by Edward B. Lyon
At 2:30 a.m. on November 26, 2002, Eugene, Oregon policemen Roger Maganana and Melvin Thompson attempted to enter Phillip Piper's apartment by subterfuge. Not allowed in/ they obtained police sergeant William Harris' permission to enter the residence for a welfare check. They obtained a key from the apartment complex maintenance ...
by Edward B. Lyon
John Haga of Florence, Oregon was arrested based on a probable cause statement--not a warrant--on January 14, 2000. The offense was a misdemeanor assault. A complainant and a witness told a state police officer, who otherwise had no personal knowledge of the alleged assault.
Haga was held incommunicado without being ...
by Edward B. Lyon
Eugene, Oregon, police officers entered the home of a local woman without a warrant. Following an illegal search of the residence, they reportedly discovered a small amount of marijuana and placed her under arrest when she arrived home. She was initially cited for possession, but the ...
by Edward B. Lyon
California is well known for its harsh Three Strikes law, which enhances prison terms for certain repeat offenders. Under that law, defendants whose first felony was “serious or violent” are classified as a “second strike defendant.” Their punishment range isdoubled. Defendants with two or more ...
by Edward B. Lyon
Federal laws allow state and local police agencies to seize private property and keep it whether or not its rightful owner is charged with or convicted of a crime. States participating in the equitable sharing forfeiture program keep up to 80 percent of the proceeds. Equitable ...
by Edward B. Lyon
In August 2011, Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) officials told the legislature about the state's backlog of 20,000 untested rape kits. A law was enacted requiring police agencies to submit newly gathered kits for testing within 30 days. In 2013, $11 million was appropriated to ...
by Edward Lyon
Kansas City policemen Shawn Todd and David Epperson responded to a burglary call at a vacant house. At the house Epperson covered the front, while Todd went to the rear. Todd encountered two men, one with a history of mental problems who had a pipe in one ...
