Back In Baltimore

The prosecutor in the Freddie Gray death announces what might be hasty, politically motivated charges and a city calms down. For now, at least:

Baltimore’s Mood Shifts From Grim to Elated After Charges Are Announced

...

“It seems like we’re finally getting justice,” said Gary Thornton, 29, who lives in East Baltimore.

Tashira Skinner, his friend, interjected, “It won’t be justice until they say guilty.”

There is that pesky matter of trials and convictions. The Times follows up on the challenges facing the prosecutor:

Baltimore Prosecutor Faces National History of Police Acquittals

With an unexpectedly speedy and sweeping announcement on Friday of homicide and abuse-of-power charges against six police officers in the death of Freddie Gray, Baltimore’s chief prosecutor sent an unmistakable signal that the days when police misconduct drew a wrist slap are over.

It was a bold gesture, experts say — and a risky one. For the pledge may be an empty gesture unless prosecutors secure convictions in Mr. Gray’s death.

They say "empty gesture", I say "over-reaching, pandering disaster"; time will tell. At some point actual evidence and facts may be important, but I would guess that acquittals would inflame the city and (further) de-legitimize the criminal justice system in the eyes of many.

Both history and the circumstances of the case unveiled on Friday hint that it will be anything but easy. Brutality cases against police officers are notoriously difficult to win, and much about the case, including the evidence against the officers and their defense, remains unknown.

I don't know much about the evidence either, but if the police officers really did find Freddie Gray unconscious and unresponsive in the back of the van without seeking immediate medical intervention, then a "reckless disregard" type charge seems supportable. This is from the NY Times timeline - Stop 4 was the last stop before the van went to the Western District police station:

Stop No. 4: [Prosecutor] Ms. Mosby said Officer Goodson was met here by Officers Nero, Miller and Porter. Sgt. Alicia D. White and Officers Porter and Goodson observed “Mr. Gray unresponsive on the floor,” Ms. Mosby said. Sergeant White spoke to the back of Mr. Gray’s head, and he did not respond. “Despite Mr. Gray’s seriously deteriorating medical condition, no medical assistance was rendered or summoned for Mr. Gray at that time by any officer,” Ms. Mosby said.

That said, the idea of "false imprisonment" charges based on the absence of a legitimate basis for arrest seems like a stretch. My presumption is that there is (or ought to be) some sort of a good faith exception. A key part of the dispute here seems to be whether Mr. Gray's knife was legal or not. Presumably the defense will argue that either (a) the knife was in fact illegal (or a parole violation?), or (b) the knife was close enough to illegal that the officers made a good faith mistake. Attorney Andrew Branca at Legal Insurrection has lots more:

Arrests often go uncharged, and charges are often dismissed, and defendants are even acquitted at trial, often based upon a later conclusion that the underlying facts which suggested a crime are untrue or mistaken.  None of these outcomes makes the initial arrest illegal.

When an officer makes an arrest based on an articulable statement of probable cause, that arrest becomes illegal only if the officer knew or reasonably should have known that no crime had, in fact, been committed.

In short, police are entitled to make reasonable mistakes, and such a reasonable mistake does not make the arrest illegal.

Such a mistake may, of course, make further prosecution of the offense impractical or outright unjust.  But that’s a completely different matter than whether an arrest was unlawful.

One important lesson has been learned here - let's cut back to the initial Times coverage describing the charges:

Standing on a nearby street corner, Renee James, 48, said, “There’s no need to go tear up the city no more.”

Her friend Antoinnette White, 53, said of the riot: “Hurting innocent people was nonsense. I cried.”

But Abdullah Moaney, 53, an information technology worker from East Baltimore, said that “peace has lost its credibility.” Seeking to justify the violence that broke out Monday, he said that “if it wasn’t for the riot,” charges would not have been filed.

Muslims have figured it out, and now some Americans are figuring it out - non-violence is for patsies, and the squeaky wheel gets the grease.

Comments

[narciso]

of course, this is the downside of giving the Avengers coin.

[narciso]

great pic, Jib,

[Jeff Dobbs]

Typepad has been on good behavior. Nothing in the naughty bin for the last two days.

[Jane]

Should we try harder?

[Gentlejim]

Can't we have a single warning for life? "Life is tough. You will at times be frightened, disappointed, thrilled, jealous, lonely, happy, etc. DEAL WITH IT!!!"

[Rob Crawford]

Two shot outside Texas art exhibit featuring Mohammed art. Story still on-going.

[narciso]

hey, Rob,

http://www.breitbart.com/video/2015/05/02/boehner-there-is-a-crisis-in-relations-between-cops-and-african-americans/

shirley you can't be serious.

[Strawman Cometh]

"Life is not fair" is the only cogent quote I know of Jimmy Carter. He was pilloried for it by his own party. I believe that was when Teddy decided to primary him.

[clarice]

Beast, just so typepad doesn't go haywirre, when you take about olive oil, could you just say EVOO? Thanks.

[narciso]

great find, clarice:

https://www.dartagnan.com/Grilled-Pork-Chops-with-Jerk-Spices/Recipe_Jerk_Pork_Chops,default,pg.html?fdid=meat-game

[Miss Marple]

http://twitchy.com/2015/05/03/reports-of-officer-shot-at-pam-gellers-muhammad-art-contest-in-garland-tx/

Photos and videos at link.

[Jeff Dobbs]

reports-of-officer-shot-at-pam-gellers-muhammad-art-contest-in-garland-tx/

Looked it up - about 10 minutes from where I grew up.

If Holly is around, she'd have a local view on reports.....like she did when Duncan the ebola patient was in Dallas.

[Truthbetold]

Clarice

Explain to your friends why Mueller and Ashcroft wanted Patrick Fitzgerald to be appointed "special counsel"

Posted by: Truthbetold | May 03, 2015 at 10:43 AM

Clarice

Speaking of false narratives. It has been confirmed that FBI director Robert Mueller and Attorney General John Ashcroft asked Deputy Secretary of State Dick Armitage, his boss Colin Powell, and State Dept. attorney William H. Taft not to tell the public that Armitage was Bob Novak's source in outing Valerie Plame as a CIA employee. Mueller and Ashcroft did this long before Patrick Fitzgerald was appointed "Special Counsel".

Clarice, when are you going to correct the false narrative that it was Fitzgerald who told Armitage to keep it to himself?

The truth about the Valerie Plame case. (10 years later)
http://illinoispaytoplay.com/2013/01/01/the-truth-about-the-valerie-plame-case-10-years-later

[Jane]

Truthbetold,

We really don't care about your demands, as I'm sure you can tell from the reception.

[Truthbetold]

Jane,

You can't handle the truth.

[Nell Porter]

You wouldn't know the truth if an eagle pooped it on your head.

[sbw]

Kind of you to explain, Jane.

[Captain Hate on the iPad]

OrangeDrank and F Chuck walk into a bar...

[Gentlejim]

Truthbetold,
What difference at this point does it make?
Sorry JOMers

[Captain Hate on the iPad]

Has the long national nightmare of Madam Secretary ended?

[Truthbetold]

Gentlejim

Are you asking what difference does it make if Mueller and Ashcroft wanted to see a "special counsel" appointed when they already knew who the leaker was?

[narciso]

for this season, anyways.

that memoir by that supposed Blackwater cofounder, seemed a little off in some of the details, and now we know why, the fellow was a fraud, it suggested some ways actually contractors like Granges osprey
might actually work, it had just enough truth to seem plausible,

[Miss Marple]

You know folks, it's a lot better if you just scroll on by and ignore.

[Eric in Boise]

You know folks, it's a lot better if you just scroll on by and ignore.

Especially with TBT, who is like an aggressive stage 4 cancer on the JOM body.

[narciso]

so a quixotic exercise, makes sense from a certain point of view:

http://theconservativetreehouse.com/2015/05/02/the-baltimore-plan-the-big-part-of-the-bigger-picture-win-by-losing/#more-100312

[narciso]

carter was never that selfaware, that was JFK, who had seen the truth of that statement:

http://rightwingnews.com/top-news/jimmy-carter-declares-hamas-leader-is-not-a-terrorist-only-wants-peace/

[Gentlejim]

I denounce myself

[narciso]

and this is why Iowa must be 'nuked from orbit, just to make sure'

[Truthbetold]

Legitimate questions will do that to you

[Nell Porter]

Legitimate poop from Eagles, Ernie eats it up.

[GUS]

Is Boehner really that stupid. Not a rheorical question. Capn' someone in Ohio...anyone?? Is this the best we can do.

Can't get a better man???

[narciso]

it seems there is a certain pattern of behavior, which I point out in the popehat link:

http://www.steynonline.com/6939/slapping-with-yasser

[narciso]

'F Chuck, there is a war on law enforcement, being abetted by this administration, carried by Team Sharpton and other agitators, the press has carried their water, suppressing video and audio evidence,
legitimating astroturf protests directed by the Justice Department,*

*bizarro world Garfield,

[Jane on Ipad]

Well, it's just bizarre. Every 2 weeks this guy shows up with some BS. I can't even figure out who he is trying to protect. What a bug he has up his ass. For who?

[narciso]

who knows Jane, I thought my Division tales, covered all the bases,

[Nell Porter]

Axelrod boy. Attacking people who know too much.

[narciso]

Terry Hayes, suggested another Division origin story, Kennedy founding it as a super IG over the kindred security services, that seems even less likely than the tale they gave to Goldman, Oberlin '53, for Marathon Man,

[henry]

I'm shocked. Islamic State partisans take credit for TX shooting.

[Miss Marple]

Twitter is full of people blaming the event, rather than the terrorists.

This is America. If we cannot have free speech here because of fears of terrorism, we are not free.

[Buckeye]

GUS

You are right, boner is an embarrasment.

[narciso]

sid's strigoi spawn is leading the way, along with Greenwald,

[narciso]

who is on Team Doha,

[narciso]

what I was referring to:

http://twitchy.com/2015/05/03/tweeters-bring-the-hate-after-shooting-at-muhammad-art-contest-in-texas/

[Jane on Ipad]

MM bails it!

[narciso]

things that make go hmm:

http://twitchy.com/2015/05/03/nyt-reporter-wonders-why-anyone-would-hold-a-muhammad-drawing-contest/

[Jane on Ipad]

I turned off the heat tonite. If I show up dead tomorrow, winter has returned

[narciso]

about that naming:

http://blogs.news.com.au/dailytelegraph/timblair/index.php/dailytelegraph/comments/chan_sukamaran_stadium/

[Miss Marple]

The Geller event was in response to an anti-free speech event held January 17, according to a woman who was at the event, being interviewed by Harris Faulkner right now on Fox.

[Gentlejim]

Using the Left's logic, rape victims are responsible for the horrific crime committed against them.

[GUS]

Idiots, fuktards, gypsies tramps and thieves are stoooopit enough to think that free speech CAN BE TRUMPED by ISLAMOFASCIST VIOLENCE.

Dumbfuktard is as dumbfuktard does.

If violence can shut up speech, Baltimore would be burying HUNDREDS of brick throwing yoots.

[Dave (in MA)]

Dana Loesch ‏@DLoesch The left: Don’t offend one faith by drawing a cartoon but do force another faith to compromise their beliefs and bake cakes.

[narciso]

well probably not in Garland, but you could ask Molly Norris, the editors of Charlie Hebdo, (it might take a while) and the Yllen Posten, or the European PEN committee.

[GUS]

Piss Jesus and Cow Shit Virgin Mary exhibit.
National endowment for the arts.

Are FUKTARDS suggesting that I am justified in murdering at these exhibits.

Think about if libards.

[DrJ]

Was it lyle who recommended the Knotty Vines Zinfandel by Rodney Strong? I was out for this evening's plonk, and there was a 2012 on the shelf for a very good price ($15). So I bought one.

It is a good wine -- "real wine" in the vernacular here. It is real Zinfandel, and has not been dumbed down or fermented to a formatted taste. That's a pleasure.

And it went very well with the Lamb chops.

Thanks!

[Miss Marple]

Think I will go to bed. Bomb squad with robots still investigating the perps car in Garland.

Nytol.

[narciso]

for those who observe these things, this happened on the anniversary of the death of a Shia prophet,
much as with Benghazi, nearly three years ago, a different one,

[Dave (in MA)]

"Tea Party" "Garland"

[narciso]

that never gets old, so one wonders did the shooters come from one the Islamist compound, that Operation Jade Helm, isn't interested in focusing on?

[Threadkiller]

Twitter is full of people blaming the event, rather than the terrorists.

Freddie Grey shouldn't have had a run from the cops event.

[narciso]

well it's not really full, it's just the Max and Gleen venn diagram,

[GUS]

Narciso we had nothing to do with that video.

[narciso]

the Daily Mail makes it quite clear, if you read carefully, it was a hit on Wilders,

[clarice]

Glad you like that recipe narciso. It's very good.

[GUS]

The Muzztards acted STUPIDLY.

[GUS]

Narciso, the DAILY MAIL calls it "an EXTREME FREE SPEECH GROUP".

Hilarious.

[narciso]

Ellison and Carson, tried to keep Wilders out, about a week ago,

[narciso]

no surprise from CAIR's BFFs

http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/volokh-conspiracy/wp/2015/04/29/congressmen-keith-ellison-and-andre-carson-call-for-denial-of-visa-to-dutch-legislator-geert-wilders/

[GUS]

these 2 dead Muzztards, y'know, the ones laying dead in the gutter. Did Keith Ellison and Andre Carson try to keep THEM out of America??

[narciso]

magic eightball would say no,

[Dave (in MA)]

We need a 28th Amendment that says The 1st Amendment wasn't kidding.

[narciso]

well they didn't follow the pay raise amendment, they aren't going to do this, except if it's transgressive entertainment, like one that takes the witches point of view, in Salem,

[GUS]

We have that DAVE. It's called The 2nd Amendment.

[narciso]

I'm not making that up, why would I?

[Ignatz Ratzkiwatzki]

We need a 28th amendment that says if you want to fundamentally transform the country you have one week to get your ass out or get it shot off.

[Threadkiller]

http://dailycaller.com/2015/05/03/birthers-are-going-to-have-a-field-day-with-the-2016-republican-primary-season/

The DC is afraid of the miniscule loon squad?

This is settled. Enough is enough. Let it go Daily Caller!

[GUS]

Ignatz OFUKTARD is the biggest PILE OF SHIT his country has ever seen.

[GUS]

Ignatz OFUKTARD is the biggest PILE OF SHIT this country has ever seen.

[GUS]

COOL!!

[GUS]

The Daily caller has jumped the shark.
Is there ANY Conservative blog/news source that hasn't turned ORANGE-MAN-TURTLE???

[narciso]

they do that every once in a while, because medical bills from all that fainting on concrete floors are expensive,

[GUS]

Who's fainting anymore?

[Holly]

I was unaware of the Garland shooting until late tonight, so I haven't been able to get much local info. Listened to a brief interview with one of the attendees who was evacuated from the event. NBC lady got the vapors when he referred to the shooters as jihadis, then cut him off when he persisted. Other local stations were covering sports.

Joe Biden came to mass this morning. Said he was squeezing in mass between fundraising events with local LGBT groups. Lots of grumbling from the Dems in attendance. Apparently canceling pre-K Sunday school to accommodate security is not cool, particularly when there are a gazillion pre-Ks who attend the early morning mass. Total chaos.

[jimmyk]

We have that DAVE. It's called The 2nd Amendment.

GUS FTW. Great line.

I've said here a few times that we need an amendment saying that the rest of the Constitution actually means what it says. But I like Iggy's proposal @12:14 too.

[Dave (in MA)]

The Daily caller has jumped the shark

What's Chatsworth T. Osborne Jr.'s cheesecake site done now?

[GUS]

Well Dave, they simply are pansies. I don't see any purposeful conservatism.

[Dave (in MA)]

GUS @ 12:09 Ig @ 12:14

[GUS]

Thank you Jimmy. That 2nd amendment line was glib. I thought of it IMMEDIATELY.
Holly, the "lady" who got the vapors, has been trained no differently than PAVLOVS' DOG, to RECOIL at any UNAPPROVED COMMENTS.

[Janet]

Andre Carson was one of the Dem.Congressmen that made up lies about Americans at the Kill the Bill rally back in 2010.

"Unable to provoke the crowds into racist words or deeds, Caucus members made up their own. Rep. Andre Carson, one of only two Muslims in Congress, told reporters he heard “‘n-word, n-word,’ at least 15 times, hundreds of people.”

http://www.americanthinker.com/articles/2015/03/old_dogs_doing_old_tricks.html#ixzz3Z92O4lEc

[GUS]

FUNDAMENTALLY
TRANSFORM.

Both words have meanings, although LIBPROGTARDS have NO CLUE what either word means.

The Ofuktard meaning is to CHANGE what we are to something LIBTARDS desire.

The word TRANSGENDER comes to mind. It's really quite simple. ProLibTards want America to change from BRUCE JENNER to SPRUCEY JENNER.

I object.

[GUS]

Janet, yet there were NO MICROPHONES that caught such RACIST EPITHETS. Emanuel Cleaver of K.C. was a liar who claimed to have heard NIGGER being shouted. WHO IS STUPID ENOUGH to believe such a loser, when THOUSANDS of MIKES were there and none caught such TRIPE.

[GUS]

THIS is the DAILY MAIL. It's mf'ing absurd and THE MEME continues.

Two gunmen 'carrying explosives' attack anti-Muslim art contest in Texas: Suspects dead and security guard wounded at 'draw Muhammad' event that offered $10k prize

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3066779/Police-officer-suspect-said-injured-shooting-outside-art-anti-Muslim-exhibition-art-depicting-prophet-Muhammad.html#ixzz3Z97QgDcd
Follow us: @MailOnline on Twitter | DailyMail on Facebook

ANTI-ISLAM??? How so??
To criticize PEDOPHILE PRIESTS is ANTI-CHRISTIAN or ANTI-CATHOLIC???
It's both DISHONEST and the STATE of LIBTARD PROG LAND. Lying fucking liars.

[Janet]

I know, Gus. That's one of my stories that I can't let go of. The liars that day were: Carson, Cleaver, Lewis, & Clyburn.

They told their lie to William Douglas at McClatchy News & he just ran with it with no verification.

Slandering Americans is all in a days work for Democrats.

[GUS]

Janet, the LIES were easily DEBUNKED. 2 thoughts came to my mind. 1. The lies fit the BIASED NARATIVE of the Journ-o-list, and 2. The LIBTARD REPORTER knows no OTHER reality. These peeps have been raised in an atmosphere of LIBPROG BULLSHIT. They cannot THINK....critically.

[daddy]

Just arrived home, turned on CNN and the first words I heard from the CNN reporter was "...as we try to figure out what the motivation was for this shooting in Garland."

[GUS]

Daddy. The LIBTARD PROGS cannot understand that UNICORN PROG/LIBTARDOPIA is to blame. JESUS being DUNKED In PISS, WAS FREE SPEECH and OK. It didn't and hasn't occurred to LIBTARDS that our ISLAMIC JIHADIST friends, are not FAIR, nor LOGICAL.

[GUS]

LONE WOLF
HOME GROWN
YOUNG
UNEXPECTED
Oh oh oh oh yes.........SELF RADICALIZED!!!
Hahahahahaha REFUGEE.....
We all get it.

[daddy]

GUS,

It is amazing listening to all the qualifiers coming out of the mouths of the CNN reporters (ie) "We all stand for Freedom of Speech but...

Every sentence at that network concerning this event has a big but, that allows them to sling whatever s@#t they want after the obligatory nod to Freedom of Speech.

CNN says the perps have not been identified yet. I notice from the UK Telegraph photos that the perps vehicle has what looks like Texas License plate DXR 3875. I suppose anyone with the ability to access the Texas License Plate database could get a bit of info on who the truck belonged to:

[GUS]

Daddy, one thing that YOU and I have in common is TRUTH and DETAILS.

[GUS]

Daddy, I go back to OFUKTARDS promise to STAND WITH THE MUSLIMS.
SERIOUSLY. OFUCKWAD actually PROMISED to stand with the MUZZTARDS should the POLITICAL WINDS go UGLY.
WOW.
And AMERICA still DOESN'T ..."GET IT".

[GUS]

Daddy, I'm smart and successful, whereas, the INFO that gives me SMARTS EVIDENCE, OR any normal sort of credence makes me believable and honest.