Parents question the rush to judgment in son’s death

Globe — Monday night’s Globe Council meeting was set to be a 15-minute meeting that dealt with approving three resolutions and two ordinances, but the call to the public became the focus.

Brad Johnson, the father of young Scott Johnson who was stabbed to death Sept. 18, 2010, spoke of the loss of his son and questioned all law enforcement agencies involved as to why there was a rush to judgment by local authorities.

Following Johnson was Bill De la Torre, a private investigator who works in the Valley but was raised in Globe. He outlined what he has found, and after finding such, requested a meeting with new Police Chief Kinnard.

He requested a question and answer session but as Chief Kinnard led him into the room, he was met by a contingent of legal personnel, including County Attorney Daisy Flores and one of her deputies, two police officers, the city manager at the time, who was also the city attorney, and two tape recorders.

As De la Torre and Johnson spoke, ABC’s Channel 15 out of Phoenix was there recording the proceedings on camera.

None of De la Torre’s or Johnson’s questions were answered as under the call to public guidelines, “pursuant to the Arizona Open Meeting Law, the City Council cannot discuss or act on items presented at that time. At the conclusion of the call to the public, individual city council members may. . .ask staff to review a matter, or ask that a matter be put on a future agenda.”

The council chose to do neither and simply moved to adjourn.



For the complete article see the 07-25-2012 issue.

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