Police Brutality in Broward County

Fort Lauderdale police officer Victor Ramirez slapped Bruce Laclair, a 58 years-old homeless man.

What Ramirez said to Laclair during the incident.

"Relax," Ramirez said. "I'm telling you right now what is going to happen -- you're not supposed to go pee here."

The two men go back and forth a few times before Ramirez is seen trying to grab Laclair's arm and slapping him.

"I'm not fucking around with you," Ramirez is heard saying. "Don't fucking touch me. Don't fucking touch me."

Laclair came into the bus terminal to use the restroom. According to eyewitness Gerald Schorder, Laclair never posed a physical threat to officer Ramirez.

"The guy didn't raise his hand to the officer at all," Schorder said. "The officer just knocked him down with his hands. The guy was defenseless."

Ramirez has been relieved of duty pending an internal investigation. Laclair was arrested for trespassing and released yesterday. I highly doubt Laclair will see anymore time on the trespassing charge.

Another incident happened at the Broward courthouse. Officer Christopher Johnson was videotaped dragging Dasyl Jeanette Riosacross the floor of the courthouse.

Attorney Bill Gelin witnessed the incident and expressed outrage to WSVN-TV.

"This is really barbaric, and I'm just extremely disappointed," attorney Bill Gelin, who caught the incident on cellphone camera, told WSVN-TV. "We all work together in the court system, particularly in the criminal justice system, and this just gives everybody a black eye."

Chief Assistant Public Defender Lynn Desanti saw Johnson drag Jeanette. She wants charges pressed against Johnson.

As chief assistant public defender, Rios' case falls under Desanti's department. She said she wants more than an internal affairs investigation. "I think he should be arrested for what he did," she said. "He committed a battery on her, and the same way that people have to go through the criminal system and defend themselves, he needs to defend his actions, and I plan to go forward to the sheriff. This gentleman does not deserve to wear a badge."

The whole incident started because Jeanette didn't want to leave because she didn't get an opportunity to say goodbye to her mother. There are no reports of Jeanette posing a threat to the safety of Johnson or other officers.

Johnson has been ordered to have no contact with inmates. The incident is under investigation.

Pussy Riot - I Can't Breathe

Pussy Galore have released have released their first English language song I Can't Breathe. The song is a tribute to Eric Garner. The death of Garner became a huge civil rights and police brutality issue after Garner died during his arrest.

New York City medical examiner ruled Garner's death a homicide.

Eric Garner, 43, died after being placed in a chokehold that caused him to suffer neck and chest compressions during his arrest two weeks ago in the Tompkinsville section of Staten Island, according to findings released by the New York City medical examiner’s office. Garner’s weight, chronic asthma and cardiovascular disease were listed as contributing factors.

A grand jury choose not to indict the officers involved in Garner's arrest.

Disturbing Police Treatment of Tampa Homeless Woman

FOX 13 News

This a horrible video of Tampa police officer Scott Van Treese hogtying and dragging Sonya Mimminger into the Orient Road Jail. FOX 13 reports the woman dragged, Sonya Mimminger, was later taken to Tampa General Hospital. The article doesn't make clear if it was for treatment from injuries related to her arrest.

Mimminger is a homeless woman. She was arrested on a drug charge. Fox 13 reports she was scared to talk to them.

The 36-year-old woman is homeless, but FOX 13 found her on the streets of Tampa.

Initially, she was hesitant to talk -- "There's nothing I can do about it," she offered. But she then agreed to look at the video and answer some questions.

"He did me like a little rag muffin," she offered. "I wonder why he'd drag me like that?"

What is distubing is that Mimminger feels that there is "nothing" she can do about her treatment at the hands of Officer Van Treese. Mimminger is poor and homeless. Many like her have no voice in the community.

Officer Van Treese has been received a written reprimand. I'm actually surprised he got a slap on the wrist.

Quote of the Day: Police State Edition

I personally believe in Jesus Christ as my lord savior, but I’m also a killer. I’ve killed a lot. And if I need to, I’ll kill a whole bunch more. If you don’t want to get killed, don’t show up in front of me, it’s that simple. I have no problem with it. God did not raise me to be a coward.”

Dan Page, police officer in charge of crowd control during the Ferguson protests.

Money quote.

“I’m into diversity. I kill everybody, I don’t care,” Page said.

What a true lover of Jesus.

Florida Congressionial Delegation Don't Care For You If You Are Palestinian

Tariq Abu Khdeir is a 15-year-old Tampa resident and Palestinian-American. Khdeir was pinned down and repeatedly kicked in the head by Israeli police in East Jerusalem.

Max Blumenthal reports that Khdeir was jailed in a Russian compound. According to Khdeir's family, he was beaten again while held in the compound.

According to Israeli police, Khdeir was involved in a violent protest. Police allege that Khdeir threw molotov cocktails. Khdeir denied participating in the protests to ABC News. If the allegations by the Israeli police are true then why hasn't Khdeir been charged.

Khdeir's family lives in Rep. Kathy Castor's district. Blumenthal reports that Castor's office has been less than helpful.

While sources close to Abu Khdeir's family say Castor's staff has treated the family with respect even as they rebuffed their demands, a distant relative who visited Castor's field office in Washington D.C. to plead for help said she was "yelled out, intimidated, and insulted" by a staffer.

Despite my repeated requests for an interview, members of Castor's staff have refused to discuss the case with me.

In a private letter to Abu Khdeir's family, Castor pointedly stated that she had not called for the teen's release and return to the US. Instead, she assured them that she "requested for Tariq to be provided with the appropriate and needed medical care and for [her] to be kept apprised of any plans of his return to the United States." In a separate letter to the US consulate in Jerusalem, Castor merely stated that she would "appreciate being kept apprised of any plans for the return of Tariq and his parents to the United States."

Rep. Dennis Ross accused Khdeir of being guilty without complete facts.

Though all of the facts surrounding the incident remain somewhat unclear," Ross wrote, "it is widely reported that Tariq was participating in a protest in Palestine in response to the kidnapping and murder of his cousin, a Palestinian teenager."

Sen. Bill Nelson has not issued a statement on Khdeir.

Khdeir gives a more detailed account to the Washington Post.

Assuming that Khdeir was involved in the protests it still doesn't explained why Israeli police continued to kick him in the head after he was already restrained.

Can Castor, Nelson or any other member of the Florida Congressional delegation look at that video and say the police force used was justified. Members of the Florida delegation rather do nothing for a constituent than risk being attacked for being anti-Israel. Leadership is about doing what is right. Leadership is not living in fear of the next two Fox News cycles.

Family Asks For Police Officer to be Charged For Marlon Brown's Death

The grand jury never saw the dash-cam video of Deland police officer James Harris running over fleeing suspect Marlon Brown. Harris was fired from his job. The grand jury decided not to charge Harris with Brown's death.

Brown's family settled for $550,000 on the grounds that they don't file a civil suit. The Brown family questions the medical examiner's report.

"At best the report is inaccurate, at worst it's a blatant lie," says Brown family attorney Benjamin Crump, who also represented Trayvon Martin's family. The Deland Police Department is claiming that Brown died of of a lack of oxygen.

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The medical examiner determined that Brown died of "mechanical asphyxia" - essentially, lack of oxygen - and that the death was an "accident" caused by Brown being trapped under a moving vehicle.

According to Crump, the funeral director who prepared Brown's body tells a different story about his injuries, but a spokesman for Volusia County says medical examiner's office "absolutely" stands behind the autopsy.

Crump and Brown's family released the dash-cam video to the media. The Deland Police Department is now viewing the video. Does anyone watch that video and believe Brown died from a lack of oxygen?

Update on Christina West Police Brutality Investigation

There has been political fallout from the shocking video of Christina West's DUI arrest. Tallahassee Police Chief Dennis Jones had resigned.

Tallahassee Police Chief Dennis Jones announced his retirement Friday in the wake of a controversial DUI arrest by TPD officers that came to light only this week.

The 60-year-old Jones’ retirement is effective Oct. 5.

Two TPD officers have been suspended with pay. An investigation is being conducted into the two officers handling of West's arrest. West suffered several facial injuries and a broken cheeck bone from the officers slamming her face into a police cruiser and the pavement.

Attorney Reggie Garcia points out why an independent investigation is needed. The TPD did not record West's arrest on the crime log for that night. The TPD had the vídeo for a month and did not launch an investigation until after there was national media attention. The TPD is in need of serious reform.

Police Officers Involved In Arrest of Christina West Suspended

WPTV reports that the two Tallahassee Police officers involved in the arrest of Christina West have been suspended with pay. West was injured by the two officers during a DUI arrest. Here is a picture of West after the arrest.

Here is police video of the arrest of West.

The arrest happened on August 10, 2013. The two officers are only being suspended after the arrest became national news. Another thing that makes the arrest suspicious is West's arrest wasn't recorded in the Tallahassee Police Department crime log. West's case number is is highlighted in the image below. No arrest is mentioned.

The Tallahassee Police Department is standing by the arrest procedures.

“We standby our practices that we have in place and we also stand by the procedures that we have in place,” police department spokesman David Northway told WCTV on Tuesday. “And if there is something that has gone awry in this investigation then the proper procedures will be followed and actions will be taken against those officers.”

State Attorney Willie Meggs believes excessive force during the arrest.

"It was a very disturbing video to me," said State Attorney Willie Meggs. “I didn’t see anything in the video that would cause me to believe that this woman needed anybody to use any type of force or restraint on her.”

It appears that the Tallahassee Police Department has been less than transparent and candid in the handling of the controversy surround West's arrest.

Members of Tallahassee Police Department Being Investigated For Police Brutality

This photo of Christina West after she was arrested for DUI. State Attorney Willie Meggs is investigating the police arrest of West.

State Attorney Willie Meggs called the footage “very disturbing.”

“I am extremely upset. This is a very disturbing situation to me, and I’m dealing with it.” Meggs told the Democrat.

Meggs also told WCTV that the video was “one of the most disturbing videos” he’s ever seen.

Meggs has already dropped some other charges police gave West. The DUI charge still stands. There does appear to be evidence that West lost control of her car and ran onto the property of a homeowner.

Here is a video news report WTXL.

According to the WTXL report, police kept pressure on her leg and twisted her arm. West can be heard screaming in pain. The orbital in West's face was broken; quite possibly from when police slammed her face first into the road or a police car. Video shows both instances happening. Other injuries include a bloody nose, a black eye, and cuts on her arms and legs.

Tallahassee City Commissioner Scott Maddox is concerned the city may face a lawsuit.

"The video was taken from the police car and shows the road side sobriety test as well as the arrest of the subject," Maddox wrote. "It also shows DISTURBING use of force against a completely non aggressive arrestee. It is my belief that the city of Tallahassee will soon face a liability lawsuit based on the content of the video."

West's attorney Fred Conrad does intend to sue.

“I was shocked to see this,” said her attorney, Fred Conrad of Tallahassee. “I would never have expected that out of my police department. By and large, most of my officers that I deal with at the Tallahassee Police Department and the Sheriff’s Office are all professional and good cops, folks that I would feel very comfortable with in the event that I needed them as a citizen. This was disturbing. I could not believe that I saw that happening in Tallahassee, Florida.”

Conrad said he intends to pursue compensation for West, though he didn’t explicitly say he would be filing a lawsuit.

“I can say I intend to pursue just compensation for Ms. West,” he said. “And I can say I intend to do it relentlessly. I intend to make the police department pay for this. This is wrong. And they need to pay for it.”

Officer Chris Ormerod failed to mention that West was slammed into a police car and onto the road in his A probable cause statement. TPD Chief Dennis Jones has opened an internal affairs investigation.

The extended video from the police video shows the incident started after West agreed to take a breathalyzer. West is clearly drunk during the sobriety tests. The police became frustrated after repeatedly asked about her children and her husband. West's husband was in a nearby nearby but refused to get involved. You can hear the cops in the video claim that West scratched and made physical contact with them. It does not appear in the video that the police officers were ever in physical dangers. It appears the two officers lost their tempers dealing with a very difficult and intoxicated woman.

Quote of the Day

"Marijuana legalization is an issue many care about. But for some, getting police to not choke us for looking at them wrong may rank higher."

Elon James White, on Twitter.

Occupy UC Davis is Peaceful

Little Tboca blogged this highly inaccurate post on Tea Party Nation.

Could Van Jones with the able assistance of Soros and friends be paying us back for not so gently removing him from our White House? Van Jones, Obama's ex-green CZAR is threatening Americans, saying if we think the OWS Protest movement is bad now, "You haven't seen anything yet." The question being is this just idle rhetoric or is this just the beginning of total destruction to our Country and Americans?

Actually Van Jones knows plenty about this protest movement and he's been doing some back seat driving in an attempt to keep the fire fueled. President Obama, the Democratic Party and the "Occupy Wall Street" mobs are right on target as they follow Lenin's formula in organizing a Socialistic economy.

What we're seeing is the centralization of force by the Democrats, Unions, and Soros and as Lenin said, the "useful idiots" which pretty much describes the OWS. They have had some violent acts and are making threats of violence, which if allowed to continue will turn into blood on our streets.

Conservatives have quoted Lenin calling the Left "useful idiots." The fact is no one has been able to find this quote in Lenin's writings. It is a made up talking point used by the Right to discredit the Left. Conservative columnist William Safire did research and could not fine the quote in Lenin's writings.

Little Tboca types "CZAR" in big letters with the suggestion that the Russians czars were communist/socialist. As I wrote before, the Russian czars were not aligned with Lenin. The Lenin-led Bolsheviks overthrew and executed Nicholis II. There was never another czar in Russia after Lenin came into power. Little Tboca and other Tea Party activists really need to read more history and stop believing everything Glenn Beck utters as the gospel truth.

The nonsense about OWS wanting to spill blood is easily disproved. Like the Iranian protests, the power of video is delivering the truth to the whole world. OWS peacefully protested. Campus police officers responded by pepper-spraying the protesters in the face at point blank range. Near the end of the video, the protesters tell the police to peacefully leave. The police complied. So much for blood in the streets.

Two officers have been placed on administrative leave.



UC Davis Chanceller Linda Katehi held a press conference. Students assembled outside. Katehi stayed in the building and implied to the media that it was unsafe for her to venture outside. Students met with Katehi and told her they would not stop her from leaving. The video below shows the students clearing a path for Katehi.



Facts are stubborn things. Videos on the internet show police using needless violence against OWS protesters. The people against OWS say they are against socialism. However, these same conservatives are silent about the socialism of the bank bailouts. The Tea Party say they originally formed to protest the bailout but have never marched on Wall Street or the Treasury Department. Bailouts are anti-free market. The Tea Party like socialism. Just not for the majority of American people. Useful idiots, indeed.

Police Brutality At Occupy Oakland

Occupy Oakland protester Kayvan Sabehgi is an Iraq war veteran. The video shows Sabehgi being severely beaten by several police officers. Sabehgi suffered severe injuries, including a lacerated spleen. Police did not get Sabehgi to a hospital until 18 hours after his arrest. This is police brutality. Pure and simple.

I wish President Barack Obama would hold a press conference and show the media footage of these horrible beatings. My dream would be for Obama to ask the media why they were not reporting these episodes of police violence. I would want Obama to then say that we cannot have Americans being beaten to protect the bonuses of Wall Street CEOs. It is time for serious reform of the financial market. Unfortunately, this is a President that thinks Lawrence Summers is a genius. True reform will have to come from the people. This is what the Occupy Wall Street movement is all about.

Another OWS Female Protest Pepper-Sprayed

This is an Occupy protester being hit with pepper spray by the police. Another woman, 84 year-old Dorli Rainey, was pepper-sprayed by police at an Occupy Seattle protest. I have a hard time believing an 84 year-old woman is a threat to armed police officers.

Police Brutality at Occupy Oakland

This video without a doubt shows police brutality used at Occupy Oakland. A wounded protester was down after being hit by an Oakland police officer. Other protesters came to help the protester. A police officer threw a flash grenade into the group. None of the protesters were making threatening movements toward the police.

The protesters scattered when they saw the flash grenade. The already injured protester had the grenade go off near his face. The police officer responsible for this needs to be terminated.

Occupy Oakland Raid

Amazing photos the the police raid of the Occupy Oakland camp. Police used tear gas and rubber bullets on the protesters. The camp was destroyed by police. The property of the protesters was destroyed by the police. The ACLU has won cases against law enforcement agencies that have destroyed the property of the homeless.

Mayor Jean Quan issued this statement.

I commend Chief Jordan for a generally peaceful resolution to a situation that deteriorated and concerned our community. His leadership was critical in the successful execution of this operation.

That explains the riot gear and gas masks the police were wearing.

I have to wonder how are confrontations with the police and camping in public parks is going to create jobs and reform Wall Street. The Occupy movement has to do more than protest. They have to scare the Democratic Party with their votes. That is the only true way they can make a difference.

How to tell when events are planned by the Boston PD #occupyboston

Boston PD scanner just put out a call to anyone “wanting to work a truck for 4 hours” to call station ASAP. @Occupy_Boston #occupyboston

Me, on Twitter around 11pm 10/10/11.

Then at approximately 1:20 am a large column of riot police marched from outside South Station up Atlantic Ave. The crowd roared variations of “Who do you protect who do you serve!” and “This is what democracy looks like” as the cops marched up the street. They stopped directly across from the new encampment and waited for over 15 paddywagons to arrive. Shortly thereafter officers appeared at the top of the new camp and started issuing warnings to those in the camp. At 1:40 am the police barreled through the first line of defense the occupiers put up, an old veterans group carrying flags known as Veterans for Peace. While officers began arresting occupiers and tearing down tents they kept pushing others back, sometimes throwing them to the ground. People were screaming and yelling stupid nonsense at the police but most complied, albeit angrily.

Boston Globe, 10/11/11

Women Maced At Occupy Wall Street Protest

Female protesters were corralled behind orange netting. The women were maced by the police. I don't know why the women were maced. Police don't mace protesters at a tea party rally because they know Fox News would go ballistic.

The video below shows the orange netting is being used to separate the protesters headed to Union Square.



Here is a video of a protester taken down by several police officers.



These protests are getting ugly. Law enforcement officers and nerves will be frayed from being yelled at and filmed. Protesters will be suspicious of authority. This is a combination that is bound to create violence. This could be Seattle in 1999 all over again.

The amount of protesters taking to the streets disrupts New York City. Wall Street fears that OWS could (unlikely) shut down financial operations. I sympathize with the difficult situation Mayor Bloomberg is in. I also believe that the protesters should be unharmed. The videos do not tell the full story. It does make me concerned about the safety of the protesters.

Johannes Mehserle's Bail Set at $3 Million

Alameda County Superior Court Judge Morris Jacobson set Johannes Mehserle's bail at $3 million. Jacobson told attorney Michael Rains Mehserle's story contained contradictions. Mehserle's official story is he was reaching for his taser. Jacobson noted Mehserle told other officers Oscar Grant had a gun. Jacobson does not believe a BART officer would reach for his taser to defend himself against an armed man. Other officers said Mehserle was going to "take" Grant.

Whatever version is true: there is little doubt Mehserle shot the subdued Grant in the back. Several cell phone cameras captured the shooting. Legally, Mehserle is not contesting he was the shooter. Mehserle claims not to know the difference between a gun and taser.

Bail was set on legal guidelines and the severity of the crime. Jacobson is afraid Mehserle is a flight risk.

Protesters were outside the courthouse. Grant's family and supporters are not happy about Mehserle being granted bail.



BART Police Chief Gary Gee has become part of the controversy. Gee sent a memo out on how BART officers can send money to Mehserle in jail.

"It is unacceptable for the police chief, who ostensibly is investigating Mehserle and other officers . . . to encourage officers to visit and make financial contributions to Mehserle," said attorney John Burris, who is representing the Grant family in a wrongful-death claim against the transit agency.

The mob mentality is scary. There have been riots and people want Mehserle sentenced yesterday. Mehserle disgraced the uniform. We still have a justice system and everybody is innocent until proven guilty. It is obvious the black community has long-standing grievancess with BART. Community leaders need to figure out how to improve relations between BART and the black community. Eventually, the Grant trial will be over. The problems will remain, unless addressed.

More On Johannes Mehserle

Accused Oscar Grant killer Johannes Mehserle hired high-powered defense attorney Michael Rains. Merserle pleaded not guilty to the murder of Grant.

Oakland resident Ken Carrethers is accusing former BART police officer Johannes Mehserle of using excessive force. Carrethers told East Bay News he complained to another subway passenger about BART police doing nothing about his car being twice broken into.

"Well you see that's why, because they're standing around with their hands in their pockets," Carrethers said to the other passenger.

Carrethers said Mehserle overheard the conversation.

"You're talking about us, aren't you?" Mehserle reportedly said.

Mehserle and Carrethers got into a verbal exchange. Carrethers denies using profanity. According to the San Francisco Chronicle, Mehserle and three other officers took Carrethers down to the pavement. Carrethers was sent to the hospital.

There are no eyewitnesses to the arrest. Carrethers has served prison time.

Raw Story has video of an interview with Carrethers

Oscar Grant Shooter Johannes Mehserle Arrested.

BART police officer Johannes Mehserle has been arrested in Lake Tahoe, Nevada. Mehserle is charged with the murder of Oscar Grant.

Johannes Mehserle, the BART cop who shot and killed an unarmed man in Oakland on New Year's Day, sat behind bars in a Bay Area jail on Wednesday night, charged with murder.

Appearing in a Nevada court Wednesday, Mehserle waived extradition and returned to the Bay Area, where he was taken to Santa Rita Jail on the murder charge — a rare filing against a police officer — that was announced by Alameda County District Attorney Tom Orloff.

It is uncertain whether the final charge will be first or second degree murder. Alameda County District Attorney Tom Orloff's statement leans toward a first degree murder charge.

"At this point, what I feel the evidence indicates is an unlawful killing done by an intentional act and from the evidence we have there is nothing that would mitigate that to something lower than a murder," Alameda County District Attorney Tom Orloff said.

Orloff told the San Francisco Chronicle there is video footage that did not get posted on the internet.

"The videos are very powerful on what act was committed," the district attorney said. "The issue likely to be in this case is, what was the mental state at the time that act was committed?"

The scene in Oakland is getting ugly. Mehserle's received a bomb threat. There is more vandalism from protesters. Oscar Grant's death will be felt, in the community, long after the trial verdict.