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Police Officers Indicted For Assaulting Demetrius Hollins And Fabricating Story
He didn’t have a license plate.
He didn’t comply with verbal commands
He tried to push the officer away.
He reached for a firearm under his car seat.
The car smelled like marijuana.
He was pulled over before and a gun was found.
He resisted arrested which forced the tasing.
Demetrius Hollins
Those were all reason that Sgt. Michael Bongiovanni, 42, and Officer Robert McDonald 25, of suburban Atlanta, Georgia gave to justify their use of excessive force on April 12, 2017 upon 21-year old Demetrius Hollins.
Then bystander video was released showing what happened after Demetrius was placed in handcuffs and laying on the ground. The video shows McDonald running up to a handcuffed Demetrius, stomping on his head as if he was stomping an insect.
Another bystander video was released showing the traffic stop. In it, Bongiovanni is shown punching Demetrius in the face as he gets out of the car with his hands up. Read the rest of this entry
Sean Christopher Urbanski Indicted For The Stabbing Death of Richard Collins III
Richard Collins IIII
It was Saturday, May 20, 2017. Richard Wilbur Collins III was 23 years old. He completed his ROTC training and had been recently commissioned as a second lieutenant in the U.S. Army, where he expected to join the intelligence division.
Richard was attending Bowie State University, in Maryland. He was with two friends standing at a bus stop at the University of Maryland’s campus in College Park. In three days, he was to graduate.
Sean Christopher Urbanski took away Richard’s opportunity to graduate. Urbankski took away Richard’s military career. Urbanksi took away Richard’s future. Urbankski took all of that away by carrying out an unprovoked stabbing to Richard’s chest with a knife.
On the day of what would have been Richard’s commencement ceremony, his cap and gown were draped over an empty seat during the ceremony. His family received a standing ovation as they accepted a degree on Richard’s behalf.
Meanwhile, Sean Christopher Urbanski was sitting in a jail cell, denied bail. Read the rest of this entry
Marion County Florida Sheriff Indicted
A grand jury was investigating the conduct of deputies of the Marion County, Florida Sheriff’s office for using excessive force when making arrests. Sheriff Chris Blair was subpoenaed to testify before the grand jury. He did, and now he’s been charged with two counts of perjury in an official proceeding, and a third charge of official misconduct. All charges are third-degree felonies. Officials said that Sheriff Blair “knowingly testified falsely in that while testifying in regard to Dustin Heathman.”
Dustin Heathman was involved in a 6-hour standoff with a SWAT team in 2014. He was charged with two counts of attempted second-degree murder of a law enforcement officer; five counts of aggravated assault of a law enforcement officer; and firing into a vehicle. In December 2015, a jury of 6 found Dustin Heathman guilty of attempted second-degree murder. He was acquitted on the charge of shooting into a barn at deputies. Read the rest of this entry
Three Former Augusta Georgia Correctional Officers Indicted For Civil Rights Violation
Former Augusta, George State Medical Prison correctional officers John Williams, Antonio Binns, and Justin Washington, have been charged with a civil rights violation. The indictment alleges that on February 13, 2014, the three assaulted an inmate, known in the case as “C.V.” while he was handcuffed behind his back. Binns and Washington were also indicted for one count of obstruction of justice for allegedly writing false reports to cover-up the assault.
According to the Augusta Chronicle, bonds of $20,000 were set for Williams and Washington, and a $30,000 bond was set for Binns. Binns’ bond will be lowered to $20,000 if he loses his job, according to court documents.
Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Vanita Gupta, head of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division; U.S. Attorney Edward J. Tarver of the Southern District of Georgia and Special Agent in Charge J. Britt Johnson of the FBI’s Atlanta Division made the announcement.
If convicted of the civil rights charge, each defendant faces a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison. The obstruction of justice counts carry a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison. Read the rest of this entry
Texas Trooper Who Arrested Sandra Bland Has Been Indicted
A Waller County grand jury has indicted Texas Department of Public Safety Trooper Brian Encinia on perjury charges. The charge is a Class A misdemeanor. If convicted, Encinia could face up to a year in jail and a $4,000 fine.
Grand juries typically review felony cases. Darrell Jordan, one of five special prosecutors assigned to the case, stated “Because he [is] an officer, they have to go through an indictment process, regardless of whether it’s a felony or a misdemeanor.” The grand jury’s indictment stemmed from a statement by Encinia
Encinia pulled Bland over on July 10, 2015 for making an improper lane change near Prairie View A&M University, her alma mater, where she had just interviewed and accepted a job. Dashcam video from Encinia’s patrol car shows that the traffic stop quickly became confrontational.
The video shows the trooper holding a stun gun and yelling, “I will light you up!” after Bland refuses to get out of her car. Bland eventually steps out of the vehicle, and Encinia ordered her to the side of the road. Read the rest of this entry
Waco Texas Bikers Indicted
Remember this photo of bikers in Waco, Texas? 177 of them were arrested. On Tuesday, a grand jury returned indictments against 106 of them for engaging in organized criminal activity.
It took the grand jury 9 hours to reach the decision on the 106 bikers. District Attorney Abel Reyna said that the grand jury will return to consider charges against the other 71 bikers.
Nine people died and 20 were injured, which authorities say arose from an apparent confrontation between the Bandidos and the Cossacks motorcycle clubs. More than 430 weapons were recovered from the crime scene, including 151 firearms. No one has been charged in the deaths and injuries because investigators cannot determine whose bullets struck those who died or were injured.
Grand Jury Indicts Michael Slager For Killing Walter Scott
A grand jury has indicted former South Carolina police officer Michael Slager on a murder charge in the fatal shooting of unarmed Walter Scott.
The April 4, 2015 killing was captured on video by a bystander. It showed that Slager fired 8 times at the 50-year old Walter Scott as Scott’s back was turned, running away from Slager.
Prosecutor Scarlett Wilson announced the indictment this morning. Prosecutors will not seek the death penalty because under South Carolina law, it requires aggravating circumstances. If convicted, the 33-year old Slager faces 30 years to life in prison. Read the rest of this entry
NY Police Officer Peter Liang Indicted On 6 Charges
- second-degree manslaughter,
- criminally negligent homicide,
- reckless endangerment,
- second-degree assault, and
- – 6. two counts of official misconduct.
Peter Liang, left, arrives in court.
On November 20, 2014, New York City police officer Peter Liang shot and killed 28-year old Akai Gurley. Gurley was unarmed, and reportedly walking with his girlfriend down a stairwell at a Brooklyn housing project when Liang shot him.
Liang alleges that he was opening a door with the same hand that held his gun, and that the shooting was an accident. The grand jury however, returned an indictment of 6 counts against Liang. The question now is, will a jury convict Liang of any or all of the charges?
We Hold These Truths To Be Self-Evident 