Thread: National Guard Deployed as Violence Engulfs Baltimore

Originally Posted by Davis Knowlton

Originally Posted by misskit

^ Jobs. Working keeps young men off the streets.

Of course in order to get a job, it is preferable if the applicant can read and write, has a high school diploma, and no felony record. The same standards apply to joining the military.

Which lets out most of these wannabe gangbanger, looting, neighborhood- destroying scum. Not to mention that they earn far, far more from drug dealing and theft than they ever would from a minimum wage job, even if they had the inclination to get a job, which very few of them do..........

Exactly.

Similar pattern, over and over.

The ones rioting are not motivation to do much for themselves.

The ones that are / were motivated - have moved to nearby neighborhoods, and they work and live out of these areas (for the most part).

LA, New Orleans, Ferguson, Baltimore, Chicago.....and so on.

Perhaps... something is different this time around?


6 Baltimore officers charged in Freddie Gray's death

The Associated PressJULIET LINDERMAN and AMANDA LEE MYERS May 1st 2015 11:31AM

BALTIMORE (AP) -- Saying "no one is above the law," Baltimore's top prosecutor announced charges Friday for six officers who were involved in the arrest of a black man who suffered a fatal spinal injury in police custody, a decision that comes amid outrage around the country over police brutality against African-Americans.

State's Attorney Marilyn Mosby declared that Freddie Gray's death was a homicide, his arrest was illegal, and his treatment in custody amounted to murder and manslaughter. She said even though Gray requested medical help several times, officers repeatedly missing opportunities to get it for him.

"The findings of our comprehensive, thorough and independent investigation coupled with the medical examiner's determination that Mr. Gray's death was a homicide," Mosby said, "we have probable cause to file criminal charges."

Onlookers cheered and expressed amazement over Mosby's announcement, which few expected so quickly. The city, which has been on edge and seen looting and a riot after Gray's death on April 19, was still under a nighttime curfew and National Guard troops and police were out in full force.

Whoops, cheers and shouts of "Justice!" erupted on the steps of the War Memorial Building, and in the streets of Baltimore, which has faced nearly two weeks of growing anger over Gray's death. Mosby announced the charges one day after receiving the results of the internal police investigation and the autopsy report. As she spoke, the city braced for huge protests Friday and Saturday.

"Mr. Gray suffered a severe and critical neck injury as a result of being handcuffed, shackled by his feet and unrestrained inside of the BPD wagon," she said.

The stiffest charge -- second-degree "depraved heart" murder -- was filed against driver of the police van. The other five were charged with crimes including manslaughter, assault, false imprisonment and misconduct in office.

Fraternal Order of Police local president Gene Ryan told Mosby in a letter before the charges were announced Friday that none of the six suspended officers were responsible for Gray's death.

President Barack Obama said it was "absolutely vital that the truth comes out." He said he doesn't comment on the legal process.

"But I can tell you that justice needs to be served. All the evidence needs to be presented," he said. "Those individuals who are charged obviously are also entitled to due process and rule of law."

Mosby said Gray was illegally arrested and assaulted. He was handcuffed and then hoisted into the metal compartment of a police van without the seatbelt that all officers are told they must put on for safety of both detainees and officers. The van's driver failed to restrain Gray five different times.

The officers later failed to get medical help even though Gray requested it repeatedly, she said. At some point along the way, he suffered a mysterious spinal injury and died a week later.

Mosby said what police described as an illegal switchblade - Officer Garrett E. Miller swore in a court record under penalty of perjury that he found such a knife clipped inside Gray's pants pocket - was actually a legal knife, and provided no justification for Gray's arrest.

She said Gray was assaulted by Miller, Officer William G. Porter, Officer Edward M. Nero, Lt. Brian W. Rice and Sgt. Alicia D. White. Each faces up to 10 years if convicted of second-degree assault.

The van driver, Officer Caesar R. Goodson Jr., faces up to 30 years on the murder charge, and 10 years each for involuntary manslaughter, assault and "manslaughter by vehicle." All of the officers also face a charge of misconduct in office.

Warrants were issued for their arrest and they were expected to turn themselves in Friday.

Mosby said she comes from five generations of police officers, that she respects and honors how police serve the people, and that this case should in no way damage the relationship between police and prosecutors in Baltimore.

She swiftly rejected a request from the Baltimore police officers union asking her to appoint a special independent prosecutor because of her ties to attorney Billy Murphy, who is representing Gray's family. Murphy was among Mosby's biggest campaign contributors last year, donating the maximum individual amount allowed, $4,000, in June. Murphy also served on Mosby's transition team after the election.

Before Gov. Larry Hogan visited a fire station Friday, a man leaning out of a passing truck window pumped both arms in the air and yelled, "Justice! Justice! Justice!" When Hogan arrived, he said he was focusing on keeping Baltimore safe.

"I want to continue to ask for calm and peace," Hogan said.

At the corner of Pennsylvania and North avenues, where the worst of the rioting took place on Monday, drivers honked their horns. When buses stopped in front of the subway station, people spilled out cheering as the doors opened.

There was no large gathering at the intersection immediately after the announcement, though: Nearly 100 police in riot gear were deployed, and for the moment, they had nothing to do.

Ciara Ford, of Baltimore, expressed surprise at the decision to prosecute.

"I'm ecstatic," she said. "I hope this can restore some peace."

"It makes you cry," said her friend, Stephanie Owens of Columbia.

They both hoped the officers would be convicted. And both believed that the protests in the city made a difference in ensuring that authorities took the case seriously.

"If we had kept quiet, I don't think they would have prosecuted," Ford said.

Community activist Ted Sutton surveyed the joyous scene with amazement. "You don't see people chanting. What you see is people celebrating," Sutton said.

The charges, and Mosby's detailed explanation of what happened, are a first step toward transparency, he said.

"She took the time to critique the evidence," Sutton said, noting that the officers faced different charges specific to their actual alleged misconduct. "To have each person charged with what they actually did . to have it come out this quick - this is something else."

He shuddered to think what the intersection would have looked like if she had announced that no charges would be filed.

"We wouldn't want to imagine what was going to happen right here," he said.

A bit fast off the blocks with charges, don't think the autopsy results are in yet.
So much for the race part of it, main murder charge, cop is black.

So want fast action, riot and loot and get your way.
Cops will probably get off, then time for more free shopping.

Originally Posted by jamescollister

A bit fast off the blocks with charges, don't think the autopsy results are in yet..

coupled with the medical examiner's determination that Mr. Gray's death was a homicide," Mosby said, "we have probable cause to file criminal charges."

seems they are

Originally Posted by Necron99

Originally Posted by jamescollister

A bit fast off the blocks with charges, don't think the autopsy results are in yet..

coupled with the medical examiner's determination that Mr. Gray's death was a homicide," Mosby said, "we have probable cause to file criminal charges."

seems they are

Read it in the article, but not seen the report having been released yet.
Long bow to draw calling homicide, if negligence was the cause, do doctors sued for negligence, or anyone else for that matter get charged with murder.
Politics at it's worst, if the evidence was there to begin with, why wait until the riots to bring charges.

Originally Posted by jamescollister

Originally Posted by Necron99

Originally Posted by jamescollister

A bit fast off the blocks with charges, don't think the autopsy results are in yet..

coupled with the medical examiner's determination that Mr. Gray's death was a homicide," Mosby said, "we have probable cause to file criminal charges."

seems they are

Read it in the article, but not seen the report having been released yet.
Long bow to draw calling homicide, if negligence was the cause, do doctors sued for negligence, or anyone else for that matter get charged with murder.
Politics at it's worst, if the evidence was there to begin with, why wait until the riots to bring charges.

If it was apparent he needed medical treatment and they deliberately denied it, that's not negligence. It's a willful act.
And yes, Doctors can and are charged with murder at times. The difference between negligence or incompetence and a willful omission.

Hard one to call, you are involved in an accident, car, gun or you drop a bucket of paint from a ladder hitting someone.
You don't call for medical attention imminently, person dies as a result, is that murder.
The police specific charges, failing to do their duty, I can see them, but to say there was some intent by the van driver to let the guy die or cause serious injury, seems a long shot, as do some of the other charges.

Even in this Mosby's press release and I quote. [ he suffered a mysterious spinal injury and died a week later.] that doesn't say it happened in the van, or at time of arrest, he was complaining about trouble breathing. For all we know the ambos dropped him on the ground while transporting to hospital for breathing problems.
Not saying who's right or wrong, just that charging someone with murder on the same information that was available before the riots [ guy died 12 days after the incident] appears more about politics then justice.

Will this go to the grand jury? If so could go either way. On to trial or prosecution has insufficient proof to go to trial.

Given the politics, betting it will go to trial.

Originally Posted by Norton

Will this go to the grand jury? If so could go either way. On to trial or prosecution has insufficient proof to go to trial.

Given the politics, betting it will go to trial.

No grand jury, grand jury is to decide if there is a case.
They have been charged, so trial, or it gets thrown out of court.

Originally Posted by jamescollister

Hard one to call, you are involved in an accident, car, gun or you drop a bucket of paint from a ladder hitting someone. You don't call for medical attention imminently, person dies as a result, is that murder.

the americans have a deprived indifference law that covers such things

Seattle riots last night...what's up bsnub? You're neighbors need some justice?

Originally Posted by Norton

Will this go to the grand jury? If so could go either way. On to trial or prosecution has insufficient proof to go to trial.

Given the politics, betting it will go to trial.

Can't be looked upon too seriously by the local authorities, as 5 of the 6 charged officers we're granted bail soon after taken into custody...

The two that have "misconduct" charges, I could understand.

3 charged with manslaughter - released pending trial.
1 murder first - retained

Originally Posted by hazz

Originally Posted by jamescollister

Hard one to call, you are involved in an accident, car, gun or you drop a bucket of paint from a ladder hitting someone. You don't call for medical attention imminently, person dies as a result, is that murder.

the americans have a deprived indifference law that covers such things

Yes they do, place some bottles on your fence and shoot at them, bullet crosses the road killing someone in a car-park. This case, murder 2 Maryland law, intent to kill without the premeditation.
Hard to prove, I would think, that the driver intended the death, big difference between negligence and intent.
Another small but could be very important part, cause of death, so far reported as heart failure, how that ties in with the injuries has yet to be released.

^Look up the definition of depraved heart murder. It is wilful indifference, beyond negligence, and sums up the alleged actions of the police driver quite nicely.

The guy was thrown into the back of the van, unable to stop himself being knocked around because he was cuffed and shackled and when he received injuries, his pleads for help were ignored.

Having all concerned arrested is a step forward, having them convicted may help in the long term as well.

Anyone would think we were talking about some 3rd world country....

Originally Posted by Troy

^Look up the definition of depraved heart murder. It is wilful indifference, beyond negligence, and sums up the alleged actions of the police driver quite nicely.

The guy was thrown into the back of the van, unable to stop himself being knocked around because he was cuffed and shackled and when he received injuries, his pleads for help were ignored.

Having all concerned arrested is a step forward, having them convicted may help in the long term as well.

Anyone would think we were talking about some 3rd world country....

Puts the deluded definition of first world in the back seat, doesn't it?
Nothing special.

Mosby should recuse herself from the prosecution.

Originally Posted by ltnt

Seattle riots last night...what's up bsnub? You're neighbors need some justice?

Every since I was a kid 40 years ago, in Seattle on May Day there would be incidences like this.

This year, they dressed in black. breaking windows, and throwing smoke bombs.

Originally Posted by Davis Knowlton

Originally Posted by CSFFan

Originally Posted by baldrick

is texpat a nigger or a cracker ?

He's worse...a Texan. I'm a cracker so I should know....

U sure? I read that Texpat stood for T(hai)expat.
I don't think he's even American. I suspect he's French.

I suspect he's from North Wales because of his dislike for "Brittles"

Baltimore Returning to Normal, Troops Withdrawing

WASHINGTON—
The city of Baltimore slowly returned to normal Monday after a citywide curfew ended Sunday after five nights, National Guard troops started to draw down and stores began to reopen.

Baltimore was in turmoil last week after the April 27 funeral for Freddie Gray, an 25-year-old African-American man who died last month while in police custody.

Baltimore Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake said Sunday she did not want to have the curfew in place longer than necessary. "My No. 1 priority in instituting a curfew was to ensure the public peace, safety, health and welfare of Baltimore citizens," she said.

Maryland Governor Larry Hogan said the state of emergency in Baltimore will be lifted once all the 4,000 soldiers and police brought in from other states have left the city.

More here: Baltimore Returning to Normal, Troops Withdrawing

Originally Posted by jamescollister

A bit fast off the blocks with charges, don't think the autopsy results are in yet.
So much for the race part of it, main murder charge, cop is black.

So want fast action, riot and loot and get your way.
Cops will probably get off, then time for more free shopping.

Does seem they reacted a tad fast to start, pressure from the riots I guess.
2 of the original arrest warrants were for the wrong people, not even cops, due diligence and proper investigation resulted in a housewife and a plumber, I think being charged.
If they can't get the names right, what sort of a case can they have.

Originally Posted by jamescollister

2 of the original arrest warrants were for the wrong people, not even cops, due diligence and proper investigation resulted in a housewife and a plumber, I think being charged.

First I've heard of it. Any links?

Here's one.
Freddie Gray arrest documents drawn up for wrong people - Baltimore Sun

Thanks. What a dumb screw up.

I doubt that will reflect on on the case itself.

Originally Posted by MrG

Thanks. What a dumb screw up.

I doubt that will reflect on on the case itself.

What case, charging people for not doing something, with murder or manslaughter is like you driving passed a car accident and being charged with murder because you didn't phone 999.
Cops didn't follow procedure and should have called for medics earlier, but if they didn't inflict the injuries and there appears to be no evidence they did.
How would you jump to 2nd degree murder, politics interfering in justice, that's not right.