Yesterday afternoon, the San Francisco Public Defender's Office sent out an update on the scandal involving the squad of undercover police officers whose purported illegal conduct during arrests -- caught on a series of videos -- has caused the D.A. to drop a growing number of cases. Matier & Ross report today that the D.A. may abandon more than 40 cases in total.
The D.A. is holding a press conference today, so we could have a more definite total soon...
Here's the rundown of cases dropped so far, from Tamara Barak Aparton of the Public Defender's Office.
Total cases dropped since scandal: 13
Cases with video dropped: 4 (3 public defender cases, 1 private attorney case)
Cases dropped Monday: 1 (public defender case)
Cases dropped Tuesday: 8 (5 public defender cases, 3 private attorney cases)
Tuesday's dropped cases:
1. Public Defender Client: Man, 23,
Charge: Grand theft from a person, misdemeanor.(Robbery Abatement Team case)
Arrest: Jan. 12, 2011, Sixth and Market
Officers involved: Buhagiar, Elias, Razzak, Forneris, Christ, Madrid, Kane
Max exposure: 1 year
2. Private Attorney Client: codefendant of Client 1.
Private Attorney: Nicole Gianciti
Charge: Grand theft from a person, misd.(Robbery Abatement Team case)
Arrest: Jan. 12, 2011, Sixth and Market
Officers involved: Buhagiar, Elias, Razzak, Forneris, Christ, Madrid, Kane
Max exposure: 1 year
3. Public Defender client: Man, 52
Charge: Multiple counts of possession of heroin and cocaine for sale, felony. Was scheduled for trial April 22
Arrest: Oct. 2, 2010, Tenderloin (was passenger in a car)
Officers involved: Christ (reviewing officer), Razzak (reporting officer, testified at preliminary hearing Dec. 27 and 28)
Elias, Madrid, Forneris, Yick, Buhagiar
Max exposure: 35 years
4. Public Defender client, man
Charge: possession for sale of crack, felony
Arrested: July 30, 2010 in front of Henry Hotel (he was a resident).
Officers involved: Elias
Maximum exposure: 27 years, four months
5. Public Defender Client: Man, 35
Charge: Marijuana sales, felony
Arrested: Feb. 16, 2011, Market and Sixth (sidewalk buy-bust)
Officers involved: Madrid (reporting officer), Christ (reviewing officer), Buhagiar, Razzak, Elias, Kane, Forneris
6. Private Attorney Client: Man, 55 (Client #5 co-defendant)
Private Attorney: Franz Feutsch
Charge: Marijuana sales, felony
Arrested: Feb. 16, 2011, Market and Sixth (sidewalk buy-bust)
Officers involved: Madrid (reporting officer), Christ (reviewing officer), Buhagiar, Razzak, Elias, Kane, Forneris
6. Public Defender Client: Man, 43
Charge: Second-degree auto burglary, accepting stolen property (felonies)
Arrested: Oct. 17, 2010, 10th and Bryant streets
Officers involved: Razzak, Yick
Maximum Exposure: Life
7. Private Attorney Client: Man, 28
Private Attorney: Jonah Chew
Charge: Two counts of drug sales
Arrested: Sept. 4, 2010
Officers involved: Buhagiar, Yick, Razzak
Aparton also said that she didn't know how many more private cases connected to the scandal have been dropped.
