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Police SGT. with 7 felonies gets PROBATION!!!
Josey1
Member Posts: 9,598 ✭✭
Former Metro Police Sergeant Mark Nelson Sentenced to Probation and Community Service
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Former Metro Police Sergeant Mark Nelson Sentenced
Reporter: Melissa Penry
It's judgement day for a former police officer involved in a standoff - one where he held other officers at bay. However, Mark Nelson will not be doing any time behind bars.
Emotions flowed in the form of tears when former Metro Police Sergeant Mark Nelson realized that although he must pay for what he did, he will not pay in prison.
"I would like to say thank you for everyone's prayers and thoughts," said Mark's wife, Kelly.
Psychiatrists said on May 11th of last year, Mark Nelson, already suffering from mental disorders, was pushed over the edge after the police department disempowered him. In a rage, he held fellow officers at bay for nearly four hours.
"This man had a terrible day. There's no question he had a terrible day, and the people in that neighborhood will remember that a long time," said Judge Randall Wyatt.
After Nelson pleaded guilty to seven felony counts, a Davidson County judge sentenced him to probation, community service, and ordered him to pay for damages.
"I think that he seems sincere and I think his remorse is real."
Prosecutors had asked for jail time.
"To give the community the confidence that he wouldn't get special consideration because he was a police officer, and also the fact of the nature of the crime itself," said Assistant District Attorney Dan Hamm.
The judge said, given all the facts, sentencing Nelson to jail because he was a police officer would be treating him differently.
This is not the final chapter in what happened May 11th. That chapter will come in federal court. Nelson has filed a three-million dollar lawsuit relating to the events earlier that day when he was handcuffed, taken into custody, then disempowered.
"Your car's been taken or we took it away. Your gun's been taken. You're disempowered. Don't work any other jobs, you're disempowered. Don't come to work anymore. And I asked him why? And he said, 'I don't know,'" Nelson said in court.
In the lawsuit, Nelson claims being handcuffed and taken in violated his civil rights. He's suing for three-million dollars. The case is set for trial next summer.
http://wkrn.com/Global/story.asp?S=901920&nav=1ugBAlrD
"If cowardly and dishonorable men sometimes shoot unarmed men with army pistols or guns, the evil must be prevented by the penitentiary and gallows, and not by a general deprivation of a constitutional privilege." - Arkansas Supreme Court, 1878
Email story to a friend
Former Metro Police Sergeant Mark Nelson Sentenced
Reporter: Melissa Penry
It's judgement day for a former police officer involved in a standoff - one where he held other officers at bay. However, Mark Nelson will not be doing any time behind bars.
Emotions flowed in the form of tears when former Metro Police Sergeant Mark Nelson realized that although he must pay for what he did, he will not pay in prison.
"I would like to say thank you for everyone's prayers and thoughts," said Mark's wife, Kelly.
Psychiatrists said on May 11th of last year, Mark Nelson, already suffering from mental disorders, was pushed over the edge after the police department disempowered him. In a rage, he held fellow officers at bay for nearly four hours.
"This man had a terrible day. There's no question he had a terrible day, and the people in that neighborhood will remember that a long time," said Judge Randall Wyatt.
After Nelson pleaded guilty to seven felony counts, a Davidson County judge sentenced him to probation, community service, and ordered him to pay for damages.
"I think that he seems sincere and I think his remorse is real."
Prosecutors had asked for jail time.
"To give the community the confidence that he wouldn't get special consideration because he was a police officer, and also the fact of the nature of the crime itself," said Assistant District Attorney Dan Hamm.
The judge said, given all the facts, sentencing Nelson to jail because he was a police officer would be treating him differently.
This is not the final chapter in what happened May 11th. That chapter will come in federal court. Nelson has filed a three-million dollar lawsuit relating to the events earlier that day when he was handcuffed, taken into custody, then disempowered.
"Your car's been taken or we took it away. Your gun's been taken. You're disempowered. Don't work any other jobs, you're disempowered. Don't come to work anymore. And I asked him why? And he said, 'I don't know,'" Nelson said in court.
In the lawsuit, Nelson claims being handcuffed and taken in violated his civil rights. He's suing for three-million dollars. The case is set for trial next summer.
http://wkrn.com/Global/story.asp?S=901920&nav=1ugBAlrD
"If cowardly and dishonorable men sometimes shoot unarmed men with army pistols or guns, the evil must be prevented by the penitentiary and gallows, and not by a general deprivation of a constitutional privilege." - Arkansas Supreme Court, 1878
Comments
By Michael Smith
Texas City Sun
Published August 20, 2002
A case against an off-duty Galveston police officer, who investigators say shot at Texas City High School students in a truck Saturday night, will be referred to a Galveston County Grand Jury.
Sgt. Brian Goetschius of the Texas City Criminal Investigation Division said his department is working up a collection of diagrams, photographs, testimony and other information to present to the grand jury.
Goetschius said the jury could consider a charge of deadly conduct for the officer, a veteran of more than 20 years.
The grand jury referral came after the officer, who works patrol for Galveston, shot at Texas City High School band members with a shotgun. The students were participating in an annual tradition of "wrapping" certain people's houses and yards with toilet paper the weekend before school starts.
District Attorney Michael Guarino will be handling the case.
The prank is a long-time band member tradition. Goetschius said, in most cases, the houses that will be "wrapped" are called and notified.
He said the officer's house, in the 2500 block of Eighth Avenue North, was not notified.
He said through investigations it was determined the tradition is not a school-sponsored event.
"This was not affiliated or recognized by the district as a high school function," Goetschius said.
According to police reports, the man went outside after hearing a commotion outside his house and found his yard and automobiles covered in toilet paper.
When the five students responsible returned to view their handiwork, the officer approached them, brandishing the weapon. When the children attempted to flee the scene, the officer unloaded one shotgun shell into the front of their truck and one more into the rear of the vehicle, flattening a rear tire as the truck sped off.
Texas City officers later confiscated the weapon. The officer was not arrested.
No injuries were reported to police.
Galveston Police Chief Bob Pierce said, because no charges have been filed, the officer has returned to duty.
"He has been working since then and he will continue to work until I see reasons otherwise," Pierce said.
He said his department's internal affairs division is looking into the case to look for any violations of departmental rules.
He said a charge of criminal mischief on the students may also be brought up and considered.
The off-duty officer's daughter, also a Texas City band member, was involved with wrapping houses earlier in the week, but was not participating Saturday night.
Michael Smith is a Texas City Sun reporter. He may be reached at 945-3441 or by email at: michael.smith@texascitysun.com.
http://www.texascitysun.com/report.lasso?WCD=458
"If cowardly and dishonorable men sometimes shoot unarmed men with army pistols or guns, the evil must be prevented by the penitentiary and gallows, and not by a general deprivation of a constitutional privilege." - Arkansas Supreme Court, 1878
Suit filed after cops confiscate motor home
Man's vehicle allegedly bore 'obscene' pro-life messages
Posted: August 21, 2002
1:00 a.m. Eastern
By Jon Dougherty
c 2002 WorldNetDaily.com
A California man has filed suit in U.S. district court in Detroit after police from Royal Oak, Mich., confiscated his motor home because it allegedly bore "obscene" pro-life messages.
Officials with the Thomas More Law Center say they filed the suit on behalf of Ronald Brock, who claims police in the southeastern Michigan city illegally took possession of his motor home during an automotive rally last year "in an investigation of obscenity" because it bore "aborted baby photographs."
The law center, in a statement, said the vehicle "displayed messages and photographs informing the public about [Brock's] political and religious views against abortion."
The incident took place in August 2001 during an event known as the Woodward Dream Cruise Weekend, which is held annually to celebrate "memories of 'cruising' during the 1950s and 1960s," said the law center.
According to information posted on the Dream Cruise website, the event is "a mid-summer classic that celebrates the cars, music and memories of cruisin' in the '50s and '60s in the place that put America on wheels." It attracts 1.5 million visitors and some 30,000 cars.
Lawyers for Brock, who filed suit Aug. 13, charge that while police confiscated his motor home, they ignored "the customized vehicles displaying spray-painted murals of naked women and men displaying 'Show Us Your [breasts]' signs to women. ."
"Despite finding no evidence of a crime, the police towed away Mr. Brock's motor home, leaving him stranded on the streets of Royal Oak with a few personal belongings in a duffel bag," said the center.
The law center said in an effort to "cover their activities," police sought search warrants from the city's attorney and the county prosecutor's office, but both were denied.
The center also said Brock was prohibited from audio- and videotaping the seizure of his motor home.
"The Royal Oak police department wrongly silenced Mr. Brock's speech during last year's Woodward Dream Cruise weekend," said Ed White, the center's associate counsel.
He added the center was filing suit to "ensure that this year he will be able to express his messages on the public streets to the same extent that other citizens are permitted to express their own messages."
Christopher Johnson, the city's attorney, was out of his office and could not be reached for comment.
Brock returned to this year's event, which was held last weekend, after the law center won a temporary restraining order against the city earlier in the week.
Brian Burch, a spokesman for the center, said Brock's motor home was again adorned with pro-life materials, but he was not hassled by cops. He did, however, suffer some minor damage; a few Cruise attendees peppered his vehicle with eggs.
However, Burch said, another participant, whose vehicle - a small bus - was also adorned with similar pro-life materials, was not so lucky.
"People were jumping on his bus and ripped off the signs, then assaulted him," he said. It was unclear whether police arrested anyone in connection with the attack.
Burch said he wasn't sure "of the status of [Brock's] suit" at this point. "It's probably just seeking legal fees and perhaps an admission of wrongdoing."
A license to speak?
In separate action, the American Center for Law and Justice filed a federal civil-rights suit against the city of St. Paul, Minn., on behalf of two women.
In a statement, ACLJ officials said the two women were told by police to "leave a public sidewalk outside an abortion clinic because they did not have a permit required by a city ordinance" to protest there.
"This is an unconstitutional attempt to punish our clients who wanted to legally share a pro-life message on a public sidewalk," said Francis J. Manion, senior counsel at ACLJ. "The First Amendment does not allow state and local governments to require that persons obtain a license to speak in public."
Chapter 366A.01(a) of the city code states: "No person or organization shall use any public street, sidewalk or alley for a march, demonstration or public gathering in the city without a permit."
The suit was filed in U.S. district court in St. Paul, ACLJ officials said, on behalf of Bonnie Holliday and Sally Kolb. The suit names the city of St. Paul, the police department and Chief of Police William K. Finney.
"There is no conceivable governmental interest which justifies such sweeping restrictions on speech," Manion said. "Just this year, the U.S. Supreme Court struck down as unconstitutional a permit-regulation scheme in Ohio."
In that case, justices ruled that Stratten, Ohio - a small community of 297 in the eastern part of the state - could not force door-to-door canvassers, proselytizers or salesmen to obtain permits before hawking goods or beliefs.
http://www.wnd.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=28673
"If cowardly and dishonorable men sometimes shoot unarmed men with army pistols or guns, the evil must be prevented by the penitentiary and gallows, and not by a general deprivation of a constitutional privilege." - Arkansas Supreme Court, 1878