What makes the video the source of ire for protesters is that after Brown’s death at the hands of Police Officer Darren Wilson, who was not charged in Brown’s death, police released surveillance footage from the Ferguson Market, allegedly showing Brown pushing one of the clerks—participating in what the police called a “strong-armed robbery”—and supposedly justifying the officer’s use of force against the unarmed teen.
REALLY?! Minnesota Cop Faces Misdemeanor For Punching 14-Year-Old Girl A St. Paul cop is on paid leave after he punched a 14-year-old girl TWICE in the face for spitting on him. A teen who was described as being upset, possibly suicidal and in need of psychiatric help, allegedly spat in the face of officer Michael Soucheray who then punched her and called her a “f*** b***.” The Washington Post reports: St. Paul Police Officer Michael Soucheray and his partner, Chris Rhoades, were sent to defuse the situation at Brittany’s Place, a shelter for girls on the east side of the Minnesota city in December. But the teenager “became agitated,” a criminal complaint says, and she gave officers and shelter staff the silent treatment. […] Then she cleared her throat and spat in Soucheray’s face, the complaint and the officer’s attorney say. Soucheray, a seven-year member of the police department, balled up his fist and punched the girl in the face, the complaint says. Then he did it again. He grabbed her by the jaw and called her “f—— b—-,” according to the complaint. On Monday, Soucheray was charged with fifth-degree assault, a misdemeanor that could land the officer in prison for 90 days. And the officer’s punch in the back of a patrol car has embroiled another Twin Cities police department in the heated national debate about police use of force. Soucheray is on paid administrative leave, as his police department conducts an internal investigation, according to his department’s Facebook page. Wow, only a misdemeanor? A rep for the officer says he was protecting himself from possible diseases when he punched the 14-year-old. Do YOU think the cop got the right punishment for assaulting a child?
Philando Castile Shooting Update The officer who fatally shot Philando Castile has been charged, but only with manslaughter. Jeronimo Yanez is facing second-degree manslaughter and two charges of dangerous discharge of a firearm. During the press conference where Yanez’charges were announced, Prosecutor John Choi noted that the officer and his partner pulled over Castile July 6 because he matched the description of a robbery suspect with a “wide-set nose.” He also added that “There simply was no objective threat posed to Officer Yanez.” The Star Tribune reports: Jeronimo Yanez faces three criminal charges for the killing of Philando Castile, Ramsey County Attorney John Choi announced Wednesday. Choi said it was his conclusion that “use of deadly force by Officer Yanez was not justified.” Yanez was charged Wednesday with second-degree manslaughter and two felony counts of dangerous discharge of a firearm. Before Yanez, no officer had been charged in more than 150 police-involved deaths in Minnesota since 2000. Yanez was summoned to make his first appearance in Ramsey County court at 1:30 Friday. Choi said the charges were filed following 19 weeks of investigation and a review of the dash cam footage and audio footage taken during the shooting. […] In explaining how Yanez’s actions did not meet the legal standard for justified use of deadly force, Choi said “it is not enough… to express subjective fear of death or great bodily harm.” Mind you Philando told Officer Yanez that he had a weapon and assured him that he was not reaching for it before he was shot 7 times. Well this is a start, but is a second-degree manslaughter charge really enough? Furthermore do YOU think it will stick???
Bill Murray is a national treasure. Honestly, I’m a little surprised it took him this long for them to give him the Mark Twain Prize for Comedy, but finally the Kennedy Center decided to honor this great man. While the ceremony should be all about him, did you see Emma Stone? Damn, she is one fine woman…. read more
We’re living in a scary moment in history. The relationship between police officers and the citizens they are meant to protect has never been worse. But perhaps the following story will serve as some kind of turning point. Or, at minimum, put a smile on your face. Around 3 a.m. on Sunday, Mark Ross discovered that his 15-year old younger sister, Eliza Fletcher, had been killed in a car crash. In a desperate panic, he enlisted the help of a friend to make the immediate drive from Ohio to Detroit in order to be with his grieving mother. According to Inside Edition, however, an officer pulled their car over for speeding at approximately 100 miles per hour. When the officer saw that the driver of the vehicle had his license was suspended and that Ross had an outstanding warrant, he subsequently towed their car. Ross was left stranded. Moreover, there was a good chance he was going to prison for the warrant. But then Ohio State Highway Patrol Sergeant David Robison showed up on the scene… and things started looking up. In a lengthy post on Facebook, Ross said he explained how Robison responded once he learned exactly what was going on. Here is what Ross wrote, as pictured above: At 3am I got a phone call stating that my sister had been killed in a car accident due to some young dumb punk! I haven’t slept and instantly got on the road. Of course we were speeding, trying to get back to Detroit. And we got pulled over in Ohio. I knew I was going to Jail due to a petty warrant. The police called Wayne county and they refused to come get me because of the distance. I explained to the officer that my sister had died and that I needed to get to my mother asap. I broke down crying and he saw the sincerity in my cry. He REACHES OVER AND BEGAN PRAYING OVER ME AND MY FAMILY. He offered to bring me 100 miles further to Detroit because they towed the vehicle. Everybody knows how much I dislike Cops but I am truly Greatful for this Guy. He gave me hope. This story is giving us all hope. The Facebook post above has been shared over 103,000 times at last check. Inside Edition even says the officer who drove Ross all the way to Michigan will be attending his sister’s funeral. Pretty amazing, huh? Especially in light of all that’s been happening around the country over the past few months. Here is a photo of Ross’ late sister. May she rest in peace. Got an inspiring story you want people to read? Send it to The Hollywood Gossip and we may share it on our site.
Keith Lamont Scott Killed By Police While Reading A Book, Waiting At Bus Stop A disabled man was shot and killed by police today in North Carolina and their story isn’t adding up. According to police reports, they say the man was armed and posed a threat to the officers. His family however, says Keith Lamont Scott was disabled, and usually sits and reads a book while he waits for his child to get off the school bus from school. Here are more details from WCNC News . Police say they were serving an outstanding warrant when they came upon Keith Lamont Scott in his car. They say Scott got out, had a gun on him, and put the officers in imminent danger. Officer Brentley Vinson shot Scott. “Man was in his truck, reading a book waiting for his kid to come home,” said a man on scene. “Cops shot him, for nothing.” Emergency services were called to the scene where they transported Scott to Carolinas Medical Center where he was pronounced dead. “As is standard procedure with any officer involved shooting, Officer Vinson has been placed on paid Administrative Leave,” the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police said in a statement Tuesday night. Officer Vinson has been employed with the CMPD since July 2014. He is African American. Scott’s daughter Lyric Scott came to the scene in front of news cameras to defend her dad’s character. Here's the man's sister. She says he did not have a gun. @CMPD says he did. @WBTV_News pic.twitter.com/JwHMixy9m7 — Sarah-Blake Morgan (@SarahBlakeWBTV) September 20, 2016 Scott’s brother also let reporters know that the police man who shot him was dressed in plain clothing. A man who said he’s the brother of Scott said to NBC Charlotte this evening: “Just know that all white people are (expletive) devils. All white cops are (expletive devils, and all white people.” “He was waiting on his son to get from school and police came out with no.. he didn’t have on no uniform to determine if he was a police or not — he was an undercover and he just jumped out and yelled ‘gun’ and shot at him,” he told NBC Charlotte’s Tanya Mendis. “I think they shot him four times, I’m not sure, but he’s dead.” Hostility among the community grew quickly as word of what happened spread. A woman saying she was the man’s daughter posted a video on Facebook Live from the scene. “Shot my Daddy for being black! And look they’re just standing there.” As night fell, a massive crowd of people gathered on Old Concord Road, chanting in protest after another officer-involved shooting where an African American man was killed. “People get upset when we say ‘black lives matter, black lives matter,’ said a student. “But these are the people we have to focus on the most because these types of situations always happen.” BREAKING: brother of man killed in CMPD shooting says he got out of his car because he was armed & scared of PD pic.twitter.com/IgwsrLmfKf — Tanya Mendis (@tanyamendis) September 20, 2016 Something doesn’t add up here! We need answers.
