Source: Justin Sullivan / Getty There Will Be No Charges In Sacramento Police Shooting Of Stephon Clark Two Sacramento police officers will not face any criminal prosecution after shooting and killing an unarmed black man in his grandmother’s backyard last year, the Sacramento County district attorney announced on Saturday. For almost a year, community members and activists have been demanding some sort of police accountability for the death of 22-year-old Stephon Clark , who was killed last March by Officers Terrence Mercadal and Jared Robinet. The police had initially been dispatched to investigate a routine vandalism complaint and somehow, within 10 minutes of their arrival, Clark was dead. The shooting rightfully inspired waves of protests in Sacramento while Stephon’s death took on national significance amid the continuing discrimination by police in black neighborhoods and excessive use of force by those same police officers. “Was a crime committed? There’s no question that a human being died,” District Attorney Anne Marie Schubert said on Saturday in Sacramento. “But when we look at the facts and the law, and we follow our ethical responsibilities, the answer to that question is no. And as a result, we will not charge these officers.” According to Schubert, the officers had probable cause to stop and detain Clark. She also added that police officers are legally justified in using deadly force “if the officer honestly and reasonably believes” he is in danger of death or injury. “We must recognize that they are often forced to make split-second decisions,” she continued. “We must also recognize that they are under tense, uncertain and rapidly evolving circumstances.” At the time of the killing, officers fired their weapons a total of 20 times in Stephon Clark’s direction within seconds of him turning a blind corner. “Both officers believed that he was pointing a gun at them,” She said, adding that police video showed Stephon “advancing” on the officers. But Clark was later found to be unarmed with only his cellphone found under his body. An autopsy released by the Sacramento County Coroner’s Office in May found at least seven bullets had hit Mr. Clark.
Cops and Clippers is Back! February 21 marked the kick off for the community event titled Clippers and Cops. The community came out to talk face to face with members of the local police force in hopes of gaining understanding and clarity, while building a relationship between the two parties. The event was moderated by Reec Swiney of Hot 107.9 and Ty Dennis(APD ATF Agent) who is also the brainchild of the program. Ty Dennis (APD) & Reec (Hot 107.9) Topics included: What to do when you get pulled over What Does the community expect from the police Teen crime Police brutality and excessive force Gang policing and prevention One of the most interesting portions of the event was a tutorial on citizen etiquette when getting pulled over. You can see it at Cops and Clippers Facebook Page. Clippers and Cops is a traveling program and will be at a Barbershop near you soon! Tune in to Hot 107.9 for details.
Source: Via Event Planner KayCee Nwasike / Via Event Planner KayCee Nwasike Ever since Cardi B recently announced that she was divorcing her husband and father of her child, Offset has been doing the absolute most to get her back. He’s taken to social media to blame everyone else for the demise of his marriage, told the world how much he misses her and even recently made a video pleading her to come back and let him spend the holidays with his family. But on Saturday night, he took his public display of nonsense to an entirely new level. During her performance at Los Angeles’ Rolling Loud Festival, the Migos rapper decided to hijack Cardi B during her performance to ask for forgiveness. With a loud and tacky flower arrangement that read “TAKE ME BACK CARDI,” Offset told his wife, “I just want to tell you I’m sorry. You’re my best friend in the world. Whatever I got to do to show I love you, I’ll do.” “I just wanna tell you I’m sorry bruh,” he said. “And furthermore, I love you.” Sigh…who is he calling “bruh”? Thankfully, she let him have it backstage. #Offset offers his apology to #CardiB on stage! Are we here for it? Via: shadylipz/Instagram pic.twitter.com/Qs46Gz4xEE — BET (@BET) December 16, 2018 Wow, Offset really just interrupted Cardi's set to beg her to take him back. This is disgusting and embarrassing. I feel bad for her. pic.twitter.com/ThrVQtnlqU — I Luh God (@aVeryRichBish) December 16, 2018 While there are plenty of folks out there who may find this to be a romantic gesture, I am not here for any of this posturing bafoonery..at all. What Offset did was manipulative, toxic and downright abusive. Cardi B has made it clear that she no longer wants to be with this man, has “fallen out of love” with him and wants to move on with her life. For folks with common sense, this is understandable given that Offset has cheated on her multiple times during the course of their relationship. But Offset isn’t trying to hear that. He refuses to leave her alone and learn from his mistakes. So, he took it upon himself to steal her moment, which was monumental given that Cardi was the first female headliner in Rolling Loud’s 3-year-history. He decided that his needs trumped her feelings, personal space and spotlight. So he came to her job uninvited, ambushing and coercing her in front of thousands of people, thinking she would crumble under the pressure of not wanting to bruise a Black man’s ego in public and essentially take him back. If this isn’t the definition of toxic masculinity, I don’t know what is. Sadly, he didn’t do this all by himself. For the complicit folks at Rolling Loud who knew about this before hand—and even bragged about it on Twitter—and the people close to Cardi who were in on the stunt and didn’t tell her ahead of time, they all need their asses beat too. This did not have to happen in public. Be clear: My critique isn’t about me stanning. I’ve never been a Cardi B fan—I’m still confused at all her Grammy nominations and am often turned off by her online and in-person behavior , especially that NYFW nonsense with Nicki Minaj a few months back. Not to mention, her colorism and past homophobic and transphobic remarks. But what I do appreciate is her come-up story, her resilience and watching her grow as a woman, a rapper and a mother. I want Cardi to be happy, successful and revel in the fact that she knows her worth. But perhaps, that’s the problem. Perhaps that’s why philandering goons like T.I. , The Game , Kirk Frost and 50 Cent continue to berate the 26-year-old for “breaking up her family,” while downplaying the severity that having sex with other women can have on a marriage. Could you imagine if Cardi B would have cheated on Offset? These same “men” would never be fighting this hard for this relationship to work. But I digress. See, folks hate when Black women stick up for themselves, have standards and are empowered in their decisions. In addition, folks routinely shame Black women who refuse to allow their relationships to be solely based on pain, one-sided sacrifice, trauma and infidelity. It literally makes folks’ blood boil to see Black women unbossed, unbothered and happy on their own terms—just ask Ciara . In the end, if Cardi takes Offset back, that’s her own business and I promise not to judge. And while she has asked for folks to not “bash him,” it’s important that we continue to hold this man—and other Black men like him— accountable, an act that too often feels like a rarity instead of the norm. It’s also important that we listen to Black women and remind them that despite what the world may tell them, they are the experts of their own lives and know what’s best for them and their families. Finally, if anything, it’s important for us to use Offset’s behavior as a teachable moment to educate brothas on why this is unacceptable, what healthy relationships and boundaries actually look like, and why Black women are not garbage bags to dump your trashy trifling baggage into. We’re tired of carrying that load, and frankly, we’re entitled to so much better. RELATED NEWS: Offset Admits He Misses Cardi B, Black Twitter Reminds Him He’s The Reason Why She’s Gone After Announcing Her Split With Offset, Cardi B Finally Posts Pic Of Their Daughter’s Face ‘Y’all Won’: Black Twitter Roasts Offset For Accusing Folks Of Conspiring Against His Marriage [ione_media_gallery src=”https://hellobeautiful.com” id=”3020041″ overlay=”true”]
L egal Aid Society lawyers urged Staten Island’s district attorney to prosecute two New York City cops who appeared in body camera footage to plant drug evidence after a traffic stop of four Black men in February. However, the prosecutor and police officials have denied seeing what’s obvious to many in the video, and they won’t reassess the case in light of the officers’ record of targeting Black and Hispanic drivers. SEE ALSO: ‘I Lost Everything’: Innocent Man Cleared By DNA Evidence Is Fighting Back In a letter to District Attorney Michael E. McMahon , the legal advocacy group claimed that video evidence suggested that Officer Kyle Erickson planted a joint in Lasou Kuyateh ’s car after he and his partner Officer Elmer Pastran originally searched but found no drugs, SILive.com reported on Friday. NYPD body camera footage “revealed criminal acts and misconduct by NYPD officers planting false evidence, arresting an innocent person, making false sworn allegations and assisting in the prosecution of manufactured charges,” the letter stated. “We cannot condone illegal acts by police to bring false charges against members of our community.” NYPD pull over 4 black guys in BMW. Profiling. Can't find anything in car so PLANTS MARIJUANA. Kid spends 2 WEEKS IN JAIL before dismissed because of video evidence of planting. No charges to Criminal cop! https://t.co/PF2i4wOKA3 pic.twitter.com/05kIZWDCGd — Miss Rant (@InTheNewsRants) November 19, 2018 Erickson and Pastran pulled over the BMW that Kuyateh was driving with three other young Black men as passengers on Feb. 28. The reason given for the stop was that the vehicle turned without a signal and its windows were heavily tinted. The New York Times obtained footage of what happened next. The men admitted to smoking marijuana earlier but insisted there was none in the car. Pastran replied, “I don’t appreciate being lied to. I know there is weed in the car. I smell it.” Pastran and Erickson originally declared that they found nothing. However, Erickson’s camera turned off as the search continued. Shortly after, Kuyateh is heard yelling that Erickson put something in his car. Erickson said he found a joint on the car floor behind the driver’s seat, in the same area where Pastran already searched. The officer’s camera had suddenly turned back on right before discovering the marijuana cigarette. Kuyateh, who was 19 at the time, was arrested and spent two weeks in jail before making bail. A criminal court judge dismissed the charges in October during pre-trial hearings over the gap in the police body camera video. Police officials and the district attorney’s offices told SILive.com that they cleared the officers of wrongdoing after internal investigations. They will likely be unmoved by the Legal Aid Society’s findings that 80 percent of the drivers stopped by the two officers were either Black or Hispanic. About 54 percent of their marijuana arrests involved Black people while arresting just four white people for drugs. SEE ALSO: Police Kill Black Teen But Charge 16-Year-Old Girl With Murder For The Shooting 2 White Terrorists Charged With Hate Crime For Harassing Black Woman [ione_media_gallery src=”https://newsone.com” id=”3840380″ overlay=”true”]
Source: Facebook / facebook Facebook’s newest video calling device The Portal is here, and the social media giant is hoping users are over privacy concerns to buy it. The Portal and Portal Plus is a smart display device that could turn off potential users because it is always listening and always watching plus is connected to Facebook at all times. The smaller version of the Portal comes with a 10-inch 1280 x 800 display while the Portal Plus comes with a15-inch 1920 x 1080 pivoting display. Facebook’s goal with the introduction of both devices is to ” help you feel closer to the important people in your life and make video chats feel less like a call, and more like you’re actually in the same room.” Both models are powered by AI, Portal’s Smart Camera, and Smart Sound technology plus utilize voice control and Google’s smart assistant Alexa . You will be able to make video calls with friends on Facebook Messenger list and they the recipient of your calls don’t even need to have a Portal. Now for those who do still have security concerns, Facebook ensures they kept that issue in mind when making the Portal. You can disable the camera and microphone with the press of a single button, and if that isn’t enough for you, it comes with a small cover that will cover the camera’s lens. Facebook also states the device doesn’t listen to, view, or keep the contents of your Portal video calls. The Facebook Portal and Portal Plus are available now for pre-order in the US and can be purchased through either Facebook , Amazon and Best Buy, The smaller device will run you $199 while the larger Portal Plus $349. — Photo: Facebook
Source: Richard Cartwright / Getty On tonight’s episode of How to Get Away With Murder, we get handed the memo from Captain Obvious that the governor played Annalise. But let’s start from the beginning. The episode starts with a report about the investigation. In short, they claimed that while Nate Sr. was being transported to the next facility, one of the two escorting officers (30-something White women) tried to take a letter he was writing. Remember that atonement letter he was writing to the family of the man he killed? The letter he was writing because he was in a better, more peaceful place? So, yeah, one of the officers tried to take the letter, which agitated him to the point of trying to stab the officer with a pen. It all goes downhill from there and ends with the guards shooting him to death. There were no other witnesses to verify the officers’ accounts, security cameras at the psion were broken, and Nate Sr allegedly stopped taking his antipsychotic drugs prior to this incident, which caused his behavior so this is considered a justifiable homicide. So, we’re supposed to believe that a frail 71-year-old-man overpowered two 30-something prison guards? We all know this is a bald-faced lie and Annalise and Nate are not letting this go. The next step is getting Ron to seek an inquest, which he does. However, it’s not going to be easy, even with Annalise’s students on the job. They end up digging up dirt on at least one of the officers related to domestic violence to demonstrate hot temper. It’s a start, but the inquest is already looking like it’s not going to go well. As a result of the bad press and the inquest not going well, the governor wants to can the Fair Defense Project. Now do you see why we all believe issa setup? Plus, the governor would be committing career suicide by actually pardoning a violent offender. This becomes even clearer when both women get antagonistic toward each other. Annalise tells her she can’t wait to take her down. The gov then says she has more dirt on Annalise, it’s the adoption paperwork. But what adoption paperwork? Lordt. This is scandalous, but Annalise ain’t never scared and she will be preparing to fight the governor. The governor ain’t scared either, make no mistake about that. Back at the inquest, Annalise takes the stand. She gives a passionate plea for people to see that this is the usual okie doke where it’s a coverup. She even sites Emmett Till, The Central Park 5 and the Scottsboro Boys cases as examples of how the so-called justice system thrives on the myth that Black men just live to harm White women all day and must be locked up and/or killed. However, the jury isn’t moved enough and still finds that the homicide was justifiable so the case is discharged. In kind of good news, Annalise convinces her boss at Caplain and Gold to take her back. She plans to help him get rid of some misconduct charges in his file. He’s a hard sell but Annalise is determined to get back in so that she can use her pull (and some protection) at Caplain and Gold to get back at the governor. Then, Michaela stops by Gabriel’s apartment right quick and he comes out shirtless looking all good and invites himself to the wedding with her as his date. Then he starts talking all that yang about how gorgeous she is and how he admires her, etc. Mind you, he has literally been stalking her online this entire season. Michaela tries to resist because there’s a tiny piece of her that still values her situationship with Asher but she can’t and they end up making out. It’s also important to note that Asher is listening to this entire situation from his apartment on the other side of the wall. Frank and Laurel are also watching this (because Frank has Gabe’s place bugged) and Laurel says that Gabriel is playing them so he needs to tell Annalise who he is already. Then Bonnie pops in on this conversation and is like, “Tell her what?” The episode concludes at the wedding again. We see Bonnie kneeling over what is clearly a man’s body. We don’t see his face but he’s wearing a tux. She steps away from him toward someone else who seems to be in and out of consciousness (we pick up this person’s point of view as viewers, but still don’t know who it is). Bonnie tells that unseen person to take his car and “him,” and drive away, and she’ll figure everything out later. There’s only one episode left until the fall finale! Who died? Who is Gabriel and what does he want! The suspense is ridiculous! RELATED POSTS ‘HTGAWM’ Recap: Annalise Gets Played By The Death We Didn’t See Coming ‘HTGAWM’ Recap: Annalise Pisses Off The Governor With Another Major Win
A driver struck and injured three people on Wednesday during a march in St. Louis, Missouri to honor a transgender woman killed by the police, the New York Daily News reports. Two St. Louis police officers fatally shot Kiwi Herring on Tuesday after the trans woman wounded one of the officers with a knife, according to the police report. But Herring’s family disputes that account. The media continues to misgender #KiwiHerring . The police killed a woman today. A black woman. #SayHerName pic.twitter.com/hPEaOQNWeb — Kayla Reed (@iKaylaReed) August 22, 2017 The newspaper said about 100 people participated in a candlelight vigil for Herring before the march. That’s when the driver of a black Mercedes hit several marchers. Two women and a man sustained minor injuries. Candlelight vigil for #KiwiHerring at the Transgender Memorial Garden in #StL . pic.twitter.com/pDgGmBMxuC — Heather ♿ (@MissJupiter1957) August 24, 2017 According to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch , the police and a witness had two different versions of the incident. The witness, Keith Rose , told The Post-Dispatch that the driver flipped a middle finger and then drove through the crowd. Car drives through crowd at vigil for Kiwi Herring, trans woman killed by police: A car… https://t.co/wFmGi9VA1d — DJ KNS (@wnuvradio) August 24, 2017 But according to the police, the driver stopped and blew the horn before trying to drive around the demonstrators. That’s when several of them jumped on the car, kicked it and struck it with a flagpole. Police arrested the driver one block away for felony fleeing, the Daily News reported. The marchers were honoring a trans woman who was a victim of constant homophobic harassment from a neighbor, Herring’s sister-in-law Crevonda Nance stated, according to the Huffington Post . Nance said the harassment reached a boiling point on Tuesday morning. Acting St. Louis Police Chief Larry O’Toole said Herring, 30, “severely cut” the neighbor and “slashed” one of the responding officers on the arm with a kitchen knife. Both officers opened fire, killing Herring. O’Toole added that it’s unclear if the officers, who are now on administrative leave, tried to use nonlethal tools before firing their weapons. “Kiwi was harassed and executed, and it’s a horrible feeling,” Nance said, summing up the situation, according to The Post. SOURCE: New York Daily News , St. Louis Post-Dispatch , Huffington Post SEE ALSO: Brother-To-Brother: We Need To Change How We Talk About Trans Women Man Gets 49-Year Sentence In First Federal Transgender Hate Crimes Conviction [ione_media_gallery src=”https://newsone.com” id=”3438555″ overlay=”true”]
DeKalb County Sheriff Jeffrey Mann was arrested Saturday night on charges of indecency and obstruction, after police found Mann in Piedmont Park allegedly committing lewd acts in the park. According to police, when officers became aware of Mann he began exposing himself and making inappropriate motions. When they tried to approach Mann, the officers said he ran across […]
Louisiana Cop Guilty Of Manslaughter In Jeremy Mardis Shooting Death Back in 2015 we reported on the police-involved killing of a 6-year-old autistic boy named Jeremy Mardis . 18 bullets were fired and Jeremy was shot 5 times, including twice in the head and chest, by Louisiana cops when they tried to serve his father a warrant. The NYPost is reporting that Derrick Stafford, one of the trigger-happy officers who killed Jeremy , has been found guilty of manslaughter and attempted manslaughter. A dashcam video showed that Jeremy’s father had his hands raised in the air when the officers began unloading. Stafford said he was unaware that a child was in the vehicle. Stafford cried when a prosecutor showed him photographs of the slain first-grader. He said he didn’t know the boy was in the car when he fired and didn’t see his father’s hands in the air. “Never in a million years would I have fired my weapon if I knew a child was in that car. I would have called off the pursuit myself,” Stafford said. Of course this cop didn’t knowingly murder a special needs child, but that child is dead nonetheless and the cop is supposed to be equipped with training and the highest standard of judgement. Sad. R.I.P. Jeremy Mardis. Image via Facebook/AP
