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CNN Live At Daybreak
Mistreatment Denied in Michael Jackson Case
Aired January 01, 2004 - 06:07 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: A new twist to the twist Michael Jackson threw at the Santa Barbara County Sheriff's Department. Remember those allegations of police mishandling? Well, deputies not only deny it ever happened, but may press charges against Jackson for making a false report.
Here's CNN's Miguel Marquez.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
MIGUEL MARQUEZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Michael Jackson into the hands of detectives on the day of his arrest, the day Jackson claims he was manhandled.
SHERIFF JIM ANDERSON, SANTA BARBARA, COUNTY, CALIFORNIA: He was in no way manhandled or abused. His treatment by this department can only be described as professional. I'm shocked and troubled by his allegations.
MARQUEZ: So shocked and troubled the sheriff released video and audio tapes taken by his department the day Jackson was arrested.
ANDERSON: On two separate occasions during the transport to the jail, the arresting officer asked Mr. Jackson how he was doing. On the first occasion, Mr. Jackson responded by saying that he was fine. When he was asked the second time, he responded by saying he was wonderful. He was also whistling and singing to himself during transport.
MARQUEZ: The sheriff says he considers Jackson's claims to be a formal citizen's complaint, and has asked the California attorney general's office to investigate.
He also says if the claims are proved false, Jackson will have another problem.
ANDERSON: I will request the criminal charges of false report of peace officer misconduct be pursued against him.
MARQUEZ: Sheriff Anderson says Jackson seriously hurt his credibility, but Jackson's attorney, Mark Geragos, in a statement says it's the sheriff who has a credibility problem, and -- quote -- "will ask that the entire case from its inception be investigated by the attorney general's office."
One legal analyst says credibility will play a big part in the case. CHRISTOPHER DARDEN, LEGAL ANALYST: If he has filed a false allegation, then certainly that undermines his credibility. And jurors are not likely to forget those false charges.
MARQUEZ: Those friendly to Jackson say if this is an issue of credibility, the Santa Barbara sheriff should release more than six and a half minutes of tape.
NAJEE ALI, JACKSON SUPPORTER: Michael was not taped the whole time while he was in custody. So, we want to know what happened when the cameras and the tapes were not on.
MARQUEZ: California's attorney general, Bill Lockyer, said an investigation is under way into whether or not Michael Jackson's rights were violated. How long it would take he wouldn't say, but he did say when it's finished, the results will be made public.
Miguel Marquez, CNN, Santa Barbara, California.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com.
Aired January 1, 2004 - 06:07 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: A new twist to the twist Michael Jackson threw at the Santa Barbara County Sheriff's Department. Remember those allegations of police mishandling? Well, deputies not only deny it ever happened, but may press charges against Jackson for making a false report.
Here's CNN's Miguel Marquez.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
MIGUEL MARQUEZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Michael Jackson into the hands of detectives on the day of his arrest, the day Jackson claims he was manhandled.
SHERIFF JIM ANDERSON, SANTA BARBARA, COUNTY, CALIFORNIA: He was in no way manhandled or abused. His treatment by this department can only be described as professional. I'm shocked and troubled by his allegations.
MARQUEZ: So shocked and troubled the sheriff released video and audio tapes taken by his department the day Jackson was arrested.
ANDERSON: On two separate occasions during the transport to the jail, the arresting officer asked Mr. Jackson how he was doing. On the first occasion, Mr. Jackson responded by saying that he was fine. When he was asked the second time, he responded by saying he was wonderful. He was also whistling and singing to himself during transport.
MARQUEZ: The sheriff says he considers Jackson's claims to be a formal citizen's complaint, and has asked the California attorney general's office to investigate.
He also says if the claims are proved false, Jackson will have another problem.
ANDERSON: I will request the criminal charges of false report of peace officer misconduct be pursued against him.
MARQUEZ: Sheriff Anderson says Jackson seriously hurt his credibility, but Jackson's attorney, Mark Geragos, in a statement says it's the sheriff who has a credibility problem, and -- quote -- "will ask that the entire case from its inception be investigated by the attorney general's office."
One legal analyst says credibility will play a big part in the case. CHRISTOPHER DARDEN, LEGAL ANALYST: If he has filed a false allegation, then certainly that undermines his credibility. And jurors are not likely to forget those false charges.
MARQUEZ: Those friendly to Jackson say if this is an issue of credibility, the Santa Barbara sheriff should release more than six and a half minutes of tape.
NAJEE ALI, JACKSON SUPPORTER: Michael was not taped the whole time while he was in custody. So, we want to know what happened when the cameras and the tapes were not on.
MARQUEZ: California's attorney general, Bill Lockyer, said an investigation is under way into whether or not Michael Jackson's rights were violated. How long it would take he wouldn't say, but he did say when it's finished, the results will be made public.
Miguel Marquez, CNN, Santa Barbara, California.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com.
