You Shot Someone In Self Defense Should You Call 911?

Decades earlier the only person allowed to answer emergency phone calls at a police agency was a trained cop. The cities learned they could save a lot of money by hiring civilians to do that job. It was not a good move because the operators had little training and were never up to the task. Frankly too many of these people lack enough basic intelligence to do the job.

Here is how it all works these days. You call 911 and an operator answers the call. The operator then types in basic address information for the dispatcher and the officer’s digital mobile terminal (car computer). The operator tells the dispatcher what’s going on. The dispatcher then tells the officers in the field the information from the operator. The officers only get third hand information to do their job.

The 911 operators are trained to give the simplest of first aid instructions but the juiciest part of the job is drawing out the excited utterances of the callers as well as full confessions. Miranda and the Fifth Amendment don’t apply in this area.

They record every call and those recordings are often a large part of the evidence used to put someone in prison. The 911 operators are rewarded for quickly asking those 20 incriminating questions. Unfortunately the intrigue of this part of the job changes the focus from helping people to encouraging them thoughtlessly babble their way to jail during some crisis.

This 911 call came from young a Phoenix Arizona woman who was living with a local violent felon. The goon made a habit of beating her and threatening her and her children with his Chinese SKS rifle and several handguns he illegally possessed.

A Phoenix homicide detective was investigating the thug for a murder. This frightened woman wanted to tell the detective what she knew but was legitimately afraid to do so.

This night the thug was high on methamphetamine, violent while waving his rifle at this woman and her two children. It ended when the rifle wielding drunken felon was shot in the chest. The woman called 911 asking for that homicide detective and help.

Before it was over the victim lost her job, apartment, car, clothing, all belongings and children while sitting in jail for a year waiting for her murder trial. She was acquitted and set free with only the dirty clothes she was arrested wearing a year earlier.

Sit back and relax as you listen to her call to 911 and ask yourself if making that call was a good idea…

Will The Fruit Of The Poisonous Tree Doctrine Spoil The Pellicano Wiretap Prosecutions?

Certainly not for those who took sweet plea deals to become snitches. Pellicano and the other holdouts may yet find themselves freed because of tainted evidence. The evidence here may have been infected by law enforcement personnel exceeding legal limitations of the laws and rules of investigative searches.

When the cops raided Pellicano they were looking for evidence of threats or extortion involving freelance reporter Anita Busch. The search warrants used were like all warrants. They had to specifically detail what evidence they were going to find and where it would be located.

Searching Pellicano’s files related to other clients should have been off limits for a couple of reasons. For one the investigator’s other files were work product from litigation investigations protected by the lawyer client confidential privilege. The other is that they don’t have a link to the Busch case. These are not insignificant issues.

Was the motivation of the additional fishing expedition searching and computer encryption code breaking beyond the scope of the original warrant? Were the law enforcement raiders tempted to stick their noses into a gossipmonger’s treasure trove of salacious Hollywood cases? That’s a question that will have to be answered by the judge assigned to this case.

There will be Motions To Suppress Evidence on this issue and we can expect a huge fight to over the searches that may prove to undermine the entire case.

Pellicano may have limited funds to litigate these days but there are plenty of other defendants in this case with the deep pockets needed to pay for whatever is required to overcome the scope of the damaging searches.

Should the Judge rule that there is one simple violation of the U.S. Constitution’s Fourth Amendment that led to the Indictments, it will all become fruit of the poisonous tree. As such all evidence uncovered by the misconduct must be suppressed. The prosecution will be over. Should that happen there would be those that say, they beat the case over a technicality. Our Bill of Rights is no technicality.

More Information On That Double Justifiable Homicide in Chicago…

We now have the names criminal histories and street gang affiliations of the two dead thugs. They were Kenneth Elrod, 31, of the 5400 block of West Waveland and Demetri Centera, 31, of the 4700 block of North Kenneth in Chicago.

Elrod and Centera were proud members of the Latin Eagles street gang. They were both career criminals. Elrod was a burglar and drug offender that has been twice sent to prison. Centera has a rap sheet listing no less that 26 arrests for a wide variety of crimes including drugs, disorderly conduct and trespassing.

It turns out that this event began at the Magic Touch Club located 5728 W. Belmont when Elrod caused a disturbance with another man and was removed from the club by the off duty officer. Elrod went home and came back with Centera, guns and extra ammo to exact revenge. They waited for the officer to leave the club and then ambushed him with drawn guns at Belmont and Kilpatrick.

Both offenders committed serious new felonies by possessing firearms because of their past criminal records. The incredibly stupid decision to harm their victim cost these two criminals their lives.

The Albany Park District tactical officer was lucky to be armed, well trained and somehow capable of surviving this deadly assault. The officer’s actions were carefully reviewed by the department and were ruled to be justifiable and proper under department regulations. One thing for sure Chicago is a safer place without Elrod and Centera roaming the streets.

As for the two dead men this seems to be yet another sad example that validates Darwin’s theory of evolution.

Music Producer to plead guilty today in the Pellicano case

Robert Pfeifer, one of the defendants in the Pellicano wiretap case, is scheduled to appear in a Los Angeles federal court this afternoon at 1:30 PM before Judge Fischer to plead guilty.

According to prosecutors Pfeifer threatened in e-mails to flee the country or kill himself rather than face charges and disgrace.

This is yet another indication of a deal to cooperate in the prosecution of others in this growing Hollywood eavesdropping scandal.

When Pellicano sees that he will never get out of prison, many like me believe he will betray all of his clients. Pellicano will then enjoy his retirement in the witness protection program...

3:50 PM an update:
The following is straight from the U.S. Attorney:
This afternoon, before Judge Fischer, Robert Pfeifer pleaded guilty to wiretapping.
Judge Fischer scheduled a sentencing hearing for June 26.
The maximum sentence for the offense is five years in federal prison.

Following the entry of the guilty plea, we agreed that Pfeifer could be released on bond. Judge Fischer subsequently set bond at $1 million. However, Pfeifer will not be released until next week because he must deed over his house to secure the bond.

At today's court hearing, Assistant U.S. Attorney Kevin Lally read the following into the record to support Pfeifer's guilty plea:

FACTUAL BASIS

In July 2000, defendant retained Anthony Pellicano as a private investigator in connection with litigation against his former employer, Z-Axis. Beginning no later than August 2, 2000, Pellicano used an electronic, mechanical, or other device to conduct an illegal wiretap of the telephone of defendant’s ex-girlfriend Erin Finn, who had given a deposition adverse to defendant in the Z-Axis litigation. Defendant was fully aware of the wiretap and discussed with Pellicano the interception of Finn’s telephone calls, including calls between Finn and her attorneys, and the information that Pellicano was obtaining from the wiretap. Between July and December 2000, defendant paid at least $125,000 to Pellicano, which he understood would be used in part to finance the wiretapping of Finn.

At approximately 12:30 a.m. on June 23, 2003, while the federal investigation of defendant and others was ongoing, defendant telephoned Erin Finn. Defendant asked Finn if she was a “snitch” and stated that he would disclose that fact. Defendant intended by these statements to influence Finn in connection with her status as a witness in the investigation.

More!

Nikki Finke tells us abut Pellicano’s “Telesluth” program and how the feds cracked the encryption to examine the evidence that led to the wiretapping indictments.

For me that raises serious Fourth Amendment issues. The cops were not looking for wiretapping evidence when they raided Pellicano’s offices. They apparently believed that he was wiretapping and took encrypted evidence without knowing what it was. I see a big test ahead for whatever the prosecutors try to introduce as evidence. This case is far from a done deal as I see it.

Nikki’s article…

Chicago’s Mugger Protection Act Somehow Failed Last Night..

Two men in their 20’s were apparently driving in their pick-up truck on Chicago’s Northwest side in the wee hours. They spotted a Hummer at a stoplight. I guess envy and greed took over as the two pointed guns at the driver of this exotic looking vehicle.

The frightened Hummer operator happened to have a gun of his own and knew how to use it. He quickly opened fire, fatally wounding the driver and front-seat passenger in the truck.

The Hummer operator was lucky enough to have the special privilege to carry a gun for self-protection in Illinois. A permit you ask? Why there’s no such thing! The lucky fellow happened to be a yet to be identified Albany Park District tactical unit officer for the Chicago Police Department.

Both of the not so lucky would be carjackers are dead today. They proved once again that Darwin rules. The off duty cop followed his training and was thankfully uninjured.

Perhaps it’s time for the politicians to rethink their Mugger Protection Act and allow the law-abiding folks the protection they need and deserve. The Illinois plan was to make sure only the criminals were armed. That law failed today. We all all safer today as a result.

Here's the latest information on the shooting as of 04/08/06.

13 Year Veteran Cop Facing Jail Disgrace And The End Of His Career.

You’re a cop and you have the tools to investigate people and know how to use them. But now you want to find out about your strange neighbor, the person that cares for your children or that scumbag that made false allegations about you or your partner. What do you do? If you access the department computers you may find yourself in real trouble like Phoenix police detective, Juan H. Rivera.

There is a solution that won’t get you in trouble. You simply find a retired officer who has a second career as a private detective who can access the motor vehicle records and get you what you need.

You can always get the public information about someone’s criminal background from the courts and never face criticism from anyone.

Penn & Teller Weigh In On Gun Control

I have to give a hat tip here to The Liberty zone and John Lott for this little gem.

Singer Gene Pitney dead at age 65.

The 1950s and 60s brought us a new era of music called Rock and Roll. A true icon of that time was then a young man of considerable talent, Gene Pitney. Pitney released a string of unforgettable hits that I grew up with.

I always lamented that I never got to see him in person. That is until about two years ago when he put on a marvelous show in Las Vegas. Needless to say I did not miss that opportunity. Pitney was fit, fabulous and looked like he had another 20 years left to tour before he would retire. I got to meet him and shake his hand afterwards. Pitney also produced a DVD of that show that I own.

When the Beatles hit our shores Rock and Roll was pushed to the side. Later, Disco would rule American tastes. Too many artists like Pitney found themselves in forced retirement. Instead of retirement, Pitney explored and found new audiences in Europe and Australia and New Zealand. Pitney spent his time where the money was instead of brooding at home.

Gene died while touring in the UK. Another great one is in Rock and Roll Heaven. Rest in peace Gene…

Star Struck Congresswoman steals tax funds to hob-knob with a Celebrity?

If this story is true the thief needs to be put in chains. It seems Cynthia McKinney used our tax money to fly Isaac Hayes to her Georgia Congressional district. Yes, she’s the one who likes surrounds herself with black celebrities. She just brought in two Ebony Hollywood types to stand by as she gave her, “I Can’t Talk Because Of My Lawyer’s Advice”, press conference last week. This is not about ethics but about theft.

Her alleged assault on a Capitol police officer and her subsequent attempt to smear the working cop for protecting her and the other members on Congress is really disgusting.

I hope she’s soon shown the exit door of the Capitol building and the entrance door to Club Fed.

There Is Yet Another Fish Caught In The Pellicano Government Dragnet.

Today the US Attorney unsealed an Information charging film director, John McTiernan with making false statements to the FBI. It’s alleged that on February 13, 2006, that McTiernan misled FBI agents about hiring disgraced former private investigator Anthony Pellicano to conduct a wiretap of film producer Charles Roven in order to intercept his telephone conversations.

An Information is a charging document in lieu of an Indictment that strongly indicates a deal has already been struck between McTiernan and the government in exchange for information and testimony. Attorneys John Carlton and Arnold & Porter are representing McTiernam.

In better days McTiernam and Roven collaborated as producers in the 2002 film, ROLLERBALL.

Danger There Is An Unchecked Biohazard At A Ralphs Grocery Store!

Click on the photos to enlarge them and look at the filth...

We all know and accept that shopping carts at our local grocery are some the least sanitary items we come into contact with. After all, they're used by countless strangers who may be coughing or sneezing as they shop. With our humanity and its diseases such as hepatitis, tuberculosis and HIV this place is unhealthy to say the least. Indeed grocery shopping carts can host unseen biohazard landmines.

Somehow I suspect that the supermarket employees who actually handle food within the meat, fish and deli departments also must handle those disgusting carts. They are required to wash their hands after using bathroom facilities but how about after pushing those carts?

There is a special place in Venice CA where the problem is beyond epidemic. Aside from all the disease issues Ralphs’ carts are truly visual stomach turners. The Ralphs store located at 910 Lincoln Blvd, Venice, CA 90291 may well be the dirtiest store in the entire Ralphs system. Starting with the check out counters where the cash registers show a murky film of dirt and grime. The counter areas are not up to the standards of other grocery stores including the other Ralphs.

To be fair Venice has a large population of Spanish speaking vagrants who invade everyone’s alley garbage cans looking for recyclables to sell for cash. The offending Ralphs store has a recycling center right next door that obviously contributes to the problem. The vagrants sell their wares to the center and the carts are immediately returned to service at the store. This store has apparently not done much of anything to combat this unhealthy blight.

The vagrants find that despite the theft laws they can take the shopping carts from Ralphs and use them to collect and sort the proceeds from thousands of area garbage cans. The Los Angeles Police Department can’t or won’t enforce the theft law to protect the store’s property. Ralphs has apparently not hired security people to round up the carts and arrest the offending vagrants.

So when the carts find their way back to the store they are covered with filth, slime and perhaps residue from soiled baby diapers or worse. Ralphs does not have their cart cleaning equipment on premises.

The store manager would not go on camera citing company policy but told me they have a crew come in once a month for that purpose. Apparently it’s all too little, too late. The manager was kind enough to inform me that there were sanitary wipes at the entrances. I asked her to show me where they were and she discovered what I already knew, they were completely out of the wipes. She then offered that the vagrants must have taken them for their own hygiene needs.

I will post any response from Ralphs and report on any visible efforts to correct the problem that I notice. Look for more pictures and video to be posted here...

An update 4/5/06: Here is an e-mail response fron Ralphs on my story. I'd say after reading this that their "investigator" needs glasses.

Date: Wed, 05 Apr 2006 10:39:54 -0700From: "Kelly Bradshaw" To: Subject: RE: Complaint of Ralph's Market @ 910 Lincoln Blvd, Venice, CA 90291
RE: Complaint of Ralph's Market @ 910 Lincoln Blvd, Venice, CA 90291

An investigation was conducted at Ralph's Market located at 910 Lincoln Blvd, Venice, CA 90291 on 4/4/06. An accumulation of trash and debris was observed on the south side of the parking lot. Sani-wipes were observed to be available at the entrance door for use after handling the shopping carts. An accumulation of dirt was not observed on the grocery carts, however, it was raining at the time of the inspection. According to the store Manager, the check-out counters are detailed weekly, one each day. The check-out counter available for inspection had no accumulation of dirt on surfaces.

An inspection report and compliance date was issued to the store to remove the accumulation of trash and debris from the south side of the parking lot by 4/11/06.

If you have any further questions, feel free to call. My office hours are 8-9:30 am M-TH.

Thank you,
Kelly M. Bradshaw
EHS II

WATCH SOME VIDEO!

Venice Shopping Cart Thieves Caught On Tape!

I caught two Venice CA Vagrants in the act of the theft of two grocery carts this afternoon. Okay I caught lots of others by they spoke no English so I was unable to obtain their confessions.
The Blue cart is property of Albertson’s and the chrome cart on the right is from Ralphs.

I’m wondering if these two gentlemen are some of George Bush’s “Guest Workers”?

I told these two vagrants that I was doing a story about recycling. Here’s what they had to say…


Editor's note: I will continue to follow up on this story...

I have a partial solution to this chronic problem with the vagrants and the carts...

Every grocery store in Venice seems to have the same problem with these cart thefts and the mess. At times there are shortages of carts for paying customers.

Since enforcement by the LAPD is not likely, the area grocery stores need to hire a licensed private investigation agency to aggressively locate carts, arrest the offenders in possession of them for theft and arrange for recovery of the carts. The recycling centers owned by the stores should refuse to pay anyone for recyclables brought to them in stolen carts.

I suspect that some people may want the vagrants to have some carts to engage in this business. Perhaps carts can be supplied by the stores that wish to dispose of their old ones that are rusty, too old or no longer suitable for service in the stores. They can be painted or have distinctive markings that allow for lawful possession by the vagrants.

I see carts from Ralphs, Big Lots, Von’s, Smart & Final and Albertson’s being used by the local vagrants. These stores might collaborate on such a project
The vagrants will quickly learn to not use the wrong carts

GERRY CULLITY LIVES

There are people put on this earth who have a great purpose. Such a man was Gerry Cullity, the first director I worked under as an actor. More than a Scottsdale community theater director, Gerry was a teacher and someone who inspired me at age 50 to dream the impossible dream.

I auditioned for Gerry in his production of; ONE FLEW OVER THE CUKOO’S NEST. I was cast as Dr. Spivey, the psychiatrist who was Nurse Ratchet’s wimpy boss.

Gerry was a classically-trained musician, with a Masters Degree in Fine Arts from the prestigious Mason Gross School of Fine Arts He built an impressive list of credits as an actor, director, playwright, lyricist and musician, holding residency status with numerous companies, including the New Jersey Shakespeare Festival, The Whole Theatre Company, La Mama and New Mercury Theatre Company. Gerry with his wife Laurie and mother Joan Thompson founded Desert Stages back in January 1997.

Primarily Desert Stages was a children’s theater where the luckiest Arizona children could train as actors, singers and dancers. This New York trio of transplants worked incredible magic with anyone and everyone who passed trough their open doors. Some of children barley old enough to walk and talk was taught roles by Gerry and Laurie in shows such as ANNIE and OLIVER TWIST.

I was reading the news wires from Phoenix a little more than a year ago while I was spending some time in India. I read a shocking and heartbreaking story of the sudden death of 51 year-old Gerry Cullity from a heart attack.

I found this tape of a rehearsal I shot when we were getting ready to put on the Dale Wasserman play, MAN OF LA MANCHA. Gerry played the lead. Sit back and enjoy a scene while under construction.

Gerry’s spirit is sill alive in anyone who he’s ever taught, worked with or directed. Desert Stages is in good hands as Joan and Laurie carry on the legacy. Gerry and Laurie’s son Ian Cullity has grown to become a successful actor, singer and dancer carrying on the family tradition.