On December 7th, when 7NEWS broke the story that there was a November 24 commitment warrant issued for City Councilor Marshall Nunez, he pleaded the poor man's defense: that he got behind on his debt but was working to pay it back. And 7NEWS has learned that indeed, Marshall Nunez cleared his $1,300 debt with Bruce Bike Shop. And while that's squared away, the bigger question is and has always been for the Police Department: does it enforce the law selectively, simply choosing not to crack down on well connected persons, while bringing the hammer down on the less fortunate? The commitment warrant is made out from the Magistrate's Court in the name of the Officer Commanding Eastern Division, Assistant Commissioner Crispin Jeffries and yesterday we asked him, was he partial to Marshall? Here's what he had to say.
ACP Crispin Jeffries, O.C., Eastern Division
"Each warrant is dealt with based on the time it is issued and the priority. I considered the Marshall Nunez incident, one for political mileage, and we will not be dragged into any situation...what you would want know, which I will not divulge here, is that there are so much more warrants for many high profile, very important people, that have also been issued, and I am not going to issue that information. So when one comes that is getting very sensational, in reviews, it is not for us to run with that sensation, it is to run to look to the facts, but I'll say to you that that matter has been settled long ago."
Jules Vasquez,
So you apply the law with your discretion?
ACP Crispin Jeffries,
"It is not a discretionary thing, a warrant is issued from the court; a warrant is issued from the court. When that warrant is issued, a person may, if he or she comes into the information that a warrant issued, he or she can go to the court and settle. It does not automatically evaporate the warrant, that person may have to counter your presentation of a warrant with a valid receipt."
Of course, any receipt showing a settlement of the debt would only have appeared after 7NEWS broke the story which was 13 days after the warrant was issued and overlooked by Jeffries.
