Glen R. Banfield Senior Deputy District Attorney on Ben Pickering

From: mary rose lenore eng 
Date: Tue, Oct 15, 2013 at 1:14 PM
Subject: Re: Benjamin Pickering
To: BANFIELD Glen , adrian.brown@usdoj.gov, "Geissler, Jonas (CRT)" , Commissioner Fritz , Portland Copwatch


Benjamen Pickering is dis-satisfied by his attorney Dawn Andrews and has asked for a Substitution and change of venue. Dawn ANDREWS IS TRYING TO ALLEGE BEN PICKERING'S DYSLEXIA and blindness in his Left Eye make him unable to "Aid and Assist" in his defense. This is discriminatory and incorrect. Ben Pickering found out single-handedly the Portland Police returned to the scene of the crime to ask the owners of Ace Tavern to erase footage of the beating. If he is competent to discover evidence destruction by Police, how dare his lawyer allege his inability to assist?

The metropolitan Defenders tried to force ben into a plea bargain before they realized his blindness in his left eye and the fact that he was severely injured by police in May 2013.

It is untrue that Ben is unable to assist in his defense. Ben Pickering has been disabled since 1995 and was brutally beaten by police. His Traumatic Brain Injury and blindness are worthy of special consideration by the courts and prosecutors. 

Ben is aware that his ADA rights have been violated by the Police, the Prosecution, and even his own defenders.

Ben Pickering was forced to sign many documents in MCDC in defiance of his need to have all documents read to him in a dyslexia and blind-friendly format.

His denial of counsel has left Ben at a severe disadvantage, and he has not been read his charges in a Blind or Dyslexia friendly format.

His attorney is both rude, abusive, denigrating, and in total denial about Ben Pickering being beaten by police.

Ben Pickering is a courageous activist for Disability Rights and GLBT rights, and the horror of him being called a "Pussy" as he was beaten by Portland Police merits special consideration as a Homophobic Hate Crime.

His Social Security was stolen in the months of June and July after the Police beat him by Nacole Martin of Precision Financial Management recommended by the nonprofit Transition Projects. Ben suffered mugging  at knifepoint and attempted sexual assault at knifepoint in Portland and a Gun in the face, all of which is terrifying for someone with Visual Impairment.

We have not successfully yet obtained a replacement Guide Dog and all mental stress is against doctor's orders.

Ben Pickering has assisted Adrian Brown in her investigation of PPB brutality and has participated in Independent Police Review data collection and spoken with Jonas Geissler about his participation in the Amanda Marshall DOJ action v. PPB.

Dawn Andrews may have Ben's best interests at heart in trying to get all the charges dropped, but she is rude and lacks a human relations finesse and medically appropriate tone for someone with a Severe Brain Injury. Loud Voices and noises can be significant stressors for the tremendously painful headaches.

I have tremendously enjoyed my friendship and advocacy with Benjamen Pickering. He is a small town hero from a generous country family in rural Washington.  His mother currently suffers from a paralyzing stroke and is unable to drive Ben down to Portland to participate in your prosecution.

I would be happy to speak to you about all the medical and investigative records i have obtained with Ben Pickering's diligent and intelligent assistance. 

We spoke to Stuart Palmiter yesterday, a police officer who found Ben Pickering after Ben was beaten by the Police. Palmiter recommended medical attention at OHSU and stated that he would have immediately had medical checks after such a severe beating, with blood oozing out of Ben's Left Blind eye, such that the reconstructive surgery appears to be reversing and ben's eye is losing it's centering after the surgery the Police reversed.

I have commended him to the IPR and to Reese and he is communicating with Dawn Andrews.

Ben Pickering's extreme headaches have intensified after the police attack.

I appreciate your compassionate approach to speaking with me, as Ben's  friend and ally.

We look forward to meeting Ms. Fritz on Thursday at 11am, and i would love to speak to you Glenn Benfield tomorrow at 2pm and Ben Pickering will be at my side, as he has been since we became friends 28 June 2013.

Many Blessings to you, until tomorrow

Mary Eng

i will call via a skype account maryeng1


On Mon, Oct 14, 2013 at 2:11 PM, BANFIELD Glen <Glen.BANFIELD@mcda.us> wrote:
Ms. Eng
I received your voice mail regarding Mr. Pickering’s case. I would like to discuss this matter with you in more detail. Unfortunately I am unavailable for the rest of the day and I will be out of the office tomorrow. I would like to invite you to call me on Wed at 2:00 to talk about the case. Is that a good time for you? I cannot have contact with Mr. Pickering because he is represented by counsel. I would be happy to speak with you or Mr. Pickering’s attorney.

Regards,
Glen R. Banfield
Senior Deputy District Attorney
Misdemeanor Trial Unit/Intake
Multnomah County District Attorney’s Office



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