Easter is over, Christ is risen and the never ending search for truth in the murky world of Saratoga politics continues…
John 13:38
Pilate said unto him, What is truth? And when he had said this, he went out again unto the Jews, and said unto them, I find in him no fault at all.
Today I ask that very question as I look into the civil rights and brutality case
TRAVIS NAJA, PLAINTIFF,
v.
THE CITY OF SARATOGA SPRINGS, AND PAUL M. VEITCH, INDIVIDUALLY AND HIS OFFICIAL CAPACITY AS A POLICE OFFICER OF THE CITY OF SARATOGA SPRINGS, DEFENDANTS
The following relevant facts are undisputed. On April 2, 2005, at a traffic stop, Naja was arrested for operating a motor vehicle with an expired registration, possessing marijuana, and possessing a firearm.
There’s only one small problem, all the charges against Naja were later dismissed.
Naja claimed the officer Paul Veitch among other things beat him, made up the charges and repeatedly called him a terrorist {Naja is of Middle East descent}.
The Lawsuit is HERE
So who is Paul Veitch? A member of the prominent local Veitch family that inhabit every city department{There is a local joke that the city charter states no meeting in the city can take place without a quorum and a Veitch while another says the Indian on the city seal is Chief Running Veitch}.
Veitch was a top earner in the Police department last year pulling in $99,086 and is also head of the powerful Police PBA the cops union.
Now I admit we have a pretty good police department but cops need supervision and too many of the departments commissioners have been public safety apologist, more interested in protecting the police and fireman than the public, as one recent comment on my blog said
Anonymous said...
In the last 10 years probably 3 million people have enjoyed themselves on Caroline Street. We've had 1 fatality and one "brawl".
In roughly that same time period, probably less then 300 people have been employed by public safety between Police and Fire. In that group, we've had a sex scandal with an assistant comissioner, an officer resign for stalking a girl on the clock and writing bogus tickets to his friends, an officer pay out a civil settlement stemming from allegations he handcuffed and beat a citizen, the chief of police suspended for photographing his cock at work, and sending it a woman, and a woman DIE under the supervision of the SSPD in their holding cell. Oh, hey, and we almost forgot the junkie fireman.
It seems to me the big, scary, place that needs fixing isn't Caroline Street, it's Lake Ave.
April 5, 2012 3:13 PM
Well said my friend. We also have a corn fed force of almost exclusively white guys from local families, it is one big white incestuous family. Enter some poor Middle Eastern guy driving down Broadway and Veitch sees a terrorist.
Now this is where things get interesting. These cases are almost impossible to win except of course if video of the beating shows up on YouTube and on paper it appears the City had the case dismissed, end of story.HERE
But thanks to you my readers who donate for my Pacer bills I found a document you were never supposed to know about.
Veitch secretly agreed to pay Naja $5000 and costs for him to settle and keep his mouth shut.
Full Document HERE.
So you tell me was the case really dismissed and Veitch was innocent or was the 5k paid to hide the truth?
Till next time if you’re pulled over keep your hands in plain sight and hopefully if you’re a little different looking you won’t be beaten and called a “terrorist”
and a footnote to Saratoga Citizen,I'm actively searching for info on all the main players and city manager wannabes. You know judgments,arrests, tax liens...
30 comments:
wow!! instead of callin em "saratoga's finest " maybe it shud be saratoga's "secret fines"
I wonder what this kinda crap does to the morale of people of Middle Eastern decent?
Paul is a real champion of the minorities, huh? He was the mouth piece of the "Hate Crime" allegations the DA said were unsuported in that Skidmore case.
Regarding tax info and such, The Saratoga Room at the public library is set up with a password for the Saratoga County Real Property database. You should be able to find everything you need there.
Let's see, Paul Veitch is now a Lieutenant, promoted since this incident.
Let's make him a Captain.
Wasn't there a case a year or two before that where Paul Veitch, Tom Sartin, and Mark Leffler all ducked out of having to pay a settlement because there was a paperwork snafu in a lawsuit filed against them.
David L. Cook v City of Saratoga et al.
Same idea though, judging from complaint. They arrested a guy, charges were quickly dismissed in the interest of justice. Booked him on weapons charges for owning a registered handgun after Cook made a 911 call or something like that I think.
I'm ok with the cops ruffin up an idiot with a gun, if your not a criminal you have nothing to worry about.
If he had a gun why were the charges dismissed?
the gun was a legally owned rifle.
Keep at it John! And while vetting all the Usual Suspects at "Saratoga Citizen," I would hope you demonstrate the same degree of diligence on the "records" of ALL the CURRENT Council and their Deputies. The dirt in City Hall certainly extends beyond your excellent exposés of the waste and fraud in DPW!!!
Believe the gun was also properly stored in the trunk of the vehicle.
I am Kyle
PS you came back clean
Leffler seems to have been a class act for DECADES
http://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1957&dat=20000125&id=DUVGAAAAIBAJ&sjid=--cMAAAAIBAJ&pg=2220,5947767
"I'm ok with the cops ruffin up an idiot with a gun, if your not a criminal you have nothing to worry about."....guess what buddy there are so many laws on the books.. that everyone could be a criminal if the police choose to enforce them..police now have the authority so to strip search anyone..even for a jay walking ticket...but to support a person being "ruffed up" because they own a legal gun is silly.
@9:43AM
Years ago I wondered how a supervisor at a temp job for a major employer in Schdy I was working at had gotten a promotion, when she clearly was getting rid of people who she viewed as a threat. A supervisor/friend
who had posted out to another department where I landed stated: People rise to their level of incompetency. Seems to be the case here with SSPD.
Judging from his appearance, Paul Veitch seems to also be responsible for numerous attacks on Apple Fritters. Although, to be clear, there is no legal paper trail to support those claims.
Yeah let's have a check done on council members such as Kyle York's best Bud John Franck. For instance how deep is he entrenched with Frank Parillo who is currently out there buying up anything on south broadway he can. Looks like the boys are ready to make a splash to build out that way. Matt Veitch and John Franck have spearheaded this drive. Hands in on this deal? Inquiring minds would love to know. Matt Veitch is Paul's brother.
Did he pay or did the taxpayers pay? Civil Rights claims are considered statuatory violations not covered by insurance.
Wow. You realize that cops don't arrest "criminals" by the way, they arrest innocent people who then face a judge/jury who decides if they're guilty or not.
The most disgusting part about this isn't just that it happened, and a "man" who abused the power given to him to harm innocent citizens got to keep his job, but the ENTIRE DEPARTMENT gave this their stamp of approval.
Veitch didn't just keep his job, he's been promoted. The same group of "Saratoga Finest" who were up in arms over the Ladies Room, or the City asking them to help us honor our flag, had NOTHING to say about this. Furthermore, he kept his position as President of the PBA. Why haven't there been calls for action by the PBA?
How many groups still take money from the PBA? Essentially, when you send in your $30 for a little decal you think will get you out of tickets, you are funding a terrorist organization. The definition of "Terrorism" is "The unlawful use or threatened use of force or violence by a person or an organized group against people or property". Judging from the complaint, and Veitch's willingness to pay money to the man making that statement, it seems that's exactly what happened here. Worse yet, our PBA seems to be perfectly fine with it all.
If you got the cash, South Broadway is a great place to invest. Just watch what happens once the Railroad Place development ceases in a year. Development moves from source to sink...
The biggest street gang in The United States!
The boys in blue, stick together like glue, and make lies come true
Move that south broadway trailer park the efff outta the city, bunch of mental patients back there
The PBA President Veitch refused to use local printers for their fundraiser. I heard the news about that and it makes me wonder where they think that their paychecks come from. Out of town?
Well.... many of them don't live in Saratoga, so their paychecks DO come from out of THEIR town...
City officials in on South Broadway development. That's great! No conflict of interest there. I guess its who you blow.
Before anyone casts judgement on Paul Veitch in this story, I HIGHLY suggest an inquiry into the past, record, and reputation of Travis Naja. Anyone who's known him knows to watch their step around him.
Think about it. Gambling expansion. Need certain amenities (bring in hotels, etc). Make the deals now. South Broadway needs to look nicer and have the infrastructure (sewer lines, sidewalks) so that Saratoga gets the expansion
@11:58 pm - so you're saying that DA is simply turning horrible criminals lose onto the streets, without even trying to get a conviction? If this is the case, why didn't the PBA have an issue with it they way they did the ladies rooms and the Flag Day parade?
According to the FACTS everything Veitch accused Naja of was dismissed. This seems to be becoming the norm, rather then the exception of late. The SSPD gets something in their head, or has a personal bone to pick with an individual or group, they file a bunch of charges, and none, or at best few minimal charges (violations) stick.
I can't say I know everything about Travis Naja's history, but I certainly have seen plenty of PUBLISHED accounts of the SSPD of late, and nothing I have seen gives me much faith in the SSPD's credibility.
It comes back to the simple idea that respect needs to be earned, not given. When the SSPD can conduct themselves in a respectable and professional manner perhaps their opinions will carry begin to carry more weight. In the meantime, the SSPD needs to worry about enforcing the laws on the books, and handling themselves in accordance with those laws.
Wow- you make Naja look so innocent, and a part of a hate crime- LOL. That poor half- Lebanese man, driving at 3AM in the morning with pot in his car and a gun in the trunk. Yep, it sounds like he is the victim, and you know SO much about this victim. Way to blast the city of Saratoga with your opinions- and not even knowing the facts of who you are protecting. AMAZING blogging.
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