Charge against Amy Cooper dropped after completing racial bias education program
(CNN)The Manhattan District Attorney’s Office onTuesday dropped the misdemeanor criminal charge against Amy Cooper, the White woman who called police on a Black man in Central Park last May, after she completed education and therapy classes on racial equity.”
Given the issues at hand and Ms. Cooper’s lack of criminal background, we offered her, consistent with our position on many misdemeanor cases involving a first arrest, an alternative, restorative justice resolution; designed not just to punish but to educate and promote community healing,” Assistant DA Joan Illuzzi said in court, according to a statement.
The Critical Therapy Center provided classes to Cooper that “focused on the ways in which Ms. Cooper could appreciate that racial identities shape our lives but we cannot use them to harm ourselves or others,” Illuzzi said.
“Having completed 5 sessions, Ms. Cooper’s therapist reported that it was a moving experience and that Ms. Cooper learned a lot in their sessions together,” she added.
Amy Cooper had been charged with falsely reporting an incident in the third degree. Illuzzi moved to dismiss the charge, and the judge granted the motion, the statement said.
The charge stemmed from a May 25 confrontation in a wooded area of Central Park between Amy Cooper and Christian Cooper (no relation). Amid a disagreement over her unleashed dog, Amy Cooper called 911 and said in an increasingly frantic tone that a Black man was threatening her, according to video of the incident he filmed.
“I’m taking a picture and calling the cops,” she says in video of the incident. “I’m going to tell them there’s an African American man threatening my life.”A 911 dispatcher called her back and she repeated the accusation, adding that the man “tried to assault her,” according to Manhattan District Attorney Cy Vance Jr.’s office.”When responding officers arrived, Ms. Cooper admitted that the male had not ‘tried to assault’ or come into contact with her,” a release from the DA’s office said.
Christian Cooper declined to cooperate with prosecution
The viral video of the incident, the same day Minneapolis Police killed George Floyd, made clear the dangers that Black men face in America and highlighted the particular challenges that Black birdwatchers and naturalists face.
In the aftermath of the video, Amy Cooper’s employer fired her and her dog was temporarily given to a shelter before being returned to her care.In comments to CNN in May, she said she wanted to “publicly apologize to everyone.”
“I’m not a racist. I did not mean to harm that man in any way,” she said.Still, Illuzzi’s statement acknowledged that her allegation could have led to violence against Christian Cooper if police had reached him first.
“The police would have been in a position where they thought that Mr. Cooper had tried to assault the defendant. Certainly, he would have been held and held forcibly if he resisted,” she said.
Christian Cooper has expressed ambivalence about the criminal case and declined to participate in it, but Illuzzi said the incident was about more than two individuals.”Mr. Cooper did not wish to participate in the criminal justice process but we determined that the defendant’s offense wasn’t solely against one individual but was a threat to the community if allowed to go unchecked,” she said. “The simple principle is that one cannot use the police to threaten another and in this case, in a racially offensive and charged manner.
“In a statement, Christian Cooper turned his focus to a larger political issue: Washington DC’s statehood and representation in Congress.”I am far more outraged by the U.S. Congress, which continues to deny the mostly Black and Brown people of the District of Columbia statehood and the representation every American deserves, than by anything Amy Cooper did,” he told CNN.
“That gross racial injustice could be fixed by Congress now, today, and that’s what people should be focused on — not last year’s events in Central Park.”
Amy Cooper’s attorney, Robert Barnes, issued a statement on Twitter thanking the DA’s office for a “thorough and honest inquiry.””We thank them for their integrity & concur w/ the outcome. Others rushed to the wrong conclusion based on inadequate investigation & they may yet face legal consequences,” he wrote.
Vance had indicated in an earlier statement that the DA’s office would try to reach a legal resolution with her.”Our Office will pursue a resolution of this case which holds Ms. Cooper accountable while healing our community, restoring justice, and deterring others from perpetuating this racist practice.”
via: https://www.cnn.com/2021/02/16/us/amy-cooper-birdwatching-charge/index.html
Photo Credit: cnn.com
Maine couple fatally stabbed by their tenant
A man renting a room from a Maine couple allegedly killed them in an unprovoked attack early Friday, according to a report.
Patrick Maher, 24, was charged with killing Troy Varney, 52, and his 48-year-old wife, Dulsie Varney, at their Turner residence, the Sun Journal reported, citing police.
Sources told the newspaper it appears Maher fatally stabbed the couple in an ambush attack.
One of the couple’s two daughters discovered her parents inside the home and called police.
In the days leading up to the bloodshed, Dulsie started to fear Maher, a relative told the Journal. It was unclear why.
A relative of Maher’s told the newspaper that he was depressed amid the pandemic and was exhibiting strange behavior in recent weeks.
The Varneys were well-known in their community. Troy ran the family farm and his wife was a teacher.
“These are the kind of people that give of themselves, getting involved in the community with events and fundraisers,” neighbor Rob Hutter told the newspaper.
“We, as a town, couldn’t ask for better neighbors.”
via: https://nypost.com/2021/02/15/maine-couple-fatally-stabbed-by-their-tenant-cops/
Photo Credit: GoFundMe
TikToker Avani Reyes claims she ‘accidentally’ put Gorilla Glue in her hair – and claims the hospital did nothing
Reyes, who has over 459,000 followers on the video-sharing app, later followed up, claiming the hospital “did nothing.”
“I just got out of the hospital and they did nothing for me. Look at my hair,” she says in the clip.
Reyes said she was advised to try olive oil, tea tree oil, or coconut oil to remove the gunk — despite Brown’s similar unsuccessful attempts before Beverly Hills plastic surgeon Dr. Michael Obeng performed a $12,500 surgery for free to rid her hair of the glue.
“I used coconut oil for like a half an hour and then I just washed my hair and there is still Gorilla Glue in my head. Guess I gotta go bald,” adds the woman, who claimed she has raised enough money to travel to LA to get surgery like Brown.
She even claimed one generous benefactor donated $3,000 to her cause.
“You guys know it’s definitely been a journey with this Gorilla Glue. It’s been crazy, so thank you so much,” she says.
Brown — who has hired an agent amid all the publicity — raised nearly $24,000 to pay for her medical bills but said she’d donate most of it to charity.
via: https://nypost.com/2021/02/16/avani-reyes-claims-she-accidentally-applied-gorilla-glue-to-hair/
Photo Credit: TikTok
Florida toddler drowned in pool as mom and boyfriend slept
A Florida couple was asleep as a toddler apparently wandered into a swimming pool and drowned, police said.
The child’s mother, Amanda Paige Davis, and her live-in boyfriend, Charner Leon Williams IV, were arrested at their Titusville home on a charge of aggravated manslaughter of a child after Davis’ 23-month-old daughter, Athena Blevins, was found lifeless in their pool Saturday afternoon, police said.
The couple’s roommate found the toddler unresponsive in the pool and performed CPR until paramedics got to the home, Titusville police said.
“The parents did not wake up until paramedics arrived on scene,” police said in a statement Sunday.
Paramedics were unable to save the girl, who was later pronounced dead at a hospital, police said.
A subsequent search of the couple’s home revealed drug paraphernalia that was “easily accessible” to the child, investigators said.
“In addition, it was found that no steps were put in place to prevent the toddler from having access to additional hazards, such as the swimming pool and the roadway,” police said.
Davis told detectives she and Williams were recovering heroin addicts who had been sober for the past two months, according to an arrest report obtained by WKMG.
But the couple allegedly admitted using heroin, cocaine and marijuana earlier in the day prior to the girl’s drowning. Davis told investigators the pair went to bed at about 4 or 5 a.m. and last saw Athena sleeping in her bed, the arrest report states.
The girl had recently learned how to open a sliding glass door and Davis allegedly didn’t take steps to stop her from getting outside. Detectives also found a glass pipe and a white powdery substance in a bag inside the couple’s bedroom that Williams said was heroin, authorities said.
Davis and Williams, both 30, remained held without bond Monday at the Brevard County Jail, online records show. They’re scheduled to return to court on March 11. It’s unclear if they’ve hired attorneys who could respond to the allegations.
Davis’ daughter, meanwhile, was set to turn 2 on Friday, WKMG reported.
via: https://nypost.com/2021/02/15/florida-toddler-drowned-as-mom-boyfriend-slept-cops/
Photo Credit: Brevard County Sheriff’s Office
Two masks now required to enter Manhattan federal court buildings
Visitors to Manhattan federal court and other buildings in the Southern District of New York are now required to either wear two face masks or an FDA-approved N95 mask.
The double-mask requirement was included in the federal court district’s COVID-19 “phased re-entry plan” released on Feb. 11.
“You are required to wear either: (i) one disposable mask underneath a cloth mask
with the edges of the inner mask pushed against your face; or (ii) a properly fitted, FDA-authorized KN95 (or N95) mask,” the text of the plan states.
“Gaiters, bandannas, or masks with valves/vents are not acceptable face coverings. If you do not have the approved mask(s), a screener will provide one. No one will be admitted without the proper mask(s),” it adds.
Security guards at the court buildings — which include the Daniel Patrick Moynihan courthouse at 500 Pearl Street, the Thurgood Marshall United States Courthouse at 40 Foley Square and District Court in White Plains — will enforce the mask mandate.
The plan extends only to the federal courthouses in the district, but other federal court districts across the country can impose similar mandates if they choose to.
The CDC last week recommended double masking for more protection against COVID-19.
“If you have a physical covering with one layer, you put another layer on, it just makes common sense that it likely would be more effective,” top infectious disease expert Dr. Anthony Fauci said in January.
via: https://nypost.com/2021/02/16/manhattan-federal-court-buildings-now-require-two-masks/
Photo Credit: Rogelio V. Solis/AP
Daily game of dress-up teaches 5-year-old about Black history
One Michigan mother is using a daily game of dress-up to teach her daughter about some of the most influential Black figures.
For the third year in a row, Taylor Trotter is dressing her daughter Paisley as some of the most influential Black trailblazers. Every day she takes a picture of Paisley dressed as a different historical figure, posts a side-by-side picture on Facebook, and adds a caption explaining each person’s contribution to American history.
February is Black History Month. Five-year-old Paisley has dressed up as Serena Williams, Kamala Harris, Jackie Robinson, Mae Jemison and other important figures.
Trotter came up with the idea while taking a child psychology class at school, where she learned about the struggles of children from biracial backgrounds. Trotter said the class helped her realize that it can be challenging for children from multicultural backgrounds to identify with a group and learn who they are.
“I knew I had to make a conscientious effort to teach her about the Black side of her and the Black history,” Trotter said. “And I want this to help her become confident in loving who she is.”
At the end of each year, Trotter collects the pictures and captions and creates a book. She and Paisley look at it throughout the year, giving them the chance to continuously learn and pay tribute to these historical figures.
“This teaches her that just because people are different doesn’t mean they aren’t worthy.”
As the pair prepared for the annual project, Trotter noted that this year, she wanted to highlight the lives of Black Americans lost to police brutality. She’s collected 10 people that she wishes to pay tribute to, one of which dates back to the 1970s.
“I’m just trying to bring awareness that this is a systemic problem and people are passing this hatred in their hearts down from generation to generation,” Trotter said.
Trotter told CNN she thinks that it’s important for her to be honest with her daughter about the systemic problems America faces.
“Racism doesn’t have an age, so kids are never too young to learn about it,” Trotter said. “I don’t want to send her into the world blindsided to the fact that people may treat her differently just because of the way she looks.”
Trotter recognizes the differences and similarities between her and her daughter, She says that having a biracial daughter has broadened her point of view.
“These aren’t necessarily things that I’ve had to think about before,” Trotter said. “It’s helped me as a mom and I feel like I’m doing my part in educating my daughter and creating change.”
You can find the daily Black History month posts on their Facebook page.
via: https://www.kmov.com/news/daily-game-of-dress-up-teaches-5-year-old-about-black-history/article_9760ce47-c605-584e-9920-168d05e750d6.html
Photo Credit: USA TODAY/Taylor Trotter
Florida man stole one girlfriend’s ring to propose to other girlfriend
A Florida man is on the run after stealing one girlfriend’s old engagement ring so he could use it to propose to his other girlfriend, authorities said.
Joseph Davis, 48, is wanted on a grand theft charge after allegedly betraying two girlfriends he met on the dating site OKCupid, the Volusia County Sheriff’s Office said in a statement Thursday.
He used the alias “Joe Brown” with one girlfriend, and “Marcus Brown” with the other, authorities said.
Girlfriend No. 1 — who lives in Orange City, and who had dated Davis since 2015 — told detectives she learned through some Facebook sleuthing that Davis, a convicted felon, was engaged to the second woman.
Worse, she saw on the second woman’s Facebook page that her rival was wearing an engagement ring and wedding band identical to her own from a previous marriage, according to the sheriff’s office.
She checked her jewelry box and found her rings and other items missing. About $6,270 in property had been stolen from her in all, officials said.
The girlfriend contacted Davis’ fiancée — who lives in Orlando and who had begun dating him in 2016.
The second woman discovered she had also allegedly been stolen from. They joined forces and reported Davis to the authorities.
The second girlfriend reported her own laptop and jewelry went missing after Davis moved out of her apartment, according to authorities.
She also recalled Davis once taking her to the first girlfriend’s house in Orange City. The first girlfriend was away at work at the time.
Davis claimed to the second girlfriend that the home was his and even asked her to move in there with him, she said.
The second girlfriend packed up her own apartment and was ready to move in, but then Davis told her the deal fell through, officials said.
Davis has a previous rap sheet that includes an active warrant in Oregon for a hit-and-run crash, domestic assault and possession of cocaine.
A brother of the Orlando woman posted about the bizarre situation on the sheriff’s Facebook page, writing, “Please everyone share this. My sister is the victim in Orland [sic] that was proposed to. He is now making threats to our family.”
The woman and her family did not return messages.
via: https://nypost.com/2021/02/13/florida-man-steals-girlfriends-ring-to-propose-to-other-girlfriend/
Photo Credit: Volusia Sheriff’s Office
Philadelphia sex offender charged after ‘deep-fried’ body parts found
A Philadelphia man has been busted after body parts were found in a U-Haul and dumpster — including deep-fried hands and feet, according to a report.
Taray Herring, 47, was arraigned Saturday on charges that include burglary, abuse of a corpse and evidence-tampering, the Philadelphia Inquirer reported.
Police had been responding to a call about a burglary in the Somerton neighborhood Thursday morning and began chasing a U-Haul truck that had fled a home there.
When they pulled the truck over, the driver got out and reportedly said, “I don’t want anything to do with this, and there’s a body in the back.”
Police found a dismembered body in a trash bag, along with a weapon.
The unidentified motorist and a passenger, who was identified as Herring, were both taken into custody, but the driver was released without charges, the Inquirer reported.
After speaking to Herring, detectives searched dumpsters near a strip mall and found black trash bags with a person’s hands and feet, all of which were deep-fried, a law enforcement source told the outlet.
There were also cut-up legs, which were not deep-fried, which were found in trash bags, the source told the paper.
Police said the medical examiner’s office is still working to identify the remains.
It’s unclear whether the dismembered corpse had any connection to the burglary, which occurred Thursday at a home owned by 70-year-old Peter Gerold.
A person from a different state had requested a welfare check Wednesday on Gerold after not hearing from him for “some time.”
Police went to the home, but didn’t enter because they didn’t notice anything suspicious, the outlet reported.
”We don’t just kick people’s doors in,” police Cpl. Jasmine Reilly said, according to the Inquirer. “There must be a reason why we go in there.”
Herring, who is a registered sex offender listed on the state police’s site, has been ordered held without bail.
via: https://nypost.com/2021/02/15/pa-sex-offender-charged-after-deep-fried-body-parts-found/
Photo Credit: Google Maps
School book program suspended after book on transgender boy read in class
(Meredith/KSTU) — A Utah school district has suspended it’s book program after a book about a transgender boy was read to third graders.
The controversy started when a third grade student brought a copy of “Call me Max” from home and asked the teacher to read it aloud to the class, according to officials at Murray School District.
Kyle Lukoff, the author, said it’s a story about a transgender boy figuring out who he is and making new friends.
“Can you call me Max? I asked. Max is the boy in my favorite book,” Lukoff said.
Administrators said the teacher deflected students’ questions, including questions about puberty.
When the parent’s found out, they contacted the school with their concerns.
via: https://www.kmov.com/news/school-book-program-suspended-after-book-on-transgender-boy-read-in-class/article_23499497-1f8b-50e5-930e-f313abbefe4d.html
Photo Credit: nypost.com
12-year-old kills home intruder after 73-year-old woman shot during robbery
A 12-year-old boy fatally shot a man to protect his grandmother when two intruders broke into her North Carolina home, authorities said.
The incident occurred shortly after 12:30 a.m. Saturday when two masked men entered 73-year-old Linda Ellis’ home in Goldsboro, news station WRAL reported.
The pair demanded money and shot Ellis in the leg, prompting the 12-year-old to open fire, police said.
“[The intruder] just shot his grandma… He would have shot him too, he would’ve shot me too, he would’ve killed us all,” the boy’s great-uncle, Randolph Bunn, told news station WTVD.
The gunfire caused the intruders to flee, but one suspect, Khalil Herring, 19, was found at a nearby intersection suffering from a gunshot wound, police said.
He was brought to a nearby hospital, where he was pronounced dead, officials said.
Meanwhile, Ellis was hospitalized with non-life threatening injuries, authorities said.
“Why would somebody come into her house and do this? It’s got to stop,” Ellis’ great-niece, Chiquita Coley, told WRAL.
No information was released about the second suspect, but authorities said the investigation is ongoing.
Charges are not expected to be filed against the 12-year-old boy, police said.
via: https://nypost.com/2021/02/14/12-year-old-kills-home-intruder-after-73-year-old-woman-shot-during-robbery/
Photo Credit: nypost.com