Cop accused of harassing Uber driver over immigrant status & 5 more legal cases
The summaries below were drafted with the help of AI tools and edited by journalists in our News division. All stories below were reported, written and edited by McClatchy journalists.
Thousands of legal cases reach U.S. courts every year. From accusations of mistreatment in prisons to fraud to sexual abuse and beyond, here are some of the latest from across the country.
Puppy too young to bark is shot dead by Louisiana cop, suit says. Trial begins
In New Orleans, a federal jury trial has started in a civil case where the owners of a puppy say a police officer fatally shot their dog, Apollo, who was too young to bark. The lawsuit says the officer, Derrick Burmaster, shot the puppy during a noise complaint visit. Apollo's owners are seeking damages for civil rights violations. The trial began on June 9. | Published June 9 | Read More
School teacher tries arranging sex acts with 9-year-old in Florida, feds say
In Florida, a third-grade teacher named Lee Hughes is accused of trying to arrange sex acts with a 9-year-old girl, according to federal prosecutors. Hughes was arrested in an undercover sting operation and now faces federal child exploitation charges, including attempted enticement of a minor, prosecutors say. He was ordered to be detained ahead of his trial, court records show. | Published June 10 | Read More
Wrong woman was strip searched 3 times, held in AZ cell overnight, lawsuit says
In Arizona, Penny McCarthy says she was wrongfully detained and strip-searched three times after being mistaken for a fugitive. McCarthy has filed a lawsuit against multiple U.S. Marshals Service employees, saying her arrest was a mistake and violated her rights. McCarthy is seeking damages for the ordeal. | Published June 11 | Read More
Man smuggling exotic protected birds in cardboard box is detained in CA, feds say
In California, Juandaniel Medina is accused of smuggling seven exotic, protected birds into the U.S. from Mexico. The birds, found in a cardboard box in Medina's car, are protected under international law, according to federal prosecutors. Medina faces charges of illegal trafficking. Prosecutors say this is part of a 'troubling pattern' of wildlife trafficking through Southern California. | Published June 11 | Read More
Mail carrier finds toddler lifeless at DC home, feds say. Now, mom is convicted
In Washington, D.C., Faneshia Scott has been convicted of first-degree murder in the death of her 16-month-old daughter, Rhythm Fields. Prosecutors say Scott's daughter was found lifeless and had suffered multiple blunt force injuries. Scott is scheduled for sentencing in August, court records show. | Published June 12 | Read More
Cop harasses Uber driver living legally in CA due to immigrant status, suit says
In San Diego, Abdulkadir Bulgaz is suing the city and a police officer over harassment during an alleged illegal traffic stop while Bulgaz was working as an Uber driver. Bulgaz, a Turkish immigrant living legally in California, according to the federal lawsuit, says the officer illegally seized his driver's license. The lawsuit says the incident is part of a larger pattern of discrimination against immigrants by the San Diego Police Department. | Published June 13 | Read More
McClatchy News continues to follow lawsuits and legal cases from around the country. Check back for more legal stories.
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Miami Herald
21 hours ago
- Miami Herald
Cop accused of harassing Uber driver over immigrant status & 5 more legal cases
The summaries below were drafted with the help of AI tools and edited by journalists in our News division. All stories below were reported, written and edited by McClatchy journalists. Thousands of legal cases reach U.S. courts every year. From accusations of mistreatment in prisons to fraud to sexual abuse and beyond, here are some of the latest from across the country. Puppy too young to bark is shot dead by Louisiana cop, suit says. Trial begins In New Orleans, a federal jury trial has started in a civil case where the owners of a puppy say a police officer fatally shot their dog, Apollo, who was too young to bark. The lawsuit says the officer, Derrick Burmaster, shot the puppy during a noise complaint visit. Apollo's owners are seeking damages for civil rights violations. The trial began on June 9. | Published June 9 | Read More School teacher tries arranging sex acts with 9-year-old in Florida, feds say In Florida, a third-grade teacher named Lee Hughes is accused of trying to arrange sex acts with a 9-year-old girl, according to federal prosecutors. Hughes was arrested in an undercover sting operation and now faces federal child exploitation charges, including attempted enticement of a minor, prosecutors say. He was ordered to be detained ahead of his trial, court records show. | Published June 10 | Read More Wrong woman was strip searched 3 times, held in AZ cell overnight, lawsuit says In Arizona, Penny McCarthy says she was wrongfully detained and strip-searched three times after being mistaken for a fugitive. McCarthy has filed a lawsuit against multiple U.S. Marshals Service employees, saying her arrest was a mistake and violated her rights. McCarthy is seeking damages for the ordeal. | Published June 11 | Read More Man smuggling exotic protected birds in cardboard box is detained in CA, feds say In California, Juandaniel Medina is accused of smuggling seven exotic, protected birds into the U.S. from Mexico. The birds, found in a cardboard box in Medina's car, are protected under international law, according to federal prosecutors. Medina faces charges of illegal trafficking. Prosecutors say this is part of a 'troubling pattern' of wildlife trafficking through Southern California. | Published June 11 | Read More Mail carrier finds toddler lifeless at DC home, feds say. Now, mom is convicted In Washington, D.C., Faneshia Scott has been convicted of first-degree murder in the death of her 16-month-old daughter, Rhythm Fields. Prosecutors say Scott's daughter was found lifeless and had suffered multiple blunt force injuries. Scott is scheduled for sentencing in August, court records show. | Published June 12 | Read More Cop harasses Uber driver living legally in CA due to immigrant status, suit says In San Diego, Abdulkadir Bulgaz is suing the city and a police officer over harassment during an alleged illegal traffic stop while Bulgaz was working as an Uber driver. Bulgaz, a Turkish immigrant living legally in California, according to the federal lawsuit, says the officer illegally seized his driver's license. The lawsuit says the incident is part of a larger pattern of discrimination against immigrants by the San Diego Police Department. | Published June 13 | Read More McClatchy News continues to follow lawsuits and legal cases from around the country. Check back for more legal stories.
New York Post
a day ago
- New York Post
Anti-Israel Protesters Sue NYPD, Leave Out Bomb Scare
Two women busted during a chaotic anti-Israel protest in Times Square — where cops were infamously blocked from reaching a grenade left in an Uber — are suing the NYPD, whining they were injured during their arrests. Jasmeen Nijjar and Anees Hasnain filed separate lawsuits last week in Manhattan Supreme Court, accusing officers of assault, unlawful search and seizure, false arrest and denial of medical care during the raucous March 2, 2024 'Millions March for Palestine' rally. Hasnain, 33, a program director at a non-profit, claims she was punched in the face by an NYPD detective and cuffed while still wearing a backpack — which she says caused 'heavy pressure' on her wrists. 5 The March 2024 protest in Times Square led to dozens of arrests — including Anees Hasnain and Jasmeen Nijjar, who now allege NYPD officers used excessive force and denied them medical care during and after they were taken into custody. Adam Gray for New York Post An officer placed her phone in a plastic bag with 'pooled water,' destroying it, she claimed in court papers Nijjar, 31, a course associate at Columbia University and a NYC-based social worker, was dragged by her scarf and jacket, punched in the back of the head and zip-tied so tightly that her left hand was injured, the filing states. Her LinkedIn profile now lists 'Free Palestine' in her title. The filings make no mention of the explosive drama that drew a heavy police presence to the scene. 5 The lawsuits don't mention the grenade discovered in an Uber nearby — or that the NYPD said their response to the explosive device was obstructed by protesters. Adam Gray for New York Post An Uber driver had discovered a grenade in the back seat of his Nissan Altima and flagged down officers near 42nd Street and Seventh Avenue. Police later determined the device was inert — but said protesters delayed the bomb squad's response by blocking the roadway and surrounding emergency vehicles. 'Happy Saturday to all! Except the people who thought it was a good idea to block an NYPD ESU vehicle on the way to a bomb threat call,' then-NYPD Deputy Commissioner Kaz Daughtry posted after the incident. 'They will be spending their Saturday where they belong – in jail!' Video released by the NYPD shows dozens of demonstrators swarming a police vehicle before officers pushed them back. 5 The 'Millions March for Palestine' protest brought thousands to Times Square and shut down blocks of Midtown as tensions between demonstrators and police escalated. Adam Gray for New York Post The suit claims officers used 'discourteous and racist language' and refused to get her medical help despite repeated requests. Both women allege they were denied phone calls, unlawfully searched at NYPD headquarters and held for hours before being released with desk appearance tickets, according to the lawsuit. Both women were issued desk appearance tickets but never formally charged. Prosecutors later declined to pursue the cases. 5 Police shut down 42nd Street between Sixth and Seventh avenues as emergency units tried to reach the car with the grenade, while protesters continued to pack the surrounding blocks. Adam Gray for New York Post The lawsuits name multiple officers — including Capt. Gzim Palaj, Officer Vito Scalici and Detective Craig A. Jacob — and seek unspecified damages. The lawsuits make no mention of the grenade incident — or any alleged interference with police response. The NYPD declined to comment on ongoing litigation. Attorneys for the women also did not return messages. 5 Hasnain and Nijjar say they were issued desk appearance tickets and released the night of the protest. They claimed officers assaulted them and that their detention was unlawful, according to the legal papers. Adam Gray for New York Post
Yahoo
a day ago
- Yahoo
Houston METRO police officer arrested in child sex crime sting
The Brief Gabriel Thomas Slusher, a METRO police officer, was arrested for attempting to solicit nude photos of an 8-year-old, following an online investigation by Montgomery County Precinct 1. Slusher was apprehended at METRO Police headquarters with the assistance of the U.S. Marshals Service and is being held on a $100,000 bond, suspended without pay pending further investigation. METRO PD condemned Slusher's actions as deeply disturbing and contrary to their values, while law enforcement agencies emphasized the importance of collaboration in protecting children. MONTGOMERY COUNTY, Texas - Members of a task force that tracks child predators online in Montgomery County arrested a METRO police officer on Thursday. Gabriel Thomas Slusher, 27, is charged with attempt to commit sexual performance by a child under 14. What we know An undercover investigator with the Montgomery County Precinct 1 Constable's Office was conducting an online investigation on Tuesday, June 10, when he made contact with a man investigators later identified as Slusher. Precinct 1 said the man requested nude photos of an 8-year-old female. As part of the investigation, authorities created an undercover persona of a 28-year-old female with an 8-year-old daughter residing in Magnolia, Texas. During the investigation, the undercover officer communicated through an undercover Kik profile with Slusher. On June 10, while reviewing personal ads on investigators saw an ad titled "Married cop", and the ad read, "28m 280lbs with full facial hair looking for discrete regular fwb or affair I'm open to anything message me here or ad me on kik …" The investigator started to have conversations with Slusher on Kik where both talked about their "interests". That's when Slusher admitted to being into young girls and had "no limits" and was into "taboo relationships". Slusher asked the undercover investigator how old "her" daughter was and when Slasher found out she was 8-years-old he replied, "Nice good age". Slusher exchanged images with the undercover investigator of himself and nudes. During the investigation, Slusher told the undercover to send him nude pictures to confirm he wasn't talking "with a cop". Throughout the investigation, two other undercover officers also engaged in conversations with Slusher on Kik, and received photos of him. The investigators were able to compare photos and in one photo, Slusher sent he was in a police uniform. The undercover officer told Slusher that they were into "cops in uniform" and, upon receiving more Slusher pictures in uniform, they saw his name patch and that he worked with the Houston Metro Police Department. After authorities conducted a search in a law enforcement database for the name of Gabriel Thomas Slusher, they obtained his address, date of birth, and past addresses; investigators were also able to obtain Slusher's Texas driver's license photo. Dig deeper In light of these allegations, No Trafficking Zone encourages community awareness by offering resources on signs of grooming that minors and parents should be aware of. Recognizing grooming signs for sex trafficking can be crucial for intervention. Some common signs include: Isolation: The trafficker may isolate the victim from family, friends, or community support. Control: They might exert control over the victim's finances, identification documents, or movements. Exploitation: The trafficker may exploit vulnerabilities such as poverty, homelessness, or past trauma. Gifts and Favors: Offering gifts, attention, or promises of a better life as a means of manipulation. Relationship Development: Building a relationship based on trust and emotional dependence before introducing exploitative activities. Predatory behaviors and tactics are methods used by individuals to exploit others for personal gain, often at the expense of the victim's well-being. Some common predatory behaviors and tactics include: Grooming: Establishing trust and rapport with the victim to manipulate and control them over time. Isolation: Physically or emotionally isolating the victim from their support network, making them more vulnerable and dependent. Manipulation: Using emotional manipulation, flattery, or coercion to persuade the victim into compliance. Exploitation of Vulnerabilities: Identifying and exploiting vulnerabilities such as financial difficulties, emotional instability, or past trauma. Deception: Lying or misrepresenting intentions or circumstances to gain the victim's trust or compliance. Intimidation: Using threats, aggression, or violence to instill fear and compliance in the victim. Gaslighting: Manipulating the victim into doubting their own perceptions, memory, or sanity, which makes them easier to control. Control of Information: Limiting the victim's access to information or controlling the narrative to maintain power and control. These behaviors and tactics are often used by predators in various contexts, including, but not limited to, online grooming, human trafficking, domestic abuse, and financial scams. Recognizing these signs is essential for protecting oneself and others from exploitation and harm. These signs, among others, could indicate potential grooming for sex trafficking. If you suspect someone is being trafficked, it's essential to report it to the authorities or a trusted organization for assistance. What they're saying Jacquelyn Aluotto is the Co-Founder and President of No Trafficking Zone, and she told FOX 26 this case is deeply disturbing. "Whenever you see cases like this of online solicitation or someone try to buy a child. It's always disturbing but when you see that it's an officer that people trust, it becomes even more disturbing because you start to understand that predators are everywhere," Aluotto said. "We see predators preying it is their job. We like to tell parents to monitor their children's phones. A lot of the time these kids don't know when they're being groomed, recruited, or lured through an internet chat." What you can do Anyone with information related to this case or the online exploitation of children is urged to contact the Montgomery County District Attorney's Office ICAC Division at (936) 539-7800 or Crime Stoppers. The Source FOX 26's Jonathan Mejia obtained the arrest warrant affidavit for Gabriel Slusher.
