Police officer jailed for breaking Black father’s leg in front of sons after visit to mother’s grave
A police officer has been jailed for breaking a Black father’s leg in front of his sons after they visited their mother’s grave.
PC Charlie Harrison, 39, was sentenced on Monday to two years and three months in prison for grievous bodily harm in what a judge called “a clear case of racial profiling”.
Southwark Crown Court heard that Harrison, from the Metropolitan Police’s Violent Crime Task Force, attacked Carl Abrahams, 47, in front of his teenage sons after they laid flowers at his partner’s grave at Manor Park Cemetery in Forest Gate, Newham, east London, on New Year’s Eve in 2018.
At about 2.15pm, the plain clothes officer, who had been on a patrol in an unmarked police car, approached Mr Abrahams and used a “leg sweep” to kick him in the knee, knocking him to the ground, injuring him so severely he was on crutches for three months.
Judge Gregory Perrins told Harrison: “I am quite sure that the only reason that you stopped Mr Abrahams is because he was Black.”
“Had Mr Abrahams and his sons been white I suspect that you would simply drove on by. This was in my judgment a clear case of racial profiling.”
Harrison had been convicted by majority verdict of grievous bodily harm on 26 March after a five-day trial at Southwark Crown Court.
The court heard that Mr Abrahams suffered a fracture at the top of his shin bone involving the knee, and is still in pain to this day.
The court heard Harrison had “no grounds” to arrest Mr Abrahams or his sons, aged 13 and 16, or to carry out a stop and search.
“They were simply a family returning from a cemetery where they had gone to visit the grave of their partner and mother,” said Judge Perrins.
During the trial, Harrison said he thought Mr Abrahams was going to attack him, but the judge rejected this claim of self-defense.
“I do take the view that this was an abuse of power. You were purporting to use your powers as a police officer when you kicked him,” said Judge Perrins.
He said Mr Abraham’s two children “had to watch their father being kicked to the ground without justification by a police officer”.
The court heard the incident “has had a profound impact upon both of them”.
Mr Abrahams said his sons are fearful of the police and believe they are at risk of being targeted because of the colour of their skin.
Commander Paul Betts said the actions of PC Harrison, who is suspended from duty, “were found to have fallen well below the standard we expect of our police officers”.
He said: “This type of behaviour has no place in our police service and undermines the confidence of the communities we are here to protect.
“Following PC Harrison’s conviction, he will now be subject to disciplinary proceedings.”
via: https://news.yahoo.com/racial-profiling-police-officer-jailed-black-father-leg-sons-mother-grave-114059968.html
Photo Credit: unilad.co.uk
Mom charged with killing teen son, burying him under clothes in bedroom
An Ohio woman is charged with murder and assault, after she allegedly killed her teenage son and hid his body in his bedroom for two months.
The body of Dominic Allen, 19, was found in the Cincinnati home of his mother Kenya Stallworth, 39, and her husband, Robert Robb, 35, in early December — after he was reported missing in September.
Police said the couple tried to conceal the body by placing clothes over it and sealing off the door.
Stallworth was indicted on murder charges Tuesday, after DNA testing verified the decomposed remains belonged to her son, according to local station FOX 19 NOW.
Stallworth and her husband — who is not the victim’s father — have been in custody since December on charges of felony abuse of a corpse and tampering with evidence.
Marcus Allen, Dominic’s father, told the local station there were signs that his son had been tortured.
“The first thing that came to my mind was, ‘What was going through your head when you all did whatever you all did?,’” Allen reportedly said.
“You all didn’t just take away my child. You took away the gift that God gave me,” the devastated father continued, according to the station. “You took away my daughter’s best friend. You took away the nephew of all of my sisters and brothers. You all took him away from all of the people who loved him… and for what?
“He loved helping everybody. He was a wonderful child. He was a happy child. (…) I am proud to be his father.”
With AP wires
via: https://nypost.com/2021/04/14/mom-charged-with-killing-teen-son-burying-him-under-clothes-in-bedroom/
Photo Credit: Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office
Disney adopts ‘gender inclusive’ costumes for theme park staff
It’s a whole new world at Disney — and tattoos and gender-bending are welcome.
The Mouse House is now allowing cast members at its theme parks to show up to work showing their tattoos and wearing whatever gender costume they like.
“We want our guests to see their own backgrounds and traditions reflected in the stories, experiences and products they encounter in their interactions with Disney,” Josh D’Amaro, chairman of Disney parks, experiences and products, wrote Tuesday in a blog post entitled: “A Place Where Everyone is Welcome.”
“And we want our cast members — and future cast members — to feel a sense of belonging at work.”
The new rules take effect when Disneyland and Disney California Adventure reopen on April 30 after both parks were shut down last March amid the coronavirus pandemic.
As part of the changes, references to gender have been scrubbed from Disney’s employee dress code handbook, which provides rules on how cast members should show up to work. The guidelines also no longer specify the lengths of men’s hair and have lifted a prior ban on men wearing nail polish.
But nail polish can’t get too crazy, either. Nails must be of one solid color with no charms or adornments. Disney also held onto its rule requiring natural hair color, with bright colors like blue, pink and green, officially banned.
Tattoos also may be on display, unless they are on the face, head, neck or are larger than a hand. Tattoos that include offensive language, symbols or nudity are also a no-no.
D’Amaro said the updated guidelines will help Disney “not only remain relevant in today’s workplace, but also enable our cast members to better express their cultures and individuality at work.”
In recent months, Disney took its Jungle Cruise out of operation to update and get rid of negative racial stereotypes of native people. Disney is also giving Splash Mountain a makeover, removing racist themes from the 1946 Disney film “Song of the South,” and it will introduce its first black princess.
Disney’s recent changes have not only come from guests, but also from within the company. According to D’Amaro, execs in 2019 asked cast members for input on how to “bring a greater focus to inclusivity and belonging.”
“The world is changing, and we will change with it, and continue to be a source of joy and inspiration for all the world,” D’Amaro said. “We’ll never stop working to make sure that Disney is a welcoming place for all.”
via: https://nypost.com/2021/04/14/disney-adopts-gender-inclusive-costumes-for-theme-park-staff/
Photo Credit: Disney
Cops probe students who forced black teammate to sit near banana peels – another student threatened to break his knees if he didn’t
A black football player at an Illinois high school was forced to sit in a locker littered with banana peels — as another student threatened to “break” his knees if he didn’t comply, video shows.
The Moline High School student, who was not identified because he’s a minor, was filmed in the 11-second video that captured what authorities have called a “disturbing racist scene” last Thursday.
In the clip, another player, whose hand can be seen but whose face doesn’t come into view, threatens the black player to sit in the locker “or I’ll break both your knees.”
When the player sits down, others can be heard shouting, “Yeah!”
In a statement released Monday, the student said the other players have apologized to him and he’s “fine,” news station KWQC-TV reported.
“I love the football team I’m on and they’re good guys. I know that personally. I talked to the people involved individually and they apologized. We had a heartfelt talk about it and I told them how I felt. So please don’t harass, bully, or threaten them at all,” he said.
He added that his primary concern was “to get my life back together, and my student-athlete life back on track.”
“I want to make it known that I’m fine. Everyone is worried about me and showing concern for me and I really appreciate it,” he said.
Moline Police Chief Darren Gault previously said the department had launched an investigation into the incident.
Gault said the teammates involved are “of both different and similar races to the victim.”
“Regardless of these facts, we all agree that this is a disgusting way to treat a fellow teammate, a fellow human being and most certainly a friend,” Gault said.
The force’s findings were turned over to Rock Island County State’s Attorney Dora Villarreal, who called for people to stop sharing the video on social media and respect the student’s privacy.
The student has also asked that the public move on and “please stop talking about the incident and video.”
“I understand everyone wants justice for me and they want what they think is right to be done, but I already made my feelings known to the police and my friends about how I feel about everything,” he said.
via: https://nypost.com/2021/04/14/cops-probe-students-who-forced-black-teammate-to-sit-near-banana-peels/
Photo Credit: YouTube
Canadian lawmaker caught nude during virtual legislative meeting
A Canadian lawmaker was caught in the buff during a virtual House of Commons conference on Wednesday, a report said.
William Amos, a Liberal MP, was recorded on camera standing nude in his office, flanked by the Quebec and Canadian flags, according to a screenshot obtained by The Canadian Press, CTV News reported.
The incident occurred during the questioning period.
The 46-year-old lawmaker, who represents parts of Quebec, later apologized for the showing, which he said was unintentional.
“This was an unfortunate error,” Amos said in a statement tweeted by CTV News reporter Rachel Aiello.
“My video was accidentally turned on as I was changing into my work clothes after going for a jog. I sincerely apologize to my colleagues in the House of Commons for this unintentional distraction,” he said.
Amos did not speak during the virtual session.
The Liberal Party whip, MP Claude DeBellefeuille, addressed the incident after the questioning period, according to the reports.
DeBellefeuille said parliamentary decorum requires male MPs to wear formal clothing, including underwear.
via: https://nypost.com/2021/04/14/canadian-lawmaker-caught-nude-during-virtual-meeting/
Photo Credit: National Post
Minnesota police union official blames Daunte Wright for his own death
The head of Minnesota’s largest police union slammed local officials over their handling of Daunte Wright’s police shooting death — as he blamed the 20-year-old victim for the fatal encounter.
“This is going to be an unpopular statement,” Brian Peters, executive director of the Minnesota Police and Peace Officers Association, told WCCO news talk radio Wednesday. “Daunte Wright, if he would have just complied. He was told he was under arrest. They were arresting him on a warrant for weapons. He set off a chain of events that unfortunately led to his death.”
“I’m not excusing it,” Peters continued. “But what we’re seeing in policing these days is that non-compliance by the public.”
The controversial statement comes one day after Brooklyn Center Police Chief Tim Gannon and Officer Kimberly Potter, who shot and killed Wright during a traffic stop in the Minneapolis suburb Sunday, both resigned.
Bodycam footage shows Potter yelling, “Taser! Taser!” before she fired off a single round from her service weapon, mortally wounding Wright.
Gannon later said Potter, a 26-year veteran, thought she had grabbed her Taser instead of her firearm — although they are worn on opposite sides of an officer’s belt and vary radically in weight and appearance.
Their letters of resignation came in the wake of a city council vote late Monday to terminate Gannon, Potter and City Manager Curt Boganey.
“This is way over his head,” Peters said of Brooklyn Center Mayor Mike Elliott. “Both Curt Boganey and Tim Gannon were political pawns in whatever game the current mayor is playing. If I were the mayor, I would not allow the political activists to run the show.”
Wright’s death — just 10 miles from the site of George Floyd’s police-custody death on May 25 last year — has sparked widespread outrage and protests in Brooklyn Center and beyond.
State authorities are investigating the incident, and prosecutors in nearby Washington County, who took over the case, are expected to charge Potter as soon as Wednesday.
Additional reporting by Lee Brown
via: https://nypost.com/2021/04/14/minnesota-police-union-official-blames-daunte-wright-for-death/
Photo Credit: MPPOA
Soldier seen in viral video harassing black man charged with assault
A white US soldier was arrested Wednesday after being caught on viral video aggressively pursuing and shoving a black man in a South Carolina neighborhood.
Jonathan Pentland, 42, was charged with third-degree assault and battery for the violent encounter on Monday, according to the Richland County Sheriff’s Department.
“The most vital piece of evidence we have was the video,” said Sheriff Leon Lott, during a press conference announcing the charges.
The cellphone footage was posted to Facebook on Monday and has since been shared thousands of times.
It shows Pentland — a US Army staff sergeant stationed Fort Jackson — threatening a man walking in his neighborhood outside Columbia and telling him to leave.
“You’re in the wrong neighborhood, mother f–ker,” the soldier says. “I ain’t playing with you. … I’m about to show you what I can do.”
The three-minute recording doesn’t show what happened before the soldier accosted the man or make clear what started the conflict.
It begins with Pentland asking the man what he’s doing in the area. He responds that he was just walking and not bothering anyone.
But Pentland repeatedly orders him to leave, even getting in his face and, at one point, pushing the man, who almost falls to the ground.
“Let’s go, walk away,” he says. “I’m about to do something to you. You better start walking right now.”
At the end of the clip, a woman identified as Pentland’s wife can be heard telling the other man that he had picked a fight with “some random young lady” in the neighborhood, a claim he denies.
Deputies at the scene only gave Pentland a citation for malicious injury to property for slapping the man’s phone out of his hand and cracking it, according to Shirell Johnson, who posted the video.
Officials at Fort Jackson, the Army’s largest basic training facility, said they are investigating the incident.
via: https://nypost.com/2021/04/14/soldier-seen-in-video-harassing-black-man-charged-with-assault/
Photo Credit: nypost.com
Father of 2-year-old beating victim says system failed son – Dad says toddler didn’t want to go to mom’s house
LAKELAND, Fla. (WFLA) — Jayden Hines was only 2 years old, a little boy who loved playing and pizza. Last week, his life came to a sudden end.
Now Jayden’s father, Rashawd Hines, says his son’s death could have been prevented if only people had listened.
Though only a toddler, Jayden had used his words to communicate that he didn’t want to go to his mother’s house. The toddler split his time between his parents’ homes, and records show Jayden’s dad expressed safety concerns to the court, noting Jayden’s objections.
On Thursday, April 8, in accordance with the court-ordered custody agreement, Hines dropped off his son.
Lakeland police said Alegray Jones, a man dating Jayden’s mother, beat the toddler until he was unconscious. Instead of calling 911, he texted the child’s mother who rushed home from work.
Police said Jones never attempted to call for emergency assistance for Jayden.
An autopsy showed multiple bruises over Jayden’s entire body, a laceration to the liver, bleeding of the brain, and likely an adult human bite mark to the left forearm.
Jayden’s death was ruled a homicide due to blunt force trauma.
“It’s excruciating pain to even think about what I could’ve done better in order for me to prevent this from happening,” said Hines. “I just wish I would’ve just kept him that day.”
Hines said he warned the Florida Department of Children and Families and the court.
“How many more kids the system has to fail in order for this message to get through to them that things need to change,” Hines said. “After I called DCF, no one did anything. After me stating to the judge, no one did anything.”
On Feb. 12, 2021, Hines filed a letter with the Polk County Clerk of Court requesting a new hearing, citing concerns. He wrote to Judge Torea Spohr, saying in part, “I strongly feel for the safety of my children… my son cries his eyes out when he has to go…”
On Monday, WFLA reached out to Spohr and DCF. Spohr had no comment, and DCF said they’re still researching the case.
Hines says his days are dark, but he’s doing his best to stay strong for Jayden.
“I will not stop, and I hope you guys don’t stop to get my son’s story out there. Push it, push it, make sure everybody knows the truth. Push my son’s story because he deserved better,” he said.
The state attorney is still investigating, and more charges could come in Jones’ case.
via: https://pix11.com/news/excruciating-pain-father-of-2-year-old-beating-victim-says-system-failed-son/
Photo Credit: pix11.com
Maryland trooper shoots, kills 16-year-old who had airsoft gun
LEONARDTOWN, Md. — The superintendent of the Maryland State Police says a trooper responding to a pair of 911 calls shot and killed a teenager who was pointing what investigators determined was an airsoft gun at the officer.
Superintendent Woodrow Jones II said Tuesday that the shooting occurred near the State Police barracks in Leonardtown.
Jones says the responding trooper encountered the 16-year-old Peyton Ham at a home and shot him after he displayed the weapon.
Jones says the trooper fired a second time when the teenager brandished a knife as he tried to get up. Authorities say the teen was white, as is the trooper who shot him.
via: https://pix11.com/news/maryland-trooper-shoots-kills-16-year-old-who-had-airsoft-gun/
Photo Credit: nypost.com
Kenosha officer who shot Jacob Blake has returned to duty
(CNN)Rusten Sheskey, the Kenosha, Wisconsin, police officer who shot Jacob Blake seven times while responding to a domestic incident last year, has returned to active duty, according to a statement from Police Chief Daniel Miskinis.”
Although this incident has been reviewed at multiple levels, I know that some will not be pleased with the outcome,” Miskinis said Tuesday afternoon. “However, given the facts, the only lawful and appropriate decision was made.
Sheskey returned from administrative leave on March 31, according to Miskinis. “Officer Sheskey was found to have been acting within policy and will not be subjected to discipline,” the chief added.
Kenosha County District Attorney Michael Graveley announced in January that Sheskey would not face charges in the shooting.
In addition to the district attorney’s investigation, the incident was also reviewed by an outside agency and independent expert, Miskinis says.
CNN reported that Sheskey told investigators shortly after the incident that he used deadly force during the chaotic encounter because he was afraid Blake, while attempting to flee the scene, was trying to kidnap a child in the back seat of the vehicle he was driving.
Prior to the shooting, Sheskey pedaled around the lakeside city as part of the bike patrol and walked the shopping mall beat during the holidays. He’d occasionally bring a squad car home from work and turn on the siren for neighborhood kids, one neighbor recalled.
Police and city officials did not respond to CNN’s previous public records requests for Sheskey’s history with the department, including any previous uses of force or disciplinary issues.
According to a memo from the police chief published on the city’s website, Sheskey received a one-day suspension in 2017 for a violation regarding “safe operation of department vehicles.”
Sheskey was sworn in as a Kenosha officer in 2013, according to photos of the swearing-in ceremony posted on the department’s Facebook page. He was following in the footsteps of his grandfather, who served in the department for many years, according to a post on the Kenosha Police Department’s Facebook page.
Prior to joining the Kenosha Police Department, Sheskey was employed at the University of Wisconsin-Parkside, where he worked his way up froma dispatcher to police officer.
A university spokeswoman previously declined to provide details about Sheskey’s tenure other than to say he worked there from 2009 to 2013 as a dispatcher, police service associate and, finally, officer.
via: https://www.cnn.com/2021/04/13/us/wisconsin-kenosha-jacob-blake-officer-back-on-duty/index.html
Photo Credit: pix11.com