Audio By Carbonatix
Lies and Consequences
Guilty, guilty: Elroy Phillips, who claims to have evidence proving he is innocent, and the dirty cop he claims set him up should be sitting together in a cell (“Almost Innocent,” Eric Barton, August 4). I don’t think either one is innocent. Drug dealers ruin communities, and attempting to paint this character as a Robin Hood is wrong. Phillips admitted he did not do street-level sales but dealt with Colombians, which means he brought large amounts of drugs into the inner city. To say he quit that life to do landscaping is BS. Although there is some corruption on the police force, I don’t think this story adequately portrays the people who risk their lives every day in the extremely violent drug land of South Florida.
Anonymous
Well wishes: I wish Phillips all the best and will pray for him and his family. I believe in being innocent until proven guilty and in second chances. I am the mom of an inmate in federal prison who was lied to and set up by the DEA. They never even tried to get the big guys running the show, even when they were given the names. Our justice system is broken. May God bless you with your freedom.
Tammy Sanford
Broken system: Great story. Corruption, coverup, lack of integrity, and criminal conduct by prosecutors and police are not uncommon in our judicial system. I’ve been involved with the Innocence Project, and unfortunately there are many, very innocent individuals in prison. Elroy Phillips will win his case. Mr. Phillips is a rich man now; he will be a wealthy man upon his release.
John
Tainted case: Good reporting. I am not so sure I believe Phillips is innocent, but the facts as related in this article prove the police lied in their reports.
Anonymous
Scam Artists
Be vigilant: Preventing the crime is the best solution to the sort of real estate fraud reported in your article (“Getting Shorted,” Francisco Alvarado, August 4). Investigate every single company in Miami-Dade doing short-sale real estate transactions — agents, attorneys, and closing companies — before they commit any more crimes. The fraud that is happening now is bigger than ever.
Michael Wind
Sink or swim: Ayda Young and Yohany Garcia, the two women accused of scamming real estate investors, should be taken seven miles out into the tiger shark-infested Gulf Stream, given a two-pound bag of ground chuck, tossed overboard, and left to swim for it. If they make it back, great — they are free.
Ernie Sandoval
Copping Out
Don’t wait: I am a Latino male and I agree with Luke that more police are needed to keep inner-city parks safe (“Luke’s Gospel,” Luther Campbell, August 4). I think law enforcement officers in the black neighborhoods are comfortable with just handling a crime after it has been committed, rather than preventing it. I believe that no matter how bad a community’s reputation is, when it comes to crime, there is no excuse to feel that nothing can change and that crime should be taken care of once it occurs.
Rafael
Two-faced: When the police are there, the black communities complain that the police are too prevalent. When the police aren’t there, the black communities complain about the lack of police. Luke, you are a perfect role model for the inner-city ghettos: useless and playing both sides of the fence.
Kirk Slade
Dial M for Murder
Leave family out: The article about the text message calling for a hit on a drug dealer only displays your lack of tact and compassion for another person’s family, let alone your poor writing skills (“To Text a Murder Contract,” Gus Garcia-Roberts, August 4). This information may be public record, but there is no reason to poke fun at something so serious as a crisis a family is going through.
Anonymous
Find compassion: The name of Daniel Perez’s father should have been left out. Parents have nothing to do with the actions of their children, who are old enough to make decisions, even if the decisions made are wrong. It just does not seem fair to jeopardize the job of a parent who holds a high position. You should feel guilty about destroying the lives of the parents and/or loved ones of the accused. The damage done by the media is the most hurtful crime that goes unpunished. Just put yourself in someone else’s shoes, and then write a story.
Anonymous