The Conservative Cave
Current Events => Breaking News => Topic started by: txradioguy on May 23, 2015, 02:37:29 PM
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(http://a57.foxnews.com/global.fncstatic.com/static/managed/img/fn2/video/876/493/052315_anhq_police_640.jpg?ve=1&tl=1)
CLEVELAND – A Cleveland patrolman who fired down through the windshield of a suspect's car at the end of a 137-shot barrage that left the two unarmed black occupants dead was acquitted Saturday of criminal charges by a judge who said he could not determine the officer alone fired the fatal shots.
Michael Brelo, 31, put his head in hands as the judge issued a verdict that prompted an angry protest outside the courthouse, including chants of "Hands up! Don't Shoot!"
The acquittal came at a time of nationwide tension among police and black citizens punctuated by protests over deaths of blacks at the hands of white officers -- and following a determination by the U.S. Department of Justice that city police had a history of using excessive force and violating civil rights.
Before issuing his verdict, Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Judge John P. O'Donnell noted the recent unrest in Ferguson, Missouri, and Baltimore over the deaths of black suspects but said he would not "sacrifice" Brelo to an angry public if the evidence did not merit a conviction.
"Guilty or not guilty, the verdict should be no cause for a civilized society to celebrate or riot," he said.
Community and city leaders braced for the possibility of unrest in response to the verdict, which came as investigators work toward making a decision on whether charges will be filed in the death of a black 12-year-old boy carrying a pellet gun who was shot by a white rookie officer late last year.
"We will get justice," said Art McCoy of the Black Man Army, a coalition of black leaders. "We are not happy with this verdict."
Shortly after the verdict was reached, about 30 sheriff's deputies stood in front of the courthouse bearing clear shields as protesters with bullhorns chanted. One demonstrator bowed his head with hands folded in front of the phalanx of deputies, praying in silence.
The deputies then moved inside the entrance of the justice center, and the plaza in front of the building was soon cordoned off.
http://www.foxnews.com/us/2015/05/23/verdict-reached-for-cleveland-patrolman-charged-in-deaths-suspects-amid-137/?intcmp=latestnews
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The chase and shooting began when Russell's car backfired as he sped past Cleveland police headquarters. Police officers and bystanders thought someone inside had fired a gun. More than 100 Cleveland police officers in 62 marked and unmarked cars got involved in a pursuit that saw speeds reach 100 mph during the 22-mile-long chase.
Authorities never learned why Russell didn't stop. He had a criminal record including convictions for receiving stolen property and robbery and had been involved in a previous police pursuit. Williams had convictions for drug-related charges and attempted abduction. Both were described as mentally ill, homeless and addicted to drugs. A crack pipe was found in the car.
The car backfire was the one element of bad luck in this, and probably made the difference between simply trapping the pair and trapping plus shooting. Suspects believed to be armed and dangerous and who choose to lead cops on a 22-mile, 5-10 minute chase, at speeds up to 100 mph (also a danger to the public) ... not likely to end well.
This prosecutor should be canned or voted out of office for sheer ineptitude. Based on the medical examiners' reports alone, no officer should have been singled out for a murder charge. There was zero chance of a conviction if facts were what was considered. At most the prosecutor should have charged all 13 officers with attempted murder and assault. Even that would have been doubtful, given officers' and bystanders' mistaking the backfire for a shot, but at least it might have had some chance of a conviction.
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Really impossible to defend 137 shots under the circumstances. But at least is shows the cops involved, however trigger-happy, aren't corrupt too, or they would have thrown down a drop gun.
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More and more trials in America are starting off as show trials.
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I wonder if the backfire was intentional.
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Who saw this coming? :mental:
Cleveland protests ‘getting rowdier,’ ‘very dicey'; Arrests begin as demonstrators hit entertainment district
http://twitchy.com/2015/05/23/cleveland-protests-getting-rowdier-very-dicey-arrests-begin-as-demonstrators-hit-entertainment-district/
Homa Bash
‎@HomaBash
Police with riot shields now chanting MOVE BACK. First we've heard them speak all day. #cleprotests #cleveland #BreloVerdict #cle
8:13 PM - 23 May 2015
(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CFub1KlWoAIdtLQ.jpg)
Matthew Orr ✔
‎@Matthew_Orr
Protesters arrive at Indians game and police take position. #breloverdict
5:54 PM - 23 May 2015
(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CFu4pzlWEAAKKOQ.jpg)
Megan Shaw
@MegDShaw
Two arrested on e. 4th. #Cleveland
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Is it too much to ask that innocent victims of police brutality really be innocent victims and not professional crooks?
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I wonder if the backfire was intentional.
The article stated that the pair sped by the police station. So the pair may have been clowning around. Whether the backfire was intentional or not, I don't know enough to speculate. But intentional or not, their clowning around did not end well for them.
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The last time I heard of a car backfiring was an absolute POS 70's model Olds Cutlass running with a burned-up two-barrel carb. Modern EFI doesn't produce backfires.
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Is it too much to ask that innocent victims of police brutality really be innocent victims and not professional crooks?
The agitators would have us believe the thugs were like rape victims who dressed immodestly and were "asking for it'.
Maybe the perps shouldn't "ask for it" by their inappropriate dress, rap sheet, and attitude.
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Is it too much to ask that innocent victims of police brutality really be innocent victims and not professional crooks?
Or at the very least not be high on coke and PCP when you decide to run from the police.
Oh yeah I guess CNN and MSNBC left that out of their reporting huh?
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The last time I heard of a car backfiring was an absolute POS 70's model Olds Cutlass running with a burned-up two-barrel carb. Modern EFI doesn't produce backfires.
I don't know about Cleveland, but around here, cars from the 70's are popular for the people that like low profile tires and spinner rims. It's not to hard to make an old stick backfire on purpose.
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Is it too much to ask that innocent victims of police brutality really be innocent victims and not professional crooks?
Is it too much to ask that idiots who lead the Police on a 22 mile chase with speeds exceeding 100 mph should expect a bad ending to their antics?