CBS11TV.com Extra: Raw Police Chase Video
Jan 14, 2009 9:14 pm US/Central
Wrongfully-Jailed Man Suing Dallas PD
Man Freed After Attorney Discovers 15 Seconds Of Video
DALLAS (CBS 11 / TXA 21) ―
A Dallas man who spent ten months in jail says a video tape led to his freedom.
Thomas Hannon has been in trouble with the law before. He served two years in jail for possession of methamphetamine. But Hannon says in August of 2007, he was trying to do the right thing.
"I got into college. I was attending Eastfield College. I had a full-time job," he said.
On August 1, 2007, Hannon says six Dallas police officers wrongfully arrested him outside a North Dallas hotel. Because of his arrest, Hannon filed a civil lawsuit in federal court against the officers.
Click here to read the lawsuit (.pdf document).
According to the lawsuit, the day he was arrested Hannon ran into an acquaintance at the hotel. The acquaintance was holding a black bag.
Hannon would later find out the black bag contained methamphetamine and a Colt .357 caliber revolver.
The two men left the building, heading in opposite directions, according to the lawsuit.
Seconds later Hannon "turned to see a Chevy Suburban coming at him with two police officers literally hanging out of the doors," the lawsuit states. "The officers ordered Hannon to the ground and arrested him."
A police report states Hannon was arrested on a felony warrant and also charged for possessing the contents in the black bag. However, Hannon repeatedly denied having the bag.
"Fed up with Hannon's refusal to cooperate, the Defendants concocted the story that was written verbatim in the police report and probable cause affidavit. Hannon was subsequently charged, arraigned and indicted for possession of methamphetamine and possession of a firearm," the lawsuit states.
Click here to read the affidavit (.pdf document).
If convicted, Hannon faced a 20-year-sentence.
Three days before the trial, Hannon's defense attorney, James Whalen, discovered video tape from the hotel showing Hannon was never in possession of the black bag.
Hannon's attorney says police misplaced the security camera video. "Upon getting the video and watching the video we realized that Mr. Hannon never possessed that black bag and what those officers were going to testify to was just a flat out lie," said Whalen.
Once prosecutors saw it, they dropped the case.
Police officials say Officer David Nevitt is under investigation. The five other officers are considered witnesses in the case.
"The big thing is, I think to myself, 'How many people have these cops done this to that got away with it?' I think I would have been robbed of a lot of my life," said Hannon.
(© MMX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
RAW VIDEO: Dallas Co. Chase Ends w/Crash
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