Fed’s Give Real Meaning to “Lock’em up and Throw Away the Key!"

The Littlepage Review- One could be compelled to think that the agents of the Drug Enforcement Agency were high on dope, when investigators left Daniel Chong a San Diego College Student handcuffed in a jail cell four days without food or water. The Story broke on mutual Blogs and News Web sites on May 3, 2012.

Reports indicate that Chong was at a residence when the Government served a warrant as part of an illegal drug investigation. Several individuals were taken into custody including Chong. Media accounts suggested that the DEA investigators were satisfied after questioning Chong for over four hours; Chong was not involved in the investigation to the extent to warrant any criminal charges.

It is alleged that Federal Agents placed Chong into a detention cell so that paper work could be completed pending his release. Agents would not return for a period four days. Chong remained in the cell drinking his own urine and losing his mind behind the closed door of that lonely darkened cell. Reports state that Chong bit into his glasses in an attempt to use the glass shards to carve a final message for his mother into his arm.

Dehydration, isolation, and desperation, perhaps lead to Chong attempting to set off a fire sprinkler in vain. On the third day in the jail cell that had no sink, toilet, or contact with the outside world, Chong began to hallucinate and contemplate committing suicide. Hopeless and languishing in his own excrement, Chong had been left for dead.

A law enforcement official that did not want to be named in this article stated that in the County Jail inmates and cells are routinely inspected and logs are maintained, documenting the cell inspection.  The source also stated that the cell that Chong was placed in was not designed nor intended for long term overnight confinement.

Chong, whom had committed no crime, may not need a College degree, after all. It is likely his experience with the DEA, may permit the young man to enjoy early retirement. More media accounts state that Chong has hired an attorney and is in the process of suing the government. The multimillion law suit is reported to have been filed with the Federal Court earlier this week.

The DEA is conducting an investigation into the Chong incident, which is not likely to ask the most logical question. What drugs were the agents under the influence of? Sam Pierce, of NotableTrials2.com, whom has served a lengthy nine year prison term, stated that “California code of regulations title 15, Crime Prevention and Corrections mandates a qualified officer” routinely conducts cell inspections for inmates.”

US Federal Troops, Iraqi Style Raid and Gun Battle in a California Community

The Littlepage Review- Acting in the name of Homeland Security US Federal Agents heavily armed and fully dressed for combat, conducted a predawn commando operation on a home located in Petaluma, California around 4 a.m. May 3, 2012.  According to early media accounts the government was serving a “high risk” warrant on the home when shots were exchanged. One suspect is in custody and 3 agents were reportedly suffering from non-life threating gunshot injuries.

The US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) reportedly headed up the operation. The Littlepage Review attempted to contact the Office of Public Affairs and there was no answer, or voice recording. The Department’s web site press release page listed no information about the raid at the time of this report. It is unclear if the agents wounded were employed by ICE or another Federal agency.

On February 28, 1993, the Government in a military style assault on a compound in Waco, Texas attempted to serve a warrant leading to the death of four Alcohol Tabaco and Firearms agents. The agents were shot to death during a gun battle with, until the assault on the compound, a peaceful religious community, known as the Branch Davidians. The failed ATF raid set off a 51 day siege ending with 75 people killed, 20 of them children, when the Federal Bureau of Investigation attacked the compound with an armored vehicle.

Details of the Petaluma raid are still unclear however, controversy over the Federal Government utilization of military tactics and equipment continue. The Government will likely argue that such actions are necessary to conduct investigation and safe guard the public. Detractors could conclude that some of the methods, such as conducting a predawn raid in a sleeping community endanger the safety of the public.

Interview with Sam Pierce

The Littlepage Review-Sam Pierce is a local Marysville paralegal and Court Room journalist. Mr. Pierce was an associate and major Contributor of Notable Trials Founded by the late Tom Nadeau.

On a Tuesday morning video conference, Pierce stated that he was working on reconstituting Notable Trials BLOG, and has added the number 2, to the name.

Notable Trials 2, according to Pierce will continue to cover cases in the Yuba, Sutter, Criminal courts with the same in-depth reporting that Notable Trials has been known for.

Pierce will began posting his coverage of the Yuba Sutter most notable cases to include, PEOPLE v, Timothy Mercer, PEOPLE v Jesse Santana and David Vasquez, and more notable cases as they hit the courts calendar.

You can find more about Notable Trials 2 @ http://notabletrials2.blogspot.com/     

Trayvon Stood his Ground, Zimmerman got Beat Down?

The Littlepage Review- More questions over the weekend have many asking was Trayvon Martin a street thug, drug dealer or gangster, if not all of the above. Trayvon was allegedly suspended from school for ten days after being caught with trace amounts of marijuana.

Photographs hit the internet over the weekend depicting a much taller and older Trayvon, displaying hand gestures associated with gangs and photographs that posters claim to be Trayvon show pictures of tattoos to include the word “SLIMM” on his forearm. Nevertheless, there have been no allegations that Trayvon had any criminal record or any criminal charges pending relating to any offense, much less drugs our criminal gang activity.

Zimmerman, whom has not spoken of the incident publicly, has alleged that he was attacked by the 6’ 3”, 150 pound, seventeen year old, Trayvon. The Associated Press / NBC 6 Miami reported that “authorities revealed that Martin took down George Zimmerman with one punch then climbed on top of him and slammed his head into the sidewalk several times.” It is unclear if the police were able to collaborate Zimmerman’s claims, however with the lack of an arrest in this case one could conclude that the police must have some evidence to support Zimmerman’s account.

Much has been made of Zimmerman's right to "stand your ground" in the course of self-defense, but does Trayvon lose the right to defend himself? The young Trayvon after being stalked, actively pursued by the Neighbirhood Watch Gunman, Zimmerman.

 

Zimmerman acting on a hunch, was only reporting activity that he believed to be suspicious, and in fact was not reporting any crime.

Trayvon, according to a statement made by his un-identified girlfriend told police during the course of her last conversation with Trayvon, had noticed he was being followed by Zimmerman. In that same conversation it was reported that she advised Trayvon to run, he responded by saying he would just walk fast. The phone would later go dead after a man’s voice; Zimmerman could be heard confronting Trayvon moments before shooting the teen dead.

        

Investigators and Prosecutors, will likely pay close attention to whom had the most to fear in this altercation. Who is the most likely aggressor?

 

Evidence at the scene may offer some assistance to the government in coming to this conclusion; Trayvon, candy and ice tea, Zimmerman a firearm. Who is dressed for a fight?              

 

Jason D. Littlepage, Private Eye        

Neighborhood Watchmen and the Hoodie Kid

      

Neighborhood Watchmen and the Hoodie Kid,

The Littlepage Review- President Barack Obama in a statement last week said if he had a son, he would look like Trayvon Martin. Martin a black teen shot dead by the now infamous, self-appointed, Neighborhood Watch gunmen, 28-year-old George Zimmerman.

Details suggest that on February 26, 2012, Martin and Zimmerman paths crossed as Zimmerman patrolled the streets of his gated community and Martin walked home from a short but fatal trip to a local candy store.  Martin, 17, was visiting his father whom lived in the Florida neighborhood patrolled by Zimmerman. Zimmerman called the police to report that Martin looked “Black” and suspicious.

Despite being requested by a police dispatcher not to follow Martin, the armed Zimmerman allegedly pursued Martin leading up to a confrontation that left Zimmerman with a broken nose and the young Martin dead of a gunshot wound.

At least one witness interviewed by police and a local news outlet suggests that Zimmerman, whom would later claim self-defense, was on the losing end of a fistfight as Martin, perhaps acting in his own defense, struggled with the armed Zimmerman.

Police discovered that Martin was unarmed and still in possession of skittles (candy) and tea he had purchased from the store a few minutes before the deadly confrontation with Zimmerman. Police continue to investigate the case amid growing community outrage that centers on the fact that Zimmerman was not arrested and police contended that there was no probable cause to arrest Zimmerman.

The US Justice Department is now investigating the case for possible civil rights violation associated with racial profiling. Zimmerman supporters call him anything but a racist, but for many leaders in the Black community including President Barack Obama, questions remain did Martin’s appearance contribute to his untimely and violent death?   

By

Jason D. Littlepage, Private Eye