Will Justice Be Served for 100's of Illegally Imprisoned Benton Harborites?

BH men say they want city to own up over Collins/Hall corruption case

Monday, November 11, 2013 

Trio's day in court nears

By Jim Dalgleish - Assistant Local News Editor 

BENTON HARBOR - Their day in court is near for three Benton Harbor men suing the city of Benton Harbor over allegations surrounding the drug arrest fraud scandal involving two former police officers.

Tim Mason, Quacy Roberts and Shannon McKinney and their lawyers are preparing for a Dec. 3 trial in U.S. District Court in Grand Rapids. They allege the city failed to curb, and even encouraged, officers Andrew Collins and Bernard Hall, who served federal prison time for planting drugs on suspects.

The trio estimates some 80 other people wrongly arrested have settled out of court. But Mason, Roberts and McKinney said the settlements allowed the city to avoid fault.

"All we are saying is you did things wrong. Just admit to it," Mason said in an interview.

The plaintiffs allege Collins and Hall, with Hall as supervisor, were not rogue cops.

They intend to show a jury that the city and then-Police Chief Al Mingo encouraged the pair through pay and recognition in order to bring up arrest numbers and increase civil forefeiture takes - the money and goods police departments can claim from drug suspects.

The city and Mingo have denied there is truth to the allegations.

The trio said the department and city ignored countless citizens complaints that Collins and Hall were breaking the rules.

Hall was sentenced in 2009 to 30 months for conspiracy to violate civil rights. Collins was sentenced that year to three years for crack cocaine possession. Both men have completed the prison sentences.

Indictments alleged the officers falsified search warrants affidavits, secured warrants without probable cause, embezzled money from the department, filed false police reports and unlawfully seized money and property for their own use.

The case broke open in 2008 when a department investigation uncovered a large stash of cocaine, heroin and marijuana in Collins' locker.

The case led the Berrien County Proscutor's Office to seek the dismissal of dozens of drug cases, some of which led to prison sentences.

Mason, 32, said Collins arrested him in 2008 for marijuana possession, but the case fell apart before it got to trial.

McKinney, 36, said Collins planted marijuana on him, leading to a 125-day jail sentence. Roberts, 37, spent a year in jail for cocaine possession.

Email: jdalgleish@TheHP.com


http://www.heraldpalladium.com/news/local/trio-s-day-in-court-nears/article_f58c5a43-7913-582b-bede-e5038dca9440.html

More people being disappeared in Benton Harbor

Marcus Muhammad asks emergency manager about recent arrests of residents, and cops receiving gift card to stores such as Target for each arrest they make.   

THIS IS UNBELIEVABLE  --

The following is a memorandum to the Emergency Manager Tony Saunders II.  

As the Chairman of the Legislative Committee I am requesting an investigation into the "arrest for gifts" campaign by the Benton Harbor Public Safety Department. 

I would like to know how much cash was distributed to police officers for arrest? How many gift cards have been distributed for arrest. What were the reason for arrest? What types of gifts or awards/incentives were promised to public safety officers to make such arrest? How many arrest have been made since this proposal or program was initiated?

Cash, gift cards, awards and trinkets for arrest is an unethical practice. The City of Benton Harbor is currently in litigation concerning unsavory and illegal arrest. This award system has proven to be against "best practices. "

I am requesting that a moratorium on the "arrest for cash, gift cards and awards campaign" be effective immediately.

I look forward to your response. Thank you for reading these words.

Respectively submitted, 

Marcus Muhammad
Commissioner at Large
City of Benton Harbor

Whirlpool continues to push Benton Harbor into unthinkable poverty

Press Release

Contact Rev. Edward Pinkney

269-925-0001

 

 

I would like to thank the voters who came out to vote on Nov. 5, 2013 in Benton Harbor.

 

I disagreed with No voters. I believe the No voters were wrongheaded and out of touch with reality.  (This refers to voting No on the city income tax.)

 

There were a variety of issues that were simply not true, and the media refused to address them.

 

This would have been an opportunity for the city of Benton Harbor to become self-sufficient and self-governed.

 

You can drive through any block on the residential side of Main St. where people don't or won't vote, or a block where people vote but do not have political connections, or a block where people vote and Whirlpool Corp. gave lots of money to James Hightower for the No vote, and I will show you the hell and purgatory that Benton Harbor residents live in  -  and NOBODY cares.  (To be clear, Hightower used the donated Whirlpool money to convince residents to vote No on the city income tax.  Whirlpool can always count on Hightower to take money and do their bidding.)

The real winners are the residents who voted Yes and the real loser is Whirlpool Corporation: the world knows what Whirlpool really is.

Recall Mayor Hightower

Press Release

Contact Rev. Edward Pinkney, 269-925-0001

On Friday, Oct. 25 at 9am a recall petition was filed against Benton Harbor's Mayor James Hightower for voting 'No' to allow the city income tax to be placed on the Nob. 5 ballot.

We the people must recall Mayor James Hightower who does not work for the best interests of Benton Harbor.

BANCO (Black Autonomy Network Community Organization) is in full support of the Benton Harbor city income tax.  This tax will help restore the city of Benton Harbor.

A Michigan-based research group, Citizens Research Council of Michigan (http://www.crcmich.org/), says city income taxes work extremely well in smaller cities like Benton Harbor with populations between 2,000 and 11,000.  

A city income tax will provide an infusion of corporate revenue to support the city of Benton Harbor.

Residents of Benton Harbor must vote yes on a city income tax to save the city from a total takeover.  And, we must have it on the ballot!

Also, a yes vote to recall James Hightower Mayor is crucial.

Danny Glover speaks at BANCO Justice Dinner

30 minute video of Danny Glover's talk last Saturday night.

This is the password: Danny

https://Vimeo.com/76332719