The courtroom stirred. Haskins blinked.
Tolbert leaned forward. "Where did you get that?"
"From a neighbor's Ring cam. The arrest didn't happen during the stop; it happened before. That's an unlawful seizure."
And just like that, the temperature shifted. But what came next would make the entire courtroom forget they were looking at a teenager.
The silence didn't last. It cracked when Officer Haskins mumbled, "I must have gotten the time wrong."
Elijah didn't even blink. "So, your official report is wrong, your body cam was off, and you didn't record the anonymous tip."
Tolbert interrupted. "Let's keep the tone respectful, Mr. Carrington."
Elijah nodded. "Of course, Your Honor. Just trying to get to the truth."
People shifted in their seats. Whispers passed like wind between the rows. A few folks who'd come expecting to be entertained now sat up straighter. This wasn't funny anymore.
From the defense table, Elijah picked up a second file. "I'd 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 TV right where she left it. The door was closed. No signs of a break-in."
Andrea Lindholm stood quickly. "Your Honor, this wasn't in discovery."
Elijah responded without missing a beat. "She wasn't interviewed by police. I found her on my own."
Tolbert raised an eyebrow. "How'd you get her to talk to you?"
"I asked," Elijah said, "politely."
A couple of people chuckled this time—not at Elijah, but with him.
The judge scanned the statement. "And she confirms that Isaiah was not in her home?"
"She says she didn't see him at all that day. She only found out someone had been arrested in connection with her house from the local paper."