Minneapolis criminal defense attorney Matthew Martin wants to remind you that the law is for everyone, including police officers.
Sgt. Jesse Grabow, a public information officer with the Minnesota State Patrol, faces charges of driving 94 mph in a 55 mph zone. Sgt. Grabow was on duty at the time, but was not involved in an emergency call or pursuit of a felon. He is a 17-year veteran of the Minnesota State Patrol and thus expected to know better.
The speeding incident took place April 28, 2015, on Highway 210 in Fergus Falls, MN. Trooper Robyn Birr clocked Sgt. Grabow’s vehicle at 94 mph at 6:45 am. The matter has been under investigation since then, said a spokesman from the Department of Public Safety, and Patrol Captain Brian Cheney and Assistant Fergus Falls City Attorney Joseph Ellig filed the speeding complaint against Sgt. Grabow on Friday, June 26, 2015. An internal affairs investigation is underway now that the city attorney’s review is complete.
Everyone — police officers, presidential candidates, plumbers, pastry chefs, printers — must obey the law. It applies to all Americans equally. And everyone is innocent until proven guilty, entitled to a day in court to prove that innocence, and entitled to have an attorney. You’re not only entitled to have an attorney represent you in court. You’re making a big mistake if you don’t. The judicial system is complex and can be overwhelming. Abraham Lincoln wasn’t the first to say “the man who represents himself in court has a fool for a client” and he won’t be the last. Even the great Clarence Darrow, when he found himself a defendant, promptly announced that he’d better find himself a good lawyer.
If you’re accused of a crime, contact us. Remember, you’re innocent until proven guilty and every American citizen is entitled to his or her day in court.