Baltimore Riots

[LongBlade]

^How the hell do you fix a disintegration of culture, ethics and family structure that's been going on for 50+ years??

Stop subsidizing single women to have more children.

Give parents school choice (voucher system).

That would be a good start.

[Gusington]

^Those are my lines.

[Swatter]

One thing for sure, nothing will happen if the subject is politically taboo. Democrats don't want to talk about it because it targets their base with harsh criticism. Republicans don't talk about it because there is a 100% chance they will be called a racist. It is a no-win situation politically. The media is much the same way. Oh well, my opinion means nothing. The people in charge of the media and our political leaders are a bunch of racial cowards. I don't much like ex-Attorney General Holder, but he was right about that.

[Centurion40]

^How the hell do you fix a disintegration of culture, ethics and family structure that's been going on for 50+ years??

Stop subsidizing single women to have more children.

Give parents school choice (voucher system).

That would be a good start.

And properly treat those with ADHD & mental health issues.

[bayonetbrant]

[Marty Ward]

I agree LB.  The young man's injuries and death need to be investigated, but I'm sure the Baltimore PD have an IG and Maryland has an Attorney general's office. They should be doing an investigation into the circumstances and have findings that determine the cause of injury and death.  If there is  malfeasance on the part of officers then proper actions to include criminal prosecution should be taken.   My issue is that police are under incredible pressure right now for political reasons and the 24 hour media are exacerbating and enflaming the angst.   Either we are a land of laws or not.  There should be a federal investigation into groups that are reportedly going from location to location and organizing and facilitating lawless and crimanls actions.

According to preliminary reports his neck was broken when he was thrown into the wagon. Not sure how this could have been missed with the cops checking on him a number of times during his ride to the station though.

http://news.yahoo.com/baltimore-waits-answers-black-mans-death-police-custody-115721337.html

[LongBlade]

Breaking news:

The six Baltimore police officers involved in the April 12 arrest of Freddie Gray now face a barrage of charges including assault, manslaughter and second-degree murder.

State prosecutor Marilyn Mosby announced the charges in a surprise news conference on Friday.

Mosby said that officers illegally arrested Gray and that they also failed to render proper aid after placing him inside of a police van. Gray was inside of the police van for approximately 30 minutes. When police arrived at a jail processing center, Gray was found unresponsive. He was taken to the hospital and died on April 19.

source: http://dailycaller.com/2015/05/01/six-baltimore-police-officers-charged-in-freddie-grays-death/

[bayonetbrant]

Shit's about to get real, yo

[mirth]

I didn't even know this was a thing

http://www.nytimes.com/2015/05/01/us/freddie-grays-injury-and-the-police-rough-ride.html

[LongBlade]

I didn't even know this was a thing

http://www.nytimes.com/2015/05/01/us/freddie-grays-injury-and-the-police-rough-ride.html

Yeah, you've got to read past the first few paras to get that nugget, but that was what was being whispered for the last week or so in Baltimore. Looks like there may be substance to it.

[airboy]

And appropriate music:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GMH-q3xwqt8

[Marty Ward]

I didn't even know this was a thing

http://www.nytimes.com/2015/05/01/us/freddie-grays-injury-and-the-police-rough-ride.html

Yeah, you've got to read past the first few paras to get that nugget, but that was what was being whispered for the last week or so in Baltimore. Looks like there may be substance to it.

The report says his injuries were like those you might see in a car accident. Considering the police wagon wasn't in an accident then it does seem like the ride was a bit rough.

[Centurion40]

They had a similar thing in Toronto called the "Cherry Hill Ride"; Cherry Hill being a notoriously bumpy, hilly and full of turns road.  I'm told that they'd toss a lippy suspect in the back of a paddy wagon with a half-dozen (or so) tire rims, then go for a speedy ride.  I'm told the one could get really roughed-up getting bounced around with all the tire rims.

[airboy]

The prosecutors charges here are very, very strange.

First, there was no Grand Jury empaneled and no Grand Jury was used.  This is quite unusual.
Second, the prosecutor examined the written evidence for a very short period of time.
Third, the prosecutor did not interview any of the witnesses directly.
Last, the prosecutor's husband is on the Baltimore City Council from the district where Mr. Gray lived.  An amazing conflict of interest given the circumstances.

If I was the prosecutor, given the political nature of the case and that I was married to a city counsel member from that district I would have recused myself.  I certainly would not have eliminated the entire Grand Jury process.

My source on this is both the Wall Street Journal and Associated Press.  I cannot ever remember charges being brought this quickly in a homicide case.  It usually takes an absolute minimum of 30 days, and that is an open & shut case with forensic evidence.

I hope that this is not a mistake by the Prosecutor that will come back badly in terms of a blown court case, acquittals all around, and further stupid riots.

[OJsDad]

Airboy, your last sentence is what has me concerned.  I'm having visions of Rodney King Part II.

If everything played out like the prosecutor says, then BPD has a lot more issues than I thought, given the number of opportunities and individuals that could have put a stop to this.