New London NAACP Protesting U.S. Attorney's Decision Against Charging Former NLPD Officer

The New London NAACP says it will continue to advocate for a man who accused a New London police officer of planting drugs after federal officials decided against pursuing criminal charges against the officer.

The organization said today it will hold a press conference at 4:30 p.m. on Wednesday at City Hall. Tamara K. Lanier, criminal justice chair for the Connecticut NAACP, said Lance Goode and the local chapter of the organization will discuss their dissatisfaction with the decision by the U.S. Attorney’s Office to not prosecute Roger Newton.

Goode has accused Newton of planting drugs during an Oct. 20, 2010, traffic stop. Goode said a video from the police cruiser’s dashboard camera appears to show Newton placing a bag at the scene. Newton later resigned from the New London Police Department.

Lanier said U.S. Attorney’s Office officials said in a closed door meeting with NAACP officials that Goode’s credibility was at issue in their decision not to pursue charges against Newton, according to The Day. According to state records, Goode was convicted of marijuana possession in 2003 and felony narcotics possession in 2006. He was convicted of felony narcotics possession in 2007, 2008, 2009, and 2011.

The 2011 conviction was a result of an earlier arrest on April 29, 2010. Goode sued the city and a number of NLPD officers in relation to this incident, saying officers falsely arrested him and used excessive force, according to The Day. The suit also names Baker and references the October 2010 incident.

The NAACP says the press conference will also “continue to call for the end of racial profiling and prosecution of these and other civil rights violations.”