The meme started out as sweet, tender 18-year-old Michael Brown about to enter college, murdered by police in front of many witnesses despite no discernible motive. National uproar and civil disturbance ensues.
The family of the deceased hires Benjamin Crump, the lawyer for Trayvon Martin’s family who engaged a high powered, well connected PR firm to turn that shooting into a national cause celebre, which they did with enormous success. By the time the truth came out, most of America seemed to still believe that the deceased was a harmless, innocent victim of racism murdered by a monster who deserved to be lynched. That meme seems to be getting a repeat in Missouri.
Only days later, do we learn how savagely the officer was beaten by the physically huge man he shot. And that very shortly before the incident, the innocent college boy had performed a strong-arm robbery at a convenience store, caught on surveillance video. (This, of course, would not do, so last night looters ravaged that particular convenience store.) It has been reported that that Facebook images of Brown exist, flashing gang signs indicating membership in one of the nation’s most feared street gang, the Bloods.
Countless people already invested in the police brutality meme cry that this late news must be a cover-up. They do not realize the long-standing ethos of law enforcement that says, “We don’t try our cases in the press.”
There is still much for us to learn about what happened in Ferguson, Missouri that day. Results of the autopsy and toxicology screen have not yet been released. Location of entry wounds and trajectory of the bullets through the body will tell us things, and it would be interesting to know what if anything was in Michael Brown’s system when he turned from the “gentle giant” his family described him as, into the hulking monster throwing the store clerk around in the surveillance film shortly before he was shot by police. I suspect there are dashcam images or i-phone video that the public has not yet seen.
One lesson that has clearly emerged so far: the longer the accused wait to put forth their side of the story, the more damage will be done to their cause. An accusation unanswered is seen by the general public as a plea of nolo contendre.
And this morning, CNN reports that storeowners, feeling that police aren’t protecting them from looters, are standing outside their shops in Ferguson with “machine guns.”
Another lesson of déjà vu, I suppose…
Re: Machine Guns.
The News Video that I saw showed a “Shop Owner”, standing in front of his store, holding what appeared to be an AR-15 rifle, with a long magazine attached.
While this may be an “Assault Weapon” look alike, unless it has the fire selelector switch, which includes positions for “Three roud burst fire”, and “Fully automatic fire”, IT IS NOT A MACHINE GUN, NO MATTER WHAT THE “LAME STREAM MEDIA” CLAIMS!
The difference being, if a weapon only fires a single round, for each pull of the trigger, then it is still only a legal “SEMI-AUTOMATIC RIFLE”, NOT AN ASSAULT WEAP0ON!
“Soap Box OFF”
Ladywest,
Interesting thought processes and logic in how you came to your conclusions as to the guilt of the officer.
Awhile back there was a lively discussion on this blog as to who we would want to be on the jury if we were ever on trial after a deadly force encounter that we survived……………………………………
Ladywest,
Interesting thought processes and logic in how you came to your conclusions as to the guilt of the officer.
Awhile back there was a lively discussion on this blog as to who we would want to be on the jury if we were ever on trial after a deadly force encounter that we survived……………………………………
Re: Machine Guns:
For you Knitpickers”, I should have included “Any semi-automatic firearm which has been altered, in such a manner, that it will fire more than one round, for each pull of the Trigger”
If I still forgot something, I’m sure someone here will remember to mention it?
Soap Box OFF, Again.
Re: Machine Guns:
For you Knitpickers”, I should have included “Any semi-automatic firearm which has been altered, in such a manner, that it will fire more than one round, for each pull of the Trigger”
If I still forgot something, I’m sure someone here will remember to mention it?
Soap Box OFF, Again.
The “machine guns” supposedly carried by business owners trying to protect their property were most likely obtained from their kids, who purchased the weapons of mass destruction via mail order from the diabolical NRA which has been supplying millions of illegal firearms to juvenile delinquents over the decades. We need to totally ban such evil weapons so bad guys in the U.S. can commit crimes with greater safety and suffer less stress.
The “machine guns” supposedly carried by business owners trying to protect their property were most likely obtained from their kids, who purchased the weapons of mass destruction via mail order from the diabolical NRA which has been supplying millions of illegal firearms to juvenile delinquents over the decades. We need to totally ban such evil weapons so bad guys in the U.S. can commit crimes with greater safety and suffer less stress.
The “machine guns” supposedly carried by business owners trying to protect their property were most likely obtained from their kids, who purchased the weapons of mass destruction via mail order from the diabolical NRA which has been supplying millions of illegal firearms to juvenile delinquents over the decades. We need to totally ban such evil weapons so bad guys in the U.S. can commit crimes with greater safety and suffer less stress.
The “machine guns” supposedly carried by business owners trying to protect their property were most likely obtained from their kids, who purchased the weapons of mass destruction via mail order from the diabolical NRA which has been supplying millions of illegal firearms to juvenile delinquents over the decades. We need to totally ban such evil weapons so bad guys in the U.S. can commit crimes with greater safety and suffer less stress.
The “machine guns” supposedly carried by business owners trying to protect their property were most likely obtained from their kids, who purchased the weapons of mass destruction via mail order from the diabolical NRA which has been supplying millions of illegal firearms to juvenile delinquents over the decades. We need to totally ban such evil weapons so bad guys in the U.S. can commit crimes with greater safety and suffer less stress.
If Michael Brown had just committed strong-arm robbery a few minutes before he was stopped by Officer Wilson, Brown’s mindset would definitely be to avoid being arrested, up to and including resisting arrest and fighting with Officer Wilson to get away. Who knows why Brown decided to turn around and start running towards Wilson? I remember years ago in training that an attacker can close 21 feet in about 1.5 seconds–just barely enough time to draw your weapon and fire. Thirty five feet is 14 feet more than the magic 21 ft number, so let’s say Officer Wilson had 2.5 seconds to react (half a second for each extra 7 ft). That 2.5 seconds probably seemed like a blink of an eye for Officer Wilson who just moments ago was attacked by the same person.
The Ferguson police chief should have gotten ahead of the problem by immediately releasing the video of the strong-arm robbery and getting out and speaking with the protesters about what happened. The police chief in St. Louis did this with another incident in which an individual with a knife (who had just committed robbery) charged two officers, and was killed by both officers with their service firearms. The attacker came within just four feet away from the officers when he was killed. I believe a lesson learned here is to tell the bad news as soon as possible because, unlike a fine wine, bad news doesn’t get better with age!
If Michael Brown had just committed strong-arm robbery a few minutes before he was stopped by Officer Wilson, Brown’s mindset would definitely be to avoid being arrested, up to and including resisting arrest and fighting with Officer Wilson to get away. Who knows why Brown decided to turn around and start running towards Wilson? I remember years ago in training that an attacker can close 21 feet in about 1.5 seconds–just barely enough time to draw your weapon and fire. Thirty five feet is 14 feet more than the magic 21 ft number, so let’s say Officer Wilson had 2.5 seconds to react (half a second for each extra 7 ft). That 2.5 seconds probably seemed like a blink of an eye for Officer Wilson who just moments ago was attacked by the same person.
The Ferguson police chief should have gotten ahead of the problem by immediately releasing the video of the strong-arm robbery and getting out and speaking with the protesters about what happened. The police chief in St. Louis did this with another incident in which an individual with a knife (who had just committed robbery) charged two officers, and was killed by both officers with their service firearms. The attacker came within just four feet away from the officers when he was killed. I believe a lesson learned here is to tell the bad news as soon as possible because, unlike a fine wine, bad news doesn’t get better with age!
Missouri Governor Calls for ‘Vigorous Prosecution’ in Michael Brown’s Death of policemen. It seem Missouri gov calls for ‘vigorous prosecution’ of Ferguson shooting case of police officer took part in not waiting see what truth matter is. So Deja Vu all over again.
http://www.foxnews.com/us/2014/08/20/missouri-gov-calls-for-vigorous-prosecution-ferguson-shooting-case/
Missouri Governor Calls for ‘Vigorous Prosecution’ in Michael Brown’s Death of policemen. It seem Missouri gov calls for ‘vigorous prosecution’ of Ferguson shooting case of police officer took part in not waiting see what truth matter is. So Deja Vu all over again.
http://www.foxnews.com/us/2014/08/20/missouri-gov-calls-for-vigorous-prosecution-ferguson-shooting-case/
Dear Ladywest;
With all due respect, Sometimes it is necessary weigh a witness’s testimony for accuracy. In this case you wrote…”…Cop now pulls up along side them and throws open the door and it encounters one of the two and it bounces back toward him. He grabs Brown (through the window?) by neck/shirt collar and there is a scuffle before the shooting.”
It has been reported that Brown was 6 feet 4 inches tall and rather wide at 295 pounds. While seated in your car, can you reach through the window and grab a 6’4″ man by the collar? Seriously? I am 6’1″ and I couldn’t do that, so it does not sound like a very plausible story to me. Unless… Brown stuck his head inside of the car window… now why would he do that?
Better to wait and hear ALL the facts prior to convicting anyone.
Regards
Dear Ladywest;
With all due respect, Sometimes it is necessary weigh a witness’s testimony for accuracy. In this case you wrote…”…Cop now pulls up along side them and throws open the door and it encounters one of the two and it bounces back toward him. He grabs Brown (through the window?) by neck/shirt collar and there is a scuffle before the shooting.”
It has been reported that Brown was 6 feet 4 inches tall and rather wide at 295 pounds. While seated in your car, can you reach through the window and grab a 6’4″ man by the collar? Seriously? I am 6’1″ and I couldn’t do that, so it does not sound like a very plausible story to me. Unless… Brown stuck his head inside of the car window… now why would he do that?
Better to wait and hear ALL the facts prior to convicting anyone.
Regards
Dear Ladywest;
With all due respect, Sometimes it is necessary weigh a witness’s testimony for accuracy. In this case you wrote…”…Cop now pulls up along side them and throws open the door and it encounters one of the two and it bounces back toward him. He grabs Brown (through the window?) by neck/shirt collar and there is a scuffle before the shooting.”
It has been reported that Brown was 6 feet 4 inches tall and rather wide at 295 pounds. While seated in your car, can you reach through the window and grab a 6’4″ man by the collar? Seriously? I am 6’1″ and I couldn’t do that, so it does not sound like a very plausible story to me. Unless… Brown stuck his head inside of the car window… now why would he do that?
Better to wait and hear ALL the facts prior to convicting anyone.
Regards
Dear Ladywest;
With all due respect, Sometimes it is necessary weigh a witness’s testimony for accuracy. In this case you wrote…”…Cop now pulls up along side them and throws open the door and it encounters one of the two and it bounces back toward him. He grabs Brown (through the window?) by neck/shirt collar and there is a scuffle before the shooting.”
It has been reported that Brown was 6 feet 4 inches tall and rather wide at 295 pounds. While seated in your car, can you reach through the window and grab a 6’4″ man by the collar? Seriously? I am 6’1″ and I couldn’t do that, so it does not sound like a very plausible story to me. Unless… Brown stuck his head inside of the car window… now why would he do that?
Better to wait and hear ALL the facts prior to convicting anyone.
Regards
Dear Ladywest;
With all due respect, Sometimes it is necessary weigh a witness’s testimony for accuracy. In this case you wrote…”…Cop now pulls up along side them and throws open the door and it encounters one of the two and it bounces back toward him. He grabs Brown (through the window?) by neck/shirt collar and there is a scuffle before the shooting.”
It has been reported that Brown was 6 feet 4 inches tall and rather wide at 295 pounds. While seated in your car, can you reach through the window and grab a 6’4″ man by the collar? Seriously? I am 6’1″ and I couldn’t do that, so it does not sound like a very plausible story to me. Unless… Brown stuck his head inside of the car window… now why would he do that?
Better to wait and hear ALL the facts prior to convicting anyone.
Regards
Rusty, here is an article that details the beating the officer took.
http://www.foxnews.com/us/2014/08/20/missouri-cop-was-badly-beaten-before-shooting-michael-brown-says-source/
Just came out today.
Rusty, here is an article that details the beating the officer took.
http://www.foxnews.com/us/2014/08/20/missouri-cop-was-badly-beaten-before-shooting-michael-brown-says-source/
Just came out today.
We’ll never know the truth….
Odd the Ferguson PD can afford all kinds of military equipment to arm their badged thugs with but, they can’t afford Dashcams in their patrol cars. Odd how Wilson immediately went to deadly force rather then use his TASER or OC spray. Odd how a badged thug can ALWAYS employ deadly force but if the common taxpayer did the same we’d be crucified by the local DA, the badged thugs and the lamestream media.
I have no use for cops. And this latest use of excessive force is par for the course for “law enforcement”. We no longer have police or peace officers. Just badged thugs who now act with impunity. Our, your government and those who are government are OUT OF CONTROL.
We’ll never know the truth….
Odd the Ferguson PD can afford all kinds of military equipment to arm their badged thugs with but, they can’t afford Dashcams in their patrol cars. Odd how Wilson immediately went to deadly force rather then use his TASER or OC spray. Odd how a badged thug can ALWAYS employ deadly force but if the common taxpayer did the same we’d be crucified by the local DA, the badged thugs and the lamestream media.
I have no use for cops. And this latest use of excessive force is par for the course for “law enforcement”. We no longer have police or peace officers. Just badged thugs who now act with impunity. Our, your government and those who are government are OUT OF CONTROL.
We’ll never know the truth….
Odd the Ferguson PD can afford all kinds of military equipment to arm their badged thugs with but, they can’t afford Dashcams in their patrol cars. Odd how Wilson immediately went to deadly force rather then use his TASER or OC spray. Odd how a badged thug can ALWAYS employ deadly force but if the common taxpayer did the same we’d be crucified by the local DA, the badged thugs and the lamestream media.
I have no use for cops. And this latest use of excessive force is par for the course for “law enforcement”. We no longer have police or peace officers. Just badged thugs who now act with impunity. Our, your government and those who are government are OUT OF CONTROL.
We’ll never know the truth….
Odd the Ferguson PD can afford all kinds of military equipment to arm their badged thugs with but, they can’t afford Dashcams in their patrol cars. Odd how Wilson immediately went to deadly force rather then use his TASER or OC spray. Odd how a badged thug can ALWAYS employ deadly force but if the common taxpayer did the same we’d be crucified by the local DA, the badged thugs and the lamestream media.
I have no use for cops. And this latest use of excessive force is par for the course for “law enforcement”. We no longer have police or peace officers. Just badged thugs who now act with impunity. Our, your government and those who are government are OUT OF CONTROL.
We’ll never know the truth….
Odd the Ferguson PD can afford all kinds of military equipment to arm their badged thugs with but, they can’t afford Dashcams in their patrol cars. Odd how Wilson immediately went to deadly force rather then use his TASER or OC spray. Odd how a badged thug can ALWAYS employ deadly force but if the common taxpayer did the same we’d be crucified by the local DA, the badged thugs and the lamestream media.
I have no use for cops. And this latest use of excessive force is par for the course for “law enforcement”. We no longer have police or peace officers. Just badged thugs who now act with impunity. Our, your government and those who are government are OUT OF CONTROL.
We’ll never know the truth….
Odd the Ferguson PD can afford all kinds of military equipment to arm their badged thugs with but, they can’t afford Dashcams in their patrol cars. Odd how Wilson immediately went to deadly force rather then use his TASER or OC spray. Odd how a badged thug can ALWAYS employ deadly force but if the common taxpayer did the same we’d be crucified by the local DA, the badged thugs and the lamestream media.
I have no use for cops. And this latest use of excessive force is par for the course for “law enforcement”. We no longer have police or peace officers. Just badged thugs who now act with impunity. Our, your government and those who are government are OUT OF CONTROL.
COP HATERS UNITE !!!!!!!!!
Then return under your respective rocks, and allow the adults to carry on an intelligent conversation.
Thank you.
COP HATERS UNITE !!!!!!!!!
Then return under your respective rocks, and allow the adults to carry on an intelligent conversation.
Thank you.
COP HATERS UNITE !!!!!!!!!
Then return under your respective rocks, and allow the adults to carry on an intelligent conversation.
Thank you.
COP HATERS UNITE !!!!!!!!!
Then return under your respective rocks, and allow the adults to carry on an intelligent conversation.
Thank you.
COP HATERS UNITE !!!!!!!!!
Then return under your respective rocks, and allow the adults to carry on an intelligent conversation.
Thank you.
COP HATERS UNITE !!!!!!!!!
Then return under your respective rocks, and allow the adults to carry on an intelligent conversation.
Thank you.
Dan III, If you have no use for LEOs, try living in a society without them, where the meanest become the rulers.
LEOs are the foundation of our civilization. It would be impossible for good men to survive if all that we had were laws with no one to enforce them.
“We no longer have police or peace officers. Just badged thugs who now act with impunity.”
You are wrong. Certainly there are some who abuse their authority, but your statement groups them all as such. Not true. Internal Affairs does a far better job of weeding out the unworthy than can be found in any other organization of which I am aware.
You owe a clarification to all of the worthy individuals in Law Enforcement. Are you mature enough to recognize that and provide it?
Dan III, If you have no use for LEOs, try living in a society without them, where the meanest become the rulers.
LEOs are the foundation of our civilization. It would be impossible for good men to survive if all that we had were laws with no one to enforce them.
“We no longer have police or peace officers. Just badged thugs who now act with impunity.”
You are wrong. Certainly there are some who abuse their authority, but your statement groups them all as such. Not true. Internal Affairs does a far better job of weeding out the unworthy than can be found in any other organization of which I am aware.
You owe a clarification to all of the worthy individuals in Law Enforcement. Are you mature enough to recognize that and provide it?
Dan III, If you have no use for LEOs, try living in a society without them, where the meanest become the rulers.
LEOs are the foundation of our civilization. It would be impossible for good men to survive if all that we had were laws with no one to enforce them.
“We no longer have police or peace officers. Just badged thugs who now act with impunity.”
You are wrong. Certainly there are some who abuse their authority, but your statement groups them all as such. Not true. Internal Affairs does a far better job of weeding out the unworthy than can be found in any other organization of which I am aware.
You owe a clarification to all of the worthy individuals in Law Enforcement. Are you mature enough to recognize that and provide it?
Dan III, If you have no use for LEOs, try living in a society without them, where the meanest become the rulers.
LEOs are the foundation of our civilization. It would be impossible for good men to survive if all that we had were laws with no one to enforce them.
“We no longer have police or peace officers. Just badged thugs who now act with impunity.”
You are wrong. Certainly there are some who abuse their authority, but your statement groups them all as such. Not true. Internal Affairs does a far better job of weeding out the unworthy than can be found in any other organization of which I am aware.
You owe a clarification to all of the worthy individuals in Law Enforcement. Are you mature enough to recognize that and provide it?
Dan III, If you have no use for LEOs, try living in a society without them, where the meanest become the rulers.
LEOs are the foundation of our civilization. It would be impossible for good men to survive if all that we had were laws with no one to enforce them.
“We no longer have police or peace officers. Just badged thugs who now act with impunity.”
You are wrong. Certainly there are some who abuse their authority, but your statement groups them all as such. Not true. Internal Affairs does a far better job of weeding out the unworthy than can be found in any other organization of which I am aware.
You owe a clarification to all of the worthy individuals in Law Enforcement. Are you mature enough to recognize that and provide it?
Dan III, If you have no use for LEOs, try living in a society without them, where the meanest become the rulers.
LEOs are the foundation of our civilization. It would be impossible for good men to survive if all that we had were laws with no one to enforce them.
“We no longer have police or peace officers. Just badged thugs who now act with impunity.”
You are wrong. Certainly there are some who abuse their authority, but your statement groups them all as such. Not true. Internal Affairs does a far better job of weeding out the unworthy than can be found in any other organization of which I am aware.
You owe a clarification to all of the worthy individuals in Law Enforcement. Are you mature enough to recognize that and provide it?
By the way, to paraphrase a great general;
“Maz, you magnificent bastard, I’ve read your books!”
Thanks for what you have done, do, and will do.
By the way, to paraphrase a great general;
“Maz, you magnificent bastard, I’ve read your books!”
Thanks for what you have done, do, and will do.
ACLU: Ferguson police report on Michael Brown’s death violates law.
A police report on the death of Michael Brown is missing key information and violates Missouri open records laws, an ACLU attorney told Yahoo News on Friday.
The two-page document, which the Ferguson Police Department released only after pressure from journalists and civil liberties advocates, is largely redacted or left blank. The most egregious omissions are the victim’s name and a description of the offense – the fatal shooting of Brown.
“They are breaking the law,” said Tony Rothert, legal director of the ACLU of Missouri.
The report, obtained by Yahoo News through the Missouri Sunshine Law, lists only the date, time and location. Fields for the type of incident, name of the complainant, and a summary of the circumstances are redacted.
“I’ve never seen an incident report that didn’t contain a description of the incident, at least on some basic level,” said Don Tittle, a veteran Texas civil and criminal attorney. “It makes you wonder if they don’t want to commit to a story.”
http://www.scribd.com/doc/237538105/Michael-Brown-Offense-Report
The report comes nearly two weeks after Ferguson Police Officer Darren Wilson fatally shot Brown, an unarmed 18-year-old, in broad daylight in the middle of a residential street.
Ferguson Police Chief Thomas Jackson has said Wilson was attempting to get Brown and his friend, Dorian Johnson, to stop walking in the middle of the street when the officer realized the pair fit the description of suspects being sought in the theft of cigars from a nearby convenience store.
A scuffle ensued and, according to Jackson, a shot was fired inside the officer’s squad car as Brown attempted to grab Wilson’s gun.
But Johnson has told reporters that it was Wilson who was the aggressor and that Brown never went for the weapon. Instead, Johnson says Wilson shot his friend while Brown was trying to flee but had stopped and put his hands up in surrender.
The death has sparked nightly protests in the mostly-black St. Louis suburb. Allegations of racism and a lack of transparency about the shooting have been at the heart of sometimes violent clashes between demonstrators and police. Chief Jackson waited nearly a week before revealing the name of the officer who shot Brown at least six times.
The ACLU filed a lawsuit to try and compel Ferguson to make the disclosure. But their attorney told Yahoo News that the incomplete police report just adds to the mistrust in Ferguson.
“It doesn’t tell us anything,” Rothert said. “We have to imagine what is there because it is all redacted.”Missouri’s Sunshine Law states law enforcement agencies must promptly provide incident reports that include among other things, “name of the victim and immediate facts and circumstances surrounding the initial report of a crime or incident.”
Devin James, a contract spokesperson hired by the City of Ferguson since Brown’s death, told Yahoo News that questions about the report’s missing information “are beyond the scope of what my team can respond to.” He referred questions to City Attorney Stephanie Karr, who didn’t immediately reply.
Officer Wilson, 28, is on paid leaving pending the outcome of multiple investigations. A St. Louis County Circuit Court grand jury began hearing testimony about the shooting this week. The U.S. Department of Justice is also investigating possible civil rights violations.
The state investigation is being conducted by the St. Louis County Police Department. A copy of their offense report does list Brown as the victim, but doesn’t give a summary of what happened.
The county’s report reveals that the larger metro department didn’t receive a call on the Aug. 9 shooting until 12:43 p.m., about 40 minutes after Brown was killed.
“So we have no idea what happened during those 43 minutes,” Rothert said. “It just adds to the complete lack of transparency about what happened.”
Last week, Chief Jackson gave members of the media 19 pages of police documents, photos and video from a convenience store robbery that occurred shortly before the fatal shooting. Police said they believe Brown and Johnson had just stolen cigars at the store before crossing paths with Officer Wilson on their way home.
“They have obviously taken the shooting of Michael Brown less seriously than the alleged robbery of cigarillos,” Rothert said. “That’s pretty disturbing.”
ACLU: Ferguson police report on Michael Brown’s death violates law.
A police report on the death of Michael Brown is missing key information and violates Missouri open records laws, an ACLU attorney told Yahoo News on Friday.
The two-page document, which the Ferguson Police Department released only after pressure from journalists and civil liberties advocates, is largely redacted or left blank. The most egregious omissions are the victim’s name and a description of the offense – the fatal shooting of Brown.
“They are breaking the law,” said Tony Rothert, legal director of the ACLU of Missouri.
The report, obtained by Yahoo News through the Missouri Sunshine Law, lists only the date, time and location. Fields for the type of incident, name of the complainant, and a summary of the circumstances are redacted.
“I’ve never seen an incident report that didn’t contain a description of the incident, at least on some basic level,” said Don Tittle, a veteran Texas civil and criminal attorney. “It makes you wonder if they don’t want to commit to a story.”
http://www.scribd.com/doc/237538105/Michael-Brown-Offense-Report
The report comes nearly two weeks after Ferguson Police Officer Darren Wilson fatally shot Brown, an unarmed 18-year-old, in broad daylight in the middle of a residential street.
Ferguson Police Chief Thomas Jackson has said Wilson was attempting to get Brown and his friend, Dorian Johnson, to stop walking in the middle of the street when the officer realized the pair fit the description of suspects being sought in the theft of cigars from a nearby convenience store.
A scuffle ensued and, according to Jackson, a shot was fired inside the officer’s squad car as Brown attempted to grab Wilson’s gun.
But Johnson has told reporters that it was Wilson who was the aggressor and that Brown never went for the weapon. Instead, Johnson says Wilson shot his friend while Brown was trying to flee but had stopped and put his hands up in surrender.
The death has sparked nightly protests in the mostly-black St. Louis suburb. Allegations of racism and a lack of transparency about the shooting have been at the heart of sometimes violent clashes between demonstrators and police. Chief Jackson waited nearly a week before revealing the name of the officer who shot Brown at least six times.
The ACLU filed a lawsuit to try and compel Ferguson to make the disclosure. But their attorney told Yahoo News that the incomplete police report just adds to the mistrust in Ferguson.
“It doesn’t tell us anything,” Rothert said. “We have to imagine what is there because it is all redacted.”Missouri’s Sunshine Law states law enforcement agencies must promptly provide incident reports that include among other things, “name of the victim and immediate facts and circumstances surrounding the initial report of a crime or incident.”
Devin James, a contract spokesperson hired by the City of Ferguson since Brown’s death, told Yahoo News that questions about the report’s missing information “are beyond the scope of what my team can respond to.” He referred questions to City Attorney Stephanie Karr, who didn’t immediately reply.
Officer Wilson, 28, is on paid leaving pending the outcome of multiple investigations. A St. Louis County Circuit Court grand jury began hearing testimony about the shooting this week. The U.S. Department of Justice is also investigating possible civil rights violations.
The state investigation is being conducted by the St. Louis County Police Department. A copy of their offense report does list Brown as the victim, but doesn’t give a summary of what happened.
The county’s report reveals that the larger metro department didn’t receive a call on the Aug. 9 shooting until 12:43 p.m., about 40 minutes after Brown was killed.
“So we have no idea what happened during those 43 minutes,” Rothert said. “It just adds to the complete lack of transparency about what happened.”
Last week, Chief Jackson gave members of the media 19 pages of police documents, photos and video from a convenience store robbery that occurred shortly before the fatal shooting. Police said they believe Brown and Johnson had just stolen cigars at the store before crossing paths with Officer Wilson on their way home.
“They have obviously taken the shooting of Michael Brown less seriously than the alleged robbery of cigarillos,” Rothert said. “That’s pretty disturbing.”
ACLU: Ferguson police report on Michael Brown’s death violates law.
A police report on the death of Michael Brown is missing key information and violates Missouri open records laws, an ACLU attorney told Yahoo News on Friday.
The two-page document, which the Ferguson Police Department released only after pressure from journalists and civil liberties advocates, is largely redacted or left blank. The most egregious omissions are the victim’s name and a description of the offense – the fatal shooting of Brown.
“They are breaking the law,” said Tony Rothert, legal director of the ACLU of Missouri.
The report, obtained by Yahoo News through the Missouri Sunshine Law, lists only the date, time and location. Fields for the type of incident, name of the complainant, and a summary of the circumstances are redacted.
“I’ve never seen an incident report that didn’t contain a description of the incident, at least on some basic level,” said Don Tittle, a veteran Texas civil and criminal attorney. “It makes you wonder if they don’t want to commit to a story.”
http://www.scribd.com/doc/237538105/Michael-Brown-Offense-Report
The report comes nearly two weeks after Ferguson Police Officer Darren Wilson fatally shot Brown, an unarmed 18-year-old, in broad daylight in the middle of a residential street.
Ferguson Police Chief Thomas Jackson has said Wilson was attempting to get Brown and his friend, Dorian Johnson, to stop walking in the middle of the street when the officer realized the pair fit the description of suspects being sought in the theft of cigars from a nearby convenience store.
A scuffle ensued and, according to Jackson, a shot was fired inside the officer’s squad car as Brown attempted to grab Wilson’s gun.
But Johnson has told reporters that it was Wilson who was the aggressor and that Brown never went for the weapon. Instead, Johnson says Wilson shot his friend while Brown was trying to flee but had stopped and put his hands up in surrender.
The death has sparked nightly protests in the mostly-black St. Louis suburb. Allegations of racism and a lack of transparency about the shooting have been at the heart of sometimes violent clashes between demonstrators and police. Chief Jackson waited nearly a week before revealing the name of the officer who shot Brown at least six times.
The ACLU filed a lawsuit to try and compel Ferguson to make the disclosure. But their attorney told Yahoo News that the incomplete police report just adds to the mistrust in Ferguson.
“It doesn’t tell us anything,” Rothert said. “We have to imagine what is there because it is all redacted.”Missouri’s Sunshine Law states law enforcement agencies must promptly provide incident reports that include among other things, “name of the victim and immediate facts and circumstances surrounding the initial report of a crime or incident.”
Devin James, a contract spokesperson hired by the City of Ferguson since Brown’s death, told Yahoo News that questions about the report’s missing information “are beyond the scope of what my team can respond to.” He referred questions to City Attorney Stephanie Karr, who didn’t immediately reply.
Officer Wilson, 28, is on paid leaving pending the outcome of multiple investigations. A St. Louis County Circuit Court grand jury began hearing testimony about the shooting this week. The U.S. Department of Justice is also investigating possible civil rights violations.
The state investigation is being conducted by the St. Louis County Police Department. A copy of their offense report does list Brown as the victim, but doesn’t give a summary of what happened.
The county’s report reveals that the larger metro department didn’t receive a call on the Aug. 9 shooting until 12:43 p.m., about 40 minutes after Brown was killed.
“So we have no idea what happened during those 43 minutes,” Rothert said. “It just adds to the complete lack of transparency about what happened.”
Last week, Chief Jackson gave members of the media 19 pages of police documents, photos and video from a convenience store robbery that occurred shortly before the fatal shooting. Police said they believe Brown and Johnson had just stolen cigars at the store before crossing paths with Officer Wilson on their way home.
“They have obviously taken the shooting of Michael Brown less seriously than the alleged robbery of cigarillos,” Rothert said. “That’s pretty disturbing.”
ACLU: Ferguson police report on Michael Brown’s death violates law.
A police report on the death of Michael Brown is missing key information and violates Missouri open records laws, an ACLU attorney told Yahoo News on Friday.
The two-page document, which the Ferguson Police Department released only after pressure from journalists and civil liberties advocates, is largely redacted or left blank. The most egregious omissions are the victim’s name and a description of the offense – the fatal shooting of Brown.
“They are breaking the law,” said Tony Rothert, legal director of the ACLU of Missouri.
The report, obtained by Yahoo News through the Missouri Sunshine Law, lists only the date, time and location. Fields for the type of incident, name of the complainant, and a summary of the circumstances are redacted.
“I’ve never seen an incident report that didn’t contain a description of the incident, at least on some basic level,” said Don Tittle, a veteran Texas civil and criminal attorney. “It makes you wonder if they don’t want to commit to a story.”
http://www.scribd.com/doc/237538105/Michael-Brown-Offense-Report
The report comes nearly two weeks after Ferguson Police Officer Darren Wilson fatally shot Brown, an unarmed 18-year-old, in broad daylight in the middle of a residential street.
Ferguson Police Chief Thomas Jackson has said Wilson was attempting to get Brown and his friend, Dorian Johnson, to stop walking in the middle of the street when the officer realized the pair fit the description of suspects being sought in the theft of cigars from a nearby convenience store.
A scuffle ensued and, according to Jackson, a shot was fired inside the officer’s squad car as Brown attempted to grab Wilson’s gun.
But Johnson has told reporters that it was Wilson who was the aggressor and that Brown never went for the weapon. Instead, Johnson says Wilson shot his friend while Brown was trying to flee but had stopped and put his hands up in surrender.
The death has sparked nightly protests in the mostly-black St. Louis suburb. Allegations of racism and a lack of transparency about the shooting have been at the heart of sometimes violent clashes between demonstrators and police. Chief Jackson waited nearly a week before revealing the name of the officer who shot Brown at least six times.
The ACLU filed a lawsuit to try and compel Ferguson to make the disclosure. But their attorney told Yahoo News that the incomplete police report just adds to the mistrust in Ferguson.
“It doesn’t tell us anything,” Rothert said. “We have to imagine what is there because it is all redacted.”Missouri’s Sunshine Law states law enforcement agencies must promptly provide incident reports that include among other things, “name of the victim and immediate facts and circumstances surrounding the initial report of a crime or incident.”
Devin James, a contract spokesperson hired by the City of Ferguson since Brown’s death, told Yahoo News that questions about the report’s missing information “are beyond the scope of what my team can respond to.” He referred questions to City Attorney Stephanie Karr, who didn’t immediately reply.
Officer Wilson, 28, is on paid leaving pending the outcome of multiple investigations. A St. Louis County Circuit Court grand jury began hearing testimony about the shooting this week. The U.S. Department of Justice is also investigating possible civil rights violations.
The state investigation is being conducted by the St. Louis County Police Department. A copy of their offense report does list Brown as the victim, but doesn’t give a summary of what happened.
The county’s report reveals that the larger metro department didn’t receive a call on the Aug. 9 shooting until 12:43 p.m., about 40 minutes after Brown was killed.
“So we have no idea what happened during those 43 minutes,” Rothert said. “It just adds to the complete lack of transparency about what happened.”
Last week, Chief Jackson gave members of the media 19 pages of police documents, photos and video from a convenience store robbery that occurred shortly before the fatal shooting. Police said they believe Brown and Johnson had just stolen cigars at the store before crossing paths with Officer Wilson on their way home.
“They have obviously taken the shooting of Michael Brown less seriously than the alleged robbery of cigarillos,” Rothert said. “That’s pretty disturbing.”
ACLU: Ferguson police report on Michael Brown’s death violates law.
A police report on the death of Michael Brown is missing key information and violates Missouri open records laws, an ACLU attorney told Yahoo News on Friday.
The two-page document, which the Ferguson Police Department released only after pressure from journalists and civil liberties advocates, is largely redacted or left blank. The most egregious omissions are the victim’s name and a description of the offense – the fatal shooting of Brown.
“They are breaking the law,” said Tony Rothert, legal director of the ACLU of Missouri.
The report, obtained by Yahoo News through the Missouri Sunshine Law, lists only the date, time and location. Fields for the type of incident, name of the complainant, and a summary of the circumstances are redacted.
“I’ve never seen an incident report that didn’t contain a description of the incident, at least on some basic level,” said Don Tittle, a veteran Texas civil and criminal attorney. “It makes you wonder if they don’t want to commit to a story.”
http://www.scribd.com/doc/237538105/Michael-Brown-Offense-Report
The report comes nearly two weeks after Ferguson Police Officer Darren Wilson fatally shot Brown, an unarmed 18-year-old, in broad daylight in the middle of a residential street.
Ferguson Police Chief Thomas Jackson has said Wilson was attempting to get Brown and his friend, Dorian Johnson, to stop walking in the middle of the street when the officer realized the pair fit the description of suspects being sought in the theft of cigars from a nearby convenience store.
A scuffle ensued and, according to Jackson, a shot was fired inside the officer’s squad car as Brown attempted to grab Wilson’s gun.
But Johnson has told reporters that it was Wilson who was the aggressor and that Brown never went for the weapon. Instead, Johnson says Wilson shot his friend while Brown was trying to flee but had stopped and put his hands up in surrender.
The death has sparked nightly protests in the mostly-black St. Louis suburb. Allegations of racism and a lack of transparency about the shooting have been at the heart of sometimes violent clashes between demonstrators and police. Chief Jackson waited nearly a week before revealing the name of the officer who shot Brown at least six times.
The ACLU filed a lawsuit to try and compel Ferguson to make the disclosure. But their attorney told Yahoo News that the incomplete police report just adds to the mistrust in Ferguson.
“It doesn’t tell us anything,” Rothert said. “We have to imagine what is there because it is all redacted.”Missouri’s Sunshine Law states law enforcement agencies must promptly provide incident reports that include among other things, “name of the victim and immediate facts and circumstances surrounding the initial report of a crime or incident.”
Devin James, a contract spokesperson hired by the City of Ferguson since Brown’s death, told Yahoo News that questions about the report’s missing information “are beyond the scope of what my team can respond to.” He referred questions to City Attorney Stephanie Karr, who didn’t immediately reply.
Officer Wilson, 28, is on paid leaving pending the outcome of multiple investigations. A St. Louis County Circuit Court grand jury began hearing testimony about the shooting this week. The U.S. Department of Justice is also investigating possible civil rights violations.
The state investigation is being conducted by the St. Louis County Police Department. A copy of their offense report does list Brown as the victim, but doesn’t give a summary of what happened.
The county’s report reveals that the larger metro department didn’t receive a call on the Aug. 9 shooting until 12:43 p.m., about 40 minutes after Brown was killed.
“So we have no idea what happened during those 43 minutes,” Rothert said. “It just adds to the complete lack of transparency about what happened.”
Last week, Chief Jackson gave members of the media 19 pages of police documents, photos and video from a convenience store robbery that occurred shortly before the fatal shooting. Police said they believe Brown and Johnson had just stolen cigars at the store before crossing paths with Officer Wilson on their way home.
“They have obviously taken the shooting of Michael Brown less seriously than the alleged robbery of cigarillos,” Rothert said. “That’s pretty disturbing.”
Well , Patrick’s post totally changes my perception of events that day. The ACLU, an organization known for their non-political, non-ideological, non-partisan approach when injecting themselves into matters such as this, disagrees with the attorneys advising the police.
If we don’t get access to all the information and evidence the police have, how can we stop this embarrassment of the repeated impeachment of all the “eye-witnesses” we’ve located?
Well , Patrick’s post totally changes my perception of events that day. The ACLU, an organization known for their non-political, non-ideological, non-partisan approach when injecting themselves into matters such as this, disagrees with the attorneys advising the police.
If we don’t get access to all the information and evidence the police have, how can we stop this embarrassment of the repeated impeachment of all the “eye-witnesses” we’ve located?
News Media fishing expedition grows bigger keep this story going.
Ferguson Police Officer Justin Cosma Hog-Tied And Injured A Young Child, Lawsuit Alleges
Posted: 08/24/2014 5:48 pm EDT Updated: 6 minutes ago
WASHINGTON — A Ferguson police officer who helped detain a journalist in a McDonald’s earlier this month is in the midst of a civil rights lawsuit because he allegedly hog-tied a 12-year-old boy who was checking the mail at the end of his driveway.
According to a lawsuit filed in 2012 in Missouri federal court, Justin Cosma and another officer, Richard Carter, approached a 12-year-old boy who was checking the mailbox at the end of his driveway in June 2010. Cosma was an officer with the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office at the time, the lawsuit states. The pair asked the boy if he’d been playing on a nearby highway, and he replied no, according to the lawsuit.
Then, the officers “became confrontational” and intimidated the child, the lawsuit claims. “Unprovoked and without cause, the deputies grabbed [the boy], choked him around the neck and threw him to the ground,” it says. The boy was shirtless at the time, and allegedly “suffered bruising, choke marks, scrapes and cuts across his body.”
The 12-year-old was transferred to a medical facility for treatment, but the lawsuit says Cosma and the other officer reported the incident as “assault of a law enforcement officer third degree” and “resisting/interfering with arrest, detention or stop.”
Jefferson County prosecutors “refused to issue a juvenile case” against the young child, the suit says.
The allegations against Cosma were made in September 2012, shortly after he was introduced as a new officer at a Ferguson City Council meeting. Jefferson County is just south of Ferguson.
Captain Ron Arnhart of the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office, who is a candidate for sheriff, did not respond to The Huffington Post’s request for comment on the circumstances of Cosma’s departure. Neither Ferguson police spokesman Tom Zoll nor Ferguson Police Chief Thomas Jackson responded to requests for comment.
A dispatcher at the Ferguson Police Department said she would relay a message to Cosma, who was out in the field on Sunday afternoon.
Richard R. Lozano, the lawyer representing the young man in the lawsuit, declined to be interviewed due to the pending claims against Cosma and the other officer. He said he anticipates a trial date early next year. However, Lozano did provide a statement.
“The lawsuit alleges that Justin Cosma and Richard Carter, two deputies with the Jefferson County, Missouri sheriff’s department in 2010, assaulted my client during an encounter on my client’s driveway while his mother was inside their house. My client was 12 years old at the time, shirtless and was not suspected of any criminal behavior. He was checking the mail. The deputies approached my client and the encounter quickly escalated. My client was restrained, choked, thrown to the ground and hogtied by the two deputies. He suffered scrapes and choke marks to his neck. No charges were ever brought against my client. It is my understanding that Justin Cosma is currently an officer with the City of Ferguson,” Lozano wrote.
Cosma was also one of the officers who detained journalists from HuffPost and The Washington Post earlier this month in a local McDonald’s. He declined to give his name or badge number at the time, and has subsequently refused to identify himself to the press. A reader tip allowed HuffPost to match his name and face after the altercation.
While still at the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office, Cosma received an award for dealing with a person in psychiatric crisis, according to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.
Cosma isn’t the only officer whose past has received new attention in the wake of the shooting of 18-year-old Michael Brown and the subsequent protests in Ferguson. Eddie Boyd III, an officer who faced allegations of hitting children while serving under the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department, quietly resigned and sought employment with the Ferguson Police Department. Boyd faced three complaints of physical abuse against children between 2004 and 2006, two of which were dropped. Internal affairs sustained the third complaint against Boyd, saying there was sufficient evidence to support the allegation that he struck a 12-year-old girl in the head with a pistol, and recommended Boyd be fired. The St. Louis police chose to demote him.
Less than a year later, a teenage boy alleged that Boyd hit him in the nose with a gun, and the officer quietly resigned from his role at the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department. His license was not revoked in the ensuing lawsuit. Boyd was hired by the Ferguson Police Department sometime between July 2009 and December 2010.
St. Ann officer Dan Page, who has been on the force for 35 years, was suspended from duty for inflammatory comments made while addressing the Oath Keepers of St. Louis and St. Charles. Page made racist and sexist remarks, called President Obama an “illegal alien,” denounced hate crime laws and spoke flippantly about violence and killings. The video, uploaded to YouTube in April, was uncovered by CNN after Page pushed anchor Don Lemon on Aug. 18 during demonstrations in Ferguson.
St. Louis County Lt. Ray Albers was also suspended from duty after he threatened civilians in Ferguson, pointing his gun at them and shouting, “I will fucking kill you.” Reporter Joe Biggs was among the group being threatened.
“I can’t believe that that happened in America,” Biggs told HuffPost of the confrontation. “That’s something I’ve seen in Iraq and Afghanistan. In our country? Mind-blowing.”
Darren Wilson, the officer who shot Michael Brown, joined the Ferguson police after the city council in nearby Jennings disbanded the police department and brought in new officers over three years ago because of the poor relationship between cops and residents, the Washington Post reported.
Read the lawsuit laying out the allegations against Cosma below.
News Media fishing expedition grows bigger keep this story going.
Ferguson Police Officer Justin Cosma Hog-Tied And Injured A Young Child, Lawsuit Alleges
Posted: 08/24/2014 5:48 pm EDT Updated: 6 minutes ago
WASHINGTON — A Ferguson police officer who helped detain a journalist in a McDonald’s earlier this month is in the midst of a civil rights lawsuit because he allegedly hog-tied a 12-year-old boy who was checking the mail at the end of his driveway.
According to a lawsuit filed in 2012 in Missouri federal court, Justin Cosma and another officer, Richard Carter, approached a 12-year-old boy who was checking the mailbox at the end of his driveway in June 2010. Cosma was an officer with the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office at the time, the lawsuit states. The pair asked the boy if he’d been playing on a nearby highway, and he replied no, according to the lawsuit.
Then, the officers “became confrontational” and intimidated the child, the lawsuit claims. “Unprovoked and without cause, the deputies grabbed [the boy], choked him around the neck and threw him to the ground,” it says. The boy was shirtless at the time, and allegedly “suffered bruising, choke marks, scrapes and cuts across his body.”
The 12-year-old was transferred to a medical facility for treatment, but the lawsuit says Cosma and the other officer reported the incident as “assault of a law enforcement officer third degree” and “resisting/interfering with arrest, detention or stop.”
Jefferson County prosecutors “refused to issue a juvenile case” against the young child, the suit says.
The allegations against Cosma were made in September 2012, shortly after he was introduced as a new officer at a Ferguson City Council meeting. Jefferson County is just south of Ferguson.
Captain Ron Arnhart of the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office, who is a candidate for sheriff, did not respond to The Huffington Post’s request for comment on the circumstances of Cosma’s departure. Neither Ferguson police spokesman Tom Zoll nor Ferguson Police Chief Thomas Jackson responded to requests for comment.
A dispatcher at the Ferguson Police Department said she would relay a message to Cosma, who was out in the field on Sunday afternoon.
Richard R. Lozano, the lawyer representing the young man in the lawsuit, declined to be interviewed due to the pending claims against Cosma and the other officer. He said he anticipates a trial date early next year. However, Lozano did provide a statement.
“The lawsuit alleges that Justin Cosma and Richard Carter, two deputies with the Jefferson County, Missouri sheriff’s department in 2010, assaulted my client during an encounter on my client’s driveway while his mother was inside their house. My client was 12 years old at the time, shirtless and was not suspected of any criminal behavior. He was checking the mail. The deputies approached my client and the encounter quickly escalated. My client was restrained, choked, thrown to the ground and hogtied by the two deputies. He suffered scrapes and choke marks to his neck. No charges were ever brought against my client. It is my understanding that Justin Cosma is currently an officer with the City of Ferguson,” Lozano wrote.
Cosma was also one of the officers who detained journalists from HuffPost and The Washington Post earlier this month in a local McDonald’s. He declined to give his name or badge number at the time, and has subsequently refused to identify himself to the press. A reader tip allowed HuffPost to match his name and face after the altercation.
While still at the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office, Cosma received an award for dealing with a person in psychiatric crisis, according to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.
Cosma isn’t the only officer whose past has received new attention in the wake of the shooting of 18-year-old Michael Brown and the subsequent protests in Ferguson. Eddie Boyd III, an officer who faced allegations of hitting children while serving under the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department, quietly resigned and sought employment with the Ferguson Police Department. Boyd faced three complaints of physical abuse against children between 2004 and 2006, two of which were dropped. Internal affairs sustained the third complaint against Boyd, saying there was sufficient evidence to support the allegation that he struck a 12-year-old girl in the head with a pistol, and recommended Boyd be fired. The St. Louis police chose to demote him.
Less than a year later, a teenage boy alleged that Boyd hit him in the nose with a gun, and the officer quietly resigned from his role at the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department. His license was not revoked in the ensuing lawsuit. Boyd was hired by the Ferguson Police Department sometime between July 2009 and December 2010.
St. Ann officer Dan Page, who has been on the force for 35 years, was suspended from duty for inflammatory comments made while addressing the Oath Keepers of St. Louis and St. Charles. Page made racist and sexist remarks, called President Obama an “illegal alien,” denounced hate crime laws and spoke flippantly about violence and killings. The video, uploaded to YouTube in April, was uncovered by CNN after Page pushed anchor Don Lemon on Aug. 18 during demonstrations in Ferguson.
St. Louis County Lt. Ray Albers was also suspended from duty after he threatened civilians in Ferguson, pointing his gun at them and shouting, “I will fucking kill you.” Reporter Joe Biggs was among the group being threatened.
“I can’t believe that that happened in America,” Biggs told HuffPost of the confrontation. “That’s something I’ve seen in Iraq and Afghanistan. In our country? Mind-blowing.”
Darren Wilson, the officer who shot Michael Brown, joined the Ferguson police after the city council in nearby Jennings disbanded the police department and brought in new officers over three years ago because of the poor relationship between cops and residents, the Washington Post reported.
Read the lawsuit laying out the allegations against Cosma below.
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