Cop Block

Published at the Huffington Post, by Peter Finocchiaro

This post has been updated. Scroll down for the most recent information on Anonymous’ February 3 series of attacks.

Notorious hacker collective Anonymous attacked and defaced the website of the Boston Police Department Friday, apparently in retaliation for a police raid on an Occupy Boston encampment in the city’s Dewey Square on December 10.

For long stretches of the morning, the website, BPDNews.com, has loaded an Anonymous-designed web page called “Anti-Sec,” also the name of the collective’smonths-long campaign against a number of governments and corporations.

The page includes a message from the collective, titled, “Anonymous hacks Boston Police website in retaliation for police brutality at OWS,” as well as an embedded version of the KRS-One music video, “Sound of Da Police.”

A screen grab of the website at 12 p.m. Friday:

The text of the message reads thus:

Do you remember a few months ago when #antisec attaked the Boston Police and released hundred of passwords in retaliation for the brutality against Occupy Boston? They clearly ignored our warnings, because not only did they raid the camp again and kicked protesters off of public parks, but they also sent undercover TSA agents to assualt and attempt to steal from some organizers. So you get your kicks beating protesters? That’s OK; we get kicks defacing and rm’n your websites – again. BDNNews.com, the “Boston Poice Department Virtual Community” also fell to the swift merciless veangeance of the hive. Do you really want to step to this??

The portion of the letter about “undercover TSA agents” likely refers to an incident last month when a TSA air marshal accosted several members of Occupy Boston, and mugged one, just hours before the Dec. 10 Dewey Square eviction. (There’s little to suggest that the air marshal was, in fact, in the encampment at the best of the TSA.)

The department released a statement acknowledging the attack and saying that its “skillful technical staff” was focused on restoring the website.

The statement reads:

It is unfortunate that someone would go to this extent to compromise BPDNews.com, a helpful and informative public safety resource utilized daily by community members seeking up-to-date news and information about important safety matters.

Anonymous also leaked audio this morning of what it claims to be a conference call between FBI investigators and British authorities, as part of an apparent day of protest dubbed #FuckFBIFriday on Twitter.

The hacker collective had previously attacked the Boston PD’s website this past October, in the aftermath of mass arrests that garnered national attention.

UPDATE #1: Anonymous hackers also compromised the Salt Lake City Police Department’s website on Friday, gaining access to “sensitive data, including citizen complaints about drug crimes, including phone numbers, addresses and other personal information,” according to the Associated Press. The department claims that the hack was in retaliation for an anti-graffiti bill that died in the state’s senate on Thursday.

Additionally, hackers associating with Anonymous attacked the website of Greece’s justice ministry. That move was reportedly in protest against austerity measures thatinternational lenders have demanded of the beleaguered country in return for much-needed financial assistance.

Anonymous also published the names and personal information of more than 700 police officers from across the state of Texas, according to WFAA-TV. The data was stolen from the Texas Police Association’s website, reportedly in response to the news last week that a Wylie, TX, police officer was suspended from duty as part of a child pornography investigation.

UPDATE #2: Adding to a flurry of cyber-attacks Friday afternoon, Anonymous members have now reportedly hacked the website of the Washington law firm Puckett and Faraj, according to the AFP. The hackers claim they have published three gigabytes of private emails from the firm, many pertaining to Frank Wuterich, a U.S. marine (and Puckett and Faraj client) who faced a military court martial last month in connection with 2005′s Haditha massacre.

UPDATE #3: Gawker’s John Cook reports that in addition to leaking documents related to Puckett and Faraj’s defense of Frank Wuterich, Anonymous also published a number of emails pertaining to separate cases the firm has handled. Those emails, Cook writes, include sensitive information about “people that Anonymous might normally be aligned with.” That includes sexual assault victims whose names had previously been unreported.

Meanwhile, the Boston PD’s web adress is now redirecting to the organization’sFacebook page.

More dope-dealin’ and/or sticky-fingered cops this week, plus a tweaker judge gets sentenced. Let’s get to it

In Norwalk, Connecticut, a state marshal was arrested last Tuesday after police found more than a quarter-pound of pot in his vehicle. Marshal Alan Freedman, 58, was pulled over for running a red light, and a police drug dog alerted on his vehicle. Police found two bags of marijuana, a plastic container containing marijuana, digital scales, nine pipes with pot residue, a bag of seeds, and empty baggies. The pot seized came to 4.8 ounces. Freedman is charged with possession of more than four ounces of marijuana, possession of marijuana with intent to sell, illegal distribution of marijuana and possession of marijuana with intent to sell within 1,500 feet of a school. Freedman was released after posting $10,000 bond. State marshals are certified law enforcement officers, but typically handle civil matters, such as serving court documents.

In Shreveport, Louisiana, a Shreveport police officer was arrested last Wednesday for peddling drugs and soliciting prostitutes. Officer Jeffrion Smith, 30, went down after the department got information that he was looking for hookers, and an undercover investigation resulted in his arrest. He is charged with solicitation of prostitution, distribution of a Schedule I narcotic, and possession of a firearm with a controlled dangerous substance. He is now on administrative leave after being booked into the Caddo Parish Jail.

In Memphis, Tennessee, a Memphis police officer was arrested last Friday after getting ensnared in a drug sting operation. Officer Melvin Robinson, 28, went down after telling an FBI informant in November he was having money problems and agreeing to buy and sell 10 kilos of cocaine with a street value of $300,000. Robinson used his police squad car to drive to a south Memphis truck parking lot and grabbed a black duffle bag full of what he thought was cocaine. He was then arrested. He is charged with attempted possession of a controlled substance with intent to distribute. He faces up to life in prison.

In Los Angeles, an LAPD gang and narcotics division detective was arrested last Friday after a fellow detective saw him taking money from the scene of a drug raid. Det. Ramon Alvarez, a 27-year veteran of the department, was detained at the scene and his vehicle was searched. The money was found in the vehicle. Alvarez faces one count of grand theft.

In Oakland, California, a former San Ramon police officer pleaded guilty last Thursday to multiple corruption counts in the ongoing CNET (Central Contra Costa County Narcotics Enforcement Team) scandal. Louis Lombardi, 39, pleaded guilty to four misdemeanor counts for stealing cash and property during searches of homes and five felony counts for possessing and selling stolen drugs and firearms while he worked for CNET. The former CNET commander and two other police officer still face a raft of state and federal charges ranging from stealing and selling marijuana and methamphetamine to shaking down workers at an illegal massage parlor they operated to selling steroids to involvement in a scheme to create “dirty DUIs” by targeting men in bars to get them drunk, then arresting them on the highway to help their spouses in divorce cases. Lombardi is looking at up to 60 years in federal prison.

In Jackson, Mississippi, a former Crockett County General Sessions court judge was sentenced last Thursday to six months in prison for his involvement with methamphetamine. Shannon Jones had pleaded guilty to a single count in October of conspiracy to manufacture and possess meth with the intent to distribute. He had originally been arrested on state charges after sheriff’s deputies said they found meth-making materials at his home, but he was indicted on five federal charges in June. Jones must also pay the DEA $3,000 and submit to drug testing

Read Carlos Miller’s blog, “Photography is NOT a Crime” by clicking here.

+ enlarge image

As many of you who follow me on the social networks know, I was arrested Tuesday night while covering the Occupy Miami police evacuation.

I was released Wednesday morning after spending several hours in the Miami-Dade County jail and I spent the next several hours retrieving my possessions from the police department across town and then trying to recover video footage the cops apparently deleted.

I also fielded numerous calls from friends, reporters and supporters offering me their help. And I gave two online interviews, including one on Thomas Hawk’s Photo Talk Plus which lasts more than an hour, and one on a local program called Let’s Talk About it, which is much shorter.

The gist is that I was arrested for refusing to leave a public area, even though hordes of corporate journalists were allowed to remain, including one who recorded my arrest.

I’ve been holding off writing this post in the hopes that I can find the clip that I thought I had shot in the moments before my arrest, but after a very slow download, I have a bunch of unrecognizable MTS files, so now it’s a matter of converting them to see if I retrieved anything from the arrest.

I will post it as soon as I can, but this may take a while.

Photo by Carlos Miller

When I first realized that the clip leading up to my arrest was not included, I thought perhaps I just wasn’t recording. But then I noticed there were several other clips that I know I had recorded that were missing, so it seems as if the cops deleted the last few clips I shot right before my arrest.

However, a television news videographer was on the scene and he recorded my arrest because I saw him pointing the camera directly on me as I was being handcuffed.

But I don’t know what station he is from and I have not seen it used in any of the news clips I’ve seen on the evacuation.

Moments after we had been evacuated from the park with county hall looming behind the officer (photo by Carlos Miller)

I was covering the evacuation for Miami Beach 411 where I’ve been covering the Occupy Miami movement since it began last October.

This is what happened:

Miami-Dade County issued an evacuation notice to Occupy Miami, which had their encampment set up in a park in front of Government Center, which is county hall, since October 15.

The order was that they needed to evacuate by sunset, so the media was all there to catch all the drama.

Most of the activists were complying with the order because they are already focusing their efforts on other issues throughout South Florida, mainly addressing the huge foreclosure problem we have down here.

But six activists decided they were going to stay in defiance. They had barricaded themselves behind some pallets and had linked arms and were prepared to go to jail to make their statement.

Six activists who were ready to subject themselves to arrest did not get arrested (photo by Carlos Miller)

So naturally, my goal was to get as close to these arrests as possible to ensure the cops did not get physically abusive.

At one point, police corralled the media behind yellow police tape, but several of us remained in the park, including a few reporters and a bunch of activists.

Then almost 100 police officers donned in riot gear began surrounding the park while ordering everybody out through a megaphone. Then they started marching towards us with their shields in front of them.

So we all marched backwards as they marched towards us. Many of the activists were taunting, mocking and insulting the cops and I just kept recording as many others did.

They forced us out of the park onto the sidewalk, which is City of Miami jurisdiction. So after several minutes of activists and police squaring off against each other, a multitude of Miami police officers came marching towards us.

Kevin Young of Occupy Miami tries to debate Miami police officer (photo by Carlos Miller)

About 150 cops in riot gear combined then forced the crowd back a few blocks with the activists continuing to dance in front of them and yelling at them.

At one point, police announced that everybody in the block in front of them was under arrest, which prompted the activists to disperse quickly. It was pretty surreal considering how defiant they had been, but I guess they figured the cops were going to make good on their word.

But I was taking my cue from the other journalists in the area, which included a writer for the Miami Herald, a photographer for the Miami Herald and about three videographers from local news stations as well as their respective reporters and a handful of others I did not recognize.

At one point, the cops marched right past those journalists, which clearly indicated they were not among the ones who were going to get arrested.

But I kept moving backwards as the cops moved towards me, even though at this point I was the only one in front of them. My plan was to make a left at the next block and just walk back to my car and go home to edit my video.

But as I rounded the corner, another group of cops in riot gear were marching up.

Seeing how the other journalists were not bothered, I asked if I could walk past them on the sidewalk to get to my car but one of them blocked my way, so I walked back towards the intersection and watched both lines of cops plant themselves on their respective corners.

At this point, the only other way out of the area was to walk underneath the I-95 overpass, which would have placed me alongside the Miami River and completely away from my car.

Standoff between Miami-Dade cops and activists after they forced us out of the park (photo by Carlos Miller)

So I asked one of the officers in riot gear in the first line of cops if I would be allowed to walk past them to get to my car and he ignored me, so I figured the best thing to do is find the commanding officer and explain my situation.

Keep in mind there were several journalists in the area, including several behind the first line of cops on 3^rd Ave.

As I asked the officer if she would allow me to walk back to my car, which was at Government Center and she immediately began yelling out “Arrestee! Arrestee!”.

That prompted several cops in riot gear to apprehend me in a very aggressive manner while ordering me to “relax!”.

I told them I was relaxed, that there was no need for them to tackle me. I turned to my left and saw the news videographer recording my arrest, so I lifted my arms to show the world that I was not resisting.

The woman cop demanded to know if I had any drugs or weapons, which I said no, but she kept asking and I kept saying no.

I told them I was a journalist as if all the camera gear wasn’t an indicator of that. She told me that I was getting arrested because I had defied their orders to leave the area, so I asked about the other journalists, but she didn’t respond to that.

I was charged with obstruction of justice and resisting arrest without violence, even though the cops wrote that I was “taken into custody without incident” on the arrest report. They also said that I was ordered to leave the area for my “safety.”

Then I learned that the cops screwed up and did not include the statute number for the obstruction charge, so I am now only facing the resisting arrest charge, which seems to be the story of my life.

If you remember, I was convicted of resisting arrest in 2008 after I was acquitted of several other charges stemming from my 2007 arrest for photographing cops, even though it doesn’t make sense to be convicted of resisting if there are no other underlying charges to actually resist.

I did have that conviction reversed in an appeal and the state attorney’s office chose not to pursue the matter.

Then I was charged with a single count of resisting arrest in 2009 after photographing a Miami Beach cop against his wishes. That case was dropped when he failed to show up to trial twice.

And now I am facing a single count of resisting arrest, even though the arrest report clearly states I was taken into custody “without incident.”

So it obviously doesn’t take too much to make these cops look like idiots.

Five Occupy Miami activists were also arrested, but none of the original six who were willing to get arrested. Two of them were charged with felony inciting a riot after they were dancing in the streets while the cops marched towards them.

And another three were charged with loitering and prowling after they were sitting in their pick-up truck a few blocks away waiting to transport fellow activists. Their charges have since been dropped.

I’ve included a map below highlighting the details of my arrest, including where my car was parked, where I was arrested, where the other journalists were standing and where they apparently expected me to walk.

ss 
View Carlos Miller’s arrest map in a larger map

UPDATE: This is the cop who had me arrested. I took this screen shot from the footage they had deleted after I had recovered it. I’m still working on this recovery but it’s looking good so far.

This video was posted on Filming Cops – the Facebook page – and shows several police officers (the youtube video claims these are Bronx cops) hitting a man who’s clearly outnumbered.

If you have more details on this story please send an update to CopBlock.org via the submission tab. We’ll post it accordingly, thanks.

Hello fellow Copblockers,
My name is Tony and I would like to thank the site and all the people who contributor to it. I live in lovely South Florida, Broward county. Home of the orignal Navarro bad boys. I have been steadfastly defending my rights against these repressive gang members for the last 20yrs. I have been on the wrong side of the law, paid my dues and consider myself a model of rehabilitation. I have been with the same woman for 24 yrs and married to her for 11. She was my high school sweetheart and has turned into a pill head. All by her doctors design and big pharma.

I have had 5 to 7 narcs bang on my door, all suited up in black and ready to go. ” Can we come in” We have a report of suspicious activity at this residense. “do you have a search warrant” No we do not but if you have nothing to hide, we do not see a problem for us to enter. Well there is a problem, this is a private residence and you have no warrant. So no, I do not have anything to hide, and no, you may not enter my house. That was the first time.

Second time my friend is a gardner and uses hydroponics for growing inside. We go buy some Nitrous for the plants and 2 weeks later boom, DEA, BSO show up at my door, his door and his mothers house. All so called “grow houses.” Again they say, “can we enter?” “Do you have a warrant?” “No”, well have a nice day. Luckily I have informed my friend of what to say and and what they would say. He was one second from saying yes, you may search, but got smart when the cop said. Well if you have nothing to hide. Oh wake up time, no you may not enter. Same thing on all three houses. So yeah I am hot with the police, by knowing my rights.

Well last Saturday I am working and I get a call from my 16yr old. There is SWAT with guns drawn on 2 11yr olds for riding a Honda mini trail up and down the street. Apparently someone made an anonymous tip that some heavy set man with glasses was coming out of my house waving a gun. The Swat team shows up with guns draw, orders everyone out of house and then commences to harass all of them. I have two American Pitbull terriers, my 5yr old female was outside at the time. Luckily the police had enough restraint to have my daughter put my female and my 2yr old male in the room. Once all that was done, they did their little show and left. NEVER even searched the house, for the man with the gun. WTF is that, all this forcec and a half ass job in investing the call.

Some noisy neighbor, with no balls to ask them to stop riding the mini trail, decides to call the cops on kids, make an outrageous claim about a man with a gun and put my entire family in harms way. I am moving and getting out of here but I sure won’t be a nice neighbor anymore. Loud car, lots of kids over for my kids to play with and a BBQ on the front lawn every weekend.

- Tony C

Send your stories about police abuse, police issues or suggestions on improving police tactics to CopBlock.org, via the submission tab.

A little over a week after launching my “Defensive/Offensive” fundraiser I’m happy to announce that donations to date (1.29.12) total just over $1,200! I’m inspired and excited by the flood of supporters who’ve come to my aid on such an important issue. Thanks to you, we’ll continue to highlight the abusive nature of, so called, public officials.

I’ve spent the majority of this past week promoting the fundraiser and conducting interviews (the Disindoctrination Podcast, NoStateProject podcast and Photography is NOT a Crime). I did spend a little time, and a few bucks ($50), on graphics to use in blog post and on other sites (see below). My friend, and LibertyOnTour.com colleague, Beau Davis – also a fellow activists with state issues – created them with his excellent photoshop skills.

Yet another benefit to donating to this cause, not only will you help make a bigger impact when addressing the amount of privacy public officials have (or better yet – don’t have) but when work (for hire) is needed it will be done by fellow activists first. Meaning your dollar will benefit others in the liberty community, maximizing the activism your dollar generates. In this example, Beau will use the funds to continue to make other liberty minded videos, like this.

Again, thank you for donating.

*Most donors haven’t replied to my email inquiring about publishing their names. Below are two websites/activists that have responded, please check out their work. They do more than their part in maintaining our freedom’s via education/activism.

• LibertyPlanet.wordpress.com
• HonorYourOath

One of the most common statements I hear about CopBlocking (monitoring the police) is, “we don’t have enough people.” If that is the case where you live, considering moving to the Shire (aka New Hampshire). Liberty minded folks are moving here daily to live better lives, one where the government isn’t always sticking its nose in thier business, and CopBlocking is a major part of that. Check out these two CopBlocking videos from local Shire residents Ian and Derrick.

By Ian Freeman, via FreeKeene.com

Nemi is pulled over on the way back from Concord by a statie for her outdated inspection sticker. The statie attempts what is becoming a common intimidation tactic: claiming to a cameraman he’ll be arrested if recording continues. I continue anyway and he backs down from the threat, just like happened to Ademo and Luthor & Derrickr ecently in other incidents.

 

By Derrick Freeman, via LiveFreeorDance.com

I was pulled over while driving 50 mph in a 55 mph zone. The officer alleges I was going 72. That is impossible because I was stuck behind a slow-moving pickup truck for about 20 miles, and that truck was keeping me slowed at a pace of 50 mph.

I was driving from Keene to Manchester with Luthor Kingsley of the Shire. We were about halfway there when I passed a cop. Luthor pointed him out; he was hiding on the side of the highway with his lights off. I checked my speed and was relieved to notice that I was going 50mph. I almost certainly would have been going faster if not for the truck in front of me holding me up in the single lane of traffic. Then I saw the blue lights behind me. I fired up my camera and asked Luthor to record.

The cop told me I couldn’t see the radar, that Luthor had to turn off the audio on the camera, that Luthor had to give the cop his ID, and that it was illegal wiretapping to record audio of him without his permission. We gave him a bit of a schooling in the law with polite refusal to comply with his demands. He returned with a ticket for $103.33.

I’ll be seeing him in court. I would rather be left alone. I don’t enjoy giving up my valuable time and energy and resources to defend myself against being extorted by agents of the state. I’ve already spent about 24 hours in filming, editing, researching law, and posting about this event. Now I’ll have a day in court, travel expenses, plus the opportunity costs of a day’s work in order to attend court, or I will have a warrant out for my arrest. Then, in court, if I am found guilty, I will likely face 2 days in jail to pay off the fine at $50 a day.

Some stranger with a badge is incentivized by a quota system to spend his time pulling over people like me who haven’t victimized anyone. For him, it’s 15 minutes and he can wash his hands of the situation and collect his paycheck–unless someone takes the issue to court rather than paying the fine. In that case, he is rewarded for his victimization by being paid time and a half for his appearance in court. The taxpayers of his town will be forced to foot the bill for that expense. As a result of his actions, I could be put in a cage (again at the expense of the taxpayer) for what was a non-situation.

The absurdity makes my head spin. If you’d like to help me meet expenses to handle this case successfully and document the process with video, please donate at LiveFreeOrDance.com

This story takes place when I was still a teenager. At the time I worked at the local Pizza Hut. I had just left work, literally having just turned out of the parking lot, when the lights and sirens of a police car appear behind me. I diligently pulled over and waited for the officer to approach. He gets to my window and asks for my DL. As soon as I hand it to him he pulls out his gun and puts the barrel right between my eyes.

As a seventeen year old in the suburbs of Indiana I wasn’t exactly used to guns in my face, and after a long day of school and work (I was still in my uniform even) I wasn’t exactly expecting one. I followed his instructions to get out of my car, slowly. He then told me to walk slowly towards the back of my car, all the while his guns is trained on my head. When I get to the back of my car I’m told to stand spread eagle and to stay quiet. I still have no idea whats going on or why my life is being threatened.

The officer roughly searches me, even going so far as to slide his hand up and down my butt crack. After an invasive search of my person he starts rifling through my car. After a few moments in the back seat he pulls out a super-soaker and begins looking it over. He looks at me and asks, no joke, “What do you know about this?” As if he had just found a nuclear warhead in my back seat.

At this point I start to figure out what’s going on and calmly reply, “That’s a squirt gun, sir. One of my friends must have left it back there.” As the brightly colored plastic toy was obviously of no danger to him, he set it down on the road and continued rifling through my car asking me over and over if I had any weapons or other illegal things in the vehicle. The only thing illegal in my car was the nosy cop who had no right to be in there.

After realizing as much he put the water-toy back in my car and began lecturing me about having my lights on at night (his reason for pulling me over even though the sun had only just begun to set and headlights were far from necessary to see) and told me to remove the squirt-gun from my car if i wanted to avoid this situation in the future.

Now, I’m a pretty empathic person and can sympathize with and understand a great range of mistakes, but this? How can you mistake a brightly colored and wild shaped super-soaker for a legitimate weapon? Did he think I was smuggling an alien death ray? Because of that officer’s stupidity not only was a good portion of my day wasted, but I was subjugated to an invasive and humiliating search.

If I look on the bright side I guess I can say that at least this indecent was the one traffic stop. Usually no less than two more patrol cars will show up.

- Jacob

If you'd like a CopBlock.org Power Post - as seen above - contact us.