Woman punches Baltimore cop twice before another knocks her out
Shocking video posted to Twitter shows a brazen, barefoot woman punch a Baltimore cop twice in the face — and then knocked out cold by another officer.
Video of the Friday night incident shows the woman shouting at officers before one grabs her arm and she attempts to walk away.
She then punches the cop in the face, before a second officer grabs her arms from behind.
But she breaks free and connects fist to face again.
That’s when another officer threw a punch — sending the woman straight to the ground.
Her body appeared to be limp for several seconds before she was seen lifting her head slightly, as an officer stood over her, the footage shows.
Mayor Bernard C. “Jack” Young said Saturday the unidentified officer who threw the punch had been “removed from police duties,” the Baltimore Sun reported.
“I believe the first officer, who was struck multiple times by the woman, showed remarkable restraint by not retaliating as he was being assaulted,” Young said in a statement.
“The woman should have been placed under arrest and not assaulted. Our system of justice does not involve the concept of an ‘eye for an eye.’ ”
Baltimore was among the many cities across the US that broke out in protest Friday night over the death of George Floyd in police custody.
via: https://nypost.com/2020/05/30/male-baltimore-cop-knocks-woman-out-in-shocking-video/
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NYPD officer plows into crowd of George Floyd protesters in Brooklyn
An NYPD SUV was caught on camera ramming into a group of protesters in Brooklyn Saturday during the city’s third night of chaotic demonstrations over the death of George Floyd.
The shocking clip opens with the NYPD SUV idling in the middle of Flatbush Avenue near St. Marks Avenue in Prospect Heights, with dozens of protesters pressing a metal barricade up against the vehicle as they threw bottles and traffic cones its way.
Eventually, a second NYPD SUV pulls up alongside the first vehicle and slowly drives around the barricade and toward protesters.
Seconds later, the officer behind the wheel of the first SUV rams into the barricade, knocking others to the ground among shrieks of horror.
The incident occurred shortly before 8 p.m., according to Twitter user Pierre Garapon, who posted the clip.
An NYPD spokesperson did not immediately comment on the clip or say if there were injuries caused by the incident.
Mayor de Blasio, speaking late Saturday on NY1, called the incident “troubling,” but added, “if those protesters had just gotten out of the way and not created an attempt to surround that vehicle, we would not be talking about this situation.”
The chilling clip caught the eye of Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. The Queens-Bronx Democrat tweeted her outrage, calling for the cops behind the wheel to be “brought to justice.”
Saturday brought hundreds more out to the streets of New York to protest the killing of Floyd, the Minneapolis black man who died after a cop knelt on his neck during an arrest.
Protesters have set several police vehicles on fire and damaged many others during demonstrations in Brooklyn and Queens over the last two days. Police have relied on mace and batons in their attempts to quell riots.
The footage came just hours after Gov. Andrew Cuomo condemned a “disturbing” series of filmed clashes with protesters Friday night, ordering state Attorney General Letitia James to investigate police conduct.
via: https://nypost.com/2020/05/30/nypd-officer-plows-into-crowd-of-george-floyd-protesters-in-brooklyn/
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Man dragged by FedEx truck dies during night of George Floyd protests in St. Louis
DOWNTOWN ST. LOUIS (KMOV.com) — A man was killed after being dragged by a FedEx truck overnight in downtown St. Louis during a night of protests, police said Saturday.
The incident happened near N. Broadway and O’Fallon shortly after 3:00 a.m. The man was taken to a hospital where he later died, police said.
Police said the truck was forced off Interstate 70 due to protesters on the roadway. The truck got off onto North Broadway, heading toward Cass. While on N. Broadway, police said, the driver stopped the truck due to additional protesters in the road.
Bystander Jared Arms captured a video of protesters blocking off a section of the road with their cars and setting something on fire when the FedEx truck approached. As it came to a halt, a crowd of protesters surrounded the front of the truck and began banging and climbing onto the passenger side. Police said two people standing on the passenger side footboard of the truck pointed guns at the driver.
Demonstrators were also seen running off with packages from the trailer.
The truck driver, fearing for his safety police said, sounded his horn then drove from the Interstate 70 ramp to North Broadway and Cass.
Cries of “back the truck up” and “someone is under the truck” can be heard from Arms’ video. A man, who was seen standing between the truck’s two trailers, was dragged by the semi truck just moments later. Police said the driver did not know the victim was there.
The man was caught by the trailer tire, pulled under and run over by the trailer tire, police said. He was taken to a hospital where he later died.
His name has not yet been released by police.
Demonstrators tried to chase after the driver but weren’t able to catch up to the truck.
Hundreds of protesters marched in the streets overnight in downtown St. Louis to demand justice for George Floyd. Floyd was killed after a Minneapolis officer kneeled on his neck while handcuffed.
Interstate 70 was shut down for nearly three hours as protesters blocked traffic.
A spokesperson from FedEx released the following statement regarding the incident:
Our hearts go out to all those who are grieving the events of this week. We are deeply saddened to learn of a tragic situation involving a demonstrator in St. Louis and one of our vehicles. We offer our sincerest condolences to the family of the individual involved. There is no higher priority for FedEx than safety, and we are cooperating fully with the investigating authorities at this time.
Photo Credit: kmov.com
Every Person Arrested In Saint Paul Last Night Was From Out Of State, Mayor Says
Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, along with mayors Jacob Frey and Melvin Carter, on Saturday condemned violent protests in the state, blaming organized outside groups for promoting unrest, while also announcing that they will fully mobilize the Minnesota national guard.
“Lets be very clear, the situation in Minneapolis is no longer in any way about the murder of George Floyd,” Walz said in a press conference. The violent unrest has now turned into attacks on civil society, “instilling fear and disrupting our great city.”
“I want to be very, very clear: The people that are doing this are not Minneapolis residents,” Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey added. “They are coming in largely from outside of the city, from outside of the region, to prey on everything we have built over the last several decades.”
According to Saint Paul Mayor Melvin Carter, every person arrested in the city last night was from out of state: “We don’t know these folks,” he reiterated.
Department of Public Safety Commissioner John Harrington confirmed evidence of white supremacist groups trying to incite violence; Many posted messages online that encouraged people to go loot in Minneapolis and cause mayhem.
Walz, who also announced that he would fully mobilize the Minnesota national guard for the first time in 164 years, called the unrest “an organized attempt to destabilize civil society with no regard for civil life or property.”
The dynamic has changed over the last couple days, Walz, Carter and Frey said. Protests gradually shifted from being peaceful on Tuesday, but as more people came from outside of the city, they’ve turned increasingly violent in recent days.
“Our great cities of Minneapolis and Saint Paul are under assault by people who do not share our values, who do not value life and the work that went into this, and certainly who are not here to honor George Floyd,” Walz said. “So if you are on the streets tonight, it is very clear: You are not with us.”
WHAT TO WATCH FOR
“This is no longer about protesting… This is about violence and we need to make sure that it stops,” Frey said. “We’re in the middle of a pandemic right now.” The protection of citizens and property is the top priority, Walz and Frey confirmed on Saturday. “That situation can be expected to deteriorate further with these people,” Walz said, adding that violent protestors are being fed professional tactics in urban warfare by outside groups.
Photo Credit: JOHN AUTEY/PIONEER PRESS VIA ASSOCIATED PRESS
Atlanta cop to George Floyd protesters: ‘You have a right to be pissed off’
A black cop in Atlanta won over dozens of protesters angry about the death of George Floyd, telling them that they had “a right to be pissed off” and defending them against his fellow cops.
The unidentified black officer kept calm during the violent melee Friday night, telling the demonstrators that he has talked with his own children about racism, TMZ reported.
He even came to the defense of the protesters, pushing back on the cops who were bellowing orders over a loudspeaker.
“What was going on up here was wrong,” the cop told the crowd in the video posted by TMZ. “That’s why we brought it to a stop. The loudspeaker. The yakking and the yapping. We said, ‘pause,’ let these people remain here, let them stay in the street, let them express their grievances because they have a right to be pissed off.”
Someone yelled, “Well, over there they don’t feel the same way.” The cop responded, “That’s why I told them to shut the f–k up.”
Demonstrations, many violent, have broken out in cities nationwide since Floyd’s death Monday. Floyd, who was black, died after a white police officer, Derek Chauvin, knelt on his neck during his arrest. Chauvin is facing murder and manslaughter charges.
Atlanta’s protests turned fiery as crowds stormed CNN’s headquarters, hurling a small explosive at police as the network covered the protest live. The fireworks-like incendiary device was tossed at officers manning a barricade at the front entrance of the building. Demonstrators also broke the windows to the building’s first floor and covered its facade with anti-police graffiti.
via: https://nypost.com/2020/05/30/atlanta-cop-says-george-floyd-protesters-have-right-to-be-pissed-off/
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Teacher charged with stalking a teenage student during coronavirus lockdown
A White Plains substitute teacher allegedly bombarded a teen student with inappropriate messages after schools were closed due to the coronavirus outbreak, authorities said.
Craig Rosenberg, 56, allegedly sent the 17-year-old student “non-school-related” texts and Instagram direct messages that “made the student uncomfortable,” according to a statement from the Westchester County DA’s Office.
The student told Rosenberg to stop sending the offending messages, blocked him on social media and reported the conduct to a parent, who called the school district.
But Rosenberg didn’t relent and allegedly contacted the victim’s friends, who were also students, asking them to pass along messages to the victim.
The White Plains City School District reported the incident to police, officials said.
Rosenberg was arraigned remotely via video monitor on Thursday on one misdemeanor count of fourth-degree stalking in Westchester County Court. He was released without bail. Rosenberg had previously resigned over the allegations.
“The White Plains City School District will always protect the health, safety and welfare of our students, and we will always work closely with the White Plains Police Department to ensure that any allegation of inappropriate conduct is immediately investigated,” said district superintendent Joseph Ricca.
Rosenberg declined to comment.
via: https://nypost.com/2020/05/28/teacher-charged-with-stalking-a-teenage-student-during-coronavirus/
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Woman charged with attempted murder of 4 NYPD cops during protests
A woman was charged with the attempted murder of NYPD cops after hurling a Molotov cocktail into a marked, occupied police van in Brooklyn, authorities said.
The device did not ignite, and all of the officers got out of the van safely, police said.
Samantha Shader, 27, of Catskills, NY, tossed the incendiary device through a rear window of the van at the corner of Eastern Parkway and Washington Avenue around 10:40 p.m., police said.
Shader then allegedly bit an officer on the leg as she was taken into custody, police said. She faces four counts of attempted murder of a police officer, attempted arson, assault on a cop, criminal possession of a weapon and reckless endangerment.
Shader’s sister, Darian, 21, was also taken into custody after she tried to interfere with the arrest. She’s charged with resisting arrest and obstruction of governmental administration, police said.
“We will NEVER tolerate this — EVER!” said Paul DiGiacomo, head of the Detectives Endowment Association, who slammed the sisters as “violent criminals.”
“In other incidents, cops were hit with bricks, brass knuckles, and bottles,” he said, promising that “in addition to ensuring the strongest possible criminal charges are filed against these vicious criminals, we will be bringing civil actions against any person who harms a Detective.”
via: https://nypost.com/2020/05/30/woman-charged-with-attempted-murder-of-4-nypd-cops-during-protests/
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Officer fired after allegedly saying it was ‘unfortunate’ virus didn’t kill all black people
KAPLAN, La. — A Louisiana police officer was fired for inappropriate comments reportedly made on social media.
The Kaplan Police Department announced the termination of officer Steven Aucoin on its Facebook page.
Chief of Police Joshua Hardy said the department was made aware of a post that Aucoin had made on Facebook, and the post was racist in nature.
The chief confirmed to KATC that the post insinuated it was “unfortunate” the coronavirus did not kill off all black people. Hardy says he does not tolerate that behavior.
The officer had worked previously for the department for eight months and had been back on the force for about three months.
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Eric Garner’s mother says George Floyd’s death feels like déjà vu
(CNN) — Almost six years ago, Eric Garner took his last breath after being put in a chokehold by a New York City police officer.
His last words, “I can’t breathe,” became a rallying cry in the Black Lives Matter protest movement.
This week, the same words were used by George Floyd, a black man who died after a Minneapolis police officer placed his knee on Floyd’s neck. Floyd was arrested Monday after officers responded to a call about an alleged forgery in progress.
Video taken by witnesses shows 46-year-old Floyd pleading that he is in pain and can’t breathe for several minutes. Then, his eyes shut and the pleas stop. He was pronounced dead at a nearby hospital.
Four police officers involved in the incident were fired Tuesday, Minneapolis police said. Later on Tuesday, crowds gathered to protest Floyd’s death. Some demonstrators held “I can’t breathe” signs and chanted near the scene of the fatal encounter and at a nearby police precinct.
‘We want criminal charges’
In an interview with CNN, Garner’s mother, Gwen Carr, said what happened is forcing her to relive her son’s death.
“It’s hard enough we’re coming up on the anniversary of my son’s death, and now to hear about this young man, it’s like déjà vu,” said Carr. “It’s just like the murder of my son all over again. He was basically the same age as Eric.”O’Fallon,Illinois Launches New Policy For Cars Used Less Than 49 Miles/DayDrivers With No Tickets In 3 Years Should Do This On MayAd By Comparisons.org See More
Garner died on July 17, 2014, after police attempted to arrest the 43-year-old father of six, who was allegedly selling loose cigarettes illegally on Staten Island. Cellphone video shows an officer maintaining a chokehold as Garner is taken to the ground, crying out, “I can’t breathe,” over and over again.
The officer who choked Garner, Daniel Pantaleo, was never charged in his death. He was fired in 2019 after being found guilty in a disciplinary trial of using a chokehold.
Carr said she wants to see a different outcome in Floyd’s case.
“We want criminal charges. This officer intended to take this man’s life,” Carr told CNN. “There’s no other way. Look at that video, they outright murdered that young man. No matter what he did, he wasn’t doing anything to threaten them, so why would they kill that young man? Just like they killed my son,” she said.
Earlier Wednesday, Carr spoke to Floyd’s family on the phone with the Rev. Al Sharpton, according to a news release from the National Action Network. Carr pledged to work with Floyd’s family and supporters to fight for accountability and justice, according to the release.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation has opened an investigation into Floyd’s death, which will focus on whether the Minneapolis officers involved “willfully deprived (Floyd) of a right or privilege protected by the Constitution or laws of the United States,” according to a statement from the FBI’s Minneapolis Division.
“This can’t be swept under the rug,” said Carr. “We have to treat this as it is, and not just another news story.”
CNN’s Elizabeth Joseph, Ray Sanchez, Joe Sutton, Artemis Moshtaghian, Mark Morales, David Shortell, Eric Levenson and Christina Maxouris contributed to this report.
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Iranian girl, 13, beheaded by father in ‘honor killing’ as she slept
A 13-year-old Iranian girl was beheaded by her father in an “honor killing” while she was fast asleep, prompting a national outcry, according to reports.
Romina Ashrafi was killed Thursday by Reza Ashraf as punishment for running away with a 34-year-old man from her home in Talesh, Iran International TV reported.
The teen fell in love with the older man, Bahamn Khavari, in her hometown, but her father opposed their relationship and she eloped with him, the outlet reported.
Both of their families called on authorities to have them brought home, despite the teen warning that would put her life in danger, according to the report.
She was located five days later with her lover and handed over to her father as required by Islamic Republic law, the outlet reported.
While she was asleep in a family room, her dad beheaded her with a sickle, according to the report.
Following the murder, the father showed up to the police, sickle in hand, and confessed to killing the teen, the outlet reported.
He was arrested, but the law prohibits him from facing the death penalty since he is the victim’s guardian, the report said.
Under current law, he faces a sentence of up to 10 years in prison.
But the slaying has prompted Iranian President Hassan Rouhani to call on his cabinet to fast-track harsher laws against “honor killings,” which are often carried out by relatives who believe the women have gone against conservative Islamic values on love and marriage.
Her case has also provoked outcry on social media, where the hashtag #RominaAshrafi has been used thousands of times, mostly to condemn the killing.
Shahnaz Sajjadi, an aide to the president on human rights affairs, said the country “should revise the idea that home is a safe place for children and women.”
“Crimes that happen against women in the society are less than those that happen in the homes,” the aide told local media.
via: https://nypost.com/2020/05/27/iranian-girl-13-beheaded-by-father-in-honor-killing/
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