'It was a crank call': family seeks action against 911 caller in Walmart shooting

[herding cats]

Source: The Guardian

The family of a young black man who was killed by police in an Ohio Walmart while holding an unloaded BB rifle and speaking on his cellphone have called for action to be taken against a 911 caller who claimed he was pointing the gun at people.

John Crawford III was shot dead last month by an officer responding to an emergency call made by Ronald Ritchie, a shopper standing 100ft away, who repeatedly stated to the dispatcher that Crawford was pointing the air rifle at customers.

Surveillance footage and audio recordings released after a grand jury declined to indict the officer who shot Crawford showed that Crawford was holding the rifle at his side and pointing it to the floor at the time when Ritchie alleged that “he just pointed it at, like, two children”.

Crawford’s father and the family’s attorney said that Ritchie, 24, should be questioned by police over the discrepancy between the footage and his allegation, which he made about 80 seconds before Crawford was shot, and confirmed when asked soon after. Knowingly “making false alarms” is a crime under Ohio law punishable by a fine or jail sentence.

Read more: http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/sep/26/walmart-ohio-shooting-charges-911-calller-john-crawford

[marym625]

1. That special prosecutor

Should be prosecuted.

I am glad that the family hasn't stopped going after those responsible for John Crawford III murder.

[ColesCountyDem]

3. That's a silly statement.

What evidence of the special prosecutor committing a crime do you have? A breathless world awaits!

That said, I hope the family sues the pants off of the 911 caller.

[marym625]

5. May be silly

Doesn't mean I don't wish it. The fact no indictment came down pretty much proves he didn't try to get one. Do I actually think anything will happen to him? Of course not! Kinda thought that was obvious

[ColesCountyDem]

11. We have a sarcasm smilie available.

You might want to consider using it, if you don't want people taking a simple, declarative statement you wrote seriously.

[marym625]

23. I do know we have it

Just seemed so obvious to me that I thought it unnecessary. I will be sure to use it in the future lest I be misunderstood again.

[billhicks76]

47. It Obvious The Caller, Cops and Prosecutor Are Guilty

The caller and cops are guilty of murder in some degree and the prosecutor must be racist because this one was a no brainer...again.

[marym625]

48. my heart goes out to that family

I can't fathom what they must be going through.

I hope that the DOJ actually does something this time

I agree, regardless of the lack of indictment, they're all guilty of murder to some degree.

[billhicks76]

106. Eureka, CA Days Ago

Cops showed up at a small birthday party...my friends buddy was texting his friend on the porch having a cigarette and the cops showed up for no reason and without warning pumped 4 bullets in his stomach and one in his head killing him instantly. Of course they are trying to lie their way out of it. He was white so there is no established support groups from out of state coming but they are asking for help. Cops are murdering people at will and because the spineless, ignorant citizens of this country are doing nothing about it they are not only getting away with it but are purposefully treating it as a sport now. It started with dogs about 8 years ago and when no one stopped that they began killing everyones dogs and claiming they were in danger...even chihuahuas and beagles. People better step up or its gonna get full blown out of control and they are ready with their military gear. This is about orders from the top down to intimidate the populace and this is what we get for allowing vets returning from Iraq to be let loose on our streets. Organize or be a victim. And sue the Hell out of them at the very least.

[marym625]

107. I am so sorry for your loss.

What a horrible thing. I am so sorry.

It isn't just black people and people of color. The girl in Colorado was white. The special needs kid (I think in one of the Carolina's or Virginia) was white. Shot in his home, in front of his family. Cop said, "I'm not going to take this" walked over to the skinny teenager, already on the ground held by another cop, and shot him dead at point blank range.

We are in a revolution. Unfortunately, most people don't know it yet and it's the government coming at the citizens.

Please keep us updated on your friend's story. If you want, I can try to get his name mentioned during the rally in Ferguson October 10 - 13th. Can't promise anything because I am not involved in organizing but I know some that are

[rock]

74. I mark nearly all my stuff with sarcasm

So I don't have so many assholes complaining that I didn't use the sarcasm thingy.

[marym625]

75. Perfect!

Thank you! I would say but I do mean it, that I thank you.

[zeemike]

26. It was not really sarcasm but banter.

Don't you understand that in conversations?...most people do it and understand that is just a verbal way of registering the anger or disapointment...
Like saying "I hope he burns in hell"...that is just expressing your anger.

And in groups we have a little dance we do to express it...
One says." I think he should be arrested"
And the other says "I think they should string him up by the balls"
What they are all saying is they are angry...And I think rightfully so...but not so much as stringing him up by the balls.

Don't know why I decided to tell you this.

[ColesCountyDem]

27. "That special prosecutor Should (sic) be prosecuted."

Doesn't strike me as 'banter', but as a statement from someone who's so angry they say something that reflects their total ignorance of the law.

[marym625]

33. hardly ignorant of the law

But thanks for the understanding

[ColesCountyDem]

37. Incredibly ignorant of the law, to post such a ridiculous statement.

No thanks necessary.

[marym625]

40. What is your problem?

Did the comment hurt you? Did the fact I clarified my reason not suit your sensibility? Does the fact I am angry about another senseless murder gone unpunished upset you ?

[ColesCountyDem]

42. I don't have a problem.

The comment was uninformed. Your 'clarification' came only after after your error was pointed out to you. On the last matter, it's not murder if a grand jury says it's not murder.

[marym625]

43. my clarification came after

Because I can't believe it even had to be clarified.

We are not in a legal forum. We're not dictating for West Law. We're a social media group that would hopefully have the brains to determine when someone is blowing off steam vs giving factual information.

Evidently I overestimated the collective IQ and the ability to determine the difference between informing with fact and casual, albeit emotionally charged, discussion.

My bad.

[ColesCountyDem]

44. There's nothing wrong with the 'collective IQ'.

As has been pointed out to you previously, when one does not want a a plainly-worded, declarative, English sentence to be taken at face value, one should use the smilie.

Yes, you bad.

[marym625]

46. Dude, come down to earth

Obviously nothing satisfies you. Your arrogance is unbelievable. Your inability to distinguish one form of speech from another is telling.

As I stated previously, I will be sure to always use the emoticon (not smile) any time I am not making a serious statement so as to not be misunderstood. I will add, so to never upset your delicate sensibilities again. I will even check with you to make sure I did it correctly.

[Demit]

55. No, I think you overestimate your ability to communicate your state of mind.

I see no difference in tone between your first sentence and your second one, in that post. Which part of the first sentence was meant to convey your 'casualness'?

[rjsquirrel]

62. That special prosecutor

should be prosecuted.

By a federal prosecutor leading a federal corruption probe. Collusion by prosecutors and police to suppress evidence to quash an indictment is a crime. It might have happened here.

Are you going to tell me I don't know the law too?

That's my opinion, and without telling you why I am confident, I am quite sure I "know the law" better than you do.

Some people are such sticks of glue. You just came here looking to start an argument.

[Demit]

65. I think you meant to respond to someone else?

You have to click 'Reply to this post' under the post you want to reply to, not just any one.

[questionseverything]

84. wc to du

i stole your line since it sums it up nicely


////////////


a federal prosecutor leading a federal corruption probe. Collusion by prosecutors and police to suppress evidence to quash an indictment is a crime

///////////////////////

[noiretextatique]

85. i agree with you: the federal government

needs to step in and start prosecuting some of these prosecutors for corruption and collusion.

[marym625]

114. Unfortunately, it will never happen

We have become a police state and murder is acceptable to them.

[marym625]

63. No, I think

some people are more focused on their own arrogance than they are on the OP, the subject matter or the ability to accept an explanation.

Unbelievable this is still being discussed. It's the last time I will respond to to such inane comments about a comment, that most anyone that reads it would know, was not said as a serious option, that can't accept the explanation or that detracts from the OP.

[Demit]

64. Learn how to communicate clearly.

Then you won't have to accuse readers of not understanding what you meant to say. I only jumped in because of how aggressive you were in insisting that you were being perfectly clear. Lol, you weren't.

[BlancheSplanchnik]

71. "it's not murder if a grand jury says it's not murder."

Trayvon Martin's family probably see it differently.

If i could think of every innocent who's been not-murdered because the grand jury said so, I'd list all their names.....but there's been so many, I can't remember every one.

[ColesCountyDem]

73. The system doesn't always get it right.

I'll be the first one to admit that I don't personallys think grand juries always get it right but what better system is there? Serious question.

[BlancheSplanchnik]

76. perhaps there is no better system. you know it's far from perfect,

As you just said yourself.

In your voluminous replies to mary, however, you use the grand jury's decision as a stick to shut her up. I think you were only interested in furthering your goal to bash her and feel Big. And for a pennyante syntax complaint (which, as a grammar nazi myself, I find overwrought.)

[ColesCountyDem]

78. You're free to think what you will.

I happen to think a lot of things, but civility prevents me from posting them here.

[BlancheSplanchnik]

81. of course you do.

Last edited Sat Sep 27, 2014, 04:09 PM - Edit history (1)

Think things about women who cross you. Or maybe you think things about anyone who highlights the superficiality of your argument.

Yep, I'd bet you do think things civility prevents you from saying.

[marym625]

82. Is it wrong

that I think I love you?

[BlancheSplanchnik]

92. can't help it. :)

I've got a low tolerance for arrogant dickweeds.

Edit to add, "petty". Arrogant, petty dickweeds.

[marym625]

93. Nice edit

[heaven05]

57. You don't/can't call ridiculous

when your responses so far are devoid of understanding, empathy for the family, the murdered individual and showing that you have obvious issues about the races of all the people involved here. Let your mouth/meaningless mind get a rest. You are showing a lot of ignorance.

[ColesCountyDem]

70. I have no 'obvious issues about the races of all the people involved here'.

I have great empathy for the family, which is why I fully support them in the civil suit. Far from being 'ignorant', I have the ability to walk and chew gum at the same time, from a legal perspective. Do you have any idea whatsoever how difficult it is to indict a law enforcement officer for some maner of culpable homicide? Do you know what each and every element of the various crimes are, or how low the threshold is for the homicide to be ruled 'justified', when it involves a law enforcement officer in the performance of his/her duties?

You obviously don't, and your posts demonstrate that.

[questionseverything]

83. what is needed is

a federal prosecutor leading a federal corruption probe. Collusion by prosecutors and police to suppress evidence to quash an indictment is a crime. It might have happened here.

[ColesCountyDem]

86. I think EVERY officer-involved shooting should merit a DOJ investigation, with obvious exceptions.

It's entirely possible to not have reached the threshold of a culpable homicide on the state level, while at the same time and using the same fact set, to clearly violate a deceased's civil rights.

The 'obvious exceptions' I would include are bank robbery 'shoot outs' between the police and the robbers, domestic situations where an armed suspect represents a 'clear and present danger' to innocent people he/she has already battered and continues to threaten, etc. . While not an exhaustive list, by any means, that should give you a good general idea of what I would consider 'obvious exceptions'.

[questionseverything]

87. then why the snark?

Should be prosecuted.

I am glad that the family hasn't stopped going after those responsible for John Crawford III murder.
Volunteers of America start a revolution
Reply to this post
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Response to marym625 (Reply #1)Fri Sep 26, 2014, 06:09 PM
Star Member ColesCountyDem (2,669 posts)
3. That's a silly statement.

What evidence of the special prosecutor committing a crime do you have? A breathless world awaits!

That said, I hope the family sues the pants off of the 911 caller.
"On some positions, Cowardice asks the question, 'Is it safe?' Expediency asks the question, 'Is it politic?' And Vanity comes along and asks the question, 'Is it popular?' But Conscience asks the question 'Is it right?' And there comes a time when one must take a position that is neither safe, nor politic, nor popular, but he must do it because Conscience tells him it right." - MLK

[ColesCountyDem]

88. It wasn't snark.

Some chose to see it as such, but others did not. The statement was silly and was not obviously sarcastic. I pointed that out.

I'm not going to continue beating this dead horse, OK?

[questionseverything]

89. i do not think it was silly

ColesCountyDem (2,672 posts)
27. "That special prosecutor Should (sic) be prosecuted."

Doesn't strike me as 'banter', but as a statement from someone who's so angry they say something that reflects their total ignorance of the law.
///////////////////
and you just said "every shooting with these exceptions" should be investigated...so which is it?

not that i would have much more faith in the feds,,,racheal has done a few stories on how the fbi has never found one illegal shoot by agents

<shrugs>

cops get a bs call and rush in guns firing without any thought, so we citizens think ,'hey this can't be right...the prosecutor did not really try for justice and you are there to belittle...to defend the authorities

just saying

[ColesCountyDem]

91. There's an enormous difference between what is and, ideally, what should be.

I don't cut the RW any slack when they say stupid stuff like "We should outlaw Islam!", e.g, so I'm not going to be hypocritical and overlook equally stupid statements when they happen to be made by progressives. I was trained as a lawyer, and words have meaning. The criminal justice system is not some vague concept to me, but a very real one, real enough that I can understand the bewilderment and outrage that people have with it, while at one and the same time understanding precisely why Case A produced Result X. That's what I meant when I said that I could walk and chew gum at the same time.

While I don't think that all police are 'out of control', I do believe that a disturbingly high percentage are. I also think that the law that is applicable to officer-involved shootings has failed to keep pace with both police behavior and technology, particularly with the post-911 militarization of law enforcement in this country.

I think that making DOJ investigations de rigeur in officer-involved shootings (with obvious exceptions of the type I mentioned) is the only practical way to rein in law enforcement as it exists in America, 2014 C.E. .

Any clearer?

[questionseverything]

94. again

Collusion by prosecutors and police to suppress evidence to quash an indictment is a crime

///////////////////

mary suggested the prosecutor did this...you said that was stupid...i feel you are wrong

[ColesCountyDem]

97. No, Mary didn't suggest that.

What Mary said was simply 'prosecute the prosecutor', essentially, as though failure to obtain an indictment was in and of itself a crime. She might have meant to say something else, but she didn't. I am not the only one who read her statement that way, either, so please go single one of them out. As I said, I'm tired of beating a dead horse, OK?

Peace.

[questionseverything]

98. so stop

she summed it up nicely....The fact no indictment came down pretty much proves he didn't try to get one.

[ColesCountyDem]

100. It proves no such thing.

People hear the quip "You can get a grand jury to indict a ham sandwich", and suddenly they're legal experts. Like most quips, it's clever, but it's also not a 'sure thing'-- not by a long shot.

Believe it or not, Joe Six Pack is loathe to believe that policemen lie, misbehave or commit crimes, even when they do lie, misbehave and commit crimes. Seek out a public defender and ask one, if you don't believe me.

The prosecutor's failure to get an indictment says nothing about how he or she presented the case to the grand jury.

[marym625]

108. Thank you

Last edited Sun Sep 28, 2014, 01:08 AM - Edit history (1)

I apologized to original poster for my outburst and the apology was met with "unnecessary. " So I wanted to thank you for your support. I am not proud of myself for taking the bait that people who were obviously looking for a fight, who intentionally misrepresent their position, their knowledge and the reason, throw at others Especially when clear, concise explanation was given and still the snark. With this subject, I let emotion get the better of me.

And, although it might be fun to do, I won't go through the posts and point out inaccuracies, contradictions, total disrespect for absolutely no reason, obvious lack of knowledge claimed, inability to admit when wrong and where emoticons should have been used and were not. But it would be fun.

Thank you again

[ieoeja]

99. And the beat goes on. n/t

[kelliekat44]

95. Prosecutorial misconduct

"In jurisprudence, prosecutorial misconduct is "an illegal act or failing to act, on the part of a prosecutor, especially an attempt to sway the jury to wrongly convict a defendant or to impose a harsher than appropriate punishment."[1] It is similar to selective prosecution."

I think I understand the OP's message.

[marym625]

113. exactly.

Won't happen but it should. Thank you

[rjsquirrel]

116. Ignorance is reflexive

as in look in a mirror

[ColesCountyDem]

117. But not about the law, unlike some posters. n/t

[zeemike]

38. What's wrong with total ignorance of the law?

Most people are...in fact you have to spend 4 years at a law school to understand it and then you still have much to learn about all the tricks of the trade.

Still, the poster made no attempt to make it a serious thing, and I did not take it that way.

[ColesCountyDem]

41. It's 3 years, and other people took it differently. n/t

[Demit]

53. The poster wasn't exactly clear that s/he was 'just kidding', either.

I just came across this thread. I thought s/he was stating what s/he seriously thought. What's the tipoff in the sentence "that special prosecutor should be prosecuted" that makes it non-serious or sarcastic?

That's a real question.

[zeemike]

67. A real question deserves a real answer.

The tip off is in the tone and the irony of a prosecuttor being prosecuted.
Much of normal conversation is like that...full of statements that were not meant to be taken literally.

[Demit]

72. That's very weak 'irony'.

Yes, in spoken conversation you can convey tone much more successfully. In the written word you have to work harder. If that was supposed to be some sort of pun (oh! ha ha! a prosecutor being prosecuted! why, the very idea!) it failed. There's nothing improbable about a lawyer himself being taken to court.

But thank you for responding in a straightforward way.

[zeemike]

80. Well I took it in that way

And when questioned about it the poster confirmed it...that should have been enough for most people.
But the irony is like saying the hangman should be hanged or the judge should be judged or the robber robed...called payback.
And when people say those things it does not suggest that they actually think it should be done.
So what I am suggesting is that we work a little harder at understanding the written work as conversation. and not as academic writing.

[heaven05]

56. You're right, there is anger

Last edited Sat Sep 27, 2014, 08:17 AM - Edit history (1)

and there is truth that you don't want to recognize for whatever reason. I have my opinion about why you can't recognize murder and attempted(so far) coverup and while I can't address that opinion without risking censure here it's pretty obvious to me.

[FarPoint]

15. Ohhhh..

Last edited Fri Sep 26, 2014, 09:33 PM - Edit history (1)

You appear clueless. If you have any desire to understand this tragic event, do not hesitate to ask me.

[marym625]

25. Seriously?

Because I am pissed off that the special prosecutor didn't do his job?

Man, many DU people have gotten to be complete dicks for absolutely no reason -> NO

I have never been as angry in my life as I am that horror that is happening in this country with cops killing its citizens for no reason, the majority of whom are unarmed, young black men. I have been doing all I can in the call for justice.

To minimize my outrage at the murder of John Crawford III because I made a sarcastic statement about the obvious intentional ineffectiveness of the special prosecutor is complete and utter bullshit!

Fuck off.

[ColesCountyDem]

29. "Fuck off".

Way to be civil!

[FarPoint]

30. yea...that's what Mary said....

Poster not willing to engage in fruitful discussion. I wonder what's behind the raging, insultive language? I live in the same community as John Crawford... I believe I have a little insight on the matter...say more than mary in Chigago!!!!...but no, mary wants me to " Fuck Off". Hmmmmm....

[ColesCountyDem]

34. Shame on you!

You brought that personal attack on yourself by disagreeing with her. How dare you? I tell people I disagree with to 'fuck off' at least 40 or 50 times a day, and it's THEIR fault.

[FarPoint]

35. You make me smile...

[ColesCountyDem]

39. Merci!

[marym625]

32. The comment to me

Was vile. It was unnecessary, nasty, dismissive and arrogant.

So yeah.

[Demit]

66. See? Now you're being very direct in your communicating.

Calling DUers dicks, telling them to fuck off, framing other people's posts as 'bullshit'...there's no possibility of misunderstanding you now! Well done you!

[heaven05]

22. suing that POS

will mean nothing. Only jail for this racist POS would be appropriate. The prosecutor seems to have purposefully dropped the ball. You can wait breathless all you want, the prosecutor and police officers should all be investigated especially with these videos showing that worthless POS lied. At the least new charges should be brought against the 'peace officers' and that zimmerman-zimpig clone needs to be charged also. I am getting so sick of you enablers making excuses for the racism and consequent racist murderers running rampant in this system in the guise of officers of the law and so-called prosecutors. Keep holding your breath, I not awaiting for a damn thing because nothing will be done to rectify this travesty of justice. The family won't get a dime out that POS's family because they don't have a damn thing.

[marym625]

28. Hopefully the DOJ will investigate

Everyone involved. I won't hold my breath that anything will happen because of it but it is something to be devoutly wished.

Unfortunately, the special prosecutor in the Crawford murder and the prosecutor in the Brown murder will be left alone. The fact the murders weren't immediately arrested shows they never wanted arrests. The Missouri prosecutor is hoping by January we'll all forget and when the "no indictment" comes down, it will be little more than a ripple in a pond

[heaven05]

54. Yeah, January

it will be cold in that part of the country, probably very snowy. When the 'no indictment' comes down, people won't be able to protest widely and loudly in Ferguson's streets. I won't forget ever. Hell I remember Emmett Till. This shit keeps up, feces WILL hit the rotating oscillator. Can't keep murdering people without retribution happening.

[marym625]

61. I wasn't alive when

Emmett Till was murdered. I can't believe we had come so far from that time only to go back. Or did we just ignore it?

I wonder how much press there would have been on Michael Brown if they hadn't also left his body on the street for so many hours. John Crawford III was murdered before Michael Brown and that didn't gain national press (at least to the extent it eventually did) until after Michael Brown's murder.

It has to stop. Something has to stop it. If local prosecutors can't be trusted to treat police the same way they would treat a regular, private citizen, then laws should be put in place to remove local prosecutors from the equation. A badge should not be a license to kill.

[Hassin Bin Sober]

45. "I hope the family sues the pants off"

Yeah, that will do a lot of good. That's about all they will get - a pair of 44 waist wranglers - from the looks of it.

[Bortman33]

103. Your condescension deserves some

type of tag also, and it shouldn't be a very pretty one.

It's pretty well known that the vast majority of times a person is brought before a grand jury, an indictment is considered to be "ham sandwich" inevitable.

Unless of course, the prosecutor has vested or biased intentions against charges being brought.

This case, at the least having negligence as a contributing factor, was ripe for being brought before the courts. The lack of follow up by those running the local institutions of justice are becoming all to common especially when the adversaries are people of color being shot and killed by "professional" officers of the law. It's not that this is an isolated incident, these extra judicial killings have been going on, unpunished, for hundreds of years now.

The crime my friend, in all these non prosecutions, is against both humanity and justice, so please get off your high horse.

[marym625]

118. Well said!

And thanks

[countryjake]

90. I agree!

I know that you're unable to answer, but I just want you to know that I think that special "prosecutor" should be prosecuted, too.

I put Mark Piepmeier's occupation in quotes. He's a disgrace to his profession. And that's the reason Ohio AG DeWine chose him for the job.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1017&pid=217456

[Warpy]

2. Good, there needs to be a civil suit

and charges for filing a false police report should also be filed against that lying, racist asshole.

Crawford would likely be alive and well had Ritchie said he saw a man with a gun instead of embellishing the whole thing with garbage about pointing it at people, especially the POOR KIDDIES!! The only things that gun was pointed at were the floor and some merchandise on low shelving.

I think that video is damning for Ritchie. I hope Crawford's family uses it to best advantage. Ritchie should be in prison. Second best will be putting him in debt for the rest of his rotten life while he thinks about the consequences of lying to the cops about people whose color he doesn't like.

What Ritchie did was murder by proxy.

[ColesCountyDem]

4. I agree about charging the 911 caller, as well as the lawsuit. n/t

[ieoeja]

101. too late

your responses and behavior belies your obvious intent on distracting and deflecting from the seriousness of this whole situation. But ZIMPIGS'S trial and 'vindication' brought out many like you to be understood for who you are. That understanding ain't pretty.

[marym625]

7. The only thing I think that could save the

Last edited Fri Sep 26, 2014, 10:41 PM - Edit history (1)

Asshole from prosecution would be if he and kids were not found on the tape during the same period John Crawford was.

I hope that guy spends his life in fear and looking over his shoulder.

[FarPoint]

12. Do you know if Richie identify John Crawford as a black male in the 911 call?

If so, this points directly to racial profiling.... Essentially a civil rights issue.

[Oktober]

16. That's not how that works..

Thank God...

[FarPoint]

20. Oh, well please enlighten me as to how it does work.

I apparently need placed on the path.

[ieoeja]

102. He was male. And Black. Ergo, describing him as a "Black male" would simply be a description. n/t

[Warpy]

18. He identified him as a black male, 6 feet tall.

[FarPoint]

19. I believe this is good information.

I thought he did identify him as a black male...some of the audio clips are editited which made me second guess my recall. Thanks.

[1StrongBlackMan]

36. I would far rather ...

the family ask to meet with Ritchie to express how his call was a proximate cause of Crawford's death ... then, let him live his life with that burden.

I think it's a bad move to try and sue him for the call. Citizen reports (e.g., 911 calls) serve an important function in our society.

[hedgehog]

50. Hmmm, suing him or charging him in criminal court would allow him to feel sorry for himself

as a victim; forcing him to face the pain he caused may well be the best punishment.

[heaven05]

60. that would help????

he did this shit on purpose. He lied, then recanted AFTER seeing that his LIES were obvious. The family has no need to meet with this perpetrator of murder of their son. I hope this ZIMPIG clone has to look over his shoulder every minute of every day for the rest of his natural life!!!! "Citizen reports" DO serve a useful function in this violent and crazy society, reports like his lying BS results in death of innocents. No eqivalency, in this matter, is understood by me. I smell obvious racism and intent in this matter versus reporting a 'real' crime. But I could be mistaken.

[JoeyT]

69. It depends on how he called and what he said.

Swatting is already prosecuted pretty heavily when all that results is a broken door, scared people, and embarrassed cops. The outcome from this was a lot worse.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swatting

If he lied to get an emergency response, he needs to go to jail.

[FarPoint]

104. You are absolutely correct regarding the essential function of citizens 911 calling.

Yet, it appears ones delusional embellishment has resulted in the death of two innocent shoppers as a direct result of his fabrication. How do we contain this "swating" style 911 call abuse?

[Quixote1818]

6. The caller is a fucking racist lying ass hole!

I hated his guts the minute I started listening to his obvious bull shit story. The police fucked up big time but he is also the one that got them all ramped up over NOTHING!!!! His actions helped get someone killed and he needs go to prison or at the very least get sued.

[Gothmog]

8. There should be a federal investigation here

This man civil's rights were violated

[FarPoint]

14. The attorney for the Crawford family, Michael Wright, he is brilliant.

Much help has also arrived from the Montgomery County NAACP President, Derrick Forward. The goals are clear for this fine team.

[Corey_Baker08]

111. I Live Within 30 Miles Of This Walmart & The Justice Department Is Taking Over The Case

this all comes after a slew of protest after Ohio Attorney General Mike Dewine refused for months to release the video tape of the shooting & a Grand Jury was convened and did not indict the officers involved.

Local news reports the Justice Department has now taken over the investigation prompting more rallies and support that the family of John Crawford III will get the justice they deserve in hoping that indictments are handed down in this case.

You can watch 1 of the 203 videos,the only one Mike Dewine released, here at Whiotv.com

[ErikJ]

9. Looks like he might be a Tea Partier too

From article............One month later, Ritchie shared with his friends a story from the Tea Party News Network about a group of black men assaulting a white couple in Missouri. The story condemned President Barack Obama and Eric Holder, the attorney general, for ignoring the attack after speaking publicly about the killing of Michael Brown, an unarmed 18-year-old, in Ferguson, Missouri, last month. It described them as “race hustlers”.

[FarPoint]

13. Which article?

Is it in the guardian link? I didn't read it yet...If this is true, Attorney Michael Wright would enjoy such information.

[herding cats]

21. It's in the article, yes.

It's the second paragraph from the last.

It's worth the read when you get a chance.

[FarPoint]

31. Thank you...

I did get a chance to read it...very good read...

[yardwork]

17. Sounds like another George Zimmerman type

Racist jerks wandering around profiling black men. The racism here is obvious.

[FarPoint]

10. Ron Richie was embraced by the prosecution.

Remember, they gave him a private viewing of the Walmart videos prior to the grand jury proceedings. He had to get his story cleaned up. They are BFFE.

Oh, I live in Dayton, Ohio and am outraged at this Ron Richie/George Zimmerman fella who was a braggart on the local news for DAYS! He was creepy...thrilled and self congratulating with each interview... Yes, he was the catalyst in this horrible nightmare. He needs to be held accountable. Oh, another thing, he bragged at being a Marine... Come to find out that he was let go, a washout!

[heaven05]

24. I do hope he gets what he gave

multiplied.

[Cha]

49. What a tragic fuck up.. idiot asshole should not get away with making crank calls to police..

especially when the police are so dumb they take him at his word without further investigation.

From what I'm reading a lot of lately.. what they have shot him dead if he had been white?

mahalo herdingcats~

[ladjf]

51. The "call" was a conscious attempt to mislead the security people into shooting the man

who was holding the bb gun. The caller should be prosecuted for manslaughter. But, having said that, the security people were definitely being at best reckless.

[gwheezie]

52. He's as responsible as the cops

There are people doing time now who did not actually kill a person but their actions caused a persons death.

[EEO]

68. Good. Everything that happened connects back to Ritchie and his misinformation.

He should be held accountable.

[yurbud]

77. I saw the call synced with security video. that caller should be tried for manslaughter

he flat out lied and it led to someone's death.

The cops over-reacted, but the information they were given made it sound like someone was intentionally threatening people with a gun not walking around poking products with a toy.

[exboyfil]

105. I was doubtful

about the behavior and motivation of the cops until I closely looked at the video synced with the 911 call. They were reacting to what they were told (someone carrying a semiautomatic rifle, loading it, and pointing it at customers). I think what cost Crawford his life was his sudden reaction when he first noticed the police (he crouches down and starts to turn his body towards the cops - a natural reaction to be startled). The country is awash in semiautomatic rifles - some of them even carried in front slings in stores. I can see him viewing the gun as a toy, but it does not look like one. Walmart was horribly negligent in having it on display without its wrapping. Why do we need to make such realistic looking pellet guns?

The 911 caller should be prosecuted. I just not sure what law would apply (filing a false police report). The guy was walking around with a realistic looking gun waving it around. It seemed most customers were not too concerned though.

[marym625]

109. You reminded me of an old case

Wasn't some toy maker sued before for selling a very realistic looking toy gun?

I am having a hard time finding it but I recall some very big case about that years ago.

[AngryOldDem]

96. The caller needs to be charged with something.

Inciting panic? Involuntary manslaughter? Misuse of 911? His lies led directly to two deaths -- Crawford and the poor woman, who was there getting stuff for her wedding that coming weekend and died of a heart attack in the ensuing panic.

The video with the 911 audio is damning. I don't know what the grand jury saw to make them come back with a no bill.

[RKP5637]

110. Agree with you!!! n/t

[Corey_Baker08]

112. I Live Within 30 Miles Of This Walmart & The Justice Department Is Taking Over The Case

this all comes after a slew of protest after Ohio Attorney General Mike Dewine refused for months to release the video tape of the shooting & a Grand Jury was convened and did not indict the officers involved.

Local news reports the Justice Department has now taken over the investigation prompting more rallies and support that the family of John Crawford III will get the justice they deserve in hoping that indictments are handed down in this case.

You can watch 1 of the 203 videos,the only one Mike Dewine released, here at Whiotv.com

[Blue_Tires]

115. Someone had to DIE over a crank call?