Gangsters in Blue

Guest Post by Katie McCall

I must apologize… this story is a little old. But the victims are still suffering and it needs to be told.

Meet the Hendersons: Father, Jeffrey, is a big, intimidating individual but tenderly in love with his children. Mother, Erica, is a very nurturing mother. Together they have six children and lived together without incident in their Pasadena, California home.

Are they typical parents? No. They keep a kosher diet, they homeschool
and breastfeed and homebirth. They follow orthodox Jewish law. But is being “different” a reason to have your rights trampled?

In May 2010, the police were called by a disgruntled neighbor who reported having “heard” Jeffrey slap their oldest child. The police responded by demanding entry. Jeffrey and Erica
refused their requests and instead had the children come to the front window next to their door to show that they had not been harmed. Here you can see Jeffrey and Erica refusing entrance prior to deciding to parade their children’s well being in the window:

The Henderson’s refuse entrance to the police in Pasadena

Apparently, visually seeing the children was not enough for the Pasadena police. Without a warrant they barged into their residence as the family sang Jewish songs of worship. They beat Jeffrey to the point he needed to be hospitalized, removed the children and gave them to DCFS and locked both Jeffrey and Erica in a cage.

Surprise, surprise! The courts eventually found that the accusation that prompted the violence was unfounded and dropped all charges including an obstruction charge for not opening the door to their home.

But the damage control was already insurmountable. Erica spent two months in county jail where she suffered the pains of breast infection and was denied treatment. She was restricted from breastfeeding her two youngest children who had been placed in foster care as a seven month old, and two year old. She was not given access to a breast pump. Jeffrey was held for three months. Both Jeffrey and Erica lost their home and Jeffrey lost his job for being a no show while in jail. When they got out they found themselves penniless and homeless. They shared their story shortly after their release in this interview.

As if that isn’t ugly enough, here’s where it gets really ugly. Because DCFS decided that even though the Henderson’s were not prosecuted and were NOT convicted of any wrong doing by the court, they were somehow entitled to keep their children anyway. According to DCFS, the Henderson’s were abusive because they refused to open the door for police and therefor put their children at risk of being injured by the battering ram the police department used to gain (unlawful) entry to their home. Consider the absurdity that is the state – police are not punished for their violent, unjustified actions; instead, their victims are.

DCFS required them to show up for several visits per week when ordered which were, of course, scheduled in the middle of the work day. These visits needed to be complied with or DCFS would note their disinterest and lack of involvement in resuming custody of their children. And then there were all of the department mandated classes they were ordered to attend. All of this kept them from employment and finding a home. And then the most logical step of all… DCFS also required them to provide “proper” shelter for their
six children, which in their eyes was a lot more lush than they had originally provided their children. Yet still they are attempting to meet every requirement. Even going above and beyond the department’s requests… bending over backwards and jumping through fiery hoops while the department sits and watched, entertained.

So, here we are. It’s now almost one year later. Where are the Hendersons? Well, the children still live in foster care and adoption is being fought for by the couple who have been caring for the youngest child. Most of their children are being held separately, not being fed the kosher diet their family raised them with, not attending the religious observances that are so close to their heart. Basically, the Hendersons are still desperately trying to reunite, despite a million miles of bureaucratic red tape.

Jeffrey has filed a habeas corpus and has made it public for anyone to see and use in their own defenses. He is resisting the assertion that the United States government has rights over his family. Interestingly, the Henderson’s youngest – a seven month old boy — had not yet had his birth registered when he was kidnapped by federal agents. He has no birth certificate and no social security
card. How can the United States government have any kind of say so in his welfare? How do they even know whose baby they took?

Those who believe badges grant extra rights apparently don’t just work in the police force.

In California, the Police are in the Business of Kidnapping Children is a post from Cop Block - Badges Don't Grant Extra Rights

 Guest Post by John Freeman

Rich From Janesville WI (names have been changed)

In (around) 2002, I was living with several roommates in a rental home on the West side of Janesville. I had two roommates.  We all worked full time and enjoyed weekends at the row of bars on Main Street in Downtown Janesville.

My buddy Rich stood 5 foot and maybe 6 inches. I would guess he was a solid 145 pounds.

It surprised me when I heard two or three dudes, early in the morning,  talking and taking pictures in the bathroom across the hall from my room.  I’m cool with all different lifestyles but will be damned if anyone, especially guys are messing around in my personal area let alone the area where I brush my teeth. When I opened the door what I found was a bleeding friend with several broken front teeth, a blood soaked shirt,  and a face which looked like it was dragged 20 yards across concrete.

According to Rich, he was severely beaten by Janesville Police.  He said he had been in a pushing match with another guy outside the bars and I guess the cops wanted a piece of the action also. I’ve been in my fare share of bar fights but from what I saw, this was a pure, savage beat-down. Rich’s forehead, from the beating,  had been bleeding severely.  He had not been given medical attention. Not sure if he was given a choice.  Not sure why the cops felt the beating was necessary but they never took him to jail.

After taking photographs he called the police department. He requested a supervisor to come out so he could file a complaint. Rich had told me that while they were grinding his head into the cement they were yelling, “Shut the fuck up!” I wish I could tell you the outcome of the incident. I ended up moving out of state shortly after the incident and lost touch with Rich.

Mark Schroeder Waukesha WI

According to news reports, in 2010 a man arrived to assess his 19 year old daughter’s injuries after she had been in a serious accident. He was a 53-year-old with no criminal record named Mark Schroeder. For some reason, the cop on scene, Officer Ryan LaFavor decided to pull the bad ass routine and refused to let this guy check on his kid who was still in the car and had called her dad following the accident. It is my understanding that no medical team members had arrived yet. According to JSOnline.com, this is what ensued:

Schroeder got out and began approaching the crash when LaFavor yelled at him to stop or be arrested. When Schroeder explained that one of the drivers was his daughter and began returning to his car, LaFavor took him to the ground, kneed him in the back, handcuffed him and kept yelling at him to “shut the (expletive) up,” according to Mastantuono.

The police had dash-cam videos of the incident but after they were requested by both the prosecution and defense, the cops promptly deleted them. They were first viewed by top brass and others 20 some times. The Judge dismissed the charges against this man because she felt this was a cover up.  She knew they were lying. So do the rest of us.

Milwaukee Police April 2012

The video provided pertains to this incident.  A man was in the nightlife area of Milwaukee with some friends. His buddy suggested he take a 2008 Lamborghini for a spin which he gladly obliged. He was drunk and driving it without headlights around the block. The cops stopped him and allegedly ripped him out of the car.  Those of us who have sat in such a car (Though I’ve never driven one) know that getting out of that type of  machine takes some practice.

This man wasn’t good enough or fast enough because this cop decided to attempt to crush his skull while another cop leisurely watched from 2 or3 feet away.  The Police Chief, Ed Philandering Flynn decided it was no big deal that this same rogue cop was suspended for mental health issues 2 years ago but this time cleared him of wrong doing almost immediately.  While this man was laying prone on his stomach with two cops on his back begging for his life he of course was told to, “Shut your fucking mouth!”

Seems like a trend doesn’t it?

“Shut The Fuck Up” is a post from Cop Block - Badges Don't Grant Extra Rights

Guest post by Damon

This is a video of the most reasonable man I know being booked in for “disorderly conduct”. This man has applied for a press pass which was later revoked by the corporate media representatives  in charge of distributing all press passes. He has attempted to use footage from Wisconsin Eye, a government-funded media service. They made him take down the footage because it is the property of said 501c(3) corporation.

He has filmed legislators committing voter fraud through the windows of the gallery. They took that as a sign that they needed to post black plastic over the windows. These are the lengths he has gone to in order to report on the blatant corruption of our State Government during the last session.  In direct contradiction of  State Statute 19.90, which states that we have the right to film our public officials, our legislature has deemed filming a violation of their own rules of conduct and are prosecuting, “Offenders” under disorderly conduct statutes. This day he wasn’t filming.

Being known for excising one’s rights is now enough to warrant detainment in Wisconsin.

This is not my video and I cannot claim credit for it.  I got it off my buddy’s youtube channel(arthurkr222).

Illegal Possession Of A Camera, Disorderly Conduct In The WI Assembly is a post from Cop Block - Badges Don't Grant Extra Rights

By Guest Writer Jacob Crawfird

Miami’s Homeland Security is keeping tabs on Carlos Miller, why? Not because he is any terrorist threat or some subversive radical. Rather because he runs the website, “Photography Is Not A Crime!” which documents police attacks on copwatchers, journalists, and ordinary citizens who catch heat for filming police interactions. He’s been supportive of my police accountability work with copwatch and I’ve appreciated his coverage of police issues over the last few years.

—Jacob Crawford
ladderfilms@gmail.com

Carlos Miller Under Surveillance for His Website, “Photography is Not a Crime” is a post from Cop Block - Badges Don't Grant Extra Rights

I was recording police from across the street on a public sidewalk. Keep in mind I do nothing that is against the law. I have every right to film them in their duties. I in no way addressed the officer OR the guy the officer was talking too. The passenger, who is not engaged by the cop starts the conversation with me. It turns out that I knew the passenger. After the traffic stop was over I get stopped, detained, then threatened. The cops realize they have nothing to hold me on and let me go but not before threatening me that he will arrest me if I do this behavior again.

Afterwards I went looking to record them again but came up empty handed.

Muscatine, Iowa USA aka Nazi Germany. “Show me your papers please” is a post from Cop Block - Badges Don't Grant Extra Rights

According to the Keene Sentinel:

A man was shot by police and killed after a pursuit in Keene late Tuesday night, authorities said.

The incident began at Diversified Computers at 255 West St. in Keene, where police were called for a burglary complaint, according to a news release from the N.H. Attorney General’s Office.

When officers got there, they saw at least one suspect on the roof of the building. Two people fleeing the area were arrested after a short pursuit, authorities said.

The third person left the scene in a car and was pursued by officers to Marlboro Street, where he parked near the corner of Marlboro and Prescott streets and left the vehicle, authorities said. After an officer briefly pursued the man on foot, he got back in his car and attempted to escape, and two officers fired at the vehicle, killing the man, authorities said.

The car crashed head-on into a telephone pole and one neighbor on Marlboro Street said he heard five gunshots.

Too bad the Bear Cat wasn’t here to protect Keene from this situation.

Ok, bad joke considering a man lost his life and for what?

Let’s do something the Keene Sentinel didn’t do and look at this from a logical stand point. Sure robbery, and/or stealing, is wrong but is the punishment death? I don’t believe so and suspect most people would refrain from killing those who steal from them (unless threatened with their lives in the process, as in armed robbery). I say this because people would be unable to recoup losses if the thief was dead. Plus, most business have cameras (I suspect this one does considering it’s near a bank attached) meaning it wouldn’t be hard to identify a person without the (government) police. Once you had proof via video – or witness/evidence – you could try to recoup losses or share the information publicly and let others know that peson X has stolen from you. I know I wouldn’t do business with a known thief and I bet others would do the same. Regardless, there are several ways to hold someone accountable before taking their life.

Heck, without the government’s monopoly on protection this business could have had it’s own Officer Short (Keene Police officer) on duty – deterring theft in the first place. So you have to ask the question.

Why did the Keene police feel the need to chase a man through Keene in their cars and then on foot? The police commonly pull people over for speeding, rolling stop signs and other traffic violations, citing these actions as dangerous to other drivers on the road. Yet, when unable to prevent crime, as is commonly perceived, or catch a criminal in the act, what do the police do? They increase the danger by driving recklessly through the streets of Keene in police cars. What did they have to gain? They already had two individuals. who were accomplices in the burglary, in custody and surely the police could have gotten them to give up their buddy. Or, as anyone who’s been to court, Keene prosecutors love to offer plea deals to those willing to provide information or testimony for the state. The police know this, yet they decided take action that made Keene less safe anyways.

When the man continued to flee, the police shot him. This article mentions nothing about the ‘suspect’ attempting to run over the police officers but I’m sure that will be the story. Most will not only believe the police version of this but they’ll justify the officer’s actions because this man attempted to rob a store and then flee. Yet, the problem really starts with the government’s control over the valued service of protection. It was also magnified by the officer actions to chase a suspect they had no reason to chase.

Believe it or not the police are commonly bring violence into peaceful Keene and if you want to end it, you have to end the government’s control over our protection. Allow Keene Police to work directly with homeowners and businesses for a rate they decide, for services they need. Some may think that’s crazy but some think it’s crazy for police to fire guns in the streets at petty robbers.

Keene Police Shoot and Kill Burglar is a post from Cop Block - Badges Don't Grant Extra Rights

Recently Constitutional freedoms and the gradual erosion thereof have seemingly become the rhetoric of so called Tea Party members or tea-baggers. I wish to warn the rest of us that, even though you may revile the Tea Party and what it stands for or what you think it stands for, it is still a movement of Americans by Americans and for Americans. I want to remind you of what exactly it means to be an American at it’s most basic essence.

The constitution has been called by some the most perfect document ever written. It is beautiful in what it guarantees each and every one of us regardless of political stance. The slow but eventual erosion of our constitutional rights should not be disregarded as the babble of far right or radical conservatives fixated on some conspiracy theory of a new world order or a creation of a nazi police state. Americans of every stamp need to take heed and educate themselves on what exactly is being done in Washington by both the people on each side of the aisle. After 9/11 the actions of our government have become more and more intrusive upon us and less and less liberious. With the stroke of a pen our government has been whittling away at our perfect document. The theft of your rights is not something to disregard as rhetoric by some loony with a protest sign it is real and it is happening.

The writ of habeus corpus has been suspended and although it has not been implemented against any citizens thus far is still a harbinger of terrible things to come. The ever broadening powers of the executive branch can only be allowed through a complicit congress and judicial system. I don’t need to deliver some civics lesson to remind everyone of the checks and balances in place. There are currently bills signed into law which give the Executive (the president) the right to declare martial law which is in essence the cancellation of our “inalienable rights” and the three branches of our government are in in collusion and allowing this to happen. This is not a matter of convenience but of necessity that we let OUR government know that we are not OK with this. The old adage goes that if you give them an inch they will take a mile, well I am here to tell you that the odometer is rolling and quickly. This is an issue for every American.

Remember “dissent is the highest form of patriotism” (Thomas Jefferson). Ask questions of your government and demand answers, demand satisfaction, demand integrity. The government in America has the sole purpose of protecting the liberties and rights of the people. When the government makes laws anathema to that then it is no longer a government of for and by the people. It is a government against it’s people. Lift up your eyes from the television screen or computer screen and find out what exactly is going on. You should never entrust your freedom to someone else, such is the behavior of sheep and not free individuals. Just as the sheep feel protected and cared for they feel this way only by relinquishing their freedom and capacities as an independent being. Do not look upon those in your government as benevolent shepards without first checking their credentials as there are good people in our government trying to do good things and defending our constitution just as there are bad ones.

The fundamental idea of this letter is only that despite our political differences the facts are the facts and disregarding them because life is busy or because the person presenting them does not share your political views is not prudent as you would want to be heard and taken seriously if something were dear to You. Remember that peace and security are not so dear as to be purchased at the price of chains and slavery and that the people should defend their own liberties and freedoms and if for some reason this is not possible then we should ask the government to help us in that. The term republic comes from the Latin phrase “res publica” which means a kingdom of the people. Remember that in essence you are a sovereign individual with rights and that YOU are in essence, by decree of our constitution, the government and have every power nee right nee DUTY to alter or change it if it becomes violate of those rights. I am no conservative or right winger by any means. In fact those that know me would probably call me a socialist with capitalist tendencies. I believe in a strong benevolent government with socialist leanings and a policy of prosperity both economic and societal, meaning that the government should prosper the people with out violating their liberty or privacy. I believe that the government should be non-intrusive at the very least and only intervene at the people’s behest. But above all I believe in truth and truth alone.

- Michael Mortenson

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Our Rights? is a post from Cop Block - Badges Don't Grant Extra Rights

The below block quotes were sent to CopBlock.org via the submission tab. I decided to add my two cents into this post because I think Terrance missed a few points pertaining to Occupy events. He states:

I keep seeing so many of these OWS people getting busted by police videos. I get it, OWS wants… well, nothing clear. No defined goal… But what they are doing is trespassing into streets and impeding traffic, vandalizing public parks and roads and buildings… Then you film it and complain that your rights are violated when the police arrest you while trespassing and/or vandalizing. I only have one issue with this. You commit a crime, then you complain your rights are violated. Your being hypocritical with your actions and words.

How does one trespass on public property? How do you vandalize a public property such as a park? Isn’t public property owned by the people? I’m not justifying or saying I support these tactics – destroying private property is always wrong – but look at it this way.

Sure the Occupy movement has no clear agenda, goal or demands. IMO, that’s because there are so many government caused issues that everyone’s demands are different. When “the government” (via politicians – who claim to be working for you) forces you to comply with “the law” and punishes (with fines, prison or seizing property) those who refuse to do so, what other recourse do people have?

I say lets start the conversation where the conversation begins, why are people in the parks and streets anyways? Maybe the endless wars in the Middle East, troubled economy and growing police state have something to do with the increased displeasure for government controls (ie, laws). One day people, like those at occupy, will realize the common factor – the cancer to most any social problem today – the government.

This is something Terrance has over looked as well.  Using his logic, the people have a right to protest or assemble as long as they don’t break the law. Yet, as you seen in the Occupy movement, the government (police and politicians alike) create city ordinances and/or state laws against being on public property at certain times (that they decide as they go). Yes, this is confusing because as I stated above, public property is owned by everyone but regulated by few.

How can a government that claims to be the freest in the world arrest people for peaceful assembly and free speech? Or, on a small side note, cage the most people than another country in the world? Isn’t Freedom of Speech, the right to peacefully assemble and to be free to live your life  the pilars of some crazy government document that was written hundreds of years ago? Why aren’t people questioning the government as much as the protestors Terrance?

The police do NOT decide who breaks laws in these OWS marches/camps. They only follow their orders which is to clear out the camps/rallys when they become a problem. I love what this website does when it comes to accountability, but come on.

Don’t be the NEED for change, be the change that is needed.

I could go on about police and their ability to use discretion, or the fact that most of the violence at Occupy events happens after the police initiate force. Instead, I’ll agree with you. “Don’t be the need for change, be the change that is needed” is exactly what every officer should be telling themselves before they go out on their shift. Start with those who believe badges grant extra rights.

OWS Isn’t a play on rights, it’s vandals at work. is a post from Cop Block - Badges Don't Grant Extra Rights

I composed this document, and am having it laminated and will keep it in my vehicle. Upon being stopped, my plan is to hand this the the officer. Can anyone provide me with some feed back on it..first, are my points correct? Second, what do you think the officer’s reaction will be?

To the Law Enforcement Officer who has stopped this vehicle, please read if you like, I will read this aloud for your dash camera.

I am assuming you are stopping my vehicle for an alleged traffic violation. I will be providing a current driver’s license, registration and proof of insurance upon your request. I will answer no questions regarding the traffic violation that may violate my Fifth Amendment rights. (example: do you know how fast you were going?). State your allegation and I will sign the citation agreeing to appear in court at the designated time and place.

Please do not ask my passengers for identification. They have no reason to identify themselves.

To protect my Fifth Amendment rights, I will not answer questions about the origin or destination of my trip.

To protect my Fifth Amendment rights, I will not answer questions regarding my passengers or the contents of my vehicle.

To protect my Fourth and Fifth Amendment rights, I give no express or implied consent to search any part of my vehicle.

Please do not take this personally, I am simply insuring that my rights are protected.

Thank you for your cooperation.

- RLM

Thoughts for RLM? And if you’re looking for more police information/outreach materials, head to CopBlock.org’s propaganda page. To submit a story to CopBlock.org click here.

Something to read to the police when stopped is a post from Cop Block - Badges Don't Grant Extra Rights

This post on Tyler Perry‘s – movie star, director and more – Facebook page was posted to my wall by a friend and though I tend to disagree with Tyler’s view on the stand your ground law (I don’t think you need a law to state you have a right to defend yourself, just as you don’t need law to tell you the difference between defense and murder – all you need are facts, something the police seem to get in the way of alot), I appreciate him speaking about these issues to his fans.

A few days before President Obama was supposed to speak at my studio, I was leaving the studio, headed to the airport. Most times when I leave the studio I have an unmarked escort. Other times I constantly check in my rearview mirror to be sure that I’m not being followed. It’s a safety precaution that my security team taught me. As I got to an intersection, I made a left turn from the right lane and was pulled over by two police officers. I pulled the car over and put it in park. Then, I let the window down and sat in the car waiting for the officer. The officer came up to the driver’s door and said that I made an illegal turn. I said, “I signaled to get into the turning lane, then made the turn because I have to be sure I’m not being followed.” He said, “why do you think someone would be following you?”

Before I could answer him, I heard a hard banging coming from the passenger window. I had never been in this position before so I asked the officer who was at my window what was going on and why is someone banging on the window like that. He said, “let your window down, let your window down. Your windows are tinted.” As I let down the passenger window, there was another officer standing on the passenger side of the car. He said, “what is wrong with you?” The other officer said to him, “he thinks he’s being followed.” Then, the second officer said, “why do you think someone is following you? What is wrong with you?”

Before I could answer the officer on the passenger side, the one on the driver’s side had reached into the car and started pulling on the switch that turns the car on and off, saying, “put your foot on the brake, put your foot on the brake!” I was so confused as to what he was doing, or what he thought he was doing. It looked like he was trying to pull the switch out of the dashboard. I finally realized that he thought that switch was the key, so I told him that it wasn’t the key he was grabbing. I reached down into the cup holder to get the key, not realizing that the key had a black leather strap on it. As I grabbed it they both tensed up and I dropped it as I heard my mother’s voice from when I was a little boy.

My mother would always say to me, “if you get stopped by the police, especially if they are white policemen, you say ‘yes sir’ and ‘no sir’, and if they want to take you in, you go with them. Don’t resist, you hear me? Don’t make any quick moves, don’t run, you just go.” My mother was born in 1945 into a segregated hotbed town in rural Louisiana. She had known of many colored men at the time who were lynched and never heard from again. Since I was her only son for ten years, growing up she was so worried about me. It wasn’t until after I heard her voice that I realized that both of these officers were white.

The officer on the driver’s side continued to badger me, “why do you think someone is following you?” I then said, “I think you guys need to just write the ticket and do whatever you need to do.” It was so hostile. I was so confused. It was happening so fast that I could easily see how this situation could get out of hand very quickly. I didn’t feel safe at all. But one officer stopped his questioning and said, “we may not let you go. You think you’re being followed, what’s wrong with you?” At this point, I told him that I wanted to get out of the car. I wanted the passersby to see what was happening.

As I stepped out of the car another officer pulled up in front of my car. This officer was a black guy. He took one look at me and had that “Oh No” look on his face. He immediately took both officers to the back of my car and spoke to them in a hushed tone. After that, one of the officers stayed near his car while one came back, very apologetic.

I said all of that to say this: do you see how quickly this could have turned for the worse?

Now I know that there are many great officers, patrolmen and security guys out there. I am aware of that. But although we have made significant strides with racial profiling in this country, the world needs to know that we are still being racially profiled, and until this situation has improved greatly, I’m not sure how a murder in Florida can be protected by a “stand your ground law.”

And in another case that I have been screaming at the top of my lungs about, also in Florida, is the case of Terrance Williams and Felipe Santos, a young black man and a young Mexican man. Eight years ago, in Naples, FL, they were both put in the back of Deputy Steve Calkins’ police car and never heard from again.

They were never arrested, never brought to jail. They were put into the back of Deputy Calkins’ car and never heard from again. And to this day Deputy Steve Calkins is a free man.

I guess it’s time to march in Naples now.

RACIAL PROFILING SHOULD BE A HATE CRIME INVESTIGATED BY THE FBI!!!

That way local government can’t make the decision on whether or not these people get punished.

-Tyler

Tyler Perry’s Run In with the Law is a post from Cop Block - Badges Don't Grant Extra Rights