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...
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.
June 6, 2018 (10 days...): Tasha puts out press release for June 7th press conference.
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:
June 11, 2018 (15 days...): Earl McNeil dies on this day.
June 12, 2018 (16 days...): Mark Lane puts out a post and promotes the family's Go-Fund-Me page.
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.
June 14, 2018 (19 days...): First tweet on Twitter about Earl McNeil.
Updated police statement released (download below).
| Police press release on Earl McNeil |
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.
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:
Second tweet about Earl McNeil on twitter this night:
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.
June 26, 2018 (30 days...):
June 27, 2018 (31 days...): Earl McNeil's funeral was this day.
June 28, 2018 (32 days...):
July 02, 2018 (36 days...): FB group "What Happened to Earl McNeil?" is created.
July 03, 2018 (37 days...): Second city council meeting. Disruptions, but no arrests.
July 12, 2018 (46 days...):
San Diego UT - Residents angry over death of man arrested by police call for full staffing of review board
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.
July 19, 2018 (53 days...): Julie joins the cause and begins making tons of memes
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.
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.
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.
July 25, 2018 (59 days...): National City suffers media backlash
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.
July 29, 2018 (63 days...):
July 30, 2018 (64 days...): Julie pounds more memes down on the city/ UT calls for Cano's resignation.
July 31, 2018 (65 days...): Police chief lies to press about protesters spitting. Press conference in front of City Hall at 10 AM.
August 1, 2018 (66 days...): NCPD responds to UAPTSD's information request
NC officials & protesters grapple over media's narrative during August recess...
August 2, 2018 (67 days):
August 3, 2018 (68 days...):
August 6, 2018 (71 days...):
Among the responses for the above article is one from National City Mayor Ron Morrison
NBC 7 - Politically Speaking: Family of Man Who Died in National City Police Custody Seeking Answers
August 7, 2018 (72 days...):
August 8, 2018 (73 days...):
August 9, 2018 (74 days...):
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.
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.
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.
August 14, 2018 (79 days...):
August 15, 2018 (80 days...): Press conference by activists.
August 16, 2018 (81 days...): DA refuses to recuse itself from the case.
August 17, 2018 (82 days...):
August 23, 2018 (88 days...): UAPTSD receives their information request. Provides NCPD policies and procedures to the public.
August 30, 2018 (95 days...):
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