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“You can’t make me understand how my son took his left hand, when he was handcuffed behind the back, and shot himself. I don’t believe a thing they’re saying at this point.”

Iberia Parish, La.- The official autopsy report of Victor White III, 22, released this past week, casts serious doubt on officer’s claims that he committed suicide, while in handcuffs, in the back of a police vehicle.

The official police report released in March claimed White had shot himself in the back, while handcuffed, in the back of a police cruiser after being arrested for a minor drug possession charge. The report indicated that he had been searched at least two times and no weapons were found on his person.

The cops were conveniently parked in an area of the lot with no cameras and claimed that White was uncooperative and refused to exit the vehicle. The police report goes on to claim that he was left unattended while the arresting officer went to get help and upon his return he found White fatally wounded with a gunshot wound to the back.

In stark contrast to the police report, the autopsy report indicated that White died from a gunshot would to his upper torso and was not shot in the back as the official police narrative described. And while the forensic pathologist found gunshot residue in the wound, it wasn’t the sort of stippling that a close-range shot usually produces.

In addition, White’s family has gone on record that he was left handed, while the entry wound was to the right front of his chest. There were also abrasions on White’s face.

Another indication of the lack of actual investigation into this case is that White’s hands were never tested for gunpowder residue.

In a serious blow to justice and accountability, the coroner still made the determination that the cause of death was suicide.

According to NBC, Rev. Victor White II, the deceased’s father, has serious doubts the coroner’s determination.

“You can’t make me understand,” he said. “You can’t make me understand how my son took his left hand, when he was handcuffed behind the back, and shot himself. I don’t believe a thing they’re saying at this point.”

It seems that the notoriously corrupt Louisiana injustice system is working overtime to cover-up this heinous crime perpetrated by the police.

No reasonable explanation has been forwarded as to how a left handed man can shoot himself in the upper right torso with his hands cuffed behind his back, while in the back of police cruiser.

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Jay Syrmopoulos is an investigative journalist, freethinker, researcher, and ardent opponent of authoritarianism. He is currently a graduate student at University of Denver pursuing a masters in Global Affairs. Jay’s work has previously been published on BenSwann.com and WeAreChange.org. You can follow him on Twitter @sirmetropolis and on Facebook at Sir Metropolis.

The Oregonian has this op-ed, advocating that Oregon voters not vote for Measure 90 in November 2014. That is the initiative for a top-two election system. The op-ed is by Blair Bobier.

On August 26, Public Policy Polling released an Iowa poll. For Governor, the results are: Republican incumbent Terry Branstad 48%; Democrat Jack Hatch 35%; Libertarian Lee Deakins Hieb 2%; New Independent Party Jim Hennager 2%; Iowa Party Jonathan Narcisse 1%; undecided 12%. For U.S. Senate, for the seat of retiring Tom Harkin: Democrat Bruce Braley(More)…

Break up the TSA airport security monopoly.

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Police officer Justin Cosma was transferred to Ferguson, Missouri from another department in the state after he was sued for choking and hog-tying a 12-year-old boy.

Cosma made national news this week when he detained a group of journalists during the protests in Ferguson. Like many officers, after he was identified in the protests, reporters looked deeper into his records to see if he had a history of violence.

According to a lawsuit filed in 2012 in Missouri federal court, officers Justin Cosma and Richard Carter assaulted a 12 year old boy out front of his house as he was getting mail from his mailbox.

The lawsuit states that the police randomly approached and questioned the boy while he was out front of his house and asked him if he was recently playing on a nearby highway. When the boy told the officers that he wasn’t, they became confrontational, and attacked the child.

According to the lawsuit, “Unprovoked and without cause, the deputies grabbed [the boy], choked him around the neck and threw him to the ground. The boy was shirtless at the time, and allegedly suffered bruising, choke marks, scrapes and cuts across his body.”

The officers attempted to charge the child with resisting arrest and assaulting an officer, but the juvenile courts refused to take the case.

Richard R. Lozano, the lawyer representing the young man in the lawsuit, made the following statement to Huffington Post:

“The lawsuit alleges that Justin Cosma and Richard Carter, two deputies with the Jefferson County, Missouri sheriff’s department in 2010, assaulted my client during an encounter on my client’s driveway while his mother was inside their house. My client was 12 years old at the time, shirtless and was not suspected of any criminal behavior. He was checking the mail. The deputies approached my client and the encounter quickly escalated. My client was restrained, choked, thrown to the ground and hogtied by the two deputies. He suffered scrapes and choke marks to his neck. No charges were ever brought against my client. It is my understanding that Justin Cosma is currently an officer with the City of Ferguson.”

Citizen to Cop: “Sir, I’m gonna need your license and insurance please…I smell marijuana in your car.”

Cop watcher, Jake D, was out conducting police officer accountability Sunday night when he came upon an Arlington, TX police officer double parked.

Although double parking in a private lot probably wouldn’t land you any tickets, it could very well land you tons of harassment by your local pd, especially being parked there at night. That harassment could easily turn into assault with a deadly weapon and kidnapping, if you had an ‘illegal’ part of nature in your car.

Jake D, with Tarrant County Peaceful Streets Project, saw this opportunity to give an officer a taste of what it feels like to be shaken down when doing nothing wrong.

In a classic move, he quickly rolls up on the officer and begins demanding the officer’s “papers,” followed by accusations of smelling marijuana; just like an officer would act towards a citizen.

Jake D even gives the Free Thought Project a shout out during his police interrogation. Well done Jake, well done.

Some will claim that Jake should have left this officer alone, and that Jake was making this officer’s job harder. And it’s those people who we’d like to remind that revenue collection via arbitrary traffic laws, enforcement of laws that persecute victimless crimes, and fining, kidnapping, or killing you for a plant, are the actual things that make lives harder. Being held publicly accountable, by a member of the public, should be welcomed by those who conduct themselves in an ethical manner.

According to this story, a challenge has been filed to the New York gubernatorial petition of the “Rent is 2 Damn High” Party.

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Lance Murray | The Free Thought Project

Amidst the infighting between Americans and polarizing coverage by the mainstream media over the justification of Michael Brown’s death, there lies a story unfolding in Ferguson that is less focused on the future outcome of the undoubtedly lengthy road to justice ahead of the community, and more focused on an immediate, practical solution for the citizens of Ferguson. Among the perceived heroes and villains that have played their part in the neighborhood, a true leader is emerging. Thirty-four year old, father of three, David Whitt has taken it upon himself to step into the roll of peacemaker, communicator and innovator.

David lives about 500 feet from ground zero, where the Michael Brown and Darren Wilson confrontation began and ended. In his modest apartment, changing diapers and taking care of his family, it seems that David would be an unlikely candidate for the shoes which he has filled in his community since the watershed moment of Michael Brown’s death and the events that have transpired. However, don’t tell him that. David clearly states that he believes that it is his duty to take action and not stand by while his community scrambles for answers. He is providing an answer.

In a true act of fate, during the aftermath of the Brown slaying, David met a couple of activists that are helping his vision come to fruition. In his own words, David said, “God sent me two angels”. Showing his true character, David invited these activists into his home where they lived with his family for the greater part of the past two weeks. Together they formed a plan to arm the citizens in David’s community. Not with guns or ammunition, but with cameras. Since the group initially had the idea, a couple of weeks ago, they have collectively raised over three thousand dollars to equip the community of Ferguson with 40 plus cameras.

It all started in the moments after David witnessed the sorrow and anger felt by members of his community while Michael Brown’s lifeless body laid in the street just a few steps from his own apartment. He himself felt the anger, the hate, and thirst for vengeance that anyone would have felt after witnessing the proceeding moments of a senseless murder. He then made himself step back and access his emotions. In his own words David explained his emotions to The Free Thought Project, “Everything in me wanted to retaliate in revenge. But I looked deeper, because when you get upset you can’t think. You have to calm down and think about what you need to do.”

Surrounded in the street by friends and neighbors stewing in their own rage, talking about taking violent action, David knew he had to be the voice of reason. He then spoke out and said, “We need to do something.” The crowd responded with agreement. “We are going to form a neighborhood watch,” he said, creating the perception that he had an army of people who already joined with him. His persuasive words resonated with the people and made obvious sense to them immediately. They were on board.

Before he could get started on the solution, David knew that the community needed to heal. He organized a place to grieve, starting a memorial in the middle of the street where Michael Brown’s young life was taken. You can now see the memorial, still standing in the busy street, extending for about 200 feet long with innumerable flowers and other mementos placed at the site by people that have visited from all over the country. David and his friends stay close by to direct traffic to ensure that everyone is safe and can grieve in peace.

During the unrest and peaceful protests, David was marching on a nightly basis with the citizens of his community, making his voice heard. One of these nights he found himself side by side with Jacob Crawford of www.wecopwatch.org and Alex Salazar of www.renegadepopo.com.

Jacob is a seasoned veteran and pioneer of the cop watching movement that is now catching fire across America. Alex is a former veteran LAPD officer that has seen the corruption and systemic misconduct and abuse first-hand, so he has started an online platform for recovering cops to share their stories and bring awareness to the dangers associated with the warrior cop mentality as well as exposing taboo subjects such as cops with PTSD patrolling the streets like ticking time bombs.

Together, these three men were the perfect combination.

While the country awaits a verdict in the case of Darren Wilson, and continues to speculate over who was right or wrong, David is taking the necessary measures to bring accountability to the police and citizens of Ferguson, Missouri. These steps are to assure that another senseless killing doesn’t happen again, and if it does, then it will be documented and undoubtedly, justice will be served.

When The Free Though Project spoke with David he assured us that it is of the utmost importance to teach the members of his community about their rights when interacting with police. He said, ”I was thinking, how can we change this thing around? I was thinking, man, if people knew their rights, maybe that can change things. You can only oppress a people who don’t know their rights.”

We agree wholeheartedly and we tip our hat to you, David Whitt, for being a guiding light in your grief stricken community.

Donate to David’s Ferguson accountability effort: http://www.gofundme.com/Copwatching-in-Ferguson