Jacksonville NAACP Leader Claims Police Brutality

Local NAACP President Isaiah Rumlin has his arm in a sling and a sore shoulder, and he says the excessive force of a Jacksonville sheriff's officer is to blame. The civil rights leader says he was a victim of an abusive officer who wouldn't let him check on his insurance business after Thursday's tornado tore through Northwest Jacksonville. His business was located just inside the police perimeter. "He turned me around, slammed me. My face would've went right through this side window," explained Rumlin, pointing out where the alleged incident took place. "All I was doing was trying to get to my office." Rumlin's claims are now being investigated. [more ]

Salinas settles Police Brutality suit for $315,000

The city of Salinas has agreed to pay $315,000 to settle a lawsuit filed by a man who said he was beaten by a police officer during a traffic stop. A settlement agreement was signed Aug. 2 in the case of Eric Arro of Salinas, who said that on Jan. 30, 2003, former Salinas police officer Robert Reichert used excessive force with him during a traffic stop, leaving him with black eyes, scrapes on the nose and chin, and a knot on his head. "We disputed all allegations but given the highly charged nature of the case, that it was a complex case, and the fact that Mr. Arro would be entitled an award for his attorney's fees in the event he was awarded just a single dollar from the city, we thought it was the most cost effective way to go," Salinas City Attorney Richard Nosky said Monday. "There was no admission of wrongdoing (by the city)," Nosky said. [more ]

Hobbs police officer testifies in civil rights lawsuit

Rodney Porter, a Hobbs police officer accused of violating a man's rights testified he lied repeatedly to his supervisors in the mid-1990s about failing to file evidence in criminal cases as an officer in Midland, Texas. Porter was the first witness Monday in the federal court trial of a civil rights lawsuit filed by Jimmie Marshall, 58, an electrician now living in Ruidoso, against Porter, Hobbs police Sgt. Walter Royce and former Chief Tony Knott. The lawsuit alleges Porter violated Marshall's rights to equal protection and to be free from unreasonable search and seizure in a December 1996 arrest. Marshall, who is black, contends the traffic stop was racially based. Marshall contends Porter stopped him without just cause, accused him of being on crack cocaine and obtained a blood sample without his consent after Marshall passed a breath test. [more ]

El Paso Settles Police Shooting - Latino Man with Mental Problems Gunned Down

The city of El Paso settles a lawsuit with the family of a man killed by a police Officer. Juan "Johnny" Gomez's suffered from schizophrenia and on May 1, 2003 a confrontation with a police officer turned deadly. A year after his death his family is receiving $250,000.00 from the City of El Paso, the official employer of Police Sgt. Bolick. Juan "Johnny" Gomez was shot seven times after he apparently threatening the officer's life. On Monday, Mayor Joe Wardy explained the recent actions have prompted the city to "aggessively" train the police department in handling situations with people mental disorders. [more ]

Beating incident solidifies Chinese view of ugly America

Last month Zhao Yan, a 37-year-old Chinese businesswoman, was beaten and doused with pepper spray by a homeland security inspector while on a tourist visit to Niagara Falls. The inspector later said he thought she was part of a drug deal and that she resisted arrest. What has followed in the wake of the assault is significant for further revealing the troubling disconnect between Chinese and American societies. In China, the state-controlled media bombarded the public for days with indignant reports decrying U.S. hypocrisy on human rights and the prevalence of racism in American society. Rounding out this coverage were sensational depictions of America as a police state in the aftermath of Sept. 11. Here in the United States, coverage of the incident has been practically non-existent. Most media outlets have ignored the event. [more]

Elder refuses to let son's death go: Killed by prison guard in 1988

For over a decade-and-a-half an Indian elder has been fighting to get justice for his dead son, killed in a California prison under circumstances that remain cloudy to this day. The crusade has attracted the attention of a documentary filmmaker who hopes to produce a feature on the controversial case. " I have been living with this for sixteen years," Tony Nieto, 72, repeatedly states in an interview with the Native American Times. What he has been living with is the shooting death of his son, Anthony "Angry Bear" Nieto, on June 2, 1988, in Folsom State Prison. Initially, the California Department of Corrections said a prison guard, Moises Guerrero, gunned Angry Bear down to stop him from stabbing another inmate to death. They also claimed that Guerrero issued a warning before opening fire. Tony Nieto never believed it. He maintains the shooting was racially motivated. [more ]

Lawsuit: Officers Abuse Police Brutality Activist and his spouse

A former Bernalillo County sheriff's sergeant is the target of a lawsuit that seeks damages for the "tortuous" damages it says she wreaked on the family of a police watchdog activist. The lawsuit, filed this week in state District Court, names Natalie Jasler as the sergeant who falsely arrested Gilbert Elizondo at his South Valley home, striking and handcuffing him and violently mistreating his wife, Margaret Nieto. Jasler allegedly slapped and kicked them and kneed him in the groin several times while he was handcuffed and other deputies held him. In an interview last month, Elizondo said he continues to suffer physical pain in his back, shoulders and head and has difficulty sleeping at night. Elizondo was then arrested on a charge of aggravated assault on a peace officer. Jasler accused him of slamming her into a wall and injuring her shoulder. The charges were dropped moments before Elizondo was to go to trial last month because of last-minute "discovery issues" involving police reports. [more

Board suggests penalty for Oakland Cop

An Oakland police officer should receive a four-day suspension for hitting a man and breaking his jaw in three places, according to the Citizens Police Review Board. After a four-hour hearing Thursday night, the board voted to sustain 26-year-old Donte Hooker's allegation that Officer Anthony Caldwell punched him after chasing him up two flights of stairs in an East Oakland apartment complex. Although Caldwell said Hooker ran from him, Hooker said he did not realize Caldwell was chasing him. Hooker said he had both hands up and was surrendering when Caldwell struck him. [more ]

Mexico protests US border agents' pepper weapons

Mexican opposition legislators are up in arms over the US Border Patrol's use of weapons firing plastic bullets filled with pepper powder against Mexican migrants as they cross the border illegally. Although the nonlethal weapons have been used sporadically for at least two years, the issue was thrust into the spotlight with a recent video shown on Mexican television of agents in battle dress firing paint ball game-style rifles loaded with florescent plastic pepper pellets at targets. "We will not permit these kinds of acts that violate human rights," Sadot Sanchez, who heads the Senate's human rights commission and is a member of PRI, the opposition Institutional Revolutionary Party, said Wednesday. Last week, Zacatecas state Governor Ricardo Monreal fired off a telegram to President George Bush, describing the use of the weapon as "xenophobic and racist" and "reminiscent of the Kristallnacht [purges] in Nazi Germany."
[more ]

Felony Charges Filed Against Man Seen In Taped LA Police Beating.

• Stanley Miller Charged With Evading Officers, Auto Theft

Prosecutors on Friday filed charges of auto theft and evading an officer against a man who was struck repeatedly with a flashlight during a videotaped arrest after an auto pursuit and foot chase. Stanley Howard Miller, 36, has been imprisoned on a parole violation since the June 23 arrest and his arraignment on the new charges will await a hearing on the parole matter, the district attorney's office said. The complaint asks for bail to be set at $150,000. If convicted, Miller could be sentenced to five years and eight months in prison. Miller, convicted twice previously for car theft and burglary, led police on a half-hour auto chase after they spotted him running a stop sign in a car that was reported stolen, authorities said. News helicopters videotaped the chase, which ended with Miller jumping out of the car and running along a flood control channel and then appearing to surrender to an officer who forced him to the ground. Miller was then swarmed by other officers, including Officer John J. Hatfield was seen striking him 11 times with a metal flashlight. [more ]

• Reporter Betty Pleasant (LA Wave) maintains that the beating was longer and even more viscious than what is shown on the tape. She claims to have an unedited version that continues for an additional 8 minutes. [more ]

Birmingham Suit settled in 2000 police shooting death of Black Man.

A wrongful death lawsuit stemming from the November 2000 police shooting death of Larry Reddick has been settled for $100,000, federal court records show. U.S. District Judge R. David Proctor issued an order Aug. 2 officially dismissing the suit filed on behalf of Reddick's estate. The suit claimed Montgomery wrongfully used unnecessary deadly force while attempting to arrest Reddick for public intoxication. Montgomery shot Reddick following a traffic stop and later struggle in front of a Woodlawn apartment. State and federal officials ruled the shooting justified. Montgomery, who sustained injuries requiring stitches, told investigators that Reddick took his nightstick, striking him on the head and came after him again with the nightstick when Montgomery fired shots. But McFerrin said Reddick's family and plaintiff witnesses said Reddick was unarmed, with his hands raised by his side, did not take the nightstick from the officer or strike with anything other than his fists. [more ]

San Jose police involved in another fatal shooting.

San Jose police shot to death a suspected shoplifter Thursday after he allegedly flashed a knife, the fourth fatal officer-involved shooting in the city this year. Police unsuccessfully tried to subdue the man with Taser stun guns before firing at him. The man was declared dead at the scene. The man's name was not released but local media outlets identified him as 21-year-old Johnny Nakao, the son of a Santa Clara County sheriff's deputy. Police officers were called at 9:35 a.m. to come to a Radio Shack store after employees reported a man stole a portable CD player and camcorder battery and threw merchandise at the workers. The man was in the store when police arrived, but fled after an officer shot him with a stun gun. Officers chased the man into the street. He then turned toward them with a knife and approached the officers, police said. After another unsuccessful stun gun shot, two other officers shot and killed the man. [more ]

Ca. -Report Says Jailers Had a Role in Inmate's Death.

Jailers' use of excessive force contributed to the death of inmate Mondez Denmon, according to a report by the San Joaquin County coroner. The incident in which officers crowded into Denmon's cell to restrain the violent prisoner "dissolved into a chaotic situation," said Baxter Dunn. Denmon had been arrested in September. Officers were trying to take him to the maximum-security unit when he started resisting. Eventually 10 officers crowded into his cell, with one of them stomping on Denmon's back. He later died of traumatic asphyxiation. [more ]

Denver Mayor wants cop monitor.

Mayor John Hickenlooper on Wednesday unveiled a sweeping plan for civilian oversight of Denver police affairs, highlighted by adding an independent monitor to critique police investigations and discipline. The mayor also proposes to create a Citizen Oversight Board of volunteers to evaluate the monitor's work and suggest policy changes. The plan includes more teeth - such as allowing the monitor to conduct his or her own investigations in certain circumstances - than contemplated in Hickenlooper's earlier proposals. [more ]

Jury to get police brutality case today against Black Teenagers

The federal civil rights lawsuit against five white policemen and the city of St. Joseph by three black plaintiffs got smaller this week when a federal judge dismissed a claim against one policeman and dismissed other claims. The case was expected to go to the jury today. No longer a part of the suit is policeman Chris Mendus. Mendus and fellow officers Mark Boelcke, Lenny Rothrock, Richard Pulliam and Dale Easton were named in the suit, which is being heard in federal District Court for the Western District of Michigan. It was filed on behalf of three former St. Joseph teenagers, Devin Mitchell, Cody Mitchell and Preston Culpepper. They allege that the five policemen violated their 14th Amendment rights of equal protection under the law by practicing selective prosecution, false arrest and imprisonment. [more ]

Ashburn Police make arrests in mini riot in front of club.

On Wednesday , Ashburn Police arrested several people they say were involved in a mob fight that injured a half dozen officers. Witnesses say officers incited the violence but police say that's simply not true. Police have made  four arrests in what they describe as a brawl   with an angry mob. A mob  that threw bricks and glass bottles. It happened last week in front of the Traffic Light club in Ashburn, when law enforcement officials responded to reports of a fight. When it was over, six officers were injured. One was taken to the hospital. "We had car video cameras going and we were able to take those tapes and identify the suspects. At that point that was a crucial piece of evidence that allowed us to get warrants on these individuals," says Police Chief Ben Sumner. But while police worked to identify suspects, some citizens were busy pointing fingers. Witnesses blame officers for starting violence. But Chief Sumner says the video tapes say otherwise. [more ]

US border guard indicted for beating down Chinese businesswoman.

A US border guard was indicted by a federal grand jury Wednesday for allegedly beating up a Chinese businesswoman, in a case that was taken up at the highest diplomatic level between Beijing and Washington. Robert Rhodes, who was charged with violating the civil rights of 37-year-old Zhao Yan near Niagara Falls in July, could face up to 10 years in prison and a fine of 250,000 dollars if convicted. US Attorney Marty Littlefield said Rhodes would be arraigned in court at a date to be announced. According to the indictment, Rhodes struck and hit Zhao with his knee and then "forcibly drove her head into contact with the pavement." Zhao, from Tianjin city, had complained that she told the officers who stopped her that she had legal documents, including a passport and business visa, but they beat her anyway. Zhao is suing the United States for $5 million [more ] and [more ] and [more ]

Missing LAPD Beating Tape?

Missing Tape?
Last month reporter Betty Pleasant from the Los Angeles Wave Newspapers revealed that the video tape of the LAPD beating of Stanley Miller had been edited by KABC-TV. She claims that the police beating continued on tape for an additional 8 minutes after the edited TV version is cut off. Pleasant explained:

• 'after Mr. Miller is on the ground, subdued, kicked and hit 11 times by Officer Hatfield, most of the swarming cops get off him. But the prone, handcuffed man is inexplicably jumped on again, like a loose football, by seven of the eight officers present, and kicked again by another one. At this point, Mr. Reiff can be heard on the tape yelling, "This guy must be resisting, they're slapping the crap out of him!"
• Then, the cop that kicked him the second time hauls a visibly dazed Mr. Miller up from the ground, kicks his legs apart and pats him down, obviously looking for weapons. The officer completes the pat-down and retrieves nothing. The cop came away from the pat-down empty-handed. 
• In the meantime, Sgt. Angela McGee is standing behind and to the left of Mr. Miller and the kicking cop, busily counting and pocketing some dollar bills. She is preoccupied with the money in her hands and is not looking at what is happening with Mr. Miller nor at what the other officers are doing. If she had looked up, she would have seen her officers celebrating their capture with back pats, handshakes and high-fives. Reporter Reiff saw it and commented incredulously, "They're all high-fiving each other!" 
• At this point, a bald-headed sheriff's deputy walks into the picture and exchanges words with Sgt. McGee and another officer, while the kicking cop takes a wobbly Mr. Miller by his right arm and begins leading him back down the grassy strip to the patrol car. 
• During his lengthy walk to the car, a second officer takes Mr. Miller by his left shoulder and joins the kicking cop in propelling him down the grassy strip.'
  

The article has been published at least four more times since she originally wrote it. However, apparently no one besides KABC-TV, Pleasant and the people she has shown it to have seen the tape. She stated the Wave has "exclusive possession of the tape". At the end of her article, a Rev. Jarvis Johnson says "Now that we've seen the truth, what are we going to do about it?" Well for starters , how about letting others see what you've seen. Tell the world! The tape does no good on a shelf.

• The original "edited" KABC-TV version can be seen [here]
  
• The original article can be found [here]

FBI Probes Death of Nathaniel Jones

• Beaten to Death by Cincinnati Police
  

The FBI said Tuesday it is investigating whether any civil rights violations occurred in the death of a black man who was repeatedly struck by police with metal batons. The FBI will report the findings from its preliminary inquiry to the Department of Justice's civil rights division, which will decide whether a full investigation is justified, said Michael Brooks, a spokesman for the FBI's Cincinnati office. He refused to give further details. The Cincinnati chapter of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People called for a federal investigation months ago, alleging that police used excessive force Nov. 30 on Nathaniel Jones, 41, of Cincinnati. Video from restaurant surveillance cameras and a police cruiser showed that Jones knocked over one officer before others jabbed or struck him more than two dozen times with nightsticks. The 350-pound Jones stopped breathing shortly after he was handcuffed. Last week, a police watchdog agency concluded that officers used excessive force, saying they could have backed off and allowed Jones time to comply with their commands. The city manager will decide whether the officers should be disciplined. [more]

• A big question in the Jones death involves a 97-second gap near the beginning of the tape. Before the gap, the police can be seen talking to Jones; afterward, he charges at them. Many black community leaders contend those missing seconds might have shown that police provoked the attack. [more]
• On Monday Court TV released what they call an "unedited version" of the video. However, this tape is simply longer than what had been previously been shown. The begining portion of the tape is still missing. See the tape here [more]