Drug Policy Forum of Florida | National/International Organizations

Tacl Trial - Day 2

From: "Cannabis Action Network" <flacan@fdt.net>
Cc: <dpffl@drugsense.org>
Subject: Hi from Florida and the Joe Tacl trial. 
Date: Tue, 27 Jul 1999 22:40:16 -0400
Organization: DrugSense  http://www.drugsense.org/

Hi from Florida and the Joe Tacl trial.

Everything is looking pretty positive after the prosecution ran thru their first four law enforcement officers for accounts of Joe's scene.

First was the helicopter PILOT who testified how they spotted Joe's NINE bigg plants from an altitude of 500+ feet and at a speed of over 80 MPH.

Ok, so the next dude was a redneck cop who was the actual SPOTTER, Tho 20 years in law enforcement , he was not very polished at testifying....in fact admitted openly that he often flies the copter as well, tho he is not licensed to do so.

The SGT on the scene walked us thru the boring evidence review. And finally the officer in charge testified and that was the highlight of the afternoon. Rick Rogers essentially lied about several key issues, and he did so rather POORLY.

GARY WAINWRIGHT of New Orleans is heading the defense team, which will expand to five attorneys tomorrow during the final stages of prosectuion and the defense. He is extremely well prepared, and we are getting consistently good rulings from the judge here. Wainwright pinned Rogers on a number of key issues.

Now picture dude. He is physically the very stereotype of the longtime Florida cop. mid 40's with 15 years on the Miami Dade narco scene. Dark hair, growing paunch with darkest suntan in the room. :-)

Initially he began his testimony during Direct facing the attorneys and the jury and great eye contact yada yada as they walked him thru the same chain of evidence report. Upon cross however, Wainwright emerged from the rice paddy with knife in teeth and slip-wire garrot in his hands. :-)

Within a few minutes he had this officer looking directly AWAY from both himself and the jury,,,,frankly looking down at the floor for almost half an hour as he peppered him with questions regarding his obvious contradictions.

'Did you ever consider getting a search warrant?' No
'Did you even stop to check with a superior officer when the unique situation of a marijuana prescription was presented to you?' No
'Did you take the time to inventory the money that you seized?' No
"Do you EVER count the money obtained in a seizure?' Very rarely.
"Is marijuana as dangerous as heroin or cocaine?" VERY grudging NO
"Did you inventory the prescription drugs which you seized?" No

Suffice to say, a sad testimony indeed. Tho clearly we still have to finish with defense tomorrow, we are feeling positive,.

Note that the SGT (third witness) cited her 11+ years of narcotics training and DEA special classes, but could not identify a vaporizer when shown.

More tomorrow as it happens....Hope everyone is having a great week

Stephen Heath
in Bronson FL

Back to Joe Tacl's Trial page