San Andreas Judicial Branch
Superior Court of San Andreas
"EQUAL JUSTICE UNDER LAW"
Prosecution Closing Statement
IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF SAN ANDREAS
State of San Andreas v. Bongo Haze
#23-CM-0086
The prosecution's opening argument was filed in the above case on the 9th of October, 2023.
Honorable Judge Allgood and pertaining parties, the prosecution once again thanks everyone involved in handling this case. We, the prosecution, would once again like to remind the court of the charges that are being contested today; these charges being GM10 - Failure to Comply / Identify, VF01 - Evading an Officer, and VM03 - Reckless Operation of a Road or Marine Vehicle. This is not a case that focuses on the policies and procedures of the LSPD, it is not up to the discretion of the Court to analyze Officer Andollini's actions as those that may or may not be up to standard within the LSPD. As such, the prosecution asks the court not to entertain any arguments made by the defense pertaining to suggested breaches within the policies of the LSPD.
The prosecution would like to begin by quoting the Defense's opening statement, "As the prosecution stated in their opening statement Mr. Haze was driving at an excessive speed. We do not deny this. The defendant himself admitted this, but that is not why we are here." , but that is exactly why we are here. The initiation of this traffic stop and subsequent attempt to arrest was due to the fact that the defendant was clocked traveling at excessive speeds and witnessed driving recklessly; this is something that both the defense and defendant have admitted numerous times. In the defendant's witness statement, it is stated, "I had pulled out of del perro on the way to LSC admittedly going pretty fast about 160 MPH and had gotten pulled over." With the defendant personally admitting guilt to the offense of driving recklessly, and the defense counsel not contesting this, the prosecution will ask the court to uphold justice and find the defendant guilty of VM03 - Reckless Operation of a Road or Marine Vehicle.
We will next move on to a statement made in the defense case-in-chief, in which the defense states "But this created a deeply distressing scenario – my client felt that he had no choice but to comply with the officer's request or he would be tased.", this statement made by the defense from the perspective of the defendant shows that the defendant knew he had a choice to make. This choice made by the defendant was deciding to comply with the officer's request to exit the vehicle or alternatively, choose not to comply with the request - which the defendant subsequently chose to do, therefore resulting in the defendant's failure to comply in the situation. I would additionally like to make mention of the Judge's previous statement, in which Honorable Judge Allgood stated, "this is not a case about consent." the prosecution would like to note that whether or not the defendant consented to the search plays no matter in the court of law; this means that because the defendant failed to comply with the lawful order to exit the vehicle for Law Enforcement to search it, the defendant qualifies for the charge of GM10 - Failure to Comply / Identify.
Finally, in regard to the charge of VF01 - Evading an Officer, the prosecution will direct the court's attention to the defense's exhibit, in which the defendant states in the witness statement, "At that moment i fled in my vehicle and had gotten away." The defendant made the conscious decision to flee the scene and evade the officer attempting to make an arrest, as he had successfully evaded the officer's custody after initial identification, the officer placed the charge of VF01 - Evading an Officer.
To wrap things up, the prosecution will once again draw attention to the defense's own opening statement, where they have stated, "we will address the defense-provided witness statement in which Mr. Haze allegedly admits his guilt." There is nothing alleged in this case, the defendant was pulled over after being clocked at a speed of 213 kilometers per hour, upon initiation of a misdemeanor traffic stop and subsequent arrest, the defendant, Bongo Haze, failed to comply with the officer's lawful demand to exit the vehicle, and then the defendant evaded the scene when he was informed that use of a taser would result in his noncompliance.
Prosecuting Attorney
San Andreas Judicial Branch
(909) 489-9881 — [email protected]