Animal Farm

Judge nixes ‘possum drop’ New Year’s party in North Carolina

"A popular New Year’s celebration that draws thousands of tourists to the tiny North Carolina town of Brasstown for a party that ends in a 'possum drop' may no longer be held there, a judge ruled. The 18-year tradition in the town of 240 consisted of lowering the animal to the ground at midnight in a see-through cage decked out in Christmas garlands, like the ball that is dropped in New York’s Times Square — except the possum is alive. The judge ruled that a sportsman’s license held by Clay Logan, who hosts the event, allowed him to take the animal from the wild, but not to possess and exhibit it." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingJudge nixes ‘possum drop’ New Year’s party in North Carolina

Video: Police shoot dog in Omaha

"Police were searching for an armed suspect when the Oct. 7 incident took place. They said Chris Schulte, who lives in the area and was walking with his dog, Teela, in the direction of the search area, refused their orders to stop. Schulte admitted 'I was just walking on,' but said the dog never behaved aggressively. Schulte was arrested and charged with obstructing police and resisting arrest." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingVideo: Police shoot dog in Omaha

Former police chief gets probation for multiple drug charges

"Fisher, 49, was handed a 10-year suspended sentence Oct. 22 and will have to report to a probation officer. He also will have to register with the Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs Control because he was caught with 20 grams of methamphetamine. Court documents show that Fisher — who was charged with multiple counts of possession of a controlled substance with intent to distribute — had all but one count against him dismissed." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingFormer police chief gets probation for multiple drug charges

The Carlos Miller Case: Jury Says ‘Not Guilty’

"Carlos Miller was arrested for filming the police. Resisting the pressure to accept a 'deal,' he risked more prison time simply by insisting on his right to a jury trial. According to Miller, the prosecutor told the jury that Miller did not behave like a 'real journalist' because a 'real journalist' would have obeyed all police requests and orders." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingThe Carlos Miller Case: Jury Says ‘Not Guilty’

Fayette man accuses police in Roane County of brutalizing him

"According to the Roane Magistrate Clerk’s Office, Fields on Dec. 29 was charged with false pretenses, conspiracy to commit a felony, obstructing an officer and fleeing on foot. Citing technical defects in the criminal complaint, Magistrate Jason D. Bennett dismissed the charges on March 30. As a result of his encounter with Williams, Bragg and Smith, who are named as co-defendants in the suit, Fields says he suffered a broken right orbital bone, nose, teeth, and injuries to his abdomen and genitals that has caused him, among other things, 'pain and suffering, mental and emotional anguish, humiliation and embarrassment.'" Continue reading →

Continue ReadingFayette man accuses police in Roane County of brutalizing him

Top 10 Cases of Police Brutality

"Power-hungry people who haven’t been given the chance to beat up other people before can sometimes be attracted to the profession. For every few good cops who save lives and go the extra mile, there’s a bad cop who the department turns a blind eye to. Thanks to better monitoring technology and an active online community of activists and civil rights defenders, police brutality is being exposed on a daily basis. Here are ten of the top incidents that hit the media." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingTop 10 Cases of Police Brutality

‘Creepy’ camera irks Platte City family

"Last Thursday he noticed the video camera mounted in a tree and trained on his daughter’s yard and windows. She and her father, Steve Nash, suspect the police wanted to catch him feeding cats that the city believes are feral, which they said has been an ongoing issue between him and the city. Nash said he earlier was charged with the city offense of feeding feral cats and was placed on probation. Nash said he addressed the Platte City Board of Aldermen recently, protesting what he called government bullying. A person in civilian clothes came and removed the camera without identifying himself." Continue reading →

Continue Reading‘Creepy’ camera irks Platte City family

Prosecutor wife suspected of evidence tampering for accused rapist husband

"Jennifer Grant, a supervising assistant city prosecutor in Seattle, has been been reassigned to duties that 'do not entail courtroom prosecutorial work' because she is suspected of tampering with evidence to protect her husband who is accused of the serial rape of immigrants at several massage parlors. Dan Grant faces seven charges for a series of rapes of Chinese women working as massage therapists, including four counts of first-degree rape, one count of second degree rape and one count of attempted second-degree rape. He also faces a charge for first-degree burglary." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingProsecutor wife suspected of evidence tampering for accused rapist husband

As Sanctions Hit Iran’s Most Vulnerable, the Man Who Dared to Feed Sanction-Starved Iraq Remains in Prison

"Dr. Dhafir was one of many Americans, Muslims and non-Muslims, who for 13 years had raised money for food and medicines for sick and starving Iraqis who were the victims of sanctions. He had asked US officials if this humanitarian aid was legal and was assured it was - until the early morning he was hauled out of his car by federal agents as he left for work. His front door was smashed down and his wife had guns pointed at her head. Today, he is serving 22 years in prison. No executive of the oil companies that did billions of dollars of illegal business with Saddam Hussein during the embargo has been prosecuted." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingAs Sanctions Hit Iran’s Most Vulnerable, the Man Who Dared to Feed Sanction-Starved Iraq Remains in Prison