Updates and Open Discussion

Caterpillars, moths, butterflies, and all creatures great and small,

Have I told you lately that I love you?  Here’s a hearty “THANK YOU” to all subscribers and a “howdy” added to new subscribers.  Thanks for your support.   This heartfelt thanks extends to those on Twitter and Facebook who post links to articles on this blog.

Rather than write separate posts for each story, here are some updates, and we can use this post for open discussion as well.

 

Akai Gurley and Peter Liang

On November 20, 2014, 28-year-old Akai Gurley was coming down a stairway in a housing project in Brooklyn, when rookie cop Peter Liang fired a shot. It is said that the bullet ricocheted off a wall and hit Akai in his chest. Liang, neither his partner, provided Akai with medical assistance, and Akai died at the scene.

In February 2015, Liang was indicted by a grand jury. His trial began on Monday with opening statements.  The trial is not livestreamed, but Wild About Trial is writing on the daily proceedings.

The 911 call reporting the shooting has been released.

Remember the case in Cleveland where Timothy Russell and Malissa Williams were shot approximately 23 times each, and officer Michael Brelo stood trial? He was acquitted because the judge decided that it could not be determined if the bullets fired by Brelo actually killed Timothy and Malissa.

Today, the Huffington Post reported that 6 police officers who fired during that 137 shot barrage have been fired.   Michael Brelo is one of them. Six more officers face suspensions ranging from 21 to 30 days, and one officer has retired. The officers have been cited for leaving the city limits without permission, and some are cited for endangering other officers by creating a crossfire situation.

Robert Olsen

In DeKalb County Georgia, a grand jury indicted 53-year old Robert Olsen, the officer who shot and killed Anthony Hill. Olsen was indicted on six charges, including 2 counts of felony murder. Hill was an Air Force veteran who served in Afghanistan. He was naked and unarmed when Olsen killed in him March 2015.

11Alive reports that Olsen turned himself in to the DeKalb County Sheriff’s Office on Friday, and was released on a $110,000 bond.  He resigned from the police department on Monday.

 

 

 

If you’re into politics, the Iowa caucus is coming up, and candidates are vying for first place. Donald Trump seems to get more media attention and is said to be the number one GOP contender. He has threatened not to appear in the next debate.

Last night, Democratic candidates had a town hall meeting. I was shocked that Hillary said that the president she most admired is Abraham Lincoln.  Hilliary was a young woman when JFK was President.  I would have thought that she would have chosen a President that she actually experienced.

 

Abe Vigoda

Actor Abe Vigoda, known for his roles in the Godfather movie, and as Detective Fish on the television program Barney Miller, has died at the age of 94.

Rest in peace, Abe.

 

 

 

If you’ve read posts here about internet harassers who use defamation, you might be interested in knowing that a Michigan court has entered a judgment against Vicki Pate for defamation. The order includes that she take down the defamatory material that she wrote about Denise Souriall. More is coming on this that will soon be posted on the other blog.

 

 

 

 

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