Letter to the Editor by Sage Newman, Mother of Patrick Polk
In a shocking revelation of potential miscarriage of justice, Patrick Polk, an African American male diagnosed with mental illness, finds himself ensnared in a legal quagmire, battling false accusations and institutional negligence.
The saga began with Patrick having illegal possession of an E-Bike which I was told by his Public Defender was a probationary offense. This initial allegation somehow grew into accusations of a violent crime allegedly perpetrated by Polk, wielding nothing but a comb as a weapon.
According to Patrick there was no weapon or comb. The District Attorney’s office asserted the existence of incriminating footage, purportedly capturing the incident. However, upon scrutiny, the promised video evidence turned out to be a phantom—a non-existent tape. This is proven by emails.
In a damning twist, Polk’s defense was further undermined by the public defender’s apparent rush to plea out the case without even consulting the accused (until much later when I found he had not yet spoken with Patrick or verifying the veracity of the alleged evidence. This premature action raises serious questions about due diligence and ethical conduct within the legal system.
Compounding the injustice, a grave error in court proceedings resulted in Polk’s unjust incarceration, with a hefty bail of $50,000 hanging over his head. Recent correspondence unearthed a startling revelation: an email exposing the erroneous court date, casting doubt on the integrity of the entire legal process.
However, amid this bleak landscape of legal malpractice and institutional apathy, a glimmer of hope emerges. Patrick Polk’s steadfast ally in this tumultuous ordeal is none other than his blind mother, tirelessly championing his cause and fighting tooth and nail for his rights.
The case of Patrick Polk underscores systemic flaws within the criminal justice system—flaws that disproportionately affect marginalized communities, particularly those grappling with mental illness. As the truth slowly comes to light, it is imperative that we heed the call for reform and stand in solidarity with those like Patrick Polk, whose voices are often drowned out by the cacophony of injustice.
I beg of you to delve deeper into this story, shedding light on the plight of Patrick Polk and others like him who find themselves ensnared in the labyrinth of legal injustice.
Sincerely,
Sage Newman (Patrick Polk’s Mother)
