Thuggish AZ cop finally kills an innocent

More information on the past behavior of a Phoenix police officer charged with second-degree murder reveals a video of him playing what he called a "prank" on a homeless woman.

In 2005, Phoenix police Officer Richard Chrisman and his partner were field training fellow officers when a surveillance video caught them pulling the "prank" on a homeless woman who was mentally ill.

The video at first shows Chrisman as he twirls his police baton in front of the woman, eventually leaning toward her.

As two other officer observe the woman, Chrisman and his partner walk to the the trunk of their squad car. The video clearly shows Chrisman slip his partner some drug paraphernalia so she could pretend she found it on the woman.

Chrisman and his partner later admitted they were just messing with the woman to see how she would respond. "I guess me and all my wisdom thought it would be a good idea, funny you know, to play a prank," Chrisman states in a police department internal affairs report.

Chrisman and his partner smile as they leave the car. The female officer approaches the woman from behind to search her. While's she's patting her down, she reaches behind her back and Chrisman hands her the paraphernalia.

The female officer at first looks down the back of the woman's dress. Next, she reaches down the back of the woman's dress as if retrieving something. She pulls out the paraphernalia and shows the woman, pretending that she just found it.

Police arrested the woman on a warrant that day but did not charge her with possession. Chrisman was suspended for one day without pay as a consequence.

Chrisman has found himself in much more serious trouble lately. He was indicted on Friday for second-degree murder in the shooting death of 29-year-old Daniel Rodriguez.

Chrisman is accused of shooting and killing Rodriguez during a domestic disturbance call. According to police reports, Chrisman pulled his handgun, placed it against Rodriguez's head and told him he didn't need a warrant after Rodriguez ordered him out of his Phoenix home Oct. 5.

Chrisman shocked Rodriguez with a stun gun, fatally shot his pit bull, then finally shot and killed Rodriguez, according to a court document. A Maricopa County Superior Court Judge issued a summons for Chrisman.

Chrisman initially faced charges of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. He was arrested after Officer Sergio Virgillo, who provided backup the day of the shooting, claimed that Chrisman's actions were extreme. Virgillo told investigators that Rodriguez did not have a weapon and did not pose a threat.

Mehrens has said that his client was simply doing his job and drew his weapon in self-defense.

There have been other times Chrisman's actions have come under scrutiny. Harris said Chrisman and another officer had been disciplined and suspended in the past after being accused of playing a "joke" on someone during an arrest.

"I think the community should be outraged and upset. Any of us would be," Harris said. "But the real question is how do we react and what is our response?" "We will do everything humanly possible to make sure this doesn't happen again," Harris said.

Original report here




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