If you have heard of Oklahoma City Police Officer Daniel Holtzclaw, it is probably from the "20/20" episode "What the dashcam never saw." That is how I learned about it. It tells the true crime story of a predator in uniform, accused of raping and sexual assaulting thirteen women. It was an ironic title, given that the oklahoma City police department does not issue dashcams or body cameras. The crime show episode, while trying to be neutral, basically came to the conclusion that lack of accountability was the reason for his alleged rampage.
Officer Holtzclaw was found guilty of eight of the assaults.
He is currently serving out his time in jail while maintaining his innocence. However, Conservative author and commentator Michelle Malkin's new show "Michelle Malkin Investigates" pilot episode "Daniel in the Lion's Den: the truth about the Holtzclaw Case" explores the investigation. She asks if he is innocence and whether or not Holtzclaw was a sacrificial lamb.
The investigation begins
The first recorded accuser came in to see Detective Kim Davis. She gave a description of her cop rapist. The case sounded familiar to Davis, so she went to see a colleague who was investigating a similar crime, Detective Rocky Gregory. The two of them set out after this rogue cop. The trail seemed to point to Officer Daniel Holtzclaw.
The detective brought Officer Holtzclaw in as he began his shift. They read him his Miranda Rights and brought him in for questioning. He was completely cooperative and provided the detectives with everything. This cooperation for some reason unsettled Detective Davis.
After questioning Holtzclaw, Detectives Davis and Gregory then began a fielding process of possible victims.
They spoke to over two dozens of victims, including one male, all of them African-American. As local media became involved, Holtzclaw was fired and arrested, his police union refusing to help him with his defense.
The key to the prosecution's case was a blurry video where you see Holtzclaw pull over one accuser and one had her DNA on his pants.
They presented this case to the jury. It convinced them enough to give Holtzclaw life in prison.
Was race a factor?
As the case became known, Black Lives Matter, fresh off the Ferguson, Missouri's now debunked "hands up, don't shoot" narrative, began to get involved with the case. They called Holtzclaw a racist predator who targeted African-American women, though Holtzclaw is half Japanese.
BLM sent out a wave of social media along with much misinformation. Some even called for his death. During the trial, they shouted and chanted so loud the judge had to tell the jury to ignore them.
As his guilty verdict was read, Daniel Holtzclaw began to weep. The activists outside began to sing "Happy Birthday" to him as he was led away.
It was a dark reminder that it was his birthday.
Is he innocent of the crimes?
I decided to do my own research on the Holtzclaw investigation and I found some startling facts. For instance, on camera, Davis and Gregory admit that they did not follow simple investigative procedure. Nor they did examine everything including key pieces of clothing such as underwear. The clothing they did examine did not yield any DNA evidence from any of the accused except one, but it was minuscule. Many of the accusers gave conflicting accounts and even described an African-American male. Both detectives are seen goading witnesses on video.
Holtclaw's family, faithful to the end, believe there is enough evidence for a retrial.
They do not have enough money to hire a defense attorney, so they are relying on a public defender and a private detective who is working pro bono. They are appealing to Oklahoma Governor Mary Fallin for clemency.
After watching Malkin's take on the case, and myself finding some hard truths that were not presented to the defense at trial, I believe his trial had all of the makings of a frame up. Holtzclaw is the victim. He is a victim of a flawed justice system he served with distinction.
