To Whom It May Concern at TTAG:
My name is Michael Picard, I am an entrepreneur and an activist. I hope you’re well. Per my lawyer’s request, I have kept quiet until now. Back on Friday, September 11th, 2015, in West Hartford, Connecticut, I was illegally detained, frisked and searched. My gun, permit and camera were seized. I was threatened with arrest for . . .
interfering (apparently, freedom of speech passes for interfering). The Connecticut State Police fabricated a story, on camera, to trump up the charges because they needed to charge me with something (“Let’s give him something.”) to cover their asses.
They charged me with “creating a public disturbance” for legally open carrying my firearm and “negligent pedestrian” for legally holding up a sign on public property, as well as being threatened with arrest (again) if I did not pay the fine.
My lawyer and I went to the first court appearance on Thursday, January 14th, 2016, where the prosecutor offered a $25 fine, in lieu of the original $300 fine, to make the case go away.
I rejected the deal because I did nothing wrong. As of now, the prosecutor has not dropped the case despite having video evidence of police misconduct. The trial date has been set for Monday, April 25th, 2016, at 9:30am, at the New Britain courthouse (20 Franklin Sq., New Britain, CT).