In yet another alleged case of taser abuse, Florida Yoga instructor Elizabeth Beeland was tasered by Daytona Beach Officer Claudia Wright for being loud and profane. She was later charged with the highly enigmatic crime of resisting a police officer without violence as well as disorderly conduct. Continue reading “Video: Yoga Instructor Tasered for Being “Loud” and “Profane””
Month: December 2007
There seems to be an increase in officers accused of crossing the thin blue line to free lance in crime. On the same day, New Orleans officer Danny Lohman was accused of stealing a driver’s money in an invalid arrest while Harrisburg, Pa. officer Joseph Kelly resigned after a prostitute that he allegedly hired walked off with his service weapon. In the meantime, Ryan Osbrink in Oregon has admitted to accidently shooting and killing his wife while practicing a fast draw with his service weapon. Continue reading “Officers In Trouble: One Had Gun Stolen by Prostitute; Another Shoots Wife While Practicing a Fast Draw; Another Accused of Stealing a Driver’s Money”
England is investigating a highly disturbing video directed at child as an apparent recruiting device. This follows other such children terrorism pitches — which mainstream Muslim groups have denounced. Continue reading “Videos Recruit Children as Suicide Bombers — England Investigates Possible Criminal Charges”
One of the least discusses problems in the medical field is substance abuse by practicing doctors. A recent estimate puts as much as 15 percent of physicians nationwide will have a substance abuse problem during their careers and an estimated 7,500 to 8,000 practicing doctors are probably in confidential treatment. Continue reading “An Estimated 15 Percent of Doctors Have Substance Abuse Problems”
The Bush Administration has blocked an effort by California and other states to require higher emissions limits for cars and trucks to improve the air for their citizens. After waiting and hoping that federal courts would side with industry in litigation over the question, the Administration was forced to come up and oppose the environmental effort when the industry lost in court. Continue reading “Bush Administration Blocks Efforts of the States to Improve Clean Quality”
The extensive media coverage of the pregnancy of Jamie Lynn Spears — sister of Britney Spears and television star in her own right — has focused on the sensational while ignoring the legal story: the articles describe a technical case of statutory rape. If Aldridge was having sex with Spears at age 15 or 16, he would be subject to a variety of criminal charges. The case should bring some attention to the inconsistent prosecution of statutory rape claims around the country and a reexamination of what we should be trying to achieve in these cases. Continue reading “Can Casey Aldridge Be Criminally Charged with Statutory Rape and other Offenses of Jamie Lynn Spears?”
After Democratic senators saved Attorney General Michael Mukasey from having to recognize that waterboarding is torture, the person nominated to serve as his deputy has done the same thing. Of course, Mark Filip today did not testify (as Mukasey did) that he simply did not know what waterboarding is. However, Filip refused to acknowledge that is torture despite ample cases establishing that fact. The question is whether Democrats will again avoid the issue by confirming a nominee who refuses to acknowledge the illegality of a heinous practice. Continue reading “Nominee for Deputy Attorney General Refuses to Recognize Waterboarding as Torture”
In what could be an interesting torts case, the respected Mayo Clinic is facing a lawsuit over the bizarre act of Dr. Adam Hansen, chief resident of general surgery, who took a picture of a patient’s penis during surgery. Strip club owner Sean Dubowik has a tattoo at that stop that reads: “Hot Rod.” Continue reading “Respected Mayo Clinic Doctor Facing Lawsuit for Photographing Patient’s Private Parts”
Recently, a viewer asked if I was not a bit too critical of tasers and asked if they were not better than having to resort to guns. The most obvious answer is that tasers are now used by some officers as a first response, though most officers use them appropriately. The choice is not between a taser and a gun. However, the case below shows this perils of such a choice and confusion with Madera officer Marcy Noriega. Continue reading “California Cop Mistakes Gun for Taser and Kills Handcuffed Suspect”
Below is a column on the follies and fears of Christmas — and the five stages of parental holiday survival. Continue reading “A Parental Guide on Surviving Christmas”
The New York Times is reporting this morning that at least four White House officials, including Alberto Gonzales, discussed the plan to destroy the CIA interrogation tapes. The news deepens the scandal for the White House and makes it much more difficult for Attorney General Michael Mukasey to continue to refuse to appoint a special prosecutor. Continue reading “Four White House Officials — Including Gonzales — Knew of Tape Destruction Plan”
The tabloid media are filled with reports that the sister of Britney Spears, Jamie Lynn Spears, is pregnant. What is missing from this coverage, however, is the disconnect with statutory rape cases where this pregnancy would be evidence of a criminal — albeit consensual — act. Jamie’s boyfriend, Casey Aldridge, is reportedly 19. Continue reading “Jamie Lee Spears Pregnancy Raises Questions Over Fairness of Statutory Rape Prosecutions”
In an interesting ruling, the Utah Supreme Court has rejected the use of a standard waiver of liability by a ski resort as against public policy. Continue reading “Utah Supreme Court Rejects Waivers as Defense for Ski Resorts”
Saudi King Abdullah has also pardoned the man who was abducted with a rape victim in the infamous case in Saudi Arabia. A religious court had sentenced the rape victim to 200 lashes and six months in prison. The status of her male companion has been unclear and it has been reported that he was also raped by the attackers and also ordered to be flogged for violating Islamic rules about relationships with unmarried women. What is most remarkable, however, is the defense of the original laws under which they were both sentenced –citing their “torture” as sufficient punishment to teach them “a lesson.” In the meantime, the seven gang rapists received only two to seven years for their crime. Continue reading “Saudi King Pardons Male Companion with Victim in Infamous Rape Case; Says Their “Torture” Taught Them a Lesson”
In the ultimate expression of congressional — and possibly cultural — values, two full hearings have been ordered only a day into the renewed controversy over steroid abuse in baseball. This follows numerous hearings in prior years. Members are falling over themselves to get camera time on the issue. However, with the disclosure of an official program of torture ordered by the President, not a single public hearing has been scheduled other than a recent general hearing on waterboarding in the Senate. It appears that steroid abuse is simply more of a pressing issue that detainee abuse for the nation. Continue reading “Torture 0 Baseball 2 — Congress Moves to Deal with Steroid Abuse While Detainee Abuse Languishes”