In the United States it is very unusual for a person accused of a violent sex crime to be released on low bail while awaiting trial.
Griffin, in his police uniform, pistol-whipped her with his service weapon and punched her in the face several times, according to prosecutors. He also fired two shots into the mattress, inches from her head, court records say.
He ordered the woman to take a shower, then forced her to the basement, pointed the gun at her again, forced her to perform a sex act on him at gunpoint, according to police.
Police later seized more than 60 guns from his home, including including 50 pistols, five assault rifles and a submachine gun.
He resigned his position with the department in March.
It seems odd enough that for two months he was not fired, and eventually was allowed to resign in such a way that would not prevent him from working as a cop again.
He might have thought his girlfriend was cheating, so some people might 'sympathize', but the reality is that most people arrested under those circumstances would not be granted cash bail of 20k then released with instructions to wear an ankle monitor. Was the hope that the girl would 'disappear' mysteriously and the bad publicity for the police department would end?
And normally possessing a machine gun in the United States by itself is a pretty serious crime. Did he get a pass on that charge because rapists should have automatic weapons?
It's good that he was at least charged with some crime. Most police officers are not charged when they do what he did. But should non police officers get the same kid glove treatment he got? Or should he have been held to the same standard as a non cop? Or should Justice start shifting away from being a tool to blindly empower people with badges, and instead focus on solving problems?
Imagine the position of the woman. She first reports the crime, knowing that the person is not likely to be arrested because he is a police officer. But then an arrest is forced by publicity.
Then her attacker is set free and his trial date is set far in the future. She knows that if he kills her before trial without getting caught there will be no trial and her family will face further problems.
Then she reads that he has cut off his ankle monitor and aside from a few journalists trying to force action she knows he has little to worry about. Ultimately the media was able to force action by authorities, but typically in a case like this the woman and her family can expect long term harassment from authorities, which probably will not be covered in the press.
Authorities did everything they could to help the cop "solve his problem", but the media forced things, fortunately
http://newsversus.com/id/17462753544http://usanewswires.com/id/17462753544http://www.k5thehometeam.com/story/36655008/search-underway-for-former-cleveland-police-officer-who-cut-off-ankle-bracelet-before-trialhttps://praisecleveland.com/2060307/local-news-search-underway-for-former-cleveland-police-officer-who-cut-off-ankle-bracelet-before-trial/http://m.cleveland19.com/19actionnews/db_348172/contentdetail.htm?contentguid=mPGmBuYq
