[FOX 26] Fort Bend County Sheriff: Arrest of Former Texans Player Not Racially Motiva

http://www.myfoxhouston.com/myfox/p...n=2&locale=EN-US&layoutCode=TSTY&pageId=6.1.1

Attorney: Cook's fingerprints not on mar1juana container
Last Edited: Tuesday, 26 Aug 2008, 10:20 PM CDT
Created: Tuesday, 26 Aug 2008, 9:54 PM CDT


HOUSTON -- Fort Bend County Sheriff Milton Wright said the arrest of former Houston Texans fullback Jameel Cook last week was not racially motivated. Wright defended his agency and the officer involved after Cook's attorney suggested Monday his client's arrest may have been the result of racial profiling.

"Since I'm on camera I can't really express exactly what I think about that statement other than to say it's bull," Wright said in an interview with FOX 26 Sports."We don't tolerate it. Anybody that works for me, if they happen to get caught doing that, they're out of here."

Wright said the deputy who handled the arrest is Bruce Denney, a 21-year veteran of the force.

"His record is unblemished," Wright said. "He's a top guy and he's very cognizant of what's legal and what is not.

"I know him personally and he wouldn't do that."

Cook's attorney, Chip Lewis, said Cook, who was released Monday by the Texans, told him and the arresting deputy the mar1juana found in his car was not his.

"He don't know where it came from or how it got there," Wright said. "I guess maybe the good tooth fairy dropped it in there.

"I think it was in his console under his elbow. It would be hard for me to accept he didn't know whose it was."

Lewis had the Fort Bend County District Attorney's office check the container that held the mar1juana for Cook's fingerprints. Tuesday Lewis told FOX 26 Cook's fingerprints were not found on the container.

"This is huge," Lewis said. "If someone leaves mar1juana in your car and you are not aware of it, you are not guilty of possession of mar1juana."

Cook was originally stopped for no front license plate and expired registration. Lewis said the arresting deputy was never in front of the car to know that.

"I'm not so sure the attorney has his information straight," Wright said. "He had to have a reason to stop him number one and that reason I'm told was (an) expired registration sticker and no license plate."

Cook's attorney questioned why the camera in the deputy's car was not turned on until they reached the police station.

During the interview with Sheriff Wright he said his office was checking on that issue. A short time later Fort Bend County spokesperson, Terriann Carlson, told FOX 26 they have confirmed there is audio and video documentation of the stop and search.

Lewis said he was originally told there was no video of the scene.

Lewis complained, in the interview with FOX 26 Monday, that Cook was held for two hours in the police unit during a routine traffic stop.

"The reason for that being the deputy allowed him to make a phone call to make sure his children were taken care of," Wright said. "He also had a playbook in his vehicle which (the deputy) allowed another phone call to another Texans player to come pick the playbook up.

"So that's the reason for the length of time."

Chip Lewis said Cook was never ticketed for the reasons he was pulled over for in the first place.

"Why weren't other additional tickets issued?" Wright asked. "We normally go for what we feel is the most serious.

"However, if Mr. Cook likes we can go back and issue those citations if he wishes for us to do that.

"Our normal practice is not to do that."

 

...sorry about the last post...I didn't think it would cause THAT kind of commotion...

...I thought it and this article made interesting reading...I agree some of the comments on the other thread got out of hand...AND...I'll be the first to ask for this one to be taken down...if this one takes that route...I just wanted folks to go...hhhmmmmm....that's all...