European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - April 24, 1991, Darmstadt, Hesse Pago 4 the stars and Stripe wednesday april 24, 1991 gives police More Power Washington a the supreme court on tuesday bolstered the Power of police to Chase people even when officers have no Quot reasonable suspicion Quot to believe a crime was committed. By a 7-2 vote the justices ordered reinstatement of the Coq inc Possession conviction of a Young California Man named Hodari d., who fled at the sight of police and dropped a crack cocaine Rock during the Chase. Justice Antonin Scalia writing for the court said the cocaine May be used As evidence against Hodari. Hodari d., now 19, was sentenced by a juvenile court to incarceration for five years and eight months for possessing co. Caine with intent to sell. A state appeals court threw out his conviction. The High court ruling is the latest in a string of decisions limiting the rights of people accused and convicted of crimes. Scalia said the sole Issue is whether Hodari Had Quot seized when he dropped the cocaine. Scalia said that since police had not used physical Force to restrain Hodari And the fleeing youth had not submitted to a show of authority by police he had not been seized when lie dropped the drugs. Therefore the Justice reasoned the abandoned cocaine was not recovered As the result of an illegal seizure. Police generally must have a reason Able suspicion someone has committed a crime before restraining the individual. Justice John Paul Stevens in a dissenting opinion joined by Justice Thurgood Marshall called the ruling Quot a significant unfortunate departure from the protections the court traditionally has provided against police misconduct. Stevens said the ruling could a encourage unlawful displays of Force that will frighten countless innocent citizens into surrendering whatever privacy rights they May still but Scalia said Quot Street pursuits always place the Public at some risk and Complin Ance with police orders to Stop should therefore be encouraged.�?�. The Case stems from Hodari �?Ts arrest on april 18, 1988. Two members of the Oakland police departments drug task Force were on patrol when they spotted four Young men standing by a parked car. The police were in an unmarked car but were wearing jackets that identified them As officers when the patrol car was about 40 Yards from the youths they ran off in different directions. The car sped off. The officers said they suspected a drug Deal was taking place and chased the youths on foot. Officer Jerry Pertoso taking a circuitous route ran around the Block to head off one of the youths and ended up running straight at Hodari The Young Man who had been looking Over his shoulder turned around to find Pertoso coming straight at him. Hodari Dropped what turned out to be a cocaine Rock when he was about 11 feet from the officer Pertoso testified. The constitutions fourth amendment generally requires police when they Lack a search warrant to at least have a reasonable suspicion of a crime before seizing someone. The Case is California is Hodari d., 89-1632. Members of the Ujj. Pearce High school team Christine Liu front from left Dardy Chang and Arnic von Ericsen give a cheer after winning the . Academic decathlon. High school in Texas wins its 5th academic decathlon los Angeles up1 a team from Ujj. Pearce High school of the Dallas suburb of Richardson Texas was named the Winner monday of the . Academic decathlon for the fifth time in the events 10-year history. The nine student team won Over squads from 43 other states and the District of Columbia. Second place went to Laguna Hills High in California. Whitney Young Magnet High school of Chicago was third. Teams from California and Texas have won All of the National titles. Another team from a Richardson High school won the states other Crown. The teams arc composed of three members from each of the decathlon a categories for Grade Point averages 3.75 to 4.00, 3.00 to 3.75 and 2.99 . The teams final score is the total of the top two students in each category. Texas scored 48,946 of a possible 60,000 Points California had 47,246 and Illinois had 47,231. The teams Are tested in a variety of subjects including mathematics science language literature and Fine arts. Man in counselling recalls seeing 62 murder Pittsburgh apr counselling for stress triggered a Long dormant memory for a Man who recalled How As a boy he watched a minister fatally beat and Stab a 10-Ycar-old girl. The 38-year-old Man whose name was withheld by police said he witnessed the slaying in 1962 in some Woods near suburban Baldwin he also said the minister sexually molested him. A officials will not comment further on the Many a recollection. Police excavated a site the accuser showed them but found Only animal Bones. The investigation has been ongoing since the Man made the accusation in december. No charges have been filed and no body has been found. �?o1 think the whole Issue is whether a crime has been committed a Allegheny county District attorney Robert Colville said monday. A we have enough evidence to establish this a the Man who was 9 in 1962, went to police at the suggestion of a therapist he consulted for Job related stress Baldwin police chief Christopher Kelly he was having a hard time dealing with it and he sought counselling and the Counselor told him he could continue to Deal with it As he had by suppressing it or he could go Forward and prosecute a Kelly said. Presbyterian Church officials said a 59-year-old minister who worked for a Church counselling service in Seattle was the subject of the investigation. The minister resigned from the service feb. 18 for personal reasons after the death of a fellow counsel or according to newspaper reports. The alleged victim is believe to be Mary Ann Verdicchia who was reported missing june 7, 1962, and was never found Kelly said. He said investigators Are Quot comfortable that what he told us is the Colville said the Many Sage at. E me an it the question of whether it was fantasized or make believe must be taken into account. 8�ing t0. Take a lot More legwork a Colville said Colville said a body Isnit necessary to prosecute a homicide Case. Quot you can prosecute on a statement but you re working on very slim he said. A you have to have some other evidence a testimony or physical evidence to support that a Washington a a Republican senator has questioned whether undue political influence May have delayed or killed a fraud indictment of a government contractor under investigation by the Justice department. In a letter to attorney general Dick Thornburgh sen. Charles e. Grassley of Iowa said he was concerned about an attempt Quot to influence your prosecutor Al discretion by Melvin r. Laird a former defense Secretary White House aide and Republican congressman. Laird wrote Thornburgh last oct. 16 that he was concerned that Federal prosecutors planned on oct. 25 to obtain an indictment against science applications International corp. Laird a director of the san Diego based company told Thornburgh in a follow up letter that three of the company a directors had been appointed by president Bush to the new. Six member foreign intelligence Board in his april 19 letter to Thornburgh Grassley said a it is not my intention to conclude that or. Laird s references to the presidential appointees were attempts to influence your prosecutor Al discretion. Quot however there is a concern i have about the appearance that is suggested by such references to political appoint Justice department officials denied monday night that Laird a letter had any influence on the continuing review of the investigation into said which has admitted that it May have mis dated tests performed for the environmental protect lion Agency. Spokesman Doug to Lett said Thornburgh referred the letter to Robert s. Mueller the head of the criminal Divi Sion who was already overseeing a review of possible criminal charges against said. Quot Laird a letter did no to have an influence at the time it does no to have an influence now and it will not. Influence Mueller a final decision a Tillett said. But a Story by Knight Ridder newspapers quoted two unidentified government officials As saying Laird a letter generated High level pressure not to go Forward with an indictment. Quot we were ready to indict and then said asked main Justice to review the Case said one of. The unidentified department officials quoted by Knight Ridder. A a a . Attorney William Braniff denied that his office was prepared last fall to bring any charges against said saying he had sought advice on complicated Legal issues about the Case from superiors in Washington. Braniff said he had requested a review of the Case Long before Laird a letter was sent to Thornburgh. The review is still continuing he said Braniff said he sought advice on whether it was appropriate to prosecute a company that had admitted alleged contract abuse under a voluntary disclosure program
