This might be old news (2008), but let’s not forget about Angela Garbarino. Angela was arrested for DWI and booked by Shreveport Police Officer Wiley Willis. She admitted to being unruly and trying to leave the room, but as soon as Willis turned the camera off Garbarino was beaten badly.
The story was covered by CBS, ABC, and Inside Edition. According to the cop, she “fell and injured herself”. Yeah, sure she did.
Apparently, Willis was fired, but the Shreveport Municipal Fire and Police Civil Service Board reinstated him. I’m not sure what has been done about Willis since that time.
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Quoted from Shreveport Times:
Board reinstates Willis, says city violated his rights
Panel says Shreveport violated Wiley Willis’ rights
By Loresha Wilson • ljwilson@gannett.com • August 13, 2009
The Shreveport Municipal Fire and Police Civil Service Board’s seven members made the ruling Wednesday in the case known nationally for video footage of the handcuffed woman lying in a pool of her blood in a police interrogation room.
The ruling means Wiley Willis can return to duty once his in-service and firearm requirements are met.
“He’ll get a year and a half of back pay, benefits, retirement, everything,” said Michael Carter, president of the Shreveport police officers union. And as far as he knows, Carter added, Willis intends to continue working for the Shreveport Police Department.
The Civil Service Board ruled that Willis’ rights, under the Police Officer Bill of Rights, were violated because an expert failed to record a polygraph examination Willis took as part of the Police Department’s investigation into Garbarino’s injuries, including a broken nose.
Shreveport Police Chief Henry Whitehorn called the panel’s finding a technicality and said he is “disappointed with the board’s ruling.” The police chief said he is moving forward with the city’s legal department to pursue an appeal.
“This is not a technicality, this is the law — the Police Bill of Rights,” Michael Carter, president of the Shreveport police officers union, said after a news conference Wednesday evening.
Carter also said Willis was fired for failing to administer first aid — a detail the Police Department never has released and would not confirm. Carter pointed out that police officers haven’t been trained in first aid since 1996 and are not equipped with any type of medical supplies.
Wayne Nissen, who administered the polygraph, testified before the board that he was aware the Police Department was investigating Willis’ actions. He said he wasn’t given a line of questions to ask during the exam but was told to ask questions about the night of Garbarino’s arrest.
However, Nissen said, he was unaware of the Police Officer Bill of Rights, which provides a certain level of protection for officers during investigations and personnel matters.
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“Officer” Wiley Willis is nothing more than a pathetic example of a woman beater. We all know that Angela was beaten by Willis; but, no one in our society cares about that. We just keep making excuses for his assault about how she tried to leave the room. I don’t care if she jumped up and started singing Yankee Doodle Dandee, no one has the right to hit, beat, squeeze, or cause pain to someone who is in handcuffs. It’s really tough to beat up a woman, Wiley. Especially, a defenseless woman in handcuffs. You should be proud.
Wiley Willis should not receive anything but jail time. The man was only an officer for 4 years and had several complaints while on the job. He hit a man in the head with his gun and threatened a 12 year old boy on a scooter. Definitely not the kind of my I want serving my community. He needs some anger management classes before he can be an active member of society. I don’t even feel safe knowing that he is allowed to be on the streets in Shreveport/Bossier City. There is no doubt in my mind that he beat Angie on that night. Even if she did attempt to leave the room again for a phone call, she was already in handcuffs, so he should have easily been able to restrain her. He should have never turned off the cameras and he should have asked for another officers assistance. Those two things would have prevented this whole situation and told the true story of what happened that night. I am just glad that Angie has remained positive and was able to move past this. She is a wonderful contributor to her local community, a great wife, a great mother, and I wish her and her family all the best.
Hmm – you know it would be interesting to get Angela’s take on the situation after a couple of years. How has it affected her? Did it change her view on life? On the police?
I’ve seen several videos of people trying to walk away from police officers. It would piss any police officer off. If you have committed a crime or are suspected of convicted a crime, don’t try to escape the police. Police need to be given communication classes, however. He should have told her exactly when she would get her phone call. It sounds like he was supposed to administer a chemical test for DWI except she was unwilling. She hit two parked cars and a light pole. I read that. Is it false? If not, it would explain some of her injuries. He clearly did beat her up so she was lying in a pool of blood, but it never would have happened if she hadn’t disrespected an officer and kept trying to leave the room. She shouldn’t have gotten so beaten up she was lying in a pool of blood, but he clearly was justified in using force in the video to keep her from repeatedly trying to leave the room. Jeez. After the first time he had prevented her from leaving, she should have stopped trying to leave. This officer does have issues, but I don’t feel that sorry for this woman. Sit down. Shut up. Answer the questions.
@LSK You’re kidding me right?
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It would piss any police officer off.
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So what. That does not give them any right to use force – just because they are pissed off. They are supposed to be professionals who are trained and paid to handle these types of situations.
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If you have committed a crime or are suspected of convicted a crime, don’t try to escape the police.
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You are convicted at a trial – not by the police.
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If not, it would explain some of her injuries.
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Did you watch the video? You can plainly see her physical condition before and after the assault and battery.
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he clearly was justified in using force in the video to keep her from repeatedly trying to leave the room.
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Ummm – no. He was justified in using restraint and calling for assistance. Neither of which he did.
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Sit down. Shut up. Answer the questions.
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And don’t forget the old phrase: “Papers please!”