Tuesday, April 26, 2011
Houston Independent School Police Officer Charged With Sexually Assaulting Teenager
Houston, Texas
An HISD police officer is now in custody and facing sex charges. He’s accused of assaulting a teenager off campus. Right now, he's in custody.
Officer Calvin Williams is facing two felony counts of sexual assault of a child. The alleged victim in this case is a 15-year-old girl who was a new student at the school where he worked.
The assaults took place four years ago, when the victim was pretty new to Eastwood Academy on Houston's east side. But now, she's pressing charges to prevent others from possibly becoming victims.
According to Williams, he and the victim became friends and he liked having her read poetry to him. According to the victim, it was in the officer’s car at a car wash, where the first assault happened.
If he's convicted, Williams faces two to 20 years in prison on both counts.
Source
Family Seeks Help From US Department of Justice After Autopsy Report Reveals Unarmed Man Shot Six Times In Back By Houston Police Officer : Latest Update
Houston, Texas
In the on-going story on the death of John Barnes, who was killed by Houston Police Officer Ryan Gardiner, family members are seeking help from the US Department of Justice. This follows their filing of a lawsuit against the officer. While the officer was cleared by a grand jury two years ago, the autopsy report was held until recently –revealing that the unarmed man was shot multiple times, including six times in the back.
As of today, Officer Gardiner remains active on the force.
Monday, April 25, 2011
Just Released Autopsy Report Shows Houston Police Officer Shot Unarmed Man Six Times In The Back : An Update
Houston, Texas
An update on the story we brought you earlier, involving allegations of excessive force against a Houston Police Officer. There were conflicting reports on various blogs about how many bullet wounds the autopsy report revealed that the victim received. We now have video verification that the unarmed victim, John Barnes, was shot multiple times, including six times in his back by Houston Police Officer Ryan Gardiner.
Two and a half years have passed since that shooting, and it's been about a year and a half since a grand jury cleared Gardiner of any wrong doing.
But attorneys for the victim’s family have finally gotten their hands on the autopsy report for Barnes. They've now filed a civil lawsuit against Gardiner, the apartment complex, and the city of Houston.
"John Barnes was shot in the chest and 6 times in the back. He was unarmed," said Hodges. "I don't care who you are. A dog doesn't deserve to be gunned down 6 times in the back like John Barnes was that night. The family attempted afterward to get a copy of some of the documents that were relative to the case. They asked, ‘Can we get a copy of the police department report?’ No. ‘Copies of statements?’ No. ‘Or how about the public record, the autopsy report?’ That is public record for every autopsy done in Harris County and they were told no."
Source
An update on the story we brought you earlier, involving allegations of excessive force against a Houston Police Officer. There were conflicting reports on various blogs about how many bullet wounds the autopsy report revealed that the victim received. We now have video verification that the unarmed victim, John Barnes, was shot multiple times, including six times in his back by Houston Police Officer Ryan Gardiner.
Two and a half years have passed since that shooting, and it's been about a year and a half since a grand jury cleared Gardiner of any wrong doing.
But attorneys for the victim’s family have finally gotten their hands on the autopsy report for Barnes. They've now filed a civil lawsuit against Gardiner, the apartment complex, and the city of Houston.
"John Barnes was shot in the chest and 6 times in the back. He was unarmed," said Hodges. "I don't care who you are. A dog doesn't deserve to be gunned down 6 times in the back like John Barnes was that night. The family attempted afterward to get a copy of some of the documents that were relative to the case. They asked, ‘Can we get a copy of the police department report?’ No. ‘Copies of statements?’ No. ‘Or how about the public record, the autopsy report?’ That is public record for every autopsy done in Harris County and they were told no."
Source
Houston Police Officer Faces Jail Over DUI Wreck With School Bus
Houston, Texas
Another incident of police misconduct surfaces involving one of Houston’s finest. The veteran officer, 46-year-old Ruben Trejo, had a blood-alcohol content of .205 – more than twice the legal limit when he collided with a private school bus while heading to work. The incident happened on April 13.
Trejo was charged Monday with driving while intoxicated. The legal limit for intoxication is 0.08. The Eastside Patrol Division sergeant, although intoxicated, was on his way to work.
Fortunately, there were no children on the bus. The driver, who suffered minor injuries, told police that Trejo smelled like alcohol and appeared to have been drinking. Crime scene photos verify wine bottles in the back seat.
On the day of the accident, however, fellow officers cited the bus driver and claimed the bus ran a red light. Other witnesses said officers at the scene threw a towel over alcohol and threatened to arrest anyone who took photos.
Trejo joined the force in November 1985 and has worked with the Eastside Division since 1991.
Source
Sunday, April 24, 2011
Houston Police Officer Accused of Excessive Force: Autopsy Reports Reveal Victim Was Shot Six Times In The Back
Houston, Texas
The report indicates that the man was shot repeatedly, including six shots in the back.
Autopsy results appear to reveal that a man killed by an off duty Houston Police officer was shot in the back six times, according to a local source.
Civil rights attorney Randall Kallinen said the information released by the Harris County Institute of Forensic Sciences showed that excessive force was used.
It was back on Aug. 1, 2009, that John Barnes was shot and killed outside of his Kingwood apartment.
Investigators said he and Officer Ryan Gardiner got into a scuffle.
Gardiner was not on-duty at the time, but was wearing his uniform while working an extra security job for the apartment complex. He reported hearing a man and woman arguing.
Gardiner, a seven-year veteran of the police force at the time, claimed that when confronted, Barnes was able to take away his Taser. He said he opened fire because he feared for his safety.
However, witnesses and Barnes' family members offer a different scenario unfolded, one in which they that Barnes should not have been killed.
"John leans against his car and says 'What are you going to do shoot me' and he did," Barnes' sister-in-law Jackie Rucker told KPRC-TV shortly after the shooting.
Saturday, Kallinen said the recently released autopsy results support the family's claim. While there have been conflicting reports about the number of bullets to the back, Kallinen confirms six wounds.
"As we can see, there are not one, not two, not even three, but six bullet holes in (Barnes') back," he said, pointing to an autopsy diagram.
The report states that Barnes died due to multiple shots to the upper body and, according to Kallinen, Gardiner prevented Barnes from getting medical attention.
Other reports indicate that Officer Gardiner has already amassed 14 tasings without discipline and discharged his firearm three times (and has been on the force less than ten years).
Kallinen said the city should have released the autopsy report long ago, but chose not to.
"Instead, they held it for 21 months after the shooting and 18 months after it was actually done," he said. "You can see why they'd want to withhold it with the six shots in the back."
Source
The report indicates that the man was shot repeatedly, including six shots in the back.
Autopsy results appear to reveal that a man killed by an off duty Houston Police officer was shot in the back six times, according to a local source.
Civil rights attorney Randall Kallinen said the information released by the Harris County Institute of Forensic Sciences showed that excessive force was used.
It was back on Aug. 1, 2009, that John Barnes was shot and killed outside of his Kingwood apartment.
Investigators said he and Officer Ryan Gardiner got into a scuffle.
Gardiner was not on-duty at the time, but was wearing his uniform while working an extra security job for the apartment complex. He reported hearing a man and woman arguing.
Gardiner, a seven-year veteran of the police force at the time, claimed that when confronted, Barnes was able to take away his Taser. He said he opened fire because he feared for his safety.
However, witnesses and Barnes' family members offer a different scenario unfolded, one in which they that Barnes should not have been killed.
"John leans against his car and says 'What are you going to do shoot me' and he did," Barnes' sister-in-law Jackie Rucker told KPRC-TV shortly after the shooting.
Saturday, Kallinen said the recently released autopsy results support the family's claim. While there have been conflicting reports about the number of bullets to the back, Kallinen confirms six wounds.
"As we can see, there are not one, not two, not even three, but six bullet holes in (Barnes') back," he said, pointing to an autopsy diagram.
The report states that Barnes died due to multiple shots to the upper body and, according to Kallinen, Gardiner prevented Barnes from getting medical attention.
Other reports indicate that Officer Gardiner has already amassed 14 tasings without discipline and discharged his firearm three times (and has been on the force less than ten years).
Kallinen said the city should have released the autopsy report long ago, but chose not to.
"Instead, they held it for 21 months after the shooting and 18 months after it was actually done," he said. "You can see why they'd want to withhold it with the six shots in the back."
Source
Saturday, April 23, 2011
Two Dallas cops fired; one tested positive for marijuana after DUI crash & other showed up for work drunk
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| Officer Anastasia Brown |
Dallas, Texas
Two Dallas police officers have been fired after one was found to have marijuana in her bloodstream after being arrested for driving while intoxicated and another officer came to work drunk.
Sr. Cpl. Mohammad Atique and Officer Anastasia Brown were both fired Friday.
Police say that in September, Atique, was found to have come to a training class drunk after submitting to a test. Police say it was his second incident of being drunk on duty.
Police say that in November, Brown was arrested for DWI in Fort Worth and during a search of her vehicle, officers found drug paraphernalia. As a result, she was asked to submit to a drug test. She tested positive for marijuana.
Source
Friday, April 22, 2011
Rio Grande City Manager and Police Chief Suspended With Pay Over Sexual Harassment and Retaliation
Rio Grande City, Texas
Rio Grande City officials are reacting to the suspensions of two city leaders. Rio Grande City's police chief B.A. Dutch Piper and city manager Juan Zuniga are suspended with pay. Both men are accused in a federal lawsuit.
Former city employee Cynthia Alanis is alleging the two city leaders made sexual advances toward her. She is also alleging the two men basically launched a smear campaign against her when she refused the advances. She says the city manager accused her of taking money from city coffers. She was charged. Those charges were later dropped.
We asked Rio Grande City Mayor Ruben Villarreal about the lawsuit. He wouldn't talk specifics. He says his hands are tied because this is a pending lawsuit. He is calling the lawsuit a concern.
Source
Rio Grande City officials are reacting to the suspensions of two city leaders. Rio Grande City's police chief B.A. Dutch Piper and city manager Juan Zuniga are suspended with pay. Both men are accused in a federal lawsuit.
Former city employee Cynthia Alanis is alleging the two city leaders made sexual advances toward her. She is also alleging the two men basically launched a smear campaign against her when she refused the advances. She says the city manager accused her of taking money from city coffers. She was charged. Those charges were later dropped.
We asked Rio Grande City Mayor Ruben Villarreal about the lawsuit. He wouldn't talk specifics. He says his hands are tied because this is a pending lawsuit. He is calling the lawsuit a concern.
Source
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