Cop shoots self; blames black man!
PHILLY COP SHOOTS HIMSELF THEN BLAMES A BLACK MAN, by Jam Donaldson
PHILADELPHIA (Black Voices) – A Philadelphia police sergeant who said he was shot last month by an unidentified black man in the city’s Overbrook section actually fabricated the entire story and shot himself, Police Commissioner Charles Ramsey said this morning. Sgt. Robert Ralston, a 21-year veteran of the department, admitted to homicide detectives early this morning that his previously reported story was false. Ramsey called the incident “a terrible and embarrassing chapter in our history.” Asked why Ralston concocted the tale and injured himself, Ramsey said he didn’t know.
Allison Steele, a writer for the Inquirer, reported on Tuesday:
Ralston will be suspended for 30 days with the intent to dismiss, Ramsey said. Ralston, married with five children, will face no criminal charges in the case, because he was offered immunity in exchange for his confession. Ralston will also have to pay the cost of the massive manhunt that was sparked by his tale on April 5, Ramsey said. In a frantic search for the MUBM, police spent hours combing a West Philadelphia neighborhood for possible suspects, although no one was formally questioned or arrested.
The Fraternal Order of Police, Lodge No. 5, had even posted a $10,000 reward for information leading to the suspect. Ralston’s original story was that he was on patrol in the early hours of April 5, when he stopped two men for questioning. One of the men ran; the other man, drew a gun and put it to Ralston’s head, he told police. Ralston said he knocked the gun out of the way and it went off, grazing him in the shoulder. He told police he shot at the man as he ran off and possibly struck him. Steele reports that Ralston’s story was suspect from the beginning.
She states, “Police said the facts of the case just didn’t add up. There was powder residue on his shirt that matched his own service weapon, indicating he was shot at close range. His reaction to the shooting also drew suspicion, and police said he seemed eager to cast himself in the role of a hero.” Ralston apparently described his assailant as black, because the area where the shooting took place is predominantly African American, the commissioner said. Ramsey said Ralston’s badge number would be retired, and that no other officer would ever wear the same number.
“It’s troubling in a lot of ways,” Ramsey said. “It inflames racial tensions in our community, and that’s certainly something we don’t need.” Ramsey stated that it was fortunate that officers never stopped or arrested anyone matching Ralston’s description of the gunman. Most recently, we had the white guy who dressed up as a MUBM to rob a bank; we remember Susan Smith, who drowned her two kids and blamed the MUBM; and let’s not forget the Boston murderer Charles Stuart who killed his pregnant wife and blamed it on the MUBM.
Look, white people, it’s 2010. We are all on to the MUBM by now. Haven’t you heard about the boy who cried wolf? Will you please blame your foolishness on someone else? I just hope the citizens of Philadelphia make certain that Ralston’s suspension “with intent to dismiss” ends in a true dismissal. Don’t you realize, officer, that not only did you perpetuate the worst racial stereotype, but you now make it harder for me when a real MUBM snatches my pocketbook? Shame on you, officer Ralston.
May 13th, 2010 at 9:01 am
This incident shows that not all of the disturbed individuals are in front of the Badge. As a society we turn a blind eye to the stresses and traumas that police, prison gaurds, and other law enforcement are subject to. When that person is put in charge of others, such as prisoners or those suspected of a crime a lot of bad things can happen. It is not wonder that so many people in custody are treated so badly.
May 13th, 2010 at 9:17 am
See…racism and hate rears its ugly head again. Black man always get the blame. When will this bull*** STOP!!! Just think, this cop is not alone. There are thousands of racist cops hiding behind their badges. The black man dont stand a chance.
May 13th, 2010 at 9:24 am
i am a 26-year-old white woman and i am very embarrassd over this. this cop was suspended for 30 days with intent of dismissal. what is that??? why not fire his ass now??? what are they waiting on???
May 13th, 2010 at 11:38 am
Wayne!
I’ll just say two things on this matter.
The police sargent is this story should be fired,jailed in general population,away from the other white inmates and marked with a scarlet letter on his forehead,prefferably the letter “I”for idiot!
When it comes to the fact that “It’s 2010″,I just keep in mind that when the world population was begining to multiply,evidently the really stupid people reproduced at a much faster rate than everybody else. Their problem is that they think that everybody else is stupid,so they create all these unecessary issues for the rest of us to deal with.
It’s people like Sgt. Ralston,Glenn Beck,Rush Limbaugh,Sarah Palin,Mark Funkhouser,the Cordish Co. (Power and Light District)
who actually make a good case for abortion.
Barry Jackson
June 4th, 2010 at 9:19 am
OUCH! Just thought I’d share:
SEATTLE (AP) – Police said a man accidentally shot himself in the testicles at a Lynnwood department store. Police spokeswoman Shannon Sessions said the man was carrying his handgun in his waistband and it accidentally went off about noon Sunday.
She said he was wounded in the testicles and also in his leg and foot. No one else was hurt.
The man was rushed to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle, but there was no immediate word on his condition.
___
June 29th, 2010 at 7:08 am
A Good Read…
Very helpful info thanks…