Pasadena Star News: D.A. declines to file charges against Altadena man whose leg was broken by Pasadena police during arrest

Chief Junta Hat strikes again?

Mod: Yesterday I cussed out the PasadenaStar News for not having filed anything yet on this story. I guess I should have waited a little bit longer, because they've come up with some pretty big news. The City of Pasadena is now looking at yet another big civil rights lawsuit, and potential national notoriety. 

D.A. declines to file charges against Altadena man whose leg was broken by Pasadena police during arrest (Pasadena Star Newslink): The Los Angeles County District Attorney’s office declined to file charges Thursday against the Altadena man whose leg was broken as Pasadena police officers attempted to arrest him last month.

Spokesman Greg Risling said in an email Friday the D.A. declined to file a charge of assault on a police officer against Christopher Ballew, 21, “due to lack of evidence.” Ballew was arrested in November following a traffic stop that turned into a confrontation with two Pasadena police officers.

Mod: You can read the rest of this important Star News piece by clicking on the link provided above. The on-line news titan Pasadena Now has filed a similar story as well. Here is what they're sharing with the concerned citizenry of TheRotten Rose.

L.A. District Attorney’s Office Will Not Pursue Charges Against Altadena Man Whose Leg Was Broken in Arrest by Pasadena Police (Pasadena Nowlink): The Los Angeles District Attorney’s Office has decided not to pursue felony or misdemeanor charges against Christopher Ballew, 21, of Altadena, who suffered a broken leg during his arrest by two Pasadena police officers on November 9.

L.A. District Attorney spokesperson Greg Risling said the case was declined Thursday “for insufficient evidence.”

Ballew was arrested by two Pasadena police officers during a traffic stop at a Mobil gas station on Woodbury Road and Fair Oaks Avenue. A short video of the arrest emerged on social media which has sparked controversy over the police officers’ use of force.

In the cellphone video, Ballew is seen wrestling with the two as yet unnamed officers for control of a police baton, and then being forced to the ground, punched in the face and struck with the baton, while simultaneously screaming at the officers to stop as they overpower him and begin to handcuff him on the ground.

According to Ballew, his leg was broken by one or both of the baton strikes to his right leg.

City officials have not yet clarified if Ballew was transported to a local hospital for treatment of the broken leg by Pasadena Fire Department paramedics, or by the officers in their patrol car. Ballew will not say, responding that he has hired a lawyer and won’t discuss that issue.

Ballew refused to provide the name of his lawyer.

Mod: Unlike with the PPD Lt. Gourdikian gun smuggling case, a lawsuit will make it much harder for Pasadena City Hall to hide this episode from public and media scrutiny. Though, of course, any internal disciplinary investigations against these PD Sultans of Swat conducted by Chief Junta Hat or any of the other usual annoying city functionaries will be strictly hush-a-hush. That said, there were a number of interesting comments made here on this story yesterday, none more so than these two.



Mod: There was more in that vein, most of it stating that the Pasadena Police Officers' body cameras would tell a richer, more nuanced and comprehensive story. Well, it appears that the District Attorney's office has carefully reviewed all of the available materials, and despite what some have claimed here, the D.A. will not be pressing any charges against Mr. Ballew. Certainly an interesting outcome. Perhaps Mr. Ballew will be heading over to the Rusnak Auto Group soon to select a new luxury automobile for himself. Courtesy of the long suffering taxpayers of Pasadena.

More Rot from The Rotten Rose

Mod: This next story was brought to my attention by a reader. I am always grateful when people do that. Judge Alex Kozinski, a Ronald Reagan appointee dutifully serving in the Pasadena office of the U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals for 35 years, has now been slammed with several sexual misconduct claims.

"Would you like to see some dirty pictures?"

Prominent 9th Circuit judge accused of sexual misconduct (ABC Newslink): Six women who served as clerks or externs at the U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals allege to The Washington Post that Judge Alex Kozinski subjected them to inappropriate sexual comments or conduct, including asking them to watch pornography in his chambers, the newspaper reported Friday.

Heidi Bond, who clerked for the Pasadena, California-based judge from 2006 to 2007, told the newspaper she recalled three instances in which he asked her to look at images of naked people. She said one set of images was of college-age students where some were "inexplicably naked while everyone else was clothed." Another set was a type of digital flip book that allowed users to mix and match heads, torsos and legs to create an image of a naked woman.

Bond said the judge asked if she thought the pornography was photo-shopped or if it aroused her sexually.

"I was in a state of emotional shock, and what I really wanted to do was be as small as possible and make as few movements as possible and to say as little as possible to get out," said Bond, now 41.

Kozinski, who is 67 and still serving as a judge on the court, said in a statement to the newspaper that he has had more than 500 employees in his chambers over a 35-year career as judge. "I would never intentionally do anything to offend anyone and it is regrettable that a handful have been offended by something I may have said or done," he said.

Mod: There is more at the link. 

sierramadretattler.blogspot.com