Land Of The Flea

Mob Violence and Mistaken Identity

"The mob that beat Professor Singh called him 'Osama' and accused him of being a terrorist. This kind of thing is hardly uncommon: Since 9/11, scores of Sikhs have been beaten or abused – or murdered -- by people mistakenly believing them to be Arab terrorists. Commercial trucker Jageet Singh was the victim of an even worse variety of mob violence in Mississippi. When he suffered a flat tire last January, police officers who arrived on the scene accused him of being a terrorist, made derogatory remarks about his religion, forced him to circle his truck with his hands on his head while the vehicle was searched, and then arrested him for supposedly refusing to obey an officer." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingMob Violence and Mistaken Identity

Neighborhood secession creeps into Scarborough property tax dispute

"More than a month after appeals began on 44 property tax assessments from 2012 at Higgins Beach and Pine Point, continued arguments consumed five hours Monday night. While hearings continue, appellant Don Petrin of River Sands Drive has hinted the appeal effort will spread beyond Town Hall and the courts, to a secession movement in the waterfront neighborhoods hardest hit by the revaluations. 'I’m not leading that effort, however I will, like many, support that effort,' Petrin said. 'Legal advice was solicited and received as to the steps involved, however I have not seen the required petition as yet.'" Continue reading →

Continue ReadingNeighborhood secession creeps into Scarborough property tax dispute

Neighbor Gets Tased While Cops Investigate Suicide Attempt

"The Blondins got within about 37 feet of the scene, heard Jack moaning and saw him pinned on the ground. Donald Blondin said, 'What are you doing to Jack?' and faced a barrage of orders to get back. When he didn’t move, or didn’t move enough, Sgt. Jeff Shelton rushed him with Taser drawn. A witness said that Blondin seemed to be 'frozen with fear.' Shelton warned Blondin that he was about to be Tased, but fired before he finished saying it, according to the ruling. The lower court threw out the Blondins’ lawsuit, saying the officer was 'immune' from suit in these circumstances." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingNeighbor Gets Tased While Cops Investigate Suicide Attempt

Cop assaults camerawoman after being caught soliciting a bribe

"He was supposed to protect and serve. Instead, a DeKalb County police officer has resigned in disgrace after admitting he solicited a bribe and became violent after he noticed someone shooting video of the transaction. Brown can be seen in the video rushing over to the woman and knocking the phone to the ground. That sparked a confrontation between the Brown, Water and several of her friends. The next day, one of the women filed a complaint with the department’s Center Precinct. He cited car expenses, child support and low pay as reasons he solicited the bribe." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingCop assaults camerawoman after being caught soliciting a bribe

Family of man killed by Phoenix officer suing his former partner

"The family of a man shot and killed by a Phoenix police officer is suing the cop's former partner alleging he failed to stop the officer from using excessive force. During the trial, Chrisman's partner, Sergio Virgillo, testified for Rodriguez's family saying he saw no threat justifying the use of deadly force. But despite his testimony, Rodriguez's family is suing Virgillo. The suit claims, 'Officer Virgillo has an opportunity to intervene and stop Officer Chrisman from using excessive force against Daniel and failed to do so.' The family says Officer Virgillo knew that Chrisman was going to shoot Rodriguez sooner or later and he turned away to 'get out of the danger zone.'" Continue reading →

Continue ReadingFamily of man killed by Phoenix officer suing his former partner

Principal, sheriff’s deputy sued after arresting student having seizure

"A vice principal at an Upper Kanawha Valley high school and a sheriff’s deputy assigned to it are accused of falsely imprisoning and arresting a special education student. Andrew Johnson, vice principal at Riverside High School, and Cpl. Richard Lane are named as co-defendants in civil rights suit filed by Betsy Frame. In her suit, filed Sept. 10 in Kanawha Circuit Court, Frame, 41 and a Belle resident, alleges Johnson and Lane illegally detained and arrested her daughter nearly two years ago when they mistook her reaction to waking up from a seizure-induced nap as an act of aggression." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingPrincipal, sheriff’s deputy sued after arresting student having seizure

Officer convicted of assault after shooting and killing man and his dog

"Virgillo’s version of events had Chrisman barging into the trailer after Rodriguez had asked for a warrant, with Chrisman putting his weapon to Rodriguez’s head and responding that the gun served as his warrant. Rodriguez’s mother, Elvira Fernandez, took the witness stand when jurors were asked to determine whether Chrisman’s decision to point a gun at the head of Rodriguez caused emotional distress for Rodriguez’s family. Fernandez was moved to tears as she described her guilt over calling police that afternoon to report that her son had thrown something against the wall of their trailer and scared her, telling jurors that she thinks every day of her decision to call police." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingOfficer convicted of assault after shooting and killing man and his dog

Former deputy gets two weeks work-release for burglary

"A former Snohomish County sheriff's deputy convicted of burglary was sentenced Friday to two weeks on work release. A King County Superior Court judge granted James Hager a first-time offender waiver, allowing him to participate in work release. He faced up to three months in jail. A jury convicted Hager of second-degree burglary. He was accused of stealing a wood-burning stove, stove pipe and some cedar flooring from a vacation home in the Skykomish area. Hager was off-duty at the time. When the allegations surfaced in November he was placed on administrative leave. Hager was fired in January. He had been a deputy for six years." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingFormer deputy gets two weeks work-release for burglary

Former MNPD Officer Attempted Child Porn Framing Of Ex-Girlfriend

"A former Metropolitan Nashville Police officer was arrested after authorities said he used his resources as a cop to try to get his ex-girlfriend fired from her job. In April, authorities said McShepard sent an anonymous letter to the Commissioner of the Department of Children's Services making allegations of prostitution and pornography against a DCS employee. The letter contained confidential biographical information and provocative photos of the employee, who was McShepard's ex-girlfriend. An investigation proved those allegations were unfounded and that McShepard sent the information in attempt to cause her harm at work after they broke up." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingFormer MNPD Officer Attempted Child Porn Framing Of Ex-Girlfriend

Lawsuit settled accusing former police officer of stalking in uniform

"The city of Roseville has settled a lawsuit accusing a former police officer of stalking and harassing a married Roseville woman while he was on duty and in full uniform. The lawsuit, filed in July, accuses former Roseville police officer Tom Cabral of using his authority to stalk a woman he was sexually obsessed with. Court documents describe the story from the perspective of plaintiffs Victoria Guthrie and her husband Matthew Tullgren. They claim Cabral committed a series of major ethical violations while attempting to establish a sexual relationship with Guthrie. When she filed a complaint with the department, the couple said Roseville police officers ransacked their apartment." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingLawsuit settled accusing former police officer of stalking in uniform