Press release from North Carolina Police Benevolent Association:
(January 13, 2022) — A lawsuit has been filed on behalf of NCPBA member Anthony Sorangelo by attorneys Jeffrey Warren and Michelle Liguori of Raleigh, N.C. The action is against Buncombe County District Attorney Todd Williams, Asheville Police Chief David Zack, and the City of Asheville on handling a use of force incident from February 2020, where Mr. Sorangelo, as a police officer, had to use force to defend himself.
The Complaint states, “Mr. Sorangelo brings this action to redress violations of his constitutional rights to due process and to enjoy the fruits of his labor, which he suffered at the hands of District Attorney Todd Williams, Chief David Zack of the Asheville Police Department, and the City of Asheville.”
The Complaint alleges District Attorney Todd Williams, without giving Mr. Sorangelo an opportunity to be heard, improperly issued a “Giglio Letter” indicating Mr. Sorangelo would not be used as a witness in court at any future misdemeanor proceeding in North Carolina. This Giglio Letter, the Complaint asserts, caused Mr. Sorangelo’s termination from the Asheville Police Department. The Complaint furthermore alleges, “upon information and belief,” that Chief Zack and the City of Asheville possibly withheld a second letter withdrawing District Attorney Williams’ Giglio Letter, which resulted in Mr. Sorangelo being denied future employment opportunities.
Warren and Liguori state, “Upon information and belief, Chief Zack, as a law enforcement officer and Chief of Police, as well as the City of Asheville, knew of the uniquely devastating impact that Giglio letters have on the careers of law enforcement officers. Upon information and belief, Chief Zack, APD, and the City of Asheville also knew that a letter lifting a Giglio impairment would rescue an officer’s reputation and save his or her ability to enjoy the fruits of his or her labor.” In addition, “DA Williams, the City of Asheville, and Chief Zack had a duty to communicate the Vindication Letter to Mr. Sorangelo.”
Warren and Liguori further surmise, “The collective failure of the City of Asheville, DA Williams, and Chief Zack to communicate the Vindication Letter to Mr. Sorangelo and place the Vindication Letter in Mr. Sorangelo’s personnel file arbitrarily, unreasonably, and wrongfully deprived Mr. Sorangelo of his right to benefit from the fruits of his labor, interfered with Mr. Sorangelo being hired by other law enforcement agencies, and served to perpetuate a state-imposed stigma and disability on Mr. Sorangelo’s ability to pursue future employment opportunities.”
The NCPBA supports a law enforcement officer’s right to due process and fair treatment, along with those denying it being held accountable.
He shouldn’t punch people that’s in handcuffs. The citizens are better off without cops like that.