Shark s01e17 Episode Script
Backfire
Come on, T, turn it up, man.
(siren chirps) PD! LAPD! Get out of the car! (people clamoring) (gunshot fires, people screaming) (numerous gunshots firing) (engine revving) (siren wailing) (tires screeching) (brakes squealing) JULIE: Any insight on the 30 Years War? No, but I'm an expert on the 14-Years War.
A.
K.
A.
my marriage to your mom.
So got a court date yet? (laughs): Yeah.
Prosecutors tend to find out when their daughters get pulled over with enough booze in their bloodstream to flambée a lamb chop.
I swear, I was going to tell you.
But you didn't.
I know, I just I didn't (cell phone ringing) Yeah? Right.
Okay.
I'll be right there.
Got to run.
Dad, I am so sorry.
Uh-huh.
Good luck with that paper.
REPORTER: Tensions remain high in South Central Los Angeles this morning, after a police shooting left two men critically injured.
(crowd clamoring) We're tired of it.
We want justice now.
MAYOR: I want to assure you Everywhere I go, I draw a crowd.
Officer-involved shooting.
Locals are pissed.
Well, I hope they had insurance.
Car is registered to a Reshaun Ferris, mid-level drug dealer, did two years in Chino.
SID found a gun in the car.
Who was the other victim? 17-year-old named Thomas Broussard.
Ah, I'm guessing these bullet holes didn't appear by magic, huh? A bunch of kids were hanging in their cars a couple blocks away.
Uniforms called in a disturbance.
Two plainclothes show up, shots are fired.
Ferris and Broussard are in critical over at Fairview.
Either of the officers hit? No, that's the good news.
Ah, this can't be good.
The cops said the dealer fired first.
Really? That's a shock, because on the radio an eyewitness said the cops rolled in and started blasting-- called it an execution.
At least the senior cop is also black.
Good, maybe we can avoid a race riot.
Unfortunately that's where our luck runs out.
The same cop's been cited repeatedly for excessive force.
Of course.
Anything from IAD? No, and don't hold your breath.
Hey.
This is the third officer-involved shooting in this neighborhood, in the past six months.
Ugh.
Internal Affairs gave the cops a pass on them.
Maybe they were all clean shoots.
Regardless, I need you to handle this, Sebastian.
Oh, gee, thanks.
Whoa, whoa, whoa.
Last time he took on the LAPD, he nearly destroyed the entire criminal justice system.
Uh, "nearly" being the operative word here.
That's the whole point.
Since the cops hate your guts, no one is going to question the integrity of this investigation.
You know, I think there's a compliment in there somewhere.
Find the truth before this thing explodes.
(angry shouting) 20th CENTURY FOX TELEVISION and CBS STARK: Okay, we have two kids shot.
What have we got on the gun they found in the car? SID matched the prints to Reshaun Ferris.
Ballistics confirmed it was recently fired.
Powder residue is inconclusive.
They couldn't run the tests until he got out of surgery.
What about the two cops? Younger one's still in the psych evaluation, the partner's coming in.
Is he solid? Cops love Ray Tillman, he's a standup guy.
You know what I mean.
What, has he ever bent the rules to bring down a bad guy? Who hasn't? Including you.
Thomas Broussard's an honor student at Crenshaw Science.
He's active in the church.
He's taking AP classes at Cal State Long Beach.
Oh, great, the press is going to have a field day with this one.
And Thomas Broussard and Reshaun Ferris are cousins.
The valedictorian and the drug dealer, diverse family.
Okay, kids, this is all about who fired first.
So, Isaac, check out Reshaun Ferris, see if he was dealing that night.
Madeleine and Raina, talk to the family.
Casey, see what you can get from the unis and the kids that were at the scene.
Go.
I've been meaning to call you about what happened down in San Diego.
Nothing happened.
Yeah, I know, that's the thing.
I was hoping I could explain.
Hey, don't bother.
I'm a big girl.
You're just not that into me.
That's okay.
No, hold on.
But, uh, in the future, you should watch the signals that you send out.
(monitor beeping) RAINA: I know this is difficult, Mrs.
Broussard.
But we need to know what your son was doing in that car.
Thomas said he was going to a party.
I didn't worry.
Thomas never does anything he's not supposed to do, except for hang out with Reshaun.
Are Thomas and Reshaun close? I'm a single mother.
Thomas is my only child.
When he was little, Reshaun was more like a big brother, you know, than his cousin.
Then Reshaun started going bad, selling drugs.
I told Thomas to stay away from him, but some ties are hard to break.
What about the party? Thomas went with some friends.
They wanted to leave early.
Thomas stayed.
He called me and said, "Don't worry, Reshaun will bring me home.
" If the police shot at Reshaun, I'm sure they had reason.
I was always afraid Reshaun would get him hurt one day.
I should have picked him up myself.
(siren blaring) Thank you for coming in, Detective Tillman.
I'm Sebastian Stark.
Yeah, I know who you are.
I know who you are, too.
Tommy Madden sends his best.
Yeah, how's Tommy doing? Bitching as usual.
But he'll still be hooking and booking when I'm in my grave.
So do I need my union rep? You're not charged with anything.
Yeah? Well, I've seen how you treat cops on the stand.
The department's lost some good men because of it.
Uh, Detective, right now we're not the ones you need to worry about.
I think what he's saying is that half the city would like to bury you.
Now if you talk to me and tell me everything, I might be able to help you.
And trust me, you want my help.
Yeah, all right.
We just finished chasing down a suspect when we got the call.
Uniform backup.
But we were in the vicinity, so we figured "what the hell?" Me and Detective Leary approached one of the vehicles.
We ID'd ourselves.
LAPD! Then the passenger reached for his piece.
Next thing I know, he fires on us.
I immediately returned the fire.
Kenny did the same.
The vehicle took off, made it a couple hundred yards before it wrecked.
What happened when you got to the car? We found two people inside.
Both wounded, unconscious.
There was a Glock on the floor, at the passenger's feet.
We called it in.
We sat and waited for the ambulance.
Procedure says you're supposed to bag the gun.
Why didn't you? Procedure goes out the window in an officer-involved shooting.
Hmm.
There's going to be some heat, we don't want to contaminate the scene for SID.
That's considerate.
Also convenient.
Meaning what? Meaning you have a file full force violations.
That's gonna raise of excessive some questions, don't you think? Yeah, well, here's the answer.
I've been on those streets for 30 years.
I've seen two partners shot, three retired, and in all that time, I have never once planted a bad one on anybody.
Hmm Can you say the same? Any more questions, talk to my captain.
I'm done.
You ought to watch the company you keep.
What? You just accused a decorated detective of planting evidence.
I didn't accuse him of anything.
And trust me, these questions are going to be asked.
Better we ask them first.
Are we going to have a problem? Look, part of the reason you hired me was to help you Mm-hmm.
with the LAPD, is that right? Well, in order for me to do that, Fine, and you need to know this: you need to deal straight with these guys.
If these cops are wrong, I am going to do my job.
Fine.
What else do you need? I need you to go talk to this as soon as he's done with the shrink.
guy's partner, What, before he and Tillman compare notes.
(chuckles) While it's still fresh on his mind.
Sebastian, how's my favorite prosecutor? What do you want, Angela? Brr, feeling a chill.
We used to be close, Shark, very close.
Yeah, that's because I was freshly divorced, which qualifies as temporary insanity.
And you, of all people, don't call me that.
I don't remember you complaining at the time.
Why so bitter? You mean besides hanging me out to dry on the Braden case? That was just good investigative reporting.
Unnamed sources, stolen documents.
Pot kettle black.
I was just doing my job.
Besides, you've used me just as many times as I've used you.
Which brings us back to what do you want, Angela? The police shooting last night, are the cops covering up? ment.
Come on, pretty boy.
You know the game.
Either I can print your version or someone else's.
Print this.
About time you got your ass back here.
MAN: You ready to hit the street? What's happening? Hey, Rick, how you doing? I'm good.
You know, everyone here, they still talk about how you stood up for Joey.
Yeah, feels like a million years ago.
So what brings you around? Well, I was hoping to see Detective Leary.
Is he in? Stark is running the investigation? Yeah, but he's playing straight.
Not too many people around here are going to be believing that.
Kenny's in the locker room.
But go easy on him, he's pretty messed up.
All right? Once Ferris opened on us, Ray had to fire back.
When he fired, I did, too.
Ferris deserved what he got.
But that kid I'm having trouble with it.
Is it okay if I call you Kenny? Yeah.
Everybody does.
When did you make detective? Six months ago.
Yeah.
His old one just retired.
Tillman your first partner? Everybody said I hit the lottery.
You like him? Ray's the best.
Took him about a week to actually look at me.
I think I learned more from him in these six months than my entire time in uniform.
Yeah, I remember my first partner.
I didn't know a damn thing.
I'm lucky I didn't get us both killed.
Look, Kenny I'm going to do my best to help you.
Okay? But you have to trust me.
Okay.
Thanks, Isaac.
Did Leary's story sound rehearsed? Tough to tell.
Is that your expert analysis? Do I think he's young and scared? Yes.
Do I think he's lying? No.
How's Thomas Broussard doing? Touch and go, but it looks like Reshaun Ferris is Further proof there's no justice in the universe.
gonna pull through.
Ferris' tox screen came back positive.
He was high on cocaine at the time of the shooting.
Yes.
Anything from the witnesses? The unis who called it in still say Reshaun Ferris shot first.
Bystanders blame the cops.
I'm not sure if any of them actually saw anything.
However, Ferris has an outstanding bench warrant.
And he's a two-time loser.
He was looking at a third strike.
So he knew, if the cops found him, it's 25 to life.
It gets better.
The warrant is for assaulting an off-duty cop.
You spoil me.
You have to see this.
Somebody posted this an hour ago.
It's a video shot last night at the scene.
LAPD! LEARY: people screaming) (loud popping, Go back.
LAPD! (loud popping) Sounded like a gunshot.
Stop.
You hear that? Yeah, but look at the cops.
Neither one has his gun out.
Which means they're telling the truth.
(cell phone rings) Reshaun Ferris fired first.
Get Slocum to clean this up.
All right, we got a cop-hating drug dealer ducking a third strike.
He runs into two narcs.
He knows he's going to go down hard, so he decides to shoot it out, putting his choirboy cousin on life support.
Not anymore.
That was the hospital.
Thomas Broussard didn't make it.
Which means this just turned into a murder case.
to the felony murder statute And, according and somebody dies as a result, You commit a felony, even if you didn't actually kill them It's still first degree murder.
And, last I checked, opening fire on two police officers is a felony.
Bye-bye, Reshaun.
Mrs.
Broussard, I'm Sebastian Stark.
I'm with the D.
A.
's office.
I'm so very sorry for your loss.
Thank you.
But that won't bring back my boy.
No, ma'am.
You promise me this Whoever did this, make them pay.
You have my word.
Reshaun Ferris, you're under arrest for the murder of Thomas Broussard.
What the hell you talking about? Word of advice.
Keep your mouth shut till you hire a lawyer.
And if I were you, I'd watch my back at the police station.
Not your biggest fans.
Look, man, I ain't even know that they were cops.
I couldn't hear a thing with the music blasting.
They were wearing badges, Reshaun.
If they were, I didn't see them.
And I ain't shoot at nobody.
Glock belong to you? It's not rocket science, guys.
His prints were all over it.
Yeah, it's my gun, but I never pulled it out.
And the clip was full Oh.
Oh, so somebody planted your own gun on you.
last time I saw it.
That's a pretty neat trick.
Especially since both cops saw you reach for it.
I was reaching for Thomas, to tell him to get us out of there.
Really? Why would you need to do that if you didn't know they were cops? All right, then.
Once they got closer, I saw that they were cops.
But they started shooting, not me.
My cousin never hurt nobody.
I loved that kid.
I would never put him in the middle of that.
Right, 'cause you're such a role model.
Okay, second degree murder, life with parole.
With time off, he's out in 20 years.
Hey, with a third strike, 20 years?! Hell, no! you should be down on your knees thanking me, No deal, Stark.
all right? Angela, I hate to remind you of this, against me as a D.
A.
but you are 0 for six sides at halftime, Just because we both switched it's still the same game.
Aren't you the guy who used to go after the cops? Times change.
Take the deal before your client ends up with a needle in his arm.
(sighs) Right.
have to look at this REPORTER: Angela, you really relations in Los Angeles.
in the larger context of race history of police abuse-- Now, there is a pervasive so the defendant's claim that Ramparts, Rodney King-- has some historical basis.
the evidence was tampered with CROWD: Justice! MAN: What do we want? startling new video And KTDS News has obtained this assertion.
which may support This is footage from located at a church a surveillance camera from where the SUV crashed.
across the street LAPD detectives who shot These are the two and killed Thomas Broussard.
One of them holds what appears in his hand.
to be the defendant's gun on the floor of the vehicle The gun that was allegedly found (TV clicks off) Madeleine file a motion in limine to keep this video out while our case still has a pulse.
Right.
Hey, Dad? I got a court date scheduled, and I need a lawyer.
Well, look in the Yellow Pages under "L.
" Hire somebody, and send me the bill.
Then we'll figure out how you're going to pay me back.
the evidence? REPORTER: Did police mishandle have planted the gun, Or could they as Reshaun Ferris alleges? detectives who shot These are the two LAPD One of them and killed Thomas Broussard.
holds the defendant's gun Well, now that the whole world has seen you two tampering with evidence, you mind telling me what the hell is going on? Look, I panicked, okay? I took the gun out of the car.
Yeah.
It's called securing the crime scene.
Cops do it every day.
Kenny, the question is, how did the gun get back in the car? That's on me.
I knew they would put this under the microscope, so, when he took I grabbed it and put it back inside.
the gun, And then you lied to my face about it, right, Detective? Hmm? You grabbed the gun by the barrel.
Why didn't SID find your prints? I wiped them off.
I didn't want any questions.
(chuckles) So much for that strategy.
STARK: Yeah.
Isaac, we didn't do anything wrong.
Well, unfortunately, that's going to be a lot harder to prove now, isn't it? Messing with the gun was an accident? That sounds fishy to me.
It stinks like three-day-old sushi.
this right, but under the circumstances, I'm not saying their behavior is understandable.
You see these headlines? As if there weren't enough heat on this case already! This puts us on notice! I need you to find out everything-- about these two cops.
I mean everything-- File a motion for their personnel records.
Recheck the ballistics, the evidence, all of it.
No more surprises.
I need to speak with you for a minute.
What do you need? Your opinion.
I'm not sure Isaac should be running point on this.
Why are you asking me? I thought you two were Close.
Well, you thought wrong.
Look, if you want to know what's going on in that man's head, trust me, I'm not the one to ask.
The surveillance video is inconclusive and completely irrelevant.
Irrelevant? We're arguing the gun was planted.
The video shows the two police officers holding the weapon.
Does it get more relevant? the defense with statements We have provided from both officers, explaining why they had the gun.
You mean explaining away why they lied And the defense about this earlier.
is free to use those statements at trial.
But that video is so prejudicial, it outweighs any probative value it may contain.
You've got to be kidding.
Sorry, Ms.
Carrelli.
It's a close call, but, since you can use their statements to cross examine the officers, you don't need the video.
Prosecution's motion is granted.
Thank you, Your Honor.
0 for seven.
More videos? Everyone has a cell phone camera these days.
I'm trying to build a chronology, but there's something else.
I analyzed the first video.
The one with the gunshot? Well, that's the problem.
I couldn't get a clear visual confirmation of the gunshot, so I isolated the audio.
(loud popping) That's a shot from the Beretta both cops fired.
Ferris had a Glock.
When I compare the gunshot on the video, (loud popping) either shot.
In fact, it didn't it didn't match Louis, can we cut to the chase? match anything in our database.
The sound on the video isn't a gunshot.
Then what is it? The sound of a muffler backfiring from one of the other cars at the scene.
Which means Reshaun Ferris didn't fire first.
It doesn't matter! It's still a clean shoot! They saw him reach for his gun! telling the truth, which is not Yeah, if they're exactly their strong suit so far! Cops face guys like Ferris every day.
Doesn't mean you get to kill a guy They don't react, they die.
How about you grab a badge for no reason.
and gun, you hit the street, see how you do when the bad guys show up! Tillman had a history with Reshaun Ferris.
He was part of a narcotics task force that busted him three times.
How come we didn't All three times, Reshaun walked.
find this out earlier? Tillman wasn't the arresting officer.
His name wasn't even on the paperwork.
Every time I think I've hit rock bottom, another rung gives way in the cosmic ladder.
How long ago were these arrests? Well, someone's got to find Tillman's Two years ago.
old partner, figure out the deal between Tillman and Ferris.
Are you in or are you out? Terry Burns? I'm here about Ray Tillman.
Reshaun Ferris is the scum of the earth.
We couldn't nail him.
decent eyewitness-- old guy named Reese.
Finally got a neighborhood 48 years while it went to hell.
He lived in the Saw Ferris drop a body.
Could have put him away.
What happened? Tillman was assigned to protect Reese.
Call comes over the radio-- cops being assaulted two blocks away.
What's Ray going to do? He rolls.
Only there's nothing there.
It's a dummy call.
Time he gets back, Reese's throat is cut.
Reshaun Ferris.
No way to prove it, of course.
Next day, the house where Ferris is slinging.
Ray cruises by The son of a bitch laughs in his face.
I had to hold Ray back.
He was never the same after that.
Problems at home.
Started drinking more, going home less.
Finally, Alice left, took his boys.
Ray had nothing left to lose.
who planted on that rich scumbag You're the guy killed your partner.
This isn't about me.
Yeah? Whatever you say about Ray, every partner he ever had would take a bullet for him.
That's 'cause he'd do the same for them.
You should get that better than anyone.
I edited the crime scene videos into one chronological version.
LOUIS: MARTIN: And? Well, unfortunately, you still can't really see anything very clearly.
Then why do we care? Because of what you can hear.
Listen.
Count the shots.
(gunshots) Eleven.
But that only accounts for Tillman and Leary.
They fired 11 shots.
There were 11 bullet holes in the SUV.
Wait.
Are you saying Reshaun Ferris never fired at all? You got it.
I'll flip you to see who tells Stark.
Hold it.
Ferris had a Glock 19.
How many bullets does that hold? 15 in that magazine, one more in the chamber.
There were ten left when they found it, RAINA: but Ferris said that he had a full clip, so what happened to the rest of the bullets? Can you pause that, Louis? That's the security video, isn't it? RAINA: MARTIN: If he's going to put the gun back, why is he walking the other way? The camera's up there.
Tillman was standing right here.
Time to call the boss.
Got five cartridges here.
So Tillman dumped the bullets to make it look like Ferris fired the gun.
Nice work.
You're both lying through your teeth.
I'm going to give you one last chance to come clean, and if you think it's dangerous out there on the street, you wait till I come gunning for you in court.
I've got nothing to say.
LEARY: Isaac, please.
Detective Leary, I advise you not to speak.
A 17-year-old kid is dead who shouldn't be.
You are going down for that, and you are going with him.
and Detectives Leary and Tillman are being held over for trial.
Have these charges damaged the relationship between the DA's office and the LAPD? I'm certain the LAPD shares our desire for justice in this matter.
But isn't it risky to go after the cops in an election year, Ms.
Devlin? Especially when both you and the mayor are counting on the endorsement of the police union? I don't think so, Angela.
In fact, I'd like to acknowledge one of our investigators, former LAPD Detective Isaac Wright.
His work on this case has REPORTER 1: Detective! been invaluable.
REPORTER 2: Detective, did the LAPD cooperate fully with this investigation? Detective! outside LA County Courthouse That was the scene as District Attorney this afternoon This is a load of crap! I don't appreciate being trotted out like That was a damned trained seal.
Right.
Now you got an ex-cop Jessica's call.
cover your ass, while you go after the LAPD.
My ass is covered by the facts.
You got a problem with this case, talk to the cops who opened fire on two people without provocation.
You used my relationship to build your case.
Yeah.
with these guys I believe it's called your job! You know what, you got an itch for cops and I didn't sign on to help you scratch it.
No, you signed on to help me put away bad guys, even if those bad guys are wearing badges.
You want to pick and choose who you take down, you are in the wrong line of work.
Maybe I am.
You don't want to talk Isaac! So you're just to me right now.
You're damn right I am.
gonna walk out? Screw Stark.
I don't need this job.
You sure? Because you told me it was the next best thing to being a cop.
Why do you care what I do? I keep wondering the same thing.
Mr.
Bergdorf, I'm Julie Stark.
We spoke on the phone earlier.
Hold on.
I brought all the paperwork we discussed-- My ticket, and my copy of Just bring it to court.
Okay, but I was hoping we could discuss our strategy.
Strategy? For getting the charges dismissed.
If you wanted the charges dismissed, you should have refused the field sobriety test.
Then I'd have something to work with.
Okay, but I I really need to make this go away.
You're a minor.
You blew a .
06.
The only way it's going away? Get your dad's office to lose the file.
Come on, Shisconik.
You plant one on someone who deserves it, that's one thing, but to just roll up and start shooting? You think that's what Leary and Tillman did? I don't know.
I don't know, man.
I'm just (sighs) I'm just sick of being caught up in the middle of it.
Look, I mean, quit if you want to, but if you ask me, you're still on the right side.
Guys will knock you for working with Stark, but the job needs someone on the inside.
Make sure cops get a fair shake.
We know Tillman held a grudge against Reshaun Ferris.
He's looking for revenge, sees Ferris, opens fire.
Or they legitimately thought the muffler backfire was a gunshot.
Maybe if Leary fired first, but Tillman admitted that he took the first shot.
The guy's been on the force for 30 years.
He knows the difference between a muffler and a gunshot.
Not to mention they lied about it, and why the cover-up if they're innocent? The problem is proving it.
We got the cartridges we found at the crime scene, but for that evidence the jury needs to see that surveillance video.
to have any impact, You mean the one that you so brilliantly got excluded? I didn't say this was gonna be easy.
The video shows Detective Tillman walking off to dump the extra bullets.
It establishes a context within which the planting of the gun took place.
Alleged planting of the gun.
And just a few days ago, Mr.
Stark argued successfully against the admission of this very piece of evidence because of it's highly prejudicial nature.
Surely, he can't believe he's entitled to have it both ways.
He's right, Mr.
Stark.
Your encyclopedic JUDGE BRIAR: knowledge of the evidence code was most impressive.
I'm flattered, Your Honor, but this is an entirely new case.
And said rules The rules of evidence do not change.
include number 1102.
The surveillance video shows a pattern and practice of behavior on the part of Detective Tillman.
Not without evidence of prior bad acts.
Ah, great minds, Your Honor.
from Detective Tillman's personnel records.
My office obtained this We've had no time to review this.
It won't take long, Dan.
It's a disciplinary charge from several years ago, alleging that Detective Tillman planted drugs on a defendant.
This was never adjudicated.
And hence, he was never cleared.
It's pretty thin, Mr.
Stark but I'll allow it.
The tape comes in.
Groveling in three, two, one.
Sebastian? Yes? Leary wants to talk.
All he could talk about was how much he wanted to get Reshaun Ferris.
When that call came over, he jumped on it.
Wait a minute.
Tillman knew Ferris was gonna be there? We had the plates, description of the vehicle.
The whole way there, he kept talking about how bad this guy was.
We needed to be ready for anything.
Did he go there to kill Ferris? Look, once he started shooting, I had no choice.
Your partner fires, you fire.
Yeah, I understand that, but why did you help him cover it up? Ray said that if I didn't help him out, everybody would know I hung him out to dry.
You know? I'd be done on the job.
Ray said that partners help each other out, that's how it works.
Look, you gotta understand, Mr.
Stark.
All I ever wanted to be was a cop.
(sighing) What do you want? Full immunity.
He walks on murder and obstruction.
In return, he helps you put Tillman away for life.
He's lying.
I've seen hundreds of rats.
STARK: In the end, they're almost eager to give it up.
Leary looks like he's having a root canal.
What do you expect? He doesn't want to bury his partner.
That's exactly the problem.
He doesn't have to.
Leary could say that it was an accident.
Instead, he's laying Tillman out for murder? No offense, but who cares? We have a winning case.
The ex-partner said every cop Tillman ever worked with would jump in front of a train for him, because he'd do the same for them.
Instead, Leary's pushing Tillman Yeah, well, I don't in front of the train.
buy it, okay? I sat across from this kid.
I saw it in his eyes.
He loves this guy.
So why is he selling him out? It doesn't make any sense.
Unless Tillman wants him to.
It's like the cover-up at the crime scene.
There's no way the rookie's calling the shots.
Tillman would always take a bullet for his partner.
That's exactly what he's doing now.
This is the crime scene before the shooting.
LOUIS: They're crude mpeg 3 videos, but the program breaks down the video so we can analyze it.
Just show me what you got, Louis.
Leary and Tillman are approaching the car, no shots fired yet.
(loud popping) There.
That movement Leary made.
RAINA: He's backing up.
Isolate that.
No, that's the recoil from his gun.
Tillman didn't fire first.
Leary did.
Funny, the weatherman didn't say anything about snow.
My point is, we ought to be able to help each other.
Like you leaking that surveillance video on the news, not helpful.
I'd like to avoid that in the future.
What's the angle? Same as always-- mutual assistance.
Sorry to interrupt.
Not now.
It's urgent.
(sighs) I'll be right back.
(door closes) TILLMAN: What's going on, Kenny? What's so urgent? This reporter.
She said you're flipping on me, man.
Why would I do that? Hell, this was my idea to begin with.
Am I right or wrong? She gave me the same story, about some some affidavit she found in Stark's office.
But if we keep our mouths shut, she's got nothing to go public with.
You understand? Just stick to the plan, Kenny.
This will be over soon, I promise you.
I still can't believe LEARY: you're doing this for me, man.
That's what partners do, Kenny.
TILLMAN: You'll get your chance one day.
All right? Just stick to the plan, Kenny.
TILLMAN: I promise you.
This will be over soon, Nice move.
Same thing I'd do on the streets; whatever it takes.
I'll do what I can to make this right.
Level with me and You know, um being in Narcotics, uh, things I see every day.
I grew up on those streets, you know what I'm saying? I had the same strikes against me Reshaun Ferris has, so it's no excuse for selling junk to schoolkids.
You busted hundreds of punks like Ferris.
What makes him so different? You got out early.
Me, I gave my life to this job.
And I was never the father or the husband I should have been.
You're not alone there.
Yeah, but I lost everything: my wife, my kids.
Okay, but your wife's been gone over two years.
Why go after Ferris now? (sighs) About six months ago I noticed that my knees were swollen.
(chuckles) I was All-City fullback, so I figured it was just bone chips or something.
I finally went to the doctor, it was too late.
Malignant fibrous histiocytoma.
Cancer? (sighs) What happened that night? I'd just come from the clinic that morning.
Doc gave me six months, tops.
It threw me.
Everything I was feeling, I wanted to take it out on somebody.
Then we get the call.
Reshaun Ferris.
(laughing) I felt like the man upstairs was throwing me a bone, you know what I mean? Give me one last chance to nail this bastard.
LEARY: LAPD! But I got this kid Kenny so worked up about Ferris, by the time we got there, he would have fired at his own shadow.
Then I hear that, uh, muffler backfire.
no, no! (firing shots) Kenny, no, no, Leary opened fire and I had to fire back, too.
I mean, I knew Reshaun would be armed.
He could have fired back on us.
He didn't fire back, did he? No, no.
When we get to the car, Ferris's gun was still tucked in his pants.
He didn't fire, right? I shot him for nothing, man.
It's okay, Kenny.
Kenny, look at me.
I'll handle it.
I'll handle it.
I'll handle it, I'll handle it.
Come on, I'll handle it.
So you take the gun, you dump the bullets, you tell Leary to play along.
Yeah.
Man.
What about Tommy Broussard? He was 17 years old.
He never stepped out of line one second his entire life.
I would give anything in the world to bring that boy back.
You can't make this go away, Detective.
I know.
Look, uh let me take the fall, all right? I've done a lot of things wrong in 30 years, Stark.
Please, let me get this one last thing right.
JUDGE BRIAR: Mr.
Stark, I understand you've reached a disposition in this case? We have, Your Honor.
Detective Raymond Tillman On the charges of murder in the second degree, and obstruction of justice, how do you plead? Guilty, Your Honor.
(audience exclaiming) It is the Court's understanding that as a condition of this plea, all charges are being dropped against Detective Leary.
That's right, Your Honor.
Very well, we are adjourned.
(gavel bangs) Isaac, I just talked to my captain.
They said my suspension's over, I can go back to work.
Yeah, about that What's this? It's part of the deal we made with Tillman.
You have to turn in your badge, Kenny.
What? But I'm a cop, Isaac, that's all I know how to do.
Well, then you should have stood up and done it.
You shouldn't go along with a cover-up just because your partner told you to.
You're going to lecture me, after After what I did, what you did? e a cop anymore either.
(footsteps approaching) Ray.
There's someone here who deserves the truth about what happened.
You two are going to give it to her.
Pretty boy, that fake affidavit ANGELA: you left for me to see-- knowing I'd go right to Tillman and Leary with it-- you played me like a fiddle.
As I recall, that used to turn you on.
forward to our new détente.
Pity, I was looking We're even.
Till next time.
So I Sebastian, I should have Look, I I shouldn't have said what I said.
No.
No, you were right.
You know, when I brought you over here, I just never thought how tough it would be on you.
I only saw the upside for me.
Something new and different.
So you sticking around? (sighs) Well, I figure somebody's got to keep you from getting killed.
Hey.
I was hoping maybe we could get a cup of coffee.
I don't think so.
I know things got weird between us.
Look, no offense, but I've dealt with guys like you before-- quiet, complicated, all kinds of demons wrapped up in a pretty package.
I'll pass.
So you think I'm pretty.
I've seen prettier.
Can we can we just go somewhere and talk? I promise I'll leave my demons in the car.
How'd your hearing go? I got my license suspended for 90 days, and I have to do 180 hours of community service.
But if you do all that, which you will, your arrest gets expunged.
That's really comforting.
It ought to be.
You-you could have helped me, Dad.
How? By getting me a better lawyer, at least.
Boyd's the best.
If you had a bad lawyer, you'd be in jail right now.
Wait a second, how did you know who I went to? You think I'd let you deal with all this without checking up on you? Checking up on me? Dad, you could have made this whole thing go away.
Easily.
But you need to learn that actions have consequences.
Right, this coming from the guy who got rich letting criminals go free.
Could you be a bigger hypocrite? Don't you dare speak to me like that.
What? So now all of a sudden you're going to play father, give me some big lecture? Every time I take an interest in your life-- every time-- you push me away.
You get in trouble, you whine to your mom.
You call Isaac, not me.
You only want a father when it's convenient for you.
But I got news for you, it doesn't work that way.
So when you decide you really want a father, you let me know.
20th CENTURY FOX TELEVISION and CBS
(siren chirps) PD! LAPD! Get out of the car! (people clamoring) (gunshot fires, people screaming) (numerous gunshots firing) (engine revving) (siren wailing) (tires screeching) (brakes squealing) JULIE: Any insight on the 30 Years War? No, but I'm an expert on the 14-Years War.
A.
K.
A.
my marriage to your mom.
So got a court date yet? (laughs): Yeah.
Prosecutors tend to find out when their daughters get pulled over with enough booze in their bloodstream to flambée a lamb chop.
I swear, I was going to tell you.
But you didn't.
I know, I just I didn't (cell phone ringing) Yeah? Right.
Okay.
I'll be right there.
Got to run.
Dad, I am so sorry.
Uh-huh.
Good luck with that paper.
REPORTER: Tensions remain high in South Central Los Angeles this morning, after a police shooting left two men critically injured.
(crowd clamoring) We're tired of it.
We want justice now.
MAYOR: I want to assure you Everywhere I go, I draw a crowd.
Officer-involved shooting.
Locals are pissed.
Well, I hope they had insurance.
Car is registered to a Reshaun Ferris, mid-level drug dealer, did two years in Chino.
SID found a gun in the car.
Who was the other victim? 17-year-old named Thomas Broussard.
Ah, I'm guessing these bullet holes didn't appear by magic, huh? A bunch of kids were hanging in their cars a couple blocks away.
Uniforms called in a disturbance.
Two plainclothes show up, shots are fired.
Ferris and Broussard are in critical over at Fairview.
Either of the officers hit? No, that's the good news.
Ah, this can't be good.
The cops said the dealer fired first.
Really? That's a shock, because on the radio an eyewitness said the cops rolled in and started blasting-- called it an execution.
At least the senior cop is also black.
Good, maybe we can avoid a race riot.
Unfortunately that's where our luck runs out.
The same cop's been cited repeatedly for excessive force.
Of course.
Anything from IAD? No, and don't hold your breath.
Hey.
This is the third officer-involved shooting in this neighborhood, in the past six months.
Ugh.
Internal Affairs gave the cops a pass on them.
Maybe they were all clean shoots.
Regardless, I need you to handle this, Sebastian.
Oh, gee, thanks.
Whoa, whoa, whoa.
Last time he took on the LAPD, he nearly destroyed the entire criminal justice system.
Uh, "nearly" being the operative word here.
That's the whole point.
Since the cops hate your guts, no one is going to question the integrity of this investigation.
You know, I think there's a compliment in there somewhere.
Find the truth before this thing explodes.
(angry shouting) 20th CENTURY FOX TELEVISION and CBS STARK: Okay, we have two kids shot.
What have we got on the gun they found in the car? SID matched the prints to Reshaun Ferris.
Ballistics confirmed it was recently fired.
Powder residue is inconclusive.
They couldn't run the tests until he got out of surgery.
What about the two cops? Younger one's still in the psych evaluation, the partner's coming in.
Is he solid? Cops love Ray Tillman, he's a standup guy.
You know what I mean.
What, has he ever bent the rules to bring down a bad guy? Who hasn't? Including you.
Thomas Broussard's an honor student at Crenshaw Science.
He's active in the church.
He's taking AP classes at Cal State Long Beach.
Oh, great, the press is going to have a field day with this one.
And Thomas Broussard and Reshaun Ferris are cousins.
The valedictorian and the drug dealer, diverse family.
Okay, kids, this is all about who fired first.
So, Isaac, check out Reshaun Ferris, see if he was dealing that night.
Madeleine and Raina, talk to the family.
Casey, see what you can get from the unis and the kids that were at the scene.
Go.
I've been meaning to call you about what happened down in San Diego.
Nothing happened.
Yeah, I know, that's the thing.
I was hoping I could explain.
Hey, don't bother.
I'm a big girl.
You're just not that into me.
That's okay.
No, hold on.
But, uh, in the future, you should watch the signals that you send out.
(monitor beeping) RAINA: I know this is difficult, Mrs.
Broussard.
But we need to know what your son was doing in that car.
Thomas said he was going to a party.
I didn't worry.
Thomas never does anything he's not supposed to do, except for hang out with Reshaun.
Are Thomas and Reshaun close? I'm a single mother.
Thomas is my only child.
When he was little, Reshaun was more like a big brother, you know, than his cousin.
Then Reshaun started going bad, selling drugs.
I told Thomas to stay away from him, but some ties are hard to break.
What about the party? Thomas went with some friends.
They wanted to leave early.
Thomas stayed.
He called me and said, "Don't worry, Reshaun will bring me home.
" If the police shot at Reshaun, I'm sure they had reason.
I was always afraid Reshaun would get him hurt one day.
I should have picked him up myself.
(siren blaring) Thank you for coming in, Detective Tillman.
I'm Sebastian Stark.
Yeah, I know who you are.
I know who you are, too.
Tommy Madden sends his best.
Yeah, how's Tommy doing? Bitching as usual.
But he'll still be hooking and booking when I'm in my grave.
So do I need my union rep? You're not charged with anything.
Yeah? Well, I've seen how you treat cops on the stand.
The department's lost some good men because of it.
Uh, Detective, right now we're not the ones you need to worry about.
I think what he's saying is that half the city would like to bury you.
Now if you talk to me and tell me everything, I might be able to help you.
And trust me, you want my help.
Yeah, all right.
We just finished chasing down a suspect when we got the call.
Uniform backup.
But we were in the vicinity, so we figured "what the hell?" Me and Detective Leary approached one of the vehicles.
We ID'd ourselves.
LAPD! Then the passenger reached for his piece.
Next thing I know, he fires on us.
I immediately returned the fire.
Kenny did the same.
The vehicle took off, made it a couple hundred yards before it wrecked.
What happened when you got to the car? We found two people inside.
Both wounded, unconscious.
There was a Glock on the floor, at the passenger's feet.
We called it in.
We sat and waited for the ambulance.
Procedure says you're supposed to bag the gun.
Why didn't you? Procedure goes out the window in an officer-involved shooting.
Hmm.
There's going to be some heat, we don't want to contaminate the scene for SID.
That's considerate.
Also convenient.
Meaning what? Meaning you have a file full force violations.
That's gonna raise of excessive some questions, don't you think? Yeah, well, here's the answer.
I've been on those streets for 30 years.
I've seen two partners shot, three retired, and in all that time, I have never once planted a bad one on anybody.
Hmm Can you say the same? Any more questions, talk to my captain.
I'm done.
You ought to watch the company you keep.
What? You just accused a decorated detective of planting evidence.
I didn't accuse him of anything.
And trust me, these questions are going to be asked.
Better we ask them first.
Are we going to have a problem? Look, part of the reason you hired me was to help you Mm-hmm.
with the LAPD, is that right? Well, in order for me to do that, Fine, and you need to know this: you need to deal straight with these guys.
If these cops are wrong, I am going to do my job.
Fine.
What else do you need? I need you to go talk to this as soon as he's done with the shrink.
guy's partner, What, before he and Tillman compare notes.
(chuckles) While it's still fresh on his mind.
Sebastian, how's my favorite prosecutor? What do you want, Angela? Brr, feeling a chill.
We used to be close, Shark, very close.
Yeah, that's because I was freshly divorced, which qualifies as temporary insanity.
And you, of all people, don't call me that.
I don't remember you complaining at the time.
Why so bitter? You mean besides hanging me out to dry on the Braden case? That was just good investigative reporting.
Unnamed sources, stolen documents.
Pot kettle black.
I was just doing my job.
Besides, you've used me just as many times as I've used you.
Which brings us back to what do you want, Angela? The police shooting last night, are the cops covering up? ment.
Come on, pretty boy.
You know the game.
Either I can print your version or someone else's.
Print this.
About time you got your ass back here.
MAN: You ready to hit the street? What's happening? Hey, Rick, how you doing? I'm good.
You know, everyone here, they still talk about how you stood up for Joey.
Yeah, feels like a million years ago.
So what brings you around? Well, I was hoping to see Detective Leary.
Is he in? Stark is running the investigation? Yeah, but he's playing straight.
Not too many people around here are going to be believing that.
Kenny's in the locker room.
But go easy on him, he's pretty messed up.
All right? Once Ferris opened on us, Ray had to fire back.
When he fired, I did, too.
Ferris deserved what he got.
But that kid I'm having trouble with it.
Is it okay if I call you Kenny? Yeah.
Everybody does.
When did you make detective? Six months ago.
Yeah.
His old one just retired.
Tillman your first partner? Everybody said I hit the lottery.
You like him? Ray's the best.
Took him about a week to actually look at me.
I think I learned more from him in these six months than my entire time in uniform.
Yeah, I remember my first partner.
I didn't know a damn thing.
I'm lucky I didn't get us both killed.
Look, Kenny I'm going to do my best to help you.
Okay? But you have to trust me.
Okay.
Thanks, Isaac.
Did Leary's story sound rehearsed? Tough to tell.
Is that your expert analysis? Do I think he's young and scared? Yes.
Do I think he's lying? No.
How's Thomas Broussard doing? Touch and go, but it looks like Reshaun Ferris is Further proof there's no justice in the universe.
gonna pull through.
Ferris' tox screen came back positive.
He was high on cocaine at the time of the shooting.
Yes.
Anything from the witnesses? The unis who called it in still say Reshaun Ferris shot first.
Bystanders blame the cops.
I'm not sure if any of them actually saw anything.
However, Ferris has an outstanding bench warrant.
And he's a two-time loser.
He was looking at a third strike.
So he knew, if the cops found him, it's 25 to life.
It gets better.
The warrant is for assaulting an off-duty cop.
You spoil me.
You have to see this.
Somebody posted this an hour ago.
It's a video shot last night at the scene.
LAPD! LEARY: people screaming) (loud popping, Go back.
LAPD! (loud popping) Sounded like a gunshot.
Stop.
You hear that? Yeah, but look at the cops.
Neither one has his gun out.
Which means they're telling the truth.
(cell phone rings) Reshaun Ferris fired first.
Get Slocum to clean this up.
All right, we got a cop-hating drug dealer ducking a third strike.
He runs into two narcs.
He knows he's going to go down hard, so he decides to shoot it out, putting his choirboy cousin on life support.
Not anymore.
That was the hospital.
Thomas Broussard didn't make it.
Which means this just turned into a murder case.
to the felony murder statute And, according and somebody dies as a result, You commit a felony, even if you didn't actually kill them It's still first degree murder.
And, last I checked, opening fire on two police officers is a felony.
Bye-bye, Reshaun.
Mrs.
Broussard, I'm Sebastian Stark.
I'm with the D.
A.
's office.
I'm so very sorry for your loss.
Thank you.
But that won't bring back my boy.
No, ma'am.
You promise me this Whoever did this, make them pay.
You have my word.
Reshaun Ferris, you're under arrest for the murder of Thomas Broussard.
What the hell you talking about? Word of advice.
Keep your mouth shut till you hire a lawyer.
And if I were you, I'd watch my back at the police station.
Not your biggest fans.
Look, man, I ain't even know that they were cops.
I couldn't hear a thing with the music blasting.
They were wearing badges, Reshaun.
If they were, I didn't see them.
And I ain't shoot at nobody.
Glock belong to you? It's not rocket science, guys.
His prints were all over it.
Yeah, it's my gun, but I never pulled it out.
And the clip was full Oh.
Oh, so somebody planted your own gun on you.
last time I saw it.
That's a pretty neat trick.
Especially since both cops saw you reach for it.
I was reaching for Thomas, to tell him to get us out of there.
Really? Why would you need to do that if you didn't know they were cops? All right, then.
Once they got closer, I saw that they were cops.
But they started shooting, not me.
My cousin never hurt nobody.
I loved that kid.
I would never put him in the middle of that.
Right, 'cause you're such a role model.
Okay, second degree murder, life with parole.
With time off, he's out in 20 years.
Hey, with a third strike, 20 years?! Hell, no! you should be down on your knees thanking me, No deal, Stark.
all right? Angela, I hate to remind you of this, against me as a D.
A.
but you are 0 for six sides at halftime, Just because we both switched it's still the same game.
Aren't you the guy who used to go after the cops? Times change.
Take the deal before your client ends up with a needle in his arm.
(sighs) Right.
have to look at this REPORTER: Angela, you really relations in Los Angeles.
in the larger context of race history of police abuse-- Now, there is a pervasive so the defendant's claim that Ramparts, Rodney King-- has some historical basis.
the evidence was tampered with CROWD: Justice! MAN: What do we want? startling new video And KTDS News has obtained this assertion.
which may support This is footage from located at a church a surveillance camera from where the SUV crashed.
across the street LAPD detectives who shot These are the two and killed Thomas Broussard.
One of them holds what appears in his hand.
to be the defendant's gun on the floor of the vehicle The gun that was allegedly found (TV clicks off) Madeleine file a motion in limine to keep this video out while our case still has a pulse.
Right.
Hey, Dad? I got a court date scheduled, and I need a lawyer.
Well, look in the Yellow Pages under "L.
" Hire somebody, and send me the bill.
Then we'll figure out how you're going to pay me back.
the evidence? REPORTER: Did police mishandle have planted the gun, Or could they as Reshaun Ferris alleges? detectives who shot These are the two LAPD One of them and killed Thomas Broussard.
holds the defendant's gun Well, now that the whole world has seen you two tampering with evidence, you mind telling me what the hell is going on? Look, I panicked, okay? I took the gun out of the car.
Yeah.
It's called securing the crime scene.
Cops do it every day.
Kenny, the question is, how did the gun get back in the car? That's on me.
I knew they would put this under the microscope, so, when he took I grabbed it and put it back inside.
the gun, And then you lied to my face about it, right, Detective? Hmm? You grabbed the gun by the barrel.
Why didn't SID find your prints? I wiped them off.
I didn't want any questions.
(chuckles) So much for that strategy.
STARK: Yeah.
Isaac, we didn't do anything wrong.
Well, unfortunately, that's going to be a lot harder to prove now, isn't it? Messing with the gun was an accident? That sounds fishy to me.
It stinks like three-day-old sushi.
this right, but under the circumstances, I'm not saying their behavior is understandable.
You see these headlines? As if there weren't enough heat on this case already! This puts us on notice! I need you to find out everything-- about these two cops.
I mean everything-- File a motion for their personnel records.
Recheck the ballistics, the evidence, all of it.
No more surprises.
I need to speak with you for a minute.
What do you need? Your opinion.
I'm not sure Isaac should be running point on this.
Why are you asking me? I thought you two were Close.
Well, you thought wrong.
Look, if you want to know what's going on in that man's head, trust me, I'm not the one to ask.
The surveillance video is inconclusive and completely irrelevant.
Irrelevant? We're arguing the gun was planted.
The video shows the two police officers holding the weapon.
Does it get more relevant? the defense with statements We have provided from both officers, explaining why they had the gun.
You mean explaining away why they lied And the defense about this earlier.
is free to use those statements at trial.
But that video is so prejudicial, it outweighs any probative value it may contain.
You've got to be kidding.
Sorry, Ms.
Carrelli.
It's a close call, but, since you can use their statements to cross examine the officers, you don't need the video.
Prosecution's motion is granted.
Thank you, Your Honor.
0 for seven.
More videos? Everyone has a cell phone camera these days.
I'm trying to build a chronology, but there's something else.
I analyzed the first video.
The one with the gunshot? Well, that's the problem.
I couldn't get a clear visual confirmation of the gunshot, so I isolated the audio.
(loud popping) That's a shot from the Beretta both cops fired.
Ferris had a Glock.
When I compare the gunshot on the video, (loud popping) either shot.
In fact, it didn't it didn't match Louis, can we cut to the chase? match anything in our database.
The sound on the video isn't a gunshot.
Then what is it? The sound of a muffler backfiring from one of the other cars at the scene.
Which means Reshaun Ferris didn't fire first.
It doesn't matter! It's still a clean shoot! They saw him reach for his gun! telling the truth, which is not Yeah, if they're exactly their strong suit so far! Cops face guys like Ferris every day.
Doesn't mean you get to kill a guy They don't react, they die.
How about you grab a badge for no reason.
and gun, you hit the street, see how you do when the bad guys show up! Tillman had a history with Reshaun Ferris.
He was part of a narcotics task force that busted him three times.
How come we didn't All three times, Reshaun walked.
find this out earlier? Tillman wasn't the arresting officer.
His name wasn't even on the paperwork.
Every time I think I've hit rock bottom, another rung gives way in the cosmic ladder.
How long ago were these arrests? Well, someone's got to find Tillman's Two years ago.
old partner, figure out the deal between Tillman and Ferris.
Are you in or are you out? Terry Burns? I'm here about Ray Tillman.
Reshaun Ferris is the scum of the earth.
We couldn't nail him.
decent eyewitness-- old guy named Reese.
Finally got a neighborhood 48 years while it went to hell.
He lived in the Saw Ferris drop a body.
Could have put him away.
What happened? Tillman was assigned to protect Reese.
Call comes over the radio-- cops being assaulted two blocks away.
What's Ray going to do? He rolls.
Only there's nothing there.
It's a dummy call.
Time he gets back, Reese's throat is cut.
Reshaun Ferris.
No way to prove it, of course.
Next day, the house where Ferris is slinging.
Ray cruises by The son of a bitch laughs in his face.
I had to hold Ray back.
He was never the same after that.
Problems at home.
Started drinking more, going home less.
Finally, Alice left, took his boys.
Ray had nothing left to lose.
who planted on that rich scumbag You're the guy killed your partner.
This isn't about me.
Yeah? Whatever you say about Ray, every partner he ever had would take a bullet for him.
That's 'cause he'd do the same for them.
You should get that better than anyone.
I edited the crime scene videos into one chronological version.
LOUIS: MARTIN: And? Well, unfortunately, you still can't really see anything very clearly.
Then why do we care? Because of what you can hear.
Listen.
Count the shots.
(gunshots) Eleven.
But that only accounts for Tillman and Leary.
They fired 11 shots.
There were 11 bullet holes in the SUV.
Wait.
Are you saying Reshaun Ferris never fired at all? You got it.
I'll flip you to see who tells Stark.
Hold it.
Ferris had a Glock 19.
How many bullets does that hold? 15 in that magazine, one more in the chamber.
There were ten left when they found it, RAINA: but Ferris said that he had a full clip, so what happened to the rest of the bullets? Can you pause that, Louis? That's the security video, isn't it? RAINA: MARTIN: If he's going to put the gun back, why is he walking the other way? The camera's up there.
Tillman was standing right here.
Time to call the boss.
Got five cartridges here.
So Tillman dumped the bullets to make it look like Ferris fired the gun.
Nice work.
You're both lying through your teeth.
I'm going to give you one last chance to come clean, and if you think it's dangerous out there on the street, you wait till I come gunning for you in court.
I've got nothing to say.
LEARY: Isaac, please.
Detective Leary, I advise you not to speak.
A 17-year-old kid is dead who shouldn't be.
You are going down for that, and you are going with him.
and Detectives Leary and Tillman are being held over for trial.
Have these charges damaged the relationship between the DA's office and the LAPD? I'm certain the LAPD shares our desire for justice in this matter.
But isn't it risky to go after the cops in an election year, Ms.
Devlin? Especially when both you and the mayor are counting on the endorsement of the police union? I don't think so, Angela.
In fact, I'd like to acknowledge one of our investigators, former LAPD Detective Isaac Wright.
His work on this case has REPORTER 1: Detective! been invaluable.
REPORTER 2: Detective, did the LAPD cooperate fully with this investigation? Detective! outside LA County Courthouse That was the scene as District Attorney this afternoon This is a load of crap! I don't appreciate being trotted out like That was a damned trained seal.
Right.
Now you got an ex-cop Jessica's call.
cover your ass, while you go after the LAPD.
My ass is covered by the facts.
You got a problem with this case, talk to the cops who opened fire on two people without provocation.
You used my relationship to build your case.
Yeah.
with these guys I believe it's called your job! You know what, you got an itch for cops and I didn't sign on to help you scratch it.
No, you signed on to help me put away bad guys, even if those bad guys are wearing badges.
You want to pick and choose who you take down, you are in the wrong line of work.
Maybe I am.
You don't want to talk Isaac! So you're just to me right now.
You're damn right I am.
gonna walk out? Screw Stark.
I don't need this job.
You sure? Because you told me it was the next best thing to being a cop.
Why do you care what I do? I keep wondering the same thing.
Mr.
Bergdorf, I'm Julie Stark.
We spoke on the phone earlier.
Hold on.
I brought all the paperwork we discussed-- My ticket, and my copy of Just bring it to court.
Okay, but I was hoping we could discuss our strategy.
Strategy? For getting the charges dismissed.
If you wanted the charges dismissed, you should have refused the field sobriety test.
Then I'd have something to work with.
Okay, but I I really need to make this go away.
You're a minor.
You blew a .
06.
The only way it's going away? Get your dad's office to lose the file.
Come on, Shisconik.
You plant one on someone who deserves it, that's one thing, but to just roll up and start shooting? You think that's what Leary and Tillman did? I don't know.
I don't know, man.
I'm just (sighs) I'm just sick of being caught up in the middle of it.
Look, I mean, quit if you want to, but if you ask me, you're still on the right side.
Guys will knock you for working with Stark, but the job needs someone on the inside.
Make sure cops get a fair shake.
We know Tillman held a grudge against Reshaun Ferris.
He's looking for revenge, sees Ferris, opens fire.
Or they legitimately thought the muffler backfire was a gunshot.
Maybe if Leary fired first, but Tillman admitted that he took the first shot.
The guy's been on the force for 30 years.
He knows the difference between a muffler and a gunshot.
Not to mention they lied about it, and why the cover-up if they're innocent? The problem is proving it.
We got the cartridges we found at the crime scene, but for that evidence the jury needs to see that surveillance video.
to have any impact, You mean the one that you so brilliantly got excluded? I didn't say this was gonna be easy.
The video shows Detective Tillman walking off to dump the extra bullets.
It establishes a context within which the planting of the gun took place.
Alleged planting of the gun.
And just a few days ago, Mr.
Stark argued successfully against the admission of this very piece of evidence because of it's highly prejudicial nature.
Surely, he can't believe he's entitled to have it both ways.
He's right, Mr.
Stark.
Your encyclopedic JUDGE BRIAR: knowledge of the evidence code was most impressive.
I'm flattered, Your Honor, but this is an entirely new case.
And said rules The rules of evidence do not change.
include number 1102.
The surveillance video shows a pattern and practice of behavior on the part of Detective Tillman.
Not without evidence of prior bad acts.
Ah, great minds, Your Honor.
from Detective Tillman's personnel records.
My office obtained this We've had no time to review this.
It won't take long, Dan.
It's a disciplinary charge from several years ago, alleging that Detective Tillman planted drugs on a defendant.
This was never adjudicated.
And hence, he was never cleared.
It's pretty thin, Mr.
Stark but I'll allow it.
The tape comes in.
Groveling in three, two, one.
Sebastian? Yes? Leary wants to talk.
All he could talk about was how much he wanted to get Reshaun Ferris.
When that call came over, he jumped on it.
Wait a minute.
Tillman knew Ferris was gonna be there? We had the plates, description of the vehicle.
The whole way there, he kept talking about how bad this guy was.
We needed to be ready for anything.
Did he go there to kill Ferris? Look, once he started shooting, I had no choice.
Your partner fires, you fire.
Yeah, I understand that, but why did you help him cover it up? Ray said that if I didn't help him out, everybody would know I hung him out to dry.
You know? I'd be done on the job.
Ray said that partners help each other out, that's how it works.
Look, you gotta understand, Mr.
Stark.
All I ever wanted to be was a cop.
(sighing) What do you want? Full immunity.
He walks on murder and obstruction.
In return, he helps you put Tillman away for life.
He's lying.
I've seen hundreds of rats.
STARK: In the end, they're almost eager to give it up.
Leary looks like he's having a root canal.
What do you expect? He doesn't want to bury his partner.
That's exactly the problem.
He doesn't have to.
Leary could say that it was an accident.
Instead, he's laying Tillman out for murder? No offense, but who cares? We have a winning case.
The ex-partner said every cop Tillman ever worked with would jump in front of a train for him, because he'd do the same for them.
Instead, Leary's pushing Tillman Yeah, well, I don't in front of the train.
buy it, okay? I sat across from this kid.
I saw it in his eyes.
He loves this guy.
So why is he selling him out? It doesn't make any sense.
Unless Tillman wants him to.
It's like the cover-up at the crime scene.
There's no way the rookie's calling the shots.
Tillman would always take a bullet for his partner.
That's exactly what he's doing now.
This is the crime scene before the shooting.
LOUIS: They're crude mpeg 3 videos, but the program breaks down the video so we can analyze it.
Just show me what you got, Louis.
Leary and Tillman are approaching the car, no shots fired yet.
(loud popping) There.
That movement Leary made.
RAINA: He's backing up.
Isolate that.
No, that's the recoil from his gun.
Tillman didn't fire first.
Leary did.
Funny, the weatherman didn't say anything about snow.
My point is, we ought to be able to help each other.
Like you leaking that surveillance video on the news, not helpful.
I'd like to avoid that in the future.
What's the angle? Same as always-- mutual assistance.
Sorry to interrupt.
Not now.
It's urgent.
(sighs) I'll be right back.
(door closes) TILLMAN: What's going on, Kenny? What's so urgent? This reporter.
She said you're flipping on me, man.
Why would I do that? Hell, this was my idea to begin with.
Am I right or wrong? She gave me the same story, about some some affidavit she found in Stark's office.
But if we keep our mouths shut, she's got nothing to go public with.
You understand? Just stick to the plan, Kenny.
This will be over soon, I promise you.
I still can't believe LEARY: you're doing this for me, man.
That's what partners do, Kenny.
TILLMAN: You'll get your chance one day.
All right? Just stick to the plan, Kenny.
TILLMAN: I promise you.
This will be over soon, Nice move.
Same thing I'd do on the streets; whatever it takes.
I'll do what I can to make this right.
Level with me and You know, um being in Narcotics, uh, things I see every day.
I grew up on those streets, you know what I'm saying? I had the same strikes against me Reshaun Ferris has, so it's no excuse for selling junk to schoolkids.
You busted hundreds of punks like Ferris.
What makes him so different? You got out early.
Me, I gave my life to this job.
And I was never the father or the husband I should have been.
You're not alone there.
Yeah, but I lost everything: my wife, my kids.
Okay, but your wife's been gone over two years.
Why go after Ferris now? (sighs) About six months ago I noticed that my knees were swollen.
(chuckles) I was All-City fullback, so I figured it was just bone chips or something.
I finally went to the doctor, it was too late.
Malignant fibrous histiocytoma.
Cancer? (sighs) What happened that night? I'd just come from the clinic that morning.
Doc gave me six months, tops.
It threw me.
Everything I was feeling, I wanted to take it out on somebody.
Then we get the call.
Reshaun Ferris.
(laughing) I felt like the man upstairs was throwing me a bone, you know what I mean? Give me one last chance to nail this bastard.
LEARY: LAPD! But I got this kid Kenny so worked up about Ferris, by the time we got there, he would have fired at his own shadow.
Then I hear that, uh, muffler backfire.
no, no! (firing shots) Kenny, no, no, Leary opened fire and I had to fire back, too.
I mean, I knew Reshaun would be armed.
He could have fired back on us.
He didn't fire back, did he? No, no.
When we get to the car, Ferris's gun was still tucked in his pants.
He didn't fire, right? I shot him for nothing, man.
It's okay, Kenny.
Kenny, look at me.
I'll handle it.
I'll handle it.
I'll handle it, I'll handle it.
Come on, I'll handle it.
So you take the gun, you dump the bullets, you tell Leary to play along.
Yeah.
Man.
What about Tommy Broussard? He was 17 years old.
He never stepped out of line one second his entire life.
I would give anything in the world to bring that boy back.
You can't make this go away, Detective.
I know.
Look, uh let me take the fall, all right? I've done a lot of things wrong in 30 years, Stark.
Please, let me get this one last thing right.
JUDGE BRIAR: Mr.
Stark, I understand you've reached a disposition in this case? We have, Your Honor.
Detective Raymond Tillman On the charges of murder in the second degree, and obstruction of justice, how do you plead? Guilty, Your Honor.
(audience exclaiming) It is the Court's understanding that as a condition of this plea, all charges are being dropped against Detective Leary.
That's right, Your Honor.
Very well, we are adjourned.
(gavel bangs) Isaac, I just talked to my captain.
They said my suspension's over, I can go back to work.
Yeah, about that What's this? It's part of the deal we made with Tillman.
You have to turn in your badge, Kenny.
What? But I'm a cop, Isaac, that's all I know how to do.
Well, then you should have stood up and done it.
You shouldn't go along with a cover-up just because your partner told you to.
You're going to lecture me, after After what I did, what you did? e a cop anymore either.
(footsteps approaching) Ray.
There's someone here who deserves the truth about what happened.
You two are going to give it to her.
Pretty boy, that fake affidavit ANGELA: you left for me to see-- knowing I'd go right to Tillman and Leary with it-- you played me like a fiddle.
As I recall, that used to turn you on.
forward to our new détente.
Pity, I was looking We're even.
Till next time.
So I Sebastian, I should have Look, I I shouldn't have said what I said.
No.
No, you were right.
You know, when I brought you over here, I just never thought how tough it would be on you.
I only saw the upside for me.
Something new and different.
So you sticking around? (sighs) Well, I figure somebody's got to keep you from getting killed.
Hey.
I was hoping maybe we could get a cup of coffee.
I don't think so.
I know things got weird between us.
Look, no offense, but I've dealt with guys like you before-- quiet, complicated, all kinds of demons wrapped up in a pretty package.
I'll pass.
So you think I'm pretty.
I've seen prettier.
Can we can we just go somewhere and talk? I promise I'll leave my demons in the car.
How'd your hearing go? I got my license suspended for 90 days, and I have to do 180 hours of community service.
But if you do all that, which you will, your arrest gets expunged.
That's really comforting.
It ought to be.
You-you could have helped me, Dad.
How? By getting me a better lawyer, at least.
Boyd's the best.
If you had a bad lawyer, you'd be in jail right now.
Wait a second, how did you know who I went to? You think I'd let you deal with all this without checking up on you? Checking up on me? Dad, you could have made this whole thing go away.
Easily.
But you need to learn that actions have consequences.
Right, this coming from the guy who got rich letting criminals go free.
Could you be a bigger hypocrite? Don't you dare speak to me like that.
What? So now all of a sudden you're going to play father, give me some big lecture? Every time I take an interest in your life-- every time-- you push me away.
You get in trouble, you whine to your mom.
You call Isaac, not me.
You only want a father when it's convenient for you.
But I got news for you, it doesn't work that way.
So when you decide you really want a father, you let me know.
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