Police: 'Hero' saved lives in Seattle shootings - Yahoo! News


SEATTLE (AP) — Someone inside an artsy Seattle cafe where a gunman opened fire threw stools at the assailant during a shooting rampage police described as "callous, horrific and cold," a move that allowed others to run to safety.

Ian Lee Stawicki was armed with two .45-caliber handguns and began shooting Wednesday morning at Cafe Racer, killing four people. Police said he fled and later killed a female motorist, taking off with her SUV.

Stawicki later killed himself as police closed in.

Police said more could have been injured or even killed at the cafe were it not for the actions of the man, whom they did not identify. They did not say whether he was a patron or an employee.

"The hero picked up a stool and threw it at the suspect. Hit him. Picked up another stool, as the suspect is shooting and now pointing (a gun) at him and hits him with another stool," Assistant Chief Jim Pugel said.

"During that time, two or possibly three, people made their escape," he said, adding, "He saved three lives."

The slayings further frayed nerves in an already jittery city that has seen 21 homicides so far this year, as many as Seattle had in all of 2011.

"In my almost 30 years in this department, I've never seen anything more callous, horrific and cold," Deputy Chief Nick Metz said at a Thursday news conference after reviewing video footage of the killings.

The gunman's father struggled Thursday to understand how his son could have gone on a shooting rampage and apologized to the victims' families.

"The first thing I can say, and it doesn't go very far at this point, is I'm so sorry," Walter Stawicki said, his voice quivering. "It sounds so trite, that I feel their grief. ... I just hope they understand he wasn't a monster out to kill people."

The 21 homicides this year have the city's leaders wondering what if anything can be done.

"The city is stunned and seeking to make sense of it," Mayor Mike McGinn said. "I think we have to start by acknowledging the tremendous amount of grief that's out there from the families and friends of the victims."

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Our nation has not always lived up to its ideals, yet those ideals have never ceased to guide us. They expose our flaws, and lead us to mend them. We are the beneficiaries of the work of the generations before us and it is each generation's responsibility to continue that work. - Laura Bush

Leftists and very small children don't seem to be able to understand that the Government isn't there to "fix" the economy, anymore than a tick is there to fix your dog.~Oftencold

Are these articles on the thread you want them on? They are off topic,don't you think?


but if they increase the rapidly increasing number of reads this thread gets, then, so be it!

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You could start a new thread for hero police. They should be recognized.

But this thread is about why we will never keep drugs out of our country nor our prisons. And, the Major reason is: corrupt cops. My weekly summary is only the tip of the iceberg of corrupt officials who commit all kinds of corruption at all kinds of levels. For every one caught, how many are still doing it? Most of them. Only a small percent gets caught.

A major cause of police corruption would end if the war on drugs is brought to an end. The war on drugs creates corruption at every level. If you get the war on drugs out of the way, the vast majority of cops left would be honest, if not always heroic and always able to rise to heroism as needed.

Sorry you don't like to hear about drug war official government employee corruption. It is one of the least savory subjects of the war on drugs and why I chose it and not championing legalization, though it woud have the same effect on corruption. It would end drug related corruption in its tracks. Meanwhile, I track its never-ending poisonous, effect on the system.

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I also noticed of late my Violence in America is getting many more hits. It appears people are becoming more invloved in these news stories Xolo.

And if it help with the numbers thats great cause your informing the public and thats a good thing, period!

Now for my 2 cents worth.. ... Yet another young man has ruined his life now that he is caught. Like so many others not that deep into this problem.

This war on drugs is the only one we are winning. And thats not as good as it sounds. I would have thought by now with so much liberalism America would be talking & changing how this war should be won and laws changed. When top people have spoken about the same thing I just said.

Manhattan man arrested on five drug charges | CJOnline.com

HOME PAGE: CJOnline.com

With 2 comments on the postive or would it be the negitive side.

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"There are two ways to conquer and enslave a nation... One is by sword... The other is by debt."

John Adams 1826

NEW HEMP BILL INTRODUCED IN US SENATE
New Hemp Bill Introduced in US Senate | StoptheDrugWar.org
A bipartisan group of senators has introduced a bill that would exclude industrial hemp from the definition of marijuana. The bill, if passed, would get around the DEA's refusal to differentiate hemp from marijuana and could result in American farmers being allowed to grow the industrial crop.

hemp field at sunrise (votehemp.org)
The bill, Senate Bill 3501, was introduced last week by Sen. Ron Wyden (D-OR) and cosponsored by Sens. Rand Paul (R-KY), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), and Jeff Merkley (D-OR). It would amend the Controlled Substances Act to make clear that hemp is not a drug, even though it is part of the cannabis family. Hemp has much lower levels of THC than marijuana grown for recreational or medicinal purposes.

The bill marks Wyden's second attempt this year to get hemp de-listed. He tried to offer an amendment to the farm bill the Senate passed in June to do just that, but the Senate leadership ruled the amendment was not germane.

"I firmly believe that American farmers should not be denied an opportunity to grow and sell a legitimate crop simply because it resembles an illegal one," Wyden said. "Raising this issue has sparked a growing awareness of exactly how ridiculous the US's ban on industrial hemp is. I'm confident that if grassroots support continues to grow and Members of Congress continue to hear from voters then common sense hemp legislation can move through Congress in the near future."

The bill has been referred to the Senate Judiciary Committee.

Meanwhile, another hemp bill, House Resolution 1831, which would also clarify that hemp is not marijuana for the purposes of the Controlled Substances Act, languishes in the Republican-controlled House.

It is about time we do this. Billions can be made by growing hemp. It could be a bigger cash business then MedMar

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This is another one I find very interesting
EXPULSION OF OLYMPIC ATHLETE FOR MARIJUANA RAISES QUESTIONS
Expulsion of Olympic Athlete for Marijuana Raises Questions | StoptheDrugWar.org
An American Olympic judo contender, Nick Delpopolo, was expelled from the London 2012 Olympic Games Monday after he tested positive for marijuana, and that has some experts raising questions about whether it makes sense to include marijuana on the World Anti-Doping Agency's (WADA) list of banned substances.

Judo match, 2012 Olympics, London (Martin Duggan via Flickr and Wikimedia)
Delpopolo said he had inadvertently consumed marijuana in a food item he did not know contained it.

Concerns about athletes "cheating" by using performance enhancing drugs is one thing, but the use of recreational drugs that do not enhance -- and could well detract from -- competitive performance is another. Recreational drugs are banned not because they might provide an athlete with an unfair advantage, but because their use by athletes can cause public relations problems for organized sports, which like to tout athletes as role models for youth.

But some experts told Reuters Monday that sports' PR concerns were no reason to ban athletes for using marijuana. They also suggested the time, expense, and effort of drug testing athletes might be better spent going after real cheats who do blood doping with EPO or use anabolic steroids to increase muscle growth and testosterone levels.

"There's no evidence cannabis is ever performance enhancing in sport, and since its use is legal in a number of countries, there's no reason for it to be banned by WADA," said David Nutt, a professor of neuropsychopharmacology at Imperial College London. "I can't think of any sport in which it would be an advantage. And it seems ludicrous that someone could quite legally smoke cannabis in Amsterdam in the morning and then come over to London in the afternoon and be banned from competing."

But marijuana is banned by WADA, and that means athletes caught using it during a competition face a two-year ban. Still, unlike performance enhancing drugs, WADA does not punish athletes who test positive for pot outside of competitions. That stance has led some scientists to suggest that WADA's reason for banning marijuana is political, not scientific.

"The problem is the elite athletes should be seen as role models for young kids, and so they ban cannabis because they don't want to have the image of gold medalists smoking joints," said one British-based sports scientist who asked not to be identified because of the sensitivity of the issue.

[Ed: If officials don't link images of athletes smoking marijuana, they might have a poor strategy -- no one knew Delpolo used it, before he was sanctioned, but now everyone does.]

"It's hard to imagine how smoking a joint or eating marijuana brownies is going to help somebody in judo," said Michael Joyner, a member of the Physiological Society and a researcher at the Mayo Clinic in Minnesota in the United States. "My advice to WADA is that they should focus on drugs that are clearly performance enhancing in the sports where they are clearly performance enhancing."

According to WADA, substance merit inclusion on its banned substances list if they meet two of these three criteria: they are proven to be performance enhancing, they are dangerous to the health of athletes, or they are contrary to the spirit of sport. There is little or no evidence that marijuana can enhance sporting performance, while there is evidence it could have a negative impact. It can slow reaction times, cause coordination problems, and reduce hand-eye coordination, none of which is going to increase an athlete's chances of victory.

While marijuana is not harm free, there is little evidence it is dangerous to the health of athletes. Nor is it clear why marijuana use would be "contrary to the spirit of sport."

WADA isn't keen to clarify. It refused to comment Monday on a Reuters query about why marijuana is banned.

Drug War Issues Sports - Drug Testing

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And now for the usual fare.15.233

THIS WEEK'S CORRUPT COPS STORIES
This Week's Corrupt Cops Stories | StoptheDrugWar.org
It never stops, does it? Here's another seven bad apples. Let's get to it:

In Los Angeles, an LA County sheriff's deputy was charged last Tuesday with filing a false report that got a woman arrested for drug possession. Deputy Francisco Enriquez, 36, claimed he found a plastic bag containing methamphetamine after transporting the woman to a county jail facility, but a defense attorney for the woman dug up radio communication logs that showed another deputy actually transported her. The woman has had her charges dismissed and has filed a federal civil rights lawsuit over the incident. Enriquez faces one count of perjury for allegedly lying in the probable cause declaration he submitted when the woman was booked at the jail facility and one count of filing a false arrest report. He's looking at up to four years and eight months in prison if convicted, but it currently out on bail.

In Houston, two Houston police officers were arrested last Wednesday on charges they stole cocaine and other drugs from drug dealers. Officer German Ramos, 36, and Officer Kendrick Ferguson, 33, went down after an investigation by HPD's Internal Affairs Division. They are charged with possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver over 400 grams, which carries a prison sentence of up to 99 years. They have been suspended.

In Philadelphia, a Philadelphia police officer was charged last Wednesday with tipping off his half-brother about a heroin trafficking investigation. Officer Rafael Cordero, 49, is charged with obstruction. Cordero's half-brother awaits trial on a heroin trafficking conspiracy charge, and Cordero is accused of alerting him to a surveillance camera aimed at a garage used by drug dealers. He is also accused of helping his half-brother hide drug money and failing to tell authorities his half-brother had removed a videotape from the garage after it was searched. That videotape allegedly showed Cordero at the scene.

In Honolulu, a Honolulu police officer pleaded guilty last Thursday to having a marijuana grow operation at his residence. Michael Chu copped to conspiracy to cultivate 48 plants and to possess with intent to distribute 49 pounds of processed pot. He blamed his girlfriend, who pleaded guilty earlier in the week. They're both looking at up to five years in federal prison.

In Atlanta, a former Gwinnett County police drug investigator pleaded guilty last Friday to misusing money earmarked for undercover drug buys. Vennie Harden copped to counts of violating his oath of office and misdemeanor for his role in a scheme by dope squad supervisor Lt. David Butler to steal the unit's "flash cash." Butler has already pleaded guilty. Harden was also accused of using department credit cards to purchase restaurant meals, motel room stays, and adult novelty items. Harden was sentenced to five years probation, with the first six months under house arrest.

In Little Rock, Arkansas, a former Helena-West Helena police officer was sentenced last Wednesday to 14 months in prison for his role in a drug trafficking and corruption scheme. Robert "Bam Bam" Rogers was indicted on multiple charges in a federal investigation named Operation Delta Blues, but prosecutors dropped the other charges after he pleaded guilty to one count of extortion in January. Rogers also was ordered to serve two years of supervised release after his prison term, of which he already has served 10 months while awaiting sentencing. He was one of five area officers and dozens of civilians indicted last year in the FBI-led probe into drug dealing and corruption in the area. Now, four of the dirty cops have pleaded guilty and received prison terms. One officer has maintained her innocence and will go on trial in December.

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Heck now they have in stores newer synthetic drugs advertised as same type of high as pot, etc. And it is harmful in that some makers are in the dark. So they can use worst/or harmful combinations of these chemicals.

And who wants to bother with hemp to get a buzz on? This Nations first export was pot/hemp as well as large trees cut to make ships. Our founding fathers outright said set aside and every farmer grow some hemp/pot.

So tobacco unlike the hemp pot came second as the main export. And the hemp pot didn't create any addictions for those who imported it.
So get out of the way of business and allow this to pass. As it has NOTHING to due with drugs, period.

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"There are two ways to conquer and enslave a nation... One is by sword... The other is by debt."

John Adams 1826

I just picked one, the last. This cost plenty and yet with mulitable charges they drop most and slap his hand. While at the same time slapping every law abiding
citizen while at it.

Heck if this was a city dweller he/she would have gotten every charge plus at least 6 years or more in prison.

So by using the Federal/state/city laws which take a long while, cost plenty we really get little in return if it involves any LEO or higher authority.

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"There are two ways to conquer and enslave a nation... One is by sword... The other is by debt."

John Adams 1826

THIS WEEK'S CORRUPT COPS STORIES
This Week's Corrupt Cops Stories | StoptheDrugWar.org 15.518
It never stops, and there are so many varieties of law enforcement misdoing. Let's get to it:

In Wagner, South Dakota, the Wagner police chief resigned August 8, one week after he first appeared in court over accusations he covered up his girlfriend's methamphetamine use. Jim Chaney had been suspended since being indicted a week earlier on one count of misprision of a felony. Chaney went down after his girlfriend was arrested for possession of a controlled substance in mid-July and told investigators he had stored used needles for her at the police station. The case comes as the Yankton Sioux community in Wagner is still reeling over the death of two-year-old from ingesting meth earlier this summer.

In Bridgeport, Connecticut, two Bridgeport narcs were suspended last Thursday after testing positive for drugs. Now, the entire Narcotics and Vice Unit faces a possible shutdown after Tactical Narcotics Team members Ivan Clayton and David Uliano tested dirty. They have been suspended with pay. Meanwhile, the police chief, the head of the narcotics unit, representatives of the city attorney's office, and police union reps are holding meetings about how to proceed. One option is to disband the entire dope squad and let State Police handle those investigations.

In Hammond, Indiana, a Gary police officer was arrested last Tuesday on charges he was involved in drug sales and illicit gun purchases. Officer David Finley, 31, went down after a weeks-long investigation by the FBI and the Gary Police Department, which started after he was involved in a car crash and appeared intoxicated. No word yet on specific charges.

In Cincinnati, a North College Hill police officer was indicted Tuesday on federal marijuana trafficking conspiracy charges. Officer Bryon Roos was one of 11 men indicted on charges of conspiring to bring hundreds of pounds of marijuana to southern Ohio from Texas. All 11 are charged with conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute marijuana, while Roos also is charged with conspiracy to commit money laundering, money laundering and illegally structuring financial transactions. Roos is accused of opening used car businesses to launder drug profits from the marijuana sales. He has been suspended. He is looking at up to life in prison.

In Trenton, New Jersey, a former Newark police officer was sentenced August 10 to three years' probation for conspiring with other officers to steal cash, drugs and weapons from suspected drug dealers and others. Darius Smith, 41, was convicted of conspiracy, official misconduct, and theft. The case goes back to 2004, when Smith and other Newark police officers were arrested for shaking down criminal suspects, from whom they stole drugs, money, and weapons.

In Mansfield, Ohio, a former Mansfield police officer was sentenced August 14 to a year in prison for accepting bribes from a drug dealer. David Minard, 44, was convicted of accepting $1,500 in bribes from the dealer in exchange for tipping him off to investigations. He could have gotten up to three years.

In Shreveport, Louisiana, a former Winn County sheriff was sentenced last Friday to 13 years and four months in federal prison after being convicted earlier this year on meth and other charges. Albert "Bodie" Little, 62, was convicted in February of one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute 50 or more grams of meth, one count of possession with intent to distribute meth, and two counts of use of a police communication facility to facilitate drug trafficking. He and 10 others were indicted on the drug charges in July 2011. All the others have already pleaded guilty and been sentenced to prison. Little still faces state charges of malfeasance in office, abuse of office and perjury.

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