Two former cops in Torrance, California, have been ordered this week to face trial after being accused of spray portray a swastika on a suspect’s impounded automotive, The Every day Bulletin stories.
In January 2021, Torrance cops Christopher Tomsic, 31, and Cody Weldin, 30, responded to stories of males stealing mail from an residence constructing’s mailbox; after an investigation, a automotive allegedly used within the thefts, a 2004 Hyundai Elantra, was discovered, belonging to at least one Kiley Swaine. Swaine was arrested and the Elantra towed and impounded. Whereas Swaine wasn’t charged, when he picked up his Elantra from impound he discovered a swastika and a smiley face spray painted on it.
A tow truck driver had reportedly witnessed officers Tomsic and Weldin portray the automotive because it was being held. A trove of racist and anti-semitic textual content message exchanges between 13 different officers within the division was additionally discovered in the midst of the investigation. Each Tomsic and Weldin now are now not employed by the division. Every faces felony prices of 1 rely of vandalism totaling greater than $400 in harm and conspiracy to commit vandalism.
The Every day Bulletin stories that pre-trial motions within the case nonetheless aren’t fairly over.
Superior Courtroom Choose Craig Richman denied a protection movement to dismiss the case in opposition to Christopher Tomsic, 31, and Cody Weldin, 30, who’re charged with one felony rely every of vandalism with greater than $400 in harm and conspiracy to commit vandalism.
The choose mentioned there have been two estimates of about $2,500 to restore the harm to the automotive, acknowledging that prosecutors and protection attorneys agreed that the automotive’s proprietor wound up paying about $10 to take away the paint. The choose additionally famous that protein powder and cereal have been tossed all around the automotive in what he described as “malicious mischief.”
Tomsic’s legal professional, Lisa Houle, mentioned she plans to file a movement asking one other choose, Sam Ohta, who has been assigned the case, to dismiss prices in opposition to her consumer primarily based on the proof introduced through the preliminary listening to.
Swaine sued town for $6 million in a federal lawsuit and later settled for $750,000. Torrance Police Chief Jeremiah Hart took a agency stance in opposition to the actions of the officers. “Let me be clear, I’ll aggressively pursue any type of racism, bigotry, hate, or misconduct on the Torrance Police Division,” Hart mentioned at a press convention.