Matt Agorist | The Free Thought Project 2016/02/19 In America, there are two forms of the justice system — one for those inside the system — and one for everyone else. Carroll County, GA — In September, on a rainy Saturday night, Georgia state trooper Anthony Scott was flexing his above the law privilege and … Read more
Claire Bernish | The Free Thought Project Meriden, CT — Responding to reports of an intoxicated man asleep in the middle of the road, a Meriden, Connecticut police officer said, flatly, “I think we oughta just f***ing pop him.” If by now you still have any lingering doubts about the widening disconnect between police and … Read more
Adam Klasfeld | Courthouse News Service MANHATTAN (CN) – Even though the New York City Police Department has sharply curbed its stop-and-frisk program, a lawyer tapped to monitor reforms said Tuesday that more than one-quarter of the street stops he studied appear unjustified. The NYPD began limiting its reliance on the Stop, Question and Frisk … Read more
Wallace Newman George Jr. was the Saline County sheriff for 36 years in Missouri until last Monday. In a plea agreement, Wallace Newman George Jr. confessed to stealing $79,000 from the department between January 2010 and June 2015. Wallace stole 36 checks issued by the state to his department as reimbursement for expenses incurred while … Read more
Nick Rummell | Courthouse News Service CHICAGO (CN) – A man wrongfully convicted of raping and murdering a 15-year-old girl is suing the officials who sent him to prison for 30 years. Christopher Abernathy, who was released Feb. 11 from Stateville Correctional Center, filed a federal lawsuit that same day against the police officers and … Read more
MarShawn M. McCarrel II was just 23 years old when he was pronounced dead on the Ohio Statehouse steps four days ago – February 8,2016. No one witnessed McCarrel shoot himself, according to Lt. Craig Cvetan of the State Highway Patrol. No one witnessed a man allegedly shoot himself on a public street at 6pm. … Read more
Matt Agorist | The Free Thought Project 2016/02/08 Lansing, MI — During their session last week, the Michigan Senate passed a bill that effectively bans all forms of sodomy, anal, oral, gay and non-gay — making the acts punishable by up to 15 years in prison. Surprisingly, Michigan is not alone in this archaic and oppressive … Read more
Jack Bouboushian | Courthouse News Service CHICAGO (CN) – Exonerated of murder after 22 years in prison, a father of 10 sued Chicago and 11 police officers, claiming they beat him into a false confession, fabricated evidence and paid a witness to falsely testify against him in court. Wayne Washington sued the Chicago and the … Read more
Nick Divito | Courthouse News Service BROOKLYN (CN) – A former New York City police officer was arrested on charges of running an interstate prostitution ring after his daily shifts. Eduardo Cornejo, an 11-year veteran with the department, was fired on Jan. 29, the day a federal complaint against him was filed under seal. U.S. … Read more
DIONNE CORDELL-WHITNEY | Courthouse News Service LITCHFIELD, Minn. (CN) – State prosecutors brought a nine-count complaint on Thursday against a deputy sheriff they say stole toys from a Christmas toy drive and prescription drugs from a drug drop-off box. Like a funhouse Santa Clause, surveillance footage from the Meeker County Courthouse showed Sheriff’s Deputy Travis … Read more
Philip Janquart | Courthouse News Service (CN) – An Arizona senator who wanted to make it a crime to take close-up video of police has killed his own bill because of public outcry. Senate Bill 1054 would have criminalized shooting video of police from a distance closer than 20 feet, unless permission was given. Arizona … Read more
A California lawmaker is proposing a bill that would prevent smartphone manufacturers from allowing users the option to encrypt their data, according to reports. Evidently to force citizens into a less secure society and a more efficient police state, Assemblyman Jim Cooper, D-Elk Grove, has introduced a bill in California to ban secure passcode technology … Read more