The Coleman Case: The Mask Slips Off-Officer Edward Jones
By
Ken.
For the most part, our criminal justice system does an adequate job of creating a minimally credible appearance of due process and the rule of law. Judges grant the occasional defense motion, some stupendously ridiculous prosecutorial demands are rebuffed, and the judiciary even occasionally holds the state accountable for its own misconduct.
When kids are involved, though, all bets are off. The mask slips away, and the system is revealed at its worst: as a mechanism to accept, uncritically, the demands and accusations of the state, and to evade such impediments as the rule of law may pose to putting somebody in jail.
Over the last two years, Ryan Coleman learned that the hard way. Yesterday all charges were dropped after two years, due to an issue with the witness, Bria Tanner.
We looked close into the person that made these allegations-Bria Tanner. A few things stood out. She has apparently made several similar allegations of sexual abuse. Using the same words that she used against Coleman. Did Officer Edward Jones of the Baltimore City Police Department know this before he decided to arrest Coleman. How could he not know this fact.
Child Protective Services ruled out any wrong doing by Coleman in this situation. By ruling it out they believe Bria Tanner is not telling the truth. Edward Jones why would you continue your investigation after the agency ruled it out???????????????????????????? Did this matter to Edward Jones before he arrested Coleman. Nope!
Howard Cardin says “We believe that we can prove Ryan is telling the truth and Bria Tanner is not telling the truth.” Maybe this is why they subpoenaed over thirty witnesses. I can only assume that these witnesses were going to contradict and show the motive of Bria Tanner.
Then I find out that Coleman took a polygraph and passed!!!!!!!!!!!!! - did any of this matter to Officer Edward Jones of the Baltimore City Police Department.
It seems on the face of it that Jones is an idiot. That his actions are grossly negligent or he acted with malice. We need police that will initiate real investigations and not be just a toll taker.
Further more what was the State’s Attorney -Katherine Smeltzer thinking as she postponed the case many times. She had to know this case was weak and even a possibility that Coleman is innocent. I guess it didn’t matter to her. I wonder if Coleman was white how this case would have been handled.
The mask has slipped off! I see no hope with the talent of government officials in Baltimore.
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Prosecutors drop sexual abuse charges against City College staff member
April 09, 2012|By Scott Dance, The Baltimore Sun
Prosecutors dropped charges Monday against Ryan Marcus Coleman, a former City College administrator accused of sexually abusing a 17-year-old student, saying they lacked sufficient evidence to take the case to trial.
Coleman, 36, was charged in July 2010 with sex abuse of a minor, fourth-degree sex offense and second-degree assault. Assistant state's attorneys Michael Leedy and Katherine Smeltzer dropped all of those charges in Baltimore Circuit Court just before jury selection and a trial were slated to begin.
Mark Cheshire, a spokesman for Baltimore State's Attorney Gregg L. Bernstein, declined to comment further.
According to Howard Cardin, Coleman's lawyer, a prosecutor said in court Monday that there was an issue with the accuser but did not elaborate.
"Every defendant would like somebody to say you're not guilty. To that extent, he's been deprived of that," Cardin said of Coleman. "On the other hand, to have this off your back is certainly a relief and something to celebrate."
Cardin said he was prepared to defend the charges in court. While Coleman was ready to prove his innocence, the result was positive nonetheless, the defense attorney said.
