Policing Accountability

U.S. District Judge Ana Reyes ruled that D.C. police illegally seized a gun from Deandre Davis during a May 19 stop outside a laundromat and barred prosecutors from using the firearm as evidence, sharply criticizing DOJ for relying on Metropolitan Police Investigator Harvy Hinostroza, whose testimony other judges have discredited. Reyes said she did not believe key portions of Hinostroza’s account, noted prior credibility findings against him, and warned she will consider dismissing the case if the U.S. Attorney’s Office does not drop charges within 30 days; U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro defended the case, citing video she says backs officers’ accounts.