San Andreas Judicial Branch
Superior Court of San Andreas
"EQUAL JUSTICE UNDER LAW"
Defense CASE-IN-CHIEF
IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF SAN ANDREAS
State of San Andreas v. Bongo Haze
#23-CM-0086
The Defendant, by and through the undersigned attorney, filed this case-in-chief, and presents the following arguments and evidence analysis;
Exhibit #3
San Andreas Judicial Branch
Official Witness Statement
"HERE FOR YOU | SAFE FOR YOU"
Case Information
- Case Number: [23-CM-00086]
Incident Date: [22/JUN/2023]
Witness Information
- Name: Bongo Haze
Date of Birth: [05/Sep/1998]
Phone Number: [587-8283]
Occupation: [Unemployed]
Witness Statement
- [I had just woke up and was on my way to LSC to repair my car. I had pulled out of del perro on the way to LSC admittedly going pretty fast about 160 MPH and had gotten pulled over. At that point i immediately pulled over and showed the officer my license to the officer. The officer went back to his vehicle and started waiting for backup which ended up being about 4 other police vehicles. Once all of the backup officers arrived, the officer came back and had told me that i would just be getting a speeding ticket IF i let him search the vehicle, at this point i told the officer that if a speeding ticket is all that i was getting he did not have the right to search my vehicle. After i stated this to him he said "This can go one of two ways, I can either give you a speeding ticket and search the vehicle or i can give you reckless and we search the vehicle anyway" While pulling his taser out of his holster. I asked if i was arrested and he stated "Not if there isn't anything in the vehicle" i became scared and asked "If i don't let you search my vehicle you're going to taze me?!" to which he responded "yes, if you don't exit the vehicle". At that moment i fled in my vehicle and had gotten away. I then went to some of my family member's and spoke to them about the situation at which point they had told me to turn myself in and so they gave me a ride to Mission row. Dale Ashcroft met us there with me on my knees, hands on my head willingly turning myself in.
Witness Affirmation
- I, [Bongo Haze], affirm that the above statement is true to the best of my knowledge and belief. I affirm that this statement has been made voluntarily, made without promise of reward, and made not under threat, force, or coersion. ((I affirm that all information submitted has been obtained via In-Character means.))
We are here to examine the events of that day in question when my client, Bongo Haze, found himself in a high-speed traffic stop that escalated into a situation where he felt compelled to flee in fear for his safety.
On that day, Mr. Haze had just woken up and was on his way to Los Santos Customs to repair his vehicle.. He admits that he was driving at an excessive speed, and he takes responsibility for that action. When he was pulled over by Officer Andollini, he complied with the officer's request to show his license, demonstrating a willingness to cooperate. A willingness that would have continued if not for the actions of that very officer.
Officer Andollini made an offer that raises many concerns about coercion and the lawfulness of his statement. He proposed that Mr. Haze could avoid additional charges by consenting to a search of his vehicle. It's crucial to remember that my client's refusal to consent to a search is well within his rights as a citizen.
What follows is a critical point in this case.
Officer Andollini, while making this offer, drew his Taser, a use of force that escalated the situation dramatically and goes counter to the policies of the LSPD and their use of force continuum. When Mr. Haze asked if he was under arrest, he was told that he would not be arrested if there was nothing in the vehicle. But this created a deeply distressing scenario – my client felt he had no choice but to comply with the officer's request, under the implicit threat of Taser deployment.
Faced with this alarming situation, Mr. Haze made a difficult decision to flee, fearing for his safety. It was only after seeking counsel from his family that he voluntarily turned himself in, demonstrating his commitment to facing the consequences of his initial speeding violation.
The prosecution must rely on the statement of one officer out of the multiples on the scene. An officer that was unable or unwilling to provide body camera footage and who had no corroborating witnesses.
Added to all of this as well, we raise the question of charge stacking. Mr Haze was charged with three crimes: GM10 - Failure to Comply / Identify
VF01 - Evading an Officer
VM03 - Reckless Operation of a Road or Marine Vehicle
We the defense will state that Evading an officer carries the charge of both misdemeanors, and that adding them to the charges was entirely pointless, we therefore would seek that a judge clarify this matter for both the prosecution, and the law enforcement offices.
Respectfully,
Defense Attorney
San Andreas Judicial Branch
(909) 309-8976 —
[email protected]