BUFFALO HAS A POLICE PROBLEM

This is Marcus Neal.  Marcus was shot and killed by a Buffalo police officer last week.  He is also my nephew by marriage. As is often the case,  the police have created a narrative that exclusively relies upon the claims of the officer that fired three shots into Marcus’ body and the two other officers that were reportedly present during the shooting death. 

According to media reports, the officers were responding to a shoplifting incident that supposedly occurred at a store called Wegmans in Buffalo’s Black Rock neighborhood.   As they were approaching Wegmans, they claim to have seen a suspect that matched the description of their misdemeanor shoplifting suspect.   That person that they have repeatedly described as nothing more than a suspect was Marcus Neal.    

The media further reported that the officers chased Marcus for nearly one mile.   The officers have claim that they chased Marcus onto a roof where he pulled out a knife. There is no mention of the type of knife or it’s actual size.  No picture of the knife has been produced for public inspection.   The officers then claim that they sprayed pepper spray at Marcus and that Marcus then lunged at them with a knife.  They say that they had to shoot Marcus to protect their own lives. 

People should not take the Buffalo Police Department at their word for several reasons.  These reasons include the following: 

First,  pepper spray is a substance that causes temporary blindness, shortness of breath, hyperventilation and can lead to involuntary movements.  The person that is sprayed often becomes bewildered and is not steady on their feet.  They may fall to the ground or move irrationally as a result of the intense pain and the feeling of blindness.  A rational officer would not spray pepper spray at a person that they authentically believed was in possession of weapon that they believed could harm them.   That would only make the situation worse.  

Second, while the police claim that Marcus fit the description of the shoplifting suspect, no video has been released in relation to this incident.  Not even video from the store that he allegedly shop lifted from.  In recent years, there have been incidents in Buffalo where the  Buffalo Police Department has represented that an event happened one way and video was later discovered that called the police version of events into question. 

Third,  the Buffalo Police Department has shot three different people in that past five months. In each of these events, the police have controlled the message.   Authentic investigations that may produce some amount of accountability seems to be absent in the City of Buffalo.  Because of the narrative of the police department,  it is unlikely that the New York Attorney General will actually investigate this matter.  All the police needed to claim, was that a weapon was present in order to minimize the possibility that the NY Attorney General would get involved.   Again, we don’t know if this was a tiny pocket knife or something else.  We don’t even know if a weapon even existed. 

Fourth, Marcus is no longer able to speak for himself. The community has to become his voice and the voice of so many others.  The community has to be the source of the demand for change.   The  Community must be the entity that brings accountability to police departments. 

Marcus Neal was a father, brother, son and a grandson. He was in Buffalo trying to clear up a several year old traffic ticket so that he could regain his license.   He was, for whatever reason, suspected of being a misdemeanor shoplifting suspect.  He will never have his day in court.  He will never have the opportunity to give us his perspective. 

I am asking for my friends that care to do whatever they can to help me force an investigation into the police shooting of Marcus Neal.  The following could be helpful: 

·     Contact the NY Attorney General and demand an investigation into the shooting death of Marcus Neal (800-788-9898 or NYAG.pressoffice@ag.ny.gov)

·     Contact the Mayor of Buffalo’s office and demand an investigation and improvements in Buffalo accountability systems (716) 851-4841 or mayor@city-buffalo.com)

·     Contact Erie County District Attorney John Flynn (716) 858-2424 and demand that he request that the NY AG’s office investigate the Marcus Neal matter. 

·     Contact Buffalo Police Commissioner  Byron Lockwood (716) 851-4040. 

·     Follow just resisting Buffalo on Facebook for additional ideas;

·     Share this post far and wide;

·     Assist in contacting individuals that live in and around Buffalo so that they can know more about Marcus Neal;

·     Share this post far and wide; and

·     Any other positive thing that you can think of.

Thanks for anything that you can do

James Bible Esq.

Civil Rights Lawyer

Uncle in Law of Marcus Neal

 Buffalo has a police problem

This is Marcus Neal.  Marcus was shot and killed by a Buffalo police officer last week.  He is also my nephew by marriage. As is often the case,  the police have created a narrative that exclusively relies upon the claims of the officer that fired three shots into Marcus’ body and the two other officers that were reportedly present during the shooting death. 

According to media reports, the officers were responding to a shoplifting incident that supposedly occurred at a store called Wegmans in Buffalo’s Black Rock neighborhood.   As they were approaching Wegmans, they claim to have seen a suspect that matched the description of their misdemeanor shoplifting suspect.   That person that they have repeatedly described as nothing more than a suspect was Marcus Neal.    

The media further reported that the officers chased Marcus for nearly one mile.   The officers have claim that they chased Marcus onto a roof where he pulled out a knife. There is no mention of the type of knife or it’s actual size.  No picture of the knife has been produced for public inspection.   The officers then claim that they sprayed pepper spray at Marcus and that Marcus then lunged at them with a knife.  They say that they had to shoot Marcus to protect their own lives. 

People should not take the Buffalo Police Department at their word for several reasons.  These reasons include the following: 

First,  pepper spray is a substance that causes temporary blindness, shortness of breath, hyperventilation and can lead to involuntary movements.  The person that is sprayed often becomes bewildered and is not steady on their feet.  They may fall to the ground or move irrationally as a result of the intense pain and the feeling of blindness.  A rational officer would not spray pepper spray at a person that they authentically believed was in possession of weapon that they believed could harm them.   That would only make the situation worse.  

Second, while the police claim that Marcus fit the description of the shoplifting suspect, no video has been released in relation to this incident.  Not even video from the store that he allegedly shop lifted from.  In recent years, there have been incidents in Buffalo where the  Buffalo Police Department has represented that an event happened one way and video was later discovered that called the police version of events into question. 

Third,  the Buffalo Police Department has shot three different people in that past five months. In each of these events, the police have controlled the message.   Authentic investigations that may produce some amount of accountability seems to be absent in the City of Buffalo.  Because of the narrative of the police department,  it is unlikely that the New York Attorney General will actually investigate this matter.  All the police needed to claim, was that a weapon was present in order to minimize the possibility that the NY Attorney General would get involved.   Again, we don’t know if this was a tiny pocket knife or something else.  We don’t even know if a weapon even existed. 

Fourth, Marcus is no longer able to speak for himself. The community has to become his voice and the voice of so many others.  The community has to be the source of the demand for change.   The  Community must be the entity that brings accountability to police departments. 

Marcus Neal was a father, brother, son and a grandson. He was in Buffalo trying to clear up a several year old traffic ticket so that he could regain his license.   He was, for whatever reason, suspected of being a misdemeanor shoplifting suspect.  He will never have his day in court.  He will never have the opportunity to give us his perspective. 

I am asking for my friends that care to do whatever they can to help me force an investigation into the police shooting of Marcus Neal.  The following could be helpful: 

·     Contact the NY Attorney General and demand an investigation into the shooting death of Marcus Neal (800-788-9898 or NYAG.pressoffice@ag.ny.gov)

·     Contact the Mayor of Buffalo’s office and demand an investigation and improvements in Buffalo accountability systems (716) 851-4841 or mayor@city-buffalo.com)

·     Contact Erie County District Attorney John Flynn (716) 858-2424 and demand that he request that the NY AG’s office investigate the Marcus Neal matter. 

·     Contact Buffalo Police Commissioner  Byron Lockwood (716) 851-4040. 

·     Follow just resisting Buffalo on Facebook for additional ideas;

·     Share this post far and wide;

·     Assist in contacting individuals that live in and around Buffalo so that they can know more about Marcus Neal;

·     Share this post far and wide; and

·     Any other positive thing that you can think of.

Thanks for anything that you can do

James Bible Esq.

Civil Rights Lawyer

Uncle in Law of Marcus Neal

JURY AWARDS JOSIAH HUNTER $640,000 IN FEDERAL EXCESSIVE FORCE LAW CASE AGAINST THE FEDERAL WAY POLICE DEPARTMENT AND OFFICER KRIS DURELL

This is Josiah Hunter. On September 14, 2014, he was choked by Federal Way Police Officer Kris Durell. Josiah had witnessed a head on collision that involved a drunk driver. Josiah and his friend ran to the danger and did everything that he could to help. They even escorted the drunk driver back to the crime scene. Later, Officer Durell instructed Josiah and Junior to stand back behind some gas pumps at a corner store and then arrested the two young men for trespassing and resisting arrest. In the process of the arrest, Officer Durell. choked Josiah. Josiah felt as though he couldn't breath and thought he was going to die. After months of dealing with the criminal charges, the case was dismissed.

We then filed a Federal Civil Right's lawsuit against Federal Way and Officer Durell. It was a hard fought trial. The Jury came back today and awarded Josiah $640,000!!!! It is not lost on us that this verdict comes on the anniversary of Eric Garner's death by choking at the hands of NYPD. 

It is time to end the police practice of choking people.

The James Bible Law Group and attorney Jesse Valdez are thankful that we were able to serve Josiah Hunter and his family.

If you are in need of legal services please call 425-519-3675.

GARFIELD HISTORY TEACHER RECEIVES $100,000 SETTLEMENT IN POLICE MISCONDUCT LAW SUIT


The James Bible Law Group assisted Jesse Hagopian,  a high school history teacher,  with his lawsuit against the City of Seattle.  On MLK Jr. Day,  Mr. Hagopian was walking on the sidewalk after having participated in Seattle's annual MLK celebration when a Seattle Police Officer sprayed him with what is commonly known as pepper spray.  The incident was captured on video.  The James Bible Law Group filed a lawsuit against the police officers and the City of Seattle.   This Matter resolved just short of trial with a settlement of $100,000.  

To Mr. Hagopian's credit,  he has started a scholarship with the proceeds from the settlement.

SPD GETS VERBAL WARNING FOR USING POTENTIALLY LETHAL FORCE ON A GARFIELD HIGH SCHOOL TEACHER.

http://www.thestranger.com/blogs/slog/2015/10/05/22959615/taking-advantage-of-loophole-police-chief-quietly-lessened-discipline-for-seattle-cop-who-pepper-sprayed-jesse-hagopian

James Bible Law Group Files a Law Suit against the Seattle Police Department on behalf of Jesse Hagopian

Jesse Hagopian has dedicated his life to education, social justice and human rights.  He had just finished giving a speech at Seattle's annual Martin Luther King Jr. event when he was pepper sprayed by an out of control Seattle Police Officer.  Unfortunately, the actions of this officer are common place in an otherwise great city.   After reviewing the video and information present in this case, the James Bible Law Group decided to assist Mr. Hagopian in filing a lawsuit against the Officer and the City of Seattle.

The Law Suit Was officially filed on June 29, 2015. 

If you are in need of legal services please contact the James Bible Law Group at 425-519-3675. 

Not Guilty! Robbery in the First Degree! Jury took less than 10 minutes to acquitt my client!

The James Bible is proud to announce that, after a hard fought jury trial, our client has been acquitted of serious criminal charges.  It took a great deal of effort and investigation in order to prepare for this case.  We did not waive our client's speedy trial rights and were able to be prepared for trial within 60 days of arraignment.  There were no continuances in this case.  We are thrilled to know that our client is now home with his family and able to move forward with his life.