20080806 Calvo’s Counsel’s statement

20080806 Calvo’s Counsel’s statement

Joseph
Greenwald
& Laake

Attorneys at Law Joseph, Greenwald & Laake, P.A.
6404 Ivy Lane · Suite 400 Greenbelt, Maryland 20770
(301) 220-2200 · Fax (301) 220-1214
www.jgllaw.com

Timothy F. Maloney
Direct Dial: (240) 553-1206
Direct Fax: (240) 553-1748
Email: TMaloney@jgllaw.com

August 6, 2008

This statement was released today by Timothy F. Maloney, counsel for Berwyn Heights Mayor Cheye Calvo and his wife, Trinity Tomsic:

These arrests confirm that Trinity Tomsic was a random victim of identity theft at the hands of major drug traffickers. This crime was compounded by law enforcement when it illegally invaded the Calvo home, tied up the mayor and his mother-in-law, and killed the family dogs. The suggestion that Mayor Calvo’s mother-in-law’s reaction to seeing a SWAT team in her front yard justified an illegal no-knock entry is outrageous.

The statement that the Calvo family dogs were threatening law enforcement is demonstrably false. The killing of the family dogs was premeditated. The deputies were aware of the presence of the dogs and began firing immediately upon entering the house. One dog, Chase, was shot in the back while running away in the rear of the house. The second dog, Payton, was shot where he was found, some distance from the front door.

Mayor Calvo and his wife are outraged that law enforcement appears to be blaming the victims for this outrageous invasion into their home. Innocent citizens have a right to be safe and secure in their homes, especially from the very officers who are sworn to protect them. Two beloved and innocent dogs are dead. Two innocent people were tied up. Three innocent people had their reputations unfairly impugned by law enforcement incompetence.

Since this incident occurred, the Calvos have received reports of similar misconduct involving entry into the homes of other innocent County citizens. The defensive statements today by the leadership of both agencies demonstrates that the Sheriff’s Department and the County Police Department have already reached their own conclusions in this case without ever speaking with members of the Calvo family about what happened to them. It is clear that neither agency can conduct an independent review into the law enforcement misconduct that occurred here, nor are they willing to review their policies involving no-knock entry and the killing of innocent family pets.

The Calvos will be holding a press conference tomorrow, August 7, 2008 at 2 p.m. at their residence at 8522 Edmonston Road, Berwyn Heights, Md.

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Attorneys at Law Joseph, Greenwald & Laake, P.A.
6404 Ivy Lane · Suite 400 Greenbelt, Maryland 20770
(301) 220-2200 · Fax (301) 220-1214
www.jgllaw.com

FRED R. JOSEPH (1943-1997) ANDREW E. GREENWALD WALTER E. LAAKE, JR. STEPHEN A. FRIEDMAN BURT M. KAHN MICHAEL D. JACKLEY STEVEN M. PAVSNER BARBARA A. JORGENSON TIMOTHY F. MALONEY DAVID BULITT DOV APFEL JAY P. HOLLAND TIMOTHY P. O'BRIEN JERRY D. MILLER STEVEN B. VINICK PAUL F. RIEKHOF CARY J. HANSEL LAWRENCE R. HOLZMAN BRIAN J. MARKOVITZ VERONICA BYAM NANNIS DAVID S. COAXUM AMY L. PELLICIOTTA JASON L. LEVINE ROBB A. LONGMAN SHANNON L. HAMMOND REGINA L. SCHOWALTER DARA B. GRUNDFAST JOSEPH M. CREED KOUSHIK BHATTACHARYA NAKIA V. GRAY Of Counsel: BARBARA E. PALMER

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Related:
20080801 Berwyn Heights mayor’s home invaded dog shot

20080730 WJLA: Berwyn Heights Mayor Targeted in Drug Raid

20080731 Washington Post: Police Raid Berwyn Heights Mayors Home Kill His 2 Dogs

20080807 ABC 7 News: “Statement of Berwyn Heights Mayor Cheye Calvo”

20080730 Berwyn Heights Mayor suffers home invasion dogs shot, Law and Order Lunacy, MD municipality Berwyn Heights, People MD Calvo – Cheye Calvo

More: Here, here, and here.