What Do The Danroy Henry and Sean Bell Murder Tragedies Have In Common?

Over the weekend a Pace University student-athlete was killed by the police. News of the murder of Danroy Henry is spreading across the internet and various news outlets. As I was reading various articles to gather details about the tragedy, I couldn’t help but notice the following similarities between the Sean Bell murder and the Danroy Henry murder:

-Both were young Black men in their 20s, who were killed by on-duty New York police officers.

-Neither of the men were involved in any criminal activities.

-Both men were drivers of a motor vehicle at the time of their murders. This gives officers the option of trying to cover their tracks by saying that the men attempted to run them over with their cars, so they discharged their weapons. However, any reasonable person may also deduct that shooting the driver of a vehicle will cause the driver to lose control of the automobile, and consequently run into persons or property in the vicinity of their vehicle.

-Both men had passengers in their cars who were childhood friends, who were injured- but not killed- by the gunfire.

- Both men were killed outside of social venues at night. However, neither victim was under the influence of alcohol or drugs.

- Both men were killed near important milestones in their lives. Sean Bell, on the night before his wedding; Danroy Henry, less than two weeks before his 21st birthday.

The Oscar Grant Verdict

The Oscar Grant Verdict has been noted in the press as, “The first time a police officer has been convicted for shooting a Black man in Bay Area history.”

Oscar Grant is the young man from the Bay Area who was murdered by a transit cop with a shot to his back while he was lying prostrate face down on the ground. Oscar Grant had been inexplicably stopped and detained by police officers in an incident in which witnesses have said was completely uncalled for on the part of law enforcement.

A few days ago, Johannes Mehserle- the police officer who delivered the fatal shot to Mr. Grant- was convicted by a jury for involuntary manslaughter.This charge carries a sentence of 2 to 4 years.

Involuntray manslaughter for killing an innocent man who was lying face and not resisting? Again, I say: "A world without justice is doomed."


Previous Links:
Cops Gone Wild Part 26: The Murder A Man In Cold Blood While He's Lying Face Down Edition

The BART Police Murder Of Oscar Grant Sparks Riots In L.A.

A Picture Is Worth A Thousand Words Pic Of The Week- Part 1

A Picture Is Worth A Thousand Words Pic Of The Week- Part 2

Oscar Grant's Killer Has Been Apprehended

Cops Gone Wild Part 36: The Murder An Innocent Father In A Hail of 50 Bullets and Then Sue His Estate Edition

A police officer who was involved in the 2006 murder of Sean Bell, is now suing his estate for injuries he claims was inflicted upon him in the despicable event that lead to the death of Sean Bell.

According to “Find Law,” New York City police officer Michael Carey, claims that he “suffered a serious leg injury” due to Sean Bell crashing his car into his leg. Find Law also states that: “The Carey suit was reported to have been filed in response to the wrongful death suit filed by Bell’s fiancee, Nicole Paultre Bell.”

The police officers who participated in the unjustified slaying of Sean Bell are still on the police force. In 2008, they were acquitted of criminal charges for their involvement of taking the life of this innocent father on his wedding night. Federal prosecutors are also reported as saying that they have, “insufficient evidence to pursue federal criminal civil rights charges.”

[SIDEBAR: A without justice is a world that is doomed.]

Special Thanks to Verse*All for bringing this developing news to my attention.

WHERE IS THE JUSTICE FOR AIYANA JONES?!

Cops Gone Wild Part 35: The R.I.P. Aiyana Jones Edition

A beautiful 7-year old girl, Aiyana Jones (pictured above), was recently killed when police in Detroit invaded her home under the guise of executing a police raid. Aiyana Jones was peacefully sleeping on a couch in her home when she was fatally shot in the neck by a police officer who was reportedly raiding the house in order to "target a homicide suspect." However, the police seemingly targeted the home of an innocent family.

CBS News is also reporting that at time of the raid, "neighbors told [the] police [that] there were children in the house, and showed them toys in the front yard." However, the police allegedly proceeded to throw a flash grenade through the window of the home despite the warnings.

Shockingly, the whole tragic befuddling ordeal was reportedly caught on tape by a television crew that was following the police in order to film the raid for a crime show.

How will the world respond to this senseless act of police terrorism, and the stealing of an innocent life?

Cops Gone Wild Part 34: The Slam A Non-Violent Man's Head Through A Glass Window Edition

Bart police are at it again...The video speaks for itself...

Cops Gone Wild Part 33: The Body Slam An Octogenarian Edition

(WARNING: This video contains some profanity).

The following video clip of an Ohio police officer body slamming an 80-something year old woman has been circulating the blog-o-sphere. The woman, who was walking with a cane, was allegedly wielding a knife in one hand. However in the video, the woman does not seem to be postured in a threatening manner. Despite this, a police woman slams the senior citizen (who is allegedly an Alzheimer's patient) to the ground, busting her head open.

Elsie Law's Daily Dose Of The Law: Will Harvard Professor Sue The Massachusetts Police Department After Being Arrested For Breaking Into His Own Home?

African American studies scholar Henry Louis Gates Jr. (of Harvard University), was arrested at his home after someone called the authorities to report a break in.

The Wall Street Journal states that a police report revealed that Professor Gates had just returned home from a trip to China. Upon his arrival at his residence, he had difficulty opening his front door. The Professor reportedly had his driver push his front door, while he opened the door from the inside. While this was transpiring, police who were allegedly responding to the call of a break in arrived. Professor Gates was subsequently asked for his ID and arrested. [SIDEBAR: I wonder if the driver was arrested for breaking in too. Smh.]

The arresting officer claims that Mr. Gates was hesitant to show his identification, and accused him of racism. Mr. Gates' attorney says the officer refused to give his client his badge number. The charges against Professor Henry Gates included a charge for disorderly conduct. However, all of the charges have been dropped. Police officials have reportedly called the incident "regrettable and unfortunate."

It has yet to be determined whether or not Henry Louis Gates will file a lawsuit against the police department for this inexplicable incident.

Cops Gone Wild Part 32: The Beat A Person For No Reason Edition

Surveillance video captured a New Jersey police officer beating a man who was standing outside of a restaurant.

The inexplicable, brutal beating appears to have occurred for no good reason. According to CNN, the victim has stated that "he had exchanged no words with the officer before [the officer] pounced on him. CNN also states that the victim's attorney has revealed that: "After the incident, police locked [the victim] in a holding cell and did not provide treatment for his injuries."

The Passaic police department has reportedly filed three charges against the victim: Resisting arrest, disorderly conduct, and wandering for the purpose of obtaining controlled dangerous substances. [SIDEBAR: "Wandering for the purpose of obtaining controlled dangerous substances." What kind of charge is that???]

The recipient of the brutal act of police terrorism says that he was simply going on a walk around his neighborhood. He now reportedly has extensive bruising on his body, and a torn cornea as a result of his pummeling.

Elsie Law's Daily Dose Of The Law

A NYPD officer reportedly told a lie that cost an innocent cab driver 9 months of his life, and the city $1.5 million.

In 2002, an undercover cop falsely accused a cab driver of selling him 100 ecstasy pills. The results of the accusation was that the cab driver was jailed for 9 months, for a crime he didn't commit.

Attorneys were recently able to prove the taxi driver's innocence in a lawsuit that was filed against the city. The driver was awarded $1.5 million by the court system when evidence revealed that not only didn't he fit the description of the presumed drug seller; but that the police officer who declared he was the culprit wasn't even on duty the day he claimed he was brought drugs from the innocent cab driver. [SIDEBAR: It took more than 7 years, and an undeserved jail sentence for this innocent man to clear his name.]

According to The New York Daily News, the officer involved in this incident was never disciplined for his actions. The officer remains on full duty.

An Update On Cops Gone Wild Part 31: The Allegedly Rape An Inebriated Woman You Are Supposed To Be Helping Home Edition

Two NYPD officers who allegedly raped an inebriated woman who they were supposed to be helping home have been indicted. This morning, they plead not guilty to charges of: Rape, burglary, and official misconduct. [CLICK HERE For: "Cops Gone Wild Part 31: The Allegedly Rape An Inebriated Woman You Are Supposed To Be Helping Home Edition;" for background on this case.]

Elsie Law's Daily Dose Of The Law: The Case Of The Police Officer Who Killed A Police Officer

According to The New York Daily News, a lawsuit filed yesterday claims that a police officer shot another police officer "at point-blank range and then 'secreted' the slain cop's badge to cover up his crime." The officer who fired the point-blank to the face fatal shot, allegedly hid the murdered officer's badge in his car so it could be said that the slain officer failed to identify himself as a member of the NYPD.

This case has racial implications because the murdered officer was Black, and the officer who killed him is White.

The deceased officer's family has filed a $90 million federal civil rights lawsuit against Westchester officials, officers, and the district attorney. The recently filed lawsuit alleges that the plaintiffs participated in a cover-up of the unjustified killing.

Last year a grand jury cleared the officers involved in this case of any wrong doing. [SIDEBAR: This has been a precedent when it comes to police killing people in NYC.] However, the slain officer's family will persist in a legal battle.

In addition to the aforementioned statements, The New York Daily News also states that, "Among other things, the suit [claims that the District Attorney] conspired with the county coroner to hide the autopsy results 'because it would prove the fatal, albeit unnecessary point blank gun shot to Officer Ridley's forehead.'"

Officer Ridley, who was 23 years old at the time of his death, was reportedly murdered as he attempted to arrest an assault suspect in White Plains, Westchester County.

Cops Gone Wild Part 31: The Allegedly Rape An Inebriated Woman You Are Supposed To Be Helping Home Edition

I have been watching this story unfold all week.

In December 2008, a cab driver called the police when an inebriated woman began to regurgitate in the back of his cab. The cab driver likely thought that he was doing the right thing, and was helping the woman get the assistance that she needed. However, this was the point that the woman's nightmare allegedly began.

The two police officers who responded to the call escorted the woman home. Then one, or both, of the officers allegedly raped the woman sometime that night. Surveillance video shows that the officers returned to the woman's apartment twice that night, within a 2 hour span of time. Certain news outlets are also reporting that the officers allegedly entered the woman's residence with a key at least once.

The Gothamist states that one of the officers initially claimed that he had consensual sex with the woman. However, witnesses and video attest that the woman was too intoxicated to consent.

According to The New York Times, in the course of investigating this situation, officials started to become suspicious when they were unable to account for the officer's memo book- which an officer is required to use to log all of their movements. The New York Times also states that a grand jury is expected to be impaneled to review this case in the upcoming weeks.

Cops Gone Wild Part 30: The Shamelessly Beat A 15 Year Old Girl In A Holding Cell Edition

I began to catch wind of a story via twitter about a Seattle police officer brutally beating a 15 year old girl while she was being held in a holding cell. I did some research on the stirring, but unfortunately not surprising, situation.

The video of the beating was recorded by precinct surveillance cameras. It was released to the public on Friday, just one day after Deputy Paul Schene- the officer who beat the young girl- plead not guilty to misdemeanor assault. [SIDEBAR: Misdemeanor assault???]

According to The Seattle Post-Intelligencer: "The girl was arrested after she was caught in her parents' car, which had been reported stolen from her parents' home...The deputies apparently didn't know until later that the girl, who was in the passenger seat, was related to the car's owner." [SIDEBAR: Although, the full details of the arrest has not been presented in news outlets. It sounds like the arrest could have possibly been some type of mix-up or mistake.]

The beating that was administered to the young girl, reportedly occurred even though the girl was not a physical threat to the deputy. Deputy Schene allegedly claimed in court records that the girl hit him in the shin with a shoe causing him "pain and injury." However the video of the violent attack [SEE ABOVE VIDEO] shows a different story. On the video, the deputy can be seen hitting his shin against a metal toilet as he slams the girl into the wall.

[SIDEBAR: The deputy handed out this brutal beating to a child, despite the fact that surveillance cameras are knowingly installed in the precinct. What conclusions does that lead one to draw???]

Cops Gone Wild Part 29: The Kill A Person While Driving Drunk, Then Your Mother Pours Salt In The Wound Edition

This is one of those stories that you hear, and hope that the press got it wrong. However, I have a feeling that instead; this story may be a true, living nightmare.

A New Jersey police officer, mowed into two people while driving drunk this weekend. He killed one person. The woman who tragically died, was a twenty-something year old Chinese immigrant who had recently received her Law degree from New York University. The other person who was hit, and survived with injuries, was her boyfriend. The response of the mother of the police officer who was allegedly complicit in this murderous DUI, adds to the utter sadness of this situation.

The New York Daily News is reporting that the brazen mother of the allegedly drunk driving cop has responded to her son's deadly actions by blaming the victims; stating: "It was her fault [referring to the woman who was killed]...So my son went out and had a couple of drinks. He deserves to have a good time now and then."

It causes pangs of pain to know that there are such heartless people on the planet. I can only bow my head in prayer after hearing this mother's statement.

Condolences & love to the victims and their loved ones.

Cops Gone Wild Part 28: The Make A False Arrest To Get Overtime Edition

Undercover police officers falsely arrested four men for the sale of narcotics at a Queens nightclub. The pair of officers complicit in the act were indicted a few days ago for the offense.

The officers allegedly tampered with evidence and falsified reports in order to make the arrest. Their motive for the unconscionable act was reportedly an attempt to boost their overtime pay.

The four men who were falsely arrested and imprisoned were exonerated when security video obtained from the site of the arrest proved that the undercover cops had no contact with the four men inside of the nightclub during a buy and bust operation as they had claimed.

One of the police officers involved in this incident has retired. The other officer has been placed on desk duty. According to The New York Daily News, "each [officer] faces up to nine years in prison for unlawful imprisonment, conspiracy, official misconduct, and other charges."

Cops Gone Wild Part 27: The Trick Or Treat Edition

This week, two police officers plead guilty to disorderly conduct charges for a Halloween-night incident that occurred in 2007.

On October 31, 2007, the two police officers decided to punish a 14-year old who was allegedly throwing eggs at cars. The officers drove the Staten Island teen to a swampy area near high-voltage electricity lines, beat him, stripped him of his clothing, and abandoned him in the deserted area. The teen was made to navigate his way back to civilization shoeless in his boxer shorts. The officers will not serve any jail time for their actions.

[SIDEBAR: Disorderly conduct??? What about kidnapping, assault, robbery, and endangering the welfare of a child (for starters)?]

R.I.P. Baron Pikes

Today is the 1 year anniversary of the murder of Baron Pikes. Mr. Pikes was killed by a Louisiana police officer, when he was repeatedly tasered while he was handcuffed. The story of Baron Pikes (who is also the first cousin of Jena 6's Mychal Bell) has yet to reach the consciousness of the masses like it should.

[For More Details On This Case:
CLICK HERE for my previous blog entry, "Cops Gone Wild Part 5: The Cops With Tasers Edition" and, also:
CLICK HERE for my previous blog entry, "An Update On Cops Gone Wild Part 5: The Cops With Tasers Edition"
CLICK HERE for my previous blog entry, "Another Update On Cops Gone Wild Part 5: The Cops With Tasers Edition"]

Oscar Grant's Killer Has Been Apprehended

The Bay Area Rapid Transit Police Officer who fired the fatal shot that killed Oscar Grant (who was unarmed and prostrate at the time of his murder) has been apprehended.

Authorities arrested Johannes Mehserle in Las Vegas. According to CNN, "Mehserle was arrested on a fugitive warrant charging homicide." Reportedly, Johannes Mehserle has waived extradition. He is expected to be returned to the state of California soon.

RELATED POSTS/THE BACKGROUND STORY:
Cops Gone Wild Part 26: The Murder A Man In Cold Blood While He's Lying Face Down Edition
Cops Gone Wild Part 2 of Part 26: The Murder A Man In Cold Blood While He's Lying Face Down Video Edition
The BART Police Murder Of Oscar Grant Sparks Riots In L.A.
A Picture Is Worth A Thousand Words Pic Of The Week- Part 1
A Picture Is Worth A Thousand Words Pic Of The Week- Part 2

Cops Gone Wild Part 2 of Part 26: The Murder A Man In Cold Blood While He's Lying Face Down Video Edition