EMT cleared in May Day clash claims SPD officer lied about assault
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A Seattle woman who lost her job and home after she was wrongly charged with attacking a police officer now claims officers lied in an effort to cover up excessive force during last spring's May Day demonstration.
Maria Morales was among the first demonstrators charged after the riotous protest swept through downtown Seattle on May 1. A Seattle police officer claimed she was punched by Morales, a 30-year-old emergency medical technician. King County prosecutors followed up with an assault charge.
Those allegations – publicized on seattlepi.com and elsewhere – cost Morales her job and apartment, as well as thousands of dollars in attorneys’ fees. They were also baseless; video of the scene, included above, refuted the police account and prompted prosecutors to drop the case.
“It’s a complete fabrication, and the reason that we know that is because it was on video,” said Darryl Parker, who is representing Morales in a civil suit filed in U.S. District Court. “The statement of probable cause that led to her arrest is completely false.”
Parker claims Seattle police violated his client’s civil rights, assaulted her and lied to prosecutors to ensure that charges would be filed against her.
A spokeswoman for the Seattle City Attorney’s Office declined to discuss the case. The city has not yet responded in court to the civil suit, which was filed earlier in December.
Morales was accused of attacking two officers during the May Day violence, which investigators now contend was prompted by a small group of anarchists operating within the massive, annual May Day demonstration.
Having spent the day laying groundwork she hoped might lead to a new job, Morales at 3:30 p.m. joined a march against police brutality that was part of the larger May Day demonstration.
That march turned violent as the column reached the intersection of First Avenue and Pine Street. Some marchers began throwing items as they clashed with police dressed in riot gear and armed with batons. Morales soon found herself penned in between a wall and a police bicycle belonging to Seattle Police Officer Sonya Fry.
According to her attorney’s statements to the court, Morales touched the bicycle’s handlebar so that she could leave the area, and was immediately pulled into a battery of police bicycles by Fry.
“Morales was swarmed as Fry and other officers flipped her over onto her stomach, pepper sprayed the left side of her face and arm, and put her in two sets of handcuffs,” Parker told the court. Morales was then arrested on suspicion of assault.
Having suffered an injury to her hand during the arrest, Morales was booked into King County Jail and held overnight. Staff at a Veterans Affairs clinic later noted her thumb was swollen and that her body, arms and legs were bruised.
Two days after the incident, a Seattle police detective filed a statement with prosecutors recounting Officer Fry’s version of events. In it, the detective contended Fry claimed Morales punched her in the chest, kicked another officer and disobeyed police orders.
“Morales got right up to Officer Fry and said, ‘Okay bitch’ then punched Officer Fry in the chest with a closed fist,” the detective told the court in a one-page statement outlining the allegations against Morales.
The detective went on to assert that Morales kicked a second officer. Video of the incident shows Morales' feet were secured by officers immediately after she hit the ground.
None of those allegations was true, and video of the scene shows them to be lies, Parker said by phone Wednesday.
“That police officer overreacted,” Parker said.
“Usually the truth lies somewhere in between” what police and an arrestee claim, the attorney continued. “Not in this case.”
Accused alongside three other participants in the May Day demonstration, Morales was charged with fourth-degree assault, a misdemeanor. That charge was later dismissed with prejudice, as were similar charges against videographer Joshua Garland.
King County prosecutors have since leveled more serious charges against five other demonstrators. They are alleged to have been part of a group of anarchists responsible for much of the vandalism that occurred during the protest. A federal investigation is also ongoing.
Charged three days after the May 1 protest, Morales wasn’t cleared until mid-August. The charge against her was dismissed with prejudice at the request of the prosecution; such a move means the charge can’t be filed again at a later date.
The allegations left Morales publicly shamed, without work and broke from legal expenses she incurred to fight the unsubstantiated charges.
As a result of her arrest, she lost her job as an emergency medical technician, Parker told the court. She subsequently lost her apartment.
Claiming his client’s constitutional rights were violated, Parker filed a lawsuit late last week in U.S. District Court at Seattle. In the suit, Parker contends Morales was the victim of a malicious prosecution pushed forward by false information provided by police.
Writing the court, Parker faulted the City of Seattle for failing to train and manage its police force, which was sanctioned after Department of Justice investigators found a “pattern of excessive force” within the department.
“The need to train officers in the constitutional limitation on the arrest of citizens and the amount of force to apply when doing so can be said to be ‘so obvious’ that the failure to do so could properly be characterized as ‘deliberate indifference’ to constitutional rights,” Parker told the court.
Speaking Wednesday, Parker also said the city has refused to release documents related to his client’s arrest.
Morales requested the documents shortly after she was charged but, following a series of delays by the Seattle Police Department, still does not have them. Parker said he and Morales have been told those with the records have simply been too busy to provide them.
“It’s become a convenient excuse,” the Bellevue attorney said. “I have no way of knowing what’s true or not true, but I think it’s bizarre. Most cities get you the same information in five days."
Parker said he expects to serve the lawsuit on the City of Seattle in coming days. No amount of damages is specified in the civil lawsuit, which Parker filed Friday.
Maria Morales was among the first demonstrators charged after the riotous protest swept through downtown Seattle on May 1. A Seattle police officer claimed she was punched by Morales, a 30-year-old emergency medical technician. King County prosecutors followed up with an assault charge.
Those allegations – publicized on seattlepi.com and elsewhere – cost Morales her job and apartment, as well as thousands of dollars in attorneys’ fees. They were also baseless; video of the scene, included above, refuted the police account and prompted prosecutors to drop the case.
“It’s a complete fabrication, and the reason that we know that is because it was on video,” said Darryl Parker, who is representing Morales in a civil suit filed in U.S. District Court. “The statement of probable cause that led to her arrest is completely false.”
Parker claims Seattle police violated his client’s civil rights, assaulted her and lied to prosecutors to ensure that charges would be filed against her.
A spokeswoman for the Seattle City Attorney’s Office declined to discuss the case. The city has not yet responded in court to the civil suit, which was filed earlier in December.
Morales was accused of attacking two officers during the May Day violence, which investigators now contend was prompted by a small group of anarchists operating within the massive, annual May Day demonstration.
Having spent the day laying groundwork she hoped might lead to a new job, Morales at 3:30 p.m. joined a march against police brutality that was part of the larger May Day demonstration.
That march turned violent as the column reached the intersection of First Avenue and Pine Street. Some marchers began throwing items as they clashed with police dressed in riot gear and armed with batons. Morales soon found herself penned in between a wall and a police bicycle belonging to Seattle Police Officer Sonya Fry.
According to her attorney’s statements to the court, Morales touched the bicycle’s handlebar so that she could leave the area, and was immediately pulled into a battery of police bicycles by Fry.
“Morales was swarmed as Fry and other officers flipped her over onto her stomach, pepper sprayed the left side of her face and arm, and put her in two sets of handcuffs,” Parker told the court. Morales was then arrested on suspicion of assault.
Having suffered an injury to her hand during the arrest, Morales was booked into King County Jail and held overnight. Staff at a Veterans Affairs clinic later noted her thumb was swollen and that her body, arms and legs were bruised.
Two days after the incident, a Seattle police detective filed a statement with prosecutors recounting Officer Fry’s version of events. In it, the detective contended Fry claimed Morales punched her in the chest, kicked another officer and disobeyed police orders.
“Morales got right up to Officer Fry and said, ‘Okay bitch’ then punched Officer Fry in the chest with a closed fist,” the detective told the court in a one-page statement outlining the allegations against Morales.
The detective went on to assert that Morales kicked a second officer. Video of the incident shows Morales' feet were secured by officers immediately after she hit the ground.
None of those allegations was true, and video of the scene shows them to be lies, Parker said by phone Wednesday.
“That police officer overreacted,” Parker said.
“Usually the truth lies somewhere in between” what police and an arrestee claim, the attorney continued. “Not in this case.”
Accused alongside three other participants in the May Day demonstration, Morales was charged with fourth-degree assault, a misdemeanor. That charge was later dismissed with prejudice, as were similar charges against videographer Joshua Garland.
King County prosecutors have since leveled more serious charges against five other demonstrators. They are alleged to have been part of a group of anarchists responsible for much of the vandalism that occurred during the protest. A federal investigation is also ongoing.
Charged three days after the May 1 protest, Morales wasn’t cleared until mid-August. The charge against her was dismissed with prejudice at the request of the prosecution; such a move means the charge can’t be filed again at a later date.
The allegations left Morales publicly shamed, without work and broke from legal expenses she incurred to fight the unsubstantiated charges.
As a result of her arrest, she lost her job as an emergency medical technician, Parker told the court. She subsequently lost her apartment.
Claiming his client’s constitutional rights were violated, Parker filed a lawsuit late last week in U.S. District Court at Seattle. In the suit, Parker contends Morales was the victim of a malicious prosecution pushed forward by false information provided by police.
Writing the court, Parker faulted the City of Seattle for failing to train and manage its police force, which was sanctioned after Department of Justice investigators found a “pattern of excessive force” within the department.
“The need to train officers in the constitutional limitation on the arrest of citizens and the amount of force to apply when doing so can be said to be ‘so obvious’ that the failure to do so could properly be characterized as ‘deliberate indifference’ to constitutional rights,” Parker told the court.
Speaking Wednesday, Parker also said the city has refused to release documents related to his client’s arrest.
Morales requested the documents shortly after she was charged but, following a series of delays by the Seattle Police Department, still does not have them. Parker said he and Morales have been told those with the records have simply been too busy to provide them.
“It’s become a convenient excuse,” the Bellevue attorney said. “I have no way of knowing what’s true or not true, but I think it’s bizarre. Most cities get you the same information in five days."
Parker said he expects to serve the lawsuit on the City of Seattle in coming days. No amount of damages is specified in the civil lawsuit, which Parker filed Friday.
The suit should have to be paid by the officers involved and the prosecuting attorney who filed the charges not by the city. Suits against cities or corporations have not consequences for the individuals involved. The only way a suit will change behavior is if the person responsible has consequences that are commensurate with their actions.
 @jcman I agree, although current laws will not allow it insofar as I know. What we need to do is change the laws to state that when e.g. a police officer or other official substantially and WILLFULLY oversteps their actual authority in a manner which violates the legal or civil rights of another, then they are no longer acting "in their official capacity" and are therefore no longer covered by shield laws which otherwise protect them from civil lawsuits. This should not exempt the agency from also being sued (after all, the PD put this person on the street with a gun, handcuffs, riot baton, mace, etc.) but it should open the door for (a) citizens to name abusive officers and officials personally in lawsuits, and (b) agencies and government entities to sue their own employees to recover damages when those employees willfully and egregiously overstep authority.
@jcman i agree
 FIRE DIAZ and FIRE MOST OF THE SPD, or this kind of crap will keep happening and taxpayers will foot the bill for both the victims lawsuits and the officers raises/paid vacations.
So she is a protester, grabs the cops bike and gets her self arrested. She should have been charged. Now she gets a payday at taxpayers expense.
Looks like the video shows her pushing or punching the female officer. After that it doesn't show anything related to what the phony attorney claims. If Seattle had a real City Attorney who would charge these criminals with the crime it would cut off all these fake lawsuits.
 @opout Looks to me like the cop tried to assault (strike) her with the bike, and she had to grab/block it to protect herself from injury. I'd call that bike with all its weight and pokey tubing ends (handle bars, etc.) a potentially-deadly weapon. Certainly if *I* tried to beat someone over the head with a bicycle, I would not likely get as sweet a deal as Tuba Man's killers did!
 @opout ^ Grabs the cops bike?
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The police ASSAULTED HER AND LIED ABOUT IT.
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Since when are we in favor of defending taxpayer funded law enforcement entrusted with the law to LIE and assault people?
Nothing happened to me or anyone I know - but then, we are not protesters.  Gee, maybe we should get some federal funding, you know like a grant of taxpayer's money and study why do people have problems with the police for just protesting the police?  Let's compare that to being law abiding citizens and staying off the streets.  Let's direct our time and money working with police professionals weeding out police that do not serve us well.
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Yeah, I guess we were all working at real jobs while this was going on. Â And it cost her so much. Â Wonder if it was worth it. Â Think a lesson was learned here? Â Choices. Â We all make them. Â Want conflict - join a conflict.
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Want peace, but want to better your community - try not yelling and screaming, but working, actually sitting down with others and resolving problems.
 @sentryone Self-centered much? It's not about you.... today.
 @sentryone So exercising your constitutional right to protest should mean you get to be assaulted, LIED ABOUT, and have your life ruined by SPD jackboots?
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Really?Â
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Wow. The lengths some people will go to defend out of control hateful police is just astounding.
 @salishan  @sentryone You really had to use the word jackboots? Why don't you follow the word jackboots with a disclaimer explaining you now have zero credibility
 @salishan  @sentryone I mean honestly salish... I listen to, and consider a lot of different opinions on here, but the second someone starts using ridiculous rhetoric in a serious manner? <poof>
You evidently didn't watch the video before drinking some anarchist Kool-Aid.
Sue for a large sum - not as a payday, but as a lesson to the city. Â A few million might help them make better decisions, obviously good common sense did not fuel past decisions.
@cdc yes of course. She needs a large sum of money for breaking the law, like the idiot who ran from police in White Center and bumped his head. No wonder this state is in debt.
 @Common Sense  @cdc She didnt break the law, the police actually did when they assaulted her and lied about it. But we all know the SPD gets a 'free pass' to break the law, assault citizens and lie whenever they want. Ask the ghost of John Williams or the racial slur hate crime stomping victims.
 @cdc Poppycock. The city wouldn't learn any lessons if the taxpayer, of which I am onef, is footing the bill.
 @StringerJoe  @cdc This is a good point. FIRE DIAZ and FIRE MOST OF THE SPD, or this kind of crap will keep happening and taxpayers will foot the bill for both the victims lawsuits and the officers raises/paid vacations.
Another reason to wall off Seattle so only the liberals and gang members can hurt themselves.
Sad to think our tax dollars are funding the most vicious gang in the city.
The Seattle police just keep humiliating themselves...
This whole problem is so easy to resolve. Don't go to a riot, STAY HOME!
 @Toby T Moravec What part of "spent the day laying groundwork she hoped might lead to a new job" did you not understand? A person goes job-hunting, gets caught up in a protest march while walking on a downtown sidewalk in the late afternoon (3:30 PM) gets beaten up by police while simply trying to get out of their way, police deliberately lie under oath about the circumstances (which lies are revealed in video footage) and you say it is all HER fault??? Must believe in Easter Bunny!
Yes, break windows, burn garbage and steal stuff from Nordstroms. Typical Seattle attitude for criminals. That's some protest.Â
 @opout Are you attempting to accuse THIS woman of doing all that? Or is it your position that once SOMEBODY breaks a window somewhere, police then have a right and a duty to just grab folks at random and beat the cr.p out of them in retribution?
 @Toby T Moravec Nope, just sit right at home while rights continue to be violated.
 @Toby T Moravec Right. Don't exercise your first amendment. Ever. Give me a break!
I think its time to post good story's about the police. I would like to hear of positive story's. I know with all the negative story's of the police, people lose hope but if they are showed that their are good officers, maybe people will find hope in them again.Â
 @Just my say I've lived her in Seattle for 26 years and have had 4 occasions to speak with police. Two were good & two were terrible. I was not a subject of concern. Not a good ratio.
I don't know what you all saw in that video but I saw a riot in the making with a police officer instructing people to move along. Â I saw another woman in beige lean over more than once and appear to direct comments to that police officer. The man in front of that woman was moving along with his hands up showing he was attempting to not be a problem. The woman in beige leaned toward the officer and clearly said something and appeared to be reaching toward the officer. Â Now if she had to because it was so "chaotic" I wonder why the man in front of her did not. Â She easily could have been mouthing off, based upon her demeanor and actions prior to being dragged into the cordon. Â If she was so concerned about her job and life perhaps she should just go about her own business instead of ironically claiming a self-fulfilling prophecy. Â
@Jimmy Olsen  The last I heard, "mouthing off" is not an beat down offense. I guess in your bizarro world it is. If someone said some choice words to me and I beat them down, I would be up on charges. If Officer Fry can't let a few choice words roll off of her, then she is clearly unfit to be a LEO. Fire her and charge her with assault.
@scared_citizen please change your name to stupid citizen
@Common Sense And please add "Lack of" to the beginning of yours.
its almost getting funny now. so, just one or two bad apples, eh? that arguement was weak years ago and pathetic now.
Are there any honest cops left out there? It used to be a profession based in honor and service to the community. If any cops are reading this, why do you protect these criminals in blue that work alongside you?
@sizzalean are there any adults left in Seattle or is it just a bunch of gang bangers and criminals who don't think they have to listen?
 @Common Sense  @sizzalean "Listen"? To what? Are we the children and they the adults? They're supposed to be 'Peace Officers' and trained to react better than what I saw in that video.
 @sizzalean I think there are honest ones. I think there's just been too much pressure from their peers to do the right thing. Now the pressure is being put on by the citizens and should help the honest ones to become brave enough to speak out about the unnecessary violence by police.
Use to have 2 cousins that were city police. One was completely  honest and spoke out about the corruption, he lasted 3 years. The toher one was totally corrupt, he lasted almost 30 years.
People also need to understand that Washington has some of the best self defense laws in the nation, pretty good for being such a liberal state. If an officer hits you or even threatens bodily harm you have the constitutional right to use up to and including deadly force. Of course realistically, good luck trying to live long enough to go to trial. If they don't kill you during the arrest then it will probably happen some dark night while driving a car or such.
Eventually its going to break down to this if cops don't grow up.
@Blindman Im in law enforcement. You are wrong and giving bad advice. I know there are cops that go over the line, some because of lack of training, the first thing to go with a budget. Ive recently had the first training Ive seen in 3 years. Some immaturity, others an over-reaction either because they don't belong in this business or because some previous job related trauma, and others just thugs. But you are required to comply, and not doing so can result in force (obviously an over simplification I know but the best I can do with limited space). Best to comply completely then complain. Ive had a few complaints in my many years and some take eight months hanging over your head to sort. The system works, the person complaining just needs to stay on top of it so they don't get lost in the shuffle. There are so many B.S. complaints it sometimes slows the legit complaints.
@whatifafrog - I've served in law enforcement and you're oversimplifying the course of action a citizen can take. It's a joke! A good example is the thug that works for the KCSO that is a bully with a badge...at the least! You know, the one that charged the innocent man in the Metro tunnel and body slammed him into the wall. He hit his head and is now completely disabled! Not the officer's first offense of unnecessary force and is still on the job! KCSO and Seattle PD don't properly punish the criminals within their dept. Forget Internal affairs...they're a bunch of clowns! The command w/i these agencies need to make sure the officer's involved in assaults on citizens are arrested, charged and properly prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. Only then will these thugs within LE think twice before they assault,  lie, and/or cover up for peers!
 @Bob  @whatifafrog  Bob the KCSO pursed a man who was in a alley buying drugs (his buddy drove them for $60 from Edmonds to Belltown.....not a Metro Tunnel)  who was wrongly pointed out as a assault suspect who then took off running (due to the fact of just buying drugs) after running for 4 blocks and running out of gas and who never showed his hands to the deputy chasing him who feared that he had a weapon ......who proceeded to shove possible armed suspect out of officer safety. Terrible injuries happened to that man who ran but it all could of been avoided buy not buying drugs and not showing his hands and fleeing.  Bob for someone who served in law enforcement you sure mix up your facts.
@Bob are you talking the drug addict pointed out by another person as an assault suspect who ran while tossing his dope?
When I think about the Seattle Police Department and every last one of their pathetic souls, I get dry throw-up in my mouth.
The only thing more sad than a liar police officer is a stupid liar police officer.Â
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But they are public employees, and cannot be fired. If you or I had made false statements to police, we would go to jail. They, on the other hand, can file false police reports and pressure the DA to file charges and nothing will happen.Â
 Morales having spent that day laying ground work she hoped might lead to a new job joined a march against police brutality............was this new job rioter/protestor? I would love to hear her employers reason for her firing and not her lawyers. I wouldn't be surprised if she took off her EMT job to join the march.Â
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Second thing is she grabbed the handlebars of the officers bicycle.........whether on accident or purpose that is grounds for being tossed onto the ground. Officers routinely keep their large pepper spray canisters attached to their bikes. It is a weapon in the wrong hands.
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Morales was charged with 4th degree assault which is a misdemeanor.  (The allegations left Morales publicly shamed, out of work and broke from legal expenses)  Really you want me to believe on a day this woman was looking for other work, joined a march against police brutality and was charged with a misdemeanor you want me to think her life was ruined?   Sorry just another lawyer looking for a pay day
@lakeunion...please make sure you know what your talking about before you post a comment! No..it's not grounds to be tossed onto the ground for grabbing an officer's handlebars. I've been in law enforcement and had citizens grab my bike in a nonviolent way and just told them to keep their hands of my bike. Just because you wear a badge, doesn't mean you always have to take the aggressive/violent path! Also, have you watched the video and read the part where the prosecutor's office dismissed with PREJUDICE the charge against her. The police officer lied and then lied to investigators and the prosecutors office. Please make sure u have all your facts straight before you post a comment. Otherwise it makes you look foolish!
 @Bob Bob these officers have large mace canisters attached to their bikes.......it's similar to going after an officer's weapon. Major NO NO......You need to get your facts straight......probably the reason you "were" in law enforcement and no longer are needed.
 @lakeunion Look at that cops face. She was looking for a reason to attack somebody.Â
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I'm not sure if you've ever been in a crowd before, but it's easy to get pushed around. I'm willing to bet she put her hand on the handlebars as a reflex to keep from being knocked over. I disagree with you that this is reason to arrest somebody, especially in the brutal manner in which she was arrested.Â
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As for your first paragraph, you're offering PURE speculation, and it shows your obvious bias. Also, unless you're in favor of police brutality, I hardly see how attending a protest against police bruatlity can be framed in a negative light. She wasn't screaming at the cops in the video, and she wasn't throwing objects at them. It would be reasonable to assume she was just there to peacefully protest.
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I can't seem to reason out as to why you can't understand the negative impact that could be had on a persons life if they're plastered all over the media as a cop assaulter? Especially if you're an EMT (A professional who works closely with the police force) it would be reasonable to assume that it could have a VERY negative impact on your job.
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So my question to you is; are you an SPD officer, or is a member of your family/circle of friends a cop? I ask because you're obviously biased.
@MythAlpha @lakeunion Myth Alpha you are one to talk......where should we start? Your first comment starts off with "Look at that cops face. She was looking for a reason to attack somebody" She is looking out for her and her fellow officers safety if anything. You then accuse me of offering PURE speculation and I am showing obvious bias???? My only bias is with KOMO who only runs stories about police conduct after some money grubbing lawyer shows them onesided video and because it's an imflmmatory subject that gets dramatic headlines. I am not a cop of part of a family of cops. I live downtown and care about my city and these protestors caused a lot of damage to innocent businesses and threw bottles and tried using weapons against many of the police (hence why they were so defensive in the video) Here is a review of what happened those days as a reminder of the serious nature of crimes which did occur. . http://blogs.seattletimes.com/today/2012/05/may-day/
 @lakeunion "I wouldn't be surprised if she took off her EMT job to join the march." Really? Based on what, exactly?
@sims Laying ground work looking for new work really makes it seems like she cared deeply about her EMT job.
 @lakeunion generally EMTS have a code of conduct and are expected to follow the law to the T. An assault charge such as the one that she was accused of is not following the law, therefore gives her employer every right to fire her.
@Icy Misdemeanors do not get your fired from an EMT job.
@lakeunion what is your excuse for the lying officer?
@sizzalean Can you prove she lied? Because no audio of Morales saying those words is there doesn't mean it couldn't happen. If she did lie she should be brought up on charges.......as long as that could be proved one way or another.
 @lakeunion  @sizzalean I would assume it's in the police report.