National

Fort Lauderdale Cop Who Slapped Homeless Man Has Charges Filed Against Him

Published

9 years ago

April 23, 2015

Oakland Post

Police Chief Frank Adderley

Formal charges of two counts of misdemeanor battery and falsifying police report filed by State Attorney announced

By Bobby R. Henry, Sr.
Special to the NNPA from The Westside Gazette

FORT LAUDERDALE, FL – Police Chief Frank Adderley has been a constant force in trying to maintain the integrity of his department after recent incidents of police misconduct.

One of the most recent was the three police officers who were fired and a fourth resigned over the exchange of a “racially biased” video and messages, according to officials.

Just recently, administrative action included the termination of Chris Sousa, James Wells and Jason Holding, as well as the resignation of Alex Alvarez.

“I just hope that the people in the public realize that we’re not going to tolerate it, and that anyone that’s engaged in this behavior, it’s going to be addressed immediately,” Adderley said.

An internal affairs investigation that lasted over five-month found the officers had exchanged text messages using ethnically attacking terms in reference to African-American citizens that they face in their line of duty.

Investigators also included a mock video trailer called “The Hoods,” which featured images of a Ku Klux Klan hood and President Barack Obama with large gold teeth created by Alvarez.

Now, the latest incident concerns Victor Ramirez, 34, a police officer who slapped a homeless man.

The Broward State Attorney’s Office has filed three misdemeanor charges against Ramirez who was caught on cell-phone video slapping the homeless man in his face.

The three misdemeanor charges against Ramirez were: two counts of minor battery and one count of falsifying records. Ramirez was placed on administrative leave with pay when the video surfaced. He has been with the Fort Lauderdale Police Department for nine years and has no disciplinary past. Of the three prior discourtesy complaints lodged against him, none were sustained.

“We haven’t receive the formal documents yet, but, once received Ramirez status will be changed from suspended with pay to suspended without pay”, stated Chief Adderley.

A bystander, who witnessed the Feb. 22 incident at the downtown bus terminal, recorded it and posted it to YouTube. An immediate news conference follow, with the city manager calling the incident “disturbing” situation. Chief Adderley in maintaining his credibility with the community promised a thorough investigation.

The video shows Officer Ramirez hovering over Bruce Laclair, 58, sitting on the ground and slapping the Laclair across his face.

“I’ll push you down to the ground, and I’ll beat you up if you f——— try to fight me. That’s what’s going to happen,” Ramirez can be heard threatening to beat the man up.

In his report about the encounter, Ramirez wrote that he struck Laclair, 58, after he fell to “distract [him] and keep him from grabbing me. “Ramirez said that when he awoke Laclair and asked him to leave, Laclair swore at him. While escorting Laclair out of the terminal, Laclair “pulled away from [me] in a violent manner. I reacted by pushing Laclair away from me to keep him from attacking me,” Ramirez wrote.

Laclair was arrested and charged with trespassing.

Chief Adderley continue, “This is a clear indication that our process is design to be transparent. We have an outside investigation lead by the state attorney’s office that is making a decision whether to prosecute or not to insure the public trust.”

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Barbara Lee

Congresswoman Barbara Lee Issues Statement on Deaths of Humanitarian Aid Volunteers in Gaza 

On April 2, a day after an Israeli airstrike erroneously killed seven employees of World Central Kitchen (WCK), a humanitarian organization delivering aid in the Gaza Strip, a statement was release by Rep. Barbara Lee (D-CA-12). “This is a devastating and avoidable tragedy. My prayers go to the families and loved ones of the selfless members of the World Central Kitchen team whose lives were lost,” said Lee.

Published

1 day ago

April 17, 2024

Oakland Post

Congresswoman Barbara Lee

By California Black Media

“This is a devastating and avoidable tragedy. My prayers go to the families and loved ones of the selfless members of the World Central Kitchen team whose lives were lost,” said Lee.

The same day, it was confirmed by the organization that the humanitarian aid volunteers were killed in a strike carried out by Israel Defense Forces (IDF). Prior to the incident, members of the team had been travelling in two armored vehicles marked with the WCF logo and they had been coordinating their movements with the IDF. The group had successfully delivered 10 tons of humanitarian food in a deconflicted zone when its convoy was struck.

“This is not only an attack against WCK. This is an attack on humanitarian organizations showing up in the direst situations where food is being used as a weapon of war. This is unforgivable,” said Erin Gore, chief executive officer of World Central Kitchen.

The seven victims included a U.S. citizen as well as others from Australia, Poland, the United Kingdom, Canada, and Palestine.

Lee has been a vocal advocate for a ceasefire in Gaza and has supported actions by President Joe Biden to airdrop humanitarian aid in the area.

“Far too many civilians have lost their lives as a result of Benjamin Netanyahu’s reprehensible military offensive. The U.S. must join with our allies and demand an immediate, permanent ceasefire – it’s long overdue,” Lee said.

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Commentary

Commentary: Republican Votes Are Threatening American Democracy

In many ways, it was great that the Iowa Caucuses were on the same day as Martin Luther King Jr. Day. We needed to know the blunt truth. The takeaway message after the Iowa Caucuses where Donald Trump finished more than 30 points in front of Florida Gov. De Santis and former South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley boils down to this: Our democracy is threatened, for real.

Published

2 days ago

April 16, 2024

Oakland Post

It was strange for Iowans to caucus on MLK day. It had a self-cancelling effect. The day that honored America’s civil rights and anti-discrimination hero was negated by evening. That’s when one of the least diverse states in the nation let the world know that white Americans absolutely love Donald Trump. No ifs, ands or buts.

By Emil Guillermo

In many ways, it was great that the Iowa Caucuses were on the same day as Martin Luther King Jr. Day.

We needed to know the blunt truth.

The takeaway message after the Iowa Caucuses where Donald Trump finished more than 30 points in front of Florida Gov. De Santis and former South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley boils down to this: Our democracy is threatened, for real.

And to save it will require all hands on deck.

It was strange for Iowans to caucus on MLK day. It had a self-cancelling effect. The day that honored America’s civil rights and anti-discrimination hero was negated by evening.

That’s when one of the least diverse states in the nation let the world know that white Americans absolutely love Donald Trump. No ifs, ands or buts.

No man is above the law? To the majority of his supporters, it seems Trump is.

It’s an anti-democracy loyalty that has spread like a political virus.

No matter what he does, Trump’s their guy. Trump received 51% of caucus-goers votes to beat Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, who garnered 21.2%, and former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley, who got 19.1%.

The Asian flash in the pan Vivek Ramaswamy finished way behind and dropped out. Perhaps to get in the VP line. Don’t count on it.

According to CNN’s entrance polls, when caucus-goers were asked if they were a part of the “MAGA movement,” nearly half — 46% — said yes. More revealing: “Do you think Biden legitimately won in 2020?”

Only 29% said “yes.”

That means an overwhelming 66% said “no,” thus showing the deep roots in Iowa of the “Big Lie,” the belief in a falsehood that Trump was a victim of election theft.

Even more revealing and posing a direct threat to our democracy was the question of whether Trump was fit for the presidency, even if convicted of a crime.

Sixty-five percent said “yes.”

Who says that about anyone of color indicted on 91 criminal felony counts?

Would a BIPOC executive found liable for business fraud in civil court be given a pass?

How about a BIPOC person found liable for sexual assault?

Iowans have debased the phrase, “no man is above the law.” It’s a mindset that would vote in an American dictatorship.

Compare Iowa with voters in Asia last weekend. Taiwan rejected threats from authoritarian Beijing and elected pro-democracy Taiwanese vice president Lai Ching-te as its new president.

Meanwhile, in our country, which supposedly knows a thing or two about democracy, the Iowa caucuses show how Americans feel about authoritarianism.

Some Americans actually like it even more than the Constitution allows.

About the Author

Emil Guillermo is a journalist and commentator. He does a mini-talk show on YouTube.com/@emilamok1.