September 19, 2007
Morning Roundup: Morning (Roundup) After Edition
Good morning, D.C., and welcome to another day without congressional representation — it seems we'll have plenty more of them thanks to yesterday's legislative disappointment. You can find the Post's post-mortem here. There's not too much new information in it, but there are words of consolation from Senate minority leader/arch-villain Mitch McConnell: "If the residents of the District are to get a member for themselves, they have a remedy: amend the Constitution." Thanks for the advice, Mitch! We'll just go call our vote-possessing representative/taxpayer-funded voting rights advocate and... oh, right.
Latest On Teen Killed By Police: The Post also has the latest on the questions surrounding Monday night's fatal shooting of a 14 year-old by an off-duty police officer. Police say the boy was the first to shoot, but a gun still hasn't been found — nor has the stolen minibike that set the tragedy in motion. However, .45-caliber shell casings were found at the scene along with MPD's 9mm casings. So far it appears that the forensic evidence comports with the police department's version of events. The police department isn't releasing the officer's name due to fears for his safety.
Deadly Crocs: It appears that, somehow, our warnings have gone unheard — the scourge of comfortable but intensely ugly Croc sandals has claimed another victim, according to WUSA. A boy and his mother were riding an escalator at Tyson's Galleria when the child's foot became stuck. Fortunately a lost toenail was the extent of the injury. Still, it can't have been a pleasant experience. Be careful out there, Croc-wearers! Just because you've chosen to ignore society's aesthetic conventions doesn't mean you can escape our standards of escalator safety.
Briefly Noted: O'Malley makes case for higher taxes... Double murder was due to dispute over clicker... Home invasion in Potomac, Md... Arlington cop accused of two counts of sexual battery committed while on duty...
This Day In DCist: One year ago we were disappointed over delays to the voting rights bill that's now apparently dead. Two years ago we spotted an epically awful t-shirt and, yes, were upset about voting rights.
Image posted to DCist Photos by Flickr user {ryan}
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"Rawlings said he wants police to test his son's hand for gunshot residue, which he thinks would show that he did not fire a gun. But police said the department stopped doing such tests several years ago because they are considered unreliable."
So I guess we'll never know. Surprise, surprise...
However, .45-caliber shell casings were found at the scene along with MPD's 9mm casings.
Just to pre-empt the inevitable conspiracy theories, how do you know the cops didn't just plant those shells there?
Anyone who's been unfortunate enough to serve on a DC Circuit Court jury in a drug case will know that inevitably, someone on the jury will say, "I'd never trust a cop. How do you know they didn't just plant that reefer on the kid?"
Anyone know if Clinton, Obama or Edwards were present for the vote yesterday? If they didn't show I'm gonna be pissed.
YOUR CROCS ON ESCALATORS WARNING SHOULD ALSO EXTEND TO FLIMSY FLIP FLOPS - YEARS AGO, THE FRONT OF MINE WAS GETTING CHEWED UP AT THE PLATE AT THE TOP OF AN ESCALATOR. YOUR TOES ARE A LOT LESS PROTECTED IN FLIP FLOPS THAN CROCS...
#3
I know for a hard fact Edwards wasn't.
As the MPD apparently no longer tests for gunshot residue, there doesn't seem to be any conclusive forensic evidence one way or the other to confirm the claims of either the officers or the kid's family. In such a situation, the officer's testimony will always be given the benefit of the doubt.
Right or wrong, this is effectively a closed case. If the officers are being truthful, this is unfortunate - as the community is never going to believe the official line.
Also, is there any president for the police withholding an officer's name in a case this volatile, even out of concern for his own safety? It is as though the MPD wants to foster distrust in the community.
I would be interested in finding out exactly when the MPD decided to change its forensic policy and NOT test for gun residue. There has to be an official document somewhere.
If I get enough people to wear Crocs on a single day, do you think it would be enough to cause heart-failure and kill all the Croc-haters. Because, I for one, am tired of the complaints.
Please, I'm begging you! Anything but Croc complaints. Celebrity gossip if you must, but ANYTHING but Croc-related whining!
RJ -- That one took me a second. But yeah, Clinton and Obama voted "yea," as did Biden and Dodd. Brownback and McCain voted "nay." I think that about covers the current Senators running for president.
I just love how the police say they think the gun and the minibike were stolen. Way to secure the scene, guys.
I know this doesn't help much, but along with the shell casings there was what appeared to be a fresh bullet hole in the officer's car. (of course, where's the bullet?)
The vote tally is on the Senate web page
http://www.senate.gov/pagelayout/legislative/a_three_sections_with_teasers/votes.htm
MikeB, apparently, the armed officers were crouching behind their car for personal protection from the community. Granted, they were out of uniform, but still... it's amazing how how all the planets aligned in this one particular case to guarantee that no conclusive evidence exists to corroborate or contradict the officers' testimony.
Everyone can police but nobody wants to be an officer. Until better people can police their kids such as parents, we'll have more of this. I have faith in the police force now. I think they're pretty inept overall, but given the talent for solving cases that bloggers possess, I expect they'll be an influx in officers. Surly such talent can be used for the good of society and to better our streets. Or is it just more enept empty bitching. Put your money where your mind is and make a difference. Do something.
The votes are here. All senators except Byrd voted (and Byrd said he would have voted no, so his absence made no difference). Eight Republicans voted yes, and one Democrat (Baucus) voted no.
Don't forget everyone, it's National Talk Like a Pirate Day today.
Avast, ye swabs!
Anonymous Idiot #12 - Sentiments like yours mean so much when they come from an anonymous douche.
RJ -- That was cute and coy. But I wonder if #3 event got it. So just to be clear for all those that have missed this: Edwards is no longer a Senator. Thanks.
Proof that Croc wearers are idiots - Guest 7. Most people, unlike guest 4 and most croc wearers, know to step of the escalator before you hit the non moving part. Ugly shoes attract morons, I guess. Guest 4, your neon crocs are waiting for you.
it's amazing how how all the planets aligned in this one particular case to guarantee that no conclusive evidence exists to corroborate or contradict the officers' testimony.
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It's not amazing, these kinds of things happen a few times every year. It's not strange at all.
The Post article states there was a crowd around the officers from the start and if you wanted to protect the victim, get the gun out of there right away. Occam's Razor.
hillrat- "Hillrat" is an anonymous name, you are just as anonymous as anyone here.
Doesn't this whole situation seem like an episode of "The Shield"?
I happen to know that Hillrat owns six pairs of Crocs, and he even wears them on Metro escalators.
Please. Hillrat came to a party of mine, and I knew who he was instantly. It actually freaked him out a little. But that is the insightful mind of Everett in Action.
If we can't have voting rights, then members of congress should be penalized for not living in the District. Fair is fair!
#18, the bizarre turn of events described by the officers' does not reinforce the principles of Occam's Razor. Occam's Razor, when applied to this case, causes one to seek a simpler answer than the one decribed by the officers.
I'm shocked. SHOCKED!!! That so far the forensic evidence appears to back up the officers story. Of course, we shouldn't let that get in the way of instantly assuming that the police killed somebody in cold blood. I mean we all know that they're the source of most of the horrific crime that occurs in our city. As for the disbelief over the stolen gun, I guess the officers made up the fact that the kid was in possession of a minibike since that apparently disappeared as well. This attitude toward the police and prosecutors is exactly why so many heinous crime go unsolved. Disgraceful.
Also, what does MPD have to do with conducting tests on a deceased person. Shouldn't the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner conduct such tests?
EmoEmu, unlike you, I am somewhat pessimistic towards the police testimony. But like you, I am no more surprised that the applicable forensic evidence is in keeping with the officers' story. I've never doubted that a bullet would be found in the car.
I got very perturbed watching the tv news coverage of this last night with community residents complaining that ``they shouldn't have shot him like that'' and Fenty like a good politician cowtowing to it all. In DC, we've seen this same story played out hundreds of times before.
At what point do we say that these so-called ``good'' kids aren't really that good and probably put themselves in the situation that led to their death? At what point do we direct our anger at the parents and say you did a horrible job? At what point do we say that personal responsibility matters? At what point do we stop this nonsense about corrupt cops and start talking about morally corrupt DC residents who seem to think their gun-toting, felonious offspring is a ``good kid?''
I doubt he was good kid. Good kids don't shoot at people. rather than investigate these officers how about opening an investigation into the parents and their failure to raise their child properly.
A frequent complaint here and in other forums is the overall malaise and inaction among the ranks of the MPD. You know, the usual: officers won't get out of their cars, reluctant to take action on what they perceive to be minor crimes, lack of initiative and a good work ethic. etc.
Now, in a case where officers DID show initiative, did take action in their off hours, did try to enforce the law in an underserved neighborhood, all they get are complaints again. They just can't win. Get out of that police car, take initiative while off-duty, defend themselves from a teenager with a .45, and the officers are treated as cold-blooded murderers. Other MPD officers will surely take note of this reaction, and when it's time to pursue a suspect or get out of their patrol cars, think twice about sticking their necks out.
#27: You're kidding right? Um, these officers took action to retrieve THEIR OWN property. They weren't looking out for "an underserved neighborhood". They were looking out for themselves.
I'm certain there are many officers that do get out of the car and go above and beyond to protect their neighbors. But I hardly think that argument applies to this case.
#26, investigating an incident which involves the death of a suspect by the hand of an officer is standard operating procedure. Perhaps not in Myanmar, but that is how it is done here.
#27, "Now, in a case where officers DID show initiative, did take action in their off hours, did try to enforce the law in an underserved neighborhood..." Now, THAT is some amusing spin. It was out of a sence of professionalism that the officer took to the street to retrieve his own personal property. He was protecting the people, not his mini-bike.
#28 and 29- It doesn't matter if they did it over some great sense of duty or to get their own stuff back- they actually did something PRODUCTIVE for once and we attack them for it.
No wonder cops don't bother doing anything in this city, cause they get slammed when they do.
They did something "productive"? How? By driving around the neighborhood, looking for one guy's stuff? By engaging in a running gun battle, according to police accounts? By firing eight shots, which seems excessive if there's only evidence of three shots fired by the purported thief?
Look, the cops may be totally on the up and up, and may have lost evidence through bystander theft. OR, they may have jumped to a conclusion when they saw a kid riding a minibike and exacted some rough justice. OR they may have used an excuse to settle a grudge.
You have no more idea than I, and people have every right to raise questions. If evidence comes to light that legitimately clears the police, then the people you're criticizing will be thoroughly discredited. If evidence pops up that the cops were dirty, or just reckless assholes, then you will have egg on your face.
If, as is more likely the case, no conclusive evidence shows up, do you really think defending these two guys bolsters the MPD's reputation? Man, post a link to a news release about successful patrolman Doe from the third district or something.
DC residents, particularly residents of Ward 8, STOP YOUR BITCH'N AND START SNITCH'N!!!!
There is a sad story on WTOP:
www.wtop.com/?nid=25&sid=1252393
Financial, Emotional Toll Too Much on Dry Cleaners
September 19, 2007 - 12:05pm
WASHINGTON - The family that owned the dry cleaners at the center of a $54 million pants lawsuit has closed the business, WTOP has learned.
The Chungs sold Custom Cleaners in Northeast because of the revenue losses and emotional toll the family suffered.... (more on the web)
This really sucks, the wacko judge won in the end :-
"By firing eight shots, which seems excessive if there's only evidence of three shots fired by the purported thief?"
Very amusing, Jim. So, the rules of engagement for police should allow only polite alternating rounds to be fired between cops and suspects? If fired upon, the police shall fire a number equal to or less than that of criminals? Sounds moer like 18th century dueling rules. If you're under fire, with .45 slugs coming your way, I'll put my money on you emptying your magazine in the directino of the threat.
Nice. Way to read for context.
Clearly I was espousing Marquis de Queensbury rules for police firing their sidearms. Clever of you to pick up on that.
It's disappointing that so many commenters are making judgments, without the available facts, based on their biases against either police or urban youth.
Some of the comments in the other thread (along the lines of "the thug kid got what he deserved", etc.) are disgusting, given that we don't know what happened. Frankly, even if everything went down as the cops reported it, it's unfortunate that some folks seem almost gleeful about a 14 y.o. kid getting killed, rather than just being dismayed by the entire situation - including the circumstances that could lead to a kid being so reckless and violent by age 14.
Why don't we all stop speculating based on our own assumptions?
It's Marquess of Queensberry rules. U.K peerage, not french.
Please. Hillrat came to a party of mine, and I knew who he was instantly. It actually freaked him out a little.
Anonymous Idiot #18 - It's true, it's true. I get to the party at Everett's house and after chatting for a few minutes I asked him if he posted on DCist. The first words out his mouth were, "Are you HillRat?" I almost plotzed.
Guest 26 - How dare you. The man has 16 kids. You can't very well expect him to watch them all. Some have to go out on thir own to get minibikes.
(I liked posting more when I could use my name without logging in)
It's Marquess of Queensberry
You know, I had a nagging feeling. The British seemed more likely to impose regimentation on bar fights.