supposed to review police misconduct.

I wish I wasn't on my Kindle - this would be a great place to repost Black Brunch & friends raising their flag and doing the black power symbol at Oakland PD HQ. Genius!!!!