breonna taylor – Cincy Link https://cincylink.com Explore Cincy Sun, 06 Mar 2022 12:12:49 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.7.1 https://cincylink.com/pub/content/uploads/sites/27/2020/03/apple-touch-icon-precomposed-100x100.png breonna taylor – Cincy Link https://cincylink.com 32 32 Breonna Taylor’s family, protesters upset over acquittal https://cincylink.com/2022/03/06/breonna-taylors-family-protesters-upset-over-acquittal/ https://cincylink.com/2022/03/06/breonna-taylors-family-protesters-upset-over-acquittal/#respond Sun, 06 Mar 2022 12:12:49 +0000 https://cincylink.com/?p=153300

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) — The acquittal of an ex-Louisville officer tied to the botched drug raid that ended with Breonna Taylor's death is stirring the frustrations of her family and protesters.

The former officer, Brett Hankison, was not charged in her death and did not fire the shots that killed her.

Instead, he was charged with endangering neighbors when he fired into Taylor's apartment.

Taylor's mother, Tamika Palmer, sat in on the trial for several days.

She left the courtroom quickly Thursday after a jury cleared Hankison of wanton endangerment charges.

Palmer said later on social media that though the trial was not about her daughter's death, the former narcotics detective should have been convicted.

During his testimony, Hankison said that Taylor "didn't need to die that night," the Associated Press reported.

The former officer testified that the gunfire began with a muzzle flash that illuminated a shadowy silhouette, and he thought it was someone firing an automatic rifle at his fellow officers.

He added that he returned fire hoping to eliminate the threat.

In March 2020, Taylor, a 26-year-old Black medical worker, was fatally shot in her home during a botched police raid.

According to the news outlet, the obtained warrant was later found to be flawed.

Two of the officers who fired shots that struck Taylor, Myles Cosgrove and Jonathan Mattingly, were not charged.




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]]> https://cincylink.com/2022/03/06/breonna-taylors-family-protesters-upset-over-acquittal/feed/ 0 Second day of testimony begins for only officer charged in deadly raid of Breonna Taylor’s apartment https://cincylink.com/2022/02/24/second-day-of-testimony-begins-for-only-officer-charged-in-deadly-raid-of-breonna-taylors-apartment/ https://cincylink.com/2022/02/24/second-day-of-testimony-begins-for-only-officer-charged-in-deadly-raid-of-breonna-taylors-apartment/#respond Thu, 24 Feb 2022 16:17:08 +0000 https://cincylink.com/?p=150230

Witnesses continue to present evidence in the trial for one of the officers who was involved in the deadly raid of Breonna Taylor's apartment on March 2020. Brett Hankison, now a former Louisville police officer, fired 10 shots in the raid, none of which hit Taylor, but prosecutors said they endangered the couple and child who lived next door. During opening arguments Wednesday, prosecutors told jurors the case is not about the killing of Taylor, who was Black, or police decisions that led to the raid.“Breonna Taylor should not have died that night,” said Barbara Maines Whaley, a prosecutor with the Kentucky attorney general's office. Whaley told jurors the city of Louisville paid millions in a civil suit, “but the money did not bring her back. Nothing will.”Hankison is charged with three counts of wanton endangerment, a felony with a range of one to five years in prison.Hankison's attorney, Stewart Mathews, told jurors that when the gunfire began, Hankison “was attempting to defend and save the lives of his fellow officers" and followed his police training.He said Hankison’s shooting was justified during a chaotic scene lasting just 10 to 15 seconds.Taylor, 26, worked as an emergency medical tech and was settling down for bed on March 13, 2020, when officers kicked in her door. They drew fire from Taylor’s boyfriend, who thought an intruder was breaking in. Two officers at the door returned fire, killing Taylor.Taylor’s neighbor, Cody Etherton, was first on the stand and testified that he was nearly hit by Hankison's bullets in the apartment next door.Several Louisville police officers who were with Hankison the night of the raid testified they served the warrant at Taylor's ground floor apartment as “knock and announce,” even though a no-knock warrant was approved. Several officers said they knocked at the address for minutes longer than usual.Sgt. Michael Campbell testified that just before the shooting began, he was standing with Hankison, but like his colleagues, testified that he couldn’t tell what Hankison did.“I don’t remember where he was at that point. I didn’t see him shoot,” Campbell said.Hankison fired five of the bullets through the glass door and several more through a bedroom window.Myles Cosgrove, who fired the bullet that killed Taylor, is scheduled to appear as a witness in Hankison's trial. The other officer present that night, former LMPD detective Jonathan Mattingly, has said he will plead the Fifth Amendment and refuse to testify, citing the pending U.S. Department of Justice investigation into the LMPD. In all, more than 30 witnesses are slated to testify in a trial expected to last two to three weeks. The Associated Press contributed to this article.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. —

Witnesses continue to present evidence in the trial for one of the officers who was involved in the deadly raid of Breonna Taylor's apartment on March 2020.

Brett Hankison, now a former Louisville police officer, fired 10 shots in the raid, none of which hit Taylor, but prosecutors said they endangered the couple and child who lived next door.

During opening arguments Wednesday, prosecutors told jurors the case is not about the killing of Taylor, who was Black, or police decisions that led to the raid.

“Breonna Taylor should not have died that night,” said Barbara Maines Whaley, a prosecutor with the Kentucky attorney general's office. Whaley told jurors the city of Louisville paid millions in a civil suit, “but the money did not bring her back. Nothing will.”

Hankison is charged with three counts of wanton endangerment, a felony with a range of one to five years in prison.

Hankison's attorney, Stewart Mathews, told jurors that when the gunfire began, Hankison “was attempting to defend and save the lives of his fellow officers" and followed his police training.

He said Hankison’s shooting was justified during a chaotic scene lasting just 10 to 15 seconds.

Taylor, 26, worked as an emergency medical tech and was settling down for bed on March 13, 2020, when officers kicked in her door. They drew fire from Taylor’s boyfriend, who thought an intruder was breaking in. Two officers at the door returned fire, killing Taylor.

Taylor’s neighbor, Cody Etherton, was first on the stand and testified that he was nearly hit by Hankison's bullets in the apartment next door.

Several Louisville police officers who were with Hankison the night of the raid testified they served the warrant at Taylor's ground floor apartment as “knock and announce,” even though a no-knock warrant was approved. Several officers said they knocked at the address for minutes longer than usual.

Sgt. Michael Campbell testified that just before the shooting began, he was standing with Hankison, but like his colleagues, testified that he couldn’t tell what Hankison did.

“I don’t remember where he was at that point. I didn’t see him shoot,” Campbell said.

Hankison fired five of the bullets through the glass door and several more through a bedroom window.

Myles Cosgrove, who fired the bullet that killed Taylor, is scheduled to appear as a witness in Hankison's trial. The other officer present that night, former LMPD detective Jonathan Mattingly, has said he will plead the Fifth Amendment and refuse to testify, citing the pending U.S. Department of Justice investigation into the LMPD.

In all, more than 30 witnesses are slated to testify in a trial expected to last two to three weeks.

The Associated Press contributed to this article.


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]]> https://cincylink.com/2022/02/24/second-day-of-testimony-begins-for-only-officer-charged-in-deadly-raid-of-breonna-taylors-apartment/feed/ 0 Brett Hankison trial set to begin, nearly 2 years after Breonna Taylor’s death https://cincylink.com/2022/02/23/brett-hankison-trial-set-to-begin-nearly-2-years-after-breonna-taylors-death/ https://cincylink.com/2022/02/23/brett-hankison-trial-set-to-begin-nearly-2-years-after-breonna-taylors-death/#respond Wed, 23 Feb 2022 18:07:21 +0000 https://cincylink.com/?p=149875

Trial begins for former cop involved in deadly Breonna Taylor raid nearly 2 years after her death


Brett Hankison's defense attorney put it succinctly during jury selection on Tuesday."Breonna Taylor has nothing to do with the charges against Brett Hankison this morning, and yet, she has everything to do with it," said Stew Matthews, as he questioned prospective jurors.Hankison is facing three counts of wanton endangerment, but those charges are not for Taylor's death. They are for shots fired into a neighboring apartment with three people inside.Hankison was one of three Louisville officers serving a no-knock search warrant on Taylor's apartment on March 20, 2022. When they entered, Taylor's boyfriend Kenneth Walker – who says he did not know the men entering his home were police officers – fired a single shot. The officers fired back and Taylor, who was behind Walker, was hit six times, police say. The bullet that killed her was fired by Myles Cosgrove, another officer who was present that night, according to the investigation that ensued.Cosgrove is scheduled to appear as a witness in Hankison's trial. The other officer present that night, former LMPD detective Jonathan Mattingly, has said he will plead the Fifth Amendment and refuse to testify, citing the pending U.S. Department of Justice investigation into the LMPD.In all, more than 30 witnesses are slated to testify in a trial expected to last two to three weeks."The commonwealth has the burden of proof in a criminal case and we gladly accept that burden of proof," said Barbara Whaley, the special prosecutor handling the case.Opening arguments are scheduled for Wednesday morning.

Brett Hankison's defense attorney put it succinctly during jury selection on Tuesday.

"Breonna Taylor has nothing to do with the charges against Brett Hankison this morning, and yet, she has everything to do with it," said Stew Matthews, as he questioned prospective jurors.

Hankison is facing three counts of wanton endangerment, but those charges are not for Taylor's death. They are for shots fired into a neighboring apartment with three people inside.

Hankison was one of three Louisville officers serving a no-knock search warrant on Taylor's apartment on March 20, 2022. When they entered, Taylor's boyfriend Kenneth Walker – who says he did not know the men entering his home were police officers – fired a single shot.

The officers fired back and Taylor, who was behind Walker, was hit six times, police say. The bullet that killed her was fired by Myles Cosgrove, another officer who was present that night, according to the investigation that ensued.

Cosgrove is scheduled to appear as a witness in Hankison's trial. The other officer present that night, former LMPD detective Jonathan Mattingly, has said he will plead the Fifth Amendment and refuse to testify, citing the pending U.S. Department of Justice investigation into the LMPD.

In all, more than 30 witnesses are slated to testify in a trial expected to last two to three weeks.

"The commonwealth has the burden of proof in a criminal case and we gladly accept that burden of proof," said Barbara Whaley, the special prosecutor handling the case.

Opening arguments are scheduled for Wednesday morning.


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]]> https://cincylink.com/2022/02/23/brett-hankison-trial-set-to-begin-nearly-2-years-after-breonna-taylors-death/feed/ 0 Jury seated in trial related to Breonna Taylor’s shooting https://cincylink.com/2022/02/23/jury-seated-in-trial-related-to-breonna-taylors-shooting/ https://cincylink.com/2022/02/23/jury-seated-in-trial-related-to-breonna-taylors-shooting/#respond Wed, 23 Feb 2022 14:37:08 +0000 https://cincylink.com/?p=149822

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) — A jury has been selected in the trial of a former Kentucky police officer involved in the deadly narcotics raid that left Breonna Taylor dead.

The trial for former Louisville officer Brett Hankison will begin Wednesday morning when lawyers give opening statements.

Hankison has pleaded not guilty to three counts of wanton endangerment for allegedly firing wildly into Taylor's neighbor's apartments.

Attorneys returned to court Tuesday to winnow down a pool of 48 people to 12 jurors and three alternates.

Hankison will be tried on charges of wanton endangerment for shooting into the apartment of one of Taylor's neighbors on the night of the March 2020 narcotics raid.

The jury pool was selected from a pool of about 250 people.

The impending trial had been delayed for about a week because of inclement weather and due to Hankison having to undergo minor surgery.

In March 2020, Taylor, a 26-year-old Black medical worker, was fatally shot in her home during a botched police raid.

The Associated Press reported that the warrant obtained was later found to be flawed.

Two of the officers who fired shots that struck Taylor, Myles Cosgrove and Jonathan Mattingly, were not charged.

Cosgrove, who state investigators believe fired the fatal shot, was fired last January, months after Hankison was fired.

Last June, Mattingly, who was shot in the leg by Taylor’s boyfriend Kenneth Walker, retired.




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]]> https://cincylink.com/2022/02/23/jury-seated-in-trial-related-to-breonna-taylors-shooting/feed/ 0 Breonna Taylor evidence photos contradict police’s no body camera claim https://cincylink.com/2021/10/17/breonna-taylor-evidence-photos-contradict-polices-no-body-camera-claim/ https://cincylink.com/2021/10/17/breonna-taylor-evidence-photos-contradict-polices-no-body-camera-claim/#respond Sun, 17 Oct 2021 05:08:54 +0000 https://cincylink.com/?p=23048

After nearly six months of investigations, the defense legal team released more than 1,200 graphic evidence photos from inside and outside Breonna Taylor's Louisville apartment.

Taylor was shot five times March 13, 2020, while Louisville Metro Police Department officers carried out a no-knock warrant for a drug investigation.

Many of the photos were too graphic to show but those released paint a picture of what happened during the raid:

  • Nearly a dozen shell casings are seen scattered across the apartment parking lot; dozens more in the alcove in front of Taylor's apartment, which is where LMPD Officer Brett Hankinson's termination letter states he fired 10 rounds through a covered patio door and window.
  • Inside Taylor's apartment, several photos displayed her belongings pierced with bullet holes: her clock, shower, chairs, mirrors, cabinets, pots, inside drawers, shoes as well as walls and ceilings that back up to her neighbors.
  • In Taylor's room, a photo showed a gun under her bed that was legally owned by her boyfriend, Kenneth Walker, who was with her that night. Walker said he fired one shot when he thought someone was breaking in.
  • A photo of LMPD Officer Anthony James revealed he was wearing a body camera. LMPD previously said no body camera video existed as they said officers were not wearing cameras.
  • Another photo displayed a letter to Taylor from her ex-boyfriend, Jamarcus Glover. He was the person named on the warrant that LMPD used to enter Taylor's apartment. But, he was arrested just minutes earlier during a raid at another location as part of the same drug investigation.




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]]> https://cincylink.com/2021/10/17/breonna-taylor-evidence-photos-contradict-polices-no-body-camera-claim/feed/ 0 6 people to be grateful for in 2020 https://cincylink.com/2021/10/02/6-people-to-be-grateful-for-in-2020/ https://cincylink.com/2021/10/02/6-people-to-be-grateful-for-in-2020/#respond Sat, 02 Oct 2021 05:08:22 +0000 https://cincylink.com/?p=25253

6 people to be grateful for in 2020

Stories of people who stepped up, gave back and uplifted others this year



I would thank her because without her, my husband wouldn't be here today. And I think about her every day in a time where you know, a lot of people are thinking about themselves thinking about their own families, that they took the time. I want to help this family like they say, Walk him out on somebody else's shoes. You gotta do that, see what they're going through. Look at their prospective 2020 was quite a challenging year. But these stories show that even when things feel impossible, there's always something to be grateful for. It's like everything moves in slow motion, and I will never forget turning around and seeing him just fall forward and not move. It was a regular day for this active couple when suddenly Marianne Gayer watched as her husband, Stan, suddenly fell off his bike and went into cardiac arrest. They told me that I was essentially dead for about 10 to 15 minutes. Within moments to strangers rushed to their side. One performed CPR until the ambulance arrived. The other held Mary Ann's hand to pray. I would have died in their haste stand was rushed to the hospital, and Marion never got the name of the woman who saved his life. I would thank her because without her, my husband wouldn't be here today, and I think about her every day. But when this story aired on local news there, Angel was watching. I burst into tears. I kept watching it, and I just kept crying just because I was so happy that he's okay. As soon as I saw her eyes, I knew it was her meeting. Her was very special for me because I got to say thank you in person. I got to meet the woman that saved my life, and I got to express my gratitude to her for her act of kindness and charity. Once a stranger, Gina is now family to the Geier's life's very fragile and very resilient, fragile in that we can be here today and gone tomorrow. But resilient because with the kindness of passer byes, even when we face life threatening obstacles, waken continue to survive. Erica Star Robbins is the founder of Be a Blessing Birmingham unorganized ation that mobilizes neighbors to help those experiencing homelessness. When Erica met a single mother with six Children who had been living on the streets. She knew what she had to dio staying at a shelter. They missed curfew because she was on the bus with those six kids trying to look for housing and because they missed curfew, they got kicked out. When I picked them up, they didn't have anything. And by anything I mean anything. The mom had just a ah little grocery bag with, like, four diapers in it and some wipes and that's it. Erica shared their story, and support from the community started pouring in in a time where, you know, a lot of people are thinking about themselves thinking about their own families. If they took the time, I just want to help this family. Thanks to all the support, she was able to get them in an extended stay. Food and clothing. They're so cute. They excited to see me with all the hugs and the smiles. And then they immediately went to trying on everything we take the smallest things for granted. It's a reminder that we have so much to be thankful for so much to be grateful for, even in you know, these times that we're in right now, it takes time and ah ah, lot of lifting and cutting and the spirit of giving this family started a tree farm in New Mexico to spread the holiday cheer. Money is cool, but it's, you know, to make people happy, and families and businesses and livelihoods continue to go on through these crazy times. It's, I mean, no amount could could beat that. Basically, whatever you feel the tree is worth and you want to donate, it is totally fine. If you don't have any money at all in your family needs a tree, come on down and you're more than welcome to take one. Every dollar earned here was given toe local businesses impacted by co vid 19 Just seeing people affected by it. Family members, close friends that have lost their jobs, gone on unemployment. What a better time than Thio. Try and help people out that have been affected by all this stuff. Not only did the tree sellout, they raised $4000 to help local businesses. That's kind of all we want to do is just help in any way. We could make a difference in a few different lives that zit with fewer customers during the pandemic. This hometown coffee shop was on the brink of closing its doors. We didn't have a drive through, and we really didn't have curbside or any of that. We just closed. But Leo Font, who owns Fonte's coffee shop, fought hard to keep his staff employed. E don't wanna lay my people off. We want to keep them employed on. So we've been able to keep 100% of our staff on board. Little did Leo. No, a loyal customer was paying attention to their challenges and decided to do something about it. Way had a gentleman come in, Chris Dangler, who's one of our regular customers who comes in here and he enjoys the space, and he does a lot of work here. The next thing I know without my knowledge, he comes in the next morning and he donates $1000. Then he came back and he said, How's it going? I said, Really Well, he said, Well, I'd like to do another 500. The generous customers reasoning was simple. He wanted to spread some joy to the staff and their customers during a tough time. You wanted them to feel like they could come here and get a free cup of coffee. You know, a lot cappuccino, a brewed coffee in the holiday season. Especially right now. I mean, you know, giving back and taking care of other people that are less fortunate in our community should be something we all do every single day. Although he's only 10 years old, Ethan Hill knows that the best way to show your gratitude is to pay it forward. This lesson became real the day he met a homeless man on his way to school. His name is Mr Marcus, and he's a very nice man. He lives under the bridge, started to get cold. Oh, I was asking and Google it and see everything that I could do to help them and see what clothing they needed and what just what they needed. Thio to survive forming that relationship with Mr Marcus changed his life forever. I mean, it feels like it's not all about you. Is not, is not you story? Like they say, walk him out on somebody else's shoes. You gotta do that, see what they're going through. Look at their perspective. He founded Ethan Heart to collect essentials for people living on the street, toilet paper like to brush to face. So water rags Oh, everything that you are, you and me with me, which has become all the more important during the cove in 19 Pandemic. They still need to be protected from the virus. They need masks and gloves and hands entitled Ethan is message to everyone is simple. It doesn't take making your own organization. You can just go out and helping some Mormon station. You could help pass out food, and it doesn't require spending money sometimes so you can just go out and help. At only 18 years old. Shan Derek Dorsey, who his friends called Shammy, understands all too well the life threatening effects of Cove in 19. I didn't know I had, because I was. I was sick for like, four days before. Uh, I finally went to the hospital. I didn't want to go with my made me go on when I went in. I ain't come back out. 95 days later, Shammi developed pneumonia and had a heart attack while at the hospital, and at one point doctors weren't sure he'd survive. Really kind of hit me hard when The doctor tells me he was like, ma'am, he's not doing good at all. I really don't. I really just believe that he's not gonna make it through. He's not gonna make it through the night. Wasn't nothing going right that night, so I would idea was after I see what I said to the doctor. I got off the phone, that doctor and I got the praying. This is God. No, I'm telling the truth. I got pregnant. I gotta breaking hard. And then this morning, my baby was doing better. It was a battle that my baby was fine. But you wanna find myself because I was out here like riddle all you Terra could do was pray that her son would pull through. Actually told the team like if anybody know where purchase going down pale with my son. If I can't do it, let somebody else do it cause I'm a strong believer in God. He just can't fight. He fought, He fought. He felt that he was able to come out of there and he came out of there and he came out strong. Idiot. Thank God on here for that wolf. Now, my mom and I'm praying for and God knows what would have happened. E would like to tell the whole staff that I really appreciate every thing. I mean everything on the top of his head, down to the bottom of his speed, from even washing him from. But even sitting over there talking to him when I'm not able to be there, everything the doctors just taking care of him, I want appreciate them for everything that you now that Sammy is home life is something he will never take for granted. Yeah, I might not take the virus serious, but it's serious. Thank you. Like I really do think y'all deep down it's, uh, that work for you all and God knows what would happen. Ending a year like 2020 with gratitude may seem far fetched, but we hope all these stories remind you there is one thing we can always be thankful for, the kindness of others from all of us. Here it's stitch. Thanks for watching

6 people to be grateful for in 2020

Stories of people who stepped up, gave back and uplifted others this year


From COVID-19, to Election 2020, to protesting injustice across the nation, to say 2020 was a transformative year would be putting it lightly. But these people reminded us that even when things feel impossible, there’s always something to be grateful for.You'll meet a man who would've died if a stranger hadn't administered CPR, a woman who stepped up for a family of seven, a man spreading Christmas cheer to suffering businesses, a restaurant owner blessed by a good Samaritan, a 10-year-old advocate for people affected by homelessness and an 18-year-old who almost didn't survive COVID-19. Each of these stories reminds us that although 2020 has been challenging, we can be thankful for the kindness of others.

From COVID-19, to Election 2020, to protesting injustice across the nation, to say 2020 was a transformative year would be putting it lightly.

But these people reminded us that even when things feel impossible, there’s always something to be grateful for.

You'll meet a man who would've died if a stranger hadn't administered CPR, a woman who stepped up for a family of seven, a man spreading Christmas cheer to suffering businesses, a restaurant owner blessed by a good Samaritan, a 10-year-old advocate for people affected by homelessness and an 18-year-old who almost didn't survive COVID-19.

Each of these stories reminds us that although 2020 has been challenging, we can be thankful for the kindness of others.


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]]> https://cincylink.com/2021/10/02/6-people-to-be-grateful-for-in-2020/feed/ 0 Petition seeks ouster of Kentucky AG over Taylor death probe https://cincylink.com/2021/09/05/petition-seeks-ouster-of-kentucky-ag-over-taylor-death-probe/ https://cincylink.com/2021/09/05/petition-seeks-ouster-of-kentucky-ag-over-taylor-death-probe/#respond Sun, 05 Sep 2021 04:57:55 +0000 https://cincylink.com/?p=29484

FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) — A petition seeking the impeachment of Kentucky’s attorney general was filed Friday by three grand jurors who criticized his handling of an investigation into Breonna Taylor’s shooting death by police.

The petition’s allegations against Republican Attorney General Daniel Cameron include breach of public trust and failure to comply with his duties as the state’s chief law enforcement official. They do not accuse him of any crimes, but impeachment is not considered a criminal proceeding.

The petition is the latest in a flurry of tit-for-tat efforts to impeach Kentucky elected officials. Four Kentucky citizens recently petitioned the state House of Representatives to impeach Democratic Gov. Andy Beshear for executive actions he took in response to the coronavirus pandemic, and the matter was assigned to a House committee for review.

Beshear’s actions had been upheld by the state Supreme Court, and the governor says there are “zero grounds” for his removal.

Kentucky law requires impeachment petitions to be referred to a House committee but does not require any further action. Under the state’s constitution, the House possesses the sole power of impeachment. An impeachment trial is held in the state Senate, with a conviction requiring the support of two-thirds of the senators present.

The petition against Cameron, signed by a handful of Kentuckians, was submitted to the overwhelmingly Republican Kentucky House. Cameron is a close ally of U.S. Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell and is seen as a rising GOP star.

Cameron’s office did not immediately respond to an email seeking comment.

The petition’s signers include an attorney who did so on behalf of three grand jurors who have accused Cameron of misleading the public when describing the grand jury proceedings.

Cameron was the special prosecutor who investigated the actions of the Louisville police officers involved in the fatal shooting of Taylor during a warrant search last year. The investigation culminated in a grand jury ruling that did not charge any of the officers in the Black woman’s death. The shooting sparked protests in Louisville alongside national protests over racial injustice and police misconduct.

The petition is the latest seeking the ouster of prominent Kentucky officeholders. Another petition is seeking the ouster of Republican state Rep. Robert Goforth for an incident in which he allegedly tried to strangle a woman. Goforth, a former gubernatorial candidate, pleaded not guilty after his indictment on charges of strangulation and assault. The case is pending.

The petition against Cameron revives allegations raised anonymously by the three grand jurors. It accuses him of deceiving the public regarding his handling of the investigation into Taylor’s death.

Cameron had said in a widely viewed news conference that the grand jury had agreed that the officers who shot Taylor were justified because they were fired at by Taylor’s boyfriend. Officers fired 32 rounds into the home, five of which struck Taylor.

The three grand jurors said they did not agree and wanted to explore criminal charges, but said they were denied because Cameron’s prosecutors believed none of those charges would stick.

The impeachment petition was signed on their behalf by their Louisville attorney, Kevin Glogower.

“The grand jurors did not choose this battle,” Glogower said in a statement Friday. “This battle chose them. These are randomly selected citizens who were compelled to sit on a grand jury and were terribly misused by the most powerful law enforcement official in Kentucky.”

___

Lovan reported from Louisville, Kentucky.




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]]> https://cincylink.com/2021/09/05/petition-seeks-ouster-of-kentucky-ag-over-taylor-death-probe/feed/ 0 3 grand jurors in Breonna Taylor case file impeachment petition against Ky. AG Camero https://cincylink.com/2021/09/04/3-grand-jurors-in-breonna-taylor-case-file-impeachment-petition-against-ky-ag-camero/ https://cincylink.com/2021/09/04/3-grand-jurors-in-breonna-taylor-case-file-impeachment-petition-against-ky-ag-camero/#respond Sat, 04 Sep 2021 05:08:11 +0000 https://cincylink.com/?p=29680

LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Three grand jurors in the Breonna Taylor case filed a petition with the Kentucky House of Representatives Friday to impeach Kentucky Attorney General Daniel Cameron.

The petition alleges Cameron misled the public about the case and misrepresented the grand jury’s actions. The petition was filed by the attorney representing the three unnamed grand jurors.

The petition’s allegations against Republican Attorney General Daniel Cameron include breach of public trust and failure to comply with his duties as the state’s chief law enforcement official. They do not accuse him of any crimes, but impeachment is not considered a criminal proceeding.

The petition against Cameron, signed by a handful of Kentuckians, was submitted to the overwhelmingly Republican Kentucky House. Cameron is a close ally of U.S. Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell and is seen as a rising GOP star.

The petition’s signers include an attorney who did so on behalf of three grand jurors who have accused Cameron of misleading the public when describing the grand jury proceedings.

Cameron was the special prosecutor who investigated the actions of the Louisville police officers involved in the fatal shooting of Taylor during a warrant search last year. The investigation culminated in a grand jury ruling that did not charge any of the officers in the Black woman’s death. The shooting sparked protests in Louisville alongside national protests over racial injustice and police misconduct.

The petition against Cameron revives allegations raised anonymously by the three grand jurors. It accuses him of deceiving the public regarding his handling of the investigation into Taylor’s death.

Cameron had said in a widely viewed news conference that the grand jury had agreed that the officers who shot Taylor were justified because they were fired at by Taylor’s boyfriend. Officers fired 32 rounds into the home, five of which struck Taylor.

The three grand jurors said they did not agree and wanted to explore criminal charges, but said they were denied because Cameron’s prosecutors believed none of those charges would stick.

The impeachment petition was signed on their behalf by their Louisville attorney, Kevin Glogower.

“The grand jurors did not choose this battle,” Glogower said in a statement Friday. “This battle chose them. These are randomly selected citizens who were compelled to sit on a grand jury and were terribly misused by the most powerful law enforcement official in Kentucky.”

House Speaker David Osborne said he has received the petition to impeach Cameron, but is reserving comment until it is reviewed.

The petition is the latest in a flurry of tit-for-tat efforts to impeach Kentucky elected officials. Four Kentucky citizens recently petitioned the state House of Representatives to impeach Democratic Gov. Andy Beshear for executive actions he took in response to the coronavirus pandemic, and the matter was assigned to a House committee for review.

Kentucky law requires impeachment petitions to be referred to a House committee but does not require any further action. Under the state’s constitution, the House possesses the sole power of impeachment. An impeachment trial is held in the state Senate, with a conviction requiring the support of two-thirds of the senators present.

Another petition is seeking the ouster of Republican state Rep. Robert Goforth for an incident in which he allegedly tried to strangle a woman. Goforth, a former gubernatorial candidate, pleaded not guilty after his indictment on charges of strangulation and assault. The case is pending.

This article was written by WLEX.




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]]> https://cincylink.com/2021/09/04/3-grand-jurors-in-breonna-taylor-case-file-impeachment-petition-against-ky-ag-camero/feed/ 0 GOP-led Kentucky panel keeps Gov. Beshear impeachment alive https://cincylink.com/2021/08/20/gop-led-kentucky-panel-keeps-gov-beshear-impeachment-alive/ https://cincylink.com/2021/08/20/gop-led-kentucky-panel-keeps-gov-beshear-impeachment-alive/#respond Fri, 20 Aug 2021 04:29:37 +0000 https://cincylink.com/?p=31943

FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) — A Republican-led legislative panel dismissed two petitions Friday calling for Gov. Andy Beshear’s impeachment but kept alive another effort by citizens seeking the Democrat’s ouster for his restrictions to combat the spread of COVID-19 in Kentucky.

The rejected petitions were the latest in a flurry of filings aiming to unseat prominent political leaders in Kentucky, an unprecedented phenomenon in the state’s recent history. Another pending petition targets the state’s Republican attorney general.

The two anti-Beshear petitions were dismissed for failing to meet statutory requirements, said Republican Rep. Jason Nemes, the committee chairman.

But the House panel renewed its request for more information from Beshear as it reviews the remaining petition, the first one filed against the governor, Nemes said. Just four Kentuckians signed that petition, though one of them signaled he wants to withdraw. All three petitions claim the governor improperly infringed on individual rights with his coronavirus-related orders.

Kentucky’s Supreme Court ruled last year that the governor had the authority to put restrictions on businesses and individuals to try to contain the coronavirus.

The House impeachment panel previously sought information from Beshear on how his virus-related ban on mass gatherings last spring was temporarily enforced against churches, a move that especially angered conservatives. The committee resubmitted its request Friday that the governor turn over emails, phone logs or other communications related to that order.

In his letter to the governor’s lawyer, Nemes said the records “may be subpoenaed” if necessary. The lack of those records has “delayed the process,” Nemes said.

Beshear’s office said a response will be submitted Monday. His general counsel previously replied that the “extraneous information” being sought “cannot form the basis for impeachment.”

The impeachment frenzy reflects a willingness by some Kentuckians to shatter long-established political norms in an increasingly bitter political divide. It follows closely on the heels of the second impeachment of former President Donald Trump.

Beshear says there are “zero grounds” for his removal and maintains his COVID-19 orders have saved lives. He portrays the petitioners seeking his ouster as anti-government extremists.

Information compiled by Johns Hopkins University shows that Kentucky has recorded 87.7 deaths per 100,000 people, the 42nd highest per-capita rate nationally and better than neighboring states.

The House committee met behind closed doors for nearly three hours Friday, continuing its practice of long private discussions to review the impeachment petitions. The panel consists of four Republicans and three Democrats.

“The committee is slow moving, but that’s very necessary because of how serious this task is,” Democratic Rep. Angie Hatton, a committee member, told reporters after Friday’s meeting. “We at least are satisfied that we are getting a say.”

The committee also requested additional information from Republican Attorney General Daniel Cameron. The petition calling for Cameron’s impeachment includes three grand jurors who criticized his handling of the investigation into Breonna Taylor’s shooting death by police last year.

The committee on Friday asked Cameron to produce any audio recording or transcript of his team’s instructions to the Taylor grand jury not already released and which he possesses. Cameron’s office declined comment on the committee request.

In the Taylor case, one officer was charged for allegedly firing into an adjacent apartment, but the three grand jurors said prosecutors never gave them the option to consider charges against the officers who fatally shot the Louisville woman.

Cameron has stood by his investigation into Taylor’s death, which fueled protests over racial injustice. He said his team followed the law and presented a thorough case to the grand jury, adding that the petition against him was “so lacking in legal and factual support” it should be dismissed.

The petition alleges Cameron breached public trust and failed to comply with his duties in his handling of the Taylor case and then misrepresented the grand jury’s work to the public.

The House committee set a Monday evening deadline for Beshear and Cameron to submit the additional information. Nemes said the panel will reconvene sometime after that.

Nemes said he didn’t know how long the committee’s reviews of the remaining petitions will last, saying the lawmakers are doing their “due diligence.”

“I don’t know how long it will take, how many meetings,” he said. “But we’re working with all deliberate speed to get this very important matter taken care of appropriately.”

The panel had no update on another impeachment petition filed against GOP state Rep. Robert Goforth, a former gubernatorial candidate who was indicted for allegedly trying to strangle a woman. Goforth has pleaded not guilty, and the case is pending.

Impeachment is a card rarely played in any serious way in the Bluegrass State, though Kentucky has had its share of provocative elected officials. Four constitutional officers have been impeached in Kentucky history, but only one was convicted. James “Honest Dick” Tate, a 19th-century state treasurer, was ousted for stealing $250,000 from the state and fled the country.

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Hudspeth Blackburn is a corps member for the Associated Press/Report for America Statehouse News Initiative. Report for America is a nonprofit national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on undercovered issues.




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]]> https://cincylink.com/2021/08/20/gop-led-kentucky-panel-keeps-gov-beshear-impeachment-alive/feed/ 0 Week ahead: 4 stories to know https://cincylink.com/2021/07/25/week-ahead-4-stories-to-know/ https://cincylink.com/2021/07/25/week-ahead-4-stories-to-know/#respond Sun, 25 Jul 2021 04:58:58 +0000 https://cincylink.com/?p=36620

Week ahead: 4 stories to know



hard night say her name thing is Selma of our generation on. We want the world to know that people from across the nation are going to converge in Louisville, Kentucky, to consistently fight from Brown Taylor, 911 Operator Harris. Where is your emergency? I don't I don't know what happened. If somebody kicked in the door inside my girlfriend, how does your girlfriend? She's 26. Bring you, said 26. What was she shot at? I don't know. He's on the grill like I don't know. I don't know. Okay, you said she's 26 of she alert and able to talk to you. No, she's not breathing tired. Okay, you said you're an apartment number four Around 1 a.m. March 13th, The Louisville Metro Police Department Criminal Interdiction unit executed a search warrant at the home of Briana Taylor. Taylor and her boyfriend, Kenneth Walker, were inside at the time. According to the search warrant, police requested a no knock entry. But in a press conference the day after the shooting, police said they announced themselves before entering. It's been exactly two months since Briana Taylor was killed in an officer involved shooting at her home since then. Her family says they've got no answers. And her attorneys air calling the raid sloppy police work. We actually close our office on March 13. I will always remember that as far as when it relates to Cove it. We had a C l u was like, we're not gonna be in the office until further notice. So that was the same morning. You know, after 12 midnight that Rihanna was killed, the media wasn't really covering it. And then in March was when we started getting phone calls from different folks in the community about this is what happened. And on that call, I introduced myself. And I said, You know, I worked at a C l u and I will help change policy to ban no knock warrants. I had no idea what that meant. I hadn't talked to anyone on the team about it, but I knew that as we do stuff around policy, it was important that we take the lead on that word. And really, it just went from there. The goal was to draft something and to get community partners toe, look over it, give input, signed onto it, and we wanted as the community to present to our Metro Council as I'm doing that work, we found out that two members of Metro Council was actually in the process of drafting an ordinance, and so after talking to them, we gave them what we had, and they actually took what we gave them and added it into the ordinance that that first ordinance that they found in a unanimous vote, local Metro Council voted Thursday to ban Ln p d officers from using no knock warrants, calling it Brianna's Law. From the day that we launched that campaign to the day it passed, it was 16 days. She's she would be so happy. Briana, that's all she wanted to do was save lives. So with this law, she'll get to continue to do that The day that we were able to pass Brianna's Law in Louisville, one of the things that her mother said was passing This law allows Briana to do what she wanted to do, and that was to save lives. And she said that she would be able to save lives even in her death. And so for me, that's been my motivation and my course this is honoring my black woman. This is the way that we honor her and put politics to the side. And so we were able toe pass that in 16 days and hindsight 2020 Like looking back, I wish we would have slowed down toe like made that piece of legislation the model. I think that Brianna's law locally and Louisville is a model of like this is what means toe happen. But I do think that we fell short on some ways with it. What the local ordinances lacking that we're hoping to get done at the state level is the warrant process. So, like, yes, they did get a no knock warrant. But also one of the issues is the warrant process. So we learned later down the line that the information on the warrant was like over 30 days old. And so now that we've got Mawr, information about the case has allowed us to help shift and say, like what a larger statewide piece of legislation is. The people closest to the pain should be the closest to the solutions on. So that's why it's important that Rihanna's Law for Kentucky is born from legislators in Jefferson County. So you asked and we answered. You asked that we end home invasions by police, and that's what Brianna's Law for Kentucky does. With the passing of Brianna's law, Briana will continue to be able to do what she set her goals and like to do, and that was to save lives. So that's what we're gonna do. We're gonna pass Brianna's law. Meanwhile, here in Kentucky, all eyes are way are going to make that happen. Someone recently said that you know the language we use is bipartisanship, but the goal is justice. And so for me, when I look at passing Brianna's law, it's about saving human life. Yeah, it's important for her family that they minimize the risk of what happened to Briana Taylor happening to any other family in Louisville, Kentucky. But the settlement also includes a series of reforms to the Louisville Police Department. All search warrant applications will have to be approved by a commanding officer before they go to a judge. The city will also implement a program that tracks use of force incidents and complaints, and we'll negotiate with the police union to expand random drug testing and the records kept in an officer's personnel file. I don't think that we hardly ever see that. It's the first time we've ever seen it here in Louisville. So I think that that was a brilliant move from the legal team. Some of the things that were announced today, they were impressive. And for lawyers who I think normally people think it's just all about the money to say no, we care about something bigger than that. This mother cares that no other mother has to go through what she's gone through. It is a tremendous win for our community. I do think that it's a way to keep pressure on the city and say that these are things that you need to continue to dio way are tired and we have been tired for a long time. This is not new. This injustice is not new. Tow us. In fact, we have become conditioned for injustice and what you see now is protesters saying gnome or we are always going to raise our voices. We are always going to push for change. I think that this is a case that not on Lee is, ah, huge case for Kentucky, but Briana Taylor is at the center of a national conversation. It was too late to get folks to run for seats in this past election. But what we did do we have been occupying the space. We call it Injustice Square Park now, I mean, we were having voter registration. People were set up out to get people registered, to vote, to talk to people about voting and then from there, Actually, when it was time for early voting, we had a march. Some of our young leaders actually led us in a march from that space that we have been occupying to the polls. I think on that day we had about 75 to 100 people that marched and went and voted. A lot of folks were first time voters on whether they had never voted before or because they had just got their rights back due to a pass, a felony in their background so that that was a good way to pivot as faras. Teaching people like this is how you engaged civically and like this is what it means. Some of the young people were coming up with slogans and protest the policy from the streets to the board seats, you know, trying to really use the culture of what we were building to get folks to understand, like what's next? And so we will see what that looks like in 2021 2022. I think that in 2022 we will see some folks on the ballot who got civically engaged this year. During this time, her beautiful spirit and personality is working through all of us on the ground. So please continue to say her name. I think that one thing that it's taught me is that anyone really has the ability to change something that's happened in our society. We just have to really have the will to do that and make the right connections and and get the right team around you to make it happen. But it also makes me sad that it had to be because of Briana Taylor

Week ahead: 4 stories to know


Above video: Looking at social justice progress made in 2020Social justice issues mark what's ahead this week.It's driven by International Women's Day, jury selection for the officer who pressed his knee against George Floyd and one year since the death of Breonna Taylor.Over 1 year into pandemicThis week marks a year since most states declared states of emergency due to the coronavirus.The highly contagious virus has disrupted life, causing deaths, illnesses, shutdowns and other radical changes.As more and more of the country gets vaccinated, some states are already reversing mask mandates. But doctors and the president have said to keep prevention measures in place until more people are vaccinated.Inequality issues raisedMonday is International Women’s Day, which seeks to celebrate women’s achievements, raise awareness and more.A global strike, calling for supporters to not go to work or adopt variations of that, is happening the same day.The theme for International Women’s Day this year is choosing to challenge inequality and gender bias. Find out more about how you can participate here. Former officer facing chargesJury selection could begin Monday in the upcoming trial of the former police officer charged in George Floyd's death.Floyd, a Black man who was handcuffed, died May 25 after Derek Chauvin, who is white, pressed his knee against Floyd’s neck as Floyd said he couldn’t breathe.But an appeals court on Friday ordered a judge to reconsider adding a third-degree murder charge against Chauvin, which could delay the trial.Remembering Breonna TaylorOne year ago on Saturday, March 13, 2020, Breonna Taylor was killed.Police fatally shot Taylor in her Louisville apartment last year after breaking down her door in the middle of the night.Her death launched a series of protests over the summer and into the fall, with many demonstrators calling on state and national officials to ban no-knock warrants.The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Above video: Looking at social justice progress made in 2020

Social justice issues mark what's ahead this week.

It's driven by International Women's Day, jury selection for the officer who pressed his knee against George Floyd and one year since the death of Breonna Taylor.

Over 1 year into pandemic

This week marks a year since most states declared states of emergency due to the coronavirus.

The highly contagious virus has disrupted life, causing deaths, illnesses, shutdowns and other radical changes.

As more and more of the country gets vaccinated, some states are already reversing mask mandates. But doctors and the president have said to keep prevention measures in place until more people are vaccinated.

Inequality issues raised

Monday is International Women’s Day, which seeks to celebrate women’s achievements, raise awareness and more.

A global strike, calling for supporters to not go to work or adopt variations of that, is happening the same day.

The theme for International Women’s Day this year is choosing to challenge inequality and gender bias. Find out more about how you can participate here.

Former officer facing charges

Jury selection could begin Monday in the upcoming trial of the former police officer charged in George Floyd's death.

Floyd, a Black man who was handcuffed, died May 25 after Derek Chauvin, who is white, pressed his knee against Floyd’s neck as Floyd said he couldn’t breathe.

But an appeals court on Friday ordered a judge to reconsider adding a third-degree murder charge against Chauvin, which could delay the trial.

Remembering Breonna Taylor

One year ago on Saturday, March 13, 2020, Breonna Taylor was killed.

Police fatally shot Taylor in her Louisville apartment last year after breaking down her door in the middle of the night.

Her death launched a series of protests over the summer and into the fall, with many demonstrators calling on state and national officials to ban no-knock warrants.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.


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]]> https://cincylink.com/2021/07/25/week-ahead-4-stories-to-know/feed/ 0 Federal investigation into Breonna Taylor death widens as community marks 1 year since the shooting https://cincylink.com/2021/07/18/federal-investigation-into-breonna-taylor-death-widens-as-community-marks-1-year-since-the-shooting/ https://cincylink.com/2021/07/18/federal-investigation-into-breonna-taylor-death-widens-as-community-marks-1-year-since-the-shooting/#respond Sun, 18 Jul 2021 04:38:54 +0000 https://cincylink.com/?p=37622

As Louisville, and the country, mark one year since officers came inside Breonna Taylor’s home and fatally shot her, a federal investigation of the shooting is casting a wider net than previous investigations and looking into the warrant that allowed officers entrance.

In the early morning hours of March 13, 2020, officers serving a search warrant went inside Taylor’s home. Taylor’s boyfriend, believing the home was being invaded by criminals, opened fire, hitting an officer in the leg. Three police officers fired their weapons. Taylor was hit five times, and died.

Taylor was 26 years old and worked as an emergency room technician.

It was ruled that two officers fired shots that hit Taylor, Myles Cosgrove and Jonathan Mattingly, and a third officer, Brett Hankison, fired shots from outside through the windows. Mattingly was hit by Taylor's boyfriend's shot.

A grand jury formed last year by state Attorney General Daniel Cameron recommended only one officer, Hankison, be charged in connection with the shooting, the charge is for endangering Taylor’s neighbors not for her death.

The warrant that allowed officers to enter was not part of Cameron’s criminal investigation. The warrant was part of a drug investigation into Taylor’s ex-boyfriend, and there is discrepancy in whether it was a so-called “no-knock” warrant, which allows officers to enter without knocking or identifying themselves.

That warrant, and how it was obtained, are under review by federal investigators who are conducting their own investigation into what happened.

There are signs the federal investigation could look into the Louisville police response to demonstrations after Taylor’s shooting, according to the Associated Press. They could also examine police training and question officers about their mindset and thought process the night of the shooting.

In addition to the grand jury investigation, in the last year since the shooting, Louisville, and many other cities around the country, have banned “no-knock” warrants, Louisville’s Police Department has a new chief, and the city has paid a $12 million settlement to Taylor’s mother.

Two of the officers who fired shots in Taylor’s home have been dismissed by the department, Cosgrove and Hankison, along with a detective who had sought the warrant. Mattingly is still with the department.

Taylor’s boyfriend who fired at officers was originally facing charges for that shooting, but they were all dropped just this month.




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]]> https://cincylink.com/2021/07/18/federal-investigation-into-breonna-taylor-death-widens-as-community-marks-1-year-since-the-shooting/feed/ 0 New lawsuit claims more body camera footage may exist from night of Breonna Taylor raid https://cincylink.com/2021/07/10/new-lawsuit-claims-more-body-camera-footage-may-exist-from-night-of-breonna-taylor-raid/ https://cincylink.com/2021/07/10/new-lawsuit-claims-more-body-camera-footage-may-exist-from-night-of-breonna-taylor-raid/#respond Sat, 10 Jul 2021 04:19:02 +0000 https://cincylink.com/?p=68761

A new lawsuit claims the Louisville Metro Police Department is not only withholding possible body-camera footage from the raid at Breonna Taylor's home, but also records that would prove their existence, which police have refuted for months.The lawsuit was filed Wednesday by Sam Aguiar, one of the attorneys who has been working with Taylor's family since last year's raid in west Louisville.Aguiar claims in the lawsuit that more body-camera footage may exist from the night Taylor was killed. The lawsuit goes on to claim that several officers involved in the raid were issued a type of body camera that would have come on automatically. The lawsuit also claims that the police department has not complied with an open records request by attorneys for the information that would show this footage exists."Simply put, it would have been difficult for most of the LMPD members with body cameras and who were associated with (Criminal Interdiction Division) events at Breonna's and/or Elliott Ave. on March 12/13, 2020 to not have had their Axon body cameras activated at one point or another," Aguiar writes in the lawsuit.Aguiar adds that he believes officers who left their body cameras in vehicles or other locations would have also had the devices activated "to an event mode from a buffering mode, so long as the camera was within range of a signal unit."Aguiar is calling on a judge to order the LMPD to turn over the requested information under the state's open records law.The Taylor family attorney argues that if the LMPD was able to verify that certain officers' body cameras were specifically assigned to the March raid, he believes there is "reasonable basis to believe that misinformation has been presented to the general public regarding the usage of body cameras by several members of the LMPD CID unit."It's not the first time Aguiar has made such claims, taking to social media in January to explain why he believes there is more body-camera footage. Since the March 13 raid that ended in the deadly shooting of Taylor, police have maintained that no footage exists from the actual raid at the apartment.Photos from the scene show that Officer Anthony James had a body camera, but it could not be determined whether it was activated. Police have said that Sgt. John Mattingly and former detectives Myles Cosgrove and Brett Hankison, did not have body cameras.In January, Aguiar and the other attorneys working on Taylor's case subpoenaed the videos from the raid on Elliott Avenue in June, months before Kentucky Attorney General Daniel Cameron announced a decision in the investigation. He said he was told 18 body camera videos didn't exist until the LMPD confirmed that investigators had located them.The LMPD told Aguiar in a response that the videos were recorded at the separate raid the night Taylor was killed at her home in March. At the time, officials said there were no plans to release the videos because investigators feared they could jeopardize the investigation.According to the response, the videos are not from the raid at Taylor's home, but from an Elliott Avenue address, likely the home of Jamarcus Glover, Taylor's ex-boyfriend who was a central figure in a drug investigation by the LMPD.Former LMPD Detective Joshua Jaynes, who was part of LMPD's Place-Based Investigations Unit, was working on the drug case involving Glover, listing his home as a drug house. Jaynes told investigators he believed there were packages related to drug dealing being sent to Taylor's apartment for Glover.Jaynes was fired for his role in the investigation.Taylor was killed on March 13 at her apartment. LMPD officers were serving a warrant connected to the larger drug investigation. They had been approved for a no-knock warrant, but both parties agree knocking took place. However, whether they announced themselves is still up for debate.Police used a battering ram to enter the apartment and were fired upon by her boyfriend, Kenneth Walker. Three officers returned fire: Sgt. Jonathan Mattingly, Det. Myles Cosgrove and Brett Hankison. Mattingly, the first to enter, was shot once in the leg.Taylor was shot five times and died in the hallway.LMPD officials have not issued a statement on the lawsuit.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. —

A new lawsuit claims the Louisville Metro Police Department is not only withholding possible body-camera footage from the raid at Breonna Taylor's home, but also records that would prove their existence, which police have refuted for months.

The lawsuit was filed Wednesday by Sam Aguiar, one of the attorneys who has been working with Taylor's family since last year's raid in west Louisville.

Aguiar claims in the lawsuit that more body-camera footage may exist from the night Taylor was killed. The lawsuit goes on to claim that several officers involved in the raid were issued a type of body camera that would have come on automatically.

The lawsuit also claims that the police department has not complied with an open records request by attorneys for the information that would show this footage exists.

"Simply put, it would have been difficult for most of the LMPD members with body cameras and who were associated with (Criminal Interdiction Division) events at Breonna's and/or Elliott Ave. on March 12/13, 2020 to not have had their Axon body cameras activated at one point or another," Aguiar writes in the lawsuit.

Aguiar adds that he believes officers who left their body cameras in vehicles or other locations would have also had the devices activated "to an event mode from a buffering mode, so long as the camera was within range of a signal unit."

Aguiar is calling on a judge to order the LMPD to turn over the requested information under the state's open records law.

The Taylor family attorney argues that if the LMPD was able to verify that certain officers' body cameras were specifically assigned to the March raid, he believes there is "reasonable basis to believe that misinformation has been presented to the general public regarding the usage of body cameras by several members of the LMPD CID unit."

It's not the first time Aguiar has made such claims, taking to social media in January to explain why he believes there is more body-camera footage. Since the March 13 raid that ended in the deadly shooting of Taylor, police have maintained that no footage exists from the actual raid at the apartment.

Photos from the scene show that Officer Anthony James had a body camera, but it could not be determined whether it was activated. Police have said that Sgt. John Mattingly and former detectives Myles Cosgrove and Brett Hankison, did not have body cameras.

In January, Aguiar and the other attorneys working on Taylor's case subpoenaed the videos from the raid on Elliott Avenue in June, months before Kentucky Attorney General Daniel Cameron announced a decision in the investigation. He said he was told 18 body camera videos didn't exist until the LMPD confirmed that investigators had located them.

The LMPD told Aguiar in a response that the videos were recorded at the separate raid the night Taylor was killed at her home in March. At the time, officials said there were no plans to release the videos because investigators feared they could jeopardize the investigation.

According to the response, the videos are not from the raid at Taylor's home, but from an Elliott Avenue address, likely the home of Jamarcus Glover, Taylor's ex-boyfriend who was a central figure in a drug investigation by the LMPD.

Former LMPD Detective Joshua Jaynes, who was part of LMPD's Place-Based Investigations Unit, was working on the drug case involving Glover, listing his home as a drug house. Jaynes told investigators he believed there were packages related to drug dealing being sent to Taylor's apartment for Glover.

Jaynes was fired for his role in the investigation.

Taylor was killed on March 13 at her apartment. LMPD officers were serving a warrant connected to the larger drug investigation. They had been approved for a no-knock warrant, but both parties agree knocking took place. However, whether they announced themselves is still up for debate.

Police used a battering ram to enter the apartment and were fired upon by her boyfriend, Kenneth Walker. Three officers returned fire: Sgt. Jonathan Mattingly, Det. Myles Cosgrove and Brett Hankison. Mattingly, the first to enter, was shot once in the leg.

Taylor was shot five times and died in the hallway.

LMPD officials have not issued a statement on the lawsuit.


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]]> https://cincylink.com/2021/07/10/new-lawsuit-claims-more-body-camera-footage-may-exist-from-night-of-breonna-taylor-raid/feed/ 0 Kentucky bill criminalizing taunts against police stalls https://cincylink.com/2021/07/08/kentucky-bill-criminalizing-taunts-against-police-stalls/ https://cincylink.com/2021/07/08/kentucky-bill-criminalizing-taunts-against-police-stalls/#respond Thu, 08 Jul 2021 04:47:20 +0000 https://cincylink.com/?p=39038

FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) — A bill that would make it a crime to taunt a police officer in Kentucky has stalled in the state’s House of Representatives and appears unlikely to pass, but the fate of a proposal to ban no-knock warrants statewide is less certain more than a year after the police killing of Breonna Taylor.

Lawmakers failed to bring the anti-taunting legislation up for a vote by Tuesday night. With less than two weeks left in the legislative session, under the legislature’s own rules, the General Assembly would not have the opportunity to override a veto by Democratic Gov. Andy Beshear, despite Republicans supermajorities in both the House and Senate.

A partial ban on no-knock warrants passed the Kentucky Senate last month, but two representatives, both retired Kentucky State police officers, have proposed amendments that some warn would nullify the bill. GOP Senate President Robert Stivers, who sponsored the bill, has said there is a chance the governor would sign it into law if a bipartisan consensus is met.

The separate anti-taunting legislation would have made it a misdemeanor for anyone who “accosts, insults, taunts, or challenges a law enforcement officer with offensive or derisive words, or by gestures or other physical contact, that would have a direct tendency to provoke a violent response.” Offenders would have faced up to 90 days in jail and fines, and the proposal also would have increased penalties for rioting.

State Sen. Danny Carroll, a Republican and former police officer, has said he filed the measure in response to months of demonstrations in Louisville, where large protests occurred last year in the wake of Breonna Taylor’s death.

Taylor, a Black woman, was shot in her Louisville home multiple times by police during a botched drug raid. A grand jury indicted one officer on wanton endangerment charges in September for shooting into a neighbor’s apartment, but no officers were charged in connection with her death. That was based in part on the presentation of Republican Attorney General Daniel Cameron, who recommended no charges against the officers who shot into Taylor’s apartment.

Police had a no-knock warrant but said they knocked and announced their presence before entering Taylor’s apartment, a claim some witnesses have disputed. No drugs were found in Taylor’s apartment.

Under the proposed no-knock warrant bill, the warrants would only be issued if there was “clear and convincing evidence” that the “crime alleged is a crime that would qualify a person, if convicted, as a violent offender.” The warrants would also have to be executed between 6 a.m. and 10 p.m.

One House floor amendment would lengthen the execution time to midnight and permit officers to consult with the attorney general’s office before a raid, nixing a requirement that they only consult a local prosecutor. Another change would authorize no-knock warrants for suspected drug crimes. It would also permit the use of audio recorders instead of body cameras.

“These amendments undermine the intent of the bill to such a degree that, if included, the status quo will be maintained and we will still be stuck with the same harmful laws and practices that led to the tragic death of Breonna Taylor,” said Carmen Mitchell, an analyst for the Kentucky Center for Economic Policy.

Democratic lawmakers and demonstrators have railed against the anti-taunting legislation, warning that it could be used to suppress peaceful protests, particularly Black demonstrators who have been at the center of the Louisville protests.

At a March 13 rally in Louisville marking the one-year anniversary of Taylor’s death, Sadiqa Reynolds, president of the Louisville Urban League, derided the measure as a “shut-up-and-take-it bill.”

Jecorey Arthur, Louisville city council member from Louisville’s predominantly Black West End neighborhood, also joined State. Rep. Attica Scott in criticizing the bill on a locally televised panel Monday night.

Arthur and others say the proposal violates First Amendment rights to free speech.

“It’s silly because it’s outright unconstitutional, and it’s serious because it really sends a strong message, sends a statement that some of our law enforcement, some of the people across this Commonwealth care more about white feelings than Black killings,” Arthur said.

Lawmakers in Indiana, Alabama, Utah, and other GOP-led states have also proposed legislation that would increase penalties for rioting. Under a Tennessee law passed last year, protesters could lose their right to vote for breaking certain laws during demonstrations.

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Hudspeth Blackburn is a corps member for the Associated Press/Report for America Statehouse News Initiative. Report for America is a nonprofit national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on undercovered issues.




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