Grand Jury Whitewash Andrew Hanlon’s Killing. The Scandal Is Complete
Posted on Friday, July 25, 2008
So there you have it.
An Oregon grand jury has cleared officer Tony Gonzales of murder.
Gonzales, according to the grand jury, while retreating from AJ Hanlon fired seven bullets, hitting him five times. As he retreated Gonzales somehow managed to put a bullet in Andrew’s back.
This scenario caused the grand jury no difficulty, it seems. Evidently, in the United States, it’s perfectly normal to shoot someone in the back while retreating from them.
Now, according to this grand jury, AJ Hanlon was trying to strike Gonzales and ignored commands to stop. Therefore, it seems, Gonzales felt he had no option but to fire his gun.
Let me remind you once again of the physical reality separating these two people.
AJ Hanlon weighted 130-pounds, was barefoot and unarmed.
Gonzales weighs 230 pounds, is a martial arts expert, a former Marine, a trained cage-fighter and in addition to his firearm, was carrying a Taser and a nightstick.
Yet we’re asked to believe that this bear of a man, proficient in multiple schools of physical combat, felt so threatened by a skinny, frail youth, that he retreated from him in fear and shot at him seven times, inflicting five wounds including a bullet in the back.
Let me be blunt. This is bullshit.
This is an insult to our intelligence so crass that we have to shake ourselves and wonder if these people are serious. Do they really think we’re so stupid we’ll believe this?
I don’t think so. I think they just don’t care whether we believe their story or not. I think this is their way of giving us the raised finger.
Apparently, four police and nine civilians gave evidence to the grand jury, but for some reason Gonzales himself was spared the ordeal of being questioned. So were the people who followed Andrew down the hill.
For some reason best known to himself, the District Attorney decided not to call any of the people who were involved in the killing of Andrew. Therefore the grand jury had no opportunity to question those who know most about this despicable crime.
Four police, who weren’t there, gave evidence. Nine civilians gave evidence, civilians who were afraid that the ripples from a trial might reach out and touch any upstanding members of their community.
How many of these civilian witnesses were involved in the hunting of AJ Hanlon? At least one, but the grand jury weren’t told.
How many are related to those who harried him down the hill to his death? How many are close friends? How many have business relationships with those involved? We need to know the answers.
This stinks. This reeks of secret handshakes, nods and winks, shadowy brotherhoods.
Have you ever seen the movie Mississippi Burning?
No?
Well you’re looking at the remake.
_______________________________
UPDATE
I thought it might be interesting to quote Cameron Campbell, the director of training for the state Department of Public Safety Standards and Training.
According to Mr Campbell
There are many factors officers have to take into account when using force besides whether the suspect is armed or not.
Environmental factors are a concern. Is the suspect hidden in shadow, or in the light of day? Is he or she hiding behind a wall, or out in the open? Is it rainy or dry?
The officer also has to weigh his fitness and presence against that of the suspect. 
Is the suspect younger or older than the officer? Does he or she have a bigger build, or display a better fighting ability? What are the chances the suspect could overpower the officer?
Said Mr Campbell, The mere fact that an officer arrives and is in uniform can and most often does neutralize the aggression, without the officer saying anything.
Beyond that, an officer can issue verbal commands, use hand holds to subdue a suspect, or take out his or her baton, pepper spray or Taser and bring a suspect down.
Now, these aren’t my words. These are the words of the man who trains Oregon police in lethal force policy, so they’re worth a closer look.
Environmental factors.
Is the suspect hidden in shadow, or in the light of day? Is he or she hiding behind a wall, or out in the open? Is it rainy or dry?
It was night time. It is not an offence punishable by death to be out after dark.
The officer also has to weigh his fitness and presence against that of the suspect.
Did Gonzales do that? No. He was twice Andrew’s weight, built like a tank and an expert in martial arts.
Is the suspect younger or older than the officer?
Andrew was a boy. Gonzales was a man.
Does he or she have a bigger build, or display a better fighting ability?
No. The cage-fighter was infinitely more powerful than Andrew.
What are the chances the suspect could overpower the officer?
Zero.
The mere fact that an officer arrives and is in uniform can and most often does neutralize the aggression, without the officer saying anything.
That didn’t work, but it might be for reasons other than the obvious.
Beyond that, an officer can
- issue verbal commands,
- use hand holds to subdue a suspect, or
- take out his or her baton,
- pepper spray or
- Taser and bring a suspect down.
Did Gonzales choose any of these options?
No.
And yet, despite the fact that Gonzales followed none of the Oregon state policy on the use of lethal force, a Grand jury was somehow led, by the selective presentation of evidence and witnesses, to conclude that the killing of Andrew Hanlon was lawful.
Does that not strike you as in any way sinister?
________________________________
All Bock posts on AJ Hanlon HERE
District Attorney’s statement HERE
How a citizen petitioned the Grand Jury in Texas HERE
Stumble it!
July 25th, 2008
Something rotten to the core in the State of Oregon.
Reminiscent of the infamous RUC/British Army “shoot-to-kill” policy of the Northern troubles, where reliable witnesses suddenly appeared to corroborate the security forces “stick with the same story”. Although this effort is far less believable than anything the Brits concocted in theri day.
Eventually, even small town cover ups unravel. Hopefully sooner rather than later in this shameful case.
July 25th, 2008
It’s the most transparent and inept attempt at a cover-up I’ve ever seen.
They must think we’re idiots.
July 25th, 2008
there was an enormous amount of gunfire, 7 shots????? please~ i heard (very close) the last 2 big blasts (fired near or at front & side of my building.) 7 total gunshots fired~the report is saying? and the rest of the blasts? our neighborhood must have been hearing lies exploding, not gunfire… i cannot even find words for the rest of the report, except what i already said: WHITEWASH????? this wash is
so full of SILVERTON OREGON SCUM ain’t
nothin’ gonna turn it clean, except justice/ and
that would be now, as we prepare for round
two~ send us strength, (please send a.j.’s mum money,) and a.j.’s troops strength~
always with love jstone
July 25th, 2008
Just heard it on the radio. What a load of bullshit. What a terrible, terrible indictment on this poor victim and what a shambolic indication of the nature of American law is. What the hell is going on.
July 25th, 2008
It should be noted that Jeff DeSantis (who happened to be driving past] is a member of the Silverton Budget Committee!
July 25th, 2008
And that the husband of Shannon Kelley, Josiah, is in the brewery business with DeSantis.
July 25th, 2008
Time to get political, make it an Irish America issue for McCain and Obama. Push for an FBI (from out of town) investigation. .
July 25th, 2008
Jesus Christ
De Santis also lives next door to a Police Officer - a few doors away from Melanie, AJ’s sister.
It is gut-wrenching.
July 25th, 2008
Absolutely. Make it a Federal case.
Send for Gene Hackman.
July 25th, 2008
Seems to me we may have a situation here of Rent-A-Witness. Seems also that this is the locals sticking together against the outsider. There has to be a more serious investigation into it.
July 25th, 2008
I think it can only be federal if state lines were crossed.
How big is this town of Silverton? I live in a small town here myself but this is ridiculous. Even in this small town everyone doesn’t know each other.
Bloody hell I don’t even know my neighbours past 2 doors down. Not a clue who they are. (Maybe I’m antisocial)
I’m sorry for this family. There is no closure for them here.
July 25th, 2008
I’m just thinking of the number of times in an average weekend that the Gardai, UK Police, in fact most Police forces around the world - armed and unarmed - face young guys confronting them for one reason or another, whether these lads are just angry, drunk, high, confused, unstable or whatever. It wouldn’t even enter their heads that they could or should KILL a person no matter what the provocation.
Their job is to Protect and Serve - every citizen - especially those on the edge.
These guys in US police foces have been given A Licence to Kill.
History has shown us that when any organisation is given carte blanche over people then it always attracts a percentage of individuals who are there to take advantage of that unrestriced power.
Gonzalez is just one of thousands. The further tragedy here is that there are many people in the USA this morning (but luckily not all) nodding in approval at this outcome because they believe in their gun culture system. They want this kind of ‘justice’ in their society.
There were many people over there screaming on blogs, etc’, that Gonzalez is ‘Innocent until Proven Guilty’ - ‘its in our Constitution’ - well AJ wasnt afforded that constitutional right. He was executed on the spot - for nothing.
Gonzalez was AJ’s Judge, Jury and Executioner. Thats not justice, no matter what country you live in
Another shameful in an endless list of shameful days in that country’s history.
No ruling from a Grand Jury will alter these simple facts
July 25th, 2008
GRAND JURY
How is a Grand Jury constituted?
How are they selected?
Where are these individuals from?
Are they selected randomly or picked form the a specific group?
How many unarmed people are shot by Police in the US in any one year?
Has a Grand Jury EVER indicted a Police Officer?
Can their decision be appealed?
They just looked after their own……………
July 25th, 2008
[…] Bock the Robber’s coverage of The AJ Hanlon tragedy is incredibly impressive. […]
July 25th, 2008
Interesting comments from “LAWMAN123″ on the blogs in the Oregonian newspaper.
It says it all in a nutshell.
“The district attorney’s office, not the grand jury, found that the police officer shooting was lawful.
There’s a saying among prosecutors that “you can indict a ham sandwich.” This is because during grand jury proceedings, which are conducted in secret, the district attorney calls all of the witnesses and asks all of the questions. During a typical trial, an opposing attorney will cross-examine the witnesses, to bring out holes in the testimony and show the other side of the story. However, during grand jury proceedings, the district attorney picks which witnesses will testify and asks all of the questions, knowing that there will be no cross-examination of the witnesses, or rebuttal witnesses called. No other attorneys, such as attorneys who may represent the accused or the family of the victim, are allowed to be present.
The lack of cross-examination allows the district attorney to decide before-hand whether the accused will be indicted. In most cases, the district attorney wants to go forward with a trial against the accused, so he presents the evidence in such a way as to lead the grand jury to issue an indictment.
However, with police officer shootings, the district attorney is keenly aware of the politics between his office and the police department. The district attorney typically does not want to go forward with a prosecution against a police officer, which will create a very difficult working environment in future cases involving police officer testimony. However, the district attorney also does not want the public to think that he let the police officer off for killing an unarmed civilian. So the district attorney pretends to put the decision in the hands of a grand jury. The district attorney calls a grand jury, presents the evidence in such a manner as to make the killing seem justified, and the grand jury, as expected, finds the killing lawful. At this point, the district attorney has satisfied all his constituents: the police department is satisfied that one of their own will not be prosecuted for “doing his job,” and the public believes that a grand jury made a “fair” decision not to indict the police officer.
Whether you think the killing was justified or not, keep in mind that the decision not to indict Tony Gonzalez was made by the district attorney, after which the grand jury decision was a foregone conclusion.”
July 25th, 2008
Gun-slinging, trigger-happy culture …
Just look at this story about a man killed by multiple use of a taser by a cop (while he was lying on the ground HANDCUFFED):
http://www.alternet.org/blogs/peek/92348/dead_black_man_was_tasered_nine_times_by_white_cop/
I’m not completely au fait with the details of AJ’s story, but I’m now reading that Gonzalez has been indicted on the sex abuse charges (which I realise are *not related* to the AJ case):
“Circuit Judge Joseph Ochoa said a grand jury returned an indictment charging Gonzalez on three counts of first-degree sex abuse and four counts of third-degree sex abuse, adding two new counts to the initial accusation.
“During Tuesday’s hearing, Kemmy said Gonzalez should not be allowed to post bail because he poses a danger to the girl and was considered untrustworthy because he violated his position in law enforcement.”
http://www.statesmanjournal.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080723/COMMUNITIES/807230468/1132
And he was on leave because of the AJ’s death when he allegedly committed these offences?
I was just going to say that I can’t figure out why any community would be bending over backwards to protect this man. But having read the previous comment, it’s the *cops* protecting their own, it seems, not the community (?).
July 25th, 2008
I’m referring to this bit here:
“with police officer shootings, the district attorney is keenly aware of the politics between his office and the police department.”
However, I still can’t quite figure out what the district attorney (or the cops) have to gain by protecting a man who *appears to be* in deep shit already.
July 25th, 2008
Why assume it’s Gonzales they’re protecting?
July 25th, 2008
True enough. Why indeed.
July 25th, 2008
Like the truth was ever going to get out - The family will have to take a civil case now if they want to see justice done. This will be incredibly expensive see it all the way through.
Our own cops here are’nt much better - that poor 14 year old Rossiter kid that died in the cop shop in clonmel (i think) without the cops knowing anything - His family are stiil trying to get answers 5 and 6 years later - Totally ridiculous
July 25th, 2008
To assit as to why the DA did not call anyone involved in the murder as you say is that, that person in this case albeit a police officer happens to be the accussed and in this jurisdiction, at least, there is no obligation on the accussed to give evedence in relation to his own case and no negative inference may be drawn form the absence of his choosing to do so
July 25th, 2008
Bock,
listening to Morning Ireland they had an Oregon reporter on and he was going on about the fact that he was shot five times.
That didn’t tally with the seven gunshot wounds that AJs sister counted. So how is the ballistics report going to account for the extra two wounds? Magic bullets?
On this link from K103 http://www.k103.com/cc-common/news/sections/newsarticle.html?feed=&article=4004352 it states that he was shot five times. So it looks like the cover up continues.
July 25th, 2008
I can’t help but think Gonzales wouldn’t have gotten off so lightly if AJ was a US citizen. There would at least be a lot more attention paid to this case in the US if he was a citizen. They don’t seem to care about foreigners, especially ‘illegal’ immigrants.
July 25th, 2008
Mark — Exit wounds.
Audrey — Which is ironic, considering Gonzalez’s partial Mexican orgins.
July 25th, 2008
Luckily the Oregon state Governor is based quite close to Silverton. Am I being too idealistic when I say he might be more interested than the locally elected DA in justice being served for this slaying? You can contact Governor Kulongoski (or Hershey, the First Dog of Oregon) at http://governor.oregon.gov/Gov/contact_us.shtml
July 25th, 2008
On the face of it, I doubt he’d give a rat’s ass.
Why think smalll? Write to Obama. Write to Mccain. Annoy them.
Lobby the European commission.
Hassle Biffo and his cronies. Stir it up with your local politicians. Demand answers: why aren’t they asking the questions.
Make them uncomfortable.
July 25th, 2008
Everyone in the US has partly-something-or-other origins. :)
July 25th, 2008
All the more reason why his lack of immigrant status isn’t relevant.
July 25th, 2008
http://blog.oregonlive.com/breakingnews/2008/07/grand_jury_irish.html#more seems incredulous AJ would have leapt at Gonzalez.. ‘But an eyewitness, Silverton resident Jeff DeSantis, recounted that Hanlon screamed, swung his arms and kicked as he leapt toward the uniformed officer’
July 25th, 2008
This news makes for disturbing reading. I feel heart sorry for Andrew’s family. The frustration and hurt must be tearing them apart. There needs to be an inquiry about this acquittal.
It makes you despair for justice in this country.
July 25th, 2008
[…] covers today’s news as he has through all of this tragic story including […]
July 25th, 2008
For those interested the family here in Oregon had a press conferance this a.m.
You should be able to watch it via http://www.koin.com after they archive it. There is a snippet of it all ready up at http://www.kgw.com
July 26th, 2008
Surely a leg shot could have taken him down they also cary tazers a most effective weopon, ( I did see noras reference to tazers), are american cops drug tested.
July 26th, 2008
audrey~ gonzolas “got off” because this was murder, there are MANY MORE PEOPLE and circumstances here…he got off, to clear ALOT more than just HIS name,
also~ a.j. was NOT illegal immigrant, his status was “visitor w/expired visa” no big thing, he just needed a renewal. this murder
(trust me) didn’t matter his status as irish national.
nora~” why d.a. protecting a man who…etc.”
d.a. protecting a whole lot more than ONE man, here… SO IS THE “REPORT” so is the police dept., so is the hamlet, and the residents of the hamlet, this is an incredible
example of corruption and violence, and murder. keep in mind, if you will: “they kill artists in silverton oregon now…” this is why we need all your help, and to mr. bock the r.~ god bless your mind!!! and your spirit~
surely you’ve become one of my hero’s! (and i have very few, don’t you know…) jstone
July 26th, 2008
memory bank of most yanks very burned out~
short curcuited~ whatever…
forgot BIGGEST immigration issue of all~
each citizen of the u.s.a., is an immigrant, or the ancestor of an immigrant, (except native americans who were mostly killed off by the conquerors)
some immigrants just arrived sooner than others~ like the brown skinned “immigrants” who arrived wearing shackles, “imported from africa” to “work the dream” these mighty mayflower white knights envisioned~
ALL IN THE NAME OF FREEDOM
ps: i laugh when i hear california residents complain for their “immigration issue” with mexican americans~ short memory curcuit
once again~ they forgot what california’s OLD name was: before people were shot or run south~ it was called MEXICO
July 26th, 2008
Did I miss something here or did no one mention that Hanlon was mentally disturbed? And that he was seen by his roomates friends to be “angry” twenty minutes before the shooting? And that when Hanlon was “angry”, these same friends said, that (again, Hanlon is mentally disturbed here) Hanlon would typically act out with “karate” moves? And that Hanlon would bang on the front door of someones house and demand to be let in so he could go in and sleep? So here’s the truth. The “perfect storm” of getting yourself shot and killed in small town USA is - banging on strangers front doors, late at night, and demand to be let it and when the police come to sort matters out, you attempt karate moves on them. I mean you are ASKING TO BE KILLED in this country behaving in that manner. That’s just the truth. You just have to accept that you are putting your life in jeapardy if you behave in that manner, in the USA. This case is very sad. Everyone would prefer that Hanlon wasn’t dead. But if Hanlon was mentally disturbed enough to commit suicide would that be any less sad? It wouldn’t. A young man would still be dead. But if he had committed suicide you people wouldn’t have anyone to blame but the victim. I hope that blaming someone other than Hanlon brings you some peace. I’m sure you could use it. Again, terribly sad situation.
July 26th, 2008
JP,
Firstly, you make a statement that ‘Hanlon’ his name is Andrew AJ Hanlon was Mentally disturbed, it has been repeatedly stated that AJ was NEVER diagnosed and this was a fact.
Something that has never been said either was that AJ was into Tai Chi which is a discipline for relaxing the body, do you know thw difference between Karate and Tai Chi ?
Next you seem to thave skipped over the MOST important fact in this case (nothing unuasual for you) and that is
*AJ WAS UNARMED* to clafify *HE HAD NO GUN/KNIFE/BOTTLE OR ANYTHING ELSE*
Gonzalez killed an UNARMED boy.
How it came about is irrelavent, Gonzalez was SUPPOSED to be a professional Police Officer, there to protect ALL people, instead he was a child molesting killer.
He shot AJ as if he was a rabid dog in the street.
Nothing will ever change this fact, no whitewash, no cover up and no amount of messing with evidence so the DA’s office can keep their records clean.
Something else you dont know is that in over 30 years Oregon has NEVER indited a Police Officer on a Wrongfull Killing ……………
Dont you find that strange…………..
So why would they want to BLOT their copy book with a 20 year old boy from Ireland.
They have killed this familys boy, they have tried to ruin their dead boys reputation, how much more shamefull can they get.
Now they hope the family will retreat with their tails between their legs and their heads bowed in shame.
This SHAME is NOT the familys it is the DA’s and Gonzalez.
It was in their power to see this child molesting power hungry beast put behind bars forever, BUT NO, they would rather keep their records clean.
Of course it has also never been said that Oregon still maintain the death penalty for Murder , of course they wouldnt want anyone to see one of ‘AMERICA’S FINEST’ walk down death row it wouldnt be good PR.
But of course its prefectly OK for their ‘Finest’ to do time for CHILD MOLESTATION’.
God help the children of America if this is the mind set of the people who are supposed to protect them.
July 26th, 2008
Take a look at this story and then put yourself in an American policemans shoes. http://www.cnn.com/2008/CRIME/07/25/radio.station.shooting.ap/index.html. Do you think that this dead guy was insane? I remember that story a few years back where British police raided a flat and “arrested” Islamic terrorists. I guess they didn’t quite “arrest” them quite well enough, as one of the arrested got free and ran into the kitchen and retrieved a knife with which he then stabbed one of the policeman. The policeman sadly died of those wounds. That kind of nonchalant treatment of perpetrators is not the kind of thing the flies in the US. People don’t get free and run into the kitchen and come back with a knife and then kill a cop in the US. Suspects are not treated with that kind of generosity here. In America, we prefer to error on the side of the policeman. Again, everyone here wishes that the young Mr. Hanlon were still alive, but we have to protect our policeman also. If only Mr. Hanlon would have returned home to Ireland for treatment of his psychological problems. His relatives said that he did not seek treatment in Oregon for fear of being sent back to Ireland. It seems that Mr. Hanlon overstayed his visa and was currently in violation of US immigration laws for the last six months. It, sadly, seems, that a number of things conspired to bring about this young mans untimely death. None of which were local law enforcements fault.
July 26th, 2008
JP,
You have just posted this from CNN:
“A man who had threatened a Christian radio station was shot and killed by police Friday, after he fired at officers with a rifle and tried to run them over with his sport utility vehicle, authorities said.”
What on earth has that to do with AJ’s story? And what is the point of asking if the guy in the CNN story was insane?
“I guess they didn’t quite “arrest” them quite well enough, as one of the arrested got free and ran into the kitchen and retrieved a knife with which he then stabbed one of the policeman. The policeman sadly died of those wounds.”
No, I don’t remember that story. Perhaps you’d post a link.
“That kind of nonchalant treatment of perpetrators is not the kind of thing the flies in the US.”
I think you mean to say that human life is not treated as nonchalantly here in Ireland and in the UK as it is by police officers in the US.
And you might also reconsider your use of the word “perpetrators”, as AJ, by all accounts, “perpetrated” nothing.
July 26th, 2008
JP - What sort of pompous nonsense is that?
“In America, we prefer to error on the side of the policeman.”
You’ve invented a load of bullshit about Andrew to justify his execution, and I’ll have to say this again: Andrew was never diagnosed with any mental illness.
There’s also no evidence that he did anything violent.
What you’re advocating is not a civilisation. What you’re arguing for is a zoo. Has America sunk that low?
July 26th, 2008
Tai Chi has more in common with ballet than with Karate. It’s a relaxation technique. I’ve seen both techniques in practise.
AJ was never diagnosed as mentally disturbed. OK.
So, we have a scenario where AJ may have been behaving “slightly oddly” and making slow Tai Chi movements with his arms? Is that accurate?
On Friday and Saturday nights in Ireland and in the UK, unarmed uniformed police are regularly approached by young folk behaving “slightly oddly” — since they are often under the influence of alcohol and/or other mood altering substances.
If all of them were arbitarily shot by the police (who would, of course, need guns in the first place — something they don’t have) the streets of this country and the UK would be littered with dead bodies every weekend.
According to Bock, “Gonzalez weighs 230 pounds, is a martial arts expert, a former Marine, a trained cage-fighter and in addition to his firearm, was carrying a Taser and a nightstick.”
He could only disable a young unarmed lad making Tai Chi movements by shooting him five times and killing him??
Did he forget he had a night stick AND a Taser? Why was he issued the Taser unless it was to disable without killing?
July 26th, 2008
America is looking like the new Soviet Union.
Difference is not tolerated there, it seems, but instead is answered with a hail of lead.
July 26th, 2008
J.P.~
you are missing ALOT of “things” here~
no, NO ONE DID MENTION A.J. was “mentally disturbed” no one diagnosed it either~
DID NO ONE MENTION~
you are being a “state” apple tree inspector here: picking LOWEST fruit you can, from the tree~ discovering one slightly bruised apple in your pail and declaring not only that one apple
is bruised but that all the lower branches and all the higher branches are “rotten.”
you had best “pick and choose” with more discretion here~
SOON NO MORE APPLE TREES/NO MORE JOBS
FOR THE “JUDGEMENTAL INSPECTORS.”
(old chinese proverb) by j.stone
July 26th, 2008
You are all quite distressed at this Mr. Hanlons death. Everybody is. But what you don’t seem to understand is that the USA isn’t Ireland and that we have different laws and a different system here. Did you not know that then? So cock off to a copper in Dublin if you want, but I wouldn’t recommend banging on front doors late in the evening and demanding to be let in and then when the police arrive dismiss the officers orders and begin to “tai chi”! Again, this might well provoke violence. It seems that you only see the possiblilities for the Oregon police to make allowances for the possiblity that Mr. Hanlon might not be likely to harm them. You don’t seem to see the possibilities of violence towards the policemans. Hence, the CNN link. And please quit with the Mr Hanlon was never “diagnosed” insane line. You might well be correct. Again, he never sought treatment for fear of being deported and therefore never could be “diagnosed”. And as for the drunken and violent behavior of the English and Irish youth on weekend nights, we in the US, would never put up with that behavior. By the way, how’s the late night, post bar, drunken, knife fighting going over there? Yes, we’ve heard about that. Don’t expect to be doing that over here either without serious repercusions to ones health. Different country the US. Just get used to it or stay away. Unbalance people, confronting policemen late at night after banging on front doors is a recipe for getting hurt over here. Too bad the young man wasn’t more mentally stable. Things then would have worked out, I feel certain.
July 26th, 2008
1) We’re VERY aware that the USA is not Ireland.
2) AJ was not carrying a knife.
3) I wasn’t aware that knocking on doors and waving your arms around carried the death penalty in the US.
4) What was Gonzalez afraid that AJ would do to him? Brush his sleeve by mistake while waving his arm?
July 26th, 2008
JP –
Try to say something relevant.
The English and Irish youth, as you know perfectly, well have nothing to do with this case. We need no lectures about youth behaviour from you. Look instead to your school and college massacres if you’re so concerned about the behaviour of youths.
Likewise, Andrew’s mental health has nothing to do with this case, but I notice you keep returning to it, as if it would be all right to kill him if he were mentally ill.
What a disgraceful outlook you’re putting forward. What kind of place has America become, when a policeman can shoot a young kid down in the street like a dog and people like you will come forward to blacken the young man’s name?
Don’t be so defensive. Be worried at what a violent place your country has become.
July 26th, 2008
Hey Bock, I think that it is quite relevant to tell you that metally disturbed behavior, late night, towards American policeman is likely to invoke violence. And from what I can tell from your comments and your attitude, please don’t listen to me. Try it for yourself.
July 26th, 2008
“By the way, how’s the late night, post bar, drunken, knife fighting going over there?”
While I was commenting on a blog based in the USA, the subject of knife crime in the UK arose. A great 2nd Amendment supporter in the USA said, “And now they’re trying to take their knives off them in the UK!”.
I’m afraid, JP, that some of you folk rather smugly like to have it both ways.
July 26th, 2008
Nora, with regards to your last post, I haven’t any idea what the hell you are talking about.
And as for your comment “I wasn’t aware that knocking on doors and waving your arms around carried the death penalty in the US.”
I can only say that: NOW YOU ARE!
July 26th, 2008
“I wasn’t aware that knocking on doors and waving your arms around carried the death penalty in the US.”
“I can only say that: NOW YOU ARE!”
God help America.
July 26th, 2008
Why thank you! And God help Ireland. See how easy it is to get along. Blessed be God forever!
July 26th, 2008
JP YOU STILL ARE NOT LISTENING, OR IS IT YOU JUST DONT WANT TO HEAR.
******ANDREW WAS UNARMED******
No matter who you are OR where you come from, you cannot go around killing ‘UNARMED’ people, that fact that a person may or may not have been mentally ill at the time is irrelavent.
There are a lot of things that dont add up about the DAs report, there are lies and fiction within it, this I know to be fact.
The truth will come out.
One other thing were you aware that Andrew only live 200yds from the Silverton Police Station !!!!!!!!
AND they say they didnt know him!!!!!
July 26th, 2008
emergency dispatch audio clips posted 25th July at the address below could make some of us unsettled. but i hope they bring many of us peace:
http://blog.oregonlive.com/oregonianextra/2008/07/andrew_hanlon.html
here are my comments. my comments differ in focus from many comments so far. i offer my thoughts in sorrow.
to me the clips show the result of a weak system in the USA for mental health services. this could be hard to understand from the perspective of living elsewhere. in the USA mental health service availability has so so declined over the past decades. of course there are people in the US who thru no fault of their own need mental health services, just like there are people who need services for high blood pressure or services for a broken arm, but, coverage is weak and often people with serious problems can’t get services they need. it’s not right morally. it is important to know though.
it’s such a widespread problem, a person might not even notice it as part of beloved Andrew’s story.
in the USA health and mental health coverage come through a person’s job. which could be OK for people with jobs but what if somebody doesn’t have one. then they need a sister who loves them to try to get them into care. beloved Andrew had that sister. beloved Andrew had that brother-in-law too.
July 26th, 2008
Dear CLOSE FAMILY FRIEND,
Being unarmed doesn’t matter! If the cops knew the person was unarmed they woudn’t have inflicted firearm injury! Why would they? Who would want the trouble and the grief? What do you think? Cops have a hatred towards Irish immigrants? Are you kidding me?
The problem is that cops have to react to the persons behavior. They can’t tell if the suspects are armed at the time of the conflict. They don’t have X-ray vision. They can’t see through clothing and also don’t have infrared vision. If a suspect takes aggressive action towards a policeman, the policeman has the right to defend himself. And this incident took place a night. That leaves a policeman in a troublesome spot. And the law recognizes that.
Your problem, I believe, is that you can’t see past your bias toward Mr. Hanlon. Please try to see the side of the policeman. A man who was just doing his duty to try to serve and protect the citizens of that town and also had the right to protect himself.
AJ Hanlon was acting in the wrong way at the wrong place at the wrong time. It’s very sad. All agree. But it doesn’t make it right to blame the police.
July 26th, 2008
Sad audio clips, neither of which mention AJ having a weapon. And neither of which explains the use of lethal force.
July 26th, 2008
Nora,
Do any of those audio tapes suggest that AJ Hanlon has a mental disorder?
And the answer is - YES!
Sadly, again, I have to say that Mr. Hanlon was mentally disturbed.
And, in this country, a policeman isn’t required to take a knife in the chest before he responds with deadly force.
Again, terribly sorry that AJ Hanlon has passed away.
…the bell tolls for thee.
July 26th, 2008
JP,
I don’t CARE if AJ was “mentally disturbed”. Being “mentally disturbed” is not a crime here — and I’m not aware that it’s a crime in the USA. Both audio clips suggest that AJ was NOT armed and the dispatcher would have been aware of this, in both cases.
So, maybe you’d like to tell me what Tasers are for? And if Gonzalez was carrying one along with his baton? And if so, why didn’t he use it? Or do policemen in the USA shoot unarmed people who are “mentally disturbed” automatically??
Or, are we talking here about a culture where, because of a citizen’s right to “bear arms”, a policeman half-expects any and every private citizen to be carrying a gun? And is this why AJ died? Because of your crazy 2nd Amendment? After all, he had committed no crime other than possibly ‘disturbing the peace’.
July 26th, 2008
Nora —
JP has already confirmed that waving your arms and knocking on doors carries the daeth penalty in the USA.
I think that tells us all we need to know about JP.
What he’s attempting to do here is distract attention from the actions of Gonzales by introducing irrelevancies, and I’m becoming tired of that.
This apologist for savagery is getting no more space here to justify AJ’s brutal killing.
July 26th, 2008
and J.P., i would bet you are sitting across the street from me as you type your
righteous tripe~ and know how to sling “irish”
clips do you?
would something like this picture work for you?
a young irish lad, barefoot at night, running for his life because he was being shot at,
and i can notice your big light on your
property~ would there be SOMETHING like an image of a gun carrier being BAREFOOT as an image slightly askew to you? and WHY WASN’T IT MENTIONED ON TAPE OF 911, WHEN BURGLARY WAS REPORTED, THERE WAS A WEAPON? of course “a burglary in progress”
when alleged violator hadn’t crossed threshold TO BURGLE is a bit of a stretch for me too…
but what do i know here~ you’re the
“witness” sleep well, ms. righteous witness,
you just clearly have it all tucked up… jstone
and p.s. i am certain you would avoid acknowledging me as a member of your neighborhood, but i am, and i hope we never have the “pleasure” of meeting~ j.s.
July 26th, 2008
c’mon “J.P.~ get those irish fingers going~
i would bet the good people of ireland just can’t wait for your next visit~ answer what i’ve addressed here, with your smart self~
jstone
July 26th, 2008
Nora,
I wish I could give you an answer that would ameliorate the anger that you have towards the USA, but I can’t. Your anger is beyond my ability to control.
All I know is that any US citizen is allow to defend themselves against someone who is threatenting them with bodily harm.
I believe that is not true in Ireland and the British Isles. In your country, you pretty much have to take whatever someone dishes out to you.
Again, not the same over here in the USA. Different country from Ireland (althought you said that you understood this before but surely you actually have not).
Tasers, though I’m not an expert in this line of discussion, are, I believe, for inducing a person to behave in a manner of your liking. These tasers have less chance of killing a person than firearm use. Which I believe, is one of thier attributes.
I would assume that tasers are not necessarily required to be used before firearms. And of that assumption I feel quite confident.
I’m sure that tasers are used in much less volitile situations than that which occurred with AJ Hanlon (did you not hear the audio tape of him screaming to be let into the house. This guy was out of control!).
And for our second ammendment rights to bear arms, get used to it lady! It’s one of our rights under our constitution. Just like a womens right to vote and our right against unlawful search and seizure (do you have that one? I believe we created that one because we were unhappy with the British lack of that law!)
And to speak of the “right to bear arms” more specifically, the right to bear arms says nothing about us having to put up with mentally disturbed people attacking us. The mentally disturbed have no right, in this country, to reek havoc on society.
Can I ask you this? If AJ Hanlon would have produced a knife and would have killed an Oregon police officer, would you have been wailing and knashing your teeth about how the Irish don’t have a law in their constitution that forbids their mentally insane citizens to emigrate to the US and kill police officers?
I bet you wouldn’t even care about our police officers that situation.
That’s a bet I would win.
July 26th, 2008
JP — You’re obviously some sort of spokesperson for the Silverton police, whether self-appointed ot otherwise, and I begin to suspect you might have some personal stake in wanting the matter to go away.
You’re spinning this story like crazy to divert attention from the fact that Andrew was mercilessly gunned down.
He was no threat to Gonzales. Apart from being unarmed, he was physically no match for the cage fighter, and he was barefoot.
He didn’t have a weapon, and it’s dishonest of you to keep suggesting that he might have produced a knife. He didn’t, and that’s the end of it.
The only bodily harm that happened in this instance was caused by the five bullets that killed Andrew.
Again, one more time as you don’t seem to grasp it, there was no diagnosis of mental illness, only an off-the-cuff remark by his shocked sister when doorstepped by a reporter. So drop that too, please.
The only version of the story we have heard so far has come from people with a vested interest in making sure that Gonzales is never prosecuted. Are you one of those people?
I won’t give you space to put out untruths about Andrew.
July 26th, 2008
Bock,
You really need to look in a mirror with regard to bias.
(and is that Klaus Kinski? Either way, nice photo.)
July 26th, 2008
It’s not about me, JP.
It’s about the fact that a boy is dead, needlessly.
July 26th, 2008
The loss of any life is tragic, but I can’t understand why JP seems to think that a policeman’s potential exposure to harm is any excuse to hunt down and slaughter a young man. It implies that Gonzalez’ life was worth more than AJ’s simply because he is a cop and from reading some of the comments left on local newspapers in Silverton it is a feeling mutual across the area sadly.
It is a poor sign of America’s future if they stake their protection in men like Gonzalez who are nothing more than murderers. I’m not saying every American officer is like that but it seems to me that American’s are comfortable with this trend and have grown to expect it. That, along with AJ’s senseless execution is the saddest part about this whole case.
July 26th, 2008
Yes. They seem to be quite happy with the idea of shooting people on suspicion.
I’m surprised they bother bringing anyone to court. They could save a lot of time and money if they simply ordered their police to shoot anyone they think looks suspicious.
It seems to be the way things are going. America is looking very Soviet these days.
July 26th, 2008
“JP has already confirmed that waving your arms and knocking on doors carries the daeth penalty in the USA.
I think that tells us all we need to know about JP.” (Bock)
Pretty much.
Not to mention, his/her knowledge of what Tasers are used for is decidedly ‘iffy’. Not to mention also, s/he sounds like s/he may well have a private agenda in this case.
One way or another: Does Silverton police no favours.
July 26th, 2008
JP,
I NEVER said that US cops have a hatred of Irish Immigrents, where did you get that from, certainly not me.
Also I have NO bias TOWARD AJ Hanlon as you have also stated.
JP open your eyes.
1) You ignored entirely what I said about the DA stating the Police Officers in Silverton had no knoweledge of AJ, this of course is a lie, and they themselves have tripped themselves up on this one by producing the tape dating back to April.
2)You ignored completly what I saids about AJ living roughly 200yds from the Police Station.
This is a small town and AJ lived smack bang in the centre, so come off it JP.
3)The DA’s toxicology report has stated there was NO alcohol or drugs present in AJ’s system. What a bummer that must have been for the investigators, had there been they could have blamed that too.
4)If you read the report properly and it is clear you havent, you would have seen the statement that Gonzalez had his torch trained on AJ, this is a Police issue torch with very good illumination.
5)IF you read the report and were to believe it if only in part than you would see they claim AJ was running flaying his arms which means they were away from his body, which also means that IF the boy was carrying anything, which he wasnt it could have been clearly seen because Gonzalez had him illuminated.
I could go on and on with the errors within this report but I will leave that to the Hanlon Family and their Lawyers to do.
Ultimatly , This young man Andrew ‘AJ’ Hanlon
was MURDERED and the Police,the investigators and the DA’S office condone this!!!!!
July 26th, 2008
[He] “…flew into such a rage that … they were terrified he was going to kill himself and possibly harm [others].”
That is a quote from Marion County Deputy District Attorney Matt Kemmy on July 22 2008. And HE was talking about Gonzalez!
http://tinyurl.com/5qhz35
July 26th, 2008
thank you Andrew I rest my case.
Some people out there are trying to deflect the issue of Gonzalez being of unsound mind himself.
Did you know they didnt even give him a psyc evaluation after killing Andrew!!!!!!!!!
July 26th, 2008
what they have just done will come back to haunt them.
July 26th, 2008
Fucking hell. I just read the comments above to see if “Jon” had been commenting here too. Which set of twitching curtains were you JP?
You’re going to a lot of trouble to whitewash AJ’s murder here. It won’t work.
July 26th, 2008
[He] “…flew into such a rage that … they were terrified he was going to kill himself and possibly harm [others].”
And HE was talking about Gonzalez!
–Andrew
Yes, I read the same in the report of Gonzalez’s indictment for sexual abuse (link above). But JP knocked it clean out of my head.
Gonzales doesn’t sound like someone I’d like to have had in charge of a US police officer’s “arsenal” and loose on the streets only days before.
By comparison, I haven’t heard that AJ was carrying as much as a safety pin, the poor lad.
July 26th, 2008
JP is not to be taken seriously.
That’s just an attempt to muddy the waters by introducing irrelevant claims. It won’t work.
July 26th, 2008
Maybe Americans have a thing about imaginary weapons, whether it’s imaginary broken glass or an imaginary knife in Andrew’s hand or WMDs in Iraq !
July 26th, 2008
JP.How dare you?”we in Ireland and the British Isles”(two seperate entities might I add)”have to take whatever someone dishes out to us”. What the hell are you talking about?Your savage moronic cop murdered an unarmed kid.Period!You and your like have been”dishing it out”all over the planet for quite a while now and expecting everyone to take it.That’s a lot of unarmed kids.You disgust me.
July 26th, 2008
Jp, go the fuck away you are making other Americans look bad. yes it appears that Aj may have been unstable yes we are aware that his sister and brother in law were the first to state that he banged on doors for entry and took to karate type moves and screamed at the moon so what! big deal! he was all of 130 pounds i could have taken him down let alone a gorilla like gonzales.But for all that Aj was do you know what he wasn’t? A CHILD MOLESTER !@ A BULLY! A COWARD! A MURDERER! did I mention CHILD MOLESTER oh just in case you dont get it the guy got his rocks off molesting children.Dont defend him like hes an honorable cop stuck in an impossible situation! the guy is scum at best. No it is not acceptable that you can get gunned down in America for being confused and ill, the gene pool in that town seems to be awful shallow.
July 26th, 2008
By the way JP,if you wave your arms about in this country,somebody will probably wave back.Yup,we sure dish it out over here,y’all.
July 26th, 2008
Silverton’s Chief of Police Richard E. “Rick” Lewis International Police Trainer in Bagdad, Iraq. He trained Colonels and Generals in the Iraqi National Police force during April, May, June, July, August, September and October, 2005.
COINCIDENTALLY CNN JULY 2005 REPORTS:
Insurgents and other criminals have infiltrated Iraqi police ranks due to poor screening procedures by U.S. forces, according to a joint report released Monday by the U.S. Defense Department and State Department.
“Recruitment and vetting procedures are faulty,” said the report from the Inspectors General of both departments. Despite recent improvements, too many recruits are marginally literate; some show up for training with criminal records or physical handicaps.”
http://tinyurl.com/628sbj
July 26th, 2008
I think that because JP’s imagination runs so much out of control it shouldn’t be allowed out at all, after all it might end up shooting an unarmed man!
July 26th, 2008
On July 24, 2008 a Marion County Grand Jury found the death of Irish citizen Andrew Hanlon at the hands of Silverton police officer Tony Gonzalez was a lawful use of deadly force. Considering the information and witnesses provided to the Grand Jury by Deputy District Attorney Matt Kemmy the ruling was a forgone conclusion. With many unanswered questions.
Members of Hanlon’s family, friends and the 1st Secretary of the Embassy of Ireland were gathered outside the Grand Jury when District Attorney Kemmy appeared shortly after 9am.
Mr. Kemmy was asked if he had called to testify a Silverton woman whose account of the shooting had shots fired before any warning was given. Her vantage point 100 feet from where the shooting took place gave her important first hand knowledge of the event. Mr. Kemmy clamed to be unaware of her, he was told of her proximity and that she had contacted the police with her information. Mr. Kemmy then preformed a pantomime complete with simulated gun shots of a shooting he had previously been involved with. The gist of his story being an unreliable witness “disappeared” when confronted with the facts. It was pointed out to Mr. Kemmy that the woman was a well known successful business woman and property owner in Silverton. Mr. Kemmy’s reply “I don’t want to see her” “I have all the witnesses I want” He also stated the family “… would be able to get a report of the grand jury session in about a year” If Mr. Kemmy had intended a trial the information would have become public record much sooner.
The deputy District Attorney chose not to interview or listen to a witness whose version of events directly contradicted Officer Tony Gonzalez, of whom District Attorney Kemmy had said two days before “We gave him a gun and badge and trusted him to enforce the laws and protect our citizens. Instead he repeatedly broke the law and acted as if he was above it” Perhaps prosecuting a child molester is more politically expedient than standing against police pressure to charge a officer in the death of an unarmed man.
The Grand Jury was not given the opportunity to question the man who should have been the most important witness, Tony Gonzalez. The jury was presented a staged “video interview” with Officer Gonzalez. One understands the difficulty of presenting the officer for sworn testimony before the Grand Jury as he is being held without bail on sexual assault charges, however he killed another man. Justice demands that he be made available for questioning.
After the Grand Jury finding to exonerate Gonzalez the district attorneys’ office released a lengthy account of the hearing, the witnesses and testimony. Mr. Kemmy omitted a great deal of information in this release. The autopsy results which would have shown if any of Andrew Hanlon’s wounds were in his back, as they appeared to be when the body was viewed by family and friends. Although Mr. Kemmy had stated he “had all the witnesses I want.” It seems he presented only one ‘impartial’ witness to support Gonzalez, a
the man; who Mr. Kemmy said just days before “repeatedly broke the law” The account of the hearing released by Mr. Kemmy’s office tells us Jeff DeSantis was driving along Oak Street and witnessed the confrontation from his car. Noted in the account Mr. DeSantis did not know Mr. Hanlon or Officer Gonzalez. What is not reviled is that Mr. DeSantis is a business partner of Josiah Kelly whose wife made the original 911 call.
Among the plethora of unanswered questions:
Why didn’t the Grand Jury have the opportunity to question Officer Gonzales?
Was Mr. DeSantis the friend at whose house Josiah Kelly was working? That is the location of their brewery.
Did Ms. Kelly call her husband at DeSantis before calling 911?
Did Josiah Kelly and Jeff DeSantis respond to a distress call from Josiah’s wife and go to the Kelly home?
Was A.J. Hanlon confronted or chased by Mr. Kelly or Mr. DeSantis? Was this the reason for Mr. DeSantis presence at the sight of Hanlon’s killing?
How or why was Mr. DeSantis allowed to leave his car and be the person who “attempted to tend to Andrew Hanlon”? Did Officer Gonzalez allow a passerby who he had “never met” to approach and handle a wounded man he had just shot and believed to be armed?
Was a lawyer claiming to represent Mr. DeSantis allowed to enter the crime scene? If so why did Mr. DeSantis feel he needed a lawyer that night?
These are just a few of the many unanswered questions.
What we know. Andrew Hanlon is dead. He was shot and killed on the streets of Silverton. His family and friends grieve. The District Attorney’s investigation answered only one question. Is it possible in this county to hold a police officer responsible for his actions in the death of an unarmed man? The answer NO.
July 26th, 2008
Thanks for that comprehensive account, Candy.
I might use it as a post, if you don’t mind.
July 26th, 2008
oh my god, could the bells toll for you????? this is sort of spooky…..
July 26th, 2008
Please feel free to use the account as you wish. Thank you for your efforts to keep this story in the open, under the light.
July 27th, 2008
From what I am to understand, they let him off only to nail him for the sex abuse. I still think the family needs to take the trial to a higher court and have it tied over again. I am willing to help by taking money out of my Social Security check to help the family. This way the people that did not get to be called as witnesses can leave their name for the family to be called as a witness.
I lost a friend in Boston years ago who suffered from Bi Polar and was shot to death by an officer, so I know what the family is going through.
July 27th, 2008
Alright, J.P, what kind of a misguided, moronic, detestable piece of useless flapping meat are you? You have fabricated a pathetic character assassination of an innocent victim of your country’s bankrupt culture. You - moron - are exactly the type of moron who is responsible for getting Bush a second term. You probably eat, sleep, drink and shit the second amendment and shun any argument that may seem even marginally sensible. You are what we call in this country a “fucking twat”. My advice to you is go back to fucking your cousins or whatever passes for fun in your fucked up little world.
Bock, sorry about posting such abuse but I couldn’t let that pass. Great job, by the way.
July 27th, 2008
[…] I was going to write at length about the blatant cover up of the murder of an innocent Irish man in America but, as usual, me oul mate Bock The Robber has done it better than I could have attempted. Head on over and read all about it. Some great comments on this post but none of them are from J.P. Bock the Robber talking about Andrew Hanlon’s murder. […]
July 27th, 2008
Couple of quick questions that need to be answered very quickly;
First, where’s the dispatch tape for the radio calls between Gonzalez and his dispatcher.?
Second, where’s the video tape from Gonzalez’ car (or am I watching too much Cops?!)?
Third, was there a ballistics test done on all of the rounds that were in Andrew Hanlon to match them against Gonzalez’ pistol?
July 27th, 2008
We don’t have that information.
I put a list of further questione HERE
July 27th, 2008
So the passing motorist whose evidence supported the, unchallenged, evidence of the shooter appears to be a business partner of, householder, Josiah Kelley. I wonder were the Grand Jury made aware of this fact. There is some reason to believe that DeSantis was not just a casual passerby and in fact may have been looking for A J Hanlon.
This would surely have made him much more than the disinterested observer he has been represented as, here in Ireland, and would have had some impact on the weight the Grand would give to his account.
Am I correct in thinking that Grand Jury witnesses are not cross examined? I am amazed at the the account of how a Grand Jury can be manipulated.
July 28th, 2008
Indeed. I don’t think Mr DeSantis just happened to be passing by either.
It would be interesting to know what Mr DeSantis’s movements were immediately prior to his arrival at the scene of the killing.
Some questions immediately spring to mind.
Who had he been with just before he got into his car?
Where had he been?
Did he have any prior knowledge of the call to the police before he arrived at the location of AJ’s killing?
When he interfered with the scene of the shooting, did he get blood on his hands?
Where did he go immediately afterwards?
Did he contaminate any door with Andrew’s blood?
How did the investigation eliminate this possibility?
July 28th, 2008
Hi Bock,
Great job on keeping this open, I’m just letting you know that I’m putting a link up on my page to here. I don’t get many hits but every little helps and the more people are talking the more they’re listening and the more pressure you have to play with
July 28th, 2008
‘Tasers, though I’m not an expert in this line of discussion, are, I believe, for inducing a person to behave in a manner of your liking.
I would assume that tasers are not necessarily required to be used before firearms. And of that assumption I feel quite confident. ‘ You are not required by any law to be a decent human being, you twat JP. I can’t imagine tasering a fucking fly, nevermind a person.. and nevermind blasting a person to death 5 times or 7.. whatever it was for poor AJ. It would be more appropriate to be questioning Gonzalez’s mental state, not AJs.
July 28th, 2008
Here is some additional information on the Kelley/DeSantis connection. The US being the land of opportunity, they were just after, or just about to, launch their home brew product on a more commercial basis as, Seven Brides Brewing. The partnership of four or five gu