[FL] Hollywood Police Officer Shawn Charles' mom and girlfriend both recant. (Hmmm...)

Hollywood police officer acquitted of assaulting girlfriend
South Florida Sun-Sentinel
By John Holland
January 29, 2008
[Excerpts] Broward jurors took less than 30 minutes Monday to acquit a Hollywood police officer charged with slapping his girlfriend, but whether he returns to his old job won't be decided any time soon. Shawn Charles, 29, was accused of pushing and attacking Barbara Holgate two years ago at the Miramar home they shared, knocking his mother over during the assault. Prosecutors brought two misdemeanor battery charges - one for each woman - but Charles' first trial in September ended in a hung jury, and his mother recanted and said her son never attacked her or Holgate. That forced prosecutors to drop her as their star corroborating witness this time, leaving only Holgate, who said Charles poked her in the eye with two fingers and slapped her in the face... Holgate also changed her story during testimony last week, further hampering the case. She had earlier told prosecutors an enraged Charles knocked a hole in the bedroom wall that evening. But on the stand, she said the hole was old... "This really is a case that shouldn't have been brought. It's just a waste of everyone's time and money," said Alberto Milian, Charles' attorney. Charles faces trial next month on misdemeanor charges he tossed a baby's car seat during another argument with Holgate, striking her as it bounced. He has been assigned to administrative duties for two years, collecting full pay but not permitted to carry a gun. Sgt. Manny Marino said Monday the department is "monitoring" Charles' court cases but has not determined what action it will take...
[police officer involved domestic violence oidv intimate partner violence ipv abuse law enforcement public safety recant recanted california state politics]