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Posted on 09/16/2020 11:51:26 AM PDT by lightman
The Lancaster County District Attorney’s Office is trying to set the record straight after outrage erupted over the $1 million bail set for a number of people protesting in Lancaster Sunday night.
Criminal justice advocates and politicians took issue with bail set for seven of the 13 protesters accused of rioting and vandalizing downtown Lancaster during protests over the police shooting death of 27-year-old Ricardo Munoz.
The American Civil Liberties Union of Pennsylvania — demanding answers from the courts and District Attorney Heather Adams — took particular issue, describing the $1 million bail in a Tuesday statement as “exorbitantly high.”
“The one million dollar cash bail orders for several young Black Lives Matter protesters last night is an egregious and unacceptable abuse of the bail system,” said Reggie Shuford, executive director of the ACLU’s Pennsylvania branch. “Cash bail should never be used to deter demonstrators and chill speech.”
The criticism didn’t stop there. Lt. Gov. John Fetterman tweeted Tuesday that bail that high is “blatantly unconstitutional.”
Prosecutors do not set bail, but they can offer input to the magisterial district judge who does, the district attorney’s office said.
Lancaster County prosecutors said they did not get involved with setting bail for the protesters, but Lancaster police did out of concern for their officers and the public’s safety.
The Lancaster County District Attorney’s Office said bail is intended to ensure defendants appear at future court hearings, not as a means of punishment.
Prosecutors also noted that defendants can petition for modified bail.
“We are in the process of gathering all applicable information for evaluation of all relevant factors should petitions be filed," prosecutors said.
Judges take into consideration the nature of the crime, the person’s criminal history and ties to the community, according to the district attorney’s office.
Tense protests started Sunday evening and continued overnight outside the Lancaster Bureau of Police station after an officer shot and killed Munoz during a domestic disturbance call.
The officer’s body camera footage showed Munoz lunged toward the officer with a knife around 4:15 p.m. outside a row home on the 300 block of Laurel Street.
Lancaster authorities including the mayor begged for calm, but more than a dozen people were later arrested for setting a dumpster on fire and throwing bricks through police station windows, among other offenses.
The police station has been closed to the public since it was damaged during the protests.
“Arson and riot are violent acts, and offenses this office takes very seriously,” the district attorney’s office said Wednesday. “Those charged were not engaged in peaceful protest."
The 13 defendants range from 16 to 43 years old and live in Lancaster and surrounding communities, as well as in York, Camp Hill and Mercersburg.
Not all face identical charges. Accusations include arson, rioting, vandalism and for one, carrying a concealed weapon without a permit.
The Lancaster County District Attorney’s Office is investigating the shooting. Authorities said the officer who shot Munoz was placed on leave.
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“The one million dollar cash bail orders for several young Black Lives Matter protesters last night is an egregious and unacceptable abuse of the bail system,” said Reggie Shuford
hey Regina.
these ass hats committed acts of violence and several felonies.
Your characterization of them being “protesters” is offensive and demonstrates your total lack of integrity and moral bankruptcy.
Real people have been injured and they should prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law to make an example of them as a warning to others.
The college girl arrested in that melee was said to be a “medic” who was administering first aid to injured protesters. So according to the apologists for rioters, she should not have been arrested because she was doing humanitarian work and wasn’t involved in violent acts.
There sure are creative excuses to explain why rioters aren’t really rioters.
What’s wrong with trying to make a little money for the county when these guys skip ?
Reggie there was no bail for the protesting. There was bail for the looting and rioting........ you know PieceFul (pieces of gold) bail!
“The officer’s body camera footage showed Munoz lunged toward the officer with a knife around 4:15 p.m. outside a row home on the 300 block of Laurel Street. “
The officer was not being lunged at but rather, was being chased down by a lunatic with a very long knife and cold have easily killed the officer.
Calling yourself a “medic” is against state law there. You have to have specific training and experience. Another charge against this criminal leftist cretin!
Another story the media uses “outrage” or “backlash” to describe a small group of big mouths on social media or activist groups. It never means the majority of people in the country are the representation of the average person.
Well said!
I like yours! Here’s mine: SSørøs
i think its too low
If they had only sent a social worker instead of a cop, none of this would have happened.
The police claim she was a rioter. The truth is for a jury to decide. Is there something like the Geneva convention governing riots? That those claiming to be "medics" are hors le combat?
MEDIC!
Quick! Somebody, call the social workers!
It should be that high, because it’s been going on for months in other states.
You mean painting "medic" on your body armor and having a bandaide in a pocket doesn't qualify? It does in Portland.
Ir did, until the 9th Circus overturned a local injunction by an Oregon JP, that specified that "press" and "medic" could not be arrested, during "protests".
Only one question.... Has there been any further riots in Lancaster since then?
A $ Million is a far cry from their usual payment of a bus ticket and box lunch.
I’d make it 2 milliom.
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