Posted on 04/14/2006 12:16:52 PM PDT by ahtnamas
NEWS Tribal man shot by parks cop dies
Tuesday, April 11, 2006
By CAROLYN SALAZAR STAFF WRITERS
Emil Mann, shot by New Jersey State Park Police on April 1 during a confrontation with Ramapough Mountain Indians, died Monday afternoon. He was 45.
His death, nine days after the shooting, could further damage the already fra-gile relationship between law enforcement authorities and the Ramapoughs, who have said the officers were harassing them.
His death could also elevate any criminal charges against park police Officer Chad Walder to murder. Walder shot Mann twice during a scuffle over ATV use in an isolated section of woods at Ringwood State Park, about a mile from the nearest paved road. The Bergen County Prosecutor's Office is investigating the shooting.
Mann was shot in the chest and leg. Murder charges will be filed if a grand jury determines the shooting was unjustified. If the grand jury finds Walder shot Mann because he legitimately thought his life was in danger, then Mann's death will have no bearing on the case.
Attorney Lydia Cotz was retained Monday by Ramapough leaders to represent them and the witnesses to the incident, she said. Cotz said the witnesses want to protect their rights.
"As a group, they have been thrust into the litigation process," Cotz said. "They have been called incessantly by officials to get statements. The community as a whole is upset and fearful."
Cotz said that she, Tribal Chief Anthony Van Dunk and others met with officials at Mahwah Town Hall on Monday evening to discuss the case. She said state Attorney General Zulima Farber assured them her office would work to resolve the matter.
"We believe that the Attorney General's Office will do a thorough investigation and hold people accountable for the events that occurred," Cotz said.
People riding ATVs "should have been ticketed, and that should have been the end of this whole ordeal."
Later in the evening, tribal leaders held an emotional, closed-door meeting with about 150 of Mann's friends and family at the Ramapough Community Center on Stag Hill. Unlike a meeting last week, reporters were barred from entering the center.
A group of people huddled outside the center chided reporters who tried to speak to them.
"They are grieving now and have a right to privacy," Cotz said.
Cotz said the community's reticence is a product of years of discrimination by officials. The shooting and Mann's death only exacerbated the situation, Cotz said.
"Here is a community that has been oppressed for so long," Cotz said. "It had to take a tragedy like this to make the state of New Jersey take a step back and really look at their behavior."
Mann's condition had improved last week. His vital signs had stabilized and he opened his eyes for the first time on Thursday, according to Steven Schefers, an attorney for his cousin, Otis Mann, who was arrested in the April 1 incident. But Emil Mann's condition took a turn for the worse during the weekend, and he was taken off life support Monday.
According to First Assistant Prosecutor William Galda, he was pronounced dead at 12:15 p.m. at Hackensack University Medical Center. The Bergen County medical examiner is expected to perform an autopsy today.
Emil Mann's death came after more than a week of tense, seesaw negotiations between the Ramapoughs and local and county authorities over whether tribe members who witnessed the shooting would cooperate with investigators.
The tribe distrusts police and the media, and those who were present during the Saturday melee have said they are not comfortable coming forward.
The shooting has also sparked an investigation by the New Jersey Attorney General's Office, which is looking into whether the officers violated department protocol and whether department policies should be reevaluated. The state park police are part of the Department of Environmental Protection.
The four officers involved in the shooting are on paid leave.
Walder's defense attorney, Robert Galantucci, said his client was saddened by Emil Mann's death.
"He feels very regrettable and joins me in extending our sympathies to the family of Emil Mann," Galantucci said. "But it doesn't change the investigation one bit."
Walder had filed a criminal complaint against Emil Mann, alleging Mann tried to gain control of his firearm while the officer was "in the performance of his duties and in uniform ...."
Neither DEP spokeswoman Elaine Makatura nor Peter Aseltine, spokesman for the Attorney General's Office, would comment on his death.
"The Attorney General's Office will continue [its] internal investigation, and the Bergen County Prosecutor's Office will continue with the criminal investigation," Makatura said.
According to court testimony, prosecutors and public records, park police went to the Ramapo Mountains in Mahwah to enforce a ban on ATVs. At 11 a.m., they arrested Harold N. Dennison of Mahwah, who was carrying a switchblade and a handgun, which was loaded with hollow-point bullets.
Dennison was taken to the Mahwah Police Department, where he was processed until 3 p.m. About an hour later, Otis Mann, who was riding an ATV, fled from police who were trying to stop him, authorities said. He was arrested a short time later – on foot – after an altercation with officers, prosecutors said.
During the altercation, prosecutors said, Otis Mann grabbed a lieutenant by her ponytail and smashed her head against an ATV. He also attempted to grab her baton, they said. Officers on their way to that encounter somehow got into another altercation nearby, this one with Emil Mann, and he was shot.
Investigators have released few details about the shooting itself. The Ramapoughs said it occurred during a peaceful cookout with two dozen people present – although prosecutors said very few people were there during the shooting.
I'd rather be tie-dyed.
Here's the actual title of the article:
Tribal man shot by parks cop dies
Not much better.
"I am frum the gubermint to save the inviroment no matta what the cost./s
Police version: Otis Mann grabbed a policewoman by the ponytail and smashed her head against an ATV. Meanwhile, Emil Mann makes a grab for a policeman's gun. Emil Mann is shot and later dies. Four policemen were there and attest to this.
Indian Version: Big family barbecue. Police arrive, whip out guns, and kill Emil Mann for no reason. Twenty-four indians were there and attest to this.
I wasn't there, so I can't decide who's telling the truth.
Shouldn't that be: "Unarmed Mann?"
Ramapough means buttcrack in Injun lingo. Poor Mr. Mann.
Ramapough Mountain Indians
Probably another fake "indian" tribe like the Pequots
Oh that's easy. Here's how it will go:
"Based on the officer's established credibility...", the Rampanoughs lose.
I've been in court, as the defendant, when the arresting officer lied through her teeth to get a conviction. Not a big deal in my case - no eye protection while riding a motorcycle.
But this time someong died. Since it's the cop's word against the indians (Who have no "established credibility") the cop gets off and the indians, again, get hosed.
I love the 'indians' respect for the mountain. Lets go up there on ATV's, rip up the land, take your guns and add to the 1000's of spent cartridges, consume vast amounts of alcohol and fight the the police. Lets smash one of their heads against the ATV and try to take the gun from another. Yep, that is my idea of a 'tribal picnic.'
The 'pineys' of south jersey have just as much right to call themselves a tribe as the Ramapos. Both have been there since the early times, both married native americans, both married British and Hessian soldiers. Both also have very little respect for the land as evidenced by the alcohol, shooting, carrying weapons, atv activity and collection of junk on their properties. Then they cry when someone tells them that is not the right thing to do.
Hi, nOOb.
Environmentalist, are you?
So, how does use or non-use of alcohol denote "respect for the land"?
Do you have some problem with shooting/carrying weapons? Was anyone arrested for improper use of a firearm?
Are ATVs illegal? Was the use of the ATV illegal?
If they have private property that you do not like the looks of--because they have a collection of what you consider junk--what business is that of anyone's? Is there a homeowner's association with bylaws that regulate "junk"?
I don't think these people are crying because someone told them it wasn't "the right thing to do" to disrespect the land according to your lights, I think they are crying because someone died....
Both also have very little respect for the land as evidenced by the alcohol, shooting, carrying weapons, atv activity and collection of junk on their properties. Then they cry when someone tells them that is not the right thing to do.
So, how does use or non-use of alcohol denote "respect for the land"?
How about leaving piles of empties, driving under the influence.
Do you have some problem with shooting/carrying weapons?
Any sane person should have a problem with drunks carrying weapons and shooting up the area.
Was anyone arrested for improper use of a firearm?
Earlier in the day one of the 'tribe' was arrested for carrying a pistol with hollow point bullets and a switchblade.
Are ATVs illegal? Was the use of the ATV illegal?
Yes.
If they have private property that you do not like the looks of--because they have a collection of what you consider junk--what business is that of anyone's? Is there a homeowner's association with bylaws that regulate "junk"?
Trash begets trash. If you want live in a neighborhood that is littered with trash and junk cars then more power to you.
I don't think these people are crying because someone told them it wasn't "the right thing to do" to disrespect the land according to your lights, I think they are crying because someone died....
First thing, I abhor the loss of life. But the first thing they started crying about was discrimination. I get sick of tired of people not taking responsibility for their actions and claiming 'descrimination'. If you listen to the 'natives' the only reason this occured was due to discrimination. It had absoultly nothing to do with the perons who was shot trying to disarm the officer according to the 'natives'. He walked up with his arms in the air and was shot for that.......Unbelievable! The 12 yr. old girl was slapped and pepper sprayed just because she was a 'native'.
I can't make any sense out of your post. You're quoting yourself, me, and adding new remarks.
Get it straight.
You seem like a bright person. I am sure you can figure it out. I have never posted on this forum before. I am not exactly sure how to get the italics and such.
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