City councilman denies offering police officer a deal
GREENSBORO — The brother of police Officer A.J. Blake and the leader of the local chapter of the NAACP said Tuesday that Councilman Mike Barber made Blake an implied offer to get assault charges against him dismissed in exchange for removing his name from a lawsuit against the city.
Barber denied making the offer. He was interviewed at a City Council meeting Tuesday night.
He said he has no relationship with the Guilford County District Attorney’s Office that would allow him to get Blake a deal.
A.J. Blake was found guilty of two counts of assault on a female in March, stemming from an incident at a private party at the Greensboro Police Club on Jan. 17.
He has been suspended without pay and has been recommended for termination from the police department.
He is appealing the conviction and the recommendation for termination.
At a Tuesday news conference, Blake admitted making bad decisions at the party, which involved a night of heavy drinking.
However, he denied the assault charges.
He said the charges and an investigation into the incident were tainted by racist sentiments within the department.
Blake’s brother, Amili Blake, and the Rev. Cardes Brown, leader of the local NAACP, also said that Officer Blake met with Barber regarding his suspension.
Amili Blake said Barber implied at that meeting that he could get charges against Officer Blake dismissed in exchange for removing his name from a the federal lawsuit filed against the city in January by about 40 black officers alleging racial discrimination within the police department.
Amili Blake said Barber implied the city had wronged Officer Blake “due to the black book incident,” and said that “we have something here (the assault suspension) that is hurting you, go ahead and do this (leave the lawsuit) and they’ll cancel each other out.”
Officer Blake said he would not comment on his meeting with Barber on the advice of his attorney.
Other than Amili Blake’s recollection of the meeting with Barber, no one at the news conference could present proof that Barber offered a deal.
At the City Council meeting Tuesday night, Barber said he had met with Officer Blake on several occasions, but said at no time did they discuss Blake’s EEOC claim.
Barber said Monday night he spoke to Officer Blake’s attorney, who offered an apology from Blake.
Barber also denied ever meeting Amili Blake.
Among other claims Officer Blake made:
— The department’s gang unit targeted the Latino community and officers were ordered to “charge the Latin Kings with any possible violations that we could,” and “certain tactics used to investigate the gang were abusive.”
Officer Blake said he reported his concerns to supervisors, but the information fell on deaf ears.
In reaction, police Chief Tim Bellamy said no reports from Officer Blake were made to internal affairs or through any department supervisors.
He denied the department targets anyone because of race or nationality.
— Officer Blake expressed concerns that he was suspended without pay, when other officers accused of similar crimes got paid suspension in the past.
Bellamy said the case in question, which involved Officer E.N. Tate, happened years ago. He said it was handled under prior department policy.
That policy allowed for paid suspension.
That policy was changed last year because of a recommendation from the city Human Resources Department, which requires all suspended city employees be unpaid, Bellamy said.
Staff writer Amanda Lehmert contributed to this report.
Contact Ryan Seals at 373-7077 or ryan.seals@news-record.com
Accompanying Photos
Photo Caption: AJ Blake
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