Hello Faithful Reader,
I hope this month’s edition of the Black Birdseye View finds you well and in good spirit. I am well. This month we will revisit the ongoing investigation into the Raleigh Police Department.
RECAP: In September 2020 news broke that the Raleigh Police Department and the Wake County District Attorney took several months to investigate concerns involving Detective Omar Abdullah and an RPD Paid Confidential Informant (CI). Using fake evidence obtained from an RPD Paid CI, Abdullah arrested, charged, and detained 15 black people for up to three months on bonds of up to $250.000. The 15 framed individuals were released, with all cases dismissed due to several improprieties including manufactured evidence identified by the RPD Laboratory.
IN A NUTSHELL: 15 black people were...you may as well say kidnapped and caged like animals for up to 3 months on trumped-up charges stemming from fake evidence presented by an RPD police detective. This took place during the height of COVID-19. This columnist can attest that no social distancing was adhered to when male inmates appeared on camera to go before the judge from the Hammond Road detention location.
STATUS OF INVESTIGATION: Based on the following correspondence between
Myself
RPD Internal Affairs
Wake Country District Attorney, Lorrin Freeman
North Carolina State Bureau of Investigations
It is clear that no progress has been made in this "on-going investigation. In fact, from the looks of things... the investigation may be starting all over again. (SEE Email Thread Below)
1. UPDATE 1/27/21.
From: Freeman, Lorrin (District Attorney) "We are reviewing what they have provided. There may be a follow-up investigation to be done. We have not at this time determined whether criminal charges will be able to be initiated."
2. UPDATE 1/27/2021
From: Grube, Anjanette / State Bureau of Investigation "That case file has been submitted to the DA for review. The DA will determine what, if any, charges will be filed, etc."
3. UPDATE 1/26/2021
From: RPD Internal Affairs Department "The Raleigh Police Department’s investigation is a "personnel" matter. As such, we are prohibited by NCGS 160A-168 from disclosing personnel matters. Any questions regarding the criminal investigation should be directed to the Wake County District Attorney’s office."
4.UPDATE 12/2/2020
From: Wake Country District Attorney Lorrin Freeman "The NC State Bureau of Investigation’s investigation into the use of a confidential informant who was providing false information by Detective Abdullah of Raleigh Police Department is ongoing."
5. UPDATE 10/16/2020
From: Wake Country District Attorney Lorrin Freeman "This matter remains under investigation by the State Bureau of Investigation."
6. UPDATE 10/5/2020
From: NC State Bureau of Investigation (SBI WebContact) "Robin, Please contact the Raleigh Police Department or the Wake County District Attorney’s office for information regarding this case."
7. UPDATE 9/22/2020
From: Wake Country District Attorney Lorrin Freeman "Ms. Mills, I have not "issued a statement" per se but provided the following information during interviews to several media outlets. Several months ago our office first received information that a confidential informant might be providing false information to a Raleigh Police Detective Abdullah that resulted in charges against approximately a dozen defendants for trafficking heroin. As lab results began being returned showing no controlled substances, we moved to unsecured bonds and dismiss cases associated with this informant. At this time, we have asked the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation to investigate the matter. Currently, there is no evidence that Detective Abdullah knew he was being provided fraudulent information. Nevertheless, this matter is of significant concern and will receive a thorough review by our office for a determination as to whether charges are appropriate against anyone involved."
8. UPDATE 9/15/2020
From: RPD Internal Affairs "The Raleigh Police Department is aware of this matter and is investigating it. We are cooperating fully with the District Attorney’s Office."
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QUESTIONS FOR DISTRICT ATTORNEY LORRIN FREEMAN:
When did framing people and locking them up on trumped-up charges become a personnel issue?
Is it a coincidence that all the people charged are black?
Why is the SBI only “assessing matters” to see if “Criminal” charges are called for…instead of both Criminal and Civil charges?
Why do your initial statements automatically imply that the Detective is innocent, and the CI is guilty?
What is the protocol for arresting someone based on information received from paid Confidential Informants?
Is that protocol the same across the board?
Were protocols skipped?
Was there an urgency to bring the 15 individuals to trial?
How does the RPD vet its CI's?
Why didn't RPD test the drugs and view the video evidence BEFORE 15 people were arrested, as opposed to after they were arrested?
Why did it take so long to discover that the evidence was fake?
Are all cases involving Detective Abdullah being revisited to ensure that other framed individuals are not in jail?
Shouldn't a seasoned detective know how to handle a CI?
If the CI was able to trick a seasoned veteran detective, what does that say for RPD
How are RPD officers reprimanded when they let evidence or lack thereof fall through the crack, causing individuals to be charged and detained for crimes based on fake evidence?
How is arresting 15 black people on false charges using fake evidence JUST the CI’s fault?
An Afterthought:
The overwhelming lack of interest regarding this matter in the black community is disheartening. I have reached out to:
Old Black Panther Party
New Black Panther Party
NAACP
Black Activists and Influencers.
It is alarming that these organizations and people seem to care more about looking the part, sounding the part, and photo opportunities than putting themselves out there for a real cause. I guess it must be on national news to count (Makes no sense at all).
Additional Information:
The following are troublesome statements made by District Attorney Lorrin Freeman and ABC news regarding Detective Omar Abdullah and his arrests of 15 individuals on fraudulent drug charges:
"What we know so far is that we do have a confidential informant who was providing false information to law enforcement and law enforcement was relying upon that in making charging decisions,"
-Wake County District Attorney Lorrin Freeman.
"None of us want to be part of a system where a confidential informant is lying to law enforcement, and we're relying on that to prosecute people."
- Wake County District Attorney Lorrin Freeman.
"The investigation regarding the 14 individuals fraudulently charged and detained, is probing every case that the "informant" has been involved in and what, if anything, Detective Abdullah knew about the bad information and phony heroin."
According to ABC News
"Certainly, if at some point, we determine that the officer was aware that the confidential informant was providing bad information, then this review will take a different direction,"
-Wake County District Attorney Lorrin Freeman.
"Concerns were first raised near the end of February."
- Wake County District Attorney, Lorrin Freeman.
Faithful Reader, READ BETWEEN THE LINE and ask yourself, If RPD never checked the evidence, why were the 15 black people locked up in the first place? SIGN THE PETITION to have all cases involving Detective Abdullah re-opened and examined for fraud.
Please copy, paste, and email the following questions to District Attorney, Lorrin Freeman. Demand Answers: Lorrin.Freeman@nccourts.org
1. Is it a coincidence that all the people charged are black? 2. Why is the SBI only “assessing matters” to see if “Criminal” charges are called for…instead of both Criminal and Civil charges? 3. Why do your initial statements automatically imply that the Detective is innocent, and the CI is guilty? 4. What is the protocol for arresting someone based on information received from paid Confidential Informants? 5. Is that protocol the same across the board? 6. Were protocols skipped? 7. Was there an urgency to bring the 15 individuals to trial? 8. How does the RPD vet its CI's? 9. Why didn't RPD test the drugs and view the video evidence BEFORE 10 people were arrested, as opposed to after they were arrested? 11. Why did it take so long to discover that the evidence was fake? 12. Are all cases involving Detective Abdullah being revisited to ensure that other framed individuals are not in jail? 13. Shouldn't a seasoned detective know how to handle a CI? 14. If the CI was able to trick a seasoned veteran detective, what does that say for RPD 15. How are RPD officers reprimanded when they let evidence or lack thereof fall through the crack, causing individuals to be charged and detained for crimes based on fake evidence? 16. How is arresting 15 black people on false charges using fake evidence JUST the CI’s fault?
Demand Answers! Lorrin.Freeman@nccourts.org
That’s where we are on this and “That’s All for Now” 😊. Be on the lookout. Until next time.
Always,
Robin Ess
· Listen to The Black Birds Eye View commentary by Columnist, Robin S. Mills on ⚓
SIGN THE PETITION to have all cases involving Detective Abdullah re-opened and examined for fraud.