Boston Cops likened to Duke Lacrosse Scandal

If this isn't the most repugnant, disgusting and offensive twisting and cross use of unrelated situations for emotional impact I've seen in years, then I can't tell you what would fit that bill! ! ! 

For those who forget or didn't pay much attention, this is a brief summary of what the Duke case was about:


We're all of general like mind on this at HH, I believe, and we don't have to get into how much we detest rape or the animals who commit it. Of course, that isn't what they reference the Duke case for.


It never happened, and the boys never did it. However, the court of public opinion so totally trashed them in the process of seeking a hanging trial and outcome, that it damn near ruined them anyway. It also cost a corrupt prosecutor his career. As it well should have.


...and in time, the world that bothered to follow developments beyond that point watched as the false accuser went on to become a Blue Ribbon Winner on the wheel of criminal offenses in her own right.

Source

THAT is what the Duke case consisted of, and what some sorry trash use to suggest moral equivalency or some comparison for innocence, if not miscarriage of justice to even see charges.

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The Police Union representing the cops here came out almost immediately following the announcement of charges to declare they had done nothing wrong, and nothing improper had occurred.


Factoid #1. Fred Gray was approached by police officers for reasons yet to be fully determined in court. What we do know is that upon visual contact, he is recorded to have fled officers at 8:45am on April 12th. 

Factoid #2. After being chased down and arrested, he was found to be carrying a knife, clipped to his front pocket. Police justify his arrest on the basis of this knife being an illegal switchblade. Subsequent investigation has proven this was NOT the case, and the knife he had was entirely legal for any citizen to carry under the circumstances. 

Factoid #3. The Video taken on the street shows Gray in visible pain, and seemingly serious pain, in being forced up by his arms, and before being stuffed into the back of the van, He entered the van alive, and presumably pissed off.....but breathing. (I'm not including the various accusations of a rough arrest, because rough arrests happen a hundred times a day without killing anyone. That didn't do this)

Factoid #4. Gray was "irate" in the back, forcing the officers to stop shortly after starting, so they could further restrain him in flexi-cuffs and leg chains. This would have effectively removed his ability move around in any dramatic ways, of his own choosing. Trussed like a turkey, sounds close to what they had him at this point.

Factoid #5. Baltimore City Policy policy is to buckle prisoners in, and this was not done. This point is not disputed by anyone.

Factoid #6. Multiple stops are recorded to deal with or further adjust Gray (just going to the station was too logical, I presume). No medical was requested at any of these stops, and no assistance called for. One stop has been found as occurring outside the record the police first admitted happened. This, only known by a private video that caught the un-noted stop, and just prior to taking on another prisoner to the opposite side of the rear center divider. 

Factoid #7.  At stop #5, by one published account and prosecutor statements, Gray asked for help, and begged for medical assistance, during this ...whatever it was they were doing, in transporting him a couple of miles distance. 

Factoid #8. At Stop #6, Police Sgt Alicia White looked into the van. She attempted contact with Gray but had no positive response or indications. She made no further efforts despite reportedly being told at that time, he needed a medic.

Factoid #9. 22 year old Donta Allen was arrested in another incident totally unrelated to this, and caused the van to divert for a prisoner transport. Allen was picked up and reports his experience being clear and straight forward. He claims to had heard some banging on the other side of the divider (Prisoners can't see each other across that, apparently) and it lasted around 4 seconds. Nothing beyond that, and a direct ride to the station from there, without incident. 

Finally......Factoid #10. Roughly 1 HOUR after Grays arrest, the few miles to the Station had finally been covered, and the back doors opened to find, by Allen's statements, police stating Gray had no pulse. A medic was called, and determined Gray was in full cardiac arrest. The initial police report simply states the prisoner had a 'medical emergency' during transport. 

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A man who committed NO crime, and brought harm to NO other person...was arrested for what amounts to holding a desire to NOT be arrested. A knife any of us could have been carrying and legal for all to have in public, is the basis for his forcible arrest and unrestrained ride in the back of a van for transport. He entered that van hurt, and in pain..as a video very clearly shows. No one but the police saw him alive again. 

We now know by physical autopsy, he struck the back wall of the van with such force, a bolt was driven into his skull, and quite possibly, his cause of death. (I can't find what I'd call definitive material on official COD...anyone else?). We know by the police records of the trip, this happened after he was still "irate" and required full restraint and a 'turkey trussing' by full leg restraint and flexi-cuffs inside the van itself.

Would anyone like to take odds which way he was left on the floor, for orientation of his head? I'm guessing feet in first, and head back toward the door ...he'd later strike and be killed by. 

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Duke Lacrosse was a pathetic, low class piece of garbage making up accusations against University students from whole cloth and out of thin air. The accuser herself turned out as a killer, and is the one to waste her own life in prison for it. Damage done in that case was profound, for lies and total fabrication of events. NO WRONG DOING EVEN HAPPENED.

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This isn't Duke. This is a case with a dead man, who did nothing wrong. This is a case where that man died in the custody of police, already far outside their own Department's policy, and by their own reports and statements for that much to be known. This is a case where an innocent man paid with his life ....for police excess. HOWEVER we find it actually happened? That last bit is a statement of simple fact by what HAS been determined. 

Finally, this is a case where the deceased was seen, on his feet and, ironically, begging for his life in fear, before being stuffed into that van.....to have that stated fear play out with a spinal cord damn near broken in two pieces by the degree of break they describe. (Over 80%?? Jesus, how FAST did he hit that wall anyway?! ) His injuries, described in another report as consistent with a car accident.

Now the question is only about degree of intent vs. criminal negligence or depraved indifference to the life of Fred Gray. A man who did nothing....to warrant his "Nickle Ride". 


Timeline of events used for reference