The woman, who can only be described as a “Karen,” was hell bent on using police force to implement her will.
Court Blocks Body Cam of Cops Beating Veteran and His Service Dog As it May Harm Cop’s ‘Reputation’
Matt Agorist with The Free Thought Project reports:
Gastonia, NC — Joshua Rohrer is an honorably discharged Army veteran who, like tens of thousands of other veterans, is suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) after serving in Afghanistan. As a result of his illness, Rohrer hasn’t been able to hold down a job and is homeless. As panhandling is illegal in the city, Rohrer simply sits on the street and waves to folks as they walk by — which ended in October with a violent encounter with police. Now, three months later and Rohrer is trying to prove his innocence, but the city is blocking the release of body camera footage.
Why? ”Its release may harm the reputation or jeopardize the safety of a person,” among other things.
Last week, Superior Court Judge Stephan Furtrell denied the release of the body camera footage citing the following reasons.
- The recording contains information that is otherwise confidential or exempt from disclosure or release under state or federal law.
- Release would reveal information regarding a person that is of a highly sensitive personal nature.
- Release may harm the reputation or jeopardize the safety of a person.
- Release would create a series threat to the fair, impartial, and orderly administration of justice.
- Confidentiality is necessary to protect either an active or inactive internal or criminal investigation or potential internal or criminal investigation.
On October 13, Rohrer was doing what he normally did every day and was sitting at the intersection of Cox Road and Gaston Mall Drive around 6:30 p.m. with his dog. When a “concerned citizen” drove by and noticed Rohrer and his dog, she called police to report the homeless veteran for begging for money, and “using his service dog for sympathy.”
“Is it legal for these adults to be standing on the intersection with a dog asking for money?” the caller asked, according to the recently released phone records. The woman, who can only be described as a “Karen,” was hell bent on using police force to implement her will.
A homeless veteran who was chewed up and spit out by the system he dedicated his life to support, was so offensive to the caller that she demanded police remove him.
“There has got to be something somebody can do about this,” the caller said. “This is bullcrap that they’re using this poor animal!”
“How are they using the dog to get money?” the dispatcher asked.
“Okay, well that’s putting two and two together,” the caller responded. “They’re using this dog to make people feel sorry for them to give them money.”
The dog was not being exploited at all by Rohrer. The dog, Sunshine, was Rohrer’s service animal to help him cope with his PTSD. However, thanks to the caller, who used police as a weapon against Rohrer, Sunshine is now dead.
Sunshine was placed with Rohrer’s Veterans Affairs advocate, who was taking care of her while Rohrer was in jail, but she got loose and got hit by a car.
