Brevard County, Florida ping.Let me know if you want on or off this ping list.
(not associated with the county government)
Posted on 01/07/2012 4:07:35 PM PST by smokingfrog
A Brevard County family and the NAACP call it injustice.
A 16-year-old Palm Bay High football player faces attempted second-degree murder charges of a law enforcement officer.
It all stems from a high speed chase. Even though Darrick Washington and his family admit wrongdoing, they said the charge does not fit the crime.
Washington, an unlicensed teen, led police on a chase in Indian River County on Oct. 24, 2010.
Deputies said Washington topped 100 miles an hour while his car was full of Brevard County teens.
He admits running from police and driving without a license were wrong, but cannot believe he is now facing charges of attempted murder of a law enforcement officer.
The deputy who responded to the call said someone fired a gun from the car Washington was driving.
However, no shell casings or guns were found at the crime scene, according to the investigation records.
It also stated Washington was purposely driving toward a deputy.
“It’s ridiculous,” said Andrea Johnson, Washington’s mother. “My son, I feel like he is the victims, instead of the sheriff, but driving with no license does not deserve to be in jail for nine months.”
His mother cannot afford to bail him out of jail.
The deputy, who claimed he heard shots coming from the car, fired back, and three bullets hit Washington. He spent 18 days in intensive care.
Washington remains locked up with a bullet lodged in his chest.
Washington played for Palm Bay High's football team. His family said it was his passion.
Johnson said he was devastated to learn his future with football might be in danger.
“They took a piece of his heart. The doctors telling him he might be able to get back on the football field again,” Johnson said.
(Excerpt) Read more at cfnews13.com ...
Looks like Parks and Recreation needs more money for midnight basketball.
“Washington played for Palm Bay High’s football team. His family said it was his passion.”
I’d say his passion was driving without a license.
Too black to be guilty.... Obama's Amerika
Why is it germain to say he was a football player ?
What was his grade point average and his previous juvi record.
By the end of the week he’ll be a saint.
“turning his life around”
etc.,etc.,etc.
So the cop ‘heard’ shots but no weapon was found. More proof that cops can get away with anything.
Not saw, heard... which might also be a backfire, or shots occurring elsewhere in the neighborhood? If this is the best the state can come up with, even a public defender will get the lad acquitted, and the city will end up paying out to settle a lawsuit.
Brevard County, Florida ping.Shocker....
I'm sure he has ALWAYS been such a good little boy.
or ... They could have tossed the gun during the chase.
He should be charged for endangering the lives of the teens that were in the car with him as well.
But, but, he's always been such a good boy.
It ought to show up somewhere around the scene, and the car itself show evidence of gunpowder residue.
Incompetent policing, I say. No drop gun.
Even if it was a different gun, caliber, bullets, etc., “the other one” was tossed...
Hospital has to do this under Federal law. Worry about who will pay for it later. Note they stopped before getting the bullet out of his chest.
As you can see this teen owes his delinquent actions to his upbringing. His Mother is to blame. She is a delinquent too. She should be facing charges right along with him.
Pretty easy to verify if they did their jobs, you can’t fire a gun without having residue on your hands. One of the kids would talk if there were a gun.
I doubt there was a gun, the cop just felt like shooting the black kids because they were driving fast.
>>>...driving with no license does not deserve to be in jail for nine months<<<
Other than powerfully bad grammar, I just love the excuse-making that I’ve seen in every group of thugs and criminals I’ve ever had the misfortune of living among. The best tool in their arsenal is the sin of omission.
The moment a community embraces responsibility, many problems diminish, including petty criminal behavior and thuggery. Someone should ask this mentally disabled kid what his life would be like now if he had just pulled over his car, given the cop a sheepish look, and said, “Oh, man. I’m driving without a license. I guess I’m in a lot of trouble.”
Remember the state trooper who pulled over the cop driving 120mph to his second job a couple months ago. All the outrage that the cop was being held responsible for his actions.
Here the cops get to shoot someone who wasn’t even driving as fast.
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