The Dissenters received a tip about the arrest yesterday of BUPD Detective Glenn Alan Criswell. There are a few accounts of the story on the internet, read it here. Or here and here
Criswell is charged with misdemeanor accounts of battery and interfering with the reporting of a crime. The allegations resulted from an altercation with an ex-girlfriend who was the victim of the alleged crime. We understand that the police department has removed Criswell from his normal duties and he is now performing administrative tasks.
We would like to remind everyone that Det. Criswell headed BUPD's investigation of a missing laptop that lead to Cori Jackson's suspension. Indeed, Criswell made a detailed statement to The Butler Collegian on the matter. We interpreted some of the language in that statement to indicate that Criswell assumed Jackson's guilt prior to any extensive investigation. See our earlier post on the matter.
This interpretation fits with a statement made by Jackson in the original interview transcript, this excerpt occurs during the first meeting between Criswell and Jackson:
"He [Criswell] takes me upstairs [and] before I can even sit down he slams his hand on table and says, "I know you did it!’ And I said, ‘you think I did what?’ The officer replies, ‘no, I know you did it! I know you took the guy’s laptop.’ And I said, ‘with all due respect sir, you’re entitled to your opinion but I know what happened.’ And, I tell him everything and he doesn’t believe it. He says, ‘I’m not buying what you’re selling..."
We point out these observations not to demonize Det. Criswell, but to criticize the notion of credibility that Dean Irene Stevens indicated was part of the disciplinary procedure. We have no updates with regards to Jackson's suspension appeal, but in the original decision made by Stevens it seems that Jackson's credibility lost out to that of other parties (Criswell included).
Though Stevens claims that credibility is not the sole factor influencing disciplinary decisions, it nevertheless figures into it. Unlike courts of law, Butler's policy allows for personal and subjective deductions to play an official role in life-changing decisions.
Credibiliy can change direction on a dime. If anything, this goes to show that students should be evaluated on an even keel with other professionals at our university. Students may be young and inexperienced in many areas, but no one (student/administrator/public servant) can make an accurate assessment about the actions others have taken in the past or will take in the future based on credibility alone.
-Jon
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Surprise surprise. Barney Fife at it again...
ReplyDeletei would say that just because this officer clearly has a troubled life, I don't believe it would hamper his ability to do his job. If he believes cori guilty, then i would take him on the credibility of his position.
ReplyDeleteYeah, because cops never lie. Grow up.
ReplyDeletethe cop isn't a witness so its not a matter of truth or lies. Its a matter of evidence and opinion.
ReplyDeleteAnd cops always get the evidence right. When you talk about the "credibility of his position" you fail to realize that his position looses its credibility when the officer has- as you put it- "clearly has a troubled life."
ReplyDeletevideo evidence is the basis of the entire case. Not a whole lot you can get wrong from video evidence. Speaking of troubled life then lets examine Jackson's life. This is the 3rd university he has attended. He has been removed from a football team due to a fight with a coach. Just like the cop he is no saint. This is aside from the fact that the backpack was untouched by anyone but him, and had to a very high probability a laptop inside of it.
ReplyDeleteActually the chain of evidence with the backpack isn't clear cut. Others within Student Affairs had custody of the bag, including student workers. They were never questioned.
ReplyDeleteThe police officer is compromised here. He allegedly committed domestic battery after stalking an ex-girlfriend and stealing her dog. Criswell's testimony at trial will/would be impugned. His career is over, and pending cases should be dismissed.
The video footage confirms Jackson's story, and doesn't offer new or contradictory evidence.
Many students, from affluent and less affluent backgrounds change schools. Changing schools is not an indication of much of anything even when strung together with this thin evidence.
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ReplyDeleteI just thought I'd add a little bit to the discussion. I was browsing the Student Handbook last night and was reading about the disciplinary processes.
ReplyDeleteIt seems that pending legal cases, the reduction of charges or the dropping of charges all have no impact on Butler's discipline process. So, Cori's case could be thrown out in court, or a ruling made in his favor and he could still be found "guilty" at Butler. This confirm's Irene's alleged statement that Butler is not a court of law (and does not need to adhere to those rules as such). Seems problematic, if not an outright violation of student's human rights.
-Jon
This article is a little more in line with the things I'd like to see on here. This has some bite to it, but I didn't feel like the argument was made loud and strong enough. It is an injustice that someone's apparent credibility can directly influenced their punishments or any of the actions taken during a possible disciplinary action. If you want to be dissenters, I want to see you scream about it, get enraged about it. What Butler is doing is a joke.
ReplyDeleteOn the eve of Jackie Robinson's historic first, I offer another point of clarification:
ReplyDeleteJackson was removed from the baseball team. This after the coach allegedly told him that he had a mark on his back as a black man. Weeks later the two got into it. The team photo: http://www.butlersports.com/sports/m-basebl/2009team.html
i Believe that the student should be given the benefit of the doubt here. It seems as though he
ReplyDeletefaces being judged before a trial. It appears that the video evidence shows that Cori did no wrong. It appears that the other persons with access to the bag did not have to be searched or questioned. COULD THIS BE A RACE ISSUE ?????