3 Ft. Lauderdale Cops Accused Of Lying About Crash
FORT LAUDERDALE (CBS4) - The trial of three Ft. Lauderdale police officers accused of official misconduct and falsifying records is underway at the Broward County courthouse.
Watching the proceedings closely is the family of Kenneth Post.
"It's about time, three years is a longtime coming," Post's mother Marian Post tells CBS4's Joan Murray
Her son, Kenneth Post was the man the officers were chasing back on November 22, 2009.
Post was accused of robbing a liquor cabinet at the Hilton Marina on the 17th street causeway and then fleeing.
The chase ended in the Rio Vista neighborhood.
Officers say Post rammed their undercover car.
But an investigation revealed their story did not add up.
"I'm glad they're going to trial because I worry about my son. His medical condition all this time and he was treated unfairly," says Marian Post.
In opening statements, Assistant State Attorney Stefanie Newman said, "they liked to avoid any reprimand
for how this crash occurred and how the damage was caused to their vehicle."
Sgt. Michael Florenco, Detective Matthew Moceri and Detective Geoffrey Shaffer are being tried on official misconduct charges and falsifying public records.
It started when police say Post backed into a security golf cart as he tried to leave the Hilton.
The officers claimed Post who was driving his mother's Cadillac tried to ram their car.
But a reconstruction expert found that the officers had smashed into the back of the cadillac
Marian Post claims the officers beat up her son.
"They slammed him in the face with a flashlight and beat him up and there was no call for that he was not armed or resisting arrest," she says.
But one of the defense attornies said Post was trying to escape the long arm of the law
"He broke through a chained fence, tried to hit security guards, tried to hit officers, blew thru stop signs had no regard for society whatsoever," said Brad Cohen.
But Marian Post believes the officers crossed the line
"Of course I understand they have to do their job, but do it within the guidelines of what they are taught to do," Marian Post said.
Post and her daughters are attending the trial of the three police officers.
They were ordered to stop talking to witnesses and posting flyers pleading for the release of Ken Post.
Judge Cynthia Imperato told them, I'm going to have BSO watching you, come in the courtroom and be quiet."
