Wrongfully accused, Omar Thompson talks about his arrest

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Wrongfully accused, Omar Thompson talks about his arrest

By EVAN WHITE

Story Created: Oct 15, 2008 at 5:19 PM EST

Story Updated: Oct 15, 2008 at 6:16 PM EST

UTICA, N.Y. (WKTV) - Omar Thompson grew up not trusting police, then he was charged with a murder police admit he did not commit.

Omar Thompson didn't run away nearly three months ago when Utica Police came looking for him in connection with the murder of Mark Dukette. He told them he did not kill Dukette but was arrested after a witness fingered him in a lineup.

"I turned myself in so why would you arrest an innocent guy, why would an innocent guy turn himself in," Thompson said.

Yesterday police arraigned this man: Mark Anthony-Ware in connection with Dukette's murder. Thompson spent 46 days in jail and thinks much less of police than he did before, "I don't never want to be around no cops ever again," said Thompson.

Thompson, who hasn't worked in two years, lives in Utica with his girlfriend, daughter Mariana and has another child on the way. The families lives on public assistance.

Thompson says he had looked for a job during the past two years but because thinks employers will now look past him even though charges have been dropped.

"Now I guarantee they look at my record. I've seen this did on TV and it's going to be harder for me to get a job," Thompson added.

When asked what law enforcement could do to improve its image in his eyes and those of others lacking trust in police, Thompson replied, "They are going to have to get me a job. I have to take care of my kids."

Deputy Police Chief Michael Bailey says UPD doesn't help people find jobs unless they are interested in police work, something Thompson dismissed as an opportunity.
    
In the meantime, he plans to sue the police department, and hopes to leave the area.

 

 

Deputy Police Chief Michael Bailey says UPD doesn't help people find jobs unless they are interested in police work, something Thompson dismissed as an opportunity.     In the meantime, he plans to sue the police department, and hopes to leave the area.

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Tuesday, Oct 21 at 8:48 AM Anonymous wrote ...

I have to agree with the last two comments.First they took away time out of Omars life and dont care, second they are still taking time out of Joseph Giaconas life and they really dont care.Hes only 13. For all you people with the negative comments is your life any more perfect didnt think so why dont we put our time and comments in the correct place, stopping the da's office from using their power to destroy innocent lives

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Saturday, Oct 18 at 8:00 AM Anonymous wrote ...

Most of these comments are as ignorant and stupid as the da's office. The da's office has wrongfully arrested 2 people in the last month Omar and Joseph Giacona and all you're worried about is he's on welfare.What are you going to say about the 13 year old when he is aquitted? If your going to look at the picture look at the whole picture

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Friday, Oct 17 at 11:05 AM Now wait... wrote ...

The real issue here is not whether or not he has a job. The real issue is that he was in jail for nothing for 46 days. That's about 7 weeks. Sorry, but it is simply unacceptable to incarcerate someone for nothing, let him go, and say "sorry..." If it was any of you in the forum, you'd likely be considering doing the exact same thing. Let's make sure that we understand that he was denied 7 weeks of his life - no matter what he would or wouldn't have been doing, it isn't acceptable.

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Friday, Oct 17 at 8:22 AM Ms O wrote ...

Omar - Tell you what- go down to City Hall and apply for a job picking up trash- and let us know how you did.

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Friday, Oct 17 at 6:50 AM People like him wrote ...

People who are like him give Uticans a bad name. McDonalds is always hiring, I worked there for 3 years when I was unable to find something better!!! I now work 2 JOBS just to get by and to have people living on welfare with MY TAX DOLLARS talking about suing the PD....all he is interested in is money. The police did their job, now its time for him to GET A JOB!! You give African-Americans a bad name, instead of pulling down your fellow brothers/sisters, be an upstanding citizen!!

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Thursday, Oct 16 at 11:14 PM Mr Thompson wrote ...

I've got the bus fare and a moving company ready - pack it up and go live off the system in another state please!

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Thursday, Oct 16 at 9:38 PM LBT/Animosity wrote ...

Idiots...you mean to tell me after spending 46 days in jail, you'd just forgive and forget? "It's ok, you made a mistake." This guy will never win with you "patriots". I like the ignorant that said he spent 46 days "liven" off the city in jail. Haha...like he wanted to go there. You brave souls that hide behind the keyboard.

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Thursday, Oct 16 at 3:28 PM Jose Cuervo wrote ...

Jayman - If you really want to work jobs are out there, don't wait for them to come looking for you, get out and put forth some effort. If you can not seem to find a job, you are not looking hard enough, they are not hiding - check the classifieds, I see hundreds of jobs listed weekly in the Sunday paper.

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Thursday, Oct 16 at 1:27 PM make sense wrote ...

This is not the police departments fault. He was picked from a line up by a witness. Would you rather the police let him go? In his 46 days would he really have found a job when he hasn't been able to in two years? I doubt that it will have any effect on his ability to get a job, they ask if you have ever been convicted of a crime not arrested. If they don't hire him because of this then the employer can be sued. The PD is not his enemy.

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Thursday, Oct 16 at 12:11 PM Are You Kidding ME?! wrote ...

What has this Valley come to? People are actually proud that they live off the system? And he wants the UPD to get him a job? Okay, have him pick up garbage for the street dept. or something...what a low life he is! Sue the city and then move....I hope he doesn't get a red cent!!!!

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Thursday, Oct 16 at 11:41 AM mike wrote ...

Ok granted the kid is irresponsible and needs to get his head on right. But does this dismiss the fact that he could have received life in prison for a crime he didn't commit like so many others who are on death row. Our police and justice system needs to be policed. Remember he turned himself in so he was responsible enough for that.

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Thursday, Oct 16 at 10:42 AM working citizen wrote ...

Yes, it was wrong for him to be in jail, no doubt about that. With that being said, they had a witness that pointed him out and it was the authorities only lead. If someone kills your family and there's only one person to have done it what would you want to do? Hating the police for your entire life kinda shows what type of life you lead. Not being judgemental but without police where would the world be.

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Thursday, Oct 16 at 10:29 AM What a joke wrote ...

Holly I'm sure you know how he's having kids the real question is WHY when he can't support the ones he's got!! Also the more kids you have the more he gets PAID, so lets keep reproducing!!!! How a young person of his age can't find a job, just any job to support your family like you should and not live off the county. Just keep dishing out the $$$ and they'll keep taking it and I thought that WELFARE was to be for a limited time not a career choice.Just enjoy the FREE RIDE..WELFARE or JAIL!!!!!

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Thursday, Oct 16 at 9:55 AM fulltime worker, single mother wrote ...

REALLY BUDDY YOUR GONNA SUE, U CANT YOU ALREADY TOOK THE FREE CLOTHES,46 DAYS LIVEN OFF OTHER PEOPLE GET A LIFE, STOP TRYIN TO GET FREE HAND OUTS. NOONE OWES U ANYTHING. GET A JOB AND YOUR GIRL, AND PAY US BACK FOR YOUR FREE FOOD AN SHELTER.PEOPLE MAKE MISTAKES, IF YOU WOULD HAVE BEEN SENTENCE THEN FOUND OUT THEY HAD THE OTHER GUY, THEN OK. YOU WONT WIN ,BET HE DOESNT EVEN GET A JOB, JUST LIVE OFF THE FREE WORLD

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Thursday, Oct 16 at 9:35 AM Barbee wrote ...

His girlfriend says he is holding out for a management position.

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Thursday, Oct 16 at 9:08 AM whatever wrote ...

Here we go, everyone judging, just because people are on PA doesn't make them "bad people" or aren't deserving of respect. Why does the news have to paint a picture that he deserved what happened because he and his family are disadvantaged? That is the problem with society. People would be OUTRAGED if this happened to a person who came from $$, actually he would have never been arrested if he came from $$. Sad but true... Gotta love it....

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Thursday, Oct 16 at 8:50 AM ps wrote ...

in this day and age all people want to do is sue dont worry youo will have him behind bars again sellin drugs is the only job he knows and buy the way did you see how happy he was showin off thoose ugly boots he will settle out of court for 500 dollars

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Thursday, Oct 16 at 8:46 AM I have to agree ............ wrote ...

I would have to agree that Mr. Thompson is a HUGE burden on all of the tax payers. He is and most likely his generation are habitual welfare cases. A continued domino effect of poor education, lack of parental supervision and his own will and desire to better himself period. There is help, unemployment office and the State of New York spend large amount of monies for people like him to further educate themselves and would actually place them in a job. But why would he do this????

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Thursday, Oct 16 at 8:39 AM Word Up! wrote ...

Come on this is Oneida County, homeland to welfare lifers! I hope he wins his lawsuit and continues to be the role model he is to his children!They need to have someone they can look down at!

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Thursday, Oct 16 at 8:12 AM amelia wrote ...

I love it! Someone identified me in a murder and I was thrown in jail. While I was there I decided that since it interupted my chances of finding a job I am going to sue so that I don't have to bother finding a job now that I have been cleared of all charges. If this is where our country is going, Lord take me home NOW!

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Thursday, Oct 16 at 7:25 AM Anonymous wrote ...

Jeff and Holly, it doesnt matter that he is having children with no job. I am not even sure why WKTV has decided that was important to the matter at hand, a man was wrongly accused and spend over 30 days in jail. I would sue also, not just the UPD, but the city as well. About having children, things happen, would you ridicule a married couple for having children when a parent is not working? And who's to say the mother isn't working

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Thursday, Oct 16 at 7:22 AM unreal wrote ...

Two year's without a job. Come on. Two babies. Please give me a break go wash dishes or go back to school and get a degree. I hope that he gets minimal when he sues. Get out of the area go to another county and let them pay for your laziness.

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Thursday, Oct 16 at 5:41 AM Anonymous wrote ...

Keep having kids, that will guarantee your welfare check gets bigger. SUE? You'll blow it all on junk.

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Thursday, Oct 16 at 5:09 AM huh wrote ...

Look at the smile on his face! mo money! mo money! Where is Leon Koziol phone number. Then get me Mayor Roefaro he can take us out to dinner, he don't do nuthin else.

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Thursday, Oct 16 at 2:02 AM wondering wrote ...

Something wrong with his arms that he cant work??

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Thursday, Oct 16 at 1:03 AM b.s. wrote ...

first of all go get an education, or should i say ged. go have another kid with no job,that's a man. you were jailed for only 46 days,how much you think your going to get-if any at all. do us all a favor and pack your bags.

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Thursday, Oct 16 at 12:21 AM God bless this young man! wrote ...

God bless this young man. I hope he sues all involved and wins big-time. Police and their lies and deceit are the greatest of threats to all citizens and society itself, especially to the poor. Police are the greatest of liars in society today. They deceive and lie without consequence, and intimidate at will. 13-y-old children put up for 1st degree murder, on a conflicting statement, in our backyards! Maybe it takes survivors of the USSR to understand these things. God Bless this young victim!

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Wednesday, Oct 15 at 11:27 PM lauren wrote ...

WAD: Dont judge the whole city...every city/town has deadbeats. I, just like many Uticans work hard everyday for what we have.

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Wednesday, Oct 15 at 11:26 PM anonymous wrote ...

god bless you i hope you sue them and find justice if they were doing there jobs right the first time you would not be in this situation or the embarrasment it has caused you and your family they should lose there jobs just like anyone else how cruel was this for what this young man had to go through what an embarrsement for him before people are wrongfully accused look further into things get your eyes checked if you couldnt see the difference how much dumber can these people get

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Wednesday, Oct 15 at 10:25 PM jayman wrote ...

Well spoken disabled.Its not only people in the city that can find jobs due to the police.I also have a hard time finding a job, I don't live anywhere near Utica.

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Wednesday, Oct 15 at 10:20 PM employed wrote ...

2 years unemployed? pump gas! Work at wal mart! He has no suit against the police if they acted in good faith, and it appears they did. I hope he does move. We have enough of his type around here. Public assistance leeches. Keep having kids so the taxpayers can pay for them. The only thing we should buy him is condoms.

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Wednesday, Oct 15 at 9:41 PM LBT/Animosity wrote ...

The guy spends 46 days in jail for a crime he didn't commit, and all you people pick out is that he has no job and lives on public assistance. Pathetic.

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Wednesday, Oct 15 at 7:37 PM ldmat wrote ...

Omar needs to become literate. I know white and black people living off the state, Having children one after another. They all have loads of excuses for not getting work. Whats Omar do all day. Take care of his womens babies.

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Wednesday, Oct 15 at 7:17 PM disabled wrote ...

he stated he did try to find a job, leave him alone. i hope he also wins and is still able to collect public assistance. hey wad/jose keep working to support us and our children. thank you

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Wednesday, Oct 15 at 6:08 PM Jose Cuervo wrote ...

By suing the police you are basically getting your next few years of welfare upfront. Either way you are a burden to the tax payers and unfortunatley I would be willing to bet the next generation (your kids) will also be a burden because you will not be a man and earn a living. The sad thing is, you probably continued to recieve benefits from the county while being incarcerated, so you were twice as much a burden on the working society. What a waste.

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Wednesday, Oct 15 at 6:06 PM wad wrote ...

i hope he sues the city of utica and wins enough money so he doesnt qualify for public assistance. that way the people of utica pay for their own deadbeats. Oneida county would be so much better off if it didnt have to support the city of utica and all its, deadbeats. the city should be resposible for its own people.

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Wednesday, Oct 15 at 5:50 PM holly wrote ...

how do you keep having kids with no job

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Wednesday, Oct 15 at 5:44 PM jeff wrote ...

i dont think he spent much time looking for a job.

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