Posted on 06/18/2015 5:10:00 AM PDT by Prolixus
The Waco Police Department decision last week to attempt weekly press conferences updating the press and public on the latest information in the May 17 shootout at Twin Peaks that left nine dead and 177 bikers in jail is smart if overdue. One reason this saga is becoming increasingly controversial is that, in recent weeks, local authorities have let the biker community and its advocates get out in front of them in both questions and conjecture.
That’s been a mistake. Many in the biker community raise legitimate questions, including the slow pace of bond-reduction hearings (more the province of the courts than the cops); claims the police could have effectively chilled the scene involving Cossacks and Bandidos who reportedly got into the fight that led to gunfire; and the wisdom of law enforcement in using motorcycle gang or club colors to decide who to arrest afterward.
However, some claims from biker sources are particularly incendiary, including one that came our way Wednesday — that the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives was somehow behind the “massacre” of bikers at Twin Peaks. Whatever the veracity there, letting such charges go unanswered and then fester for days or weeks only allows them to gain credence with more and more people. And the city of Waco — no stranger to the stigma that develops from such affairs — doesn’t need this sort of perception to take root if it’s not true.
In some situations, stubborn silence by one side can convey the perception it has something to hide.
The key thing local authorities addressing the Twin Peaks saga should remember is that what transpired May 17; the million-dollar bonds subsequently set; and justifiable questions about due process are altogether unprecedented in this context and scope. How all this is handled by police, the district attorney and the courts will define, possibly for years, not only our criminal justice system but Waco.
In a radio interview, nationally recognized motorcycle rights advocate David Devereaux wisely resisted making the outrageous claims that some in the biker community have leveled at police and the district attorney. He also made a good point on how transparency and information in a case such as this that commands headlines nationwide are crucial so everyone can get a grip on a complicated and disputed scenario.
“I think the critical pieces of evidence (police) could release that would lay a lot of questions to rest would be a combination of the ballistics report and the video that they’ve alluded to seeing that covers the incident in the parking lot,” Devereaux said. “I think that’s basically what people are going to have to see before putting their minds to rest about exactly what happened, because only then will we know how any conflict occurred and how it started. Right now we’re all basing our opinions on pure conjecture and information that’s changing constantly.”
There’s sobering logic in those words, both for law enforcement and the biker community.
The key thing local authorities addressing the Twin Peaks saga should remember is that what transpired May 17; the million-dollar bonds subsequently set; and justifiable questions about due process are altogether unprecedented in this context and scope.
The lack of even pretense at media curiosity says quite a bit, actually.
I think this is simply the feds making an example of right wing groups to show who is in charge.
It is kinda strange that I have not seen two explanations of what happened that are the same. It looks like the coops know that they are wrong and are stalling as long as possible.
Waco is the proving grounds for federal police kill and cover it up techniques.
>>> ..... a combination of the ballistics report and the video that they’ve alluded to seeing
How hard is it to release those? And why it took so long?
Even if the police release those, can we be sure those weren’t ‘edited’?
I don't see it, but as I said, I'm no expert. If there is no compelling legal/strategy reason not to then that becomes very interesting. If there's no reason it would hurt the case(s), then there must be another reason or reasons not too. Maybe someone is pressuring them not to because of the damage it would do.
So: .223, or 9mm?
He gets it. Th questions that need to be asked include what precedents are being set before our eyes?
I've heard at least two separate accounts that were consistent with each other. But, these were "ear-witness" accounts, not "eye-witness".
Both were from veterans, who said they heard 2-3 shots from what sounded like handguns, followed by a barrage of shots from what sounded like a military-issue rifle (i.e. .223).
One of them even said: "I recognized that sound, because I carried one for 6(?) years."
As several others have posted: I want to see the ballistic reports on the bullets that killed 9 and injured 18. Although, it may be difficult on some: one of the injured was shot in the arm, but the bullet passed through his arm, and through his chest.
I hope that that law enforcement wasn't shooting FMJ .223 into a crowd. If so, just the choice of bullet was a dereliction of duty.
“I think the critical pieces of evidence (police) could release that would lay a lot of questions to rest would be a combination of the ballistics report and the video that they’ve alluded to seeing that covers the incident in the parking lot,” Devereaux said.”
This is exactly what we have been saying right here on the FR since the beginning. It has been so long now though; I’m not sure we would get an unedited version of the videos. There should be several; including all the police videos from the dash cams. With obvious corruption in the local police force there; can we believe a coroners report at this point?
These basic pieces of evidence would help put the shootings to bed though. We can have the video examined by experts to see if they have been tampered with and there should be a second autopsy by an outside coroner paid by money not from Waco or the feds.
The excessive bond and lack of due process are another matter entirely. It will take years and lots of lawsuits; maybe one class action civil rights lawsuit before this part of the saga is ended just like the article says.
I heard one heart shot, 6 head shots. The cops had the place surrounded before they open fired almost like they had a snitch with a false story. I heard martial law against bikers with three piece patches.
“So: .223, or 9mm?”
.32?
“Waco police dash cam video shows Martinez shooting a handgun while standing behind a brown SUV, according to court documents. Officers found a .32-caliber pistol in the hatchback area of the vehicle. During the video, Martinez is seen shooting and the hatchback glass is shot out. Martinez is then seen on video placing an object inside the vehicle, records state.”
Does not say if he hit anyone. He is a Bandido Club President who got out on the original bond early on.
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