Mainstream Media has made it a point to report that Trayvon Martin had THC in his blood system the night he was gunned down by Neighborhood Watchman George Zimmerman. In fact, the media has run those details into the ground. It doesn’t matter that the Miami teen was minding his own business, unarmed, and simply walking to the apartment where he was staying with his dad, before some creep who was apparently out of his mind suddenly decided that Trayvon was a threat to the neighborhood. The media chose to find what ever they could to muddy up the Martin teen’s name and completely ignored very troubling details about his admitted killer. Many within the public on the right and left of the social-political conscious of America have been debating Florida’s infamous “stand you ground” law, but in all actuality the case shouldn’t even fall along those battle lines at all. Even if Zimmerman’s attorney could pull off a hell of an argument during summation at his pending trial, there are other alarming factors that most certainly will be discussed to prove that Zimmerman is in fact guilty of homicide. Most people aren’t even aware that George Zimmerman was on mind altering drugs which are controlled substances, the night he shot and killed the Martin teen. Medical records released from the night of the killing reveal that Zimmerman was under the influence on Temazepam, and Adderall. Both are mind altering drugs in which Zimmerman had been prescribed to treat insomnia and some sort of behavioral issues that he was experiencing. Of the two drugs, the Adderall is the most alarming because it offers insight into possible mental illness on Zimmerman’s part. However, both of the drugs have side effects which may explain why Zimmerman targeted Trayvon.  Take a look at some of the side effects:

Temazepam

Anxiety; clumsiness or unsteadiness; daytime drowsiness; dizziness; fatigue; feeling of hangover; headache; light-headedness; nausea; nervousness; sluggishness; unusual weakness; confusion; hallucinations; memory loss; mental or mood problems (eg, aggression, agitation, anxiety); new or worsening trouble sleeping; suicidal thoughts or actions; unusual behavior.

Adderall

• Dangerous increase in blood pressure
• Tachycardia or a high pulse rate
• Irregular heart rate
• Difficulty breathing
• Chest pain
• Allergic reaction that includes swelling and redness in the eyes or throat
• Migraine headaches
• Syncope or losing consciousness
• Blurry or double vision
• Seizure activity and excessive and uncontrollable shaking
• Extreme nervousness and paranoid delusions
• Mood swings that include hostility and severe aggression
• Depression

Clearly these side effects are alarming to say the very least, and doctors say that patients on Temazepam are advised to take the drug at bed time, because it’s widely used to treat insomnia, and the patient should sleep for 7 to 8 hours while on the medication. George Zimmerman should have never left his home that night, and he most certainly should not have been in possession of a firearm whether he was licensed to carry it or not. If Zimmerman had followed the prescription drug’s guidelines that are typically printed on the label of most bottled medications, the tragedy that resulted in the death of Trayvon Martin would never have occurred. Additionally, doctors also say that the unusual behavior side effect of this drug includes activity such as sleep walking, driving, and making phone calls while the patient is in fact asleep. Zimmerman could very well have been in a zombie like state of mind when he encountered Trayvon. Why hasn’t mainstream media probed further into these details since Zimmerman’s medical records have been made public? This question leaves much to be desired when trying to unravel the peculiar facts about this case. Another side note to Zimmerman’s involvement in this case is that cops fail to conduct a drug test on him that night, but they conduct a drug test on Trayvon (who was the actual  victim of  this homicide) during his autopsy. The other drug that Zimmerman was under the influence of that night was Adderall, a drug used to treat ADD (Attention Deficit Disorder) or ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder). It’s unknown which mental illness Zimmerman had been prescribed the drug for, but nonetheless he apparently had some behavioral issues that required medical treatment. Medical professionals say that a Primary Physician can prescribe Adderall for patients diagnosed with ADD or ADHD, but such a prescription is rarely issued by these doctors, and Psychiatrist typically issue such drugs. Given George Zimmerman’s criminal history related to court appearances for domestic violence and assaulting a police officer, it’s fair to conclude that he was more than likely under psychiatric care at the time he shot and killed Trayvon Martin. That’s not an exaggeration because Zimmerman admittedly was involved with fighting a police officer, although he claims the cop was undercover and didn’t identify himself, Zimmerman’s actions back in 2005 depicts his ability to display physical aggression. Read Zimmerman’s own statement regarding his police assault charge from an  application to join Seminole County Sheriff’s Office Citizens Law Enforcement Academy: Application Approvall. In the related document Zimmerman writes “I was in an altercation with an undercover officer who was taking part in an ATF sting for underage drinking”. Some how those charges were dropped against him, and he was later granted a gun permit by the Florida State Police. What is really compelling here though is that Zimmerman escaped scrutiny related to his mental health. It’s obvious that either Zimmerman was never probed about his mental health or the police ignored it for the purpose of granting the firearm carrying license. A review of Florida’s gun permit application reveals that the application’s questionnaire is extremely vague related to potential mental health issues for applicants seeking to carry a concealed weapons permit.  The document only inquires if an applicant has been adjudicated as mentally defective, and doesn’t inquire as to whether the applicant has ever been treated medically, under a doctor’s care, or ever had mental health related issues which is typically the standard for evaluating an applicant’s mental capacity to responsibly possess a firearm and weapons permit. This just may very well be a flaw in Florida’s gun application process, but it certainly speaks volumes regarding how a person with a history of mental, behavioral, domestic violence, and other social issues can easily obtain a weapons permit in the state of Florida. Zimmerman had mental issues long before he encountered young Trayvon Martin, should never have been allowed to carry a gun, and the drugs he was on that night far surpassed the potential danger to society in comparison to the small amount of THC (Marijuana) that Trayvon reportedly had in his system. The tragic outcome is indicative of who actually was the true danger  or risk to public  safety on that fateful evening and the media has completely ignored that Zimmerman was in fact a nut case long before he killed someone.

The People’s Champion 

I’m David Adams

The night that Trayvon Martin lied dead in a Sanford, Florida gated community after being shot by cop wannabe George Zimmerman, the police officers who were primary to the scene appear to have initially followed protocol based on recently released police documents in the case. Zimmerman was immediately place under arrest, a crime scene was established, and the police began interviewing potential witnesses who may have observed the shooting when it unfolded. Zimmerman has since claimed that he killed the 17-year-old Miami teen in self-defense. I don’t know how it’s done in Florida, but most self-defense cases that resulted in a homicide are normally predicated upon an individual having to use deadly force in the face of mortal threat. Cases such as this one can only prevail after the killer has demonstrated that there was no other resolve but to use lethal force in fear of serious bodily injury or death to themselves, and have such an account supported by eyewitnesses who can corroborate such a claim. By now most have already heard the 911 tapes in which Zimmerman himself admitted to following Trayvon, and the dispatcher advising him “We don’t need you to do that”. Moments later the city’s 911 system began receiving calls regarding shots fired and Trayvon Martin ended up dead. Although there have been reports of some witnesses having observed at least portion of the physical confrontation between Zimmerman and the Martin teen, none of these alleged eyewitness accounts viewed the confrontation in its entirety, and not one of them have corroborated Zimmerman’s story exactly the way he claimed it occurred. The meat of this entire case falls squarely on what cops were told by the sole surviving witness. Zimmerman claims that after having been advised by a trained 911 professional to cease following the teen, he began to return to his vehicle and Trayvon jumped out of the bushes and began attacking him. He has since been video recorded having stated that he and Trayvon had a verbal exchange (he alleges that Trayvon asked him “what’s your fucking problem, he replied “I don’t have a problem”, and Trayvon stated “well you have a problem now”, before attacking him). It doesn’t take rocket science to conclude that it’s a pretty substantial variance in the two accounts. I don’t understand why the police never probed Zimmerman about this significant discrepancy in his account of that night. I tend to believe the later of the two statements, because Trayvon’s girlfriend who was on the phone with him moments before the altercation, reportedly stated that she overheard a verbal exchange between Zimmerman and Trayvon also, and then heard the phone call abruptly end like Trayvon’s cell had fallen to the ground. Her accounts tends to depict Zimmerman as the aggressor that night. Zimmerman claimed that Trayvon began to pummel him knocking him to the ground, and began banging his head into the side-walk. Zimmerman went on to claim that he began crawling onto the grass, but crime scene photos dispute that argument. The location of Trayvon’s body in relationship to the pavement is a substantial distance. Eyewitness who saw the shooting said that the Martin teen fell straight to the ground once the shot was fired. No one, including Zimmerman has stated on record that Trayvon either wandered or staggered away before falling onto the ground. More importantly, Zimmerman told cops that he got out of his vehicle to get an address for the dispatcher, because he didn’t know where he actually was at the time of the 911 call. We all know that this account his completely untrue, because we heard the tape for ourselves when his car door alarm chimed, indicating he had left his vehicle, and we heard Zimmerman admit that he was following the teen. The Sanford Police Major Crime Investigators never probed these inconsistencies in Zimmerman’s story, but his apparent deception to police wasn’t the only thing that jumps out at you in this case. The actions by the Sanford City Police Brass (Administration) is completely disturbing to say the very least. Sanford’s police administration failed to do their jobs by allowing untimely,  modified, and omitted facts in reports by police officers who were primary to a major crime scene. Chiefly, Ofc. Timothy Smith who was the primary Sanford Cop that responded to the Martin shooting, was a problematic element of the case from the gate. Smith was only a year removed from departmental investigations surrounding his alleged police misconduct in the beating of a homeless black man who was captured on video. A Sanford Police Lieutenant’s son was recorded assaulting a homeless black man in a violent drunken rage. The cops who responded to that scene (one of them Ofc. Timothy Smith) failed to do their job, by not arresting the son of a high-ranking police supervisor. Smith’s presence at the Martin crime scene should have resulted in supervisors following the process by the numbers if for no provocation other than to protect their jobs. Smith and other Sanford police were subsequently cleared of any wrong doing in the homeless man’s beating. The case was a public relations nightmare for the city, and Smith’s involvement in the Martin case has raised credibility and integrity stigmatization resulting  in doubt about his honesty having spilled over into the Martin teen investigation. A review of the police report filed by Smith on the night of the Martin killing is generic. Smith only accounts for his actions upon placing Zimmerman into custody, confiscating the alleged weapon used in the killing, and only one statement of him quoting Zimmerman having admitted shooting Trayvon Martin. Smith’s official report went on describing secondary Ofc. Ricardo Ayala’s attempt to render first aid to an unconscious and unresponsive Trayvon Martin. His report was void of any other details describing his interaction with George Zimmerman, a peculiar fact rarely seen absent from a police report in a case of this magnitude. Cops are trained to document everything a potential defendant says, as it potentially may be used against them in a court of law. Smith’s  initial report is void of any  conversations with Zimmerman all along while Zimmerman was arrested and seated in the back of his patrol car.However, other police on the scene that night did quot comments by Zimmerman in their reports. Such notation is a standard as police practice supporting my argument how cops are trained to record such detail. Police always record such comments in an effort to establish the defendants account on record in preparation for a more thorough interview later on. Smith later submitted a supplement to his original report three days later on 3/1/12. The supplement appears to describe Zimmerman’s physical condition detailing his refusal of medical treatment at least 3 times. These details seem to underscore Zimmerman’s claims that he was in fear for his life, and supports Sanford Fire Department’s report that he only suffered minor injuries. In short I am sure most will conclude that Ofc. Timothy Smith’s reports submitted in the Trayvon Martin case are more than likely not his best effort in establishing record for a potential criminal case. Smith’s reports are indeed vague and is minimal considering that he arrived on the scene at approximately 7:17 p.m. that evening, and filed his report at 3:29 a.m. in the early morning hours the next day. Smith was on the scene for more than 8 hours and only offered a brief account for his involvement in the Martin teen killing investigation. What else was he doing? The Sanford Police Administration is equally responsible for Smith’s poor police work because they allowed it to occur. An investigation in any criminal case relies on information obtained by the primary police who began to work the scene, especially a homicide. Within all of the ten police officers who submitted a report in the Martin case, only 3 of them did so in an acceptable time frame. Trayvon Martin was killed during the evening of February 26, 2012. Officers Smith, Ayala, and Mead filed their reports during the early morning hours of the next day. The remaining police officers filed reports days later, including the working police supervisor on the scene that night, Sgt. Stacie McCoy, who submitted her report 11 days from the date Martin was killed. The delayed police reports are descriptive of the culture within their department, and demonstrates that the Martin case wasn’t taken seriously at all or the Sanford police officers involved in the case were instructed not to do their jobs. How else would you explain Sanford’s Police Brass accepting official reports related to a major crime being submitted days and weeks later? Those initial reports are crucial to investigations which could lead to possible convictions, and should have been submitted within a 24 time period at the very latest. It was Sanford Police Chief Bill Lee who offered the rationalization for Zimmerman not having been charged was due to the lack of information which disputed his self-defense claim. All the information which would have allowed the police’s administration to make sound and logical judgement on whether or not to charge Zimmerman wasn’t presented to them from the start. Police reports were coming in sporadically, and top cops including Chief Lee, never pressed the issue related to such delay in reports for an obvious major crime investigation. Moreover, the delayed police reports submissions appear to have been done so intentionally. Sanford Police allowed Trayvon Martin’s body to lay in the coroner’s office for three days, all along while Tracey Martin, Trayvon’s father had filed a missing person’s report for his son. It’s simply incredible that the police couldn’t connect the dots causing them to realize that the dead teen at the morgue was in fact the Martin kid. Exactly how many dead 17-teen-year olds  had been reported missing to Sanford PD and how many dead black teens were actually at the city’s morgue during this time? These facts tend to show that cops purposefully delayed notification to the Martin family regarding their son’s killing. Why would the police do this? Some may argue that it’s just a standard practice for Sanford police to treat murdered blacks in such a fashion, but other elements of the entire case clearly trumps such conclusion. A close and detailed look at the submitted police reports in this case will show that most of the cops involved in the Martin investigation didn’t begin to submit their reports until after the Martin family learned about his death. I suspect that as the case began to gain momentum within local media, some police officers started to separate themselves from the controversy associated with the case. In other words, cops began to cover their asses. In fact, once all of the involved police personnel had submitted their reports, Major Crimes Detective Christopher Serino submitted an investigative report concluding that “there exist probable cause for issuance of a capias charging George Michael Zimmerman with manslaugter, in violation of Ch. 782.07 FS“, which confirms that the Martin homicide lead investigator wanted Zimmerman charged. Serino’s  findings in his request for capias against Zimmerman is extremely revealing, primarily because it underscores Chief bill Lee’s earlier argument that no information existed to dispute Zimmerman’s claim of self-defense. The entire case hinges upon these facts and is actually where the confusion begins with Florida’s Stand Your Ground’ law. Although SYG affords citizens the right not to have to flee from a conflict (retreating is standard in most states), State Law prohibits citizens from killing someone to stop them from committing a felony. Under Florida state code such actions are deemed a violation under the law, rightfully should result in charges for Manslaughter, and Serino was completely accurate in his interpretation of Florida state law when he submitted a request for a capias against George Zimmerman. The million dollar question now becomes, who made the decision not to charge Zimmerman? A request for a capias in a major crime most certainly would have to pass Bill Lee’s desk, and I wonder if the decision not to pursue manslaughter charges against Zimmerman derived from his independent interpretation of Florida State Law or if such a decision originated from the State Attorney office assigned to the city of Sanford, Florida. Either way, the decision to bring charges against Zimmerman rested squarely on the desk of the town’s top police officials. Another aspect of the Martin investigation which hasn’t received much press, is the suspicious involvement of original State’s Attorney with a shaky record handling the case, Prosecutor Norman R. Wolfinger (Read more on Wolfinger here). Wolfinger drove over 50 miles the night Trayvon Martin was killed and showed up at the actual crime scene. Perhaps it was Wolfinger who quarterbacked the investigation from the start. There are others who believe that Zimmerman’s father, a retired State Supreme Court magistrate, may have put a call in for a favor from one of his friends in the justice system. Wolfinger’s track record and questionable actions in the Martin case has drawn suspicion from the public, as well as from law enforcement officials across the country, but the recent release of police reports and other files associated with the Trayvon Martin killing clearly points to a cover up that is as far-reaching to the very apex of the Sanford Police Department. Read reports and other documents from the Trayvon Martin homicide case here: Evidence Findings and Capias Request, Police Reports (last 5 pages of pdf file), Zimmerman’s EMS Report, and Witness Statements.

Credits

CNN

The Daily Caller

Insight Out News

The People’s Champion

I’m David Adams

Michael Johnson was transported from the Baltimore City Detention Center to the Circuit Court of Baltimore City in downtown today with his hands shackled in the front. The highly anticipated arraignment only took a few moments as his attorney, Russell Neverdon entered a plea of “not guilty” for his client on charges that he murdered 16-year-old Phylicia Barnes, and requested that Michael Johnson be tried before a jury of his peers. When asked if he understood the charges against him, Johnson simply nodded his head with his face blank and expressionless. The judge ordered Michael to speak up so the court’s microphone could hear him, and Johnson uttered “yes sir” in a extremely low audible. The judge, state’s attorney Goldberg, and Russell Neverdon all agreed on an August 13 trial date. Just like that with very little fanfare, Johnson was whisked away from the court room by Correctional Officers. This short hearing had brought a nearly standing room only audience to the Charles Street courthouse on the first hot and muggy day of the summer. Supporters of the Barnes family garnered signature purple, which have practically embodied the honors teen’s favorite color. Others in attendance appear to be in support of Johnson himself. As the quest for justice for Phylicia Barnes begins to take center stage, many believe there are no guarantees that true justice will ever be served in this senseless and tragic case. Attorney Neverdon continues to convey that Michael unequivocally denies any involvement in the killing of young Phylicia. The attorney said that the state’s case fails to connect the dots on exactly how Michael allegedly asphyxiated the studious child. Neverdon says that Phylicia’s body was void of any trauma and believes that her death would have been best ruled as unknown. He went on to say that although he has read police reports alleging that his client killed Phylicia, he has not seen the charging documents against his client. It’s unclear whether Neverdon’s comments are mere posturing tactics carefully scripted not to disclose his defense strategy, but he has already filed a MOTION FOR DISCOVER in the case and at some point he will have the state’s entire case against Johnson. Although the discovery paperwork is on record with the court, it’s not unusual that the State’s Attorney hasn’t produced it for the defense’s review at this early stage of the process. Moreover, the state’s position is best served minimizing the disclosure of specific details related to a charging document until the absolute last minute. Murder cases can create fallout that could potentially reveal witnesses against a defendant charged in a capitol crime. The identity of potential witnesses are often concealed until trial. These measures are typically used to avoid retaliation by defendants seeking to silence witnesses that present damaging evidence against them. Johnson’s pretrial judge has already stated for the record that he believes Michael is a danger to society, especially those closest to him. That comment was very telling as it is believed that parties close to Michael’s own camp may in fact be state’s witnesses against him. The public will not learn whether any of the motions before the court in this case has in fact been granted, most are only procedural filings rudimentary for most criminal cases, but it will be very interesting to learn what information Nevrdon wants stricken from the record in this case. I have already discussed the possibility of any information obtained by Russell Barnes’ brother, Baltimore Police Officer Sgt, Jackson. If any of the details contained in the state’s case against Johnson actually derived from Jackson’s intervention, it poses a dilemma and the defense could summarize that the statements are hearsay or were illegally obtained. Jackson wasn’t acting in a formal capacity at the time, and it’s doubtful that a sitting judge will permit such testimony in this case  because of the obvious conflict of interest. Also, it isn’t clear how the Chemist will be used. There has been no mention of any forensic evidence, at least publicly, in the case this far. Obviously Phylicia’s toxicology findings has some bearing on the state’s case against Johnson. The child’s mother believes her daughter may have been recovering from alcohol or drug usage she encountered during a party the night before the morning of December 28, 2010 when Johnson allegedly pounced on the child. The state just may have also come to that conclusion as well. Perhaps the biggest mystery is the MOTION FOR JOINT TRIAL OF DEFENDANTS AND CHARGES. No one other than Johnson has been mention in the death of Phylicia Barnes, and the only purpose of such a filing is to combine criminal charges against multiple defendants of a crime. I suspect that the state has turned someone involved in the child’s murder and plan to use them in court, after some plea agreement of sort, and connect the dots which supports charging documents that alleges Johnson’s involvement in this murder case. Justice continues for Phylica Barnes in this tragic Case. A Barnes teen support’s T-shirt summoned it best: “Gone but not forgotten,” it said. “The good die young.”

Credits: The Baltimore Sun

The People’s Champion

I’m David Adams

In just two days Michael Johnson will appeal before a Baltimore City Circuit Court Judge facing a murder charge, that he killed Monroe, N.C. honors student Phylicia Simone Barnes, and motions filed by the State and Johnson’s Lawyer indicate that others may also appear for unknown charges. A review of Baltimore City Circuit Court Case #112116013 shows that MOTION FOR JOINT TRIAL OF DEFENDANTS AND OFFENSES was filed on May 23, 2012 in the Barnes murder case. The procedure is used when attorneys plan to try cases that include multiple defendants facing the exact same charges in which the parties are usually co-defendants in a crime. The only logical  purpose for such maneuvering is to consolidate the State’s Case when a defendant has turned State’s witness against other parties to a criminal act. Although no one else has been publicly mentioned in the Barnes teen killing, the motion is not a standard procedure, and the court filing shows the State’s hand which may potentially lead to others standing trial along side Michael Johnson. Attorneys usually do not file such documents unless they plan on introducing witness testimony from defendants who either corroborate their case or present damaging culpable evidence against at least one defendant link to a crime. At the very least, it’s a reasonable expectation that the eventual trial will contain charges against someone other than Johnson. Also the court file shows that a NOTICE OF PLEA BARGAIN POLICY was also filed with the court on May 23, 2012. That motion is a standard practice as many criminal cases result in a Plea Deal of some sort. The motion serves to advise defendants of their rights under the law, and for the most part advising defendants that the Plea isn’t binding because the presiding judge has the authority to reject such tentative agreements. The Plea Agreement Policy filing doesn’t necessarily mean Johnson is in negotiations with the state. In fact the document’s existence along with the “Joint Trial” motion tends to point to a co-defendant or a culpable witness taking the stand against Michael. The case file also appears to be framing the direction in which the state’s case is heading against Johnson. The presence of motions for an “expert witness” and a DEMAND FOR CHEMIST filing points to a rather scientific aspect of the case against Johnson. My significant other, who is a Forensic Science Teacher, tells me that there must be some DNA or other Forensic evidence in the case’ discovery that links Johnson and possibly others to the crime. The need for a chemist in the Barnes teen murder illustrates that something was found during the toxicology testing when young Phylicia Barnes’ body was examined by the state’s coroner. Why else would there be a need for such a scientific professional other than to explain in court what authorities learned was in the child’s blood system? If my assumptions are accurate, I’m sure that part of the state’s case will almost certainly disclose whether the child had drugs, alcohol, and other substances in her system upon her death. There has been wide speculation that something may have happened to young Phylicia during a party the night before her disappearance. With that being said, the state may have witnesses who have already spelled out exactly what went down, and might support the reason a potential Plea Deal could be in the works. I can see one of the involved parties flipping to safe their own neck and “rating out” Michael Johnson. Another interesting motion that was filed in the case is a MOTION TO SUPPRESS PURSUANT TO MD 4-252 AND 4-253. This portion of the Maryland Annotated Code was a good read, clearly demonstrating that Johnson’s attorney wants some of the evidence against his client thrown out, and I would suspect that it’s information obtained when Russell Barnes’ brother (a Baltimore Police Sgt.) showed up at Deena’s apartment and began questioning people before a formal complaint was even filed with the Baltimore Police when Phylicia first went missing. None the less, the motion depicts damaging evidence against Johnson  so sever that it merits his attorney seeking to have it concealed. So, barring physical evidence against Johnson, and there appears to be some, the state’s case obviously has some other solid evidence that proves Michael Johnson was at least involved in the murder of Phylicia Barnes. The courts filing history proves at the very least, some of the people close to Johnson have made statements against him, which is something a judge alluded to during Michael’s Bail Hearing when he stated, “the defendant maybe a danger to society especially those closest to him” while remanding Johnson to custody without Bail. So, the cookies just may have started crumbling in the silence that once plagued this murder case. On the surface the case appears to be weak, but a review of the case’ court filing history appears to unveil that the state hasn’t exactly played it’s trump card just yet. Read the court filing history of the Barnes murder case here: The State’s Case Against Michael Johnson. 

The People’s Champion

I’m David Adams

My late father was a man of few words.  Most of the time when he communicated to me and my brothers it was with a stern look. There was never an open discussion because my father’s house was a total dictatorship. He worked hard long hours and retired home with his family daily without fail. Dad hated noise and you could always tell when he was around, because all of his kids became very quiet. Any child in his home that wasn’t compliant was dealt with swiftly and harshly. He didn’t care whose child it was, if they didn’t listen he would literally knock them out. Needless to stay, dad was firm, a disciplinarian, and was present in the home my entire childhood. I don’t even recall a single instance where dad stayed out overnight. His kids were his life and mostly as a result of the childhood he endured personally. My father’s mom died before he was even a year old, and with an irresponsible father of his own, he would find himself passed around, left at homes with woman his dad simply dated, resulting in him hanging in the streets, and eventually he ended up living with old Ms. Hattie Johnson who knew his family. Hattie Mae is what they called her. By the time Ms. Hattie took my father in he was practically caring for her because she was very old. They say my grand father worked the railroads in those days and would be gone for months at a time. As dad matured, he became too much for old Ms. Hattie to handle, and he began to run the streets again. Most of what dad learned in his youth was taught to him by a man name Joe. Dad said Joe was a Hobo (homeless man) who lived beneath the Jones Falls Expressway in East Baltimore. The way my father tells the story, is that he befriended Joe out of compassion for him. He would often bring food that Ms. Hattie prepared for him and give it to Joe. Mr. Joe took dad under his wing and taught him survival skills, and how to cope with the mean streets. Dad said the truant officers would chase him on a regular basis. In those days children weren’t allowed to roam the streets of Baltimore during school hours. They would never catch him though. My father said he would climb the metal siding of the Howard Street Bridge and throw rocks at the truant police, and after a while they would simply leave him be. My brothers and me used to find those stories comical, but to dad it wasn’t a laughing matter. He was intelligent enough to understand that Ms. Hattie wasn’t his legal guardian, with his mom deceased, father absent from his life, he knew he would end up in some foster home, and besides he was worried about who would look after hobo Joe. In all reality, Joe was the only real father that dad ever knew. As time went on the local police that patrolled the neighborhood became familiar with dad and would either make him go home to Ms. Hattie if they caught him in the streets after dark or they would take him there themselves. When the street lights came on Ms. Hattie could be heard yelling Sonnie (her nickname for dad). Dad said that old woman would stay up a many of nights standing in the doorway of the house where he lived with her on Howard Street waiting until he arrived home safely. Dad’s father would have his friends bring money over to Ms. Hattie’s place to give her for his care. Dad said that always troubled him and he wondered why his father couldn’t come by himself. My father later learned that his father was living with another family in the Lafayette Projects in southeast Baltimore. He went by there one day and approached his dad about not being man enough to come bring money himself. That exchange culminated in my father throwing a brick at him and being chased through the projects by my grandfather. When my grandfather sent money my dad would through it in the streets out of retaliation and resentment for him. Ms. Hattie eventually passed on and my father would live with hobo Joe under the Falls for a while (a couple of years they say) until my grandfather finally convinced his wife to allow dad to come stay with them. Dad and his step mother never got along. She would have a fit if his father spent money on him and didn’t provide for her children who were not biologically my grandfather’s. The conflict between dad and his stepmother forced him back into the streets, and it wasn’t until he began dating the woman who would become my mother, that dad gained any stability in his life again. Her name was Adel White, they would eventually wed, and rear four boys. My late mother began to impact my father in many ways. She was able to convince a family friend to give my dad his first job, and mom said she began to manage his earnings for him, making sure he had under clothe,s and other essentials that he wasn’t getting from his stepmother. Mom told me she met hobo Joe too, and they both provided for him before he passed away. My parents became inseparable, as some of my relatives tell the story, mom would often break curfew, and stay out in the streets for days at a time just to be with my dad. I have heard stories about how my great-grandmother (who’s last name was also Johnson) would beat my mother viciously and tirelessly for her conduct and running the streets, but mom would still stay out pass curfew to be with my father. At some point grandma Johnson gave in and even allowed my father to live with them. So, my parents, in their mid-teens began living in the home of an old fashion christian woman who had 9 daughters and a son of her own. The rest was history. A few years later, my parents who were both uneducated, had their first child. When my father learned that mom was pregnant with my brother Gary, he proposed to my mother and they wed a few weeks later. They raised us with literally nothing, and for what they lacked financially we received in wisdom, their life experiences, and their love. Dad fostered a lot of pain, sadness, and depression all those years. Dad never overcame his childhood, it hurt him until his very last breath, it was obvious, and he was determined that we would never endure such strife in our lives. My father was a very honest man with strong convictions, his guidance was predicated on our eventual ability to survive on our own. In short, he provided his kids with intangibles like examples of work ethic, loyalty, courage, compassion, and manhood. “Be a man, be your own man” was the most consistent message he gave us all. It’s funny though, realizing that we are all alive today, we could never collectively be the man who my father was, and he left this earth having completed his work not having asked anyone for a damn thing. Dad’s story has always been a motivating factor in my life simply because I felt his pain, I lived through it with him, and he constantly reminded me that failure wasn’t an option. Thanks to my father’s guidance I have always been able to identify with good men and listen to them. There have been many such men that helped me along the way. However, it was having a practical example of a good man for me to be able to make the distinction. In my early adult years when I began to have children of my own, I ran into obstacles and sought my dad’s advice.  My father knew my passion and my mentality, and the advice he gave me seemed odd considering the full brunt of his life. He made me promise him before he passed on to be patient, remain distant, and wait on God. I believe my father was concerned that I would do something that resulted in my death or incarceration, and I continue to keep his promise at tremendous personal loss and pain of my own to this day. They say you should never judge a book by its cover, and unless you have walked a mile in a man’s shoes you should never pass judgement on him. I am grateful for having been taught to understand the plight of others, having compassion, and the desire to make a differences so that someone less fortunate may prosper. My dad’s stepmother’s kids all went on to become educated professionals while my father remained in poverty. Dad never allowed that to deter him. He simply did what he had to do, the best way he knew how,raising his kids himself, and for that I envy him for having the courage and desire to be a good man. On this Father’s Day I pay homage to my dad, thanking him for teaching me to be a champion for people, and to be a man. I love you dad and I miss you. Happy Father’s Day!

The People’s Champion

I’m David Adams

It’s just a week away before Michael Johnson appears before a Baltimore Judge again, facing charges that he killed pretty little Phylicia Barnes over the Christmas Holiday of 2010, and people are beginning to talk about the Monroe, N.C. honors student’s murder case again. The main point of interest that many within the public have been discussing in Social media, is who was actually left alone with the child that fateful day she went missing from her older half-sister’s northwest Baltimore apartment, and people are also asking why haven’t the Johnson males been actively involved during any aspect of this entire senseless tragedy that resulted in the Barnes teen being found floating nude in a northern Maryland river. The answers to many of these questions are hidden in the comments that Deena & Kelly Barnes made during the “Peas In Their Pod” broadcast, and  statements made by Bryan Barnes along with others connected to the case. Deena Barnes never made it clear who was actually there that morning prior to her departure for work. In fact she never never even made it clear whether young Phylicia was asleep, awake, or alive for that matter. Her comments were confusing to say the least. She did confirm that the youngest Johnson male (Delaney who is Michael Johnson’s baby brother) was there with Phylicia that morning, but further discussion during the show revealed that their may have in fact been at least three Johnson males at the apartment during the early morning hours that day.  Deena became indecisive, initially stating that Michael Johnson came by the apartment that morning to do laundry, but later said he was there to pick up his little cousin, and changed that account to picking up his little brother. We have since learned that a Johnson (William “Krazy” Johnson) cousin was also living there with Deena. Thgough William has denied this claim here on TPC Blog, it’s been disputed by Bryan Barnes himself. During a TPC Interview with Phylicia’s older half-brother, Bryan told TPC that William lived at Deena’s place, had his own room, and even stated that William arrived at the apartment that day while the police were gathering information about Phylicia’s whereabouts. Bryan said William was accompanied by two other males who just went into his room without even inquiring about the police’ presence at the apartment. This is something Bryan and I have both expressed concern about. It simply is rather peculiar that these young men would conduct themselves in such a detached fashion considering the severity of the moment. I have continuously expressed concern about how unnatural it is for a man to be unmoved knowing that a child has gone missing in a home in which he lived. There is something drastically wrong with that picture.  In fact none of the Johnsons have displayed any interest or even the slightest concern related to what happened to Phylicia. There has never been any sightings or reports of any of them participating in searches for the child, and barring William “Krazy” Johnson appearing here on this Blog, none of them have given public interviews proclaiming the innocence of themselves. Why? Some may attempt to rationalized that the cops focus on them may be the result of their lack of involvement, but they have all claimed to love Phylicia like a little sister. A person with nothing to hide and who is in fact not guilty of her murder would seemingly be screaming at the top of their lungs exclaiming their innocence of any involvement in the child’s killing what so ever. We haven’t witnessed this sort of posture from the entire Johnson clan. Even if they were upset about how they are being handled by the cops, if they possessed genuine love and concern for Phylicia, they would dismiss any suspicion on themselves, and offer what ever assistance they could to help solve her murder.  Instead, they have all remained silent while displaying a complete lack of interest about the case. None of us within the public are fooled though, because when we look at some of the Twitter tweets from them, like Glen Johnson when he tweeted, “Watch what you tweet the man is watching”, it’s clear that they have something to hide, and they are all willing to cover for each other. People wonder how a pretty little girl like Phylicia could go missing and end up murdered with all of these supposed man hanging around Deena’s apartment. Usually when you have a close relationship with females, their personal safety is automatically paramount, but that’s of course if your dealing with real men. All of these guys possess a boy mentality. Firstly, to get your self off  by running around with a 16-year-old girl nude is childish and perverse, and to pick on her while the probability of her causing harm to you being none existent demonstrates per cowardice. We may never know who Deena Barnes left Phylicia alone with on that day, but hopefully the upcoming trial will get to the bottom of what happened to this child. If any of these males were real men, they would come forward and start talking to help close this case, even if it means disclosing the faults of loved ones. The fact that this hasn’t occurred already speaks volumes about the caliber of people Deena Barnes associated with, and allowed unabated access to her kid sister. even if the state fails to successfully obtain a conviction in the Barnes teen Murder Case, Deena Barnes and all of her friends will forever be guilty of failing to properly care for a minor child on their watch, and I hope their days upon this earth will forever be haunted by her memory.

The highly anticipated Summer Jam Concert hit a snag over the weekend when HOT 97 Disc Jockey Peter Rosenberg got on the microphone and made a reference to “real Hip-Hop”, while completely disrespecting Nicki Minaj with a remark about her “Star  Ship” recording. The comment which implied that Minaj wasn’t a true Hip-hop artist wasn’t received well by the Hottest Pop Artist in the business. Rap recording artist Lil’ Wayne made the decision to pull Minaj and the entire YMCMB crew from the event which sent shock waves around New York City where the venue premiered. Listeners have had mixed reactions to Minaj not performing. Minaj called DJ Funk Master Flexed and offered her personal perspective on why she didn’t perform. Flex also seemingly co-signed Rosenberg’s comments making an inference about Minaj not “touching down in Jersey”. However, personalities, industry figures, and fans alike felt that the Rosenberg comment was completely uncalled for. Let’s face it, if Rosenberg, Flex, and who ever else didn’t feel that Minaj was a true Hip-Hot Artist, they all should have had the professional astuteness and wisdom to realize that during the concert wasn’t exactly the ideal time to vent such a subject perspective. Also, the Rosenberg comment referencing Minaj disrespected Young Money, and just about every Hip-Hop artist who has done work with Minaj. Was Rosenberg saying that Lil’ Wayne and others aren’t real Hip-Hop Artist? In fact, who in the hell is this guy? Last time I checked Peter Rosenberg was a white Jew boy from Maryland trying to blend in and be down with black people. I mean, who really takes this guy serious? Before I even get into how awkward it looks for a wannabe black Jew  to even be on a stage at a Hip-Hop Concert, I’ll simply address how unprofessional he actually looked, and the effect it will most certainly impact the HOT 97 Radio Station. Some how Rosenberg forgot that he was a Radio Personality, a Professional, and whether he thought dissing Minaj would further embellish his “street cred” or not, Minaj was a featured artist for the concert that his employer was promoting. Does Rosenberg have that much juice at HOT 97? His comment was stupid, personal, counter productive, disrupted the business at hand, and he should have realized that  it was inappropriate during the venue. Now he has been reduced to whining like a fucking little bitch during his broadcast airtime, trying to justify his bonehead debacle, and continuously defending his weak ass rationalization for disappointing the 10’s of thousands of fans that paid money to hear Minaj and others perform. If we simply keep it real, we realize that HOT 97 and the entire Rosenberg hype forces us to arrive at an honest resolve that Rosenberg has no place in any serious discussion about Hip-Hop or Black Music in general. It bothers me to see individuals from other ethnicities try to make a name for themselves on the backs of highly talented artist within the African-American community, the very same artist whose craft facilitates a platform for  assholes like a Peter Rosenberg to even exist. As an original follower of Hip-Hop from the days of Kurtis Blow, I will admit that Minaj’s style deviates from traditional Hip-Hop, but so has every other rap artist’ music in the post rap pioneer era within the entire music genre. Nicki Minaj is talented and just happens to be the hottest artist in music right now. I didn’t say rap music, I said music, and such a personality deserves the respect that a music artist of her caliber is due. Moreover, not only did Peter Rosenberg disrespect a music icon, but he also disrespected a black woman, and I personally do not appreciate a white dude thinking that he has rose to such stature which would allow him to get away with it. Fuck Peter Rosenberg, and if HOT 97 had courage, they would fire his dumb ass. Your not funny Rosenberg and I will excuse myself from listening to HOT 97 until your ass is no longer employed there. For the record since we are talking about real shit, real Jews don’t listen to rap music or go to Rap Concerts.  Free Palestine mother fucker. Sit your fake ass down some where . Keep it real!

The People’s Champion

I’m David Adams

There is just a little over three weeks before Michael Johnson faces a Baltimore District Court on charges that alleges he killed 16-year-old Phylicia Barnes. This highly anticipated murder case is just in the beginning stages of its process, and what remains to be seen is hard evidence supporting the state’s claim that the Monroe, N.C. honors teen was strangled or suffocated at the hands of the child’s older half-sister’s boyfriend. Prosecutors revealed during a previous court appearance that Michael Johnson was the last person who saw the child alive, that he was seen struggling to carry a large tub (big enough to carry a person the child’s size) out of Deena Barnes’ Northwest Baltimore apartment around the time he alleges he last saw her, and that the state believes Michael killed Phylicia at that location. Although the state has remained extremely tight-lipped about the case, many are praying that the case against Johnson bares more culpable evidence against him as the case progresses through the process. So far what the public has learned is no smoking gun. These limited details depicting how Johnson supposedly killed the child are mere circumstantial, and may not even pass the standard which is required to forward the case to the Circuit Court of Baltimore. The state has to convince the presiding judge that there is more than enough evidence to send the case to trial. Barring solid evidence implicating Michael Johnson’s direct involvement in this murder could result in a jury never even being seated for the pretty little girl’s murder case, and Johnson could walk on June 28, 2012 which is his next scheduled court date. Unless there is DNA evidence that exist pointing to Johnson, eye-witness accounts, or other forensics that would point to incriminating evidence against him, the state’s case just may fall flat. This is just simply a bitter pill to swallow considering Baltimore’s record regarding murder cases that have slipped through the cracks because of the lack of rudimentary evidence that must arrive beyond a reasonable doubt for a sworn jury to come back with a conviction. Sadly though, it’s not even iron clad that good evidence would even seal the deal for the state when we consider the history of Baltimore juries. One hurdle the state must climb is explaining the text messages between the Barnes teen and Johnson which exceeds 500. The defense will most certainly argue that the teen had a close relationship with Johnson, and the nude photos of the child streaking nude with Johnson and others, only serves to garner momentum for his defense, because some say it shows just how intimate or close of a relationship that existed between them, and just may imply that it’s doubtful that Johnson had motive to kill the child. However, despite these perspectives from some people, the child’s mother and others from within the  public believe that the child was exploited by her own half-sister, and that their relationship took a turn for the worst when Deena Barnes exposed the child to a culture that permitted Johnson and others to see the pretty little girl completely nude which just may have led to motive for Johnson and others to aggressively pursue Phylicia sexually. Unfortunately, that state must prove that Johnson desired Phylicia sexually, or some other motive existed for him to want to harm the child. Janice Sallis-Mustafa has already expressed that Johnson raped her daughter by stating, “why else would he kill her”? There must be something else out there that exist for a state convened Grand Jury to decide on an indictment of Johnson in the Barnes murder case. I just don’t see the state jumping from a seemingly cold case posture to deciding that Michael Johnson is the killer. What do they have, because what we know so far doesn’t prove anything other that circumstantial facts, and to convict Johnson of murder the state needs more than him struggling with a large tub, and 500 text messages to convict him. So it will be very interesting to see other details emerge  that will actually establish Johnson as the killer. In fact the state’s case appeared to suffer a blow before it was even made public that Johnson would be charged for the Barnes teen murder. The Lead investigator in the case had recently been suspended for misconduct related to a similar case involving his own daughter prior to the arrest of Johnson. Daniel Thomas Nicholson IV, had been the lead investigator on the case of Phylicia Barnes until allegations surfaced that he used his badge to enter homes while off duty to search for his daughter who had run away from home. His misconduct debacle just may have been a factor in Johnson being charged in a seemingly hurried fashion. Some say his departmental issues could potentially hurt the Barnes case as his character and credibility just might weigh heavy on the jury, which is an ingredient for failure when considering the case would be heard in front of a Baltimore Jury. Nicholson is also reportedly facing criminal domestic violence charges, that claim he assaulted his daughter at his Baltimore County home. The news of these details adds an even more awkward element to a case that city police officials have already said was a “very complexing case ” in which they have encountered in recent memory. It’s a tremendous blow to the state’s case because Nicholson will more than likely have to take the stand and testify at the Johnson trial. Moreover, just when it appeared that the Barnes case had hit its lowest, Baltimore’s State Attorney appointed one of the weakest prosecutors in the business to try the Barnes murder case. For some reason State’s Attorney Gregg Bernstein has entrusted this case to one of his least effective trial attorneys, one who has long lacked a reputation for hard work.  It’s the same prosecutor who lost the case against Eric Stennett for murdering Police Officer Kevon Gavin in 2001.  After fleeing the scene of a shooting, Stennett sped through city streets at 80 m.p.h. and crashed into Gavin’s police cruiser, causing a fiery, fatal explosion. While there were multiple problems with how the police handled evidence in the shooting and crash, even the defense attorney conceded that Stennett was at least guilty of manslaughter in the officer’s death.  But the jury acquitted him completely, stunning everyone. More recently, in 2010, the same prosecutor tried a murder case against a city police officer who shot a fleeing theft suspect in the back.  Another acquittal. With this prosecutor’s dismal record in high-profile cases , Bernstein is taking a big chance.  Maybe he expects that Phylicia Barnes is so sympathetic a victim that a jury will be loath to let her accused murderer go, whoever prosecutes. Many have asked why Berstein is taking such a huge risk with such sketchy evidence the state has offered thus far. Followers of this case should dig in for a long ride for a case that has played out in the typical fashion that only Baltimore City can produce. If Johnson walks it would be even more tragic than the circumstances that resulted in the lost of such a promising child. We pray for justice for her and the Mustafa Family, and the day of resolution is approaching. Will the state let us all down? We can only wait now for the process to take its course. May God be with us all!

The People’s Champion

I’m David Adams