In the ongoing, but not well-progressing process of determining who killed Chauncey Bailey (see my conversation with Paul Cobb of the Oakland Post ) and why, The Chauncey Bailey Project has uncovered a problem: the alledged actions of Oakland Police Sargent Derwin Longmire that are related to Yusuf Bey, the former CEO of Your Black Muslim Bakery. The Oakland Tribune Reports:
OAKLAND - Well before the August 2007 killing of journalist Chauncey Bailey, detective Sgt. Derwin Longmire twice interfered in felony investigations of former Your Black Muslim Bakery leader Yusuf Bey IV, according to police documents obtained and interviews conducted during a yearlong investigation by the Chauncey Bailey Project.
In both cases, Bey IV was charged with crimes despite Longmire's actions.
In one, he continued to talk to Bey IV about one case after an investigator told him not to, according to police documents. In the other case, he tried to get evidence returned to the Bey family before it could be analyzed, said law enforcement sources familiar with the situation.
Police internal affairs detectives are now investigating Longmire's relationship with Bey IV and his work on the Bailey slaying case.
Longmire did not respond to multiple requests for an interview. Police Chief Wayne Tucker and Assistant Chief Howard Jordan rejected interview requests. Jordan and homicide unit commander Lt. Ersie Joyner have both praised Longmire in past interviews, calling him professional and ethical.
A janitor and dishwasher at the former bakery, Devaughndre Broussard, is the only person charged in Bailey's Aug. 2, 2007, killing. Longmire case notes seemingly ignore evidence linking Bey IV to a role in the killing, including data from a tracking device and cell phone records, according to a copy of those case notes that the Bailey Project obtained.
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