Former Philadelphia Cop Who Punched Woman in Face Found Not Guilty [Video]

[kcchiefs6465]

PHILADELPHIA - February 26, 2013 (WPVI)

The former Philadelphia Police lieutenant, who was on trial for punching a woman in an incident that was caught on video, has been found not guilty.

The verdict was handed down Tuesday morning. It was a bench trial for Jonathan Josey, which means the ruling was solely up to the judge.

Judge Patrick Dugan said the short video clip "didn't tell the whole story." Dugan said the video was disturbing, but blamed the media for sensationalizing the incident and playing it 'a thousand times.' He said the incident was part of a volatile, fast-paced situation - not a slow motion video.

Josey broke down in tears as the courtroom, packed with police officers, erupted in applause

Action News has learned that Josey will likely seek reinstatement to the Philadelphia Police Department.

"I respect Judge Dugan's decision but I disagree with it," said District Attorney Seth Williams in a statement. "While I believe Jonathan Josey was guilty of simple assault this is not the time to dwell on that and I hope as a community we can move past this."

Josey was accused of striking 39-year-old Aida Guzman in the face at 5th and Lehigh in North Philadelphia after the Puerto Rican Day Parade back on September 30th.

The incident was captured on video and posted on the internet, leading to a firestorm of protest from community and political leaders, who said Josey used excessive force.

Within days, Josey was dismissed from the police department. He had been charged with simple assault, a second degree misdemeanor.

On the witness stand earlier this month, Josey was near tears while telling the judge he swung at Guzman to knock a beer bottle out of her hand, and he wasn't trying to hurt her. He said he and other officers were hit with beer from behind and, each time he turned to see who did it, he saw Guzman jumping up and down.

Josey conceded he never saw Guzman throw beer.

Guzman was arrested that day but charges against her were later dropped



http://abclocal.go.com/wpvi/story?section=news/local&id=9007746

Video of the incident.




Just-us has been served.

 

[kathy88]

I get enraged every time I watch that. FUCK YOU JUDGE.

 

[jkr]

THUGEZ & JUDGEZ

 

[HOLLYWOOD]

THIS... should be proof that it's the 'JUST-US' system of American .gov.


Rule of Law in America? ...HAH!

 

[Brian4Liberty]

Dugan said the video was disturbing, but blamed the media for sensationalizing the incident and playing it 'a thousand times.'

Playing the video too many times changes the fact that the cop hit the woman in the mouth?

Lol. This guy is a Judge? Time for a recall.

 

[kcchiefs6465]

When watching the video notice the other cops standing around. They see what he did, yet they look away and mind their own business.
ETA: Or stop bystanders from coming to the woman's aid.

Josey broke down in tears as the courtroom, packed with police officers, erupted in applause

Disgusting.

 

[GunnyFreedom]

Unless you want your head to explode, don't go read the comments on the article.

 

[AGRP]

There are so many blatantly wrong things with this.

 

[kcchiefs6465]

Unless you want your head to explode, don't go read the comments on the article.

Wow. They edited the story. I copied and pasted the whole thing and now there are sections like

"We're thrilled that the verdict that was rendered in this case, and I'm sure Jon Josey is looking forward to getting back to work and doing what he does best, which is to protect and serve the people of Philadelphia," said Josey's lawyer, Fortunato Perri, Jr.

and

"Being a cop in this city is something I've wanted to do since I was five years old. There's nothing else I've wanted to do," Josey said after court. "In my future, I plan on retiring when I want to retire."

and

On the witness stand earlier this month, Josey was near tears while telling the judge he swung at Guzman to knock a beer bottle out of her hand, and he wasn't trying to hurt her. He said he and other officers were hit with beer from behind and, each time he turned to see who did it, he saw Guzman jumping up and down.

ETA: Apparently they felt there weren't enough cop apologist attitudes with just the Judge's statement.

And the comments are sad.

 

[TheTexan]

Dude the cop was obviously trying to knock a beer out of her hand. The cop said so. It was an accident.

You guys try putting your life on the line every day of the week and tell me you won't ever accidentally hit someone in the mouth. It happens.

That cop has a hard enough job as it is keeping everyone safe without people's faces getting in his way of his fist.

 

[TonySutton]

AND now the question stands "What fucking right did he have to knock a beer out of her hand?" NONE! Still a GUILTY bastard.

For the record I was stationed north of Philly for 3.5 years and absolutely HATE Philly cops even though I personally never had a confrontation with them. I did however see how they act towards people they encounter and it is unprofessional at best, criminal in many cases.

 

[kcchiefs6465]

Dude the cop was obviously trying to knock a beer out of her hand. The cop said so. It was an accident.

You guys try putting your life on the line every day of the week and tell me you won't ever accidentally hit someone in the mouth. It happens.

That cop has a hard enough job as it is keeping everyone safe without people's faces getting in his way of his fist.

Is that a comment from the article?

Seriously though, some people are fucking dumb.

 

[TheTexan]

Is that a comment from the article?

Seriously though, some people are fucking dumb.

No, that's my opinion. You guys are overreacting. So many cop haters in this thread.

It's clear from the video that she made menacing movements giving him reason to believe she was culpable for the ASSAULT on his person.

 

[Acala]

She still could bring a civil action where the standard of proof is lower. Remember that in this criminal case the prosecution bears the burden of proof beyond a reasonable doubt - including doubt about what he intended to do. It is actually a miracle that he was even prosecuted. He certainly would NOT have been but for the video.

 

[VBRonPaulFan]

what a huge, steaming pile of shit. a cop turning around, casually walking up to a woman, and decking her in the face IS NEVER ACCEPTABLE OR APPROPRIATE BEHAVIOR!

 

[GunnyFreedom]

No, that's my opinion. You guys are overreacting. So many cop haters in this thread.

It's clear from the video that she made menacing movements giving him reason to believe she was culpable for the ASSAULT on his person.

Um, no, it's not 'cop-hating' it's "Constitution respecting."

If you or I had done the same thing we'd be rotting in jail.

Article 4 Section 4 of the US Constitution guaranteeing to the States a 'republican form of government' means that ALL citizens are held to an equal standard of law. That means the pauper, the plumber, and the President are held equal under the law. That is the fundamental premise of America full-stop. When the police or anybody are held to a looser standard of law, they are in direct violation of the US Constitution Art4§4, and in blatant violation of the fundamental premise of American liberty.

This has nothing to do with 'hating cops' and you can stop spewing that propaganda right now. One of my best friends is a Constable in New Mexico, and I am close with more than one LEO in NC. This has to do with OBEYING THE CONSTITUTION. A concept that seems to evade your grasp.

 

[TheTexan]

what a huge, steaming pile of shit. a cop turning around, casually walking up to a woman, and decking her in the face IS NEVER ACCEPTABLE OR APPROPRIATE BEHAVIOR!

He was clearly assaulted. He acted in self defense. He also didn't intentionally hit that woman, but merely tried to knock a beer out of her hand. It's not his fault that her face got in the way.

 

[MoneyWhereMyMouthIs2]

Um, no, it's not 'cop-hating' it's "Constitution respecting."

If you or I had done the same thing we'd be rotting in jail.

I think your goat is being gotten here.

"We're thrilled that the verdict that was rendered in this case, and I'm sure Jon Josey is looking forward to getting back to work and doing what he does best, which is to protect and serve the people of Philadelphia," said Josey's lawyer, Fortunato Perri, Jr.

We're thrilled that the verdict that was rendered in this case, and I'm sure Jon Josey is looking forward to getting back to work and doing what he does best, which is to beat mutherfuckers down whenever he feels like it, including defenseless women.

 

[TheTexan]

Um, no, it's not 'cop-hating' it's "Constitution respecting."

If you or I had done the same thing we'd be rotting in jail.

Article 4 Section 4 of the US Constitution guaranteeing to the States a 'republican form of government' means that ALL citizens are held to an equal standard of law. That means the pauper, the plumber, and the President are held equal under the law. That is the fundamental premise of America full-stop. When the police or anybody are held to a looser standard of law, they are in direct violation of the US Constitution Art4§4, and in blatant violation of the fundamental premise of American liberty.

If that cop had assaulted the woman I would agree with you 100% but that's not how it went down. The cop was assaulted, not the woman.

The video doesn't exactly make that clear, but based on the cops testimony that's exactly what happened.

 

[GunnyFreedom]

He was clearly assaulted. He acted in self defense. He also didn't intentionally hit that woman, but merely tried to knock a beer out of her hand. It's not his fault that her face got in the way.

what...I don't even....

do you seriously think like that?

I'm frankly horrified. I'm not exaggerating one iota. Completely horrified.

So, Joe-Bob slings some water at me but you are the first face I see, so I'm right to beat the snot out of you?

And his hand never went near a beer bottle, and if that's what he wanted to do it would have been an open hand swiping AWAY not a fist punching IN.

"It's not his fault that her face got in the way."

Lord Jesus help this poor damned country. Our own citizens are carrying us down the road to 1939 Germany just as fast as they can truck it.