SMCSO Sgt. David Weidner
Kate Amoo-Gottfried’s comments to the SMC Board of Supervisors 12/11/2018:
Why are Supervisors Dave Pine, David Canepa, Don Horsley, Warren Slocum, & Carole Groom County Manager Mike Callagy, and County Counsel John Beiers protecting the 5 murderers.
To read the full statement of Chinedu’s sister, Ebele Okobi about the police video and audio of her brother’s murder, click the link below:
Filed under #Blacklivesmatter, #SanMateo, #SanMateoCountyNews, #SMCJUSTICE, Board of Supervisors, Carole Groom, Chinedu Okobi, Chris Hunter, City of Millbrae, Criminal Enforcement Task Force, Dave Canepa, Dave Pine, David Burruto, David Silberman, Deputy Alyssa Lorenzatti, Deputy Bryan Watt, Deputy John DeMartini, Deputy Joshua Wang, DOJ, Don Horsley, Errol Chang R.I.P., Grand Jury, John Beiers, Marshall Wilson, Michael G. Stogner, Mike Callagy, Organized Crime, Prosecutorial Misconduct, R.E.A.C.T. Task Force, Ramsey Saad R.I.P., RICO, Robert Foucrault, San Mateo County Sheriff Office, Senator Jerry Hill, Sergeant David Weidner, Sheriff Carlos G. Bolanos, SMCSO Sgt. Weidner, Steve Wagstaffe, Those Who Matter, Victim's Advocate, Warren Slocum, Whistleblowers, Yanira Serrano Garcia R.I.P.
If you want to see the 5 Supervisors interested or excited about a subject just look up any of the “Revenue Enhancement” meetings where they use taxpayer money for consultants and think tank people for the word crafting for Measure W etc.
Chinedu Oboki was murdered October 3, 2018 at 1400 El Camino Real Millbrae, California by 5 San Mateo County Sheriff Deputies. He was unarmed, committed no crimes other than walking while black. Sheriff Carlos G. Bolanos is responsible for this.
The public is saying 5 deputies murdered Chindeu Oboki.
Regina Islas demanding the release of the video and audio recordings of Chinedu Oboki’s murder.
Photos from December 4, 2018 Board of Supervisors Public Comment.
Rabbi Steven Weil wrote a meditation on suffering after the devastation of Hurricane Sandy. In it, he quotes the Talmudic theologian, Rabbi Joseph B. Soloveitchik, who theorized that Judaism’s approach to suffering rests on three pillars. The first is accepting that suffering and evil exist. The second pillar demands active, steadfast resistance to evil. The final pillar calls for faith that resistance will eventually be rewarded, even in the face of defeat.
There is also a Christian tradition of standing in the gap. It refers to being an intercessor, a go-between, a person who takes the weight, who intercedes on behalf of another for mercy, or salvation, or justice.
I am not, despite my wonderful mother’s very best efforts, a person of religious faith. I am, however, a person of conviction, and I am thinking of this because this week, over 50 people stood in the gap for our family, for justice, when they attended the San Mateo County Board of Supervisor’s Meeting. Social justice activists, veterans, Morehouse alumni, faith leaders, my Facebook colleagues current and former, employees of other tech companies, San Mateo county citizens-a coalition of people with the courage and conviction to stand in the gap.
One of the items for review during that Board meeting was a request from the San Mateo County Sheriff for a $4 million contract to Axon Enterprise. This was notable, because Axon is the manufacturer of tasers. While the revised stated purpose is for body cameras, the resolution authorizes the Sheriff to amend the term and the services provided without review, and waives the normal proposal process for any changes carrying a cost of $100,000 or less. The resolution was passed.
That a county in which 3 unarmed citizens were killed with supposedly non-lethal tasers within 10 months would allow a resolution giving the Sheriff a $100,000 blank check for the purchase of more tasers, before its coroner has even returned a report on the last killing-it certainly feels like defeat. That a county in the process of investigating its third taser killing, after having imposed no sanction at all on any of the officers involved in the first two, would allow all six deputies who killed the third victim back to work-that certainly feels like defeat. That the San Mateo County Sheriff would go one step farther and actually assign one of those deputies to work on the day of the Board of Supervisors meeting so that friends and family of the most recently deceased would see him on their way in-that certainly feels like defeat. That those deputies were back at work before my mother could get a permanent marker for my brother’s grave-that certainly feels like defeat.
And yet.
When I watch those clergy, friends, colleagues, concerned citizens stand in the gap-I take heart. When I hear from many of the thousands of people who have called and written District Attorney Wagstaffe to demand transparency-I take heart. When I hear from so many people who had previously lived lives untouched by police brutality tell me about how they are getting and staying proximate, I take heart.
I am not a person of faith. I am convinced that the arc of the moral universe bends toward justice, but not through magical thinking. It bends ONLY when we fight for every single inch.
As Frederick Douglass said-
”Power concedes nothing without a demand. It never did and it never will. Find out just what any people will quietly submit to and you have found out the exact measure of injustice and wrong which will be imposed upon them, and these will continue till they are resisted.”
I am so grateful to those of you who resist.
**To get proximate, to help-
1. You can call DA Wagstaffe (try doing it once a week!) to demand justice and transparency-ask him to assure the public that the outside investigator is truly independent : (650) 363-4636. Office hours are M-F 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. PT.
2. If you are interested in doing more-DM me, or reach out to any of the social justice orgs below.
Shaun King
Anti Police-Terror Project
Faith in Action Bay Area
Black Alliance for Just Immigration
Color Of Change
Congregational Church of San Mateo United Church of Christ
Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Redwood City – UUFRC
Pacifica Social Justice
Asian Americans Advancing Justice – Asian Law Caucus
Fools Mission
SV De-Bug
Mothersquest
PICO California
Unitarian Universalists of San Mateo
Trinity Presbyterian Church, San Carlos
Woodside Road United Methodist Church
Amy Eilberg
University AME Zion Church
Peninsula Democratic Socialists of America
Live Free
By Michael G. Stogner
Filed under #Blacklivesmatter, #SanMateo, #SanMateoCountyNews, #SMCJUSTICE, Attorney Generals Office, Bill Silverfarb, Board of Supervisors, Carlos G. Bolanos, Carole Groom, Chinedu Okobi, Chris Hunter, City of Millbrae, Criminal Enforcement Task Force, Dave Canepa, Dave Pine, David Burruto, David Silberman, DOJ, Don Horsley, Errol Chang R.I.P., Grand Jury, John Beiers, John Burris, Marshall Wilson, Michael G. Stogner, Michelle Durand, Mike Callagy, NAACP, Organized Crime, Positional Asphyxia, Ramsey Saad R.I.P., RICO, Robert Foucrault, San Mateo County Clerk to Supervisors, San Mateo County Sheriff Office, Sheriff Carlos G. Bolanos, Silicon Valley, SMC, SMC Measure W 2018, Steve Wagstaffe, Tax Payer's Advocate, TBWB, Those Who Matter, Victim's Advocate, Warren Slocum, Yanira Serrano Garcia R.I.P., Yes on Measure A 2012
Yesterday I almost interrupted several speakers at the San Mateo County Board of Supervisors Meeting during the Public Comment period to wait until Supervisor Canepa was finished fidgeting and could look them in the eye. As it turned out he was unable to do that for the speakers talking about the Murder of Chinedu Oboki by 5 San Mateo County Sheriff Deputies. I knew what the speakers had sacrificed to get to this meeting to stand up in public and share their thoughts for 2 minutes. Some for the first time in their life, speaking to the elected leaders of their County, the Supervisors the name says it all.
I have spoken to the Board of Supervisors for 19 years as have many Good Concerned Citizens. I chose not to speak about the Murder of Chinedu Oboki by a gang of San Mateo County Sheriff Deputies because of David Canepas’ behavior and disrespect to all of the speakers yesterday. There were several important subjects the public talked about yesterday. Mr. Canapa was able to look like he was interested for the others the SMC Employees just trying to earn a decent wage, The recount of the $2.4B Measure W by Mr. Puschendorf.
I know it is not comfortable to talk about murder in public, the speakers did an excellent job, sharing their sadness, outrage, and their demands for the obvious the release of all videos and audio recording today. The reason is simple the Sheriff and the District Attorney of San Mateo County made statements about a man that SMC murdered to make it look like somehow he deserved to be killed. The recordings which belong to the Public would answer those important points. The public does not feel safe or trust the statements of Sheriff Carlos Bolanos, District Attorney Steve Wagstaffe, and Coroner Robert Foucrault.
Release the recordings today, to verify if the Sheriff and District Attorney lied to the public. The gang members should be on administrative leave and stay home until the investigation is complete. Sheriff Carlos Bolanos has them working instead and one was on duty at the entrance to the 400 County Center Building yesterday to be in plain site as the speakers entered and had their belongings checked through the security. Sheriff Bolanos knows Steve Wagstaffe and John Warren are going to clear his team.
I couldn’t help but think “These are my People” yesterday. I’m talking about all the Good and Concerned Citizens that showed up to speak or just hold signs. I am not talking about the 5 Supervisors, County Manager, County Counsel, Sheriff or District Attorney.
Yesterday was a warning to the County Leaders both elected and appointed aka “Those Who Matter” This is a Critical Issue, Do your Job, Supervise Release the Recordings Today.
President of Supervisors Dave Pine should have remained quiet when the speakers finished, instead he showed the public all they needed to know by explaining what Wagstaffe was doing more delays.
12/5/2018 SMDJ Misinformation Piece
By Michael G. Stogner
Filed under #Blacklivesmatter, #SanMateo, #SanMateoCountyNews, #SMCJUSTICE, #TimesUp, 911, Bill Silverfarb, Carlos G. Bolanos, Carole Groom, Chinedu Okobi, Chris Hunter, Dave Canepa, Dave Pine, David Burruto, David Silberman, Don Horsley, Errol Chang R.I.P., Heinz Puschendorf, Jim Hartnett, Michael G. Stogner, Mike Callagy, Organized Crime, Prosecutorial Misconduct, Ramsey Saad R.I.P., Robert Foucrault, San Mateo County District Attorney Office, San Mateo County Manager, San Mateo County Sheriff Office, San Mateo County Supervisors, Sheriff Carlos G. Bolanos, SMC, Steve Wagstaffe, Those Who Matter, Victim's Advocate, Warren Slocum, Yanira Serrano Garcia R.I.P.
Wait for it….. wait for it! There it is, District Attorney Steve Wagstaffe’s pass for the Redwood City police officers responsible for the August 2018 death of 55 year old Ramsey Saad, the 2nd of three such deaths, under similar circumstances, at the hands of San Mateo County officers, this year.
Slight of hand
In an apparent slight of hand, Wagstaffe released his decision not to charge the officers involved, by way of a proxy, Redwood City Police Chief Dan Mulholland -with his (Wagstaffe) providing a six-page letter stating no charges would be filled, and Mulholland, in-turn, conveniently passing it on to the press.
Redwood City Police Chief Mulholland
Chief Mulholland
This letter was given to Mulholland, on the eve of the November 2018 election, immediately before the weekend. Undoubtedly cognizant of press cycles, Wagstaffe had timed the disclosure, to limit media exposure and public attention.
Wagstaffe’s findings can not be relied upon
Wagstaffe’s decision was never in doubt, it was foregone, and only a matter of timing its announcement. The disclosure was artful and designed to provide the appearance of a thoughtful measured process. Bravo, Steve!
Results predictable
The results of Wagstaffe’s review were predictable, could be foreseen, and will most certainly be repeated. From district attorney to the district’s chief enabler, covering for institutional, organizational, and executive misconduct / corruption. Defending the indefensible, the district attorney’s office is clearly open for business, for the politically connected.
No checks & balances
Steve projects confidence, obviously believing he can sell snake oil to anyone or, another analogy, sell ice to eskimos. And he has a right to this belief, to a certain degree, for he has no credible adversaries, no persons to keep him in check. The County has a private defenders program, versus a public defenders office-the only one in the state (of 58 counties).
The significance is the private defenders program, historically, assigns cases through a panel to obedient attorney’s, ones who sell / market pleas to defendants, rarely file opposition motions or take cases to trial, and routinely, with regularity, funnel clients to state prison, county jail, and probation. Just look at the District Attorney’s conviction rate (win-loss record), it’s to die for -is the envy of other bay area counties.
This relationship between prosecution and defense has also dulled the senses and oversight of the County’s judiciary, with judges not being challenged (by the defense, the private defender’s program) to make significant calls on the law.
The relationship between Wagstaffe and county law enforcement executives is mutually beneficial and self serving, he covers for them and, in turn, they return the favor, with their political support & acquiescence.
When officers and public officials who matter commit crimes such as domestic violence, unnecessary and excessive use of force, sex crimes, etc., the results are often managed by county law enforcement executives, with the complicity and aid of Mr. Wagstaffe, resulting in distinctly different outcomes from the general public.
Use of force resulting in death foreseen
In the instant case, officers allegedly responded to a disturbance call involving Saad, a person with known mental health issues. Rather than collaborate with his supervisor and peers and come up with a strategy to address the situation and reduce the possibility of violence / injury, Officer Poveda drove directly to the scene, contacted Saad, and became involved in a physical confrontation with him. Poveda tased Saad, twice, and shocked him multiple times. Officer Poveda, according to Wagstaffe, was eventually able to handcuff Saad and thereupon joined by three other officers (the Calvary).
According to Wagstaffe, Saad [while handcuffed] continued to struggle with the officers who had come to Poveda’s aid. Eventually one officer placed a knee [on Saad’ s back] between his shoulder blades, while the two other officers present controlled his mid-body and legs, according to Wagstaffe.
Saad died and a medical examiner from the San Mateo County coroner’s office determined the cause of death to have been “a cardiac arrest occurring during physical exertion, physical restraint and tasering”, this according to Wagstaffe’s letter.
Wagstaffe anecdotally included Saad’s height and weight, in his letter, apparently to portray him as menacing. Yet he did not include the heights and weights of the four trained Redwood City Police officers who were involved.
In tasing a person multiple times, physically struggling with him, and finally placing a knee on his back, as he lay handcuffed facedown, restricting the movement of his chest, torso and legs, is it possible his breathing had been severely diminished, causing him to die from asphyxia? Just asking, Steve.
Did you present this information to the medical examiner who conducted Saad’s autopsy, Steve? Just asking. And how much did the officer placing a knee and on Saad’s back weigh? Again, just asking.
Aren’t officers specifically trained not to lay a large handcuffed prisoner on his/her stomach, Steve? Could such acts go towards an officer’s intent, Steve? Just asking.
DA Wagstaffe as an enabler
Under the circumstances, couldn’t Saad’s death have been foreseen, Steve?
It appears, I can confidently predict what your conclusion will be, in these situations, why can’t you foresee that your actions or rather lack of action is ensuring such events will continue to occur, in San Mateo County, with, I might add, some regularity, unabated?
I submit, by continuing to give officers a pass, in such instances, DA Wagstaffe is an enabler, significantly contributing to both the cause and tragic outcome of such events.
Not an honest broker
District Attorney Steve Wagstaffe holds the public’s trust, he is supposed to be independent and an honest broker, one the public can count on to speak truth to power. Three officer use of force deaths, this year, alone, and counting, ALL involving persons of color, individuals with known mental health problems, multiple applications of a taser, and forceful positional restraint!
Come on, Steve, there’s a problem with the use of force by officers, in San Mateo County! They’re killing persons with regularity, Steve! It’s not a product liability problem, you can’t keep covering up for that which is so obvious.
Call for transparency & full disclosure
In order to establish the truth and garner public trust, I would ask DA Wagstaffe to provide a complete copy of his office’s investigative report into Saad’s death, the autopsy report, the death certificate, the computer aided dispatch (CAD) printout for the event, the involved recorded 9-1-1 call(s) involved, and the recorded Redwood City Police radio communications involved in the event.
It is believed the public’s interest, in this matter, far outweighs that of the decedent, the San Mateo County District Attorney, the Redwood City Police Department, and the San Mateo County Coroners Office. The fact that this is one of three such use of force deaths, in the county, this year, involving persons of color who suffered mental heath issues make such disclosures even more important, if the district attorney wishes to establish transparency and the public’s trust.
By Michael G. Stogner
Filed under #Blacklivesmatter, #MeToo, #SanMateo, #SanMateoCountyNews, #SMCJUSTICE, #TimesUp, 911, Attorney Generals Office, Bill Silverfarb, Board of Supervisors, Body Camera Video, Carlos G. Bolanos, Carole Groom, Chinedu Okobi, Chris Hunter, Citizens Access TV, Citizens Oversight Committee, City of Millbrae, City of Redwood City, City of San Carlos, Criminal Enforcement Task Force, Dave Canepa, Dave Pine, David Burruto, David Silberman, DDA Albert Serrato, Deputy Alyssa Lorenzatti, Deputy Bryan Watt, Deputy John DeMartini, Deputy Joshua Wang, DOJ, Don Horsley, Errol Chang R.I.P., Gavin Newsom, Grand Jury, Hanson Bridgett LLP, Jim Hartnett, John Beiers, Jon Mays, Mark Church, Mark Olbert, Mark Simon, Michael G. Stogner, Michelle Durand, Mike Brosnan, Mike Callagy, NAACP, Organized Crime, Positional Asphyxia, Prosecutorial Misconduct, Ramsey Saad R.I.P., RICO, Robert Fourcrault, San Mateo County District Attorney Office, San Mateo County Domestic Violence Protocol, San Mateo County News, San Mateo County Sheriff Office, Sheriff Carlos G. Bolanos, SMC, Steve Wagstaffe, Tax Payer's Advocate, Those Who Matter, Victim's Advocate, Warren Slocum, Whistleblowers, Yanira Serrano Garcia R.I.P.
This question should have been asked by every elected official that has Police Services provided by Sheriff Carlos G. Bolanos. They should all have to listen and watch the videos of the murder like Chinedu’s family members just did. What is wrong with the rest of you elected officials in San Mateo County. Thank You Sabrina Brennan
Filed under #Blacklivesmatter, #SanMateo, #SanMateoCountyNews, 911, Attorney Generals Office, Board of Supervisors, Carlos G. Bolanos, Carole Groom, Chinedu Okobi, Chris Hunter, Citizens Access TV, Citizens Oversight Committee, City of Millbrae, Dave Canepa, Dave Pine, David Burruto, David Silberman, Deputy Alyssa Lorenzatti, Deputy Bryan Watt, Deputy John DeMartini, Deputy Joshua Wang, DOJ, Don Horsley, Errol Chang R.I.P., John Burris, Michael G. Stogner, Mike Callagy, Organized Crime, Positional Asphyxia, Prosecutorial Misconduct, Ramsey Saad R.I.P., RICO, Robert Fourcrault, Sabrina Brennan, San Mateo County District Attorney Office, San Mateo County Sheriff Office, Sheriff Carlos G. Bolanos, SMC, Steve Wagstaffe, Those Who Matter, Victim's Advocate, Warren Slocum, Yanira Serrano Garcia R.I.P.
Chinedu Okobi R.I.P.
Deputies photographed straddling Millbrae jaywalker Chinedu Okobi
With the repeated application (shocks) of two separate tasers, oleoresin Capsicum (OC) spray, and force delivered by five adult males, isn’t it reasonably likely serious injury or death would occur? Couldn’t such an eventuality have been foreseen? The answer to both those questions is quite obvious, of course it is!
And District Attorney Steve Wagstaffe who has yet to conclude his investigation is now publicly questioning the “efficacy” of the taser, really Steve? With its repeated use, in the manner described, the taser is and was a deadly weapon. And for the deputies involved to have used it, in such a manner, is and was, most likely, manslaughter. Just like the misuse of a baton, flashlight, or any other instrument, such actions have consequences. Were the deputies trained to apply a taser, in such a repeated manner? Of course not. Were they trained to apply it repeatedly, in conjunction with oleoresin Capsicum (OC) spray, and physical force? Again, no.
The larger issue, now, is whether or not District Attorney Wagstaffe and his office can be relied upon to be objective and render credible findings. His questioning the “efficacy” of the two tasers used, rather than the manner and circumstances under which they were deployed by deputies, should be the real issue. In other words, DA Steve Wagstaffe speaking of product liability versus the actions and respective responsibilities of the deputies involved, before the conclusion of any investigation, speaks volumes about his lack of objectivity in the matter.
Could it be the graphic video which has surfaced, one apparently depicting deputies tasing Chinedu, applying force, and his attempting to flee, motivated Steve to float his product liability theory? Can the public trust the results of an investigation conducted by an individual so biased? The answer is no.
History of bias
D.A. Steve Wagstaffe
In 2007 DA Wagstaffe came to the aid of Bolanos, when he (Bolanos) and his boss, Sheriff Greg Munks, has been detained by the FBI and Las Vegas Metropolitan Police, at an illegal Las Vegas brothel. The site featured Asian indentured sex slaves, at least one of whom was minor, and a cache of ecstasy drugs. In a sign of solidarity and excusing the duo’s behavior, Wagstaffe wrote them an email expressing his support and characterizing them as persons who mattered. He even renewed his excuse of the two’s behavior, reaffirming his role as both a sycophant & enabler, two years ago, in a televised interview by a local news reporter.
Wagstaffe’s bias has not been limited to shilling for Bolanos. It has extended to other county officials as well. When San Mateo County Transit executives were found to have diverted over two and a half million dollars of public monies through fraud to accounts controlled by themselves, Wagstaffe was quick to attribute the crimes to bad accounting practices. He had one of his deputies, assistant deputy district attorney Al Serrato, a former FBI agent (emphasis former), be the face of such an absurd assertion, that a Criminal conspiracy involving county executives involving multiple counts of fraud (fraudulent debits used to divert millions of dollars of public monies for unintended / unauthorized use) amounted to merely bad accounting practices. Such an absurd assertion by Wagstaffe & Serrato amounted to victimizing the public for a second time -not to mention the insult to our intelligence and violation of the public trust.
Given Wagstaffe’s demonstrated bias towards Bolanos, he should recuse himself, his agency, and refer the matter to the State Attorney General for investigation. He should also immediately release the described video depicting deputies confrontation with Chinedu to the public, in order to be completely transparent. The best thing for this sort of situation is sunlight.
History of untruthfulness
Sheriff Carlos G. Bolanos
There is NO Statement by Sheriff Carlos Bolanos on the Death of Chinedu Okobi. Why?
In November of 2014, Supervisor Don Horsley told KPIX 5 that Sheriff Greg Munks informed him two department machine-guns had been used for spare parts, the sheriff’s office had quietly told state officials, five months earlier, they had been stolen. I asked Don Horsley what method of communication did Sheriff Munks make that alleged statement. Supervisor Horsley refused to respond to that question.
Clearly, the San Mateo County Sheriff’s Office and others cannot be trusted & relied upon to either tell the truth nor protect the public’s safety -two machineguns in the hands of thieves presents the very real possibility of a mass casualty event.
Possibility of positional asphyxia
In Chinedu’s death, a separate digital image (above) taken by a bystander witness raises the issue of positional asphyxia, at the hands of deputies. It depicts Chinedu face down being restrained prone, on the ground, with, what appears to be, one officer with a knee bearing down on his back while two other offers bear down on his thighs / legs. It also appears to show a collapsible baton laying on the ground just feet from Chinedu. It’s presence raises the possibility Chinedu may have been struck with a baton by deputies, during the event.
One wonders if the medical examiner performing Chinedu’s autopsy has been informed of and shown the described videos and photos, in assessing the manner & cause death? Knowing Steve and his shop, probably not -it would appear inconsistent with the narrative he is obviously trying to present.
Coroner Robert Forcrault
By Michael G. Stogner
Filed under #Blacklivesmatter, #CarlosBolanos, #SanMateo, #SanMateoCountyNews, 911, Board of Supervisors, Body Camera Video, Chinedu Okobi, City of Millbrae, Dave Canepa, Dave Pine, David Burruto, David Silberman, DDA Albert Serrato, Don Horsley, Errol Chang R.I.P., John Beiers, John Burris, Michael G. Stogner, Michelle Durand, Mike Callagy, NAACP, Organized Crime, Positional Asphyxia, Prosecutorial Misconduct, Ramsey Saad R.I.P., RICO, Robert Fourcrault, SamTrans, San Mateo County District Attorney Office, San Mateo County News, San Mateo County Sheriff Office, Sheriff Carlos G. Bolanos, SMCSO 2 M16's Stolen, Steve Wagstaffe, Tax Payer's Advocate, Those Who Matter, Victim's Advocate, Warren Slocum, Yanira Serrano Garcia R.I.P.
