Because the church fires were amid black churches, various media including CNN had previously attached a racial component to the arson attacks…

ST. LOUIS • David Lopez Jackson, 35, was charged Friday afternoon with two in a string of seven church fires this month but authorities say they don’t yet know the motive.

The charges, two counts of second-degree arson, list his address as in the 200 block of Presley Road in the Glasgow Village area of unincorporated St. Louis County. He was held in lieu of $75,000 bail, according to court documents.

Forensic evidence and video of his car link Jackson to the fires, Police Chief Sam Dotson said. A container of gasoline and a Thermos bottle that smelled of gasoline were found in his car, Dotson said.

Asked about a motive, Dotson said, “We’re still trying to understand that.” (more…)

You just can’t make this stuff up. Baltimore Mayor Rawlings-Blake claims many cities are jealous of the duration of the arson, looting, riots and lawlessness. It only lasted a “few hours”, and “many cities would be proud of that accomplishment”….

Of course the looted and burned businesses might have a divergent perspective. But I digress. (video in tweet)

MayorSRB on riots "lasting only a few hrs": "There's a lot of cities that would love to have that record" pic.twitter.com/zP4LCYGd8c

— Justin Fenton (@justin_fenton) July 19, 2015

JUST IN: #MountZionAME church fire classified as natural, SLED says #chsnews #scnews

— Melissa Boughton (@mel_bough) July 2, 2015

(link)

WASHINGTON – Federal investigators have identified the man they believe is responsible for the burning of a CVS Pharmacy during riots that broke out following the death of Freddie Gray in Baltimore this spring.

Agents with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives are looking for Raymon Carter, 24, and have obtained a warrant for his arrest. Carter faces a federal arson charge for intentionally setting a fire at the CVS at Pennsylvania and North avenues in Baltimore.

Investigators released surveillance images of Carter in May hoping that the public could help identify him along with other responsible for setting fires at other locations. Multiple phone calls to the ATF’s tip line identified the man in the photos from the CVS at 2509 Pennsylvania Avenue as Carter, says Special Agent David Cheplak with the Baltimore field office. (more…)

A powder which acts like body paint, popular amid rave concert promoters, was sprayed on the confined crowd in Tiawan.  The powder is flammable in high concentrations.  The stage lights were hot and ignited powder.   The result is essentially like blasting a flamethrower onto the audience.

Fortunately the paint powder is highly soluble, hence the desired audience effect of sweat colorizing the crowd; water immediately removes the flammability – but these people were covered in the powder when it ignited.  The immediate audience was engulfed in an inferno.

Tough video to watch:

Print story Here.

(more…)

“Danger, Will Robinson, danger!” is a catchphrase from the 1960s’ American television series Lost in Space.  The Robot,  acting as a surrogate guardian, says this to young Will Robinson when the boy is unaware of an impending threat… Consider the information below a similar warning of potential consequence.

The decision by South Carolina’s Ninth Judicial Circuit Solicitor, Scarlett Wilson,  yesterday to charge Officer Michael Slager with murder in the shooting death of Walter Scott is the impetus for the alert.

Wilson presented only one charge, only one option, to the South Carolina grand jury; a charge of murder:

Within the indictment you can see the broad framework of the three elements needed to convict a person of Murder.  They are:  ¹) The unlawful killing of another human being, ²) with malice aforethought (ie. depraved heart); and ³) specific intent to kill. (more…)

Several media outlets have noted a press conference given today by Baltimore Police Chief Anthony Batts where he asked for “federal agents”, and “federal prosecutors” to assist Baltimore with the skyrocketing violence and murders.

[…]  In a press conference Wednesday, flanked by representatives of multiple state and federal agencies, Batts said he is asking for federal prosecutors and agents to help, calling the renewed effort an “all hands on deck.”
Batts’ comments follow unrest in the city of Baltimore after the April 19 death of Freddie Gray, and the indictment of six Baltimore police officers involved. Since then, local prosecutors and Batts have come under fire by the police officers’ labor union, and theres been suspicion the rise in crime may be linked to a work “slowdown” organized by police officers. (link)

The short version is Chief Batts admitting he’s lost control.  Ironic considering how quickly the police chief and mayor wanted the national guard to withdraw.  (more…)

Against the backdrop of her initial ‘Direct Action’ charges coming under scrutiny from numerous legal analysts and scholars, a defiant State Attorney Marilyn Mosby took her demand for charges to a grand jury.   Here is the result:

Notes: Officers Brian Rice, Edward Nero and Garrett Miller (bicycle patrol) no longer charged with “False Imprisonment”. This is obviously the result of the knife found on Freddie Gray being illegal, unlike Mosby’s initial claims. However, Mosby modified the GJ request and they are now charged with “reckless endangerment”. She also added “misconduct in office” charges to each of the accused. (more…)

This must be about the sixth or seventh time in the past month we have noticed the same type of crime. A person -usually homeless- who is doused with gas or lighter fluid then set on fire.  This happened three times in Saint Louis recently.
Ventura, CA – (FOX 11) – Police said three suspects lit a homeless man on fire Saturday night while he slept on Ventura Beach and suffered burns on 40 percent of his body.
Investigators said the three suspects allegedly poured lighter fluid on the man, identified as 58-year-old John Frazier, as well as his sleeping bag and other personal items.
A bystander noticed the flames around 11 p.m. near the 1100 block of South Seaward Avenue and put out the fire with sand before calling 911.
Frazier was taken to a nearby hospital with second and third degree burns on his upper torso and face, but is expected to survive. (more…)