A former Fullerton police officer was charged on March 13, 2012 with destroying evidence. The evidence he destroyed was his department issued digital audio recorder and he destroyed the device after arresting a man on the suspicion of drunk driving (DUI.) the officer, Vincent Mater, 41, is facing two misdemeanor charges which could land him in county jail for one year. The person arrested for the Fullerton DUI committed suicide while in his holding.
Our Fullerton federal attorneys have handled many cases involving the misconduct of police officers and the law enforcement. These cases are generally categorized under the category of civil rights litigation and are referred to as 1983 cases. 1983 refers to the statute ( 42 USC 1983) which codified the law. We also handle criminal defense matters in Fullerton and the entire Orange County. Our Fullerton criminal law attorneys have handled hundreds and hundreds of cases at the North Justice Center and Mr. Fakhimi is a familiar face to the DAs and judges in that courthouse.
In all likelihood we will never know what the Fullerton PD officer destroyed the recorder and what was on it. However, it seems that many are fast to spectacle that there must have been some incriminating evidence and that it was probably related to the person that the officer had just arrested. Now that the officer is an accused I hope that he gets the same treatment that all defendants are supposed to get and that he is treated fairly and without prejudice or favoritisms. If it is established that he had somehow overstepped his bounds and had done something that caused the man to commit suicide, then considering the history of the department it would not surprise many in the industry if the man’s family pursues a 1983 claim against the department. If you feel that you have been subjected to a potential civil rights violation please contact our office for a free consultation.
Fakhimi & Associates is an Orange county law firm dedicated to defending those accused of federal and state criminal offenses as well as representing employees whose rights have been violated by employers.
