Georgia Pastor Jonathan Ayers, 28, Shot and Killed by Police During Prostitution-Drug Sting

Jonathan Ayers, 29, the pastor of Shoal Creek Baptist Church in Lavonia, Ga., was shot and killed by multi-county drug taskforce, though he was not the target of the sting operation. Authorities were looking for a woman they say Ayers dropped off minutes before the shooting. That woman, whose name has not been released, had been charged with cocaine possession and distribution, the police spokesman said. The family of Mr. Ayers have maintained that he was not involved in any illegal drug activity. There are many unanswered questions in this unfortunate situation. Why would the pastor be giving a ride to an alleged drug dealer? Though this seems to be another case of excessive police force, we need to reserve judgment until all the facts are disclosed.

Ayers dropped off the sting suspect in downtown Toccoa around 2:30 p.m. and that two agents from the joint task force -- composed of officers from Stephens, Habersham and Rabun counties -- followed the pastor and attempted to question him.

WNEG-TV has surveillance video showing Ayers casually entering a Shell convenience store in Toccoa around 2:30 p.m. According to that video, a black SUV carrying undercover officers pulls into the parking lot after Ayers left the store. The pastor tried to avoid them, Shirley said Wednesday, striking one of the agents after putting his car in reverse. “They yelled, ‘Police. Stop,’” Stephens County Sheriff Randy Shirley said.

Witnesses to the incident also said the officers identified themselves, said Georgia Bureau of Investigation spokesman John Bankhead. Shirley said Wednesday that Ayers maneuvered his car towards another agent in a “threatening manner.” However, that is unclear from the video.

Stephens County Sheriff Randy Shirley first said that one shot was fired by one of the three agents on the scene, striking the pastor in the upper torso. WNEG-TV reports that Shirley said the agent fired two shots into the car. Ayers drove off before losing control of the vehicle a block away, striking a telephone pole, Shirley said. Source: AJC

Okay, so herein lies another problem, if this man wasn't the target of the sting, why was excessive and deadly force used to get his attention? This may be another case in which the cops were too trigger-happy. All I can say is thank God there is a video of the entire series of events and the truth will be revealed eventually. Pastor Ayers and his wife Abby are expecting their first child.

Video shows confrontation with police

Five Birmingham, Alabama, Police Officers Terminated for Brutal Beating of Anthony Warren, which was Caught on Video-tape

Birmingham police beating video

Police brutality is in the news again. Five police officers from Birmingham, Ala., have been fired for a January 2008 beating of Anthony Warren, an already-unconscious suspect, with fists, feet and a billy club, a battering caught on videotape until a police officer turned off the patrol car camera, city and police officials said today. I can only give you the gruesome details are they are being related by Alabama.com.

Authorities believe the video, taken after a high-speed chase by several area law enforcement agencies ended when the fleeing suspect's van flipped, has been seen by numerous Birmingham officers and up to a half dozen supervisors over the past year. But top city and police officials weren't made aware of the taped beating until they were contacted by the district attorney's office two months ago.

In fact, investigators say, the suspect, Anthony Warren, didn't even know he'd been beaten until the tape surfaced at his trial in March. Warren was ejected from the vehicle and knocked unconscious, and thought all of his injuries were sustained in the wreck.

Police Chief A.C. Roper called the video "shameful." Mayor Larry Langford said it was "disgusting." Roper said the video shamed the police department and the citizens served by the department, saying it was especially troubling because these were seasoned, veteran officers.

Roper hasn't identified the officers. Four of them worked in the department's Vice and Narcotics Unit; the fifth was a North Precinct patrolman. The officers have the right to appeal to the Jefferson County Personnel Board.

"We've terminated over 50 years of combined service due to 10 seconds of injustice," Roper said in an interview with The Birmingham News. "We have five officers who lost their jobs and may face criminal charges, and a suspect who suffered unnecessarily."

Roper said there will be additional disciplinary action against supervisors who failed to report the incident to higher-ups. He has demanded the Internal Affairs Division track down every supervisor who saw the videotape, including those who have since retired. He said the department is reviewing its reporting mechanisms and policies. Roper said the district attorney's office brought in the Alabama Bureau of Investigation to probe possible criminal charges against the officers involved in the incident. The officers were notified of their termination about 7:30 p.m. Tuesday. "It's a sad day for the department and our 1,100 employees, but we will work through it," Roper said. Source: Al.com

I know that there are many honorable and decent police officers putting their lives on the line each daily, but there is a certain element in every precinct across this country that needs to be eradicated. All too often the victim is blamed and nothing comes out of the various cases, but thank God for fact that this incident was caught on tape and there was no wiggle room for these five scumbags.

Johannes Mehserle, the Former BART Police Officer who Shot and Killed Oscar Grant III Arrested on Murder Charges

UPDATE

I am appalled that people engaged in rioting again over the tragic and senseless shooting of Oscar Grant III at the hands of a former transit police officer. There are elements in our society who jump at the idea of rioting and looting. What happened to peaceful protesting? Since when are people so depraved that they have to engage in criminal behavior? I agree that this is a racially motivated case, but do you have to trade violent behavior for this young man's murder? According to media reports, the protest was mostly peaceful before a small group went on a window-breaking rampage through downtown, smashing windows at several businesses and about 30 cars. Eighteen people were arrested mainly for vandalism. This is appalling.

Newly released court documents allege that Johannes Mehserle, who was charged Tuesday, shot 22-year-old Oscar Grant while Grant had his hands behind his back and another officer was kneeling on his neck. Alameda County District Attorney Tom Orloff made the rare decision to file a murder charge against a police officer for an on-duty incident. "At this point, what I feel the evidence indicates, is an unlawful killing done by an intentional act and from the evidence we have there's nothing that would mitigate that to something lower than a murder," Orloff said at a news conference. He said he would not speculate on whether the charge would end up being first-degree murder or second-degree murder.

Johannes Mehserle, the former BART police officer who shot and killed Oscar Grant III, who was unarmed man, early New Year's Day, has been arrested on a murder charge in Nevada today. Mehserle, 27, shot and killed Grant, 22, at an Oakland BART station in the early morning of New Year's Day. The shooting has prompted massive protests, especially after videos of the incident surfaced and rightly so.

According to Mercury News, a law enforcement official said that Mehserle was being held in Douglas County, Nev., on a no-bail warrant. Since he was arrested in Nevada, he will face an extradition hearing before returning to Alameda County, a process that could take at least a few days. Alameda County District Attorney Tom Orloff was expected to discuss the arrest further on Wednesday. Mehserle had been moving from place to place in recent days as he faced numerous death threats. He was reportedly arrested without incident. Source: Mercury News

"The family will certainly be relieved that (Orloff) has made some effort to bring him to justice," said attorney John Burris, who is representing the family in a $25 million claim against BART. "This is terrific. This is a very important step in healing the community."Mehserle's resignation last week took away BART's ability to get a statement out of him, since he could no longer be fired for remaining silent.

That was a deliberate move on his part. If he felt the shooting was justified, why quit the police force? Something smells here and I hope, if he is in fact found guilty, he will be charged as an everyday person would be -- life without parole. There are too many incidents involving police brutality and the use of excessive force. This is another life taken senselessly by a cop. It is one life too many.

Johannes Mehserle, the Former BART Police Officer who Shot and Killed Oscar Grant III Arrested on Murder Charges

UPDATE

I am appalled that people engaged in rioting again over the tragic and senseless shooting of Oscar Grant III at the hands of a former transit police officer. There are elements in our society who jump at the idea of rioting and looting. What happened to peaceful protesting? Since when are people so depraved that they have to engage in criminal behavior? I agree that this is a racially motivated case, but do you have to trade violent behavior for this young man's murder? According to media reports, the protest was mostly peaceful before a small group went on a window-breaking rampage through downtown, smashing windows at several businesses and about 30 cars. Eighteen people were arrested mainly for vandalism. This is appalling.

Newly released court documents allege that Johannes Mehserle, who was charged Tuesday, shot 22-year-old Oscar Grant while Grant had his hands behind his back and another officer was kneeling on his neck. Alameda County District Attorney Tom Orloff made the rare decision to file a murder charge against a police officer for an on-duty incident. "At this point, what I feel the evidence indicates, is an unlawful killing done by an intentional act and from the evidence we have there's nothing that would mitigate that to something lower than a murder," Orloff said at a news conference. He said he would not speculate on whether the charge would end up being first-degree murder or second-degree murder.

Johannes Mehserle, the former BART police officer who shot and killed Oscar Grant III, who was unarmed man, early New Year's Day, has been arrested on a murder charge in Nevada today. Mehserle, 27, shot and killed Grant, 22, at an Oakland BART station in the early morning of New Year's Day. The shooting has prompted massive protests, especially after videos of the incident surfaced and rightly so.

According to Mercury News, a law enforcement official said that Mehserle was being held in Douglas County, Nev., on a no-bail warrant. Since he was arrested in Nevada, he will face an extradition hearing before returning to Alameda County, a process that could take at least a few days. Alameda County District Attorney Tom Orloff was expected to discuss the arrest further on Wednesday. Mehserle had been moving from place to place in recent days as he faced numerous death threats. He was reportedly arrested without incident. Source: Mercury News

"The family will certainly be relieved that (Orloff) has made some effort to bring him to justice," said attorney John Burris, who is representing the family in a $25 million claim against BART. "This is terrific. This is a very important step in healing the community."Mehserle's resignation last week took away BART's ability to get a statement out of him, since he could no longer be fired for remaining silent.

That was a deliberate move on his part. If he felt the shooting was justified, why quit the police force? Something smells here and I hope, if he is in fact found guilty, he will be charged as an everyday person would be -- life without parole. There are too many incidents involving police brutality and the use of excessive force. This is another life taken senselessly by a cop. It is one life too many.

New York Police Francis Cole Murders Wife, Elana Cole, Daughter Tried to Intervene, Was Struck in the Face

New York's Finest is in the news again. NYPD Lt. Francis Cole gunned down his wife, Elana, and then killed himself on Monday at their Long Island home. According to the NY Daily News, Cole, 48, who worked out of Brooklyn's 68th Precinct, stabbed his wife in the chest with a kitchen knife before shooting her in the head at their home in Centereach. He then shot himself in the head.

Detective Lt. Jack Fitzpatrick said that Cole's 18-year-old daughter tried to intervene before her parents' fight turned deadly, but was struck in the face. The daughter called 911 at 12:35 p.m. to report her father had shot her mother, Fitzpatrick said. They had been going through a divorce.

Cole and his wife were found in the upstairs bedroom of their two-story house. He was still alive when cops found him and rushed him to the hospital, where he later died. Besides the couple's teenage daughter, Elana Coles's 81-year-old mother was in the house at the time, Fitzpatrick said. The couple is also survived by three sons, all in their 20s.

This cop is no stranger to controversy. According to the NY Daily News, in 2005, he was named in a racial discrimination suit filed by a black female officer in the 68th Precinct. The officer accused Cole of running an "old-boys club" within the NYPD that prevented her from being promoted. He was a ticking time bomb waiting to explode. I hope his daughter will get counselling for witnessing her father shooting her mother. There is always something in the news about New York City's Finest and it seems that they have a penchant for breaking the same law they are supposed to uphold. It is shameful that more psychological counseling isn't being done. They need more sensitivity training, without a doubt.

New York Police Francis Cole Murders Wife, Elana Cole, Daughter Tried to Intervene, Was Struck in the Face

New York's Finest is in the news again. NYPD Lt. Francis Cole gunned down his wife, Elana, and then killed himself on Monday at their Long Island home. According to the NY Daily News, Cole, 48, who worked out of Brooklyn's 68th Precinct, stabbed his wife in the chest with a kitchen knife before shooting her in the head at their home in Centereach. He then shot himself in the head.

Detective Lt. Jack Fitzpatrick said that Cole's 18-year-old daughter tried to intervene before her parents' fight turned deadly, but was struck in the face. The daughter called 911 at 12:35 p.m. to report her father had shot her mother, Fitzpatrick said. They had been going through a divorce.

Cole and his wife were found in the upstairs bedroom of their two-story house. He was still alive when cops found him and rushed him to the hospital, where he later died. Besides the couple's teenage daughter, Elana Coles's 81-year-old mother was in the house at the time, Fitzpatrick said. The couple is also survived by three sons, all in their 20s.

This cop is no stranger to controversy. According to the NY Daily News, in 2005, he was named in a racial discrimination suit filed by a black female officer in the 68th Precinct. The officer accused Cole of running an "old-boys club" within the NYPD that prevented her from being promoted. He was a ticking time bomb waiting to explode. I hope his daughter will get counselling for witnessing her father shooting her mother. There is always something in the news about New York City's Finest and it seems that they have a penchant for breaking the same law they are supposed to uphold. It is shameful that more psychological counseling isn't being done. They need more sensitivity training, without a doubt.

NYPD Officer Richard Kern, 25, Indicted by Grand Jury in Sodomy Attack on Michael Mineo During Subway Station Arrest

NYPD officers (l. to r.) Alex Cruz, Andrew Morales and Richard Kern

Another of New York's finest is in a lot of trouble. NYPD cop Richard Kern, 25, was indicted by a grand jury for allegedly sodomizing tattoo artist Michael Mineo with a baton during a subway station arrest. I wrote on this series of events when it first broke. Mineo, 24, accused Kern of sodomizing him in October while two other officers held him down. This occurred after they caught him smoking marijuana outside the Prospect Park subway station.

Kern, a four-year veteran, was implicated earlier this month by a transit officer who told the grand jury that Kern stuck a 2-foot long NYPD baton between Michael Mineo's buttocks after the suspect was wrestled to the platform.

Kern's lawyer, John Patten, said he would not comment because he had no official notification of an indictment against his client. "I don't know anything," he said. "I've heard no official word of anything, so I'm not going to comment."

Charges presented before the grand jury included assault and aggravated sexual assault, but the exact nature of the jury's decision is unknown. The indictment will be unsealed on Tuesday. Source: NY Daily News

According to media reports, the other officers involved, Noel Jugraj and Kevin Maloney, have maintained their innocence. Of course, what else would they have said? I'm guilty of the accusations being leveled against me?

"My client is a decorated officer who had absolutely nothing to do with this case," said Jugraj's lawyer, Edward Mandery. "I don't think he's going to be charged. I trust the District Attorney's office is investigating this properly."

"Based on what I know about what happened, I'm not surprised and I wouldn't be surprised if he (Kern) were the only officer" indicted, said Paul Martin, the lawyer for Maloney, the transit officer who broke the Blue Wall of silence and told grand jurors he saw Kern use the baton on Mineo. Source: NY Daily News

Really? We'll see what happens. It seems that these cops have not learned from the sodomizing of Abner Louima by former cop Justin Volpe and his posse. The city was sued by Louima and he received the largest payout in NYC history for police brutality. There are too many accusations of police brutality against New York City's finest for it all to be lies. These cops were given a blank check by former Mayor Rudy Giuliani to do as they please. Well, it is high time they were held accountable for their actions. I know there are decent, hard-working and law abiding police in NYC, but there is a rogue element that must be contained or weeded out. If not, we will continue to hear about such instances of police brutality in New York and in other cities across the United States. Though this man was doing the wrong thing and he has a rap sheet, did he really deserve to be sodomized with a baton? I don't think so.

NYPD Officer Richard Kern, 25, Indicted by Grand Jury in Sodomy Attack on Michael Mineo During Subway Station Arrest

NYPD officers (l. to r.) Alex Cruz, Andrew Morales and Richard Kern

Another of New York's finest is in a lot of trouble. NYPD cop Richard Kern, 25, was indicted by a grand jury for allegedly sodomizing tattoo artist Michael Mineo with a baton during a subway station arrest. I wrote on this series of events when it first broke. Mineo, 24, accused Kern of sodomizing him in October while two other officers held him down. This occurred after they caught him smoking marijuana outside the Prospect Park subway station.

Kern, a four-year veteran, was implicated earlier this month by a transit officer who told the grand jury that Kern stuck a 2-foot long NYPD baton between Michael Mineo's buttocks after the suspect was wrestled to the platform.

Kern's lawyer, John Patten, said he would not comment because he had no official notification of an indictment against his client. "I don't know anything," he said. "I've heard no official word of anything, so I'm not going to comment."

Charges presented before the grand jury included assault and aggravated sexual assault, but the exact nature of the jury's decision is unknown. The indictment will be unsealed on Tuesday. Source: NY Daily News

According to media reports, the other officers involved, Noel Jugraj and Kevin Maloney, have maintained their innocence. Of course, what else would they have said? I'm guilty of the accusations being leveled against me?

"My client is a decorated officer who had absolutely nothing to do with this case," said Jugraj's lawyer, Edward Mandery. "I don't think he's going to be charged. I trust the District Attorney's office is investigating this properly."

"Based on what I know about what happened, I'm not surprised and I wouldn't be surprised if he (Kern) were the only officer" indicted, said Paul Martin, the lawyer for Maloney, the transit officer who broke the Blue Wall of silence and told grand jurors he saw Kern use the baton on Mineo. Source: NY Daily News

Really? We'll see what happens. It seems that these cops have not learned from the sodomizing of Abner Louima by former cop Justin Volpe and his posse. The city was sued by Louima and he received the largest payout in NYC history for police brutality. There are too many accusations of police brutality against New York City's finest for it all to be lies. These cops were given a blank check by former Mayor Rudy Giuliani to do as they please. Well, it is high time they were held accountable for their actions. I know there are decent, hard-working and law abiding police in NYC, but there is a rogue element that must be contained or weeded out. If not, we will continue to hear about such instances of police brutality in New York and in other cities across the United States. Though this man was doing the wrong thing and he has a rap sheet, did he really deserve to be sodomized with a baton? I don't think so.

NY City Transit Cop Comes Forward To Tell Account Of Alleged Sodomy Of Michael Mineo By Eight Cops

I deliberately waited a few days before writing about the latest alleged case of police brutality in New York City. The latest twist in this sodomy assault comes as a NYPD transit cop breaks ranks to implicate his fellow officers and is offering to tell what he saw the afternoon Michael Mineo allegedly said he was sodomized on a subway platform.

According to the NY Daily News, the cop's account of what happened "is bad" for the other three officers accused by Michael Mineo of sodomizing him with a radio antenna on a Brooklyn subway platform Oct. 15. The transit cop's lawyer is talking with the Brooklyn district attorney's office about his client coming forward to give his version of events.

A little background.... Three patrol cops from Brooklyn's 71st Precinct chased Mineo after supposedly seeing him smoking a marijuana cigarette. The transit cop arrived as Mineo was arrested, sources said. Mineo, 24, was issued a summons for disorderly conduct and released.

Brooklyn District Attorney Charles Hynes called a grand jury to investigate the incident based on Mineo's medical records and the divergent witness accounts. Mineo was hospitalized four days after the incident, and released Tuesday after another, five-day stint in the hospital. All officers remain on full duty.

It would be sad if this is another Abner Louima-type case. It seems the New York's Finest has been called on this type of behavior before. I will reserve judgment and wait until the facts in the case are revealed. I seem to recall Sean Hannity and others saying that Abner Louima had engaged in rough gay sex, but that was farthest from the truth and he went on to receive the largest settlement in New York City history for police brutality. Let me also remind you that the Justin Volpe, the ringleader, was imprisoned for what he did to Mr. Louima. I must applaud this transit cop for coming forward to tell his story. So many times, there seems to be a brotherhood among police that they will not squeal on each other.

To read more about the case, CLICK HERE....

NY City Transit Cop Comes Forward To Tell Account Of Alleged Sodomy Of Michael Mineo By Eight Cops

I deliberately waited a few days before writing about the latest alleged case of police brutality in New York City. The latest twist in this sodomy assault comes as a NYPD transit cop breaks ranks to implicate his fellow officers and is offering to tell what he saw the afternoon Michael Mineo allegedly said he was sodomized on a subway platform.

According to the NY Daily News, the cop's account of what happened "is bad" for the other three officers accused by Michael Mineo of sodomizing him with a radio antenna on a Brooklyn subway platform Oct. 15. The transit cop's lawyer is talking with the Brooklyn district attorney's office about his client coming forward to give his version of events.

A little background.... Three patrol cops from Brooklyn's 71st Precinct chased Mineo after supposedly seeing him smoking a marijuana cigarette. The transit cop arrived as Mineo was arrested, sources said. Mineo, 24, was issued a summons for disorderly conduct and released.

Brooklyn District Attorney Charles Hynes called a grand jury to investigate the incident based on Mineo's medical records and the divergent witness accounts. Mineo was hospitalized four days after the incident, and released Tuesday after another, five-day stint in the hospital. All officers remain on full duty.

It would be sad if this is another Abner Louima-type case. It seems the New York's Finest has been called on this type of behavior before. I will reserve judgment and wait until the facts in the case are revealed. I seem to recall Sean Hannity and others saying that Abner Louima had engaged in rough gay sex, but that was farthest from the truth and he went on to receive the largest settlement in New York City history for police brutality. Let me also remind you that the Justin Volpe, the ringleader, was imprisoned for what he did to Mr. Louima. I must applaud this transit cop for coming forward to tell his story. So many times, there seems to be a brotherhood among police that they will not squeal on each other.

To read more about the case, CLICK HERE....