Trayvon Martin Case Update: Zimmerman’s Interactions with Sanford Police, Officials; Witnesses Change Stories
Posted: May 23, 2012 Filed under: Crime, U.S. Politics | Tags: "stand your ground" laws, Chief Bill Lee, George Zimmerman, homicide, Jeff Triplett, racial profiling, Sanford police department, Trayvon Martin case 20 Comments
More information continues to trickle out in the The Trayvon Martin Case. Today The Miami Herald revealed that George Zimmerman may have had relationships with members of the Sanford Police Department and other Sanford officials.
In January, 2011, Zimmerman spoke at a community meeting called by newly elected Sanford Mayor Jeff Triplett. He strongly criticized the local police department and said he knew all about it because he had been on a ride-along with Sanford police officers.
“And what I saw was disgusting,” Zimmerman said, according to a recording of the January 2011 meeting obtained by The Miami Herald. “The officer showed me his favorite hiding spots for taking naps, explained to me that he doesn’t carry a long gun in his vehicle because, in his words, ‘anything that requires a long gun requires a lot of paperwork, and you’re going to find me as far away from it.’
“He took two lunch breaks and attended a going-away party for one of his fellow officers.”
According to the article, Chief Bill Lee had e-mail interactions with Zimmerman, even though during the controversy over Zimmmerman not be charged in the shooting of unarmed teenager Trayvon Martin, Lee claimed that Zimmerman
had no relationship with the police department. City records show Lee exchanged emails with Zimmerman last year, when the neighborhood watch volunteer wrote to the chief to praise the department’s volunteer program coordinator.
A video released last week by the State Attorney prosecuting the case shows Zimmerman freely walked about the police station the night of the shooting unescorted.
Sanford police say they have don’t know which officer or officers Zimmerman rode with. How ironic that Zimmerman criticized the police department that was so lenient with him after he killed a young boy for no discernible reason. In a further irony, Zimmerman argued that the previous chief who had failed to arrest the son of one of his officers in the beating of a homeless man should not receive a pension, because:
“I would like to state that the law is written in black and white and it should not and cannot be enforced in the gray for those who are in the thin blue line.”
In other news about the case, last night The Orlando Sentinel reported that four witnesses to portions of the fight between Zimmerman and Trayvon Martin changed their stories after having more time to reflect on their memories of events. Here’s a brief summary of the changes from the New York Daily News.
Witness 12: A neighbor in the complex first told an agent March 20 that she saw two people on the ground, but wasn’t sure who was on top. Six days later, after seeing news reports, she said she believed Zimmerman was on top of Martin.
Witness 6: He first told an investigator that he saw a black man (presumably Martin) “throwing down blows” on a lighter-skinned man (presumably Zimmerman). He also believed the one being hit was calling out for help. But three weeks later, while he still claimed “the black guy was on top,” he wasn’t sure who was actually calling for help and wouldn’t assume Martin was the one hitting Zimmerman.
Witness 13: This witness interacted with Zimmerman before police arrived, according to the evidence, and noted the blood on the back of his head.
In two interviews a month later, he detailed how Zimmerman that night acted casually like “nothing” had happened, as opposed to “‘I can’t believe I just shot someone!’” according to the evidence.
Witness 2: She initially told police that she saw two people running, although she couldn’t say who was chasing whom. On March 20, she told a Florida Department of Law Enforcement agent that she remembers seeing only one person running and heard them as well, but still couldn’t say who that was.
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Thanks for updated us. I had a feeling there was some sort of contact before all this happened.
I thought of you, because the first night we saw that video you said he looked awfully comfortable in the police station.
Yup, and when I saw the docs that were released I got the feeling he had lots of contact with them before. I am just getting caught up BB but you are on fire today!
The defense side leaked a lot of info favorable to Zimmerman, now someone is leaking info to sabotage him. I wonder if it’s Chris Serino–the officer who wanted to charge Zimmerman with manslaughter?
There’s a whole lot of research how too often eye witness reports are flat out wrong. So it’s not surprising that the witness reports are changing as the media tries the case.
Also JJ’s remarks about how calm and at ease Zimmerman was with the cops and in the cop house. The cops are poor judges of character — not surprising. Nice for a cold blooded killer — who probably didn’t kill on the spur of the moment. Zimmerman’s cop buddies have done nearly everything possible to contaminate the evidence — not collect evidence and blame the victim.
The facts are — Martin was a kid — and Zimmerman was armed to hunt. Zimmerman had all the protection — he was in a vehicle — he could have driven away. Zimmerman took the fight to Martin and Zimmerman took his gun. The biggest issues for me — the age and size difference and Zimmerman could have left the area. Zimmerman was well protected — but he opted to go for a kill. Could be that he was patrolling and stalking the area just so he could kill. Rather like the Indian hunters of the 19th century. Old newspapers of that era have Indian war stories — well armed soldiers go out and find some Indians to hunt. The killers make themselves out to be brave heroes. Killing Indians was a sport for the psychopaths of the 19th century. Starving Indians “off the reservation” trying to find food for their families were “fair game” for the Indian hunters.
Correcting Awkward wording — Zimmerman brought the gun to the fight with an unarmed small man or child. So is the next step in “stand your ground” evolution — everyone out walking at night must carry a gun????
I hear what your saying and it does seem to me that Zimmerman was looking for a fight. He might have even tauted Martin to strike him so that he would have cause to defend himself. Nevertheless Zimmerman used excessive force. I have not read the Florida stand your ground law, but it does seem to me that a lot more people will be getting shot or killed if Zimmerman is found innocent.
Actually the witnesses modified their reports before the media started to cover the case heavily. But of course eyewitness testimony is highly unreliable. I believe the case will be based more on Zimmerman’s inconsistent statements and his outlandish descriptions of what happened that simply don’t match the evidence.
Looks like a great update BB. I had a full eye exam today and I’m still so dilated it’s a bit hard to read. But my opthamologist needed to see the nerves etc,
I hope it wears off soon, Ralph. I hate that feeling!
My question is why did Zimmerman go into hiding instead of turning himself in. It reminded me of OJ Simpson. Guilty!
Sadly witnesses modifying their statements does not always mean the truth will come out. Remember, Georgia killed Troy Davis with witness testimony that had been recanted for all witnesses but one.
Truth out……………..the worst witness is an “eye witness”………………..
Most people aren’t trained observers — and even trained observers can have a bias which colors their perception of what they see. The research is fascinating.
Also, the police dropped the ball and didn’t even interview some of the witnesses in-depth until days later.
That too! Almost as if there was a conspiracy — – naw that would never ever happen. Covering up for a groupie.
I tend to believe that Zimmerman deserves jail time( he became the agressor when he ignored the deispatcher and went looking for Martin knowing fully well he was armed. Neighborhood watch does not equal vigilante) but even I am uncomfortable with what Witness 13 infers. The truth is we can deal with shock differently. I remember almost being on autopilot following the death of my son. Who is to say that Zimmerman was not dealing with shock in a similar manner? Not everyone is a visible emotional basketcase, some people internalize rather than externalize. It doesn’t mean they are unemotional it simply means they are better at hiding those emotions(its a defense mechanism imo)
I am looking forward to the Sanford police department getting blasted in court for their gross incompetence (to say the least) in this case.
Me too Luna.
I’m looking forward to them being investigated by the FBI.