Friday, July 11, 2008

UPDATE: Donyell Shanchell Car Chase

NEW ORLEANS

Mississippi River bridge police on Wednesday handed the Orleans Parish district attorney's office new video and audio footage of the aftermath of a high-speed pursuit of a New Orleans police officer.

Officer Donyell Sanchell was suspended after he allegedly led Crescent City Connection police on Saturday's chase. Authorities said he fled after being pulled over and later slapped a bridge police officer who followed him to his district station.

Sanchell was arraigned Tuesday in municipal court on two counts of battery and trial was set for Aug. 6. Sanchell also received citations for careless driving and hit-and-run.

The bridge police said they want an outside opinion on the appropriateness of municipal charges _ which carry lighter penalties _ against Sanchell.

Because Sanchell was cited with a municipal summons, he was not arrested and will not face state criminal charges. Had the bridge police pursued the more serious charge of simple battery on a police officer, Sanchell could have faced more severe penalties, including at least 15 days in jail if found guilty in criminal court.

The leniency has led some outside observers to question whether regular citizens would receive the same treatment in an altercation with an officer.

"I think any time a police officer gets struck by someone, the suspect is going to be charged with battery on a police officer," said Rafael Goyeneche, president of the Metropolitan Crime Commission, a watchdog group. "The fact that he was charged with simple battery is an indication that maybe a different standard was applied to Officer Sanchell."

New footage from Crescent City Connection Police Sgt. David Kramer, who was called to the police department's 1st District headquarters after the altercation, suggests that department officials kept the bridge police officers from apprehending Sanchell at district headquarters.

Additional discussions between the bridge police and department officials indicate that Sanchell was kept behind closed doors until officers with the department's Public Integrity Bureau arrived. The sound recording also indicates that officers moved Sanchell's truck before the investigation was completed.

"We have the material and we'll review it and make a decision on what to do after that," District Attorney Keva Landrum-Johnson said Wednesday.

Police spokesman Bob Young limited his comments on the incident, saying the department is conducting an internal investigation that will be submitted to Superintendent Warren Riley.

"After reviewing the incident, he will take the appropriate action," Young said.

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