A second round of video released to WRAL Investigates shows law enforcement officers were sure Durham District Attorney's Office legal assistant Josiah Wilkerson would be fired from his job after the crash. Yet, WRAL Investigates has learned from multiple sources that he remains in his role, more than two months later.
WRAL Investigates petitioned the court, under public records law, for the release of body and dash camera video related to the Aug. 10 crash involving Wilkerson. Some in the community had questioned the appropriateness of Durham Assistant District Attorney Monica Burnette, who oversees all traffic cases, responding to the scene to speak with officers.
Earlier this week, WRAL Investigates reported on the first videos we received, in which troopers explain Wilkerson had been violent physically and verbally toward them and others on the scene, had accused a trooper of being racist, and repeatedly reiterated his place of employment.
Wilkerson was charged with DWI and resisting, delaying and obstructing an officer.
The new videos are from body and dash cameras of Durham County sheriff's deputies who responded to assist North Carolina State Highway Patrol. They show a deputy arriving on scene, then running over to help troopers as yelling is heard in the background. Wilkerson's mom is on the scene, very emotional, repeatedly telling her son to "shut up." She discusses the fear that her son will lose his job over the incident.
"He's gonna lose his job," she says in a video. "He's gonna arrest him, he's gonna lose his job."
"He ain't going to be working at the DA's Office much longer," one trooper tells the mom. "It's done. I'm going to make sure."
Speaking with deputy Brandon Faison, the mother complains about the behavior of one of the responding troopers who she believes was also heated.
"Both parties were heated," Faison responds. "Egos were going through the roof. At the same time, your son got to learn to listen."
Around 20 minutes into the video, Durham County Assistant District Attorney Monica Burnette arrives on the scene.
"Who are you?" asks a deputy.
"Monica Burnette. Assistant District Attorney," she responds.
Burnette asks questions about the crash and injuries. A deputy asks her to move her car from the crash scene to a nearby gas station - a request he had to make multiple times.
"In the meantime, I’m asking you, again, to move your car out of the roadway so we can get this taken care of," he told her.
As the night progresses, the law enforcement officers on scene express their disbelief among each other at what has unfolded from Burnette, and from Wilkerson.
"She's an ADA ... but I don't care who you are!" one said.
In addition to his DWI and resisting charges, Wilkerson was also charged for having an expired registration and not having vehicle insurance.
WRAL Investigates spoke with two of the crash victims who said Wilkerson's lack of insurance caused a nightmare as they tried to replace their totaled car. One victim said he had to quit his job entirely due to injuries sustained during the crash. The other had to reduce work hours due to the injuries, and still goes to physical therapy twice a week. Both expressed frustration that, while their work was impacted, Wilkerson still maintains his job at the district attorney's office.
A spokesperson has not yet responded to WRAL Investigates' request for information on Wilkerson's employment status, but multiple sources confirm he remains in his role.
"behavior" - Google News
October 20, 2023 at 04:45AM
https://ift.tt/S7aIOdh
'I don't care who you are!': Officers in disbelief over behavior of Durham DA employees after DWI crash - WRAL News
"behavior" - Google News
https://ift.tt/9jecqwh
Bagikan Berita Ini
0 Response to "'I don't care who you are!': Officers in disbelief over behavior of Durham DA employees after DWI crash - WRAL News"
Post a Comment