Above the Law and the ABA Journal picked up on a story about an ongoing lawsuit from an incident back in February 2008 regarding an altercation between attorney David Lee Phillips and Metro police officers. Apparently, Phillips was out jogging at 11:00 at night wearing a sweatsuit and carrying a golf club to "fend off stray dogs" as he ran through the Bonanza Village subdivision ... Phillips likes to live life on the edge.
According to Phillips, as he crossed at the light heading North on Vegas Drive, he waived at Metro Sgt. Raymond Reyes who was stopped at the light, and who apparently doesn't like being waived at. From the RJ:
"He gave me a real hard look," said Phillips.At this point words were exchanged, and people said things they shouldn't have said:
When the light changed, Reyes turned left on Vegas Drive at a high rate of speed, made a U-turn, activated his light bar and stopped in front of Phillips, who said he set his golf club against the block wall and walked about 40 feet from it, to where Reyes came to a stop.
Phillips said the officer put his hand on his gun and told Phillips he was going to search him for weapons. Phillips asked him why he would do that and refused to be searched when Reyes couldn't offer legal justification.
Reyes called for backup, said Phillips, and six officers responded immediately.
"They were making fun of me," he said. "Calling me an idiot, laughing at me."
Phillips said that when he told the police his name and gave them his address, one officer noted there was a downtown lawyer by that name. [Don't say it's you ... whatever you do, don't say it's you.] Phillips said that when he said he was indeed that lawyer [DOH!] , the officer responded, "What kind of lawyer would live in a shithole neighborhood like this?"Note to attorneys - The correct response when an officer recognizes your name as that of an attorney is not, "That's me!" The correct response is: "I hate attorneys ... always getting bad guys off on technicalities and putting them back on the street. Cops are awesome." Got it?
After the comments about his neighborhood, according to Phillips, the harassment started:
The threats came when Reyes ordered Phillips to walk to the back of his patrol car and another cop told him that if he moved he would be shot with a Taser. A third officer, he said, aimed a Taser at him.It was at this point that a metro officer uttered what is, if true, one of the lamest lines ever spoken by by someone who is not Eric Cartman:
"I just kept my hands up and said 'I'm staying right here until you guys decide what you want me to do."
At that point, Reyes attempted to kick Phillips' legs apart but he slipped, and the remaining officers "jumped on me," said Phillips.
Reyes, Phillips said, then demanded that he sign a citation ---- for what violation is unclear ---- and when Phillips refused, the officer threw the wadded up citation in his face and said, "Enjoy a couple nights in jail, asshole."
"I told Sergeant Reyes his behavior was unprofessional and unnecessary," said Phillips. "He said, 'I'm Metro. We can do whatever we please.'Somehow we doubt that Phillips used the words "unprofessional and unnecessary," and we need to believe that a Metro cop would not say something like "we can do whatever we please." Would they?
Also, check out Elie's commentary over at ATL, where he believes that this incident was all a case of "jogging while black."
What do you guys think? Anyone know Phillips? Think this sounds like a plausible story?
Why would a Wookiee, an eight-foot tall Wookiee, want to live on Endor, with a bunch of two-foot tall Ewoks? That does not make sense! But more important, you have to ask yourself: What does this have to do with this case? Nothing. Ladies and gentlemen, it has nothing to do with this case! It does not make sense! Look at me. I'm a lawyer defending a major record company, and I'm talkin' about Chewbacca! Does that make sense? Ladies and gentlemen, I am not making any sense! None of this makes sense! And so you have to remember, when you're in that jury room deliberatin' and conjugatin' the Emancipation Proclamation, does it make sense? No! Ladies and gentlemen of this supposed jury, it does not make sense! If Chewbacca lives on Endor, you must acquit! The defense rests.
ReplyDeleteI'm assuming that's either a movie quote or a South Park line. Either way, congratulations, you have won the asshat of the day award.
ReplyDelete9:06: Dude, it's called Google.
ReplyDeleteDude, it's just not funny. Just cause somebody else says it and it's funny doesn't mean it funny the second time. For reference, check out Caddyshack 2.
ReplyDeleteAnybody have any news on the bomb threat downtown?
ReplyDelete@9:06 takes one to know one and for the record CaddyShack 2 IS funny ....your problem is that your comparing it to the original, which is *clearly* better....if you compared it to other movies that were released in 1988 it would seem significantly less crappy...altho there were some gems released in 1988 including: Big, Coming to America, and Great Outdoors. imjustsayin.
ReplyDeleteThe bomb squad's one armed toy was still doing the safety dance outside the Courthouse Grille five minutes ago.
ReplyDeleteLAS VEGAS (AP) -- Police and court marshals have closed streets near the state and local courts building in downtown Las Vegas for the investigation of what officials describe as a suspicious package.
ReplyDeleteCourt Marshals Service Lt. George Glasper said the unclaimed item was spotted after 8 am in front of the Phoenix Building at Lewis Avenue and 3rd Street.
That's across from the main entrance to the Clark County Regional Justice Center.
Authorities have ordered the 17-story courthouse evacuated, and firefighters and the Las Vegas police ARMOR bomb unit have been called to investigate.
Court officers inside say they've been told to leave the courthouse building.
No injuries are reported.
Subject: RJC & Phoenix Building Threat - Immediate Attention Required
ReplyDeleteGood Morning,
The Marshal Division and other law enforcement agencies are currently investigating a suspicious package just outside of the Phoenix Building, near the North Gate of the RJC, and a suspicious car parked outside of the Clark Place bldg. The RJC and the Phoenix building are currently on lock down. All employees need to stay in their workstations, unless otherwise directed by an appropriate law enforcement officer.
We will advise as more information is available.
Matthew Zoccole
702.671.3312
I hope David Phillips doesnt hire David Phillips to go to court for him. Neither David Phillips or David Phillips ever appear in court for their clients. Even if David Phillips paid his attorney David Phillips, I'm sure David Phillips would end up getting a bench warrant for David Phillips. It's reassuring that the true Chewbacca story is being told for all to hear.
ReplyDeleteAlthough Endor's justice system is shakey at times, David Phillips will surely keep the best interests of all wookies, far and wide.
NEWS FLASH: (Endor) Chewbacca, Wookie, has just passed the Bar of Endor. It is said that attorney D. Phillips has sought the counsel of said Wookie, in an effort to bring to light the issues regarding LVMPD's Hate Crimes against sleazy attorneys and wookies alike near Vegas Dr. in Las Vegas, NV.
ReplyDelete@10:49 I couldn't have said it better myself - Respeck!
ReplyDeleteWell this discussion thread hs been shot to shit. David Phillip's claim raises serious issues that will have to be addressed by the community before more people are hurt by a police force that seems uninterested in reigning in its less enlightened members.
ReplyDelete@10:55 = David Phillips....Or a perturbed wookie, too tough to call right meow.
ReplyDeleteSo, at what point did the man, who had already disarmed himself with a smile, make a furtive movement which warranted the Taser threat?
ReplyDeleteHere's another case where a dash cam might have encouraged a bit more restraint and professionalism by Sgt. Reyes and his posse.
F'n Metro is really out of control lately. And by lately, I mean the last 15 years.
James Manor acts like an asshat and gets killed for fun. Whom does Metro blame? Calvin Darling, the innocent victim of Manor's recklessness. BTW, that cost Metro $120,000.
Detective Bryan Yant swears Trevon Cole is a hardcore drug dealer with arrests in Texas and California, and executes a warrant and Cole while the latter was on his knees with his hands behind his head in his bathroom. Turns out, it was the wrong Trevon Cole. Whoops. How much is that going to cost?
Most recently, Erik Scott was guilty of being licensed to carry a concealed weapon at Costco and was shot 7 times by three officers for ...?, and now Metro and the DA's office is in full cover up (for example: Why not release the 911 call contemporaneous to the shooting? Wherefore art the video? Inquest ... delayed until Sheriff Gillespie's reelection is over).
Quis custodiet ipsos custodes?
Metro, with the help of Eric Cartman, has presented all of the justification they need to:
ReplyDelete"He said, 'I'm Metro. We can do whatever we please.'"
Logic? No
Fact? Yes
Metro believes that 1 in 3 individuals utilizing their feet as conveyance in Las Vegas are in possession of 1 (one) of the following:
-Drugs
-Weapons
-Stolen Drugs
And while Metro Officers are paid to both 'Protect the community' and 'Protect those individuals that pay me the most under the table', what is a Sgt. supposed to do when he comes across a person in his hood that could potentially be affecting the markets from which his pockets are filled to not arrest those paying him while not being paid by the unknown person. It can be confusing to Metro Officers. Give them a break!
Now we discuss Nye County...
@10:55 - Mr. Phillips did you appear for my arraignment yesterday?
ReplyDeleteWith all the bums around the courthouse I'm surprised they only found 1 suspicious package..
ReplyDeletegiven all the compensating and stuffing happening by attorneys at the RJC, I'm sure they could find "suspicious packages" every day.
ReplyDeleteThis is 10:55. I am not David Phillips, and could not pass for him in any social setting. I was just decrying the banal level of discourse in this thread. Apparently, the asshats have taken over.
ReplyDeleteI prefer to use a tinfoil-wrapped cucumber.
ReplyDelete-D. Smalls
I am here for you hommie!
ReplyDeleteJohnnyMac!
@9:47 "safety dance"
ReplyDeleteLaughing so I hard I dropped my golf club.
@4:03 = Dick Smalls, Esq.?
ReplyDeletelolololol
David Phillips deserves whatever he gets. The guy is a prick and any other slanderous name you might consider.
ReplyDeleteHe hasnt worn a tie to court in years and is never on time. The JP's (except Bennett) just issue warrants and make him come back later on a Motion to Quash.
The guy is a punk and frankly, I would Tazer the guy and ask questions later.
Cops scare me.
ReplyDelete4:38 - Derek, actually!
ReplyDeleteDavid Phillips sounds like he's full of crap.
ReplyDeleteNothing to see here. Move along now.
ReplyDeleteI get so tired of these arrogant idiots who saunter into court as if we are all privileged to see them. They are never prepared and when the court asks them a question, their answer inevitably begins with, I THINK. They never KNOW because they never open the file and if it were not for peeking into the prosecutor's file, they would have even less information to respond with. Takes more skill to work at Wendy's then they exhibit. Phillips is just another of those useless idiots.
http://www.lasvegassun.com/news/2010/aug/04/unlikely-targets-emerging-war-media-content/
ReplyDeletePoll Question: could Steven Gibson possibly look like a bigger douche?
Don't let my answer sway your opinion, but I say no. It is impossible to perfect the art of douchiness more accurately than Mr. Gibson.
Steve Gibson is Douche of the Year.
ReplyDeleteMexican cop, black attorney, a dark night on the wrong side of the tracks. . . Sounds like the plot to some quality gay porn.
ReplyDeletere 9:44
ReplyDeleteI was thinking the same thing.
I can't figure out if its the headset that sends him over the top, or the vest, or the mahogany walls.
It might just be that s*&t-eating grin of a patent/copyright troll.
I like the headset, cause you know when I take a picture I love to have a headset scratching my nostrils. I don't know what's worse, his level of douchetasticness, or his mail order bride.
ReplyDeleteI like how a LVSun reader pointed out the two cans of Pledge wood polish in his cabinet in the background.
ReplyDeleteJudge Leen bitch slapped Walt Cannon and some dude from the AG's office in a written order from July 27 related to a discovery dispute. I'm surprised it hasn't hit the blog just yet.
ReplyDeleteWow, the comments in the Sun article about Super Douche of the Year are priceless. Well worth the .3 I spent reading them. Project time, baby.
ReplyDelete@3:14, Leen sanctioned Walter Cannon and Robert Kossack. Neither attorney is "some dude from the AG's office."
ReplyDeleteOkay, I have to admit a strange fixation on DouchyMan's pic in the Sun article. I bet the Sun photo editor high-fived the assistant editor when they pulled this photo for the story. "Cool, dude, we get to stick it to the RJ and some douchebag attorney!"
ReplyDelete@10:07
ReplyDeleteI think your going to feel Steven Gibson's wrath for posting that. WATCH OUT!!!