My reading other places suggests that death by suffocation via hanging leaves distinct and different ligature marks than seen by strangulation via other methods and that it would be hard to achieve the correct markings by post-mortem hanging.
In the CNN video then showed the inside of the cell she was in. Now, when they claimed that she hung herself with the liner of a trash can, I thought that a liner from a little can wouldn’t be large enough to do…then I saw the size of the trash barrel they displayed in that tiny cell. If they take away all your possessions, what would be the purpose of having such a large trash receptacle in such a small cell?
Could you provide a source for this assertion?
Could you provide a source for this assertion?
Not yet.
Even if I did wonder, my wondering wouldn’t hold much meaning nor significance.
Yes, they did.
HEMPSTEAD, Texas - The family of a Chicago-area woman found dead in a Texas jail cell last week ordered an independent autopsy, which was completed Sunday, their lawyer told a radio station Monday.
The results of that autopsy have not yet been released.
Now that you know it is not a rumor, do you wonder why they are not releasing the results? Could it be they confirm the suicide?
Doesn’t surprise me. I figured this would be their next step. Like I said, this guy will be lucky to keep his job at this point.
[QUOTE=elucidator]
If Officer Friendly (not his real name) is removed from service, have we any confidence he will be replaced by a better one?
[/QUOTE]
If they actually have “procedures regarding traffic stops and the department’s courtesy policy” and they are seen (by the other cops in the department) to be taking it seriously enough to take action based on it? Yeah, I think it’s safe to say that folks will take the policy(s) seriously in future…and, most likely after a situation like this they will be tightened up and expanded, since that usually happens after something serious like this happens. If for no other reason the bad blood something like this causes between the local public and the department.
I posted some info about this a couple of pages back:
I refer you to our foremost legal authority, herein:
Apparently, the law is discreetly silent on whether a black and reasonable person might have a different sense of freedom to leave than a white reasonable person.
As a white person of disreputable demeanor, I have always assumed I am under arrest whenever a policeman is directly addressing me, and remain entirely motionless and scrupulously respectful until such time as he departs. I have not had such an encounter with a Texas policeman in lo!, these many years, and Goddess Willing, will never have another.
I may be stoned, but I ain’t stupid.
I don’t know if elucidator means his question to be taken seriously, but the answer is yes, at least if we accept the premise that most cops aren’t out to bully (which stats support).
In a way this problem with police continues because social justice activists disparage the “few bad apples” premise so regularly and insist that it is a systemic problem, leading to sensitivity training in police forces instead of a simpler policy of firing people who are assholes. The latter policy serves almost every other conceivable industry.
Thanks.
Like I said, I’m more than willing to believe the official story. But I can’t entirely rule out there may have been an oversight or something that exacerbated her suicide.
Do you consider it your privilege not to stop at stop signs, and to not use your turn signal while you’re driving on public roads?
The meds thing should definitely be confirmed (I’m sure the officials are or have done this, but it definitely bears investigation, and if confirmed determining if the detention folks knew about it as well and what, if any steps they took).
Nope.
Did you look at the forensics site I linked and quoted earlier? How could homicide be ruled out? Remember that the scene was compromised and contaminated when they cut her down and gave her CPR (or so they claim).
The State has refused to release their autopsy as well. Does that mean anything?
Can I quote you forever more on this?
The likes of Cliven Bundy deserve the full weight of the government landing on them? I mean he was given legal orders right? After that he was resisting arrest. His death should be part of that just like this woman.
The intake report says she wasn’t currently on any meds, but was previously taking Keppra for epilepsy.
I think this is a less available option than it is made out to be. Once you are being detained, it is unlikely you’ll be given lattitude to record. Police aren’t going to let you go fishing around in your pockets, or obstruct their view with your phone camera. I’ve even seen police memos warning about cell phone guns (which exist) and certainly taser like devices exist in all manner of small objects. The rationale of officer safetey could easily cover not allowing a person to film.
An audio recording from your pocket is a much more viable option, IMO. Most apps will continue to record after the phone is locked, and will pick up enough audio from your pocket. Some apps will stream/upload simultaneously the recording in the event the phone or data becomes unavailable so that’s useful too. This option is on the home screen of my phone that I always have with me.
I’m going to go out on a limb that even if everything you describe here is true, it will still be preferable than resisting perceived wrongful arrest and the immediate consequences. Unless your life is on the line, resisting arrest seems like a terrible choice.
To the extent that police are controlling a crime scene, or there is an officer or public safety consideration, police have the power to order people to leave an area including public property. No comment if this is one of those situations (I conjecture it is not).
What I found surprising in the exchange was the annoucement by the officer that he was issuing a lawful order. I’ve actually never heard that spoken out loud by a police officer in this fashion. His reasonable belief that his order was lawful also gives him protection under the qualified immunity framework for police officers. It’s almost like when police shout “stop resisting” as the beat on a person.
My understanding from research into open carry events is that during interaction with police often phrasing is critical. If there is doubt, a question of “is that a request or a lawful command?” will clarify the matter. If it’s the latter, then obey.
I agree with this compeltely.
The State has procedures on releasing official documents that may prevent them from doing so. The family, if their independent autopsy showed anything that was different from the official version, would have trumpeted this everywhere. They are not constrained by any procedures. The fact that they haven’t done so can only mean that their autopsy confirms suicide.
Is it possible she was, on some level, committing and act of Civil Disobedience? In that case, not following an order that she felt was or should be illegal might have made sense.
If that were the case, she should have driven further along and pulled over in a safer location. Like, Colorado.