In Memphis last summer, several incidents allegedly involving Memphis Grizzlies basketball star Ja Morant were mishandled by police, according to a Washington Post report. In one incident, a 17-year-old basketball player alleged that Morant punched him repeatedly during a fight on a basketball court. Despite the seriousness of the accusation, police failed to interview any witnesses or Morant's best friend who also allegedly punched the teenager. By October 2020, prosecutors quietly shelved the case due to a lack of evidence.
In two other incidents, police reportedly neglected to interview key witnesses or follow up on leads. One involved a shoe salesman who reported being threatened by Morant, while another involved an associate of Morant's allegedly threatening teenagers at a high school volleyball game. In both cases, police reportedly failed to follow up adequately or identify suspects.
The shoe salesman, Givon Busby, alleged that Morant threatened him and left him cowering in the back of the store for nearly an hour. However, police did not list Morant as a suspect and recorded his mother's name as "unknown," shielding both from public scrutiny.
In another incident, the 17-year-old basketball player, Joshua Holloway, said he had idolized Morant, but the star attacked him after he threw a ball that hit him in the chin. Holloway said Morant kept hitting him even after he fell to the ground. He filed a lawsuit against Morant and his friend, Davonte Pack, in September 2020. Morant and Pack's lawyers called the lawsuit a "shakedown."
In all three incidents, police in multiple departments allegedly failed to ask basic questions or interview key witnesses, and didn't follow up with alleged victims. The mishandling of the cases raises questions about the culture of police departments in Memphis and how they handle cases involving high-profile individuals.
No comments:
Post a Comment