The Daily Progress has included extensive daily updates on the cases of the Frenchman shot by Albemarle County police officer J.M. Fields last Sunday, each driving home the main problem with Officer Fields’ claim, which centers around his user of a Taser. Officer Fields says that he Tasered Raimond Riviere, who then recovered and took the Taser from Fields. Fields then shot Raimond in self-defense. Raimond’s attorney, defense-lawyer-about-town Deborah Wyatt, contends that her client never touched the Taser. A brochure for the Advanced Taser M26 (PDF) says that the suspect injury rate after being Tasered was just 1.6%, and that “no deaths have ever been directly attributed to the Taser.” In apparent conflict with this, the Albemarle County Police Department only allows the use of deadly force in defense of anybody in immediate danger of serious physical harm or death. The Virginia State Police are investigating, and they will turn over their findings not to Albemarle commonwealth’s attorney Jim Camblos, but to Goochland’s commonwealth’s attorney. Raimond remains in the hospital, having been shot twice in the chest, once in the liver, and once in the hand. Claudia Pinto has the story 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
four six 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 know this board’s purpose is for discussion, but we should withhold placing blame on this officer until the State Police finish their investigation. A reporters job is to sometimes try to cast doubt. That’s what sells papers. I don’t think a DP reporter is going to uncover much compared to what a State Police investigation will uncover. From what I understand, they go “anal probe” on other law enforcement agencies.
Here’s the problem: You’ve got the family making accusations and they weren’t even there. I know their upset that their relative got shot, but how are they gonna know what really happened? It’s something like this, “oh no, not my relative, they would never run from the police”. That’s BS and we all know it. But again, the DP, as miserable as it is, is trying to sell papers. I do trust their reporting more than I do WVIR though. By the way, did you see the new faces on NBC 29? Another exodus I guess..
Oh, and I see on WINA’s website that the French Government is closely monitoring the shooting. Ohhh Noooooo. We should be afraid. They might ATTACK us. Those bullies!!
I couldn’t agree more. It is disheartening to see The Daily Progress not so subtley take sides on this issue–that’s poor journalism. They above anyone else should know that the facts have not been completely presented yet. I have a bit of a feeling that Officer Fields is also being made into somewhat of a scapegoat for the "lack of evidence" against Officer Shifflet.
But again, The Daily Progress’s coverage has shown regrettable bias in favor of the family, and I can’t trust their coverage any more, much less whatever else they choose to write about. The guilt seems to already lie squarely on the shoulders of Officer Fields, while this poor little "frenchman" who may have or may have not been drinking or driving, gets to be made into a complete victim, and pardon my speculation, I also get the feeling that is not the case.
What’s up with the new tan NBC 29 anchor Stephanie Cornwell suddenly has? Just a day ago, she was as pale white and sun-deprived as could be. The very next day, it looks like she dipped herself into a vat of bronzing lotion or put on too much stage cake makeup. It doesn’t look natural……
There’s just no satisfying some people. One week, the Progress is covering up misdeeds by some sheriff’s deputy, now they’re anti-police. Just for fun, let’s take a look at portions of Claudia Pinto’s story in the Aug. 21 paper and examine it for bias:
^There are two versions of what happened in between — and a Taser lies at the center of the dispute.
Albemarle County authorities say Officer James Michael Fields used his Taser to stun Raimond Riviere on Saturday after he fled the scene of the traffic stop, but Riviere recovered, wrestled the Taser from Fields and knocked him down. It was then, police say, that the officer shot Riviere.
Riviere’s attorney, Deborah Wyatt, has disputed that her client touched the Taser or the officer.^
Maybe it’s just me, but that seems to include not just the family’s side of the events but the police department’s version as well.
^Even after the Taser is fired, there will be electrical current flowing from the front end,” Tuttle said. “The attacker could quickly incapacitate the officer by simply touching the officer’s body. The front end is a very powerful backup in case a second attacker attacks the officer; or if the officer misses, he can apply the front end as his backup.”
The Albemarle County Police Department’s use-of-force policy states that deadly force is prohibited against “unarmed, non-dangerous fleeing felons; unarmed, non-dangerous fleeing misdemeanants; or unarmed, non-dangerous fleeing traffic offenders.”
We are not commenting on any specific incident or situation, but in general, police officials would consider someone with a Taser to be armed with a weapon,” said Lee Catlin, Albemarle County’s spokeswoman.
An officer is allowed to use deadly force when there is a reasonable belief that the action is in defense of a human life, including the officer’s, or in defense of any person in imminent danger of serious physical harm.
The policy gives discretion to the officer in a specific incident to determine what might be an imminent threat of death or serious bodily harm,” Catlin said. “Officers have a lot of training to help them assess that.”^
Here’s a section where the clearly-biased Progress reporter (yes, that is sarcasm) demonstrates that Officer Fields, assuming his version of the story is correct, was justified in shooting the "poor little Frenchman."
^While Barbour remained silent, Steve Avary, Riviere’s uncle, offered a statement.
“In theory, well-trained officers should know how to conduct what should have been a nonviolent stop,” he said. “At this point, there are differing stories about what transpired. The facts have not come out, and I don’t want to make prejudicial statements in either direction.”
“Knowing Rai the way I know Rai, I find it very difficult to imagine him posing any threat that would have required it,” he continued. “It’s unfair to both Rai and to the officer involved for the press to imply any interpretation of the facts at this point. Let’s give law enforcement the opportunity to handle this fairly and professionally. I’m confident the system will work.”^
And there’s a family member saying the facts haven’t come out and asking that law enforcment officials be given the chance to handle the investigation fairly.
So where’s the bias? The Progress story paints the picture as pretty murky, which at this point.
And the Progress isn’t casting doubt on the story; they’re just quoting people who cast doubt on the story.
BTW, was Lee Catlin or Police Chief John Miller at the scene? The Progress shouldn’t report anything they have to say either!
There was a previous story in the Progress that was overly sympathetic in its coverage of the family, and IN MY OPINION, subtley accusatory towards Fields. I don’t have to really explain my "perception" in detail, because that’s just what it is, a "perception." And my perception, whether is right or wrong, is valid. So is your perception, right or wrong.
I don’t have all the facts either….. I am looking at each "story" on a case by case basis. Again, in my opinion, to me it looks like there is enough evidence to convict Shifflet but he is getting a free ride, whereas there is little evidence to support impropriety on behalf of Fields’ actions and he is made out to be guilty. I’m not looking to be satisfied by someone like yourself who can’t read the distinctions and subtleties of each case.
I don’t have to really explain my “perception” in detail, because that’s just what it is, a “perception.” And my perception, whether is right or wrong, is valid. ,
Wow, you sure dove headlong into this particular cop-out (no pun intended), didn’t you?
Hey, guess what? My “perception” is that the sky is purple. And I don’t have to explain that to you. Because any silly thing that I choose to toss up on the internet is “valid,” right? (Hey, by the way, when you say “valid” there, I’m pretty sure the word you’re looking for is “invalid.” Might want to check on that.)
If you’re not even going to *try* to defend your statements, why even bother posting them? My “perception” is that you should show a little backbone instead of falling back on freshman-year relativism (complete with overused “scare quotes,” no less) at the first sign of opposition.
(By the way — and this is the real point of my post — thanks to Eazy-E for stepping up while I was on vacation and doing a nice job with the requisite over-long, over-indignant Progress defense. “I wanna fuuck you, Eazy!”)
But again, the DP, as miserable as it is, is trying to sell papers.
If you had ever even met a newspaper reporter, you would know that one of the last things in the world they care about, strictly speaking, is “selling papers.” Most of them — especially at the DP, with the exception of a single, misguided reporter I can think of — actively hate their employers. Under no circumstances do they give a hoot about making the paper any money. If they did, they wouldn’t steal so many office supplies.
PS — By virtue of my having thought this just now and written it down, it is automatically “valid,” regardless of whether it happens to be “true” in any other sense. And I don’t have to produce any evidence to support it, either. So there.
I know you and Easy-E used to work at The Daily Progress, so you have a vested interest in defending their reputation to an extent because you thereby are also defending **your** reputation. And that’s just fine…
"Wow, you sure dove headlong into this particular cop-out (no pun intended), didn’t you?"
You’re right. Total laziness on my part. Didn’t feel like looking up the other Daily Progress article that I felt showed not-so-subtle bias. I don’t have all live-long-day to look up stuff to post here. Soooo………
There. Happy, up-in-the-Jizzy-fo’-shizzy? http://www.dailyprogress.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=CDP%2FMGArticle%2FCDP_BasicArticle&c=MGArticle&cid=1031770538637&path=!news
This article from the Aug. 18th edition of the DP is designed to make us sympathize with the frenchman that was shot, and while I’m sorry he was shot, if he was drinking and driving, he could have killed innocent people with his wanton recklessness. I say let’s not use this story to brush up on our dramatic novel-writing skills (as I **perceive** the reporter to have done), use it to accurately offer the facts.
"And I don’t have to produce any evidence to support it, either. So there."
Much like The Daily Progress apparently doesn’t have to produce the facts to support their stories! Heh, heh…
Lest I generalize, it seems there are a few DP reporters who desperately want to write fiction or for a biased-political magazine. Man, it really shows in their style.
Lets not be to harsh on the french guy!
Officers have been know to (DRINK DRIVE
AND WRECK… one who still holds his job at the city. I will not disclose any names but the fact is
maybe they need to practice
what they preach! take it from someone who has
been on the inside.. and who has done the job. not all men in blue tell the truth.. some do some do not… but beleive me
they do have a much better chance when it comes to court. Then you will find who’s bias and who’s
not.
She probably shares a tanning bed with Eric "Hi Guys!" Pritchett
I know you and Easy-E used to work at The Daily Progress, so you have a vested interest in defending their reputation to an extent because you thereby are also defending **your** reputation. And that’s just fine…
OK. First, I wish I knew who this Easy-E really is, because on this message board anyway, I really like his/her style. But I’m glad you know where he/she used to work — I really don’t.
As for me — I’d never pin my personal reputation to the reputation of the Daily Progress. I think they have good and bad reporters now, just as they had good and bad reporters two years ago. I think the nice thing about journalism, actually, and writing bylined articles, is that you can be judged on your work, even on a story by story basis. That, in fact, is one thing that people on here are beginning to do but don’t do enough: differentiate between reporters there.
I say let’s not use this story to brush up on our dramatic novel-writing skills (as I **perceive** the reporter to have done), use it to accurately offer the facts.
Well, I was really just being peevish about the sudden refusal to argue. Now, I haven’t clicked on that link, but I’ll concede your point that some reporters sometimes over-write these things — I can think of one in particular, who doesn’t work there anymore, who was one of the most garish over-writers that I’ve ever met. I do agree with Easy-E, though, that they tend to get criticized by you people no matter what they do. And I’d ask for some perspective, and point out that it happens in more or less every media outlet, including (especially?) the justly beloved Washington Post.
Is it unreasonable for them to keep an eye on this? I mean, he is one of their citizens.
"And I’d ask for some perspective, and point out that it happens in more or less every media outlet, including (especially?) the justly beloved Washington Post."
I’ll give you that, but since we are primarily citing local sources on this website, the local media is going to take its knocks. That is not to discount the fact that the national media do the same thing. But on this particular messageboard, we have to get our information from The Daily Progress in many, many cases, so of course they are going to be the main target of our attacks if we, again, perceive something is amiss. There are good reporters at the Progress, and then again there are others who are clueless pinheads who really want to be Stephan King, the way they paint a picture, so to speak.
no Will, of course not, but the FRENCH?? I mean, what if things turn out that the officer was at fault?? The FRENCH I say!!! Is this country really going to care what the FRENCH have to say? Sure, some local FRENCH restraurants may exhibit some signs of “snootiness”.
It just struck me funny how WINA reported that the FRENCH were monitoring the shooting. Like that was something to be concerned about. WTF?
There are good reporters at the Progress, and then again there are others who are clueless pinheads who really want to be Stephan King, the way they paint a picture, so to speak.
OK — though, now that I’ve gone and read your linked story and its byline, I’d say that you and I definitely disagree over who there is a pinhead. That story looks pretty typically solid to me, and not overdone. (And really not novelistic in any sense, come to think of it.) If the cops hadn’t cancelled their news conference, I’m sure they would have been better represented in the story. But I suppose here it’s just a matter of taste.
By the way, I know this isn’t exactly what you were talking about, but let me throw my support behind good, lively writing in journalism. I’m about to finish reading The Power Broker, a biography of former NY city official Robert Moses by Rober Caro, and powerful writing goes a long way toward making complicated things vivid and understandable.
To further digress: Everyone who cares about government, development, transportation, parks or anything else, or just likes a good story, should read that book. It’s long, but it’s worth it. It’s a work of genius. And it should certainly be required reading for reporters.
Oh, and I see on WINA’s website that the French Government is closely monitoring the shooting.
Not anymore. They surrendered.
;)
Fortunately, my reputation isn’t tied solely to The Daily Progress, based on the daily criticism it receives on this message board (though I’m trying not to tremble or turn red when I read it).
And JMZ is right – like any paper, including the Post, some reporters are better than others. But most readers don’t pay attention to bylines, outside of the people quoted in the story.
Personally, I think JMZ and I both had pretty good reputations as reporters in Charlottesville by the time we left. (And thanks to certain staffing decisions since my departure, I think my reputation may have even improved.)
But we’re not posting to defend our reputations or the paper’s reputation – I think we’re both here to defend the good reporters who do damn good work in the face of crappy pay and lousy working conditions.
You want to see a bad daily paper – move to Lynchburg for a month.
(And thanks to certain staffing decisions since my departure, I think my reputation may have even improved.)
Heh. You’re right. As for mine — no comment. I don’t want to be hurtin’ feelings.
Well, now that I’ve figured out who you are, I hope you understand that I no longer want to f.uck you.
That’s ok. I’m taken.
"That story looks pretty typically solid to me, and not overdone."
Yes that is just one story, but almost all of the stories that have come out thus far about this case are similar, in that they all focus on the frenchman’s plight and his family.
Of course his family is going to say "oh no, my nephew is the best boy there is. he would never do such a thing. why, he wouldn’t even hurt a fly…" Of course his family is going to paint him as such. But where are the quotes from Officer Fields’ family and friends saying that he is a good guy and wouldn’t ever hurt anyone? If he indeed is a rogue cop you know that the media would have researched his background and have found something if that were the case.
The reason why is because all the melodrama is in the story of the so-called victim.
I just don’t like the local media’s coverage so far (and there is bias in NBC 29’s and to a lesser extent, WINA’s coverage in addition to The Daily Progress). The bias is shown in the lack of balance they give to the point of view’s of Officer Fields and Riviera.
I guess one can see a "bad" daily anyplace.
Let`s face it, standards have lowered, and seem to daily trend lower.
JMZ writes:
Certainly a reader who can discriminate between different reporters is a Very Good Thing — but that shouldn’t shield these reporters’ common employer from criticism.
I’ll make a public assumption here: there are editors at the DP assigning stories to reporters and these editors have some control over what their writers produce (or do the DP staff writers just chose whatever interests them on a given day, and see to print drafts of their own exclusive approval?!).
If my assumptions are correct, then the editors/managers have some responsibility for content and tone. And they should attempt better scheduling/tasking. I count five stories on this topic by five different authors:
County officer shoots suspect
By Elizabeth Nelson / Daily Progress staff writer
August 16, 2003
Shooting, aftermath anger relatives
By Olympia Meola / Daily Progress staff writer
August 18, 2003
Tension runs high after shooting/ Police arrange for hospital visit
By David Dadurka / Daily Progress staff writer
August 20, 2003
Shooting dispute centers on Taser
By Claudia Pinto / Daily Progress staff writer
August 21, 2003
Shot suspect posts bond
By Liesel Nowak / Daily Progress staff writer
August 22, 2003
The reason you see five different names on those stories is that Reed Williams, the cops reporter, is on vacation. I’m pretty sure that the editors decided to have each one of the reporters listed above fill in for a day (since they all have their own beats to cover and can’t afford to leave them for a week), thus producing five different bylines.
While reporters do get assigned some stories, they actually have a fair amount of freedom to decide what’s worth covering on their beat within certain parameters (the UVa reporter can’t skip the Board of Visitors meetings, for instance).
Editors do have say over content and tone, but reporters do get a certain amount of leeway because they’re the ones working the beat and talking to sources, not the editors.
If you’ve got more specific questions about how the system works at the DP or in general, fire away. I’ll do my best to answer them, considering I haven’t worked in Cville for awhile.
I’m pretty sure that the editors decided to have each one of the reporters listed above fill in for a day (since they all have their own beats to cover and can’t afford to leave them for a week), thus producing five different bylines.
And moreover, on a story like this, which obviously has been judged by the people in charge to be “big”, they’ll make sure there’s some story written every day, or at least a pretty solid attempt at a story. The assumption is that something must be happening each day, and so you cover whatever has gone on. If the family talks, write about that. If there’s a court proceeding, write about that. If nothing happens other than the police declining comment, well, then write about that.
This is only for big stories. EasyE is right that, in general, editors don’t do much assigning. Again, the reason is a very good one: Editors, by nature of their jobs, really don’t know as much about what’s going on around the vast DP coverage area as you’d think. A reporter’s job is to become an expert on his/her beat, to develop stories, and to write them. The editors can’t possibly be experts on all 10 or whatever beats, so there’s a good amount of trust placed on the reporters’ abilities/judgments.
Let me just add, probably gratuitously at this point, that if there *hadn’t* been a story about this case every single day, there would have been people — I daresay even people on here — grumbling about The Great Cover-Up and demanding to know why the Progress was protecting the police.
If you’ve got more specific questions about how the system works at the DP or in general, fire away. EasyE will do his best to answer them, and I’ll do my best to ignore them, and instead to go outside and get some sun.
Perhaps the French Government should spend more time monitoring their thermometers and administering aid to their heat- stricken citizens..
Who let the xenophobes onto this site?
Roles reversed, the french would note that the Americans were monitoring the case of an American who was shot 4 times by a police officer. Wake up, not everything is military-related, ever hear of diplomacy??
To the French, who have strict gun laws and therefore few shootings, they made swiss cheese out of a guy because he was running away.