MSNBC has the roundup of a police report in which a detective finds “that [George] Zimmerman’s actions were ‘inconsistent’ with someone who was afraid of [Trayvon] Martin,” and that Zimmerman could have defused the situation on at least two occasions during their encounter: “Investigative findings show that George Michael Zimmerman had at least two opportunities […]
Crime
Posted inCrime
On George Zimmerman’s Account of the Trayvon Martin Shooting
Ta-Nehisi Coates’ blog at The Atlantic turned me on to the New York Times‘s report on George Zimmerman describing the Trayvon Martin shooting. Here’s the parts where Zimmerman reports on what Martin allegedly said: He said the dispatcher told him not to follow Mr. Martin so he was returning to his vehicle when “the suspect […]
Posted inMedia
High-Speed Chase Leads Suspect to Finally Admit He Has Swag…
… and wonders aloud (as we all do), “What is drugs?” Also: “Cuff ’em and stuff ’em!” (There is so much joy to be had in this 40 second clip.)
Posted inCrime
Pastors Ban Gang Attire at Funerals
Despite Mayor Sam Adams’ push to negate gang violence, Portland saw eight deaths related to gang violence in 2011—the highest in over a decade. The majority of these deaths were youth. In response to this morbid boom, Portland-area pastors joined together today to sign a new protocol for gang-related funerals, nixing gang attire (specific colors, […]
Posted inCrime
Police Respond to Weird Assaults in Laurelhurst Park
I go running through Laurelhurst Park pretty much every day of the week and have never felt unsafe. So news from the Portland Police about mobs of drunken teens wandering through the park assaulting people is, um, strange and surprising. But that’s exactly what the police say happened Wednesday and Thursday of this week, in […]
Posted inCrime
Have You Seen this Incredibly Stereotypical Sketchy Guy?
Police are on the hunt for the suspect in an attempted sexual assault that occurred on Rocky Butte on Thursday, June 7 at around 3:30 pm. The victim was assaulted, but was able to get away and call 911. If you were to imagine a stereotypical “sketchy dude,” he would match right up detail-for-detail with […]
Posted inBikes
Bike Thief Caught in Action!
This morning, Portland Police nabbed a bike burglar in action at Athlete’s Lounge on NW 26th and Vaughn. This wasn’t just someone snipping a lock, but someone accused of planning to make off with numerous high-end bikes after breaking the store’s glass door: On Wednesday June 13, 2012, at 4:12 a.m., Portland Police officers assigned […]
Posted inCrime
Female Prisoner Pen Pal of the Week!
If you read this week’s Letters to the Editor, you know we’ve started a new weekly service called, “Female Prisoner Pen Pals” in which actual women prisoners from actual women’s prisons introduce themselves and make their pitch on why they’d like to be your pen pal. NOTE: The Mercury is not responsible for you getting […]
Posted inCrime
FBI’s Northwest Crime Stats by City
Yesterday, the FBI released its heap of 2011 crime stats (or, the Preliminary Annual Uniform Crime Report). The leading, slightly comforting story here: Violent crime in the U.S. has fallen for the fifth year in a row. The more interesting take: The report breaks down crime rates in all cities with populations over 100,000—meaning we […]
Posted inNews
Armed Man Puts SW Schools in Lockdown
This morning, a man drew and pointed a handgun at a Portland State University officer near 12 the and SW Market, before fleeing. Now, Portland Police officers and the city’s Special Emergency Reaction Team have joined the campus police in surrounding a parking garage where the suspect ran off to. PSU, Lincoln High School and […]
Posted inCrime
Be a Female Prisoner Pen Pal!
In case you didn’t read this week’s Letters to the Editor in the print edition, we’re starting a new weekly service called, “Female Prisoner Pen Pals” in which actual women prisoners from actual women’s prisons introduce themselves and make their pitch on why they’d like to be your pen pal. NOTE: The Mercury is not […]
Posted inCrime
Prisons From Space
Prisonmap.com This could also be used as a fun prison bingo card. Try to get sent to five in a row! Ever wondered what the incarceration centers of America—the prison capital of the world— looked like from space? That’s what I thought. A New York University graduate student decided to compile satellite images (thanks to […]