This week readers of either of the two local newspapers edited by Vanesa Brashier have had an opportunity to read how the controversial minority owner of KSHN radio Bill Buchanan “met Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.” and had, what Buchanan bragged about being, a “deep, fairly long conversation” with the civil rights leader. There is nothing new about liberal media types trying to link themselves and their business with small children or charity, or iconic heroes like Dr. King. It is odd however that during a time when public allegations are mounting about selective prosecution by District Attorney Mike Little – odd for two of the media to ignore what appears to be a clear case of a violation of civil rights while they are waxing nostalgic about the 1960’s.
The lack of any reporting by Brashier or Buchanan about case 1:11-cv-00249-MAC should not surprise anyone who has kept up with what has come to be known by some as the “Conspiracy of Silence” when prudent news reporting would obviously cause people like District Attorney Mike Little and Constable Pct #6 Royce Wheeler massive indigestion at best. Brashier and Buchanan continue their loyalty to the embattled Democrat.
But whether they report on such cases or not, the cases will go forward. The case referenced above involves two African American gentlemen who while down from Ohio were stopped by law enforcement out of Constable Royce Wheeler’s jurisdiction while traveling South on U.S. highway 59 just south of Cleveland. According to court papers Solomon and William Lawson cooperated with Sergeant Ralph Fuller and Constable Lonnie S. Moon. The Lawsons did not run from the traffic stop, they pulled over in a timely manner. They were both asked for their identification and they both presented valid driver’s licenses. They showed proper paperwork for the rental car and proof of insurance. When law enforcement ran the information they had on the scene, there was no evidence of any reason to detain these men. No warrants, no anything.
All semblance of a routine traffic stop ended when William Lawson declined consent to be searched when asked. He declined more than once. At that point, the Lawsons were forced to wait in the heat for an hour while a the officers brought narcotics dogs to the scene. A search warrant was never obtained.
Wheeler, Moon, Fuller, and (by this time) other members of law enforcement who had arrived at the scene from the Constable’s office conducted a search after claiming the dog detected the odor of drugs. No drugs were ever found. But approximately $10,000 in cash was found while officials rummaged through the Lawsons’ luggage. The officers on the scene were overheard by the Lawsons saying "What are two niggers doing with $10,000? (ten thousand dollars)" Liberty Dispatch finds this statement from the officers repulsive. Furthermore, their actions and the statements show just how deep the prejudice runs in local corrupt Liberty County law enforcement, local corrupt news media and also the DA's office.
Even though the Lawsons were never cited or charged or arrested for breaking any laws, the searchers seized the money and kept it. Liberty County’s District Attorney’s office actions later by filing a Notice of Seizure and Intended Forfeiture under Chapter 59 of the Texas Code of Criminal Procedure (June 2009). was a criminal act by DA Mike Little. The officers and DA played this scam on the Lawsons' right under the nose of local Texas Ranger Grover "Franklin" Huff- housed right in DA Mike Little's office. We can guess this was all done with Huff's blessing.
The Lawsons sued... first in Liberty County and in may of 2011 the officials involved from Constable Pct. #6 and District Attorney Mike Little were given ample opportunity to turn red faced in embarrassment for their actions when District Judge Mark Morefield upheld the law in the 75th District Court by granting the Lawsons a “NO EVIDENCE SUMMARY JUDGMENT” against DA Little and the officers. Congratulations to Judge Morefield for taking a stand against the DA's corruption.
But Buchanan and Brashier, both journalists living in a post Martin Luther King, Jr. and post Civil Rights Act of 1964 world, failed to do what every decent news person should do when witnessing someone’s civil rights being violated- they failed to run one story. The case 1:11-cv-00249-MAC was not reported to the public, no report was given about the financial exposure the county may have because of the DA and the Constables office.
It would make us wonder what the heck Buchanan and the civil rights hero talked about almost 50 years ago with the lack of reporting civil rights violations so obviously tied to the relationship Buchanan has to D.A. Mike Little and Brashier and Constable Royce Wheeler. The civil rights issues that violate 42 U.S.1983 and the U.S. Constitution such as unlawful traffic stop, unlawful detention, illegal search and seizure are secondary to making sure these two journalists remain supportive.
The plaintiffs assert the illegal behavior was motivated by racial animus. They are seeking way more than an apology for this attempt to steal their money. The Lawsons have filed a federal lawsuit and now expect the federal courts to award them a judgment based on loss of their liberty and violation of their state and federal constitutional rights. Additionally they expect compensation for all of the humiliation and embarrassment caused as they endured the actions of the officials mentioned.
As of the writing of this story, no criminal charges have been filed against any of the officers or public officials involved in the Lawson incident. The Liberty County Sheriff's Office "Special Crimes Unit" (SCU) is investigating referrals and complaints related to the corruption in Liberty County. Report local Liberty County corruption to http://www.libertytxsheriff.com/.
Liberty County, Vanesa Brashier and Bill Buchanan are still covering for the local corrupt public officials by their "Conspiracy of Silence".
We appreciate 'The Outsiders' contribution of certain information used in the making of this story.
No comments:
Post a Comment