Treatment Abuse, Behavior Modification, Thought Reform > Public Sector Gulags
Teen?s death prompts calls to shut boot camp
Antigen:
Darlin', thank you for writing that heartfelt note. FWIW, you're damned right and more and more people are starting to see it now. That's cold comfort, I know. There's nothing I can say, words are just not adequate. They killed your friend.
--- Quote ---On 2006-01-18 17:27:00, Anonymous wrote:
It wont happen I know,becuse the system is so incredibly fucked up.
--- End quote ---
Just don't you believe that! Look, I was in a pretty messed up place in Florida too. I felt the same way. But we're the grown ups now. There may be nothing you can really do to fix this whole thing right now. But believe me, your words, your beliefs and the way you walk through life does have an impact; often more than you could ever imagine. I sleep better every day as more ppl like you decline to join in the turning away.
No laws, however stringent, can make the idle industrious, the thriftless provident, or the drunken sober
--Samuel Stiles
--- End quote ---
Anonymous:
Tape of teen who died at boot camp held back
Melissa Nelson | the Associated Press
Posted January 19, 2006
http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/loc ... ines-state
PENSACOLA -- Despite pressure from the family of a 14-year-old who died after collapsing at a juvenile boot camp, investigators said Wednesday they would not immediately release a tape showing what happened to the boy.
The tape shows Martin Lee Anderson's admission to the Bay County Sheriff's Office Boot Camp in Panama City on Jan. 5. Karen Mason, a spokeswoman for the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, said the tape is part of the department's investigation and would not be made public until the investigation is closed, which could take a month or longer.
"It would be incredibly inappropriate to release the tape before the state attorney has had a chance to review it and decide if it is evidence," said State Attorney Steve Meadows, who will decide whether criminal charges are brought in the teen's death.
Anderson had just arrived at the camp because of a grand theft charge. He was doing push-ups, sit-ups, pull-ups and other exercises that are part of the camp's physical fitness assessment when he became uncooperative and had to be restrained, the Sheriff's Office said.
He then complained of breathing problems and collapsed while waiting for an ambulance to arrive. He died early the next morning at Sacred Heart Hospital in Pensacola.
Dr. Charles Siebert, medical examiner for Bay County, has ruled out trauma or an injury as the cause of death. Toxicology reports are pending.
On Tuesday, Bay County Sheriff Frank McKeithen indicated the tape could cause public criticism of his department, but he didn't say why.
"When it is released and made public, there will be many questions, concerns and accusations. . . . We must not leave you with the impression that this is going to have a good ending. There is nothing good about the death of a 14-year-old young man," McKeithen said.
"As I find myself essentially handcuffed from releasing information concerning the unfortunate death of 14-year-old Martin Lee Anderson, I also find myself obligated to the citizens of Bay County, the family of Martin Anderson, and the media to in no way mislead them about the seriousness, the complexity and the perception of this incident."
Keisha Rice, an attorney for Anderson's family, called on investigators to release the tape, saying the family wants to view it. She said she and Benjamin Crump, another attorney for Anderson's family, also want to see the tape.
"It's obvious something terrible happened to young Martin Anderson, and we look forward to being able to review the tape so that we can find out the truth for ourselves. Martin's parents are haunted by the same questions everyone else wants to know -- since FDLE isn't going to alter the tape in any way while it is in their possession, then why won't they release it now? What's their excuse for holding it another month?" Rice said.
Anonymous:
Same article, less hacked about ...
Published Wednesday, January 18, 2006
Investigators won't soon release tape of Bay County camp death
By MELISSA NELSON
Associated Press Writer
PENSACOLA, Fla.
http://www.theledger.com/apps/pbcs.dll/ ... /601180767
Despite pressure from the family of a 14-year-old who died after collapsing during admission to a juvenile boot camp, investigators said Wednesday they would not immediately release a tape showing what happened.
The tape shows Martin Lee Anderson's Jan. 5 admission to the Bay County Sheriff's Office Boot Camp in Panama City. Karen Mason, a spokeswoman for the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, said the tape is part of the department's ongoing investigation and would not be made public until the investigation is closed, which could take a month or longer depending on criminal charges.
"It would be incredibly inappropriate to release the tape before the state attorney has had a chance to review it and decide if it is evidence," said State Attorney Steve Meadows, who will decide if criminal charges are brought in the teen's death.
Anderson had just arrived at the camp because of a grand theft charge. He was doing push-ups, sit-ups, pull-ups and other exercises that are part of the camp's physical fitness assessment when he became uncooperative and had to be restrained, the sheriff's office said.
He then complained of breathing problems and collapsed while waiting for an ambulance to arrive. He died early the next morning at Sacred Heart Hospital in Pensacola.
Dr. Charles Siebert, medical examiner for Bay County, has ruled out trauma or an injury as the cause of death. Toxicology reports are pending.
On Tuesday, Bay County Sheriff Frank McKeithen indicated the tape could cause public criticism of his department, but didn't say why.
"When it is released and made public, there will be many questions, concerns and accusations ... We must not leave you with the impression that this is going to have a good ending. There is nothing good about the death of a 14-year-old young man," McKeithen said.
"As I find myself essentially handcuffed from releasing information concerning the unfortunate death of 14-year-old Martin Lee Anderson, I also find myself obligated to the citizens of Bay County, the family of Martin Anderson, and the media to in no way mislead them about the seriousness, the complexity and the perception of this incident."
Keisha Rice, an attorney for Anderson's family, called on investigators to release the tape, saying the family wants to view it. She said she and Benjamin Crump, another attorney for Anderson's family also want to see the tape.
"It's obvious something terrible happened to young Martin Anderson and we look forward to being able to review the tape so that we can find out the truth for ourselves. Martin's parents are haunted by the same questions everyone else wants to know - since FDLE isn't going to alter the tape in any way while it is in their possession, then why won't they release it now? What's their excuse for holding it another month," Rice said, reading a statement from the attorneys.
But Mason of the FDLE said releasing the tape would hurt the investigation.
"We owe it to the family to do a thorough, methodical, professional investigation. We aren't going to compromise that by the piecemeal release of evidence. The tape is one of several pieces of the puzzle," she said.
Anonymous:
MIAMI HERALD WATCHDOG
Guards seen beating teen in video
Two South Florida lawmakers who saw a video of a teen's final hours say he was abused at a juvenile boot camp. The boy died later that day.
By CAROL MARBIN MILLER
cmarbin@MiamiHerald.com
A 14-year-old boy was ''brutally'' beaten by guards and ''flung around like a rag doll'' at a boot camp for juvenile delinquents in Panama City hours before he died at a Panhandle hospital, according to two lawmakers who on Wednesday saw a videotape of the incident.
The video, which recorded the last 20 to 30 minutes of the teen's stay at the Bay County Sheriff's Office Boot Camp, shows officers at times kicking, punching and choking Martin Lee Anderson after he refused, or was unable, to comply with officers' orders to run or do other exercises, the legislators said.
Martin, of Panama City, died Jan. 6 at Pensacola's Sacred Heart Hospital, hours after he was admitted to the boot camp, which is operated under a contract with the Florida Department of Juvenile Justice.
The state Department of Law Enforcement, which is investigating Martin's death, showed the camp videotape to two members of the Florida House of Representatives who oversee youth corrections, and at least four members of the governor's staff at FDLE headquarters Wednesday morning.
Clearly shaken, state Rep. Gus Barreiro told The Miami Herald that the tape depicted ''the most heinous treatment of a human being'' he had ever seen. ``It was obvious to me the kid was unconscious, and they were still abusing him. People will be outraged when they see this tape, and they should be outraged.
''This could be anybody's son,'' added Barreiro, a Miami Beach Republican who chairs the House Juvenile Justice Appropriations Committee, and has headed a separate committee investigating alleged abuses in DJJ facilities.
State Rep. Dan Gelber, a Miami Beach Democrat who investigated dozens of alleged police brutality cases as head of the U.S. attorney's office civil-rights division in Miami for a decade, also saw the video.
''There's no question that the force used here was well beyond what was necessary for the situation,'' Gelber said. ``The truth is that this kid died in custody. . . . What we saw was very, very distressing.''
GOVERNOR'S OFFICE
A spokesman for Gov. Jeb Bush confirmed that four staffers from his office viewed the tape, but he declined to discuss what they saw. The officials were Bush Chief of Staff Mark Kaplan, Public Safety Policy Director Randy Ball, Deputy Chief of Staff Carol Gormley, and legal advisor Vicki Brennan.
''They viewed the video in light of their duties overseeing the [juvenile justice] agency,'' said Bush spokesman Russell Schweiss. ``They thought it was appropriate to help them understand the incident.''
FDLE officials and the Bay County Sheriff's Office declined to discuss the contents of the tape Wednesday. The FDLE also denied a request from The Miami Herald for a copy.
''We believe, in good faith, that this video is not a public record at this time,'' said FDLE spokesman Tom Berlinger. ``The limited disclosure that took place this morning was to government officials who have oversight authority of state government agencies.''
The Miami Herald was not able to reach a spokeswoman for the Department of Juvenile Justice, which has consistently declined to discuss the investigation.
`MANY QUESTIONS'
On Jan. 17, Bay County Sheriff Frank McKeithen issued a terse statement, saying release of the tape will raise ``many questions, concerns and accusations.''
''We must not leave you with the impression that this is going to have a good ending,'' he wrote.
Said Barreiro on Wednesday: ``I now know why the sheriff was so concerned.''
Reached by telephone in Panama City on Wednesday night, Martin's parents expressed outrage and sadness at hearing of the tape's contents.
''I want justice; that's what I want,'' said Robert Anderson, Martin's father. ``But I can't really get it, because my son is gone.''
''What the hell is a [large] man doing putting his knee into my son's back?'' Anderson said. ``He was only 14. He weighed less than 140 pounds.''
Said Benjamin Crump, the family's Tallahassee attorney: ``This is just too painful. To say that the family is devastated by this news is an understatement. Losing a child is hard enough.''
Juvenile justice officials have said Martin may have bled to death. No autopsy report has been made public. Barreiro and Gelber said they were told by the FDLE that Martin displayed no visible bruising.
Martin was arrested after he and four cousins took their grandmother's car from a church parking lot during Sunday services, and then crashed it. Though the grandmother did not wish to press charges, the youths all were arrested on grand-theft charges, Crump said.
The teen was in the admissions area of the boot camp Jan. 5 when he was ordered by drill instructors, along with several other youths, to perform exercises. While the youths were being initiated into the program, an officer held a video camera and zoomed in to film moments when youths were being restrained, Barreiro said he was told.
As the video begins, several other youths are seen being held up against a wooden fence as drill instructors yell at them. Martin, in what has been described by juvenile justice officials as a ''restraint,'' is first seen being held down on the ground by two officers, with his arms spread out, Barreiro said.
One officer is seen with his knee pushing into his back. Though the tape contains no sound, the officers appear to be yelling at the teen, Barreiro said.
After a minute or two, Martin stands up and attempts to run around the camp's track, Barreiro said. Officers ''rush'' to hold him up against the wooden fence, ''with his arms spread out like a crucifix,'' Barreiro said. Then four guards are seen holding Martin to the ground, with one officer pushing his knee into the youth's back.
As Martin gets up to run again, he is clearly ''stumbling,'' unable to run or walk, Barreiro said.
REWIND REQUEST
What happened next, Barreiro said, was so disturbing he asked the FDLE agent showing the tape to rewind several times. On screen, a guard is seen apparently choking Martin by pushing his forearm against his throat, Barreiro and Gelber said.
The youth is once again encouraged to begin running, but again he stumbles and falls down, Barreiro said: ``He is like a rag doll . . . They are holding him up.''
Said Gelber: ``They are moving his body around like a sack of potatoes.''
Then, both lawmakers said, an officer either kicks or knees Martin in the back of his knees so that he falls down. ''When he's on the ground,'' Barreiro said, ``they start punching him in the arms. He's like comatose, and they are punching and punching.''
Moments later, the lawmakers say, officers yank Martin by the head and jerk it back. Once again, Barreiro said, they place Martin in what appears to be a type of choke hold.
''That was pretty violent,'' Gelber said of what he called the ''jolting'' of the teen's head. ``You could see from the very beginning [Martin] had a problem. His legs were rubbery. The kid was fainting and losing consciousness repeatedly.''
At some point, officers appeared to be pushing an object -- the lawmakers said they were told it was ammonia to help Martin regain consciousness -- forcefully into his nose. Juvenile justice officials have previously said Martin bled profusely from some injury to his nose.
Gelber said he was particularly struck by the apparent lack of any urgency or concern on the part of the boot-camp officers -- and a nurse who appeared to stand by doing little -- while Martin was clearly in grave distress for about 20 minutes.
''This was too long a period of time to not have sought medical attention,'' Gelber said. ``Giving the officers the benefit of all doubt, it's hard to divine what the possible justification was for their treatment of the juvenile.''
Crump, the family's attorney, described Martin on Wednesday as ''a good kid'' who made honor roll on his last report card, and played basketball for his school team.
''It is not the policy of our country to kill a kid for going joyriding in his grandmother's car,'' Crump said.
Miami Herald staff writers Marc Caputo and Mary Ellen Klas contributed to this report.
Anonymous:
--- Quote ---On 2006-02-09 06:31:00, Anonymous wrote:
''It is not the policy of our country to kill a kid for going joyriding in his grandmother's car,'' Crump said.
--- End quote ---
It's become the policy of this country to beat them into submission either psychologically or physically.
This is so sad yet all to familiar and predictable. Things aren't going to change until this whole culture is exposed. This will end up being explained away as some isolated incident, a cursory "investigation" may be done, the drill instructors will be discilplined and the sheep will feel better. Whew! Thank god we got those bad apples. :roll: Nothing will change until regular folk realize that the very nature and basis of TC/RTC/Bootcamp/ or whatever euphemism they use for Behavior Modification and Thought Reform camps is fucked up from the very start. In addition to the obvious mindraping that goes on in all of them, it just breeds and attracts these kind of sadistic fucks.
Hopefully when the tape finally does make it out to the general public it'll be a few steps towards bursting the bubble.
Navigation
[0] Message Index
[#] Next page
[*] Previous page
Go to full version