"You're gd'med right I ordered the Code Red."
Posted on 07/01/2008 8:17:24 AM PDT by BufordP
The FBI and Maryland State Police are investigating the death of a 19-year-old man accused of running down and killing a Prince George's County police officer. He died while in police custody Sunday, a little more than a day after he was charged with the killing.
The Maryland medical examiner ruled Monday that the inmate, Ronnie White, died from strangulation. Two small bones in his neck were broken. The FBI, which investigates prison deaths as a matter of course, said it is focused on possible civil rights violations.
White had been charged with first-degree murder in the death of Cpl. Richard S. Findley. Findley had been leading an investigation into a car theft ring when he pulled over a motorist in rural Maryland. As he was climbing out of his police cruiser, he was struck by a pickup. Police said they believed the truck was stolen and that White was the man at the wheel.
They arrested White and three other men hours later at a nearby apartment complex where the pickup was parked. Findley had been rushed to a nearby hospital. He died a short time later from complications related to massive head trauma.
White was taken to the county's Correctional Center in Upper Marlboro and placed in a maximum security cell. Officials say he had passed a medical and psychological evaluation before he entered the facility early Saturday, and guards were checking on him every half-hour. At 10:15 a.m. Sunday, he was seen sitting on his bunk and seemed fine, guards said. Fifteen minutes later, he was dead.
Normally, White would have been moved to a jail outside Prince George's County because his alleged crime involved county law enforcement officers. But because White was arrested late on a weekend night, the county didn't follow that protocol. Seven guards had access to White, as did numerous supervisors. Officials are still trying to determine whether anyone outside the prison had access to White.
Sounded suspicious from the beginning.
DC Chapter ping to those living in the northern VA, Maryland, and DC areas.
For your ping list since this is the hot topic on Chris Plante’s show.
Looks like the other officers decided to take him out of circulation. We will see how this plays out though.
Looks like the other officers decided to take him out of circulation. We will see how this plays out though.
Crimes like this tend to arouse lots of passion, and it wouldn’t surprise me if this turned out to be an “inside” job.
If this really is what it certainly appears to be, then the culprits need to go down... HARD.
All for charging the perp(s) with murder but ‘civil rights’ charges are BS. Were ‘civil rights’ charges pending against White in his killing of Cpl. Findlay?
there must be video tape evidence somewhere.......and how do we know that the prisoner was just fine at the half hour check?....its the cops word......
Does anyone know: Are the jails in Maryland run by the County SHERIFF’S office (as they are in VA) or does the Police Department run their own jail?
I believe that the county jails are run by the respective Sheriff of the county in question.
“Civil Rights” charges are a lot like “hate crimes”.
They are pretty much BOTH “BS” because they are almost ALWAYS unequally enforced (a clear violation of the 14th Amendment to the Constitution of the United States of America).
Of course, in this case 1st degree murder charges should suffice, I think.
In my opinion, it is too bad Maryland has all but done away with their death penalty.
Not applicable. The civil rights statutes in question are for depriving someone of their civil rights "under color of law." In other words, action by a government employee or official acting on the job. Hence, a policeman or jailer can be charged but a private citizen can't be. (Other laws may apply; these comments are for the particular charge at hand.)
Where the local police are corrupt, or a organization with many thugs in uniform or incompetent (all three apply in PG County MD in my view) I'm not unhappy to see the FBI look into it.
He slipped, fell, and landed face down in a pollow.
Pillow
I don’t know if I would classify them as incompetent.
Up until now they have been very effective at “what they do”.
;^)
In all likelihood, somebody tapped another con to take care of this business. A few years back New Jersey cop killer Robert “Mudman” Simon was killed in a death row yard by another inmate, who probably now has cigarettes and extra desserts for life.
Nice bike.
I’ve got a 1992 R100RS of which I am very fond.
He fell down. What’s the problem?
to bad, so sad... yawn... if we’d only do it to those that murder the “regular” victims, we’d be better off.
Accidents happen. Just ask BJC.
Justice comes in many forms. (spit)
I’m suspect we’re fixin to see a great big blue wall.
Sounds like suicide.
I like “pollow” better. Sorta “po-lice issue.”
It will play out in the MSM like this: Americans are racists, therefore we must elect Obama out of guilt. This murder was wrong, particlarly if it was retribution, but I suspect that we will start to see the MSM whip up the passions of the black vote ahead of November.
Pity party NOT
I was visiting at the time and was sure it would make national news and become a huge scandal.
Two days went by and you never heard another thing about it.
Perhaps this crap would happen less if we had a real justice system with real punishment including an enforced death penalty.
And in another infamous NJ case, a cop killer named Trantino was released from prison.
He was convicted of murder and sentenced to death. The USSC overturned the death penalty so he was sentenced to life without parole.
Yes...
You kill your wife, you go to prison and eventually get paroled. You kill your best friend who was “involved” with your wife, maybe you get five years. But, unless he was the best friend involved with your wife, you kill a cop and you die...it’s that simple.
Thanks, P.
I was out all morning, at a field trip with my son’s sports camp. I did listen to Chris’ show in its entirety, however, since I brought my small Walkman AM-FM radio.
I never miss one single minute of The Plantman!!!
#####
You know they didn't really "lose" him. He was taken from them. The cop was executed by this perp, who drove his vehicle straight into the officer.
Perhaps this perp had a delayed reaction to the head/neck injury he received when the truck he was driving rammed the police car.
I can believe that. Maybe he fell!! Or maybe he did it himself. I think you have heard of that game. I just don't get kids today seem to think they have to steal and kill people over a truck or car.
[Mrs T]
Too much time playing violent video games, perhaps!
Isn’t there a very popular one called Grand Theft Auto? /sarc
I wonder how many points a player gets for ramming a police car?
Jails tend to accumulate ghosts, and I’m assuming they would take extreme umbrage at driving over a police officer.
Unfortunately, I think you are correct.
"You're gd'med right I ordered the Code Red."
so why wasn’t he on suicide watch
Let’s face it, Buford ... if all you knew was that a prisoner charged with killing a LEO was strangled in a DC area jail, you wouldn’t even have to ask which one.
I would not want to be the guard who was in the area between 10:15 and 10:30 AM.
The proper charges are murder (for obvious reasons) and whatever charges the authorities can come up with for abuse of police power (those charged with upholding the law should be punished with special severity when they break it).
...those charged with upholding the law should be punished with special severity when they break it).
**
I agree, but I think there are many unanswered questions here. For instance, did he have a cellmate? Was there a reason some other crook wanted him dead, e.g., he might spill the beans about their activities together?
I don’t know what happened but at least the taxpayers were saved the expense of a trial that would go on for years with appeal after appeal. I also heard the this guys family has retained a lawyer and are looking for a big payday. I wish the slain officers family could sue this guys family for killing him.
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