Charge dismissed
Did the district attorney make the right decision to drop the assault charge against Alexander Kohanovich?
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Did the district attorney make the right decision to drop the assault charge against Alexander Kohanovich?
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Comments (11)
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Of course it should have been dropped. Charges never should have been filed in the first place.
What a shock, another cop backed up the first cops's story.
Posted on April 28, 2008 11:40 AM
I'm glad the charges were dropped. It should not have happened in the first place.
If someone is being interviewed then the officer should have the brains enough to know the difference and AFTER the interview, ask him to move. I think that falls under
"FREE SPEECH" just in case the GPD has forgotten the constitution. The officer must been in the Republican Party, who else would ignore, stomp on and abuse the rights of a citizen.
As far as the "internal ivestigation" by the police, what did you expect...honest, impartial fact finding?
Posted on April 28, 2008 11:53 AM
Oh please, let's not bring politics into this. I doubt the officer's political leanings had much to do with his actions in making the arrest.
I'm glad the charges were dropped, though. The GPD really should look at this a bit harder as it does seem that the officer acted inappropriately.
Posted on April 28, 2008 11:58 AM
This is an outrage and the officer should be written up or suspended for his action. But of cource like other recent events with the Greensboro Police it will just be another page in history with nothing done about it.
I am excited tha the charges were dropped and the city owes him a letter or apology and they need to pay for his attorney
Posted on April 28, 2008 11:59 AM
I admire Al Kohanowich for his spirit of forgiveness, & I think he's an amazing person for carrying himself as he has through all of this.
I hope that the city will pay his legal expenses, & apologize. Thanks to Jeri Rowe, everyone at the News & Record, as well as the citizens of NC & beyond, for speaking up, & making sure this case was handled fairly. Today is a better day in America, & I'm sure in Greensboro NC, because righteousness has prevailed.
~ Dan Lee
Posted on April 28, 2008 1:11 PM
Yes, and they're lucky they didn't break any of his bones or injure him in some other way. I think the police; who I admire for their sacrifices to protect us; need to concentrate on true crimes in this city. Notice I didn't say I respect or admire the police dept., just our police officers. The dept. per se, has lost credibilty with the Wray fiasco.
Posted on April 28, 2008 1:21 PM
You would think with as much attention as the Greensboro City police have received over the last couple of years and especially the last few months, they would pay more attention to what they do. Are they getting the homeless folks who walk up to my car begging for money on Wendover, off the street or beating them down? No. Are they forcing the folks that are "collecting" for a good cause that have not followed the proper procedures to do so and run off the median to tap on my car window to harass me for money (I am still trying to figure out how they are really using the money)? No, they just drive by them and ignore them (I witnessed this). Do they issue tickets for parking in handicap parking spots to someone who has a working dog, a handicap placard in her car and is obviously impaired and then treat her with no respect when she tries to talk to them? YES, in fact per the officer, they were "told to write tickets for cars with out-of-state tags that have handicap placards (because they have never researched the laws to see that the placard is not issued to a vehicle but to a person. Guess they did not do their due diligence prior to rolling out that new program). I watched this person suffer due to the way they talked to her and she had to go one-by-one to each person's supervisor until she reached the third in command of the department before anyone would listen to her without making excuses. Do they harass other law enforcment groups who are collecting money for the Special Olympics and have followed proper procedures for doing so (did I mention that the officers were in the same area as the other folks that were collecting money that were not bothered)? YES. They told the officers that they were not supposed to step off the curb to collect the money from the cars. I guess that I should collect for a worthy cause without getting persmission to do so, then I can stepp off the curb. Do 5-8 of them eat together in one establishment (a bar-Natty Green's)(a buffett pizza establishment- I could name more) in uniform when at least a couple of them should have been on patrol to help with those two hour or longer response times or calling you to take a report that would have been more appropriate to respond to? YES. I would say that they should have dropped the charges. Based on their history of reporting....I would have to question the department's report as to what they did was appropriate. So much of what they have done over the last couple of years they have claimed was legitimate and appropriate and I think we all know that was not true. What I would also say is that they should really review laws, city ordinances and policies. In some cases they need to look into and be more honest about some of the thugs they have promoted within their department despite their wrong doings because they are considered a minority (I will leave that for the Rhino Times to report). Aren't elderly and women minorities? I am POSITIVE if Mr.Kohanovich would have tossed out that "minority card" that employees of this department appear to use as an excuse to commit wrong doings, the charge would have been dropped earlier. I guess the only population that they have done something newsworthy to yet, is a child. I am sure that will happen soon too.
Posted on April 28, 2008 1:32 PM
Not only is this the right thing to do, the "brave" officer who took down a 79 year old man, should be investigated for his rough an demeaning tactics. I guess if the officer leaves out the age of this man, it makes a good "war" story when sitting in a bar with his buddies.
Posted on April 28, 2008 3:52 PM
You have all said it well. Nothing will ever change though. It is amazing how they overlook some things and over-react with others.
Posted on April 29, 2008 7:16 AM
I think both Mr. Kohanovich and Officer Prescod were wrong. But I believe Officer Prescod could have handled the situation better. They both lost their cool and the officer probably over reacted. Doug Henderson shows much common sense by dropping the charges.
Posted on April 29, 2008 8:05 AM
When an officer has asked you to move...why would you question it? I think he should have been prosecuted. If you lay hands on an officer, which you have no right to do in any circumstance, you are assaulting that officer. If an officer gives you a lawful order, you MUST comply. BOTTOM LINE, failure to do so will result in being arrested. 89 or 19 it doesnt matter.
Posted on April 29, 2008 12:07 PM