Motion denying suppression of evidence for Max Jacob Specktor State of Minnesota District Court, Legal Firm, December 4th, 2009
The above-entitled matter came on for a hearing on September 29,2009, before the Honorable Teresa R. Warner, District Court Judge, 1070 Ramsey County Courthouse, 15 West Kellogg Boulevard, St. Paul, Minnesota 55102. [Read more]
Amended Criminal Complaint against the "RNC 8" Ramsey County Attorney, April 9th, 2009
Originally facing a single charge–Conspiracy to Riot in Furtherance of Terrorism–Gaertner’s office added three additional charges against the eight defendants in December of last year. Now, two of those charges have been dropped, clearly demonstrating that all the charges are a matter of political maneuvering, not a reasoned look at the evidence. [Read more]
Macalester Dorm Raided in February in Hunt for RNC Evidence Twin Cities, Indymedia, March 5th, 2009
According to a search warrant and first-hand account submitted to Twin Cities Indymedia, St. Paul Police executed an RNC-related raid on February 13 at a Macalester College dorm room, with the cooperation of Macalester staff. Although it appears the occupant of the room was not the initial target of the investigation, political literature was seized and has yet to be returned. SPPD Sargeant Julie Maidment prepared and executed the warrant for the residence of a person with “tattoos on both arms”; the person living in the room has none. [Read more]
Civil Complaint of arrested Indymedia journalist Wendy Binion Ted Dooley, Legal Firm, February 25th, 2009
Plaintiff Wendy Binion (Plaintiff, Binion) is a journalist who covered the Republican National Convention in St. Paul for Portland IndyMedia. Ms. Binion was battered, assaulted, subjected to excessive, unreasonable force, unreasonably seized, falsely arrested, and falsely imprisoned by the defendants on 2 September 2008 while peacefully carrying on her duties as a journalist. Ms. Binion sues officers A – H, Mahnke, Reinke, Vang, Skog, Frazer, and Sass in their individual capacities as St. Paul police officers for unreasonable seizure and infliction of infliction of excessive, unreasonable force in violation of clearly established rights under the First, Fourth, and Fourteenth Amendments to the United States Constitution, through 42 U.S.C. § 1983. [Read more]
Plea agreement signed by Bradley Crowder Minnesota State Legislature, January 8th, 2009
Brad Crowder appeared in federal court on Thursday, January 8th, 2009, where he plead guilty to possessing an unregistered firearm (as Molotov cocktails are defined by federal law) in return for federal prosecutors dropping two other firearm charges. Each of the three charges carried a maximum of 10 years in prison. [Read more]
Letter to David Mahoney's lawyer [includes critique] Richard Dusterhoft, Prosecuter, Ramsey County Attorney, December 4th, 2008
I am the prosecutor assigned to this case for trial. From my review of the file, it appears that you insisted that we identify victims in order to charge assault. We've done what you asked but still this case hasn't settled. I'm wondering if cooler heads have prevailed and we are headed for a resolution or if your client continues to insist a trial. [Read more]
Matthew DePalma Plea Agreement Michigan molotov case District of Minnesota, Federal Bureau of Investigation, October 21st, 2008
"The government and the defendant agree that, between on or about August 22, 2008 and on or about August 29, 2008, in the State District of Minnesota, the defendant, Matthew Bradley Depalma, knowingly, intentionally and unlawfully possessed destructive devices, namely Molotov cocktails..." [Read more]
Affidavit of Special Agent Christopher Langert Regarding Austin protesters. "CHS 1" and "CHS 2" have subsequently been revealed as Brandon Darby and Andrew Darst, respectively. Federal Bureau of Investigation, September 8th, 2008
The group of Texas individuals on whom the source was reporting has been named by law enforcement officials as the Austin Area Affinity Group ("the Affinity Group"). Bradley Neal Crowder has been identified through CHS reporting as a leader of the Austin Affinity Group. David McKay has been identified as a member of the Austin Affinity Group. [Read more]
Application, Warrant & Property Receipt for 949 Iglehart Ave, St. Paul Mike Whalen's home, where i-Witness Video staff were staying during the RNC Officer D. Langfellow, Judge J. M. Smith, St. Paul Police Department, August 30th, 2008
Contains the application for a search warrant and accompanying affidavit, the search warrant, and the property receipt. All documents are available in a downloadable PDF file. [Read more]
Rights of Journalists on Public Streets Covington & Burling, Legal Firm, August 15th, 2005
Since the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, photojournalists have begun to experience unprecedented levels of interference from security guards, state law enforcement officials and federal officials. This interference with newsgathering activities is often based on claims that photography of certain public areas, buildings or landmarks is impermissible because of anti-terrorism concerns. This memorandum assesses the authority of federal and state officers to remove the media and, in particular, photojournalists engaging in newsgathering, from public streets and sidewalks, especially around government buildings such as federal courthouses. It outlines both the scope of the media's constitutional rights, as well as the basis of the government's authority to remove or restrict the media within these areas. It also includes some recommended precautions that media personnel can take to minimize the chance of their being removed. In summary, we find that there is no federal law that justifies the broad prohibitions that are being imposed on photography in public areas. There is no new federal law, including the Patriot Act, that restricts photography of public buildings and installations on the basis of concerns over terrorism. Restrictions of photojournalism that proceed on this basis may constitute violations of journalists' First Amendment right to gather news. [Read more]
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