Who would know more about police-corruption than someone who had worked for them since the age of 13? Who would be more informed about the way the Florida police ruin the lives of innumerable, innocent, mostly Black or Latino citizens, with the policy of "fitting them up" on false drug charges? The author of the following official complaints was recruited by St.Petersburg Police Department as an immature youth, for purposes of infiltrating highly dangerous criminality, which involved guns, cocaine, multiple pounds of marijuana etc.
I expect it is quite easy to pull in a youth for questioning over a petty theft or similar matter, then pile on the pressure until they agree to go undercover and work as as police-spy. In the case of Harold Hempstead, they certainly managed to find a vulnerable family to exploit, as his father had died and his mother was spending spells in psychiatric care while the children were young. Having got involved with undercover police-work, Harold's problems started after he exposed police-corruption and misconduct. Eventually he was sentenced to 165 years in prison for allegedly leading a conspiracy to burgle various empty houses. Due to a dubious "motion in limine" the judge was able to effectively suppress a lot of evidence that was vital to Harold's defence - including the little fact that he was working for the cops when arrested. The very same cops who testified against him at his medieval-style trial.
Trained as a Confidential Informant from childhood, trained to collect evidence in a methodical way, imprisoned for 165 years by a corrupt judiciary, witness and whistle-blower to the torture-murder of Darren Rainey and the torture and death by starvation of various convicts in the Florida Department of Corrections, Harold Hempstead eventually rose to a kind of fame as the "Caged Crusader" who was awarded for Bravery for his advocacy in the Darren Rainey murder case. During his years behind bars, in the nightmare world of US prisons, Harold became a born-again Christian and is one of the most religious and spiritual people I have ever encountered. His advocacy for Darren Rainey and the others was all done at the risk of his life and I think he got his nickname of the Crusader because nothing, even the threat of death, will stop him speaking out for what is right.
Following the publication of his second book, detailing his juvenile police-work, Harold is publicly exposing some of the corruption he encountered in his earlier years. A study of his writings will show a systematic pattern of racially-profiled arrests, often on spurious evidence.
It will be interesting to see the reaction of the St.Petersburg Police Department to the statements accusing them of gross corruption. I will happily publish any response the police care to give. I do not believe in censorship. Free speech is at the very heart of democracy, and considering the incredible sacrifices some people, like Florida's "Caged Crusader" have made for its sake, the least we can do is give a fair hearing to what others have to say, no matter how disagreeable some of it may be.
Jeremy Schanche, 4th May, 2019.
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INTERNAL AFFAIRS COMPLAINT
Attention: Internal Affairs Division
1300 First Avenue North
St Petersburg, Florida, 33705.
Subject of Complaint: Former St Petersburg Police Officer Mike Brown
FACTS
I authored a book entitled “Used And Abused By The St.Petersburg Police Department.” My book can be located at crusaderbooks.com or lulupublishing.com.
In my book I explain in detail how I know from personal knowledge that former St.Petersburg Vice and Narcotics Detective Mike Brown was behind setting up Michael Ashmead of St.Petersburg, Florida, with a frivolous felony sales and possession of marijuana charge in 1992.
Additionally, I explain how St.Petersburg Vice and Narcotics Detectives James Mosely and Jim Haley engaged me in conversations in 1998 asking me to aid them in setting up Jose Cortes of Tampa, Florida, on drug charges.
Finally, in my book, I also explain how I was subjected to retaliation and censured for previously trying to expose misconduct by these detectives.
From personal knowledge I know that several St.Petersburg Police Department Vice and Narcotics Detectives were involved with setting up numerous individuals with false drug charges in the nineteen nineties.
Presently, dozens, if not hundreds of individuals, have been arrested and are possibly incarcerated on false drug charges, who were set-up by St.Petersburg Police Department Vice and Narcotics Detectives.
I’m requesting that you conduct administrative, civil rights and criminal investigations into the pattern and practice of St.Petersburg Police Department Vice and Narcotics Detectives setting people up on false drug charges. I also request that appropriate action be taken against any detectives involved with the violations mentioned in this complaint.
Finally, I request that you ask the Federal Bureau of Investigations and Department of Justice to investigate the pattern and practice of St.Petersburg Police Department Vice and Narcotics Detectives setting-up individuals with false drug charges.
Unnotarized Oath:
Under penalty of perjury, I swear that everything stated herein is true and correct.
Dated this 7 day of February, 2019.
Affiant: (Signature appears here on original document)
Harold Hempstead, #577366,
Northeast Correctional Complex,
P O Box 5000,
Mountain City, TN 37683-5000.
Attorney for Harold Hempstead:
John Trevena
801 West Bay Drive
Largo, Florida 33770
CC:
John Trevena
Kathryn Varn
Craig Patrick
Meg O’Connor
Rick Kriseman
Jeremy Schanche
 |
| Harold Hempstead, #577366 |
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SWORN COMPLAINT
To:
Criminal Justice Standards and Training Commission
P.O. Box 1489
Tallahassee, Fla.,32302 – 1489
Subject of Complaint: Former St Petersburg Police Office Mike Brown
FACTS
I authored a book entitled “Used And Abused By The St.Petersburg Police Department.” My book can be located at crusaderbooks.com or lulupublishing.com.
In my book I explain in detail how I know from personal knowledge that former St.Petersburg Vice and Narcotics Detective Mike Brown was behind setting up Michael Ashmead of St.Petersburg, Florida, with a frivolous felony sales and possession of marijuana charge in 1992.
Additionally, I explain how St Petersburg Vice and Narcotics Detectives James Mosely and Jim Haley engaged me in conversations in 1998 asking me to aid them in setting up Jose Cortes of Tampa, Florida, on drug charges.
Finally, in my book, I also explain how I was subjected to retaliation and censured for previously trying to expose misconduct by these detectives.
From personal knowledge I know that several St.Petersburg Police Department Vice and Narcotics Detectives were involved with setting up numerous individuals with false drug charges in the nineteen nineties.
Presently, dozens, if not hundreds of individuals, have been arrested and are possibly incarcerated on false drug charges, who were set-up by St.Petersburg Police Department Vice and Narcotics Detectives.
I’m requesting that you conduct administrative, civil rights and criminal investigations into the pattern and practice of St.Petersburg Police Department Vice and Narcotics Detectives setting people up on false drug charges. I also request that appropriate action be taken against any detectives involved with the violations mentioned in this complaint.
Finally, I request that you ask the Federal Bureau of Investigations and Department of Justice to investigate the pattern and practice of St.Petersburg Police Department Vice and Narcotics Detectives setting-up individuals with false drug charges.
Unnotarized Oath:
Under penalty of perjury, I swear that everything stated herein is true and correct.
Dated this 7 day of February, 2019.
Affiant: (Signature appears here on original document)
Harold Hempstead, #577366
Northeast Correctional Complex
P O Box 5000
Mountain City, TN 37683-5000
Attorney for Harold Hempstead:
John Trevena
801 West Bay Drive
Largo, Florida 33770
CC:
John Trevena
Kathryn Varn
Casey Frank
Julie Brown
Craig Patrick
Meg O’Connor
Rick Kriseman
Jeremy Schanche
