Western Massachusetts Copwatch

Western Mass. Copwatch is outraged but not surprised that Holyoke police officers Sean Shattuck and Joseph Wilson have been cleared of all charges stemming from the December 18, 2007 incident that landed 23-year-old Holyoke resident Christopher Martinez in the hospital ER with a smashed-up face. Now that these armed and dangerous thugs in blue are just about back out on the streets, it’s just a matter of time until they and their gang hurt someone else — or worse. And the odds are pretty high it won’t be a white person.

As for The Republican’s sloppy, one-sided coverage of the trial (story below the cut), we ask: whatever happened to fair and balanced reporting? Don’t bother answering; we already know that, like most mainstream “news” media, Hampden County’s top rag is merely a mouthpiece for the police and the criminal injustice system they uphold– whether in uniform or not. Not mentioned once is the fact that besides being a college graduate, Martinez is currently serving active duty in the U.S. military. And, he has no criminal record.

Copwatch has been in touch with Martinez and his family and will be reporting soon on their version of what happened outside Pal Joey’s and inside the courtroom. Stay tuned.

Holyoke officers acquitted

PALMER - Two Holyoke police officers on trial for beating up a man while off duty were found innocent of all charges yesterday.

“I’m thrilled,” said Aaron W. Wilson, the lawyer for one of the accused officers, his son, Joseph H. Wilson. “It’s been a horrible five months.”

Several spectators cried tears of joy when the verdict was read in the main courtroom at Palmer District Court, bringing to an end the five-day trial for officers Wilson and Sean C. Shattuck.

Moments later, a crowd of police officers, relatives and friends cheered and hugged Shattuck and Wilson as they left the courtroom after the verdict was announced at 3 p.m.

The two officers were on trial for assault and battery in connection with an incident inside and outside a Holyoke bar on Dec. 18. More serious charges of assault and battery with a dangerous weapon were dropped on May 27.

Wilson and Shattuck declined to comment on the decision. But Shattuck’s lawyer, Charles E. Dolan, said afterward, “I’m still appalled, totally amazed … that this case ended up in court.”

Aaron Wilson added that his son and Shattuck “feel betrayed by the chief,” meaning Holyoke Police Chief Anthony R. Scott.

Officer James W. Albert, who works in the detective bureau, testified on Thursday that Scott ordered him to issue criminal complaints on Jan. 18 against the two officers before the investigation of the Dec. 18 incident was complete.

Albert also testified he had not interviewed Shattuck or Wilson before issuing complaints against the two officers.

Scott could not be reached yesterday for a comment on the verdict or when the officers will return to work. The two officers have been suspended with pay since the incident.

In December, Scott said he had contacted the district attorney’s office and the FBI to participate in the investigation, saying, “I didn’t want anyone to say it was swept under the rug.”

The trial was filled with conflicting testimony about what happened Dec. 18 at around 1:30 a.m. outside Pal Joey’s bar at 2229 Northampton St.

Assistant District Attorney M. Colleen Martin referred to such differing versions of events during her closing argument.

“Look through the smoke and mirrors at the real Mr. Martinez,” Martin said, referring to Christopher Martinez, the man who claimed Shattuck and Wilson beat him up. Martin described Martinez as an upstanding, college graduate.

But Dolan and Aaron Wilson described Martinez as a violent man who often gets into altercations at bars. They also claimed during their closing arguments Martinez lied in court about what happened that night.

“The evidence cries out for not guilty,” Dolan said.

Aaron Wilson agreed, citing 20 examples which he said raise doubts about his son’s and Shattuck’s involvement in the incident. “They all add up to one big not guilty,” said Aaron Wilson.

Examples cited by Aaron Wilson included testimony by Martinez last week that Shattuck put Martinez in a head lock with his left arm even though Shattuck is left handed.

Aaron Wilson also cited an apparent 30 minute gap between when Martinez was taken by a friend from the bar to Holyoke Medical Center for treatment. Martinez testified there was no time gap. Aaron Wilson insisted there was based on other testimony.

During the disputed time gap, Aaron Wilson said he believes Martinez was beaten up more by friends to lay the foundation for a lawsuit against the officers.

Martinez, 23, of 65 Farnum Road, testified last week he was beaten up by the officers inside and outside the bar.

Officers Wilson and Shattuck, who both testified yesterday, described a very different scenario, in which they and fellow off-duty officer Timothy D. Skwira, who was not charged, tried to calm a volatile situation created by Martinez and his friend, Gilberto Rivera, 22, of 95 Newton St.

“He was a mad man that kept coming towards us,” Officer Wilson testified yesterday, referring to Martinez.

“Martinez was screaming at us that he was so strong, he was on steroids and kept walking towards us,” Shattuck said.