Darryl Robinson's "Copwatch" Case Dismissed Before Trial

Darryl Robinson's case in Hennepin County Court was dismissed on Monday afternoon. Robinson was charged with obstruction of legal process, disorderly conduct, and obstructing a sidewalk after being beaten unconscious by Minneapolis Police while copwatching outside a shelter last July. Communities United Against Police Brutality writes:

In an exciting courtroom victory today, charges leveled against CUAPB Vice President Darryl Robinson after he was beaten and arrested during copwatch were suddenly dropped by the prosecution in the middle of jury selection. We believe this was indicative of the weakness of the case, once the prosecution realized there were a number of witnesses who could collaborate Darryl's recollections of the incident. Darryl still faces one count of trespass for a previous copwatch incident and that case will go to trial on March 23rd but for now we are all relishing the wonderful victory today.

Thanks go to Ted Dooley, attorney extraordinaire, and to the large number of wonderful folks who showed up for courtwatch today--including five members of the RNC 8. The judge really took notice when the entire courtroom stood up as Darryl's name was called. Courtwatch/court solidarity rocks!

Below is the report of the police assault on Robinson from July.

* * * * *
http://twincities.indymedia.org/2008/jul/cuapb-activist-beaten-and-arres...

CUAPB Activist Beaten and Arrested During Copwatch
Tue, 07/22/2008 - 06:51.
from Communities United Against Police Brutality

For the past several months, CUAPB has been documenting the use of low level offense ordinances such as lurking, loitering, trespass and public urination ordinances against homeless people near shelters. Darryl Robinson, vice president of CUAPB, heads up the project and has spent many hours outside of Harbor Lights, Mary Jo's Place and other areas capturing bad acts by the MPD on film. In the course of his work, he has been harassed repeatedly by police and recently received a trespassing citation himself.

About 10:45 p.m. last night, Minneapolis police attacked Darryl, beating and arresting him for "obstructing the sidewalk." During the attack, they slammed him in the head and face and repeatedly choked him to the point of unconsciousness. While handcuffed, he was thrown face first into the paddy wagon and taken to the Hennepin County jail. Luckily, another copwatcher was out with Darryl and was able to get word to us quickly. A large contingent from CUAPB converged on the jail. Before we arrived, one of the guards attempted to mess with Darryl at the jail but jail staff soon backed off and he was processed out quickly and released to us. Darry's injuries were documented and he was taken straight to the hospital. He sustained head, neck and jaw trauma along with other injuries. Hospital staff initially planned to admit him due to the extent of his injuries but he was eventually allowed to go home from the emergency room early this morning.