Baltimore Chronicles Read Free Page B

Honor, with all due respect, I am asking that the state’s case against my client, Stephon Johnson, be dismissed, and that the evidence obtained be deemed inadmissible, as it was obtained with an illegal warrant. My client was arrested inside the house at the address 245 Covington Lane. The warrant used to illegally search my client’s property was granted for the address 254 Covington Lane—a completely different, and might I add, nonexistent address. Therefore, it was obtained through an illegal search and seizure, which you and I both know was a direct and despicable violation of my client’s rights.
    â€œThe state and their rogue cowboy troopers showed no writ of probable cause to enter my client’s property and seize property or persons contained therein. This case was a prime example of the Maryland State Police’s constant attempt at racial profiling and prejudice against young men like my client. I move to have this case dismissed without prejudice and expunged from my client’s record,” Mr. Tillman argued.
    Tiphani Fuller looked back at her husband, contorting her face with anger. He told me it would all be good. This better not come back to haunt my career, she thought.
    Loud gasps and murmurs erupted in the courtroom as Scar’s attorney laid out his argument. Derek gripped the bottom of the wooden bench so hard that his knuckles turned white. He knew Scar would be released, but his lawyer was supposed to let the trial go on for a while first, to help Derek score a few more points with the chief. Making himself, his wife, and the department look bad had never been part of the plan. This was supposed to be a win-win for everyone, but Tillman was flipping the script.
    Chief Scott and the entire unit sat in the back of the courtroom. They were up in arms as they heard the defense basically make them look like racist assholes. Scar just sat there with a smug look on his face, knowing he was about to be set free.
    â€œOrder! Order!” Judge Klein screamed out, banging his gavel over and over. Finally, things quieted down in the courtroom. “In light of this new and unsettling revelation and the fact that the court records reflect the address on the warrant is in fact the wrong one, I have no choice but to honor the U.S. Constitution, in accordance with the fourth amendment, which provides citizens the right to be free from illegal search and seizure. I hereby dismiss the State’s case against defendant Stephon Johnson on the grounds that the State’s evidence is inadmissible in the nature it was obtained,” Judge Klein said regretfully, slamming his gavel and rushing up from the bench.
    The courtroom erupted into pandemonium. Reporters scrambled to get the best shots of Derek and Scar. Tiphani threw her papers on the desk and stood up, enraged. The narcotics unit members and Scar’s henchmen began exchanging harsh words, and the court officers were overwhelmed with trying to bring order in the courthouse.
    Derek hung his head in shame. His wife shot him evil looks. This was no longer part of the act. She had put her ass on the line for this case, and she was truly pissed off now.
    Chief Scott rushed over to him and grabbed him by the arm. “I need to talk to you, Detective Fuller…now!” he growled, pulling Derek into the hallway by his arm. “For Christ’s sake, Fuller, what the fuck were you thinking? Something as simple as the right address on a fucking warrant!” Chief Scott said in a harsh whisper.
    â€œI told Cassell two forty-five. I even wrote it down for him. I can’t help it if he’s dyslexic and can’t write the right number!” Derek lied. The truth was he didn’t write it down, and Cassell had written the address correctly. Derek just went back and reversed the numbers. He had failed to factor Scar’s pain-in-the-ass lawyer into the equation, and now things had blown up in his face.
    â€œChief, I