Anticipation

I am waiting with baited anticipation for this week's issue of CityBeat. I wonder how they will play the Nathaniel Jones Case. The players in the black community are taking variable paths in this, some predictable, some not. Will CityBeat go the knee-jerk anti-police route, or will they take a different route? The case has some issues. Will they play the racism card, which has no legs to stand on, or will they look at issues of possible bad judgment by the police or paramedics? The issue was not out yet this morning and the website was not yet updated. I am on pins and needles waiting to read it. (Cough, cough)

Which is Worse?

Is the Leader of the Cincinnati Police Union going on TV Sunday ranting about the treatment of police worse than a group of ministers reportedly saying?

But a group of black ministers Tuesday described the incident as "torture'' and called for clergy throughout the city to let their parishioners out early Sunday to attend an afternoon rally and march at City Hall.

Both attitudes do nothing but add fuel to the fire of anger. Blame is falling onto its usual suspects, which will lead to the same cries of racism and the same police union arrogance.

It Took Long Enough

The Jones family has retained a lawyer, and the lucky winner of a nice shinny new contingency case is.............

wait for it..........


It's obvious, isn't it?

The Law Dog.......KENNY LAWSON.

Dueling Ohio Stories

Police have linked the 12 shootings on I-270 in Columbus.

More From CNN, AP via Yahoo.

Drugs Found in Jones' Car

The Coroner reports that Nathaniel Jones' car contained .36g of cocaine and:

The cigarettes, which had been dipped in a liquid substance and were slightly odorous, test positively for the presence of phencyclidine.

Phencyclidine is better known as PCP or "angel dust."

Tuesday Media Roundup on Police Suspect Death

Hegemo comments on Jimmy Kimmel's show with Dick Gregory and The Great One Wayne Gretzky. Gregory brought up the death of Nathaniel Jones here in Cincinnati. Wayne seemed to be staying out of the conversation. I would have likely done the same if I was him in that situation. Why comment on something you know nothing about on national TV?

While on 1230theBuzz Oscar Robinson complained about Bill Cunningham's comments on the Hannity & Combs show on FOX. I can't find a transcript.

CNN interview with Cincinnati Police Chief Thomas Streicher Jr.

FOX News has an AP report with a bit of recycled news.

I will try to update this later if any additional comments or news pops up. I am surprised so far that the outside of local Cincy area Bloggers, this has not hit the blogosphere much yet. If anyone has seen other blogs out there with comments on this story, let me know.

UPDATE: Wes Flinn provides a full analysis with historical context.

NY Times on Cincinnati trying to quell tension.

UPDATE #2: Post Editorial.

UPDATE: #3 From the Dallas Morning News Blog

Media watch: police vs. 350-pound man
Many no doubt saw the video of the police confrontation with the 350-pound man. My gripe was with the television tease to the late news last night shown repeatedly to lure you into the 10 p.m. news. It showed just the the beating with batons. Yet when more of the tape was rolled -- earlier in the episode -- we saw the 350-pound man lunging wildly at one of the officers.

Quite a different picture that at least threw total doubt on the first impressions delivered by the "tease."

The autopsy shows PCP (notorious angel dust that can cause tremendous mood swings) as well as cocaine in the dead man's body throws even more fog into the incident.

That is media irresponsibility. It made it look like Rodney King II was under way. That's ratings on the cheap.

posted by Jim Frisinger @ Dec 2, 10:52 AM

Yup.

Big Local News Day

Beyond the big nationalized news story around the police suspect death we have two additional stories that would be big news if not crowded out. A 17 year old girl was reportedly abducted by her armed boyfriend. Also a rookie Bengal player from the practice squad was arrested on multiple charges after being caught urinated in public. The later incident would have been wall-to-wall coverage. The man allegedly ran from police. He was arrested on charges of fleeing police, public intoxication, resisting arrest, disorderly conduct, and driving on a suspended license. According to the story he fled from police in his car. I don't know why he did not get charged with DUI if he got a public intoxication charge.

UPDATE: Girl abducted now home safe.