In Case You Missed It - Observer Says "CMPD handling tragic case properly"

Charlotte-Mecklenburg police released more information Tuesday about Officer Randall Kerrick’s killing of unarmed 24-year-old Jonathan Ferrell, and all indications are that the department is handling the case appropriately so far.

Police charged Kerrick with voluntary manslaughter less than 24 hours after he fatally shot Ferrell while responding to a call of a possible burglary early Saturday morning.

Police Chief Rodney Monroe on Tuesday described to the Observer editorial board what police say happened, based on a video of the incident and interviews with Kerrick and the two other officers who were there.

Ferrell, who had crashed his car in northeast Charlotte around 2:30 a.m. before knocking on the door of a nearby house, did not appear to be running to the officers for help as some have speculated, Monroe said. Ferrell did not talk to police. He walked toward the officers before running past one officer and toward Kerrick. The officers told Ferrell to stop but he didn’t, and one officer shot a Taser but missed, Monroe said.

Ferrell was about two feet away when Kerrick began shooting him 10 times, all in the torso, Monroe said. The video shows Ferrell’s hands and that he was clearly unarmed, the chief said.

Monroe said that while the 12 shots Kerrick fired were excessive, even the first shot was unwarranted. Ferrell’s failure to stop approaching the officers does not by itself justify Kerrick’s response, Monroe said.

“We have people charging at us everyday; we get in fights everyday, but at that point we’re not justified in using deadly force,” Monroe told the editorial board. “Sometimes we have to put up our hands and use our nightstick and other things and sometimes just retreat to handle the situation and it can’t automatically result in use of deadly force.”

One of Kerrick’s defense lawyers said Tuesday the shooting was justified but did not go into specifics.

The speed with which Kerrick was charged is notable, but Monroe said the same process was followed as in all police shootings. In each case, CMPD’s homicide unit investigates and determines within 24 hours whether there’s probable cause to press criminal charges. That determination was made just as quickly in other recent police shootings, Monroe said, but this was the first one in which they decided charges were warranted.

Some activists are suggesting that Kerrick is getting favorable treatment in being charged with voluntary manslaughter rather than second-degree murder. Monroe argues, though, that there was no evidence of malice on Kerrick’s part. The officer used bad judgment and excessive force in defending himself, but did not have any premeditation, Monroe said.

It’s not clear whether this situation was isolated or whether it reflects any systemic failings within CMPD. Police should determine, for themselves and the public, whether there are any improvements in officer training that could help the department avoid future shootings like this one. Monroe said the department is continually working to improve its use-of-force training and policies, and that a review team will use this case to see if there are any systemic issues that need correcting.

That’s good. In the meantime, a community and two families are sorting through a needless tragedy. A number of questions about the case remain unanswered. We applaud CMPD’s candor so far and believe it can engender more trust with the public by being as transparent as possible going forward.

Read more here: http://www.charlotteobserver.com/2013/09/17/4321440/cmpd-handling-tragic-case-properly.html#.UjlpoWt5mSN#storylink=cpy

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In Case You Missed It - UN Ambassador Samantha Power Fashion Fail

 

This post will no doubt get the attention of the NSA but here goes anyway.

 

Why in the world would the US Ambassador to the UN come to a presser wearing a sleeveless dress that looked like it was made from discarded drapes from the Blair House restoration project?

 

Forget that the tapestry theme made her freckled complexion look like a serious outbreak of the measles. Or that the ill-fitting frock was a total distraction from her message.

Considering that the topic was Syria and the Middle East, a region woman who wear anything other than a burka are often stoned to death wouldn't you think she could have afforded a business suit?

Was this presser a impromptu photo op during a rose garden cocktail party or Sunday brunch? Sadly no! Power has even addressed the full UN in basically the same attire.

Ambassador Power is the U.S. Permanent Representative to the United Nations and a member of President Obama’s Cabinet, well at least this nut case liberal fits in along with Obama's other Cabinet members.


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CMPD Chief Rodney Monroe Throws White Officer Under The Bus

In an amazing rush to judgment CMPD Chief Rodney Monroe apparently ordered that a new Charlotte Police Officer be charged with murder in connection with a shooting that occurred early Saturday morning.

The case which is bound to attract National attention and spark resentment among CMPD Officers, is unprecedented in the swiftness in which the Officer was charged and arrested.

Normally Officer involved shootings undergo a series of through investigations and a complete review by the DA's office prior to announcing that an Officer would be charged. Further the Officer is normally allowed to present himself for arrest and not taken into custody, stripped of his uniform and processed in his t-shirt.

Cedar's Take: Officer Kerrick's arrest prior to an autopsy and toxicology report is a clearly Chief Monroe pandering to the black community. Kerrick is white and the alleged victim is black.

Questions that need to be answered, include what role did DA Murray have in the decision to charge Kerrick. Was Ferrell's ability to understand police commands compromised? Why did the Taser fail? why didn't Ferrell call 911 to say I've had an accident? Why wasn't the SBI or FBI called in? Why wasn't the North Carolina State Attorney's Office brought in? Or the US Justice Department?

This rush to charge Kerrick is as disturbing as the rush to shoot a charging black football player in the dark of night. One that is a suspect in an attempted B&E, or worse an attempted home invasion. Remember no one knew at the time about the wreck. 

Even if the facts play out that there was probable cause to charge Kerrick the speed at which the charges were brought paint Rodney Monroe is one hell of a racist hubris Son Of BOB.

CNN's account based on Charlotte stations WBTV and WSOC coverage is below.

(CNN) -- Police in North Carolina shot and killed a man running toward them Saturday morning -- but he may have just been looking for help after a car wreck. Officers responded to a "breaking and entering" 911 call at a home in Charlotte. The homeowner told dispatchers that a man had been knocking on her door repeatedly.

Police say that when they got to the scene, a man matching the caller's description ran toward them. One of the officers fired his stun gun, but it was "unsuccessful." Another officer then opened fire, police said.

Jonathan Ferrell died at the scene. He was shot several times. He was unarmed.

Police now believe Ferrell was seeking assistance after crashing his car. Ferrell was 24 and a former football player at Florida A&M University. Police found a wrecked car nearby, indicating that he may have been trying to get help.

"It was a pretty serious accident," Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Chief Rodney Monroe told CNN affiliate WSOC.

The crash was so severe that authorities believe Ferrell had to climb out of the back window, another affiliate WBTV reported. He ran to the closest house for help. The woman inside thought it was her husband.

"To her surprise, it was an individual that she did not know or recognize," Monroe told WBTV. "She immediately closed the door, hit her panic alarm, called 911."

The man stood outside and "continued to attempt to gain the attention of the homeowner," a police statement said. Charlotte Police have charged Officer Randall Kerrick with voluntary manslaughter -- a felony.

He turned himself in Saturday afternoon and was being held early Sunday on a $50,000 bond. Police used "charged" and "ran" and "advanced" in their description of what Ferrell did. There were three officers at the scene, but Kerrick was the only one to use a gun. He fired several times, police said.

"The evidence revealed that Mr. Ferrell did advance on Officer Kerrick and the investigation showed that the subsequent shooting of Mr. Ferrell was excessive," police said in another statement issued late Saturday night. "Our investigation has shown that Officer Kerrick did not have a lawful right to discharge his weapon during this encounter. "

All three officers have been placed on paid leave. A charge of voluntary manslaughter means the person used excessive force in self-defense, or carried out the act without intent to kill.

Chief Monroe called the incident "unfortunate." "It has devastated a family as well as caused a great deal of sadness and anxiety in our organization".

The reaction Friends expressed grief on social media, calling Ferrell a "brother" and demanding "justice." He had at least one brother, Willie, who played with him at Florida A&M. Ferrell was also engaged. "We loved him. Our family loved him," his fiancé's mother told WSOC.

Cedar Posts Update: Officer Randall Kerrick, 27, was released late Saturday night and has a first appearance court hearing scheduled for Monday, Mecklenburg Sheriff’s Office spokesperson Julia Rush said Sunday

Read more here: http://www.charlotteobserver.com/2013/09/15/4315763/cmpd-officer-charged-in-shooting.html#storylink=cpy

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Birmingham Church Bombing 50 Years Ago Today

Birmingham Bomb Kills 4 Negro Girls In Church; Riots Flare; 2 Boys Slain

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Guard Summoned

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Wallace Acts on City Plea for Help as 20 Are Injured

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Wallace Orders Guardsmen Out

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By Claude Sitton
Special to The New York Times

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Birmingham, Ala., Sept. 15--A bomb severely damaged a Negro church today during Sunday school services, killing four Negro girls and setting off racial rioting and other violence in which two Negro boys were shot to death.
Fourteen Negroes were injured in the explosion. One Negro and five whites were hurt in the disorders that followed.
Some 500 National Guardsmen in battle dress stood by at armories here tonight, on orders of Gov. George C. Wallace. And 300 state troopers joined the Birmingham police, Jefferson County sheriff's deputies and other law-enforcement units in efforts to restore peace.
Governor Wallace sent the guardsmen and the troopers in response to requests from local authorities.
Sporadic gunfire sounded in Negro neighborhoods tonight, and small bands of residents roamed the streets. Aside from the patrols that cruised the city armed with riot guns, carbines and shotguns, few whites were seen.
Fire Bomb Hurled
At one point, three fires burned simultaneously in Negro sections, one at a broom and mop factory, one at a roofing company and a third in another building. An incendiary bomb was tossed into a supermarket, but the flames were extinguished swiftly. Fire marshals investigated blazes at two vacant houses to see if arson was involved.
Mayor Albert Boutwell and other city officials and civic leaders appeared on television station WAPI late tonight and urged residents to cooperate in ending "this senseless reign of terror."
Sheriff Melvin Bailey referred to the day as "the most distressing in the history of Birmingham."
The explosion at the 16th Street Baptist Church this morning brought hundreds of angry Negroes pouring into the streets. Some attacked the police with stones. The police dispersed them by firing shotguns over their heads.
Johnny Robinson, a 16-year-old Negro, was shot in the back and killed by a policeman with a shotgun this afternoon. Officers said the victim was among a group that had hurled stones at white youths driving through the area in cars flying Confederate battle flags.
When the police arrived, the youths fled, and one policeman said he had fired low but that some of the shot had struck the Robinson youth in the back.
Virgil Wade, a 13-year-old Negro, was shot and killed just outside Birmingham while riding a bicycle. The Jefferson County sheriff's office said "there apparently was no reason at all" for the killing, but indicated that it was related to the general racial disorders.
Another Negro youth and a white youth were shot but not seriously wounded in separate incidents. Four whites, including a honeymooning couple from Chicago, were injured by stones while driving through the neighborhood of the bombing.
The bombing, the fourth such incident in less than a month, resulted in heavy damage to the church, to a two-story office building across the street and to a home.
Wallace Offers Reward
Governor Wallace, at the request of city officials, offered a $5,000 reward for the arrest and conviction of the bombers.
None of the 50 bombings of Negro property here since World War II have been solved.
Mayor Boutwell and Chief of Police Jamie Moore expressed fear that the bombing, coming on top of tension aroused by desegregation of three schools last week, would bring further violence.
George G. Seibels Jr., chairman of the City Council's police committee, broadcast frequent appeals tonight to white parents, urging them to restrain their children from staging demonstrations tomorrow. He said a repetition of the segregationist motorcades that raced through the streets last Thursday and Friday "could provoke serious trouble, resulting in possible death or injury."
The Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. arrived tonight by plane from Atlanta. He had led Negroes, who make up almost one-third of Birmingham's population, in a five-week campaign last spring that brought some lunch-counter desegregation and improved job opportunities. The bombed church had been used as the staging point by Negro demonstrators.
Curfew Plan Rejected
Col. Albert J. Lingo, State director of Public Safety and commander of the troopers, met with Mayor Boutwell and the City Council in emergency session. They discussed imposition of a curfew, but decided against it.
The bombing came five days after the desegregation of three previously all-white schools in Birmingham. The way had been cleared for the desegregation when President Kennedy federalized the Alabama National Guard and the Federal courts issued a sweeping order against Governor Wallace, thus ending his defiance toward the integration step.
The four girls killed in the blast had just heard Mrs. Ella C. Demand, their teacher, complete the Sunday school lesson for the day. The subject was "The Love That Forgives."
During the period between the class and an assembly in the main auditorium, they went to the women's lounge in the basement, at the northeast corner of the church.
The blast occurred at about 10:25 A.M. (12:25 P.M. New York time).
Church members said they found the girls huddled together beneath a pile of masonry debris.
Parents of 3 Are Teachers
Both parents of each of three of the victims teach in the city's schools. The dead were identified by University Hospital officials as:
Cynthia Wesley, 14, the only child of Claude A. Wesley, principal of the Lewis Elementary School, and Mrs. Wesley, a teacher there.
Denise McNair, 11, also an only child, whose parents are teachers.
Carol Robertson, 14, whose parents are teachers and whose grandmother, Mrs. Sallie Anderson, is one of the Negro members of a biracial committee established by Mayor Boutwell to deal with racial problems.
Addie Mae Collins, 14, about whom no information was immediately available.
The blast blew gaping holes through walls in the church basement. Floors of offices in the rear of the sanctuary appeared near collapse. Stairways were blocked by splintered window frames, glass and timbers.
Chief Police Inspector W. J. Haley said the impact of the blast indicated that at least 15 sticks of dynamite might have caused it. He said the police had talked to two witnesses who reported having seen a car drive by the church, slow down and then speed away before the blast.

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Obama's Aha Momment

Nothing like having to look over your shoulder when you are just about to take a shot - President Obama had one of those aha moments on Monday when Russia's Moskva missile cruiser -- called a "carrier-killer" by NATO -- passed through the Straits of Gibraltar and headed toward the Mediterranean to command the Russian naval force

The cruiser is armed with the Russian P-500 Bazalt (SS-N-12 Sandbox) anti ship missile and P-1000 (Vulkan) Presently, the P-500 Bazalt remains only on surface ships, but it is still one of the most capable Russian naval weapons. For a long time it was underestimated in the West. Since the missile was similar in appearance to the P-6/P-35 series, it was not even recognized for a long time, especially as the main armament of Echo II submarines.

Development of the intended P-6/P-35 replacement was initiated on the very same day as the P- 120 Malakhit program (February 28, 1963). It was to be a surface-launched missile for both submarines and surface ships. To avoid any counterattack from a carrier group, the missile's range was to be 500 km, outside the usual operational radius of carrier-protection forces. At the same time, the guidance system and missile survivability were to be greatly improved and in line with evolving tactics.

 For the first time, it was assumed that any attack on a carrier group would be of a massive character. The tactics of such an attack is described later, but it is worth describing some P-500 Bazalt features beforehand. The P-500 missile is similar in appearance to the P-6/35 and was powered by a liquid-fuel sustainer and solid-rocket booster. It has a speed of Mach 2 at high altitude and Mach 1.5-1.6 at low altitude. The flight profile of the missile varies from 30 to 7,000 m (low-low or low-high).

Guidance is based on a digital INS on a gyro- stabilized platform and an active-radar seeker, which periodically switches to passive mode. For the first time, the missile was equipped with a digital computer (Tsifrova Vichislenna Mashina, "digital computing device"). The guidance system was also equipped with a datalink to communicate between missiles in a salvo, with a salvo consisting of eight missiles launched at short intervals. Usually, one of the missiles flies high (5,000-7,000 m) to pick up the target, while the rest remain at medium to low altitude with their radar seekers switched to passive mode.

The leading missile then transmits targeting data to the others and allocates individual targets, with half of the salvo directed at the aircraft carrier and half at other ships in the area, one apiece. The onboard radar seekers are turned on at the last moment, just before reaching the target. If the lead missile is shot down, another one (in a programmed sequence) takes over and climbs to a higher altitude to continue directing the salvo. All the missiles have active radar jamming to disrupt any defensive action from fighters and shipboard air-defense systems. In addition, vital parts of the P-500 missile are armored to increase survivability.

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The Obituary Send Off From (To) Hell

Kids take one last stab at their abusive mother -

Marianne Theresa Johnson-Reddick born Jan 4, 1935 and died alone on Aug. 30, 2013.

She is survived by her 6 of 8 children whom she spent her lifetime torturing in every way possible.

While she neglected and abused her small children, she refused to allow anyone else to care or show compassion towards them. When they became adults she stalked and tortured anyone they dared to love. Everyone she met, adult or child was tortured by her cruelty and exposure to violence, criminal activity, vulgarity, and hatred of the gentle or kind human spirit.

On behalf of her children whom she so abrasively exposed to her evil and violent life, we celebrate her passing from this earth and hope she lives in the after-life reliving each gesture of violence, cruelty, and shame that she delivered on her children.

Her surviving children will now live the rest of their lives with the peace of knowing their nightmare finally has some form of closure.

Most of us have found peace in helping those who have been exposed to child abuse and hope this message of her final passing can revive our message that abusing children is unforgiveable, shameless, and should not be tolerated in a "humane society".

Our greatest wish now, is to stimulate a national movement that mandates a purposeful and dedicated war against child abuse in the United States of America.

The above obit which has since been removed, originally appeared in the print and online edition of Nevada's Reno Gazette-Journal on Tuesday. Apparently the children whom Cedar suspects are not a bunch of youngsters decided to have the last word.

Which brings up the point of obituaries in general. It used to be the obits were free, but now days the Observer charges, and even tries to lure readers and family members to "fund" the obituary or "send a gift".

Reddick's family might be pleased at her passing, and I'm glad I didn't get to know her. On the other hand I'm disappointed I didn't get to meet Michael "Flathead" Blanchard whose obit showed up in the Denver Post last year.

Blanchard, Michael "Flathead"1944 ~ 2012A Celebration of the life of Michael "Flathead" Blanchard will be held on April 14th, 3 pm 8160 Rosemary St, Commerce City. Weary of reading obituaries noting someone's courageous battle with death, Mike wanted it known that he died as a result of being stubborn, refusing to follow doctors' orders and raising hell for more than six decades. He enjoyed booze, guns, cars and younger women until the day he died.

Mike was born July 1944 in Colorado to Clyde and Ethel Blanchard. A community activist, he is noted for saving the Dr. Justina Ford house from demolition and defending those who could not defend themselves.

He was a Republican delegate, life member of the NRA, founder and President of the Dead Cats MC. He loved music.

Mike was preceded in death by Clyde and Ethel Blanchard, survived by his beloved sons Mike and Chopper, former wife Jane Transue, brother Stephen Blanchard (Susan), Uncle Don and Aunt Cynthia Blanchard (his favorite); Uncle Dill and Aunt Dot, cousins and nephews, Baba Yaga can kiss his butt.

So many of his childhood friends that weren't killed in Vietnam went on to become criminals, prostitutes and/or Democrats.

He asks that you stop by and re-tell the stories he can no longer tell. As the Celebration will contain Adult material we respectfully ask that no children under 18 attend.

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Charlotte Activist Belinda Bee Takes On The National Park Service

In case you missed it - From TheBlaze.com

http://www.theblaze.com/stories/2013/09/09/thats-a-lie-national-parks-service-denies-biker-group-permit-for-911-ride-and-employee-accuses-biker-group-of-lying-about-why/

The U.S. National Park Service denied a biker organization’s request for a permit to ride through the nation’s capital on September 11, in honor of ”those who were killed” during the 2001 terrorist attacks, an NPS spokeswoman confirmed to TheBlaze Monday.

Carol Johnson, spokeswoman for the NPS, cited logistical concerns for denying the permit.

“They (the NPS) looked at it (the permit application) and decided it would cause a severe service disruption of traffic both inside and outside the area around the mall,” said Johnson, who then jokingly added “[I] wish the bikers would leave me alone.”

“The size of the event, we can’t manage,” Johnson said. “We couldn’t provide adequate park police services and park police escorts and it would require a lot of road closures so it was denied.”

The NPS did, however, grant a permit to a Muslim organization to hold a “million” man march on the National Mall.

An organization calling themselves “2 Million Bikers to DC” applied for the permit to ride their motorcycles through the nation’s capital to remember those who perished on September 11 and honor the armed forces.

The group said on Facebook they still plan to converge on D.C., despite lacking a permit.

“We don’t need no stinking permit!” the group declared on Facebook. “We have our constitutional rights and we shall ride!”

Belinda Bee, the event organizer, told TheBlaze she was initially told by Sheila Gotha, from the NPS permits division, the group’s permit was denied not for technical reasons, but because their event was slated for a week day “and D.C. residents aren’t going to like that.”

However, in a phone call with TheBlaze Monday, Gotha denied having made those comments or having any knowledge about why their permit was denied.

“I don’t know anything about this, so that’s a lie,” Gotha said. “I don’t have nothing to do with it… I don’t even know what you are talking about.”

An email forwarded to TheBlaze by Bee, however, appears to show that Gotha was one of the NPS officials who participated in a meeting regarding the biker organization’s request for a permit. In fact, the email says she was the “organizer” of the meeting to review the biker group’s request for a permit.

Bee fired back at Gotha on Monday, saying she was the one not telling the truth.

“We had a conference call with Sheila Gotha,” said Bee. “That is a lie. You can quote me on that.”

Johnson said she was unsure if the bikers riding through D.C. would be cited by authorities since they don’t have a permit.

A spokesperson for the National Parks Police did not immediately respond to a request for comment from TheBlaze Monday.

Organizers said thousands of bikers are expected to participate in the ride through D.C. on September 11.

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