MN - Justine Damond, 40, fatally shot by Minneapolis LE, 15 July 2017 #2

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  • #1,301
http://www.startribune.com/minneapo...-charges-in-justine-damond-killing/477405923/

http://www.fox9.com/news/mpls-police-officer-mohamed-noor-arrested-in-justine-damond-shooting-death

Booking photos of Officer Noor in these articles-- he has shaved his head since the media photos released last year.

He is also still involved in a lawsuit with 2 other officers brought by the family of a woman who was mentally ill-- judge ruled last week that Noor can't be asked about anything related to the Damond shooting in his deposition for that case.

http://kstp.com/news/federal-judge-...bout-justine-damond-in-separate-case/4822887/

March 13, 2018 05:41 AM

A federal judge ruled Monday that Minneapolis Police Officer Mohamed Noor will not have to answer questions about the shooting death of Justine Damond in a separate court battle that also involves allegations of police misconduct.

Noor is one of three Minneapolis police officers accused of forcing their way into a woman's home two months before the Damond incident. The woman, Teresa Graham, claims the officers violated her constitutional rights by sending her to the hospital against her will while alleging she was in the throes of a mental health crisis.

Noor will still be deposed in the Graham case, likely in the next few weeks. He will not, however, have to answer any questions related to the Damond incident.
 
  • #1,302
This has been a long time coming. Some of the statements made by the DA (Mr. Freeman) suggest reluctance of other officers to cooperate is disturbing. Hope the charges and trial outcome are positive. We will have to wait and see if any roadblocks are placed in the way of receiving some justice Justine. Peace to all.
 
  • #1,303
http://www.startribune.com/minneapo...-charges-in-justine-damond-killing/477405923/

http://www.fox9.com/news/mpls-police-officer-mohamed-noor-arrested-in-justine-damond-shooting-death

Booking photos of Officer Noor in these articles-- he has shaved his head since the media photos released last year.

He is also still involved in a lawsuit with 2 other officers brought by the family of a woman who was mentally ill-- judge ruled last week that Noor can't be asked about anything related to the Damond shooting in his deposition for that case.

http://kstp.com/news/federal-judge-...bout-justine-damond-in-separate-case/4822887/

They don't seem to really show any booking photos in these articles do they? I do wonder if he is perhaps from a different county and simply doesn't no the laws here very well?
 
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  • #1,305
WOW! So his bond is the same as Zachary Cruz, interesting.
 
  • #1,306
Shooting across the lap of his partner at something he could not see evidences "depraved heart" and recklessness, per comments of Mr. Freeman (DA).

Used investigative power of GJ, not charging powers. First time in his (Freeman's) experience that officers would not cooperate.

He says now public knows who the one is who decided the charges (him) and voters have a remedy at the ballot box if they don't agree. He dislikes the secrecy of the GJ process, believes public has a right to know the process. (paraphrase)

Maybe I'm over analyzing but there was only one other officer at the scene. I suppose there are others who arrived afterward that can testify to his demeanor and any statements he made, but wouldn't this lack of cooperation from officers basically be his partner only?
 
  • #1,307
[h=1]Bail set as ex-cop Noor makes first appearance in Ruszczyk shooting[/h]https://www.mprnews.org/story/2018/03/21/noor-court-appearance

A judge Wednesday set a $400,000 conditional bail for former Minneapolis police officer Mohamed Noor, who faces third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter in the shooting death of Justine Ruszczyk after responding to her 911 call last July.

Noor's first court appearance Wednesday drew a crowd.
 
  • #1,308
Maybe I'm over analyzing but there was only one other officer at the scene. I suppose there are others who arrived afterward that can testify to his demeanor and any statements he made, but wouldn't this lack of cooperation from officers basically be his partner only?

We don't know exactly but I believe it was reported that some of the officers that were called before the GJ were people that had information about Noor's training and past performance. I know officers don't want to take a side (one or the other) in an officer involved shooting, but they need to step up and cooperate with investigations. I am wondering if the problem is that what they thought was that Noor was a crappy officer rushed through abbreviated training just because he is Somali. They didn't want to come out and say that because that is politically a very unpopular and un-PC thing to say in Minneapolis.
 
  • #1,309
Maybe it's just my general distrust of those involved in this situation, but I still feel like there is more to the story. He couldn't make out a face of the person, but could see her holding herself after she was shot? He could only hear muffled whispers, but heard her say she was dying?

IMO, she walked up to them and he shot her. I can't come to any other conclusion, personally. I suspect the truth will never be known.
 
  • #1,310
We don't know exactly but I believe it was reported that some of the officers that were called before the GJ were people that had information about Noor's training and past performance. I know officers don't want to take a side (one or the other) in an officer involved shooting, but they need to step up and cooperate with investigations. I am wondering if the problem is that what they thought was that Noor was a crappy officer rushed through abbreviated training just because he is Somali. They didn't want to come out and say that because that is politically a very unpopular and un-PC thing to say in Minneapolis.
I absolutely agree with this. Minneapolis is so PC, the cops are in a no-win situation. Not cooperating? Protecting a brother officer! If they do cooperate, well of course the only motivation has to be totally racist! The papers can just run with whatever fits their own bias.

This woman needs justice and may not get it. The elected mouthpieces need some good spin and are not above creating it. Nothing new under the sun, sadly.
 
  • #1,311
All indications are that Officer Matthew Harrity (Noor's partner) has cooperated fully with the investigation and GJ process.

Here's another link to the warrant, which has quite a lot of commentary about what Officer Harrity told them:

https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/4416354-Complaint-Warrant-Mohamed-Noor.html

Prairie Wind is correct above-- County Attorney Freeman in his lengthy press conference discussed the lack of cooperation of other officers besides Harrity-- and commented that these uncooperative officers were advised not to cooperate by the Police Union representatives. However, union rep Bob Kroll disputes that:

http://www.fox9.com/news/freeman-uncooperative-officers-left-no-choice-but-to-use-grand-jury
Freeman: Uncooperative officers left 'no choice' but to use grand jury

During a question-and-answer portion of Tuesday's press conference Freeman claimed the Police Officers' Federation, the law enforcement union for the city, advised the officers involved not to speak with BCA investigators. According to a statement from POFM President Bob Kroll, that wasn't the case.

"The Federation takes great exception to this irresponsible statement," the statement reads. "The Federation's duty is to protect the rights of its members and fully advise them of what their rights are. No opinions were offered on what action to take with any of our members. For Mr. Freeman to say this, he is either lying or perpetuating a lie told to him."

http://www.fox9.com/news/freeman-uncooperative-officers-left-no-choice-but-to-use-grand-jury

The really, really interesting thing to ponder is the SILENCE of Lt. Bob Kroll as to his support of former officer Noor (Noor was separated from MPD as of yesterday, according to Chief Arradondo's public comments). Bob Kroll is typically VERY publicly outspoken in supporting officers when there is a controversy. It is simply astounding that Kroll has not said a single thing in support of Noor, IMO. He is protecting his OTHER officers by his silence on Noor, IMO. He likely doesn't want any of them dragged into this, and it's possible that he or the other officers are not at all in support of what happened, or they all could have serious doubts about Noor's behavior or competence as an officer that they *cannot* verbalize publicly because of how Noor was so widely celebrated as the first Somali officer.

The other officers, and the union, are in a terrible catch 22. They cannot support Noor or his actions, and they cannot criticize Noor or his actions. So they must remain as silent as possible-- it's their only option. Nobody is willing to stick out their neck,or their reputation, for Noor. That says volumes.

Not a single officer has even said something innocuous like "Noor is such a great guy", or "Noor is such a hard worker", or "Noor is always so friendly to others". Complete radio silence from every single person at MPD. No one from Noor's police academy classes has made a statement about being his classmate, and what a hard worker he was, or something simple like that which would at least signal friendship and emotional support. That is huge. I think Noor was probably a loner. JMO.

~~~~~~~~~~~~
A few more quotes from the arraignment hearing today. There is some dispute as to whether Noor is a flight risk. As of this evening, there is no evidence in the news that Noor has posted bail. (10% of $400K would be $40K.)

The prosecution argued that the former Minneapolis police officer’s bail should be $500,000 because he posed a flight risk, citing evidence that he might have left the country during the eight-month investigation of the fatal shooting.

Noor’s lawyer, Thomas Plunkett, called the prosecution’s bail request outrageous, saying there was no evidence to suggest that his client left the U.S.

In the end, Judge Kathryn Quaintance set Noor’s bail at $400,000 on the condition that he surrender his passport and firearms and refrain from contacting the Minneapolis Police Department and his former partner, Matthew Harrity, the only witness to the July 15 shooting.

http://minnesota.cbslocal.com/2018/03/21/mohamed-noor-bail-justine-damond/

Noor was formally charged with third degree murder and second degree manslaughter. At his first appearance, the judge set his bail at $500,000 or $400,000 if he abides by certain conditions, including no contact with his former partner, Officer Matthew Harrity, no guns, no ammunition and the surrender of his passport.

But, prosecutors countered that Noor is a flight risk because he is no longer employed by the Minneapolis Police Department and therefore has little reason to stay in the community if released from jail. They mentioned that during the investigation, they had credible information that Noor might have left the country or at very least, the jurisdiction.

Plunkett said that was not the case. He said Noor has cooperated throughout the investigative process and that he came to Minnesota from Somalia as a young child and this is all he knows.

http://www.fox9.com/news/minneapolis-police-officer-noor-to-make-1st-court-appearance-wednesday

** Regarding Noor possibly leaving the country or the jurisdiction, he is separated from the mother of his child, who moved out of the area with the child, according to articles from a few months ago. I'm wondering if he traveled to visit his child? IDK if he was under a no-travel restriction while on administrative leave. Some articles say he was divorced; others say he was never legally married, but in a custody dispute.

Noor's job as a police officer did not give him a consistent work schedule, but he said in court documents that he made every effort to be with his son when he wasn't working. In 2015, the boy's mother tried to take him to New Jersey, and the legal battle over custody intensified. Noor said in an affidavit that his son was important to him and he did not want the boy to move.

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/who-is...s-officer-accused-in-justine-damond-shooting/
 
  • #1,312
For compariosn, I was curious what the bail was for Officer Jeronimo Yanez, who was charged in St. Paul last year (neighboring jurisdiction) for the shooting of Philando Castile. Yanez' charges were similar.

Officer Yanez was released on his own recognizance-- without any bail.

So even lowering the standard murder charge bail of $500k to $400,000 bail is still pretty steep for Noor. There must be some facts we are not privy to at this time, IMO, to justify such a high bail.

Prairie Wind-- do you have any insight on the bail issues, comparison with Yanez' bail?

https://twitter.com/RobOlsonFOX9/st...ws/officer-yanez-makes-first-court-appearance

http://www.fox9.com/news/officer-yanez-makes-first-court-appearance
 
  • #1,313
We don't know exactly but I believe it was reported that some of the officers that were called before the GJ were people that had information about Noor's training and past performance. I know officers don't want to take a side (one or the other) in an officer involved shooting, but they need to step up and cooperate with investigations. I am wondering if the problem is that what they thought was that Noor was a crappy officer rushed through abbreviated training just because he is Somali. They didn't want to come out and say that because that is politically a very unpopular and un-PC thing to say in Minneapolis.

Nobody cares about their opinion. They care about what they know. The fact they weren’t willing to cooperate tells me all I need to know. They were protecting their own.
 
  • #1,314
I think it’s disgusting how the cops are not talking to investigators. I am so saddened by this case all around. Honestly the only way I think there is justice for Justine is if we look at the hiring process and training methods and any other systemic issues here to prevent this from happening again. I think the most likely scenario is that Noor panicked and impulsively shot at an unknown threat. An innocent woman is dead. How many years would it take for him to sit in jail to equal “justice”? He’ll never be a cop again. Are our streets safer with him locked up? If Noor going to jail is the impetus for Mpls PD to make systemic changes, fine, but no reason why that should not already be happening with Justine’s killing and other recent deaths like Jamar Clark and Philando Castile. We don’t need Noor to be in jail to start those shifts in police culture and changes in training/ process RIGHT NOW.
Just my humble opinion.
 
  • #1,315
I think it’s disgusting how the cops are not talking to investigators. I am so saddened by this case all around. Honestly the only way I think there is justice for Justine is if we look at the hiring process and training methods and any other systemic issues here to prevent this from happening again. I think the most likely scenario is that Noor panicked and impulsively shot at an unknown threat. An innocent woman is dead. How many years would it take for him to sit in jail to equal “justice”? He’ll never be a cop again. Are our streets safer with him locked up? If Noor going to jail is the impetus for Mpls PD to make systemic changes, fine, but no reason why that should not already be happening with Justine’s killing and other recent deaths like Jamar Clark and Philando Castile. We don’t need Noor to be in jail to start those shifts in police culture and changes in training/ process RIGHT NOW.
Just my humble opinion.

In my opinion, the answer is YES, a big YES. The streets will be somewhat safer without him patrolling them, unless they hire more diversity just to show how inclusive they are. Take a good look at this second pic down. It scared the hell out of me. This is not someone I would want to see pulling me over, not someone I could trust.
https://news.sky.com/story/justine-damond-murder-us-policeman-mohamed-noor-charged-11298665
 
  • #1,316
For compariosn, I was curious what the bail was for Officer Jeronimo Yanez, who was charged in St. Paul last year (neighboring jurisdiction) for the shooting of Philando Castile. Yanez' charges were similar.

Officer Yanez was released on his own recognizance-- without any bail.

So even lowering the standard murder charge bail of $500k to $400,000 bail is still pretty steep for Noor. There must be some facts we are not privy to at this time, IMO, to justify such a high bail.

Prairie Wind-- do you have any insight on the bail issues, comparison with Yanez' bail?

https://twitter.com/RobOlsonFOX9/st...ws/officer-yanez-makes-first-court-appearance

http://www.fox9.com/news/officer-yanez-makes-first-court-appearance

I really don't know what the rationale could be. I can only assume that judge believes that Noor is indeed a risk to flee and Yanez wasn't.
 
  • #1,317
I think it’s disgusting how the cops are not talking to investigators. I am so saddened by this case all around. Honestly the only way I think there is justice for Justine is if we look at the hiring process and training methods and any other systemic issues here to prevent this from happening again. I think the most likely scenario is that Noor panicked and impulsively shot at an unknown threat. An innocent woman is dead. How many years would it take for him to sit in jail to equal “justice”? He’ll never be a cop again. Are our streets safer with him locked up? If Noor going to jail is the impetus for Mpls PD to make systemic changes, fine, but no reason why that should not already be happening with Justine’s killing and other recent deaths like Jamar Clark and Philando Castile. We don’t need Noor to be in jail to start those shifts in police culture and changes in training/ process RIGHT NOW.
Just my humble opinion.

I think there is a lot of bad stuff that went on behind the scenes here, though its impossible to know exactly who all is at fault. Lots of people and entities most likely. But its clear that political powers that be were trying to appease the Somali community with Noor's hiring and they allowed him to be rushed through. That just CAN'T happen. That should be investigated, but probably wont be. Then when it blew up and Noor shoots an innocent person, all the CYA begins and all of a sudden no one knows anything. Instead of officials standing up and saying the hiring and training was wrong, taking responsibility (or honestly even blaming other City/State entities) everyone just keeps their heads down. They fired the police chief, but I actually think this extended far above her. Noor might be punished, but nothing that led to this tragedy is going to get fixed or changed.
 
  • #1,318
Ex-Minneapolis police officer charged in Justine Damond killing makes bail

The former Minneapolis police officer charged with killing an Australian woman last July was free Thursday after posting $400,000 bail.

Mohamed Noor was given a May 8 court date when he went before a judge on Wednesday for the first time since he was charged with third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter in connection with the death of Justine Ruszczyk Damond.

"Mohamed Noor was hired by the Minneapolis Police Department on March 23rd, 2015, and his end date is March 20th, 2018," Police Chief Medaria Arradondo said in a statement. "At the request of the County Attorney's Office I delayed any employment related decisions in this matter as to not in any way interfere with the criminal investigation in this case."

https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-new...ged-justine-damond-killing-makes-bail-n858876

Former Minnesota officer released on $400K bail in Australian woman's shooting death

Noor appeared in court for just 10 minutes and only spoke to confirm his name, birthday and address with the judge. He did not enter a plea.

http://abcnews.go.com/US/bail-set-400k-police-officer-charged-killing-australian/story?id=53904213

Fired Minnesota police officer charged in fatal shooting of Justine Damond released after posting $400,000 bail

Mohamed Noor and his attorney, Thomas Plunkett, walked out of the Hennepin County Jail around 9:45 p.m. Wednesday after posting $400,000 bail following his first court appearance earlier in the day. They said nothing to journalists waiting outside.

The Somali-American Police Association defended Noor in a statement Wednesday, saying the charges against him are "baseless and politically motivated, if not racially motivated as well." The group said it believes Noor "acted in good faith and in accordance with his department's policy."

http://www.nydailynews.com/news/cri...atal-shooting-released-bail-article-1.3890170
 
  • #1,319
Was officer Noor fearful or 'depraved' during Damond shooting? The question will be pivotal

The unusual charge of third-degree murder and the revelation Tuesday that Mohamed Noor’s former partner, Officer Matthew Harrity, told investigators he feared for his life that night could both complicate prosecutors’ effort to gain a conviction against Noor, according to several defense attorneys interviewed Tuesday.

Harrity’s statements that he took his gun out due to a perceived threat to his life are “good evidence for Noor,” said attorney Joe Friedberg.

But the fact that Harrity didn’t fire his gun will be used by prosecutors to make their argument, said attorney Marsh Halberg.

Conviction of third-degree murder requires prosecutors to prove that Noor had a “depraved mind” at the time of the shooting. But there’s no legal definition for a depraved mind, said Friedberg. He sees the murder charge as a potential negotiating tactic for Freeman, one that he could drop if Noor agrees to plead guilty to manslaughter.

Pacyga said prosecutors would likely avoid the “depraved mind” terminology and ask that jury instructions substitute the words “reckless conduct,” which is typically done in Minnesota.

http://www.startribune.com/harrity-...-case-tough-to-prove-attorneys-say/477438533/

Very interesting. I don't see how Noor will be able to mount any kind of an effective defense unless he testifies in his own defense.

I would think it would be essential for Noor to testify to what he was thinking/ feeling/ experiencing in order to counter allegations of depraved mind or fearfulness.

JMO, but I doubt strongly that a jury will be willing to consider not guilty if Noor continues to choose to remain silent. I don't think Harrity drawing his gun would be enough for me to vote not guilty if I were on the jury. I would want to hear directly from Noor. I think that his attorney will have no choice but to put him on the stand.

But from the defense perspective, at least he has no prior statements, I suppose, and will have had a year or so to think long and hard about what to say, and how to say it, right?

But that's also a situation for Noor where, IMO, he has no out, and cannot "save face". He was *either* fearful, or had a disregard for human life. There is no dispute that he shot JD. The only dispute is "why".

Which is why I wonder if Noor will take a very unusual path and agree to plead to the lesser charge, to avoid testifying? To save face, spare all the families, appear to take some responsibility, apologize to the family? He just isn't a defendant whose actions evoke sympathy, IMO. He has to know that, on some level.
 
  • #1,320

Well here comes the race card, right on time.

"The Somali-American Police Association defended Noor in a statement Wednesday, saying the charges against him are "baseless and politically motivated, if not racially motivated as well." The group said it believes Noor "acted in good faith and in accordance with his department's policy."
 
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