Back in 2017, police in the state of Washington pepper-sprayed, tased, hogtied and beat Joseph Zamora so badly that he stopped breathing, his heart stopped beating and he had to spend a month in a medically-induced coma in the ICU. He was an innocent civilian walking to his niece’s house. But much like the infomercials of our childhood, just wait, there’s more!
Zamora was charged with and convicted of assaulting an officer, a crime he didn’t commit. He served a full 22-month prison term. Then county prosecutors asked for the case to be dismissed, after which the state Supreme Court threw out Zamora’s convictions, because the prosecutor used racial bias during the trial (shocking). Now, six years later, those same county prosecutors (Grant County, btw) are re-prosecuting Zamora for the same alleged crimes. Even though he already served a full prison sentence. Even though the prosecutors previously asked to have the case dismissed. By now you’re surely asking yourself why? Why try to get a conviction on a man who has already served his time?
In documents obtained through public records requests, Grant County Prosecutor Kevin McCrae wrote his decision to recharge Zamora was, in part, because he had not taken adequate responsibility for his actions.
“It is clear to me that Mr. Zamora had not accepted responsibility for his role in this incident.” While there is no more jail time available in this case, any conviction would still count as criminal history on his offender score, would have an effect on the sentence for any future crimes Mr. Zamora may commit, and hopeful impress upon Mr. Zamora the improperness of his behavior.”
So if you ever find yourself in a similar position (wrongfully beaten, pepper-sprayed, tased, and hogtied), be sure to grovel as much as possible so the officers know you understand the improperness of criminal behaviors like walking in public. This is the kind of system we’re supposed to reform, one that punishes individuals beyond anything resembling justice. Meanwhile, Atlanta’s city council spent 15 hours yesterday listening to public comment against Cop City, only to then pass $67 million in continued funding for the project. What a joke.
Side Items
The End of Zlatan: The Swedish soccer star has called it a career, having warmed the bench at AC Milan for the past season and a half. The 41-year old retires as one of the most enigmatic, braggadocios, and polarizing soccer personalities of the past 20 years, if not one of the more decorated. His acrobatics will live in infamy, his undying self-confidence will only ever be imitated and his audacious goal against England will probably forever remain the greatest goal I’ve ever seen
Apple’s New Scuba Mask: Have you ever wanted to spend $4,000 and look like a doofus at the same time?? Boy do I have a deal for you: Apple’s newly announced Vision Pro headset is pretty much “Ready Player One” meets a snorkeling mask. But for the hefty price of $3,499 plus tax, it makes sense that Apple CEO Tim Cook is out here making hokey claims that it’s “the beginning of spatial computing”. Whatever you say there grandpa, I’m not paying for it. I’m not sure I really want to put my head in a microwave just yet
Nazi Symbols in Ukraine: Here’s an article in which the New York Times tries desperately to add nuance to the trend of Ukrainian soldiers wearing patches with Nazi emblems as they fight. Besides being obviously indefensible, the frequency of this Nazi imagery only fuels Russian propaganda and continues to spread imagery that the US and western allies have spent decades trying to eliminate. It’s always awkward when there’s a glowing profile of a Ukrainian soldier in western outlets and his helmet prominently features the black sun or some other symbol associated with genocide