simple justice

Justice isn't served until all victims are

January 13, 2013. For Immediate Release Contact anact@gnx.com

HOMELESS BLACK MALE CRIME VICTIM'S EXPERIENCE SHOWS MICHAEL DARAGJATI WAS RIGHT. New York, NY. - During the evening of April 15, 2011, former eight year veteran, White male NYPD Police officer Michael Daragjati, motivated by racial animus, "stopped and frisked" a Black male in the Stapleton neighborhood of Staten Island. The victim who was not carrying a firearm or contraband complained about his treatment and Officer Daragjati arrested him for resisting arrest. Over Five years ago, during the night on Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Dorrel Holmes, a sixty-five year old Black male crime victim was arrested for; OPERATING MOTOR VEHICLE WITHOUT SEAT BELT in the parking lot at the Home Depot Shopping Center in Elmont, New York, by officer Magnuson a White male Nassau County and former NYPD officer. Knowing that probable cause to arrest the victim did not exist, Officer Daragjati falsely wrote in a police report that the victim had flailed his arms and kicked his legs during the arrest, purportedly justifying the resisting arrest charge. Knowing that probable cause to arrest Mr. Holmes did not exist, Officer Magnuson prepared the affidavit supporting the criminal complaint, Docket #2007NA001345, containing statements he knew to be false about the events leading up to the arrest. Specifically, that he personally observed Mr. Holmes operating his vehicle on Hempstead Avenue without a seat belt, even though Mr. Holmes was confronted by two uniformed officers several minutes after he entered the parking lot, and officer Magnuson and his partner arrived on the scene and arrested him in their company several minutes after the confrontation. Following Mr. Holmes' arrest he was taken to the Fifth Precinct, subjected to a strip search and charged with; OPERATING MOTOR VEHICLE WITHOUT SEAT BELT, AGGRAVATED UNLICENSED OPERATOR MOTOR VEHICLE, OPERATING MV WITH SUSPENDED REGISTRATION, OPERATING MOTOR VEHICLE WITHOUT INSURANCE, and OPERATING MOTOR VEHICLE WITH DEFECTIVE TAIL LIGHT, supported by inaccurate information generated by the Nassau County Police Department's computer. Mr. Holmes was also threatened with additional charges for arranging his medication into pill pouches, and his tools, medication and registered and insured vehicle were confiscated. A review of the Department of Motor Vehicles record clearly shows that Mr. Holmes' vehicle was insured, and the summons #4230255433 was answered, contrary to the suspension orders #CO-510270000, ("NO INSURANCE") and #J255433, (FLD TO ANSWER) generated by the Police Department's computer, and established Mr. Holmes' innocence. In addition, all charges relating to the suspension orders were dismissed on November 20, 2006. (People of The State of New York -v- Holmes, Docket # 2006SU036423S) Officer Daragjati who was under surveillance and recorded by the Government bragging, "I fried another Nigg@r, and it's no big deal," pleaded guilty to violating the victim's Civil rights. "Hiding behind his badge, he subjected his victims to false arrest, imprisonment and threats of violence," United States attorney Loretta E. Lynch, said in a statement of Mr. Daragjati's guilty plea. Over five years ago, Nassau County Executive Thomas Suozzi by letter dated April 24, 2007, (CCS#27000535) requested that Police Commissioner James H. Lawrence assign the appropriate personnel to look into the matter concerning Mr. Holmes' vehicle. Today as we approach Jan. 21, while the Nation celebrates the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Mr. Holmes who did not commit, was not committing, and have not committed any crime, will have an arrest and criminal record, stigmatized as a convict, fugitive, drug addict, alcoholic, and will be unemployed and homeless for almost six years. And officer Magnuson who committed the same criminal acts as officer Daragjati have not been held to account for his criminal acts, and will continue to have the opportunity to repeat them. It's sad to say, officer Daragjati was right. But it's the truth.