W.E.B Griffin: The Witness

"So what?"

"So he told me that he has to be very careful about not bearing false witness."

"Meaning what?"

"Meaning he's worried about the power of suggestion. In other words, he's afraid that when I asked him if it could have been you driving that car, and he said,'Oh, yes. That's who it was,' he's afraid that the reason he now recognizes youis because I asked him if it could have been you."

"What the hell is going on here? Are you that fucking desperate? You come up with a couple of matched prints-How many other prints matched?"

"Four sets," Washington said. "And there were prints from two people in that car that don't match any of anybody in Special Operations. We' re now running them against every cop in the Department. That'll take a long time, there's six thousand odd cops. I frankly will be surprised if we get a match, but you never know."

"I think I've had enough of this bullshit conversation," Carter said, and stood up and took a wad of money from his pocket.

"How do you think you're going to like it in the 6^th District?"

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"You're being transferred, tomorrow, to the 6^th District. Where you will work for Lieutenant Foster H. Lewis, Sr."

"I don't know what the fuck you think you're doing, or who the hell you think you are, Washington, but I will not take a transfer to the 6^th Division or anywhere else."

"You could resign, of course. That would make a lot of people happy. But if you stay on the job, you're going to the 6^th, tomorrow."

"Because you have this nutty idea that I trashed Payne's car? Or that I was involved in what happened to Monahan?

"There is no question in my mind that you trashed Payne's car, drove the car to Monahan's house the morning he was shot, shot Monahan with a stun-gun, and told your friends when I was going to pick Monahan up at Goldblatt's so they could throw a gasoline bomb at me."

"You know how far you would get with this in court? They'd laugh you out of City Hall."

"Did I say anything about taking you to court? All I said was that you were going to the 6^th District."

"You try to get me transferred, transferred anywhere, and I'll have the Black Police Officer's Association all over your ass!"

"You know how a complaint gets acted on by the Black Police Officer's Association?" Washington asked, and then went on without waiting for a reply. "It goes to the Executive Committee. The Executive Committee is composed of former officers. Like me, for example. And Richard Kallanan. I really don't think, Brother, that you're going to get a hell of a lot of sympathy from the Black Police Officer's Association."

"Fuck you, Washington!" Sergeant Carter said, tossed a five-dollar bill on the table, and walked away.

As he approached the booth occupied by Officer Richard Kallanan, their eyes met and Kallanan stood up.

Carter stopped at the booth.

"You're still the white man's slave, motherfucker!" he said.

Officer Kallanan thereupon struck Sergeant Carter in the face with his fist, causing him to fall to the floor.

Sergeant Washington rushed from his booth to restrain Officer Kallanan, but this proved unnecessary.

Officer Kallanan was already bending over Sergeant Carter, to assist him to his feet.

"I'm sorry I hit you, Carter," Richard Kallanan said. "I should have remembered what it says in the Bible, 'Judge not, lest ye be judged.'

"

Sergeant Carter shook free of Kallanan's hand and walked out of the back room of Hellman's Bar amp; Grill.

The Philadelphia County Grand Jury returned indictments charging the seven men arrested by the police with murder in the first degree.

Between the Grand Jury indictments and the trial, Hector Carlos Estivez came to an agreement with District Attorney Thomas J. Callis under which Mr. Estivez agreed to testify against those persons charged in the robbery of Goldblatt amp; Sons Credit Furniture amp; Appliances, Inc.; the murder that occurred during the robbery; and others, in exchange for immunity from prosecution.

In sworn statements made to the district attorney, Mr. Estivez stated that it was his belief that Charles David Stevens, aka Abu Ben Muhammed, had planned the Goldblatt robbery with the advice and assistance of Omar Ben Kalif, whom he described as a black male, approximately twenty-seven years of age, with a shaven head and a full beard. Mr. Estivez stated that, in his presence, Omar Ben Kalif was identified as a member of the Philadelphia Islamic Temple.

Estivez stated that Charles David Stevens, aka Abu Ben Muhammed, had stated that should anything "go wrong" with the Goldblatt robbery, Omar Ben Kalif, and/or the Philadelphia Islamic Temple, would provide legal counsel, bail money, and other assistance.

The Philadelphia Islamic Temple, through its counsel, categorically denied any involvement of any kind whatever in the robbery/murder that took place at Goldblatt amp; Sons Credit Furniture amp; Appliances, Inc. The Temple further categorically denied that there was now, or ever had been, anyone associated with the Temple by the name of Omar Ben Kalif.

In separate trials, and as a result of plea bargaining, the remaining accused were found guilty of murder in the first degree, manslaughter in the first degree, assault, and armed robbery. Sentences ranged from life imprisonment to five years incarceration.

The Philadelphia County Grand Jury determined that the death by gunfire of Charles David Stevens at the hands of Officer M. M. Payne was an act of self-defense.

Following an investigation by the Justice Department, it was determined there had been no violation of the civil rights of Charles David Stevens by Officer Matthew M. Payne.

A suit for defamation of character and slander brought by Officer M. M. Payne against the Coalition for Equitable Law Enforcement was settled out of court for an undisclosed sum.

Sergeant Wilson Carter resigned from the Philadelphia Police Department four weeks after being transferred to the 6^th District. He shortly thereafter had his name changed to Wilson X. He is now serving as personal bodyguard to Arthur X, and as head of the Fruit of Islam.

By Michael J. O'Hara

Bulletin Staff Writer

Robert L. Holland, prominent Delaware Valley auto dealer, was arrested this morning, following a joint FBI-Philadelphia Police investigation, and charged with 106 counts of trafficking in stolen automobiles, falsification of registration documents, and other autotheft related charges.

"It is one more example of the fine cooperation we have learned to expect from our brother officers in the Philadelphia Police," said Walter F. Davis, Special Agent in Charge of the Philadelphia FBI office.

He had special praise for Philadelphia Police Lieutenant John J. Malone, of the Special Operations Division, who headed the police investigation.

"Malone's professionalism and dedication in a very tough investigation was inspiring," Davis said.

Philadelphia Police Commissioner Taddeus Czernick, who was with Special Agent in Charge Davis when Holland, in handcuffs, was brought to the Central Lock-Up in the Police Administration Building, said the arrest of Holland proved once again how effective a joint effort of federal and local law enforcement can be.

(Photos and additional story on Page B-l.)