Former Philadelphia police officer Mark Dial has been charged with murder and aggravated assault in the fatal shooting of 27-year-old Eddie Irizarry last month. District Attorney Larry Krasner released body camera footage of the incident, which showed Dial and his partner pulling up in a police vehicle next to Irizarry before Dial fatally shot him. Krasner said the investigation was conducted with "the utmost seriousness and care" and that he will continue to seek justice for Irizarry and his family.
Posts published in “Crime”
A Louisiana grand jury has charged 91-year-old priest Lawrence Hecker with sexually assaulting a teenage boy in 1975, a significant step forward in the effort to hold church leaders accountable for their failure to protect children from sexual abuse. Hecker has been at the center of investigations into clergy sex abuse and the scandal of why church leaders failed to report his admissions to law enforcement. The case is expected to be closely watched by victims of abuse and their advocates, as it could provide insight into the church’s handling of the abuse crisis and the extent of its knowledge of the abuse.
Jimmy Fallon, host of NBC's "The Tonight Show," has been accused of fostering a toxic work culture by two current and 14 former employees, with reports of erratic behavior and berating of crew members. In response, Fallon apologized to staff in a Zoom meeting, expressing regret for not being a better leader. The incident has raised questions about the future of "The Tonight Show" and the standards workplaces must meet for creating a safe and respectful environment.
Spanish state prosecutors have filed a lawsuit against Luis Rubiales, the suspended president of the Spanish soccer federation, for sexual assault and coercion. The charges stem from an incident after the Women's World Cup final in Sydney, Australia, when Rubiales kissed player Jenni Hermoso without her consent. If found guilty, Rubiales could face a fine or a prison sentence of one to four years. Rubiales has refused to resign and is contesting the charges, sparking a debate in Spain about the need for greater respect for women in sports.
Joseph Ruddy, a federal narcotics prosecutor from Tampa, Florida, was recently arrested and charged with driving under the influence and leaving the scene of a crash with property damage. Body-worn camera footage showed Ruddy attempting to leverage his position to blunt the fallout from the crash, and he was waiting with his U.S. Justice Department business card in hand. The incident has caused a stir in the Tampa community and the consequences for Ruddy are still unclear.
House Judiciary Chair Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) is attempting to launch an investigation into the Fulton County District Attorney's office responsible for indicting former President Donald Trump on charges of racketeering. In response, Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis sent a nine-page letter to Jordan, telling him to stay in his lane. Jordan had asked for documents related to Willis' investigation into allegations of election interference, but the media largely covered the story as an earnest investigation. It remains to be seen if Jordan's investigation will have any tangible results.
A federal appeals court has temporarily paused a lower court's ruling that would have required Texas to remove its controversial floating river barriers from the Rio Grande. The barriers, which are intended to deter migrants from crossing the U.S.-Mexico border, were installed by the state of Texas and will remain in place for the time being. The Justice Department had argued that the barrier was a violation of the U.S. Constitution and the International Boundary and Water Commission Treaty of 1970, while Texas argued that the barrier was necessary to protect the state from illegal immigration. The appeals court's decision is only temporary, and the case will continue to be litigated in the courts.
Reza "Ray" Baluchi, a Florida ultra-marathoner and peace activist, was arrested last week by the U.S. Coast Guard after attempting to cross the Atlantic Ocean in a homemade "human-powered hamster wheel". Baluchi had refused to get off the vessel and had threatened to harm himself or the crew when the Coast Guard attempted to board the vessel. This is reportedly the fourth time Baluchi has attempted to cross the Atlantic Ocean in a homemade vessel. The U.S. Coast Guard said they take "all maritime threats seriously" and will use all available resources to ensure the safety of life at sea.