Looting in Missouri after cops shoot 18 year old (4 Viewers)

[HellToupee]

Meet Joshua Williams 19 , peace activist + arsonist.

http://www.stltoday.com/news/local/metro/protester-who-advocates-peace-charged-with-setting-fire-at-berkeley/article_ad4006c5-06ab-5b7e-8a7f-3fd2ed4dbbcb.html

One of the most frequently quoted and photographed Ferguson protesters was charged Saturday with setting fire to a Berkeley convenience store last week.

St. Louis County police arrested Joshua Williams, 19, of St. Louis, on Friday after several local media outlets and store surveillance captured images of him trying to set a pile of wood on fire outside the QuikTrip on North Hanley Road early Wednesday.

Williams confessed to setting fires at the store in a videotaped interview, according to court documents.

Police say Williams entered the QuikTrip shortly after looters shattered its glass doors during protests of the death of Antonio Martin, 18, who a police officer had shot earlier at the Mobil station across the street. Surveillance footage from the Mobil store shows Martin point what police say is a gun at a Berkeley officer before the officer fatally shoots him.


Williams can be seen in videos both inside and outside the looted QuikTrip, authorities said.

On Friday night and Saturday morning, a small group gathered at the St. Louis County Justice Center in Clayton to protest Williams’ arrest. Some were in disbelief over his reported confession and said the video images are not clear enough.

“Josh is one of the young activists, and all of us have taken close to him. We got to know his heart, and he got to know ours,” said Bishop Derrick Robinson, of Kingdom Destiny Fellowship International. “He’s a great kid, an educated kid, a child who knows what he wants and is very active in the community.”

The Post-Dispatch, Bloomberg, USA Today and the Associated Press have quoted and photographed Williams. On Oct. 13, he was photographed walking arm-in-arm with author and activist Cornel West toward the St. Louis University campus where protesters staged a sit-in.

Williams’ most recent confrontation of St. Louis Police Chief Sam Dotson during a Ferguson Commission meeting landed him in the pages of this newspaper.

Williams came within feet of Dotson and shouted at him as he tried to answer questions from the panel. “Can someone please get this lying (expletive) ho off the mic!” Williams yelled.

Williams has been arrested at least twice during Ferguson-related protests for unlawful assembly as well as refusal to disperse.

Police say Williams used lighter fluid to set fires inside and outside the QuikTrip early Wednesday. He was charged with arson in the first degree, a felony. He is also charged with felony burglary and misdemeanor stealing for allegedly taking a lighter, gum and money from the store.

Williams has been quoted as an advocate for peaceful protests.

An MSNBC profile of Williams in September quoted him as saying, “We have to come together as one and show them we can be peaceful, that we can do this. If not, they’re going to just want us to act up so (police) can pull out their toys on us again.”

Later, he continued: “I learned that we have to stand up and that you can’t get nowhere with violence but you can always move people without it.”

 

[HellToupee]

http://www.nationalreview.com/article/395393/fergusons-media-darling-flames-out-ryan-lovelace

Ferguson’s Media Darling Flames Out

Joshua Williams was the liberal-media darling of the Ferguson protests; now he’s an alleged arsonist.

By Ryan Lovelace

• Archive
• Latest
• RSS

Joshua Williams at a Ferguson city council meeting in September. (Scott Olson/Getty)




Print
Text

Comments
534
Joshua Williams has been everywhere: protesting in Ferguson, Mo., Washington, D.C., and Cleveland, Ohio. Now, he is in St. Louis, where police have arrested him for arson.

During the Ferguson protests, Williams perfected the skill of catching the attention of journalists and using them to elevate his claims of police brutality to national attention. Quoted or photographed in countless articles in publications including the New York Times and USA Today, Williams claims police in Ferguson, Mo., targeted him because he is black. The truth, caught on tape by National Review Online, is much different.

​

Advertisement


The charismatic teenager was one of Ferguson’s most recognizable protesters. Once the summer protests began, protestors and reporters alike found themselves transfixed by Williams’s emotional demonstrations. Sometimes he cried, sometimes he screamed, and sometimes he confronted police in a way designed to get a response. As high-profile African Americans flocked to Ferguson, Williams somehow found himself at their side: When former Princeton University professor Cornel West arrived, there was Williams, shoulder-to-shoulder with him. “I don’t know how he ended up arm-in-arm with Cornel West, but . . . for as much as Josh was holding on to West, Cornel West there, West was holding onto Josh as well and talking with Josh,” says David Carson, the St. Louis Post-Dispatchphotographer who captured the two marching together. “So it wasn’t like it was a one-way thing.”Williams has been portrayed in the media as an innocent victim fighting back against authority; he has been held up as the quintessential Ferguson protestor, decrying police brutality as he is time and again brutalized by police. When Williams interrupted a Ferguson City Council meeting in September and the meeting descended into chaos, for example, the New York Times published a photo of his disruptive antics with a caption that said that he had only “posed a question to the City Council.”

[SIZE=1em]Williams came to Ferguson to protest the Ferguson police’s involvement in the death of Michael Brown. He routinely clashed with the cops and claimed that he had been arrested multiple times there.[/SIZE]

Williams made his way to Washington, D.C., to join protests there, too. “The reason we came up here is because we are tired of being shot down in the streets like dogs,” Williams told thousands of people gathered in the city streets for Al Sharpton’s “Justice for All” march earlier this month. “Police have a thing called the trigger finger — they can’t control they trigger finger when they see a black person in the street.”

He proceeded to tell the crowd about the beatings he had suffered at the hands of police, and claimed to have been arrested five times. Each time after the police released him, he said, he went back out on the street to let the cops know that “I don’t care about them.”

NRO visited Ferguson in November and observed something different. On a cold fall night before the grand jury decided against indicting police officer Darren Wilson for killing Michael Brown, Williams stood across the street from the Ferguson Police Department.

“Come on, I’m ready,” he shouted. “Your time starts now. You have five minutes to arrest me, or we’re going to bang it out in the streets.”

​

[SIZE=1em]NRO didn’t see whether the police complied with his request, but it was neither the first nor the last time he goaded the police. In October, the[/SIZE] Post-Dispatchphotographed[SIZE=1em] him burning an American flag; in December, he [/SIZE]prevented[SIZE=1em] St. Louis police chief Sam Dotson from speaking at a meeting of the Ferguson Commission, gesturing in Dotson’s face and shouting him down. The Ferguson Commission is an independent group commissioned by Missouri governor Jay Nixon to make recommendations about how to make progress in Ferguson.[/SIZE]

 

[fatness]

Can we get some public outrage from the black community about these issues?

How many times do you ask for outrage from the white community about an issue?

If white people showed public outrage about the issues I mentioned they would be branded racists and shunned by society.

The "society" you refer to is predominantly white. The rest of your post is just excuse-making.

 

[parasaurolophus]

Can we get some public outrage from the black community about these issues?

How many times do you ask for outrage from the white community about an issue?

If white people showed public outrage about the issues I mentioned they would be branded racists and shunned by society.

The "society" you refer to is predominantly white. The rest of your post is just excuse-making.

Your point remains invalid.

 

[Dinsy Ejotuz]

One of the most surprising poll-related findings I've ever seen. You typically can't get 86% of the public to agree that grass is green:

The poll shows an almost-unheard-of amount of consensus when it comes to proposed changes in how law enforcement conducts its business.

It shows 86 percent of Americans support requiring patrol officers in their areas to wear small video cameras while on duty -- a finding in line with other polling on this subject.

What's a little more surprising, though, is the consensus on another issue related to the Ferguson and Eric Garner cases: independent prosecutors. The poll shows about the same percentage -- 87 percent -- support having these outsiders handle cases in which unarmed Americans are killed by police.

 

[D_House]

One of the most surprising poll-related findings I've ever seen. You typically can't get 86% of the public to agree that grass is green:

The poll shows an almost-unheard-of amount of consensus when it comes to proposed changes in how law enforcement conducts its business.It shows 86 percent of Americans support requiring patrol officers in their areas to wear small video cameras while on duty -- a finding in line with other polling on this subject.What's a little more surprising, though, is the consensus on another issue related to the Ferguson and Eric Garner cases: independent prosecutors. The poll shows about the same percentage -- 87 percent -- support having these outsiders handle cases in which unarmed Americans are killed by police.

Item 1 seems like a great idea and I believe has the support of most police, as it protects them to the same extent that it potentially protects citizens in addition to providing another means of collecting evidence.. Furthermore I would also think that these cameras would be a more cost effective use of police funds than much of the military-type gear we are seeing employed across the country.

Item 2 seems like a no-brainer but (and excuse my ignorance on this issue) I wonder how an independent prosecutor would be selected to ensure that they are actually independent.

 

[Jackstraw]

Woman drives through suburban Chattanooga neighborhood, clad in body armor, with hand out the driver's side window shooting at cars and people. After being cornered, Julia Shields, 45, pointed her firearm at police but was taken into custody without injury.

Shields is being charged with 3 counts of attempted first degree murder, 7 counts of aggravated assault, possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony, felony evading arrest, and felony reckless endangerment.

http://talkingpointsmemo.com/edblog/its-in-the-culture

Apparently it can be done.

 

[Henry Ford]

Woman drives through suburban Chattanooga neighborhood, clad in body armor, with hand out the driver's side window shooting at cars and people. After being cornered, Julia Shields, 45, pointed her firearm at police but was taken into custody without injury.

Shields is being charged with 3 counts of attempted first degree murder, 7 counts of aggravated assault, possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony, felony evading arrest, and felony reckless endangerment.

http://talkingpointsmemo.com/edblog/its-in-the-culture

Apparently it can be done.

Let's play "guess her race before you click."

 

[Dinsy Ejotuz]

Woman drives through suburban Chattanooga neighborhood, clad in body armor, with hand out the driver's side window shooting at cars and people. After being cornered, Julia Shields, 45, pointed her firearm at police but was taken into custody without injury.

Shields is being charged with 3 counts of attempted first degree murder, 7 counts of aggravated assault, possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony, felony evading arrest, and felony reckless endangerment.

http://talkingpointsmemo.com/edblog/its-in-the-culture

Apparently it can be done.

Good thing she wasn't holding a cellphone I guess.

 

[CowboysFromHell]

Woman drives through suburban Chattanooga neighborhood, clad in body armor, with hand out the driver's side window shooting at cars and people. After being cornered, Julia Shields, 45, pointed her firearm at police but was taken into custody without injury.

Shields is being charged with 3 counts of attempted first degree murder, 7 counts of aggravated assault, possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony, felony evading arrest, and felony reckless endangerment.

http://talkingpointsmemo.com/edblog/its-in-the-culture

Apparently it can be done.

Let's play "guess her race before you click."

I prefer to acknowledge that, while race is definitely a factor in the overall discussion, it's not that simple.

 

[fatness]

One of the most surprising poll-related findings I've ever seen. You typically can't get 86% of the public to agree that grass is green:

The poll shows an almost-unheard-of amount of consensus when it comes to proposed changes in how law enforcement conducts its business.

It shows 86 percent of Americans support requiring patrol officers in their areas to wear small video cameras while on duty -- a finding in line with other polling on this subject.

What's a little more surprising, though, is the consensus on another issue related to the Ferguson and Eric Garner cases: independent prosecutors. The poll shows about the same percentage -- 87 percent -- support having these outsiders handle cases in which unarmed Americans are killed by police.

Not surprising that the general public has better sense than message boards.

 

[Henry Ford]

Woman drives through suburban Chattanooga neighborhood, clad in body armor, with hand out the driver's side window shooting at cars and people. After being cornered, Julia Shields, 45, pointed her firearm at police but was taken into custody without injury.

Shields is being charged with 3 counts of attempted first degree murder, 7 counts of aggravated assault, possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony, felony evading arrest, and felony reckless endangerment.

http://talkingpointsmemo.com/edblog/its-in-the-culture

Apparently it can be done.

Let's play "guess her race before you click."

I prefer to acknowledge that, while race is definitely a factor in the overall discussion, it's not that simple.

I agree that it's not the only factor. However, had this white woman in Tennessee driving around shooting a gun been an innocent 61-year-old black man in Tennessee sitting in his living room, things may not have turned out as well.

 

[tdoss]

Woman drives through suburban Chattanooga neighborhood, clad in body armor, with hand out the driver's side window shooting at cars and people. After being cornered, Julia Shields, 45, pointed her firearm at police but was taken into custody without injury.

Shields is being charged with 3 counts of attempted first degree murder, 7 counts of aggravated assault, possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony, felony evading arrest, and felony reckless endangerment.

http://talkingpointsmemo.com/edblog/its-in-the-culture

Apparently it can be done.

Let's play "guess her race before you click."

I prefer to acknowledge that, while race is definitely a factor in the overall discussion, it's not that simple.

I agree that it's not the only factor. However, had this white woman in Tennessee driving around shooting a gun been an innocent 61-year-old black man in Tennessee sitting in his living room, things may not have turned out as well.

It's a woman.

People are up in arms about the disparity in the justice system between black and white. Want to really get outraged?

Look at the disparity in the justice system between men and women...regardless of race.

I've read it's something like black men get convicted 17% more than white men for same crime, same history...but making the same comparison between men and women and it's some insane numbers starting around 67% higher for men. Same crime, same history, everything same but sex.

It's scary how men are getting railroaded in every facet of our culture but women still scream the need for equality...and no one seems to bat an eye.

 

[StrikeS2k]

Woman drives through suburban Chattanooga neighborhood, clad in body armor, with hand out the driver's side window shooting at cars and people. After being cornered, Julia Shields, 45, pointed her firearm at police but was taken into custody without injury.

Shields is being charged with 3 counts of attempted first degree murder, 7 counts of aggravated assault, possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony, felony evading arrest, and felony reckless endangerment.

http://talkingpointsmemo.com/edblog/its-in-the-culture

Apparently it can be done.

Let's play "guess her race before you click."

I prefer to acknowledge that, while race is definitely a factor in the overall discussion, it's not that simple.

I agree that it's not the only factor. However, had this white woman in Tennessee driving around shooting a gun been an innocent 61-year-old black man in Tennessee sitting in his living room, things may not have turned out as well.

I suspect the cops you come in to contact with have more to do with the outcome in these situations than the color of your skin. There are armed confrontations with cops EVERY day and yet somehow the vast majority of them never make the newspapers.....

 

[CowboysFromHell]

Woman drives through suburban Chattanooga neighborhood, clad in body armor, with hand out the driver's side window shooting at cars and people. After being cornered, Julia Shields, 45, pointed her firearm at police but was taken into custody without injury.

Shields is being charged with 3 counts of attempted first degree murder, 7 counts of aggravated assault, possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony, felony evading arrest, and felony reckless endangerment.

http://talkingpointsmemo.com/edblog/its-in-the-culture

Apparently it can be done.

Let's play "guess her race before you click."

I prefer to acknowledge that, while race is definitely a factor in the overall discussion, it's not that simple.

I agree that it's not the only factor. However, had this white woman in Tennessee driving around shooting a gun been an innocent 61-year-old black man in Tennessee sitting in his living room, things may not have turned out as well.

I wouldn't use that example to support a claim of racism. The guy shot at the police. Pretty sure they were going to return fire even if the guy had green skin.

 

[fatness]

Woman drives through suburban Chattanooga neighborhood, clad in body armor, with hand out the driver's side window shooting at cars and people. After being cornered, Julia Shields, 45, pointed her firearm at police but was taken into custody without injury.

Shields is being charged with 3 counts of attempted first degree murder, 7 counts of aggravated assault, possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony, felony evading arrest, and felony reckless endangerment.

http://talkingpointsmemo.com/edblog/its-in-the-culture

Apparently it can be done.

Let's play "guess her race before you click."

I prefer to acknowledge that, while race is definitely a factor in the overall discussion, it's not that simple.

I agree that it's not the only factor. However, had this white woman in Tennessee driving around shooting a gun been an innocent 61-year-old black man in Tennessee sitting in his living room, things may not have turned out as well.

I wouldn't use that example to support a claim of racism. The guy shot at the police. Pretty sure they were going to return fire even if the guy had green skin.

But they wouldn't shoot someone shooting at people?

http://www.timesfreepress.com/news/local/story/2014/dec/28/womshoots-hixsneighborhood/280032/

Police said Shields, blonde and wearing body armor, raced through the neighborhood, past well-manicured lawns and simple brick houses, firing multiple shots out her window at people and cars.

Chattanooga police officers received a report of shots fired at 1300 Cloverdale and arrived at 3:52 p.m. Friday, according to a news release.

Officers found two people who said they were at a stop sign when a woman pulled up in a dark-colored sedan and fired shots into their vehicle, hitting and disabling the radiator.

Then more calls reported a woman pointing a firearm at people as she passed them in her car, and that she fired at another vehicle in the same area.

Police found Shields sitting in her vehicle in the Stuart Heights Baptist Church Parking lot on Hixson Pike, the release stated.

Shields sped away in her car and led officers on a chase down Highway 153 and Hixson Pike, still pointing her firearm at vehicles she passed.

Eventually, officers stopped and arrested Shields at Cloverdale Drive and Koblan Drive, near the spot where the shootings occurred and just blocks from her house. She pointed her firearm at an officer, but was taken into custody without incident or injury, the release stated.

Shields has been charged with three counts of attempted first-degree murder, seven counts of aggravated assault, possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony, felony evading arrest and felony reckless endangermen

Good thing she wasn't doing something dangerous like sitting in her own home.

 

[Henry Ford]

Woman drives through suburban Chattanooga neighborhood, clad in body armor, with hand out the driver's side window shooting at cars and people. After being cornered, Julia Shields, 45, pointed her firearm at police but was taken into custody without injury.

Shields is being charged with 3 counts of attempted first degree murder, 7 counts of aggravated assault, possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony, felony evading arrest, and felony reckless endangerment.

http://talkingpointsmemo.com/edblog/its-in-the-culture

Apparently it can be done.

Let's play "guess her race before you click."

I prefer to acknowledge that, while race is definitely a factor in the overall discussion, it's not that simple.

I agree that it's not the only factor. However, had this white woman in Tennessee driving around shooting a gun been an innocent 61-year-old black man in Tennessee sitting in his living room, things may not have turned out as well.

I wouldn't use that example to support a claim of racism. The guy shot at the police. Pretty sure they were going to return fire even if the guy had green skin.

They claimed he fired at them. With a shotgun. In a trailer. With several officers in front of him, who had just broken in the front door of a law abiding citizen dressed in all black and allegedly wearing ski masks. None of them were hit.

But, fair enough. I concede the point.

 

[whiskey7]

Woman drives through suburban Chattanooga neighborhood, clad in body armor, with hand out the driver's side window shooting at cars and people. After being cornered, Julia Shields, 45, pointed her firearm at police but was taken into custody without injury.

Shields is being charged with 3 counts of attempted first degree murder, 7 counts of aggravated assault, possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony, felony evading arrest, and felony reckless endangerment.

http://talkingpointsmemo.com/edblog/its-in-the-culture

Apparently it can be done.

Let's play "guess her race before you click."

I prefer to acknowledge that, while race is definitely a factor in the overall discussion, it's not that simple.

I agree that it's not the only factor. However, had this white woman in Tennessee driving around shooting a gun been an innocent 61-year-old black man in Tennessee sitting in his living room, things may not have turned out as well.

I wouldn't use that example to support a claim of racism. The guy shot at the police. Pretty sure they were going to return fire even if the guy had green skin.

They claimed he fired at them. With a shotgun. In a trailer. With several officers in front of him, who had just broken in the front door of a law abiding citizen dressed in all black and allegedly wearing ski masks. None of them were hit.

But, fair enough. I concede the point.

I was not familiar with that story. As I searched for more info, I came across varying accounts of what occurred.

This one paints a different picture than this one which is different yet than this one. They all agree the cops had the wrong house/bad intel, but we really should not read write-ups on the same event that have that much variance in what went down, IMO.

Here is yet another link which is the first I have found that actually mentions it was a trailer (one of only two residences on the block) and says the cops wore ski masks. This one says Adams was 64 and the name of one of the cops (also classified as rookies) that shot him is spelled slightly different. Significant? Maybe. Maybe not. I only bring it up because its a 4th different account of the event I have found. I strongly suspect I would continue to find more differences if I keep looking and maybe that is a big part of the problem these days...so many places to read about something that happened but no way to know how accurate the account is.

 

[whiskey7]

Woman drives through suburban Chattanooga neighborhood, clad in body armor, with hand out the driver's side window shooting at cars and people. After being cornered, Julia Shields, 45, pointed her firearm at police but was taken into custody without injury.

Shields is being charged with 3 counts of attempted first degree murder, 7 counts of aggravated assault, possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony, felony evading arrest, and felony reckless endangerment.

http://talkingpointsmemo.com/edblog/its-in-the-culture

Apparently it can be done.

Let's play "guess her race before you click."

I prefer to acknowledge that, while race is definitely a factor in the overall discussion, it's not that simple.

I agree that it's not the only factor. However, had this white woman in Tennessee driving around shooting a gun been an innocent 61-year-old black man in Tennessee sitting in his living room, things may not have turned out as well.

I wouldn't use that example to support a claim of racism. The guy shot at the police. Pretty sure they were going to return fire even if the guy had green skin.

But they wouldn't shoot someone shooting at people?

http://www.timesfreepress.com/news/local/story/2014/dec/28/womshoots-hixsneighborhood/280032/

Police said Shields, blonde and wearing body armor, raced through the neighborhood, past well-manicured lawns and simple brick houses, firing multiple shots out her window at people and cars.

Chattanooga police officers received a report of shots fired at 1300 Cloverdale and arrived at 3:52 p.m. Friday, according to a news release.

Officers found two people who said they were at a stop sign when a woman pulled up in a dark-colored sedan and fired shots into their vehicle, hitting and disabling the radiator.

Then more calls reported a woman pointing a firearm at people as she passed them in her car, and that she fired at another vehicle in the same area.

Police found Shields sitting in her vehicle in the Stuart Heights Baptist Church Parking lot on Hixson Pike, the release stated.

Shields sped away in her car and led officers on a chase down Highway 153 and Hixson Pike, still pointing her firearm at vehicles she passed.

Eventually, officers stopped and arrested Shields at Cloverdale Drive and Koblan Drive, near the spot where the shootings occurred and just blocks from her house. She pointed her firearm at an officer, but was taken into custody without incident or injury, the release stated.

Shields has been charged with three counts of attempted first-degree murder, seven counts of aggravated assault, possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony, felony evading arrest and felony reckless endangermen

Good thing she wasn't doing something dangerous like sitting in her own home.

I think she got benefit of the doubt because she is a woman. A man (black, white, or otherwise) likely gets shot there, IMO.

Would be curious to get more details on this. How close did the cops get when they "found her" sitting in the car at the church? Close enough to see the weapon? Maybe the slide was back indicating she was empty? I don't know. Does not sound like she shot any more after taking off from the church so maybe they had reason to believe she was empty. Or maybe she immediately dropped the gun when instructed to do so. All the write-ups say she was arrested without force but do not elaborate. If she pointed the gun at the cops, how long did that last? I suspect she had to drop it or they knew she couldn't fire because I don't think any cop in his/her right mind would approach a suspect who is still pointing a firearm at them. Like to get more info.

ETA: slight change to wording in the interest of clarification

 

[Henry Ford]

Woman drives through suburban Chattanooga neighborhood, clad in body armor, with hand out the driver's side window shooting at cars and people. After being cornered, Julia Shields, 45, pointed her firearm at police but was taken into custody without injury.

Shields is being charged with 3 counts of attempted first degree murder, 7 counts of aggravated assault, possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony, felony evading arrest, and felony reckless endangerment.

http://talkingpointsmemo.com/edblog/its-in-the-culture

Apparently it can be done.

Let's play "guess her race before you click."

I prefer to acknowledge that, while race is definitely a factor in the overall discussion, it's not that simple.

I agree that it's not the only factor. However, had this white woman in Tennessee driving around shooting a gun been an innocent 61-year-old black man in Tennessee sitting in his living room, things may not have turned out as well.

I wouldn't use that example to support a claim of racism. The guy shot at the police. Pretty sure they were going to return fire even if the guy had green skin.

But they wouldn't shoot someone shooting at people?

http://www.timesfreepress.com/news/local/story/2014/dec/28/womshoots-hixsneighborhood/280032/

Police said Shields, blonde and wearing body armor, raced through the neighborhood, past well-manicured lawns and simple brick houses, firing multiple shots out her window at people and cars.

Chattanooga police officers received a report of shots fired at 1300 Cloverdale and arrived at 3:52 p.m. Friday, according to a news release.

Officers found two people who said they were at a stop sign when a woman pulled up in a dark-colored sedan and fired shots into their vehicle, hitting and disabling the radiator.

Then more calls reported a woman pointing a firearm at people as she passed them in her car, and that she fired at another vehicle in the same area.

Police found Shields sitting in her vehicle in the Stuart Heights Baptist Church Parking lot on Hixson Pike, the release stated.

Shields sped away in her car and led officers on a chase down Highway 153 and Hixson Pike, still pointing her firearm at vehicles she passed.

Eventually, officers stopped and arrested Shields at Cloverdale Drive and Koblan Drive, near the spot where the shootings occurred and just blocks from her house. She pointed her firearm at an officer, but was taken into custody without incident or injury, the release stated.

Shields has been charged with three counts of attempted first-degree murder, seven counts of aggravated assault, possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony, felony evading arrest and felony reckless endangermen

Good thing she wasn't doing something dangerous like sitting in her own home.

I think she got benefit of the doubt because she is a woman. A man (black, white, or otherwise) likely gets shot there, IMO.

Would be curious to get more details on this. How close did the cops get when she was sitting in the car at the church? Close enough to see the weapon? Maybe the slide was back indicating she was empty? I don't know. Does not sound like she shot any more after taking off from the church so maybe they had reason to believe she was empty. Or maybe she immediately dropped the gun when instructed to do so. All the write-ups say she was arrested without force but do not elaborate. If she pointed the gun at the cops, how long did that last? I suspect she had to drop it or they knew she couldn't fire because I don't think any cop in his/her right mind would approach a suspect still pointing a firearm at them. Like to get more info.

Great, now the "he charged the officer" discussion gets to happen again.

 

[parasaurolophus]

Woman drives through suburban Chattanooga neighborhood, clad in body armor, with hand out the driver's side window shooting at cars and people. After being cornered, Julia Shields, 45, pointed her firearm at police but was taken into custody without injury.

Shields is being charged with 3 counts of attempted first degree murder, 7 counts of aggravated assault, possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony, felony evading arrest, and felony reckless endangerment.

http://talkingpointsmemo.com/edblog/its-in-the-culture

Apparently it can be done.

Let's play "guess her race before you click."

I prefer to acknowledge that, while race is definitely a factor in the overall discussion, it's not that simple.

I agree that it's not the only factor. However, had this white woman in Tennessee driving around shooting a gun been an innocent 61-year-old black man in Tennessee sitting in his living room, things may not have turned out as well.

I wouldn't use that example to support a claim of racism. The guy shot at the police. Pretty sure they were going to return fire even if the guy had green skin.

But they wouldn't shoot someone shooting at people?

http://www.timesfreepress.com/news/local/story/2014/dec/28/womshoots-hixsneighborhood/280032/

Police said Shields, blonde and wearing body armor, raced through the neighborhood, past well-manicured lawns and simple brick houses, firing multiple shots out her window at people and cars.

Chattanooga police officers received a report of shots fired at 1300 Cloverdale and arrived at 3:52 p.m. Friday, according to a news release.

Officers found two people who said they were at a stop sign when a woman pulled up in a dark-colored sedan and fired shots into their vehicle, hitting and disabling the radiator.

Then more calls reported a woman pointing a firearm at people as she passed them in her car, and that she fired at another vehicle in the same area.

Police found Shields sitting in her vehicle in the Stuart Heights Baptist Church Parking lot on Hixson Pike, the release stated.

Shields sped away in her car and led officers on a chase down Highway 153 and Hixson Pike, still pointing her firearm at vehicles she passed.

Eventually, officers stopped and arrested Shields at Cloverdale Drive and Koblan Drive, near the spot where the shootings occurred and just blocks from her house. She pointed her firearm at an officer, but was taken into custody without incident or injury, the release stated.

Shields has been charged with three counts of attempted first-degree murder, seven counts of aggravated assault, possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony, felony evading arrest and felony reckless endangermen

Good thing she wasn't doing something dangerous like sitting in her own home.

I think she got benefit of the doubt because she is a woman. A man (black, white, or otherwise) likely gets shot there, IMO.

Would be curious to get more details on this. How close did the cops get when she was sitting in the car at the church? Close enough to see the weapon? Maybe the slide was back indicating she was empty? I don't know. Does not sound like she shot any more after taking off from the church so maybe they had reason to believe she was empty. Or maybe she immediately dropped the gun when instructed to do so. All the write-ups say she was arrested without force but do not elaborate. If she pointed the gun at the cops, how long did that last? I suspect she had to drop it or they knew she couldn't fire because I don't think any cop in his/her right mind would approach a suspect still pointing a firearm at them. Like to get more info.

Great, now the "he charged the officer" discussion gets to happen again.

Don't bring up stories if you don't want people to have an opinion on them.

You left out a lot of details with your quick snippets. Made it sound like police just blasted into a house and shot a man sitting on the couch. The guy had a sawed off shotgun.

 

[Henry Ford]

Woman drives through suburban Chattanooga neighborhood, clad in body armor, with hand out the driver's side window shooting at cars and people. After being cornered, Julia Shields, 45, pointed her firearm at police but was taken into custody without injury.

Shields is being charged with 3 counts of attempted first degree murder, 7 counts of aggravated assault, possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony, felony evading arrest, and felony reckless endangerment.

http://talkingpointsmemo.com/edblog/its-in-the-culture

Apparently it can be done.

Let's play "guess her race before you click."

I prefer to acknowledge that, while race is definitely a factor in the overall discussion, it's not that simple.

I agree that it's not the only factor. However, had this white woman in Tennessee driving around shooting a gun been an innocent 61-year-old black man in Tennessee sitting in his living room, things may not have turned out as well.

I wouldn't use that example to support a claim of racism. The guy shot at the police. Pretty sure they were going to return fire even if the guy had green skin.

But they wouldn't shoot someone shooting at people?

http://www.timesfreepress.com/news/local/story/2014/dec/28/womshoots-hixsneighborhood/280032/

Police said Shields, blonde and wearing body armor, raced through the neighborhood, past well-manicured lawns and simple brick houses, firing multiple shots out her window at people and cars.

Chattanooga police officers received a report of shots fired at 1300 Cloverdale and arrived at 3:52 p.m. Friday, according to a news release.

Officers found two people who said they were at a stop sign when a woman pulled up in a dark-colored sedan and fired shots into their vehicle, hitting and disabling the radiator.

Then more calls reported a woman pointing a firearm at people as she passed them in her car, and that she fired at another vehicle in the same area.

Police found Shields sitting in her vehicle in the Stuart Heights Baptist Church Parking lot on Hixson Pike, the release stated.

Shields sped away in her car and led officers on a chase down Highway 153 and Hixson Pike, still pointing her firearm at vehicles she passed.

Eventually, officers stopped and arrested Shields at Cloverdale Drive and Koblan Drive, near the spot where the shootings occurred and just blocks from her house. She pointed her firearm at an officer, but was taken into custody without incident or injury, the release stated.

Shields has been charged with three counts of attempted first-degree murder, seven counts of aggravated assault, possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony, felony evading arrest and felony reckless endangermen

Good thing she wasn't doing something dangerous like sitting in her own home.

I think she got benefit of the doubt because she is a woman. A man (black, white, or otherwise) likely gets shot there, IMO.

Would be curious to get more details on this. How close did the cops get when she was sitting in the car at the church? Close enough to see the weapon? Maybe the slide was back indicating she was empty? I don't know. Does not sound like she shot any more after taking off from the church so maybe they had reason to believe she was empty. Or maybe she immediately dropped the gun when instructed to do so. All the write-ups say she was arrested without force but do not elaborate. If she pointed the gun at the cops, how long did that last? I suspect she had to drop it or they knew she couldn't fire because I don't think any cop in his/her right mind would approach a suspect still pointing a firearm at them. Like to get more info.

Great, now the "he charged the officer" discussion gets to happen again.

Don't bring up stories if you don't want people to have an opinion on them.

You left out a lot of details with your quick snippets. Made it sound like police just blasted into a house and shot a man sitting on the couch. The guy had a sawed off shotgun.

The woman in the story here had a gun. She even shot it a number of times. At people who hadn't just burst into her home wearing ski masks.

 

[parasaurolophus]

The woman in the story here had a gun. She even shot it a number of times. At people who hadn't just burst into her home wearing ski masks.

The two stories are exactly comparable. Same set of facts, which have all been released. Yep. I remember reading the exact account of the interaction with police.

Is this the part where you claim you know it all because you are a lawyer?

 

[fatness]

The woman in the story here had a gun. She even shot it a number of times. At people who hadn't just burst into her home wearing ski masks.

The two stories are exactly comparable. Same set of facts, which have all been released. Yep. I remember reading the exact account of the interaction with police.Is this the part where you claim you know it all because you are a lawyer?

When will the white community stand up and denounce lawyers?

 

[The Big Guy]

The woman in the story here had a gun. She even shot it a number of times. At people who hadn't just burst into her home wearing ski masks.

The two stories are exactly comparable. Same set of facts, which have all been released. Yep. I remember reading the exact account of the interaction with police.Is this the part where you claim you know it all because you are a lawyer?

When will the white community stand up and denounce lawyers?

That happens every day in every jurisdiction. Started with Shakespeare IIRC.

 

[CowboysFromHell]

Media Nearly Silent after NC Cop Thwarts NYPD-style Assassination Attempt

 

[PinkydaPimp]

Let's take race out of it for just a minute, and focus instead on socioeconomics, realizing there is somewhat of an overlap there. There is, no doubt, a segment of our society that begins their lives with the cards stacked against them. They grow up in broken homes, typically without a positive male role model, in high crime areas, with poor education, and limited job opportunities. Police, and the establishment in general, probably are not trusted or respected. These people probably grow up feeling like everyone is out to get them, the rules aren't fair, and they end up feeling hopeless to do anything to better their lives. I get all of that. I'm sympathetic to their plight, and I believe we should constantly be working as a society to fix these problems and give everyone an equal opportunity to succeed. Unfortunately, that is way easier said than done.

All that being said, that still does not excuse the behavior that comes out of this situation. Crime is higher in these neighborhoods, and we must combat that crime. These people don't get a free pass just because they are growing up in an unfair environment. Sorry, but life's not fair. We all need to take personal responsibility given our own individual circumstances, and the rules and laws of our society must apply to all.

But i dont think people excuse the behavior. But i think its very easy to see how the behavior is way more likely in these impoverished communities.

 

[fantasycurse42]

#blackbrunch

Bob Owens pretty accurate with his tweet:

"They're targeting urban liberals, alienating potential allies"

http://news.yahoo.com/black-brunch-protests-nyc-berkeley-oakland-190212742.html

 

[Yenrub]

Those dash board cams helped keep an innocent guy out of jail in NJ

http://www.nydailynews.com/news/crime/police-dash-cam-video-exonerates-nj-man-implicates-cops-article-1.1701763

 

[Henry Ford]

The woman in the story here had a gun. She even shot it a number of times. At people who hadn't just burst into her home wearing ski masks.

The two stories are exactly comparable. Same set of facts, which have all been released. Yep. I remember reading the exact account of the interaction with police.Is this the part where you claim you know it all because you are a lawyer?

No, it's the part where I point out that I didn't say they have the exact same set of facts.Later, when you ask me why I am splitting hairs because as far as you're concerned I said they have the same facts - that's when I explain that I split hairs because I'm a lawyer.

 

[Henry Ford]

Those dash board cams helped keep an innocent guy out of jail in NJ

http://www.nydailynews.com/news/crime/police-dash-cam-video-exonerates-nj-man-implicates-cops-article-1.1701763

That's weird. Why would a police officer shout "stop resisting" and "stop trying to take my gun" at a guy who isn't doing either of those things and has his hands in the air? I guess we'll never know.

 

[PinkydaPimp]

Those dash board cams helped keep an innocent guy out of jail in NJ

http://www.nydailynews.com/news/crime/police-dash-cam-video-exonerates-nj-man-implicates-cops-article-1.1701763

That's weird. Why would a police officer shout "stop resisting" and "stop trying to take my gun" at a guy who isn't doing either of those things and has his hands in the air? I guess we'll never know.

I've had shotguns drawn on me as well by this police department. They claimed I didn't signal when changing lanes and made furtive movements. This comes as no surprise.

 

[Bucky86]

Those dash board cams helped keep an innocent guy out of jail in NJ

http://www.nydailynews.com/news/crime/police-dash-cam-video-exonerates-nj-man-implicates-cops-article-1.1701763

That's weird. Why would a police officer shout "stop resisting" and "stop trying to take my gun" at a guy who isn't doing either of those things and has his hands in the air? I guess we'll never know.

I've had shotguns drawn on me as well by this police department. They claimed I didn't signal when changing lanes and made furtive movements. This comes as no surprise.

I'm sure you deserved it based on your attitude and the way you pulled over. I mean, I've been pulled over before and never had any problems.

 

[Sweet J]

#blackbrunch

Bob Owens pretty accurate with his tweet:

"They're targeting urban liberals, alienating potential allies"

http://news.yahoo.com/black-brunch-protests-nyc-berkeley-oakland-190212742.html

I disagree.

 

[PinkydaPimp]

Those dash board cams helped keep an innocent guy out of jail in NJ

http://www.nydailynews.com/news/crime/police-dash-cam-video-exonerates-nj-man-implicates-cops-article-1.1701763

That's weird. Why would a police officer shout "stop resisting" and "stop trying to take my gun" at a guy who isn't doing either of those things and has his hands in the air? I guess we'll never know.

I've had shotguns drawn on me as well by this police department. They claimed I didn't signal when changing lanes and made furtive movements. This comes as no surprise.

I'm sure you deserved it based on your attitude and the way you pulled over. I mean, I've been pulled over before and never had any problems.

Actually the shotguns were drawn before they even spoke to us. We actually brought a complaint against the department and the officers lied about the incident. Nothing happened which we assumed it wouldnt. That police department was known for that type of stuff. Luckily, my friends who i was picking up as their car broke down were across the street so nothing crazy happened.

 

[Wrigley]

I've heard crime is way down in NY the past two weeks

 

[njherdfan]

Those dash board cams helped keep an innocent guy out of jail in NJ

http://www.nydailynews.com/news/crime/police-dash-cam-video-exonerates-nj-man-implicates-cops-article-1.1701763

That's weird. Why would a police officer shout "stop resisting" and "stop trying to take my gun" at a guy who isn't doing either of those things and has his hands in the air? I guess we'll never know.

On the bright side, the article notes that an internal investigation was conducted, and the police department decided that nothing inappropriate took place,, so we can all rest easy.

 

[kface]

Those dash board cams helped keep an innocent guy out of jail in NJ

http://www.nydailynews.com/news/crime/police-dash-cam-video-exonerates-nj-man-implicates-cops-article-1.1701763

That's weird. Why would a police officer shout "stop resisting" and "stop trying to take my gun" at a guy who isn't doing either of those things and has his hands in the air? I guess we'll never know.

On the bright side, the article notes that an internal investigation was conducted, and the police department decided that nothing inappropriate took place,, so we can all rest easy.

Dashboard and uniform cams need to be mandatory. These are people's lives we are talking about. This guy did nothing wrong

 

[Limp Ditka]

QUICK! SHOOT A LIMB!

http://www.cnn.com/videos/world/2015/01/09/lead-vo-tapper-hostage-paris-attack.cnn

 

[Rayderr]

Federal charges unlikely for Darren Wilson in Ferguson case, officials sayBy Sara Sidner, Pamela Brown and Shimon Prokupecz, CNN

Updated 7:50 AM ET, Thu January 22, 2015

(CNN)A federal investigation has not found enough evidence to charge Darren Wilson with the federal crime of depriving Michael Brown of his civil rights, according to multiple sources familiar with the investigation.
The FBI has completed its investigation into the August shooting in Ferguson, Missouri, and sent the findings to the Justice Department, a law enforcement official and a separate U.S. official said Wednesday.

Justice Department prosecutors will not recommend civil rights charges against Wilson, who killed Brown, because there is not sufficient evidence to support charges, a U.S. official told CNN.

The New York Times first reported the development Wednesday.

A grand jury decided not to indict Wilson on state charges in November.

However, the final Justice Department report has not been completed. The FBI joined local officials in interviewing over 200 people and looked at much the same evidence as the grand jury.

Ultimately, the decision will be made by Attorney General Eric Holder, who has said he will announce a decision before he leaves office, which is expected to be by spring.

Another Justice Department civil rights investigation into the Ferguson Police Department's overall track record with minorities is ongoing.

Benjamin Crump, an attorney for Brown's family, declined to comment on the news Wednesday.

"The family of Michael Brown Jr. will wait for official word from the Justice Department regarding whether or not any charges will be filed against the police officer who shot and killed him," Crump said in a written statement released Wednesday. "The family won't address speculation from anonymous sources."

Months of protests over alleged police brutality and racial profiling surged in Ferguson and across the country after Wilson, a white officer, killed Brown, an unarmed African-American teen.

Legal experts have long noted that a federal civil rights case against Wilson would be more difficult to prove.

"The bar is extraordinarily high," said Joey Jackson, a criminal defense attorney and legal analyst for CNN's sister network HLN. "You have to show an intentional deprivation of a civil right."

Given how difficult it is to prove intent, and also how many conflicting accounts emerged from the grand jury investigation, "it would be very difficult to move forward federally with a civil rights charge," Jackson said.

If no federal charges are brought against Wilson, who resigned from his position as a Ferguson Police officer in November, some people in the area will be disappointed, said Antonio French, a St. Louis city alderman who lives near Ferguson.

"I think you have a lot of people who will be disappointed if this does turn out to be the case. The community and the family wanted a day in court, an opportunity to see all the evidence laid out, cross-examined," French said. "And it looks like that's not going to happen. I hope we don't have any violence as a result of this."

Violent protests erupted in Ferguson after the grand jury's decision not to indict Wilson in November. Police are still searching for suspects accused of looting.

Protests aren't likely to stop any time soon, French said.

"People have a right to protest. We will probably continue to see that. That's a good thing. But we want to keep them peaceful, nonviolent," he said. "Because violence makes the situation worse. It divides the community in a time we need to come together and make everyone feel like they can get equal protection."

Ultimately, he said, some of the protesters' goals can be achieved outside the courts.

"The next steps I think are legislative change," French said, "trying to make sure that in cases like this we get a special prosecutor by law, and to create a new level of civilian oversight over police departments."

In his State of the State speech on Wednesday, Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon said addressing "the broader, systemic issues" raised by the unrest that followed the killing of Brown would demand "sustained effort."

"The legacy of Ferguson will be determined by what we do next ... to foster healing and hope ... and the changes we make to strengthen all of our communities," he said.

 

[CurlyNight]

I'm kind of surprised that there wasn't any protest, or at least it wasn't televised/mentioned on the news...

 

[Henry Ford]

Are we talking about this yet?

http://www.motherjones.com/mojo/2015/01/jerame-reid-police-shot-video

 

[Bucky86]

Are we talking about this yet?

http://www.motherjones.com/mojo/2015/01/jerame-reid-police-shot-video

In before the, "he was a thug anyways," crowd.

 

[avoiding injuries]

Are we talking about this yet?

http://www.motherjones.com/mojo/2015/01/jerame-reid-police-shot-video

In before the, "he was a thug anyways," crowd.

Haha. Not a thug, but a convicted cop killer.

Read that wrong. Shot AT a cop.

 

[Yenrub]

Don’t move!

Show me your hands!

Don’t move!

 

[CurlyNight]

On Tuesday, the Bridgeton Police Department expressed its disappointment over the video's release "out of respect for the family." Yeah right, more like disappointment that this even got out and now there's an investigation into it....

 

[TobiasFunke]

Are we talking about this yet?

http://www.motherjones.com/mojo/2015/01/jerame-reid-police-shot-video

In before the, "he was a thug anyways," crowd.

Just under the wire!

Next will be the people who link to a kind of similar incident involving a white person so they can ask why nobody was outraged when that happened and call all the people who bring race into it "the real racists." That usually takes a little longer, you gotta give the folks over at Breitbart News time to work.

 

[kentric]

Are we talking about this yet?

http://www.motherjones.com/mojo/2015/01/jerame-reid-police-shot-video

Looks like the cop who did the shooting was black. So the story is not newsworthy.

 

[lod01]

Are we talking about this yet?

http://www.motherjones.com/mojo/2015/01/jerame-reid-police-shot-video

In before the, "he was a thug anyways," crowd.

Actually it was a black officer killing a black guy. There's no meat in that story. CNN is trying to run with it but it's like swinging at a 90 mph baseball with a pencil. Ya got nothing.

 

[Courtjester]

And to the bottom of page 12 this thread will go........