…Police are struggling to stop violence in West Baltimore, where officers have been routinely surrounded by dozens of people, video cameras and hostility while doing basic police work since the death of Freddie Gray, Baltimore Police Commissioner Anthony W. Batts said Wednesday. (link)…

BALTIMORE – Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake called the city’s recent spike in violence “disheartening” Thursday as police work to address a dramatic increase in homicides and nonfatal shootings.

“It’s extremely frustrating,” the mayor told reporters at a news conference. “It is disheartening, but I am still resolved to continue to reduce violent crime in our city.” (more…)

We knew there would be CCTV video of both the inside and patio of Twin Peaks.
Because the local Police, who immediately reviewed the footage yet continued to mislead the public about the impetus of the confrontation and gunfire, the owner/operator of the Twin Peaks franchise shared video with reporters from the Associated Press.

WACO, Texas (Associated Press) — As gunfire broke out in the parking lot of a Texas restaurant, dozens of motorcycle riders ran inside seeking cover and tried to guide others to safety, security video reviewed exclusively by The Associated Press showed Wednesday.
The video suggests that Sunday’s deadly gunfight began outside the Twin Peaks restaurant, except for one round fired by a biker on the patio who then ran inside.
On the patio, bikers ducked under tables and tried to get inside. At least three people were holding handguns. One biker was seen running with blood on his face, hands and torso.
Before the shooting, the inside of the restaurant appears to be mostly empty. Bikers and other patrons can be seen walking to the windows facing the parking lot where most of the shooting happened.
When gunfire begins at 12:24 p.m., most bikers, other patrons and staff immediately run away from the windows and into the restaurant’s interior. At least three people can be seen holding handguns. (more…)

More details begin to emerge about the shooting at Waco’s Twin Peaks restaurant.  Remember:

…The Truth Has No Agenda – Nor does It Care For The Feelings, Position, or Emotion of Those Made Uncomfortable By It…

It would be obtuse not to accept that as witnesses and family members of the dead begin to share their story/version of events publicly, the responding police would have a vested interest in countering any adverse aspect to the previous outline they presented.
Hence the shock headline:

BREAKING: Waco police now say they've found as many as 1000 weapons at Twin Peaks, including an AK-47. Many were hidden in toilets, food.

— KWTX News 10 (@kwtx) May 20, 2015

Waco police sergeant W. Patrick Swanton told KWTX today that the weapons included both pocket and “assault-style” knives, and lots and lots of guns, all “evidently abandoned by bikers as they attempted to flee.” One weapon was stashed in a bag of chips. (link)

It is commonplace with officer-involved shootings to pull in another agency to conduct the investigation, but Waco PD spokesperson Patrick Swanton said that won’t happen with Sunday’s case. (more…)

Heads up! BPD is Uploading additional camera footage in response to a Baltimore Sun Article HERE:

1/4 We would like to take the opportunity to advise the camera footage from #2108 was to be made available,

— Baltimore Police (@BaltimorePolice) May 20, 2015

2/4 as with all of the related footage in the death of Freddie Gray. Due to a technical glitch the footage had never uploaded,

— Baltimore Police (@BaltimorePolice) May 20, 2015

(more…)

MARYLAND – Baltimore prosecutors shed new light on their rationale for some of the charges against the officers involved in the death of Freddie Gray, saying in a court filing that Gray had been illegally detained before officers found a knife in his pocket..
In announcing the charges this month, State’s Attorney Marilyn J. Mosby said that the folding knife, which police initially described as a switchblade, was not illegal under state law, and so Gray should not have been arrested.
Defense attorneys for the officers who were charged with falsely arresting Gray, 25, have said prosecutors overlooked city law, which they say forbids possession of such a knife. They have used the distinction to argue that the case against the officers was rushed and flawed. (more…)

BACKSTORY HERE – October 2014 – “Mom said 18-year-old baby Vonderrit was eating a sandwich and contemplating which college classes would be better – considering his recently edited white paper on Gravitational Inconsistencies as applied to Quantum theory.
A local politician, Senator Nasheed, said the police walked up to Vonderrit while he was kneeling down in prayer and shot him in the back of the head.
There appears to be a disconnect in here somewhere; somewhere between  a skewed version of reality, and what actually took place“.
Here’s the full investigative report: (more…)

Marilyn Mosby announced her independent “direct action” charges against the Baltimore Six police officers, with a national press conference.  Immediately after her presser Marilyn Mosby appeared on CNN, ABC, NBC and MSNBC national networks.  Mosby later appeared with the musician Prince, on stage with the family of Freddie Gray, at a Justice for Freddie Gray benefit concert.
However, soon after announcing her charges, the facts behind the case began to surface and the case began falling apart.   Now, with the very real possibility of a nation awakening to the political and activist motives, she is asking the court to impose a gag order – so she can hide the fraud and delay public knowledge.
BALTIMORE (AP) — Baltimore prosecutors are seeking a gag order as they pursue a criminal case against six city officers in the case of Freddie Gray, a 25-year-old man who died a week after suffering a spinal injury while in police custody.
A court document that references the gag order, obtained by The Associated Press, is dated Wednesday. Assistant State’s Attorney Antonio Gioia wrote that the gag order motion was mailed to defense attorneys.
Rochelle Ritchie, a spokeswoman for State’s Attorney Marilyn Mosby, confirmed Friday the office is seeking a gag order. She declined to provide further details. (more…)

Long before anyone was paying attention to Baltimore.

…”It will take hard, collective action to dramatically reduce the overuse of exclusionary discipline and to consistently create positive school climates. But we know it can be done. There are amazing examples all across the country of leadership making a difference. And in fact, it’s being done right here in Baltimore, and right here at Frederick Douglass High School”….

[…] I thank you for your unwavering commitment to equal opportunity for all students and your leadership in rethinking school discipline in Maryland. And I’m so pleased to be joined here today [Frederick Douglas School] by my good friend and colleague, Attorney General Holder.

[…] So today, the Departments of Education and Justice are joining together to release a guidance package on school discipline for a broad range of stakeholders–educators, principals, district administrators, school board members, charter school heads, school resource officers, counselors, social workers, parents, community leaders–and, importantly, students themselves.
[…] This is the first Administration to provide guidance to the public on discrimination in school discipline. And we want to continue to provide leadership on this critical problem going forward to ensure equal opportunity for all students.
[…] Racial discrimination in school discipline is a real problem today, and not just an issue from 40 to 50 years ago.
[…] The need to rethink and redesign school discipline practices is long overdue. Too many schools resort too quickly to exclusionary discipline, even for minor misbehaviors (more…)

This is like a never ending song with a repeating chorus. It was not long ago the entire Baltimore jail system had to be torn apart and restructured after it was discovered that corrections officers were part of the gang trade, smuggling drugs to prisoners, allowing prisoners to leave jail on weekends, having sex with prisoners and several female officers were pregnant.
Now video discovers Baltimore corrections officers participating in the looting and riots…

Do you know why they’re smiling?  Think about where they’re headed !

(Via Daily Caller) Two correctional officers who work at the Baltimore City jail were suspended without pay Wednesday after video emerged showing them looting a 7-11 store during last month’s riots. (more…)

Marilyn Mosby took it upon herself (May 1st) to file Direct Action charges against the Baltimore Six and issue arrest warrants.  As such she has 30 days to bring a formal indictment outlining the specific evidence, which supports the charges against each of the officers.

BALTIMORE – Defense attorneys for the officers charged in the Freddie Gray case anticipate their clients will be indicted by a grand jury in the next two weeks.
The attorneys have asked that a stenographer be appointed to transcribe the grand jury proceedings or that an audio tape recording be made. They claim misinformation was included in the original charging documents, underscoring the need to know what prosecutors tell grand jurors. (more…)