Frances Salazar, the woman who was wrongfully imprisoned for nearly two years, will receive a $650,000 settlement from the City of Phoenix, stemming from a cop's failure to disclose his history of dishonesty, a detail crucial in her initial conviction. This development follows a resolution passed by the Phoenix City Council, as reported by ABC15. Salazar's conviction in August 2016 resulted from the nondisclosure of arresting officer Anthony Armour's prior conduct issues, which were not presented during her trial.
Despite Phoenix’s appeal, a federal judge ruled that qualified immunity would not protect Armour nor the city from the lawsuit. The case has exposed the Phoenix police for neglecting to provide officers with proper training regarding constitutional mandates, particularly in sharing "Brady" material. "While Ms. Salazar’s case might be over, the City of Phoenix has more work to do to ensure that what happened to her doesn’t happen again,” attorney Ben Rundall said, every person has the right to information that helps their case after being charged with a crime, it’s a right protected by the United States Constitution and no person should be required to spend even one day in prison when the City has information it knows supports their innocence, in a statement obtained by ABC15.
The Hoodline article shed light on the severity of Phoenix PD's shortcomings as the scathing ruling by Judge Susan Bolton stated, "In sum, the evidence shows that there is little, if any, training provided by the PPD regarding Brady requirements." The settlement is a clear response to the pressing need for systemic reform within law enforcement, ensuring transparency and respect for defendants' constitutional rights.
While the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals has yet to deliver a verdict on Phoenix’s appeal, the case remains a stark reminder of the city's potential precarious stand, with the possibility of a trial looming should the court not side with them. "The facts are done. And if the facts are that he lied and he lied a lot, then I don’t see why the rest of the process is terribly relevant," said Judge Daniel Collins during the appellate hearing, not wearing rose-tinted glasses when it comes to the gravity of police misconduct, as quoted in the Hoodline report.
