Criminal law, Society

Delaware Police Officer Indicted In Assault On Suspect Captured on Videotape

Screen Shot 2015-05-07 at 7.15.30 PM There is an interesting case developing in the Dover Police Department where a video has been released that has resulted in the indictment of Officer Tom Webster for his actions during an arrest on August 24, 2013. The suspect appears to be obeying his commands. What is interesting is that a prior grand jury declined to indict Webster, but prosecutors then tried again with another grand jury and secured an indictment.

Previously, a grand jury declined to issue an indictment and the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Delaware found that there was no civil rights violation. In June 2014, Webster returned to full duty with the Dover Police Department and was reassigned to the patrol division. However, on May 4, 2015, it was disclosed that the Delaware Attorney General’s office took this case before a second grand jury and secured an indictment against Webster on the charge of Assault 2nd degree. In response, the Dover Police Department put Webster on leave without pay.

It is fascinating to see the different results in the two grand juries. You be the judge.

The videotape is below.

243 thoughts on “Delaware Police Officer Indicted In Assault On Suspect Captured on Videotape”

  1. Paul – True. Hillary Clinton felt herself qualified to audit her own emails and then erase anything she felt was none of State’s business, as well as ignoring a subpoena for those communications during the Benghazi investigation.

    1. Karen – according to Dick Morris Hillary cannot type. Maybe they should give her a typing test when they have her before the committee.

  2. Max – As I said before, I blame Liberal policies for creating the burned out wrecks of high crime neighborhoods, not for police brutality. Unions are also a Progressive darling, but apparently they are only OK when they defend teachers and factory workers from getting fired or accountability.

    Although the high crime neighborhoods controlled for decades by Liberals show the failure of their policies, police wrongdoing is not political. It’s either true or it’s not, and the law applies to everyone. We do not lynch police officers without a fair investigation/trail any more than we should do so for anyone else arrested.

    But I saw a lot of people throwing potentially deadly hunks of concrete at the heads of police officers, trying to harm them, because they were cops. And I see a lot of that here on this blog, on various threads, as well. Accuse a cop? Well, then he must be guilty! A few second video is all we need, apparently, and any talk of getting all the facts first are brushed off.

  5. Annie,
    The fish took the bait already.

    I’ll let Karen S explain to those two why their wrong.

  6. Annie,
    Break the blue line.

    I’m tired of my taxes going to defend a police officer who’s assaulted and/or murdered fellow citizens. The Union should foot that bill and yes, Grand Juries for officer related court cases should NOT be permitted. Oh, and “internal investigation” to me, is code for cover-up committee.

    1. Max-1 – aren’t internal investigations what the Obama administration does all the time? Shirley, they wouldn’t cover-up anything.

  7. “Max – no, police brutality is not a partisan issue.”

    Perhaps someone didn’t read Pogo or Trooper York’s numerous comments directly connecting it to politics.

  8. Karen S
    Max – no, police brutality is not a partisan issue.
    = = =
    Just repeating for others to see… you know, the “Thanks Obama and Liberals for screwing this pooch” crowd.

  10. Max, I think cops are either complicit in the abuse by their silence because they are afraid to rat on a fellow cop, or they agree with the tactics. There are consequences for doing the right thing from fellow cops and the union. I don’t think the blue line is thin at all, it’s very very thick.

  11. Because good cops let bad cops use excessive force?

    Good cops don’t let bad cops stand in their ranks…
    … But bad cops shield them, well.

  12. Max – no, police brutality is not a partisan issue. The Kelly Thomas beating as well as that of the Indian man who was paralyzed was egregious.

    Neither one of us has seen any of the evidence of this particular case yet, aside from the above video, which I could not watch.

    Is it unreasonable to want to know why the grand jury did not indict, and the DOJ did not find a case, either, before we declare this officer should be in jail?

    Once we get the evidence, we very well may conclude that there was a miscarriage of justice, but we need to wait to make an informed decision.

    I have said that kicking a suspect in the head for non compliance sounds like unlawful use of force. But I also want to see the rest of the evidence before going any farther.

  13. Was the video NOT shown at the first Grand Jury? Is that what caused the new DA to present it again it to a Grand Jury, this time with the video?

    1. Inga – grand jury proceedings are secret, so we don’t what either grand jury saw or didn’t see.

  14. Annie,
    Do we even think the accompanying officer told officer Tom Webster how wrong he was and reported him to his superior officer… or do we think the second officer kept his moth shut protecting his fellow bad cop’s behavior?

    Easy guess… no doubt the latter.

  15. steve:

    “So, are you sure there was excessive use of force? It seems as though your last two sentences above try to convince you of the fallacy of the first.”

    I cannot be sure of anything from either a description of a video or a few second portion of a video. I do not know what came before or after. It did not sound right to me. But as I said, it was investigated, went to a grand jury and the DOJ, and neither proceeded with an indictment.

    Before I can declare there was a gross miscarriage of the justice system, I want to know why the case did not move forward. What evidence was presented? Was this deemed a personnel problem dealt with in house? Did it not cross the threshold to assault? I understand that all grand jury proceedings are private, but releasing information might help.

  16. Let me guess… He’ll be reinstated back on the streets in 3 months so he can do this again. Do we have to wait for a repeat abuse of authority under the color of the law to occur again before the people are safe from this officer?

  19. You can choke a man’s life out or kick his brains loose on film while under the color of the law and NOT be held liable for it… Ah, America, where a badge protects you and the people run scared… and where Authoritarians defend police brutality.

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