SFPD Arrests Public Defender for Defending Client
Police are now arrested attorneys for defending their clients.
A San Francisco deputy public defender was handcuffed and arrested at the Hall of Justice after she objected to city police officers questioning her client outside a courtroom, an incident that her office called outrageous and police officials defended as appropriate.
The Tuesday afternoon arrest of attorney Jami Tillotson as she denied police officers’ attempts to take photos of her client without explanation raised questions about police intimidation and harassment, Public Defender Jeff Adachi said at a Wednesday news conference.
But police said the five officers, led by a plainclothes sergeant, were investigating a burglary case in which Tillotson’s client and his co-defendant were considered persons of interest. Tillotson was cited for misdemeanor resisting or delaying arrest because she obstructed a police investigation, officials said.
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First, nobody in this country is under any obligation to talk to the police. Ever. Even if under arrest, if you want to remain silent that is your absolute right. This attorney was simply defending her client from having to talk to and have his picture taken by the cops.
Second, since the police made it clear that the client was not under arrest, then how exactly was the attorney resisting or delaying the arrest?
Of course none of these cops, nor the PD itself, will face any consequences.