YouTube.com videos praise shooting of Detroit police officers, say Washtenaw County should be next
Washtenaw County sheriff’s deputies are reviewing several videos posted this week on YouTube.com, praising Monday’s fatal shooting of a Detroit police officer and Saturday's shooting of an off-duty Washtenaw sheriff’s deputy in Canton.
One video posted Monday is titled, “5 Detroit police officers shot this morning, 1 dies. Next killing spot? Washtenaw county P.D.”
"I don't feel sorry for any of these (expletive)," a man can be heard saying on the video. "Frankly, it shouldn’t have even been Detroit PD. It should have been Washtenaw County PD…”
The man mentions Lovelle Mixon, who fatally shot four police officers in Oakland, Calif., in March 2009 before being killed.
This screenshot, with a news broadcast that played for part of the video, was posted Monday.
"We need a Lovelle Mixon here in Washtenaw County to take out a few of these…Gestapo acting cops here on the force," the man says. By 7:10 p.m. today, the video had been viewed more than 600 times.
Investigators have been looking into the videos, but "it doesn't appear that any crimes have been committed," Sheriff Jerry Clayton said this afternoon.
So far, everything appears to be protected under the First Amendment, investigators said.
The videos were posted on the YouTube Channel for "NatTurnersArmy" and contain footage of news articles and/or television reports of the shootings while the man makes comments about police officers, including Clayton. The man's face is not shown.
A review by AnnArbor.com of numerous videos on the channel shows the man talking is black, and he uses racial slurs and discusses race a number of times. The videos suggest he is familiar with sheriff’s deputies, the city of Ann Arbor and has appeared before 14A District Judge J. Cedric Simpson in the past.
Attempts by AnnArbor.com to identify the man were unsuccessful today. Clayton said he wasn't aware of police determining his identity by this afternoon.
It’s unclear whether NatTurnersArmy is named after the slave Nat Turner, who led a rebellion in Virginia in 1831 that left behind at least 50 murdered whites, according to the website GlobalSecurity.org.
In the man's profile on YouTube.com, it says, "I love putting the white male racist in his place and would like to see him dead or faded.”
There also is a link on his profile to another YouTube.com video that discusses ammunition to use against white cops. Sheriff Clayton said he’s not sure who made that video.
On a video posted Tuesday, the man can be heard praising a man accused of shooting an off-duty Washtenaw County sheriff’s deputy Saturday in Canton.
Canton Township police say the shooting of the 33-year-old deputy was the result of a "domestic situation." The deputy is recovering.
“I want to thank you for your...great deed,” the man says on the video. “But next time, if you do get a next time, aim for the head.”
Earlier in the video, the man says the shooting fulfilled a wish.
He later says, “Maybe I’ll get another wish. Let’s hope Jerry Clayton, the police chief, gets into a car crash or maybe his house burns down or something like that.”
In his videos, the man uses racial slurs when referring to Clayton and Judge Simpson, who are both black.
In another video posted Monday about the shooting of the Detroit police officers, the man talks about his right to free speech.
“I do have the right of speech, freedom of speech (expletive),” he says. “Can’t stop me from my thoughts. I don’t like cops and I'll never like cops. So what. My motto is the only good cop is a dead cop.”
He praises the man accused of shooting five Detroit police officers saying, "Good work brother man. At least you took one down. Too bad you couldn’t take all five of ‘em down huh.”
The sheriff’s department has been in contact with other law enforcement agencies in the county about the videos, Clayton said.
Ann Arbor police spokeswoman Lt. Angella Abrams said information about the videos was disseminated as an officer safety caution.
It's unclear whether the FBI is involved. FBI Special Agent Robert Beeckman, an acting bureau spokesman in Detroit, declined to comment.
"We don't confirm or deny the existence of any investigation," he said.
Clayton said deputies are trained to always be vigilant.
“For us, I think we stay in a continual state of readiness and alertness,” he said.
Lee Higgins covers crime and courts for AnnArbor.com. He can be reached by phone at (734) 623-2527 and email at leehiggins@annarbor.com.
Comments
James Thurber
Sun, May 9, 2010 : 12:35 p.m.
The youtube member, NatTurnersArmy,who posted this hateful video has had his account suspended. If you haven't done it already, sign up at youtube, and you can then flag any offending video as being a violation of their community guidelines.
bedrog
Fri, May 7, 2010 : 2:45 p.m.
@ ed...good for you. alot of those who claim their views are being 'surpressed' are vocabulary challenged ( among other cognitive deficits), wrongly equating 'surpression' with ' heard (often ad nauseam) but disagreed with'.
bedrog
Fri, May 7, 2010 : 9:02 a.m.
@tdw..to answer your question to me about the role of FOX in this case : admittedly its peripheral to the specific case at issue, but they are a highly visible example of how 'respectability" in civic discourse has wrongly been increasingly conferred on ranters, liars, and all-around louts... of which this video is a prime example. it 's precisely this sort of thing,practiced by screechers at both political extremes, that obama was correctly addressing in his UM speech ( and i admit to sometimes being guilty myself, when provoked ).
Steffetta
Fri, May 7, 2010 : 9:01 a.m.
Ffej: The references to the judge are in another video of natturnersarmy. As far as his race is concerned: It is clear that the speaker is African American. He is probably between 35 and 50, but I think he's most likely 40-45, and he's very well educated. He was probably raised somewhere in the midwest. (Just an EDUCATED guess from someone who has an ear for this stuff)
John of Saline
Thu, May 6, 2010 : 6:23 p.m.
One cop killer posted photos on Facebook of himself and his family celebrating afterwards. He's now being defended, for free, by Geoffrey Feiger's law firm.
ffej440
Thu, May 6, 2010 : 4:41 p.m.
OK I watched the video twice and can find NO reference to Judge Simpson. Could the AA.com staff explain why? or maybe what they heard that I missed?
Anonymous Due to Bigotry
Thu, May 6, 2010 : 3:07 p.m.
How could anyone say that they're "sure" that this guy has been mistreated by the cops? The fact is that there are people with an antisocial (criminal) personality who have a sense of entitlement. In other words, they feel that they are actually entitled to break the law and anyone who tries to interfere with their activities is just totally unreasonable. I'd say the later is at least as likely as the former.
LA
Thu, May 6, 2010 : 12:52 p.m.
Are you kidding 'magman'?? The police have a lot less power these days. Do you even know any cops? I have family and friends on both sides of the law and can attest to the scrutiny that police are under nowadays - this was not possible 20 - 30 years ago. I find it incredible (and encouraging!) that police can remain calm and follow procedure properly in the face of what they see so often, sometimes daily. The ability to go home, hug their children and play a game of catch after a day of drunks, guns and dead bodies is a testament to the stability of people in the profession. And before you all jump on this... yes, I know there are always a few nut-cases in every job, a few 'bad apples' and in this case, they could have guns! But do not generalize all cops as evil.
Top Cat
Thu, May 6, 2010 : 8:34 a.m.
The next time I see a police officer, even if I get pulled over for speeding, I will thank him or her for their public service and for working to keep us safe. These are trying times, indeed.
clownfish
Thu, May 6, 2010 : 7:49 a.m.
"just folks" Funny how when Americans were actually being detained by the feds, with no charges, and Canadians were being kidnapped (http://www.maherarar.ca/) and sent to Syria to be tortured there really were very few people calling for authority figures to be killed. "Support the troops" and "watch what you say" were the slogans of the day. Now we have a moderate in the White House, a new admin, and suddenly authority is not only to be questioned, but killed! Where were all of these people a few years ago? Anti anti-war rallies holding a sign that said " I support our President and our troops"? Are some of the people defending these "free speech" rights the same people that called for the passage of the Patriot Act and a Unitary Executive? From my viewpoint it sure looks like it. This is what happens when one yells "FIRE!" in a crowded country. Using terms like "socialist dictator", "Marxist takeover" etc feed the flames and lead us to these events.
KJMClark
Thu, May 6, 2010 : 7:12 a.m.
I'm kind of shocked that YouTube would leave this up. That's a private website, they don't have to leave that kind of trash on their site. Has anyone seen any polling on how many people think this way? It's got to be like.00001%, right? If it ever even gets to 1%, we're all in trouble. I don't always like what the police don't enforce, but they're doing a dangerous job that we all need done. Without them we'd all be ruled by drug gangs. Check "mexican drug war" at wikipedia to see what that's like.
tdw
Thu, May 6, 2010 : 6:48 a.m.
@John please define "public displays of hatered" @Bedrog please explain how Fox news has anything to do with this
John
Thu, May 6, 2010 : 5:42 a.m.
This is a perfect example of why we need laws against public displays of hatred, as in Canada. It serves no good purpose.
Michael O
Thu, May 6, 2010 : 12:43 a.m.
This guy's a complete concern,and the Feds already know his name,street address,occupation,etc...can't hide behind a computer anymore.Iffy on the Patriot Act,but in this case,I agree.Some folks just need to be watched...spooky.
Sherry
Wed, May 5, 2010 : 11:47 p.m.
I do not see why so many people agree with this tape and the person saying to hit an officer in the head next time. If someone is in danger like one of these yahoos are they going to call a friend or neighbor to help them, no way, they will call the Police. A big problem we have here is we do not have enough City or County to help cover all of the areas that need covering. For Ann Arbor being #4 the best place to live in is living in a Fool's Paradise. Instead of putting down the Police, see what you as a citizen can do to help during these hard times. Isn't this what we are all about anyways, helping each other out?? Please friends do not listen to the troublemakers or the ones who just like to see their nonsesnse in print. Listen to your hearts and for once in life ask how you can be of help. Maybe there would be less shootings and people killed, robbed and rapped because you chose to help your fellow man. Thank you.
racerx
Wed, May 5, 2010 : 11:18 p.m.
Where do I begin. The article says that the man who is talking on the video's for NatTurnersArmy, his face is not shown. Then the next paragraph says that of numerous videos on the channel shows the man talking is black. Are these two topics related or not? And if his face wasn't shown, how'd did the paper know he was black? Was his papers shown? Voice? Isn't the history of Nat Turner common history? A2.Com had to reply on GlobalSecurity.org to confirm this fact about Nat Turner? Oh, I'm sorry, Black History as taught in most schools is an elective and isn't part of the regular curriculum. Guess I can see how some people wouldn't know the story of Nat Turner.
Ron
Wed, May 5, 2010 : 11:03 p.m.
Magman The U.S. Constitution has been the same for a long time how has police authority / power changed. The police have a tough job with oversight and a compliant process. Have you had much contact with the police to express your opinion.
magman
Wed, May 5, 2010 : 10:27 p.m.
I'm not condoneeing any of this behavior BUT!!! Police today have way to much authority/power and abuse it regularly and if you don't see that what planet are you on. Sure this guy isn't a model member of the community but I'm sure his rights have been VIOLATED numerous times and somehow police feel "justified" in doing so.
Anonymous Due to Bigotry
Wed, May 5, 2010 : 9:40 p.m.
Given that so many people on annarbor.com seem to think that the cops are all ignorant thugs who go around tasering (oh sorry, that's "using a TASER on") little children, I'm surprised that anyone here would object to such videos. When I encounter the police I'm going to let them know that I, at least, appreciate their service and despise the way they're constantly assumed to be guilty of brutality.
Terry Star21
Wed, May 5, 2010 : 8:54 p.m.
The irony here is, those whom posted these video's don't realize that those very same Washtenaw Sheriff's would put their own life on the line for them - if they were in danger. Reading those comments frighten me, and it is just not appropriate comments at the officers, whom protect us and allow us to enjoy our freedom.
Gill
Wed, May 5, 2010 : 8:27 p.m.
I am getting tired of the shock media presentation of news... Ratings and money first, ethics and compassion last...
Ricebrnr
Wed, May 5, 2010 : 8:10 p.m.
ummm....why are a bunch of white guys in jail for essentially the same thing yet in this case "it doesn't appear that any crimes have been committed" Really inquiring minds want to know what is the difference? And BTW, this is not the D. I have the feeling they'll find the citizenry here less apathetic and willing to stand by to such threats...
mrfirefighter
Wed, May 5, 2010 : 7:51 p.m.
For those that care about a cop... make sure you let them know how you feel. With wackos like this out there prayers may be the only thing that brings them home at the end of their shift. God Bless those that protect us!
girlhunter
Wed, May 5, 2010 : 7:11 p.m.
After reading this I can't help but wonder what these people are thinking? I can't help but wonder if it was this persons family that was shot if the videos would be the same. I have to wonder if someone were to harm them or wrong them in some way, if they would be the first to dial the very same police that they are advocating killing. I understand the first amendment.. but I also understand that this is a form of "terrorism" on our own police. I feel that this is a strech of the first amendment rights.. you should not be able to advoacte killing!