The defense rests in day three of Webster trial
Thursday was day three of Corporal Thomas Webster’s trial in Delaware. The Dover police officer allegedly kicked a man in the face, breaking his jaw. It was all captured by a dash cam and now he’s being tried for second degree assault.
The proceedings ended for the day with the defense resting. A bombshell was dropped Thursday when Corporal Webster took the stand and said it was a “mistake” kicking Lateef Dickerson in the face. He said he meant to kick him in the upper torso.
The prosecution pointed out that Corporal Webster never mentioned this in his Use of Force report, or in his supplemental police report about the incident. In response, Webster said, “I put what I thought was pertinent to the incident.”
He explained that on the night of August 24th, 2013, he and the other responding officer were told Dickerson was armed. Corporal Webster said he was “deeply concerned” for the safety of himself, the other officer, and the public.
Corporal Webster continued to explain that Dickerson wasn’t responding to commands, so he kicked him as a defensive tactic. Use of force expert witness, Dr. Philip Hayden, said an intentional kick to the face is “excessive.” He didn’t believe Webster would purposefully do that.
However, Delaware State Police Corporal Rick Torrez didn’t see a problem with the kick. He’s a friend of Webster’s and is also a defense tactics teacher at the DSP training academy. Torrez said he would use the dash cam video in class as a teaching tool. He also noted that Webster’s kick reflected their training.
However, Torrez did find it problematic that Corporal Webster and the other responding officer didn’t search Dickerson once they placed him under arrest.
Torrez was the defenses’ last witness on Thursday. Once again, the courtroom was packed with onlookers. More and more folks began to show up in support of Lateef Dickerson saying “justice will be served.”
Bobby Wilson, says, “Yes I believe it’s going to be served. He had ten years of law enforcement experience. There’s no justification of his action for what took place that night.”
The state and defense will make their closing arguments on Friday and then the jury will deliberate. Local activists are asking the entire community to come out to support.
Enrico Stratton, a mentor with Men of Vision says, “It’s very important that the community stand against injustice the same way that the judicial system stands against injustice. Just because it’s an officer in the community, doesn’t give him any more right or leeway than an ordinary citizen.”
Proceedings will begin Friday at 9 a.m.
