Blog Archives
Lawsuit Settles Against Michael Slager for Tasing
Michael Slager, left. Mario Givens, right.
Former North Charleston police officer Michael Slager was charged with murder or voluntary manslaughter in the killing of Walter Scott, an unarmed black man. Walter Scott was shot in the back 5 times. Slager’s state trial began on November 3, 2016, with closing arguments on November 30, 2016. It ended with a hung jury. Slager is scheduled to be retried by the State of South Carolina, and also by the federal government. His trial was reported on this blog.
Meanwhile, three men had filed lawsuits against North Charleston for being wrongfully or excessively tased by Michael Slager. Two have reached settlement. Mario Givens was awarded $27,500 and Jerome Stanley $50,000 for their 2013 run-ins with Slager.
The Post Courier reports:
“They were among three people who filed actions in 2015 amid intense scrutiny of the city’s police force. An eyewitness video of patrolman Michael Slager shooting the fleeing black man sparked the frenzy.
The men alleged excessive use of the stun gun, though Slager’s lawyers have defended his record as exemplary.”
Mario Givens is quoted as saying,
“If they’d listened to me Walter Scott might not be dead’: Man who filed excessive force complaint after being tasered by ‘killer cop’ in 2013 speaks out – and announces he’s suing.”
Givens was initially charged with resisting arrest, but was later released without charge. He filed a police complaint but Slager was exonerated. Read the rest of this entry
Man Who Called-In False Report On John Crawford Might Be Charged
Fairborn Municipal Court Judge Beth Root has ruled that there is probable cause to charge Ronald T. Ritchie with making false alarms. Judge Root ruled that there was not probable cause to issue a criminal complaint against Ritchie for inciting to violence, inducing panic, involuntary manslaughter or reckless homicide. She has referred the case for making false alarms to a prosecutor.
On August 5, 2014, Ronald T. Ritchie called 911 reporting that a Black man was in the Beavercreek, Ohio’s Walmart pointing a gun at shoppers and children. Beavercreek police officer Sean Williams arrived and shot John twice, killing him. John had picked up an air rifle from the shelf in the store. The store’s surveillance video shows that John was not behaving as Ritchie reported.
John Crawford III was 22-years old. At the time he was killed by Officer Williams, a shopper, 37-year old Angela Williams, had a heart attack while rushing out of the store. She died.
The Dayton Daily News reports that 10 private citizens filed affidavits in Fairborn Municipal Court and turned in Walmart surveillance video synchronized to the 911 call by the FBI on March 25. Judge Root watched the synchronized video and ruled that at the time that Ritchie told 911 that John was pointing a gun at two children, that the video does not depict that event. Read the rest of this entry
Michael Brown’s Friend Files Lawsuit and Grand Juror’s Suit is Dismissed
Dorian Johnson
Dorian Johnson, the man who was with Michael Brown when they encountered Darren Wilson who killed Michael, has filed a lawsuit against the City of Ferguson, former Ferguson Police Chief Thomas Jackson, and former police officer Darren Wilson. Dorian filed suit in the St. Louis County Circuit Court. Dorian’s complaint alleges constitutional violations, assault and intentional infliction of emotional distress. It mentions many of the Justice Department’s findings. Click here for the lawsuit. It can also be found on the right-side border of this blog under “Documents.” Read the rest of this entry
Open Discussion
Caterpillar, butterflies, moths, and all creatures great and small,
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We Hold These Truths To Be Self-Evident 