Here Are the 18 Crimes Freddie Gray Was Charged With Before His Tragic Death That Started the Baltimore Riots

Photo Credit: Heavy

Photo Credit: Heavy

Freddie Gray, who died a week after suffering injuries while in Baltimore police custody, had a lengthy criminal record, mainly for drug-related offenses, according to state court records. Police claim he was “involved in criminal activity,” prior to his arrest.

Gray, 25, died after spending seven days in a coma as a result of injuries he suffered while in the custody of city police, the Baltimore Sun reports.

He was arrested April 12 by four officers outside a public housing complex. Police said four bicycle officers tried to stop Gray for an unspecified reason and he ran from them. They caught him and detained him while waiting for backup . . .

Gray had a lengthy arrest record with convictions dating back until at least 2007, according to the Maryland Department of Justice. Not all of the arrests led to convictions, in many of the cases he pleaded guilty to one charge while the others were dropped. Exact details of when he spent time in prison were not immediately available. His arrest record includes at least 18 arrests:

March 20, 2015: Possession of a Controlled Dangerous Substance

March 13, 2015: Malicious destruction of property, second-degree assault

January 20, 2015: Fourth-degree burglary, trespassing

January 14, 2015: Possession of a controlled dangerous substance, possession of a controlled dangerous
substance with intent to distribute

December 31, 2014: Possession of narcotics with intent to distribute

December 14, 2014: Possession of a controlled dangerous substance

August 31, 2014: Illegal gambling, trespassing

January 25, 2014: Possession of marijuana

September 28, 2013: Distribution of narcotics, unlawful possession of a controlled dangerous substance, second-degree assault, second-degree escape

April 13, 2012: Possession of a controlled dangerous substance with intent to distribute, unlawful possession of a controlled dangerous substance, violation of probation

July 16, 2008: Possession of a controlled dangerous substance, possession with intent to distribute

March 28, 2008: Unlawful possession of a controlled dangerous substance

March 14, 2008: Possession of a controlled dangerous substance with intent to manufacture and distribute

February 11, 2008: Unlawful possession of a controlled dangerous substance, possession of a controlled dangerous substance

August 29, 2007: Possession of a controlled dangerous substance with intent to distribute, violation of probation

August 28, 2007: Possession of marijuana

August 23, 2007: False statement to a peace officer, unlawful possession of a controlled dangerous
substance

July 16, 2007: Possession of a controlled dangerous substance with intent to distribute, unlawful possession of a controlled dangerous substance (2 counts)

(Read more from “Here Are the 18 Crimes Freddie Gray Was Charged With Before His Tragic Death That Started the Baltimore Riots” HERE)

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‘We Will Not Obey’: Christian Leaders Threaten, Warn Supreme Court Over Homosexual Marriage

8614ac5d952523b567545092c9d7fc074bed936b“We will not obey.”

That’s the blunt warning a group of prominent religious leaders is sending to the Supreme Court of the United States as they consider same-sex marriage.

“We respectfully warn the Supreme Court not to cross that line,” read a document titled, Pledge in Solidarity to Defend Marriage. “We stand united together in defense of marriage. Make no mistake about our resolve.”

“While there are many things we can endure, redefining marriage is so fundamental to the natural order and the common good that this is the line we must draw and one we cannot and will not cross,” the pledge states.

The signees are a who’s who of religious leaders including former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee, former U.S. Senator Rick Santorum, National Religious Broadcasters president Jerry Johnson, Pastor John Hagee, and Franklin Graham, president and CEO of the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association and Samaritan’s Purse. (Read more from “‘We Will Not Obey’: Christian Leaders Threaten Civil Disobedience If Supreme Court Legalizes Gay Marriage” HERE)

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U.S. Economic Growth Slows to 0.2 Percent, Grinding Nearly to a Halt

BN-ID648_0429ec_J_20150429075026The U.S. economy ground nearly to a halt in the first three months of the year, according to government data released Wednesday morning, as exports plunged and severe winter weather helped keep consumers indoors.

The gross domestic product grew between January and March at an annualized rate of 0.2 percent, the U.S. Commerce Department said, adding to the picture of an economy braking sharply after accelerating for much of last year. The pace fell well shy of the 1 percent mark anticipated by analysts and marked the weakest quarter in a year.

The economy had expanded at a rate of 2.2 percent in the final three months of 2014 and at a rate of 2.4 percent for the year.

Economists, employers and policymakers now face the challenge of determining whether the slowdown is temporary — stemming mostly from an unusually snowy winter in the Northeast — or a sign of broader problems.

Hours after the fresh data was released the Federal Reserve said that winter slowdown was “in part” reflective of “transitory factors” and that “economic activity will expand at a moderate pace” going forward. Economists expect that the central bank will hold off until the second half of the year, gauging the direction of the economy, before raising interest rates for the first time in 6½ years. In its statement Wednesday, the Fed did not offer any new hints about the timing of its rate hike. (Read more from “U.S. Economic Growth Slows to 0.2 Percent, Grinding Nearly to a Halt” HERE)

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Radical Islamic Immigration: A Clear and Present Threat

World Trade CenterThe American people deserve an answer to one common sense question: how many more stories of homegrown terror do we need to see before politicians get serious about the threat of homegrown terror and the irresponsible immigration policies that have engendered it?

As Mark Levin noted last week on his show, not a single presidential candidate has seriously addressed this issue. To be fair, Bobby Jindal, a likely but undeclared candidate, has touched on this issue and Ted Cruz has introduced legislation to strip the passports from those who fight for the Islamic State. But this issue has not received the attention it deserves given the existential threat of our suicidal immigration system and the fact that this self-immolation is so avoidable.

Much like any other community, Muslim immigrant communities can be law abiding and peaceful residents of this country. But unlike nearly any other group, they have a greater probability of being saturated with radical elements that can cultivate a climate leading to over 150 known cases of individuals attempting to join the Islamic State.

Following 9/11, where the hijackers were let into this country’s front door, one would have thought the U.S. would be judicious about vetting immigrants from volatile and violent parts of the world.

The front line in the war against terror is not nation building across the globe, it is our immigration system. Yet, as we’ve noted before, the level of student visas from Saudi Arabia has increased ten-fold, refugees from volatile countries have grown exponentially, and immigration from predominantly Muslim countries has doubled overall.

Hence, instead of following the common sense recommendations of the bipartisan 9/11 commission, politicians doubled down on risky immigration policies. Outside of the D.C. beltway it is simple logic that there will be a higher percentage of immigrants with Jihadist proclivities if they came from parts of the world where those views are prevalent. Once these immigrants are admitted and become citizens, they have the right to harbor those views like everyone else, but why should we irresponsibly admit those who are likely to represent a security risk? The more people with radical Islamic views who are allowed into the country, the more it will cultivate an environment that we are seeing today in Minneapolis.

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After six more Somali immigrants from Minnesota were arrested for attempting to join up with ISIS, the U.S. Attorney for Minnesota sounded the alarm many of us have been ringing for quite some time. U.S. Attorney Andrew Lugar admitted this should not be dismissed as a few random instances of radicalism. “To be clear, we have a terror recruitment problem in Minnesota,” he declared.

While there are undoubtedly many peaceful individuals in this community, clearly there are more friends, neighbors, and religious leaders who are encouraging these un-American beliefs. Many of these religious leaders preach in mosques funded by terror-supporting governments. Just recently, Obama attended the opening ceremony of a $100 million mosque together with Turkey’s President Recip Erdogen, one of the most dangerous Sunni terror supporters in the Middle East. His government is funding this mosque on our own soil, and due to his radical ties one must question his motives.

For how much longer are we going to allow extreme political correctness stifle sound public policy?

In 2010, the co-chairs of the 9/11 Commission published a report showing how the homegrown terror threat had grown substantially since 2001. “The U.S. is arguably now little different from Europe in terms of having a domestic terrorist problem involving immigrant and indigenous Muslims as well as converts to Islam,” wrote Lee Hamilton and Tom Kean.

Obviously, the threat of homegrown terror mixed with cyber jihad and recruitment has only gotten worse in the ensuing five years. With control of both houses of Congress, one would think Republicans would address this area of “immigration reform” that should concern everyone. Republicans can pursue the following policies:

Fix our broken refugee policies and limit the UN’s power of resettlement to ensure we are not letting in security threats.

Implement a program similar to NSEERS (National Security Exit-Entry Registration System) in which non-immigrant visas from risky parts of the world must be monitored by a local ICE office. If someone is here on a student visa and drops out of college to work on creating bombs, we should know about it.

The Visa Waiver Program Suspension Act (H.R. 5434), sponsored by Rep. Doug Collins (R-GA), which would suspend the Visa Waiver Program until we establish control over the number of terror threats we let into the country.

[Editor’s note: Listen to this recent interview with the author:]

The Expatriate Terrorist Act, sponsored by Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) and Rep. Steve King (R-IA), which would revoke the citizenship of those who fight for foreign terrorist organizations, such as ISIS.

It would be extremely politically perilous for Democrats to oppose these measures. Sadly, don’t expect Republicans to get serious about one of the biggest threats of our time until they hear from the people or until, God forbid, there is another terror attack on American soil. (See “Radical Islamic Immigration: A Clear and Present Threat”, originally posted HERE)

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How Hillary Clinton Is Running Against Parts of Her Husband’s Legacy

imagesHillary Rodham Clinton isn’t just running against Republicans. She’s also running against parts of her husband’s legacy.

On issues large and small, the Democratic presidential contender is increasingly distancing herself from — or even opposing — key policies pushed by Bill Clinton while he was in the White House, from her recent skepticism on free-trade pacts to her full embrace of gay rights.

The starkest example yet came Wednesday, when Hillary Clinton delivered an impassioned address condemning the “era of incarceration” ushered in during the 1990s in the wake of her husband’s 1994 crime bill — though she never mentioned him or the legislation by name.

“We have allowed our criminal justice system to get out of balance,” Clinton told an audience at Columbia University in New York, making references to unrest in Baltimore and elsewhere and elsewhere over actions by police. “And these recent tragedies should galvanize us to come together as a nation to find our balance again.”

The contrasts between some of Clinton’s positions and those of her husband from 20 years ago show the extent to which Democrats, and the country as a whole, have shifted to the left on a number of key issues. Indeed, Bill Clinton now says that some of his incarceration policies went too far and that he regrets backing a federal law that defined marriage as being between a man and a woman. (Read more from “How Hillary Clinton Is Running Against Parts of Her Husband’s Legacy” HERE)

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Idaho Refugee Center Expects Influx of Syrians

553807df2daed.imageThe College of Southern Idaho’s Refugee Center is expecting an influx of Syrian refugees starting in October.

Projections show the center will likely receive 300 refugees from around the world during the upcoming federal fiscal year. That’s the same number as this year.

Refugee Center director Zeze Rwasama anticipates the biggest populations of newcomers will be from Syria and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

“That can change at any time depending on what’s out there,” he said. The U.S. Department of State approves the number of refugees coming to Twin Falls.

There aren’t any Syrians in Twin Falls yet, Rwasama said, but the Refugee Center is prepared for the influx. “We’re not anticipating any challenges.” (Read more from “Idaho Refugee Center Expects Influx of Syrians” HERE)

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NFL’s Benjamin Watson’s Facebook Post on Baltimore Riots Goes Viral: “God is our Only Hope”

Benjamin Watson-FacebookcBy News Editor. Just like his mega viral post over the mindless Ferguson riots last year, New Orleans Saints tight end Benjamin Watson is at it again with some straight, hard talk from the heart:

We have major problems as a nation. Yesterday Ferguson burned. Tonight ‪#‎Baltimore‬ burns. Tomorrow it will be another city in our homeland. Watching the coverage I’m hearing yet another version of a nauseatingly familiar narrative. Violence by police reciprocated by violence by the community, reciprocated by violence by police reciprocated by…. It seems fruitless to continue to analyze, condemn, and respond to these dreadful episodes. “Frustration, anger, tension boiling over, upset and unfortunate” are words we hear from Baltimore residents. When it comes to law enforcement, race, poverty, education, immigration we always talk about fixing “broken” systems. We resolve to legislate for education, job creation, and systemic overhaul. These are helpful and definitely needed BUT we have done all of these things ad nauseum and look at us!! Without a change of heart these attempts fail us. So what can we say? What can we do? Systems are broken because people are broken and if systems are fixed without hearts being changed the result will be a legalistic attempt that will lack long term results. Our problems are wholistic and common to the human heart. Hatred, prejudice, exploitation, pride, self righteousness, secrecy, and rebellion, manifest itself in the explosions we’ve seen over the last year, the last century, and the last millennia.

Tonight I see so much entrenched pain without remedy. Most are handling it without violence while a few are committing the unacceptable. Tonight I see young children, asking like my daughter did earlier, “What’s happening daddy”, in desperate need of parents to walk them through these disturbing scenes.

Tonight I see “smoke,” but we must address the fire. The response that we are watching is just “smoke” from years of hopelessness. After each situation the more I am convinced that the love of God for our fellow brothers and sisters who were created in His image, is our only hope for reconciliation. But the only way we can even see him that way is if God illuminates our view and changes our thought process. I’m not talking about holding hands and singing. Love is an action that compels one to treat another with dignity and respect even if they don’t deserve it. It pushes for education and opportunities for those in poverty. It gives identity and self worth. It administers justice without abuse. It honors authority and promotes peace. It is not weak, but strong for what is right! Tonight I see a brokenness that only Christ can give us the wisdom and power to mend.

We pray for every disaster that happens to us. Bombings, natural disasters, cancer and outbreaks. What we’ve seen in our country lately deserves that same attention. Our attempts to fix this have fallen short. We, and most importantly, the body of Christ, must stand for justice in all areas, for all people. We must set the standard for the correct way to treat people.

Tonight I pray for the pastors, leaders, police and community of Baltimore.

California Prepares for the Next ‘Big One’; Risk Almost 50% Higher than Previously Thought

earthquakes-todayThe 800-mile San Andreas Fault, which runs from northern California to Mexico, has been the source of the state’s biggest earthquakes. Known as the ‘sleeping giant’, it is one of more than 350 faults that are found across the state.

Scientists now predict that the risk of a mega quake in the next 30 years is higher than was previously thought.

The Third Uniform California Earthquake Rupture Forecast (UCERF3), published in March, includes newly discovered fault zones and accounts for the possibility of an earthquake jumping between them. This could result in multiple faults shaking in a simultaneous mega quake (magnitude-8), releasing enough energy to cause massive destruction.

The report says that, while there is a lower likelihood of moderate-sized earthquakes, the odds of a mega quake occurring in the next 30 years have increased from 4.7 per cent to 7 per cent.

Earthquakes are nothing new for Californians. The state experiences 1,000 quakes a year, but most are too small to be felt. While the San Andreas Fault has experienced massive earthquakes in the central and northern segments — Fort Tejon in 1857 and San Francisco in 1906 — the southern section has not had a large quake for more than 300 years. (Read more from “California Prepares for the Next ‘Big One'” HERE)

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Family Research Council on Supreme Court Oral Arguments: American People Will Not Accept Redefinition of Marriage

gay_flagBy FRC. Family Research Council President Tony Perkins released the following statement after today’s oral arguments at the U.S. Supreme Court in Obergefell v. Hodges – the case considering whether the federal Constitution requires the states to redefine marriage to include same-sex couples:

“After today, we are more hopeful the Court will get it right, but I do know that regardless of what their decision is, it will not settle this issue.

“Today, parties came before the Supreme Court asking the Justices to redefine marriage, and to impose that redefinition on all 50 states. Simply put, the plaintiffs asked the Supreme Court to take the extraordinary step of departing from all of recorded human history and forcing a redefinition of civilization’s most fundamental human relationship upon an unwilling nation.

“There is no broad social consensus, and there is no global consensus that society would be better served by redefining marriage to include same-sex couples. To the contrary, America remains deeply divided over this issue and if the Supreme Court forces a redefinition it will only further divide the nation.

“History has shown us that something so deeply rooted in nature itself cannot be erased by legal action. I can say with certainty that a very large portion of the American population will not accept a redefinition of marriage imposed by the Court. The Court was unable to ‘resolve’ the issue of abortion for the nation in its Roe v. Wade decision, and the Court will not resolve this issue either.

“In 1973, the Court supercharged the abortion issue and 42 years later it is an issue in every election from President on down. A decision demanding the redefinition of marriage will be even more divisive as the freedom to live your life according to your beliefs is put in jeopardy for millions of Americans.

“The states must be left free by the U.S. Supreme Court to define marriage as the union of a man and a woman,” concluded Mr. Perkins.

To review FRC’s amicus brief, please see: https://downloads.frc.org/EF/EF15D21.pdf

Decide yourself whether Americans will not accept redefinition of marriage by reviewing the results of the WPA Opinion Research survey on the Supreme Court deciding marriage here: https://downloads.frc.org/EF/EF15B71.pdf

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Gay Marriage Arguments Divide Supreme Court Justices

By Adam Liptak. The Supreme Court on Tuesday was deeply divided over one of the great civil rights issues of the age, same-sex marriage. But Justice Anthony M. Kennedy, whose vote is probably crucial, gave gay rights advocates reasons for optimism based on the tone and substance of his questions.

In two and a half hours of arguments over whether the Constitution guarantees same-sex couples the right to marry, Justice Kennedy sent conflicting signals. At some points, he seemed wary of moving too fast and torn about what to do. But his demeanor was more emotional and emphatic when he made the case that same-sex couples should be permitted to marry. He is also the author of three landmark opinions expanding the rights of gay Americans.

The other justices for the most part played to type, clashing over what they saw as the right answer in the case and also over how to reach it. The questioning illuminated their conflicting views on history, tradition, biology, constitutional interpretation, the democratic process and the role of the courts in prodding social change. (Read more from this story HERE)

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Emerging Privacy Threat: Automated Vehicle Occupancy Detection

watchersJournalists and transparency activists across the country have done a phenomenal job of shining light on how local law enforcement agencies use emerging technologies to surveil everyday people on a massive scale. It’s often like playing Whac-A-Mole and Go Fish at the same time. One day, the question may be whether police are using drones. The next, automatic license plate readers. After that, facial recognition or IMSI catchers (i.e. Stingrays) or Rapid DNA analyzers.

So many technical terms, so many acronyms. Unfortunately, we need to put yet another one your radar: Automated Vehicle Occupancy Detection, also known as Automated Vehicle Passenger Detection or Automated Vehicle Occupancy Verification.

For years, government agencies have chased technologies that would make it easier to ensure that vehicles in carpool lanes are actually carrying multiple passengers. Perhaps the only reason these systems haven’t garnered much attention is that they haven’t been particularly effective or accurate, as UC Berkeley researchers noted in a 2011 report.

Now, an agency in San Diego, Calif. believes it may have found the answer: the Automated Vehicle Passenger Detection system developed by Xerox. . .

Documents obtained by CBS 8 reporter David Gotfredson show that Xerox’s system uses two cameras to capture the front and side views of a car’s interior. Then “video analytics” and “geometric algorithms” are used to detect whether the seats are occupied. (Read more from “Emerging Privacy Threat: Automated Vehicle Occupancy Detection” HERE)

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