Assortment of Information and Open Discussion

Butterflies, moths, caterpillars, a certain roach, visitors and friends,

First, a million thanks to all followers and participants.

 

I’ve not written many blog posts lately because my eye doctor has instructed me to decrease the amount of time I spend looking at the computer screen.  This open discussion will probably be the most current post until the end of next week, and then I might reblog as I return to being able to read more online.

I did see a fantastic movie and when I’m back writing, I want to share it with you.

There have been some cases and other news that I’ve been following.  Here are summaries:

Houston Texans defensive end J.J. Watt has offered to pay funeral expenses for the 10 victims killed in the Sante Fe High School shooting in Texas, CBS affiliate KHOU-TV reports. The family of one victim, Shana Fisher, said they accepted his offer.  CBS News has the story. Autopsies are to reveal whether any of the victims were killed by law enforcement or resource officers in the crossfire between them and Dimitrios Pagourtzis, the identified shooter.  More on USA Today.

POLITICS

There were primary elections in Georgia, Texas, Kentucky and Arkansas.  The highlight is that Stacey Abrams has a chance to make history as the first Black woman elected governor of any state.  She will run for Governor for the State of Georgia.

In other political news, Donald Trump said this; someone on his behalf said that; a Republican said the other; and we await for Special Prosecutor Robert Mueller to take more actions in indictments.  My advice:

Charges, Trials, Rulings

In March 2015, Anthony Hill, an Air Force veteran, was shot and killed by DeKalb County, Georgia police officer Robert Olsen. Anthony was naked and unarmed.  The apartment manager called police after seeing Anthony, who was a resident, wandering around the complex without clothing.

Olsen was indicted for murder, aggravated assault and other charges.  On May 22, 2018, Olsen’s defense attorney asked that the charges be dismissed.  There was a hearing and a DeKalb County judge will review evidence and testimony before ruling.  WSB Radio has more on the story.

You might remember the name Tyler Barris. He is the young man in California who made a swatting call to Wichita, Kansas, resulting in the death of Andrew Finch.  Barris was extradited to Kansas and charged with involuntary manslaughter, giving false alarm, and interference with law-enforcement officers.  He’s been in jail in Wichita.

In April 2018, it was discovered that Barris was using the internet from jail, where he threatened to swat.  The sheriff’s office launched an investigation based on a tip they received and discovered that a software upgrade to one of the inmate kiosks was done improperly by the vendor.  Barris seems to be addicted to using the internet to threaten harm to others.  The story is on Variety.

On May 22, 2018, Kansas.com reported on Barris’ preliminary hearing.  For the first time, we hear from officers that were on the scene.  Barris has been ordered to stand trial.

The first of four St. Louis Police Officers accused of stealing overtime pay stood trial in St. Louis Circuit Court Monday. See Fox News for more info.

In September 2012, Mohamed Bah was killed by police in upper Manhattan.  In November 2017,  a jury found that Detective Edwin Mateo and Lt. Michael Licitra used excessive force, and awarded Bah’s estate compensatory damages of more than $2.2 million.

The New York Law Journal reports that those officers wanted U.S. District Judge P. Kevin Castel to overturn the jury’s verdict or give them a new trial.  They argued that Bah had a knife.  However, Bah was tased and on the ground when he was shot. The judge denied the motion saying,

“The fact that the person may have engaged in some form of threatening conduct in the moments before the shooting would not justify shooting him after he ceased posing a threat.”

 

Feel free to openly discuss whatever is on your mind.