Greensboro police Officer Ahmed Blake will hold a press conference at New Light Missionary Baptist Church tomorrow at 2 p.m.
From an official media announcement received from the Rev. Nelson Johnson today:
Officer Blake, found guilty on two charges of assault in District Court, asserts his absolute innocence; his case is on appeal. He will explain in detail how these charges actually grew from events at a drunken police party and are deeply rooted in prejudices within the Greensboro Police Department (GPD) against Latinos and other people of color.
Officer Blake has already filed two discrimination complaints through the GPD’s Internal Affairs mechanism and is party to an investigation by the US Justice Department on behalf of over 30 GPD officers of color. Officer Blake will share how a certain Greensboro City Council member promised to get the assault charges dropped against him if he withdrew from the Justice Department suit.
Officer Blake will explain further that the charges brought against him are also related to his expressed opposition to the abuse of police power by some members of GPD’s Gang Unit in their interaction with street groups, especially Latinos.
Showing posts with label Ahmed Blake. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Ahmed Blake. Show all posts
More on alleged Blake assault
A GPD incident/investigative report alleges that Officer Ahmed Blake assaulted Lorraine Galloway, 46, with his hands and feet at the Police Club at 524 Air Harbor Road in Greensboro on Jan. 17 at 4:49 p.m.
Galloway is employed with the NC Justice Academy, a unit of the NC Justice Department, in eastern North Carolina.
The police report lists Greensboro police Sgt. Craig Myrick as being involved in the incident. Myrick, 51, declined to comment about the incident today, stating that he was standing in front of a recruit class. Another person listed as being involved in the incident is 54-year-old Philip J. Goins.
Update, Jan. 27: A warrant, served on Blake on Jan. 20, alleges that the off-duty officer grabbed Galloway around the neck and shoved her backwards.
CORRECTION: Court records actually indicate that the offense took place on Jan. 16 (a Friday) rather than Jan. 17 (a Saturday). I misread the police report. Sorry for the error. — JG
Galloway is employed with the NC Justice Academy, a unit of the NC Justice Department, in eastern North Carolina.
The police report lists Greensboro police Sgt. Craig Myrick as being involved in the incident. Myrick, 51, declined to comment about the incident today, stating that he was standing in front of a recruit class. Another person listed as being involved in the incident is 54-year-old Philip J. Goins.
Update, Jan. 27: A warrant, served on Blake on Jan. 20, alleges that the off-duty officer grabbed Galloway around the neck and shoved her backwards.
CORRECTION: Court records actually indicate that the offense took place on Jan. 16 (a Friday) rather than Jan. 17 (a Saturday). I misread the police report. Sorry for the error. — JG
Officer Ahmed Blake charged
Guilford County court records indicate that Ahmed Joseph Blake, 32, has been charged with misdemeanor assault on a female. As of today at 3 p.m., court records indicated that the warrant had not been served. More here.
Update, Jan. 22, 4:24 p.m.: As of 3:12 p.m., court records indicate that the warrant against Blake has still not been served.
Update, Jan. 23, 5:30 p.m.: As of 4:14 p.m., court records indicate that Blake has still not been served.
Update, Jan. 27: Warrant served. In fact, information on the warrant indicates that it was received, served and returned on Jan. 20.
So why did the computer terminal for criminal cases at the Guilford County Courthouse indicate on Jan. 21-23 that the warrant was "unserved" and why did a clerk tell me on two occasions that it was not in the court's posession? Typically, once a warrant is served and returned at the magistrate's office it goes directly to the clerk of court. The two offices are across the street from each other. I try to be pretty agreeable when working with folks in the criminal justice system, but there's no good explanation for why a public record such as a warrant should be in limbo for three to seven days.
The same thing happened with the case file for Lankford Protective Services officer Byron Wayne Meadows. It took seven days for the file to travel from the magistrate's office after the warrant was served across the street to the courthouse, and no one seemed to know where it was in the meantime. And that was after five months in which the warrant wasn't served. Is it because both Blake and Meadows are members of the law enforcement community that the paperwork is so screwy? Is it because public servants who work in the criminal justice system don't like media types to look into these cases?
Whatever the case, Byron Meadows, AKA Bryan Meadows faces trial on Thursday. I'll be there.
Now, back to Ahmed Blake:
The allegation against Blake ties into two political cross-currents in Greensboro:
1) Blake has worked with the gang enforcement unit, which is unpopular with some progressive constituencies in the city.
2) At-large Councilwoman Mary Rakestraw made the point to me — echoed by others — that Blake is one of the 39 black police officers who has filed suit against the city, claiming discrimination under the administration of former police Chief David Wray. Based on a notion that the integrity of the police department has deteriorated since the departure of Wray, Rakestraw and fellow council conservatives Mike Barber and Trudy Wade have become increasingly critical of police conduct.
Update, Jan. 22, 4:24 p.m.: As of 3:12 p.m., court records indicate that the warrant against Blake has still not been served.
Update, Jan. 23, 5:30 p.m.: As of 4:14 p.m., court records indicate that Blake has still not been served.
Update, Jan. 27: Warrant served. In fact, information on the warrant indicates that it was received, served and returned on Jan. 20.
So why did the computer terminal for criminal cases at the Guilford County Courthouse indicate on Jan. 21-23 that the warrant was "unserved" and why did a clerk tell me on two occasions that it was not in the court's posession? Typically, once a warrant is served and returned at the magistrate's office it goes directly to the clerk of court. The two offices are across the street from each other. I try to be pretty agreeable when working with folks in the criminal justice system, but there's no good explanation for why a public record such as a warrant should be in limbo for three to seven days.
The same thing happened with the case file for Lankford Protective Services officer Byron Wayne Meadows. It took seven days for the file to travel from the magistrate's office after the warrant was served across the street to the courthouse, and no one seemed to know where it was in the meantime. And that was after five months in which the warrant wasn't served. Is it because both Blake and Meadows are members of the law enforcement community that the paperwork is so screwy? Is it because public servants who work in the criminal justice system don't like media types to look into these cases?
Whatever the case, Byron Meadows, AKA Bryan Meadows faces trial on Thursday. I'll be there.
Now, back to Ahmed Blake:
The allegation against Blake ties into two political cross-currents in Greensboro:
1) Blake has worked with the gang enforcement unit, which is unpopular with some progressive constituencies in the city.
2) At-large Councilwoman Mary Rakestraw made the point to me — echoed by others — that Blake is one of the 39 black police officers who has filed suit against the city, claiming discrimination under the administration of former police Chief David Wray. Based on a notion that the integrity of the police department has deteriorated since the departure of Wray, Rakestraw and fellow council conservatives Mike Barber and Trudy Wade have become increasingly critical of police conduct.
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