The Houston drug raid that left two homeowners shot dead and four officers shot, has raised cries to ban ‘no knock’ search warrants
By Howie Katz
Big Jolly Times
February 20, 2019
The January 29 Houston PD drug raid that left two homeowners shot dead and four officers shot, continues to make the news amid cries to ban ‘no knock’ search warrants.
The raid on the Harding Street house did not go well, to say the least. The occupants of the house, Dennis Tuttle and Rhogena Nicholas, were killed in a shootout with Houston PD narcotics officers, four of whom were wounded by the gunfire. On top of that, there is evidence that the search warrant affidavit was fabricated by one or more of the raiding officers.
The search warrant obtained by the narcotics officers was a ‘no knock’ warrant. It allows the cops to smash the door in and enter the premises without any warning to the occupants. The purpose of such warrants is to protect officers from being shot if the occupants are known to be armed or to prevent the disposal of contraband.
The protection of officers from getting shot is a legitimate reason for a no knock warrant. But it can be argued that the disposal of evidence is a bogus concern. If there is a large quantity of narcotics and packaging materials in the house, those cannot be flushed down the toilet. Neither can a scale. I once tried to flush about 8 oz of pot down a toilet. No matter how many times I flushed, the marijuana continued to float on top of the water.
The problem with a no knock entry is that the occupant may believe he is being attacked by home invaders and will try to defend himself by shooting at who he believes to be burglars. Although the cops in the Houston raid claim they shouted “police,” Tuttle may not have heard them. That makes sense because Tuttle, 59, had no criminal record and logic says he would not knowingly have shot at the police.
I question the need for no knock search warrants. The drug raids I went on in the Riverside, San Bernardino, Los Angeles and Orange counties of California were all conducted with ‘knock and announce’ warrants. And although in most of those raids the occupants of the raided houses were heavily armed, none of them led to a shootout.
All drug raids are dangerous. In the war on drugs there will be casualties on both sides regardless of the type of search warrant used. The safety of both cops and crooks, as well as the avoidance of hitting a wrong target, boils down to meticulous planning, pre-raid orientation of all participants and careful execution of the raid.
Drug raids are usually carried out late at night or before dawn in the belief that the suspects will be asleep and will be surprised before they can reach for a gun.
There is really little difference between the way no knock warrants and knock and announce warrants are carried out. In knock and announce warrants, the police have to knock on the door, identify themselves as the police and announce they have a search warrant. The warrants do not specify how loud the knocks and announcements must be, nor do they specify how long officers must wait before they can kick the door in.
In the raids I went on, we knocked gently on the door and in a normal voice stated “This is the police, we have a search warrant,” and – crash - the door got kicked in. So, what is the difference between no knock warrants and knock and announce warrants? About 10 seconds.
A knock and announce entry, which is designed to let the occupants know it’s the police that want to enter the premises, doesn’t work unless the cops pound on the door and shout out loud “This is the police, we have a search warrant,” and then wait at least one minute during daylight and two minutes at night before kicking the door in. Of course, if after knocking on the door, they hear what sounds like the occupants trying to dispose contraband, they can break in immediately.
At a town hall meeting Monday, Houston Police Chief Art Acevedo told an angry crowd, “The no-knock warrants are going to go away like leaded gasoline in this city.” He is now bellowing about restricting the use of no knock warrants, but since there is so little difference in the way the two types of warrants are carried out, Acevedo is just blowing more hot air.
Thursday, February 21, 2019
JUSSIE SMOLLETT COMES A CROPPER
by Bob Walsh
Jussie Smollett may be in deep kimchi. He has been charged by a Grand Jury with filing a false police report, which can be either a felony or a misdemeanor depending on how it is charged. It is also possible that he may face federal mail fraud charges over the letter that he got so pissed off that it was ignored. It seems highly likely that he sent it to himself.
So far he is hanging tough and the cops are talking with his lawyer about him surrendering. I won't be surprised if he runs. I would GUESS that he sees his career as being over if the is convicted, or cops to the charges and I BELIEVE that his career is the most important thing in his life right now or he would not have painted himself into a dumbass corner in the fashion that he has.
By the time you read this, about 12 hours after I am typing it, we might have a pretty good idea which way this is going to break. He may, just maybe, save himself if he kisses a lot of ass and eats a lot of crow.
What I find interesting and remarkable is that ANYBODY who had any brains and a stinkometer that was even slightly working would have looked sideways at his initial story. The media and Trump haters WANTED to believe the story, so they did, even though it was highly improbably on it's face. A stinkometer is not infallible. Sometimes highly unlikely stories are proven to be true, or at least can not be proven to be false. That being said, if it looks like horseshit and smells like horseshit there is a pretty fair chance that it is horseshit and not a chocolate cupcake. Before you swallow it whole, you should be sure.
Jussie Smollett may be in deep kimchi. He has been charged by a Grand Jury with filing a false police report, which can be either a felony or a misdemeanor depending on how it is charged. It is also possible that he may face federal mail fraud charges over the letter that he got so pissed off that it was ignored. It seems highly likely that he sent it to himself.
So far he is hanging tough and the cops are talking with his lawyer about him surrendering. I won't be surprised if he runs. I would GUESS that he sees his career as being over if the is convicted, or cops to the charges and I BELIEVE that his career is the most important thing in his life right now or he would not have painted himself into a dumbass corner in the fashion that he has.
By the time you read this, about 12 hours after I am typing it, we might have a pretty good idea which way this is going to break. He may, just maybe, save himself if he kisses a lot of ass and eats a lot of crow.
What I find interesting and remarkable is that ANYBODY who had any brains and a stinkometer that was even slightly working would have looked sideways at his initial story. The media and Trump haters WANTED to believe the story, so they did, even though it was highly improbably on it's face. A stinkometer is not infallible. Sometimes highly unlikely stories are proven to be true, or at least can not be proven to be false. That being said, if it looks like horseshit and smells like horseshit there is a pretty fair chance that it is horseshit and not a chocolate cupcake. Before you swallow it whole, you should be sure.
POLICE BUST MAN FOR THE MURDER OF GIRL 45 YEARS AGO
Newport Beach cold case: Suspect ID'd in 11-year-old Linda O'Keefe's murder after arrest in Colorado
By Greg Lee and ABC7.com staff
KABC
February 20, 2019
NEWPORT BEACH, Calif. -- More than 45 years after 11-year-old Linda O'Keefe was found murdered in Newport Beach, authorities on Wednesday identified the suspect who was arrested in the case this week.
James Alan Neal, 72, was taken into custody by Newport Beach police detectives in Colorado Springs, Colorado. He is expected to appear at a hearing Wednesday afternoon in El Paso County.
He is accused in the strangulation of the young girl, who disappeared while walking home from school in a blue and white dress on July 6, 1973. The next morning, authorities discovered her body in Back Bay.
Witnesses saw a turquoise van where Linda was last seen. An extensive search was launched, aided by DNA evidence that was recovered at the location.
The initial investigation proved fruitless. Newport Beach homicide detectives continued to review evidence in the years that followed, but the case eventually went cold.
In July 2018, police launched a social media campaign in an effort to generate new leads. DNA-progression tools helped create a new composite image of the suspect.
In January, after utilizing genealogical technology -- similar to methods that led to the suspected Golden State Killer -- authorities located Neal and were able to collect additional DNA, Orange County District Attorney Todd Spitzer said at a Wednesday morning news conference.
Spitzer was accompanied by Newport Beach Police Chief Jon Lewis and detectives who have worked on the decades-old case.
"Linda's face and her memory has been with us and our investigators since this happened," Lewis said. "Her picture hangs in our detective division, where our folks see it every day -- as a reminder of her and a reminder of why it's so important that we continue to pursue these cases -- and hopefully come to some kind of resolve for the families, for our investigators, but also for our communities as well."
Neal remained in custody in Colorado. If he waives his extradition rights, he could be transferred to Orange County by the end of this week, Spitzer said.
The suspect faces a minimum sentence of life in prison without the possibility of parole if convicted as charged. The district attorney said he had not yet decided whether prosecutors will seek the death penalty in the case.
By Greg Lee and ABC7.com staff
KABC
February 20, 2019
NEWPORT BEACH, Calif. -- More than 45 years after 11-year-old Linda O'Keefe was found murdered in Newport Beach, authorities on Wednesday identified the suspect who was arrested in the case this week.
James Alan Neal, 72, was taken into custody by Newport Beach police detectives in Colorado Springs, Colorado. He is expected to appear at a hearing Wednesday afternoon in El Paso County.
He is accused in the strangulation of the young girl, who disappeared while walking home from school in a blue and white dress on July 6, 1973. The next morning, authorities discovered her body in Back Bay.
Witnesses saw a turquoise van where Linda was last seen. An extensive search was launched, aided by DNA evidence that was recovered at the location.
The initial investigation proved fruitless. Newport Beach homicide detectives continued to review evidence in the years that followed, but the case eventually went cold.
In July 2018, police launched a social media campaign in an effort to generate new leads. DNA-progression tools helped create a new composite image of the suspect.
In January, after utilizing genealogical technology -- similar to methods that led to the suspected Golden State Killer -- authorities located Neal and were able to collect additional DNA, Orange County District Attorney Todd Spitzer said at a Wednesday morning news conference.
Spitzer was accompanied by Newport Beach Police Chief Jon Lewis and detectives who have worked on the decades-old case.
"Linda's face and her memory has been with us and our investigators since this happened," Lewis said. "Her picture hangs in our detective division, where our folks see it every day -- as a reminder of her and a reminder of why it's so important that we continue to pursue these cases -- and hopefully come to some kind of resolve for the families, for our investigators, but also for our communities as well."
Neal remained in custody in Colorado. If he waives his extradition rights, he could be transferred to Orange County by the end of this week, Spitzer said.
The suspect faces a minimum sentence of life in prison without the possibility of parole if convicted as charged. The district attorney said he had not yet decided whether prosecutors will seek the death penalty in the case.
Wednesday, February 20, 2019
A GOOD GUY DIED LAST NIGHT
by Bob Walsh
I am a serious amateur photographer and have been for 40+ years. There was a small bunch of us dinosaur film photographers associated with the program at Delta College here in Stockton. One of them was Kevin Chupp.
Kevin was a few years younger than me and had had some health issues lately. He was a diabetic and lost part of his leg a year or so back. He was having a lot of trouble adjusting to the artificial leg. We went out to lunch pretty often, and tried to get out to take photos every now and the, though with the indifferent winter weather it was not so easy. Also, I was moderately hurt in a car wreck earlier this month which slowed things down more than a little.
Kevin liked to travel and went on a couple of those windjammer type tall ship sailing cruises some years back. He even had the opportunity to crew for a bit. Some of his best photo work was in and around ships, though he did a fair bit of portrait photography as well.
He was also a bit of a foodie and turned me on to several decent restaurants in the greater Stockton area.
He died in his sleep at home last night, quite unexpectedly. He had a cardio evaluation less than ten days before. His mom found him in the morning in his arm chair. He was a good guy. I will miss him.
I am a serious amateur photographer and have been for 40+ years. There was a small bunch of us dinosaur film photographers associated with the program at Delta College here in Stockton. One of them was Kevin Chupp.
Kevin was a few years younger than me and had had some health issues lately. He was a diabetic and lost part of his leg a year or so back. He was having a lot of trouble adjusting to the artificial leg. We went out to lunch pretty often, and tried to get out to take photos every now and the, though with the indifferent winter weather it was not so easy. Also, I was moderately hurt in a car wreck earlier this month which slowed things down more than a little.
Kevin liked to travel and went on a couple of those windjammer type tall ship sailing cruises some years back. He even had the opportunity to crew for a bit. Some of his best photo work was in and around ships, though he did a fair bit of portrait photography as well.
He was also a bit of a foodie and turned me on to several decent restaurants in the greater Stockton area.
He died in his sleep at home last night, quite unexpectedly. He had a cardio evaluation less than ten days before. His mom found him in the morning in his arm chair. He was a good guy. I will miss him.
THROWN UNDER THE BUS
by Bob Walsh
Darrell Steinberg is a member of the perpetual, professional political class in the formerly great state of California. His current teat at the public trough is Alcalde de la pueblo de Sacramento. He just pretty much threw his own police department under the bus.
More than a year ago now a young black man named Stephon Clark was shot to death by the Sac P.D. They had been called, they were not just out harassing people. Clark had been busy breaking into automobiles, which is not very nice but is a misdemeanor. He then tried to break into an occupied home, which is a felony. When the cops challenged him he ran. He hopped fences. The cops pursued, which is what they are paid to do. He ended up in his grandmothers back yard (which of course the cops didn't know). They challenged him again, he turned with an object in his hand. The cops shot. He died. The object was a cell phone.
During his State of the City message today Darrell the Toad said up front that STEPHON CLARK SHOULD NOT HAVE DIED. I grant you he did not HAVE TO die. He could have not been breaking into cars. He could have not tried to break into an occupied house. He could have stopped when the cops challenged him. He could have frozen instead of turning around with an object in his hand when cornered.
It's a damn shame he is dead, but his death is due far more to his own actions and his own stupidity than any institutionalized issues within the Sacramento PD (IMHO). Darrell the Toad is trying to get on the right side of the BLM rioters, who will be out in force if the D.A. decides to not prosecute the cops. If she follows the law, that will be her decision. There is both body cam and helicopter footage of the whole mess. What happened is not much in doubt from a factual position.
I strongly suspect Darrell the Toad would be happy to trade a couple of cops to the rioters for "peace." But that's just because I think he is a sleazy asshole.
Darrell Steinberg is a member of the perpetual, professional political class in the formerly great state of California. His current teat at the public trough is Alcalde de la pueblo de Sacramento. He just pretty much threw his own police department under the bus.
More than a year ago now a young black man named Stephon Clark was shot to death by the Sac P.D. They had been called, they were not just out harassing people. Clark had been busy breaking into automobiles, which is not very nice but is a misdemeanor. He then tried to break into an occupied home, which is a felony. When the cops challenged him he ran. He hopped fences. The cops pursued, which is what they are paid to do. He ended up in his grandmothers back yard (which of course the cops didn't know). They challenged him again, he turned with an object in his hand. The cops shot. He died. The object was a cell phone.
During his State of the City message today Darrell the Toad said up front that STEPHON CLARK SHOULD NOT HAVE DIED. I grant you he did not HAVE TO die. He could have not been breaking into cars. He could have not tried to break into an occupied house. He could have stopped when the cops challenged him. He could have frozen instead of turning around with an object in his hand when cornered.
It's a damn shame he is dead, but his death is due far more to his own actions and his own stupidity than any institutionalized issues within the Sacramento PD (IMHO). Darrell the Toad is trying to get on the right side of the BLM rioters, who will be out in force if the D.A. decides to not prosecute the cops. If she follows the law, that will be her decision. There is both body cam and helicopter footage of the whole mess. What happened is not much in doubt from a factual position.
I strongly suspect Darrell the Toad would be happy to trade a couple of cops to the rioters for "peace." But that's just because I think he is a sleazy asshole.
JUST SAY NO? ….. NO NO!
'Naked and belligerent' woman, 21, attacks fiancé for refusing to have sex with her
By Jennifer Smith
Daily Mail
February 19, 2019
A 21-year-old woman has been arrested for attacking her fiancé while she was drunk and naked because he refused to have sex with her.
Samantha Jewel Hernandez was arrested in the early hours of Monday morning after her fiance Lucas Truesdale called the police.
He said she attacked him at their home in Vero Beach, Florida, after 'declining' to have sex with her.
'Hernandez was angry at that fact that he did not want to have sex and began attacking him, striking him in the face and ripping his shirt,' a copy of the police report reads.
When officers arrived at their apartment, Hernandez was drunk, naked and 'belligerent'.
She told them she had not done 'anything' to him but was 'too intoxicated' to give any other information and was put in the police car.
Once inside the vehicle, she pretended to be unconscious and then spat on a police officer when he spoke to her.
The woman was booked into county jail afterwards on charges of felony battery on an officer and domestic violence.
It is her second arrest in less than a year.
Last August, she was arrested for disorderly conduct.
The woman's fiance was left with red scratches to his face and neck. His short was also torn in the incident.
Hernandez was released on a $6,000 bond and is due back in court later this year.
By Jennifer Smith
Daily Mail
February 19, 2019
A 21-year-old woman has been arrested for attacking her fiancé while she was drunk and naked because he refused to have sex with her.
Samantha Jewel Hernandez was arrested in the early hours of Monday morning after her fiance Lucas Truesdale called the police.
He said she attacked him at their home in Vero Beach, Florida, after 'declining' to have sex with her.
'Hernandez was angry at that fact that he did not want to have sex and began attacking him, striking him in the face and ripping his shirt,' a copy of the police report reads.
When officers arrived at their apartment, Hernandez was drunk, naked and 'belligerent'.
She told them she had not done 'anything' to him but was 'too intoxicated' to give any other information and was put in the police car.
Once inside the vehicle, she pretended to be unconscious and then spat on a police officer when he spoke to her.
The woman was booked into county jail afterwards on charges of felony battery on an officer and domestic violence.
It is her second arrest in less than a year.
Last August, she was arrested for disorderly conduct.
The woman's fiance was left with red scratches to his face and neck. His short was also torn in the incident.
Hernandez was released on a $6,000 bond and is due back in court later this year.
THE POOR LITTLE DOG SHOULD HAVE BIT THIS DICKHEAD’S DICK OFF
Warrant issued for South Euclid man accused of beating wife after being caught engaging in sexual acts with dog
By Chris Anderson
WOIO
February 19, 2019
SOUTH EUCLID, Ohio -- A warrant for domestic violence and sexual conduct with an animal has been issued for a man who allegedly hit his wife multiple times after he was caught engaging in sexual activity with a dog.
According to a South Euclid police report, officers received a call on Sunday from a woman on Cedar Road.
The woman stated to police that she heard her 10-pound Maltipoo dog crying from the bathroom.
When she opened the bathroom door, she observed her 27-year-old husband forcing the dog to perform oral sex on him, according to South Euclid police.
After confronting him, the man struck his wife several times until she was knocked to the ground, police say.
The man then took the woman’s cellphone and broke it into pieces before he left the apartment.
Charges have been filed by the South Euclid Police Department and a warrant has been issued for his arrest.
By Chris Anderson
WOIO
February 19, 2019
SOUTH EUCLID, Ohio -- A warrant for domestic violence and sexual conduct with an animal has been issued for a man who allegedly hit his wife multiple times after he was caught engaging in sexual activity with a dog.
According to a South Euclid police report, officers received a call on Sunday from a woman on Cedar Road.
The woman stated to police that she heard her 10-pound Maltipoo dog crying from the bathroom.
When she opened the bathroom door, she observed her 27-year-old husband forcing the dog to perform oral sex on him, according to South Euclid police.
After confronting him, the man struck his wife several times until she was knocked to the ground, police say.
The man then took the woman’s cellphone and broke it into pieces before he left the apartment.
Charges have been filed by the South Euclid Police Department and a warrant has been issued for his arrest.
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