Professional Documents
Culture Documents
COMMONWEALTH
v.
W. MICHAEL RYAN
Now comes the Defendant, W. Michael Ryan, and being duly sworn does swear
1. At approximately 8:30 on October 15, 2010, I was preparing to change a flat tire
on the car of my law partner, Barbara J. Plante, which was parked in the
Northampton bicycle patrol police officer (Andrew Kohl) who asked me what I
was doing.
2. After explaining my purpose, Officer Kohl asked me where I was coming from
and where I was going to, and I told him I did not wish to answer his questions.
3. He asked me how much I had to drink, and I again declined to answer his
questions.
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4. Officer Kohl violently dropped his bike and rushed over to me and angrily asked
me again where I was coming from and going to; I answered that I did not have to
5. Officer Kohl asked me who was driving the car, and I said I would not answer the
question.
6. Officer Kohl asked me if I was driving the car; I answered “No” and stated I had
7. Officer Kohl than turned to my law partner, Barbara Plante, and asked if she was
driving the car but before she could answer, I said I was her lawyer and advised
8. Attorney Plante then told Officer Kohl she would not answer his questions, which
9. I asked Officer Kohl if I could change the flat tire, and he said no and that he was
10. He instructed Attorney Plante and me to replace the items piled behind the car
which we had removed from the trunk to get the spare tire.
11. I told Officer Kohl that the car had AAA and asked if Attorney Plante could call
the tow company to save the towing fee; Officer Kohl angrily retorted it would be
a police tow.
12. As I was loading the spare tire back into the car, Northampton Police Officers
Wigmore, Liptak and Marguet arrived and began videotaping the incident.
13. Officer Kohl stated he was going to ask me one more time where I was coming
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14. I replied that I would still not answer those questions and that since I could not
change the tire and he was calling a tow truck for the car, we were through talking
16. I was physically restrained by Officer Liptak who called me “Judge” and told me
I was being audio and videotaped by a camera in the cruiser and had to stay in
17. At that point, I felt I was in custody and not free to leave.
18. I was never informed of my Miranda rights until they were read to me at the
19. This affidavit does not include all the facts and circumstances known to me about
this event; it was prepared solely for the purpose of litigating the accompanying
Motion to Suppress.
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Date W. Michael Ryan