Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About The skanner. (Portland, Or.) 1975-2014 | View Entire Issue (July 6, 2016)
Page 8 The Skanner July 6, 2016 News Feds Open Investigation Into Police Shooting Alton Sterling, 37, was shot and killed Tuesday by Baton Rouge police By Dr. Jasmine Shanelle Streeter, Veterinarian For The Skanner News By MIKE KUNZELMAN Associated Press “ I have very serious con- cerns. The video is disturb- ing, to say the least The chief did not disclose the race of the two oi- cers, who have been placed on administrative leave, standard department procedure. Gov. John Bel Edwards and the U.S. Justice Depart- ment announced that its civil rights division would lead the investigation. “I have very serious concerns. The video is dis- turbing, to say the least,” Edwards said. The shooting fueled anger and protests in Baton Rouge, with community leaders and Sterling’s fam- ily demanding a federal investigation and the iring of the police chief. “Mr. Sterling was not reaching for a weapon. He looks like a man that was actually ighting for his life,” said state Rep. Edmond Jordan, an attorney for Sterling’s family. In Washington, Justice Department spokesman David Jacobs said the FBI and the U.S. attorney’s oice in Louisiana will also take part in the inves- tigation. The Justice Department investigation will look Y AP PHOTO/GERALD HERBERT BATON ROUGE, La.— The U.S. Justice Department opened a civil rights investigation Wednesday into the videotaped police killing of a Black man who au- thorities say had a gun as he wrestled with oicers on the pavement outside a convenience store. Alton Sterling, 37, was confronted by police on Tuesday ater an anonymous caller said he had threatened someone with a gun outside the store where he was selling homemade CDs, authorities said. In a cellphone video taken by a community activist and posted online, two oicers had Sterling pinned to the ground, and gunire erupted moments ater someone yelled, “He’s got a gun! Gun!” At a news conference Wednesday, Baton Rouge Police Chief Carl Dabadie Jr. said that Sterling was in fact armed but that there are still questions about what happened. “Like you, there is a lot that we do not understand. And at this point, like you, I am demanding an- swers,” Dababie said, calling the shooting a tragedy. To Go or Not to Go: Visiting the Dog Park Nishka Johnson touches a makeshift memorial for Alton Sterling, outside a convenience store in Baton Rouge, La., Wednesday. Sterling was shot and killed by Baton Rouge police outside the store where he was selling CDs. into whether the oicers willfully violated Ster- ling’s civil rights through the use of unreasonable or excessive force. Similar investigations, which oten take many months, were opened following the deaths of Mi- chael Brown in Ferguson, Missouri, and Eric Gar- ner in New York. Federal investigators must meet a high legal bur- den to bring a civil rights prosecution, establishing that an oicer knowingly used unreasonable force under the circumstances and did not simply make a mistake or use poor judgment. Many federal probes conclude without criminal charges. Quinyetta McMillon, the mother of Sterling’s teenage son, trembled as she read a statement out- side City Hall, where a few dozen protesters and community leaders had gathered. Her son, Camer- on, 15, broke down in tears and was led away as his mother spoke. She described Sterling as “a man who simply tried to earn a living to take care of his children. “The individuals involved in his murder took away a man with children who depended upon their daddy on a daily basis,” she said. Jordan said police coniscated the store’s video surveillance system, but he said the store owner is conident the video shows the entire confrontation and shooting. He said the cellphone video that was posted online “certainly speaks for itself.” “It’s a horrible thing. It’s a horrible thing to hap- pen to him,” said Sterling’s aunt, Sandra Sterling. “He didn’t deserve that.” Read the rest of this story at TheSkanner.com esterday my best f r i e n d called in- quiring whether he should take his shy, spayed female dog to the dog park. He told me he felt bad that she had never gone, and wondered if she Dr. Jasmine and her dog Sheba was missing out on the “Six Flags ly or assertive dogs and Amusement Park experi- may exhibit aggressive ence” of the doggy world. or submissive behavior Here are some consid- when cornered. Dogs erations before visiting with known aggressive the dog park. tendencies, females in Some dogs LOVE the heat and intact (un-neu- dog park while others tered) male dogs should could care less. Despite not be taken to dog parks, what many believe, not since these encounters all dogs are fans. may result in ighting My dog Sheba, for ex- or accidental breeding. “ Choose a park with small and large dog play areas or open spaces for dogs to escape if they feel threatened ample, is more of a “peo- ple person” than “dog person” -- meaning when she is around other dogs she immediately goes for the humans, leaving the pups disappointed. (She also sits on park benches while at the park and re- fuses to play catch unless she’s indoors, but that’s another story.) Age and health are important factors. Dog parks contain a larger density of pathogens and internal/external par- asites than other open spaces. Viral transmis- sion such as inluenza, parvovirus and distem- per can spread quickly with animals making frequent nose-to-nose contact. Puppies that have not completed their full set of vaccines, dogs that are completely unvacci- nated, immunocompro- mised and sick or injured animals should not be taken to dog parks. An- imals recovering from major or minor surgery should not return to the dog park until they are fully recovered to avoid re-injury. Dog parks with numer- ous feces iles, stagnant water, mud or a stench should always be avoid- ed due to sanitation con- cerns. Dogs should be matched in tempera- ment if possible. Shy dogs may not fare well with extremely friend- It is appropriate to in- form another owner that your dog does not want to interact with their dog if you feel your dog is threatened, irritated, frightened or uninter- ested. Dogs should also be matched in size. Choose a park with small and large dog play areas or open spaces for dogs to escape if they feel threatened. Placing a Chihuahua in a pen with a young great dane or lab could lead to injuries if the dogs play too roughly or fall. Herd- ing and hunting breeds should be watched close- ly and discouraged from exhibiting displays of ield behavior in the park (herding, nipping or ex- cessive baying), which may disturb, frighten or irritate other dogs. Overall dog parks serve a purpose: to socialize and exercise pets that may not otherwise get the opportunity. Some dog parks are amazing – others, not so much. Pup- py play dates with friend- ly, familiar animals of known health status are a safe way to enrich and socialize your pet. At the end of the day, you have to choose what works for you and your pet, and it may be as easy as a walk in the park. Do you have a pet topic you’d like to learn more about? I’d love to hear from you! Write me at drjasmine@theskanner. com.
