Informant says he was asked to lie

[CatWoman]

Informant in shooting says he never bought drugs at house
Says he was asked to lie

By SAEED AHMED
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Published on: 11/27/06

The confidential informant on whose word Atlanta police raided the house of an 88-year-old woman is now saying he never purchased drugs from her house and was told by police to lie and say he did.

Kathryn Johnston was killed Tuesday night when she fired at officers seeking to serve a warrant. They had broken down the front door and exchanged gunfire with Johnston.

Chief Richard Pennington, in a press conference Monday evening, said his department learned two days ago that the informant — who has been used reliably in the past by the narcotics unit -- denied providing information to officers about a drug deal at 933 Neal Street in northwest Atlanta.

"The informant said he had no knowledge of going into that house and purchasing drugs," Pennington said. "We don't know if he's telling the truth."

The search warrant used by Atlanta police to raid the house says that a confidential informant had bought crack cocaine at the residence, using $50 in city funds, several hours before the raid.

In the document, officers said that the informant told them the house had surveillance cameras that the suspected drug dealer, called "Sam," monitored.

Pennington on Monday evening said the informant told the Internal Affairs Unit hat he did not tell officers that the house had surveillance equipment, and that he was asked to lie.

The Chief still maintained that "Sam," the alleged drug dealer, "actually exists."

http://www.ajc.com/news/content/metro/atlanta/stories/2006/11/27/1127metshoot_html.html

Earlier, news reports gave Mrs. Johnston's age as 92. She was actually 88.

Mrs. Johnston:

[dave502d]

1. What a sad story.n/t

[peacebird]

2. so she was *only* an octogenarian not a nonagenarian - killing her was okay then.....

:sarcasm:

poor Mrs. Johnston, may she rest in peace,

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

3. A guy named Sam told them.

Figured as much when I heard there was an informant named Sam that told them there were drugs in the house. Don't know how I knew. Maybe it was my experience as a parent.

"Where did you get that cookie?"

"A man gave it to me."

"What man?"

"Idunno."

"What was this man's name?"

"Sam."

"Where is he now?"

"Idunno."

[CatWoman]

6. wonder if Sam is related to Curveball?

[angstlessk]

4. This article is really confusing...did he lie IN ORDER that they get the

no knock warrant..or did he lid AFTER so as to shield the police? They found 'marijuna' in her house, but not much? What was an 88 year old woman doing with marijuana? PLANTED? I do not like this story...that woman looks like she LOVED LIFE! RIP, Mrs. Johnson.

[seabeyond]

9. there are illness an 88 year old woman would have that pot would

help. but i am feeling too that the informant was asked to lie to cover up, ... after.

[roseBudd]

5. What do they expect from a war on drugs where the informants are dopers who

are snitching because of what the cops have on them?

[everythingsxen]

7. Did you shoot the old woman, Sam-I-Am?

"I did not shoot the woman." said Sam-I-Am.
Did you shoot her in the chair,
did you shoot her at the fair?
I did not shoot her in the chair,
I did not shoot her at the fair.
I swear this was not a scam."
Knowingly replied Sam-I-Am.

Did you lie then to help the cops?
Or did you rob a liquor shop?
Then blamed this woman for a crime,
so you could avoid doing time?

"I did not lie to help the cops,
I did not rob a liquor shop,
I did not blame this woman for a crime,
so I could avoid doing my time."

Why are the cops so corrupt?
Why do they deny so abrupt?
How many lives have they destroyed?
I am sure they are merely annoyed,
at having their foul deeds exposed,
at having to tell lies composed,
by some crazy silly goose...
who gets his cues from Dr. Seuss.

--------------------------

In all seriousness though, this is so fucked up it is unbelievable. I truly despise how law enforcement has become so callous that they gunned down an old woman on the flimsiest of information. It seems almost like a warning neh? We will kill anyone we want, anytime we want, and there is nothing you can do about it...

[seabeyond]

8. earlier reports stated it was an undercover cop that bought drugs there

different being an informant.