Tri-County Sentry
Friday
AUGUST 15, 2014
Page 7A
National News Man Who Filmed Eric Garner's Chokehold Tight North Carolina Race Could Death, Arrested on Weapons Charges Determine Control of U.S. Senate
By Victoria Cavaliere A man who filmed a New York City police officer use a choke hold on a suspect who later died has been arrested on weapons charges, law enforcement officials said. Ramsey Orta, 22, and a 17-year-old female were spotted outside a known drug location on Staten Island by narcotics officers who saw Orta put a handgun in his companion's waistband, the New York Police Department said. Orta, who has a previous criminal conviction, faces two charges of criminal possession of a weapon. At some point during his arrest, Orta told officers, "You're just mad because I filmed your boy," an NYPD spokeswoman said.
Ramsey Orta (c.) The comment was apparently in reference to the July 17 cellphone video shot by Orta during the arrest of Eric Garner, who was placed in a choke hold by a police officer while being detained for peddling illegal cigarettes. Garner later died, and
the New York City medical examiner ruled the his death a homicide. Footage of the incident circulated widely on the Internet, triggering outrage and raising questions about police tactics and use of force. ARRESTED, See page 12A
By Afrique I. Kilimanjaro RALEIGH, N.C. – U.S. Senator Kay Hagan has been reaching out to communities and constituents across North Carolina galvanizing support for her re-election campaign. The Democratic Senator from North Carolina and her campaign are full steam ahead as they face Republican opponent, current N.C. Speaker of the House, Thom Tillis. The Tillis campaign, according to Hagan, is being aided by $20 million in out of state advertising spending from conservatives such as Charles and David Koch, and Republican political strategist Karl Rove. The
U.S Rep. Elijah Cummings of Maryland greets U.S. Senator Kay Hagan at an African American Summit meeting held in Raleigh. Hagan campaign says, these out of state entities “believe North Carolina’s Senate seats can be bought.” Hagan, along with fel-
low Democrats in federal, state, county and city government, are spreading the word and sounding the alarm RACE, See page 12A
Mom and Foster Daughter Found The Family of Keith Warren Found Hung Slain in New Jersey Apartment on a Tree Seeks to Have Case Re-Opened
Washington, DC — Sean Bell. Amadou Diallo. Trayvon Martin. Keith Warren. These four men and countless others have no familial or formal relationships, but their lives are interconnected as they each were victims of a grave miscarriage of justice by those who were to protect and serve their communities. On July 30, 1986, the lives of the Warren Family, their friends, and Montgomery County Maryland community would be impacted forever as they were informed of tragic news that Keith Warren – their ambitious 19-year old son, brother, cousin, and friend – was found hung on a tree. After a brief (less than 24 hours) and “reckless” investigation, Keith’s death was ruled a suicide by the Montgomery Police Department. Because of the amount of neglect and unanswered questions surrounding Keith’s death, his mother Mary spent the remainder of her life seeking “justice for Keith”. After her death, the torch was passed to his
Keith Warren of Montgomery County, Maryland was found hung on a tree 29 years ago in 1986. sister Sherri. Now, 29 years later, the family is asking the Montgomery Police Department to re-open the case to seek accountability and justice into the death of Keith. On the family’s web site there are documents/ texts which outline some of the pressing issues still left unanswered and unproven. For example, how can a man nearly 6 feet and 5 inches tall suspend himself in a tree that was double-bent twice his weight? Why was the same tree
Brooklyn, NY — Prosecutors in Brooklyn, New York City are now reviewing at least 90 cases that may be wrongful convictions. Even worse, 57 of those cases involve the same former detective, NYPD Detective Louis Scarcella. Scarcella’s past cases are being reviewed after evidence revealed that she once coached a witness to pick a suspect of a lineup, and allegedly used another witness who was addicted to drugs to fabricate information at various different trials. One person in one of her past cases has already been exonerated after spending more than 20 years in jail. But according to USA Today, Scarcella’s cases are not the only cases in question. In the past 6 months, seven people have been exonerated after being once convicted by the
district attorney’s office, and the evidence is pointing towards potential police misconduct. Since January of this year, the current district attorney Kenneth Thompson has expanded his office’s Conviction Review Unit and has even budgeted more than $1 million a year to investigate cases of potential wrongful convictions. He is also ensuring that investigations are being more closely monitored. Reportedly, Thompson’s office is first reviewing wrongful conviction claims made by people who are still in prison serving time. Other claims made by people who have already been released from prison or never went to prison will be considered last. Sadly, such investigations can take years to complete and can be very difficult when evidence is lost and/or witnesses have died.
Prosecutors Are Looking into Nearly 100 Cases That May Be Wrongful Convictions
that his body was found on cut down shortly thereafter? Why? Furthermore, and the question that has caused them to really raise their voices again on behalf of Keith is; how is an official investigation and ruling found legitimate if it is based on falsified allegations and hearsay? In short, the family says that the investigating detective used information from unnamed, unrelated, and unverified sources to rule Keith’s death a suicide 5 hours prior to notification of next of kin. For more information and documentation about the case, please visit www. KeithWarrenJusticeSite.com.
By David Lohr The deaths of a woman and young girl whose bodies were discovered in a New Jersey apartment have been ruled homicides, police said. The victims were identified by the Long Branch Police Department as Joan Colbert, 62, and her 10-year-old foster daughter, Veronica Roach. A family member reported finding the bodies inside Colbert's first-floor apartment in Long Branch, police said. Authorities have yet to release details on how the two were killed. According to The Asbury Park Press, Colbert had raised the girl since she was 3 months old. Colbert's close friend,
Veronica Roach, 10 (left), and Joan Colbert, 62 (right), were found at their home in Long Branch, New Jersey. Their deaths are being investigated as a homicide Linda Smith, told the news- going person," Smith said. paper that Colbert was disAuthorities have not abled and did not work. made any arrests in the "I can't even begin to double-homicide and they imagine what happened. have yet to identify any She was such a good, out- potential suspects.