May 1 Mayday Marches Across the Nation

May Day Demonstrations For Immigration Reform In Several Cities

Immigration marches are planned for several cities on May Day to encourage the Obama Administration and Congress to enact comprehensive immigration reform. Immigrant advocates are persuading the president to follow through on campaign promises to reform the nation’s immigration system. They also want a stop to ICE raids and deportations.

Students, who are praying that the first phase of immigration reform passes with the DREAM Act bill currently before Congress, know that a public march underscores to government leaders how seriously people are taking the issue of immigration reform.

Republicans have Lost Their Minds: Boehner(R) Inserts Pic of Congressional Hispanics in Terrorist Montage.

Guest Voz: Mario Solis-Marich
Mario Solis-Marich is a talk show host that can be heard over the air AM 760 in Denver , KTLK AM 1150 in Los Angeles and worldwide at www.GoToMario.com.
Over the Line: Boehner Inserts Pic of Congressional Hispanics in Terrorist Montage.
Latino members of Congress are up in arms because the Leader of the beleaguered and aimless Republican House caucus, John Boehner, released a new web video ad today that associates them with terrorists and controversial foreign leaders. The topic of the web ad is terrorism and the question is do you feel safer after 100 days?The web ad inserts a pic of Barack Obama sitting with members of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus among pictures of terrorists, Obama bowing to the Saudi Prince, and the President shaking hands with, super villain to the right wing, Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez.After years of immigrant bashing, recent over heated rhetorical statements about Latin American leaders, and even a renewed claim by Republican pundit Pat Buchanan that Hispanics threaten the very survival of the country, the patience of CHC towards GOP leadership members may be used up.

As I write this members of the CHC are reading a response. We will continue to follow.
See YouTube for Boehner's deplorable video.

LIVE BLOG 4/30/09: "Kick In The Head" Murder Trial Underway - Piekarsky and Donchak - Ramirez Murder

UPDATE: DEFENSE RESTS CASE THIS MORNING! Crowd is in SHOCK!!
The Ramirez (Kick in the Head) Murder Trial began Monday 4/27/09, and continues today. The Republican/Herald is running a LIVE Blog. They have a reporter in the courtroom who is sending summarized updates which I am posting to this blog.
At the end of Wednesday, 4/29, Day 3 of the trial, the Prosecution rested. Today, the Defense begins their case. The strongest testimonies for the Prosecution were from the jocks: Ben Lawson and Colin Walsh who were participants in the events. From their testimony we heard:
1. There were four active participants in the fight with Ramirez: Scully (charged as a juvenile), Piekarsky, Donchak and Walsh. All had been drinking heavily prior to the park incident.
2. All of these fight participants were large, muscular football players with Piekarsky being the biggest, able to bench press well over 200 pounds. Walsh said he was "not afraid" of Ramirez because he was smaller than them and the big jocks outnumbered him.
3. Scully initiated the argument with the young couple and was the first to use racial remarks.
4. No one claimed to know who threw the first punch.
5. Ramirez only spoke Spanish both in response to them and when using his cell phone. The football players did not say they understood Spanish.
6. All agree several people were fighting with Ramirez at once. Punches. Several kicks. Ramirez fell to the ground. The teens continued to scream racial slurs and Ramirez got up and they said he hit Scully. Then Donchak and Scully were both fighting Ramirez when Walsh punched (Walsh says he looked him in the eye and it was not a sucker punch) Ramirez and knocked him to the ground hitting his head on the macadam. All agreed Ramirez was on the ground passed out.
7. While on the ground passed out, several people were kicking or kicking at Ramirez. Then a final kick to the head was delivered and Ramirez lay foaming at the mouth. Walsh said that kick came from Piekarsky. He said he was standing right next to him when it happened. Scully said it was not him. He said he missed his kick.
8. Walsh's most compelling response was when cross examined by Piekarsky's attorney Fanelli: so you have to impress a federal prosecutor to get a sentence reduction? Walsh: "I don't have to impress anyone. I'm willing to take the nine years."
So there we have it. The Jocks were drunk. They instigated the fight with Ramirez. They outnumbered and outweighed him. Then they kicked him in the head when passed out.
The Defense strategy: Confuse the Jury. Minimize the testimony of Walsh. Provide DOUBT that the final kick came from Piekarsky. Paint Ramirez as an evil illegal immigrant with gang ties and sexual relationship with a minor. They also suggest that since he got up the 1st time, it was his fault for restarting the fight even though all agree the screams and racist taunts were still coming from the jocks.
The most disturbing part of the testimony so far was the fact that the police officer involved was Piekarsky's mother's boyfriend. He drove Piekarsky back to the park. It appears he told Piekarsky to get the boys together to, as Piekarsky's mother said, "Get their story straight." Piekarsky did get the boys together the next day to weave the lies for their story. (Lies: they were not drunk; they did not start it; they did not use racial slurs; there were no kicks; gangs and guns were involved and that is why they fought.)
(Defense: atty. Jeff Markosky & Atty. Fred Fanelli )
11:22 ET The Defense Just Rested its case!! Did not provide witnesses with any type of defensive reasons for the crime. Will post closing argument when they give them!
Thursday, 4/30: (all times Eastern)
8:38: Piekarsky and Donchak have arrived at the courthouse.
9:08: Defense begins their case today.
9:09: Fanelli calls Officer Robert Senape, of the Mahanoy, West Mahanoy, and North Union township departments. Senape: I interviewed Arielle Garcia on-scene, and she identified Scully as the kicker and the "he's not dead" comments to Walsh.
9:24: On cross-exam by Goodman, Senape says he saw the Garcias being interviewed at Shen. Police station, doesn't recall seeing the teens.
9:28: Fanelli calls officer Michele Ashman, of the Frackville police. Ashman: on-scene, I saw Officer Hayes interview Arielle Garcia, and she identified Scully as the kicker. Ashman: I found a gun in an alley near the scene. I was told it was a BB gun. Ashman: my written report did not mention Garcia naming Scully as kicker.
9:47: Fanelli calls Diego Tovar Alvarez, friend of Ramirez. Tovar: Ramirez called and told me about the fight. Tovar: "I went down in my basement, got a BB gun and went to where he was at." Tovar: Ramirez was down and the kids were running. I went to them and asked what happened. Tovar: the BB gun was concealed under my shirt. I never pointed it at them.
10:04: Fanelli's examination is very choppy because of frequent objections and conferences with Judge Baldwin.
10:08: Tovar: I threw the BB gun into the bushes. The gun has been entered as evidence. Both Ashman and Tovar identified it. Tovar: I didn't ask the boys to call anyone. One of them did call the police, who arrived shortly.
10:16: Baldwin has to take care of something upstairs, and has announced an unspecified morning recess.
10:23: Tovar's testimony was limited to his involvement with Ramirez and the teens--no word on his interaction with police later on. Tovar was hustled out of the courthouse by sheriff's deputies immediately after his testimony. From the newsroom: we're told Tovar had a warrant for his arrest apparently unrelated to this incident. We'll update with more details when available. No record of arrest connected to this incident.
10:59: Fanelli calls chief county detective Anthony Carroll. Carroll: I interviewed Scully on July 13, and interviewed Arielle Garcia later that day. Carroll: I don't recall Garcia naming Scully as kicker. She mentioned white sneakers, but "wasn't positive." Carroll: I hadn't asked Scully about footwear. No thought given to showing footwear to Garcia for identification. Carroll: in a July 25 interview, Scully said he kicked and missed at Ramirez.
11:15: Ramirez's phone entered into evidence. Carroll says he examined the calls. Carroll: from 11:30 to 11:35 pm Ramirez made 5 calls: to Tovar (twice), Victor Garcia, Dillman, and someone named Zimudio. Carroll: I never had the BB gun tested but "I think it was broken." Fanelli had asked why Scully was charged in juvenile court.
11:21: Under Goodman's cross-exam, Carroll says Donchak and Scully have similar charges--at the time, Donchak was 18 and Scully 17.
Defense rests their case.
11:25: The crowd is shocked at the abrupt rest of the defense's case. Fanelli called four witnesses today. Markosky called none. Neither defendant took the stand. In his opening statement, Fanelli had alluded to a medical expert for the defense, but none was ever called. It's very quiet--no one wandering the floor, the courtroom emptied out, and nothing of note going on outside. Live Blog commenter Brian provided link about Alvarez' court docket sheet. Has nothing to do with the case but is interesting reading. from the newsroom: Diego Tovar Alvarez, who testified today was brought to the courthouse from the Schuylkill County prison and returned there after testifying. He has been in prison in lieu of $100,000 bail for charges stemming from incidents last summer unrelated to the July 12 Ramirez beating case. On July 31, Alvarez was arrested and charged with burglary, criminal tresspass, theft by unlawful taking and resisting arrest. He was committed to prison in lieu of $50,000 bail. On Aug. 1, he was also charged with stalking, harrassment, defiant tresspass and loitering and prowling at night. For those charges bail was also set at $50,000. Earlier information from a distict magistrate's office was incomplete.
12:42: Reporter: Caught Baldwin in the stairwell--he said we'll reconvene at 12:45 to dismiss, then reconvene Friday at 9 a.m. The proceedings have concluded for the day. Closing arguments, jury instructions and deliberations begin at 9 a.m. Friday.

I will be posting Closing Arguments as they are reported on the LIVE Blog tomorrow.

LIVE BLOG 4/29/09: "Kick In The Head" Murder Trial Underway - Piekarsky and Donchak - Ramirez Murder

The Ramirez (Kick in the Head) Murder Trial began Monday 4/27/09, and continues today. The Scranton Times is running a LIVE Blog. They have a reporter in the courtroom who is sending updates. I will be reading the live blog and summarizing the results.
Wednesday, 4/29: (all times Eastern)
8:38: No signs of any protestors or demonstrations.It's a much cooler morning than the past two days--a welcome change of pace when Courtroom 1 lacks air conditioning.

8:59: Arielle and Victor Garcia were just checked at the security entrance, and she was then taken to a waiting room. Arielle Garcia called. Because she is pregnant and may deliver soon, defense has been allowed to call her before prosecution rests its case.

9:14: Garcia: I knew Walsh and Scully by name prior to the fight, and saw them there. Garcia: I knew Piekarsky by sight, not by name, and do not recall seeing him there. Garcia: Ramirez heard Scully call him a "stupid Mexican" and they fought again. My husband Victor tried to break it up. Garcia: I saw Victor punch Walsh. Garcia: After Ramirez fell, I yelled "stop, stop...leave him alone, he's not awake." Garcia on the shoes that kicked Ramirez's head: "I remember them being white, but I'm not really sure." Garcia on white shoe: "I"m not positive about that, that's just how I see it in my mind." Markosky provides Garcia's written statement from two days after the fight, in which she identifies white shoes. Garcia: after the kick, I yelled "you killed him!" Scully replied "no, he's still breathing." Garcia: Scully returned and said "tell them you don't know us." Garcia: Walsh stumbled backward after Victor's punch, and Ramirez fell "pretty quick" after that. Garcia: I saw multiple feet stomping the fallen Ramirez. This and previous comment coming under cross-examination by prosecution. Garcia: neither my on-scene or written statements, both to Officer Hayes, identify Scully as kicker.

9:50: Garcia says she saw what looked like a gun when all boys but Scully were gone--no further detail on who or in what context given. Tape of Garcia's call to 911 played. Garcia: I said I knew the names of the boys on the 911 tape.

9:55: Garcia: a "Spanish guy" I didn't know had the gun in Vine St. Park.

10:04: Back to prosecution witnesses. Ann Marie Kovalewski, a parademic who saw Ramirez that night, takes stand. Kovalewski: Ramirez was unresponsive, had a swollen and deformed head, and had respiratory difficulties. William Schaeffer, flight paramedic with Geisinger, also reports head bruising and swelling on left side. Paramedics say Ramirez was sedated.

Baldwin calls a 20-minute recess.

10:27: For the third day straight, Crystal Dillman is sitting with MALDEF representatives. Earlier in the week they declined to comment. All this week, defendants Donchak and Piekarsky have been writing in yellow notebooks during witness testimony.

10:36: Prosecution calls forensic pathologist Barbara Bollinger. Bollinger: I evaluate medical-legal cases and perform autopsies to determine the cause of death. Bollinger: I have performed more than 5,000 autopsies. On cross-examination of Bollinger's credentials, an objection stops a Fanelli question about why she wouldn't talk to the defense office. Bollinger: I did not observe a shoe print on Ramirez's chest, but days had passed and it might have faded. Bollinger: medical records showed no CPR or breathing assistance procedures performed to his chest. Bollinger: a scan revealed no facial fractures, but skull fractures to the left and back sides, and a displaced bone. Bollinger: Geisinger records said Ramirez's left skull was opened to relieve pressure from accumulating blood. Bollinger: Geisinger records said Ramirez's brain was contused, blood-stained.

11:30: Bollinger is using a black marker on an anatomical body, skull, and brain to demonstrate injuries recorded during her autopsy. Bollinger: head, torso and arms had contusions. There were two fractures in the sternum area. Bollinger: his left brain was not a "nice, normal tan color" but a "diffused red." Bollinger: the two skull fractures, on the back and left sides, intersected. The fracture to the back came first. Bollinger: my opinion is cause of death is blunt force injuries of head, manner of death is homicide.

11:35: Bollinger on cross-examination. Fanelli asks Bollinger why she didn't respond to "8 to 10 12" calls or various e-mails from his office. Bollinger: I am only aware of getting one call from your office, just several weeks ago. Bollinger: I spoke with the prosecution 7 to 9 times, including a couple face-to-face meetings with other doctors. Fanelli notes that the fractures to the sternum and ribs were not recorded in a CAT scan and several chest X-rays. Bollinger: I have seen multiple cases where radiological scans did not detect fractures. Fanelli asks Bollinger if she classifies the death a homicide because there are only 5 categories and the others don't apply. Bollinger: "Homicide is defined as death at the hands of others, and that's what this is." Bollinger had said it was her decision not to talk to the defense about the case.

12:07: Donchak and Piekarsky seem to be comparing notes as counsel approaches the bench.

Lunch recess called after Bollinger steps down. Trial resumes at 1:15.

1:17: Prosecution calls Dr. Daniel Brown, a neuropathologist from Allentown. Brown: I have examined almost 2,000 brains, and examined Ramirez's on Aug. 1, 2008. Brown: I observed a blood clot between his brain and a protective covering, and blood in an area usually containing spinal fluid. Brown: the left side of his brain had extensive contusions and swelling. Brown: because of motion of the brain, an injury to the back of the brain caused an injury to the front. Brown: no evidence of trauma to the right side of his brain. Brown: injuries consistent with a moving head hitting a stationary object.

1:39: Prosecution calls Dr. Isador Mihalakis, forensic pathologist and Warren County medical examiner.

1:47: Frantz doing most prosecution questioning today. Unlike Bollinger, the defense neither questioned nor objected to the admission of Brown and Mihalakis as expert witnesses.

1:49: Mihalakis: I reviewed the autopsy and neuropathologist reports for Ramirez. Mihalakis: Bollinger's markings on the anatomical skull "fairly and accurately" depict injuries. Mihalakis says there were direct injuries, as well as indirect injuries from the brain bouncing and hitting the skull opposite the impact. Mihalakis: "All the injuries cannot be from the fall... There were two separate injuries." Mihalakis: a medical-to-legal blood alcohol content conversion gave a level of .013--about one 12-ounce beer, " maybe a couple of more sips."

2:28: Prosecution calls Josh Redmond, a friend of the boys who has been mentioned as part of the group on July 12. Redmond: I was at the creek and block party with the group. We saw a boy and girl at the park, and Scully made the "out late" comment. Redmond attributes racial slurs to Scully, Donchak and Walsh. Redmond: Ramirez replied to Scully and made phone calls, both in Spanish. Redmond says he and Lawson hung back from the fighting. Redmond: Piekarsky led the pack. Ramirez threw the first punch, missed, and was tackled by Piekarsky. Redmond: I saw Ramirez hit the ground, but saw no kick. Redmond: we ran away. After the incident we encountered two males, one with a gun, who questioned us about the fight. Redmond: we told them it was our friend, not us. Donchak said he was going to call the friend, but really called the cops. Redmond: we went to Donchak's house, and Piekarsky went with officers Moyer and Hayes to the scene to identify the male with the gun. Redmond: Hayes is "Brandon's mom's boyfriend."Redmond: Walsh hit Ramirez with a "sucker punch." Redmond: we met that night and the next day to get our stories straight. I didn't tell the truth in my first two interviews.

2:57: Fanelli on cross-examination. Redmond: I wasn't drinking, and I wasn't charged with anything. We weren't setting out to pick on a Mexican. Redmond attributes no racial comments to Piekarsky. Redmond: Piekarsky left the first fight after he tripped over a short wall. Redmond: fighting resumed when Ramirez hit Scully in the back of the head with a running punch. Redmond: I didn't see Victor Garcia fighting.

3:14: With Redmond's testimony, all of the boys in the group who are not defendants have taken the stand. Redmond: Walsh didn't like the idea of the boys mentioning his punch and felt he was being blamed. Fanelli, as in other cross-examinations, points out that Piekarsky is not reported to have said "where or when" he kicked Ramirez.

3:25: The prosecution rests their case.

Proceedings are dismissed for the day. The trial resumes at 9 a.m. Thursday.

Right Wing Extremists are Baselessly Blaming Latinos for Spreading Swine Flu Across the Border

Right Wingers are baselessly blaming Latinos for spreading swine flu across the border, despite the fact that several reports have indicated that U.S. swine flu patients have recently traveled to Mexico. Pundits like Glenn Beck, Michael Savage, Dobbs, Boortz and other right wing nut jobs are going on the air accusing and blaming American Latinos or any they term as "illeeegals" in the U.S. for the Swine Flu crisis.

ARE THEY NUTZ? ARE THEY NOT READING THE CDC Reports?? The origin of this disease comes from a pig farm -- a farm about 20 miles south of Mexico City. I am told this is an American owned pig farm that is blatant for NOT following hygenic policies they are required to follow. Regardless, this disease DID NOT ORIGINATE in the Latino neighborhoods of the U.S. No Latino from the U.S. should be chastized or demonized.

HOWEVER...............

On the HATE site Alipac.us, one commenter responded she had a Garage Sale and a Latino American came by to shop. The Latino-American sneezed. The Alipacer had a canipshon fit! She said, "See! The Latinos are ALL carrying the Swine Flu virus!" Now, on their site, they are looking forward to the May Immigration Reform Marches. They believe that any time a Latino American sneezes, people will believe they are infecting the population and this will cause Americans to join their hateful cause. These zealots are SO FULL OF HATE that they are imaging a new "The Stand." They feel the marches and any Latino that goes out in public will ultimately support their cause because their hateful side will blame them for the flu virus and rally their troops to line up enforce against ALL Latinos.

These zealots are insane! I feel like facing them off and saying, "Are you mad? Are YOU American?! Get a Grip, you Racist!!" These zealots blame a virus on one nationality! One Group!

In reality, this is a disease that could have started anywhere! Consider any Flu Season. Last year, we in the USA had 35,000 deaths attributed to good old American Flu! So far, NO American deaths can be attributed to the 2009 Swine Flu originating from Mexico. There have been a number of deaths in Mexico, but none in our USA! I say to Dobbs, whose tongue is drooling over reporting the status of this disease, STOP getting a tingling up your leg when you report about the Swine Flu! Get Real!

Across the world, we ALL need to partner together to combat disease!!

The bottom line is, Janet Napolitano/DHS and the Obama Administration are doing a GOOD JOB at combatting the disease and informing the American Public as to the status of the disease. What we DON'T NEED is for the right wing zealots to demonize one entire ethnic group and blame them for this disease. All Americans and all people should know, a disease can start anywhere and we ALL should partner together to combat it!

God Bless America

God Bless our President Obama!

Republicans Are In Turmoil: Arlen Specter Switches Parties to become a Democrat Creating a 60 Seat Filibuster Proof Majority!

As I have frequently reported, Republicans are in a turmoil! Many are predicting a demise to the current Republican Party due to the extremist Right Wing of their party attempting a take-over of their agenda. These right wing extremists do not consider Michael Steele, the head of the RNC, as their leader. Instead, many of the extremists consider Rush Limbaugh and Glenn Beck their leaders with Sean Hannity and Michelle Malkin their primping queens.

Now, to add to their misery, Senator Arlen Specter, the staunch and powerful Republican from Pennsylvania, has switched parties. He will run in 2010 as a Democrat. Specter said the Republican Party has slanted too far to the Right and it is impossible for a moderate Republican to survive in their ranks. He said, "Since my election in 1980, as part of the Reagan Big Tent, the Republican Party has moved far to the right. Last year, more than 200,000 Republicans in Pennsylvania changed their registration to become Democrats. I now find my political philosophy more in line with Democrats than Republicans."

Specter's decision will give Democrats a 60 seat filibuster proof majority in the Senate once Democrat Al Franken is sworn in as the next senator from Minnesota.

President Obama was informed of Specter's decision at around 10:25 a.m. today, according to White House officials, and reached out to the senator minutes later to tell him "you have my full support," and we are "thrilled to have you."

The move is a huge blow to the Republican party. Many are in an uproar over Specter's decision. Republican leader in the Senate, Mitch McConnell said one party rule posed a danger to the country and accused Senator Specter of acting in political self interest. South Carolina senator, Lindsay Graham said: "We got a problem.''
The extremists celebrated the purging of another moderate from the Republican ranks. Rush Limbaugh said, "Arlen Specter should take John and his daughter Meaghan McCain with him.'' Michelle Malkin, another right wing extremist said, "Don’t let the door hit you on the way out."

From my perspective, I often wonder about the Republicans. Why are so many of their stances on the wrong side of Humanity? From Economic recovery to Healthcare to Education to Immigration Reform to Civil Liberties. This makes me think of JFK. Did they hate the fact that he was introducing Civil Rights and the end to the Jim Crow laws so much that they despised him to the level they did? Do the extremists hate progress, equality for all and humanity so much? I question the agenda of the extremists on their side. Every time I read a comment section, their websites and their un-editted responses, I question their morality and their Americanism. Perhaps, like the pyramids of old, that type of thinking has run its course.

References: Specter To Switch Parties Senator switches to Democratic party

Another Violent Right Wing Extremist Murders Two Police Officers

Another Right Wing Extremist in the Florida area close to Dannie Baker's hometown shot and killed two police officers. He was another Beck/Hannity fan who hated President Obama and was afraid someone was going to take away his assault weapons.

NWFDaily Reports:

Shooting deaths: 'None of it makes sense' April 26, 2009 - 4:24 PM OKAlOOSA CO., FLA

Joshua Cartwright, a 28-year-old U.S. Army Reserve soldier with a history of violence, killed Okaloosa County sheriff's deputies Burt Lopez and Warren "Skip" York at a gun range in Crestview. A few minutes after he killed the deputies, Cartwright was himself killed in a shootout with lawmen in DeFuniak Springs.
"None of it's logical, none of it makes sense," said interim Sheriff Ed Spooner on Sunday. "He'd obviously just got something else in his mind."
An offense report filed against Cartwright the day he died outlines an angry husband who threatened his wife, kept guns and knives on hand, was "severely disturbed" that Barack Obama had been elected president, and believed the U.S. government was conspiring against him. According to the report, events spun out of control Saturday morning. Cartwright's 21-year-old wife, Elizabeth, told deputies her husband was not attending anger management counseling - something the court ordered after Cartwright was charged with domestic battery against Elizabeth in late 2008.
On Friday, Elizabeth told lawmen, Cartwright was laid off from his job at a telephone store. He also had worked as a bouncer at a bar at one point, and weighed about 220 pounds. About 9:30 a.m. Saturday, a frustrated Cartwright woke up Elizabeth in the couple's Consul Apartments home on Monahan Drive because he couldn't find the Clearasil in the bathroom. He insisted it was in Elizabeth's purse and eventually threw off her covers, picked her up from the bed and threw her back down, pulling her hair with enough force to move her head back and forth, according to the report. She confronted him and "told him this behavior was not acceptable," according to the report. But Elizabeth said she still feared for her life. Cartwright took away two phones she tried to use to call for help, she said. When she picked up one of his pistols near the bed, Cartwright took it away from her. He had "numerous guns and knives throughout the house," Elizabeth told deputies later.
As the argument escalated, Cartwright threw Elizabeth back on the bed and hit her in the face, according to the report. He stopped when he noticed someone looking in their window, which fronts a nearby elevator. But he wouldn't let Elizabeth leave the bedroom. "(Elizabeth) told me her husband gets very controlling and authoritarian when he is angry," a deputy wrote.
She eventually got out of the room and took a Taurus 9mm handgun from her purse for self-defense. Cartwright took that gun, too, then punched her and threw her to the floor, according to the report.
Elizabeth drove herself to the emergency room at Fort Walton Beach Medical Center and called 911. Then deputies began looking for Cartwright to make an arrest.
They learned he'd planned to go with friends to the Shoal River Gun Club in Crestview, a shooting range.
Deputies Lopez and York found Cartwright in the parking lot there, according to the Sheriff's Office. They intended to arrest him on a misdemeanor charge of domestic battery. "They approached him, he was uncooperative, they utilized the Taser, and he went down to the ground," Spooner said Sunday. "He came up firing with a gun nobody saw. He probably had it concealed somewhere." Spooner described the attack as aggressive and well-planned. "To show you how aggressive he was, he was shooting at York. After he shot him, he didn't even turn around," Spooner said. "He just started firing over his head."
Both deputies suffered multiple wounds in areas not covered by their bulletproof vests, Spooner said.
"We don't see anything that indicates they did anything but what they should have. They died brave men doing the job they were trained to do," Spooner said. Cartwright's death minutes later came as he began firing at lawmen in Walton County, where patrol cars rammed his truck, flipping it on its roof near the intersection of U.S. Highway 331 and U.S. 90 in DeFuniak Springs.