On the KOIN6 website they have a story on Gregory Rold, a black man in Salem who was Tased and beaten to death by 4 Salem police officers Saturday night. In the article they mention he did, in fact, have a developmental disability "with the mind of a toddler". My question is, why is so little media attention being paid to this case?
Maybe it's because he was viewed as yet another "throw away" person who deserved to die. I've read that view several times in comments about the story on the internet. Main stream media is working overtime trying to keep a lid on this story, so I'm giving it as much attention as possible.
If he had a developmental disability, why was he not receiving support? He was reported to have been peeking in people's windows, and making lewd comments to adult women and children in the apartment complex. Tht's why he wasn't allowed on the grounds. Anyone who understands developmental disability knows issues like these can be dealt with through good psycho-sexual counseling. Was this offered to him?
Another disturbing aspect to what happened, is that one neighbor was quoted as saying; "I heard him yelling out at first" said Shelietha Edwards, who lives in a nearby unit. "After that I didn't hear him yelling out at all. But I heard the Tasers going off. I heard the sticks still being used." Edwards says she's had problems with Rold, but "nobody deserves to die like that."
There needs to be a thorough investigation into this matter, not attempts to keep the story quiet. I was told he is the 20th person to die in the U.S. while being Tasered this year.
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There are many Black bloggers around the nation watching this story as it unfolds. Rold was the 20th person killed this year as a result of taser electrocution from a police officer. 50% of the people killed have been African American. It would be a shame for us to discover that this person was also developmentally disabled.
I appreciate your blog for keeping an eye of the story. Please know that there are others around the nation who are watching as well...
peace, Villager
I concur with everything said. I too have been watching for this story to emerge into a news inquiry, something more respecting of a human life...
The unfortunate truth is that our society has slowly evolved into a police state. I understand that law enforcement is a necessary evil in our communities - However, shooting, tasering, pepper-spraying, and baton beatings have become the new police standard. They have replaced diplomacy, discernment, good judgment and respectful intervention.
Here is the bottom line: Gregory Rold, a troubled, mentally challenged man visiting his mother, did not have to die. He wielded no weapons and time will rule out any illicit drug use. The violent actions of the four policemen involved were atrocious, shameful and utterly revolting. Not to mention, criminal. Officers Jacob Pratt, Eric Brown, Adam Waite, and Darron Mumey put a stain on their badges and are an embarrassment to the Salem Police Department along with all law enforcement. They need to be removed from any position of authority and brought up on criminal charges.
We as a society must not tolerate this blatant abuse of force by the men we employ to “Protect and to Serve”. If the crime committed by these officers is deemed “justifiable” and is swept under the rug, no one is safe…
When is enough - enough? There have just been too many police victims in Oregon’s recent history: James Perez, Kendra James, Byron Hammick & Lukus Glenn were all victims, murdered by the “Peace Officers” we employ with our tax dollars.
We as a responsible citizenry have a duty to insist on the prosecution of these criminal-policemen. Write the mayor, the chief of police, the governor and any other state representative or senator you can think of. United, our voices will be heard!
It's great to see people up in arms over this! Shortround... I pushed the "reject" button on my computer regarding your comment by mistake. If you see this, please send it again...sorry...
I am deeply struck by this as Mr. Rold's aunt is my mother's neighbor, they are also good friends as well.
I visit my mom whenever I get the chance and one person that always stuck out to me everytime with his personality was Mr. Rold as he was never shy to yell across the street "How is your day going" or " How are you doing". A bit odd at times but nothing out of the ordinary for a man who is a skitsofrenick.
So when I heard this story and read the articles about it I needed to hear it from a person that was close to him or was there. What I came to learn was that indeed Greg was trespassing but that he was doing so to get a fresh pair of clothe changing. So in other words a man's life was taken over something so stupid.
I spoke to his mother who was present while all this happened she told me that he had wanted to stop by her apartment to get a changing of clothes and head back to his aunt's where he had been staying as he did not have a place of his own. Something that would have taken 20 minutes at most. Within those 20 minutes police officers arrived on a call of trespassing. Mr.Rold was forced to the ground and arrested.. By 4 police officers as you can see above. His mother then told me that while on the ground a police officer shot Greg with a taser and kept sending a series of electric shocks to him that lasted about 5 minutes. While he was completely man-handled, was not going any where, and was of ABSOLUTE NO THREAT.
For those that don't know the power of a taser; someone struck by a Taser experiences stimulation of his or her sensory nerves and motor nerves resulting in strong involuntary muscle contractions. In other words you go down within seconds of being hit by one... I did a little studying.
As she teared up she told me that her son's last words to her were "Mom, help. They are killing me". After that Greg was dragged outside where the officers realized that somehow he was unconcious after being shot with a taser for 5 minutes. You don't say?!?! How the heck does that happen? Morons. He later died at the hospital.
My question is why did four officers have to use a taser to subdue a man with no weapon???? Were they not all man enough to take a 5'9" 240 pound man down??
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