Tag Archives: police abuse

Featured, Police Accountability

‘Despicable’ Baltimore Corruption Scandal To End In Sentencing Of 16 Cops, Civilians

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(DCF) Federal investigators obtained the final two convictions related to an expansive corruption scandal inside the Baltimore Police Department Monday night, bringing the total to 16 convicted officers and civilians.

Six members of the city’s elite Gun Trace Task Force (GTTF) pleaded guilty to stealing from civilians and selling confiscated guns and drugs back onto the streets. They in turn testified against the remaining two members who claimed innocence. A five-man drug crew, a bail bondsman, and two other civilians have also been convicted, The Baltimore Sun reported. The corrupt officers have yet to be sentenced, but their actions have tainted as many as 850 cases and could result in overturned convictions.

“We recognize that this indictment and subsequent trial uncovered some of the most egregious and despicable acts ever perpetrated in law enforcement,” Acting-Commissioner Darryl De Sousa said Monday. “Let me make it clear: I have ZERO TOLERANCE for corruption.”

Former-Detective Maurice Ward, a GTTF member, testified in January that the group would routinely carry BB guns in their vehicles just in case they needed to plant one on a crime scene. Ward testified to other shocking acts of corruption by the GTTF as well.

City violence has skyrocketed amid the police scandals, with Baltimore suffering 343 murders in 2017, a record rate with the city’s shrinking population. Mayor Catherine Pugh cited the surge in violence when she fired former-Commissioner Kevin Davis and replaced him with De Sousa.

“Crime is now spilling out all over the city, and we’ve got to focus. I am charging De Sousa and his staff to get on top of it to reduce the numbers and to reduce them quickly,” Pugh, a Democrat, said at a news conference. “The fact is, we are not achieving the pace of progress that our residents have every right to expect in the weeks since we ended what was nearly a record year for homicides in the city of Baltimore.”

The eight officers face maximum sentences from 20 to 40 years in prison, while the five-man drug crew could be facing life in prison. The remaining civilians do not yet have scheduled sentences.

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This article was re-published with permission from the Daily Caller Foundation.

Civil Liberties, Police Accountability, Police State

Police Allegedly Let Dog Maul Handcuffed Man Who Later Died

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By Casey Harper
Vineland, NJ- Authorities are investigating what police are calling the “in-custody, non-shooting death” of a New Jersey man while local civil rights advocates cry foul.

Witnesses claim the officers viciously beat the man after he was handcuffed and unconscious and let a dog maul him.

“They punched him, stomped him, kicked him and then they let the dog out of the car,” Ricardo Garcia told NBC Philadelphia. “The dog bit him on his face and around his body. There’s no call for that. Once a man is handcuffed and unconscious, you should have stuck him in the patrol car and take [sic] him to the police station. Instead they decided to beat him right here.”

Police arrested Phillip White, 32, Tuesday morning after responding to a call about a disorderly person, according to a statement from the prosecutor’s office.

While many details are unclear, White was reportedly handcuffed on the street during part of the incident. Witnesses tell NBC that officers began roughing the man up. Police reportedly called for medical help when White appeared to be having respiratory problems

An audio of police communications gives some insight into the exchange:

“118 West Grape,” the dispatcher says in the recording. “Subject…hyperventilating. Officers out.”

An officer can also be heard.

“Slow all units down,” the officer says. “Subject under…tried disarming me.”

The incident is under investigation, with many outraged over the death. Police Chief Timothy P. Codispoti has said there will be an investigation to get to the bottom of it. An autopsy has not been released.

“Our sincere thoughts and prayers are with the family of the deceased and with the officers involved,” Codispoti said in a statement. ”I ask that everyone allow time for our justice system to now investigate this matter to its truthful conclusion.”

Follow Casey on Twitter and like him on Facebook

Featured, Police State, Politics, US

Report: San Diego Police Department “Weaknesses” Led To Rampant Misconduct

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San Diego, CA- According to a Police Executive Research Forum review released on Tuesday, the San Diego Police Department suffers from numerous “weaknesses” including lack of proper leadership, supervision and employee accountability which has contributed to several cases of misconduct that went undetected for years.

The review states:

On a broad level, PERF did not identify any particular policy failure or common underlying factor that tied the misconduct cases together. Rather, it was gaps in policies and practices, a lack of consistent supervision at many levels, and a failure to hold personnel accountable that allowed misconduct to occur and go undetected for some time. Perhaps the most important lesson learned from this assessment is that the failure of the department’s leaders to adequately address smaller problems led to much larger issues.

The report assessed 17 cases of misconduct committed by 13 officers, two sergeants, one detective and a civilian employee between 2009 and 2014. Misconduct included on-duty sexual assault; battery; “inappropriate, nonconsensual interactions” and stalking; attempted cover-ups; driving under the influence of alcohol; selling hydrocodone; shoplifting; and property damage.

Among the cases included in the review was the arrest of SDPD Officer Anthony Arevalos, who was sentenced to 8 years in prison in 2012 for eight felonies involving sexual battery and four misdemeanors. Christopher Hays, another officer who was sentenced to one year in prison after pleading guilty to felony false imprisonment and misdemeanor counts of assault and battery, was also mentioned in the report.

Bryce and Jennifer Charpentier, married SDPD officers, were charged with selling hydrocodone last summer. The couple later faced new charges of burglary and taking over a drug distribution operation. The two pleaded guilty to the charges and were sentenced to three years in jail.

The report provided 40 recommendations to improve policing. Those recommendations include strengthened background checks for prospective employees, improving the hiring process, increasing efforts made to investigating civilian complaints, and increasing supervision of employees. “The good news is that we are already making progress on many of the recommendations,” said San Diego Mayor Kevin Faulconer.

“None of this is a shock to me,” said SDPD Sergeant Jeff Jordon, vice president of the San Diego Police Officers Association. “Now the question is a lot of these recommendations are going to be very expensive.” The review mentioned that San Diego’s financial crisis leading to SDPD operating budget cuts contributed to an inability to properly monitor police behavior.

The full review is available to read here.

Police State, Politics, US

Six Philadelphia Officers Arrested, Facing Multiple Charges After Corruption Investigation

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Philadelphia, PA- Six Philadelphia narcotics officers were arrested early Wednesday morning for allegedly robbing, assaulting suspected drug dealers and falsifying reports to cover up the abuses following a lengthy federal corruption investigation.

The officers arrested were Thomas Liciardello, Perry Betts, Brian Reynolds, Michael Spicer, John Speiser and Linwood Norman. The officers are either current or former narcotics officers, and face a multitude of charges including racketeering, drug dealing, extortion, robbery, and kidnapping.

An investigation by the Philadelphia Police Department and the FBI alleged a disturbing game played by the accused officers in which they awarded points to one another based on different methods of assaulting suspects. Another accusation includes an incident where an officer allegedly held a suspect 30 feet off the ground over a balcony in an attempt to gain information from the suspect. The officers also stand accused by officials of  stealing over $500,000 in cash and goods such as electronics and designer clothes between 2006 and 2012, and selling drugs that they’d seized from suspects.

The indictment states that the officers used “extreme force” to obtain the cash and personal property, and made false police reports to avoid attracting attention to themselves.

Warren Layre had spoken of his experience with the officers in an interview last year with The Philadelphia Inquirer. Layre said that Officer Liciardello, one of the officers named in the 26-count indictment, was among several other officers who raided Layre’s auto repair shop without a warrant in 2011 on suspicion of drug dealing. Layre went on to describe how officers broke the door of his shop down with a battering ram. According to Layre, Liciardello hit him in the head with a metal pipe, rendering him unconscious. Layre said that when he came to, Liciardello then kicked him in the face and knocked his front teeth out.

After a search warrant was obtained, a large quantity of methamphetamine was found in the shop. Liciardello reported that $6,650 was seized from the shop; Layre said the amount was closer to $41,000. Layre theorized that the drugs were placed there by an acquaintance who may have been a police informant.

Layre’s story is just one of many allegations against the officers named in the indictment. Philadelphia Police Commissioner Charles Ramsey said the accusations amount to “one of the worst cases of corruption I have ever heard.” Ramsey suspended the six officers on Wednesday with “intent to dismiss”.

If found guilty, all officers but Speiser could face life sentences in prison; Speiser faces a maximum sentence of 40 years.

Ramsey seeks to change current police union rules to allow narcotics officers to be rotated out of the unit every five years to curb long-term corruption such as this case. “We need to be able to move people from these sensitive units if there’s any hint at all that they are engaging in misconduct,” said Ramsey.

The police union has been against changing this rule, stating that more time spent in the narcotics unit builds expertise and a stronger bond with police informants. Fraternal Order of Police president John McNesby argued that “they already had to have a background check to get into narcotics. You have plenty of supervision, a disciplinary system in place, and a commissioner who is obviously not bashful about firing people.”

 

Featured, Police State, US

Joel Naselroad: In Prison And Brutally Shot By Police For 3 Cannabis Plants

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Joel Naselroad may be in jail today but his tragic story exemplifies the police state that countless Americans are fighting against. As Naselroad suffers in jail, Americans all over the nation are wondering why a judge would still find reason to imprison Naselroad for the tragic event that happened on October 8th, 2013.

Video:

An article posted just a few days ago in the Kentucky Free Press on July 18th gives details to the events that led to the shooting of Naselroad. The article depicts Naselroad as a fun loving outdoorsman who enjoys gardening and repairing things such as computers, bicycles and lawn equipment.

According to the article, a man had trespassed onto the Naselroad’s property the morning of October 7th, one day before the shooting. Naselroad knew this because he had been videotaping an area on his family’s property in order to find out if a mountain lion existed in the area. When he replayed the film from October 7th, he could see that a man wearing a black face mask and dressed in hunting gear had been on the property. The man has been identified as Eric Miller (pictured below), the daughter’s boyfriend of the woman who called the police in order to investigate the cannabis plants growing on the Naselroad’s property. intruder-cropped-236x300 (1)

What happened next is very disturbing. On the morning of October 8th, 3 state police officers and a Sheriff’s deputy participated in a “Knock and Talk” which is a procedure police sometimes use when they do not have what they need for a search warrant.  Out of the 4 officers only one was dressed in uniform and, according to the article, the officer dressed in uniform was never seen by Naselroad.

Naselroad’s mother, who is suffering from brain cancer and recently had brain surgery, answered the front door to find an officer dressed in uniform and another officer dressed in plain clothes. While Naselroad’s mother answered the front door, Naselroad walked out the back door and the three officers not in uniform approached him, one pointing a gun at him. In result, Naselroad aimed his unloaded rifle at the officers and then he was shot by one of the officers not dressed in uniform that had previously killed a person with one gunshot in 2006.

According to Naselroad’s father, “the path of the bullet entered his chest, broke his ribs, punctured his lung and bounced off his vertebrae before blowing a large divot of flesh from his back.” Quickly after Naselroad was shot, he was handcuffed and then airlifted to the  University of Kentucky Chandler Medical Center.

Naselroad’s Attorney, Tucker Richardson, said during my interview with him that Naselroad’s mother was not allowed by the officers to comfort her son after he was shot and shortly after Naselroad had been put in the hospital, the police removed the family from the room Naselroad was located in so the police could stand-by and guard the room during Naselroad’s hospital stay.

Right now, Naselroad is serving a 120 day sentence and is major discomfort due to the injuries he sustained during the brutal attack. The only medicine he is able to get for his pain while in jail is aspirin. The pain and agony that Naselroad and his family is going through can be understood by reading the 18 letters sent to Judge Clouse before Naselroad’s sentencing, all are displayed at the bottom of the Kentucky Free Press article.

As we have reported on BenSwann.com, people across America are now becoming aware of the extraordinary medicinal benefits due to the stories of Shona Banda and Charlotte Figi. Not only that, we now have a Governor that is CEO of Cannabis Sativa which is producing marijuana lozenges for people who want to use it for medicinal or recreational purposes.

It’s incredible in today’s world that we can have a group of individuals in the medical community that embrace the benefits of cannabis while at the same time we have so many in law enforcement who use brutal force to stop its existence.

Now that you are informed, those of us at BenSwann.com encourage you to take action!

Here are the steps we recommend:

1. Join the Free Joel Naselroad Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/FreeJoelNaselroad

2. Share the story with others on social media and through emails!

3. Send a letter to Judge Clouse by initially sending it by email to tucker@brr-law.com

4. Provide financial support to Naselroad for legal bills and other expenses: http://www.gofundme.com/c1ol5k

Please let us know your thoughts on the story by commenting below!

 

Police State, US

Police Officer Arresting Another Police Officer? Nope, Says A Connecticut State’s Attorney

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Enfield, Conn. – Police officers in Enfield, Connecticut were ready to arrest one of their own. On April 1st, Officer Matthew Worden brutally assaulted a suspect when Worden claimed the suspect was resisting arrest. However, Worden’s story does not match the injuries or the video that recorded the incident.

Worden told Lt. Lawrence Curtis that he hit the suspect, Mark Maher, twice in the shoulder because he was “tensing his arm” and “clenching his fists” during a pat down on the hood of the cruisermarkmaher_enfieldpd. Worden claimed he punched Maher’s upper right arm “to disrupt the nerves and incapacitate the muscles so the arms could be controlled.”

In the 7-page arrest warrant that attempted to charge Worden with third-degree assault and fabricating evidence, the actions of Worden were deemed “neither necessary nor needed.” The application goes on to to state that the video does not show Maher resisting arrest, but rather shows Worden throwing Maher to the ground and adjusting his glove before delivering more punches.

“We conducted our own criminal investigation and reviewed all of the statements and evidence and believed we had probable cause to submit an arrest warrant,” Enfield Police Chief Carl Sferrazza said.

In the rejection letter, sent late last week, state’s attorney Gail Hardy said the video “depicts many moving parts where it is extremely difficult to keep up with everything that is going on with all parties.” The letter also stated that although the actions of Worden violated the police department rules, the actions did not elevate to criminal level.

This is not the first time Worden has had the spotlight on him. According to the Hartford Courant: Enfield, a department with nearly 100 sworn officers, has had 26 civilian complaints in the past four years. One-third of those were against Worden, records show. In 2013, Worden had half of the six citizen’s complaints against the department.

Worden has had complaints ranging from being rude at traffic stops, racial profiling, ordering a dog to attack a person Worden mistook for a burglar and once was suspended for getting into a fist fight with a fellow officer during a domestic dispute with Worden’s then-girlfriend. Worden was arrested but the charges were dropped.

Maher was charged with resisting arrest.

Politics, US

Police Use Of Force Drops 60% When Officers Required To Wear Video Cameras

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Rialto, CA- The Rialto Police Department, over the past year, has been experimenting with equipping body cameras to the 70 officers on its force. The initial results show a promising solution to the excessive use of force by officers.

The police chief in Rialto, Tony Farrar, is on record as stating, “ I think we’ve opened some eyes in the law enforcement world. We’ve shown the potential.”

This potential he speaks of is due to the scientific data that this experiment has yielded over the course of the last year. The body cameras were introduced on officers in February 2012, over the next twelve months total complaints filed against them dropped by a staggering 88%, with use of force by officers dropping by 60%.

With the cameras there has been an improvement in officer’s demeanor and tone towards those they serve. As Chief Farrar noted, “With a camera they are more conscious of how they speak and how they treat people.”

When those in a position of authority are watched they are less likely to abuse that authority. Chief Farrar says, “That’s just human nature. As an officer you act a bit more professional, follow the rules a bit better.” In addition it also helps protect officers from false accusations of excessive use of force.

Chief Farrar is providing a new paradigm for policing, taking a proactive approach rather than making excuses for his officers and toeing the line. To his credit he has a master’s degree from the Cambridge Institute of Criminology, from which stemmed the idea to utilize cameras.

By holding officers more accountable, expensive lawsuits and payouts can be avoided, making it fiscally, as well as socially responsible. Even the ACLU has come out in support of the move, saying that with proper oversight and accountability, even privacy concerns would be outweighed.

The scientific evidence clearly demonstrates that this program could be an effective and efficient model for nationwide police reform. If you would like to see a similar program implemented in your area, get in touch with your mayor/city council/county board and demand cameras on officers in your local jurisdiction.

Follow Jay on Facebook and on Twitter @SirMetropolis 

 

 

Politics, US

Firefighter Arrested For PARKING VIOLATION While He Was Aiding Injured Accident Victims

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A video has been released of a police officer arresting a Chula Vista firefighter, Jacob Gregoire, who was attempting to help injured victims of a car crash on a California highway.

The unidentified officer, who did not like that a firetruck was parked by the dividing lane, came on the scene just as Gregoire was giving a victim first aid. The officer ordered Gregoire to move the truck, but the firefighter did not follow orders — he thought it was more important to continue giving aid to the injured man.

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This angered the officer — he immediately put Gregoire in cuffs. As he was being arrested, Gregoire said, “It’s unbelievable that you guys have to treat us like this. We are on the road trying to help people.”

“We asked you to clear the road and you said no, and you are getting arrested for not moving it,” the officer responded.

Watch the incident unfold on camera:

While the arrest was taking place, a fire department employee said, “This is ridiculous. CHP is arresting our engineer for where he spotted the fire engine. We’re in the middle of patient care with patients on the freeway and we’re trying to protect our scene and they’re putting him in handcuffs at this time and walking him away.”

The Chula Vista Firefighters Union’s president said, ““We are stunned. Our Engineer parked his vehicle consistent with our standards and training. We cannot imagine what possible explanation could be given to justify this conduct by the CHP officer. This removed a valuable fire apparatus and crew out of service for approximately one hour. This occurred at the same time another Fire Engine was moved to San Diego to support their fatality structure Fire. We had two districts without service for over an hour.”

The police department did not attempt to defend the officer’s actions. Instead, they released a statement that said, “This was an isolated incident and not representative of the manner in which our agencies normally work together toward our common goal.”

Follow Kristin on Facebook and Twitter.

Politics, US

VIDEO: Police Forcefully Throw Man Against Concrete Wall Then Mace Him

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A shocking video shows police officers in Seabrook, New Hampshire beating up aspiring rapper Mike “MJB” Bergeron.

The incident happened on November 11, 2009 after Bergeron was arrested for drunk driving, but the video footage was just posted on YouTube this Monday. Bergeron claims that in the video, Seabrook police officers can be seen slamming his face directly into a concrete wall. They then pepper spray him, even though he was already on the floor.

In just a few days, Bergeron’s video has received over 100,000 views.

The video’s description says, “charged with a dwi and tried explaining that I wasn’t drunk and they could be out catching actual criminals. then after being in the cell for a while waiing for a bail bonds man I was taken out and brought in the booking room to call for a ride. after calling a ride I was told I could take my phone that I called from and my wallet. as soon as I greabbed my wallet from the table he officer with the glasses came at me saying he never told me I could take my stuff and choked me against the wall then tried to grab the wallet from my pocket. once he got the wallet and my phone this is what happened. there was no lawsuit made due to the fact I found a lawyer and the lawyer took the tapes and disappeared for 2 years until I finally tracked him down and go it back but now I think its to late to do anything with it even though I have a permanent lump on the back of my head chipped teeth and brain injuries but talking to a lawyer soon well see what happens.”

According to the town of Seabrook, the officers in the video have all been placed on leave — it is unknown if they are being paid or not. The fate of the officers’ careers depends on the results of the town’s “comprehensive investigation into the incident.”

Seabrook Police Chief Lee Bitomske refused to comment on the incident.

Bergeron is likely to file a lawsuit against the police department due to the injuries he sustained as a result of the beating.

Follow Kristin on Facebook and Twitter.

Politics, US

Cops Spray Woman’s Vagina With Mace To “Punish” Her After Drug Arrest

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Cops in New Mexico repeatedly sprayed a woman’s vagina with mace after she was arrested for drugs. They allegedly did this to “punish” her.

The woman, Marlene Tapia, was taken to the Metropolitan Detention Center after her arrest. Next, officers stripped her to search for drugs. They made her bend over and then claimed she had a plastic bag containing drugs in her vagina.

Officers should have subsequently had medical staff remove the bag from Tapia — but they did not do this.

Instead, an officer “punished” the woman by spraying her vagina with mace. That officer, Blanca Zapater, allegedly did this several times in a row.

Tapia is being represented by an attorney with the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU).

Peter Simonson, the Executive Director of New Mexico’s ACLU branch, is disgusted by what happened. He said, “It’s tantamount to torture. It’s just the maliciousness, the wanton disregard, wanton maliciousness that the corrections officer demonstrated. This is the kind of chemical that is intended to be sprayed on other parts of the body, to cause pain, but to spray it on the very most sensitive part of a person’s body only doubles the pain.”

After being sprayed, Tapia suffered from immense pain and severely swollen genitals.

Zapater has been punished. Although her specific punishment is unknown, Zapater remains on staff at the Metropolitan Detention Center.

The ACLU is bringing their lawsuit is to “ensure that these sorts of things don’t happen to another person.”

Here are the court records regarding the incident:

NM ABQ Sprayed Genitals

This case is only the latest in a string of recent controversial actions by New Mexico police. Earlier this month, cops in the state forced enemas and cavity searches on several drivers for minor traffic violations.

How can we exist in a relatively safe society but still be able to hold our law enforcement accountable?

 

Follow Kristin on Facebook and Twitter.

Politics, US

Police Abuse? Cops Shoot 14-Year-Old In The Face With A Taser

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The photo above is of 14-year-old Joseph Williams’ face after police in Bucks County, Pennsylvania tased him.

Williams’ mother, Marissa Sargeant, released the photo and is demanding an investigation into the officers who arrested her teen. She said, “The picture speaks a thousand words.”

Williams was arrested on Tuesday in Walmart — he and his 19-year-old cousin Jordan Gibson were caught shoplifting.

According to police, they cuffed the 14-year-old but he ran away before they could put him in a cruiser.

Police officers told NBC10 that they “yelled warnings at the teen and fearing for his safety, they fired a stun gun to subdue him. The D.A. says the Taser struck the boy in the face and with his hands cuffed, the boy had no way to brace himself against falling face-first.”

Williams was left with a broken nose, multiple deep gashes, and eyes swollen shut.

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Sargeant first posted photos of her son’s fresh wounds on her Facebook account. She wrote, “He was handcuff but they say he resisted arrest that yall tazzed him in his face (sic). Not only that they took him to lower bucks hospital with out his mother consent they broke his nose n (sic) both eyes were swollen shut. These prejudice cops need a rude awakening.”

Sargeant said she doubts that police are telling the truth about how the incident transpired. She said, “There’s no way, if he was running from behind, that he would get hit with a taser in the front of his face.”

She believes that cops kicked or hit her son.

But Bucks County officials stick by their story and defend the officers’ actions. District Attorney David Heckler said, “He should have stopped when police told him to. You take off running at a full clip and someone pulls your legs out from under you, and you’re cuffed from behind, you’re going to break your fall with your face.”

Williams’ family is currently threatening to sue.

“I just want some justice. I even pray for the police officers because they need help,” said Sargeant.

 

Follow Kristin on Facebook and Twitter.

Politics, US

New Mexico Police Force Enemas & Anal Cavity Searches On Drivers Pulled Over For Minor Violations

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As we reported last week, New Mexico man David Eckert was forced to undergo several enemas and anal cavity searches in January. The invasive searches happened after the man was pulled over for not coming to a full stop at a Walmart stop sign. Cops said they were suspicious of Eckert because he was “clenching his buttocks.”

No drugs were found on Eckert.

Now, another similar story has surfaced. New Mexico cops did the same thing to another driver, Timothy Young, for failing to signal a turn in October, 2012.

When officers pulled Young over in Silver City for the minor violation, one of their drug-sniffing dogs indicated that he had drugs on him. After cops obtained a warrant, Young was taken to Gila Regional Medical Center where he was forced to undergo several enemas, anal finger exams, and a colonoscopy — just like Eckert.

No drugs were found on Young, either.

Although the same officers were not involved in Eckert and Young’s cases, the same drug-sniffing dog was used both times.

The dog’s name is Leo. Local news station KOB4 took a look at Leo’s certification and found that he had been trained — but that his license to assist police with drug searches expired in April, 2012 (prior to both Eckert and Young’s cases).

Police dogs like Leo are supposed to have their license renewed each year.

Currently, independent oversight boards are looking into both cases. We will keep you up-to-date as news breaks.

Interviews, US

Exclusive: Officers Falsely Arrest Citizens for Lawfully Carrying Antique Black Powder Pistols

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Open Carry Texas is a grassroots organization that seeks to educate the public about open carry in order to get public support for the next legislative session.

amosarrestedThe organization’s website states: Open Carry Texas (OCT) is an organization dedicated to the safe and legal carry of firearms openly in the State of Texas in accordance with the United States and Texas Constitution and applicable laws.

Open Carry Texas has gained much attention recently. Benswann.com’s Kristin Tate reported on a peaceful 2nd Amendment rally they organized last week.

Today, however, 2 members of Texas Open Carry were arrested on the TX state capitol.

According to the Open Carry Texas Facebook page the two men arrested were upgraded to class A misdemeanor charges, criminal trespass with deadly weapon.

Joshua Cook asked Vice President and Chief Communications Officer Victoria Montgomery about what happened today. Listen to the exclusive interview below.

From Open Carry TX website:

Our purpose is to 1) educate all Texans about their right to openly carry rifles and shotguns in a safe manner; 2) to condition Texans to feel safe around law-abiding citizens that choose to carry them; 3) encourage our elected officials to pass less restrictive open carry legislation for all firearms, especially pistols; and (4) foster a cooperative relationship with local law enforcement in the furtherance of these goals with an eye towards preventing negative encounters.

Politics, US

Suburban Cops In Florida Get Rich Selling Drugs

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Police in Sunrise, Florida have made millions by luring drug buyers from across the country to their small town. Once the buyers show up and attempt to buy cocaine in restaurants like TGI Fridays or Panera Bread, cops arrest them then confiscate their cash and belongings.

Undercover detectives in Sunrise seized millions of dollars from the stings, collectively earning over $1.2 million in overtime. One officer earned $240,000 in overtime in just three-and-a-half years.

The officers also gave cash to informants who help make the arrests. One informant  alone received over $800,000 in just five years.

The stings were exposed by the Sun Sentinel in a six month investigation. The Sentinel’s comprehensive report has caused the Sunrise police department to cease the work, even though the officers had support from Mayor Michael Ryan.

The Sun Sentinel reported, “Undercover officers tempt these distant buyers with special discounts, even offering cocaine on consignment and the keys to cars with hidden compartments for easy transport. In some deals, they’ve provided rides and directions to these strangers to Sunrise. This being western Broward County, not South Beach, the drama doesn’t unfold against a backdrop of fast boats, thumping nightclubs or Art Deco hotels. It’s absurdly suburban.”

Capt. Robert Voss, who oversees the Sunrise Intelligence & Narcotics Division, defended the cocaine stings. He said, “Our job is to put bad guys in jail, and we do a good job of it.”

Defense attorney Martin Roth from Fort Lauderdale pointed out that the work done in Sunrise an be “a good or bad thing depending on your point of view.”

He said, “Sunrise is extraordinary in the amount of cases they produce… In my view, it’s all about the money.”

The money taken from the stings usually goes towards buying new equipment for Sunrise officers like guns, computers, and training gear.

However, Sun Sentinel reporter Megan O’Matz pointed out that more than cash is often seized from the drug buyers. She said, “[Officers] can take their cars, jewelry. One fella told us a cop said, ‘Hey, I like the sunglasses you’re wearing,’ and snatched them.”

Still, what Sunrise cops were doing was not unlawful.

Joel DeFabio, an attorney from Miami, said, “Is it illegal? No.Is it improper? Not under our current law.”

About 200 people have been arrested in Sunrise as a result of the cocaine stings since 2009. Of those 200, only seven were Sunrise residents.

Do you support these means by cops to catch drug buyers? Tell us why (or why not) in the comments section below.

Politics, US

Man Brutally Shot After Police Mistake Him For A Car Thief

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A 60-year-old man was shot by police in his own driveway — the officers involved mistakenly thought the man was a car thief.

Roy Middleton lives in Pensacola, Florida. He was in his driveway at 2:30am on July 27 getting a cigarette from his mother’s Lincoln Town Car. Middleton lives with his mother and wife, and his name is listed on the car’s insurance.

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But one of Middleton’s neighbors saw him in the driveway, became suspicious of a car break in, and then called police.

Officers Jeremiah Meeks, Sgt. Matthew White and Charles Wright promptly arrived at Middleton’s house a few minutes later. As soon as they spotted Middleton, they ordered the man to put his hands in the air. According to the officers, Middleton then hesitated to take their order.

It was then that they shot the man. 15 bullets were fired, two of which hit Middleton in the legs.

The officers continue to defend their actions, claiming that they had reasonable cause to fire after Middleton did not follow their orders. They also claim Middleton appeared to reach for a metal object after refusing to put his hands up.

Sheriff Morgan, the officers’ superior, said, “There was nothing glaringly apparent to us that the officers did that was out of the ordinary in the given set of circumstances as have been given to us.”

Middleton, on the other hand, told a different story.

He claimed he was not asked for identification or asked any questions before being shot. The metal object he was reaching for was a keychain, he said.

After the shooting, Middleton had to get surgery to put metal rods in his left leg. He can now do little without feeling severe pain.

Middleton said, “I ask myself why they shot me first. And why they shot me so many times afterwards. Yeah, I ask why — that’s all I can ask is why.”

Currently, the officers involved are on paid leave while investigators get to the bottom of the issue and determine if charges will be brought against them. 

Middleton said he will be filing a civil lawsuit against the officers for excessive force. He wants them to cover his medical bills, but he said more importantly he wants an apology.

Middleton said he has been living in agony since the event, and suffers from traumatic nightmares. His wife Sharlet said, “He still tries to be the Roy that we all know, but he’s not.”

Do you think the officers had probable cause to shoot Middleton? Let us know in the comments section below.

Politics, US

Elderly Veteran Killed By Cops After Refusing Medical Treatment

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95-year-old WWII vet John Wrana was killed by police after he resisted medical care in his nursing home last month.

According to the Chicago Tribune, nursing home staff said Wrana was being “combative” as he resisted involuntary medical treatment. Apparently, he was so opposed to receiving the care that he was threatening to harm employees with his cane and shoehorn. A police press release states that the elderly man went so far as to pick up a large knife as well.

Eventually police were called and showed up on the scene to try and calm the old man down. After repeated attempts to calm Wrana down failed, officers used a Taser on him. They then proceeded to shoot him with bean bags.

It was then that Wrana fell on the ground. He was taken to the hospital almost immediately, where he died the next morning. His death was a direct result of the police abuse. Specifically, he died from the bean bags that were shot at him from a 12-gauge shotgun.

Nicholas Grapsas is an attorney who represents Wrana’s family. He said, “This was a literal war hero. It’s outright insulting when you have such lack of respect for someone who served our country to the extent he did.”

There are several key aspects in this case that point to the policemen’s actions being unwarranted.

For one, witnesses who were present during the incident did not see Wrana holding a knife at anytime, despite the police press release stating the fact. Secondly, the old man was sitting in a chair during the entire incident. It is hard to believe that seasoned police officers would not be able to handle an elderly man who used a walker.

Once the police came on the scene, staff members were not allowed in the room with Wrana any longer. Several employees asked to try and calm Wrana down again, but were refused. Grapas said, “At some point, I’m told there were between five and seven police officers, they went back to the room with a riot shield in hand, entered the door and shot him with a shotgun that contained bean-bag rounds.”

Given the information available, it seems likely that unnecessary force was used against Wrana.

Although the old man was described as “independent,” no one knew him to be dangerous.

Still, it is important not to make judgements since we do not know exactly what made the officers decide to carry out their actions.

Do you think this is a clear case of police power abuse? Or is more clarity needed to make a judgement? Let us know what you think in the comments section below.