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Mayor On Cop Videos: "This is America"
by Paul Bass | Oct 4, 2010 11:26 am
(56) Comments | Commenting has been closed | E-mail the Author
Posted to: Downtown
Message to cops: Citizens have a right to film you on the job.
In fact, downtown cops may soon start carrying cameras, too. On their heads.
The mayor and the police chief sent that message Monday in the wake of new charges the police mishandled arrests and violated people's rights amid a crackdown in the entertainment district.
Mayor John DeStefano and Chief Frank Limon also cautioned the public not to jump to conclusions about what happened in two controversial incidents over the past week based on video snippets that made the press.
They made the comments as criticism mounted over a raid of a private party early Saturday morning at the the Elevate Lounge at club Alchemy as part of "Operation Nightlife," the new beefed-up patrols of sometimes-violent Crown Street night spots and their environs formed in response to a recent shootout between fighting clubgoers and the police.
Chief Limon offered new details Monday about the incident. He also said that he plans to remind his officers that citizens have a right to take videos of them—and that he's considering equipping his entertainment district cops with "head" cameras of their own.
Police arrested five Yale students, including one who ended up in the hospital after officers Tased and subdued him. Police said the student was kicking and punching three officers. Eyewitnesses said a cop punched and kicked and Tased the student with no provocation beyond a request to make a phone call, while other students were threatened with arrest if they used cell phone cameras or sent text messages, according to this story and this story in the Yale Daily News.
"It was beyond overreaction. They were like storm troopers," claimed John Carta, attorney for the club's owner, Rommerro Farrah. Click here to read a letter he sent Monday to the police chief.
The incident occurred a week after similar complaints followed the arrest of a Quinnipiac University student who was video-recording an arrest outside Toad's Place. The video captured both a bouncer and a cop ordering him to put away his cell phone camera. Chief Limon said the student was arrested not for taking the video, but for disobeying police commands and interfering with an investigation and with his friend's arrest.
"The video evidence certainly suggests that people are being harassed for trying to record the police," Alderman Michael Jones, whose ward covers the heart of the Yale campus and other portions of downtown, said in an email Monday. "I understand that officers don't want to be crowded on narrow sidewalks with observers, particularly those who are friends of their suspects, but many of the comments recorded were specifically directed towards the presence of the cameras and not the fact that people were in close proximity to the officers.
"If this is in fact the case, then we have a major problem on our hands. Not only are we talking about a potential violation of civil liberties, but capturing police misconduct on film has awakened our communities in several instances and has repeatedly been a catalyst for much needed change—or at least social action… The best police officers should want their work to be filmed. Not only do witnesses and others have a right to film these events, but film provides a transparent way to escape both unreliable witnesses and irresponsible police officers. And when one or two police officers conduct themselves inappropriately, it makes the job much more difficult for every other officer because one officer's actions can undermine the public trust between an entire community and its police force."
The mayor and police chief said they agree that citizens have the right to record events in public.
"This is America. Anyone can film anytime they want, including you, me and the PD while on duty," Mayor DeStefano stated. "It is not my understanding that this is why the QU student was arrested.
"That all said, these films must be viewed in context. It's like walking into a movie theater after the film has begun. We don't know what went on before, what's happening behind, and it's a two-dimensional portrait."
Chief Limon said he has ordered internal investigations into both incidents. Yale officials, too, are investigating the Alchemy/Elevate incident.
"Assume you're being videotaped all the time when you're out there," Limon said he has been telling his officers.
Limon said he has upcoming in-service training sessions for his rank and file will include an "update about legal procedures on interfering and videotaping issues." He's also looking into putting together a "policy to let officers know what are the exceptions" to when citizens can take video.
Meanwhile, the chief said, he's exploring the use of "head cams" similar to those worn by cops in London. He's considering using them in the entertainment district to film arrests, so that the public won't be left having to weigh an officer's written account versus the charges of an onlooker or arrestee. Some other U.S. cities, such as Cincinnati, San Diego, and San Jose, have also begun experimenting with head cams.
"Anybody Else? Anybody Else?"
Top Yale administrators held meetings throughout the weekend about the early Saturday raid throughout the weekend and communicated with students. The administrators vowed to investigate the incident and offered suggestions on filing complaints with the city police department. They, as well as some students, started collecting eyewitness reports.
Meanwhile, Yale College Dean Mary Miller sent two campus-wide emails detailing plans for the investigation. She said the university will "develop a memorandum" with information such as "whether students should have had the right to use their cell phones while a police action is being conducted." (The full text of the emails appears at the bottom of this story.)
The raid took place around 1 a.m.
Chief Limon Monday called the raid a "compliance check." He "absolutely" denied a report in the Yale paper that the raid took place because of a report hours earlier about underaged drinking. Also Saturday, a crew of city cops and state liquor control agents reported finding violations at Libras at 56 Main St., which they closed; and at Manhattans Bar at 489 Forbes Ave., which they cited.
"It was a random inspection [at Alchemy/ Elevate]. When we started this operation, we told people what we were going to do. Clubowners were aware of it. We were going to inspect bars. That is the strategy we had in the beginning. That's how we selected places," Limon said.
Once inside, police said, they saw 256 people crowding an area for which legal occupancy is only 150. (Those were updated numbers as of Monday.) They also found several fights taking place right outside the club. The SWAT team was called in.
The occasion was a private party (called "The Morse-Stiles Screw") held by two of Yale's residential colleges.
The cops arrested five Yale students in the raid on charges ranging from illegal possession of alcohol by a minor to interfering with police, disorderly conduct, and assault on police officers. One of the arrested students ended up at Yale-New Haven Hospital being treated for injuries.
Click on the play arrow to the video near the top of the story to watch a clip from the raid posted on the Yale Daily News website. Toward the end of the video an officer near a man on the ground is heard yelling, "Anybody else? Anybody else?"
"While I'm still learning more details about what happened this week, I'm deeply troubled by what I've learned so far," Alderman Jones said Monday. "It seems like the way in which officers entered the club and communicated with the occupants inherently escalated tensions and created an atmosphere where the occupants felt unsafe and unable to ask officers simple questions. Given the fact that police officers entered the club with SWAT gear—and given the fact that many clubgoers would be shocked and probably drunk at 1 a.m.—the police should be trained to defuse these situations to efficiently do their work. There was little reason to intimidate the occupants just to check their IDs."
Limon said the media and public should be focusing on the actions of the clubowner.
"It's unfair to the community that we can't hold these clubowners accountable," he said. "I've seen what it can do. We need to hold these clubowners accountable. Our investigation was not targeting anybody but the operators of these clubs." As a Chicago cop, Limon led the investigation in a tragedy in a similarly overcrowded nightclub where 21 people died in a panicked stampede.
Carta, the club owner's attorney, claimed his client did nothing wrong. He said he was still "researching" the occupancy requirements, but said that the club had had "four, five, six hundred" people at past events with no problems. "Never a problem. The city never cared. I don't know what the official capacity is," Carta said.
City Chief Administrative Officer Rob Smuts discounted that version of events.
In 2006 the fire marshal's office inspected the space and gave the club its legal occupancy: 350 for the first floor, 150 for the separate club (Elevate) on the second floor, where the party took place, according to Smuts.
"They have a legal obligation to know what their occupancy is; to post it, which it wasn't; and to abide by it," Smuts said. "This operator was really putting people's lives at risk."
Carta claimed the police overreacted and received no resistance during this weekend's raid: "They raided the place dressed like SWAT team members brandishing weapons. It's overcrowded? Get rid of the people who are overcrowding."
At one point, the owner's brother, who is in his 40s and "had a suit on," was "forced to the ground to a gun. It was a nightmare," Carta said. "It was beyond overreaction. They were like storm troopers. One of the descriptions I had: People were on the floor. These policemen with SWAT uniforms marching around, brandishing their weapons. They asked one person, I think he was a Yale student, for an ID. I think the kid was Hispanic or something. They said, 'That's not good enough for the United States.' It just went way, way over the top. And this was for over capacity?"
Click here to read the police department's full release on the incident.
QU Blues
The accusations about cell phone restrictions at Elevate echoed a charge from a separate incident: The weekend before last, the police detail also made arrests outside Toad's Place.
An officer was filmed threatening and swearing at a Quinnipiac University student for filming the incident with a cell phone, which he has a legal right to do. The officer is captured on video ordering the student to put away the phone/camera and to leave. The student was subsequently arrested; the police said he was "interfering." Read about the incident here; watch the video at left.
Chief Limon Monday said the video leaves out some crucial facts: The student arrested had been inside the bar with a drunken friend who assaulted somebody. The police were trying to investigate. The student allegedly kept bothering the police and refusing orders to back away, to leave them alone to do their job.
"He was not arrested for electronically recording what was going on there. His actions and the words and the statements that he made interfered with the officer and created an officer safety issue," Limon said.
Even though no one involved has filed a formal complaint, Limon said, he referred to matter to internal affairs because he wants to get to the bottom of it. He did the same with the Yale incident, he said.
This is the second weekend that the police have swarmed the Crown Street bar district to crack down on club violations and quality-of-life crimes as part of "Operation Nightlife."
The previous weekend, police stopped 47-year-old Amtrak engineer Mark "Big Tone" Maloney on his motorcycle on Crown Street as part of the crackdown one evening. Maloney claimed one of the officers hit him, handcuffed him, illegally searched him, and threatened to "crack" his "fucking skull"—over what turned out to be a noise violation, for which he received a ticket. Maloney admitted his motorcycle is loud. Chief Limon, who happened to be in the district, promised to look into the matter. Read about that here.
What Yale's Dean Wrote
Following is the text of two campus-wide emails Yale Dean Miller sent this weekend about the Alchemy/Elevate incident:
October 2, 2010
To Students in Yale College:
I write to you regarding the events of last night on Crown Street.
The masters, deans, and I know you have serious concerns about the reported behavior of the New Haven Police as the dance at Elevate was drawing to an end. We take these reports seriously. Let me assure you that all the students involved are safe.
Collecting the facts about last night and figuring out the best way to respond to the larger issues will necessarily take some time, and we ask your patience with that. But we cannot and will not wait to have discussions among ourselves, share experiences, and offer support to one another.
If you would like to share your observations with me and other administrative colleagues, please send them to Marichal Gentry, Dean of Student Affairs (firstname.lastname@example.com). We are collecting them in order to build a comprehensive picture of the events that unfolded. I have already been in touch with New Haven authorities, and I will be assembling a team of administrators to reach out to them.
For anyone who wishes to do so, there are formal channels for filing complaints about police behavior and actions. Our experience is that the leadership of the New Haven Police will take any complaints very seriously and will conduct, in response to them, an internal investigation. If you wish to pursue this avenue, information is available on the New Haven Police web site.
Your masters and deans are available to you, along with a wide array of other persons and resources, including Mental Health counselors at the new Yale Health Center, which is located at 55 Lock Street. You may reach a counselor at any time by calling 203-432-0123.
I rely on you to turn to other members of the Yale community. I want to let you know that we are supporting the students who were arrested in every way we can. I know that you will be supportive of them and of each other. As always, the safety and well-being of our students is our paramount concern.
Yours truly,
Mary Miller
October 3, 2010
To Students in Yale College:
President Levin and I met tonight with the Masters and Deans of the colleges whose students were most involved in Friday night's incident on Crown Street. The Secretary, Associate General Counsel and other senior administrators joined us to review the situation and to decide on next steps. Marichal Gentry, Dean of Student Affairs, was assigned to be the lead liaison with Denise Blanchard, Captain of Internal Affairs of the New Haven Police Department, who will be overseeing the process which may lead to a formal investigation.
Dean Gentry will be reaching out to the Captain tomorrow to underscore that the University stands ready to assist in every way possible to advance an investigation. We will make space available on campus if that is desired and will facilitate the scheduling of any interviews needed by New Haven Police's Internal Affairs unit.
The fact that criminal charges are pending against several Yale students needs to be factored into the timing of University processes since we would not want inadvertently to interfere with the legal defense of those students. We will be developing a memorandum to address some of the issues raised by students, such as whether students should have had the right to use their cell phones while a police action is being conducted.
We know that many students have experienced a very disturbing event. We have heard their voices, and we are committed to pursuing an appropriate resolution of the issues.
Yours truly,
Mary Miller
Dean of Yale College
Post a Comment
posted by: Louis on October 3, 2010 11:52am
I've seen Yalies interact with the police downtown. While many are respectful, many others are drunk, arrogant, and think that they are above the law. They confuse any use of force by the police, even reasonable force, with "brutality." I've heard them tell the police that their powerful Daddies will "have" their jobs. Mostly, I think that immature Yalies are upset when their drunken parties are interuinterrupted, and they are forced to obey the law like everyone else.
posted by: Bobby on October 3, 2010 1:22pm
It all started when a kid got hassled by the cops for having his phone out and recording operation nightlife.
At that point he was confronted and attacked. He never resisted arrest. He just said he had recent arm surgery and that the police were really hurting him the way they were twisting his arms. At that point he was beaten and tazered, ended up in the hospital. There's no excuse for doing that to anyone in this country.
posted by: Andrew Giering on October 3, 2010 2:00pm
Louis, your comments don't really distinguish Yalies from the many other college students who drink downtown, or from the bratty townies from the Valley and shoreline who also frequent Connecticut's only legitimate club district. There are a few bad apples in any bunch, and police tend to find people at their worst.
In any event, in my experience the police downtown are often loud and obnoxious—they have no problem spewing F-bombs at onlookers but have a real hard time listening. Any real dialogue must recognize that neither the police nor the public are infailible, and classist cheap shots against Yalies are a step in the wrong direction.
posted by: Concerned New Haven Resident on October 3, 2010 2:26pm
First of all the facts in the story are completely incorrectly reported. Go read the Yale Daily News version and listen to the interviews again… Secondly the "fights" reportedly happening outside of the club that allegedly prompted the raid according to this article were not involving Yale students if they were in fact happening at all. The police were tipped off that there was a private Yale party going on where underage drinking MIGHT be taking place. This fact is true, and if the police are using "Operation Nightlife" to try to curb down on club related violence (as they claim to be) then they are targeting the wrong crowd and wasting tax payers dollars in the process since Yale students are never parties in the shooting incidences etc that plague New Haven. Finally I find it mildly disturbing that the "overcrowding" of the club and the potential to have deaths compared to the Chicago incident on account of a panic prompted the police to enter the building wildly drawing semi-automatic rifles and yelling at all of the kids to get down on the floor….. that response in no way would ever have the potential of causing a panic right? (hope you sense the sarcasm)
posted by: Steve on October 3, 2010 2:42pm
Think of the massive amount of taxpayer money the city spent to shut down a student party, which has nothing to do with the recent spate of downtown violence.
One might read the stories at yaledailynews.com to get the student version of the story. The students were originally told that the raid was because of predicted under-age drinking. However, students report that the club had tough security in place and that despite all the money spent, the police arrested exactly one student for underage possession of booze.
Today the police have changed their story and say the problem was an over-crowded room. In that case, shouldn't you shut down the club and arrange an orderly exit? Instead, the police forbid anyone from leaving the "dangerously overcrowded" club. The police came in full battle-gear bullet-proof vests, semi-automatic weapons, etc. Students who tried to legally photograph the proceedings were detained and then beaten when they refused to comply. Students report that a student was Tased and beaten, and that when done the police looked around and screamed "Who's Next"? Students who were not drinking were detained (in one case a foreign student was held overnight in jail) for the non-crime of not having ID.
The article stakes that a mixed-age private party is illegal and justifies the raid. Really, I can't have a party at my house with both adults and non-adults were only the adults drink?
Photographing the police is not "interfering" and it is clearly illegal to arrest and detain students for the "crime" of photography. As in the video above, the police are simply breaking the law and then threatening anyone who complains.
This is a huge lawsuit waiting to happen, which could cost city taxpayers $100,000s of dollars. Some Yale kids are surely snotty jerks, especially when drunk, and I am sure that some of them got stupidly mouthy when told that their civil rights had been suspended by men with guns, but you don't actually give up your civil rights because the town police don't like you.
The mayor made a stupid statement this week blaming college students from QU, SCSU and so forth for downtown's problems. These non-Yale students are the region's future middle class, future city residents and workers—or else not. Their choice. Do we really want to scapegoat them for violence that they don't cause?
The Yalies are mostly leaving town after graduation, but a few of them stay to found fast-growing job-creating businesses (Higher One) and many of them tutor and volunteer in our public schools. "Welcome to New Haven, thanks for your help, now let us (quite literally) bust your head open."
No, I am not arguing that college kids don't have to follow the law. But by all accounts the students at this party were overwhelmingly law-abiding and yet they were all terrorized. I am arguing that the police also have to follow the law. Verbally and physically attacking college kids is bad for the city budget (in terms of current resources and likely lawsuits) and it is a stupid long-run strategy for a city that needs smart folks to stay in town.
posted by: Prof on October 3, 2010 3:31pm
I teach at Yale, and the previous comment is right. Many students assume that all rules are for someone else, and that any authority figure can be ignored. I can well imagine they just ignored what the police told them to do, and then it got bad. Even the student complaints are silly: being forced to wait is not "bruality."
posted by: Ben Stango on October 3, 2010 3:54pm
For those who witnessed the Morse-Stiles Screw raid, filling out a police report is a top priority. Visit http://www.cityofnewhaven.com/FormsCentral/index.asp and select the "Citizen Complaint Form" under the section entitled "Police Department Related Forms." This is the most effective means of ensuring that the police listen and respond.
-Ben Stango
posted by: kamb on October 3, 2010 4:27pm
I love it! It's out of control downtown with shootings, bar fights, and assults, and now Yale Students are upset and claiming brutality? Please, Go ... to your social clubs and drink.
I feel so bad for New Haven Cops. I've seen the drunks downtown. I've seen the fights and disrespect for law and order.
When the good people in society dont back up their officers, who are trying to get rid of obnoxious drunks who want to fight everyone, then we as a society might get what we wish for . . chaos!
posted by: @Louis on October 3, 2010 5:28pm
Yeah, but when you have a kid being badly beaten up and tased by the cops for doing NOTHING, you've gotta take a step back — be he a Yalie, a QU student or anybody, really. These kids were not telling the police that their parents would take their jobs away: they were at a party, having fun, not illegally. They were confused and scared, their party broken up by a SWAT team with assault rifles.
The fact that the police want to aggressively assert their force on the population of this town as shown by the raids, armed police on the streets and beatings that they are doling out to the population shows that they are interested only in staying in power and intimidating townsfolk. They do not care about Freedom. The ... officers of the YPD and NHPD who think it's okay to beat the c*** out of innocent people, or people who don't deser (which happens on a regular basis and has been happening for years) are no better than the criminals who knife and gun people on Crown St.
posted by: Steve on October 3, 2010 7:08pm
To the "Prof" and others who say that the Yale students are complaining about nothing: go watch the video posted on the YDN website. It is poor quality; I had to watch several times to get what was going on.
In the video, students are peaceably watching something going on and you can hear their conversation as they watch: "he is f-ing unconscious ... they killed [him] ... is he moving?" And then at the end some officers rise up off the kid they have been beating and start screaming wildly, repeating "ANYBODY ELSE?" "WHO'S NEXT?, WHO'S NEXT?" "ANYBODY ELSE?"
Read Bobby's comment above. This witness says the kid who was beaten unconscious committed the "crime" of photography, followed by a complaint that his recently operated-upon arm was being hurt by the police who seized him. One can imagine that he struggled to get his injured arm free. So (according to many witnesses) four officers beat him completely unconscious, sent him to the hospital.
Read the YDN comment by the student who had his shirt ripped and arm bruised for the crime of politely asking an officer if he should put his phone away.
Don't believe it? You can see plainly in the video above an officer breaking the law, in broad daylight, by arresting a student for photography.
Also, the police are quoted quite clearly by YDN reporters as saying (in the early Sat. AM hours) that the raid was prompted by a earlier "tip" as to likely underage drinking and that it had been planned for hours. That is, it was not in response to suddenly discovered over-crowding. That story only shows up on Sunday.
This was a peaceful, legal, alcohol-law respecting private party. And if you are a New Haven taxpayer, you are going to pay for the lawsuit.
posted by: bulldog on October 3, 2010 7:36pm
I for one am glad to see the enforcement being sspread around, esspecially in the downtown area. when police do enforcement in the neighborhood bars ssome ressidents are quick to cry racissm. yaliess are not above the law but neither are the police.
posted by: John Wysolmerski on October 3, 2010 8:59pm
This whole affair is disturbing. In the wake of the shooting several weeks ago, the mayor and the police chief pretty much said that they were going to try to harass the clubs out of downtown. So, it is clear that they have decided to try to make the experience as unpleasant as possible for college students in order to try to starve the bars out of business. This was a private party and by all accounts the club owners were being very careful about enforcing the drinking age rules. given the recent crackdown. Thus, it must have been a conscious and calculated decision to enter the bar in this aggressive manner, which in no way was required to check ID's at a party organized by one of the Yale residential colleges. The whole idea must have been to generate as unpleasant as possible an experience so that future Yale business would stay away from the club district. Same thing with Quinnipiac students and targeting the shuttle bus from campus. While this does deliver a lot of students, it also keeps kids from drinking and driving and has likely saved lives. So, it is curious for the police and mayor to complain about this service that Quinnipiac wisely offers its students. Anyway, it seems that our leaders have given the police license to use whatever thug-like tactics they can come up with to close down the district instead of trying to transform it into something more controlled and instead of coming up with a way to keep gang activity from mixing in with a local college and young adult social scene.
Anyway, there is a difference between talking back and being violent. It is not clear that in this case, the students involved were even being belligerent. I, personally, do not pay city taxes to arm a group of men and women to protect us, if they cannot suck it up and answer legitimate questions about why they are detaining some students at a private party. I would think that their training involves learning how to diffuse interactions with inebriated young people so that situations do not escalate towards violence. Hence, as I said before, this whole thing smells like it was meant to create a sensation and the aggressive attitude was/is a cynical tactic. Finally, there is not any law against photographing police, especially if they appear to be acting inappropriately.
I feel strongly about this especially since my son, a city native who spends some of his free time tutoring in city schools, is a Yale junior, and was supposed to go to a similar party next weekend. Hence, he could very well have been in that room. No student from Yale, Quinnipiac, or any other local college should have to put up with what happened in that club. It was way over the top for the circumstances. No citizen, period, should be treated this way by police as a tactic to create economic stress on legitimate businesses. This is devolving into a stupid response to the recent gun battle and we should all let our elected officials know that we are not OK with it.
posted by: bbearlaw on October 3, 2010 11:21pm
To properly address this issue, we need to step outside of the bubble that is New Haven. In any bar district in major cities around the country, police presence is an inherent element of the geographic area. As far as patrons following the instructions of police, regardless of where you are, you must follow police instructions the first time they are given in light of a raid or an evacuation. When police are required to handle large groups of people, they will almost always be verbally aggressive, and the best advice would be to comply and file complaints in writing at the appropriate time. This is a fact of life that exists for every citizen irrespective of class or where they attend college.
posted by: MC '12 on October 4, 2010 1:04am
I'm a Yale student and my background is just about as far from the ivory tower as it gets. Often, the attitudes of some of the more privileged of the student body annoy me to no end, and I wouldn't entirely blame the NHPD for taking pleasure in (proverbially) slapping them on the wrist.
NONE OF THAT justifies in ANY way the incomprehensible disregard of basic civil rights or lack of respect for our status as human beings that occurred on Friday. I was completely sober for the dance, and was right in the middle of almost everything that happened. From rude, unnecessary intimidation tactics, both verbal and physical, to outright unjustified brutality, the NHPD have a tall bill to pay. Being forceful and getting peoples' attention is one thing. Tasing a student that by no stretch of the imagination attacked one officer, much less three, is very much another. Never mind the amount of attention they paid to trying to make sure the event couldn't be documented…
On Friday night the New Haven police not only broke the law, but also widened the real and perceived divisions between the town and the university that many have been trying to close for years. I only hope that we can use this event as a tool to reform the conduct of the NHPD for *everyone*. Yale students have to deal with this shit only occasionally. I can't imagine what it would be like to have the NHPD as the only enforcement agency downtown.
posted by: Christopher James on October 4, 2010 6:20am
I am horrified with what is going on in New Haven. Personal freedom is at stake. From today I am boycotting all downtown businesses, and will no longer buy anything their. I will be bringing a brown bag in from home for lunch.
I suggest all students do the same. I also suggest that all other downtown workers join in. If economic pressure is put on New Haven I'm sure the Mayor will be forced to halt his anti-civil liberties activities.
I also hope to see a large and peaceful demonstration on the Green. This behavior must not be allowed to continue.
posted by: UNH '09 & lifelong resident on October 4, 2010 7:07am
New Haven Police are not promised to make it home everynoght! With lax nightclub security, Police have to prepare for the worst situation! A megaphone cannot and will not control a crowd if they become unrulely. Before judgement is cast, examine all facts! Understand that NHPD is making attempts to rid downtown of foolishness and unfortunately they have to now attack owners of establishments and promoters so that everyone can work on enjoying a safe environment!
posted by: Walt on October 4, 2010 8:13am
In general I support most police actions, but it seems taking pictures of an arrest should be not be cause for arrest of the picture taker.
The cops are justly irritated by the owners and customers of the New Haven bars,and frustrated by the lack of actions by New Haven big-shots. It also appears certain that the owners of this particular.bar are law or reg violators.
Seems to me the owners of the Downtown bars are still being treated with kid-gloves, but looks like City leaders are finally getting primed to take long-needed legal actions to close or fine the worst ones.
We shall see, but let the picture-taker go free and apologize. Arresting him could wind=up as a grievous error
It is not up to Yale, but to the State and City to define legalities or enforce laws and regs.
. . .
posted by: New Haven Resident on October 4, 2010 8:26am
It looks like a similar thing happened at Toads Place last weekend involving Quinnipiac students. Why didn't this make the news? http://www.quchronicle.com/2010/09/video-senior-arrested-after-filming-another-students-arrest/
posted by: if on October 4, 2010 8:54am
I wonder if we will ever read an article that will not identify people by their race, neighborhood of origin, sexual orientation, political view AND school association. I am sickened by the pretense that such information is news and not just a way to separate those of have, from those of have not.
If it was wrong doing in part of the police, whether the youth were from this school or that school, it does not matter.
Let's all take a step back and really ponder about our own internal mechanisms that when externalized produce racism, homophobia, Yalephobia, ageism, misogyny, Eastrockphobia, etc… Particularly when we pretend to write balanced and fair articles.
posted by: Nh resident on October 4, 2010 8:59am
The problem stems from the decision to create a commando "SWAT" team in response to the shooting two weeks ago. While perhaps politically useful for the mayor and the chief ('Look! We're doing something!") it is an inappropriate response to the problem at hand. What is needed are more cops with better info about what's going on, NOT more heavily armed cops with twitchier trigger fingers.
If a club is overcrowded and one can reasonably suspect underage drinking, turn on the lights and check peoples' IDs. You don't need riot gear to pull off that operation.
posted by: DWSCMT E-Board on October 4, 2010 9:03am
Dear Downtown Partners,
Please save the date and join us this Tuesday evening at 6pm at the Omni
Hotel in New Haven for a Downtown New Haven Quality of Life and Security
October 5th
The panel will consist of:
Bitsie Clark – Alderperson, Ward 7
Lt. Rebecca Sweeney - District Manager, NHPD
Rena Leddy – Executive Director, Town Green Special Services District
Rub Smuts - Chief Administrative Officer, City of New Haven
Kelly Murphy – Economic Development Administrator, City of New Haven
The discussion wil be moderated by the Downtown-Wooster Square Community
Management Team. Please join your neighbors and discuss the recent issues
affecting our downtown.
If you have any questions, please feel free to the DWSCMT executive board at
Doug Hausladen
Downtown-Wooster Square CMT
Welcome to the Downtown-Wooster Square Community Management
For more options, visit our google group:
Find us on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=56113805469
Follow us on twitter: http://twitter/dwscmt
As a public meeting, it is alright and expected that members of the public
cannot stay or arrive for the complete discussion. Please feel free to email
our board with any questions with regards to your city.
posted by: Bruce on October 4, 2010 9:54am
Wow, I have really mixed feelings about this. I think it is absolutely critical for the police to put an end to the dangerous and violent climate that has long existed in the downtown nightclub scene. However, fighting and tasing college students does not seem to be a productive approach. People have every right to record these incidents. Police should behave in such a way that they would welcome a video record of their activities.
Also, it seems irresponsible of Ms. Miller not to even mention the serious problems underage drinking and dangerous over-crowding of a bar. Her focus was ONLY on helping the students in their brutality case. Doesn't she have some responsibility to address her students' illegal behavior?
posted by: mr. t on October 4, 2010 10:00am
I hope the students take these videos to Citizens Television to play so the LOCAL folks can see what their P.D. is up to.
I had a similar case in West Haven years ago, and after they played our video, the WHPD got the message loud and clear
posted by: King John is to Blame on October 4, 2010 10:03am
Blame the King, not the Police.
John DeStefano has turned a blind eye to the crap going on down town for years. Now he charges the Police with the task of cleaning it up overnight.
This is one taxpaying resident and business owner who is glad this operation is going on, but sorry the Police are forced to do it in the manner it is being done.
LT Reddish is a GREAT cop and I believe he wouldn't use force without it being necessary, hope he wasn't seriously hurt.
To all the Yalies, a little hint: When Police tell you to stop doing whatever you are doing, Stop doing what you are doing. Simple.
Then go home and right a paper about all the injustices in New Haven, with an arm that wasn't broken by the Police.
posted by: ThirtySomethingTaxPayer on October 4, 2010 10:22am
Someone doesn't get it. When I first heard of the Operation Nightlife, I fully supported it. I thought, "Good. The scene on Crown St at 2am is out of hand and I'm glad they're going to step up the police presence". However, this is ridiculous. I wanted them to go after the thugs who carry guns, start fights, and throw bottles off the parking garage. I'm not concerned about Yale kids (or any peaceful college kids) having a private party; in fact that's the crowd that is good for downtown bars. As a taxpayer, I'm not concerned about rounding up underage college kids for drinking when they are walking or taking a shuttle back to where they live - we don't need a sting operation or gun-toting SWAT team for that. I would have been happy for some of my tax money to have gone to increased police presence to deter thugs from bringing their guns to Crown St to settle scores; or to break up fights, or even better, prevent fights from happening just by having police present. This isn't what I expected when I heard about Operation Nightlife.
posted by: j on October 4, 2010 10:24am
@bbearlaw: "To properly address this issue, we need to step outside of the bubble that is New Haven."
If only I could. I would step out of it, then pop it, and feel the weight of 1,000 cares lift off of my shoulders. Alas, that's but a dream.
The reality is this: in New Haven, the PD routinely fails to enforce even the most basic laws concerning matters of public safety (especially traffic laws), actively contributing to a culture in which disrespect for the law is rampant. "...which is the way he wants it, well, he gets it."
For that reason, the completely disproportionate reaction of the officer in this case utterly lacks credibility.
posted by: JB on October 4, 2010 10:31am
A bunch of unarmed college kids, only one underaged drinker and the only issue is overcrowding: doesn't sound like a good allocation of resources to me. Not to mention, what's up with the ... officer at the end of the video? Expect costly lawsuits….
posted by: JAK on October 4, 2010 10:45am
Until there is law, order, and peace on Crown st., I will not be patronizing the adjacent restaurants on weekend nights. What does that look like? Think SONO.
If you want to cause trouble don't come downtown. Keep up the good work NHPD!
posted by: john on October 4, 2010 10:51am
@bruce: i'm simpatico in general with your comments. but whatever we may think of the dean's comments, it is clear that the burden of not of not exceeding capacity, and enforcing underage drinking laws, falls squarely on the bar. besides—how many violations of the latter type were actually issued in this instance?
posted by: nfjanette on October 4, 2010 11:20am
The rule of survival, which is quite different sometimes than the rule of law, is very simple: when confronted by an officer of the law, be overtly respectful, obey whatever orders are issued and otherwise keep your mouth shut. An additional clarification for young budding attorneys and/or Yalies: this means you. At such moments, it is not the time to argue - you will be on the losing end of any confrontation you create. The time to dispute any facts is later, in an arena in which the rules are not slanted in favor of law enforcement officers that must be able to, if necessary, ensure forceful compliance in situations.
Once, long ago, I was young and foolish like so many of the people involved in the nightly recreation of Mardi Gras on Crown Street. My interaction happened with Florida State Marshals, a special division of police that doesn't really have an analogue in Connecticut. I was a passenger in a vehicle that was pulled over by the authorities looking for DUI. The driver had not been drinking, which irritated the marshals, since they were specifically targeting DUI. I was 18, had been drinking, and "knew my Constitutional rights". In retrospect, it's amazing that I escaped with only a verbal beating in that confrontation.
The lesson, however, thankfully stuck. So, when years later, I was confronted by East Haven police officers with hands on their guns, I was able to calmly communicate while not moving my arms in any way unseen by them that I was no danger to them or the bloodied woman next to me. The guy they were looking for had just sped away from the violent attack I had just happened upon in progress - but they didn't know that when they first arrived and for all they knew, I was a potential threat to the woman and them. I don't fault them for being careful, even if it was frightening to see how close they were to holding me at gunpoint.
Finally, I think people need to stop playing this game of Telephone with respect to repeating the reported details of the events. The conflation and fueling of the story is not helping anyone, nor is portraying the police officers as Storm Troopers equipped for war. Police officers don't have to look pretty with neckties for the public, rather they have to use the equipment required for the worse possible situation at any unknown moment. Wearing ballistic protection and carrying weapons doesn't make them evil.
Let the facts come out through the proper investigative processes and then it will be possible to begin to understand the form judgments.
posted by: junebugjune on October 4, 2010 11:44am
I get your intent, but boycotting downtown businesses is not the answer. There are a lot of businesses downtown working like crazy to barely make ends meet in this recession and they had nothing to do with the behavior of the police in this case.
We need to take this to the source, DeStefano, and the police. This kind of police brutality is unacceptable no matter who the victim is. I hope that we will stand united as a city against this behavior and not let our differences divide us.
- - -
"They came first for the Communists,
and I didn't speak up because I wasn't a Communist.
Then they came for the trade unionists,
and I didn't speak up because I wasn't a trade unionist.
Then they came for the Jews,
and I didn't speak up because I wasn't a Jew.
Then they came for me
and by that time no one was left to speak up."
Pastor Martin Niemöller (1892–1984)
posted by: Bob on October 4, 2010 12:10pm
A common comment I've read is that the cops should be going after "thugs." is there a definitive look of a "thug?" Please fill me in, because it appears that the common attitude is that the police should be enforcing laws on the thugs and not the "other people."
posted by: robn on October 4, 2010 12:29pm
Allowing 256 people into an area with a legal capacity of 150 clearly puts them in danger and the NHPD was merely trying to keep everybody safe by, uhhh, kicking the cr@p out of them….
posted by: robn on October 4, 2010 12:52pm
The NHPD doesn't need to bring in a SWAT team to clear out an overcapacitated room. They just need to bring up bright overhead lights and put on "Girl From Ipanema". Guaranteed party killer.
posted by: Swatty on October 4, 2010 12:57pm
nfjanette great comment and spoken with wisdom.
Keep your hands on the wheel and speak when spoken to. Get on the ground if they tell you to hit the deck. Considering the issues we had in this area just last weekend a student would have to be pretty dull around the edges not to know that the cops are on alert.
Seems like this party should have been held on campus where the students have diplomatic immunity.
Whole thing should have been busted the moment there was a fire code violation.
Take it to Mory's!
posted by: Anon on October 4, 2010 2:33pm
There is nothing particularly heartening about what the mayor is saying about installing cameras on police.
First, the PD and city fights hard to keep anyone from accessing footage created or kept by them. It is almost never voluntarily produced unless it benefits their cases.
Second, that the city is offering this in response to Yale arrests, because it involves Yale only makes me more cynical, not less.
posted by: worried on October 4, 2010 2:49pm
I understand that NHPD puts up with a lot of dangerous crap out there and want to make it home to their loved ones at the end of shift but…
I have seen many "confrontations" ramped up by the officer responding. Why does the NHPD have the right to swear and yell at people? Is it effective? It is totally unprofessional. Start acting in a more professional manner and maybe you will get the respect you deserve.
No need to throw your weight around verbally you are carrying a gun/taser! I'm quite frankly fearful of NHPD because of recent incidents I've seen in my neighborhood. Are the new officers too inexperienced??? Think life is like a video game?
I'm not knocking the cops because they are the ones I'm calling when I need help but maybe now that Yale is investigating this incident these unprofessional behaviors will be addressed.
posted by: Steve on October 4, 2010 2:59pm
So in the most recent (Monday pm) update, the police story has changed again. Now, prior comments about underage drinking (including in a police press release yesterday) are no longer operative and this was only about being overcapacity and only aimed at the club owner.
Limon is now quoted: "Our investigation was not targeting anybody but the operators of these clubs."
This squares the story up with the actual absence of underage drinking and the actual presence of over-crowding. Turns out the Yale students were telling the truth about those two points.
But as so many commenters note: it makes the observed treatment of club-goers that much crazier. Why were students prevented from leaving the overcrowded situation?? Why does it take a SWAT team to (as so many have said) turn the lights on and music off? Clear the crowd and cite the owner, JOB DONE. At least if the raid was really aimed at only the club owner, as Limon now swears it was.
The more the police change their story, the crazier it gets.
posted by: Wow! on October 4, 2010 4:02pm
It's amazing how people who live in glass houses throw stones! From your comments, Not ONE of you have a clue about the day to day activities, interactions, threats of violence or duties of a police officer. Officers are in a no win situation. Until they come to your aid when needed. Downtown is COMPLETELY OUT OF CONTROL EVERY BAR night. From the so called inner city "Thugs" to the privileged "College Student." The lack of respect that a majority of these kids have (Or at least show) is clearly because of the way some of you think. We ALL have certain liberties until you act in a manner in which those liberties may be momentarily taken away. Most of you, probably have kids that are amongst the party goers who tell you "Their" version of how they were treated by the police. Not sharing with you their actions. I'm sure the police have no problem with the nightlife downtown. It's the portion of the night that 1.)No one knows about or 2.) No one cares to talk about. Suggestion: all of you who say the police overreact to the downtown patrons and the well mannered Yale, QU and SCSU students….Pick one night, Thursday, Friday or Saturday and go walk the streets amongst the Non violent, Law abiding crowds at bar closing (Around 1:45-2:00 AM). After you've done that, THEN come back to this story and post how the NHPD overreacts.Until your willing to walk in someone elses shoes,maybe you should ALL hold off on being SO judgemental.
posted by: john on October 4, 2010 4:13pm
"Never a problem. The city never cared. I don't know what the official capacity is," Carta said.
posted by: goNHPD on October 4, 2010 4:31pm
People can be locked up for filming the police on video. You can not interfere with a police officer investigation. You can not delay, hinder, or obstruct a police officer during the course of his duties. This kids with the camera get real close to the police I have seen it to many time,kids shoving cell phone camera's in a cops while he is arresting somebody not safe for you, the officer or the person he is arresting. 53a-167a Interfering with a police officer read that statute before knocking NHPD. And this kid hit 3 police officers what did you think was going to happen.
posted by: Threefifths on October 4, 2010 4:41pm
posted by: Louis on October 3, 2010 12:52pm
I've seen Yalies interact with the police downtown. While many are respectful, many others are drunk, arrogant, and think that they are above the law. They confuse any use of force by the police, even reasonable force, with "brutality." I've heard them tell the police that their powerful Daddies will "have" their jobs. Mostly, I think that immature Yalies are upset when their drunken parties are interuinterrupted, and they are forced to obey the law like everyone else.
So should not the police Obey the law also.or are they give a pass like this one.
Fired New Haven cop to get his job back
Published: Tuesday, May 11, 2010
By William Kaempffer, Register Staff
NEW HAVEN — A former city police officer who was fired after calling out sick from work and causing a drunken scene at a downtown club last October will be getting his job back.
Jason Bandy, 24, who joined the force in 2008, had been trying to win back his job through arbitration. On Friday, as his case was scheduled to begin, the police union and city labor officials reached a settlement that converted the termination to a one-year unpaid suspension, followed by an 18-month "last chance" agreement that would cost him his job with no recourse if he runs afoul again.
Sgt. Louis G. Cavaliere said Bandy agreed to the terms.
"He wants to be a New Haven police officer," said Cavaliere.
Even though the penalty was significant, he said, the agreement ensures he will have that opportunity to return to the job and prove himself.
City spokeswoman Jessica Mayorga said, "Based on the facts available, decisions were made in the best interest of the city."
Bandy got in trouble last October when, drunk, he allegedly urinated on the bathroom floor of the Center Street Lounge and cursed at an employee who objected. He subsequently flashed his badge at a bouncer and then refused to answer questions when an extra-duty police officer confronted him. As he left the bar, he allegedly kicked a pile of garbage and spat toward the bar, police said.
Police arrested him in December for second-degree breach of peace, disorderly conduct and interfering with police, and the police commission in January fired him. The criminal case remains pending, court records show, and Bandy last month filed for a special form of probation that would leave him without a record.
His problems continued in late January, however, when East Haven police responded to his mother's house on a domestic call and sent Bandy to the hospital for an evaluation after learning he had threatened suicide, court documents show. His mother told police that he had an anger issue and he had trouble controlling it without medication. At the time, Bandy told police that he had stopped taking his prescription. He faces a disorderly conduct charge in that case.
Contacted later Monday and asked about the East Haven case, Mayorga said "everything was considered and discussed" before the agreement was reached. Part of the agreement, she added, requires Bandy to go through counseling and pass two "fitness for duty" exams with city doctors before he can return to work in January 2011.
Cavaliere said the union believed it had a strong case to win Bandy's job back, but Bandy ultimately decided to take the deal rather than risk the arbitration panel upholding his termination.
It wasn't the union's position that Bandy shouldn't have faced discipline, Cavaliere said, but rather that termination — or even the one-year suspension to which Bandy agreed — was simply excessive.
Bandy declined comment through the union. Contacted Monday, Jason Cutler, owner of the Center Street Lounge, also declined comment.
posted by: Judith Massini on October 4, 2010 4:56pm
Well mayor your "New Haven shock and awe" was a ridiculous statement to begin with. How dare you! .... You mayor have put your police in a very bad position and forced them to go into these bars to break havoc on everyone so you can harass owners and starve them out of business. The part of putting some of these guys out of business is ok with me, but to put your cops at risk is just awful. I heard mayor that you are out of the country. ... You certainly are not running this city and when you do it, it is poorly run. I don't know if I should ask you to stop gallivanting around the world while this city is getting worse and worse. Or only hope someday you decide not to return. What have you done to this wonderful city? What have you done to our police department since Chief Lewis left? What have you done to the residents/taxpayers? What are you doing to your city employees? Mayor, you need to recognize you aren't bigger than life and you aren't re-electable. ...
posted by: Threefifths on October 4, 2010 4:59pm
posted by: nfjanette on October 4, 2010 12:20pm
The rule of survival, which is quite different sometimes than the rule of law, is very simple: when confronted by an officer of the law, be overtly respectful, obey whatever orders are issued and otherwise keep your mouth shut. An additional clarification for young budding attorneys and/or Yalies: this means you. At such moments, it is not the time to argue - you will be on the losing end of any confrontation you create. The time to dispute any facts is later, in an arena in which the rules are not slanted in favor of law enforcement officers that must be able to, if necessary, ensure forceful compliance in situations.
These people obey and look at what happen.
And they even beat there own fellow cops who obey.
Fellow cops clobbered me after wife called 911 for help vs. thugs, NYPD Officer Larry Jackson claims
posted by: The Lorax on October 4, 2010 5:52pm
Oh, good. This is the first time I've ever seen documentation that the police actually do ANYTHING about loud motorcycles. Let's ticket more loud motorcycles. ...
posted by: Dot Khan on October 4, 2010 6:09pm
Based on many years working at Toad's, I correctly figured out that the reason the QU student with a camera was arrested was he had been involved in a fight inside Toad's. I welcome that the police are planning to use cameras as well to catch what goes on from beginning to end.
posted by: nfjanette on October 4, 2010 9:51pm
These people obey and look at what happen.
We could trade video links back and forth - I can post ones that show police officers dealing with drunken patrons from bars and clubs or when they are pulled over for DUI. That's not the point. It's all about trying to get the odds in your favor for a good outcome to a bad situation. Mouthing off isn't going to help you when dealing with police officer, and if you shove or take a swing, all bets are off.
posted by: Mister Jones on October 4, 2010 11:14pm
Pay close attention to the video of the QU student being arrested outside Toad's. The cops at first appear to welcome the videotaping. Things changed when the taper got in the cops faces while his friend was being arrested, before he was even cuffed, asking why he was being arrested. Common sense says don't get in a policeman's face while he is trying to cuff someone, especially in a city where two weeks before a clubgoer shot at cops.
The student taper was told to back off. He stepped back but continued to engage the police. He refused to clear the area when asked, arguing that it was a public sidewalk. [The person yelling at him to stop recording appears to be a Toad's employee not a cop.] It's no surprise that he was arrested.
Imagine if a professional journalist had been recording instead of the student. He or she would have kept a safe distance and not injected himself in the middle of an arrest. Questions for the police would have been saved for after the arrest was complete.
Journalism 101: The First Amendment does not provide immunity from crimes committed in the course of newsgathering. This kid wasn't arrested for recording the scene, he was arrested for his other actions while he was recording.
I'm usually not an apologist for cops, and am usually the first to complain about infringement of 1st Amendment rights. It's true that around the country recently, there have been a number of prosecutions for recording police in public settings. This is not one of them.
posted by: ThirtySomething on October 4, 2010 11:37pm
When I used the word "thugs" I followed it with "who carry guns, start fights, and throw bottles". I have no problem with a swat team being present to break up fights, deter someone from using a gun, etc. It doesn't appear these yale kids were doing anything like that. From what I've read their worst offense was that a few of them were underage. So what I mean by "thug" is someone who might physically harm another person… like the guys shooting at each other a few weeks ago. Its nothing to do with what they look like, rather how they behave. I think a strong police presence is great. I just dont think the tip they were going on that night ("there may be some underage yale kids in Elevate") supported the show of force they used. If their main gripe was the overcrowding of the bar, there was no need to be so rough on the club's patrons, the issue was with the club. I know there are lots of great cops out there, hopefully this was just a one-off use of poor judgement.
posted by: concern on October 5, 2010 6:51am
BANDY BACK ON THE STREET OH MY what a shame and we the community pay our taxes to have someone like him back on the street hope it is not my area he is not ready yet to be back needs more training and how to handle him self the badge is to protect the citizens of New Haven not bar hop.
posted by: Gene Debs on October 5, 2010 7:36am
Now it seems the chief is launching an investigation. Meaning a couple of rookies will be put through the ringer because they did what they were told. The assistant chief was there, and someone told the swat team to show up. Let's investigate the most inept management in NHPD history.
posted by: Threefifths on October 5, 2010 9:20am
posted by: nfjanette on October 4, 2010 10:51pm
These people obey and look at what happen.
We could trade video links back and forth - I can post ones that show police officers dealing with drunken patrons from bars and clubs or when they are pulled over for DUI. That's not the point. It's all about trying to get the odds in your favor for a good outcome to a bad situation. Mouthing off isn't going to help you when dealing with police officer, and if you shove or take a swing, all bets are off.
Drunken patrons are different than someone who is not Drunk.These people were not Drunken and follow all orders as they were told to do so by the police.You are trying to justify police brutality.Look at the you tube again.Are you saying that this is not police brutality.
What would you call this.
White Cop Shot Himself And Blamed It On A Black Man
Bring on your youtube.
posted by: Ya-ya on October 5, 2010 9:28am
The NHPD admin is inept and instead of cleaning up the tough areas they took the easy way out with kids. They don't pick up the phone, follow through with investigations and drop the ball on most arrests. They are concerned with bar hopping and girls and treat there jobs as an inconvenience. There obviously to scared to toto Poplar or NNewhallvilleand do there job. I can't even get a call back from these guys. So I'm gonna just call the state and have them do it. How many Murders this year? Only thing I see is a bunch of empty promises and a rotatation of corruption. That great u arrested a bunch of lil kids. Go do some real work in the right neighborhoods. Blood Stains on the street and still don't see any NHPD. Bring the Staties in and see how fast things change around here.
posted by: R on October 5, 2010 5:51pm
Fellow citizens: know your rights.
Cops: know OUR rights, and know that we know them; know that the criminals you were trying to crack down on weren't college students, duh.
As a homeowner and taxpayer here, I have been pretty pro-cop, but this abuse of power is galling.


text:
Friday, August 16, 2013
© Copyright 2015
Albany Herald
JOHANNESBURG — Paralympic gold medallist Oscar Pistorius will face new charges of recklessly discharging a weapon in public when he appears in a South African court next week accused of murdering his girlfriend, local media reported Friday.
Neither prosecutors nor lawyers for Pistorius would comment on the reports carried by TV broadcaster ENCA, radio's Eyewitness News and the national SAPA news agency, citing law enforcement officials.
They said he would face the new charges for allegedly discharging a weapon in a restaurant in January and from a car while driving home from a holiday. Both incidents are alleged to have happened before his girlfriend was killed.
The hearing Monday is expected to be swift and procedural, with the case moved to a high court and a date set for the start of his trial, legal sources have said.
The double-amputee, known as "Blade Runner" for the prostheses he wears in competition, has admitted to firing four shots through a bathroom door at his Pretoria home, hitting his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp, 29, in the head, arm and hip.
Pistorius said in an affidavit presented at a magistrates' court the shooting on Valentine's Day had been a tragic mistake and he was acting in self-defence against what he thought was an intruder.
Prosecutors accused him of premeditated murder for killing Steenkamp, a model and budding reality TV figure.
Pistorius, 26, was one of the most celebrated athletes of the 2012 Olympics and Paralympics in London, making the Olympic 400m semi-final and winning Paralympic gold over the same distance.
More like this story
- S.Africa's Pistorius goes free on $113,000 bail ( February 22, 2013 )
- 'Blade Runner' Pistorius charged with murder in girlfriend's death ( February 14, 2013 )
- Tearful Pistorius faces judge, murder charge ( February 16, 2013 )
- Pistorius goes free on $113,000 bail ( February 22, 2013 )
- Prosecutors: Pistorius shot cowering girlfriend through bathroom door ( February 20, 2013 )

subset: commoncrawl


text: Jimmie Johnson grabs Chase spot with Folds of Honor Qui... Jimmie Johnson grabs Chase spot with Folds of Honor Qui... by Andrew Lawrence How safe is NASCAR anyway? How safe is NASCAR anyway? How the court ruled against Kurt Busch How the court ruled against Kurt Busch Joey Logano does not know how much a ton weighs Joey Logano does not know how much a ton weighs by Extra Mustard Tony Stewart's pet pig helps him get over disappointing... Tony Stewart's pet pig helps him get over disappointing... by Extra Mustard Joey Logano gives Roger Penske another Daytona 500 win Joey Logano gives Roger Penske another Daytona 500 win Will Kurt Busch ever return to NASCAR from his indefini... Will Kurt Busch ever return to NASCAR from his indefini... Kurt Busch's accuser Patricia Driscoll says she's payin... Kurt Busch's accuser Patricia Driscoll says she's payin... by Andrew Lawrence Busch girlfriend's media manipulation advice to Stewart Busch girlfriend's media manipulation advice to Stewart Bold predictions for the 2015 NASCAR season Bold predictions for the 2015 NASCAR season Supercross Trailblazer Vicki Golden Supercross Trailblazer Vicki Golden Sprint Cup standings updated after Atlanta Sprint Cup standings updated after Atlanta BC-AP Sports Preview Digest BC-AP Sports Preview Digest BC-AP Sports Preview Digest BC-AP Sports Preview Digest BC-AP Sports Preview Digest BC-AP Sports Preview Digest Close Tweet0 Share0 Comment0 Share0 Share0 Stumble It0 Print0 More Racing Johnson looking like Chase favorite with fourth Brickyard 400 victory by Cary Estes Email Posted: Sun Jul. 29, 2012 Mr. Five-Time is now Mr. Four-Time. But for Jimmie Johnson, that is not a step backward. Instead, it is another impressive line in the record-setting racing resume that Johnson continues to write.The five-time Sprint Cup Series champion picked up his fourth career victory in the Brickyard 400, turning in a dominating performance Sunday at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. He is one of only six drivers with at least four victories at the historic track. Jeff Gordon also has won the Brickyard four times, while A.J. Foyt, Al Unser Sr. and Rick Mears are each four-time winners of the Indianapolis 500. Michael Schumacher won the Formula One U.S. Grand Prix five times."I just hoped to come here and race [one day]," Johnson said. "To come here and win is a huge honor. And then to have four wins -- four wins -- I'm at a loss for words."We, on the other hand, still have plenty to say. Here are five things we learned at Indianapolis: 1. Johnson appears to be the favorite heading into the Chase. After a sluggish start to the season, Johnson is rounding into championship form. It took him nearly three months to win his first race. Now he has three victories and eight top-10 finishes in the past 10 races. And while Johnson might be fourth in the point standings, nobody else currently has a better combination of ability, confidence and team chemistry. ? LONG: Earnhardt's turnaround continues by taking points lead"From a performance standpoint, we're as strong as we've ever been," Johnson said. "These are amazing race cars. We've made a lot of progress since the start of this year. I feel really good about the Chase. I'm ready for it to start."Crew chief Chad Knaus sounded equally optimistic about the team's chances of capturing championship No. 6."He's awesome. There's no doubt about it," Knaus said of Johnson. "He's the best race car driver that we have in the sport right now. But if we have poor pit stops or poor race cars, he can't get it done. Fortunately enough, everybody we have at Hendrick Motorsports and on the 48 team are doing their jobs, and we're able to go out and post good numbers."That was never more evident than on Sunday, as Johnson led 99 of the 160 laps and quickly regained the lead whenever he dropped out of the top spot."It didn't really matter if you were in front of him or not, he was going to pass you in about four or five laps anyway," third-place finisher Greg Biffle said. "He ran me down in two laps from 25 car lengths [behind]. His car was just really, really good." 2. Changing crew chiefs has not fixed Carl Edwards' woes. Edwards stood outside his hauler on Saturday and answered a series of questions from members of the media about the team's recent change in crew chiefs from Bob Osborne, who has worked with Edwards nearly his entire Sprint Cup career, to Chad Norris. The official word is that Osborne stepped down because of health issues, not because Edwards is winless this season and in danger of not making the Chase. But considering how poorly Edwards has performed lately (only one top-10 finish in the past seven races and no top-5s since March), it is easy to wonder whether his on-track struggles truly were the reason for the change. After watching Edwards talk to the media for nearly 20 minutes, Clint Bowyer -- who was sitting two haulers away from Edwards -- expressed what many people probably were thinking. "Hey Carl," Bowyer suddenly yelled. "How many different ways can you explain why you fired somebody."Edwards looked at Bowyer and tried to maintain a smile, but it was obvious that the comment stung him deeply. Following several seconds of nervous laughter from those gathered around him, Edwards finally replied, "I don't know what to say to you right now."Edwards didn't know what to say Sunday, either He entered the race with optimism after qualifying second, but was forced to the pits after only 13 laps, telling his team simply that the car "isn't running right." His crew ended up changing all the sparkplugs and that appeared to solve the problem. But by the time Edwards returned to the track he was two laps down on his way to a 29th-place finish. He is now 12th in the standings, 69 points out of 10th and with no victories needed to capture one of the two wild-card positions.Moments after the early pit stop Edwards told Norris over the radio, "I'm not trying to get down on you. I'm just very, very frustrated like we all are. Let's go forward. That's done."Edwards' chances at making the Chase also appear to be done. 3. The Brickyard 400 is not what it used to be. For the drivers, this remains one of the crown jewels of the sport, ranking just behind the Daytona 500 and possibly ahead of the Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte and the Southern 500 at Darlington in terms of prestige. For the fans, however, this is becoming just another NASCAR race to avoid. Attendance has been sinking like a brick ever since the 2005 Brickyard, when the track's 257,000-seat grandstands were packed and total attendance (including the infield) was approximately 280,000. That number has dropped by more than half, with Sunday's race attracting a crowd estimated at no more than 120,000, and probably several thousand less. That would be an impressive total anywhere else, but at Indy it resulted in wide patches of empty aluminum bleachers reflecting in the sun.It is amazing to think that 15 years ago, when NASCAR's popularity was soaring and open-wheel racing was going through the messy feud between CART and the Indy Racing League, there was serious speculation as to whether the Brickyard 400 might one day pass the Indianapolis 500 in popularity. That notion seems ridiculous now. 4. Jeff Gordon might have missed his last best chance to make the Chase. Gordon's fifth-place finish Sunday gives him two fifths and three sixths in the past six races. In the process he has motored from 22nd in the point standings all the way up to 15th. But the one thing Gordon still does not have this season is a victory, and that is probably going to prevent him from being able to sneak into the Chase. Gordon is 79 points out of 10th place in the standings, a gap he likely cannot make up in the six races before the 12-driver Chase field is set. That means his best chance at making the Chase is to grab one of the two wild-card spots that is predicated on victories.With 85 career Cup victories to his credit, Gordon certainly is capable of winning twice in six races, which is probably what he would need to do to make the Chase. The problem is that Indy is one of his best tracks. A victory Sunday would have thrust him back into legitimate Chase contention. Now he remains a long shot."I'm frustrated that we let opportunities get away earlier in the year. I feel like we let one get away a little bit today," Gordon said. "But it's not going to stop our efforts and how hard we're going to work from here on out to try to win more races or at least keep these top fives coming if we can't win."When asked whether he can still make the Chase, Gordon replied, "Anything's possible." 5. NASCAR is Dale Earnhardt Jr's world. Everybody else is just riding around in it. All right, this isn't exactly something we have just learned. Earnhardt has long been the most popular driver in the sport, with a fan base that far exceeds any other driver in NASCAR. But that point was hammered home with a surreal scene following Saturday's Sprint Cup practice session. As Earnhardt stood in his garage stall talking with crew chief Steve Letarte, dozens of fans lined up on either end of the stall, snapping photos and clutching posters and memorabilia that they hoped Earnhardt would sign. One woman walked to the edge of the stall and tried to get his attention by repeatedly screaming, "Junior, Junior," before security officials had her back up a few steps. When Earnhardt finally left the garage, a swarm of people surrounded him as he made his way to a golf cart that took him back to his hauler. One young man even ran alongside the golf cart for several seconds as it sped away.Meanwhile, just two spots away from Earnhardt's stall, Tony Stewart sat in his garage with only a handful of fans paying him any attention. That's defending Sprint Cup champion and Indiana native Tony Stewart. He is arguably the second-best driver of the past 10 years and a home-state favorite, but he still was eclipsed by the fandom that is Junior Nation. And now that Earnhardt has taken over the lead in the point standings, look for the Nation to become even larger and louder. Promoted Stories Comments More Racing


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Randy Danson, who plays the villainous Madame Morrible in Wicked, invites us into her dressing room to see her "groovy lady," royal pet portraits and a special gift from Tony-winning costume designer Susan Hilferty.
Mamma Mia! star Felicia Finley welcomed Broadway.com to her backstage space at the Winter Garden Theatre to show off her "dance pills," a wacky feathered friend and her gorgeous view of Times Square. Check out her home away from home!
July 18, 2012When Christy Altomare isn't starring as blushing bride Sophie in the Broadway hit Mamma Mia!, she's backstage at the Winter Garden Theatre sharing Twix bars, candy canes and Kit Kats…but she's not sharing her private bathroom!
January 30, 2013Newsies star Kara Lindsay invited Broadway.com inside her dressing room at the Nederlander Theatre to see what keeps her energized, the inspiration for her character Katherine and, of course, her fabulous dressing roommate Capathia Jenkins.
July 25, 2012Michael Potts has audiences rolling in the aisles in The Book of Mormon, but backstage he takes his dressing room seriously. In this fun video, Potts shows off the best place to nap and shares his thoughts on dressing room snacks and smells.
August 8, 2012Backstage at the St. James Theatre, Bring It On's lead cheerleader Taylor Louderman has quite the versatile dressing room! It doubles as a pre-show hang out spot, a miniature art gallery and one very chocolate-filled Halloween destination!
October 17, 2012Starring in the Broadway blockbuster Wicked keeps Jackie Burns on her toes, but it's these five things that make her life easier backstage. Bet you've never done this with apple cider vinegar!
October 3, 2012Ever wonder what Hands on a Hardbody star Jay Armstrong Johnson does during his downtime? He's hanging out backstage, drinking coconut water, chowing down on cough drops and doing yoga on his non-slip mat, of course!
March 6, 2013Teal Wicks, who plays Elphaba in "Wicked," shows us five things she can't live without backstage.
March 16, 2011In her dressing room at Kinky Boots, star Celina Carvajal showed off her princess chair, her fabulous array of shoes, her horrifying Australian backscratcher and more!
April 17, 2013After Tony-nominated performances in Company and Speed-the-Plow, Raúl Esparza is calling the Ethel Barrymore Theatre home yet again as math scholar Valentine Coverly in the Broadway revival of Tom Stoppard's Arcadia. Esparza welcomed Broadway.com to his backstage dressing room (where Marlon Brando was a former tenant!) to show off his five must-have items for a successful show. Click below for a guided tour by Esparza as he presents his impressive bar and the fancy cologne he's chosen to wear onstage.
March 30, 2011The leading lady of Phantom can't get by with out these dressing room essentials.
June 22, 2011Matt Bogart shares some favorite personal items from his dressing room.
August 18, 2011


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Convicted Killer Seeks Freedom, Says Cops Lied
by Thomas MacMillan | Dec 5, 2012 8:00 am
(3) Comments | Commenting has been closed | E-mail the Author
In a windowless basement courtroom, Bobby Johnson recounted how he confessed to killing and robbing a 70-year-old man in Newhallville—testimony he hopes will get him out of prison.
Johnson (pictured), who's 23, took the stand Tuesday in a habeas hearing in Rockville Superior Court. Johnson is suing the state, alleging that he is being wrongfully held for a 2006 murder that he both confessed to and pleaded guilty to committing. He's currently serving a 38-year sentence.
Johnson, who was 16 at the time of the murder, contends that New Haven cops coerced a false confession out of him and convinced him to plead guilty to murdering 70-year-old Herbert Fields on Aug. 1, 2006. He's suing for a new trial on claims of "actual innocence" and a violation of due process.
Johnson's attorney, Ken Rosenthal, argues that not only is his client innocent, but police have ballistic and fingerprint evidence pointing to the guys who actually killed Fields.
Attorneys for the state are arguing that the cops got it right the first time: Johnson pulled the trigger. On Tuesday, under cross examination by attorney Adrienne Maciulewski, Johnson admitted to contradicting himself several times in his testimony.
Johnson's case involves a former New Haven police detective, Clarence Willoughby. Johnson's attorney claims Willoughby threatened, manipulated, and lied to Johnson and two other teens in order to make arrests in the Fields murder, while ignoring evidence pointing to the actual culprits—including a man who showed up dead a month later, with the gun that shot Fields on his person.
Johnson's suit again brings up allegations of misconduct by Detective Willoughby, who was found not guilty of nine charges of forgery and larceny in 2009. Willoughby is currently being sued by a man named Ernest Pagan, who claims that Willoughby sought to pressure witnesses in a murder case against him, a case that he beat.
Johnson's testimony Tuesday also raised the perennially vexing question of how far police should go to elicit confessions from suspects. Is lying to a suspect simply a way to force guilty people to come clean? Or can it scare innocent people all the way into wrongful prison sentences?
"Bo Bo"
On Aug. 1, 2006, Fields was parked in his car on West Ivy Street in Newhallville. According to witness accounts—as described by Sgt. Brian Donnelly, who testified on Tuesday afternoon—two people approached his car from both the passenger and driver's side. The person on the driver's side shot Fields, killing him. The two people then leaned into the car, as though taking something from inside, and then fled east on West Ivy Street and turned right to go south on Dixwell Avenue.
Police later found a palm print belonging to Richard "Bo Bo" Benson on the driver's side of the car, according to documents filed by Rosenthal.
In his testimony Tuesday morning, Johnson explained how he heard about the murder, then ended up in prison for it.
Johnson showed up in court in a grey sweatshirt, baggy khaki pants, handcuffs, and ankle chains. During breaks in the hearing, he laughed and chatted with some of the dozen friends and family members who sat in the gallery. Johnson's 38-year-old mom, Angela Johnson (pictured at the top of this story), has eight kids and is pregnant with twins.
At the time of the murder, Johnson lived on Willis Street in Newhallville with his mother. He had no criminal record. According to a brief submitted by Rosenthal, Johnson had an IQ of 69 and was "barely literate."
Here's what Johnson said happened, under direct examination from Rosenthal Tuesday:
On Aug. 15, 2006, two weeks after the shooting, two cops showed up at his house and asked him to go down to the station. They asked him about where he had been when Fields was killed. He told them he had been at Visels pharmacy on Dixwell Avenue, not far from West Ivy Street. He'd been hanging out with his friend Kwame Wells-Jordan. He saw all the police cars and walked down to the crime scene to take a look, then went home.
Johnson later heard on the street that a man named Larry Mabery had committed the murder, but he didn't tell cops that. Mabery was not a man you crossed.
"I didn't want to put my family in danger," Johnson said. "He was known to be very violent."
Johnson also heard that a guy known as "Bo Bo" was involved in the murder.
On Sept. 3, 2006, cops showed up at Johnson's house again. Detectives Willoughby and Michael Quinn took Johnson down to the station.
"They said that they knew I did it," Johnson recalled. "I told them I didn't do it. … They said I could get the death penalty."
The detectives offered him a deal: 10 years of probation if he confessed to the crime. They told him he'd never see his family again if he didn't cooperate.
"They said they got my fingerprints on the car," Johnson recalled. "They said people said I was there. … I tried to leave but they wouldn't let me. … I decided to cooperate and tell them what they wanted to hear."
Johnson said he started creating an account of what had happened, following the cops' lead. "It felt like a rehearsal," he said. "I started telling them a little story and they would correct me along the way."
Johnson told the cops he'd shot Fields outside the car. They corrected him: He was inside the car. He said he shot him multiple times. Nope: Just once.
The detectives showed Johnson pictures of someone he didn't know and of his cousin, Michael Holmes. They told him they knew Holmes had been there.
Eventually they turned on a tape recorder and Johnson made a confession. He told them he got a gun from Holmes. After he shot Fields, he ran east on West Ivy, then turned left to go north on Dixwell, he said.
The detectives brought Johnson home again. Following their instructions, he didn't tell anyone what had happened at the police station. "I felt like it was handled."
Then on Sept. 15, 2006, Johnson was sitting on a porch on Bassett Street when a police car pulled up. Four cops emerged, put him in the back of the car, and took him to the station.
"They told me I was lying, that I needed to fix my statement, or the deal was off," Johnson recalled. "They told me I got the gun from Larry and that Michael never had the gun."
Larry Mabery, known as "Little Larry," had been shot and killed Aug. 31. He was found dead with two loaded guns on him, one of them a .45. At the time, he was a suspect in three murders—including the Fields murder. Ballistics evidence showed that his .45 killed Fields.
On Sept. 15, cops told Johnson he had change his confession to include Mabery and his friend Wells-Jordan. One of the cops became aggressive. "When he was yelling, the spit was actually in my face," Johnson said. The cops said he had to cooperate or never see his family again.
After more "rehearsal," detectives turned on a tape recorder and Johnson said he and Holmes and Wells-Jordan had decided to rob somebody, walked to Mabery's house on Dixwell Avenue, borrowed a gun, then shot Fields on West Ivy Street.
"I felt like I had no other choice," Johnson said. "They was harassing me. They wouldn't leave me alone."
The detectives charged Johnson with murder. He was appointed a public defender, who advised him to accept a plea bargain for 38 years in prison. He pleaded guilty on July 17, 2007.
After Rosenthal questioned Johnson Thursday, state's attorney Adrienne Maciulewski began cross-examining Johnson, and quickly pulled out a number of inconsistencies in his story.
Maciulewski led Johnson to admit to contradicting himself numerous times, including about what the police had told him about the Fields murder and what evidence they had, and what he had told them about his whereabouts on the day of the murder.
Johnson admitted that during the 2007 trial of Wells-Jordan, he had testified to lying to the police right from the start. Maciulewski pointed out that Johnson's stated fear of vengeance from Mabery didn't make sense, given that Mabery was dead by the time Johnson talked to cops.
Johnson admitted that he had a history of trouble in school and often had to be suspended for behavioral problems. He said he did not remember threatening to hit an attorney during the trial of Wells-Jordan, although a court transcript indicates he did so.
Wells-Jordan, who was also arrested for the Fields murder, was expected to take the stand on Wednesday. Wells-Jordan beat the murder charge against him, thanks in part to Johnson, who testified at that trial that Willoughby had coerced a false confession out of him.
During a break in Tuesday's proceedings, Johnson's mother Angela said Johnson was always "very naive."
"He's very trusting," she said. The cops convinced him to confess, she said. "They just got over on my son. That's what they did."
Post a Comment
posted by: JustAnotherTaxPayer on December 5, 2012 10:09am
Who Killed Larry Mabrery? How could those handguns be found on a dead body in NewHallville?(In the majority of murders, or deaths in this city, the bodies are looted, particularly those of dope dealers, or gangsters, before the police get there. Two guns? One a murder weapon? And they aren't taken by the shooter, or kids hanging out?).
If the facts are accurate in the story, how was he convicted? It would seem that there is more than threshold for a "reasonable doubt" that he committed the murder. Unless the police and prosecutors supressed the majority of evidence. That's a stretch, coming from conflicting evidence to suppression of the majority of evidence. That would mean that these two Detectives acted as criminls.
Did they kill Mabrery? Did they plant the guns.
posted by: jessicab on December 5, 2012 11:05am
god knows who did it, and i am tired of reading these stories.
posted by: convictedbutinnocent on December 12, 2012 2:40pm
These things you say are not true…...who really killed Herbert Fields?????How do you know what and who really killed Larry if your werent their…..reread the case and you will get the picture he's an innocent man and justice will be served!!!!!


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Vendors spend Friday setting up their booths for the 13th Annual KFDX Bridal Market.
Hundreds of parents picked up gifts for their children who were in the Salvation Army's Angel Tree program.
Tuesday morning Wichita Falls City Councilors voted to approve a resolution that will provide more than $700,000 of 4B tax money to go towards four improvement projects at the MPEC.
Changes could soon be coming to the MPEC.
Hangar Holiday is Saturday and Sunday at the MPEC.
Dozens of golden retrievers are on their best behavior today as they compete in an event that's comparable to a beauty contest for the breed.
The MPEC has gone to the dogs as the Golden Retriever Club of America National Specialty gets underway.
Texoma seniors flocked to downtown Wichita Falls earlier today for an annual event that focused on their needs.
The Wichita Falls Chamber of Commerce and Industry hosted their 2013 Business Expo at the MPEC Thursday.
This weekend the spirit of Texas is on display as the annual Texas Ranch Roundup kicked off Friday.
Preparations are underway for this year's Texas Ranch Round
The car show starts at 10:30 Saturday morning and lasts until 7 at night.
The Texas Oil and Gas Industry is fueling a big event for the next two days in Downtown Wichita Falls.
The Bridwell Ag Center at the MPEC will be wall to wall exhibitors, farmers and ranchers Wednesday and Thursday, as the Ranch and Farm Expo comes to town.
You can find a growing list of ideas during this weekend's Home and Garden Show.
Get ready to help your garden come alive at the 2013 Home and Garden Festival.
Car lovers headed to downtown Wichita Falls and put on the brakes for day two of the ultimate car show.
The winningest team in basketball is bouncing back into Wichita Falls.
Vendors spent Friday afternoon setting up for the Texoma area's biggest gun, knife and collectibles show.
The annual pancake festival is the University Kiwanis Club's biggest fundraiser.


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NBCMiami: Tell Us How You Really Feel (Specifically About Jeremy Piven)
Categories: Media Watch
First of all, it's a very emotional site. It tells you up front how it's feeling, as in "NBCMiami is furious about corrupt cops." It invites readers to choose one of six emotions (furious, sad, laughing, bored, intrigued, thrilled. Why not just use emoticons? >:[, :*(, XD. :|, ;), =D) to describe their reaction to a story. So, that's interesting. I guess we are intrigued. ;)
The other new main feature is called "So Miami," which lets users "confess" to their Miami moments. Right now, that means it lets anonymous NBC6 workers confess how they think Jeremy Piven is a total douchebag. Guess the Piv-meister didn't impress the staff when he stopped by South Florida Today to promote his new movie, The Goods (which looks like The Bads -- har).
Meanwhile, we still have the same ol' site. >:[
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