RFP Staff
♦In the U.S. District Court in Winston-Salem, N.C. a jury was seated Monday, consisting of six men and six women, in the civil rights trial of former
Former Officer Puranda caught on video in La Bamba club, allegedly punching a man.
Salisbury Police officer Kareem Puranda. Mr. Puranda allegedly used excessive force during separate incidents with Robin Otto Worth and with Eric Williams in 2009. According to Rowan County civil court documents filed last October, Robin Otto Worth accepted a $40,000 settlement from the City of Salisbury and dismissed complaints against former Salisbury Police officer Kareem Puranda and recently deceased Salisbury Police Sgt. Mark Hunter. According to the complaint, Hunter and Puranda were involved in a 2009 traffic stop where Worth fled the scene and the two officers pursued him. The complaint stated that Puranda struck Worth in the head with his pistol, and punched, kicked, pepper sprayed and tasered him.
U.S. District Court Judge Thomas Schroeder is expected to begin opening arguments Tuesday at 9 am. Actual testimony may start late Tuesday afternoon.
On Monday, Christopher Fialko, Puranda’s defense attorney, debated with Federal Prosecutor Graham Green over the seating of prospective jurors while Judge Schroeder questioned jurors about their careers and any prior incidents they may have had with law enforcement. Few persons attended Monday’s proceedings save for prospective jurors and Mr. Puranda’s wife.
Several Salisbury Police officers are called to testify as witnesses, yet their testimony is not expected until Tuesday afternoon.
Federal Government’s Witness List:
*Corey Brooks
*Andy Efird
*Ronald L. Foster
*James R. Gaither
*Christopher S. Hamm
Wayne Partee
*Mark Shue
Lisa Williams
Corinne Harrah
*Amber Burgess
Tammy Endicott
*Brent Hall
*Mark Hunter (recently deceased)
*Christopher Schenk
Eric Williams
Robin Otto Worth
Defense Witness List:
*Adam Bouk
*Suad Jakopovich
*Kareem Puranda
“*” indicates that the witness is known by the Rowan Free Press to be a current or former Salisbury Police Officer.
Puranda was previously charged with two crimes, but one charge was dropped against the former Salisbury policeman. On April the 5th of this year, the FBI intensively interviewed several police witnesses in Salisbury concerning the case. Various civil rights activist groups, in Salisbury and across the state, are watching this case closely.
Civil Rights abuses, explained by the FBI:
http://www.fbi.gov/about-us/investigate/civilrights/color_of_law
More Civil Rights crimes explained by the FBI:
http://www.fbi.gov/about-us/investigate/civilrights/federal-statutes
The La Bamba Club melee involving Kareem Puranda:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=WrDzfxCmS0o
