BLOCS is planning actions against police brutality, from the Old Fourth Ward to Vine City/English Avenue. Join us as we fight for TRUE public safety, which starts with police accountability!
When: Tuesday - 10/18 at 6pm - 8pm
Where: Downtown public library, 2nd floor meeting room @ 1 Margaret Mitchell Sq NW
Dinner will be served.
Tatiana "Jasira" Lima is being held in Fulton County Jail on charges of murder for the tragic death of her one-month old child. Bring Jasira home! And drop all charges!
What you can do:
-Sign the Petition to District Attorney Paul Howard to DROP ALL CHARGES
http://www.change.org/petitions/da-paul-howard-and-fulton-county-of-atla...
-Donate to her bail fund: We need to raise only $1,200 dollars to bring Jasira home. Go to www.justice4tatiana.org and donate via paypal.
Or mail your donation to: Community Aid and Development Corp. P.O. Box 361270, Decatur GA 30036-1270. Please write in the memo section on check or money order “Tatiana “Jasira” Lima Defense/Release Fund.
More information about the case:
Tatiana, who is an active member and leader in various community and cultural organizations, has worked extensively in support of Hurricane Katrina survivors, homeless, and young people of color. This committed young organizer is now in need of your support as she sits in the Fulton County Jail in Atlanta falsely accused of the murder of her own daughter. Tatiana has been in jail without much hope of release since November of 2010.
Tatiana’s initial bond was set at $170,000. However, on July 18th, 2011, Attorney Davis successfully argued for the bond to be reduced to $50,000. “This is a promising first step for the case but now she needs the community and family support”, said Attorney Davis after the hearing.
You can also express your concerns about the prosecution of this innocent young woman by writing letters to the District Attorney of Fulton County, Paul Howard at 136 Pryor Street Third Floor, Atlanta, GA, 30303-3477.
Come out to the Old Fourth Ward for our September monthly meeting Tuesday, September 20th at 6:30pm!
Location to be announced.
Please bring a dish to share, and let us know if you need transportation or childcare: 404-514-5191.
By Alexis Stevens
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
A physically disabled Atlanta woman says a police officer threw her to the ground and arrested her when she refused to move from her chair.
Shequita Walker, 40, suffers from severe joint pain and has a limited range of motion. For several years, Walker has enjoyed sitting in a metal chair in the vacant lot next to her apartment complex on Boulevard. Walker says she isn't on the sidewalk or in anyone's way, and has spent many hot afternoons waiting on the ice cream truck to drive by so she can buy a cold treat.
But on April 21, an Atlanta police officer asked her to move when she was in her regular spot, next to three other people. Walker responded by telling Officer Kenneth Thomas she was within her rights to sit outside, and that other Atlanta officers had not had a problem with it.
"She did stand her ground," attorney Dan Grossman told the AJC. "She clearly gave him defiance and some attitude."
Thomas then grabbed Walker's wrist and twisted her arm, causing her to fall to the concrete, unable to get up on her own, Walker said. Another Atlanta officer helped Walker to her feet and to the back of a patrol car. An ambulance was called to transport Walker to Grady Memorial Hospital, where she received treatment for a shoulder injury sustained when she hit the ground, Grossman said.
When she was released from the hospital, Walker then spent three days in jail on a disorderly conduct charge. The case against Walker was later dropped, but her attorney said the matter isn't over.
"It’s not like they did this to a healthy woman," Grossman told the AJC. "She has very limited range of motion. She suffered and she deserves some compensation."
The Atlanta Citizen Review Board examined Walker's complaint that she was falsely arrested, concluding that the officer should be disciplined for his actions, according to a letter sent to APD Chief George Turner. The APD has not yet responded to the letter, Grossman said.
APD spokesman Carlos Campos said the department will not comment on the case while it is still under investigation.
Additionally, the review board found that during a five-month period, Thomas had made 38 arrests, 27 of which were for disorderly conduct. The total of 27 arrests for disorderly conduct was three times the amount made by two other officers that patrol the same area, during the same shift, the letter sent to Turner states.
"These people are just arrested because he (Thomas) doesn’t like their attitude," Grossman said.
Grossman said he hopes the case can be resolved without the expense of a lawsuit against the city.
ATLANTA (CBS ATLANTA) -
New details are surfacing, about a story we first broke. The certifications of hundreds of Atlanta police officers are in question and dozens have lost their arrest powers. That could invalidate countless arrests and the convictions of dangerous criminals.
"Their arrests are no good. Pure and simple. Those arrests can be challenged," said Ken Vance, the Executive Director of the Georgia Peace Officer Standards and Training Council.
Police are just now releasing information about the scope of the problem. The department is about two thirds of the way through its audit. They've uncovered about 400 certification and training issues that span back as far as 20 years.
"I don't have time to point fingers, my hands are full with an 1,800 person audit right now," said Maj. Jeff Glazier.
Glazier is the police department's director of training. He is spearheading the department's audit.
Glazier said the department's certification issues range from officers having incomplete background checks, to inadequate training with firearms and the use of deadly force. CBS Atlanta has learned several of the issues involve cadets whose fingerprints were never turned in, a crucial step required by law to insure the officers do not have a criminal background.
"Did those fingerprints even go through the system?" reporter Wendy Saltzman asked Glazier.
"That I don't know," he said.
"Whose responsibility is this?" Saltzman asked Chris Beamud, the director of Atlanta's citizen review board.
"This is the administration's responsibility," Beamud said.
And Beamud warns the impact could be devastating.
"There may be some people in prison who may have their criminal convictions overturned and they don't deserve to have those criminal convictions overturned. They need to be in a secure facility," she told Saltzman.
Beamud fears these lapses in certification have the potential to cause a major backlash in criminal cases.
"All of the evidence and the arrest itself can be suppressed. And from a criminal standpoint that can be problematic and that is dangerous to the citizens," she said.
"This is a book keeping fiasco if you will," Vance agreed.
According to the Georgia Peace Officer Standards and Training Council director, officers who lack the proper training are not authorized to use police arrest powers.
"What about the officers without training?" Saltzman asked.
"Oh, that's bad. That's bad," Vance said.
And even the smallest paperwork mistakes could call an officer's credibility into question.
"Could a defense attorney argue they were not certified?" Saltzman questioned.
"Defense attorneys can argue a lot of things," Vance said.
This audit is still continuing so the police department isn't yet sure of the complete scope of the problem. They expect the review of the final 600 officers to be complete by Sept. 15t.
Copyright 2011 WGCL-TV. All rights reserved.
http://www.cbsatlanta.com/story/15285632/dozens-of-police-officers-arres...
