On January 27, 2006, WFMY put a story on their web site (unsigned) with the headline "Interim Chief: No Evidence Supporting Validity Of "Black Book".
The story reported then-interim Chief of Police for the Greensboro Police Department Tim Bellamy (now the current Chief), as saying:
"We checked that system and no where [sic] can we find a report that fits the nature of what we've been investigating involving a police officer committing a sexual offense against a suspect," Bellamy said.
Bellamy refers to "that" system. It's impossible to know from WFMY's reporting what system he is describing, but in the Ken Keller letter to city council Keller also describes Detective Scott Sanders as coming up empty when searching for calls for service. (Sanders eventually determined the date in question of the alleged assault by examining motel records and receipts, Keller says.)
Unfortunately WFMY put the story on their website under the misleading headline: Interim Chief: No Evidence Supporting Validity Of "Black Book". The Chief, at least by what is in the WFMY article, didn't say there was NO evidence, only that he couldn't find a certain kind of evidence (apparently the same kind of evidence Sanders couldn't find either.)
Still, since WFMY created the impression that the Chief could find NO evidence, somebody should clarify that there is now some sort of evidence (acknowledged, but kept secret by Chief Bellamy) of the alleged assault that led to the creation of what came to be known as the "black book." WFMY should have an interest in setting the record straight or Chief Bellamy could make a statement refuting WFMY's headline and explaining that he now has some evidence.
"A blog" eh? Well, let me be the first to say, "It's about time." :)
ReplyDeleteRoch, it sounds to me like the alleged victim never filed a formal complaint, which would explain there not being a record. Instead, she told Marsh about the complaint in the course of his relationship with her as an informant; who told Sanders, who then did a follow up with the informant/victim.
ReplyDeleteThe victim did not recall the exact date, so Sanders had to piece it together.
Interesting that nobody has tried to discredit the theory that Marsh told Sanders about it before Sanders created the lineup.
I think some people think the response should be "if she didn't report it when it happened, the GPD had no business investigating it."
I wonder if they would say that to any victim of sexual assault, many of whom don't report the incidents when they happen for psychological and emotional reasons.
how did he piece together that information and creat the black book with out having the date ithe incident occured?
ReplyDeleteAnonymous,
ReplyDeleteAccording to the letter from Ken Keller (link in original post), Sanders had a rough idea of the time of the incident. The alleged victim described having become so upset by the repeat visits of the officer that she changed rooms at the motel. Sanders examined the motel records to find the date on which the alleged victim registered, then changed rooms.
Keller reports that those motel records were attached to the "black book" when it was turned over to the city and RMA. Those motel records have not been made public and were apparently removed from the line-up book, along with other supplementary materials, before it was shown to the city council.
oh..that does not really make a lot of sence to me.. i wonder how he was able to pick a date out of the air and say "this must be the date"
ReplyDeleteI'm sorry if that doesn't make sence to you.
ReplyDeleteHappy to see you now have your own blog. You have much to say and there are those of us who want to "hear?" it. I intend to make this a daily stop. Brenda
ReplyDelete