Art Fusco
  • Home
  • Scribe's Journal
    • NuTrek articles
    • Kevin Smith
    • Frank Kimball
    • Before First Contact
    • NCPD History
    • Local Newspaper Clippings
  • Store

Another word on the non-riot that happened in National City

7/28/2018

0 Comments

 
On July 18, 2018, a story came out on a local San Diego news outlet that insisted that those involved in the Earl McNeil protests were planning on joining with some non-existent national black lives matter organizers to "stage riots".

Other outlets have done a good job elaborating how wrong and dangerous this false report was and I have already shared my thoughts on it. I bring it up again because it is possible that this false report may have contributed in the events that followed:

For the July 24th meeting at National City, the only real thing that was planned were the peaceful die-ins protests. Members would walk toward the council with their hands up, which were painted red, and then lie down on the floor and chant until they were removed. Media and Copwatchers were there to make sure things would stay deescalated and once our friends were safely transported, most of us would call it a day.

Yet when we first arrived on this particular day, we immediately noticed that the Sheriffs were around. We figured it was in response to the false article, but we were hoping that they would keep them hidden since there wasn't a large amount of protesters. We then noticed that "plants" were inserted into the line to get into the Chamber. They tried to fit in and put us at ease with conversation, but they stuck out like soar thumbs. One of them gave themselves away when they sat exactly where we expected they'd sit - they failed to take into account that we would have noticed I guess. To put this particular plant at ease, I let him pretend he was in control and when he tried to make friendly talk, explained the philosophy of cop-watching, which is mainly about deescalation by public exposure.

When the meeting started, many people spoke on the case of Earl McNeil. Once public comments were finished and the council tried to move on to other business, did the actual civil disobedience come in. Six people, including Tasha Williamson and Aeiramique Blake, participated in a peaceful die-in. Police responded by forming a line to block the cameras. Other officers picked up most of the protesters by their arms and legs, and carried them off, but when it came to Tasha, they decided to cuff her by her back and then drag her out by her handcuffs - knowing that she was already injured form a previous arrest. Despite being blocked by police, cameras still caught that. It was told that they dropped Aeiramique on her face once they went into the other room. It was one of the most despicable displays of law enforcement brutality in this generation.

Once they were out of the room, we left the chambers and went to the north side of the building to make sure the ones taken into custody were transported safely, except we were met by sheriff deputes in riot gear as well two dickwads in full SWAT gear. A few hours later we were met by officers from four other agencies who marched in to the area and successfully shoved around like 20 protestors plus media to prove they had the "balls" to show a needless use of force. Chief Nisleit, who has been spending his first year trying to appeal to the public, sent police to participate in this circus and will certainly answer for his part when we come to San Diego to ask #JusticeForRaulRivera. The police did whatever they could to incite violence in the crowd this night, but the crowd refused to bite, choosing instead to curse, yell, chant and sing, but not throw anything or push anyone.

Even though the article that accused us of trying to set up riots had been changed, the original article had been up for almost 12 hours before changes took place and the lies in the article had already traveled far and wide. Ron Morrison and all other agencies can try to paint us as violent all they want. They can try to act like we were going to break people out of custody, blame everyone else for the problems National City caused all they want as well. However, National City PD has also taken the opportunity to purposely block our footage, while failing to block our use of history to expose their racist precedent of covering up evidence - their corruption is still exposed. Here is a growing list of past controversies involving NCPD.

http://www.aflunky.com/scribes-journal/cop-wont-face-trial-12-04-1975

http://www.aflunky.com/scribes-journal/morgan-orders-probe-of-hispanic-complaints-06-30-1983

http://www.aflunky.com/scribes-journal/woman-guilty-in-police-fight-08211983

http://articles.latimes.com/1987-04-09/local/me-198_1_national-city-police

There is also a court case stemming from 2015 called "Flores vs Pierson". Full court documents will be available soon.
 
(This is just a fraction of corruption that was found)

I do want to point out one aspect of Flores vs Pierson which uses an example of how the Police Officer's Bill of rights is used in legal issues:
Picture
In the end, Mayor Ron Morrison has only succeeded in giving himself and National City another  black eye in the department of civil rights in the modern days. We have been loud, but non-violent from the start and the escalation of force by the City is dangerous and stupid. Ron and his Police Chief will be looked at as the idiot pair who left National City in disgrace. I deplore Chief Nisleit, Sheriff Gore, and other police department heads to question the motivations of the NCPD Chief and Mayor, next time they ask for their help. 

We'll be back and we'll be just as loud and as disruptive as before, but we will not give into their bait and become violent. Their hypocrisy of responding to peace with force has already been nationally exposed and nobody is liking it. National City never even tried to control the narrative until this story started to grow. Too late now though, they lost the narrative once they kept changing their story. 

-Art Fusco
0 Comments

The Case of Earl McNeil: A Timeline

7/27/2018

0 Comments

 
Table of contents:
The beginning...
Tasha's arrest sparks media attention from across southern California...
National City responds to peaceful protests with militarized police...
NC officials & protesters grapple over media's narrative during August recess...
 

The beginning...

Saturday, May 26, 2018: At 5:27 AM, a man walked to the National City Police Department and picked up the dispatcher phone that is just outside, next to the red double doors that lets you into the lobby. After talking to the dispatcher, officers responded. Later that day, a "John Doe" was checked in at UCSD Medical Center. The family of the John Doe was contacted and told by a detective that their relative, Earl McNeil, walked to the National City Police department asking for help and was arrested, "put in a hogtie position" and taken to the county jail, but wasn't excepted by the San Diego Sheriffs (who run the jails) because Earl had suffered a heart attack, become unresponsive, and was now at UCSD Medical Center.

May 29, 2018 (3 days...): Family members went to National City Police Department and asked for a police report and they said they couldn't provide one to them because they weren't involved in the incident. Detective asked family if Earl had HIV or other diseases because he had spat on officers and they were upset about it. Family visited Earl at the hospital that day.

June 5, 2018 (9 days...): Sometime between May 29th and this day, the family of Earl McNeil contact Tasha Williamson and Meeka for help. Tasha posts her first public statement about Earl McNeil and invites the community to the city council meeting on the 19th.
Picture

June 6, 2018 (10 days...): Tasha puts out press release for June 7th press conference.
Picture

June 7, 2018 (11 days...): First press conference, UCSD Medical Center where Earl lies. Copwatcher Cat streaming. Bishop Bowser, Mark Lane, Lawyer Francisco Aldana, Tasha Williamson and 3 members of the family speak. They mainly ask for a meeting with the city to let the family know what happened for transparency. Lawyer reveals Earl had mental issues. Tasha reveals FBI civil rights complaint, the fact that NCPD "unarrested" Earl once he was taken to the hospital and that the family had decided to take him off of life support that day. Tasha also emphasizes how little information was given to the family regarding how Earl obtained certain injuries that the family saw on him at the hospital. Tasha said there was no arrest record or police report. Family revealed they're ending Earl's life support at 5PM. Tasha added there was bruising on his head and swelling in his wrists. Other family member was told by NCPD that Earl had suffered a heart attack, but was told nothing else. The hospital told them he had suffered brain damage.
First version of police statement released later this day:
Picture

June 11, 2018 (15 days...): Earl McNeil dies on this day.
Picture

June 12, 2018 (16 days...): Mark Lane puts out a post and promotes the family's Go-Fund-Me page.
Picture

June 13, 2018 (18 days...): Tasha and other supporters hold a press conference in front of the police station, then storm City Hall demanding answers.
ABC 10: Family, community groups continue to push for answers in National City death investigation

June 14, 2018 (19 days...): First tweet on Twitter about Earl McNeil.
Picture
Updated police statement released (download below).
Police press release on Earl McNeil
File Size: 230 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File


June 18, 2018 (22 days...): NCPD asks for meeting with the family. Tasha Williamson and Mark Lane were with the family and their attorney during the meeting. Turned out bad - Police Chief was defensive, condescending and "smirking" at the family. When Mark Lane thanked the Chief for "apologizing" to the family for Earl's death in his statement, the Chief stopped him and clarified "We didn't apologize, we extended our condolences". Very little information was revealed and the family cried and was re-traumatized by  the treatment.
Picture
Picture
Picture

 

Tasha's arrest sparks media attention from across southern California...

June 19, 2018 (23 days...): First city council meeting regarding the issue. Many spoke about Earl McNeil and called for NCPD to be transparent. As Tasha stood and spoke of the Police Chief's disrespect during the meeting the previous day, the Chief begins to smirk and is caught on camera. Tasha sees this, gets angry and demands the council fire him. Council suspends and police arrest Tasha for going over her time instead. During the arrest, Corporal Pierson assaults a videographer and block media from following Tasha after she leaves the council chambers. After Rafael Bautista was kicked down the stairs and thrown out the door by NPCD, without provoking them to, Tasha was transported to the NCPD station and then was taken away via ambulance to Paradise Valley hospital, and then Los Colinas. Everybody was worried about Tasha and angry at NCPD for needlessly arresting Tasha when most would simply be escorted out.

Second tweet about Earl McNeil on twitter this night:
Picture
Fox 5 - Protest at National City council meeting ends in arrest

June 20, 2018 (24 days...): Tasha, who was injured in her left wrist during her arrest when NCPD Officer Awad placed handcuffs on her that were too tight, was released from jail and held a press conference with her lawyer and supporters in front of NCPD. Tasha explained that her shoes were removed before entering the police unit and they had forced her to walk around the police station and hospital bear-foot. Tasha's lawyer revealed that she was denied access to her client while she was at the hospital.
San Diego UT - Protester arrested after outburst at City Council meeting in National City
NBC 7 - National City Police Chief Accused of Smiling as Woman Is Arrested at Council Meeting

June 26, 2018 (30 days...):
Picture
Picture

June 27, 2018 (31 days...): Earl McNeil's funeral was this day.

June 28, 2018 (32 days...):
Picture

July 02, 2018 (36 days...): FB group "What Happened to Earl McNeil?" is created.
Picture

July 03, 2018 (37 days...): Second city council meeting. Disruptions, but no arrests.
AFLUNKY.COM - National City town hall turns into a barn-burner over recent death/arrest

July 12, 2018 (46 days...):
San Diego UT - Residents angry over death of man arrested by police call for full staffing of review board

July 17, 2018 (51 days...): Third city council meeting. After chants for the police Chief to resign, he began to leave, inciting violence by shoving people as he does. Then everybody is kicked out of the building and slowly let back in. During this time, Meeka, Mark Lane, and Shane Parmaley are arrested. Meeting to continue at 2PM the following day.

July 18, 2018 (52 days...): Continuation of third city council meeting. Disruptions, but no arrests. Mark Lane is escorted out for going over his time. Two women council members call for Earl McNeil to be placed on agenda, but it fails 2-2. NBC 7 reporter Wendy Fry misquotes Mark Lane and falsely reported that group threatened to stage riots. After review, NBC 7 disciplines Fry and corrects the story.
NBC 7 (archived) - Activists Threaten to Riot in National City Over Death Investigation of Earl McNeil
NBC 7 (updated) - Activists Vow to Pursue Body Cam Video in National City Over Death Investigation of Earl McNeil
SD Free Press - Racism 101: White Lady Reporter Wants You to Know Black Lives Matter is Coming to National City to Riot

 July 19, 2018 (53 days...): Julie joins the cause and begins making tons of memes
Picture

July 20, 2018 (54 days...): UAPTSD submits an information request for all of NCPDs policies and procedures. Unbeknownst to the activists, NCPD Chief Rodriguez calls for reinforcements for the next city council meeting on this very day.
Picture
KPBS - Roundtable: Outrage In National City

July 23, 2018 (57 days...): Family meets with NCPD a second time, but was still not satisfied with the meeting. NCPD tried to play it off as progress.
ABC 10 - National City Police meet with family of man who died after being in custody

 

National City responds to peaceful protests with militarized police...

July 24, 2018 (58 days...): Fourth city council meeting. Protesters staged a 'die-in'. Tasha is violently dragged off. Everyone is kicked out of the council chambers and are met outside by Sheriffs in riot gear. Two hours later, they march in more police from San Diego, Coronado, Chula Vista and El Cajon. After pushing the small group of protesters and media around, they bring the 'die-in' arrestees out of the building.
Picture
Picture
Picture
Fox 5 - National City council meeting again disrupted by protesters
KPBS - Protesters Shut Down National City Council Meeting Over Earl McNeil Death, Arrests Made
SD Free Press - Earl McNeil: No Justice! No Peace! Riot Police Summoned for National City Council Meeting

July 25, 2018 (59 days...): National City suffers media backlash
Picture
LA Times - Protesters again disrupt National City council meeting to demand answers in death of man in custody
San Diego UT - Details on Earl McNeil's death must be released by National City
San Diego UT - Court records show Earl McNeil was paid informant, suffered from mental illness

July 27, 2018 (61 days...): This national newsclip hit over 400,000 views over the next few days

July 28, 2018 (62 days...): Julie does her thing.
Picture
Picture

July 29, 2018 (63 days...):
San Diego UT - Who are the social justice organizers pushing for answers in Earl McNeil's death?

 July 30, 2018 (64 days...): Julie pounds more memes down on the city/ UT calls for Cano's resignation.
Picture
San Diego UT - National City Councilman Jerry Cano should resign

July 31, 2018 (65 days...): Police chief lies to press about protesters spitting. Press conference in front of City Hall at 10 AM.
Picture
San Diego UT - Group continues to demand video, records related to Earl McNeil's death
CBS 8 - Earl McNeil's family demands transparency from National City police
ABC 10 - Earl McNeil death: Family demands release of body camera footage, recordings
Purposely Awakened - The Earl McNeil Story as told by Tasha Williamson
San Diego Citybeat - You! Have! Blood on your hands!

August 1, 2018 (66 days...): NCPD responds to UAPTSD's information request
Picture
Picture

 

NC officials & protesters grapple over media's narrative during August recess...

August 2, 2018 (67 days):
Picture
SD Free Press - Responding to the Unconscious Bias and Racism at National City Council Meetings
The Star News - Supporters of Earl McNeil continue demand for video

August 3, 2018 (68 days...):
The Star News - NCPD looking for support
The Star News - Where are the leaders?
OB Rag - ‘Why We Sat Down at the National City Council Meeting’

August 6, 2018 (71 days...):
NBC 7 - National City Councilmembers Urge McNeil Activists to Trust Investigation Process
Among the responses for the above article is one from National City Mayor Ron Morrison
Picture
NBC 7 - Politically Speaking: Family of Man Who Died in National City Police Custody Seeking Answers

August 7, 2018 (72 days...):
Picture
Picture
San Diego UT - National City councilwomen's statement on Earl McNeil's death sparks controversy
Voice of San Diego - National City Officials Can’t Hide Their Disdain for Police Protesters

August 8, 2018 (73 days...):
Voice of San Diego - Morning Report: National City Officials Aren't Interested in Dialogue With Protesters
AFLUNKY.COM - When First We Practice To Deceive: National City officials attempt to mislead the public

August 9, 2018 (74 days...):
Voice of San Diego - National City Death Prompts New Questions Over Police Responses to the Mentally Ill
The Star News - Police response to council meeting was planned

August 10, 2018 (75 days...): Earl McNeil investigation by NCPD complete and sent to the District Attorney's office. A report by an "Unknown Reporter" at CBS 8 goes as far back as when Earl was 11 and then goes through all his criminal history. The report also has an interview with Police Chief Manuel Rodriguez where he peppers in a few new facts. Activists accuse CBS 8 of teaming with NCPD in an attempt to assassinate Earl McNeil's character. The new details include that NCPD also placed a spit mask on Earl McNeil as well as the wrap and stuck him inside the back the police unit, parked behind the police station and left in the back of the car for over an hour while NCPD checked on Earl's background.
Picture
Picture
CBS News 8 (Archived) - Unknown Reporter: New details on Earl McNeil’s death following arrest by National City police
 CBS News 8 (outdated) - Unknown Reporter: New details on Earl McNeil's death following arrest by National City police

August 11, 2018 (76 days...): CBS 8 article, mysteriously disappears after site temporarily goes dark, but the video still exists. Dirt on NCPD's past begins to drip. Also, Julie does her thing.
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
A political cartoon, 1983 about how National City Police handled immigration issues back then.

August 13, 2018 (78 days...): CBS 8 hit piece returns with the name of the "Unknown Reporter" as David Gotfredson as well as an extended interview with Chief Manuel Rodriguez. In it, Chief Rodriguez said he doesn't want to release the video because the take down looks bad and he thinks it will be taken out of context. Voice of San Diego publishes piece on how NCPD conducted business in the late 1980s.
Picture
CBS 8 (Updated) - New details on Earl McNeil’s death following arrest by National City police
Voice of San Diego - When National City Was a 'Cowboy Police Department'

August 14, 2018 (79 days...):
KPBS - What Happened To Earl McNeil

August 15, 2018 (80 days...): Press conference by activists.
CBS 8 - Community activists call for DA recusal in Earl McNeil death case

August 16, 2018 (81 days...): DA refuses to recuse itself from the case.
San Diego UT - DA's Office will not recuse itself from Earl McNeil case review

August 17, 2018 (82 days...):
KPBS - Community Organizers Call For More Accountability In National City Police Oversight

August 23, 2018 (88 days...): UAPTSD receives their information request. Provides NCPD policies and procedures to the public.  
UAPTSD - National City Police Policies & Procedures

August 30, 2018 (95 days...):
Star News - Injustice anywhere knows no bounds

0 Comments

Cop won't face trial/Columnist leaves town to 'pull self together'(12-04-1975)

7/27/2018

0 Comments

 
Picture
Chula Vista Star-News

December 4, 1975

Judge dismisses shooting case

Cop won't face trial

Applause filled the courtroom this week as Municipal Judge T. Bruce Iredale dismissed the manslaughter charge against National City Patrolman Craig Short, 29.

Short was charged for fatally shooting Luis "Tato" Rivera, 20, during an investigation Oct. 12 of a purse snatching incident at St. Anthony's parish Hall.

WITH THE dismissal yesterday of the charge, Short is eligible to return to duty and for restitution of back pay he didn't receive while suspended pending investigation, according to Chief John Liesman.

Iredale took nearly an hour yesterday for his summation of the reasons for dismissing the charge against Short, but the key points in Short's favor, according to Iredale are:

-"No evidence of criminal negligence."

-"Short's action was justifiable under the circumstances."

-"Short knew the suspect had a history of violence."

"Short had information that Rivera had pistol whipped his own father (Incident reported in July)."

"To rule otherwise," said Iredale, "would make a mockery and set impossible standards for law enforcement."

Iredale said Short "believed he was going after Rivera on 211 purse snatch involving violence."

SHORT'S BROTHER officers attempted to congratulate him after the ruling and to shake his hand. He was rushed from the courtroom surrounded by other officers.

Iredale's summation was completed at approximately 3 p.m. yesterday, climaxing eight weeks of furor that followed Rivera's death as a result of a gunshot wound in the back.

That furor spawned demands for investigation of local police practices, the firing of Liesman and ultimately the recall of Mayor Kile Morgan, Vice Mayor Michael Dalla and Councilman Joe Reid for failure to act in the Rivera matter and for alleged insensitivity to the needs and wishes of National City's minority communities.

The furor probably will not abate with the judge's decision.

The Ad Hoc Committee for Chicano Rights which alleged "cover-up" when the San Diego County Grand Jury refused to indict Short is to hold a news conference at 10 a.m. today at the Metropolitan Area Advisory Committee Center at 9th St. and A Ave.

A caller notifying The Star-News of the conference said that the committee's "official position on the dismissal of charges against Officer Short" will be announced at the conference.

=====

Columnist leaves town to 'pull self together'

Jose Viesca, the Star-News columnist who was beaten and bloodied last week by four men he said told him it was because he wrote about the National City police, has left the area for a month, his wife said yesterday.

He failed to turn in his weekly Spanish-language column, Aqui Estamos, to The Star-News this week, and The Star-News and Chula Vista police were unable to contact him.

HIS WIFE, Raquel, said she has not seen him since a few minutes after he was attacked Wednesday afternoon, Nov. 26. But Tuesday night, she asserted, he telephoned her and told her he was going away for a month.

"He said he needed some time to pull himself together," she stated. "He told me he did not want to get involved in the case (the attack upon him) until he comes back."

Viesca told Chula Vista police last week he had been attacked in the Fed-Mart parking lot at Quintard and Palomar, Chula Vista.

Chula Vista police have tried to contact him to get more positive descriptions of his attackers, and National City manager Robert Bourcier has offered to show him photos of all National City policemen, in case they were involved in the attack.

But no one has been able to contact the columnist.

THAT SAME night, in an unrelated incident, Viesca was arrested by National City police after he had been found sitting in his car in a parking lot. A routine check showed that he was wanted on a traffic ticket violation, and he was taken to county jail where he was released Friday at 1 p.m.

Mrs. Viesca said her husband telephoned home from jail and told his son of his arrest, but did not come home after his release.

She said she had an extra set of keys to his car, which she picked up at the parking lot. In the car were Viesca's clothes and blankets. She said that, when he left the house after the attack, he told her he would be going away for a while. "He was very upset," she asserted.

She said that Viesca had left home once before when he was upset.

"I am not worried," she said. "He will be coming back. He needs his family."

MRS. VIESCA said that, in the Tuesday night phone call, he did not tell her where he had been, but she suspects he was either in Los Angeles or Tijuana, where he has friends. She said he told her he would stop by to get his clothes, but did not know when it would be.

Mrs. Viesca, (a beauty parlor operator) who is not at home during the day, said she does not know whether she will see her husband.

"He has a key," she asserted. "He can come by any time. The main thing is that he's okay."

Chula Vista police Agent Merlin Wilson, who is working on the case, said his investigation is reaching a stalemate because of Viesca's disappearance.

He said National City police officials had pledged their cooperation in the case.

Viesca has written several columns sharply critical of a National City policeman's killing of a Puerto Rican youth Luis "Tato" Rivera, during investigation of a purse snatching.

Viesca said his attackers were four brawny Anglos who he asserted, told him that he and his family "would be sorry" if he didn't stop writing articles about the National City police.

POST SCRIPT COMMENT BY FAMILY MEMBER OF LOUIS "TATO" RIVERA, 08/12/2018:

"Hello I am the sister of Luis Tato Rivera, I want to correct a couple of comments made about my brother. When officer Craig Short shot my brother in the back, my brother never had any purse on him nor did he ever pistol whipped our father with a gun. for those who knew him he was a good person, and for the ones who did not know him please keep your bad thoughts of my brother to yourself. Don't get me wrong about my brother being perfect. He had problems like any other teenager. But he would never have taken a gun to take anyone's life. That I can tell you for a fact."
0 Comments
<<Previous

      Do you see this?

    Submit

    RSS Feed

    Archives

    December 2022
    April 2022
    October 2021
    July 2021
    March 2021
    January 2021
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    March 2019
    January 2019
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    February 2018
    November 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    September 2013

Proudly powered by Weebly