FAST FACTS:
keli.rabon@wreg.com
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(Memphis - 3/4/2010) The arrests happened across the city, near churches and schools. Eleven women accused of selling sex picked up by undercover officers, in an overnight MPD sting.
"My question is, why aren't these things recorded?" Defense Attorney Leslie Ballin said.
Ballin says the conversations between undercover cops and suspected prostitutes become a he said / she said.
"What I do see here, is it becomes the word of law enforcement person, acting in an undercover capacity who is out there to make these arrests. That officer knows what he or she needs to say to back up an arrest or back up a conviction," Ballin said.
In fact, Ballin says, the undercover cop doesn't need to tell the truth about his identity when approaching a prostitute. Many of the arrest affidavits noted that the suspect asked the undercover cop if he was a police officer, and the officer said "no."
"Law enforcement can lie in an effort to make cases," Ballin said.
Ballin says these arrests may be unnecessary. He says time behind bars isn't what these women, or the City of Memphis, need.
"I'd rather see those dollars sent to a social agency to help these people get out of the dilemma that they're in," Ballin said.
We asked MPD about the recordings associated with the arrests, we were told those recordings were "unavailable."
Bond was set at $100 for most of the women arrested, as of Thursday afternoon, three of the 11 had bonded out of jail.
- Undercover prostitution sting nets 11 arrests.
- Attorney raises questions about officer tactics used to make arrest.
- Some say resources should be used on intervention, not prosecution.
keli.rabon@wreg.com
Facebook - WREG On Your Side Investigators
Twitter - @nc3investigates
(Memphis - 3/4/2010) The arrests happened across the city, near churches and schools. Eleven women accused of selling sex picked up by undercover officers, in an overnight MPD sting.
"My question is, why aren't these things recorded?" Defense Attorney Leslie Ballin said.
Ballin says the conversations between undercover cops and suspected prostitutes become a he said / she said.
"What I do see here, is it becomes the word of law enforcement person, acting in an undercover capacity who is out there to make these arrests. That officer knows what he or she needs to say to back up an arrest or back up a conviction," Ballin said.
In fact, Ballin says, the undercover cop doesn't need to tell the truth about his identity when approaching a prostitute. Many of the arrest affidavits noted that the suspect asked the undercover cop if he was a police officer, and the officer said "no."
"Law enforcement can lie in an effort to make cases," Ballin said.
Ballin says these arrests may be unnecessary. He says time behind bars isn't what these women, or the City of Memphis, need.
"I'd rather see those dollars sent to a social agency to help these people get out of the dilemma that they're in," Ballin said.
We asked MPD about the recordings associated with the arrests, we were told those recordings were "unavailable."
Bond was set at $100 for most of the women arrested, as of Thursday afternoon, three of the 11 had bonded out of jail.
