Category Archives: Crime

Jul9

Maybe If He Played Ball You’d Know His Story

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Maybe If He Played Ball You’d Know His Story

22 Year-old Oscar Grant was shot in the back while restrained face down on the ground.

Lebron James was the name most American’s heard across airwaves all day Thursday, July 8, 2010. While James was “grappling” with which NBA team he would sign with, Oscar Grant’s family was grappling with the fact that the policeman who fatally shot and murdered their unarmed, restrained son, was convicted of involuntary manslaughter.

Oscar Grant was murdered on January 1, 2009 on a BART platform in Oakland. BART (Bay Area Rapid Transit) officer, Johannes Mehserle fatally shot 22 year old Oscar Grant. Grant was restrained and laying face down on the platform. The bullet entered his back, pierced his lungs and ricocheted on the concrete below. Continue reading here.

Jun13

Seems Like Every Week We Hear of a NFL Star Charged With Assault

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Seems Like Every Week We Hear of a NFL Star Charged With Assault

Tennessee Titan's QB, Vince Young

Just last week I reported that several players from the Green Bay Packers were questioned regarding accusations sexual assault of two women. Today the headline isn’t sexual assault, but its assault nonetheless. Continue reading here.

Jun13

Experienced Prosecutor & Police Officer Running For Jefferson County District Attorney

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Experienced Prosecutor & Police Officer Running For Jefferson County District Attorney

Early in his prosecution career, Theo Lawson earned a reputation as a tough but fair prosecutor making it his mission “not to make cases but do justice.”

Attorney, Police Officer, Law Professor Theodore Lawson II is a native of Birmingham who spent most of his childhood growing up in the Wenonah area. He is the son of the late Dr. Theodore Alfred Lawson, former president of Lawson State Community College, and Dr. Marjorie H. Lawson.

Theo Lawson Jefferson County, AL Candidate for District Attorney

Lawson has dedicated his life to learning the law, effectively prosecuting criminals, improving policies, and pursuing justice. His life’s aim is to make society a safer place for everyone through being tough, yet smart on crime one arrest, one prosecution, and one policy change at a time.

Lawson’s campaign for Jefferson County DA is a historical one.  If elected, he will become the first African American DA for Jefferson County.

The General Election is Tuesday, November 2, 2010. For additional information on Mr. Lawson, Click Here For More

Jun13

Grand Jury Indicts 5 New Orleans Police Officers In Hurricane Katrina Shooting

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Grand Jury Indicts 5 New Orleans Police Officers In Hurricane Katrina Shooting

Scene from the floods of Hurricane Katrina in 2005

Some of you may recall reports from New Orleans of a suspected police shooting during the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. Well, nearly five years later a New Orleans grand jury has indicted five officers in the shooting and burning of Henry Glover. Click Here For More & Video

Jun8

MEDIA WARS: Black Veteran Shot In The Head & Dragged for 10 Miles vs. A Dutchman in South America (That’s A Different Continent)

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MEDIA WARS: Black Veteran Shot In The Head & Dragged for 10 Miles vs. A Dutchman in South America (That’s A Different Continent)

The body of 30 year old Anthony Hill was discovered on the morning of June 2, 2010. He was shot in the head, dragged for nearly 10 miles. Officials say that they “followed a trail of blood and human tissue.” The trail led them to the home of the suspected murderer, a 19 year-old.

As upsetting and cruel as this case is, it is even more upsetting to know that most of America will never hear about it. Nonetheless, all of America has just about heard about the arrest and murder confession of Joran van der Sloot, a Dutchman. He killed a 21 year-old college student in Peru. Her body was discovered the same morning as Anthony Hill’s.

Perhaps if Mr. Hill’s murderer was a media favorite like van der Sloot we would have at least seen his name or heard his story on the local morning news; on the front-page of our local paper while sipping coffee; on the morning talk shows; on our smartphones as we scanned the news apps for the latest news while trying to stay awake in a boring conference; on the evening or even late night news… Not even GOOGLE, has much to offer on Anthony Hill. The most recent story report is from last Friday (Today is Tuesday)

The point of this isn’t to promote Hill’s murder as a hate crime, although I’d imagine you HATE the hell out of someone if you shoot them in the head and drag them for nearly 10 miles. The point is, that its quite sad to know that a US Army Veteran who served in the Middle East, can make it back home only to be shot in the head and dragged for 1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10 MILES. Click Here For More

(Photo found on Google)

Jun6

Powerful Egos vs. Beautiful Opportunities

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Powerful Egos vs. Beautiful Opportunities

Once again, another NFL franchise is being rocked by scandal. This time it is the Green Bay Packers. Nearly two months following the Big Ben suspension, once again the dreadful phrase “sexual assault” is being associated with the NFL. Continue reading here.

(Photo found on Google)

Jun5

Race Matters: Why is a Peruvian murder bigger than one in South Carolina?

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Race Matters: Why is a Peruvian murder bigger than one in South Carolina?

**BREAKING NEWS!”**

Few American’s have heard the news of the body discovered in rural South Carolina this past Wednesday morning. However, most Americans have heard of the latest arrest of  Joran van der Sloot in Chile for the murder of a 21 year old Peruvian woman, Stephany Flores Ramirez. van der Sloot is the well known suspect in the disappearance of Natalee Holloway. Holloway an Alabama resident was on vacation in Aruba 5 years ago when she disappeared. van der Sloot has remained a continuous suspect in Holloway’s disappearance.

So what happened in South Carolina? Well the headlines read “Black man’s death, subsequent dragging investigated as hate crime.” Kinda upset’s me that the headline has no name in it. I mean to his family, I’m sure he was more than just a Black man. To the country he served as a member of The United States Armed Forces, he was more than a Black man. Right!?

His death was egregious; police followed nearly a 10 mile path of blood and human tissue… No, this isn’t Jasper, TX and though the month is the same, it’s not June 1998 and the victim is not James Byrd, Jr., although their deaths are eerily the same.

The body of 30 year old Anthony Hill was discovered on the morning of June 2, 2010 the same day as the body of Flores Ramirez was. It frustrates me that the death of a foreigner in a foreign country on a totally different continent has garnered more attention from the American media than that of an American veteran here on American soil.

Please don’t be mistaken, I find it awful that Flores Ramirez was murdered by  van der Sloot who is more likely than not the person responsible for the disappearance of Holloway. However, it is ridiculous to see every major news outlet in America cover his arrest, paying very little attention to the victim Flores Ramirez and basically no attention to the evil and disturbing murder of Anthony Hill right here in America. van der Sloot isn’t an American, Flores Ramirez isn’t an American and the crimes he’s associated with haven’t occurred in America. Well maybe the recently announced Federal extortion charge, but that’s an entirely different case!

I mean the point is who get’s shot in the head, dragged for miles and it goes barely noticed in mainstream American media? A Black man!

Race Matters… A young white teenager from Alabama disappeared five years ago while on an international vacation. The lead suspect in her disappearance, a foreigner  is arrested in a foreign nation for a murder that happens to a foreign woman on the same day a Black man is found dead in America from a gun shot wound to the head and police follow his blood and tissue for nearly 10 miles and most of you reading this are hearing about it for the first time… Yep, you guessed it, Race Matters!

**I challenge you to Google Anthony Hill and see how many stories you find**

Jun2

You Have The Right To Remain Silent… Well Almost

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You Have The Right To Remain Silent… Well Almost

In a 5-4 split decision... Miranda is changed

The United Supreme Court decided on June 1, 2010 that criminal arrestee’s must explicitly inform officers that they would like to invoke their right to remaining silent.

Generally, Miranda is understood to be a legal statement/ advisement given to suspects from law enforcement:

“You have the right to remain silent. Anything you say can and will be used against you in a court of law. You have the right to an attorney. If you cannot afford an attorney, one will be appointed to you. Do you understand these rights as they have been read to you?“

Well times have changed and as of this Tuesday so has the law. Now, a criminal must invoke his/her right to remain silence. Thus,  if you are arrested and are being interrogated while in custody, if you don’t want to be questioned, you better open your mouth and say “I’m staying silent.”

As interesting and serious as this decision is and the impacts that it will definitely have on our criminal system, I am quite amazed that of the numerous newspapers and news sites that I visited today, only one of them reported this as a “front page” story.

**If you find yourself  arrested, don’t call me I’m a broke law student right now. Give me a year and a half.**

Mar18

Spring Break Gone Wrong

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Spring Break Gone Wrong

Only one week into “Spring Break 2010″ and Daytona Beach, FL officials are already reporting six rapes. Daytona Beach is one of the busiest Spring Break destinations amongst college students.

March is the high season for Spring Break tourist in Daytona. Daytona Beach Police say that forty-one sexual assaults were reported last year .

During my Black College Beach Week days long ago, I always stayed with people I KNEW, not someone I met while I was there. Its not a typical vacation. When alcohol is mixed with the sun and a bit of hunger and dyhydration, your focus isn’t as good as it should be. Therfore, stay alert. Spring Break should be memorable, so be sure to make good decisions so the memory is a good one.

For more information regarding Spring Break tips: Safety Tips