A California father of four died Wednesday shortly after a group of police allegedly beat him with batons as he lay defenseless on the sidewalk. Cops, before confiscating witness’ cameras, also reportedly unleashed a canine unit on him. … Read More
California dad ‘begged for his life’ as police beat him to death – witnesses
David Sal Silva, 33, allegedly resisted when police approached him to ask if he was who neighbors called about to complain of an intoxicated man in the area. The officers called for backup and, witnesses told the Bakersfield Californian, Silva was soon being beaten in the face and upper body by as many as nine policemen and their batons. At least one of the cops reportedly held a German Shepherd on a leash nearby.Witnesses who had recorded the events on their cell phone cameras had the devices confiscated by officers, who claimed the footage was part of a police investigation that could yield evidence. The Sherriff’s Department has released the names of seven officers who were on the scene, but the identities of the California Highway Patrol police who were also there have not yet been made public.“When I got outside I saw two officers beating a man with batons, and they were hitting his head so every time they would swing, I could hear the blows to his head,” said witness Ruben Ceballos, who told the Californian the noise was so loud it woke him up.“His body was just lying on the street and before the ambulance arrived one of the officers performed CPR on him and another used a flashlight on his eyes but I’m sure he was already dead.”Police have refused to comment, citing an ongoing investigation that could take years to complete, but relatives have demanded the cell phone footage be made public.“My brother spent the last eight minutes of his life pleading, begging for his life,” said Christopher Silva, 31. “The true evidence is in those phone witnesses that apparently the sheriff deputies already took. But I know the truth will come out and my brother’s voice will be heard.”An autopsy was completed Thursday but the cause of death’s release is pending a toxicology report and microscopic studies, the local coroner’s office told the Bakersfield Californian Friday.The family has hired attorney David Cohn, who told reporters they plan to file a civil rights lawsuit in federal district court next week. He sent a letter formally requesting that law enforcement agencies do not tamper with the video evidence on the phones.“We all know that a picture is worth a thousand words,” Cohn said. “And thank God we have concerned citizens who take video and pictures of incidents like this and who are ultimately policing the police … But we will get to the bottom of this and I ask the sheriff’s department once again, what are you hiding?” … Read More
Florida 3-year-old fatally shoots himself with concealed permit holder’s gun
A 3-year-old boy died in Florida on Tuesday after police said he shot himself to death with his uncle’s gun. Detectives for the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office said that 3-year-old Jadarrius Speights had found a 9mm gun in a backpack owned by his 29-year-old uncle, Jeffrey Walker….
Oregon Teachers Traumatized by Unannounced Shooter Drill
Panic erupted on Friday at Pine Eagle Charter school in rural Oregon when two masked men carrying handguns burst into a teachers’ lounge and opened fire. … Read More
3 sea snail divers killed over the weekend
SANTA ROSA, Calif. — Three recreational abalone divers died in separate incidents over the weekend in Northern California, where powerful rip currents were reported.A low tide drew the divers to the beaches looking for the mollusks that are prized delicacies by seafood lovers, the Press Democrat reported on Sunday. The body of a 66-year-old retired Pacifica firefighter was found on Saturday afternoon off Shell Beach in Sonoma County.Cedric Collett, a strong swimmer in good physical shape, had been diving with a friend but didn’t resurface, the newspaper said. His body was found still in his weight belt, which is used to help a diver stay submerged while prying abalone loose from rocks. On Sunday morning, several divers helped pull 36-year-old Kenneth Liu of San Francisco to shore after he got caught in a rip tide off nearby Salt Point State Park, but he couldn’t be revived, the newspaper said. Several hours later, an unidentified diver was found dead north of Fort Bragg. A Sonoma County sheriff’s sergeant said the man was found about 15 feet below the water and might have been snagged in rocks. The surf was pounding on rescue crews who responded to all three distress calls, Sonoma County sheriff’s Deputy Henri Boustany said. Deaths from abalone diving are common during the recreational harvesting season. However, three in a single weekend was a shock, even to authorities. “It’s the busiest we’ve been in that short amount of time with that many horrible outcomes,” said Paul Bradley, a veteran helicopter pilot for the sheriff’s department. Abalone season for recreational divers opened April 1 and runs through the end of June. Since the early 1990s, dozens of people have died in their quest to collect the prized sea snails. One diver was decapitated by a shark in Mendocino County in 2004. Tim Murphy, a state parks lifeguard, said abalone divers should spend time studying the water before deciding to dive. Rip currents and fast-changing sea conditions make for a dangerous environment. Murphy said it is also important to have a dive buddy and to stay close together and have a game plan if trouble arises. ___ Information from: The Santa Rosa Press Democrat, http://www.pressdemocrat.com Copyright 2013 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Continue Reading… … Read More
Idaho 3-year-old girl shoots infant sibling in the face
A 10-month-old infant in Idaho is recovering on Thursday after being shot in the face by its 3-year-old sister. Canyon County Sheriff Kieran Donahue told KTVB that the mother left the two children in the car while she went into the house to get something at about 4:15 p.m. on Tuesday. While she was…
Florida pot grower busted for manufacturing ‘high-end assault rifles’
Police in Port St. Lucie, Florida announced on Wednesday that they had arrested a couple on charges related to a “weapons manufacturing warehouse” and a marijuana growing operations, according to TCPalm. WPTV reported that a traffic stop made by the Martin County Sheriff’s Office earlier in…
