The You Shoot Me, I'll Shoot You Back . . . Later, Mindset

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I get upset anytime I read of children being the innocent victim of violence. Drive by shootings happens daily across this country. Durham, NC is no exception and that was proven in a harsh and violent way recently.


On the afternoon of Oct 23 Troy Lee Howard and two children 1-year-old Au-Nestii Hagans and 3-year-old Anaryiion Hagan were struck by bullets in a shooting on Driver Street. The children were inside their home and Howard was outside at a neighbor’s home. When police arrived they were told '3 masked men' drove up in a car and began shooting. However, at that time the police did not know if Howard was the intended victim or not.

Apparently a few days earlier on Oct 17, Tavarez Brown of Spruce Street was on Fern Street when he was the target of a shooting. Allegedly the shooting was perpetrated by John Tarver. So Brown decided you shoot me, I'll shoot you back. Later. So, on the Oct 23rd Tavarex Brown allegedly gathered his buddies, Jaunarais King and Arthur Clendenning and drove over to Driver Street and began shooting at John Tarver. The bullets missed Tarver but did hit the 2 children who were inside their nearby home. John Tarver shot back but his bullet struck Troy Lee Howard instead of his intended victims.

Residents of the neighborhood complained that shootings were becoming commonplace yet noone would give names of anyone who could have been involved. When police made a public plea -Help us help you - they received tips of possible shooters’ names.

Now, after the arrest of the alleged shooters, it seems a cousin of the victim Troy Howard says Arthur Clendenning was not a part of the foray of the 23rd. Allegedly Clendenning was at a home across the street from the Hangan's house. Even mom of the children. Dominique Hagans, says he couldn't have been one of the 3 shooters in the car because he was with her sister across the street and was the one who called to report the shooting. (Okay fine, but was he involved any way in some other manner such as contacting Brown and advising Tarver was outside his home?) I'd like to know how long he had been at Chandria Myers home. Had he arrived at the time the shootings happened or was there already? He could've been in the car, exited, then hotfooted it over to Myers home to make himself a part of an after the fact reaction and not the shooting action. Remember folks LE was told the day of the incident there were 3 Masked Men in the car - So if it wasn't Clendenning in the car, who else was involved?

The sad fact of all this is, all four of the accused have previous convictions on drug charges and Arthur Clendenning, Tavarez Brown and Jaunarais King also have convictions for carrying a concealed weapon. Brown was convicted of a couple assault charges previously. He was on probation. John Tarver was also on probation. Had all four still been in jail perhaps these children and Mr. Howard would not have been shot.

Even sadder is that two small babies were victims’ of others violent lifestyles. I am glad Mrs. Hagans is moving her children away from that street. They need to move forward and not be afraid in their home. I 100% agree with her comment as stateed in http://www.wral.com/news/local/story/10294259/
- "People just need to sit down and think about their actions sometimes. They actually don't affect (just) themselves. They affect other people (and) other people's families and children."

I'm also glad tips came in to police. I hope each of those involved goes to prison and serves a long full sentencing term without parole and is not given a short term sentence then probation. It's time to stop the violence in that neighborhood. Apparently two previous shootings occurred there over last 6 months when the victims were sitting on their porches. The residents need to move past this, whether Clendennings is an innocent bystander of the incident where Howard and the children were shot or not. He has a violent past so let him deal with his own legal problems and take back your streets! Gather neighbors and friends and make a pack to involve police with cleaning up the neighborhood of violent offenders. Keep the tips coming. Make it known, If you come on our street, to our neighborhood with your weapons and intent to harm, we'll turn you over to police - Then you are on your own. If the people believe Clendenning wasn't one of the shooters and knows who the alleged 3rd person in the car was, they need to call LE and advise them. After all, the police can't read minds. Let the cops do their job.

The Topeka 8

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The past few days I have been unable to put feelings in word with this horrific event. Even now, I feel I haven't expressed myself the way I want over this. I feel I could never really do so but thought I must try to at least say something on the matter - for the victims’ sake.


Due to all I have read and heard about the sham of a city council and the mayor I call these 8 persons ‘Enablers’. ( And it’s hard to call them persons) They need tee-shirts printed, declaring ‘I am one of the Topeka 8 - You Do Not Count. The 8 are facilitators of domestic violence and in essence have become abusers themselves. It’s not alleged but a fact -the vote the 8 cast this month takes away the victims’ right to assistance with the horrors they face. It’s said 30 abuse suspects were freed after the decriminalizing of domestic violence. And I am angry.  I hope the citizens of Shawnee County, Kansas are angry too. I have a right through the constitution to speak my opinion of these ‘things’ called Topeka mayor and council members and I am doing so. You, too, have a right to contact them and speak your anger about this demoralizing victims of domestic violence. The victims have been thrown to the wolves.

I laughed when I googled Topeka, Kansas and came across their city government pages.

http://www.topeka.org/tpd/crime_victims_assistance.shtml

Here is a list of what is on the page listed above:

Types of crime we can offer assistance with:

Domestic Violence
Burglary
Battery
Identity Theft
Robbery
Sexual Violence
Assault
Criminal Damage
Stalking
Child Abuse
Theft
Hate Crimes
Workplace Violence
Graffiti

All the above can be struck through. Because You Do Not Matter. This list needs to be wiped off the web page because it’s a farce. None of the list is applicable now, not since the Topeka 8 legalized domestic violence in the name of allegedly saving money. Each one of the crimes listed are part of how abusers operate. Not all abusers, but far too many to not strike through the crimes listed. Women and children of Topeka Kansas and yes, even men are no longer protected.

I cringe when I think of a child in Topeka crying because mommy and daddy, or mom and her boyfriend are screaming at each other. I think, maybe the abuser hitting the child’s mommy- demoralizing her verbally as mom cringes in a corner. I think of an elderly person silently screaming inside, why are you doing this to me? I wonder if she is thinking, I am your mother while she is being screamed at, threatened or hit. Perhaps both the child or elderly citizen reaches for a phone then yanks their hand back as if being struck by lightning because it dawns on them- There’s No One to Help. No One Cares. I Do Not Count. You want the names of the Topeka 8 abusers who do not care about the children or elderly, nor the spouses, girlfriend/boyfriend who are abused? Warning! Be ready to be shocked, Women Are On The List. Go Here: http://claudinedombrowski.blogspot.com/2011/10/topeka-voted-tonight-to-decriminalized.html

Keep this abuse by the mayor and members of the city council forefront in the news. Do Not Forget come election time.

Religiously Motivated Medical Deaths Among Children

There is a tension between competing rights in cases that involve faith-based medical treatments. The First Amendment declares religious liberty and the states' duty to protect the welfare of children are competing issues. As advances in medicine evolved into an accepted science, claims of religious liberties became more prominent. With time, public views on the matter have supported that the courts are the place to solve such matters; particularly when they result in the death of a child. Subsequently, the court has become the foundation on which these tensions are resolved, or in many states, unresolved. According to the Department of Health and Human Services, nearly 30 states have specific exemption laws that permit parents to allow their children to die if they were using prayer as treatment. You don't need to have a criminal justice degree to understand the complications that this controversial topic has caused within the legal system of America.

Although public consensus seems to favor decisions of the courts to punish these parents, there are many places in the United States where the laws simply do not support that opinion. This is a cause for concern in the state of Idaho where two children have recently died as a result of faith-based healing beliefs.

In fact, according to an online article from the KATU by Dan Tilkin, in March of 2011, two very sick children died in Caldwell, Idaho. The children were from two separate families and likely died from pneumonia, although the medical examiner is not sure since they were never actually taken to a doctor. The article stated that “for more than 99 percent of the community of Idaho, not taking their children to a doctor when he or she is sick could be considered a crime.” For one group, however, it is perfectly legal in Idaho for parents to choose prayer as treatment for sick children, even if they are gravely ill. If the child dies, the parents are not prosecuted. Idaho is not the only state that has been in the news for children falling victim to their family's belief system.

The same issue surfaced in Oregon in 1998. Reports from an Oregon newspaper reported that of 78 children buried in the Followers of Christ church graveyard, 21 most likely would have lived with medical treatment; something as simple as a prescription for antibiotics. The cemetery may represent one of the biggest concentrations of faith-healing related fatalities in decades.

However, the laws are changing in Oregon. In the past two years, Oregon has prosecuted two couples for failing to provide medical care for dying children. Two other couples are currently awaiting trial for criminal mistreatment and second-degree manslaughter. It has taken decades, but the state is finally addressing the issue of neglect among faith-healing parents. Both prosecutors and lawmakers endorsed a bill on Feb. 21, 2011 that removes special protections for parents who use faith-healing instead of providing medical treatment for their children. The bill was a response to the aforementioned Followers of Christ, an Oregon church with a long history of children dying from treatable medical conditions. On March 10, 2011, the bill passed unanimously.

To have children die needlessly in a society that has become so medically advance seems counterproductive. Although we do have religious freedom and the right to choose, many of these children do not have the mental capacity or the ability to choose for themselves. They can make that choice as adults. Meanwhile states should protect these children just as they protect the lives of every other resident of the state. All in all, its important to be respectful to a group's religious beliefs, but when it can become a danger to an individual or members of society sometimes actions must be made.

Bill Phillips and Fred Bailey's Domestic Abuse Assaults

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These victims certainly need Time’s Up: A guide on How to Leave and Survive Abusive and Stalking Relationships by: Susan Murphy Milano


Bill Phillips was arrested for domestic assault Saturday, August 7, 2011. Seems Mr. Phillips didn’t want to leave the home after an argument and his wife asked him to because he proceeded to physically struggle with his brother. Mr. Phillips was summarily taken to jail and placed under a 10,000. dollar bond. The sad news is, allegedly Phillips’ son advised them he was scared his dad would get his guns and he feared for his own safety. Mr. Phillips had done so in the past apparently.

After his arrest, and free on bond Phillips went back to his wife’s home. This time he didn’t hang around to battle; he took her car without her permission. Again, LE was contacted and they came to the rescue. The police were still at the residence when Bill Phillips called his wife. Phillips allegedly seemed distraught (poor guy) and threatened to kill himself. The police put out a call to be on the lookout for him. He was spotted in Union Co., and police followed him to a bridge where he stopped the car, exited and proceeded to climb over the railing. An officer was able to get close enough and grab him before he jumped. Phillips was again charged, this time in Union Co., with Violation of Conditional Release then taken to the hospital for a possible mental evaluation. (Yep, mental evaluation - that works to solve the problem every time! Yes. I am being sarcastic.)

Mr. Phillips is an ex school board member. Sure glad to see he is an ex! I wouldn’t want such a man (I hesitantly use ‘man’ there) deciding anything connected to my children’s schooling.

Hopefully when he is released from the hospital his bond will be forfeited and his wife and son can breathe a sigh of safety relief. But I certainly will not hold my breath to see if that happens. Mr. Phillips allegedly has committed domestic abuse in the past: he also, allegedly had issues with drugs in both Knox and Union Counties. He admitted taking Ambien pills and Lexipro the day of the DV incidents.

Equally important is that it seems domestic assault in Knox Co. TN is nothing more than a misdemeanor!

I give you the alleged case of Fred Bailey's intimate partner assault as an example.

Fred Bailey and his girlfriend, Kelly Hoffman, began arguing in the early morning hours of Tuesday, Aug 9, 2011. Kelly attempted to leave the motel where they lived but Fred prevented her from doing so. At some point that day she was able to lock herself in a room but Fred’s anger allegedly hadn’t abated so he kicked the door in causing bodily injury to her and causing her to have seizures. Later that day, Kelly was able to escape and asked a neighbor for help. Police were called and Kelly was transported to the hospital. Mr. Bailey fled, allegedly taking a shotgun and 22 rifle with him behind the motel where he crawled under a camper.

LE called in K-9 but when the dog bit him, he threatened to shoot the dog. The standoff began and negotiators talked with him for around two hours before he gave up. Fred Bailey was taken for treatment for the dog bite then to jail and charged with domestic assault. He was placed on a 15,000. dollar conditional bond but didn’t bond out. (guess he was broke) Bailey goes for arraignment today but - What court division will he be taken too? Misdemeanor! What happened to the threatening an officer? ( A K-9 dog is a police officer too.) What happened to flight from arrest? Since when is domestic assault of any kind a misdemeanor?

A domestic assault that caused bodily injury is more than a misdemeanor to me! And I just bet many victims who have been physically harmed during an intimate partner violence attack would beg to differ with it being considered a misdemeanor too!

Please someone advise Bill Phillips’ spouse and Kelly Hoffman about Time’s Up. Susan Murphy Milano’s book is a roadmap for assistance with how to safely remove yourself (and your children) from toxic intimate partner relationships. It can help save lives!

The Alleged 'Twilight Rapist' Billy Joe Harris Is Going on Trial

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Billy Joe Harris, the accused Texas Twilight Rapist, is headed to trial in Jackson County, Texas. He is charged with rape of a 59 year-old disabled woman on January 8, 2011; and he’s charged with home invasion of that home; also a home burglary where evidence was recovered from December 4, 2010.


On September 12, 2011 jury selection will begin. This is his first trial and hopefully will set the tide flow for others to come. Harris’ lawyer, Alan Cohen, for the Jackson Co., trial is wanting DNA samples reexamined. Cohen is questioning the chain of custody handling of the samples and wondering if there could be contamination.  DNA has linked Harris to 6 of the rapes of elderly women in Texas. He is also charged with numerous counts of home invasion, burglary, and assault. His alleged crime spree of terrorizing elderly citizens spanned 2 years and through 9 counties, from Jan 21 2009 until his capture Jan 8 2011.  DNA and other forensic evidence were collected at numerous scenes; which is a good thing since the victims are elderly and their memories could naturally fade. The DNA links him to five of the assaults in Bell, Falls, and Leon counties and in Yoakum. Yoakum is where the first rape occurred on January 21, 2009. His second alleged rape in Yoakum in Feb of 2009 is when they collected DNA samples.

Oddly, Mr. Harris worked for the prison system in Texas for years so he should’ve known crime doesn’t pay. He was a food service manager and corrections’ officer for different TX prisons between 1999 through 2010. I don’t think if he is found guilty of crimes in which he is accused his food service business will be responsible for seeing he’s well fed. When Harris was in court recently for the Falls County charges he allegedly yelled bible verses and rolled his head. ( An insanity attempt? Remember, Harris allegedly told Quanell X that someone apparently broke into his home and stole his clothing then spread his DNA all over the place. I say he can play dumb-dumb if he wants, I have no sympathy for him)

His Falls County lawyers’ Hoagie Karels and Stan Schwieger entered not guilty pleas to the charges. All his lawyers in each town and county have an uphill battle, (hopefully a losing one) DNA, forensic evidence and the fact missing items from the home invasions were discovered in Harris’ home screams guilt to me.

Yoakum, TX seemed to be the Twilight Rapist favorite crime center. In that town alone he had allegedly perpetrated 2 rapes, an assault, 3 home invasions and 2 attempted burglaries. In the rape of Feb 27 2009 and the assault on November 9, 2009 DNA was collected. Allegedly one victim in Yoakum is also the one raped on 2 different occasions and it’s believed he attempted a third attack but she had moved. All the rapist victims were between 59 and 91-years-old.


my previous post on Twilight Rapist:


http://tigresspenssurmisals.blogspot.com/2010/01/texas-twilight-rapist.html