Vallejo police union president placed on leave, under investigation for destroying evidence from con
Vallejo police union president placed on leave, under investigation for destroying evidence from controversial police shooting
Lt. Michael Nichelini also sued to keep secret the name of the officer who shot Sean Monterrosa
By DAVID DEBOLT | ddebolt@bayareanewsgroup.com and NATE GARTRELL | ngartrell@bayareanewsgroup.com | Bay Area News Group
PUBLISHED: July 24, 2020 at 8:12 p.m. | UPDATED: July 25, 2020 at 3:05 p.m.
VALLEJO The president of the Vallejo police union is one of two employees on suspension and under investigation for destruction of evidence in the police killing of Sean Monterrosa, multiple sources told this news organization.
Lt. Michael Nichelini, who oversees the patrol division, is on administrative leave related to the destruction of a windshield police shot through to kill Monterrosa on June 2, according to those sources. His exact role in discarding the bullet-ridden windshield is not known, and Nichelini did not return messages seeking comment.
Police Chief Shawny Williams has not publicly named the two employees put on leave, but the city contacted the FBI to investigate, as has House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.
Monterrosa was shot and killed by an officer that multiple law enforcement sources have identified as Jarrett Tonn, a Vallejo police detective who had fired his duty weapon at people on three prior occasions. Tonn fired five times through the windshield, apparently mistaking the handle of a hammer in Monterrosas sweater for a gun.
More:
https://www.mercurynews.com/2020/07/24/vallejo-police-union-president-placed-on-leave-under-investigation-for-destroying-evidence-controversial-police-shooting/?fbclid=IwAR0JnhpIlEcwh-OxpR64a_xVCGDcZX5F5cc_B58tCLp99zzsI0IuDg5Tt9Y
safeinOhio
(32,751 posts)There is a higher percentage of bad cops than bad protestors.
Mystery sage
(576 posts)It's no longer a few bad apples in a barrel but a lot of bad apples in a bad orchard In which you to find the good apples you need to go way up high in the trees but those are few and far between.
3Hotdogs
(12,462 posts)Igel
(35,387 posts)I know it's uncharacteristically non-judgmental for an American to do this, but there you go.
Perhaps he had a hammer in his pocket and didn't want the handle to stick out in a way that would get caught on something, pulling the hammer out and losing it, or merely providing a way for gravity to pull on it so it worked its way free and escaped his pocket.
Or maybe he was wearing a tool belt of something that the hammer poorly fit into.
Easy to come up with not-implausible scenarios with a smidgeon of good will.