Maui police officer charged after allegedly slapping daughter

 Maui authorities Wednesday charged a 46-year-old police officer for allegedly slapping his 13-year-old daughter, who fell and sustained a concussion.

Nelson Johnson was arrested today and charged with abuse of a family and household member. His bail was set at $1,000.

The 18-year Maui Police Department veteran allegedly got into an argument with his daughter.

Police said the girl fell back and hit her head 9:40 p.m. Tuesday on a wall-mounted air conditioning unit, sustaining a concussion. She was taken to  the Maui Memorial Medical Center and later released in good condition.

Johnson was also arrested for second-degree assault, but was not charged with that crime, although the case is still being investigated, police said in a news release. Johnson is on administrative leave, pending further investigation.

Baltimore County officer suspended after on fires service weapon

A veteran Baltimore County police officer has been suspended by the department for allowing his young son to get ahold of his service weapon, according to a release.
Ofc. Timothy Kennedy, a 27-year veteran, was charged with one count of failing to secure a firearm to prevent access by a minor.
Kennedy set his gun down on an armoire in his bedroom on Oct. 11 after he came home from work. Kennedy’s son grabbed the gun off the armoire and fired it, striking a door.

School security officer could face 1st degree murder charges

WBIR - Luttrell) At a preliminary hearing Friday morning, a judge determined there was enough evidence for a grand jury to consider first degree murder charges against a Knox County School security officer accused of shooting his neighbor.

Kevin Lee Waggoner, 42, of Luttrell, was charged with one count of criminal homicide after his neighbor, Michael Woodby, was shot and killed during a dispute between the two men and Waggoner's son earlier this month. Investigators said there had been a long history of disagreements between the two men.

The prosecution argued in court that Waggoner's actions before the shooting were evidence that he planned to kill Woodby.

Just days before the shooting, Waggoner sent 10News and several other media outlets copies of documents and videos, claiming he was the victim of harassment in an ongoing feud between the neighbors.

Prosecutors say where the shooting took place also raised suspicions.

"This shooting was nothing short of an ambush, your honor. It occurred on the only place on that roadway where there was no visibility for anybody to see what happened besides Kevin Waggoner and [his son]," said Tracy Jenkins, Union County Assistant District Attorney.

The defense, however, argued that Waggoner shot Woodby in self-defense. They say he shot Woodby to protect his son.

"The deceased in the case struck the first blow. He had in his hand, admittedly, some portion of a fence post and struck this man's son. Your honor, I contend that the only thing he did was protect his son and protect himself," said defense attorney Tommy K. Hindman.

The defense says the feud started when Waggoner refused to sell Woodby a gun, because he was a convicted felon.

The grand jury is set to hear the case in October, but the defense expects it could be delayed because they are still waiting on forensic evidence that may not be back in time.

Waggoner's bail remains at $250,000 dollars. During his original arraignment, a judge ruled Waggoner cannot return home during his trial. Waggoner also is prohibited from contacting any family member of Michael Woodby, cannot have a firearm in his possession, and he cannot be with a person who has a firearm. Those provisions were upheld in court Friday morning.

 

Prichard Officer Arrested

PRICHARD, Ala. (WPMI) Less than 24 hours after Prichard names a new police chief, one of the department’s own officers is thrown in jail.  24-year-old Bryan Pearman is charged with aggravated child abuse.  Hospital workers called Mobile County Sheriff’s Investigators in July after treating a two-year-old girl for injuries they say were not accidental. A prosecutor tells LOCAL 15 the girl had injuries to her head, face and neck. Investigators got a warrant for Pearman this week. One prosecutor says any child abuse case is disturbing – even more so when the suspect is someone who is supposed to enforce laws. Pearman is scheduled to appear in court October 21. 

Davie officer cleared in child abuse gets job back

A veteran Davie Police Officer recently returned to work eight months after he was accused of striking his two teenage daughters during a fight. Timothy "Scott" Donohue, 47, resumed his position as a road patrol officer on Aug. 29 after he was suspended without pay for two weeks and signed an agreement regarding future discipline.

Davie Police Chief Patrick Lynn recommended firing Donohue as a result of his arrest in December on felony child abuse and misdemeanor battery charges. But the town pursued a lesser discipline that allows Donohue to keep his position as long as he doesn't violate another police department policy, such as neglecting his duties or not showing up for work, within the next three years.

Donohue first joined the Davie Police Department in 1998 and makes $84,237 annually. Donohue was paid his regular salary while he was on leave during the investigation.

The officer was arrested by his own police department after he allegedly struck one of his daughters in the face and pushed another daughter during a fight over a Bible that he apparently tossed on the floor. Donohue was on-duty and was not supposed to be at home when the domestic dispute happened.

Idiot cop shoots teen by accident

Officer accidentally shoots woman in leg, SPD says

A Seattle police officer who accidentally shot a 19-year-old woman in the leg Wednesday night has been placed on paid administrative leave while the shooting is investigated, police said

A Seattle police officer who accidentally shot a 19-year-old woman in the leg Wednesday night has been placed on paid administrative leave while the shooting is investigated, police said.

Assistant Police Chief Paul McDonagh said the shooting is being investigated by the department’s homicide and assault detectives and will be reviewed by the Firearms Review Board as well as the Use of Force Review Board.

“Any discharge of a weapon is very, very serious to us,” he said during a news conference.

The 29-year-old officer, who has not been identified, has been with the department a year and a half, police said.

The woman, who was wanted on felony warrants, suffered a wound not considered life-threatening, police said. She was unarmed.

McDonagh said the officer was among those responding to a false report of an exploding incendiary device at a hotel on Aurora Avenue North and North 120th Street around 11 p.m. when he saw one woman punching another on the sidewalk near the hotel.

One woman saw the officer and took off running, McDonagh said.

He said the officer got out of his car and chased the woman across the street, through a parking lot and behind a building into a dark corner. The woman refused the officer’s commands to stop and show her hands, McDonagh said.

He said the officer could not see the woman’s hands, but believed they were near or in her waistband. The officer then “drew out his gun” to cover himself and in doing so the weapon discharged unintentionally, police said.

The officer immediately realized he’d made a mistake, called for help and apologized to the woman.

The woman was taken to Harborview Medical Center. It was unclear if she was still there Thursday evening. She was booked on several felony warrants out of Snohomish County, McDonagh said.

McDonagh said officers are trained to place their index finger along the side of the handgun rather than on the trigger whenever they pull a handgun from its holster. An officer is only to place his finger on the trigger once he decides to use deadly force, the assistant chief said.

Police are investigating the exact circumstances that caused the weapon to discharge, said police spokesman Jeff Kappel.

According to police, the original call about the incendiary device was not connected to the brawl between the two women, police said. It turned out to be a bogus report made by a person with mental-health issues, police said.

Teen accidentally shot by police

Teen accidentally shot by police recovering at Grady

A 16-year-old teenager skipping class from Southwest DeKalb High School was shot by a DeKalb County police officer investigating a home invasion.

DeKalb County police said one of their officers was forced to shoot a burglary suspect Tuesday morning.

It all started around 10:30 a.m. on Streamside Court when Prince Norwood heard the sound of someone trying to break into her house.

Continue reading >>

Zaynaah Griffin, a friend of the teen, who she identified as Marquez Redden, told CBS Atlanta's Mike Paluska, Redden was shot through the right forearm. The bullet went through muscle and came out his elbow.

"He told me 'They shot me, he shot the wrong person,'" Griffin said. "He didn't know anyone's house got broken into, he got scared because kids get locked up for truancy, he ran and hid behind there."

We spoke to Griffin before she went to visit Redden at Grady Memorial Hospital.

"He was in a lot of pain, he thought he was dying," Griffin said.

Police Chief Cedric Alexander said officers were searching the area near Streamside Court in Decatur when one of them noticed someone start running through the woods.

"He saw police officers in the area, knew he was truant so he took off running," Alexander said. "And at one point, one of our officers saw him take off, along with a K-9 too."

The home invasion started around 10:30 a.m. Tuesday. Prince Norwood heard the sound of someone trying to break into her house. She hid in her closet and called 911 and then phoned her husband. DeKalb police were able to capture two suspects involved in the burglary hiding inside the ceiling of the home. At least two other suspects were on the run. At the time, Alexander said his officers were actively searching for the suspects and had no idea the teenager the officer was chasing was truant.

"He [the officer] was not aware at all, because he was going house-to-house still following the trail and that is when he came up on this truant kid," Alexander said. "We weren't even looking for him but unbeknown to the officers, they thought he was the one running away from the other crime scene."

The officer entered a shed where the teenager was hiding, got startled and fired one shot striking the teenager in the right arm.

Alexander said they just learned this morning that the 16-year-old was not involved in the home invasion when they went to the hospital to interview him.

"What I will say to the community is this, as things unfold in this department we are going to be forthright and transparent about it. And that is what we are doing here," Alexander said.

Griffin said Redden told her he was trying to surrender to police when he was shot.

"The officer came back there with a dog, and the officer said some language cussing him, and he threw his hands up and the police officer just shot him," Griffin said.

No new trial for ex-cop convicted in teen suspect beating

HOUSTON -- The only Houston police officer convicted in the beating of Chad Holley

Drew Ryser was convicted of official oppression and sentenced to two years probation. Ryser's defense team requested a new trial. It contends there was jury misconduct when a juror went home, looked up the definition of misconduct on the internet and brought that information into jury deliberations.

On Tuesday morning, a judge rejected the request.

"Both sides were very competently represented," said special prosecutor Jon Munier. "Their argument has some merit to it, just as ours does, but in the end I believe justice was served."

"We'll appeal the case and let the court of appeals decides whether or not this was a correct ruling," said Ryser's defense attorney, Lisa Andrews.

Three other former officers were charged with crimes in this case. Andrew Blomberg was acquitted, while Raad Hasan and Phil Bryan accepted plea deals. 

Family of teen slain by police awarded $8.5M

A jury awarded Annie Johnson $8.5 million for the wrongful death of her son, Aaron Harrison, who was shot and killed by a Chicago police officer in 2007/

Police said Harrison was shot after raising a gun at an officer during the chase in the 1300 block of South Mozart Street. But five eyewitnesses testified that Harrison wasn't carrying a gun and didn't point one at an officer, and that they saw no gun near his body immediately after the shooting, said the family's attorney, James Montgomery, at a news conference Friday in his office.

"Then after the handcuffing — magically the gun appears," Montgomery said of the 9 mm weapon police said they recovered. "Evidence pointed to a planted weapon on the ground."

The wrongful death lawsuit took six years to play out in Cook County Circuit Court. Jurors, who were encouraged by the family's attorneys to re-enact the shooting, took less than three hours to reach a verdict, Montgomery said. An earlier trial in May ended with a mistrial after that jury deadlocked.

The city already has spent more than $54 million this year — twice what was budgeted — to settle police misconduct lawsuits.

Teen, 16, alleges excessive force, false arrest in lawsuit against Hanceville cop

A lawsuit filed against a former Hanceville police officer alleging he used excessive force against a 15-year-old girl and caused her to be bitten by the department’s K-9 police dog will be heard in Cullman County Circuit Court Tuesday.

Harold Cox, who now works for the Sumiton Police Department, is accused of pulling the sleeping girl out of bed, dragging her outside the home on Williams Avenue Northeast in only a T-shirt and panties, slamming her on the hood of a police car and then putting her in a police vehicle with the K-9 dog that bit her twice on her arm.

The lawsuit filed in March by the girl’s mother, Aimme Davis Cooper, on behalf of her daughter accuses Cox of assault and battery, false imprisonment, excessive use of force and false arrest stemming from the alleged incident on Sept. 29, 2012.

According to the complaint, Cox went to the home of Johnnie and Jamie Davis to investigate a reported noise complaint. Attorneys for Cox and Hanceville allege in court documents that a house party was going on at the residence, and police arrested several individuals, including minors, that night. However, Porter said his client, although she was arrested, was never charged with any crime. Juvenile criminal records are not public.

Cox found Johnnie Davis in the front yard and informed him of the noise complaint. Davis went inside, closing the door behind him, turned down music and came back outside to talk with Cox, according to the complaint.

“Officer Harold Cox, then without consent of Mr. or Mrs. Davis or anyone else at the residence entered through the front door while Mr. Davis was still in his living room,” the complaint stated. “Officer Harold Cox was immediately put on notice that his entry was without consent, as Mr. Davis asked Harold Cox  if he had a warrant. Officer Cox had no warrant. Officer Cox stated he did not need one and still without consent entered the living room of the home.”

Cox walked to a back bedroom where he found the teen girl, now 16, another minor and Jamie Davis. According to the complaint, Cox told the sleeping girl to get out of bed, and when she did not respond, he allegedly forcibly picked her up, threw her in floor and then on the bed, stuck his knee in her back while he handcuffed her and took her outside. The complaint states the girl suffered a head injury in the bedroom and two dog bites on her arm when she was placed inside a police vehicle with the K-9, rather than the back of other available patrol vehicles that had arrived on the scene.

Cop taunts a child....do you believe this lunatic?

Officer Paul Bradley Rogers’ Record Cleared Six Years After Accidentally Killing 5-Year-Old Austin Haley

A Noble, Okla., police officer, who  shot and killed a child while trying to shoot a snake, has had his record cleared.

Six years ago, Jack Tracy was fishing with his 5-year-old grandson Austin Haley when two police were called to home on a report of a large snake dangling from a birdhouse. One of the officers, Paul Bradley Rogers, fired two shots from his gun. The bullets missed the snake, but one struck Haley, who was in the woods directly behind the home.

“The second bullet hit him in the back of the head and came out here in his forehead,” Tracy said, according to KFOR-TV. “It was horrible. Blood and brains everywhere.”

 Robert Shawn Richardson and Rogers pleaded guilty to second-degree manslaughter for the accidental shooting death. Richardson received a five-year deferred sentence, and Rogers received two and a half.

Rogers’ record has now reportedly been cleared.

Haley’s father, Jack said, “I hate to dredge this up again. But here we are six years later, and we’re finding out the shooter, Brad Rogers, his records have been expunged.”

The family believes the law is outrageous according to Jack Tracy.

“He was shot and killed by the reckless act of another person and they want to sweep the whole thing under the carpet and forget it?” Tracy said.

Paul Bradley Rogers fired two shots from his 357 at the snake which was dangling from a wooden birdhouse.

Both bullets missed the snake and one struck the child who was in the woods. 

State pays after child shot with Taser

ALBUQUERQUE (KRQE) - The state is shelling out in excess of $500,000 to settle a lawsuit filed on behalf of a 10-year-old boy accidentally shot with an electric stun gun by a police officer at a career fair.

Officer Chris Webb, during a career day in May 2012 at Tularosa Intermediate School in Tularosa  pointed his Taser at the boy and said, "Let me show you what happens to people who do not listen to police."

The young victim's attorneys say 50,000 volts of electricity traveled through the boy.

Ardmore school resource officer issued warrant for rape- molestation in 1997

ARDMORE, OK - Court documents show that an Ardmore police officer who serves as the resource officer for Ardmore schools had an arrest warrant issued for him 16 years ago for lewd molestation and second degree rape.

An arrest affidavit from Wagoner County, Oklahoma states that a 14-year-old girl accused Corporal Barry Antwine of touching her inappropriately while they were in class at Wagoner High School, to which Antwine admitted doing so.

Antwine then entered into an agreement of deferred prosecution with the State of Oklahoma that stated charges would not be filed if he met the conditions of the agreement for four years, including restitution, probation fees, community service and a victim's compensation assessment.

We spoke to Ardmore police Sergeant Ryan Hunnicutt about this information. He said in a statement,

"Having just been made aware of these documents and the accusations they contain we are certainly going to look into them. Potentially this is a very serious matter and we are looking into it but do not know enough of the situation to make a statement at this time."

We also spoke with city manager J.D. Spohn today who said that interim police Chief Kevin Norris recommended that Antwine be reassigned pending an investigation.

Antwine has recently filed an EEOC complaint against the city of Ardmore alleging discrimination for an unrelated matter.

We'll continue to follow this story.

Wiley student alleges police brutality, spurs outrage

BLOOMINGTON, ILL.— An alleged police brutality incident that occurred against a Wiley College honor student while at home for the summer in Illinois has outraged members of the student body, who have rallied together, seeking justice for the alleged victim, Gabriella “Gabby” Calhoun.

“We’re highly disturbed and disheartened that this happened to her,” said Daryl Walters, chief of staff for Wiley’s Student Government Association.

“We’re trying to keep her uplifted and let her know that she is still beautiful and we still love her at Wiley College and expect her to come here and get an education and to flourish (past the pain).”

Calhoun, an early high school graduate and presidential scholar at Wiley, told the online publication, YourBlackWorld.net, that her life changed forever on June 29 when officers from the Bloomington, Ill., police department used excessive force against her and her friends at a Denny’s while responding to a stabbing that occurred outside of the restaurant.

The freshman biology major said when officers arrived on the scene they approached her table, asking her group if they had anything to do with the fight. The group said after telling the officers that they were not involved, the officers went back outside to talk to the participating parties and allowed the actors to go inside of the restaurant to clean up. The article says the parties started brawling again while inside of the Denny’s and the officers rushed back in to break up the fight.

The article goes on to say that as the cops tried to clear Denny’s, they approached Calhoun and a close friend of hers again, grabbing the friend as Calhoun followed them, holding her friend’s side.

That’s when Calhoun said police attacked her, knocking her unconscious.

“As she exited the Denny’s, she felt a grip on her neck and arm and says that out of reaction, she tried to pull away,” the article stated. “What happened next was unimaginable.”

Friends say Calhoun was hit in the face with a night stick by a female officer, knocking her unconscious.

“I awoke spitting my teeth out on the ground,” she told YourBlackWorld.net, sharing she hates looking at herself in the mirror now.

“When I look at what I used to look like to what I look like now, it hurts,” she said.

“I had the prettiest smile,” she said, sharing she has three fake teeth, as a result, and has to get accustomed to talking with them. “Nothing is the same.”

The alleged victim said when she began to gain consciousness the officer began choking her again, held her face to the ground and ignored her plea to stop because of her asthma.

She ended up being arrested and booked in jail on one charge of felony aggravated battery and two misdemeanors for resisting arrest. According to the Bloomington Police Department, she was indicted Wednesday on charges of aggravated battery to a peace officer, and resisting a peace officer with officer injury — all felony offenses.

However, the department has acknowledged in a press release that they have received an allegation from a third party of improper police conduct regarding the incident, and have attempted to reach out to Calhoun for further investigation.

“The Bloomington Police Department reviews all allegations of misconduct seriously,” the department stated in the release posted on their website.

“The Bloomington Police Department has reached out to Gabriella Calhoun regarding any complaint of officer misconduct,” the department said. “The Bloomington Police Department has yet to receive a response.”

However, “preliminary review of the video and audio evidence appears consistent with officers’ statements regarding the incident,” the department advised.

According to the press release from the police department, the responding officers reported that Calhoun allegedly pushed and then struck a police officer with a closed fist as officers were clearing out the people involved in the fight from the business.

“As officers were clearing out the problem subjects from the business, a female, identified as Gabriella Calhoun, allegedly pushed and then struck a police officer with a closed fist,” the press release states.

It goes on to say that the officer attempted to place Calhoun under arrest, but she allegedly continued to swing her right arm toward the officer, and the officer was unable to handcuff her.

“A second officer had to come to the aid of the arresting officer,” the release states. The release says as officers were struggling with Calhoun, a large crowd became aggressive towards them, causing the officers to call for backup and spray oleoresin capsicum in an attempt to disperse the crowd.

The officers claim that two officers suffered minor injuries during the incident, and Calhoun allegedly refused medical treatment.

“The Bloomington Police Department is continuing the investigation,” officials said.

Walters said they know Calhoun’s character, which totally contrasts with the behavior police officers claim the honor student exhibited when they confronted her at a Denny’s while responding to a stabbing there.

“She does not drink, smoke or act a fool so when we read the statements we were like, ‘This is false,’” said Walters. “We can say, as a student body, these claims against her are false.”

She said the student leaders know there are two sides to one story, and want to be impartial, but still feel that the accusations are farfetched.

“We want to hear both sides, but her charges were just too much for any one person,” said Walters.

In the meantime, Walters said they are keeping their fellow Wileyite uplifted, and attempting to reach out to politicians, churches, and other historical black universities and colleges for their support in helping them fight against what they believe is racial profiling.

“We have several surprises when she gets back to school,” she said, sharing she along with SGA president Mahogany Terry, student Amber Robinson and other students have rallied together to help bring awareness to the situation, splitting themselves up into teams.

“All the teams combined is about 25 people,” said Walters. “We have a political team, making calls to her state representatives, to her mayor, to her congressman, to her senator and making them all aware.

“Then, we have a media team that puts the story out there and sends emails, informs newspapers and activists,” she said.

Another team was charged with planning something special for the second semester freshman when she returns for the fall semester.

“We’re hoping to ultimately accomplish not only have the word out, but have accountability on the police’s part, letting law enforcement across the USA know that this is not the 1960s anymore,” said Walters.

She said she’s adamant about speaking out against police brutality because her own pastor, Rev. Harry Blake, was beaten on the steps of a church in Shreveport, La., during the civil rights era.

“We are no longer living under Jim Crow Laws; minorities will not be mistreated or racially discriminated against,” said Walters.

“This is justice for her,” she said, sharing Calhoun lost her internship at the medical examiner’s office, as a result of the incident.

“We’re just keeping her uplifted as best we can,” said Walters.

“Her brother graduated with honors from Wiley as well; he encouraged her to go to Wiley. He’s not here anymore, but she has a lot of big brothers and big sisters” still there for her, she said.

Former Wiley College student leader Chris Brown took to his Facebook page, expressing his support for Calhoun.

“As a past Wiley College student leader and as the Statewide Executive Vice President for Y. Democrats of Louisiana, I'm deeply saddened by the incident that occurred in Bloomington, IL, to Gabby. Gabby is a scholar student who represent(s) what (it) is to be a true Wildcat,” he wrote. “I will be writing to the mayor and chief of police about this case and how I will feel it should be investigated. Let’s like in support of justice and please pray for peace among all who have been placed in an uncompromising and uncomfortable case. Chris Brown.”

“We’ll send out messages to the students’ pastors, churches, requesting them to hold meetings with their associations, various pastoral friends and ministries to make them aware,” said Walters.

Walters said anyone is welcomed to be a part of the effort to seek justice for Calhoun.

“If they would like to help, send all information to arobinson@wileyc.edu,” she said. “We want everybody that wants to help to help.

“Everybody can play a role in this initiative,” said Walters. “This is not a Wiley College issue or a black issue. This is an ‘everybody’ issue.

“You never know when this can be your daughter or you,” she said.

Drew Ryser, Ex-Cop Convicted Of Beating Teen, Wants New Trial

HOUSTON -- A former Houston police officer convicted in the videotaped beating of a 15-year-old burglary suspect during a daylight arrest is seeking a new trial, citing juror misconduct. Attorneys for Drew Ryser said in a court motion filed Wednesday that the jury foreman researched the case online outside the courtroom, looking up the word "mistreatment" and sharing the search results with fellow jurors, contrary to instructions from the judge, the Houston Chronicle reported (http://bit.ly/12jxTL3).

Baltimore City Officer Suspended, Charged with Pulling Gun on Son

A Baltimore City police sergeant is suspended without pay after Baltimore County police said she allegedly pulled a gun on her son at her Catonsville home on June 17, according to ABC's WMAR-TV. In addition to her suspension, Robin Blackmon, 44, who was assigned to the Western District, had her service weapon reclaimed by the department pending the outcome of the case. Blackmon was arrested last month in Baltimore County accused of DUI and allegedly pulling a gun on her adult son, Andrew Bratcher.

 

Cop charged in Ocean Springs teen's hit and run death

JACKSON COUNTY, MS (WLOX) - Daniel Snyder, the Pascagoula Police cop accused of hitting and killing an Ocean Springs teenager in February, has been charged with leaving the scene of an accident-Felony. Kaytlynn Brann was struck by a truck while walking on Pointe Aux Chenes Road the evening of February 22nd. She died the next day. The driver of the truck was an off duty Pascagoula police officer.

Trial Of cop Charged In Teen’s Death

TOWSON, Md. (WJZ) — An emotional day in court, as a Baltimore County police officer is tried on manslaughter charges. Supporters on both sides disrupt the court.

Derek Valcourt has more on the case against Officer James Laboard.

Emotions are still so raw, that the victim’s brother began screaming at the accused officer in court.

When friends of 17-year-old Chris Brown threw a rock at the door of off-duty Baltimore police officer James Laboard’s Randallstown home last June, Laboard ran out and gave chase.

Catching Brown in some brushes, a struggle followed.

“There’s two guys on the front lawn and one of them is laying on the other. He said the other one tried to rob him,” a caller told 911.

While on the phone with 911, a caller ran out to speak to Laboard, who was still restraining Brown.

Caller: “Are you a cadet sir? You’re a police officer? He’s a police officer, an officer needs assistance. He said tell them to please hurry.”

911 Operator: “Is he still on top of the subject?”

Caller: “Yes he is.”

Brown died of asphyxiation. Defense attorneys are trying to convince a jury it was an accident.

As a police training expert testified on Laboard’s use of force, Christopher Brown’s brother began screaming expletives at the officer, saying: “You should have stayed in the house.”

That’s when one of Laboard’s supporters responded, shouting back: “It was [Brown] who should have stayed home.”

Both of them were thrown out of court. Brown family friend Ceandra Scott saw it all.

“This is his brother, his little brother, that he was killed the way he was and he’s been dealing with it for a year,” Scott said. “And then he said what he said. But one thing encouraging about the family and Chris is they’re prayerful. They are extremely spiritual.”

Prosecutors say that Christopher Brown died when that police officer used an unauthorized neck restraint. The defense attorneys are trying to say that Laboard’s use of force was justified.

A jury will now have to decide if that’s the case.

The officer faces charges of manslaughter and involuntary manslaughter.

Mother speaks about MPD officer shooting her son

MILWAUKEE - The mother of the robbery suspect Milwaukee Police said was  shot by an officer wants the department to explain exactly how the cop’s gun fired after her son surrendered.  “Sheldon was extended on the ground.  His arms were out.  He was giving up.  He was ready to put the handcuffs on when apparently the gun discharged,” explained Carrie Myrick, Gainer’s mother.

Ohio’s top court upholds police officer’s conviction over false arrest of teen

The Ohio Supreme Court ruled yesterday that cops are not exempt from prosecution under the state’s witness-intimidation law. In a 6-1 decision, the court upheld the 2010 conviction of a former Cincinnati police officer for intimidating a teenage boy into making a false confession for several robberies by threatening to jail his mother and remove his siblings from their home.While the boy spent nine days in juvenile detention, Officer Julian Steele persuaded his mother to meet with him several times, telling her he wanted to discuss her son’s release. Eventually getting her to meet at his apartment, Steele asked her to engage in sexual activity with him. She agreed, telling investigators later that she had complied because she believed “he had the power over (her son’s) release.”During that time, Steele told prosecutors, he knew the boy had not committed the crimes, but he arrested the teen to compel his mother to cooperate with the investigation. A vehicle registered to her had been seen in the neighborhood of one of the robberies. Prosecutors initially thought that the boy had been sent home on the day of his arrest, but after learning he was still locked up, they had him released and charges against him dismissed. Steele was fired from the police department, convicted and sentenced to five years in prison for the abduction and intimidation of the teen.

Arrested Macon cop Out on Bond

A Macon cop arrested for drug and child endangerment charges in Monroe County Thursday is out on bond and currently placed on administrative leave pending an internal affairs investigation.   Toomer and Horace Wise, 30, were arrested after the Monroe-Forsyth Drug Task Force raided their home after receiving information about illegal activity. This is the fifth MPD officer to be arrested this year. The children in the home were turned over to family members.

Family members of Hofstra student who was accidentally killed by police indicate they may sue

The family of a Hofstra University student accidentally killed by a cop has listed a potential lawsuit among her assets, meaning it may be planning to sue Nassau County and the county police. Andrea Rebello was shot by a cop during a May 17 home invasion off campus. The intruder, a prison parolee, also was killed.

Jurors convict HPD officer charged in Holley beating

Houston cop Drew Ryser the fourth and final cop with a pending case, was convicted of the misdemeanor oppression charge and agreed to two years probation for his involvement with the beating of 15-year-old Chad Holley three years ago. A videotape shows the boy running from the cops falling, then lying face down with his hands above his head as the cops punched, kneed and kicked him.

No verdict in trial of cop charged in death of Aiyana Stanley-Jones

 

The jury wrapped up deliberations in the trial of the Detroit cop Joseph Weekley charged in the fatal shooting of 7-year-old Aiyana Stanley-Jones. Weekley is charged with felony involuntary manslaughter and careless discharge of a firearm causing death. Weekley told jurors that he unintentionally pulled the trigger on his MP5 submachine gun during a raid of a house on Detroit’s east side in 2010 and the bullet struck Aiyana. He said that his master grip must have come off the weapon when it was hit.

At the time of the incident, Weekley told other cops that the gun fired during a struggle with Aiyana’s grandmother, Mertilla Jones. Jones, who was in the front room with her granddaughter, testified that she didn’t grab his gun or deflect it and said she wasn’t even within arm’s reach of him when the gun fired.

Trial to begin for officer charged in Randallstown teen's death

A little more than a year after Christopher Brown died, the Baltimore County cop James D. Laboard accused of killing him is set to be tried for manslaughter.  Prosecutors said the off-duty officer chased down the Randallstown High School student after a group of youths threw rocks at his front door. The teen died of asphyxiation during an apparent struggle June 13, 2012, and jurors in the case will have to sort through accounts of that night to determine whether Laboard was acting appropriately during the altercation.

A Houston cop named Drew Ryser is on trial on charges related to the beating an unarmed

A Houston cop named Drew Ryser is on trial  on charges related to the beating an unarmed teenage suspect in 2010 that was captured on a video that went viral, making national news in a racially charged case. The cop is charged with official oppression, a misdemeanor with a maximum punishment of one year in jail and a $4,000 fine. He is accused of kneeing, kicking and pushing then-15-year-old Chad Holley's head into the ground. In the video, several cops can be seen striking and kicking Holley, an African-American burglary suspect, as he lay on the ground with his hands behind his back and in handcuffs.  The city fired seven police officers in relation to the incident, and four were charged. Two ex-officers accepted a plea deal and one was acquitted after a trial before an all-white jury.

Testimony will resume Monday in the trial of a Detroit cop

Testimony will resume Monday in the trial of a Detroit cop Joseph Weekley charged with Manslaughter of a 7-year-old girl Aiyana Jones during a police raid three years ago. Aiyana was sleeping on the couch when she was shot and killed. The cop shot in the face.

Fourteen-year-old Tremaine McMillan was feeding his puppy

Fourteen-year-old Tremaine McMillan was feeding his puppy and playing on the beach with some friends when cops riding ATVs approached him and asked what he was doing. The cops said later that they saw McMillan roughhousing with another teenager, told him it was “unacceptable behavior,” and asked where his mother was. When McMillan walked away, the cops chased him on ATVs, jumped out, pinned him to the ground and arrested him. Cell phone footage taken by his mother shows the boy being thrown to the ground and pinned.  Miami-Dade cop Alvaro Zabaleta justified the use of force, saying McMillan was exhibiting threatening “body language,” which includes “clenched fists.”

A suspended University of Pittsburgh cop named Scott Kercher is scheduled to stand trial on allegations he held a knife to his son's throat. Kercher's two children told authorities that Kercher put a knife to the boy's neck and threatened to cut out his tongue on March 25. Kercher is suspended without pay.

Parents of a son  in Chaparral High School  California who has  Asperger's and other disabilities said they were "thrilled" when their son—who has and struggled to make friends—appeared to have instantly befriended another student they knew only as Daniel. Turns out Daniel was an undercover cop with the Riverside County Sheriff's Department who relentlessly pushed the teenager to sell him his prescription medication. When he refused, the cop gave him $20 to buy him weed. The boy fell to pressure fearing he would lose his new friend if he didn’t. He was arrested for purchasing and reselling narcotics.

St. Petersburg cop Kenneth Pienik has been suspended for 80 work hours for allegedly

St. Petersburg cop Kenneth Pienik has been suspended for 80 work hours for allegedly "having an inappropriate relationship of non-sexual nature" with a 17-year-old girl in the police department's Explorer program.

Michael A. Webb, a southwestern Ohio police officer and his girlfriend were arrested

Michael A. Webb, a southwestern Ohio police officer and his girlfriend were arrested for allegedly leaving young children in a pickup truck while they were in a Florida bar.He is

 charged with felony child abuse after Panama City Beach police found two young children unattended in their locked vehicle in the parking lot of Coyote Ugly Saloon, 

suspended without pay

Evansville In. Police Chief is recommending one of his officers be suspended without pay for 21-days, and that the Police Merit Commission consider dismissing the officer.

Although the name of the officer is not being released. On May 17, a complaint was filed against the unnamed officer for committing battery against a student while working off duty at an EVSC School.  The student's mother didn't want to press charged so no criminal charges were filed, but she did file a complaint with internal affairs. It's the result of their investigation that lead to the chief's recommendations.

cop accused of assaulting a 12-year-old boy

EAST HARTFORD Ct — The investigation of a cop accused of assaulting a 12-year-old boy has found that he violated department policy by failing to seek out alternatives.The cop, Woodrow Tinsley III was called to assist a state Department of Children and Families worker escort a 12-year-old boy to a psychiatric evaluation. The boy refused to attend the meeting and the schuffle began. Tinsley was suspended without pay for two weeks beginning May 11.

Bronx Judge Dismisses Charges in ’12 Killing by cop; New Indictment Is Possible

A Bronx judge dismissed manslaughter charges against a New York City cop officer who shot and killed an unarmed 18-year-old in his family’s home under highly questionable circumstances in 2012. Judge Steven Barrett of State Supreme Court, found that the prosecution had given improper instructions to the grand jury that indicted the cop, Richard Haste. The Bronx district attorney’s office may appeal or try to bring new charges. The judge ruled the jurors were not allowed to adequately consider evidence that the cop had been warned before the shooting that the teenager, Ramarley Graham, might be armed. “With not great pleasure,” Justice Barrett said, “I’m obliged in this case to dismiss the charges.” 

Authorities investigating police misconduct allegations

GREENSBORO — The Greensboro City Council and police are investigating allegations of misconduct brought by Bennett College and N.C. A&T students against police in connection with two separate incidents.  In the first, police detained four students on April 16 while they searched for a robbery suspect at the Sebastian Village Apartments. In the second, a Bennett College student alleges police “roughed her up” and pointed a weapon at her while responding to a noise complaint April 27 during a graduation party at the same apartment complex.

East Hartford Officer Suspended For Two Weeks

EAST HARTFORD ——

Police Officer Woodrow Tinsley III, facing accusations that he used excessive force on a 12-year old boy, has been suspended for two weeks, Police Chief Mark Sirois said Monday.

Diabetic High School Girl Beaten by Police Officer and Arrested -- For Falling Asleep in Class

Ashlynn Avery, who was arrested and beaten for falling asleep at school, has filed a lawsuit for civil rights violations.

May 7, 2013 |

A student who was arrested and beaten for falling asleep at school is now suing an Alabama city, its police department and some school employees for civil rights violation, battery and negligent supervision and hiring. The Courthouse News Service reports that after the diabetic student fell asleep while in a room reserved for “in school suspensions,” a school police officer slammed her face into a cabinet and then arrested her. The incident occurred at a high school in Hoover, Alabama.

Ashlynn Avery, who has diabetes, asthma and sleep apnea, was suspended for cutting class, and had to sit in the in-school suspension room. While she was reading “Huckleberry Finn,” she dozed off. First, the in-school suspension supervisor walked over to her cubicle and struck it, which caused the cubicle to hit Avery’s head, according to the lawsuit. She woke up, but soon fell back asleep. The supervisor, Joshua Whited, then took the book from her and slammed it on on, which caused the book to hit the student in the chest.

Avery was then told to leave the room, according to the complaint, and police officer Christopher Bryant followed her. Bryant slapped her backpack, and then “proceeded to shove Ashlynn face first into a file cabinet and handcuff her,” the complaint states. While in the car, Avery vomited. She was taken to a hospital and had to wear a cast as a result of her injuries.

eading to the death of a 12-year-old

Wichita, Kansas: The city has been sued twice over claims that the same police officer drove dangerously while on duty, leading to the death of a 12-year-old in one instance and resulting in serious injuries to a motorist in another. According to the lawsuits, the officer’s actions have been called into question in three separate incidents in less than two years. ow.ly/kSwHT

3-year-old son found a handgun and fatally

Marysville, Washington: A police officer whose 3-year-old son found a handgun and fatally shot the man’s daughter was fired from the police department following an internal affairs investigation. ow.ly/kNgPE

Civil rights lawyers filed

Washington, DC: Civil rights lawyers filed two lawsuits alleging that Metro Transit Police officers assaulted two teenagers in separate incidents and then fabricated charges to justify arresting them. ow.ly/kRHcf

worst of the month

The worst case is from Bolivia, North Carolina. According to the complaint filed by a minor’s guardian ad litem, a police officer, Jaymin Lenwood Murphy, came to a home to investigate allegations that an adult had sent inappropriate photos via cell phone to a minor child. The officer said he needed to question the minor in private. Once in private, the officer had the minor remove her clothing so he could take photos for his ‘investigative file.’ It gets worse. The officer later returned on minor’s fourteenth birthday and raped her.

The runner-up story comes from Bakersfield, California. A 21-year-old woman called the police to report a burglary. Two deputies arrived and one led her into a room where she was then sexually assaulted under the pretense of a ‘pat-down’ search by the deputy. The authorities did move promptly against this deputy–so good for them.

Marysville cop fired after investigation of child's shooting

Marysville, Wash. (Metro) -- A Marysville police officer, whose seven-year-old daughter was shot to death by her three-year-old brother, has been fired by the police department.

Officer Derek Carlile had gotten out of his family's van to talk to friends in March 2012 when his son picked up a loaded handgun from a cupholder between the front seats and shot his sister.

Carlile was charged with manslaughter, but the charge was dismissed after the jury at his trial was unable to reach a unanimous verdict.

A spokesman for the City of Marysville says Carlile's employment was terminated as a result of the findings of an internal police department investigation.      

Woman claims West Mifflin police brutalized her son

WEST MIFFLIN, Pa. —

A local woman said West Mifflin police used excessive force against her son after they arrested him on Wednesday.

Mary Arelt said photos show her 17-year-old son, Joshua Goughenour, covered in bruises and scratches after she said her son said police brutalized him.

Arelt said the incident began Wednesday night at a house on Nordeen Drive when Goughenour’s 22-year-old cousin bolted into the woods when officers came to serve a felony arrest warrant on him.

Once police had caught the cousin, Arelt said her son ran after him to say goodbye and that is when he was tackled to the ground by a detective.

“They didn’t even read him his rights. Just told him he was under arrest,” said Arelt.

Arelt said Goughenour spent the following day in the hospital after claiming he was brutalized by a West Mifflin police officer for allegedly resisting arrest and hindering an arrest.

Arelt claims this beating was so over the top that one of the officers actually left his mark on her son’s back.

“My son has bruises on his face and arms like someone put their shoes on him,” said Arelt. “I believe it was police brutality.”

According to West Mifflin Police Chief Ken Davies, Goughenour and his friends were the ones being aggressive even after being warned not to interfere with the arrest of Goughenour’s cousin. 

Davies confirmed that there was a physical altercation and that one of his officers was also injured while trying to keep Goughenour away.

Arelt did admit that her son has had trouble with the law in the past, but believes that even if her son was in the wrong, this kind of punishment hardly fits the crime.

“It is uncalled for for someone to be treated like dirt,” Arelt said.

Davies said he stands by his comment that his officers did not use excessive force.

NOPD officer charged in killing of unarmed teen seeks to move trial outside city

NOPD officer charged in killing of unarmed teen seeks to move trial outside city

NEW ORLEANS - The New Orleans police officer charged with manslaughter in the fatal 2012 shooting of Wendell Allen is trying to move his trial outside the city.

The attorney for Joshua Colclough filed a motion today for a change of venue in the upcoming manslaughter trial.

Attorney Claude Kelly said his client is entitled to a fair trial.

"And in Orleans Parish, that's impossible," Kelly said.

Kelly said that pre-trial publicity, as well as the community's overall sentiment about the troubled NOPD, are major factors.

Colclough fatally shot, Allen, who was unarmed and shirtless, while serving a search warrant last March with other officers.

Kelly said that Criminal District Court Judge Keva Landrum-Johnson will take up the motion for a change of venue at a hearing in mid-June.

assaulting a 12-year-old boy

East Hartford, Connecticut: A police officer accused of assaulting a 12-year-old boy is under investigation again after a resident complained the officer was “acting unprofessionally while on duty,” according to the police chief. ow.ly/kBsdo

lazy cop won't shut up

Officer Suspended Over Social Media Comments

CLEVELAND– A city police officer, previously suspended for 20 days without pay for his handling of a downed power line, has now received a five-day suspension for comments he made on a social media website.

Patrol Officer Gary Stiegelmeyer received word of the suspension Thursday. The new suspension deals with comments the officer made following his initial discipline, which violates the department’s policy and procedures.

Police Union President Jeff Follmer said they will most likely appeal the suspension.

Stiegelmeyer was asked to check on a downed power line in the area of East 130th and Iroquois on November 1.

911 records state FirstEnergy was notified and the officer was sent to the scene. The officer, however, reported around 9:30 in the morning on November 1 that he only saw a downed phone line.

A few hours later, 12-year-old Gasia Thomas touched the wire and was shocked.

The girl is being treated at a rehab facility. Her family filed a civil lawsuit.