Niger Arnold, Others, File Lawsuit Claiming Chicago Police Abused Blacks During Obama Election-Night Celebrations

While many across the United States celebrated Barack Obama’s historic election win, there were some in Chicago, allegedly some police officers, who were of a different opinion. A lawsuit filed Thursday alleged that while a huge Chicago crowd celebrated the election of the first black U.S. president, some white city police officers committed hate crimes against a black family cheering Barack Obama’s victory from home. The federal lawsuit claims several officers discharged pepper spray on members of a family celebrating Obama’s win outside their home on the city’s West Side last week. After some of the family members fled into the home, the armed officers knocked down the door and shouted profanity-laced racial insults before leaving, according to the suit.

The eight plaintiffs include Niger Arnold, 31, of Chicago, and her four children, who had been visiting relatives at the home.

“Chicago looked very good on national TV that night. For many people, it was the beginning of a new era in America,” attorney Gregory Kulis said. “Obviously, some Chicago police thought otherwise.” The lawsuit, which seeks $50,000 in damages, claims use of excessive force, unlawful search and seizure, battery, and a hate crime. It cites only the unnamed officers and does not name the Chicago Police Department.

A separate lawsuit filed last week by Kulis claims Christina Ballard and Cornelius Voss, who are black, were driving home in Chicago with family members on election night when white officers in unmarked cars drove alongside the vehicle.

That lawsuit alleges that after some of the children cheered for Obama through the open car windows, the officers discharged pepper spray and yelled “white power” and the N-word. Kulis said the family was able to get a partial license plate number from the unmarked cars, which were traced back to the city.

I expected to hear about people being upset that a black man won the presidential election in the United States, but the last thing I expected to hear were allegations that police officers were engaged in such reprehensible behavior. I hope the truth is revealed quickly.

Filed under: Barack Obama, Chicago Police, Christina Ballard, Cornelius Voss, Gregory Kulis, Niger Arnold, Racism

Nathaniel "Nate" Taylor Jr., Chicago Police, Fatally Shot While Tried to Execute Warrant to Felon Lamar Cooper

I hate to see anyone shot and killed, but when a cop is killed trying to do his job, that is truly sad. Well, Nathaniel Taylor Jr., known by his friends as “Nate,” was killed by a convicted felon as officers attempted to execute a search warrant, police said. Police shot suspect Lamar Cooper, 37, who was in critical condition Sunday night. I hate to say it, but that scumbag wasn’t worth the loss of life of the cop.

According to the Chicago Sun Times, undercover officers waited outside the home of a Southeast Side drug suspect early Sunday to try to nab him outside, which is considered generally safer than approaching the front door. The surveillance ended with a Taylor was fatally shot on the street, struck by the suspect’s fire as the man pulled up in his vehicle, police said.

Several sources told the Sun Times that the officers announced they were police, and Cooper opened fire. He had two packets of drugs in his mouth, possibly cocaine, in an apparent attempt to destroy evidence, sources said. The suspect’s handgun was recovered at the scene, police said.

Taylor was hit three times, once in the head, another source said. Police fired back, striking the suspect — a felon with an attempted murder conviction, the source said. Drugs, weapons and a bullet-proof vest were found inside the man’s home, a police source said. What a scumbag!

The officer, a 14 year veteran, was assigned to investigate gang intelligence and was detailed to narcotics. “He was loved by his partners and his teammates,” said Leo Schmitz, acting deputy chief of the Organized Crime Division. Taylor, who was one of three Chicago officers to be killed since July, died about 6 p.m. at the hospital.

Police were watching Cooper because of intelligence suggesting he was selling drugs late at night into early morning. His brick Georgian home had what appeared to be six security cameras affixed to front, side and rear exterior walls. A sign on the front lawn warned the premises are protected by a burglar alarm, and a Neighborhood Watch placard was in the front window. Three signs on a tall fence surrounding the yard announced the home is guarded by security dogs. Cooper also has convictions for burglary, unlawful use of a weapon and possession of a firearm, police said.

According to the Sun Times, Cooper and his wife, Octavia often visited an area mosque. Another sorry excuse that they will no-doubt use to say that he is God-fearing. Please. The man is a scumbag and he will be taken off the streets for murder. Several neighbors said Cooper lives in the home with his wife, a 2-year-old daughter and a 10-year-old stepson, and makes a living working construction and doing odd jobs.

According to public records, Cooper was first convicted of burglary in 1989 and got 4 years’ probation. In 1991, he was convicted of attempted murder and sentenced to 6 years in prison. He was again convicted of burglary in 2003 and sentenced to six years in prison, but was released late the next year. I hope they throw the book at him. As a parent, what kind of example is he setting for his daughter and stepson? He murdered a man doing his job and he has snatched him away from his family.

Filed under: Chicago Police, Lamar Cooper, Nathaniel Taylor

Robert Soto, Chicago Police Detective, Fatally Shot in Attempted Robbery

UPDATE

I recently learned through the Chicago Tribune that a scumbag was apprehended for the murders of Roberto Soto and Kathryn Romberg. Jason Austin, 26, of the 500 block of North LeClaire Avenue was charged with two counts of murder and one count of robbery, police said. He was ordered held without bail by Cook County Criminal Court Judge Laura Sullivan at a hearing Monday afternoon. Soto played a key role in finding Austin, said Chief of Detectives Thomas Byrne.”If we didn’t have Detective Soto’s own words, motive would have been open to speculation,” he said, adding that robbery was the motive. The criminal activity in Chicago is in dire need of attention. It is a shame that these armed thugs are running around wreaking havoc on innocent lives. According to the police, Austin has five felony convictions on his record, mostly for narcotics. The Tribune is reporting that Austin is believed to head a robbery crew based in the area near Kedzie Avenue and Ohio Street.Though I felt that there was more to the situation than the cops were letting on, I stand corrected.

Robert Soto, a 23-year-veteran of the Chicago Police Department died after being shot during, what the police is calling an apparent robbery attempt in the West Side’s Garfield Park neighborhood. He was shot during while sitting in an SUV with Kathryn Romberg, who authorities said died on the scene.

Soto, a detective with the police Bomb & Arson Section, and Romberg were shot about 1:30 a.m. while sitting in the officer’s personal car at the 3000 block of West Franklin Boulevard near Romberg’s home, police said. Police did not provide information about why Soto and Romberg were in the SUV. Very interesting, but does not take away from the fact that two innocent people were shot and killed by armed thugs.

According to the Chicago Sun-Times, neighbors reported hearing loud voices about 90 minutes before gunshots rang out on the block of condos. “I heard him say, ‘Help me,’” resident Britany Russell, 24, said. “Then the cops pulled up minutes later.” Russell said she had called the police at midnight because of loud voices coming from the black SUV Soto and Romberg were sitting in. Then, at 1:30 a.m., she heard several shots in a row. “I went out to look. I noticed it’s the same car,” she said. “The driver was laying on the horn.” Again, very interesting.

Authorities said that Romberg, a single mother, was a supervisor with the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services. She also had a real estate license. Somehow this reminds me of the Morgan Freeman incident, but I’ll wait until the truth comes to light. It is really sad that these people lost their lives so senselessly.

UPDATE

I just spoke to an acquaintance of Kathryn Romberg and he paints a picture similiar to what I had already formulated in my mind. He said that he has known Ms. Romberg for 12 years and they were co-workers at the Department of Children & Family Services. He stated that he went to dinner with Ms. Romberg last Thursday and she had told him she wanted to get out of the relationship with Robert Soto, especially in light of the fact that he was married. According to my source, Soto told her that he was estranged from his wife, which was not the case. He was still very much married and this all culminated in an altercation with him, his wife and Romberg recently. In fact, according to my source, the detective and Ms. Romberg were in a relationship for two years.

As I hinted, it seems very interesting that he would be in front of her condominium at that time of the night. It also fits with Britany Russell’s statements that she heard people arguing. I have to state that, in my opinion, this was no robbery. There is definitely more to this than the cops are divulging at this point. If this was a murder-suicide, then the coroner(s) will definitely know that fact right away. Secondly, if someone put a hit out on these two people, then that is another story, that will be revealed with time. As I said before, this seems a little too interesting to be taken at face value. This cop was in a car with a woman after midnight and he is a married man. Hat tips to my source in Chi-town and my deepest condolences to her daughter, family and friends!

Filed under: Chicago Police, Kathryn Romberg, Robert Soto