Records Altered, Court Rebukes Cop

JOB IN NORTH JERSEY WINS RELEASE IN COURT When Wharton Lafayette, 27, of 401 North Third street, told Police Judge Pancoast yesterday he was leaving for North Jersey to start working, Judge Pancoast gave him a suspended sentence on a disorderly conduct charge as a parting gift. Lafayette was arrested after an argument with two other men who lived at the Third street address. He was recently released from the county jail after serving 30 days on charges made by his wife. RECORDS ALTERED, COURT REBUKES COP Pancoast Angered Because Name of Youth Was Removed From Complaint Police should not consider themselves as judges, nor have they the privilege of mutilating records of the police court, Judge Pancoast said yesterday in rebuking Patrolman Charles Smith for altering a complaint and warrant. Smith, according to the testimony offered at the hearing of Leon Crank, 18, of 1469 Louis street; Ray Jenkins, 22, of 1220 Princess avenue, and Stanley Busko, 17, of 1187 Sycamore street, in a complaint charging them with loitering with intent to steal, and being suspicious characters. Smith arrested Crank and Jenkins, but scratched off the name of Busko on the complaint and warrant, Pancoast said. Smith said he pursued three youths in a car Wednesday and recognized Crank and Jenkins. He said he thought the other youth was Busko, but later came to the conclusion he had been mistaken in the identity. "It is not your place to judge persons you or any other person names in a complaint and warrant," Judge Pancoast said. "I'll make that decision. You arrest them and bring them in, and if they are innocent, I'll turn them loose. You are not to decide the innocence of anyone. Furthermore, you have no right to mutilate the records of this court. No official of this court is permitted to change any records and you are not going to do it." Pancoast found Crank and Jenkins not guilty and released them. Busko was not in court.

JOB IN NORTH JERSEY WINS RELEASE IN COURT When Wharton Lafayette, 27, of 401 North Third street, told Police Judge Pancoast yesterday he was leaving for North Jersey to start working, Judge Pancoast gave him a suspended sentence on a disorderly conduct charge as a parting gift. Lafayette was arrested after an argument with two other men who lived at the Third street address. He was recently released from the county jail after serving 30 days on charges made by his wife. RECORDS ALTERED, COURT REBUKES COP Pancoast Angered Because Name of Youth Was Removed From Complaint Police should not consider themselves as judges, nor have they the privilege of mutilating records of the police court, Judge Pancoast said yesterday in rebuking Patrolman Charles Smith for altering a complaint and warrant. Smith, according to the testimony offered at the hearing of Leon Crank, 18, of 1469 Louis street; Ray Jenkins, 22, of 1220 Princess avenue, and Stanley Busko, 17, of 1187 Sycamore street, in a complaint charging them with loitering with intent to steal, and being suspicious characters. Smith arrested Crank and Jenkins, but scratched off the name of Busko on the complaint and warrant, Pancoast said. Smith said he pursued three youths in a car Wednesday and recognized Crank and Jenkins. He said he thought the other youth was Busko, but later came to the conclusion he had been mistaken in the identity. "It is not your place to judge persons you or any other person names in a complaint and warrant," Judge Pancoast said. "I'll make that decision. You arrest them and bring them in, and if they are innocent, I'll turn them loose. You are not to decide the innocence of anyone. Furthermore, you have no right to mutilate the records of this court. No official of this court is permitted to change any records and you are not going to do it." Pancoast found Crank and Jenkins not guilty and released them. Busko was not in court.

RECORDS ALTERED, COURT REBUKES COP (continued) "...cision. You arrest them and bring them in, and if they are innocent, I'll turn them loose. You are not to decide the innocence of anyone. Furthermore, you have no right to mutilate the records of this court. No official of this court is permitted to change any records and you are not going to do it." Pancoast found Crank and Jenkins not guilty and released them. Busko was not in court.