fabricated gang Charges against Black Lives Matter protesters following the death of George Floyd.<\/a><\/p>\nThe advocates say the case against Glen Robertson, which is in trial this week, is more of the same kind of prosecutorial misconduct.<\/p>\n
At the height of the social justice protests after George Floyd\u2019s death, Phoenix police were called to a hit-and-run.<\/p>\n
Police body camera video show officers immediately detaining two people, Glen Robertson and his brother.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat\u2019s my brother, what did I do officer?\u201d said Robertson in the body camera recording.<\/p>\n
Robertson repeatedly shouted George Floyd\u2019s final words, “I can\u2019t breathe,” as he was being detained.<\/p>\n
He denies being involved in the hit-and-run.<\/p>\n
\u201cI walked to the store, and I walked home with my bottle, and I got slammed. Black Lives Matter! You want your body cam? Let\u2019s go, y\u2019all want to be the next ones, let\u2019s go,\u201d said Robertson.<\/p>\n
What he said next led to the indictment on felony threatening and gang charges.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat you going to do? Nothing! Or you can take these cuffs off and get it in the back streets on the crip s—,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cOh, what does that mean?\u201d said a Phoenix Police Officer.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou tell me since you slammed me and put your knee on my back. Yes, you did. I couldn\u2019t breathe,\u201d said Robertson.<\/p>\n
Court documents state police could smell alcohol on Robertson’s breath and police found marijuana in a car he was reportedly driving. He was charged with DUI in a separate case.<\/p>\n
This week however, the social justice advocacy group Mass Liberation AZ says Robertson\u2019s case is another example of county prosecutors tacking on felony gang charges against people who have a right to protest officers\u2019 actions.<\/p>\n
\u201dThree judges have already stated, this is a weak case,\u201d said Lola N\u2019sangou with Mass Liberation.<\/p>\n
Demarcus Woods was called to testify as a gang expert in Robertson\u2019s defense on Wednesday.<\/p>\n
He\u2019s a Lieutenant with the Arizona Department of Juvenile Corrections.<\/p>\n
Before Woods took the stand, he said prosecutors told the court he was fired from his job for testifying that Robertson isn\u2019t a gang member.<\/p>\n
Lt. Woods said that was news to him.<\/p>\n
\u201dI haven\u2019t received notice of anything like that but obviously it\u2019s been made public,\u201d said Lt. Woods during a press conference with Mass Liberation on Thursday.<\/p>\n
Mass Liberation has sent a letter to County Attorney Rachel Mitchell calling for the charges to be dropped, the prosecutor on this case to be fired for intimidating a witness and the gang unit to be disbanded.<\/p>\n
Mitchell\u2019s office declined to comment on this story saying it would violate attorney ethical standards regarding trail publicity.<\/p>\n
The jury is expected to deliberate early next week.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n