Missouri AG confirms Michael Brown grand jury misled by St. Louis DA

Posted on December 5, 2014 by Robert A. Vella

The background of this situation: Lawrence O’Donnell reported that after reviewing the transcripts of the grand jury, his analyst discovered that the assistant district attorneys working for Bob McCulloch gave the jurors an outdated copy of Missouri law, which stated all that was required for an officer to use deadly force is their “reasonable belief” that there was a threat.

In 1985, in Tennessee v. Garner [ ] directly before Darren Wilson’s testimony giving the impression that all that was required under the law for Wilson to kill Michael Brown with impunity was his belief that he was in danger, without the additional requirement of probable cause for such a belief.

The Missouri AG now proclaims that was wrong, and that the Missouri Law needs to be changed and updated to reflect the Supreme Court’s ruling.

Continue reading: http://www.dailykos.com/story/2014/12/04/1349421/-Missouri-AG-Confirms-Michael-Brown-Grand-Jury-Misled-by-St-Louis-DA#

Ferguson, Missouri police plan for possible riots if cop Darren Wilson not charged

Posted on October 8, 2014 by Robert A. Vella

Reblogged from The Secular Jurist:

FERGUSON MISSOURI – Missouri authorities are drawing up contingency plans and seeking intelligence from U.S. police departments on out-of-state agitators, fearing that fresh riots could erupt if a grand jury does not indict a white officer for killing a black teen.

The plans are being thrashed out in meetings being held two to three times a week, according to people who have attended them. The FBI said it was also involved in the discussions.

[…]

The grand jury is expected to decide next month whether to bring criminal charges against police officer Darren Wilson, who shot dead Michael Brown, 18, on Aug. 9 in Ferguson, Missouri.

Continue reading: http://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/missouri-police-plan-for-possible-riots-if-brown-cop-not-charged/ar-BB83w9D

Justice Department To Investigate Ohio Wal-Mart Shooting

Posted on September 25, 2014 by Robert A. Vella

Sept 24 (Reuters) – Federal investigators will review whether two white police officers violated the civil rights of a black man they fatally shot while he held a BB gun in a Dayton-area Walmart in August, the U.S. Justice Department said on Wednesday.

The announcement came hours after an Ohio grand jury decided not to press charges against two white Beavercreek police officers who fatally shot John Crawford III, 22, while he held a pellet gun in the store on Aug. 5.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/09/24/justice-department-walmart-shooting_n_5879036.html