by Laghe Andrews | Sep 7, 2021 | Latest, Social Justice |
Ahmaud Arbery’s former district attorney has been charged with misconduct. Multiple news outlets reported that ex-District Attorney Jaquelyn Lee Johnson faced charges of violating the oath of office and obstructing a police officer in relation to the case that ended in Arbery’s death.
Her actions were deemed to be contrary to her law enforcement responsibilities when Johnson showed “favor and affection” to Greg McMichael – who served in her office for three decades before retiring in 2019 – and failed to treat Ahmaud Arbery in a fair manner.
Back in February 2020, Greg McMichael and his son Travis McMichael jumped into their pickup truck and chased Arbery through the neighborhood as he jogged. When Travis encountered the McMichaels, a scuffle ensued, resulting in a fatal shooting. According to Travis and his father, Arbery was perceived to be a burglar. But the shooting itself occurred as a result of an alleged attack from the jogger.
According to the indictment, Johnson advised officers not to arrest Travis when they arrived at the scene of the crime. Later, she cited a former professional relationship with Greg to excuse herself from the case.
Upon Johnson’s departure, the former district attorney recommended Waycross Circuit District Attorney George E Barnhill replace her, but he was forced to recuse himself when it was learned that his son had been assistant prosecutor to Johnson.
A felony murder charge was filed against the McMichaels by the Georgia Bureau of Investigation. The McMichaels’ neighbor William “Roddie” Bryan also faces the same charge, despite asserting he was only a witness.
This article was penned by Jonathan P. Wright. Jonathan is a freelance writer for multiple mainstream publications and CVO of RADIOPUSHERS. You can read more of his work by clicking here.
by Laghe Andrews | Sep 7, 2021 | Latest, Social Justice |
The charges against the former police officer who killed Daunte Wright have been upgraded by Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison.
Sources recall that Kimberly Potter was originally charged with second-degree manslaughter, however, prosecutors added a charge of first-degree manslaughter on Thursday (Sept. 2) to her original charges. By the amended complaint, the former officer is alleged to have caused Wright’s death by recklessly using a firearm in such a dangerous manner that death or great bodily injury to anyone was reasonably foreseeable.
As alleged in the complaint, Potter claimed she would go to prison. A list of the ex-cop’s qualifications appeared alongside the statement, “I shot a boy.”. She received a “substantial amount of” training on how to differentiate between tasers and handguns throughout her 26 years on the force. Potter had already completed two taser-specific training courses six months before the shooting.
These courses included information regarding the correct use of tasers as well as safety concerns associated with the use of them. At the end of the course, Potter completed a written test in order to demonstrate that she comprehended the information presented. She also signed a certificate of completion.
Potter fatally shot Wright, 20, during a traffic stop in April. His registration was expired, so he was pulled over. Wright fled from authorities after finding out he was wanted on an outstanding warrant. Though authorities attempted to arrest him, he reportedly got back into his vehicle and fled the scene.
Potter, who is a former union president, fired her weapon at Wright in the chest. Instead of shooting her gun, she meant to fire her taser. On Dec. 6, her trial will begin.
This article was penned by Jonathan P. Wright. Jonathan is a freelance writer for multiple mainstream publications and CVO of RADIOPUSHERS. You can read more of his work by clicking here.
by Laghe Andrews | Sep 6, 2021 | Latest, Social Justice |
Earlier this week (September 2), a Dayton, Ohio, man was arrested after being seen on live television assaulting a black news reporter.
As stated by the U.S. Marshal Pete Elliott, Benjamin Eugene Dagley was arrested after a few days of being on the run. Our task force members worked quickly to arrest this violent fugitive fleeing from his Gulfport charges, Elliott said.
The task force members received information that Dagley was still driving his truck, which bore an Ohio license plate, according to the statement. In the parking lot, members of the task force found the truck that led to the arrest of the driver after watching him exit the store.
MSNBC reporter Shaquille Brewster reported on Tropical Storm Ida live on Monday (Aug. 30). Dagley pulled into the news crew’s area and ran towards Brewster in his white pickup truck in the middle of his segment.
The irate man was initially ignored by Brewster as he continued his weather coverage. Despite this, Dagley ran straight up to the reporter, got in his face, and demanded, “Report accurately.”
In addition to assault charges, Dagley will now face one count of disturbing the peace and another count of violating a curfew. For traveling without permission to Gulfport, he could also face probation violation charges.
When Dagley broke into Cleveland Plating in 2017, he was charged with vandalism, attempted assault, and causing panic.
It is reported that he entered the warehouse and drilled holes into tanks of dangerous chemicals, including cyanide, hydrochloric acid and sulfuric acid.
An five-year probationary period and 30 days in jail were imposed on him. A fine of $5,000 and restitution of $10,000 was also imposed.
This article was penned by Jonathan P. Wright. Jonathan is a freelance writer for multiple mainstream publications and CVO of RADIOPUSHERS. You can read more of his work by clicking here.
by Tanyette McCoy Davis | Sep 6, 2021 | Latest, Social Justice |
The district attorney who put Curtis Flowers on trial six times has been sued by the Black man wrongfully imprisoned for 23 years.
According to ABC News, Montgomery County District Attorney Doug Evans and three investigators have been named in a lawsuit filed on Friday (Sept. 3). Evans and the investigators are accused of engaging in wrongdoing, including “pressuring witnesses into fabricating statements about seeing Mr. Flowers on the day of the murders and ignoring other possible suspects,” according to the lawsuit. Amount of money sought by Flowers is not stated in the lawsuit. A jury will make that decision.
Flowers, who was convicted in the 1996 shooting deaths of four people, spent nearly half of his life on death row. Up until two weeks before the shootings at the Winona Tardy Furniture Store, he was employed there. Bertha Tardy and three of her employees, Carmen Rigby, Robert Golden, and Derrick Stewart, were shot to death in the head.
Despite no known motive and little evidence, Flowers was charged with the homicides. Several experts hinted at the possibility of more than one person being involved in the shooting, but Flowers was the only one charged. As a result, he was convicted four times: twice for all four murders and twice for the individual murders. There have also been two mistrials involving all four deaths, with every conviction getting overturned. Lynn Fitch, Mississippi’s attorney general, announced in 2020 that the state would not pursue Flowers’ seventh trial, freeing him at long last after 23 years in prison.
Previously, the state of Mississippi was ordered by a judge to pay Flowers $500,000 for wrongful imprisonment.
This article was penned by Jonathan P. Wright. Jonathan is a freelance writer for multiple mainstream publications and CVO of RADIOPUSHERS. You can read more of his work by clicking here.
by Tanyette McCoy Davis | Sep 6, 2021 | Latest, Social Justice |
During a protest following the death of George Floyd, Jaleel Stallings, a St. Paul, Minnesota resident, fired shots at Minneapolis Police officers and was charged with two counts of attempted murder. Almost a year after the trial, he was found not guilty.
Stallings’ attorney told the Associated Press on Friday (Sept. 3) that he used self-defense as a defense during his July trial. When he fired three bullets at the unmarked white van, Stallings believed that he was being attacked by civilians in the area, and that he started firing after being hit with a non-lethal rubber bullet in the chest. Apparently, after firing at the officers, he realized what he had done. In the end, neither of the officers was injured. It is reported that after realizing that he had shot at them, he surrendered to authorities.
It was revealed Tuesday in a report published by the Minnesota Reformer that video captured by SWAT officers Justin Stetson and Andrew Bittell appears to show them kicking and punching Stallings when he is on the ground. They said Stallings, who was seen in his mugshot with bruised face, had been resisting arrest. However, from the footage, it is evident that he remained still on the ground for 20 seconds, contradicting the previous information.
Judge William Koch concluded in a pretrial order that “Officer Stetson and Sergeant Bittell were overcome by anger and/or fear and beat Mr. Stallings for nearly 30 seconds before attempting to handcuff him. Stallings did not resist arrest by any means, but instead submitted to their authority in the video.”
In this stage of the investigation, it is unknown whether any punishments will follow. Apparently, Stallings will now consider additional legal action than what he had planned now that he has been acquitted.
This article was penned by Jonathan P. Wright. Jonathan is a freelance writer for multiple mainstream publications and CVO of RADIOPUSHERS. You can read more of his work by clicking here.
RECENT COMMENTS