Reader input:
Hi, we need some help getting our story our. We went to Valley Green Park on 7/31/11, parked at 500 W. Springfield Ave in Chestnut Hill and our car was vandalized. Rob was taken into custody for bogus charges (cops say they found drugs in the car in the same location where my wallet was stolen). We have a petition up on Change.org (Philadelphia: Where the victim goes to jail). Any help or coverage is greatly appreciated. Thank you.
OVERVIEW
Philadelphia: Where the victims go to jail!!
On July 31 2010, Rob DeMarco and I went for a walk at Valley Green Park in Chestnut Hill, and I parked my car in a parking lot at 500 W. Springfield Ave, Philadelphia PA 19118. We arrived back at my car about 2 hours later to find it had been vandalized. There were also 2 Philadelphia police officers waiting for us. My car door was damaged, window smashed, my wallet containing my ID, and several cards were stolen from the closed glove box, and my back seats had been set on fire!
The officers promptly asked who owns the car. Once I tell them I own the car, they tell me that they have to arrest me because illegal substances were found in a cigarette pack in my glove box. We did not have any illegal substances in my vehicle upon our arrival to the park and my cigarette pack was full of cigarettes. We tried to reason that my car was vandalized and my personal items were stolen from my glove box and this was not ours, but the officer tells me that either one of us or both of us are going to jail. Rob said he would go with the officers and was handcuffed and placed in the back of the car. We cooperated, figuring that this matter would be cleared up very quickly. He was never formally arrested, read his rights, nor were either one of us asked for a statement. Instead, Rob was locked in a holding cell overnight and released the following morning. Rob is now facing drug possession charges. If convicted, he may face incarceration and/or loss of his license.
I understand the police have a job to do and substance abuse is a serious crime. I have nothing but respect for the men and women who put their lives at risk for the safety of the public. However, in this case, I believe the officers used very poor judgment. All I received was a police report number written down on a piece of paper. I asked for names and badge numbers, and I was told it would all be on the report. I am writing this petition 2 days after these events and the reports are still unavailable.
I am asking for 14th District Captain Joel Dales to dismiss these charges. We are the victim of vandalism, theft, arson and now false charges!
Please call Captain Dales, Philadelphia 14th district at 215-686-3140, or email him at police.co_14@phila.gov