Tuesday, November 10, 2015

Tearful Tuesday: Louisiana Boy Laid to Rest

The tears are justified.

"Boy, 6, slain by Louisiana police is buried" by Michael Kunzelman Associated Press  November 10, 2015

MARKSVILLE, La. — A police body camera recorded the father of a 6-year-old autistic boy with his hands up and posing no threat as police opened fire into his car, severely wounding the motorist and killing his son, the man’s lawyer said Monday.

‘‘This was not a threatening situation for the police,’’ said Mark Jeansonne, the lawyer for Chris Few, who remained hospitalized Monday and could not attend the funeral of his son, Jeremy Mardis.

The boy was mourned Monday at his funeral in Hattiesburg, Miss., where he lived before moving with his father recently to Louisiana.

Jeansonne spoke after a closed hearing in a Louisiana jail where he said the two local marshals were ordered held in lieu of $1 million bonds. Derrick Stafford, 32, of Mansura, and Norris Greenhouse Jr., 23, of Marksville, are both charged with second-degree murder and attempted second-degree murder.

The lawyer said he still hasn’t seen the video, but its contents were described to the judge during the hearing. He also said that while Few’s condition is improving, he has not yet been told that his son died at the scene. State Police declined to comment, citing the ongoing investigation.

Oh, God, the father does not yet know.

Also Monday, District Attorney Charles A. Riddle recused himself from the case because one of his top assistant prosecutors is the father of Greenhouse. The case is ‘‘not good for any of us,’’ Riddle said. The state attorney general’s office will take over the prosecution.

 Tuesday’s shooting raised questions from the start. Initial reports suggested the marshals had been serving a warrant on Few, but Louisiana’s state police chief, Colonel Mike Edmonson, said there was no evidence of a warrant, nor was there a gun found at the scene.

Meaning a knee-jerk lie was put out first, as usual.

Investigators have been reviewing forensics evidence, 911 calls and body camera recordings, which Edmonson described at a news conference Friday. State police said the boy died wearing his seatbelt in the front passenger seat.

Agh!

‘‘It’s the most disturbing thing I’ve seen — and I will leave it at that,’’ Edmonson said.

So will I. 

The possibility that the officers could post bond and be released Monday, despite the murder charges, didn’t sit well with some townspeople who gathered outside the jail....

Uh-oh! State has a history of lynchings.

In Alabama on Monday, three police officers were suspended with pay after videos posted online showed officers using a stun gun and baton to break up a post-football game party and arrest three University of Alabama students.

Tuscaloosa police Chief Steve Anderson said he was ‘‘deeply disturbed’’ by what he saw in the videos and disappointed in the response of the officers, who were responding to a noise complaint.

The episode occurred at an apartment building about a block from Bryant-Denny Stadium, where Alabama defeated Louisiana State University a few hours before the arrests. Residents said fans celebrated into the early morning hours.

It was a miracle, but what happened in Missouri overshadowed it all.

A police statement identified the three students as [names withheld to protect the innocent]

All three are charged with obstructing governmental operations, harassment and resisting arrest.

The videos, from varying angles, show a Tuscaloosa officer at the apartment's door, arguing for several minutes with occupants who refuse to exit.

"Please let go of him. You are illegally entering," one of the young men says while an officer tries to lead another person out of the apartment, located within yards of a row of off-campus bars popular with Alabama students. 

What a BRAVE (and smart) KID!

The person gets away from the officer and goes back inside, and the officer follows him inside as voices get louder.

After nearly two minutes of discussion and arguing, officers enter the residence and drag out two young men and a screaming woman. An officer uses a stun gun on at least one of the men; another officer hits him repeatedly with what appears to be a baton."

Hey, it's Alabama. It's okay.

--more--" 

Oh, I see they are white victims.

Well, look on the bright side: 

Fewer Autism Cases in Louisiana

‘Angola 3’ inmate may face a third trial

Rather late in the game, isn't it?