As you might imagine, lots of folks are wondering why the press conference scheduled for earlier this afternoon by Michael Joseph, the attorney for North Miami Police Commander Emile Hollant, was postponed until further notice.
And, no, it had nothing to do with the weather.
Nor does it appear to have anything to do with the possible encore of yesterday’s protest in North Miami by activists demanding charges against North Miami Police Officer Jonathan Aledda, who shot Mr. Charles Kinsey, an unarmed black man with his hands up.
Here’s the thing.
Yesterday’s press release clearly stated that the postponement was “[d]ue to ongoing negotiations between the City of North Miami” and Mr. Joseph’s client.
Seriously. Think about this for a moment.
If a news release was issued on Sunday announcing a press conference to “discuss the improper actions of the City of North Miami’s senior administration,” and then the presser was “mysteriously” postponed the very next day “due to ongoing negotiations,” doesn’t this clearly indicate that something transpired at City Hall to warrant the postponement?
And while we’re on the topic of rocket science…
Let’s address all the confusion about the investigation of the police involved shooting by Officer Aledda, and the completely separate inquiry into Commander Hollant’s alleged involvement in the incident.
In case there is anyone on the planet who doesn’t already know about the NMPD Clusterf**k of the Year, let’s recap.
On July 18, 2016, North Miami Police Officer (and member of the department’s “elite” SWAT team) Jonathan Aledda accidentally shot Mr. Charles Kinsey, a behavioral therapist who was trying to coax his autistic patient, Arnaldo Rios, back to the group home.
The big question on everyone’s mind is “Why did Aledda shoot his gun?”
Although the results of the investigation will eventually be made public, that burning question might never be answered.
Even the shooting victim, Mr. Kinsey, claims that when he asked the cop why he pulled the trigger, Aledda allegedly said, “I don’t know.” All things considered, it’s quite conceivable that Officer Aledda may not ever understand why he fired his weapon. People make stupid mistakes all the time, and often there’s no rational explanation or excuse. Sometimes, shit just happens.
This is not to say there should be no consequences.
This police involved shooting is currently being investigated by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement. Once the FDLE determines its findings, it will then be up to the State Attorney’s Office whether or not to charge Officer Aledda with any crime.
Everyone really should chill until then.
The insane and blatantly false allegations against North Miami Police Commander Emile Hollant is another story.
Completely independent of the FDLE investigation, the State Attorney’s Office “mysteriously” opened a separate inquiry that had absolutely nothing to do with Officer Jonathan Aledda’s shooting of Mr. Kinsey.
In their obvious desperation to find any excuse for Aledda’s misfire, North Miami Police “investigators” immediately accused Commander Emile Hollant of wrongdoing.
Commander Hollant, who was watching the events unfold from at least three quarters of a block away, announced over the police radio that Mr. Rios appeared to be loading his weapon. And yet, despite the fact that a second officer announced over the police radio that it was not a gun but a toy truck, the “investigators” quickly blamed Commander Hollant for causing Aledda to fire his gun.
And in order to further push their agenda, the “investigators” immediately conjured up the story that Hollant “lied” to them about not being present at the scene of the incident.
Oh, come on! REALLY?
The Commander was clearly heard over the radio. He was also in full view of every police officer present at the scene of the shooting. Does anyone actually believe that a sixteen year veteran of the North Miami Police Department would be so dumb that he would deny being there?
Seriously. Think about that for a moment.
Those same North Miami Police “investigators” who told City Manager Larry Spring that Commander Hollant “lied” and “obstructed the investigation” would have been only too happy if the State Attorney filed charges against Commander Hollant. His arrest would only serve to legitimize their allegations. What could they possibly lose by urging the State Attorney’s Office to open a criminal investigation against Hollant?
Furthermore, it’s no secret that these “investigators” would do just about anything to undermine newly appointed (and Haitian) Police Chief Gary Eugene. What better way to accomplish that goal than bringing down Eugene’s newly appointed (and also Haitian) Commander Emile Hollant?
Talk about a bonus round!
Just as the “investigators” had hoped, the State Attorney’s Office took the bait and initiated an inquiry into Commander Hollant’s alleged “lie.” Two Assistant State Attorneys invited the Commander to their offices for questioning.
The very next day, the State Attorney’s Office cleared Commander Hollant of any and all wrongdoing!
As evidenced in a Close-Out Memo dated August 2, 2016, the State Attorney deemed that “Commander Hollant did not lie.”
I can only imagine the North Miami Police “investigators” were not too happy at the news.
The Close-Out Memo also emphatically stated that the “investigation into the use of deadly force by Officer Aledda is not the subject matter of this inquiry.”
In other words, the false allegations that the police “investigators” made against Commander Hollant had ABSOLUTELY NOTHING AT ALL to do with Officer Aledda’s shooting of an unarmed black man with his hands up.
But for some odd reason, Commander Hollant has STILL not been reinstated.
Perhaps this has something to do with yet another obvious red herring that’s been tossed out to divert everyone’s attention from the shooting disaster.
I’ve heard from several city officials that “there’s more to the story” about Commander Hollant.
The latest story is that Commander Emile Hollant committed the ultimate “crime” by not filing a police report about the shooting.
WTF?
Would anyone really buy such a ridiculous story?
Sadly, there are people naive enough about the legal system who are willing to believe whatever the North Miami Police “investigators” are telling them.
After all, we’re talking about PROFESSIONALS, right?
Okay, folks. Thinking cap time again.
For one thing, Commander Hollant was not required to file a report of the shooting. Yes, someone did file a police report. It just wasn’t Commander Hollant.
Secondly, even IF someone had neglected to file a report, that would be an administrative matter – NOT A CRIMINAL ONE!.
Seriously, people.
No rational person could possibly believe that the State Attorney’s Office would investigate, much less arrest, a police officer for not filing a report.
At least I hope not!
There is definitely “more to the story” here.
It’s just not the one that the police “investigators” would have you believe.
Just saying.
Stephanie
It leaves many questions still unanswered.
Has FDLE interviewed all of the investigators that were involved? Do I recall correctly that a previous blog said he was cleared “after they met with Hollant and his attorney”? I don’t recall where they made mention of interviewing the people who made the allegations or interviews with the detectives who were investigating the shooting.
It reads that he’s been cleared, but why isn’t it specified that he has been cleared “criminally” up to date, but not cleared “administratively” yet? These are two separate and distinct things.
All personnel who are present at the shooting scene are in fact required to write reports. The primary officer writes the initial report and all other persons present are required to write SUPPLEMENTS to the report delineating their role and observations. If Hollant did not submit a Supplemental Report, he did in fact fail to write a report.
I’d venture to guess that Hollant’s attorney is attempting to obtain a quick settlement in lieu of a slander suit and the City attorney’s are examining the case before pulling out their check book too hastily.
The State Attorney’s Close-Out Memo states that Hollant is the “subject of this inquiry” because “it was publicly reported” that he gave “conflicting” statements, and in a separate paragraph it even goes to great lengths to list the “publicly reported” news stories. However, in the immediate sentence following the “publicly reported” nonsense, the Memo specifically states, “More specifically, it has been alleged that Commander Hollant advised North Miami police investigators and command staff officers that he was not a witness … but they concluded he was.”
Exactly where do you think those so-called allegations by “North Miami police investigators and command staff officers” came from? Certainly not from what the media articles “publicly reported.” They came directly from specific “police investigators and command staff officers,” and that is the ONLY reason the State Attorney even opened this “inquiry” in the first place.
I have spoken with prosecutors and former prosecutors in both Miami-Dade and Broward County, all of whom have told me that State Attorneys do not open inquiries or investigations based on media reports, how matter how “publicly” they are reported.
Obviously, that “publicly reported” line was meant to give cover for those “police investigators and command staff members” who filed the bogus complaint against Hollant but didn’t want their names to be used. On top of that, why would the State Attorney need to re-interview the police officers who already made the allegations. They obviously gave their “story” when they originally filed their complaint. Seriously.
As for your comment about police reports and supplements, I again checked with at least four NM police officers to make sure I heard them right the first time, and nope. They said Hollant didn’t necessarily have to write a report, supplemental or otherwise. In fact, one of them even told me that all officers present at a “major scene” report directly to one designated police officer, who takes oral statements from those officers and writes up the official report.
However, even IF Hollant was supposed to submit a “supplemental” report and neglected to do so, this would certainly not be a criminal matter or one that would get him suspended without pay. Be serious, please.
Which brings me to your comment about Hollant’s being “cleared.” Despite desperately trying to have Hollant charged “criminally” by the State Attorney, I’m sure they are indeed trying to figure out how to nail him “administratively.” For one, they need a scapegoat for this screw up. The SWAT team looks pretty shitty right now, wouldn’t you agree? Hollant is a distraction. For another, certain “police investigators and command staff officers” despise the fact that Gary Eugene is the Chief and will stop at nothing to humiliate him and undermine his entire administration. If that means screwing with one of Eugene’s newest commanders, it’s no skin off their backs. If that means screwing with Hollant in particular, even better for them – they don’t much care for Haitians anyway.
As for Hollant’s attorney … quick settlement? Hardly. He’s trying to get Hollant his position and pay back. I’ll tell you what, though. After what Galvin and Etienne publicly said at that witch hunt of a press conference, I hope he sues the whole lot of them for slander. That was absolutely disgusting!
There is something I find particularly interesting about this entire incident. There is the impression that the general public has about the “blue wall of silence,” where police officers will protect their own at any cost, even if it means hiding evidence or covering for each other. Au contrere! The general public would be surprised at how far some cops are willing to go to create evidence and throw each other to the wolves to protect their own self-interests – no matter who gets caught in the crossfire.
That’s pretty damn messed up.
Yes it is.
I think there are many in the public arena who would just love to know who the members of the NMPD are who are the “investigators” involved in this situation with Officer Hollant. It sounds to me as if they are the individuals who are doing something inappropriate, downright unethical, and perhaps even illegal. Maybe they should be the ones removed from the department! Bigotry in any form is pathetic.
I’m betting that it would not be the first time those individuals did “something inappropriate, downright unethical, and perhaps even illegal.”
Sooner or later karma will kick some butt.
Well, I hope we don’t have to wait for Karma to happen all by itself.
We have elected and appointed officials whose jobs include making ‘Karma’ happen when there’s “something inappropriate, downright unethical, and perhaps even illegal.”
But I’m kidding myself, right?
Sadly, there are too many elected and appointed officials who stand to gain by protecting others who commit “inappropriate, downright unethical, and perhaps even illegal” things. It’s this thing called quid pro quo. The tangled web of deceit is extremely difficult to untangle, but here’s the thing. Nothing happens in a vacuum. No matter how deep someone tries to bury the proverbial “body,” there is always someone else who attended the “funeral.” Sooner or later the truth does come out. With persistence, even cold cases are eventually solved.