#380 Look Beyond the Immediate Act to the Larger Intent

Former Fullerton Cop Charged with Destruction of Evidence

"After a man he arrested hanged himself in his jail cell last year, Fullerton police officer Vincent Thomas Mater ripped the department-issued recorder off his uniform and crushed it, making it impossible to retrieve the audio recording of the conversation he had with the man prior to his death."

He not only crushed it, he took the circuit board and motherboard out of the smashed device. In other words, he destroyed the only evidence that existed that could implicate him in the suicide of a man he'd arrested. Now, there's little doubt in my mind that the destruction of the recording device was intentional and deliberate. Mater must have had some kind of interaction with the man which caused Mater to fear for his liberty in the wake of the suicide.

What was said between prisoner and officer? We'll never know but there is simply no way that the cop reacts as immediately and violently if they'd been talking about the Mets chances to win the pennant. No, this cop said something to the prisoner that could be used against him in a court of law. Something that caused or encouraged the prisoner to take his own life.

At the very least, the cop should be suspended and a full investigation into his dealings both as a cop and as a private citizen should be undertaken. Pretty clear that he's got something to hide and that something resulted in the suicide death of a man he arrested.

Rule #380 is Look Beyond the Immediate Act to the Larger Intent