This article was published more than 2 years agoGift ShareAs the three-year anniversary approaches of the fatal shooting of Bijan Ghaisar by two U.S. Park Police officers, Sens. Charles E. Grassley (R-Iowa) and Mark R. Warner (D-Va.) revealed this week they have received briefings from the National Park Service, the Fairfax County police chief and two from the Justice Department. But the senators said they still have not been told why the officers fired 10 shots into Ghaisar’s Jeep Cherokee while he was slowly driving away from them.Meanwhile, the Fairfax prosecutor handling the...…This article was published more than 2 years agoGift ShareAs the three-year anniversary approaches of the fatal shooting of Bijan Ghaisar by two U.S. Park Police officers, Sens. Charles E. Grassley (R-Iowa) and Mark R. Warner (D-Va.) revealed this week they have received briefings from the National Park Service, the Fairfax County police chief and two from the Justice Department. But the senators said they still have not been told why the officers fired 10 shots into Ghaisar’s Jeep Cherokee while he was slowly driving away from them.Meanwhile, the Fairfax prosecutor handling the...WW…

This article was published more than 2 years agoCommentGift ShareAn Army National Guard officer who witnessed protesters forcibly removed from Lafayette Square last month is contradicting claims by the attorney general and the Trump administration that they did not speed up the clearing to make way for the president’s photo opportunity minutes later.A new statement by Adam D. DeMarco, an Iraq veteran who now serves as a major in the D.C. National Guard, also casts doubt on the claims by acting Park Police Chief Gregory Monahan that violence by protesters spurred Park Police to clear...…This article was published more than 2 years agoCommentGift ShareAn Army National Guard officer who witnessed protesters forcibly removed from Lafayette Square last month is contradicting claims by the attorney general and the Trump administration that they did not speed up the clearing to make way for the president’s photo opportunity minutes later.A new statement by Adam D. DeMarco, an Iraq veteran who now serves as a major in the D.C. National Guard, also casts doubt on the claims by acting Park Police Chief Gregory Monahan that violence by protesters spurred Park Police to clear...WW…

This article was published more than 2 years agoCommentGift ShareThe St. Louis couple who emerged from their mansion in a gated community and aimed weapons at protesters marching past them last month were each charged Monday with one felony count of unlawful use of a weapon.Lawyers Mark McCloskey, 61, and Patricia McCloskey, 63, have said they were merely defending their home on a private street in an upscale neighborhood from a crowd that was marching to Mayor Lyda Krewson’s house to protest racial injustice. Video and photographs showing Mark McCloskey wielding a rifle and Patricia...…This article was published more than 2 years agoCommentGift ShareThe St. Louis couple who emerged from their mansion in a gated community and aimed weapons at protesters marching past them last month were each charged Monday with one felony count of unlawful use of a weapon.Lawyers Mark McCloskey, 61, and Patricia McCloskey, 63, have said they were merely defending their home on a private street in an upscale neighborhood from a crowd that was marching to Mayor Lyda Krewson’s house to protest racial injustice. Video and photographs showing Mark McCloskey wielding a rifle and Patricia...WW…

This article was published more than 2 years agoCommentGift ShareThe prosecutor investigating the St. Louis couple who aimed guns at protesters says she has received racist attacks and death threats that have worsened as President Trump has thrown his support behind the couple.“This is a modern-day night ride, and everybody knows it,” St. Louis Circuit Attorney Kim Gardner (D) said in an interview with The Washington Post, referring to the terroristic forays of the Ku Klux Klan into African American neighborhoods in the 19th and 20th centuries. “And for a president to participate in...…This article was published more than 2 years agoCommentGift ShareThe prosecutor investigating the St. Louis couple who aimed guns at protesters says she has received racist attacks and death threats that have worsened as President Trump has thrown his support behind the couple.“This is a modern-day night ride, and everybody knows it,” St. Louis Circuit Attorney Kim Gardner (D) said in an interview with The Washington Post, referring to the terroristic forays of the Ku Klux Klan into African American neighborhoods in the 19th and 20th centuries. “And for a president to participate in...WW…

This article was published more than 2 years agoCommentGift Share, attacking police vehicles and confronting officers outside a district station for a second night Wednesday as they sought information about the death of Karon Hylton. Tensions grew along with the size of the protest, and police used pepper spray and flashbang devices to push demonstrators away from the station.By about 9:30 p.m., police had established a perimeter about a block from the Fourth District station after a coordinated push to clear the area near the station, and many of the protesters appeared to...…This article was published more than 2 years agoCommentGift Share, attacking police vehicles and confronting officers outside a district station for a second night Wednesday as they sought information about the death of Karon Hylton. Tensions grew along with the size of the protest, and police used pepper spray and flashbang devices to push demonstrators away from the station.By about 9:30 p.m., police had established a perimeter about a block from the Fourth District station after a coordinated push to clear the area near the station, and many of the protesters appeared to...WW…

This article was published more than 2 years agoGift ShareThe incident in Karla Dominguez’s apartment last October was violent, and it was not consensual, she testified in Alexandria District Court in December. The man she accused was indicted on charges including rape, strangulation and abduction and jailed without bond in Alexandria.Then the coronavirus pandemic hit. Ibrahim E. Bouaichi’s lawyers argued that the virus was a danger to both inmates and their attorneys, and that Bouaichi should be freed awaiting trial. On April 9, over the objections of an Alexandria prosecutor, Circuit...…This article was published more than 2 years agoGift ShareThe incident in Karla Dominguez’s apartment last October was violent, and it was not consensual, she testified in Alexandria District Court in December. The man she accused was indicted on charges including rape, strangulation and abduction and jailed without bond in Alexandria.Then the coronavirus pandemic hit. Ibrahim E. Bouaichi’s lawyers argued that the virus was a danger to both inmates and their attorneys, and that Bouaichi should be freed awaiting trial. On April 9, over the objections of an Alexandria prosecutor, Circuit...WW…

This article was published more than 2 years agoGift ShareAs part of Maryland State Trooper John Sollon’s assignment to a specialized drunken-driving enforcement team, he had to go to court to testify against the drivers he had arrested. Six times in the past two years, the drivers Sollon arrested did not show up for their trials. Warrants were issued, and several times officers went to serve the reluctant defendants.Each time the officers found something unusual: The defendants didn’t exist.On at least six occasions, authorities said, Sollon fabricated entire cases for fictitious...…This article was published more than 2 years agoGift ShareAs part of Maryland State Trooper John Sollon’s assignment to a specialized drunken-driving enforcement team, he had to go to court to testify against the drivers he had arrested. Six times in the past two years, the drivers Sollon arrested did not show up for their trials. Warrants were issued, and several times officers went to serve the reluctant defendants.Each time the officers found something unusual: The defendants didn’t exist.On at least six occasions, authorities said, Sollon fabricated entire cases for fictitious...WW…

This article was published more than 2 years agoGift ShareTo supplement the presence of local and federal police and the D.C. National Guard, Defense Secretary Mark T. Esper asked state National Guards to send in some of their troops, and hundreds were on their way or already here by Tuesday.Defense officials said that National Guard members from Utah and New Jersey were on the ground Monday and that additional troops from Indiana, South Carolina, and Tennessee were expected to arrive Tuesday.Other states were also in the process of sending troops. Maryland sent 116 National Guardsmen...…This article was published more than 2 years agoGift ShareTo supplement the presence of local and federal police and the D.C. National Guard, Defense Secretary Mark T. Esper asked state National Guards to send in some of their troops, and hundreds were on their way or already here by Tuesday.Defense officials said that National Guard members from Utah and New Jersey were on the ground Monday and that additional troops from Indiana, South Carolina, and Tennessee were expected to arrive Tuesday.Other states were also in the process of sending troops. Maryland sent 116 National Guardsmen...WW…

This article was published more than 1 year agoCommentGift ShareSomething happened in Baltimore last year. The coronavirus pandemic hit, and State’s Attorney Marilyn J. Mosby announced that the city would no longer prosecute drug possession, prostitution, trespassing and other minor charges, to keep people out of jail and limit the spread of the deadly virus.And then crime went down in Baltimore. A lot. While violent crime and in most other big American cities last year, violent crime in Baltimore dropped 20 percent from last March to this month, property crime decreased 36 percent,...…This article was published more than 1 year agoCommentGift ShareSomething happened in Baltimore last year. The coronavirus pandemic hit, and State’s Attorney Marilyn J. Mosby announced that the city would no longer prosecute drug possession, prostitution, trespassing and other minor charges, to keep people out of jail and limit the spread of the deadly virus.And then crime went down in Baltimore. A lot. While violent crime and in most other big American cities last year, violent crime in Baltimore dropped 20 percent from last March to this month, property crime decreased 36 percent,...WW…

Copyright © 2022, The San Diego Union-Tribune | | AdvertisementAdvertisement WASHINGTON - The Justice Department and FBI are gathering evidence to try to build a large conspiracy indictment against members of the Oath Keepers for their roles in the Jan. 6 riot at the U.S. Capitol, according to people familiar with the matter, but the group’s sometimes fractious and fantasy-laden internal workings may complicate efforts to bring such a case. In the wake of the short-lived insurrection, the Oath Keepers is the most high-profile, self-styled militia group in the country. While members use the...…Copyright © 2022, The San Diego Union-Tribune | | AdvertisementAdvertisement WASHINGTON - The Justice Department and FBI are gathering evidence to try to build a large conspiracy indictment against members of the Oath Keepers for their roles in the Jan. 6 riot at the U.S. Capitol, according to people familiar with the matter, but the group’s sometimes fractious and fantasy-laden internal workings may complicate efforts to bring such a case. In the wake of the short-lived insurrection, the Oath Keepers is the most high-profile, self-styled militia group in the country. While members use the...WW…