Posted on 03/07/2010 9:35:39 AM PST by SmithL
OAKLAND — The city's Police Department had an unwritten policy of avoiding confrontation with members of Your Black Muslim Bakery, a retired officer testified Thursday.
That policy once included police retreating from the bakery's San Pablo Avenue complex despite reports of a woman being held there against her will, he said.
Frank Gyson, who retired this year, said he did not recall when the incident took place.
The bakery closed in August 2007 following the arrest of its leader, Yusuf Bey IV, and several of his followers on numerous felony charges, including kidnapping, torture and murder.
"It wasn't a written policy," Gyson said, describing a pattern of not confronting bakery followers. "It was a de-facto thing."
Officers approached the bakery only in groups and were loathe to take action because of potential violence and bloodshed, he said.
Gyson, testifying for the prosecution in the kidnapping and torture trial of bakery member Richard Lewis, said he was on patrol in North Oakland when it was reported a woman was being held in the bakery against her will, apparently by her son, against whom she had obtained a restraining order.
A dozen officers led by two sergeants met blocks away from the bakery, then drove there and approached the front door, he testified. But before they could get inside, two men came outside and chained the door shut. As many as 25 men from the bakery came from around the back and buildings across the street and encircled the officers, he said.
"They were organized. They came running," Gyson said under questioning from Prosecutor Christopher Lamiero. "They knew what to do." More men positioned themselves in the building, standing at attention like soldiers, he said.
After a brief standoff, the police retreated.
(Excerpt) Read more at contracostatimes.com ...
“Your Black Muslim Bakery, a retired officer testified Thursday. “
Shitty doughnuts.
The police need to be held as culpable, then.
What, they couldn’t call for backup?
The locals police should have called the ATF. They could have burned them out. Or is it only Christians that get torched.
I’m betting they have a serious gutless leadership problem. If you believe that your leadership is not going to back you, you tend to take less risks.
If these dirt bags had been in Waco, the ATF still might be camped outside. They never would have torched the place.
Given that it is Oakland, any cops who would have made a move on that place would have been severely punished by the upper level management.
The knuckledraggers in question are Black Muslims, Nation of Islam types. Only marginally related to the greater world of 7th Century knuckledraggers and goat buggers.
That said, the Courts, including the Supreme Court, have ruled that the police have no duty to protect any particular person. You have no enforceable right to police protection. You are on your own.
That's why you *do* have an enforceable right to keep and bear your own private arms. Or the tea leaves seem to be saying. The Supreme Court decision will likely be out this week or next.
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