Latest news with #AnthonyBrown
ABC News
6 days ago
- Health
- ABC News
Police urge joggers to 'stay vigilant' after teen allegedly attacks Canberra woman on running trail
Police are urging runners to "stay vigilant" on Canberra's trails after a teenager allegedly attacked a woman who was out jogging. The 59-year-old woman was running down Oak Hill on the Centenary Trail in Bonner about 10:15am on Monday when a 15-year-old boy allegedly grabbed her from behind and violently assaulted her. The incident comes after a female runner was allegedly grabbed from behind by a man, but managed to break free, while out on a trail at Tuggeranong Hill in March. The alleged assaults have left many asking what needs to be done to keep women safe outdoors in Canberra, while more women are joining running groups. ACT Policing Detective Acting Superintendent Anthony Brown said during the incident at Oak Hill, the teenager allegedly choked the woman, causing her to pass out for a short period of time. He said when the woman regained consciousness and tried to get away, he then struck her in the head causing the woman to fall to the ground. "She was attacked from behind, to start with, by a male not known to her, he grabbed her around the neck and continued to assault her," Detective Acting Superintendent Brown said. Detective Acting Superintendent Brown said that after the boy left, the woman ran until she encountered another woman who called emergency services. She was taken to Canberra Hospital and treated for minor injuries, and police arrested a boy a short time later. "This is a horrible incident, it's very traumatic for the person involved and something we take very seriously," Detective Acting Superintendent Brown said. "It is a very isolated incident — we don't get too many incidents such as these, and Canberra is very safe — most of the time our cities and trails and things are very safe. "We do remind people that they do need to stay vigilant, and our advice is to simply just keep your phone with you if you can. "The phone was stolen in this case, but it is still the best advice that we can give at the moment. It is a great tool if you need to reach out to someone." The boy was charged with an act of indecency without consent, assault occasioning actual bodily harm, choke a person and render insensible, and robbery. He faced the ACT Childrens Court on Wednesday and was remanded in custody. The latest alleged assault has sparked concerns for women's safety while exercising outdoors, with many people taking to social media and ABC Radio Canberra talkback to express their dismay. Mellita Bingley, who manages the Stromlo Running Festival with her husband Steve, maintains ACT trails are generally safe but "it's incredibly worrying" that female runners feel the need to exercise caution due to the assaults. "We do need to consider – and it's a shame that we have to – we do have to consider running how and when and with who," she said. "As women, we have to consider time of day, how remote we could be – things like: Do we have mobile coverage where we're running? "We have to consider checking in when we leave and checking back when we get home." Trail runner and exercise physiologist Kirra Rankin said news of the alleged assaults had discouraged some women from running outdoors. "It is pretty disheartening," she said. "It definitely doesn't make me not want to go on the trails. "I know a lot of women do feel unsafe going on the trails, which I think is why talking about this topic is important because we want to try and get everyone outdoors and active rather than feeling like trapped in their homes." Ms Rankin said more women were now running in groups. Eilish Roland and Georgie Chambers jog around Lake Burley Griffin as part of a running club. "It's a central spot, it's well-lit; there's lots of other runners around so it feels quite safe when there's lots of people around," Ms Roland said. "Canberra has ... lots of running groups to be a part of and everyone looks out for each other." Ms Chambers said she avoided "dark places" while out running, and thought Canberra could do better when it came to lighting. "A lot of our areas have lots of really nice parks and ovals and paths, but generally, most of them are in the dark," she said. She said felt she needed to be "hyper alert" when not running in a group. "Whether I'm running, or even walking from my car, I think places like Haig Park and even where I live in the suburbs don't feel particularly safe," she said. "It does really impact whether I go out at night, whether I go straight home after work, whether I have to get other friends, specifically male friends, to walk back to my car. "It's really disappointing because I think Canberra is a really great place to live." The men in the running group say they're learning from their fellow female runners. "It allows us to connect with more female counterparts of the running community and the walking community," Brad Harris said. "That allows us to go, 'Okay, what's the understanding we need when we're out on trails that are darker and more unsafe?'. "So we get to connect here and kind of learn, 'How do we be better in our community?' Runner Phillip Siomos said it was "disheartening know that [women] can't experience the same things that men do with such freedom". "The information that we get about what happens and the experiences that women experience allows us to change our habits, and change things that we do," he said. "It might be something as small as acknowledging that women feel unsafe when they see a man running towards them — and we can change our habits to cross the road or deviate our paths, which is the most minor thing that we can do to make a woman feel so much safer in their environment." "The baseline is learning respect — [it's] pushing people to be part of the conversation more," Mr Harris added. It's something that schools like Radford College are working to teach the next generation of young men. Radford College principal Christopher Bradbury said the school's character education program, which teaches students about respect, was "highly effective". "It's underpinned by the value of treating others with respect and dignity," he said. "We want our students to not only behave and act in an acceptable manner, but we also want them to have the courage and the skills to be able to model and call out inappropriate behaviour. "I think that's one of the greatest challenges for adults, let alone young people, in terms of having that sense of confidence and courage to stand up for what is right and to intervene." While the material "can be confronting", Mr Bradbury said it enabled students to grow into "the best people they can become". For now, Ms Bingley said Canberra's runners would continue to stand in solidarity and support each other. "If we were to take anything away from it, it's to show that this trail running community is strong and that we are powerful and that we are resilient and that we won't stand for violence," she said.
Yahoo
24-05-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
National Weather Service: El Paso expected to reach 100 degrees for first time in 2025
After days of hazy skies and blowing dust, El Pasoans should start bracing for the summer heat as the borderland is expected to hit 100 degrees for the first time in 2025. The first chance of reaching 100 degrees is on Thursday, May 22, and the heat is expected to persist on Friday, May 23, and potentially last into the weekend. While there's an 85% chance of reaching the triple-digit mark on Thursday, the hottest day will be Friday, said Anthony Brown, lead meteorologist with the National Weather Service in El Paso. "We're only about one week early (in hitting 100 degrees), so it's not too unusual for this time of the year," Brown said. "We're pretty confident. If we don't reach it (100 degrees) Thursday, we think we'll reach it Friday." The heat is moving into the region as a large high-pressure system moves into the United States, which typically happens as the summer approaches, Brown explained. The official start of summer is June 20, though parts of Texas have already experienced historic heat, after an early-season heat wave hit the south central part of the state last week, sending temperatures soaring well into the triple digits in Austin, San Antonio, Eagle Pass and Del Rio. In El Paso, temperatures are expected to drop back into the 90s by the weekend, though there is always potential for another 100-degree day, Brown said. "We come back down on Saturday and Sunday, but we could still hit a 100 degree on Saturday," Brown said. The earliest El Paso has ever reached 100 degrees is May 7, 2020, according to National Weather Service data. In 2024, the latest 100-degree temperature was recorded on Sept. 27. The year with the most significant number of days was 2023, with 70 days of triple-digit heat. Here are some tips on how to stay safe in the heat from the El Paso Department of Public Health: For homes, cover windows with drapes or shades, weather strip doors and windows and use window reflectors such as aluminum foil-covered cardboard to reflect heat back outside. When outside, wear a wide hat, loose, lightweight, and light-colored clothing. Use a minimum SPF 15 sunscreen and apply at least 20 minutes before sun exposure, with reapplication every two hours. Avoid strenuous activities in the heat that may increase the chance of dehydration, leading to heat cramps, heat exhaustion, or heat stroke. Stay hydrated by drinking plenty of fluids and stay informed of extreme weather conditions. Never leave people or pets in a car, even for a minute. Natassia Paloma may be reached at npaloma@ @NatassiaPaloma on Twitter; natassia_paloma on Instagram, and Natassia Paloma Thompson on Facebook. More: UTEP Miners men's basketball's offseason revamp near completion with new coaches, players This article originally appeared on El Paso Times: El Paso weather: 100-degree day expected for first time in 2025
CNN
17-05-2025
- Politics
- CNN
Dozens of homicides in police custody were misclassified in autopsies, Maryland officials say
An audit of Maryland autopsies has uncovered at least 36 deaths in police custody that should have been considered homicides, state officials announced Thursday. The announcement followed a comprehensive review of such cases spurred by widespread concerns about the former state medical examiner's testimony in the death of George Floyd. Medical examiners under Dr. David Fowler displayed racial and pro-police bias, according to the review. They were 'especially unlikely to classify a death as a homicide if the decedent was Black, or if they died after being restrained by police,' Maryland Attorney General Anthony Brown said during a news conference. 'These findings have profound implications across our justice system,' Brown said. 'They speak to systemic issues rather than individual conduct.' The auditors reviewed 87 in-custody death cases after medical experts questioned Fowler's work following his testimony that police weren't responsible for Floyd's death. The Maryland team focused on cases in which people died suddenly after being restrained, often by police, officials said. Three-person panels evaluated each autopsy and, in 36 cases, they unanimously concluded that the deaths should have been classified as homicides but were not. In five more cases, two of the three reviewers came to that conclusion. Fowler didn't immediately respond to messages seeking comment. Democratic Gov. Wes Moore said he has signed an executive order directing Brown to review the 41 cases and determine if any should be reopened for investigation. Moore mentioned the families whose loved ones have died in police custody, some of whom have been 'screaming for this type of analysis — and have been met with silence.' He also acknowledged the many members of law enforcement who do their jobs honorably and protect the public. Moore said he has also created a statewide task force to study the deaths of people restrained in law enforcement custody. He said the state won't shy away from rooting out misconduct and working to create a more equitable justice system. Among a list of recommendations, the review suggested better training for law enforcement officers on the dangers of improper restraint techniques. It also directed the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner to create standardized procedures for investigating restraint-related deaths. The governor described the review as the first of its kind in the nation, saying he hopes it will provide a model for similar investigations elsewhere. In a national investigation published last year, The Associated Press and its reporting partners found that medical examiners and coroners, whose rulings have huge consequences in the courts, can face pressure from law enforcement to exonerate officers. Some medical officials based their decisions not on physical evidence, but instead on whether they believed police intended to kill. When deaths are ruled accidental, prosecutions of officers are exceedingly rare. Of 443 cases that were ruled accidental, just two resulted in criminal charges. A family's chances of winning a wrongful death lawsuit also become much tougher. While the audit findings are troubling, Maryland officials said they don't suggest intentional or malicious conduct. They emphasized that a homicide classification simply means someone died because of another person's action, not necessarily that the officers involved should be prosecuted. Fowler, who was Maryland's chief medical examiner from 2002 to 2019, testified for the defense at the 2021 murder trial of former Minneapolis police Officer Derek Chauvin. He attributed Floyd's death to a sudden heart rhythm disturbance as a result of his heart disease — a widely rejected theory that did little to persuade the jury. Chauvin was ultimately convicted of murder and manslaughter for kneeling on Floyd's neck for more than nine minutes. After Chauvin's conviction, 400 medical experts signed a letter to the Maryland attorney general saying Fowler's testimony deviated way outside the bounds of accepted forensic practice. In addition to citing heart problems, he classified the manner of death as 'undetermined' rather than 'homicide.' The letter called for an investigation to determine whether the office's in-custody death determinations under Fowler's leadership exhibited certain bias, among other potential issues. Officials said Thursday that their audit found a troubling systemic pattern. Nearly half of the reviewed cases cited 'excited delirium' as a cause of death, a diagnosis that has been debunked by medical experts in recent years. Critics say it was often used to justify excessive force by police. The report recommended that medical examiners stop using the term altogether. In 2023, state officials approved a settlement agreement that reformed the process for conducting autopsies on people killed in police custody. That change came in response to the 2018 death of Anton Black, who died in police custody on Maryland's Eastern Shore. The 19-year-old's death was captured on video, which showed police in rural Greensboro holding the unarmed teenager down for more than six minutes. Fowler ruled that Black died because of a sudden cardiac event while struggling with police — not because they pinned him in a prone position. His death was declared an accident. Fowler similarly ruled that Tyrone West died of natural causes after struggling with Baltimore police following a traffic stop in 2013. Witnesses and the officers themselves said there was a violent struggle between the officers and West. His manner of death was undetermined, according to the autopsy. Both Black and West are now included on the list of cases that should have been ruled homicides. West's sister Tawanda Jones has held weekly rallies for 616 weeks – more than 11 years – to highlight her brother's case. She said she feels something positive will come from the investigation. 'They're finally listening to me now,' Jones said. 'It feels good that finally they're listening.' Fowler's tenure also included the death of Freddie Gray 10 years ago. The autopsy concluded Gray died from spinal injuries sustained during transport in a Baltimore police van. It also classified his death as a homicide because officers repeatedly failed to seek medical attention while he was in distress. Prosecutors filed charges against six officers, but none were convicted.
CNN
16-05-2025
- Politics
- CNN
Dozens of homicides in police custody were misclassified in autopsies, Maryland officials say
Crime FacebookTweetLink An audit of Maryland autopsies has uncovered at least 36 deaths in police custody that should have been considered homicides, state officials announced Thursday. The announcement followed a comprehensive review of such cases spurred by widespread concerns about the former state medical examiner's testimony in the death of George Floyd. Medical examiners under Dr. David Fowler displayed racial and pro-police bias, according to the review. They were 'especially unlikely to classify a death as a homicide if the decedent was Black, or if they died after being restrained by police,' Maryland Attorney General Anthony Brown said during a news conference. 'These findings have profound implications across our justice system,' Brown said. 'They speak to systemic issues rather than individual conduct.' The auditors reviewed 87 in-custody death cases after medical experts questioned Fowler's work following his testimony that police weren't responsible for Floyd's death. The Maryland team focused on cases in which people died suddenly after being restrained, often by police, officials said. Three-person panels evaluated each autopsy and, in 36 cases, they unanimously concluded that the deaths should have been classified as homicides but were not. In five more cases, two of the three reviewers came to that conclusion. Fowler didn't immediately respond to messages seeking comment. Democratic Gov. Wes Moore said he has signed an executive order directing Brown to review the 41 cases and determine if any should be reopened for investigation. Moore mentioned the families whose loved ones have died in police custody, some of whom have been 'screaming for this type of analysis — and have been met with silence.' He also acknowledged the many members of law enforcement who do their jobs honorably and protect the public. Moore said he has also created a statewide task force to study the deaths of people restrained in law enforcement custody. He said the state won't shy away from rooting out misconduct and working to create a more equitable justice system. Among a list of recommendations, the review suggested better training for law enforcement officers on the dangers of improper restraint techniques. It also directed the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner to create standardized procedures for investigating restraint-related deaths. The governor described the review as the first of its kind in the nation, saying he hopes it will provide a model for similar investigations elsewhere. In a national investigation published last year, The Associated Press and its reporting partners found that medical examiners and coroners, whose rulings have huge consequences in the courts, can face pressure from law enforcement to exonerate officers. Some medical officials based their decisions not on physical evidence, but instead on whether they believed police intended to kill. When deaths are ruled accidental, prosecutions of officers are exceedingly rare. Of 443 cases that were ruled accidental, just two resulted in criminal charges. A family's chances of winning a wrongful death lawsuit also become much tougher. While the audit findings are troubling, Maryland officials said they don't suggest intentional or malicious conduct. They emphasized that a homicide classification simply means someone died because of another person's action, not necessarily that the officers involved should be prosecuted. Fowler, who was Maryland's chief medical examiner from 2002 to 2019, testified for the defense at the 2021 murder trial of former Minneapolis police Officer Derek Chauvin. He attributed Floyd's death to a sudden heart rhythm disturbance as a result of his heart disease — a widely rejected theory that did little to persuade the jury. Chauvin was ultimately convicted of murder and manslaughter for kneeling on Floyd's neck for more than nine minutes. After Chauvin's conviction, 400 medical experts signed a letter to the Maryland attorney general saying Fowler's testimony deviated way outside the bounds of accepted forensic practice. In addition to citing heart problems, he classified the manner of death as 'undetermined' rather than 'homicide.' The letter called for an investigation to determine whether the office's in-custody death determinations under Fowler's leadership exhibited certain bias, among other potential issues. Officials said Thursday that their audit found a troubling systemic pattern. Nearly half of the reviewed cases cited 'excited delirium' as a cause of death, a diagnosis that has been debunked by medical experts in recent years. Critics say it was often used to justify excessive force by police. The report recommended that medical examiners stop using the term altogether. In 2023, state officials approved a settlement agreement that reformed the process for conducting autopsies on people killed in police custody. That change came in response to the 2018 death of Anton Black, who died in police custody on Maryland's Eastern Shore. The 19-year-old's death was captured on video, which showed police in rural Greensboro holding the unarmed teenager down for more than six minutes. Fowler ruled that Black died because of a sudden cardiac event while struggling with police — not because they pinned him in a prone position. His death was declared an accident. Fowler similarly ruled that Tyrone West died of natural causes after struggling with Baltimore police following a traffic stop in 2013. Witnesses and the officers themselves said there was a violent struggle between the officers and West. His manner of death was undetermined, according to the autopsy. Both Black and West are now included on the list of cases that should have been ruled homicides. West's sister Tawanda Jones has held weekly rallies for 616 weeks – more than 11 years – to highlight her brother's case. She said she feels something positive will come from the investigation. 'They're finally listening to me now,' Jones said. 'It feels good that finally they're listening.' Fowler's tenure also included the death of Freddie Gray 10 years ago. The autopsy concluded Gray died from spinal injuries sustained during transport in a Baltimore police van. It also classified his death as a homicide because officers repeatedly failed to seek medical attention while he was in distress. Prosecutors filed charges against six officers, but none were convicted.
CBS News
16-05-2025
- Politics
- CBS News
Former Maryland medical examiner misclassified police in-custody deaths that were homicides, audit finds
An independent review has uncovered widespread misclassifications of deaths involving people in police custody in Maryland, with racial implications. The 70-page audit of Maryland's Office of the Chief Medical Examiner (OCME), announced Thursday by Attorney General Anthony Brown and Gov. Wes Moore, reviewed 87 cases. Outside reviewers disagreed with the then-Chief Medical Examiner Dr. David Fowler's original determination of the manner of death in more than half of those cases. The review found that dozens of cases involving in-custody police deaths should have been ruled homicides. "The findings of this audit are deeply concerning," Moore said. Audit reveals inconsistencies, racial disparities The report flagged serious inconsistencies in how deaths were categorized. Reviewers found that 36 cases initially labeled as undetermined, accidental, or natural should have been classified as homicides. The audit also pointed to patterns that suggest racial disparities, according to Brown. Deaths involving Black individuals or those involving police restraint were significantly less likely to be classified as homicides. Out of 87 cases reviewed, independent experts disagreed with the original conclusions in 44, Brown said. "These findings highlight the need for real reform," Attorney General Brown said. "Marylanders deserve a system rooted in fairness, transparency, and accountability." In addition, the audit revealed that reports on many cases lacked full incident details, such as missing body cam footage or photographs. It also showed inconsistencies in documenting injuries linked to police restraints. Baltimore man who died in police custody named in audit Tyrone West died while in the custody of Baltimore police in 2013. For years, his sister Tawanda Jones has proclaimed her brother did not die of natural causes, as initially reported. West's death was mentioned in the audit. "I still have never changed the truth," Jones said. "Always said my brother was brutally murdered." For 12 years, Jones has spoken publicly about her brother's death. At 44 years old, he was arrested in Northwest Baltimore after fleeing a traffic stop, and he died while in police custody. "It's always been, when are they going to know it, when are they going to expose it?" Jones said. West's cause of death was listed as natural causes, but his sister argued it was homicide. "The coverup was far worse than my brother's execution, and my brother's execution was horrible, being pepper-sprayed, tased, kicked, stomped, tortured, and you want to come back and say he died of a bad heart," Jones said. Jones says she's not going to rest until there's accountability. "I've been standing 10 toes down on truth, but I'm not going to be completely happy until we get a thorough investigation into my brother's murder," Jones said. Moore supports further investigations In response to the audit, Gov. Moore signed an executive order creating the Maryland Task Force on In-Custody Restraint-Related Death Investigations. The group includes government officials, forensic experts, legal professionals, law enforcement, and community advocates. The task force is responsible for improving how these deaths are investigated, recommending oversight processes for future cases, and suggesting changes to training and collaboration with mental health and substance use professionals. The task force will also consider whether further audits are needed. "This executive order takes us one step closer to a more just and transparent system and was crafted with the same values that have guided our approach to public safety since Day One - true partnership with both law enforcement and the communities they protect; a close, objective examination of the facts; and an abiding commitment to making Maryland safer and uplifting the brave public servants who keep us safe," said Gov. Moore. The executive order also requires the Department of Health and the OCME to share a report on their progress in implementing recommended changes. Autopsy concerns raised in 2022 In 2022, WJZ reported that 100 death investigations involving physical restraint were recommended for review after an audit of the state medical examiner's office. The audit was carried out by a team that was tasked with reviewing former Chief Medical Examiner Dr. David Fowler's cases after he testified that Minnesota Police Officer Derek Chauvin did not kill George Floyd. The case gained national attention in 2020 and sparked protests across the world, some of which turned violent. Fowler was Maryland's chief medical examiner between 2002 and 2019. The audit analyzed whether Fowler's cases were adequately investigated, if best practices were used, and if reviewers agreed with the manner of death that was determined. "It appears OCME undercounted restraint-related homicides during the audit's time frame," Dr. Jeff Kukucka, who managed the audit. "We also found that they undercounted homicides even more in cases where the decedent was black or was restrained by police." Attorney General Brown said these findings speak to systemic issues across our justice system. "We recognize both the gravity of these findings for affected families and communities, and the importance of surrounding law enforcement or supporting law enforcement officers who navigate difficult situations," Brown said.
