Tehana, Texas shakedown artist - Republican District Attorney Linda K. Russell

[Liberal_in_LA]

Lynda K. Russell, Linda K. Russell. I've seen her name spelled both ways.

This story has already been posted on DU. The behavior of the Tehana, Texas authorities is so outrageous :grr: I wanted to be sure the face and name of the lead perps were out there.



More on the Texas Police Lawsuit: Evidence Shown

As we were telling you, police from Tenaha, Texas is facing serious charges of highway robbery and power abuse from plaintiffs claiming they were threatened in many ways by police officers in order to give up their cash and jewelery.

As we previously related, Tenaha officials deny any charges brought by the plaintiff’s lawyer, David Guillory, although, according to CNN reporters, there are some several pieces of evidence that are not in the police’s favor.

A couple said they agreed on forfeiting their property after Shelby County District Attorney Lynda Russell came and threatened them of having their children taken away. The document they signed bears Russell’s signature and states that in exchange of forfeiting the cash, "no criminal charges shall be filed ... and our children shall not be turned over" to the state's child protective services agency. Through her lawyers, the D.A. denied any impropriety.

Guillory states that most targeted drivers are minorities, African-American or Latino, who won’t fight back "They are disproportionately going after racial minorities," he said. "My take on the matter is that the police in Tenaha, Texas, were picking on and preying on people that were least likely to fight back."

Texas law states that the proceeds of any seizures can be used only for "official purposes" of district attorney offices and "for law-enforcement purposes" by police departments. According to public records obtained by CNN using open-records laws, an account funded by property forfeitures in Russell's office included $524 for a popcorn machine, $195 for candy at a poultry festival, and $400 for catering.

Moreover, Russell donated money to the local chamber of commerce and a youth baseball league. A local Baptist church received two checks totaling $6,000 and one check for $10,000 went to Barry Washington, a Tenaha police officer whose name has come up in several complaints by stopped motorists. The money was paid for "investigative costs," the records state.


From another article: http://dallaslawyer.blogspot.com/2009/03/cop-watch-tehana-police-highway-robbery.html

In addition to the guy who did most of the arrests in these cases, Tenaha City Marshall Barry Washington, the lawsuit also brings in as defendants Tenaha's Mayor, George Bowers; the District Attorney of Shelby County, Linda K. Russell, and the Shelby County Constable, Randy Whatley.
Sources:

[Dogtown]

1. K&R n/t

[Joe Chi Minh]

2. People guilty of that behaviour should be locked away permanently,

and most of their own property sequestrated - leaving a little for their families.

It's the kind of disgrace that seems unique to the US, and is like a throw-back to earlier centuries in the more developed world; to the middle of the last century in the US. The lynching mentality, modified a little of necessity. But no more. You don't need to look as far afield as Somalia for piracy, it seems. And not, need I add, by desperately poor people preying on the rich/powerful, but the other way round.

[TexasObserver]

3. It's Tenaha, not Tehana, and yeah, it's scandalous.

They've been using the drug impoundment law to stop African American and Hispanic drivers, rob them of their belongings, including cash and jewelry, and extort from the victims a signed statement agreeing to let the police do it.

There are long prison terms in the future of these officers.

[Liberal_in_LA]

4. Thanks for the correction: Tenaha, Texas shakedown artist - District Attorney Linda K. Russell

Too late to correct the thread title

[TexasObserver]

5. It's in East Texas, northern East Texas to be exact.

Tenaha is a tiny town.

It's quite the scandal in Texas right now.

[Badgerman]

6. You'd have to live here to understand: t'aint nuthin new! n/t