Update on Canton PD Traffic Stop Gone Awry for CCW HolderGunLink.info
10/18/2011
Bartlett Trial Date SetMunicipal Judge Stephen Belden heard arguments at the end of September to determine if the charges against 52 year old Brewster man, William Bartlett, had any grounds. Bartlett had been arrested on June 8th and charged with stopping in a roadway and failure to notify the officer of his concealed-carry status. The original story, as well as video, is above. Judge Belden held a brief court hearing last Monday during which Bartlett's trial was scheduled for November 9 at 0900.
Among other unsuccessful arguments for dismissal, defense attorney Timothy Bellew maintained that the law requiring prompt notice from a licensee stopped by the police is unconstitutionally vague and may conflict with the requirement for a licensee to follow all lawful orders given by police, such as the repeated order from Officer Harless for Bartlett to "shut up."
If you would like to contribute to Bartlett's legal defense fund, you may do so
here.
Harless Hearing Still Over A Month Away After DelayJustice is also less than swift in coming for the arresting officer, Daniel Harless. Harless was put on administrative leave in June, shortly after the incident, and then later went on medical leave. Harless' disciplinary hearing, a process he should be used to by now, was postponed in early September at the request of the Canton Police Patrolmen's Association, which claims that the patrolman is suffering with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Safety Director Thomas Ream denied the union's request for an indefinite extension, instead granting a 90-day delay, slating the hearing for Dec. 1 in the matter of his behavior with Bartlett and other questionable traffic stops.
Bartlett's defense attorney asked the judge during a late September hearing to make available all statements made by Harless and his partner, Mark Diels, to Internal Affairs investigators. Chief Assistant City Prosecutor Jennifer Fitzsimmons replied that Harless had never given a statement and that Diels’ statement could be provided to the court for review.
Ostracized City Council President Invited ShootingCanton city council president Allen Schulman drew much criticism after going on a tirade during a radio interview. Schulman called Ohio gun laws (and concealed carry laws in general) "insane". His comments prompted an avalanche of phone calls, letters and emails from firearms and CCW advocates around the country. Schulman then responded to this uninvited criticism by telling out-of-town commentators to butt out, telling them "you're next" in reference to the Harless/Bartlett situation spreading nationwide under so-called "insane" gun laws.
Ohioans for Concealed Carry reported that Schulman contacted them after they broadly publicized the criticism he was receiving on what OFCC calls a "hardline, anti-gun position." The result of that conversation, OFCC says, was Schulman offering to lend his political clout to attempts at revising the CCW-notification law, for which new legislation is currently being written. Schulman also accepted OFCC's invitation for a trip to the pistol range along with former Governor Ted Strickland and OFCC coordinator Phillip Mulivor. The range trip is scheduled for some time in November. Only time will tell if Schulman has truly seen the light or if this is just Zumbo-esque back-peddling and pandering after planting his foot firmly in his mouth.
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