PASSAGE OF THE DAY: "Judge William Ray II awarded the money to Goldring on Thursday, after a grand jury found that officer Vladimir Henry should pay that amount. “She spent nearly six months in the Fulton County jail based on this seemingly bogus charge,” Ray wrote in his written judgment. “The test was negative, and he charged her anyway,” one of her attorneys, Jeff Filipovits, said in a statement. “Everyone on the jury saw that the test was negative. It should not have taken seven years and a federal jury trial to bring this to light. It’s terrifying to think what other abuses the City of Atlanta has tolerated that haven’t gotten our attention. Our client was obviously profiled, as are so many others,” he added."
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PASSAGE TWO OF THE DAY: "The judge also noted two “injustices” brought to light by Goldring’s case. “For one thing, any arrest, even for a low-level offense like jaywalking, can seriously disrupt a person’s life, including by making it harder for him or her to obtain employment,” he wrote. “Beyond that, the time it takes for an officer to arrest someone for jaywalking arguably could be better spent on more pressing activities, such as addressing violent crimes, which seem so prevalent in recent times, or with engaging with the community.” He also criticized the Atlanta Police Department for using a “point system” to track officers’ performance, which “may create perverse incentives for officers” to arrest people.:
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STORY: "Black trans woman who spent nearly 6 months in jail after 'bogus' drug arrest awarded $1.5 million," by Reporter Muri Assunção, published by The New York Daily News, on February 22, 2022. (Born and raised in Rio de Janeiro, Muri Assunзгo has called Manhattan home since 1995. Muri joined the Daily News as a breaking news reporter in 2019, covering the LGBTQ universe and beyond. He wishes he could use the word “fierce” in every story he writes.)
GIST: "An Atlanta transgender woman who spent nearly six months in jail after she was arrested over false drug charges in 2015 was awarded $1.5 million, a federal judge ruled last week.
Ju’Zema Goldring said she was walking with some friends when she was stopped by two Atlanta police officers who accused her of jaywalking — a crime she says she didn’t commit.
During the arrest, officers found a stress ball in her purse. They cut the ball open and tested the substance inside for narcotics. Even though the Georgia Bureau of Investigation found no evidence of illegal drugs, Goldring was charged with trafficking cocaine.
She was arrested on Oct. 11, 2015, and remained behind bars until March 22, 2016 — a day after charges against her were dropped.
She filed a federal lawsuit against the city and the two police officers in March 2018. According to the complaint, Goldring, who’s Black, said she had been targeted because she “was apparently transgender and homeless.”
tching this video on www.youtube.com</a>, or enable JaaScript if it is disabled in your browser.</div></div>
Judge William Ray II awarded the money to Goldring on Thursday, after a grand jury found that officer Vladimir Henry should pay that amount.
“She spent nearly six months in the Fulton County jail based on this seemingly bogus charge,” Ray wrote in his written judgment.
“The test was negative, and he charged her anyway,” one of her attorneys, Jeff Filipovits, said in a statement. “Everyone on the jury saw that the test was negative. It should not have taken seven years and a federal jury trial to bring this to light. It’s terrifying to think what other abuses the City of Atlanta has tolerated that haven’t gotten our attention. Our client was obviously profiled, as are so many others,” he added.
The judge also noted two “injustices” brought to light by Goldring’s case.
“For one thing, any arrest, even for a low-level offense like jaywalking, can seriously disrupt a person’s life, including by making it harder for him or her to obtain employment,” he wrote. “Beyond that, the time it takes for an officer to arrest someone for jaywalking arguably could be better spent on more pressing activities, such as addressing violent crimes, which seem so prevalent in recent times, or with engaging with the community.”
He also criticized the Atlanta Police Department for using a “point system” to track officers’ performance, which “may create perverse incentives for officers” to arrest people.
“Consider an officer who is at the end of his shift and has not yet hit that day’s points target; rather than writing a citation for someone speeding on the highway (or jaywalking across the street), it would seem the officer might be tempted to instead arrest that person for just a couple extra points,” the judge said.
The entire story can be read at:
PUBLISHER'S NOTE: I am monitoring this case/issue. Keep your eye on the Charles Smith Blog for reports on developments. The Toronto Star, my previous employer for more than twenty incredible years, has put considerable effort into exposing the harm caused by Dr. Charles Smith and his protectors - and into pushing for reform of Ontario's forensic pediatric pathology system. The Star has a "topic" section which focuses on recent stories related to Dr. Charles Smith. It can be found at: http://www.thestar.com/topic/charlessmith. Information on "The Charles Smith Blog Award"- and its nomination process - can be found at: http://smithforensic.blogspot.com/2011/05/charles-smith-blog-award-nominations.html Please send any comments or information on other cases and issues of interest to the readers of this blog to: hlevy15@gmail.com. Harold Levy: Publisher: The Charles Smith Blog;
