Ex-Stripper Sues Police Chief for ‘Violating Her Constitutional Rights’
- Posted on December 28, 2011 at 9:00pm by
Becket Adams
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A police chief accused of stealing $714 from a former stripper’s wallet after a car chase is now facing a federal lawsuit that alleges he “violated her constitutional rights.”
The ex-stripper, Justina Cardoso, 21, filed suit on Dec. 22 claiming Col. John Whiting, 57, violated the rights protecting her from illegal searches and granting her due process. The 21-year-old Cardoso, who lives in Pawtucket, R.I. and performed at the Satin Doll strip club in Providence, is seeking $250,000 in damages from Whiting.
Justina Cardoso (Source: National Confidential)
What’s the story behind this?
Whiting was driving to work in an unmarked police SUV on Aug. 28 when he tried to pass Cardoso’s Ford Explorer. It was raining and driving conditions were poor. Maybe it was because he “aggressively” passed her Explorer, which had slowed down to get around a fallen tree, that one of its 3 passengers decided to throw “an object at his vehicle,” the three-decade veteran of law enforcement told police.
As everyone knows, throwing something — anything — at another vehicle (whether it’s a marked police SUV or not) is a terrible idea.
Whiting turned on his siren lights and tried to get the Explorer to pull over. Cardoso’s vehicle took off and the officer pursued.
Why didn’t the Explorer pull over?
Well, perhaps it was because Cardoso “had just spent the night with a man who paid $600 for her company at a Comfort Inn” and that on her way home she had picked up two men, one of whom was driving the Explorer, according to the New York Times.
Or maybe it was because Cardoso had an outstanding warrant related to a “drug-fueled extortion plot that can only be described as idiotic, and another pending charge for the illegal possession of controlled substances allegedly found in her Coach purse,” according to the Times.
So how did the chase end? The green 1999 Ford Explorer veered onto a dead-end street, ran out of road and smashed into a parked pickup truck. All three passengers in the Explorer immediately fled the scene leaving Whiting alone with the Explorer and a Coach pocketbook stuffed full of cash.
This is where Whiting made his mistake.
Cardoso’s lawsuit claims Whiting illegally went through her SUV after the crash and took money from the Coach wallet she had left behind. There was a total of $714 dollars which police say she earned at the Satin Doll and from the man who paid her for “her company.”
Moments after Whiting had gone through the SUV, John Brown, a veteran Pawtucket police officer, arrived at the scene. Brown immediately noticed that Whiting was nervous and “shaking.”
Within just an hour, and with almost no prompting, Whiting broke down and admitted to Brown that he stole money from a pocketbook “loaded with cash” that he found inside the SUV, investigators wrote in an affidavit.
The Pawtucket officer said Whiting gave him the wad of cash and told him to spend it in Las Vegas and not discuss it. That was it. Whiting had the money in his possession for only an hour before he confessed everything and tried to bribe a fellow officer to keep quiet.
“The state police say that Chief Whiting [did] not acquit himself well in the hours and days that follow, which they say he [spent] on a cover-up,” the Times reports.
They say that he tried to enlist Officer Brown and the Pawtucket police chief, Paul King, in concocting a false story about the transfer of seized evidence — a story that might, in fact, dirty up Officer Brown, who had done everything by the book.
Whiting has since been suspended without pay from his job as North Providence police chief. He turned himself in to state police in September and was charged with one count of larceny over $500 and two counts of obstruction of justice. He pleaded not guilty earlier this month to charges that he stole money and then tried to cover it up. His next court date is Feb. 16.
Col. John Whiting (Source: turnto10.com/NBC10)
“He spent 29 years in the Pawtucket Police Department, where he was respected if not universally liked, earned a law degree, and won praise for his work in a case against a corrupt, politically connected police officer,” writes the Times. “Finally, in 2008, he landed a prestigious police chief job, in North Providence.”
But now his long and proud career has been permanently tarnished for allegedly stealing a measly $714 and trying to cover it up; adding insult to injury, he had the money for less than an hour before he practically threw it at officer Brown.
So what about Cardoso?
After the car chase, she was arrested on a warrant for an unrelated criminal matter. She pleaded no contest last month to three charges in an extortion and blackmail case and to one count of marijuana possession.
Cardoso, who the New York Times describes as a “runaway” and as being involved in the kinds of incidents that create first-name relationships with the police, was given a five-year suspended sentence in the blackmail case and a year of probation in the drug case. Defense attorney John Grasso has said she avoided jail time by getting treated for drug abuse. He also said she is pursuing a GED.
Grasso added that Cardoso stopped working at the Satin Doll after Whiting’s arrest and was unable to find new work as a stripper. Her stolen earnings and SUV were returned, but Cardoso could not afford to keep the vehicle, Grasso has said.
Exit question: Do you think Cardoso’s decision to seek $250,000 in damages from Col. Whiting was influenced more by her financial woes and mile-long rap sheet or by an honest belief that her rights were violated?
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
[Editor's note: the original version of this article has been updated to include new details.]
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Comments (137)
Restore the Republic
Posted on December 28, 2011 at 11:37pmI hope she wins. He exceeded his authority by taking her money. It makes absolutely NO difference if you like her, or like what she stands for. Our police officers do not have the right to take what they want from people they don’t like.
Report Post »spasm
Posted on December 29, 2011 at 12:19amYeah, I hope she wins too. Nothing like giving criminals the motivation to sue. And by criminals I mean lawyers…..
Report Post »JJ Coolay
Posted on December 29, 2011 at 12:39amAhhh.. no.
Report Post »In essence, she was “robbed”. She deserves 250k for her unattended purse being snatched????
BigSaltyCracker
Posted on December 29, 2011 at 1:18amNo only Racist Larazza Illegal Alien Criminal Invaders have that right to take from people they don’t like.Anchor baby ******.
Report Post »4truth2all
Posted on December 29, 2011 at 11:17amThey both pay for their own wrong doing in the matter. She gets NO money.
Report Post »Why does she deserve “taxpayer” money ? Go home, get your GED and a wholesome job.
The cop made a mistake… that DOES NOT make him dirty, he as anybody else deserves a second chance.
jmo
Posted on December 29, 2011 at 7:14pmI would like to see our legal system reformed to focus more on restoration rather than pure punishment. I would like to see something like restore 7 times what was stolen, ie 7 x $714 = $4,998. In addition, the police chief needs to lose his job and be banned from police work forever. There are consequences for stealing.
Report Post »Harvey1
Posted on December 29, 2011 at 7:18pmSure sue the taxpayers they are the ones that stole her money! It should not be legal to sue the taxpayers for the illegal actions of government employees. Sue the ship out of the offenders but not me. I did not steal the money. The taxpayers do serve jail time for these idiots and they should not pay the lawsuit money either.
Report Post »Bluedog78
Posted on December 29, 2011 at 9:46pmStory doesn’t say which constitutional right was violated. Either its sloppy reporting or a sloppy lawsuit. The cop had a right to search the car and put the $$ in for safekeeping, not keep it for himself. As I see it she’s the victim of attempted theft at most. The lawsuit is completely bogus.
Report Post »Constantine Ivanov
Posted on December 28, 2011 at 11:12pmFor the tolerance sake, whores, thieves, robbers, rapists and murderes should be a lot more equal than policemen.
Report Post »Summary: this whor….ooops, sorry, this lady should win $250,000 (even more) just to prove that we are a society based on common sense and tolerant enough…
Constantine Ivanov
Posted on December 28, 2011 at 11:07pmFor the tolerance sake, whores, thieves, robbers, rapists and murderers should be a lot more equal than policemen.
Report Post »Summary: this whor….ooops, sorry, this lady should win $250,000 (even more) just to prove that we are a society tolerant enough…
Constantine Ivanov
Posted on December 28, 2011 at 11:14pmSorry for an accidental doubled comment (sarcasm, of course)
Report Post »BubbaT
Posted on December 28, 2011 at 11:02pmI wouldn’t pay $25 for that hoochie. But then, I would pay $25 to see the dirty rat taken away in handcuffs.
Report Post »knighttemplar999
Posted on December 28, 2011 at 10:45pmNot so bad for the cop, he’ll be getting at least $150,000 yearly in his pension plus he can earn another $200,000 a year in his retirement working for homeland security investigating every single person here who has said a bad word about him and eventually having all you folks in prison while all your property is confiscated. Bhawhahahah, silly people, don’t you know that the cop always gets the last laugh.
Report Post »CallousD
Posted on December 29, 2011 at 6:23amOr better yet, find some tenuous link to terrorism and invoke the NDAA. Then it’s straight to GITMO, do not pass go, do not collect a lawyer.
Report Post »The United States is dead.
Pat Alexander
Posted on December 28, 2011 at 10:43pmThe perfect pair. He should marry her…
She could support him in his forced retirement. It looks like it will be several years till the bait spoils.
You can’t make this stuff up, folks……
Report Post »loriann12
Posted on December 29, 2011 at 7:29amYea, force him to retire, and give him a hefty retirement pension. He should be fined the $250,000 and forfeit his pension.
Report Post »ZengaPA65
Posted on December 28, 2011 at 10:38pmHalf her family is on mugshots.com
Report Post »wisehiney
Posted on December 28, 2011 at 10:37pmUnion cop fighting with trash. Gotta love it.
Report Post »midnightvelvet
Posted on December 28, 2011 at 10:35pmSounds like they deserve each other.
Report Post »Structure21
Posted on December 28, 2011 at 10:17pmSounds like a Hollywood movie “The Thief and The Ex-Stripper” starring Alec Baldwin and Lindsay Lohan.
Report Post »flavsngrace
Posted on December 28, 2011 at 11:53pmhhhahahhahahahha!!! true that!!
Report Post »Cranky
Posted on December 29, 2011 at 7:08amLook at the picture. You could replace Alec Baldwin with Dan Aykroyd.
Report Post »Hzurdaddy
Posted on December 30, 2011 at 7:12amSorry, but I don’t see Lindsay being believable as a cop. Good idea, though…
Report Post »ZengaPA65
Posted on December 28, 2011 at 10:15pmWe don’t believe she was a stripper. Where’s the videos?
Report Post »Gorp
Posted on December 28, 2011 at 11:43pmGot that right!!!
Report Post »babylonvi
Posted on December 28, 2011 at 10:09pmSo where do I go to sue the congress and President for removing my constitutional rights by passing laws that make Americans virtual prisoners. The internet is next, after that they will have censorship and freedom of the press completely revoked.
Report Post »13th Imam
Posted on December 28, 2011 at 9:55pmStarting with“Driving Aggressively” in poor conditions, in a fallen tree zone , past a Taxpayers vehicle, is pretty much the usual crappy attitude I see in off duty cops. Then when the Taxpayer gets angry at being abused by a Taxpayer Paid worker and does something stupid, the CopRage explodes . I know many great police and some just plain a wholes. He is probably one that should be flipping burgers.Why should she stop ,not knowing who this person is??
Report Post »neiman1
Posted on December 28, 2011 at 9:52pmThe worst criminal case is one committed under the ‘color of authority’. If the police, prosecutors, and judges are not squeaky clean the entire system is without value. When you give a person a badge you give them the ability to deny someone their liberty and sometimes their life. A cop that got stealing from a fleeing prostitute did not suddenly decide to go bad any more than most criminals arrested got caught committing their first crime. I don’t care what happened to the prostitute as we will have many chances to catch her in crimes and jail her in the future. I do care that the cop got caught. He needs to do time and lose his civil case.
Report Post »Sheepdog69
Posted on December 28, 2011 at 9:41pmWhat an idiot! Threw away his career for $714. He deserves what he gets.
Report Post »KeystoneState
Posted on December 28, 2011 at 9:46pmSounds like they’re all a bunch of low-lives.
Report Post »rc30
Posted on December 28, 2011 at 10:15pmI don’t like the woman sueing him. But if he did this. What has he done that we don’t about?. He broke the law. He needs to pay for what he did. Cops are good people for the most part. But they need to pay the same price we have too if we break the law.
Report Post »JLGunner
Posted on December 29, 2011 at 8:40amHe’s a theif, get him out of that uniform.
Report Post »Robert-CA
Posted on December 28, 2011 at 9:37pmHe had a slam dunk case & he ruined it just to steal some money .
Report Post »What an idiot cop .
V-MAN MACE
Posted on December 28, 2011 at 9:33pmWow, what kind of hit piece is this against this woman? This isn’t about her not being able to pay her car note, that punk cop took her money. They do this kind of thing all the time.
That cop is a piece of crap.
Report Post »progressiveslayer
Posted on December 28, 2011 at 10:05pmThe incident with the stripper interrupted his date with his boy friend,that’s why he ripped her off.
Report Post »Dirty cops there’s lots of em.
spasm
Posted on December 29, 2011 at 12:25amYour right. at least 9 out of 10 cops steal when they can. They also indiscriminately kill people whenever they feel like it. Traffic laws, who needs traffic laws when you have sirens and lights. I once saw a cop steal and commit other crimes in a movie. It must be true cause I saw it on the big screen and read it on the internets. Those things don’t lie..
These are all comments that first world occupiers make when they have never seen a true third world country and how bad it really is. Live on free thinkers..
Report Post »V-MAN MACE
Posted on December 29, 2011 at 11:45amA Nazi is what a Nazi does.
This is turning into a Third World country. Third World countries MARVEL at our bloated police state.
When cops start acting like Third World Police State thugs, then they deserve the criticism.
Stop worshipping them.
Report Post »scout n ambush
Posted on December 28, 2011 at 9:33pmOk you break the law and have charges pending so you break more laws including deep escort services ending in assult on a police officer (throwing something at a police car) hit and run accident and evading police and you claim someone violated your constitutional right’s? What about all the taxpayers rights who have to pay for all your court appearances and your stay at the crossbar motel with the all you get to eat bar and free cable.The police officer was wrong everything should be impounded as evidence money included due to where she spent her night shift.
Report Post »trench99
Posted on December 28, 2011 at 9:32pmShe at least has somewhat the excuse of being young & ignorant… He being a veteran police officer with substancial education has no such excuse. He’s a typical power hungry above the law jackass! Like most of this country’s police forces but especially in the Northeast.
Report Post »1casawizard
Posted on December 28, 2011 at 9:50pmNeither one has an excuse in my book.
Report Post »Captain77
Posted on December 28, 2011 at 9:31pmI wouldn’t expect less from a stripper/prostitute, but I would expect much more from law enforcement. Also, regardless of my low opinion of strippers/prostitutes, she still had her rights violated by law enforcement of which she has a right to a redress of grievance. If in the very least, it will further encourage law enforcement to defend our rights and liberties, not abuse them regardless of the individual.
Report Post »mrmikejohnson
Posted on December 28, 2011 at 9:30pmI think the quality of your average police officer has declined in the last 20 or 30 years.
I called in a noise complaint on my neighbors after day 3 of a marathon loud party. Their music was literally shaking my house. The cop said that I should stop harrassing my illegal immigrant neighbors and that if I had a problem with the noise, I should move. The cop was an early 20′s Hispanic who spoke with a strong accent. My neighbors don’t speak a word of English. My illegal immigrant neighbors threw an American flag filled with garbage over my fence the last time I called in a noise complaint (because it has to be racism rather than the crazy loud party, right?). This time, the cop was protecting rights of illegal immigrants to have a 3 day loud party over the house that actually pays his salary.
Bill O’Reilly did a great segment where he documented minority policemen who FAILED the test to become policemen were getting the jobs purely because of the color of their skin. So, now we have the regular bad cops (like the one in this story), plus people who are given a gun and a badge despite failing a very easy test. The future of American police looks pretty shaky.
Report Post »korbin
Posted on December 28, 2011 at 9:23pmDon’t need to even read the story, I do not support frivolous lawsuits, however when it comes to the loss of our Constitutional rights especially in this day and age with this the most anti Constitutional admin ever, I hope she wins big. Especially because a law enforcement abuser is involved. He should pay out of his own pocket. God knows he is in PERS and probably makes that amount in 1 year of retirement. Oh how about some jail time in non protective custody for abusing his authority.
Report Post »DesdemonasCrew
Posted on December 28, 2011 at 9:20pmHe casts shame and suspicion on all honest cops. And yes, you dumb trolls, there are a lot of them.
Report Post »scottinwisconsin
Posted on December 28, 2011 at 9:29pmFewer than you think. Far fewer.
Report Post »http://www.injusticeeverywhere.com/
1casawizard
Posted on December 28, 2011 at 9:56pmHe stoled. She sold and had drugs among other charges. lawhavemercy.
Report Post »Detroit paperboy
Posted on December 28, 2011 at 9:15pmWhat a stupid cop….. 30 years down the drain !!!!!
Report Post »scheduler
Posted on December 28, 2011 at 9:20pmWhat a mess.
http://politicalbowl.com – Political videos
Report Post »Baddoggy
Posted on December 28, 2011 at 9:12pmTwo wrongs make a mess…The cop was wrong, she was wrong and the plot thickened. Really dumb people in this world. They deserve all the misery they get.
Report Post »Gonzo
Posted on December 29, 2011 at 10:46amThe real criminal here is Federal Reserve Chaiman Bernake, I knew the dollar was being devalued but…$600 for her? Things are worse than I thought.
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