Coroner questions drug case evidence

By Steve Wilson
The Daily Iberian
Published/Last Modified on Wednesday, April 23, 2008 4:21 PM CDT

An Iberia Parish medical expert is questioning the purported medical evidence in the criminal case against Donovan Jones  that led a New Orleans reverend to call a press conference seeking all charges aganist Jones dropped.

In the April 15 press conference, the Rev. Raymond Brown of the National Action Network, said Jones had a medical document proving his innocence in connection with his April 7 arrest for possession of crack cocaine with intent to distribute and resisting arrest. The Iberia Parish Clerk of Courts office said Jones, 24 of New Iberia, is awaiting arraignment in the case.

A copy of the evidence, an unsigned diagnostic radiology report from Iberia Medical Center, was shown to the media voluntarily by the suspect’s family at the press conference.

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“No radiopaque foreign body is seen,” the report stated.

Jones is alleged to have swallowed the crack cocaine he had in his possession during the incident, according to the Iberia Parish Sheriff’s Office.

However, Iberia Parish Coroner Dr. James Falterman, who was provided a copy of a photo made of the report, offered a different opinion.

“Cocaine is not a radiopaque material most of the time and the chances of picking it up on an X-ray are not good,” Falterman said. “The fact that it didn’t show on the X-ray does not mean it wasn’t there. When we look for chemicals we use chemical tests with bodily fluids.”

Brown reiterated his support for Jones, as well his concern about the conduct of Iberia Parish sheriff’s deputy Troy Willis, who arrested Jones during the incident.

“I just hope that justice and fairness is done,” Brown said. “While I do sympathize with the community regarding the drug problem, the Iberia Sheriff’s Department is getting criticized for the way this search was handled. The District Attorney’s Office, on the side of justice, must not prosecute this case.”

In response to comments made regarding the issue of race and his desire to see Willis transferred out of predominately African American neighborhoods with respect to his patrol duties, Brown clarified his position.

“I never called him, Deputy Willis, a racist,” Brown said. “I said he was very brutal and abusive and has gone overboard. If he is not moved to another area we are going to seek the election of a new sheriff.”

The Jones family declined to provide any additional comment on the matter.

Copyright © 2009 The Daily Iberian

Comments

    just me wrote on May 7, 2008 2:47 PM:

    " I say let the fool eat all the drugs we as taxpayers save money "

    HAHAHA wrote on May 7, 2008 7:00 AM:

    " So funny! Well, I personally helped ER staff one time pump a guys stomach who swallowed evidence. They must have taken 20 x-rays. Nothing ever showed up on the pics cause the doc let us look. But WOW! The blood results tell all! He was quilty and the judge slammed him. The "Dog" is all man and blacks, whites, etc. should be "shakin" in their shoes when he is around. I personnally know him and worked extensively with him during Katrina. Racist? Don't you believe it. He's handled enough rough geekers white and black alike. He just don't take cr*p. "

    D. Hertz wrote on May 6, 2008 2:18 PM:

    " Keep this forum alive. The Iberian deleted the other forum on this topic. Wow, I didn't think the Iberian was that weak minded. "

    RN wrote on May 6, 2008 3:44 AM:

    " Take ease citizens of New Iberia, Mr. Jones will get his day in court and momma will be suprised what her little angel was full of that day. "

    do u really know wrote on May 4, 2008 6:49 AM:

    " If you knew anything for a fact you would know that Troy Willis isn't the Sheriff. "

    Copper wrote on May 3, 2008 6:45 PM:

    " Brown, you do not know the facts, and you do not want to know the facts. Then you wouldn't have anything to cause trouble over. A leader, you are not and never will be. If you want to represent drug dealers, please go and do it some place else. The honest and law abiding citizens do not want you here, GO HOME. Although I hear they do not want you there either. The Dog is here to stay, because we need him and others like him. "

    Gone and forgotten wrote on May 2, 2008 11:42 PM:

    " One would have to assume Rev. Brown is long gone from New Iberia. His cause was without merit. Black people aren't just going to jump up and protest because some outsider says it's the thing to do. The people in New Iberia are far smarter than the great reverends of the world give them credit for. Believe it or not honest people of color don't want drug dealers in their neighborhoods. Given this information the Rev. probably tucked tail and went back to where ever he wasn't being listened to in the first place. "

    REV. RAYMON BROWN wrote on May 2, 2008 8:25 PM:

    " Let me set the record straight. I know for a fact that sheriff Troy Willis was not doing his job when he arrested Mr Donovan Jones. This was an illegal search and seizure,and a violation of Mr Jones civil rights. However to you who say "Rev. BROWN support black people only." I say you have been misinformed. I am presently supporting Mr Jeremiah Munsen a white male charge with hate crimes. No one is above the law including "Dogface" if you disagree e-mail at leaderbrown@yahoo.com. "

    white or black wrote on May 2, 2008 8:40 AM:

    " How does rev Brown know if mr. Jones is
    telling the truth, or if the deputy is?
    I think the court should decide, seems
    the deputy is being prosecuted before a trial,by marching, if he is not moved . Why dont we just sentence mr. Jones to do a jail term while we are while we are condeming people without evedence.
    im saying LETS BE FAIR ON BOTH SIDES
    "

    everyonehasone wrote on May 1, 2008 8:11 PM:

    " Why is it Brown, Jackson and the rest of these "ministers" only come out when a black person is arrested for breaking the law? Why aren't they at the schools when a black person make honors society, when a black person makes eagle scout or the millions of great accomplishments blacks do every day? It seems to me this would make a better cause. "

    Copper wrote on Apr 27, 2008 9:18 PM:

    " I say to the so called Rev Brown, go home and take the Jones with you. And to whoever keeps insisting the Dog is on steroids, don't hate him because he looks better than you, any day of the week. The man knows his job, let him do it. "

    Show me the evidence wrote on Apr 25, 2008 11:52 PM:

    " The talk around town is there is no blood test showing cocaine ingestion, no X-ray showing crack cocaine ingestion, and no symptoms of toxic reaction from cocaine ingestion were observed at hospital. No evidence to present to court in this case.

    My guess is the charges will soon be dropped when the DA swallows his ego and calculates the cost of going forward without any evidence against a malicious prosecution lawsuit he cannot win. The DA only has the weak accusation by one defective policeman with a history of brutality and not being believed in court. "

    THATS BS wrote on Apr 25, 2008 7:59 PM:

    " So doing his job is slamming somebody on their head?! It's easy to be on the other side of the fence when you and yours are not affected by these modern day klan cops! "

    In response to please wrote on Apr 25, 2008 3:47 AM:

    " It all depends on what area you are assigned to work. If you are working in a predominantily black neighborhood than it stands to reason that you will arrest more black suspects than white. As for as white drug offenders making the paper/news that again is untrue. Alot of cases aren't put into the news because the narcotics agents are further their investigations. Its a need to know basis and your out the loop. Also you never hear a Reverend making an issue of a black officer arresting a combative white drug offender now do you?
    "

    Crack cocaine is visible on X-ray cocaine is not wrote on Apr 25, 2008 12:27 AM:

    " Powder cocaine is usually not a radiopaque material, but crack cocaine contains impurities which are radiopaque materials. Therefore, crack cocaine is visible on X-ray most of the time. In the article above, Dr. Falterman says, "Cocaine is not a radiopaque material." Doesn't Dr. Falterman know that Donovan Jones is accused of swallowing crack cocaine? I truly hope Dr. Falterman isn't intentionally misleading the public with clever wording to help the D.A. convict this man in newspaper. Did someone mislead Dr. Falterman about the form of cocaine allegedly swallowed? "

    concered citizen wrote on Apr 24, 2008 8:34 AM:

    " I think the criminial should be roughhed up again for his stupidy for thinking he can get away with this. Mr Brown should get off his racial horse and realize that black or white when you do wrong your wrong. It would be alot different if Mr. Jones had sold crack to one of Mr Browns family. "

    Concerned Iberian wrote on Apr 24, 2008 1:05 AM:

    " GOOD JOB "DAWG" anything it takes to take the drugs out of our town is GREATLY APPRICATED! Thanks for a job VERY WELL DONE!!!!! "

    BS wrote on Apr 23, 2008 10:48 PM:

    " The problem stems from the 16th District Attorney's office not having respect for the U.S. Constitution. The DA and its attorneys are sworn to abide by and protect the U.S. Constitution and somehow that is being ignored by this DA and his assistants. Convictions, unfortunately, are more important than how the police get their evidence. Consequently, the people's rights are being trampled by the police and the DA could stop this but instead encourage them. Too bad! "

    Well Ill Be wrote on Apr 23, 2008 10:13 PM:

    " Seems like Mr. Brown missed our last election. If Deputy Willis is not moved out of the high drug/crime area Mr. Brown is going to call for an election of a new sheriff. Now that would be very interesting. Mr. Brown are you really that ignorant? No one is going to take Deputy Willis out of the areas that hurt New Iberia's image. Your boy Jones is going to fall real hard in court. His case is not going to be dismissed. The only thing being dismissed is you Mr. Brown. Good Day. "

    BT wrote on Apr 23, 2008 6:08 PM:

    " Someone needs to inform Mr. Brown that we've already elected a new sheriff, but I don't see how that has anything to do with a drug dealer lying about his possession of a controlled substance, and once again claiming police brutality.

    While Mr. Brown seems to be one of those people who will believe a criminal just because of his race, I prefer to put my trust in a trained professional servant without a prior record of being dishonest. "

    Deborah C. White wrote on Apr 23, 2008 5:57 PM:

    " My question is this. Why did they do an X-Ray on Jones instead of drawing blood to see what drugs would have shown up in his system? Especially if Crack Cocaine is not radiopaque material. This might have been the better route to go in checking for drugs in his system. I say Go Getem Dog....you are definately doing your job. Kudo's to this officer. Let's get our streets cleaned up at whatever cost. We need more officers like "The Dog." "

    mr. willis doesnt sound innocent wrote on Apr 23, 2008 4:42 PM:

    " how many abuse reports has deputy willis had? excessive reports of abuse sounds like he may have a steroid problem. time for a drug test? "

    Chuck wrote on Apr 23, 2008 4:36 PM:

    " Deputy Willis' brutality accusation is NOT the issue as I see it. The issue is the "wannabe" deities out there who cry injustice and demand action contrary to the code of criminal procedure accepted by this state (and country for that matter). The race of the persons involved is irrelevant. Not allowing the justice system to do it's job is very relevant. It looks like the "reverend" wants to take on the job of judge and jury, as well as deity. I disagree with that. Let the evidence speak for itself. "

    Ignorant wrote on Apr 23, 2008 3:48 PM:

    " “If he is not moved to another area we are going to seek the election of a new sheriff.”

    If you don't know what is going on in our area, STICK YOUR NOSE OUT OF IT! We just had an election and we have a new sheriff coming in. Dumb...

    He sounds like he is running for an Al Sharpton or Jesse Jackson replacement contest. GO HOME! "

    Please wrote on Apr 23, 2008 3:30 PM:

    " Well. "Dog" needs to sniff around some of the neighborhoods on the other side of the tracks, because drugs are in their neighborhood also. It is always a race thing when it comes to drugs, but white and blacks do drugs. They have some white guys I wouldn't let my daughter go out with. Some of these guys think they are above the law. Patrol all neighborhoods. They have white drug dealers too, they just never make the paper. "Dog" is a want to be bad @$$! "

    respects Troy Willis wrote on Apr 23, 2008 2:35 PM:

    " I have had the opportunity of working with Troy to try and get a case investigated. The man was very curtious,he made sure all his information was correct and all his ducks were in a row so he could assure an arrest would stick. If I were a drug dealer I would certainly be afraid if Troy was after me cause I can assure you he knows what he is doing. Dont deal drugs and you dont have to worry about Troy. "

    PH wrote on Apr 23, 2008 1:59 PM:

    " Here we go again....whatever!!! I am sure Deputy Troy Willis was only doing his job. I think the Sheriff's Dept. has the RIGHT MAN on the job for this problem in our town. Drug dealers beware of "DOG" he will sniff you out!!! "

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