Vermont man suing police over the right to flip off cops
A ticked-off Vermont motorist is suing cops, saying he was exercising his right to free speech when he flipped off a state trooper, according to reports.
Gregory Bombard claims police busted him and towed his car during a 2018 traffic stop only because the trooper claimed he gave him the middle finger and called him an a-hole, the St. Albans Messenger said in a report.
“Vermonters who want to protest the actions of police through words or gestures have a constitutionally protected right to do so,” Bombard’s lawyer, ACLU attorney James Diaz, said in a press release, the Messenger said.
“This abuse of power by a Vermont state trooper is a clear example of just how overpoliced our communities are,” Diaz said. “Cased like these are part of why so many are calling on lawmakers to take bold action to limit the broad powers of police.”
Bombard’s beef dates to his arrest on Feb. 9, 2018, when he was driving down North Main Street in St. Albans and cruised past Trooper Jay Riggen — who said he saw Bombard flip him off.
Riggen turned his squad car around and pulled Bombard over.
According to the complaint, Bombard denied he gave the trooper the middle finger before he was pulled over — but did do so after the traffic stop.
He also mouthed off at the trooper, “saying something to the effect of ‘a–hole’ and ‘f–k you,’” the complaint said.
Riggen cited Bombard for disorderly conduct and obstructing traffic, towed his vehicle, and held him at the local stationhouse for about an hour, the complaint said.
Both charges were later dismissed, according to the Eagle Times newspaper.
But Bombard didn’t let it go, and last week filed the civil lawsuit, claiming false arrest, illegal seizure, and violations of his right to free speech.
via: https://nypost.com/2021/02/10/vermont-man-suing-police-over-the-right-to-flip-off-cops/
Photo Credit: nypost.com
Babysitter pleads guilty to abusing toddler, sending videos to pedophile lover
An American babysitter made videos of herself abusing a British toddler to send to her pedophile boyfriend, a UK court heard.
Paige Poole — who moved to London in 2018 to marry an Englishman — was heard laughing in some of the clips as she abused a one-year-old child, DevonLive said.
She then sent videos and details of the abuse via WhatsApp to her married lover, 44-year-old dad Ross Kingsland, who called her his “Dark Angel” and wrote, “You make my black heart so happy,” the court heard Tuesday.
Poole, 28, pleaded guilty in Exeter Crown Court to a slew of disturbing offenses — including 11 sex assaults and taking and distributing indecent photos of a child, DevonLive said.
She and Kingsland also both admitted conspiring to rape another child.
Poole was sentenced to 17 years, the final four of which could be served in the community if she abides by court-mandated rules while in prison.
Kingsland was sentenced to 15 years, also including the chance of the final four years in the community, after pleading guilty to multiple offenses including aiding and abetting the sexual abuse of a child and conspiracy to assault a child.
Judge David Evans called them a “true meeting of wicked minds.”
“The bald truth is that each of you is a morally corrupt pedophile, and it was the great misfortune of others that you found each other,” he said, according to DevonLive.
“You have deliberately and together caused the most awful distress to a good number of people. You have destroyed the lives of individuals and families concerned,” Evans said.
The couple were brought down last summer when Kingsland was arrested after trying to negotiate to meet and abuse two children, aged 8 and 12, with someone who was actually an undercover officer, the court heard.
During the exchange, Kingsland — who has a previous conviction for exposing himself two 12-year-old girls — shared a video of a woman abusing a child, DevonLive said.
After his arrest, videos of Poole’s abuse were found on their phones.
“Kingsland and Poole are two very dangerous individuals who abused a child and brought misery to families, senior investigating officer Detective Inspector Si Costin told DevonLive.
“The only satisfaction we can take is that the two offenders will be in prison for a long time and can’t hurt anyone else.”
The reports did not specify where in the US Poole was originally from, and the UK police force did not immediately respond to requests for elaboration.
via: https://nypost.com/2021/02/10/babysitter-pleads-guilty-to-abusing-toddler-sending-videos-to-lover/
Photo Credit: nypost.com
University cancels event for whites to ‘process’ their ‘complicity in unjust systems’
Elon University in North Carolina has canceled an event for white people to process their complicity in injustice, because the meeting would exclude other races, the school told Fox News.
Young America’s Foundation on Tuesday revealed the “White caucus” event, publishing an email that specified the event was intended for white and “White-identifying” individuals to speak openly and avoid “retraumatiz[ing] people of color.”
“White caucuses give white people a space to learn about and process their awareness of and complicity in unjust systems without harming their friends of color,” reads the email, which was addressed to School of Education students.
Vice president of university communications Daniel Anderson told Fox News the event was organized by a group of students in the School of Education and that it had learned of the event on Tuesday. But according to YAF, the email was sent to all School of Education students by Jennifer Strange, Elon’s coordinator of graduate programs in the school.
“Elon University today learned of a program being organized by a group of students in the School of Education who wanted to hold candid, confidential discussions about racism without victimizing those of other races,” said Anderson in a statement Tuesday.
“Elon’s policies prohibit discrimination on the basis of age, race, color, creed, sex, national or ethnic origin, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, or veteran’s status. Because this student-led program would have excluded non-white individuals, it would be at odds with university policies and will not be held. Elon is reviewing the planning for this event to ensure that future programs are planned in compliance with university policies, are inclusive and align with the university’s mission.”
Anderson told Fox News that Strange managed the department’s “Constant Contact” account, which can be used to send messages to students. “This email was sent from students to other students and Jennifer assisted in that process,” he said in an email.
The incident was just the latest to stir controversy over racialized events that took place in academia and government entities. In September, the University of Michigan-Dearborn similarly advertised an event that prompted accusations of segregation. Like the group at Elon, the University of Michigan similarly expressed concern about white people harming non-white people. It also clarified that the events weren’t intended to exclude certain races.
The email published by YAF described “white caucusing” as “one part of a lifelong and multifaceted commitment to antiracism for white-identifying people who are passionate about racial justice and who want to begin taking concrete and direct action.”
Students were also directed to sign an agreement that they wouldn’t share what participants said at the meetings.
“Racially segregating conversations meant to improve race relations and build community will only create more division,” YAF’s Kara Zupkus said on the conservative group’s website.
“Elon is essentially putting a gag order on students who partake in white caucusing by forcing them to sign a confidentiality agreement. What exactly are they hiding and what are these students afraid of the wider public knowing about?”
via: https://nypost.com/2021/02/10/university-cancels-event-for-whites-to-process-their-complicity-in-unjust-systems/
Photo Credit: Alamy Stock Photo
Woman appears to push a dairy truck up a snow-covered hill in viral video
A Scottish woman is going viral for her apparent superhero-like strength — looking like she was pushing a huge truck up a snow-covered hill.
Video posted on Facebook Tuesday showed the woman pushing the back of a dairy truck as it moved at a walking pace up the slope in Cowdenbeath in Fife.
“Just your average Cowdenbeath woman pushing a lorry up a hill,” traffic watchdog group Fife Jammer Locations wrote with four flexing-bicep emojis as it posted the 18-second clip.
It wasn’t clear exactly what was going on to make the woman look like she was pushing the massive vehicle, but the video soon garnered thousands of comments and a flurry of Wonder Woman memes.
“Obviously does CrossFit!” Jenny Ashcroft wrote, while Kim Donnachie said, “That’s what happens when you drink your [milk] kids.”
Others made dairy puns because of the truck she was pushing, with David Gould quipping, “She’s milking it just to get on Facebook.”
Many others were alarmed, however, at the risk of the truck rolling back, with several saying it could “go sour quickly.”
“She’s not going to make any difference at all with a [truck] that size but 10 out of 10 for effort,” Vicki Dorward wrote, while another noted there is “not a man alive that could push that thing like that,” saying, “She’s lucky she didn’t become a pancake.”
Graham’s, the dairy company whose truck was pushed, shared the video and also joined in the chat — asking for help IDing the now-viral strongwoman.
via: https://nypost.com/2021/02/10/woman-appears-to-push-a-dairy-truck-up-a-snow-covered-hill/
Photo Credit: facebook
Upstate New York man accused of killing puppy, throwing it in the trash
An upstate New York man is accused of killing a 7-month-old German Shepherd and throwing the pup in the trash, according to state police.
Raymond Mangieri, 27, of Peru, was arrested Wednesday and charged with aggravated cruelty to animals, a felony under New York State Agriculture and Markets Law, state troopers said in a release.
According to Sun Community News, the dog, named Ace, had been reported missing earlier in the day and was found in Mangieri’s trash.
Mangieri was arraigned and released without bail — but was rearrested and sent to the Clinton County Jail for violating his parole from an earlier conviction of driving under the influence of drugs, court records show.
via: https://nypost.com/2021/02/11/new-york-man-killed-german-shepherd-and-threw-it-in-trash-cops/
Photo Credit: Clinton County Jail; Facebook
Gorilla Glue Challenge sends Louisiana man to the ER – Man gets Solo Cup stuck to his mouth after challenge
BATON ROUGE, La. (BRPROUD) – A Louisiana native has a message for anyone who wants to try the Gorilla Glue Challenge, “Don’t do it!”
In an exclusive interview, Martin said he did the challenge to prove that the viral video seen with Tessica Brown, who sprayed gorilla glue adhesive in her hair, was not as serious as she made it seem.
Martin was seen on the Dr. Oz show in 2020 discussing his experience engaging in the ice cream challenge and consequences he faced, but he said he does not want to send out a bad message by doing these challenges.
“Everyone is on social media, everyday there is a new challenge, but I did not think it would go this far”, Martin said.
Len Martin says he created the challenge after the already viral video of another Louisiana native who used the adhesive in her hair.
In a Facebook video Martin says that he believed he could glue the Red Solo cup to his lip and lick it right off.
As you can see in the photo below, this led to Martin having to make a trip to the ER.
Martin described what the doctor did as “painful peeling.”
The Louisiana native was told that if it does not heal correctly, the tip of his lip will have to be taken off via surgery.
Martin says, “This is not the challenge you want to try.”
Gorilla Glue concurs with Martin: “Do not do this!”
The adhesive company released this statement:
“Our spray adhesive states in the warning label, “do not swallow, Do not get in eyes, on skin or on clothing…” It is used for craft, home, auto or office projects to mount things to surfaces such as paper, cardboard, wood, laminate and fabric.”
His message to the public is “do not try this.”
via: https://myfox8.com/news/offbeat/not-again-gorilla-glue-challenge-sends-louisiana-man-to-the-er/
Photo Credit: myfox8.com
Florida man avoids charges in fatal shooting due to Stand Your Ground Law
A Miami Beach car wash customer will not face charges for fatally shooting a thief trying to make off with a Mercedes — despite a new video showing the SUV turning away from the man — because of Florida’s Stand Your Ground Law, reports say.
The fatal shooting happened in December 2018, when Stephen Allen Lott fired two shots at Jose Antonio Reyes Bermudez, who was boosting Lott’s boss’ Mercedes, according to the Miami Herald.
Lott had seen Reyes Bermudez jump into the luxury vehicle, ran out of the waiting area and shouted for the thief to stop, Local 10 reports.
New surveillance video shows the SUV turning away from Lott as Reyes Bermudez tried to pull out of the South Beach Finest Hand Car Wash at 1229 18th St., the report says.
The two bullets pierced the drivers-side door, mortally wounding Reyes Bermudez, reports say.
Prosecutors cleared Lott of any wrongdoing under the Stand Your Ground Law.
In a close-out memo, the Miami-Dade State Attorney’s Office wrote Lott “had the legal right to stand his ground and use deadly force to protect himself from death or great bodily harm while Mr. Reyes Bermudez was committing and escaping from committing a forcible felony.”
via: https://nypost.com/2021/02/09/florida-man-avoids-charges-in-fatal-shooting-due-to-stand-your-ground-law/
Photo Credit: Miami-Dade State Attorney’s Office’s via Storyful
Elderly woman hit boyfriend with hammer for leaving TV on
A 74-year-old Arizona woman was arrested for allegedly whacking her sleeping boyfriend in the head with a hammer for leaving the television on, police said.
Marilyn Ann Kepler is accused of assaulting her partner, also 74, at their home in Bullhead City, according to police.
The man awoke to the beating — and then convinced Kepler to drive him to the hospital on Monday afternoon, the Bullhead City Police Department said.
As they approached a local hospital, Kepler allegedly pulled a gun on the man, who said he was able to wrestle it away, according to police.
He then fled the vehicle and got medical help at the hospital, where he told workers about the ordeal, police said.
The hospital alerted police, who arrested Kepler at her house. She was later charged with aggravated assault.
She told police she was mad at her boyfriend for leaving the TV on, which kept her awake.
via: https://nypost.com/2021/02/10/arizona-woman-accused-of-hitting-boyfriend-with-hammer/
Photo Credit: Bullhead City Police Department
Arizona mom killed while trying to stop infant son’s kidnapping by father
An Arizona man allegedly abducted his 10-month-old son by hopping into the mother’s minivan and speeding away on Wednesday — killing the mom as she desperately attempted to cling to the vehicle.
Eric Maes was captured in Phoenix and booked on a count of manslaughter for the murder of 30-year-old Brittany Martie on Tuesday, Peoria police said in a statement.
Martie was loading her baby into her minivan outside her home in Peoria when Maes jumped into the driver’s seat and began driving away with the child inside, cops said.
Witnesses say the young mother grabbed onto the moving car and was thrown off as it drove away.
When officers arrived at the scene, they found Martie had life-threatening injuries. She was rushed to a local hospital, where she died.
Police immediately issued an Amber Alert for the missing baby, who was found safe around 1 a.m. in north Phoenix after cops responded to a report of an abandoned child.
Martie had sole custody of their son, cops said.
Maes, 30, was taken to the Peoria Police Department headquarters where he’s being questioned.
via: https://nypost.com/2021/02/10/arizona-mom-killed-trying-to-stop-sons-kidnapping/
Photo Credit: Maricopa County Public Records
Sneakers designed in honor of Obama to go on sale for $25,000
(CNN) — They’re not the Air Obamas, but one sneakerhead with a lot of cash will have an opportunity this week to purchase an exclusive pair of basketball kicks made in honor of the 44th President.
The unique pair of Nike Hyperdunks will be sold on the website of Sotheby’s auction house Friday at 4:44 p.m. ET, a nod to Barack Obama’s status as the 44th President, for $25,000.
The pricey white sneaks feature a dark blue signature Nike “swoosh” with dark blue detailing and the presidential logo on the tongue flap. The numbers “44” in blue and red stitching are also embroidered on the inner side of each shoe. Graphics including bald eagles and “1776” are engrained on the insoles.
The Hyperdunks also resemble the “United We Rise” collection of USA Olympic sneakers worn by Team USA at the 2008 Beijing Summer Olympics, according to Sotheby’s. Nike partnered with late NBA star Kobe Bryant to launch the shoe in April 2008, and the auction house says the shoes have a production date coding of “20091022” for October 22, 2009.
Sotheby’s wouldn’t reveal on Tuesday who provided the shoes to the auction house, but when asked how the pair were authenticated, Brahm Wachter, the director of eCommerce development for Sotheby’s, said the company is confident they were produced by Nike.
“Through our research, due diligence and consultation with the consignor, we have every confidence that the sneakers are an authentic confirmation sample produced by Nike,” Wachter said Tuesday.
A spokesperson for Obama declined to comment to CNN about the shoes. CNN has reached out to Nike for comment.
Although Obama, a basketball enthusiast since youth, is no longer in office, he has remained an influential fixture on social justice reform among athletes and the Hyperdunks aren’t the first shoe designed with the former President in mind.
NBA star Steph Curry, who has partnered with Obama’s My Brother’s Keeper Alliance, which aims to mentor boys and young men of color, sported his custom Curry 4 sneaks bearing the Obama “O” logo during a Golden State Warriors game in 2018. They were later auctioned off.
via: https://www.kmov.com/sneakers-designed-in-honor-of-obama-to-go-on-sale-for-25-000/article_78baff17-a670-599d-a500-a124c21818bb.html
Photo Credit: Sotheby’s