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Category: Crime
December 12, 2024
Crime
News

The Cop Who Shot Ashli Babbitt Left His Post for a Card Game, Then Lied to Investigators.

The Capitol police officer who shot and killed Ashli Babbitt on January 6, 2021, is alleged to have a track record of lying to investigators. Michael L. Byrd, now 56, previously left his post at the Speaker’s Office to join a card game and subsequently provided false information during an internal investigation by Capitol Police’s Internal Affairs Division. However, despite recommendations for termination due to abandoning his post and making untruthful statements, Byrd was not fired.

Recent disclosures about Byrd’s past have raised questions about his 2023 promotion to captain, with concerns expressed by Rep. Barry Loudermilk (R-GA) about Byrd’s disciplinary history potentially affecting internal operational decisions.

Records indicate that Byrd received significant financial support and security assistance from Capitol Police following the January 6 killing of Babbitt, with over $36,000 in retention funds and thousands more in reimbursements for security upgrades.

Byrd was provided temporary lodging at a military facility, along with a security detail, and was under consideration for placement at a secure Capitol Police site.

Further scrutiny of Byrd’s record has revealed additional incidents, including a suspension in 2019 for leaving a loaded service weapon unattended in a public area.

Byrd’s financial history, marked by multiple bankruptcies and a significant tax lien, has also been reviewed.

Republican congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) has demanded murder charges to be brought against Byrd over the killing, calling on President-elect Donald J. Trump’s Attorney General pick, Pam Bondi, to bring the charges.

The mother of Ashli Babbitt, meanwhile, has celebrated President Trump’s promise to pardon those still held in custody over the January 6 riots.

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The Capitol police officer who shot and killed Ashli Babbitt on January 6, 2021, is alleged to have a track record of lying to investigators. Michael L. Byrd, now 56, previously left his post at the Speaker's Office to join a card game and subsequently provided false information during an internal investigation by Capitol Police's Internal Affairs Division. However, despite recommendations for termination due to abandoning his post and making untruthful statements, Byrd was not fired. show more
Migrant Crime
December 12, 2024
Crime
Immigration

Illegal Immigrant Barber Accused of Abusing Girls.

Authorities in Texas have charged a Mexican national with sexually abusing young children while working as a barber in Montgomery County, near Houston. Jose Luis Briseno, 49, is accused of multiple instances of sexual abuse against two unnamed minors, according to court documents. The alleged incidents occurred in November at locations including the Porter Barber Shop in New Caney.

One of the alleged victims reported that Briseno assaulted her on three occasions, starting at the barber shop while she waited to have her hair cut. She also claimed he threatened her family with a firearm to keep her silent and offered her cash as hush money.

The same day, Briseno reportedly continued the abuse at a nearby home, enticing the girl with the promise of a toy. Later, he allegedly transported several children from the residence to his house, ostensibly to purchase batteries for their new toys. There, he reportedly abused the first victim again, filming the incident, and then a second child under similar pretenses.

Authorities say Briseno fled to Louisiana after committing these acts and allegedly stealing significant funds from his family’s business. He has since been arrested and extradited to Texas, where he is currently in custody. The National Pulse has previously reported that Lousiana approved voluntary surgical castration for those convicted of pedophilia.

Homeland Security admits that Briseno entered the United States illegally in 2004 and was involved in a domestic assault case in 2014 in San Antonio. After serving a short jail sentence and being fined, he was transferred to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). He was later released on bond by an immigration judge despite his initial illegal entry into the country.

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Authorities in Texas have charged a Mexican national with sexually abusing young children while working as a barber in Montgomery County, near Houston. Jose Luis Briseno, 49, is accused of multiple instances of sexual abuse against two unnamed minors, according to court documents. The alleged incidents occurred in November at locations including the Porter Barber Shop in New Caney. show more
December 11, 2024
Crime
News

Pipe Bomb Hoax Targeting Marjorie Taylor Greene Claims Innocent Woman’s Life.

A woman has died following a hoax pipe bomb threat against Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA). An unknown individual allegedly sent a threat from a Russian IP address to the Rome Police Department in Georgia, claiming a pipe bomb was inside the Congresswoman’s home mailbox. A female bystander died when her vehicle collided with a bomb squad unit responding to the hoax.

Tragedy unfolded as Sgt. David Metroka, a member of the Floyd County bomb squad, collided with the vehicle while heading to police headquarters. The collision involved his personal GMC Sierra and a Mazda Protégé driven by 66-year-old Tammie Pickelsimer, who succumbed to her injuries at a hospital. Doctors treated Metroka for minor injuries and then discharged him.

Congresswoman Greene expressed her sorrow over the events on social media. “I’m heartsick right now… My prayers are with Tammie Pickelsimer, her family, the officer who was injured, and the entire Rome Police Department,” she said.

“These violent political threats have fatal consequences. It’s an undue strain on our law enforcement who must treat them seriously. The officer was responding to protect my life. And now, a woman has lost her life because of this despicable act.”

Police described the message, with the subject “For Palestine,” as alarmingly precise. It detaild the materials used for the supposed device and its supposed location. Concerningly, the bomb threat, which included Greene’s home address, initially went unnoticed in the police department’s spam folder.

Greene says this marks her ninth instance of “swatting,” where fake emergencies are reported to elicit a forceful police response.

Image by Gage Skidmore.

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A woman has died following a hoax pipe bomb threat against Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA). An unknown individual allegedly sent a threat from a Russian IP address to the Rome Police Department in Georgia, claiming a pipe bomb was inside the Congresswoman's home mailbox. A female bystander died when her vehicle collided with a bomb squad unit responding to the hoax. show more
December 11, 2024
Christopher Tomlinson
Crime
World

Jihadists Arrested for Plot Against City Where Christians Saved West from Islamic Army.

Three Islamist extremists have been arrested for allegedly plotting a terrorist attack targeting a city hall linked to a famous battle between a Christian army and Muslim invaders. The trio were arrested in Nîmes and Nantes, in France, after starting the process of creating explosives.

Aged between 19 and 20, the Islamists are said to have been university students on their way to creating the explosive acetone peroxide (TATP) before French authorities arrested them on December 7. Among their proposed targets was the city hall of Poitiers, which the Islamists selected due to its links to the Battle of Tours in 732 A.D. This clash saw Christians led by Charles Martel defeat a Muslim invasion force that had struck central France, preventing Islam from sweeping deep into Western Europe.

The National Anti-Terrorist Prosecutor’s Office (Pnat) confirmed the men had been investigated by the DGSI, France’s internal spy agency. The men had used encrypted messaging apps to communicate. The men also conducted preliminary tests on the explosives after ordering equipment to make them.

Two of the men are said to have been born in France and come from North African backgrounds, while the third is from the French overseas territory of Mayotte, an island between the African mainland and Madagascar.

The potential attack is just the latest to be foiled this year in Western Europe, which has also seen several executed attacks. For instance, a mass stabbing at a Festival of Diversity in Solingen, Germany, by a Syrian migrant left three people dead.

In the United Kingdom, a similar mass stabbing attack in Southport saw three young girls murdered and sparked riots across the country. Months later, British authorities also revealed the attacker, born in Wales to Rwandan migrants, had al-Qaeda terror manuals in his possession.

Image by Robert Huffstutter.

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Three Islamist extremists have been arrested for allegedly plotting a terrorist attack targeting a city hall linked to a famous battle between a Christian army and Muslim invaders. The trio were arrested in Nîmes and Nantes, in France, after starting the process of creating explosives. show more
December 11, 2024
Crime
Health

‘Wanted’ Posters Target Top Health CEOs in NYC.

Authorities in New York City have issued a warning to healthcare executives following the distribution of ‘wanted’ posters featuring prominent industry leaders. These developments come after the apparent assassination of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson on December 4. The posters depict OptumHealth CEO Heather Cianfrocco and UnitedHealth Group CEO Andrew Witty. A poster of Thompson is included, with his face scored through with a bloody red ‘X.’

Affixed to traffic control boxes in Manhattan, the posters accuse these executives of prioritizing corporate profit over medical care. They feature the words ‘Deny,’ ‘Defend,’ and ‘Depose,’ which were found on shell casings at the scene of Thompson’s shooting.

The New York Police Department released a bulletin warning online narratives have encouraged further targeting of healthcare executives.

The emergence of the posters follows the arrest of Luigi Mangione, 26, from Altoona, Pennsylvania. Police apprehended Mangione, who is facing charges related to Thompson’s murder, with a 3D-printed pistol, a silencer, and a manifesto criticizing the U.S. healthcare system.

Legal proceedings are ongoing, with Mangione pleading not guilty to the murder and gun charges levied against him. His defense attorney, Thomas Dickey, confirmed these pleas.

In response to the assassination and associated threats, some health insurance companies have removed executives’ images from their websites.

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Authorities in New York City have issued a warning to healthcare executives following the distribution of 'wanted' posters featuring prominent industry leaders. These developments come after the apparent assassination of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson on December 4. The posters depict OptumHealth CEO Heather Cianfrocco and UnitedHealth Group CEO Andrew Witty. A poster of Thompson is included, with his face scored through with a bloody red 'X.' show more
December 10, 2024
Jack Montgomery
Crime
Media

BBC Journalist Had 6,000 Indecent Images of Minors.

Duncan Bartlett, a former BBC journalist, has been sentenced to eight years in prison after admitting to multiple child sexual abuse crimes. The sentencing was handed down at Wood Green Crown Court in north London. Bartlett, aged 52, admitted to 35 offenses on August 30.

London’s Metropolitan Police uncovered electronic devices belonging to Bartlett containing nearly 6,000 indecent images of minors. Further investigation revealed he had paid individuals in the Philippines to organize live-streamed content of child exploitation for his viewing. The devices were confiscated after Bartlett’s arrest in September 2021.

Bartlett’s career at the BBC spanned 14 years until 2015. He served as a correspondent in Tokyo and presented for the BBC World Service. Post-BBC, Bartlett continued working as a researcher and China expert at SOAS University of London until his guilty plea.

Several current and former BBC personalities have been convicted of serious sexual offenses in recent months. Top-paid BBC News anchor Huw Edwards pleaded guilty to making indecent images of children in July. Former presenter Adam Britton, who appeared in nature documentaries alongside Sir David Attenborough, pleaded guilty to raping and torturing 42 dogs and killing at least 39 in August.

All Britons who watch live television—even if none of it is BBC content—are compelled by law to fund the public broadcaster by purchasing a TV license. Anyone who does not is liable for prosecution, facing fines backed by the threat of imprisonment for non-payment.

Image from Metropolitan Police.

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Duncan Bartlett, a former BBC journalist, has been sentenced to eight years in prison after admitting to multiple child sexual abuse crimes. The sentencing was handed down at Wood Green Crown Court in north London. Bartlett, aged 52, admitted to 35 offenses on August 30. show more
December 7, 2024
Christopher Tomlinson
Crime
World

Police Foil Yet Another Christmas Market Terror Plot in Europe.

Police in have foiled yet another terrorist attack plot against a Christmas market, arresting a migrant from Iraq earlier this week. Police in the German city of Augsburg arrested the 37-year-old Iraqi migrant on Wednesday, December 4, after Bavarian authorities were given a tip by a foreign intelligence agency that had monitored the suspect’s online activities.

The Iraqi had allegedly posted online about his support for the terrorist Islamic State group and had posted photographs of the Christmas Market in Augsburg. He had also communicated his desire to drive a vehicle through the market, copying the 2016 Berlin Christmas market attack that saw a dozen killed by a rejected Tunisian asylum seeker.

The possible foiled pilot is just the latest this year and follows the arrest of an Islamist teenager in Germany’s Schleswig-Holstein region last month. The 17-year-old Turkish-German in this case was also allegedly plotting an attack on the Christmas market in Elmshorn. He looked to drive a truck through the market, killing as many innocent people as possible.

Last year, two teenagers were also arrested for plotting to attack a Christmas Market in Cologne, stating their intentions online and also expressing support for the Islamic State. The youngest, just 15, was already on a terrorist watchlist prior to his arrest.

Western Europe has seen a wave of terrorist attacks in 2024, with at least 21 terror attacks and attempted attacks reported back in September. Among the attacks that were successfully carried out was a mass stabbing by a Syrian asylum seeker at a diversity festival in Solingen that led to the deaths of three people. The Syrian also pledged allegiance to the Islamic State.

Image by Neitram.

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Police in have foiled yet another terrorist attack plot against a Christmas market, arresting a migrant from Iraq earlier this week. Police in the German city of Augsburg arrested the 37-year-old Iraqi migrant on Wednesday, December 4, after Bavarian authorities were given a tip by a foreign intelligence agency that had monitored the suspect's online activities. show more
December 4, 2024
Crime
News

DC Lawsuit Alleges Amazon Halted Fast Deliveries to Predominantly Black Areas.

The District of Columbia has initiated a lawsuit against the e-commerce giant Amazon, alleging the company secretly halted its fastest delivery service in two predominantly black Washington neighborhoods while continuing to charge these residents for Prime membership. Filed in the District of Columbia Superior Court, the complaint claims Amazon’s Prime service, which costs $139 annually or $14.99 monthly, does not provide its promised expedited deliveries, including one-day, two-day, and same-day options to a large swath of Northeast and Southeast Washington, D.C.—both areas which have seen waves of retail thefts and violent crime, including deadly carjackings.

Instead of using its fast delivery network of vehicles and drivers, Amazon outsources deliveries to third-party services such as UPS and the U.S. Postal Service. Though Amazon cited driver safety issues for this change, the suit argues the company failed to inform affected Prime members in those neighborhoods, resulting in slower deliveries.

District of Columbia Attorney General Brian Schwalb highlighted the financial implications: “Amazon is charging tens of thousands of hard-working Ward 7 and 8 residents for an expedited delivery service it promises but does not provide.” Schwalb stressed that while operational changes are within Amazon’s rights, the company cannot devalue memberships based on geographical distinctions.

The lawsuit points out that the two neighborhoods have around 50,000 Prime members, making up nearly half the local population. These residents have reportedly ordered over 4.5 million packages in the last four years, heavily relying on Amazon due to fewer local services and retail outlets. Before the alleged exclusion, over 72 percent of Prime packages in these areas were delivered within two days, dropping to 24 percent afterward. Conversely, other city areas maintained a 75 percent two-day delivery rate.

District officials are seeking court intervention to prevent deceptive practices by Amazon and to secure financial restitution for affected members, alongside civil penalties. This legal action follows a previous antitrust suit against Amazon filed by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and 17 state attorneys general.

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The District of Columbia has initiated a lawsuit against the e-commerce giant Amazon, alleging the company secretly halted its fastest delivery service in two predominantly black Washington neighborhoods while continuing to charge these residents for Prime membership. Filed in the District of Columbia Superior Court, the complaint claims Amazon's Prime service, which costs $139 annually or $14.99 monthly, does not provide its promised expedited deliveries, including one-day, two-day, and same-day options to a large swath of Northeast and Southeast Washington, D.C.—both areas which have seen waves of retail thefts and violent crime, including deadly carjackings. show more
December 4, 2024
Jack Montgomery
Breaking
Crime

BREAKING: UnitedHealthcare CEO Shot Dead in Midtown, Possible Targeted Attack.

UnitedHealth CEO Brian Thompson, 50, was fatally shot early Wednesday morning outside the Hilton hotel in Midtown Manhattan in what police describe as a targeted attack. Thompson was arriving at the hotel around 6:46 AM for a conference when a masked gunman, allegedly lying in wait, opened fire multiple times before fleeing the scene, law enforcement sources said. Witnesses reported seeing the suspect lingering near the hotel on 6th Avenue before the attack.

Emergency responders rushed Thompson to Mount Sinai Hospital, where he was pronounced dead after arriving in critical condition. Police have not made any arrests, and an investigation remains ongoing.

Authorities describe the suspect as a white male wearing a cream-colored jacket, a black face mask, black-and-white sneakers, and carrying a gray backpack. After the shooting, the gunman fled eastbound through the Ziegfeld alleyway and escaped on a bicycle.

Officials confirmed the suspect was not a guest at the Hilton, though it is unclear if he had other business at the hotel.

Thompson, a 20-year veteran of UnitedHealth, had served as CEO since 2021, overseeing government programs such as Medicare and Retirement before his promotion.

Image by Julius Schorzman (Quasipalm).

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UnitedHealth CEO Brian Thompson, 50, was fatally shot early Wednesday morning outside the Hilton hotel in Midtown Manhattan in what police describe as a targeted attack. Thompson was arriving at the hotel around 6:46 AM for a conference when a masked gunman, allegedly lying in wait, opened fire multiple times before fleeing the scene, law enforcement sources said. Witnesses reported seeing the suspect lingering near the hotel on 6th Avenue before the attack. show more
December 3, 2024
Jack Montgomery
Crime

Secret Service Opens Fire on Carjackers Near Treasury Secretary Yellen’s DC Home.

Secret Service agents fired shots at suspected carjackers attempting to break into vehicles near Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen’s home in Washington, D.C., early Tuesday morning. The incident occurred shortly after 1:30 AM. The suspects fled the scene in their vehicle and remain at large.

Law enforcement officials confirmed the gunfire was part of an “agent-involved shooting.” The motives of the suspects and their connection, if any, to Yellen remain unclear, with investigators yet to provide further details.

The Washington Metropolitan Police Department and the U.S. Attorney’s Office, led by Matthew Graves, are overseeing the investigation. Senior law enforcement sources indicate that neither agents nor the carjackers were harmed during the incident, which took place in a high-security area.

Violent crime in the Democrat-dominated American capital is increasingly encroaching on the lives of the country’s governing class despite their relatively high levels of protection. In July, U.S. Marshals shot an 18-year-old trying to carjack federal bodyguards stationed outside Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor‘s home. Earlier in the year, Mike Gill, an official in the first Donald J. Trump administration, was shot and killed during a carjacking spree on the 900 block of K Street NW.

In November 2023, Secret Service agents protecting Joe Biden’s granddaughter Naomi opened fire on assailants attempting to break into an unmarked SUV. The month before, Democrat Congressman Enrique ‘Henry’ Cuellar had been carjacked outside an apartment block housing dozens of lawmakers.

Image via International Monetary Fund.

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Secret Service agents fired shots at suspected carjackers attempting to break into vehicles near Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen’s home in Washington, D.C., early Tuesday morning. The incident occurred shortly after 1:30 AM. The suspects fled the scene in their vehicle and remain at large. show more