Greece, NY Cops in Disturbing Video of African-American Student Assaulted, and Arrested while Walking on Public Sidewalk, Identified as Sgt. James Carris, and officer Valerie Cutt

By Davy V.

Greece, NY Police Sgt. James Carris
assaulting Greece Olympia High School student.

After multiple unsuccessful attempts in trying to reach Greece, NY Police Chief Todd Baxter, and him not returning my calls, I decided to go down a notch in the chain of command, and contacted Greece Police Captain Patrick Phelan, to see if perhaps he had any comment on the video of GPD officers yelling at Corey McCloud, an African-American Greece Olympia high school student, to "Keep walking!", on a public Greece sidewalk, before being arrested, on May 15th.

The video, recorded by a Greece Olympia High School student begins with a female Greece, NY Police officer yelling at McCloud to "Keep walking!"

A male GPD officer dressed in plain clothes, then yells at McCloud, "Keep walking! Keep walking or you're going to jail!"

"I'm not doing nothing", the young man is seen and heard telling the officer .

"You're blocking the sidewalk!", the officer yells.

McCloud then tries to explain to the officer that he wasn't blocking the sidewalk, and that if anything, the officer is the one who is walking towards him.

The angry Greece Police officer then says "Fuck it, you're under arrest!", and grabs the young man, twisting his arms, and bringing him down on the ground.

Greece Police Captain Patrick Pelan told me that plain clothes officer is Sgt. James Carris, and the female officer is Valerie Cutt.

According to the teen who recorded the video, there was a fight at the high school, that did not involve the young teen who was arrested.

"They followed us off the property, and then the undercover officer came out of nowhere", said the teen.

Captain Phelan sees it differently.

Phelan says that Greece Police were disbursing crowds, and that while most of the youths followed orders, McCloud did not.

"If he had walked away, he would have gone home", said Phelan.

Captain Phelan also said that Corey McCloud took on a "fighting stance."

"He was in a fighting stance, he had his hands in a fighting position, and he stuck his chest out", said Phelan.

I couldn't disagree more.

What I see in that video is bully, rogue Greece Police officers giving an unlawful order to a young man who was doing wrong, simply walking on a public sidewalk.

I also see a young man who tries to explain to officers that not only is he not doing anything wrong, but that in fact, it's them, who are walking towards him and it's them who are being confrontational.

"Fighting stance"?

Are you kidding me?

The young man is retreating, backing up, as he's being cornered by GPD officers!

If anything, I see a young man with his the palms of his hands showing, in a retreating manner.

In fact, never does Corey McCloud use any expletives, unlike Sgt. Carris!

Phelan said that McCloud was charged with disorderly conduct.

I asked Phelan, what exactly did Corey McCloud do in order to be charged with disorderly conduct, but Phelan said that he did not have the criminal complaint in front of him, so he could not say.

I find it interesting that despite Phelan being adamant that McCloud did not follow what he calls lawful orders, he couldn't tell me exactly what the young man is accused of, without reading the report.

When I asked Captain Phelan what he thought about Sgt. Carris telling a minor, "Fuck it, you're under arrest!", he did not hesitate in giving me an answer.

"The use of that kind of language is absolutely inappropriate, and we are dealing with that", said Phelan, before adding, "It is not acceptable, and does not comply with our professional standards."

However, Phelan would not say what "we are dealing with that." meant.

It doesn't surprise me that Captain Phelan is going to defend his officers' actions, and justify the arrest of Corey McCloud, I mean that's his job.

I will however say, that Captain Phelan was very professional in his conversation with me, something I don't usually experience with law enforcement.

At one point in our phone conversation, when I asked Captain Phelan, who said he had not watched the video, for the names of the officers, Phelan actially logged on to my blog, and I could hear the video playing on his computer, as he watched it.

After watching the video, Phelan immediately gave me the names.

That's more than I can say for Rochester, NY Police officials, who have given me a run around in refusing to release names of officers whom I have exposed, only for me to get their names on my own, anyways.


As for your comment Captain Phelan, that if Corey had walked away, he would have gone home, no sir, YOUR officers created, then escalated, a completely unnecessary situation.

Your Sgt., James Carris' own words to a minor, "Fuck it, you're under arrest!", and your Sgt.'s behavior, caught on video, show that he was out of line!


Click Play to watch video

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Greece, NY Police officer: "Fuck it, you're under arrest!", as he is Caught on Video Violating African-American Youth's Civil Rights!

By Davy V.

Greece, NY Police officer assaukts, and falsely arrests
African-American student.

A disturbing video shows Greece, NY Police officers arresting a young African-American teen, on Wednesday May 15, 2013, for no other reason other than him walking on a public sidewalk.

The video, recorded by a brave Greece Olympia High School student begins with a female Greece, NY Police officer telling an African-American teen to "Keep walking."

A male GPD officer dressed in plain clothes, then yells at the young man "Keep walking! Keep walking or you're going to jail!"

"I'm not doing nothing", the young man is seen and heard telling the officer .

"You're blocking the sidewalk!", the officer yells.

The young man then tries to explain to the officer that he wasn't blocking the sidewalk, and that if anything, the officer is the one who is walking towards him.

The angry Greece Police officer then says "Fuck it, you're under arrest!", and grabs the young man, twisting his arms, and bringing him down on the ground.

Greece, NY Police officer assaulting,
falsely arresting student.

The female Greece Police officer is then seen on the video yelling at the young man who is recording, "Keep walking!"

"I'm waiting for my friend", the teen recording the video is heard saying.

"Your friend is going to jail!", a plain clothes officer replies.

According to the teen who recorded the video, there was a fight at the high school, that did not involve the young teen who was arrested.

"They followed us off the property, and then the undercover officer came out of nowhere", said the teen.




CLICK LINK BELOW TO READ UPDATED VERSION 
http://davyv.blogspot.com/2013/05/greece-ny-cops-in-disturbing-video-of.html


Click Play to watch video





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Emily Good to Run for Monroe County, NY Sheriff

By Davy V.

Emily Good
Photo courtesy of Inside Edition

Almost two years after she made international headlines, shortly after she was arrested by Rochester, NY Police officer Mario Masic for video recording him conducting a racially profiled traffic stop of an African-American motorist in front of her home, Emily Good will announce she is running for Monroe County, NY Sheriff.

Good will run on the Green Party ticket, in what is sure to be a tough battle to upset incumbent Republican Patrick O'Flynn who has been Monroe County Sheriff since 2001.

Among her top priorities if elected Sheriff, Good says she will refuse to cooperate with Immigration and Customs Enforcement, or I.C.E.

"As Sheriff I would pledge non-cooperation with Immigration and Customs Enforcement because I believe that we are a country of immigrants, we are a county of immigrants, and it is no place in our job to harass our neighbors and fellow workers, so I would not cooperate at all with I.C.E. as several Sheriffs throughout the country have done."

Davy V. hugs Emily Good
after her charges were dismissed
in her 2011 arrest by Rochester Police.
Photo Courtesy of Washington Post

Good also said she would call for mandatory video recording of all interrogations, as well as installation of dash cams in all Monroe County Sheriff's vehicles.

"We know that police and sheriffs and law enforcement are legally allowed to lie... videotaping confessions and interrogations would help us keep an eye on potential abuse, manipulation, lying and false confession signing that happens", said Good.

As for having dash cams installed in Monroe County Sheriff's cruisers, Good sums it up best in one sentence.

Rochester, NY Police officer
Mario Masic, falsely arrested
Emily Good, violating her
Constitutional rights.

"We've seen in many cases that dash cams can provide some accountability for our law enforcement, which we really need, here in Monroe County", Good said.

Emily Good will hold a press conference, officially announcing her candidacy, Tuesday morning at 10:30 a.m. in the Civic Center Plaza, between the Hall of Justice and the Public Safety building.

Click Play on the videos below to watch my exclusive interview with Emily Good, on my YouTube channel, DavyVTV.





Part 1




Part 2




Part 3




Click Play to watch  video of Emily Good's press conference



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Rochester, NY Taxpayer Dollars at Work: RPD officer Leaves his K-9 Partner "Hawk" in Hot Vehicle for over an Hour, While he goes to Doctor's Appointment

By Davy V.

Rochester, NY Police K-9 "Hawk" sat inside hot SUV
for over an hour.

A Rochester, NY Police officer, driving 'K9-3" cruiser, left his partner "Hawk", inside the hot Durango SUV for over an hour, on Monday, as he went to an appointment, inside an air conditioned doctor's office, behind the Calkins Corporate Park office complex, off Red Creek Drive in Henrietta, NY, arriving at approximately 1:25 p.m., and leaving around 2:45 p.m.

Although the rear windows in the police SUV were down, leaving the cages to allow some air to flow in, and the front windows were rolled down a bit, the vehicle was parked under direct sunlight, with no shade whatsoever.

As the videos below show, patients and staff walking by the RPD SUV were startled when "Hawk", a beautiful German Shepherd greeted them with loud barking.

RPD K9-3 unit parked under hot sun, with no shade.

There are actually two disturbing stories here.

First, this officer's behavior show yet another example of Rochester Police officers misusing taxpayer dollars, in this case, driving outside the RPD's jurisdiction, to another town, for personal reasons.

Second, leaving an innocent dog in a hot vehicle, for over an hour, with no shade, albeit, windows down.

A call to dispatch confirmed RPD K9-3 unit was "on duty", and the dispatcher said they had no knowledge the officer was out in Henrietta.




CALL ROCHESTER, NY POLICE CHIEF JAMES SHEPPARD (585) 428-7033


Click Play to watch video




Click Play to watch video



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Rochester, NY Police officer N. Madrid Clearly Cares About Crossing Pedestrians Safely, but his Partner, A. Eyrich Does Not!

By Davy V.

Rochester, NY Police officer N. Madrid doing a great job
crossing pedestrians at East Ave. and N. Winton Rd.

On May 16, 2009, I was hit by a car, at Rochester, NY's Lilac Festival, while crossing the intersection of South and Highland Avenues.

I was hit by a Toyota Camry, driven by an RIT student who claimed that he never saw me in the crosswalk, even though I waited for the "Walk" sign, and had the right of way.

Ironically, I was hit in front of two Rochester, NY Police officers who were supposed to be manning the intersection, but were too busy talking with each other, instead of crossing pedestrians.

I will never forget how, after I was hit, flew over the car, and landed in the middle of the street, a Rochester Police officer told me "Dude, get away from me, you're bleeding all over the place!", when I was stumbling, dazed, confused, and bloodied, wearing only one sneaker.

After undergoing surgery, and spending a week at Strong Hospital, I didn't walk for almost 6 months.

The best thing after getting out of the hospital was being able to see my beautiful daughter being born, as I sat in a wheelchair, with my leg propped up, looking like the Michelin Man, dressed me in an all white Tyvek suit.

I thank God for surviving getting hit by a car, and seeing my princess come into the world.

Since my accident, I have never looked at crossing an intersection, the same way again.

Whether by myself, or with my children, I can't even explain just how careful I am when crossing a street.

In fact, since my accident, I am more aware overall, of pedestrians in general, which is why on Sunday afternoon, I couldn't help but notice two Rochester, NY Police officers, on the corner of East Ave. and N. Winton Rd., each 'protecting and serving', in completely opposite ways.

Now let me explain something, police officers in New York State do not have the duty of crossing pedestrians.

Simply put, they don't have to.

By law, they're not obligated to, for reasons of liability, such as in my own case, when I was hit right in front of the two RPD officers who were too busy chatting, yet, by law, I could not go after the City of Rochester.

So, back to the two officers at the new Wegmans, if you are going to perform a service, even if by law, you are not obligated to do so, at least look like you want to do it.

Case in point:

In the first video below, Rochester, NY Police officer Aaron Eyrich clearly sucks at crossing pedestrians.

Eyrich's body language alone, shows that he clearly would rather be doing anything else, other than crossing pedestrians.

In the video, Eyrich doesn't even walk out a tenth of the way into the intersection, to safely cross 8 pedestrians.

By the way, the intersection of East Ave. and N. Winton Rd, is one of the busiest intersections in the City of Rochester.

The second video however, shows Rochester, NY Police officer Nelsy Madrid, not only clearly taking his job serious, crossing 7 pedestrians, but also going above and beyond, in 'protecting and serving', by almost completely walking to the other side of the street, and even extending his hands out making sure motorists stop for the pedestrians!


I just wish RPD officer Madrid had been at the intersection of South and Highland Avenues, to cross me four years ago.

I may not have gotten hit.

Great work RPD officer Madrid!


Click Play to watch video of RPD officer Eyrich unsafely crossing pedestrians





Click Play to watch RPD officer Madrid doing a great job, safely crossing pedestrians!





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Rochester, NY Police Department and City Parking Enforcement Show Up in Full Force to Ticket Elementary School Children's Family Members at Track Meet!

By Davy V.

Rochester, NY Police cruiser E-67 and City Parking Enforcement
parked on same side of street, as children's family members
they ticketed. Photo by Davy V.

At least a half a dozen family members of Rochester elementary school children attending the annual Nick Zona Track Meet at East High School on Thursday May 16th, walked back to their cars to find  parking tickets under their windshield wipers.

Now, it would be hypocritical of me to in any way, shape or form condone parking illegally, especially since I regularly expose law enforcement officials parked illegally.

However, it was more the show of force, on behalf of Rochester Police officers who obviously had nothing better to do in a city riddled with real crime, than to ticket cars of family members attending their children's field day, that just rubs me the wrong way.

The event, is named after the late Nick Zona, the former Health and Physical Education Director for the City School District.

The track meet helps students learn the importance of hard work, cooperation, teamwork and sportsmanship.

Approximately 25-30 cars parked on Culver Rd., right in front of the East High School grandstand, and family members were already sitting down in the stands, when an announcement came over the PA system telling people that they had to move their vehicles, and find parking elsewhere.

Rochester, NY Police officer and parking enforcement employee
harassing elementary school children's family members.
Photo by Davy V.

This caused dozens of people to hurry and move their vehicles, and rush back in order not to miss their children's participation in the track meet.

A woman at Jeffrey Ellis Carl Cabinetmakers, located on the corner of Culver Rd. and Leighton Ave., and directly across the street from the East High School bleacher stands, called 911 to report that several vehicles were parked on the wrong side of Leighton Ave.

Interestingly enough, the photo at the top right, shows the classic example of 'Do as I say, not as I do', a Rochester, NY Police cruiser, and a City of Rochester, NY Parking Enforcement vehicle can be seen parked on the same side of the street as the cars they ticketed!

This could all have been avoided, if the Rochester City School District had planned in advance, to accommodate family members, being able to park their vehicles, without being ticketed.

Rochester, NY Police officer in cruiser E-51
has nothing better to do, than to harass family members
attending children's track meet.
Photo by Davy V.

"This is the first time in four years that I have gotten this information, this is supposed to be a positive event", said Carlos Cotto, Rochester City School District executive director of health, physical education, and athletics.

"There should have been announcements before people parked, so they wouldn't have had to move their cars after they had already settled in", Cotto said to me, before adding, "I put a call in to Chief Sheppard, because he has always been supportive of this event."

"Supportive"?

In the video below, watch as I ask a City of Rochester Parking Enforcement employee would he ticket Rochester Police Chief James Sheppard when he parks in front of a fire hydrant at City Hall.

The man responds by saying "I've never seen anything like that", to which I replied "Oh, I have it on video...", as I proceed to tell the man about my video where a parking enforcement employee admits that the reason he refuses to ticket RPD Chief James Sheppard, who was illegally parked, in front of City Hall, completely blocking a fire hydrant, was because if he ticketed the Chief, he would lose his job. (You can also click below to watch that video.)

How sad that the Rochester, NY Police department, would show up in force like they did, to an event named in honor of a School district employee, and all for parking violations.

Click Play to watch video




Click Play to watch video of City of Rochester, NY Parking Enforcement employee saying he won't write Rochester Police Chief James Sheppard a ticket for illegally parking completely blocking a fire hydrant because if he does, he would be fired!




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Connecting a Face to the Name: Woman Identifies Rochester, NY Police officer Richard Ortiz after Seeing his Photo; "He didn't just spit on a child, he hacked up phlegm, then spit it on a child."

By Davy V.

Rochester, NY Police officer Richard Ortiz

Last month when "The Amazing Spiderman 2" began its first day of filming in downtown Rochester, I took my two sons and my niece, before school.

Hoping to beat any crowds, we arrived early, and after parking, walked down West Main Street.

Seeing, the film's production crew beginning to set up, and noticing barriers and yellow tape, I asked a Rochester Police officer who was standing on a nearby sidewalk, what a safe place would be for my children and I to stand.

As soon as I asked the officer, he took one look at me, and asked me "What's your name?", as he looked at my press pass for Minority Reporter Media Group, the publisher for two local publications I write for, and then said "I'm not talking to you!", and walked away, violating the RPD's own Code of Ethics, by allowing personal feelings and prejudices, interfere with him doing his job.

Fast forward almost three weeks, and Gwen, a retired U.S. Postal worker contacts me with a disturbing story, involving a Rochester Police officer, and a young man.

"I normally don't go out too late, but I did tonight. As I was returning home from a trip to Wal-Mart, a couple of young men came over to me and told me an RPD officer spit on one one of them. The young man pointed the officer out and I walked over to where the officer was, sitting in his car, and I saw his name, it was Ortiz, and the car was W-58", she said.

The incident occurred just blocks away from where Benny Warr, a 52 year old disabled, one-legged amputee was assaulted by Rochester Police officers as he waited for city bus near the intersection of Jefferson Ave. and Bartlett St.

According to Gwen, the youth in the neighborhood are too afraid to speak for fear of retaliation by RPD officer Ortiz and his fellow RPD officers.

After I got off the phone with Gwen, I placed a call to 911 and asked for a supervisor from RPD west side to return my call.

Approximately 15 minutes later, Rochester, NY Police Sgt. Zimmerman called me back, and I described to him the conversation I had with the woman.

I asked Sgt. Zimmerman if officer Ortiz was in fact on duty, and driving RPD cruiser W-58.

A short time later, Sgt. Zimmerman, called me back, and confirmed that indeed, officer Ortiz was on duty at the time of the incident, and was driving cruiser W-58.

A check with the City of Rochester payroll information for Rochester Police officers shows that there is a Richard Ortiz employed by the RPD.

On my way to meet Gwen, I remembered something she told me when she initially called me.

In describing the officer, Gwen said he was heavy set and bald.

I immediately thought of the Latino officer downtown, in the incident on the morning of the first day of filming for the Spiderman movie.

Since Gwen had said that she walked up to the officer's cruiser, and saw him up close as she made note of the 'W-58' plate, I thought I'd show her a photo of the officer downtown.

"That's him!, that's Ortiz!", Gwen said, before adding, "Something has to be done, I mean he didn't just spit on a child, he hacked up phlegm, and then spit it on a child, that is unacceptable, we need to get him out of here."


Click Play to see video of Rochester, NY Police officer Richard Ortiz




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