Following the arrest of Marine veteran Johnny Keith Williams at Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene’s town hall, his attorney is demanding the dismissal of all charges. Williams, one of three arrested after reported disruptions, allegedly sustained injuries from a taser but received no medical treatment and was held without bond for over 36 hours. The attorney contends Williams was invited to the town hall and was not involved in any protests, contrary to police statements citing threats and safety concerns. The incident occurred despite warnings from House Republican leaders regarding potential protests at in-person events.
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In New Bedford, Massachusetts, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents mistakenly apprehended Juan Francisco Mendez, a 29-year-old asylum seeker, while searching for another individual. Mendez, who has no criminal record and was awaiting final asylum documentation, was forcibly removed from his car after agents smashed his window. His attorney contends this was a case of mistaken identity, as the agents were seeking a man named Antonio. Mendez’s wife and son, also asylum seekers, witnessed the violent arrest and are now left without answers regarding his detainment in Dover, New Hampshire.
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Arnuel Marquez Colmenarez, a Venezuelan national facing misdemeanor charges in New Hampshire, was tackled by ICE agents inside a courthouse, resulting in an injury to a bystander. The arrest occurred during his arraignment for drunk driving and related charges, with agents claiming he resisted arrest after a failed attempt at a quiet apprehension. Colmenarez is currently detained in Texas, and the incident follows a recent rollback of policies restricting ICE arrests in sensitive locations, including courthouses. This arrest, along with a similar incident in Boston, highlights the increased presence of ICE agents in courthouses under the current administration.
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A funeral will be held Tuesday for 17-year-old Victor Perez, who was fatally shot nine times by police in Pocatello, Idaho. Police responded to a neighbor’s report of a person with a knife, claiming Perez, who had autism and cerebral palsy, advanced toward officers despite repeated commands to drop the weapon. The family disputes this account, stating Perez was experiencing a mental health crisis and posed no threat. Multiple investigations into the shooting are underway.
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Seventeen-year-old Victor Perez, an autistic teenager, was critically injured after being shot nine times by Pocatello Police officers responding to a disturbance call. Police reported Perez, who was on the ground and allegedly wielding a knife, was shot after standing up. Witnesses dispute the level of threat, suggesting police could have de-escalated the situation, and Perez’s family emphasizes his autism and behavioral challenges. The East Idaho Critical Incident Task Force is investigating the incident, and Pocatello Police have declined comment pending the investigation’s conclusion.
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Following the release of video footage depicting the forceful arrest of Tyron McAlpin, a deaf Black man with cerebral palsy, the Phoenix Police Department suspended three officers involved for 24 hours without pay. McAlpin, initially arrested on charges of resisting arrest and aggravated assault based on unsubstantiated claims, had those charges dropped by the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office. The incident, which sparked widespread public condemnation, resulted from an initial response to false allegations against McAlpin. The officers’ suspension is a direct response to the national outrage following the broadcast of the arrest video.
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A Denver family was subjected to a SWAT raid in their apartment due to police error, resulting in the family being held at gunpoint and detained in a police car for an hour. The lawsuit alleges that officers, despite knowing the correct apartment number, wrongly raided the Shelton family’s home, violating their constitutional rights. The incident, captured on body camera footage, shows officers entering the family’s apartment while two young children were present, causing significant trauma. The family is suing under Colorado’s police reform law, seeking justice for the unlawful search and seizure and excessive force used against them.
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Minneapolis has settled a lawsuit filed by Patty Day for $600,000, with $175,000 going to Day and $425,000 to her legal team. The lawsuit alleged that former officer Derek Chauvin used excessive force and made a wrongful arrest, employing a similar restraint technique to the one used in the George Floyd killing. A judge later dismissed the drunk driving charge against Day due to lack of probable cause. This settlement adds to the over $36 million the city has paid to settle police misconduct cases involving Chauvin.
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Michael Kenyon filed a $15.5 million claim against the city of Phoenix, alleging that Phoenix police officers caused him severe third-degree burns by pinning him to scorching hot pavement for over four minutes on July 6, 2024. The claim cites a lack of officer training and unconstitutional practices, aligning with findings from a recent Department of Justice investigation. Kenyon’s injuries, which include missing flesh, resulted in over a month of hospitalization. The city is conducting an internal investigation, but has yet to release body camera footage.
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Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond dismissed felony assault charges against Oklahoma City Police Sgt. Joseph Gibson, who was accused of breaking a 71-year-old man’s neck during a traffic stop altercation. Drummond cited the officer’s adherence to training and a lack of criminal intent, despite video evidence showing Gibson throwing the man to the ground. The decision followed outrage from the victim’s community and the District Attorney’s assertion that the force used was unreasonable. Drummond maintained that the victim’s actions initiated the escalation.
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John Q. Hosedrinker