Four years after Phoenix police and county prosecutors collaborated to falsely charge protesters as part of a fake gang, officials have decided that the officers involved will not face criminal charges. A criminal investigation recommended charges against seven officers and one prosecutor, but the Pinal County Attorney’s Office declined to prosecute. Defense attorneys for the protesters believe there is enough evidence for a case to go to a jury, indicating a lack of accountability.
The investigation, conducted by retired FBI agent James Egelston, found that five officers wrote false reports and recommended felony charges for tampering with public records. The charges stemmed from the arrest of 17 protesters in October 2020, where police invented gang affiliations without evidence. The investigation also recommended perjury charges against Sergeant Doug McBride and prosecutor April Sponsel for presenting false information to a grand jury.
Despite multiple findings of misconduct, including settlements with protesters and judgments against Phoenix police for false charges, the decision not to prosecute the officers involved has caused outrage among advocacy groups like Mass Liberation Arizona. The group condemned the cover-up and called for accountability, demanding resignations and firings within the Phoenix Police Department.
The city is now reviewing hundreds of pages of documents to conclude its internal investigation. However, the decision not to prosecute the officers involved has raised concerns about the lack of accountability in law enforcement and the justice system. Community advocates are vowing to continue their efforts to hold everyone involved accountable and dismantle the corruption in the Phoenix Police Department.
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