Mike Scott has been cleared!

[td00]

Per the Vertical.

Has he burned the bridges here? Does he have enough left to help our 3 pt shooting?

[Jamaaliver]

A Georgia superior court dismissed felony drug charges against former NBA forward Mike Scott and granted a motion to suppress evidence in the case.

According to The Vertical's Adrian Wojnarowski, Judge Currie Mingledorff II said evidence of racial profiling played a part in the decision to suppress evidence regarding the drug charges against Scott and his brother, Antonn.

Mike Scott was charged with felony possession of marijuana and possession of a Schedule I drug. The judge's ruling said "sufficient articulable suspicion did not exist to uphold the stop of the Scott vehicle." Mingledorff also wrote that police did not follow proper procedures in its search and seizure of the drugs and acknowledged racial profiling may have played a factor.

Bleacher Report


Lessons here:

1. Don't do drugs. They'll ruin your life.

2. The police often seek certain people out on roadways for the sole purpose of arresting them. Don't do bad things. And certainly, don't confess to anything without an attorney present.

3. Never do drugs in your car. That's just dumb.


And yes, I'd be okay if we brought Mike Scott back on a minimum vet contract next year.

[Jamaaliver]

Read on Twitter

Deputy Register claimed the chase began at mile marker 154 and ended at mile marker 156, and dispatch call-in records show this transpired during a 12-second span, the motion said.

“Traveling two miles in 12 seconds would require a speed of 600 mph,” the motion said. “Mr. Scott was driving a Suburban, not a jet airplane.”

Moreover, records from the towing company showed it picked up the Suburban at mile marker 154, not 156, confirming Antonn Scott’s account, the motion said.

Antonn Scott’s account of what happened was more credible than Register’s, Mingledorff said in the ruling, finding no chase occurred and the stop was unjustified.

This conduct by law enforcement is pretty reprehensible. And I've seen it up close many times. I've been pulled over on I-75 in N Georgia and S Tennessee multiple times. No ticket. No warning. Just weird, offensive questions. (Who's car is this? Do you have a job?)

It's pretty infuriating.

Hopefully Mike Scott turns his life around and has ended recreational drug use as well.

Drugs are bad. Racial profiling is bad.

Everyone IS WORSE off after an embarrassment like this.

[Jamaaliver]

Sheriff dismisses deputy who arrested ex-Hawk in racial profiling case


The Banks County Sheriff’s Office has dismissed the deputy who arrested ex-Atlanta Hawk Mike Scott during a traffic stop that was found to be the result of racial profiling.

The former deputy, Brent Register, was terminated after the an administrative review of the case involving Scott and his brother, Antonn, Sheriff’s Office Lt. Carissa McFaddin said in a statement issued Monday.

AJC


I almost feel sorry for the guy. He clearly broke the rules, police procedure and the law in doing this. But it appears that this type of behavior in Banks County has gone on for years and is only coming to light now because a high priced lawyer got involved.

This is a systemic issue that needs to be addressed throughout the department. Firing one guy is making him the fall guy for what is likely widespread misconduct.

He has managed to engage in this type of behavior for years, yet none of his superiors seemed to notice or deter it? It's because this is par for the course in these types of municipalities.

This is a perfect example of everyone being wrong, and everyone suffering as a result of police action.

NOTE: If Mike Scott was just an average dude and had to work with a public defender to get this resolved...he'd likely be in jail today and Deputy Register would still be profiling motorists on the interstates of Banks County.

Gotta love the American judicial system.

[Jamaaliver]

...one of Mike Scott’s lawyers, questioned why the Banks County Sheriff’s Office hired Register in the first place.


“His career is filled with disciplinary actions, forced resignations and an investigation which led to his being placed on probation by P.O.S.T., the agency that certifies police officers,” Healan said. “This is a step in the right direction, but the Banks County Sheriff’s Department will have no credibility until they put a video camera on every officer and in every vehicle.”