Rochester, NY Police officer Blinds me and my Children with Cruiser's Spotlight, Causes Two Car Crash, then Speeds Off

By Davy V.

While waiting at a red light at the intersection of Buffalo Rd. and Glide St, a Rochester, NY Police west division officer, stopped at the same red light but heading in the opposite direction as me, turned on his cruiser's spotlight, pointed it directly at my vehicle, blinding me and my family, including my 2 sons, my 4-year old daughter and my niece.

It all happened around 7:15 pm, Thursday evening, as I was returning from taking my son and niece to dance class.

Not knowing why the RPD officer was blinding me and my family with his spotlight, which he kept on us even after the traffic light had turned green, I stood still, not moving forward.

Like I always tell people, when coming into any contact with law enforcement, whether it's being pulled over, questioned, or in this case, having a huge floodlight shone right at me and my family, the important thing is to remain calm.

NEVER give a law enforcement officer ANY reason to think that you are trying to evade him or her, or have anything to hide.

Then I heard a loud crashing sound directly behind me.

A car had been hit in the rear end by another car.

At that same moment, the RPD officer sped away, not even stopping to see if anyone was injured.

I pulled my vehicle to the side of the road, at which time both of the other drivers had gotten out of their cars.

Both drivers, a middle aged woman, and man, almost in unison, asked me the same question.

"Why did he shine the light on you like that?"

"And he just kept on going," said the man.

A few minutes later another Rochester Police cruiser who happened to be driving by, stopped and turned on his emergency lights.

That officer was RPD Sgt. Bello.

Sgt. Bello came up to me and asked me what happened.

He asked me for my name.

"I've heard the name," Sgt. Bello said, 

"I'm familiar with your work."

I explained to him that an officer blinded me with the spotlight and not knowing why, or what was going on I remained standing.

I asked Sgt. Bello if he knew who that officer was.

Sgt. Bello said he did not.

I gave Sgt. Bello my card and told him I wanted the officer's name.

I told Sgt. Bello that the officer's actions were reckless.

Not only did the officer's unwarranted, and obvious unnecessary actions shining a spotlight on me and my children, cause me to remain standing and not proceed, as I thought I was being stopped, but then for the officer, a first responder, to have left the scene of a motor vehicle accident, something me or you would be charged for, was completely irresponsible and unprofessional.

Sgt. Bello then looked at me and said, " I don't know why the officer did that, I will ask around and see if anyone raises their hand and admits it was them."

Sgt. Bello told me I was free to go.

I got in my vehicle and told my frightened children that everything was ok.

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Lawsuit names Former Rochester, NY Police Chief James Sheppard, officers Alexander Baldauf, and Ricky Harris Jr., for Beating Caught on Home Surveillance Video

Former Rochester, NY Police Chief
James Sheppard

By Davy V.

Breakups are never easy.

It's never fun to have to gather your belongings, and pack your car up.

Especially when you're leaving your own home.

Well, imagine if during the course of you loading your things up into your vehicle, your significant other starts arguing with you and begins yelling, threatening to take the license plates off your vehicle because even though the title is on your name, the registration is in hers.

She then calls the police.

Then, shortly after the police arrive, an officer beats you viciously, while his partner stands by watching.

That's exactly what happened to Dwayne Ivery on August 17, 2013 right in front of his home, located at 1509 East Main St.

As Ivery was talking with his girlfriend, Rochester, NY Police officer Alexander Baldauf became irate.

"I thought I told you not to say anything!" Baldauf yelled at Ivery.

Rochester Police officer Baldauf then grabbed Dwayne Ivery's hand, and punched him in the head.

Officer Baldauf then continued to punch Ivery, who can be seen in the video trying to protect himself from the beating, trying to retreat.

Officer Baldauf then pins Dwayne Ivery down, where the beating continues.

At one point during the beating, RPD officer Baldauf stomps on Dwayne Ivery's head with his boot.

The whole time, Rochester, NY Police officer Ricky J. Harris Jr. stood by watching.

At no point in time intervening in the vicious beating of an nnocent man, by his partner,

Ivery, who was charged with aggravated harassment and resisting arrest, suffered multiple injuries as the result of RPD officer Baldauf's beating, including a fractured nose.

Home surveillance video captured Dwayne Ivery's beating
by Rochester, NY Police officer Alexander C. Baldauf.

Thanks to the power of video, the whole incident was captured on Mr. Ivery's home surveillance video system. (I have included the video below)

Ted Forsyth, of Rochester Indymedia and Enough is Enough, was first to report on this disturbing incident.

Forsyth sent me a press release announcing a press conference on Tuesday February 4, 2014, where Dwayne Ivery, along with his attorney, Charles F. Burkwit, will formally announce the filing of a lawsuit against the Rochester, NY Police department and the City of Rochester.

In addition to the Rochester Police department and the City of Rochester, the lawsuit names former RPD Chief James Sheppard as well as RPD officer Ricky J. Harris Jr.

Read more in Ted Forsythe's press release.


Click the link below to read Ted Forsythe's original piece on beating


http://rochester.indymedia.org/node/99931

Click Play to watch video

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WTF? Former Rochester, NY Police Chief James Sheppard in High Heels?

NOTHING TO SEE HERE, KEEP MOVING.

Former Rochester, NY Police Chief
James Sheppard

By Davy V.

It's been a while since I've put out a 'WTF?' piece.

You know, a random story, or in this case, photo that just makes you think 'WTF?' as soon as you see it?

So here's one for you.

A photo of former Rochester, NY Police Chief James Sheppard.

In high heels.

And a crown.

And there you have it.

A 'WTF?' moment.

I'm sure there's a good explanation behind the photo.

Or not.

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Randall "Rambo" Benjamin, Rochester, NY Police Lead Investigator in Matthew Straton Case, has Long History of Misconduct and Corruption

Rochester, NY Police homicide investigator
Randall "Rambo" Benjamin

By Davy V.

In June of 1986, Rochester, NY Police officers Randall "Rambo" Benjamin and Mark Mariano kicked in the front door to my family's home at 184 Child Street, terrorized me, my brother, my mother, and my father at gunpoint, threatened to shoot our family dog, and illegally searched our home without a warrant, overturning mattress, dresser drawers, and destroying our personal belongings, including my baseball trophies.

I was crying when the officers threatened to shoot our family dog, before officer Mariano grabbed me by my shirt, slamming up against the hallway wall, lifting me off the floor, yelling at me to shut up.

Benjamin and Mariano were acting on a false report made by an alcoholic next door neighbor of ours whom they knew very well from countless prior arrests.

This neighbor was upset that my father refused to give him money to buy alcohol, so he called Rochester Police, drunk, and lied to them, telling them that my Dad had a gun in the house.

No gun was ever found.

I remember officer Benjamin laughing in my brother's face, and asking him "Who are you, Perry Mason?", when my brother told both officers that they had no right to do what they did to our family, and that what they did was against the law.

As someone who was always taught to respect law enforcement, the incident forever changed my life and the way I looked at police, and is what led me to become an activist and advocate against police misconduct and corruption.

There's a reason for the "Rambo" nickname that Benjamin earned working out of the Rochester Police department's Maple Section on the city's west side.

Throughout the years I continued to hear about incidents where Rochester, NY Police officer Randall "Rambo" Benjamin abused innocent people, like he did to me and my family.

Benjamin was later promoted to the Rochester Police department's Major Crimes Section as a homicide investigator.

In 2010, Randall "Rambo" Benjamin became the focus of an investigation by the FBI.

Benjamin was tied to several federal cases where criminal defendants were considered for reduced prison sentences, as a result of false and misleading information which he provided to judges in those cases.

In essence, Rochester, NY Police investigator Randall "Rambo" Benjamin was illegally, and unethically working out deals with criminals where he would help these criminals obtain lighter sentences, based on false and misleading information which he, and other RPD investigators gave to judges.

Many say that in exchange for helping these criminals receive lighter sentences, Benjamin received money, and other favors.

Unfortunately, but not surprising, the FBI investigation against Rochester Police investigator disappeared overnight, being swept under the rug, never to be heard of again, with Rochester's Corporate-America mainstream news media never reporting, or printing another word about it.

Which is why, given Rochester Police investigator Randall "Rambo" Benjamin's long history of misconduct and corruption, I found it both interesting as well as disturbing that he is the lead investigator in the homicide of Matthew Straton, the 31-year old man who went missing in October.

On Thursday, almost three months since Straton's disappearance, his body was found buried in the backyard of 27 Rowley St.

The home's owner, 62-year old Dr. William Lewek, was arrested and charged with tampering with evidence, as well as an intent to sell crack cocaine charge.

As you can see in the photo to the right, in the sworn affidavit, Rochester, NY Police investigator Randall "Rambo" Benjamin accuses William Lewek of removing Matthew Straton's body from the third floor of his home, then burying it in his backyard.

I wonder if Rochester, NY Police homicide investigator will try to get this suspect a deal.

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98.9 "Breakfast Buzz with Kimberly and Beck" Radio Show Hosts Make Fun of Man Beaten by Rochester, NY Police

By Davy V.

Mark Schroth
beaten by Rochester, NY Police.

Most people wouldn't find the photo to the right funny.

But Rochester, NY's 98.9 The Buzz radio show hosts Kimberly and Beck do.

It's a photo of Mark Schroth.

That's not how Schroth looked when he went to a popular bar on Rochester, NY's Monroe Avenue,  Saturday night, but it's how he looked after he was beaten by Rochester Police.

Wednesday morning, Kimberly and Beck, well known for their racist rhetoric, and hurtful, insensitive behavior, including once making fun of an African-American grieving mother whose teen age son was run over and killed by a Rochester Police cruiser, had a field day with the horrible beating that Schroth suffered.

According to reports, Rochester Police were responding to a crowd outside of O'Callaghan's Pub, when a Rochester Police officer told Schroth, who witnesses said was doing nothing wrong, to move.

Witnesses say that when Schroth told Rochester Police that he had a right to stand where he was standing, that's when at least one Rochester Police officer snapped, and began beating Schroth.

Kimberly and Beck
from Rochester, NY's 98.9
"Breakfast Buzz with Kimberly and Beck" radio show.

"Mark did not deserve this, he didn't do anything wrong, nothing at at all", said a witness who did not want to be identified for fear of retaliation from Rochester Police officers.

After several more RPD officers arrived on the scene, the beating continued.

At that point, officers also began beating and pepper-spraying, innocent bystanders.

One of those bystanders, a young woman, unable to see from being pepper-sprayed was assisted by a friend, who walked her over to a Rochester Police officer who was close by.

The young woman then asked the RPD officer for help.

The officer responded to her, "I'm not going to help
you with that attitude."

On their "Breakfast Buzz with Kimberly and Beck" morning radio show, not only did Kimberly make fun of the beating Schroth received, but equally disgusting, she went as far as condoning police brutality.

"Douchebag guy opened his mouth to the wrong guy and got batoned upside the head", the radio show host said.

Then, in a classic example of adding insult to injury (no pun intended), Kimberly says, "You're not going to get any kind of sympathy here on this show."

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Former Rochester, NY Police Chief Cedric Alexander Will Have his Work Cut Out for him When it Comes to Leading an Out of Control Police Force that Does Not Care about the Mentally-Ill

By Davy Vara

Cedric Alexander

With the talk of the town in Rochester, NY being about whether or not former interim Rochester Police Chief Cedric Alexander, who lead the RPD for 9 months in 2005, will return to serve as Chief under Mayor-Elect Lovely Warren's new administration, I thought it would be a good opportunity to remind my fellow short-term memory Rochesterians, of Alexander's failed tenure as Chief.

In a 2005 write-up on a site called The National Psychologist, former Rochester, NY Police Chief Cedric Alexander is lauded as a hero of sorts for his creation of the Emotionally Disturbed Persons Response Team (EDPRT), a team of officers "specially trained to deal with emotionally unstable and mentally-ill individuals."

“As much as 80 percent of the calls we go to in this city, even across America, has a mental health component attached to it, anything from domestic abuse to somebody who’s feeling distress. It became important to me to look at a list of mental health issues police officers are not really trained to do," Alexander explains.

“When you have officers who have a little better insight to these issues it allows them to do their job a little better, which results in less injuries to both officers and people,” said Alexander, described in the article as a "self-effacing man who tends to shy away from taking praise for the program’s success."

“What I wanted to accomplish,” said Alexander, “was to help officers to be more broadly trained to cope with the challenges they have on the street and to help people.”

One Rochester Police Sgt., Eric Weaver, the EDPRT Commander described the program this way.

“Amazing." 

"What we’ve accomplished over the last two years is tremendous. And how this community has come together in working with law enforcement is something I haven’t seen in the 20 years I’ve been on the force.”

Weaver added that under Alexander's leadership, he sees the "EDRPT as much more than a team of officers that respond out to individuals who are suicidal or mentally ill. 

"We have successfully taken people to hospitals and mental health facilities for care and treatment. And we follow-up. That’s phenomenal.”

When RPD Sgt. Eric Weaver was asked if incidents of police and public injuries were down, Weaver responded, "Absolutely", adding, "This is a result of the chief’s program.

Rochester Police Sgt. Eric Weaver added, “In school what we address more than anything is stigma awareness. We spend a tremendous amount of time dispelling stigma myths, stereotypes of mental illness, what they are and what they really mean.

“We try to break down walls and barriers that people and society have concerning mental health. We try to change the perception of officers in what mental health is and what it’s all about.”

Really Sgt. Weaver?

Some in the Rochester community, such as myself, strongly disagree.

In fact, Rochester, NY Police officers have clearly shown that they do not care about individuals with suffering from mental illness.

And I have a different take not only on the Rochester Police department's EDRPT, but also on Cedric Alexander, the man who Rochester Mayor-Elect Lovely Warren says is her top choice for Rochester Police Chief.

Enter Lashedica Mason.

On July 10, 2005, 13-year old LaShedica was suicidal, when she locked herself up in the bathroom of her home on St. Jacob Street on Rochester’s eastside.

Her relatives called 911 for assistance.

Rochester, NY Police Sgt. Mark Simmons,
shot 13-year old LaShedica Mason, who was suicidal.

Minutes later, Rochester Police officer Mark Simmons entered the home and as soon as he saw Mason holding a knife, he shot the 13 year old girl three times, including once in her abdomen.

Simply put, Rochester Police officer Mark Simmons
tried to kill a suicidal teen.

As a result of her injuries, LaShedica’s gall bladder, as well as several feet of her intestines had to be removed during surgery.

Ironically, just days before the shooting, acting Rochester Police Chief Cedric Alexander had announced the creation of the Rochester Police Department’s Emotionally Disturbed Persons Response Team (EDPRT).

The team, hailed as a being "specially trained to deal with despondent, suicidal, and emotionally unstable individuals", in situations such as LaShedica's, NEVER RESPONDED.

The result?

A suicidal teen was shot by a trigger-happy cop, who almost killed her.

Not long after trying to kill LaShedica, Rochester, NY Police officer Simmons was promoted to the rank of Sergeant.

Sure, some Rochester Police cheerleaders will argue that Mason's incident was isolated, and that the RPD really values the EDRPT program, and that officers care about the mentally ill.

But despite the illusion that the Rochester, NY Police department wants the community to believe when it comes to their claim of being sympathetic towards individuals with mental health illness, as an activist exposing the Rochester Police department' long history of misconduct and corruption, I have found the opposite.

Enter "Chucky."

While on patrol on Rochester's west side, Rochester, NY Police officer Antonio Gonzalez came across a mentally-ill man, dressed in a martial arts uniform on Jefferson Avenue.

Instead of getting the man some help, Rochester Police officer Antonio Gonzalez he would record the man on video, while he and his fellow RPD officers laughed and sang the song 'Everybody was Kung Fu Fighting'.'

Gonzalez then posted the video on the Internet and titled it 'Name that Crackhead.'

Once online, Gonzalez and RPD officers Josue Traverzo and Luis Hernandez, commented on the video, continuing to ridicule the man and even listing the numerical address on Jefferson Ave. where the man could be found.

THE ELDERLY AND DISABLED ARE ALSO RIDICULED.

Photo Rochester, NY Police officer Nelson Soto took
of two elderly citizens in cold winter.
Soto later posted the photo on social media with the caption:
"4 Wheel Drive Wheelchairs."

Another Rochester Police officer who has shown the culture that exists within the Rochester, NY Police department when it comes to dealing with the mentally-ill
and the disabled, is RPD Sgt. Nelson Soto.

While on patrol, on a cold winter day, Sgt. Soto decided it would be funny to take a photo from within his warm police  cruiser, of two elderly, disabled individuals on motorized scooters trying to navigate snow covered streets.

Sgt. Soto then posted the photo on social media with the caption  "4 Wheel Drive Wheelchairs."

So the question is, can Cedric Alexander, a PhD with a doctorate in psychology, clean house and straighten out the Rochester, NY Police department, a police force with a long history of misconduct, corruption, and a lack of caring about individuals with mental health issues?

Can Alexander ensure that the EDPRT which he created is actually used by Rochester Police officers, before they open fire and execute mentally-ill individuals like Izzy Andino?

Can Alexander stop the racist culture which exists in the Rochester, NY Police department, where officers racially-profile, then arrest young African-American students waiting for a school bus?

Can Alexander stop over zealous cops who abuse their power by beating a one-legged amputee, after picking him up off his motorized wheelchair and slamming him to the concrete sidewalk, then beating him, because he too was also waiting for a bus?

Can Alexander be the Chief that James Sheppard was not?

I read that as Chief in DeKalb County, Georgia, Cedric Alexander has helped restore the image of a police force plagued with misconduct and corruption, including a recent incident where one of his officers, Brandon Brown was caught on video trying to shake down a citizen for a $50.00 bribe, after he caught the woman smoking marijuana.

Officer Brown later resigned. (SEE VIDEO BELOW).

Will Cedric Alexander do the same in Rochester, NY?

Can and will Alexander clean house, and turn around the corrupt Rochester, NY Police department?

One thing is for sure, he's got his work cut out for him.


Click the link below to check out my facebook page "Cedric Alexander Clean House in the Rochester, NY Police department!"

https://www.facebook.com/cleanhouseinrpd



Note: Rochester, NY Police officer Antonio Gonzalez, who made, then posted the "Name that Crakhead" video, is one of the 7 Rochester Police officers who shot Izzy Andino, the mentally-ill young man, on his birthday.


Click Play to watch video Rochester, NY Police officer Antonio Gonzalez recorded of him and his fellow officers making fun of a mentally-ill man.





Click Play below to watch video of DeKalb County, Georgia officer Brandon Brown shaking woman down for $50.00 bribe.

 



Click Play to listen to see CNN News Radio correspondent Ninette Sosa's reporting on Alexander possibly becoming Rochester, NY's next police chief.




Click the link below to check out my facebook page "Cedric Alexander Clean House in the Rochester, NY Police department!"

https://www.facebook.com/cleanhouseinrpd

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Despite Its History of Civil Rights Leaders Like Frederick Douglass and Susan B. Anthony, Rochester, NY Continues to be Known as a City Where Police Violate Citizens' Rights (Updated)

Teens arrested by Rochester Police officer
while waiting for bus.

By Davy V.

Updated Tuesday December 13, 2003 10:00 A.M.

Once again, just when I think the Rochester, NY Police department can't get any worse when it comes to violating innocent citizens' civil rights, they prove me wrong.

On Wednesday morning, November 27th, Edison High School students Raliek Reid, and Daequon Carelock, both 16, along with 17-year old Wan'Tauhjs Weathers, all three star players on the Edison Inventors basketball team, were waiting for a schoolbus in downtown Rochester, heading to a game.

They never made it.

That's because an over zealous Rochester Police officer arrested the teens.

For what?

For WWB.

Waiting While Black.

Or is it STB?

Standing While Black.

Of course, the Rochester, NY Police department, who has a long history of misconduct and corruption including several high profile controversial arrest videos in just the last couple of years alone, including the arrest of Emily Good, by Rochester Police officer Mario Masic, after Good recorded Masic conducting a racially profiled traffic stop of an African-American motorist, would never admit that their officers are trained to profile African-American citizens for WWB or SWB.

Instead they come up with a b.s. excuse like saying that the three young men were obstructing the flow of pedestrian traffic.

Even though they were standing on a public sidewalk.

Waiting for a bus.

Benny Warr
One-legged amputee
beaten by Rochester Police officers
while waiting for bus.

Reminds me of Benny Warr.

A disabled, African-American, one-legged amputee, who was also waiting for a bus when Rochester, NY Police officers Anthony Liberatore, Joseph Ferrigno, and Mitchell Stewart II pepper sprayed and beat him.

All because according to the officers, Warr ignored their commands to move from the sidewalk.

A public sidewalk.

As in Warr's case, the Rochester, NY Police officer who arrested the teens, claimed that they ignored his order to disperse.

From a public sidewalk.

When the teens tried to explain to the RPD officer that they weren't  loitering, but instead waiting for a bus, the RPD officer arrested them.

"We didn't do nothing," said Raliek Reid.

"We was just trying to go to our scrimmage."

Intetestingly, the Rochester Police report makes no mention of any obscene or foul language or any other sort of disorderly conduct.

"We was just waiting for our bus and he started arresting us," said Wan'Tauhjs Weathers.

According to the teens' coach, Jacob Scott, when he asked the RPD officer to let the teens go, the Rochester Police officer threatened him with arrest.

"He goes on to say, 'If you don't disperse, you're going to get booked as well,'" said Scott.

Scott, who is also employed by the Rochester City School District as a guidance counselor, adds, "I said, 'Sir, I'm the adult. I'm their varsity basketball coach. How can you book me? What am I doing wrong? Matter of fact, what are these guys doing wrong?'"

The Edison basketball coach says the incident was not only traumatic for the players who got arrested, but also for others who witnessed it.

"It's a catastrophe," said Coach Scott. 

"These young men were doing nothing wrong, nothing wrong."

"They did exactly what they were supposed to do and still they get arrested. I'm speaking to the officers with dignity ... and still and yet, they see me get treated like nothing."

The players' families had to post $200 bail in order to get their children out of jail for Thanksgiving. 

"They are not bad kids," said Crystal Chapman, one of the teens mother.

"They are awesome boys."

And to think, disgusting incidents like this, committed by those who take an oath to protect and serve, and instead abuse that oath by abusing and violating innocent students doing nothing wrong, is happening in a city with a rich history of civil rights leaders such as Frederick Douglass and Susan B. Anthony, who are both buried in Mount Hope Cemetery, just minutes away from downtown Rochester.

I wonder what Douglass and Anthony would say.

Shame on the Rochester, NY Police department.

Shame on Rochester, NY.



UPDATE:

Charges against the three teens have been dropped.

A statement released Tuesday morning by Monroe County District Attorney Sandra Doorley reads:

"After reviewing the facts associated with these arrests, we have decided to dismiss the charges in the interest of justice."

Click Play to watch video of Rochester, NY Police officers beating disabled man waiting for bus.

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