In 1999, 69-year-old Daley Craig was watching his grandson’s football team at WAHS play a game. While watching, he was smoking a cigar, which he was told violates a county ban of tobacco use on school grounds. Craig refused to stop smoking, and he was forced to leave school grounds by police. This has turned into a cause for Craig, who is not so interested in smoking on school grounds as he is in creating a citizen review board to oversee the Albemarle County police force. Said Craig, “I have made it quite clear on the record that I find it despicable that the only review of alleged police review in Albemarle County is `internal.’ That sort of review cannot be objective or thorough, and is tainted by apparent conflict of interest. Yet you have refused to establish any sort of objective review and are a party to the cover-up.” He went on the criticize the police’s killing of William Wingfield Jr., saying “Since then, the police have killed another person. The one they claim was attacking them with a garden hoe. Wow, a real garden hoe! A demented man with a garden hoe attacking three supposedly able policemen and women armed with billy clubs and Mace, and the police had to shoot him.” Needless to say, police aren’t very happy with Craig, and he’s dead-set on having a review board. Peter Savodnik has an extensive article in today’s Progress.
Sideblog
Police announced this afternoon that their investigation into what was initially believed to be a fatal fire on Rugby Avenue is now a homicide investigation. #
The Virginia Supreme Court has denied George Huguely’s appeal. His second-degree murder conviction will stand, WRIC reports. #
In a carefully worded story, and not citing specific sources, WTVR reports that forensic evidence belonging to Jesse Matthew Jr., the main suspect in the disappearance of Hannah Graham, matches forensic evidence collected during the investigation of Morgan Harrington’s 2009 murder. #
In the wake of Hannah Graham’s disappearance, and the evidence that came from private security footage, city officials are revisiting the question of installing security cameras on the downtown mall. #
Both Charlottesville Registrar Sheri Iachetta and former Electoral Board member Stephanie Commander have turned themselves in to the police on
foursix and four felony counts of embezzlement, respectively. #Ten years ago, the National Institutes of Health budget doubled and schools like the University of Virginia built massive new research facilities. A decade later, those buildings remain largely underutilized. NPR visits UVA in this story on the effect of federal binge and spurge spending in the sciences. #
In 2012, Council approved a new student housing complex on West Main—now some council members are questioning whether what they were shown matches what was built. #
The Architectural Review Board has approved a bike-themed mural on West Market, below the McGuffey Art Center, although at least one member expressed concerns that it might look like the bicyclists were riding away from Charlottesville’s downtown. #
City Police Chief Tim Longo is meeting with city leaders to work on protocols regarding the use of military surplus police weapons in Charlottesville. #
A 100-year-old Colonnades resident received military honors for her service in the WWII Women’s Army Corps #
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I’ve never heard any cop say a single thing bad about another cop. Have you?
Obviously, this means that there is nothing bad to say about any of our police officers.
There’s nothing like claiming to have a cause to help save face after doing something stupid or illegal.
I am unclear as to what aspect of the Albemarle County Police’s enforcement of law Mr. Craig has a problem with. If anything, he should be grateful that he was merely escorted out rather than charged with a crime. If he was 20 years old, rather than 69, he would probably have been issued a ticket and been fined.
Someone should gently remind Mr. Craig that a gentleman does not smoke cigars in the presence of ladies or children; both of which were likely present at the school.
~J
Amen!
There may be good reasons to have a citizen review board overseeing police actions. Mr. Craig, however, has no standing to lead the charge.
What is it about cigar-smokers and arrogance, anyway? (Yeah, I’m generalizing, but my experience tells me there’s a relationship.)
Harry
It should be mandatory for all spectators attending school sports events to smoke cigars. Hey, we need to help Virginia Tabacco farmers anyway we can. Besides, what could be more cute than a 2 year old with a big ol’ cigar in its mouth!