Archive for the 'police abuse' Category

(Video) “I hurt people, and then I make their cocaine f—ing appear,”

Sunday, May 19th, 2013

From Facebook Page – Police State USA: Land of the Checkpoints comes this chilling video of  cops berating a harmless individual. The info states the video is out of Durham. This video comes from Durham in CA. Here is a link to the recent findings by the PD according to The Star

These types of interactions with police have occurred millions of times. Thanks to the the surveillance camera in this case, and many times the risks assumed by folks like you and me holding a cellphone, we are starting to expose what we’ve been allowing these people to get away with for so long.

Please, always film police.

(Video) “I hurt people, and then I make their cocaine f—ing appear,” is a post from Cop Block - Badges Don't Grant Extra Rights

A Note from Station 6 Underground

Thursday, May 16th, 2013

Submitted by Station 6 Underground

 I have recently had the privilege of having some of my material featured on CopBlock.org. It has been quite interesting, though also disheartening, to see the vicious attacks on me by commenters on the articles posted there. Not only attacks on my works which are, of course, always open to debate and discussion, but on myself personally. Keep in mind, that my person is irrelevant to the issues at hand. I am a relatively anonymous internet persona, that has little bearing on the material I present. I am really just the messenger, so to speak. And I am not singing the blues over hurt feelings either.

What actually disturbs me is the frequency in which ad hominem fallacy is applied in order to deflect from the real issues presented, simply in order to derail the discussion. Ad hominem is not the only tactic used to distract the reader from the truth. It is disheartening to see who can be made to follow a red herring path of emotional appeal and rhetoric into the forest of lies, rather than seeing the truth. 

How does one discredit truth and fact? One uses logical fallacy, rhetoric, disinformation, and the tools of psychological warfare. As much as I might find myself annoyed by shills, liars, and propagandists, this introduction is more of an invitation, for you the reader, to see if you can spot the characters and tactics being used to brainwash you. Have a look at the sorts of comments here at CopBlock, which is a noble, if controversial organization for truth. The shills who come crawling out of the woodwork to distract the readers from seeing the truth. 

Have you broken free yet, can you break free, can you remain intellectually honest with yourself in the face of psychological warfare?

-Captain Six

Also see:

Media Manipulation, Propaganda, and the Rules of Disinformation

Ignorance Fuels Trust In Government, Study

Herd Mentality

A Note from Station 6 Underground is a post from Cop Block - Badges Don't Grant Extra Rights

YOU HAVE NO RIGHTS – George Carlin (Video)

Monday, May 13th, 2013

YOU HAVE NO RIGHTS – George Carlin (Video) is a post from Cop Block - Badges Don't Grant Extra Rights

Bakersfield Man Dies During Arrest, Eye Witness Video Footage Confiscated

Sunday, May 12th, 2013

In an incident reminiscent of the Kelly Thomas tragedy, an unarmed Bakersfield man was killed during an attempted arrest by local law enforcement.

Kern County Sheriff’s deputies were investigating David Sal Silva for public intoxication. In total, nine officers of the Kern County Sheriff’s department and the California Highway Patrol beat Silva to death, as they claimed he resisted arrest. Several witnesses apparently captured footage of the beating on their cell phones. But, the cell phones were confiscated by deputies as evidence.

The Kern County Sheriff’s department released the following names of involved officers:

Ryan Greer
Tanner Miller
Jeffrey Kelly
Luis Almanza
Brian Brock
David Stephens

The CHP has not released the names of its officers involved in the arrest. More details here.

Bakersfield Man Dies During Arrest, Eye Witness Video Footage Confiscated is a post from Cop Block - Badges Don't Grant Extra Rights

Why I’m Joining the Open Carry March on Washington D.C.

Thursday, May 9th, 2013

Submitted by Christopher Cantwell

Frankly folks, things are not getting any better; we all know that. Despite elections, education, and the amazing access to information that mankind has, his tendencies remain largely the same.

History shows us that peoples of the past that were on the path we are on now, meet disaster of unspeakable levels, leading to the deaths of millions of people. I fear the only differences between our society and such societies of the past, are that nobody ever had the centralized political, military, and economic, power that the US government has today, nor the technology. Given the expansive influence and the modern weaponry involved, this is shaping up to be something the likes of which mankind has never seen, and it could be happening, in my opinion, at any minute. Perhaps, it could even result in the extinction of the human race, in the all-too-possible deployment of a biological weapon, be it intentional or accidental.

I cannot in good conscience allow that to happen while there are brave enough men to stand with me against it, and still more men who might be inspired to bravery by our actions. I cannot continue to live in this society unless I am content that I am doing everything within my means to solve this problem commonly known as the State.

I have seen enough violence in my life to know that I don’t want anymore. So it is my intention to make a bold, but peaceful statement. That statement is “Should you see fit to continue antagonizing me and people I care about, a time will come when this is not peaceful.” As you’ve surely heard, nearly 3 in 10 Americans feel the same way, even if for different reasons. That message doesn’t make quite the same point in text or video that it does in the form of a thousand armed men marching towards danger.

This demonstration serves several other purposes.

To show people the violent and arbitrary nature of the State. It should seem insane to right-thinking people that armed men on one side of an imaginary line are within the law, but being on the other side of the line causes them to fear being fired upon even while their weapons are slung over their backs, a threat to nobody.

To encourage others to stand up to the bully. Countless people have said “I would do it if you had more people,” but of course, we never get more people if a small group doesn’t break down the barrier. If a thousand go this year, I hope to have 10,000 next year, and a hundred thousand the year after that, and a million the year after that. Perhaps someday, a large enough group of men are inspired such that we can actually make these cowards fear for their lives the next time they decide to threaten ours on CSPAN.

I have every expectation that the demonstration, should it happen at all, will result in nothing worse than felony arrests, and time in prison, and certainly, this is bad enough. There is a possibility that they will attempt to kill us, and if they do, then you should all know that you will not be far behind, nor would you be if we had simply stayed home that day. If they are willing to kill us in two months, then that decision was made well before we arrived, and the decision would have been made even if we hadn’t shown up. Let this be your barometer as to the depravity of the men who claim to be your leaders. The State demands obedience and it threatens violence against all who disobey. If you seek to be free, you must disobey. That is what free men do when ordered to do something against their will. A man is only free if he acts according to his own will.

All legislative, educational, and for lack of a better term “weak” civil disobedience has failed to turn back the tide in the slightest. It has served only as a distraction from the fact that aggressors will continue to violate peaceful people so long as peaceful people will not stop them by force.

We went from “Dictatorship to Democracy” nearly 240 years ago, and it hasn’t worked out so well. In fact, I’d go back to 18th Century British Rule over this government in a heartbeat. Rather than go back, I think the best hope of men who wish to be free is to concentrate geographically in efforts like the Free State Project, Lone Star Libertopia, or Blue Ridge liberty project. Once we are geographically concentrated, we can work on making peaceful living the norm, and eventually ejecting people from those territories who demand violence be the rule rather than the exception. But even if those efforts are successful, a time must come when they separate themselves from the United States, and the last time that happened there was a civil war. If men are not ready, even mentally to fight that war, then all hope is lost. I hope this stand will help people prepare for that inevitable conflict, whatever its outcome.

I hope more brave men will come stand with us, before it is too late.

Chris Cantwell is an activist, public speaker, and comedian originally from New York. You can find him on twitter @voteforcantwell.

Why I’m Joining the Open Carry March on Washington D.C. is a post from Cop Block - Badges Don't Grant Extra Rights

Men are Jailed, Robbed of $14,000 By Police Without Justification

Sunday, April 14th, 2013

Submitted by Joe

According to Courthouse News Service, a Texas sheriff in Waco, Texas threw two Latino men into jail for 39 days “with no charges, no hearing, and no probable cause” and seized the $14,000 they had saved up to buy a new car. Roberto Moreno-Gutierrez and Jaime Moreno-Gutierrez have filed a claim in Federal Court against Hill County, the Hill County Sheriff’s Department and the Texas Department of Public Safety.

The complaints alleges that plaintiffs Roberto Moreno-Gutierrez and Jaime Moreno-Gutierrez were traveling to a car dealership in Plano, Texas to purchase an automobile. Jaime Moreno-Gutierrez, had sold a vehicle for $9,000 and had taken a loan of $4,000 in order to buy the new vehicle. Texas State Trooper Carl R. Clary pulled the men over, driving a K-9 unit.

The complaint further details that no drugs or drug paraphernalia were found in the vehicle or on the plaintiffs. There was simply no indication of wrongdoing. Trooper Clary seized the money and waited for backup. After 20 minutes, the plaintiffs were taken to another squad car and were told they were going to be interviewed where it was quiet. The arriving officers tore apart the vehicle looking for money or drugs that did not exist.

“At the Hill County Sheriff Department, the plaintiffs were never handcuffed, never Mirandized and never told they were under arrest; rather, they were asked where they were from. The money was counted, and they were then booked into Hill County Jail for what jail documents call pending charges pursuant to ‘money laundering.’”

Stories such as these are by no means uncommon, and simply illustrate the consequences of allowing police such sweeping powers over peoples’ person and property.

Men are Jailed, Robbed of $14,000 By Police Without Justification is a post from Cop Block - Badges Don't Grant Extra Rights

Man Settles Suit With Tallahassee Police Over Dog Shooting

Saturday, April 13th, 2013

Submitted by Tallahassee O

Kyle Marshall’s dog was shot by police in July of 2009 at four in the morning. The police were called by Marshall’s girlfriend after they had a fight.

“They shot my dog right on my front porch and then came into my house,” said Marshall.  “What rights do you have if you can’t stay in your own house,”  he said.

“It was determined their actions were completely justified because they were in fear for their own safety,” said Cassandra Jackson, a spokeswoman for the Tallahassee City Attorney.

As per usual police procedure when they kill dogs or people, they charged  Mr. Marshall, the victim, with 2 counts of aggravated assault. The charges were later dropped, and Mr. Marshall sued. The city settled for $25,000. More here and here.

These are the same officers notoriously known for the death of Rachel Hoffman, a drug informant under their care that ended up murdered, among other acts of misconduct.

Man Settles Suit With Tallahassee Police Over Dog Shooting is a post from Cop Block - Badges Don't Grant Extra Rights

Warning: Manchester Police With Unmarked with Mass Plates

Friday, April 12th, 2013

Submitted by John Brady

Recently, a friend of mine who is a prostitute/escort in Manchester, NH was solicited by a white male in a black Chevy Tahoe with Massachusetts plate number 3492YG. The driver asked her if she wanted to make 50 dollars to have some fun. She responded, “yes,” then was told by the driver, who turned out to be a Manchester, NH police detective that she was under arrest for prostitution.

Since when do Manchester police use Massachusetts registrations and almost-new Tahoes? Yet again the Manchester police are wasting taxpayer dollars to arrest hookers instead of busting real criminals who victimize people. If you’re thinking the lady is a drug addict, she isn’t and hasn’t ever been. She simply enjoys the line of work she does. Manchester police should do their jobs instead of arresting consenting adults.

If anyone sees this black Chevy Tahoe with tinted windows and Massachusetts plates 3492YG please out this schmuck as a cop to prevent them from entrapping anyone else.

Warning: Manchester Police With Unmarked with Mass Plates is a post from Cop Block - Badges Don't Grant Extra Rights

Appeals Court Upheld Conviction of Commander Burge Who Presided Over Torture of Suspects

Friday, April 12th, 2013

The 7th Circuit upheld the conviction of a police commander who “presided over an interrogation regime where suspects were suffocated with plastic bags, electrocuted until they lost consciousness, held down against radiators, and had loaded guns pointed at their heads during rounds of Russian roulette.”

Jon Burge oversaw the Chicago Police Department’s Area 2 headquarters on the city’s South Side. He was fired in 1993 after it was revealed that police in the violent crimes section had been torturing suspects to obtain confessions. (Don’t worry, the irony of the department of police devoted to policing violent crimes being implicated in violent torture is not lost on us).

In 2006 a special prosecutor’s report found dozens of men had claimed abuse, but no action was taken because the statute of limitations had run on many of the crimes.  More than 100 victims have claimed torture that allegedly began in the 1970s and lasted until Burge was fired in 1993. Almost all the tortured or abused suspects were black men. (Racism, imprisonment, torture – and we thought slavery was a thing of the past!)

Burge was permitted to serve on the police force for decades despite allegations of abuse. Unfortunately for justice, the statutes of limitation worked to shield Burge from being personally charged with police brutality. However, the abuse in his district did give rise to a number of civil lawsuits.

In a 2003 complaint, Madison Hobley claimed that Area 2 officers had beaten and suffocated him with a typewriter cover in 1987. Hobley was deposed to prove that Chicago police had a policy of torturing suspects, but Burge denied participating in or knowing of the abuse.

“I have not observed nor do I have knowledge of any other examples of physical abuse and/or torture on the part of Chicago police officers at Area 2,” he wrote in response to an interrogatory. This response led to a 2008 federal indictment of Burge for obstruction of an official proceeding and perjury.

At trial, the jury “heard overwhelming evidence” that Burge lied about the use of torture.

“The witnesses described how they were suffocated with plastic bags, electrocuted with homemade devices attached to their genitals, beaten, and had guns force into their mouths during questioning,” according to the 7th Circuit’s new ruling in the case.

Other witnesses stated that Burge had bragged about the beatings and “did not care if those tortured were innocent or guilty because, as he saw it, every suspect had surely committed some other offense anyway.” Remember folks, the law is the law! Unless you are a police officer. Then the law is whatever you want it to be, and can be applied however you wish.

Burge was found guilty of all counts and sentenced to 4 1/2 years in federal prison. Another important lesson to take away from all this – if you ever want to torture people, but fear facing harsh penalties, join the police force. In the US v. John Burge ruling,a unanimous three-judge panel of the 7th Circuit affirmed Monday (more here).

See Cop Block’s previous coverage of the John Burge story here.

 

Appeals Court Upheld Conviction of Commander Burge Who Presided Over Torture of Suspects is a post from Cop Block - Badges Don't Grant Extra Rights

Former Clackamas Lawman Gets 30 Days on Work Crew for Assault

Wednesday, April 10th, 2013

Submitted by Chris Ponte of Clackamas Cop Block

Steven P. Hyson, 47, of Vancouver pled guilty  in Clark County Superior Court to fourth-degree assault of his stepson and felony domestic violence harassment of his wife. He was a sheriff’s sergeant at the time and resigned from the Clackamas County Sheriff’s Office on the same day, said spokesman Sgt. Adam Phillips.

Hyson was ordered to participate in Clark County’s domestic violence program. He was prohibited from contacting his wife, Lora Hyson, for five years. He will also serve just 23 days on the work crew because he received credit for seven days spent in jail.

He was sentenced to 30 days on a work crew. His wife Lora Hyson and stepson, Austin Oliver-Brown, now 23, submitted written complaints as they felt that 30 days on work crew was an insufficient punishment for the crimes.

Steven Hyson originally was charged with second-degree assault and fourth-degree assault, but the charges were reduced in exchange for his guilty plea.  (More here).

Contact Clackamas Cop Block at clackamascopblockers@gmail.com

Former Clackamas Lawman Gets 30 Days on Work Crew for Assault is a post from Cop Block - Badges Don't Grant Extra Rights