A LIFE CHANGING DAY

 

    Lt. Todd Umstead said the detective, who was on duty at the time of the incident, was not uniformed and was driving an unmarked police vehicle but “clearly identified himself as a police officer” when he approached the youths.

From this morning’s article, “City police: Teen struck detective with skateboard,” (click here).

    The detective was investigating “a possible trespassing” according to the official police press release (click here).    

    Were the four juveniles the ones who were trespassing?  The press release says they were on private property so whose property was it?  Were they doing something wrong?  Did he show them his badge?  Why was he going to arrest one?  And where the heck is this detective’s name?

    This is one of those stories that has Talkbackers outraged and talking about a breakdown in society.  But I think this story definitely has two sides – and I want to hear what the four boys have to say.  Where is this detective’s name?

Please check back later today…

C&Y, The Prison, Murders & Roseboro

HELP ME!

 

    You know, any reporter with a brain - or even half-a-brain, who covers an alarmingly large number of unsolved murders in a county over the years – with the same lead detective investigating all of them – would say either: 1. Geez, he’s  a bad detective.  He should be fired!  He’s no good at his job! or, 2. Geez, he’s a bad detective and maybe something else is going on as well! 

    Obviously, none of the Lancaster Newspaper reporters have even half-a-brain.

    I will come back, of course, to Lydia Colon-Torres and unsolved murders tomorrow.

    Today – emails - this part of one in with the subject line, “Help me…”:

    I’m currently in the hospital because I’m 7 months pregnant and I went into early labor when C & Y took my daughter away. Call me……..

    I will call you.

    These parts of an email in:

    Anyway, I was interested to see if I could be any help to you regarding anything prison related.  I am just looking to help end the abuse, in any way possible.

    Thank you for writing.  I will be in touch.

    This also in:

    Hi Becky!

    I have thoroughly enjoyed your site.

    One unsolved mystery that was close to my family was the Glenn Brossman murder back in ’92.

    That is another one that you never hear anything about.

    If you could add that to your list of your unsolved, I’d love to see what’s being done or new with this one.

    Thanks for all the time you put into getting some “real” info out there.

    Thank you for writing.  That is one I know nothing about, although others have mentioned it several times.  I will add it to my list.

    And this:

    Hello Becky,

     I very much enjoy your website…..I’m a resident of Ephrata PA and get tired of the bullshit posted by Lancaster Newspaper.  You tell the real story and I love it.

  I was wondering if there is any information available regarding the appeal of Roseboro’s murder conviction?  I’ve been patiently awaiting the decision in this matter.  I believe as of today it’s been almost 60 days since the verdict.  I realize the Judge has 120 days to answer the request. 

     Post what you know for the people who are still very curious regarding this issue.

    Thank you and keep up the good work,

    Bill

    Thanks, Bill!  While I was talking to District Attorney Craig Stedman yesterday regarding Lydia Colon-Torres, I took the opportunity to ask about the appeal in the Roseboro case.  He said Judge Cullen has not made a ruling and he does not expect one this week as criminal court is in session and the Judge is presiding over trials.  You are correct – the Judge has 120 days to answer – but I believe it is from the appeal date – not the conviction date - and the wait continues.

    On the subject of Roseboro, noted crime author M. William Phelps, whose next book will be on the Roseboro murder, has been visiting Lancaster County and conducting interviews over the last two months.  He drives from his Connecticut home.  I have it on excellent authority that he is digging up a great deal of dirt on Michael Roseboro.  There are a number of comments coming into this site regarding an aspect of Roseboro’s life that I will highlight shortly.

    Thank you for the emails and I will do what I can.  Tomorrow – back to Lydia Colon-Torres and the mayor and police chief.

DEMANDING JUSTICE!

   

    On the afternoon of Monday October 5th, the Lancaster County Coroner’s Office notified the Lancaster City Bureau of Police, that the body found along the shore of the Susquehanna River in Manor Township, was in fact, that of missing female, Lydia Colon-Torres.

The last, updated press release from the Lancaster Police on October 5 (click here).

    Today, I left my fifth and final message for Coroner Steve Diamantoni to please call me regarding the delay in announcing her cause of death.  My first four calls have not been returned.  How can the police possibly “investigate” this fully not knowing whether it is a homicide or an unfortunate accident?  Is there a killer on the loose?

    I have rarely seen anything this incompetent and uncaring and tomorrow I will begin placing phone calls to Mayor Rick Gray, Police Chief Keith Sadler and District Attorney Craig Stedman in a search for answers.  The citizens of Lancaster County should be outraged.

    Speaking of the Unhonorable One, Mayor Rick Gray made a disgraceful finish in his mayoral win over mentally challenged Charlie (Cannonball) Smithgall!  If the Republicans had put up someone with a brain, Gray might have lost!

POLITICAL MOTIVATIONS

    What was the issue that gave Smithgall even a fighting chance?  It would have to be crime.  Last night, the CBS Evening News did a piece on Lancaster and the surveillance cameras.  They stated Lancaster does have a crime problem and the cameras have had no apparent impact on that problem.  If my memory serves me, they said of all cities the size of Lancaster, Lancaster was 9th in terms of crime levels.  If that is incorrect, someone please correct me.

    The piece featured Charlie Crystle, a wealthy Lancaster businessman who lives in the city and who is against the cameras, and the mother of Tyquan Hall, a teenager who was killed in a shooting in 2007 on South Queen Street, who said the camera footage helped get a conviction for her son’s killer during his trial.

    Crystle, who is friends with Sunday News Associate Editor, Gil Smart, said at the end of the piece that the camera watchers and those who fund the program may have their own vested political motivations.  Interestingly, he never mentioned the Lancaster Newspapers as a major financial backer and their convention center as the impetus for the cameras in the first place, or if he did, it did not make air time.  That truth will eventually come out.

WHERE’S THE FOOTAGE?

    Last week, the Lancaster Newspapers ran a story with this headline, “City officer injured in riot.”  A Talkbacker posted this on the Lancaster Online forum under the article:

    Has anyone asked if this was caught on camera? 

    That’s an excellent question and where is the footage?  There will be more on all of this tomorrow and an update on the Roseboro story from this morning.

[*I am having major site problems today.  I lost some posts and this one is not complete.  I apologize.  Must be that choice between Rick Gray or Charlie (Cannonball) Smithgall!  The quote regarding F&M President Fry below is from NewsLanc.com - click here. ]

 

MILLION DOLLAR QUESTIONS!

                                                                  

   Lancaster County and former inmates of Lancaster County Prison have reached a $2.5 million agreement to settle a federal class-action lawsuit over blanket strip searches.

From this morning’s paper, “Strip-search suit settled,” (click here).

    Unbelievable! What will it take to get Prison Warden Vincent Guarini removed from office?  I mean what will it take?  This story, of course, comes on the heels of Friday’s story, “Prison denies allegations of abuse,” (click here).  How much money will this man cost Lancaster County?

    This is a man who stood on his lawn and watched while, across the street, his F&M security police manhandled and improperly incarcerated reporter Ron Harper, who had done nothing more than ask for an interview and later walk on the right-of-way in front of Fry’s home.

    We have no doubt that that Fry would be worth even more than a million dollars in private industry. We also are of the opinion that the sooner he moves on, the more civil and better off the community and F&M will be.