"From a neighbor's doorbell camera. The arrest did not happen during the stop. It happened before the recorded stop. That means the official timeline is false and raises the issue of an unlawful seizure."
Just like that, the temperature in the room changed.
The silence did not last. It cracked when Officer Haskins muttered, "I must have gotten the time wrong."
Elijah did not blink. "So your official report is wrong, your body camera was off, and you did not record the anonymous tip."
Tolbert interrupted. "Let us keep the tone respectful, Mr. Carrington."
Elijah nodded. "Of course, Your Honor. I am only trying to reach the truth."
People shifted in their seats, and whispers moved like wind between the rows. A few spectators who had arrived expecting entertainment now sat straighter. This was no longer funny.
Elijah picked up a second folder. "I would also like to submit a sworn statement from Mrs. Wanda Freeman, the homeowner whose house was allegedly burglarized."
Judge Tolbert glanced at the document. "You had her sign this yourself?"
"Yes, sir. Yesterday afternoon."
"And what does she say?"
"She says nothing was missing. She found her television exactly where she had left it. The door was closed, and there were no signs of forced entry."
Andrea Lindholm rose quickly. "Your Honor, this was not provided during discovery."
Elijah responded without hesitation. "She was never interviewed by police. I found her on my own."
Tolbert raised an eyebrow. "How did you get her to speak with you?"