Chief's home torched after suspect's death

[High Plains]

MARSHALLVILLE, Ga. -- Several people broke into the police chief's house and burned it down early Friday, a few hours after a man died in police custody, authorities said. No one was home at the time, and no injuries were reported. No immediate arrests were made.

Police Chief Stephen Stewart, a Navy reservist who returned from duty in Iraq about two months ago, had left the house along with his family shortly after the death of Clarence Walker, 48.

Walker died at a hospital after officers fired pepper spray at him Thursday night while he was resisting arrest on probation and parole violations, said John Bankhead, a spokesman for the Georgia Bureau of Investigation. The cause of death was not immediately disclosed.

As news of Walker's death spread in this town of 1,300, about 100 people gathered downtown near the police station. Sheriff Charles Cannon said the crowd was not unruly.After about two hours, Cannon said, he asked Walker's family to ask the crowd to disperse, and it did. It was around that time that several people broke into Stewart's home and set it on fire, Bankhead said.

<snip> More at: http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/chi-0601210058jan21,1,7496334.story?coll=chi-newsnationworld-hed

[High Plains]

1. Now there's a response to police brutality!

On the one hand, one can't condone arson.

On the other hand, I bet the cops in north Georgia think twice before they pepper spray someone to death again.

Too bad it's almost impossible to indict, let alone convict, brutal cops.

[High Plains]

2. Here's some more detail from the same AP report

James Jackson, oldest brother of Clarence Walker, said that his brother angered the police because he often ran away from them. He said the police chief had let it be known around town that his officers would arrest Walker "dead or alive."

One of Walker's sisters, Betty Jackson, said she and another sister went to City Hall on Thursday when they learned of their brother's arrest and they saw officers pull their brother out of the police car and lay him in front of the building. An ambulance then arrived and he was loaded aboard and taken to the hospital.

"He was dead when they brought him from the projects. His mouth was open, his cheek was bruised and he had blood coming from his mouth," Ms. Jackson said.

The chief, who stopped by the charred ruins of his home in the afternoon, would not respond to the allegations or discuss what happened during Walker's arrest.

"I can't speculate. I'm not going to," Stewart said.

Link at http://www.accessnorthga.com/news/ap_newfullstory.asp?ID=70340

[alcibiades_mystery]

5. Roscoe P. Coltraine finally got one of those Duke boys good

James Jackson, oldest brother of Clarence Walker, said that his brother angered the police because he often ran away from them.

:shrug:

What the hell is going on down there???

[LisaL]

3. No one should condone arson.

Innocent people could have been hurt by arson. I imagine the police chief has a family that had nothing to do with any of it.

[High Plains]

4. Yes, he did, and a pregnant wife, too.

That's why I said one couldn't condone it. But one can sure as hell understand it. And to be honest, I really hope a lot of cops hear about this. Might make 'em pause before they beat somebody to death.

[cyberpj]

6. delete. dup. nt

[AX10]

12. I agree.

[cyberpj]

7. Posting this makes us aware it's happening. Judging without all info is

impossible.

Peace.

[Name removed]

8. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Pavulon]

9. sad situation he

died from a pepper spray reaction. This happens from time to time.. I remember a case of this in Concord, NC.

Guy resisted arrest, police did not want a physical fight and the person died from Anaphylactic shock.

Riot ensued.

[High Plains]

10. Police chief's house got burned down.

This happens from time to time.

[AX10]

11. Better than a mass riot.

It makes no sense what so ever to riot and harm the innocent.