Grand Jury Whitewash Andrew Hanlon’s Killing. The Scandal Is Complete
Jul 25th, 2008 | By Bock | Category: Crime, Scandal
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?
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
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.
It’s the most transparent and inept attempt at a cover-up I’ve ever seen.
They must think we’re idiots.
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
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.
It should be noted that Jeff DeSantis (who happened to be driving past] is a member of the Silverton Budget Committee!
And that the husband of Shannon Kelley, Josiah, is in the brewery business with DeSantis.
Time to get political, make it an Irish America issue for McCain and Obama. Push for an FBI (from out of town) investigation. .
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.
Absolutely. Make it a Federal case.
Send for Gene Hackman.
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.
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.
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
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……………
[...] Bock the Robber’s coverage of The AJ Hanlon tragedy is incredibly impressive. [...]
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.”
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 (?).
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.
Why assume it’s Gonzales they’re protecting?
True enough. Why indeed.
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
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
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.
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.
Mark — Exit wounds.
Audrey — Which is ironic, considering Gonzalez’s partial Mexican orgins.
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
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.
Everyone in the US has partly-something-or-other origins.
All the more reason why his lack of immigrant status isn’t relevant.
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’
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.
[...] covers today’s news as he has through all of this tragic story including [...]
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
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.
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
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
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?
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?
America is looking like the new Soviet Union.
Difference is not tolerated there, it seems, but instead is answered with a hail of lead.
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
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.
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?
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.
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.
“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.
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!
“I wasn’t aware that knocking on doors and waving your arms around carried the death penalty in the US.â€Â
“I can only say that: NOW YOU ARE!”
God help America.
Why thank you! And God help Ireland. See how easy it is to get along. Blessed be God forever!
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!!!!!
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.
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.
Sad audio clips, neither of which mention AJ having a weapon. And neither of which explains the use of lethal force.
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.
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’.
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.
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.
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
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.
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.
Bock,
You really need to look in a mirror with regard to bias.
(and is that Klaus Kinski? Either way, nice photo.)
It’s not about me, JP.
It’s about the fact that a boy is dead, needlessly.
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.
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.
“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.
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!!!!!
[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
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!!!!!!!!!
what they have just done will come back to haunt them.
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.
[He] “…flew into such a rage that … they were terrified he was going to kill himself and possibly harm [others].â€Â
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.
JP is not to be taken seriously.
That’s just an attempt to muddy the waters by introducing irrelevant claims. It won’t work.
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 !
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.
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.
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.
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
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!
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.
Thanks for that comprehensive account, Candy.
I might use it as a post, if you don’t mind.
oh my god, could the bells toll for you????? this is sort of spooky…..
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.
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.
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.
[...] 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. [...]
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?
We don’t have that information.
I put a list of further questione HERE
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.
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?
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
‘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.
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 guys has a total of seven daughters to marry off in the next 15 to 20 years.
The launch took place at the Glockenspiel Restaurant around the time of the shooting.
Is it just possible that the incident needed to go away, as far as possible and as quickly as possible? Might it be bad for their fledgeling business?
Alternatively, maybe they can call some new variant of their beer, the AJ.
ONLY IN AMERICA!
US man charged for shooting mower.
A 56-year-old man from the Midwestern US state of Wisconsin has been arrested after shooting his lawn mower in his garden because it would not start. Keith Walendowski was charged by police in Milwaukee with disorderly conduct and possession of a sawn-off shotgun. He could face a fine of up to $11,000 and a maximum prison sentence of six-and-a-half years if convicted.
http://tinyurl.com/6dw8on
- – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - –
IN Silverton OREGON
Gonzalez cleared in Hanlon death.
Tony Gonzalez, the police officer involved with the shooting death of Irish national Andrew James “A.J.†Hanlon, was cleared of any wrongdoing by the Marion County Grand Jury.
http://tinyurl.com/5d2aqz
“Deputy District Attorney Matt Kemmy”, no chance he’s distantly related to the late, great Jim?
I think some of the blame has to be on Hanlons family. They knew he had mental problems and was potentially dangerous to himself and others but they did nothing and allowed him to wander in the community without proper treatment or repatriation. The excuse that everyone in the small town was aware of his mental problems just is not good enough. There was no cover up-he tried to break into a house and was terrorizing the family when he confronted armed police and was shot. What do you expect-if the cops let themselves be chased away they would be criticized for being good for nothing and soon there would be open season on police. Hanlon was clearly not mentally competent and did not realize the gravity of his actions. Those around him (the family) had a responsiblity to act for his best interests on his behalf. They failed and his death is a sad consequence of their neglect.
If anyone wants to see who we’re talking about go to:
http://www.sevenbridesbrewing.com/About%20Us.htm
Maybe someone will give this URL to Tony Gonzalez – its just up his street.
Dear John, is it alright if I call you
DickJohn?When you write of neglect, and add in all sorts of ‘justifications’ for the cop’s shooting of SEVEN rounds of ammunition at Andrew, how is it you fail to mention the NEGLECT this cop showed to the COUNTLESS HOURS of training he APPARENTLY received in just THIS KIND OF INCIDENT?
Oregon police officers are trained to use a variety of types of force to get suspects and residents to comply with orders, said Cameron Campbell, the Director of Training for the state Department of Public Safety Standards and Training. They also are taught when to use which type of force, and are repeatedly drilled to help make snap judgments easier to make, Campbell said. “Officers need to respond with a level of force appropriate and reasonable given the totality of the experience,” he said. “You go directly to the level of force necessary given the totality of the circumstance.”
There are many factors officers have to take into account when using force besides whether the suspect is armed or not, Campbell said.
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, Campbell said.
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?
Range of training
Officers receive 12 hours of classroom training in use of force at the police academy, more training in their defensive tactics class and countless hours rehearsing different scenarios, Campbell said.
The idea behind the training is to give officers a head start in making split-second decisions under pressure. Officers also need to stay on top of their training after leaving the academy, Campbell said. “They are what we call perishable skills,” he said. “If you are not engaged and active, they will disappear over time.”
Cameron Campbell, the Director of Training for the state Department of Public Safety Standards and Training
Silverton Police Chief Rick Lewis said Friday that members of his 17-officer agency take part in periodic training in the use of force. “The training includes a number of regular test questions on use of force given different scenarios and how they’re to respond,” he said.
He added that the small police agency has its own certified Taser instructor.
“he tried to break into a house and was terrorizing the family”
(John Hancock)
I don’t see how you can “terrorize” a family from outside (what was obviously) a locked door. And as far as I know, he was shouting to be let in, not breaking in.
“when he confronted armed police and was shot”
I thought AJ was the one ‘confronted’ while he was running away barefoot, and quite possibly being chased from behind?
“if the cops let themselves be chased away”
How could an unarmed slip of a lad chase away a big lump of a guy who, as previously stated, “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”?
“they would be criticized for being good for nothing and soon there would be open season on police.”
You seem to be saying the cop had to prove how macho the police are, by shooting AJ to death — when he could have disabled him without doing any permanent injury to him. Aren’t cops trained to do this? Or are they only trained to shoot lethally? I don’t like Tasers one bit (and they can be lethal to the physically ill or the elderly), but isn’t this what they’re supposed to be for?
“Hanlon was clearly not mentally competent and did not realize the gravity of his actions.”
Gravity? He didn’t even shoot his lawnmower.
Oops, Andrew, we cross-posted. Never mind.
John Hancock –
I’m embarrassed for you.
What a skewed sense of morality you have, trying to justify the actions of a homicidal thug by blaming the victim.
You’re a hell of an advertisement for Silverton.
It seems to me that we’ve struck a nerve here. The good citizens of Silverton are getting very upset about a two-bit thug and suspected child-abuser like Gonzales.
Who are you really trying to protect, John?
Why are you trying to muddy the water?
Is it because you’re worried decent God-fearing citizens might be dragged into it?
One of the mysteries here, of course, is why wasn’t DeSantis shot by Gonzalez – after all both parties DIDN’T know each other – as an ‘accomplice’ of Andrew!
DeSantis was 7 yards (35 feet) from Gonzalez (with an unobstructed view), and the cop was retreating like “a football player back-peddling”, but never managed to get more than 5 feet from Andrew.
Gonzalez was able to fire 7 rounds of ammunition at Andrew – with 5 hitting Andrew and two of them missing Andrew, (who was never more than 5 feet from Gonzalez), and one bullet (the MAGIC BULLET?) managing to lodge in Andrew’s back who was (according to DeSantis) STILL ‘pursuing’ Gonzalez
DeSantis then claims he ‘attempted to tend’ to Andrew.
So far DeSantis is well up on police procedure but what’s missing here is the procedure that happens after an altercation (for want of a better word) like this. Apparently Gonzalez let this stranger (DeSantis) waltz into this crime scene with nary a question from the cop.
Of course if Andrew was being hunted by several people it might put some light on most of this.
It might also explain why Andrew’s blood was found on the door.
Does it strike anyone that comments here are doing what the so-called ‘Grand’ Jury should have done …
I reckon all the classes in the world would not prepare anyone for what that cop encountered that night. Wait until some foreigner starts smashing YOUR door down at home at night, you would feel a lot different. Everyone seems to be SO omnicient after the incident, but the cop himself was reacting to an abnormal situation. Someone who is hollering and screaming like an animal and smashing on doors so hard they leave their blood sound like they are on something like PCP. There was a lot of uncertainty in the situation and the cop tried to calm the suspect orally. This failed and he launched himself at the officer. The cop had no way at this point at verifying whether the suspect was armed or not and probably assumed he was. He acted with first principles in mind which was to protect himself and used his firearm. He could have been dead from the first shot, who knows?
Remember, everything isnt a conspiracy, there was a lot of eyes watching these procedings and the officer was cleared of any wrong-doing.
He’s going down for child molestation, they could have thrown the book at him and nobody would have cared. Can anybody be happy about this situation? No. Is the system ugly? Sure. But given the reality of the situation it seems that his family had a part in allowing for this terrible tragedy to unfold through their neglect. Why dont their acknowledge THEIR responsibility and quit with their crusade against “violence against mentally ill by the police”?
Which abnormal situation was this cop reacting too – Trespass maybe? There were 43 cases of trespass in Silverton city in the years 2006/2007! Nearly one a fortnight! I think your imagination is running away with you again John!!!!!!!!!
John Hancock —
First, the toxicology report ahowed no drugs in Andrew’s system. You made that bit up.
Second, there’s another plausible reason for blood to be on the door which has nothing to do with Andrew.
Third. Cops react to abnormal situations all the time. It’s their job. Do your cops always shoot people when they encounter abnormal situations?
Fourth. You have no reason to be so categorical about what happened on the night, unless you accept the accounts of Gonzalez and DeSantis without question.
Of course, maybe you were there yourself, or you know someone who was there.
Is that why this is making you so uncomfortable?
“I reckon all the classes in the world would not prepare anyone for what that cop encountered that night.” (Hancock)
You make it sound like Gonzales was ambushed by 13 Al Qu’aeda-types with AK-47s and IEDs. You’re being utterly ridiculous.
He probably means Gonzales was used to fist-fighting trained gorillas, not frail 130-pound kids like Andrew.
A couple of years ago, I had a mad English fucker knocking at my door and shouting that he wanted to come in. I first called our thoroughly useless but not hugely homicidal police force and said, “Listen, there’s some English fucker roaring outside my door and demanding to be let in.” After coming to the conclusion that this particular officer wasn’t going to help me, I opened the door and yelled, “Get away from my fucking door, you fucking prick.” He left, I went back to watching T.V and no one got shot. Obviously, in America, you can’t be sure who is outside your door and what kind of weapons they might be carrying. I mean, it might be a murderous thug like Tony Gonzales, trying to get in and molest your children.
I haven’t posted for a few days, trying to come to terms with the Grand Jury/DA decision but also because of the nauseating, infuriating shite that some of the self-righteous, patronising, condescending bloody bastards from the Silverton Police Force’s ‘Appreciation Society’ have been leaving here.
The responses and rebuttals from Nora, Jane, Andrew, Pat, CFF, Bock and others rubbed their noses in their own ‘bully-boy’ ‘macho man’ crap.
Supporting the actions of a thug in uniform, making excuses for his actions..”he had to protect himself” “protect his gun”. What a load of bollocks. They chased, hounded and cornered AJ like an animal. A young, barefoot, slight, beautiful and confused boy was executed by Gonzalez with the full, unequivocal backing of a twisted system and society that has since pissed on Andrew, his Mom, Dad, brother and sisters.
With this ’system’ clamming up to protect itself we may never get justice for what happened that night.
His family adored AJ and would do anything to protect him, they did not abandon him as has been suggested by shits who know nothing about them. Those family members on the ground in Silverton tried vainly to get AJ help. They could never have imagined what lay ahead. His family at home here in Ireland were completely unaware of the relatively sudden descent into confusion and despair that Andrew had evidently endured.
When Andrew was contacted during the months before his brutal slaying, he said he was just fine, no problems….In the few days before June 30th, those whom he had met have said he was happy, friendly and full of life.
No one can make sense of AJ’s actions that night. Yes, he must have been suffering but when all is said and done all he did was scream and shout, bang on a door and make gestures with his hands. He shouldn’t have done it, but for Christ’s sake, he touched no one he hurt not a single soul and he did not brandish a weapon – at any time. For this he was sentenced to death by a scum-bag pedophile.
If cops here in Ireland, the UK or Europe in general — jesus, the rest of the world – were to employ these brutal tactics when confronted by a ‘crazed’ teen, then there would be a bloodbath every weekend in our cities and towns when the bars and clubs empty, when the football games end and when the festivals are over.
In the months, years ahead, the Kelley family will settle down, Jeff deSantis and Josiah Kelley will share and sell a few of their home made beers and regale their drinking buddies with the story of ‘that night’, Silverton will return to being Stepford. The moronic cops, security people will continue to ‘Protect and Serve’ with fingers on the trigger, Gonzalez will do his time and return to some kind of a life and and all will be well again in the asylum. But AJ wont be coming home. There’s no time-fix for the Hanlon-Carroll family. No getting back to the way it was for them. AJ’s never coming home to his mother, father, brother and sisters They’ll have to live on without him and with the full weight of the absolute injustice of it all.
May god forgive those bloody bastards, because we wont.
There seems to be a coordinated attempt at intimidation on the various sites covering this story by the cops of Silverton, their families and associates.
Consequently, I’ve decided to do a little profiling on the various commenters from the Silverton police force supporters club, both here and on other sites.
I’ll present the details of the study in due course. It should make for interesting reading.
It shouldn’t be too hard to figure out who’s who.
On my comment on the shooting I should have written (between 7 and 11 yards (35 feet)
Can’t wait to see what you find, Bock. Scumbags.
… Meanwhile in Oregon.
A Douglas County grand jury indicted a Sutherlin man who shot and killed a home intruder last month. Keith Cramer, 34, faces charges of second-degree manslaughter and criminally negligent homicide in the death of Michael Shane Smith.
http://tinyurl.com/68zlw5
- – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - –
On November 14, 2006 Eugene Police Officer Shawn Trotter shot five .223 caliber bullets at Ryan Salisbury, a suicidal nineteen year old armed with a kitchen knife. Four of the bullets hit and killed Mr. Trotter. The Oregon Peace () Officers’ Association awarded Officer Trotter the 2007 Medal of Valor award.
http://tinyurl.com/6c3qrg
Great work Bock.Hang in there…..ANDREW….
A fucking medal of valor?People actually get rewarded for this shit?God help America.
“awarded Officer Trotter the 2007 Medal of Valor award”
Good god …
By the way, Zhane:
I was sorry to read about your friend. People who are bi-polar (or depressed, or schizophrenic) suffer enough on a daily basis, without the added risk of being shot dead for not behaving according to some sort of “norm” expected by society. (To use a tired cliché: normal is a cycle on a washing machine.)
This is from a link I think Andrew might have already posted:
“The mere fact that an officer arrives and is in uniform can and most often does neutralize the aggression, without the officer saying anything,” Campbell said.
“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, Campbell said.”
Seems to me Gonzales only tried the first one – verbal commands – with AJ.
I’ve heard zilch about hand holds, baton, pepper spray or Taser. Did anyone at the “Grand” Jury ask why they weren’t tried first?
http://tinyurl.com/55r5uz
I’ve updated the post to take it into account.
The thing about evidence ….
http://tinyurl.com/66vwmp
Here’s another example of assault:
http://www.brasschecktv.com/page/388.html
If you ask me, the cops get away with murder in the US. (And no I don’t mean ‘metaphorically speaking’.)
john hancock~ we’ll have to presume you’re a local insurance agent, right? question~ if indeed officer “tried to calm the suspect orally” why wasn’t that heard on 911 tape?
since tape keeps recording after officer arrives on scene~
also, where are dispatch tapes from evening of 06/30/08? (why wasn’t atty. lange given these tapes along w/rest of paperwork from investigation? why the delays of both 911 and dispatcher tapes? jstone
I find it hard to believe there are people like you out there. When persuasive argument and fact fail to convince you, you resort to personal attacks, are you guys Republicans? What is the point of having a forum if you expect the same opinions from everyone?
I am quite surprized at the webmaster who abuses his privileged position to ‘investigate’ posts not in agreement with his views. Uh, Freedom of speech, anyone?
Face facts folks, move on. The guy is dead and the family should reflect on their part in this tradegy and how it came to pass. The US is not Ireland, if he had such serious mental problems he should have gone home and got free mental treatment on the NHS, not linger on and unevitably run into trouble. I do have sympathy for the guy and his family, but lets not condemn the whole system because the outcome wasnt to your satisfaction. I am amused by the post indicating that PCP wasnt in Hanlons system because the Coroner’s report said so. So how was the officer to supposed to know this fact before Hanlon ended up in the morgue? The reality is that a more sober judgement of events than you bunch was made by the Grand Jury and found (unanimously) that the killing was justified given the circumstances. The family cozied up to the media at every opportunity and abused their position to castigate the police and the investigation. Where was their contrition for abandoning their brother? How dare they use their denial as an axe to grind against the police. A little digging seems to indicate that this whole family was disfunctional from the get-go and Hanlon had a miserable life. Well, at least he is at peace now.
John Hancock –
What a miserable, begrudging sad individual you are, blaming the victims.
Where did you get the idea that there was freedom of speech on a private website? You’re mistaken. This is not a forum. This is a publication like any other and I reserve the right to block any comments I consider unsuitable, including yours.
There were no drugs or alcohol in Andrew’s system, so we’re not going to play that game.
I will not allow this site to be used by you to spread lies about Andrew and if you try to use it for propaganda purposes, you’ll be blocked too.
If you want freedom of speech, start up your own site.
You disgust me Hancock.
If a member of your own family was shot dead while unarmed and entirely innocent of any crime, I’d like to see you write, “Face facts folks, move on. The guy is dead”. You thick bastard.
And no, there is no guarantee of “free speech” on a personal blog. It’s entirely up to the blogger, and comments can be disabled altogether if the blogger so wishes.
IF Bock allows you to post again, you might like to explain why there was no effort by Gonzales to use “hand holds, baton, pepper spray or Taser”, as the guidelines appear to insist, instead of pulling a goddamn lethal weapon on a young unarmed lad half his size.
(Bock, I thought you’d banned this asshole. Maybe he’s coming in on an anonymous proxy or dynamic IP …)
No. I didn’t ban him, but I think I will now.
If Hancock’s arrogant strutting is typical of Silverton law enforcement, I’m surprised more kids haven’t been blasted to death.
However, I’m starting to think this John Hancock is just some jerk getting his kicks out of a fight.
A local view of Gonzalez as of mid July:
http://www.statesmanjournal.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080715/NEWS/807150329/1001/STATEFAIR
The photograph in front of the mirror was taken before or during his police training! Would you find a garda trainee in this condition? I don’t think so. This suggests to me that it was “scraping the bottom of the barrel time”. Or else, they are not too picky about their police service personnel.
His membership of the marines, cage fighting and even American football suggests someone who was perfectly comfortable with violence and maybe even having a predisposition to violence
Is there any significance in the use of the word “discharge” rather than resign or retire?
I find it surprising that the general population are still standing by their man, unless we are talking redneck middle America here, NRA gun culture and all. Such people would generally be unsympathetic to someone of Gonzalez ethnic background.
I think Kelley and DeSantis have a commercial interest in the incident going no further.
Law enforcement and “The County” want to insulate themselves from litigation
Well, I see I am not preaching to the choir anyway! Lets have a look at your argument and assume it to be true. That the law pursued an innocent man and cold bloodedly assassinated him. In the susbsequent investigation the department, internal affairs, witnesses, members of the Grand Jury and prosecuters together conspired to hide that truth by suppressing evidence, and in doing so put their reputations on the line for an accused child molester. And the fact that Hanlon had mental problems so severe that his own family were forced to call 911 to protect themselves is just coincidental. R-R-Right. Seriously, if anyone has ANY evidence that this was a cover-up they should immediately contact the Department of Justice and petition for the investigation to be reopened. However, we all know that nobody has any new evidence since events occurred as was presented to the Grand Jury and not one of you will take your groundless accusations any further than this echo-chamber. It is curious that the very people who are screaming cover-up and want the truth, want to censor and block when faced with the facts. BTW, propaganda isnt propaganda when it is the truth. I dont appreciate being accused of stirring up trouble by the very webmaster who has made a veritable career by hawking this conspiracy theory at every opportunity on his website. So adios. I hope you get some closure from your lunatic ravings, for my part I salute the Silverton police for their constant professionalism in the face of such persistant character assassinations.
I don’t give a rat’s ass what you appreciate.
Your intention is to divert attention from the cover-up by stirring up trouble and denying the fact that this investigation stinks.
You’ve blamed the victims and invented lies about a dead kid.
You think it’s acceptable to pursue and execute a young man after the incident (whatever it was) is over.
That’s not civilisation: that’s a zoo, and you personally are a disgrace.
Goodbye (or should I say sayonara?)
Dear John,
I think you should be made aware of the fact that your ‘arguments’ are not persuasive.
And Propaganda is:
The systematic propagation of information reflecting the interests of those advocating a cause.
Simply put:
Something similar to what the State of Oregon says about the training of its
armed thugspolice officers.If you go to the link that Pat posted above, and read the comments, I think we can see that not everyone is taking “John Hancock”’s line.
I wonder what rank he has in the Silverton PD. (Or his/her brother, sister, father etc.)
Just wanted to say…
there are many many good citizens of Silverton who think there is something rotten in the air.
We don’t all take everything we see and hear at face value.
Gary –
Unfortunately, John Hancock doesn’t seem to be one of them.
What am I missing – why does John H state that the coroners report showed PCP in AJ’s blood? What the fuck? Where is this report?
He invented it.
He’s an evil bastard and now he’s banned.
Hancock is partial to red herrings.
You’d be surprised how much it revealed about itself.
Sounds like you’ve been busy, Bock.
The real John Hancock was one of the signatories of the American Declaration of Independence. The slang word for signature in the states is still “John Hancock”. I, for one, would be much more impressed if our contributor used his real name.
By the way, before he was a revolutionary Hancock was a smuggler and tax dodger, i.e. he had a vested interest in the revolution. He owed the British several tens of thousands in back taxes. The man was a hero.
Compare the following with the death of A J Hanlon:
http://www.latimes.com/news/local/inland/la-me-longbeach31-2008jul31,0,7522993.story
Posted by our friend Hancock:
“Lets have a look at your argument and assume it to be true. That the law pursued an innocent man and cold bloodedly assassinated him. In the susbsequent investigation the department, internal affairs, witnesses, members of the Grand Jury and prosecuters together conspired to hide that truth by suppressing evidence, and in doing so put their reputations on the line for an accused child molester”.
EXACTLY WHAT HAS HAPPENED – and in your own words too!!!
Again posted by our friend HANCOCK —”If anyone has ANY evidence that this was a cover-up they should immediately contact the Department of Justice and petition for the investigation to be reopened.”
Whatever gives you the impression – or indeed satisfaction that this has not already been done?????
BOCK – You are doing a wonderful job and I send you my heartfelt thanks. Maybe leaving this deluded person the ability to post his ramblings, would be of help to the family??
No.
He’s trying to spread hatred and he won’t do it here.
One significant point. The Grand Jury didn’t conspire in the cover-up: they were simply kept out of the loop and weren’t given the full story.
Bock – That is correct. And they were never given the opportunity to cross examine any witnesses as the Assistant DA did all the interviewing of witnesses and presented it to the Grand Jury as an afait accompli.
Exactly true Bock:
‘The original purpose of the grand jury was to act as a buffer between the king (and his prosecutors) and the citizens. Critics argue that this safeguarding role has been erased, and the grand jury simply acts as a rubber stamp for the prosecutor. Since the role of the grand jury is only to determine probable cause, there is no need for the jury to hear all the evidence, or even conflicting evidence. It is left to the good faith of the prosecutor to present conflicting evidence. ‘
http://tinyurl.com/5v4xjv
I wonder if anyone on this Grand Jury read this manual – in relation to the use of force and the Oregon state Department on Police Safety Standards and Training (DPSST) Use of Force Matrix
http://tinyurl.com/5rsuu2
- – - – - – - – - –
Or, for further reading, written an ex-cop:
Whatever name you attach to your concept
of progression or escalation of force,
it is an invaluable tool. While words such
as presence, dialogue, physical control
and intermediate weapons are fine, they
can never replace an action/reaction
matrix that you can diagram to a judge or
jury to help them understand why you
acted, and that it was proper, justified,
appropriate and reasonable in light of the
resistance or force you were facing.
http://tinyurl.com/6fh24e
Somebody vandalized all the Police Dept emergency vehicles last night. Was driving by taking my kid to school – all cars have slashed tires.
Hope we are talking about Silverton Police!!
Oh well hmmmmmm.
Im not exactly crying into my tea guys.
Obviously there are some pretty pissed off folks there in Silverton.
Guys Im behind you 150% even more but Im not sure this is the way to go.
Yes it will piss them off, the police that is, but really what we need is to get the attention of the real people there in Silverton.
Perhaps signed petitions for change, or petitions of how folks feel about AJ’s killing, or protests, (non violent that is) cant have any of you guys joining AJ now can we.
Petitions sent to the relevent parties, Governor, Senators etc.
No point sending them to the DA, they will end up in the trash can.
Does anyone know how the vigil on the 30th of July went, it was AJ’s 1 month anniversary.
Keep the faith guys, keep on looking for support for justice for Andrew.
He would do the same for you guys.
Never forget this gentle Irish boy who everyone loved, he needs you now more than ever.
He has no voice, it was taken away, now you must be his voice, you must fight his cause, you the people of Silverton , Ireland and everywhere must come together and make your cry of injustice heard.
http://www.kptv.com/news/17064133/detail.html#-
That is not good news. Whoever did this has harmed Andrew’s case.
No one who supports Andrew’s case would have any truck with the people who broke into the Silverton Police Department’s parking lot to vandalize vehicles. I doubt if it was teenagers ‘on the tear’ who did this as there is a curfew in Silverton where everyone under 18 has to be off the streets by 10pm. And parents can be served with a court order if their childrenn break this curfew or are caught smoking or shoplifting. These court orders are for parenting classes.
http://tinyurl.com/5la7fx
Wow…this is quite the echo chamber in here. Replete with theories of “cover ups” and “grand conspiracies.” Oliver Stone would be proud of you all!
The reality is, what happened to Andrew Hanlon is sad and tragic. However, Mr. Hanlon is ultimately responsible for his own demise. At any point in the confrontation with the officer he could have obeyed the several verbal commands issued to him. He chose not to, but instead chose to charge the officer.
I listened to the same 9-1-1 tape that many of you in this forum claim to have listened to, and I came away with a much different of Mr. Hanlon’s state of mind. I especially find the 9-1-1 tape where his own brother-in-law called the police in April 2008. I find if very compelling that his sister and brother were so afraid of Andrew that they kicked him out of their house and state that he was schizoprhenic and not taking his medications.
All this hooey about a cover up is, well, just plain nuts.
Ex-pat at large –
Were you present when Andrew was killed?
ex pat at large: what were those “several verbal commands”? why weren’t they heard or included on 911 tape? since we can plainly hear officer who arrives on scene at digerness road. also, why did no one in neighborhood where andrew’s life ended, hear any verbal commands? only “verbal ” any of us heard at bottom of oak st. hill~had nothing to do with “commands” except for one. do they kill people where you live, if citizen has mental meltdown~ bangs on someone’s door or slams body into door shouting god knows what all? now, we’re talking about an unarmed delerious very troubled 20 year
old barefoot lad who weighs 130#? is this acceptable consequence where you live? if it is, you maybe need to know that a psychosis
like this, can and does visit young people all over the world, all the time, unexpectedly and at will. are they to be killed for their illness? was andrew just asking
for more torture than he was already going through?
So Much for those ‘countless’ hours training Oregon police officers receive:
[Excerpts from Gonzalez interview]
“It was dark. I didn’t turn my flashlight on. And I’m just listening,” Gonzalez said.
“And I could hear trees rustling, and I couldn’t tell where it was coming from.”
The man emerged from the trees with his hands raised and flopping around.
“Maybe that was from him walking down the steep hill, his hands were jerking,” Gonzalez said. He was dressed exactly the same as the burglary suspect, in a brown sweater and khaki pants.
–
“When he disappeared, I heard a bottle break,” Gonzalez said. “I withdrew my gun because I heard the bottle break.”
–
The officer had drawn a Glock .22, his own personal gun. He held it down in his right hand, with his flashlight in his left hand.
–
“When I heard the glass, I was like, man, do I really need to pull my gun out? It’s like, that’s what I was trained to do,” he said. “A 240-pound guy, I can handle myself.”
“I had pictured somebody shoving an [expletive] bottle in [expletive] in my neck or something,” he said. “That was what was going through my head.”
—
The suspect then stood up at the far end of the cars, 5 to 7 feet away, but stood in profile. Gonzalez couldn’t see his left hand.
Gonzalez ordered the man to the ground multiple times.
—
“He looked like he was sizing me up,” the officer said. “So I started yelling again, trying to break his train of thought.”
The suspect muttered “OK,” and bent down as though he was going to comply, Gonzalez said. He touched the ground with his hands, stood, then crouched again.
And then the man leapt at Gonzalez.
“He started flailing and coming right at me, and it was like, what the [expletive] are you doing?” Gonzalez told investigators. “I just remember backing up and he was just, [expletive], he was just [expletive] flying. He closed that gap so [expletive] quick.”
Gonzalez started backpedaling and firing point-blank at the suspect. He told investigators that he never sighted his gun.
“I think I started shooting somewhere in between the cars, and I kept firing until he stopped,” Gonzalez said. “He just wouldn’t stop. He was so quick.”
The suspect fell dead in the street. Gonzalez’s ears were ringing from the shots. He called in for help, reporting shots fired, then donned latex gloves to take a closer look at the man.
http://tinyurl.com/db5pq
- – - – - – - – - – - – - –
Extract from Statesman Journal:
A news release issued by the Marion County District Attorney’s office after the grand jury’s ruling portrayed DeSantis as a random passerby who stumbled across the shooting. It specifically noted that he did not know Gonzalez or the slain suspect, Andrew James Hanlon.
But the documents reveal that DeSantis is a business partner of the man whose home Hanlon had been trying to break into that evening.
He and Josiah Kelley were working at their business, a small brewery called Seven Brides Brewing, the evening of June 30 when Kelley received a terrified call from his family about the attempted break-in. Hanlon had been screaming and baying at their door, slamming and kicking it hard enough to leave behind smeared blood.
DeSantis followed Kelley home out of concern, and happened across the shooting as he was driving down Oak Street in his truck “to see if this guy had gone down the hill,” Woodburn Detective Rick Puente wrote following his interview with DeSantis.
The deputy district attorneys who wrote the earlier news release were not available for comment Friday.
Well well, and so the plot thickens.
De Santis didnt ‘happen’ across the shooting.
‘He followed Kelley home’ which means he turned up left onto the road where Kelley lives, then turned around drove back to the end of the road, turned left down Oak Street, (which is in tne opposite direction of where he De Santis lives) and its about 250yds to the place where Andrew was shot.
The truth is he followed Andrew, he was NO random passer by as the DA would like to paint.
He was there for a reason.
As I said in a previous posting ‘ to be a good liar you have to have a good memory’
This crime scene was continually contaminated following Andrews shooting, the first contamination was by De Santis while walking through the scene and handling AJ, so procedure was out the window straight away.
Within the following 24 hours the road where AJ was shot was closed and opened numerous times how can this be considered a ‘closed crime scene’!
This has been known for a while.
I want to clarify something about the report in the Statesman Journal, quoted by Andrew.
it is not established that Andrew was trying to break into the house. It is also not established that he left blood on the door. That could have been done by DeSantis, who had AJ’s blood on his person.
Furthermore, I don’t believe AJ ran down the hill. The undergrowth is too thick. It’s more likely that he ran down the road, and this is an important point because it challenges Gonzales’s version in which Andrew came out of the darkness. It also casts doubt on the story provided by DeSantis.
Andrew, interesting comment you made about the ‘curfew in Silverton on 18 year olds and under being 10pm’
My god now its really starting to sound like a Police State.
Had I been there on vacation with my kids I would have thought nothing about sending them to a store for something or going for dinner with them as you can do in Europe.
More and more Im realizing how lucky we are in Europe to have the freedom of movement we have, We live in a country area but originally come from a city area, I nor my children have ever been afraid to walk down a road or go to the store at anytime, no matter where we lived. I suppose this is the difference of living in ‘fear’ or not.
There has been a situation created in the US where the public are being controlled by the powers that be through ‘fear’, the American people are allowing themselves to be stripped of their ‘freedom’ all because of ‘fear’ which is being imposed upon them by their own Government.
Tens of Thousands of people died to give the American people that freedom, and now whether or not they know it this freedom is slowly being taken away from them by their own Government.
The US Government say its a Democratic Society, prove it I say.
The only time I have ever heard of curfews being imposed on any society is during time of ‘War’ of ‘Martial Law’.
So which is it guys, are you at ‘WAR’ or simply inder ‘MARTIAL LAW’ !!!!!!!!!!!!!!
See below for actual ordinance on curfew in Silverton. Not exactly martial law. And…not all teenagers in the U.S. follow all the rules….
9.12.010 Hours of curfew.
A. No minor under the age of 16 years shall be in or upon any street, highway, park, alley, or other public place between the hours of 10:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m. the following morning unless such a minor is:
1. Accompanied by a parent, guardian or other person 21 years of age or over and authorized by the parent or by law to have care and custody of the minor; or
2. Engaged is a lawful pursuit or activity which requires the presence of the child, or there exists a reasonable necessity for the presence of the child during the hours specified in this section; or
3. Such a child is emancipated pursuant to ORS 419B.550 and 419B.558.
B. No minor who has attained the age of 16 years, but is under the age of 18 years, shall be in or upon any street, highway, park, alley, or other public place between the hours of 12:00 midnight and 6:00 a.m., the following morning, unless such minor is:
1. Accompanied by a parent, guardian or other person 21 years of age or over and authorized by the parent or by law to have care and custody of the minor; or
2. Engaged in a lawful pursuit or activity which required the presence of the child, or there exists a reasonable necessity for the presence of the child during the hours specified in this section; or
3. Such child is emancipated pursuant to ORS 419B.550 and 419B.558.
Violation of this section is a civil infraction. (Ord. 98-120, 1998)
A civil infraction, not criminal.
Detectives interviewed Gonzalez just days after the shooting. In it, Gonzalez says “I think I said show me your hands, then I told him to get on the ground multiple times, get on the ground right now, get on the groundâ€Â.
Since Gonzalez has resigned from the Silverton police early this week, at the end of his period of paid suspension, it will be interesting to see how he pleads at his next appearance in court. The police would not want a serving officer before the court on sex charges.
We will see if he has plea bargained. This might not have a major impact on these charges, but, maybe he has already had his freeby in the AJ Hanlon killing. The fact that he got off scot free in that case, because the DA went easy on him, may have been his pay back.
AJ was an illegal foreigner and mentally ill, and from reading the blogs in the Oregon newspapers, there is little or no sympathy for him over there.
The judicial system would clearly prefer to get him on the child molestation charges, if possible, with as much ease as they can. It will look better locally.
In redneck country, killing an illegal would be way down the scale compared to molesting a minor.
I’d certainly agree about the comments on the Oregon blogs.
The people who commented look like wall-to-wall rednecks, and utter lunatics, but I don’t know if they’re typical of all Oregonians.
I’d guess probably not. The ones with the most aggressive urges are also the ones who tend to leave comments on web-sites, while the normal people just keep quiet.
It would be terrible to think that Oregon is populated by homicidal rednecks.
It isn’t. Right?
That curfew wouldn’t have applied to AJ, He was 20.
This 15 year old girl gets punched and pepper sprayed for breaking curfew violation. Could she not have been warned and told to go home I wonder? I guess she’s lucky she wasn’t shot.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=10VKwULQbb8
As I said: the new Soviet Union.
I have heard a lot of people saying ‘how could there be a cover up there are too many people involved,no one will put their neck on the line like that’.
Well guys take a good long look at this clip, We found it shocking, but it enforces what we have thought about Andrews case all along.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lrOzJo0KhKs&feature=related
My God, My God, what chance have people got to find justice when the corruption and the cover ups go all the way to the top.
They are perpared to protect one of their own no matter what the cost.
Astonishing video.
I agree. It’s a very disturbing video.
please, may i urge anyone who is still wondering if there was a “cover-up” in andrew hanlon’s case, to visit:
http://www.mentalhealthportland.wordpress.com/2008/08/04/ma
take a close look at reports released.
when you study each report from each agency involved, curious sets of information
from police reports will emerge:
*there was a 911 call prior to 11:18pm from
a don kelley, with a code 0 given to call. code 0 is the code for “shot fired, suspect shot.”
* time sequences of andrew leaving digerness
residence and “traveling down backyard bush”
are at less than 4-5 seconds, til he is shot on oak at mill, an impossible time frame, given that he was also supposed to have done karate manuvers, and advanced at gonzolas.
*gonzolas (after the shooting) says nothing
to anyone, is taken to s.p.d., where he is met by silverton police union officer. this officer is
jeff fossholm, son in law of don kelley. fossholm is very first person gonzolas talks with, after shooting. gonzalas gives his report of the shooting to fossholm.
*don kelley is (throughout all police reports from different agencies) wanting
to speak to “his son” jeff desantis,directly after shooting,
and continuing up to 1 to 2 hours after shooting. kelley keeps
referring to jeff desantis as “my son” or “my son in law” in transcribed notes kept by different officers on scene who don kelley speaks with, except kelley does not refer to jeff desantis as “son” or “son in law” in his witness statement kelley gave to state sherrif department. jeff desantis is niether kelley’s son nor his son in law. don kelley was also heard telling officer at scene “i have 12:35 appointment at bottom of hill with my son in law jeff desantis, i need permission to go down hill to meet him.” why was don kelley so anxious to speak with “the only eye witness to the shooting” jeff desantis??? **what of looking at time sequences recorded by 911 agencies cadvisor and norcom, study these time frames~
one says “started as prowl” reported at 11:18pm, called in to 911 by “tom kelley” then different report states officer arrives at
11:27/34 first shot fired at 11:27/39 (4 seconds after police arrive?) this location listed as oak street at mill street when second code 0 is reported by gonzales. we can note a call to 911 by tom kelley (probably meant as don kelley) 11:18, second caller listed as don kelley 11:23, first shot after officer arrives at digerness or mill/oak? scene listed at 11:27/35
more shots fired 11:28, subject is down, 11:31, so, gonzolas arrives digerness and or oak anywhere from 11:24 to 11:36, (the way i am reading it)
don kelley reports hearing 4-6 shots less than one minute after police arrive at digerness(see police report of don kelley interview)also interesting to me is that after shooting, gonzolas clams up, until he discusses shooting with fossholm at the silverton police department.(fossholm is married to a kelley) fossholm is same union representative for s.p.d., as reported by press, he is same officer who endorsed gonzolas’ actions on june 30th,when he read statement to the media, 2 days after shooting~
i still maintain gonzolas shot andrew after andrew was already dead, he (may) have been assured he would be 100% guaranteed he would get off any charges, since this was also stated in statesman journal newspaper one day before grand jury sat the case. from outside don kelley’s front door on digerness road, he is quoted as saying (seconds after police arrive) police officer says “stop, put that down, do you want to get shot?” and don kelley is on top of digerness road, a full two blocks away from where andrew falls dead.
kelley said this was immediately followed by 5-6 shots.
**i would also like to know who fired the last 2 (of the very last loud shots fired) which appeared to have come from the front side of my building, and which lines up directly with where andrew fell, in the street. then after those 2 shots were fired, who were the 2 men who ran to the mid back of my building, by the window where i was sitting at computer, and i heard their comments: “shot it ” or “got it?”
then, after that, what were the very last 4-5 shots in the distance, the “popping shot” noises?
i feel what was documented by the investigation team needs a new look here, that times and places and comments by these original witnesses be reviewed and that people who saw or heard different events
would be allowed to be interviewed also, in a new investigation. if andrew’s family doesn’t feel it is necessary to have case re-opened, what next?
Hi Jane,
Did you go to Andrews memorial on the 3rd of August up at Silver Falls?
AJ’s family do have a lawyer involved with his case, so for them its just a matter of waiting now.
They do not understant the US legal system and it does differ somewhat from the Irish one.
The fact that the DA told them that all findings would be handed over after the Grand Jury and then only gave the Lawyer part of it ,they didnt hand over the photos, autopsy, videos etc. for over a week has made things a little difficult.
Why did they hold back some evidence?
Well only they know but I think it stinks.
I notice very little is being said in the media about Gonzalez sex abuse case, why do you think this is?
Also after pleading guilty in his statement he is now pleading NOT guilty!!!!!!
My God, dont tell me he’s going to walk on these charges too………….
We are concerned about all this, something just doesnt add up.
What do you think?
Ex-officer pleads innocent to sex abuse The Associated Press PORTLAND, Ore. (AP)  A former Silverton police officer cleared in the fatal shooting of a young man from Ireland has pleaded not guilty to sex abuse charges in an unrelated case. Tony Gonzalez, 35, was arrested July 13 by Keizer police, a day after a girl and her mother reported the allegations. Gonzalez was indicted on the sex-abuse charges July 22.
During an interview with detectives, Gonzalez at first denied any inappropriate touching, but then admitted to tickling and then sexually touching the girl, according to court documents. The teen victim said the sexual touching began four or five years ago, then happened again in July before Gonzalez’s arrest, documents said. Gonzalez resigned from Silverton Police Department on Aug. 1.
He was first jailed in Polk County but since has been transferred to Linn County.
His attorney, Mark Obert, entered a not guilty plea on his behalf Friday in front of Marion County Circuit Judge Joseph Ochoa, who assigned the case to Judge Joseph Guimond.
Obert requested a bail hearing, saying that the mother of the girl no longer thought that Gonzalez was a threat to her.
Hmmmmmmmmm
All very strange………………
First she fears for her and her daughters life, and now she feels he is no longer a threat to her!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
So whats changed in the last couple of weeks??????
Is it my suspicious mind or does this sound odd to say the least.
Is the plot thickening further….
Did anyone see what I can only describe as Silverton Police propaganda in the News of the World dated the 10th of August.
I didnt , but was handed it last night.
Headline; PALS OF SHOT IRISHMAN IN COP RAMPAGE.
It is a very dangerous piece put out by SPD, and their Police Captain yet again making statements with NO proof.
Needless to say he didnt want his name mentioned, but hey there are only 16 Police officers, sorry no its 15 now in Silverton so I guess there is Only one Captain.
he said ‘ we believe the vandalism was in retaliation for the decision to clear Gonzalez for the shooting of Andrew’.
Is this yet another ploy to gain sympathy from the public and media and to whitewash the sullied name of the Silverton Police……..
My God will they stop at nothing.
Bock,
“It would be terrible to think that Oregon is populated by homicidal rednecks.
It isn’t. Right?”
Well sadly to say it looks like we have more than our fair share. I know too many people personally who have suffered and even been killed by the Oregon cops. It is no real secret around here how brutal and corrupt they can be.
But please I hope all of you here realise there are some decent folk here in the State of Oregon.
This murder is not something reasonable and educated people of our State are proud of or support. The responses you can read on the Statesman Journal and The (Bore)Oregonian are mainly the yelpings of those who look to Rush Limbaugh,and locally Lars Larson as their bards of political discourse.
One thing I am rather ashamed of though is the real lack of coverage in our local “alternative press” such as the Willamette Week.
The television news coverage has been extremley biased towards the cops as well, even stating in one report my wife and I caught that AJ was “stalking the neighborhood”…WTF does that mean?
And for all those who continue blaming the family of AJ and say they are only trying to get money or fame…..I can only feel a deep sadness and disgust. If you knew them you would know they tried to help AJ, that they only want justice and are completly devastated by the events. And are acting out of their deep sense of loss and love of Andrew.
MCW –
It does indeed appear that you have a disproportionate share of homicidal rednecks. You even have one in the White House.
The level of aggression coming here from the US has been a real eye-opener, though of course, we should hardly be surprised when we see the activities of US forces across the planet.
It seems Americans have decided that violence is the answer to everything.
Musn’t forget either that Silverton’s Chief or ‘Police’ was seconded to Iraq in 2005 to …. wait for it …. to serve as an International Police Trainer !! He trained Colonels and Generals in the Iraqi National Police force from April through October, 2005.
I’ve just come across this on the web
http://tinyurl.com/64qybm
A petition sponsored by Concerned Irish in America
Interesting that he was in Iraq, although in a non-combat role.
In November 2007, ‘vets’ were reckoned to be committing suicide at a rate of 120 per week. (And then there are the ones who kill their wives and families first …)
http://tinyurl.com/5b6673
One thing we must remember though and that is, although Tony Gonzalez was a Marine for 5 years he NEVER saw action……………..WHY………
During the time he was a Marine the the US was heavily involved in a number of conflicts around the world and as we all know where the US are involved in conflicts the Marines are the first to be sent to the front line (cannon fodder).
Why then was Gonzalez never sent to serve his country ?
Also
Aj Hanlon was shot and killed in Silverton on Monday the 30th of June on Wednesday the 2nd of July Silvertons Police Chief Lewis went on vacation.
The following day his teenage daughter gave an interview to the LARS LARSON radio show regarding Aj’s killing, her words were ‘ Im glad hes dead he was a thief and a physco’
And this coming from the Police Chiefs daughter………….
Kids tend to echo what they hear at home all parents know that, so just what do you think she was listening to at home from her Daddy , Police Chief Lewis!!!!
Disgraceful, yes, shameful, yes.
What chance did Andrew have of justice…NONE.
TRUE, AJ was shot and killed (murdered) by the then Police Officer Gonzalez.
FALSE, AJ never committed a burglary that night , he caused a disturbance.
FALSE, AJ was never diagnosed with a psychological disorder.
Personally I feel Chief Lewis should be held accountable for the actions of his daughter, and his Officers to include his Captain who recently made a statement to the News of the World.
The base line is an unarmed boy of 20 was shot dead.
Anonymous —
Please leave comments under one name only.
The following is the article from the News of the World dated 10th of August 08 written by Danny Conlon.
‘PALS OF SHOT IRISHMAN IN COP RAMPAGE’
ANGRY friends of slain Irishman Andrew Hanlon have gone on the rampage in America.
Eight police department vehicles in the city of Silverton, Oregon had their tyres slashed causing an estimated 5000euro worth of damage.
Cops believe the attack was as a direct result of ex-cop Tony Gonzalez,35, being cleared of any criminal wrong-doing in the shooting of Andrew, 20, last month.
A police spokesman said: ‘Someone slashed the tyres on eight police cruisers and we are offering 1000euro reward for any information leading to the arrest of the culpits’
A Captain on the police force, who did not want to be named, said: ‘We believe the vandalism was in retaliation for the decision to clear Gonzalez for the shooting of Andrew’.
UNARMED
The police officer who shot the Unarmed Irishman five weeks ago claimed he regretted what had happened – but said he had been left with no other choice.
Gonzalez, 35, spoke to Investigating officers three days after shooting Andrew and his evidence has now been released.
Andrew, who was from Dundrum in Dublin, was shot five times by the cop, who was investigating reports of a burglary.
Gonzalez resigned last week and is being held in jail in Oregon on unrelated sex-abuse charges.
END
No problem Bock, sorry about that, there are a couple of us working from the same ip addy.
Isnt it amazing how the timing of the DA’s release of the 911 calls coinsided with the resignation of Gonzalez, hmmmm.
Is my mind working overtime…..I think not.
It all seems very pat to me, too contrived.
The 911 calls were leaked to the press even before Andrew’s Family Lawyers were given a copy of them , so much for the promises made to them by the DA.
Another piece of nasty work done by Assistand DA Kemmy on behalf of the DA’s office while the DA himself hides somewhere in the back ground making the muck balls for Kemmy to throw.
Pity he didnt grow some balls when he decided to take the job of DA.
Ok, so you think Im being too hard, yes I am, because these people have hung an innocent young man out to dry, the fact that he is dead is neither here nor there, AJ’s dead because one of their employees couldnt or wouldnt do his job properly.
They have gone to some lengths to do some pretty dispicable things over the past 6 weeks unfortunatly I dont think they are finished yet and I feel you will see some more shitty behaviour coming from the Silverton Police Department and the DA’s Office. The thing is they dont care what the public think they only care about keeping records clean.
News management. Seems to be an awful lot of corruption in this area. Gonzalez is NOW being held in Linn County ….. isn’t that where the Matland family are from ????
sorry Andrew, who are the Matland Family?
I got on to a blog relating to Andrew’s death [I can't get a TinyUrl for it] and the description of the slaying was all as it was reproted by Gonzalez and DeSantis but in the writing there was an undercurrent of something to be revealed about official corruption [judges, police etc.] in this part of Oregon.
I used Google Blog Search:
silverton oregon gonzalez hanlon
And the link in the first page
‘Entry for July 27, 2008.JUSTIFIED MY EYE!!!!!’
It’s a Blog.360.yahoo address.
is the one which mentions the Matland family and they seem very close to officialdom.
Though when I retried that Blog Search just now the page comes up empty though it’s in my Firefox cache. !!!!
Though an ordinary Google search on the terms:
albany linn county matland family
brings that blog up first page!
and this: http://tinyurl.com/6q6g6q
It’s just that the impression I’m getting is that this area of Oregon seems very very corrupt!
Andrew, I tried a tinyurl:
http://tinyurl.com/5t5kqy
I think this is the one you mean. ‘Angela’ sounds furious.
My God I have only just checked out the site Nora left on her blog.
Its incredible how the authorities in the US , particularly Oregon think its perfectly acceptable to behave in this corrupt manner, its a matter of do as I say not as I do…
Keep up the good work Bock, keep on digging up the dirt on these A holes.
Someone, somewhere is going to have to be held accountable for their actions, lets hope its sooner rather than later.
Hey guys what do you think about this,
I have just found out that the Police Captain from Silverton who blamed the vandalism of police vehicles in Silverton on ‘Andrew Hanlon’s’ friends is none other than Kelley’s son-in-law Capt. Jeff Fossholm.
Well, well well.
Hey Jane where are you, we miss your blogs.
dear “close family friend”~ i miss contact with
you all too! my reasons for backing off a bit are twofold:
***first:i (originally) devoted 100% of my time toward finding out why this happened to andrew, from july 3rd to around the 10th of august. from july 30th on, i’ve heard nothing from andrew’s relatives stateside, nor from any concerned citizens within the the community of silverton. i felt no one was interested in devoting any more time toward defending andrew further, and also i believe it is imperitive at this point for action to be taking place, not just talk. there has not (to my knowledge) been any open local meetings
to discuss what happened to andrew, nor how this senseless murder was handled by the authorities. i am so
willing still to do all i can to see this tragedy investigated by a new law enforcement team without agenda, and anyone who is also feeling this way, please email me~ jstonecards@aol.com and at the least we can set up a forum to discuss where to go from here. to do nothing is same as saying what happened to andrew was o.k. with us. it
is also hard to know what to do, with no word from andrew’s relatives in the states. one thing people can do is email the oregon state police, which bock has found/published email address for. i believe it is ASK.OSP@STATE.OR.US requesting a new investigation into the death of andrew j. hanlon.
***second reason i had to back away a bit is because i can’t/won’t loose my business, building and home behind devoting too little time toward nurturing the business and fulfilling orders.*** without any recent
input or interest from local people in silverton, it has been difficult to know which direction to
focus on here. i am still totally commited toward seeing this through, both for andrew and for every young adult in silverton who survives him~ we owe andrew this vow of justice for his soul, just as we owe each young person living in silverton our pledge toward both honoring them as fine citizens and protecting them from harm. these kids deserve our respect for their integrity and their kindness, just as andrew did. jstone
ps~ it should also be noted this same captain jeff fossholm was the one who privately took witness statement from officer gonzolas (at the police department) shortly after andrew was killed, and who issued statement to the press on july 3rd, saying the silverton union on behalf of the officers of the silverton police department were in 100% support and agreement with gonzolas’ actions.
reply to close family friend august 11th~
sorry so late w/reply~no, i wasn’t able to attend andrew’s memorial in silver falls park on saturday aug. 3rd, was in eugene w/family member going through eye surgery. anyone out here who did attend?
reason no news on gonzolas is there won’t be until case goes to court, nothing to report until then. just guessing that the reason gonzolas’ wife and daughter are saying they are dropping charges re: sexual abuse of a minor is perhaps because he is only wage earner in their household, and he needs to get out of jail in order to get a a new job? hard to tell. just a guess.
it was reported on day of gonzolas arrest for sexual abuse, by the oregon newspaper “oregonian” that charges were filed by mrs. gonzolas on behalf of her 15 year old daughter. sad commentary, we should perhaps stay our energy with andrew’s soul, and our prayer that gonzolas would decide to tell the truth about andrew’s death. maybe we don’t even need to worry too much about gonzolas’ sexual deviancies with his daughter, since he will no longer be a police officer???
this is a real hard call… blessings, jstone
Nice to see you back Jane.
I was just doing my daily brouse through media links and came up with a very disturbing site.
I think it would be worth your while taking a couple of mins to take a look.
http://www.policecrimes.org/forum/viewforum.php?f=12
Its quite shocking how often Murders like Andrew Hanlon’s happen and worse still how many BAD cops get away with senseless killing.
Astonishing! Disturbing!
Yes Andrew, I agree.
But it highlights that Andrew Hanlon’s killing was not an isolated incident.
The Police Force in the Us are getting away with murder consistantly, I reckon this website is only the tip of the iceberg.
As long as the people sit back and say nothing.
As long as these ‘Bad’ cops are given the backing and help to cover up when they committ murder it will go on and on and more people will die.
The screening process for people wishing to enter the US Police Force needs to be seriously looked at.
Too many Gun slinging freaks are wearing badges thinking this gives them the right to kill, yes, ‘a licence to kill’.
People with control issues should NOT be allowed become Police Officers, are we to beleive that they are that hard up for staff they are willing to accept anyone.
Subsequently they end up covering up their *uck ups.
What a system!!!!!!!!!!!!1
It’s an opinion piece in the StatesmanJournal called: Get the facts on police shootings – By Brian DeLashmutt who is a lobbyist representing public-safety organizations and issues.
Basically a whitewash of the slaughter and he finishes his paint job with this: … The kind of misrepresentation that I see over this and other cases makes me wonder what happened to all of us understanding how our system works and taking an active role in the process by serving on Jury’s and making sure that we all don’t jump to conclusions based upon misinformation.
- – - – - – - – - – - – — –
Yet there is no mention that an ‘impartial witness’ contaminated the scene of the shooting. He failed to mention that this ‘impartial witness’ is related to the person who made the call to the police! No mention that this ‘impartial witness’ just ‘happened’ to be passing the scene of the reported confrontation. No mention of the ‘reported’ training of Oregon Police Officers ‘countless hours’ training for just this kind of event!
http://ncane.com/jcr
Hi All,
Its been a while since I have been on here and just thought I would give you an update.
Andrews family Lawyers have petitioned the Da’s looking for them to release the evidence which they withheld from the family and their Lawyers. This is the same evidence which the DA’s office assured the family would be released to them after the Grand Jury hearing.
The DA’s office have reacted to the Lawyers petition by NOT RESPONDING…………….
Hmmmmmmm.
Surprised…….Im not, its seems to be par for the course with the DA of Marion County.
Lies, omitions, broken promises, cover ups.
But as I have said here on BTR before, ignoring this family will NOT make them go away.
When did they petition the DA?
Andrew’s family Lawyers wrote to the DA over three weeks ago. The DA’s office didn’t even have the decency to reply.
Mind you they had promised to hand over all findings of the investigation after the Grand Jury hearing which took place at the end of July, the 23rd I think and as you know withheld evidence at that point then handed over part of the remaining evidence but still withheld the autopsy reports and De Santis video statement, interesting dont you think?
The family are now looking at making an official complaint and the Lawyers are now talking about having to subpoena the evidence.
Personally I think this is disgraceful behavior by the DA’s office, this family have been through hell and back and to be dragged through this is nothing short of appalling.
Of course the question has to be asked ‘WHY’ asked they withholding evidence?
I have my own opinion but one thing is for sure it stinks to high hell.
Just to remind everyone of a quote made by the Marion County District Attorney Walt Begleu.
Delivering Justice
I believe that everyone should be held accountable. Justice must always be public, accessible and fair. Everyone is entitled to be treated with dignity and respect.
Walter M. Beglau Begleu.
What a load of BULL SHIT.
1) ACCOUNTABILITY in his part of the World is dealt with by ‘Cover ups’ especially if its one of the boys in blue.
2) ‘Justice must always be public, accessible and fair’
This is coming from the guy who is withholding evidence from the investigation into AJ Hanlons Killing !!!
3) ‘Everyone is entitled to be treated with dignity and respect.’
Is that everyone EXCEPT the victim and their family!!
What a bloody hypocrite.
Can anyone help?
A while back on a radio program (Irish Radio) there was an interview done with a Lady Solicitor from Cork.
She was being interviewed because she had just been instrumental in the release of a man from ‘Death Row’ in the USA.
This case as far as the US legal system were concerned was over and done and the man was going to die.
Someone ,probably family enlisted the help of this solicitor who after researching and going through the case found inaccuracies.
The result was the case was reopened and she subsequently won the case.
I think maybe Andrew’s family need a go getter like this Solicitor.
So if anyone out there knows her or remembers anything about this radio program please let me know, it may help AJ’s case.
Thanks
Irish solicitor Niamh Gunn describes the exoneration of Walter Swift by the Innocence Project in the US, on which she worked
INNOCENT OF a crime he never committed, Walter Swift spent 26 years in a Detroit prison. On Wednesday May 21st Walter walked free, thanks to the team at the Innocence Project that worked on his case, spearheaded by its founder, Barry Scheck.
http://ncane.com/80i
And from RTE TV:
http://ncane.com/3uy1
The Walter Swift link.
And this from Morning Ireland Radio show.
http://ncane.com/py1
Thanks Andrew, didn’t hear this interview myself.
What was your opinion of her?
Do you think she and her experience would be useful in this case?
Just a thought.
She’s very well trained … good eye for detail. I think she would find holes in so-called ‘independent’ witness statement[s].
They thought Andrew had no friends or family who would question the killing – or make any kind of fuss. So the ‘official’ story fills in all the required boxes as long as questions are not asked. They didn’t expect the furore they received from Silverton itself – and from Ireland.
Yes I think your right Andrew, the thing is this pressure must be maintained.
Unfortunately these things have a habit of running out of steam over a period of time so we must keep AJ’s case highlighted as much as possible, know what I mean.
I have been looking through some info on Niamh Gunn on the net but cant find any contact details for her.
But will keep trying, if you get anything further let me know. I will pass it on.
Where are you based Andrew?
We need to encourage and support the campaign for truth and justice and Andrew’s family and Andrew himself.
This needs people like Bock, you, Garry Ireland, Garry Silverton, the Egans, me and everyone else who cares and gives a damn to keep it alive.
Andrew — Would you mind not posting those ncane.com links? I can’t get into them. Post the original url please.
Irish solicitor Niamh Gunn describes the exoneration of Walter Swift by the Innocence Project in the US, on which she worked
http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/ireland/2008/0721/1216565483323.html
And from RTE TV: The Walter Swift link.
http://www.rte.ie/tv/miriam/20080719.html
And this from Morning Ireland Radio show.
http://www.rte.ie/news/2008/0521/morningireland.html
What was unexpected was the fact that Andrew had people who cared for him. ‘Official’ Silverton thought that Andrew was a ‘homeless,friendless indigent’ whom no-one would miss. That’s why their ‘official’ account of his slaughter is so full of holes.
Yes Andrew your probably right.
Question is where do we go from here??
What can AJ’s family and friends do next??
Its about time all of us ( thats the ones who do care) start throwing ideas to help into the middle of this forum, I think thats what needed now.
We all have good and honest intentions but its action that is needed now don’t you think.
Its been a while since I have been on BTR.
Its sad to say that since my last input here not one single person has had anything to say about the tragic killing of AJ Hanlon.
Yes its true there have been no more updates in the case since last I wrote but isnt it upsetting to see how easy it is for us to forget the people who are not with us anymore.
Easy that is except for the family and friends.
Who I must remind everyone are relying on the support of people out there like you and me.
Ex. Officer Tony Gonzalez ( the cop who shot dead the UNARMED AJ.Hanlon) next court appearance will be in November, it will be interesting to see the outcome on this one.
To-day is the 28th of October in two days young Andrew-James Hanlon will be four months dead, how quickly we forget, or do we?
To show your support to the family keep your blogs coming here.
Hey guys, Just a quick reminder.
The Benefit ‘Fun Quiz Night’ to help aid the Andrew-James Hanlon Repatriation Fund is being held to-night Friday the 7th of November at 8.30 pm in Scholars Lounge, Firhouse, Dublin 24.
It is being organized by ‘AJ’s’ cousins.
There will also be an Auction and Raffle held.
Everyone is welcome, so please do try to attend.
The CC is 10euro per person and 4 to a table.
We hope to see you there, thank you.
Well guys it seems Andrew Hanlons killer ex.Police OfficerTony Gonzalez is still in custody.
http://www.statesmanjournal.com/article/20081122/NEWS/811220318/1001
Check this out.
After all the tooing and froing and excuses of all sorts as to why AJ Hanlon was ‘Murdered’ it seems to have boiled down to the fact that Gonzalez ‘THOUGHT’ the ‘unarmed’ Andrew Hanlon was armed.
How lame is that.
This man has been proven to be a consistant liar, has abused his position of trust within the community, has sexually abused a minor over a number of years while being employed as a Police Officer, has harrassed people within the community where he works, and finally his thirst for power over the vulnerable within society brought him to murder an unarmed boy.
We will watch this case with interest.
But we will always remember Andrew-James Hanlon, an innocent boy shot down at 20 years of age.
Sleep with the angels AJ.
Bock I see Silverton has elected a new mayor. Link here: http://www.latimes.com/news/printedition/front/la-na-transgender20-2008nov20,0,1699551.story
I wonder will this have any outcome on the case? I have no idea whether he is linked to any of the main players in the case, but at least on appearance he doesn’t seem like the good ole boy type to me.
Hey Bock,
I also found this online petition it might be something you could stick up on the site. http://www.thepetitionsite.com/4/investigation-into-shooting-of-andrew-hanlon
Its hard to believe its 5 months since young AJ was shot down on the Streets of Silverton and his life taken at the hands of Officer Tony Gonzalez.
I hope all Andrew’s friends out there are thinking of him as the Christmas approaches.
This is going to be a most difficult time for AJ’s family, their Christmases will never be the same again.
I hope all of you will join with me and show solidarity at this time in wishing them the very best of wishes and by sending them your thoughts and prayers, they will need it.
Andrew you will always be remembered.
The sex abuse trial of a former Silverton police officer cleared of wrongdoing in the June shooting death of an Irish national, is scheduled for early December, court officials said.
Under Oregon’s Measure 11, first-degree sexual abuse carries a mandatory minimum sentence of 75 months in prison.
Gonzalez, who pleaded not guilty to the sex abuse charges and resigned from the police department, is scheduled to stand trial before Judge Joseph Guimond at 9 a.m. on December 9 in Marion County Circuit Court. The trial is expected to last two days.
We can only hope and pray that this time justice is done, I have my doubts.
I have heard that Gonzales refused a State assisted Lawyer and opted for a private Lawyer.
This meant he would have to fund the legal fees himself.
To do so I heard he has put his house on the market and by doing so is taking the roof from over the heads of the woman and child who reported him for the sexual abuse of a minor.
Yet another POWER move on Gonzalez behalf.
Putting fear into this vulnerable family who are afraid of being left homeless.
I suppose thats one way of making people change their statements.
It shows him for the low life he really is.
to each person reading, contributing and concerned with the situation of andrew’s
murder at the hands of “justice” in silverton,
oregon: please may i ask each one of you, wherever you live, just for today, to contribute
a bit of your time toward making your voice heard? newspapers, state and local (silverton)government authorities, etc.. need to be told that a new investigation into andrew’s death is
not only necessary, it is going to happen one way or another because we will not let go of what happened until justice is “allowed in.”
write to: stu rassmussen 417 north water st.,
silverton,or. 97381
or: google for email address of vic gilliam, state rep. of marion county oregon or email fbi in portland oregon, or city council members, silverton, or.
(go to silverton oregon city of) for email addresses of council members. email the “oregonian” newspaper, portland, oregon, etc…or any other media you can think of, in u.s. and ireland. also, what about u.s. counsulate in ireland, and irish counsulate in u.s.? any other suggestions of who we might
contact? please share suggestions.
sorry i didn’t research email addresses here, but am in center of “holiday rush” time at work.
it is urgent that we do not let dust collect
on this unspeakable tragedy, but that we act
to bring this toward a factual investigation so andrew’s case can be heard in court. every single letter, every email~ will make a huge
difference. oregon is a sparsely populated state and silverton a tiny community, so with enough (united) pressure here, we can make this happen. andrew’s family needs each one of us right now.
also: does anyone know how andrew’s mum could view the utube memorial piece that was
put together for andrew? i can’t find the post,
anyone know? was it you andrew??? it was so beautiful!
one other impotant thing is this: if each of us could download and read the police investigation reports we can reference the
entire case~ the inconsistencies are rampant.
if you need any suggestions toward “input to
oregon authorities” don’t hesitate to contact me @ http://www.jstonecards.com go to:contact jane
Bock,
On Monday Tony Gonzalez was sentanced to6 years in prison on Child Sex Abuse charges.
At least someone has found justice, unfortunatly its not Andrews family.
It lightenes my heart however to know this power crazed child molesting killer has been locked away and can do no one any harm if even for only six years.
He as been sentanced for six years for ruining families both sides of the pond thousands of miles apart.
Six years is NOT enough.
This youn girl willl have to live a living hell and her young life has been destroyed and her innocence taken.
Andrew was shot down and killed by 5 bullets and his life taken forever.
AND all Gonzalez gets is SIX years…………
Someday he will be free to walk the streets again, get on with his life, this gift of life was not afforded to Andrew, just taken away.
It would be interesting to see if Gonzalez is put into general populas, doubtfull I would say.
for a full brief go to the website for the statesmans journal.
The pressure on the authorities in Marion county should be continued, Emailing and writing to the media tv/newspapers etc., would maintain the pressure.
I read in one newspaper online [link below]:>
I was under the impression that Gonzalez had resumed the abuse BEFORE he slaughtered Andrew. !!
http://www.registerguard.com/csp/cms/sites/web/news/3989469-35/story.csp
Andrew, I for one will certainly be keeping up the pressure.
I have read numerous articles in the various press fromb both sides of the pond.
But some things really P*** me off, like the comment below.
BOO F****** Hoo, are we really supposed to feel sorry for this guy????
A corrupt, child molesting killer cop, who abused his position within the community at every turn.
He got off lightly with the justice system I hope he wont with his partners in crime.
“In court Monday, Gonzalez, his voice breaking with emotion at times, said he loved his family and hoped they could go on and find happiness, the Statesman Journal newspaper reported.
“One thing I regret is the fact that I placed my family second to my own needs,†Gonzalez said. “I should have been more of a husband and a father, that’s something I can never get back.â€Â
It makes me sick………………
21ST Birthday Notice of the late Andrew James Hanlon (AJ).
On Tuesday next the 28th of April 2009 Andrew would have celebrated his 21st Birthday.
We would like everyone of the arrangements made to mark this day.
In Silverton , Oregon, USA.
There is a Birthday Notice being placed in the Silverton Newspaper.
A Birthday remembrance Mass will take place in the RC Church in Silverton at 8.30am on the morning of the 28th of April.
And
A Floral Tribute will be placed on Oak Road, the place where Andrew lost his young life.
In Dublin, Ireland.
A Birthday Notice is being placed in the Irish Independant and the Evening Herald.
A Birthday Remembrance Mass will be held in the Church in Saggart, Co; Dublin, at 9.30am. on the morning of the 28th of April.
Following the mass a Floral Tribute will be placed at Andrew’s last resting place.
We would like to take this opportunity to invite everyone to attend Andrew’s mass.
If you are unable to attend please spare a thought or a prayer for Andrew on this day.
Also to thank everyone for their support over the last 10 months.
Thank you all
1 Tony Gonsalez was a partime police officer
2 As a retired marine was it an honorable or
dishonorable discharge he received.
3 If convicted on the sexual misconduct charges he well be discharged from the police
force and the State of Oregon will not be liable
in any civil suit brought against it.
4 As a cage fighter he would most certainly be on Steroids which would render him to be
extremely aggressive.
5 Andrew O Hanlon never had a chance once this part time officer responded to the 911
call.
Dear Nedser,
All you say is true.
Plus, we know for a fact he was recieving Testorone injections monthly for a medical complaint.
Yes Andrew never stood a chance, we all know that.
All fair minded folk realised that the moment Tony Gonzalez murdered ‘AJ’, but then there are the not too fair minded who only wish to save their own skins and took part in what was obvious to everyone was a cover up.
Those involved didnt care about how obvious
It was to everyone, they ware backed and supported by the all knowing.
They will have to live with what they have done, but to be honest I dont think they will have any sleepless nights over ‘AJ’, you have to have a conscience for that.
Take Care.