Actions

Police corruption trial to resume Thursday

Posted at 5:35 PM, Jan 24, 2018
and last updated 2018-01-25 11:14:58-05

When the big duffle bag of heavy duty equipment hit the floor in the courtroom, it made a loud clank and the jury sat still.

Former Baltimore Police Detective Maurice Ward then described the crow bars and bolt cutters his squad would use. 

He also held up black hockey masks and dark clothing told the jury he and the other gun trace detectives would dress up in when committing robberies. 

It was as shocking show but it came after an explosive tell; testimony that included terms like “door pops” and “sneak and peaks” and “dope boy cars.” 

An apparent glossary of the corrupt for the citizens that will eventually judge. 

For others, it's a wonder how it all happened in the first place. 

"I haven't the slightest idea,” Baltimore City Council President Jack Young said, “I really don’t. I don’t have the slightest idea. I do know that some of the street guys used to say that the police department had these officers that were robbing them ya know but, I didn't believe it." 

But others say, “I told you so.” 

"Absolutely,” defense attorney Josh Insley said, “Our clients have been saying this for years. We've been shouting to the heavens for years, this is what happens." 

And it happened to one of Insley's clients and almost exactly how Ward described it from the stand yesterday. 

Two years ago Insley says Avon Allen was a victim of one of these “door pops.” 

The charging documents in the case say how Sergeant Wayne Jenkins was the driver and how they pulled up to a group of men. 

Allen fled and the officers Ward, Hendrix and Taylor gave chase tackling him causing a gun Allen was allegedly carrying to slip into a nearby storm drain. 

The case was heard on Calvert street and resulted in a hung jury. 

It was then taken up by the feds and dismissed. 

Then Allen was charged yet again by the city state's attorney’s office only to again be dismissed, case closed 14 days after the indictment of all four officers who arrested him in the first place. 

Insley said Allen never had a gun and after yesterday's testimony, now knows how and why he got charged. 

The attorney is now preparing a civil suit on behalf of Allen but is waiting for the corruption trial to flesh out more details about the rogue gun unit. 

"This trial is so shocking. Every line of testimony more shocking then the next that I can’t sit here after day one and say this is where it is gonna lead," Insley said. 

The corruption trial is set to resume Thursday.