(Newswire.net – April 9, 2013) Dearborn, MI — 20 year old J. Castillo was attending a party at the Maltese Club in Dearborn, MI on May 26, 2012 when 25 Dearborn Police Officers arrived responding to reports of a fight. Fighting continued in the surrounding parking lots after approximately 700 people were forced to leave the venue. Castillo was arrested and charged with Failure to Obey a Police Officer and a jury trial was conducted on March 28, 2013.
Dearborn Police Officer Alkubani testified that he ordered Castillo to stop in the parking lot for questioning. In response Alkubani testified that Castillo ran in a northwest direction into a residential neighborhood. Alkubani further testified that his partner chased and arrested Castillo then brought him back to the scene. After skilled cross examination by Castillo’s attorney, Barton Morris, Officer Switzer subsequently contradicted his partner and testified that Castillo ran in a southwest direction after being told to stop. Officer Switzer then testified that Castillo was not arrested in the residential area but in the parking lot after Alkubani advised Castillo disobeyed the officer’s command.
Castillo took the stand and stated that he remembers Alkubani from that evening and he never gave an order not to leave. Castillo testified that he did in fact run when he witnessed his cousin was being chased by several police officers in the southwest direction. Castillo witnessed his cousin get arrested for fleeing at which point Castillo walked back to the scene and to the officers. It was at that time, Alkubani told his partner that Castillo fled and ordered that he be arrested. During the cross examination of both officers attorney Barton Morris produced and utilized several aerial photographs as demonstrative evidence to explain to the jury that Officer Alkubani’s testimony was not possible and not credible.
During closing arguments attorney Morris argued that the cops could not keep their story strait and could not be believed. He used the blown up aerial photographs to depict the scene and discredit officer’s accounts. The jury comprised of four men and two women agreed and acquitted Castillo after less than 10 minutes of deliberation. The case was tried before the Honorable Mark Sommers on March 28, 2013 in the 20th Judicial District Court in Dearborn.
After the trial attorney Barton Morris stated “sometimes officers make mistakes and arrest the wrong guy and accuse someone wrongfully. Police are people too but instead of trying to cover it up with deception and dishonesty they should simply admit their mistake. A criminal conviction can ruin a person’s life. Thankfully the jury found the truth and justice was achieved”
Barton Morris has been a Michigan criminal defense attorney for 13 years and his office is located in downtown Royal Oak. He was voted a Top Attorney in Metro Detroit for 2012 and 2013 by DBusiness Magazine.
Contact:
The Law Offices Of Barton Morris
321 South Williams StreetRoyal Oak, MI 48067
(248) 541-2600