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Tuesday, January 03, 2017
Democrats Have a Religion Problem
A conversation with Michael Wear, a former Obama White House staffer, about the party’s illiteracy on and hostility toward white evangelicals.
There aren’t many people like Michael Wear in today’s Democratic Party. The former director of Barack Obama’s 2012 faith-outreach efforts is a theologically conservative evangelical Christian. He is opposed to both abortion and same-sex marriage, although he would argue that those are primarily theological positions, and other issues, including poverty and immigration, are also important to his faith.
During his time working for Obama, Wear was often alone in many of his views, he writes in his new book, Reclaiming Hope. He helped with faith-outreach strategies for Obama’s 2008 campaign, but was surprised when some state-level officials decided not to pursue this kind of engagement: “Sometimes—as I came to understand the more I worked in politics—a person’s reaction to religious ideas is not ideological at all, but personal,” he writes.
Several years later, he watched battles over abortion funding and contraception requirements in the Affordable Care Act with chagrin: The administration was unnecessarily antagonistic toward religious conservatives in both of those fights, Wear argues, and it eventually lost, anyway. When Louie Giglio, an evangelical pastor, was pressured to withdraw from giving the 2012 inaugural benediction because of his teachings on homosexuality, Wear almost quit.
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There aren’t many people like Michael Wear in today’s Democratic Party. The former director of Barack Obama’s 2012 faith-outreach efforts is a theologically conservative evangelical Christian. He is opposed to both abortion and same-sex marriage, although he would argue that those are primarily theological positions, and other issues, including poverty and immigration, are also important to his faith.
During his time working for Obama, Wear was often alone in many of his views, he writes in his new book, Reclaiming Hope. He helped with faith-outreach strategies for Obama’s 2008 campaign, but was surprised when some state-level officials decided not to pursue this kind of engagement: “Sometimes—as I came to understand the more I worked in politics—a person’s reaction to religious ideas is not ideological at all, but personal,” he writes.
Several years later, he watched battles over abortion funding and contraception requirements in the Affordable Care Act with chagrin: The administration was unnecessarily antagonistic toward religious conservatives in both of those fights, Wear argues, and it eventually lost, anyway. When Louie Giglio, an evangelical pastor, was pressured to withdraw from giving the 2012 inaugural benediction because of his teachings on homosexuality, Wear almost quit.
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What Crimes Are Eligible for Deportation?
Last December, Mayra Machado was pulled over for a routine traffic stop in Arkansas. Turns out she had an unpaid ticket for failing to yield. And as a teen, she’d spent four months in boot camp for writing bad checks. Now 31, the single mother of three, who is an undocumented immigrant, faces imminent deportation to El Salvador, the battle-scarred country she fled when she was 5 years old.
Sylvester Owino, 40, said he survived torture in Kenya as a young activist and came to the U.S. on a student visa, which ran out. A 2003 robbery conviction in San Diego resulted in a nine-year stint in a detention facility. Now, he is part of a U.S. Supreme Court case that will determine whether immigrant detainees have a right to a bond hearing.
The two situations illustrate the variety of crimes that can get immigrants detained and deported, even after they have served a jail or prison sentence for the crime — and even if they are in the country legally. And while the federal government says it targets noncitizens who are serious or repeat offenders, immigrants with minor offenses often are deported.
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Sylvester Owino, 40, said he survived torture in Kenya as a young activist and came to the U.S. on a student visa, which ran out. A 2003 robbery conviction in San Diego resulted in a nine-year stint in a detention facility. Now, he is part of a U.S. Supreme Court case that will determine whether immigrant detainees have a right to a bond hearing.
The two situations illustrate the variety of crimes that can get immigrants detained and deported, even after they have served a jail or prison sentence for the crime — and even if they are in the country legally. And while the federal government says it targets noncitizens who are serious or repeat offenders, immigrants with minor offenses often are deported.
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Monday, January 02, 2017
Lawsuit: Government Illegally Garnishes Disability Benefits To Repay Student Loans
Earlier this month, a Government Accountability Office report found that $171 million was garnished from older Americans’ Social Security benefits in order to repay federal student loan debts. Now, one of those borrowers is suing several government agencies accusing them of taking money from his monthly disability checks despite the fact he was eligible for a student loan discharge.
The lawsuit, filed in September and amended last week, accuses the Department of Education, Social Security Administration, and Department of Treasury of unlawfully garnishing his Social Security disability benefits to collect on defaulted student loans despite the fact he was eligible for a full discharge of the debts.
According to the lawsuit [PDF] – which also names Dept. of Ed. Secretary John King, Treasury Secretary Jack Lew, and Social Security Administration Commissioner Carolyn Colvin – the 67-year-old man received a notice in 2013 indicating that a portion of his disability benefits would be garnished in order to pay off the student loans he obtained in the 1970s.
While the man attended college for a short time, he dropped out due to hospitalizations, and eventually defaulted on the loans. In 1973, he was diagnosed with schizophrenia and began receiving Social Security disability benefits.
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The lawsuit, filed in September and amended last week, accuses the Department of Education, Social Security Administration, and Department of Treasury of unlawfully garnishing his Social Security disability benefits to collect on defaulted student loans despite the fact he was eligible for a full discharge of the debts.
According to the lawsuit [PDF] – which also names Dept. of Ed. Secretary John King, Treasury Secretary Jack Lew, and Social Security Administration Commissioner Carolyn Colvin – the 67-year-old man received a notice in 2013 indicating that a portion of his disability benefits would be garnished in order to pay off the student loans he obtained in the 1970s.
While the man attended college for a short time, he dropped out due to hospitalizations, and eventually defaulted on the loans. In 1973, he was diagnosed with schizophrenia and began receiving Social Security disability benefits.
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Student sues Georgia college, but for a reason that you might agree with
Free speech on college campuses is being severely curtailed and suppressed. It should not be allowed. Free speech is guaranteed under the Constitution, even on wacky leftist campuses. Chike Uzuegbunam is a Christian student at Georgia Gwinnett College. They have instituted two small ‘free speech zones’ on campus and you must submit a ‘free speech area request’ three days ahead of time, plus your materials and literature have to be reviewed and approved by officials before you can even use one of these crappy zones.
Chike says his freedom of religion is being violated because his preaching on campus has been restricted. I agree and it just should not be happening. This is just one campus… this crap is happening all across the nation. These free speech zones are anything but… they are speech suppression zones and it is fascist. If this is a university that takes federal money, they are in direct violation of the Constitution and should be nailed for it. Chike is suing the college and I don’t blame him.
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Chike says his freedom of religion is being violated because his preaching on campus has been restricted. I agree and it just should not be happening. This is just one campus… this crap is happening all across the nation. These free speech zones are anything but… they are speech suppression zones and it is fascist. If this is a university that takes federal money, they are in direct violation of the Constitution and should be nailed for it. Chike is suing the college and I don’t blame him.
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CORRUPT: DHS Took Millions In Bribes From Drug Cartels On Mexican Border
There is a HUGE problem in the DHS, and it is putting our country in harms way. The corruption is real, and it’s being perpetrated by a many of America’s federal agents.
Joohoon David Lee, a federal Homeland Security agent stationed in Los Angeles, was assigned to investigate the case of a Korean businessman who was being accused of sex trafficking.
So instead of doing his job and making an inquiry, Mr. Lee solicited and accepted about $13,000 in bribes and other gifts from the businessman and his family members in return for making the “immigration issue go away,” according to court records.
Mr. Lee, who was an agent with Homeland Security Investigations at Immigration and Customs Enforcement, filed a report that covered up the truth: “Subject was suspected of human trafficking. No evidence found and victim statement contradicts. Case closed. No further action required.”
There were more federal agents that took payoffs of up to $215,000 and even 100 egg rolls…all to smuggle marijuana and cocaine, produce confidential information to drug cartels so they could find ways around border security, manipulate documents for illegal immigrants and just plain up and make cases “go away,” according to a report.
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Joohoon David Lee, a federal Homeland Security agent stationed in Los Angeles, was assigned to investigate the case of a Korean businessman who was being accused of sex trafficking.
So instead of doing his job and making an inquiry, Mr. Lee solicited and accepted about $13,000 in bribes and other gifts from the businessman and his family members in return for making the “immigration issue go away,” according to court records.
Mr. Lee, who was an agent with Homeland Security Investigations at Immigration and Customs Enforcement, filed a report that covered up the truth: “Subject was suspected of human trafficking. No evidence found and victim statement contradicts. Case closed. No further action required.”
There were more federal agents that took payoffs of up to $215,000 and even 100 egg rolls…all to smuggle marijuana and cocaine, produce confidential information to drug cartels so they could find ways around border security, manipulate documents for illegal immigrants and just plain up and make cases “go away,” according to a report.
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Rosie O’Donnell Launches VICIOUS Attack on Trump… She Has No Limit
Rosie O’Donnell is a vicious, vile human being. I don’t approve of President-elect Trump calling her names in public… but then again, the woman is really, really asking for it. Trump and O’Donnell have been attacking each other for over ten years. Rosie stooped so low as to even smear Trump’s ten year-old son. She apologized to Melania, but the fact that she would do such a thing tells you all you need to know about Rosie O’Donnell. She’s not funny and she’s disgusting.
Rosie is now warning that America only has three weeks left to stop a mentally unstable Donald Trump from taking office. First off, he’s not mentally unstable, although Rosie O’Donnell herself may be. Second, he’s now President of the United States… just deal with it already and get over it. Rosie was a huge Hillary Clinton supporter and just this last week, urged Obama to go after Russia for interfering in the election. Russia uncovered some of the DNC’s dirty laundry, but they had nothing to do with the election itself. Liberals like Rosie just can’t accept that Clinton lost because she sucked. Truth hurts, Rosie.
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Rosie is now warning that America only has three weeks left to stop a mentally unstable Donald Trump from taking office. First off, he’s not mentally unstable, although Rosie O’Donnell herself may be. Second, he’s now President of the United States… just deal with it already and get over it. Rosie was a huge Hillary Clinton supporter and just this last week, urged Obama to go after Russia for interfering in the election. Russia uncovered some of the DNC’s dirty laundry, but they had nothing to do with the election itself. Liberals like Rosie just can’t accept that Clinton lost because she sucked. Truth hurts, Rosie.
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GOP Leaders Ready To Pivot From 'Do-Nothing' To Doing A Lot In 2017
As the 115th Congress is sworn in Tuesday, Republicans will be poised to control Washington with a stronger hand than they have in a decade — with the Senate, House and the White House in GOP hands, once President-elect Donald Trump takes office on January 20th.
This past November, Republicans held their congressional losses to a minimum, helped by an unexpectedly strong GOP wave behind Trump. After losing just two Senate seats, they'll hold a 52-48 edge (two independents caucus with Democrats. In the House, Republicans lost six seats, giving them a 241-194 majority.
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This past November, Republicans held their congressional losses to a minimum, helped by an unexpectedly strong GOP wave behind Trump. After losing just two Senate seats, they'll hold a 52-48 edge (two independents caucus with Democrats. In the House, Republicans lost six seats, giving them a 241-194 majority.
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Ring in the New Year cheaper than the old
Best Restaurants Nationwide for Senior Discounts
Cheap Eats - Save on Dining Out
University of Minnesota football players won't face charges in sexual assault investigation
Ten suspended University of Minnesota football players will not face criminal charges in connection with an alleged sexual assault of a 22-year-old female student.
The woman claimed she had been assaulted by 10 to 20 men on the team who 'lined up like they were waiting for a turn on her' after their season-opening victory against Oregon State on September 2.
But Hennepin County Attorney Mike Freeman has declined for the second time to charge any of the players, despite calling their behavior 'deplorable'.
Freeman previously decided not to prosecute the players in November, until the school's own investigation revealed troubling details about the alleged assault.
After reviewing that report, Freeman stood by his November decision, saying the school's investigation didn't add sufficient evidence to warrant criminal charges.
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The woman claimed she had been assaulted by 10 to 20 men on the team who 'lined up like they were waiting for a turn on her' after their season-opening victory against Oregon State on September 2.
But Hennepin County Attorney Mike Freeman has declined for the second time to charge any of the players, despite calling their behavior 'deplorable'.
Freeman previously decided not to prosecute the players in November, until the school's own investigation revealed troubling details about the alleged assault.
After reviewing that report, Freeman stood by his November decision, saying the school's investigation didn't add sufficient evidence to warrant criminal charges.
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New York wants to cut ties with disgraced Wells Fargo
New York to Wells Fargo: fuhgeddaboudit!
New York City is the latest state or city to consider cutting business ties with the embattled San Francisco banking giant in the wake of a sham-accounts scandal that exploded in September, The Post has learned.
Wells Fargo inked a contract with New York’s Department of Finance earlier this year to process credit-card transactions.
The deal runs from July 1 to June 30, 2021.
Wells Fargo will pocket $1.3 million a year under the deal, according to a copy of the paperwork obtained by The Post.
But on Dec. 29, the city put it up for “negotiated acquisition,” according to a public hearing notice.
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New York City is the latest state or city to consider cutting business ties with the embattled San Francisco banking giant in the wake of a sham-accounts scandal that exploded in September, The Post has learned.
Wells Fargo inked a contract with New York’s Department of Finance earlier this year to process credit-card transactions.
The deal runs from July 1 to June 30, 2021.
Wells Fargo will pocket $1.3 million a year under the deal, according to a copy of the paperwork obtained by The Post.
But on Dec. 29, the city put it up for “negotiated acquisition,” according to a public hearing notice.
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Texas officer trying to arrest suspect shot by fellow cop
WEATHERFORD, Texas – A Texas police officer shot another officer and a man he was trying to arrest during a confrontation following a traffic stop.
Police in Weatherford near Fort Worth say officer Chris Bumpas was conducting the stop Thursday evening when he discovered there was a warrant for the arrest of one of three people in the vehicle.
Police said in a statement that the man became combative and struck the officer with a flashlight.
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Police in Weatherford near Fort Worth say officer Chris Bumpas was conducting the stop Thursday evening when he discovered there was a warrant for the arrest of one of three people in the vehicle.
Police said in a statement that the man became combative and struck the officer with a flashlight.
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Le Pen: 'After Trump, Brexit, the French Want Independence'
François Hollande denounced populism and nationalism ahead of upcoming French presidential elections, but Marine Le Pen hit back saying after Trump and Brexit, the French share the worldwide “aspiration for independence” in the fight against globalism.
In his New Year’s Eve address, President Hollande, who earlier in December said that he willnot be seeking reelection in 2017, alluded to Front National candidate Le Pen when he warned against what he called “rising extremism,” citing Brexit in the U.K. and the election of Donald J. Trump in the U.S.
“There are periods in history when everything may change dramatically. We’re in one of those times,” said the Socialist Party member.
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In his New Year’s Eve address, President Hollande, who earlier in December said that he willnot be seeking reelection in 2017, alluded to Front National candidate Le Pen when he warned against what he called “rising extremism,” citing Brexit in the U.K. and the election of Donald J. Trump in the U.S.
“There are periods in history when everything may change dramatically. We’re in one of those times,” said the Socialist Party member.
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Judge blocks Obama mandate forcing doctors to perform abortions, transgender surgeries
President-elect Donald Trump can undo many of President Obama’s executive orders with the stroke of a pen, but rolling back a key new mandate forcing religious doctors and hospitals to perform abortions and transgender surgeries looks to be a much more protracted legal battle.
Many judges have begun to adopt the administration’s expansive interpretation of Title IX and other federal directives barring discrimination on the basis of “sex,” lawyers say, limiting the ability of the president-elect to revoke his predecessor’s policies without help from Congress or the courts.
Now the Department of Health and Human Services has taken Section 1557 of the Affordable Care Act, which prohibits “sex” discrimination in the provision of health care, to mean that hospitals, insurance companies and other health care entities that receive federal funding must cover or perform abortions and sex-reassignment surgeries, even if doing so would violate their religious beliefs.
The rule was finalized in May and was to go into effect on Sunday.
But the legal battle escalated over the weekend when a federal judge in Texas on Saturday blocked the Obama administration mandate one day before it was set to go into effect.
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Many judges have begun to adopt the administration’s expansive interpretation of Title IX and other federal directives barring discrimination on the basis of “sex,” lawyers say, limiting the ability of the president-elect to revoke his predecessor’s policies without help from Congress or the courts.
Now the Department of Health and Human Services has taken Section 1557 of the Affordable Care Act, which prohibits “sex” discrimination in the provision of health care, to mean that hospitals, insurance companies and other health care entities that receive federal funding must cover or perform abortions and sex-reassignment surgeries, even if doing so would violate their religious beliefs.
The rule was finalized in May and was to go into effect on Sunday.
But the legal battle escalated over the weekend when a federal judge in Texas on Saturday blocked the Obama administration mandate one day before it was set to go into effect.
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'Policing For Profit' Goes To The Next Level
It’s bad enough getting arrested – especially when you didn’t do anything to warrant it. This happens all the time, because the the threshold for arresting someone is very low. It can be done by any cop, pretty much anytime – without much in the way of legal justification. He has the gun – and the handcuffs, after all. If he wants to arrest you, he will arrest you. Maybe the courts will sort it out later; eventually you are released, your record “cleared.”
This isn’t new – or news.
What is new – and ought to be news – is that several states have begun charging people “processing” and “incarceration” fees for their bogus arrest and subsequent just-as-bogus caging.
Minnesota and Kentucky are among the states that levy fees on people who are merely arrested and taken to the clink… even if they are never convicted of anything. In some cases, the people being charged for “services” rendered are never formally charged with any crime (which is something a prosecutor must do; a cop hasn’t got the power to do more than arrest you on suspicion of violating a statute).
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This isn’t new – or news.
What is new – and ought to be news – is that several states have begun charging people “processing” and “incarceration” fees for their bogus arrest and subsequent just-as-bogus caging.
Minnesota and Kentucky are among the states that levy fees on people who are merely arrested and taken to the clink… even if they are never convicted of anything. In some cases, the people being charged for “services” rendered are never formally charged with any crime (which is something a prosecutor must do; a cop hasn’t got the power to do more than arrest you on suspicion of violating a statute).
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BREAKING NEWS: Shooting In Salisbury 12-26-16
Paramedic advised Wicomico Central to alert PRMC for a priority 1 patient a second patient will be transported shortly.
UPDATE FROM SPD: Homicide investigation underway in sby, 31 yo/m vic, 700 blk Baker st, SPD det's working with MSP Homicide investigators
Homicide Investigation Continues... #crimesolvers 410-548-1776
Originally posted: 12-26-16 9:38 PM.
I Know, Bah Humbug
I want to make something very clear here. I am in no way attempting to take any credit away from the unconditional intent from so many people and or organizations but haven't you ever wondered, where is all that money going to? Have you ever wondered, just how many local Families are in such a bad way that they have to depend so much on these donations?
For examples, WBOC raised over $265,000.00 this year for their Bless Our Children campaign. The Salvation Army has been known to raise more then $300,000.00 as well. The local Law Enforcement agencies and Fire Departments have been known to give out literally hundreds of bicycles and have adopted Families each year. Wicomico County will probably deliver more then THREE TONS of food to the Maryland Food Bank. Then there's Toys For Tots, Churches and the list goes on and on.
In case you weren't aware, the Salvation Army also gives out hundreds of free and complete dinners for Christmas. Perdue donates hundreds of Turkeys not only with the Salvation Army but also the Maryland Food Bank.
Hundreds could mean 200. One would think if it was over 500 Families, well, they'd probably say they help more then 500 Families. So let's be fair and say it's 400+ Families. Isn't that $600.00 (+ or-) per Family? Then there's the Salvation Army and ALL of the other non profits who raise millions of dollars, (all together) in our area and you just have to ask yourself, REALLY?
Just how many Families locally are that destitute that they cannot take care of their children for the Holidays AND is it really that important that every child get so well cared for because their parents don't even have to try to do better when they can just as easily get on a list where everyone else will take care of them.
I know, heartless, isn't it. Like many of you, we grew up broke. Did we turn out bad because all our friends were getting the latest and greatest, NO. I can truly tell you, what we did get was extremely appreciated. In our spare time we'd find ways to mow lawns in the summer or shovel snow in the winter, (you get my drift). If we NEEDED things, we earned it, took care of it and appreciated it that much more.
Then we discussed free breakfast and lunch at school and let's not forget the free food the children get during the summer months. Then there's free college, free school supplies, affordable housing, EBT Cards, welfare, free Christmas presents, when is enough enough. What drives these people to get jobs so they can provide for their families?
We also discussed, how does anyone know one family isn't on every non profit list? In other words, why not get on WBOC's, Salvation Army, Church, Toys For Tots and whatever else is out there, who regulates this? What's stopping people from getting on every list.
So yes, I'm the bad guy bringing up a topic thousands of you think about but are way too afraid to say anything. The cool part is, you can remain anonymous and share your thoughts on this matter. It seems to me that the ONLY thing these organizations are interested in is breaking last years record numbers, yet you never see the end result. They BEG you for the money, you GIVE from the heart but you never see any financial records. I mean, they'll knock on the door to interview the family of a child that was just murdered an hour ago but they won't show you where all that money went???
I can tell you first hand when we gave out 300 turkeys one Christmas Season, honest to God we had multiple people, (the same people) coming back three to four times to collect a free dinner, so please don't tell me people do not take advantage of such free programs.
We want to hear your thoughts on this matter. There needs to be a way these organizations can come together to make sure their unconditional giving isn't abused. We also need to come up with a creative way to get these people off a lifetime or even generations of entitlements.
Finally, God Bless All of you who not only make such donations but especially those organizations who run these programs. I know first hand how trying it is to pull them off.
Democrats lost more than 1,030 seats during Barack Obama's presidency
President Barack Obama often cites numbers like these while boasting about his tenure in the White House: 15 million new jobs, a 4.9 per cent unemployment rate and 74 months of consecutive job growth.
But one number almost always goes unheard: more than 1,030 seats.
That's the number of spots in state legislatures, governor's mansions and Congress lost by Democrats during Obama's presidency.
The statistic reveals an unexpected twist of the Obama years: the leadership of the former community organizer was rough on the grassroots of his own party.
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But one number almost always goes unheard: more than 1,030 seats.
That's the number of spots in state legislatures, governor's mansions and Congress lost by Democrats during Obama's presidency.
The statistic reveals an unexpected twist of the Obama years: the leadership of the former community organizer was rough on the grassroots of his own party.
More
WCSO CID Press Release - Armed Robbery 12-28-16
Date of Incident: 07/13/2016
Location: 1500-Block of Barton Avenue, Salisbury, Maryland
Suspect: Craig Marvel Polk, 17 years old, Salisbury, Maryland
Narrative: On July 13, 2016 at approximately 12:43AM, deputies from the Wicomico County Sheriff's Office responded to the 1500 Block of Barton Avenue, Salisbury, Maryland, for an armed robbery of a taxi driver. The taxi driver stated he had picked up the suspect from E. Ruark Drive, Salisbury, MD. The taxi driver then traveled to the 1500-Block of Barton Avenue, Salisbury where the suspect brandished a handgun and forced the taxi driver to hand over his money.
Detectives from the WCSO Criminal Investigation Division were able to develop information to further this case. Detectives learned that Craig Polk was the person responsible for the armed robbery. On December 22, 2016, Polk was arrested and taken to the Wicomico County Detention Center on $50,000 bond, after a bond review Polk was released on $15,000 bond. Polk was charged as an adult.
Charges: Armed Robbery, Robbery, Assault 1st, Assault 2nd, Reckless Endangerment, Handgun on person, handgun in the use of a felony, possession of a firearm by minor, theft less then $100
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