At first, the NYPD claimed it was a case of mistaken identity, and that James Blake looked like a "twin" of the man they intended to arrest. Someone even leaked a photo of the man Blake was supposed to look just like. Now it turns out that "twin" has absolutely nothing to do with the case, either. This admission was tucked deep in a few stories about the case:

The mother of Darrien Hunt, a 22-year-old black man who was shot and killed by Utah police last year, rejected an offer to settle her lawsuit against the city and two police officers involved. Had she accepted the settlement, she would have been barred from speaking publicly about the incident.

"To me it was a gag order [that said], 'Here's hush money, don't ever say Darrien's name again,'" Susan Hunt, mother of Darrien, told Utah's KSL news about turning down the $900,000 settlement the city offered in response to her wrongful death lawsuit.

"My biggest concern is for the truth to be told," Susan said.

Deputies responded to Negrara Way on a report that Sanchez’s next-door neighbor, Ben Ledford, was firing up to 100 machine gun rounds at a home across the street, killing a dog inside the house.

Sacramento County Sheriff’s Sgt. Jason Ramos says officers arrived to a chaotic scene.
“It took us some time to figure out exactly who had what role in this incident,” he said.

Ramos says Ledford surrendered not long after officers arrived, but they spotted Sanchez’s son, Danny, in the garage next door holding what they say looked like a gun. Turns out it was just his cellphone.

“He went right there over to that corner and stood there with his phone, trying to get some pictures,” Sanchez said.

“He found himself in the midst of things and some of his actions were perceived to be threatening to law-enforcement officers,” Ramos said.

Ramos says officers fired several shots, hitting Danny in teh leg.

“They told him they were sorry that he got shot and everything, that they made a mistake,” Sanchez said.

On the afternoon of August 26, while filming MacDill Air Force Base from a public park, a U.S. veteran was illegally detained and bullied by police for legally recording the installation.

The filming of government buildings has been ruled to be protected under the First Amendment but is often cited as a reason for being detained by police who are either unaware or willfully ignorant of this right.

Flexing his rights immediately upon contact, the gentleman, who is in a wheelchair, can be heard asking police if he is “free to go or being detained,” to which Officer Yoeman authoritatively tells him that he is “definitely being detained.”

The man then asks, “What law did I break?” to which the officer has no response, as no law had been broken that he could cite for the detainment. Instead, the officer menacingly countered with questions about why he was taking pictures of the base.

Incredulously, the cop has the nerve to tell the man, “Don’t worry about what law you broke?”

In a display of his ignorance of the law, the officer tells the detained vet that he broke the law by filming the base. The veteran corrects the officer, informing him of legal precedent that affirms his right to film.

Officer Yoeman, obviously agitated that he is being questioned, attempts to use typical bully tactics as he continues his line of aggressive questioning. The entire time he refuses to acknowledge that without reasonable articulable suspicion of a crime afoot there is no legal basis to detain the man.

The man continued to assert his rights stating,

“I don’t consent to illegal searches, detainment or this conversation.”
The encounter then becomes extremely confrontational with both parties exchanging insults.

The veteran never provided an ID, but did provide a Legal Shield card. He was illegally detained until base investigators arrived, at which point he informed them that he did not answer questions.

Showing a level of professional intelligence, decorum and knowledge of the law far exceeding that of Officer Yoeman, the military investigator respected the man’s right to not answer any questions and promptly released him from custody.

This video highlights why many Americans have begun to question the manner in which police operate. If those tasked with upholding the law cannot do their job without demeaning and belittling the very citizens, they claim to “protect and serve,” perhaps they need to find a new career.

Sheriff Deputy Mario Calvillo from Sandusky County has been on paid leave since July for “allegedly” tasing a dispatcher for laughing at a joke.

Chief Deputy Bruce Hirt was reported as saying,

The deputy used a Taser to stun a dispatcher after the dispatcher laughed at a joke made by another deputy.

Because Calvillo discharged a weapon inside the dispatch center, it was a serious weapons offense that was thoroughly investigated…

Regardless of Calvillo’s dangerous actions, Hirt went on to say, “No criminal charges will be filed against Calvillo.” Being tased shouldn’t be taken lightly. It can cause sudden and lethal cardiac arrest, especially in those who already suffer from heart conditions. Out of the 815 people killed by police this year, 42 of those deaths have been caused by tasers.

The incident took place in April of 2015, but the dispatcher was reluctant to bring it up to a supervisor and waited until July to report the incident. Apparently there was some cavil in the dispatch center; I’m sure the dispatcher wasn’t necessarily encouraged to report the incident. And much like when anyone else attempts to report police misconduct, the victim is often the one burdened or even assaulted further.

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