In This Issue - Vol 1, No 2

In This Issue - Vol 1, No 2 (Summer, 1998)	Profile on William B. Reynolds
Legislative Update	Update: Michigan vs. Budzyn
Officer Todd Sears Indicted for Manslaughter	Chairman's Letter

Ramiro Pena Acquitted of Aggravated Assault

Editor's Note:

The following case is an example of one of the many that the Law Enforcement Legal Defense Fund has been involved in over the past three years.

In March of this year, Officer Ramiro Pena was acquitted by a jury in Muskegon, Michigan, of aggravated assault. The charge against Officer Pena arose following a frenzied confrontation with an ex-felon by the name of Scotty Waller.

Officer Pena noticed a car with stolen license plates and attempted to get the driver to pull over. The driver, Scotty Waller, at first refused to slow down when signaled by Officer Pena. When he eventually stopped, he refused to get out of his car. The officers walked to his car and ordered him to get out. Instead he put the vehicle in gear and drove off, dragging one of the officers with the car.

The officer and Waller fell out of the car and a violent struggle ensued in which Officer Pena used mace and then applied force using the palms of his hands. It took several officers to subdue Waller, but through Officer Pena's efforts he was handcuffed.

Unfortunately, following complaints of racism and a demonstration, Officer Pena was fired and indicted for aggravated assault. An attorney for Mr. Pena contacted the Law Enforcement Legal Defense Fund (LELDF).

The matter was investigated and the LELDF concluded that Officer Pena's actions were proper and the use of force was within police guidelines in total compliance with police instructions and training. It was obvious that the case was strictly political. Why was Officer Pena the only policeman to be charged? The racial overtones were an unfortunate part of this case.

The LELDF was happy that the money we contributed to this case, $35,000 to assist with legal and expert witness fees, helped bring about Officer Pena's acquittal.

Download newsletter in PDF format
Requires Adobe Acrobat Reader


	Law Enforcement Legal Defense Fund Federal Bar Building 1815 H Street NW Suite 1001 Washington, DC 20006 Copyright © 1999, 2000, All Rights Reserved. Comments to: webmaster@leldf.org