Baltimore Burning and Officers Injured

[seer]

If they come back and say that the officers were not at fault this city will burn.

[Mountain Man]

If they come back and say that the officers were not at fault this city will burn.

So, business as usual then?

[Sparko]

So, business as usual then?

I just hope that the "Looting for Justice" message gets through in time. Nothing says "police brutality must stop" like stealing a 60-inch TV and surround sound system for your ghetto crib.

[Paprika]

Valerie Richardson note in the Washington Times that FBI data on police killings are limited and data is not required to be submitted. If there are areas where people feel there is more police discrimination or more killers on the basis of race, people could band together for a change in policy to investigate this and better address needs in the communities.

Source: http://www.npr.org/2015/04/29/402971487/residents-disappointed-at-how-rioters-tore-up-baltimore

I was about to call Freddie Gray's death the latest in a string of high-profile deaths of African-American men involving police. But that's not quite right. And that's the point. Each incident of the past year was a particular story in a particular place, which became clear as soon as we arrived in the very particular place that is Baltimore.

Nothing about this story was quite the way it seemed from a distance. For one thing, the uprising did not bring a black populace into confrontation with an overwhelmingly white police force, as happened in Ferguson, Mo., last year.

Baltimore, a majority black city, has a black mayor and a black police commissioner whose force is about half black.

© Copyright Original Source

[Cow Poke]

And supposedly the officers are insisting that they look at the vehicle's GPS track, which would show speed, direction, etc. Perhaps this is why Baltimore officials are trying to play down the release of information.

Now, of course, there's supposedly private video of the police van making a stop that was previously undisclosed. The Mayor's Office won't say anything about it except "we've turned this over to State investigators".

I keep forgetting that Baltimore has a Police Union which adds a whole 'nuther layer of "interests", because in all my associations with police departments, I have never had to deal with Police Unions.

It's going to be difficult to get the "simple truth" out there.

[Cow Poke]

Having watched the Mayor's press conference earlier today, it seemed --- weird.... she was reminiscing about her own education and career path, and sounded more like a little girl living a fairy tale than a chief executive of a major city. She seemed to be emphasizing the fact that she has lots of hours sitting in classrooms, but precious little executive experience. Then, to stand back and let Al Sharpton appear to be in charge ---- she is in WAY over her head.

[One Bad Pig]

Having watched the Mayor's press conference earlier today, it seemed --- weird.... she was reminiscing about her own education and career path, and sounded more like a little girl living a fairy tale than a chief executive of a major city. She seemed to be emphasizing the fact that she has lots of hours sitting in classrooms, but precious little executive experience. Then, to stand back and let Al Sharpton appear to be in charge ---- she is in WAY over her head.

In some fairness, mayors tend not to have much executive experience unless they've been at it a while, and Al Sharpton is very experienced at appearing to be in charge.

[Cow Poke]

In some fairness, mayors tend not to have much executive experience unless they've been at it a while,

I can see that for mayor of Mayberry or Podunk Hollow, but this is a major US city. But, yeah.

and Al Sharpton is very experienced at appearing to be in charge.

Even Jaun Williams was bemoaning the fact that she just appeared to relinquish control to Al, but, AGAIN, yeah....

[Cow Poke]

So... the six officers are going to be charged with homicide?

[seer]

So... the six officers are going to be charged with homicide?

No, but some with second degree murder. But why? How was Gray actually hurt? Did the cops beat him, or was he thrown back into the door by a rough ride? A big point seems to be that they did not belt him in - which was a new requirement. If he was hurt by a rough ride I don't see how the get to murder in the second degree.

[DesertBerean]

My guess is the fact it happened in their custody and they didn't take due care to avoid injury...and in the end, the charges may get reduced anyway.

[Cow Poke]

My guess is the fact it happened in their custody and they didn't take due care to avoid injury...and in the end, the charges may get reduced anyway.

Yeah, like negligent homicide. I suspect, though, that that won't be "enough justice" for the rioters. It's a travesty that our justice system can be blackmailed by threat of violence to produce certain outcomes.

[Epoetker]

Having watched the Mayor's press conference earlier today, it seemed --- weird.... she was reminiscing about her own education and career path, and sounded more like a little girl living a fairy tale than a chief executive of a major city. She seemed to be emphasizing the fact that she has lots of hours sitting in classrooms, but precious little executive experience. Then, to stand back and let Al Sharpton appear to be in charge ---- she is in WAY over her head.

I am shocked, shocked that a woman with a hyphenated last name is occupying a salaried position of authority in a declining city with no clue or experience of what to do during an actual life-and-death crisis.

But seriously, she's been following the liberal playbook to the letter: rioters are misunderstood, police are evil, and all handling of those riots are national issues and should be turned over to the high-powered people who take care of that sort of thing: Sharpton, Crump, etc.

Also, your posts seem to indicate that you've been reading a certain unacceptable duck's tweets. Do be careful about getting dinged for racism, comrade!

[Yttrium]

If he was hurt by a rough ride I don't see how the get to murder in the second degree.

I assume it's because they didn't get him medical attention promptly, despite stopping the van several times and seeing his deteriorating condition. They ignored his pleas for help. Only the driver was charged with second degree murder. Second degree murder might be a bit of a stretch, but they backed it up with manslaughter charges. I'd expect at least one of the manslaughter charges to stick.

[Yttrium]

The charges (as listed by CNN):


Officer Garrett E. Miller

1) Assault/second degree
2) Assault/second degree
3) Misconduct in office
4) Misconduct in office
5) False imprisonment


Sgt. Alicia D. White

1) Manslaughter (involuntary)
2) Assault/second degree
3) Misconduct in office


Officer Caesar R. Goodson Jr. (the driver)

1) Second degree depraved heart murder
2) Manslaughter (involuntary)
3) Assault/second degree
4) Manslaughter by vehicle (gross negligence)
5) Manslaughter by vehicle (criminal negligence)
6) Misconduct in office


Officer William G. Porter

1) Manslaughter (involuntary)
2) Assault/second degree
3) Misconduct in office


Lt. Brian W. Rice

1) Manslaughter (involuntary)
2) Assault/second degree
3) Assault/second degree
4) Misconduct in office
5) Misconduct in office
6) False imprisonment


Officer Edward M. Nero

1) Assault/second degree
2) Assault/second degree
3) Misconduct in office
4) Misconduct in office
5) False imprisonment