Mistrial Declared in Trial of Baltimore Police Officer William Porter in Death of Freddie Gray

Circuit Judge Barry Williams declared a mistrial yesterday in the case of Baltimore Police Officer William G. Porter after jurors failed to reach a unanimous decision on any charges in the death of Freddie Gray. The jury deliberated for 3 days before coming back to the judge and telling him that they hopelessly deadlocked. Officer William G. Porter the first of six police officers to be tried in Gray’s death, remains charged with involuntary manslaughter, second-degree assault, reckless endangerment and misconduct in office. However, this is quite a setback to the prosecution and activists. The usual rule of thought when prosecutors are trying multiple individuals, is that the first one out of the box is a slam dunk and your best case. So to set the tone and momentum going into the next trials. Officer Porter is not out of the woods yet, the prosecution will meet to reschedule this trial and will result in the other trials to be pushed back.

Probably one of the best things that was done in this case and may have quelled the violence of a mistrial was the gag order that was put in place and still remains. Thankfully, no one could rush to the media and incite turmoil  demagogging the case.

The six Baltimore police officer arrested, Officer William Porter, upper left

A judge declared a mistrial Wednesday in the case of Baltimore Police Officer William G. Porter after jurors said they had failed to reach an agreement on any of the charges against him in the death of Freddie Gray.

The decision, which came a day after jurors told Baltimore Circuit Judge Barry Williams they were deadlocked, frustrated activists who had watched the first trial in Gray’s death closely. Outside the downtown courtroom, city officials and community leaders pleaded for calm, and authorities reported two arrests, but no violence or serious disruptions.

Porter, 26, the first of six police officers to be tried in Gray’s death, remains charged with involuntary manslaughter, second-degree assault, reckless endangerment and misconduct in office. Gray, 25, died in April after suffering a severe spinal cord injury in the back of a police van.

Some thoughts from Powerline and I have to agree 100%; however, this just shows how divided individuals have become where even the obvious cannot be agreed upon.

I have a few thoughts about the case. First, it’s a sad commentary that the jury couldn’t find Porter not guilty of the most severe charges against him. Judge Williams instructed the jury that to find Porter guilty of involuntary manslaughter it would have to conclude, beyond a reasonable doubt, that Porter acted in a “grossly negligent manner” and that his conduct was a “gross departure” from what a “reasonable police officer” in a similar situation would do.

I don’t think the evidence remotely sustains a finding of gross departure. The testimony of the former Baltimore police chief and of current officers contradicted it.

To find Porter guilty of of misconduct in office required a finding that Porter “corruptly failed to do an act required by his duties” and that it was “not a mere error in judgment” but involved an “evil motive and bad faith.” This too seems far-fetched based on the evidence as reported by the press.

Daily Commentary – Thursday, December 17, 2015 – So What is Your Favorite Christmas Movie?

• I have to admit, I’ve been enjoying some of the “sappy” Christmas movies on the Women’s Network!

Daily Commentary – Thursday, December 17, 2015 Download

Finally, FBI Director James Comey Calls Chattanooga Shooting a ‘Terror Attack’

IT’S ABOUT TIME …

It appears the feds are finally calling the shootings that took place in Chattanooga, Tenn. that killed four U.S. Marines and one sailor, an act of terror. Better late than never I guess.  The shooter, identified as 24-year-old Muhammad Youssef Abdulazeez, was also was killed during the terror attack. One has to wonder why there was ever a delay at all in calling this was it obviously was from the outset. FBI Director James Comey called the Chattanooga shooting a ‘terror attack’ during a press conference with NYPD commissioner Bill Bratton and stated, “the Chattanooga killer was inspired by a foreign terror organization.”

They may have been investigating the attacks from the beginning as an act of terror, but that is not what the Obama administration had been referring to it as.

Click HERE to watch VIDEO via FOX News

The semantic dance of whether or not to call the July mass shooting in Chattanooga a “terrorist” attack appears to be winding down.

FBI Director James Comey twice called the deadly Chattanooga shooting that killed four Marines and one sailor a “terror attack” during a press conference with NYPD commissioner Bill Bratton on Wednesday. Bratton and Comey spoke after addressing the NYPD Shield Conference in New York City.

“We’ve investigated Chattanooga as a terror attack from the beginning,” Comey said. “The Chattanooga killer was inspired by a foreign terror organization. It’s hard to entangle which particular source…there are lots of competing poisons out there.”

That response came as Comey was asked to clarify an earlier statement in which he linked the root cause of the July 16 rampage by Muhammad Youssef Abdulazeez, a naturalized U.S. citizen who was born in Kuwait, to the recent Islamic terrorist attack in San Bernardino.

Donald Trump Calls Out CNN as ‘Unprofessional’ at GOP Debate in Las Vegas

THE DONALD CALLS OUT CNN AS UNPROFESSIONAL …

Last night during the GOP debate in Las Vegas, front runner Donald Trump called out CNN as unprofessional in their leading questions to try and start a food fight among the candidates. How better to get the audience and Americans on your side than to state the obvious … the MSM is a joke.

Arizona State Sen. Kelli Ward to Primary Challenge Incumbent John McCain for US Senate Seat

THIS SHOULD BE INTERESTING … A GOP PRIMARY CHALLENGE TO RINO AND INCUMBENT JOHN MCCAIN.

The only way to change the establishment is to take on the establishment. That is what appears to be happening in Arizona. Arizona state Senator Kelli Ward is set to formally resign her seat to focus on her Republican primary challenge to 79 year old, 5 term US senator and establishment RINO Sen. John McCain.   Maybe this will be the template for others to take on the establishment and flush the system of what has become the go along to get along GOP.

Sorry, with all due respect to John McCain and his military service, you have to know when to walk away. Personally, I believe in term limits and there should never be a such thing as a 5 term senator and a 30 year political career.

Arizona state Sen. Kelli Ward is set to formally resign her seat to focus on her Republican primary challenge to U.S. Sen. John McCain.

Ward says in a letter to Senate President Andy Biggs that she will vacate her seat on Tuesday. The Dec. 2 letter says she plans to devote her energy to defeating the five-term senator and 2008 Republican presidential nominee.

Ward is a physician from Lake Havasu City whose current district spans much of Mohave and all of La Paz counties.