Unarmed Black Man punched,stomped,kicked & bitten by a dog before dying in New Jersey pig custody

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  • A Talented One
    A Talented One Members Posts: 4,202 ✭✭✭
    This is ? up. The only thing that gives me some hope is the video, though it's not like they haven't let these cops off with video footage before.
  • stringer bell
    stringer bell Members Posts: 26,212 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited April 2015
    philly.com/philly/news/local/20150408_Vineland_police_get_anonymous_ultimatum_via_video.html
    'Anonymous' makes good on ultimatum to Vineland police

    The hacking group that calls itself Anonymous made good Tuesday on a video ultimatum to make public the names of Vineland officers involved in the arrest of a local man who died in police custody last week.

    Cumberland County prosecutors had earlier said they were taking the threat seriously.

    "Vineland Police Department and the Cumberland County Prosecutor's Office have 24 hours to comply to our demands," a masked figure speaking in a generic, computerized voice says in the video, which was posted Monday with no time stamp. "Or we will release the officers' names involved, including all personal information for each officer."

    After the apparent deadline passed Tuesday morning, the names of two of the three officers the group claimed were involved in the arrest, along with their home addresses, were posted on a website that has been used by Anonymous hackers.

    Prosecutor Jennifer Webb-McRae and First Assistant Prosecutor Harold Shapiro did not immediately respond to requests to confirm the names.

    When asked about the video earlier in the day, Webb-McRae said by e-mail, "I can't comment on the authenticity of the video but we are taking the threat seriously."

    The video comes amid calls from a community activist and the family of Phillip White, 32, to reveal the officers' identities from the March 31 incident, in which a police dog was used. Witnesses alleged that officers also punched and beat White before he was placed in an ambulance for respiratory distress.

    Webb-McRae declined to say Tuesday morning whether her office would release the names of the officers, or if they were facing any administrative action.

    The video, which lasts two minutes and 21 seconds, demanded that two of the officers be placed on administrative leave, and that the canine officer be fired. It also threatened to hack into the websites of the Cumberland County Prosecutor's Office and Vineland Police Department if they do not comply.

    Walter Hudson, chairman of the Salem County-based civil rights group National Awareness Alliance, met with White's family the day he died and has repeatedly said the officers' names should be revealed.

    "They are public servants," he said, "so why are they not releasing the names?"

    Hudson, who said he was not involved in creating the video, added that, "We shouldn't have to go through those extreme measures."

    The creators of the video appear to be tied to a Facebook group called "LulzSaints." Their page states "we are a radical group of hacktivist that perform various methods of ? testing on various websites."

    The group claims to be part of the global network of hackers known as Anonymous
  • stringer bell
    stringer bell Members Posts: 26,212 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited April 2015
    nj.com/cumberland/index.ssf/2015/04/vineland_police_release_audio_of_incident_before_m.html
    A day after issuing a warning to Vineland Police Department to release the names of officers who were involved in the in-custody death of a city man, hacker group "Anonymous" released the names of the officers online.

    Independently, according to Vineland Police Chief Tim Codispoti, police on Tuesday released audio of a 911 call, police communications and EMS radio made moments before Vineland man Phillip White died in police custody last week.

    He also released the names of the officers involved in the incident -- Louis Platania and Rich Janasiak. Both are on administrative leave.

    The recordings were released and posted to the department's YouTube channel in response to Open Public Records Act requests to the department, the chief explained, and the names were released because the officers can be heard on the audio.

    Anonymous also released the name Officer Jeffrey Travaline, seen in bystander footage of the incident asking a witness for his cellphone. Travaline was only assisting at the scene, according to Codispoti, and did not seize the witness' cellphone. Instead, Travaline received permission from the individual to make a copy of the cellphone video.

    The audio -- which includes a recording of the 911 call, a dispatcher contacting police and a call to EMS -- was posted the day after Anonymous threatened the Vineland Police Department on Monday, demanding that the identities of the officers involved in the incident be released or else Anonymous will release the names instead and commit cyber attacks on the department's website.

    A resident called 911 about "some guy freaking out on Grape Street" on March 31, according to audio of the call released by Vineland Police Department.

    Police were dispatched to Grape Street and encountered White, 32, of Walnut Road.

    "He's screaming out there. He's screaming," the anonymous caller said in the recording. "I don't know what the hell is wrong with him."

    The audio includes a 36 second recording of the 911 call that got police to Grape Street and a 4:20 recording of police radio during the incident.

    During the police radio recording, an officer said that the subject tried to disarm him.

    During the EMS recording, medical personnel described White as "hyperventilating."

    When police arrived at the 100 block of Grape Street, they took White to Inpsira Medical Center for "respiratory distress." Medical personnel attempted CPR on him in the ambulance and he was declared dead at the hospital.

    Since White's death, the Cumberland County Prosecutor's Office has been investigating the incident and the officers' use of force on White. In a cellphone recording provided to and edited by NBC10.com, White is seen laying on his back as the K-9 appears to bite him and an officer orders him to roll over and put his hands behind his head.

    The family has since asked for an independent investigation.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K0mp90gRRXA

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VS3vEkNN8uM

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wJyHyr0uHo0
  • stringer bell
    stringer bell Members Posts: 26,212 ✭✭✭✭✭
    nj.com/cumberland/index.ssf/2015/04/watch_new_video_appears_to_show_vineland_police_pu.html
    New video appears to show Vineland police punching man who died in custody

    New cell phone video from the arrest of Phillip White, a 32-year-old Vineland man who died in police custody last week, shows a Vineland police officer sitting on White's back as he appears to punch him.

    The video, posted on 6ABC.com as part of an edited broadcast, only shows a few moments of the incident that occurred on March 31 on Grape Street where police officers were called to respond for a disorderly person.

    Witness statements to media, cell phone clips circulating on the internet, emergency responder's audio transmisisons from the scene and comments made by the PBA attorney representing the officers involved have slowly been emerging to help paint a picture of what happened that day.

    The Cumberland County Prosecutor's Office is investigating the incident after White died on the way to the hospital. The officers involved have been placed on administrative leave.

    According to 911 audio released by Vineland Police Department on Tuesday, a resident called police for a man "freaking out on Grape Street."

    Police were dispatched to Grape Street and encountered White, 32, of Walnut Road.

    "He's screaming out there. He's screaming," the anonymous caller said in the recording. "I don't know what the hell is wrong with him."

    In another 4 and a half minute audio transmission released by Vineland Police, an officer can be heard saying the man "grabbed my gun" and almost immediately after another officer can be heard saying "You can have all units slow down. He's in cuffs."

    Then later an officer who appears out of breath says, "all units ...down. Subject's under. K-9 apprehension. Tried disarming me."

    Shortly after, an officer calls for EMS to respond to their location.

    During the EMS recording, medical personnel described White as "hyperventilating." White was taken to Inpsira Medical Center for "respiratory distress," authorities said. Medical personnel attempted CPR on him in the ambulance and he was declared dead at the hospital.

    In the video posted by 6ABC.com, an officer appears to be sitting on White, punching him, as he lays face down on the street. The K-9 dog then comes over and appears to be biting and pulling on White. Later, White is seen on his back with his arms up as the dog has a grip on his left arm.

    The officers demand that White "Roll over now!" while the bystanders shout to "Get that dog off of him" and say "He's knocked out."

    The officers who responded to the call were identified as Louis Platania, the K-9 handler, and Rich Janasiak.


    The hacker group known as "Anonymous" posted a video on YouTube on Monday demanding that the Vineland police release the names of the officers involved, as well as audio from the scene and dash cam video from the patrol cars. They threatened the department with cyber attacks and a release of the officers personal information if they did not comply within 24 hours.

    On Tuesday, the group did release the names of two of the officers involved as well as their home addresses and ages. Vineland Police Department said their decision to release the officers' names and the audio was done so independently.

    An autopsy on White has been conducted and includes a toxicology report but authorities have not released the results.

    White's family has since hired a lawyer, Conrad Benedetto -- the same lawyer representing the wife of Jerame Reid, a Bridgeton man who was shot and killed by Bridgeton police during a traffic stop in which a gun was revealed in December. The family has asked for an independent investigation into White's death.
  • MasterJayN100
    MasterJayN100 Members Posts: 11,845 ✭✭✭✭✭
  • stringer bell
    stringer bell Members Posts: 26,212 ✭✭✭✭✭
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dEe6IECjXh0

    Here's the new video.. Smh this ? is disgusting man.. These pigs are out here treating us like we're nothing...
  • stringer bell
    stringer bell Members Posts: 26,212 ✭✭✭✭✭
    thedailyjournal.com/story/news/local/2015/04/08/want-truth-chief-says/25484781/
    We want the truth,' chief says of Phillip White case


    VINELAND The use of a police dog on a prone Phillip G. White was not excessive and ended a violent altercation with two officers, police Chief Timothy Codispoti said this afternoon.

    "That's what did it," Codispoti said. "Deploying the dog resulted in Mr. White stopping his aggressive, violent behavior."


    White, 32, of Vineland died shortly after his arrest on March 31 on the 100 block of Grape Street. An official cause of death and toxiciology results have not made public, yet.

    White died while on the way by ambulance to a hospital. The ambulance was called prior to the fight with police because he appeared to be sick.

    Codispoti confirmed that a K9 controlled by Officer Louis Platania did bite the suspect. At the time, White was on the ground and Platania was next to the man grappling with him.

    Codispoti said the autopsy will describe where White was bitten and the severity. He declined to comment on the record.

    Bystanders are known to have taken two videos, one of which police obtained via a download at the scene. The identity of the second bystander is not known because he left the scene before police talked to him, the chief said.

    The videos begin at the point where White is on the ground. The reported struggle with White over one officer's holstered weapon occurred before the videos were taken, police said.

    "I did view the second video that was released to the media this morning," Codispoti said. "And what I see there in that video is, again, a corroboration of what we hear on radio channel transmissions, which is a violent struggle that has broken out after the officer arrived, (and) called for EMS for Mr. White."

    On Tuesday, police posted several radio transmission recordings on YouTube. One recording focuses on back and forth talk between police and the 9-1-1 dispatcher; a second is the original complaint call to 9-1-1; and the third cover contacts with EMS.

    In one tranmission, an officer, not identified, reports that White tried to take his holstered sidearm.

    Codispoti noted the bystander videos show Platania left his car without his patrol dog when he first arrived. The dog was released from the vehicle after a struggle broke out.

    Previously, officials noted White and police at first were talking to each other and the issue was whether White needed medical attention.

    "Obviously, within a minute, it turns into a struggle, a violent struggle, a life-threatening struggle," Codispoti said.

    Codispoti said the two officers sent first, Platania and Richard Janasiak, suffered minor scrapes and bruises.

    One of the consequences of the attention the case has drawn is an alleged threat by the hacker collective Anonymous and the publication of the identities and addresses of officers.

    As far as Anonymous, Codispoti said, officials aren't aware that any action was ever taken by whomever put up the video threat Monday morning.

    "I think that has to be assessed in light of whatever has happened and is going to happen," the chief said. "And then maybe there will be a determination to go after them."

    White, whose nickname was "Capone," had multiple indictable level convictions that included narcotics offenses. The information is part of the state judicial database and is public.

    "That was a moniker he gave himself," Codispoti said. "And that is the nickname that goes along with him. That kind of says something."

    Still, Codispoti said, he didn't want to discuss White's background.

    "I think the facts are the facts," Codispoti said. "We're interested in the truth. It's what we want. I'm comfortable with what the truth will be. It's what the prosecutor wants. It's what the community wants. We all want the same thing. We want the truth."

  • stringer bell
    stringer bell Members Posts: 26,212 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited April 2015
    philly.com/philly/news/local/20150409_Attorney_for_Vineland_cops_says_drugs_caused_death_in_custody.html
    Vineland cops' attorney: Drugs caused death of man in custody

    An attorney representing the Vineland, N.J., police officers who arrested a man who died in police custody last week said Wednesday that he expects a toxicology report to show that Phillip White, 32, was on ? and other drugs when he died.

    Stuart Alterman, who was hired by the police union to represent the officers, said he believes the drugs caused White's death, not the use of a police dog and other force in the March 31 incident.

    "Phillip caused his own demise," Alterman said. "And it's unfortunate. And I think any reasonable person views this as a tragic circumstance. But it was not caused by the actions of the Vineland police officers."


    Vineland Police Chief Timothy Codispoti said Wednesday he could not comment on the preliminary toxicology report until the Cumberland County Prosecutor's Office releases it. Prosecutor Jennifer Webb-McRae declined to say when that will happen or elaborate on the case.

    Codispoti said, "What we're interested in is the truth. That's what we want, it's what the family wants. We want the truth of what occurred here. That includes the actions of everyone involved."

    White's family and a rights activist, citing witnesses, allege that the officers punched and beat White before he was placed in an ambulance for respiratory distress. They also point to a bystander's cellphone video, which they say shows a police dog biting White, of Vineland, as he lies on the ground.

    Police said they used the dog because White was reaching for one of the officers' weapons.

    Walter Hudson, chairman of the Salem County-based civil rights group National Awareness Alliance, said that authorities were trying to demonize "the one who suffered the death or the injury, as opposed to the ones who implemented the inhuman acts."

    "Even if the autopsy reports come out with Mr. Phillip White being on ? , whatever the case may be, he still did not deserve to die," Hudson said.


    The withholding of the officers' names drew attention Monday from the hacking group Anonymous, which threatened to attack the Vineland police department's website and expose the names if they were not released by the following day.

    Tuesday afternoon, the hacker group posted online the names, addresses, and phone numbers of two of the officers, Louis Platania and Jeffrey Travaline. Later in the day, Chief Codispoti confirmed the names and that of a third officer, Rich Janasiak.

    Janasiak and Platania have been placed on administrative leave, which is standard procedure in death cases. Travaline was only providing assistance, Codispoti said.

    On Wednesday, Codispoti said the prosecutor's office had asked him to initially withhold the officers' names, and that the threat by Anonymous had nothing to do with releasing them. He said the department was planning to do so when it posted the recording of the 911 call and police dispatches from the incident, which it did Tuesday afternoon.

    In the 911 call, a man told dispatchers of White, "He's screaming, I don't know what the hell's wrong with him."

    A few minutes later, one of the responding officers was recorded yelling, "Reaching for my gun!" before White was handcuffed.

    White became unresponsive while inside the ambulance. Autopsy results are pending.

    It amazing that lawyer said that man caused his own death.. Because nowhere in that video do I see Phillip punch,stomp or bite himself.. I do see those pigs doing all those things to him thou...
  • stringer bell
    stringer bell Members Posts: 26,212 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited April 2015
    nj.com/cumberland/index.ssf/2015/04/vineland_cop_lawyer_alleges_man_who_died_in_police.html
    Vineland cop's lawyer alleges man who died in police custody was on ?

    VINELAND -- The attorney representing the officers involved in the in-custody death of Phillip White expects the upcoming toxicology tests to reveal that White ingested ? prior to his death.

    It was this alleged drug use that led to White, 32, of Walnut Road, acting erratic and ultimately dying on March 31, said attorney Stuart Alterman. Alterman is the attorney for Vineland/Buena PBA Local #266 and is representing Vineland K-9 Officer Louis Platania and Officer Rich Janasiak.

    The autopsy and toxicology reports have not been released yet by the Cumberland County Prosecutor's Office.

    "We expect that the autopsy will demonstrate there was nothing physical about his person that caused his death," Alterman said.

    The attorney representing White's family could not be reached for comment and the Cumberland County Prosecutor's Office declined to comment.

    Vineland police were dispatched for a disorderly person on March 31 after a 911 call for "some guy freaking out on Grape Street" came in.

    Audio of the 911 call and police radio during the incident were released by the Vineland Police Department Tuesday.

    Alterman argues that, due to the alleged ? in his system, White was acting erratic and had "super-human strength" when dealing with Platania and Janasiak.

    The ? can have an effect on a person's respiratory system and lead to a cardiopulmonary event, according to the attorney.

    White was transported by ambulance to Inspira Medical Center Vineland. En route to the hospital, medical personnel conducted CPR on White and he was declared dead after arriving.

    Alterman alleges that White attempted to go for one of the officer's guns, leading to an altercation with police officers that was captured on cellphone footage from bystanders.

    Media outlets have released two videos -- one from NBC10.com and another on 6ABC.com.

    The videos show the officers over White as he is face down on the street. A K-9 also appears to be biting White and had a grip on White's arm.

    According to Alterman, the officers showed restraint during the incident due to White allegedly going for an officer's gun.

    An officer can be heard saying White "grabbed my gun" in audio of the incident released by the Vineland Police Department.

    "The reasonable use of force was employed because it was necessary to stop Mr. White from endangering everyone," Alterman said.

    White's criminal history shows he was sentenced to three years in prison in August 2004 after being charged with robbery, burglary and drug offenses. He was sentenced again in October 2010 to another three-year stint for additional drug charges earlier that year.

    That pig lawyer has busted out the infamous "super human ? " excuse.. So far they've used "he went for my gun" excuse.. Now they've broken out "super ? " excuse.. I guess what's next is either he threatened to ? the pigs excuse.. or they'll go with the "they were in fear of there lives" excuse...
  • stringer bell
    stringer bell Members Posts: 26,212 ✭✭✭✭✭
    nj.com/cumberland/index.ssf/2015/04/vineland_police_department_accused_of_excessive_fo.html
    Vineland police department accused of excessive force with K-9s in the past

    The Vineland Police Department and one of the officers involved in the arrest of a man who died in police custody last week have previously been accused of using excessive force and allegedly having a K-9 attack a man in handcuffs.

    Two lawsuits filed in U.S. federal court against the Vineland Police Department in the past five years -- one of which is still pending and another that was dismissed -- claim the officers used excessive force while arresting suspects.

    Two officers from the Vineland Police Department -- K-9 officer Louis Platania and Rich Janasiak -- are currently on administrative leave after Phillip White, 32, died in police custody on March. 31.

    The Cumberland County Prosecutor's Office is investigating the incident in which the officers are seen on cell phone video using a K-9 to apprehend White after White allegedly tried to grab one of their guns, according to the audio. One of the officers can be seen sitting on White, punching him in the head as he is face-down in the street and the K-9 appears to grab ahold of White's arm.

    Stuart Alterman, the PBA lawyer representing the officers, has defended the use of the K-9 and said he does not believe there was excessive force. He also believes toxicology results will show White was high on ? .

    The department's K-9 use has been the subject of a previous legal claim.

    Vineland City Solicitor Richard Tonetta and Police Chief Timothy Codispoti did not immediately return requests for comment regarding the lawsuits.

    In December 2009, Bridgeton resident Jerome Lowery Jr. filed a lawsuit against the city, Vineland Police Department and the police chief, claiming that on Oct. 2, 2009, he was "viciously and brutally" beaten by police officers and attacked by their K-9 dog while handcuffed. No officers are specifically named in the lawsuit.

    "While handcuffed, they released the dog on me. He attacked my left leg but only got ahold of my jeans," he wrote. "One of the officers, realizing that I was already cuffed, informed the K-9 officer who called the dog off. I was shackled at the feet and handcuffed behind my back."

    Lowery filed the civil rights complaint from Cumberland County Jail. He was later sentenced to three years in prison for drug possession.

    Lowery's claim was dismissed in January 2010, however, because the court tried to notify him by mail of the $350 filing fee but the notice -- sent to the address Lowery provided -- was returned. Failing to provide the court with an accurate street address can be a cause for dismissal, the document states.

    In another lawsuit, filed in November 2014, Noel Jones named the police department and a number of its officers including Louis Platania, the K-9 officer involved in White's arrest last week.

    Jones alleges that on June 13, 2014, he was at a bus stop in Vineland when he was arrested by police for allegedly dealing drugs. According to court documents, Jones claims he was "handcuffed and slammed to the ground" and then four officers -- including Platania -- "physically assaulted (Jones) while he was handcuffed on the ground."

    According to court documents, Jones' criminal background includes multiple indictable offenses in the 1990s for narcotics.

    Jones' lawsuit is still pending and a status conference is scheduled for July.

    Alterman, the lawyer representing the officers involved in White's arrest and death, said he did not represent any officers in the previous lawsuits.