Questions Remain in Shooting of Jaques Howard: Witness says Dallas Police Shot him in the Back

A Dallas police officer is on administrative leave, after shooting and killing a suspect. A Dallas family and some witnesses in a southeast Dallas neighborhood have a lot of questions for officials at Dallas police headquarters. Family members say they don't believe an officers claim that he was, 'defending his life.' A father is mourning and a grandmother is left in tears after the officer involved shooting death of 20-year-old Jaques Howard. "They shot at him ten times, and five of the bullets hit him," explained Howard's brother, Eric Johnson. Shortly after midnight Friday morning, two officers in a patrol unit stopped a red Mercury Grand Marquis, at Bonnie View and Highland Hills Roads, because it had no front license plate. "According to the officers testimony is that, the suspect was pointing a gun at him," Dallas Police Sgt. Gil Cerda told CBS 11 News. "At that point the officer responded by shooting toward the suspect." Police say Howard, who was the passenger in the car, bailed out and ran to jump a nearby fence. During the process officers noticed he had a gun. One officer opened fire -10 rounds were spent. Howard later died from his injuries at Baylor Hospital. Witnesses, who didn't want CBS 11 News to identify them, say the number of shots fired was excessive. "He was on top of the gate when they started shooting," one person said. Johnson stated plainly, "That's like cold blooded murder." Police say they don't know why Howard ran, because he had no significant criminal history and no outstanding warrants or fines. The officer who shot Howard is on a routine paid administrative leave, while the shooting investigation continues. [MORE]

MD. Court Upholds Police Brutality Verdict: Baltimore Police Beat Handcuffed Black Man & Delayed Medical Help

BALTIMORE -- The state's Court of Special Appeals upheld a multimillion dollar police brutality verdict against a Baltimore city police officer. In 2003, Albert Mosley filed a lawsuit claiming that an officer in the city's western district threw him head-first into a concrete wall while he was handcuffed in a holding cell. The Court found that the officer went into the cell, picked up Mr. Mosley in a bear hug and threw him face first at the concrete wall of the cell. It also found that Mosley was left lying on the floor for at least 45 minutes until an ambulance arrived. He is now paralyzed and confined to a wheelchair, officials said. Mosley now needs around-the-clock care and, although he has regained some use of his arms, he has no use of his left leg and minor use of his right leg, the suit states. He said "I can do nothing for myself." His attorney, William "Billy" Murphy Jr., stated the city's refusal to pay thus far has prevented Albert from getting the quality care that he needs and deserves. Now that the Court of Special Appeals has denied the city's latest attempt to avoid liability, it is time for the city to step up and pay Albert for the life altering injuries that its officers caused." A jury originally awarded Mosley more than $44 million, but the verdict was reduced to $19 million. [MORE] and [MORE]

Waiting for Justice in the Sean Bell Case: Verdict to be Rendered April 25

 

The waiting game begins in the Sean Bell case. The post-trial, pre-verdict analysis has begun, and the lines are drawn. Urban soothsayers have their predictions and critics have their opinions. Certain facts remain, no matter who tells it: 23-year-old Sean Bell is dead.The father of two young girls was shot dead in a hail of 50 police bullets in an unprovoked attack on his wedding day. But, seemingly lost was this fact during the vitriolic summation of defense attorneys on Monday.Representing two Black cops and a white cop, respectively, the two Black attorneys, Anthony Ricco and Paul Martin, and James Culleton determined that sad and tragic was the death of the unarmed Queens man, but the New York City cops were just doing their jobs. The prosecutors contend that the November 25 killing and maiming that inspired the 50,000-plus march down 5th Avenue during Christmas 2006 was at least manslaughter and beyond reckless. An enraged and police-brutality-case-weary community called it “murder.”[MORE]

Ohio State Trooper Involved in KKK "Prank" had History of Racial Incidents - Still has Job

One of the Ohio State Highway Patrol troopers involved in a KKK prank said he is not a racist, but admitted he was "counseled previously for racial gestures or slurs." Trooper Eric E. Wlodarsky admitted he snapped a photo of Trooper Craig T. Franklin, who was wearing KKK-like garb, while both were on duty at the Sandusky post Jan. 20 -- just one day before Martin Luther King Day. Wlodarsky then forwarded the photo, which he took with a cell phone camera, to Sgt. Jason P. Demuth. Wlodarsky and Franklin were both recommended for termination by Henry Guzman, the state's director of public safety, but remain on the job because of a collective bargaining agreement. Franklin received a five-day unpaid suspension and was ordered to seek diversity awareness training. Demuth was suspended for one day. Wlodarsky estimated the pay cut will cost him about $12,000 a year. Wlodarsky's counseling stemmed from an administrative investigation conducted by the patrol last summer after another trooper made several allegations about the patrol.

The trooper claimed that in November 2006 Wlodarsky failed to respond for back-up on a traffic stop of a car carrying a group of black males -- and instead went to deliver Cleveland Browns tickets to an off-duty trooper. The trooper said that when he phoned Wlodarsky to ask why he did not respond, Wlodarsky told him: "We can't send an officer to back up another every time we stop a carload of niggers. What would the motoring public think?" Wlodarsky made a similar comment to a dispatcher, but did not use the n-word, the dispatcher said. During an administrative investigation in July 2007, Wlodarsky admitted making the comment to a dispatcher, but said he did not use the n-word. "He said used the word 'blacks' and is very conscious to use not to use the other word, although he does say it. [MORE]

Reporter Sues LAPD Over Injuries Suffered At Immigration Rally

LOS ANGELES (AP) ― A Los Angeles television reporter has sued the city and LAPD, claiming officers struck her with batons and knocked her to the ground during an immigration rally last year.  KTTV reporter Christina Gonzalez claims that police used excessive force during the May 1 rally in MacArthur Park, even though she was wearing press credentials and was accompanied by a camerawoman.  The lawsuit says Gonzalez suffered injuries to her body, "shock to her nervous system" and "severe emotional distress."  She also claims police targeted her because she is Hispanic and a member of the news media. The suit seeks punitive damages.  Gonzalez's colleague, camerawoman Patti Ballaz, filed a similar lawsuit in September. [MORE]

Frank Jude Found Guilty of Battery

OSHKOSH, Wis. (AP) - The victim in a Milwaukee police beating case that led to convictions of 7 officers has been found guilty of battery for beating his wife.

The jury in Winnebago County Circuit Court convicted 29-year-old Frank Jude, Junior, today in the incident last September after his wife, Maria, testified of being beaten and begging for mercy.

Their 7-year-old son also testified, saying his dad was beating up his mom, and he brought her a knife to defend herself. She told the jury she pushed the knife away and didn't use it.

But Jude testified she attacked him with the knife and he only tried to grab her and restrain her.

After the verdict, Jude's sentencing was scheduled May 28th. Jude's probation from a previous conviction had been revoked after his arrest and he was returned to prison.

In October 2004, Jude was severely beaten in Milwaukee as he and three friends left a home where off-duty police officers were having a party. Three former officers were convicted on federal charges in the beating last July, and four others pleaded guilty to federal charges in the case. [MORE]

Latino Family Awarded $4.5 Million in Bell Gardens Police Beating Case

BELL GARDENS - Two members of a Bell Gardens family who said police beat them at a Halloween costume party in 2005 have been awarded a $4.5 million civil rights judgment, their attorneys said in remarks published today.

Gerardo Cazares, 30, and his father-in-law, Manuel Moreno, 46, had alleged that Bell Gardens officers who responded to a complaint of loud music at the party beat them without provocation, shot them with pepper spray and fired a beanbag gun at such close range that the older man was left with a permanent chest scar, the Los Angeles Times reported.

"Mr. Cazares was repeatedly kicked, punched, hit with batons and then shot in the back with a beanbag gun," attorney Glen T. Jonas told The Times. "Mr. Moreno comes outside ... they grabbed his arms like a crucifixion and shot him in the chest with the beanbag gun. He drops to the ground thinking he has been really executed. Then he realizes he is alive because he is being beaten by batons."

At the conclusion of a federal civil rights trial Friday, jurors ordered the Bell Gardens Police Department and five officers to pay the men $3.2 million in general damages and $1.3 million in punitive damages.

Neither Bell Gardens police officials nor attorneys on the case returned the newspaper's telephone calls seeking comment.

The incident occurred Oct. 30, 2005, as police tried to shut down a Halloween party in the 5700 block of Cecelia Street, according to Times. The city insisted that police officers acted appropriately and that the two men attacked officers. [MORE]

Judge rejects bid to stop lawsuit over Black Teen's Death: West Haven Officers Turned Police Dog on Tyson

A federal judge says three West Haven police officers should stand trial in a civil rights lawsuit filed by the family of a teenager who was struck and killed by a pickup truck on Interstate 95 while running from police.

The family of Gary "Chris" Tyson is accusing West Haven police of using excessive force, because officers unleashed a police dog that tracked and bit Tyson in September 2002 after he was involved in a fight. The dog repeatedly bit Chris Tyson before he bolted into rush-hour traffic.  Tyson was fleeing from the officer and the dog when he was hit by the truck. He was 18 years old. Black community leaders protested the death and blamed the white officers for causing the black youth's death.

U.S. District Judge Robert Chatigny (CHAT-nee) has rejected West Haven's request for summary judgment, a move that clears the way for the case to go before a jury. The teen's father Charles Tyson said, "I always felt that the police was lying." "Their story didn't make sense to us. We needed answers, and we weren't getting any." West Haven officials say they are reviewing the ruling and haven't decided yet whether to appeal. [MORE] and [MORE]

Puerto Rico Officer Convicted of Murder of Unarmed Man

A Puerto Rican police officer who killed an unarmed man in a shooting captured on videotape [HERE] was found guilty Friday of first-degree murder.

Javier Pagan Cruz, a 14-year police veteran, faces a maximum sentence of life in prison for the Aug. 11 shooting, which was widely broadcast on the Internet and local television. Sentencing was scheduled for April 15, judicial spokeswoman Valerie Mercado said.

The shooting occurred in the eastern coastal town of Humacao after the victim, Miguel Caceres Cruz, insulted an officer as police responded to a traffic jam.

During a scuffle that followed, Pagan's weapon went off and struck him in the leg. The video then shows Pagan wrestling Caceres to the floor and shooting him at least three times _ once in the head.

Two officers who witnessed the shooting have been charged as alleged accomplices and their cases are pending.

Pagan previously was accused of using excessive force in 2004. But the complaint was dropped after authorities decided he used appropriate means to subdue a motorcyclist resisting arrest. He also was suspended from the force for 60 days in 1999 because of domestic abuse. [MORE]

Trial Date is Set For Wrongful Death Suit of Latino Man Tasered to Death by Lubbock Police

 
A May 5th trial date is set for a federal wrongful death suit filed against the city and an LPD officer.

The family of Juan Nunez III is seeking unspecified damages for his death triggered by a tasing fired by officer Matt Doherty.

The medical examiner ruled two factors caused Nunez death: The amount of alcohol Nunez injested combined with a substantial blow to the head suffered when he fell.

The report notes the tasing was a contributor factor because it caused Nunez to fall.

Among the issues to be decided at trial, whether tasing Nunez four times within 40 seconds constitutes and excessive use of force. [MORE]

Officer Doherty claims he acted reasonably and according to his training.

The city denies liability asserting its police training and policy exceeds state standards for use of the weapon.