This Week in the Mercury
Wednesday, February 22, 2012
News FBI Seizes Computers of Portland Blogger For Allegedly Posting Sheriff Death Threat
Posted by Sarah Mirk on Wed, Feb 22, 2012 at 11:59 AM
FBI agents swooped into a home on NE 65th and Prescott Monday morning, seizing computers the agents believe were used to post death threats about controversial Arizona sheriff Joe Arpaio.
The accused blogger, Clifton Dawayne Brooks, allegedly ran a blogspot site called "Targeting Cops." According to the FBI search warrant, he is an active commenter on various Portland sites, including Indymedia and here on Blogtown, using variations of the name "Damos Abadon." Our then-news editor Matt Davis wrote a story about Clifton Brooks' altercation with police on SE Belmont back in 2008.
According to the FBI search warrant (pdf), the case began on January 8th, when a Maricopa County Sheriff Deputy named William Coleman was shot and killed while following up on a burglary call outside Anthem, Arizona. The next day, someone called in to the sheriff's office to report that a blog, the now-removed targetingcops.blogspot.com had posted a gleeful note about Coleman's death and called for the death of Sheriff Arpaio, a nationally controversial figure who most recently made headlines for unfairly targeting Latinos.
From the search warrant:
The FBI asked Google to give them all the information the company had about the Targeting Cops blogger, but Google refused and said that without a formal search warrant, they would only release the email address associated with the account (gaahlskaggh@gmail.com).
FBI investigators meant business: They got a search warrant and flew to the Mountain View headquarters of Google to serve it in person. Google relented and gave the investigators the IP address that had posted to the Blogspot account and had registered the Gmail account. The name registered with the Gmail account was Daemous Abadonus.
The IP address was registered with Comcast, so the FBI asked Comcast for the name and billing address of the account holder, which Comcast readily supplied: Clifton Brooks, of NE 65th and Prescott. During a previous encounter with police, Brooks had given officers the pseudonym Damos Abadon (in 2001, Brooks was convicted of making a bomb threat in a blog post, which qualifies as "interstate commerce" because the post travels across state lines).
At 6am on Monday, federal agents raided Brooks' house and seized several computers, along with something they initially thought was a bomb, but turned out to be a prop.
Thanks to commenter Graham for the tip on all this!
3
Despite my individual feelings about the blogger in question, it's pretty sad when you've cultivated an internet life that returns the kind of glee this is.
REMINDER PEOPLE! Be nice to each other. Life is short.
REMINDER PEOPLE! Be nice to each other. Life is short.
9
Wow. Just, wow. I knew the guy talked smack, but this is another level! Fake bombs and bomb threats too? Wow.
10
Wow. I always figured Damosa had some problems beyond your standard argumentative troll. Hopefully he gets the help he needs, rather than being further radicalized for actions that hurt no one.
BTW, kudos to Google for fighting to keep information anonymous. How's that for irony.
BTW, kudos to Google for fighting to keep information anonymous. How's that for irony.
12
"According to the FBI search warrant, he is an active commenter on[...]Blogtown."
Now they'll probably investigate all of us. Oh well, I have nothing to hide. Except for this bong.
Now they'll probably investigate all of us. Oh well, I have nothing to hide. Except for this bong.
14
THIS JUST SERVES AS A REMINDER TO ALL PEOPLE THAT YOU NEED TO BE CAREFUL WITH YOUR LANGUAGE. SOME THINGS ARE ACTIONABLE, SOME THINGS ARE NOT ACTIONABLE. CLIFTON OBVIOUSLY DIDN'T KNOW THE DIFFERENCE (YOU'D THINK HE'D HAVE LEARNED THE DIFFERENCE AFTER HAVING BEEN CONVICTED OF MAKING BOMB THREATS IN 2001).
18
@ tcraig, after just reading the oregonlive article, I thought it sounded like a First Amendment issue too if you're just going off the "dead or alive" poster, but if the affidavit evidence holds up, I'd say he clearly crossed the line between cheering for something violent (probably protected) to encouraging something violent, which isn't (there's something in there along the lines of "let's make sure we kill more cops this year.")
20
I find this odd that this is a crime when Sarah Palin made a website with democratic HoRs listed, that said these are the democrats that we need to get rid of by any means possible! With some of their names crossed out with red, after Gabby Gifford got shot, her name was then crossed out with a big red X. No investigation on Sarah Palin about that website. Is it because Sarah Palin is white and wealthy?
22
Not only that, but Frank Luntz recently threatened to run over president Obama with his car, when he was speaking to a crowd with Rick Sanctorum. Does this white fat ass get away with it simple because he is white?
23
@20 -- Nice try, chicostix, but no one trolls like DamosA.
(On another note, that capitalized A! Not just stylistic! This story is the best.)
(On another note, that capitalized A! Not just stylistic! This story is the best.)
24
@CHICOSTIX: ESSENTIALLY, YES.
I AM NOT ONE TO SUPPORT OR DEFEND CLIFTON BROOKS IN ANY WAY; BUT.... I PERSONALLY FIND THIS STYLE OF HARRASSMENT BY THE CONSTABULATORY FORCES OF THE REPUBLIC TO REPREHENSIBLE. USING A DRACONIAN SEARCH AND SEIZURE ON A HOME AND THEN TO NOT CHARGE ANYONE WITH A CRIME SEEMS LIKE AN ATTEMPT AT INTIMIDATION RATHER THAN AN ACTUALLY USEFUL LAW ENFORCEMENT TACTIC. OR THEY'LL END UP CHARGING SOMEONE WITH A PATHETIC CRIME LIKE, "DISTURBING THE PEACE" OR SOME SUCH SHIT.
THESE TYPES OF TACTICS ARE VERY COMMON WHEN THE STATE IS ACTIVELY TRYING TO SUPPRESS RADICAL OR REVOLUTIONARY GROUPS WHO AREN'T REALLY BREAKING ANY LAWYS, JUST MAKING THE PEOPLE IN POWER UNCOMFORTABLE.
ALL THAT BEING SAID, I HOPE THAT CLIFTON BROOKS RECEIVES FAIR AND ADEQUATE REPRESENTATION FROM LEGAL COUNSEL AS IS HIS CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHT.
I AM NOT ONE TO SUPPORT OR DEFEND CLIFTON BROOKS IN ANY WAY; BUT.... I PERSONALLY FIND THIS STYLE OF HARRASSMENT BY THE CONSTABULATORY FORCES OF THE REPUBLIC TO REPREHENSIBLE. USING A DRACONIAN SEARCH AND SEIZURE ON A HOME AND THEN TO NOT CHARGE ANYONE WITH A CRIME SEEMS LIKE AN ATTEMPT AT INTIMIDATION RATHER THAN AN ACTUALLY USEFUL LAW ENFORCEMENT TACTIC. OR THEY'LL END UP CHARGING SOMEONE WITH A PATHETIC CRIME LIKE, "DISTURBING THE PEACE" OR SOME SUCH SHIT.
THESE TYPES OF TACTICS ARE VERY COMMON WHEN THE STATE IS ACTIVELY TRYING TO SUPPRESS RADICAL OR REVOLUTIONARY GROUPS WHO AREN'T REALLY BREAKING ANY LAWYS, JUST MAKING THE PEOPLE IN POWER UNCOMFORTABLE.
ALL THAT BEING SAID, I HOPE THAT CLIFTON BROOKS RECEIVES FAIR AND ADEQUATE REPRESENTATION FROM LEGAL COUNSEL AS IS HIS CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHT.
25
I hope he does too, Graham, hopefully he has some money put aside for situations just like this for a good lawyer.
26
There have just got to be far more inflammatory remarks that have been made in public about Sheriff Joe. Seems like they would've found someone in Arizona and more than one.
28
This is a little disturbing. Where exactly do they draw the line at what constitutes an online "threat"? Making a fake wanted dead or alive poster is akin to literally calling for someone to be killed? (The Palin precedent came to mind here for me too.) Perhaps it will only be applied to those with a pattern of such behavior. Obviously Clifty is a moronic shit-starter, but I'm thinking of the precedents this kind of thing establishes when the feds go to such lengths to make an example out of something like this. Is the entire Internet to be treated as a place where trolling "threats" are treated like joking about having a bomb at airport security? Possibly only with threats against government and law enforcement officials?
31
It's only considered a threat if the person being charged has a history of such behavior and a rap sheet to support the consideration. It is completely rational to challenge your surroundings and demand equality for all, but if you want to be listened to don't flip your shit, keep a cool level demeanor and people will listen, regardless of race or gender. (cue baseless disagreement)
32
Man, DamosA needs some help. To start a blog like that after a previous conviction for making online threats? Yikes.
33
Finding the line between political speech to be protected and dangerous, threatening speech is always hard, but let's make sure we're considering the whole statement (read the affidavit).
After a long ramble of ghoulish cheering (protected) for the murder of Arpaio's deputy, DamosA goes on: "Your [sic] NEXT, Joe - Watch your back, bitch! Nationwide, 173 cops got smoked in 2011. This number is unacceptably low. Let's break the record in 2012."
If he's prosecuted, this is the part he'll be prosecuted for, along with the poster.
It's really hard to draw a line, but this case is right up against it - if it's just that comment on a blog somewhere, probably not a crime. But if you a) state that comment b) on a blog you operate called "targeting cops" c) AND you make a poster emphasizing the DEAD part?
I mean how threatening should someone be allowed to get before we agree it's criminal? Is it really a good policy to say, "oh they're just public figures - having people on the internet cheerleading for their death is just par for the course?"
After a long ramble of ghoulish cheering (protected) for the murder of Arpaio's deputy, DamosA goes on: "Your [sic] NEXT, Joe - Watch your back, bitch! Nationwide, 173 cops got smoked in 2011. This number is unacceptably low. Let's break the record in 2012."
If he's prosecuted, this is the part he'll be prosecuted for, along with the poster.
It's really hard to draw a line, but this case is right up against it - if it's just that comment on a blog somewhere, probably not a crime. But if you a) state that comment b) on a blog you operate called "targeting cops" c) AND you make a poster emphasizing the DEAD part?
I mean how threatening should someone be allowed to get before we agree it's criminal? Is it really a good policy to say, "oh they're just public figures - having people on the internet cheerleading for their death is just par for the course?"
34
Remember a few weeks back when Damosa did that meet-n-greet at everyday music? I betcha he wishes he had those three bucks back.
35
I listed two white individuals that have made death threats to two other individuals, one being the president the other being an ex HoR. Nothing and I repeat nothing happened to the people that made those death threats. It really seems to all boil down to two things, being wealthy and being white. You can get away with anything! Sarah Palin and Frank Luntz, prove that
!
!
36
@CHICOSTIX: THERE IS SOME OF THAT, BUT CLIFTIN BROOKS ALSO HAS A WELL-DOCUMENTED HISTORY OF MAKING SIMILAR THREATS AND OF ALSO BEING ACTUALLY REAL-WORLD VIOLENT.
37
He only has two bucks left. I actually still have the dollar he gave me. My impression of Damosa was that he was a nice, quiet person. I am no doctor, but it is possible that he falls somewhere on the Autism spectrum. We only chatted for a few minutes but that was the impression I had. Best o' luck to him.
38
"It's only considered a threat if the person being charged has a history of such behavior and a rap sheet to support the consideration"
you're messed up. No one said the Feds knew it was Clifton until after the heavy handed Google warrant and Comcast shakedown.
you're messed up. No one said the Feds knew it was Clifton until after the heavy handed Google warrant and Comcast shakedown.
40
@38: IF YOU BELIEVE THAT, THEN YOU'RE A FOOL. THE FEDS COULD FIGURE OUT WHO RAN THAT WEBSITE WITHOUT MUCH EFFORT, WHAT ALL THE PAPERWORK WITH GOOGLE AND COMCAST DID WAS ALLOW THEM TO BUILD THE LEGAL CASE AND/OR FRAMEWORK TO PROSECTURE CLIFTON BROOKS. THE FBI WAS WORKING WITHIN THE GUIDELINES THAT THEY HAVE TO; WHICH ARE VERY METHODICAL AND BY THE BOOK.
41
@38 You're completely correct. However in my humble opinion the raid happened (after they found out who the account was associated with) due to the criminal history of Clifton. Frankly, he comes across as batshit crazy and regardless of whether he is or not. Actively promoting the murder of anyone is (again in my opinion) not acceptable behavior in this frame of reference. The point I was trying to illustrate is every indication that I've had from this guy is he is someone who might one day snap and go out and shoot a cop. How can anyone take his message of racism seriously when his solution is murdering the racists.
42
Not long ago I was at a party chatting with some other blogtown hangers-on, and I was like "blah blah blah...that crazy DamosA!" and I said it like "daymuhs," and then the letter A, and the other person was all "huh? I think it's pronounced duhmossuh" and I was like "that can't be right." And it WASN'T right. I was right! Victory!!!
That's about all I have to say about that.
That's about all I have to say about that.
43
@41: You can take his message of racism seriously because he's right. The fact that he (apparently) wants to kill people for it no doubt discredits him in the eyes of many, but it doesn't change the merits of the racism argument. If anything, the arrest just strengthens his argument, especially when contrasted with, e.g., Sarah Palin continuing to go unpunished for her incitement of violence.
You may think killing people is wrong, and I may agree with you, but you also need to understand human nature: When people keep getting fucked over, eventually they do snap. The same way the founders of this country started with massive destruction of corporate property (the tea party) and ended by shooting specific British government officials and soldiers in the head. That's known as taking your own freedom, and it does happen.
You may think killing people is wrong, and I may agree with you, but you also need to understand human nature: When people keep getting fucked over, eventually they do snap. The same way the founders of this country started with massive destruction of corporate property (the tea party) and ended by shooting specific British government officials and soldiers in the head. That's known as taking your own freedom, and it does happen.
44
@43 Well rest assured, I disagree with both Clifton Brooks' and Sarah Palin's respective approaches. Clifton discredits the work of people who seek equality without promoting violence. He doesn't discredit the racism argument, he discredits the work of people who are seeking solutions. Also, I'm a big foggy on how murdering police officers could be considered taking your own freedom if you'd care to explain.
46
I'd like to take this opportunity to point out the humor I see in using racist slave owning colonials as an example in a discussion about racism. Oh Portland, I love you.
47
@44: I totally disagree that Brooks discredits the work of people who seek equality without promoting violence. Racists may use people like Clifton as an excuse not to pay attention to those who seek equality without promoting violence, but that's a different issue. Their work has merit independent of anything Brooks says or does. Please don't fall into that right-wing trap.
I'm just saying that when you cannot obtain justice through governmental means, through peaceful procedures, the last resort for people is inevitably violence. That's basically what the American Declaration of Independence says. We tried to get the King to listen to us, but eventually we decided he wouldn't and now we are going to fight.
Now look at Arpaio's record. There is a long and clear history of racist action and using state power to practice racial violence and oppression. And of having that behavior essentially protected by the structures of state and federal government (with a little exception at the federal level, though that's arguably politically motivated). When it becomes clear to people that peaceful means won't stop that kind of injustice, it's just inevitable that they will resort to violence to stop it themselves. That's a failure of government. Joe Arpaio is an ongoing abuse of authority and so of course he's a target. It's just logic. And, just to be clear, it's not a justification for violence.
I'm just saying that when you cannot obtain justice through governmental means, through peaceful procedures, the last resort for people is inevitably violence. That's basically what the American Declaration of Independence says. We tried to get the King to listen to us, but eventually we decided he wouldn't and now we are going to fight.
Now look at Arpaio's record. There is a long and clear history of racist action and using state power to practice racial violence and oppression. And of having that behavior essentially protected by the structures of state and federal government (with a little exception at the federal level, though that's arguably politically motivated). When it becomes clear to people that peaceful means won't stop that kind of injustice, it's just inevitable that they will resort to violence to stop it themselves. That's a failure of government. Joe Arpaio is an ongoing abuse of authority and so of course he's a target. It's just logic. And, just to be clear, it's not a justification for violence.
48
@Joneser, presented without context:
Fruit Cup: [mimicking Joneser] "It's Dam-OOOOH-sa not DamoSAR." She's a nightmare, honestly. It's no wonder she hasn't got any friends!
[Joneser comes up from behind them and pushes past Fruit Cup, in tears]
Graham: I think she heard you.
Fruit Cup: [mimicking Joneser] "It's Dam-OOOOH-sa not DamoSAR." She's a nightmare, honestly. It's no wonder she hasn't got any friends!
[Joneser comes up from behind them and pushes past Fruit Cup, in tears]
Graham: I think she heard you.
49
BTW, I just read the warrant application and unless they have something else other than what was posted online (i.e., discovered in the search), there is no way he gets convicted of making a threat. It just fails to meet the legal standard of a true threat.
I wanted to read this because I thought the suspected crime would be incitement. He still may get charged with that, but threat is probably a fail.
I wanted to read this because I thought the suspected crime would be incitement. He still may get charged with that, but threat is probably a fail.
50
Breaking news! In the area of East Cully, a tall bike has begun a slow death by rust. Film at 11.
51
@47 Without pushing this too much farther (I just have a feeling we'll never agree). Discrediting isn't robbing something of merit, it's tarnishing the good name of something. Regardless if 100000000 Clifton Brooks (scary thought) get arrested for making 100000000 separate threats promoting equality will always have merit.
52
Peace - keep in mind that DamosA is totally racist, too. Haven't you read his comments on this site?
I was about to post what #38 has already stated. Chicostix seems to imply that the feds knew of DamosA's ethnicity before they even knew his email address. I hadn't read his blog, though; perhaps he referred to his ethnicity in his posts. So then the feds were like, "let's nail him."
I was about to post what #38 has already stated. Chicostix seems to imply that the feds knew of DamosA's ethnicity before they even knew his email address. I hadn't read his blog, though; perhaps he referred to his ethnicity in his posts. So then the feds were like, "let's nail him."
53
@FruitCup: I think you mean "I THINK SHE HEARD YOU."
@Joneser: That sounds like some insider knowledge to me. Who just ignores proper spacing all willy-nilly like that?
All around, this thread has convinced me that there needs to be another commenter meet-up, and soon.
@Joneser: That sounds like some insider knowledge to me. Who just ignores proper spacing all willy-nilly like that?
All around, this thread has convinced me that there needs to be another commenter meet-up, and soon.
54
@MELOGNA: THAT MEETUP IS A GOOD IDEA, MAYBE IF THEY WERE TO COMBINE THAT WITH THE HECKLEVISION ON SATURDAY?!?
55
@Melogna, Very true! I'll issue a correction in next week's paper. Fruit Cup seriously regrets this error.
@Graham and Melogna, the idea of a meet-up is a good one. I'll even shower and comb my hair this time.
@Graham and Melogna, the idea of a meet-up is a good one. I'll even shower and comb my hair this time.
56
So, which Blogtownie sent threatening letters to every member of the US Senate:
http://www.oregonlive.com/pacific-northwes…
?
(I kid. I'm sure it was really an oregonlive commenter.)
http://www.oregonlive.com/pacific-northwes…
?
(I kid. I'm sure it was really an oregonlive commenter.)
60
@iceprez.
If that's true then this is really just depressing and not nearly as fun as it should be.
SADFACE
If that's true then this is really just depressing and not nearly as fun as it should be.
SADFACE
63
@ 52: I haven't really read his posts. I wouldn't be surprised if his comments are racist, but are you sure he's not just really bitter?
@61: I'm an attorney.
@61: I'm an attorney.
64
Perhaps he's pretty bitter, yeah. But there's a point when being "bitter toward every person of a certain ethnicity because of their ethnicity" slips into racism.
65
When I read this at 6am in the paper, I just knew there'd be something on the blog and a lot of action.
Cliffy is always over-the-top in his call to arms about the police. Bit him in the ass this time.
I fail to see the racism in this, despite what others are claiming here. I bet the same thing would have happened to a white guy too.
Cliffy is always over-the-top in his call to arms about the police. Bit him in the ass this time.
I fail to see the racism in this, despite what others are claiming here. I bet the same thing would have happened to a white guy too.
66
@62
You should spend some time reading his post back log. He is a misogynistic racist bully. He got his just desserts and then some. The self described "grown ass" man definately has a grasp on consequences. Autism or not, he knows better.
You should spend some time reading his post back log. He is a misogynistic racist bully. He got his just desserts and then some. The self described "grown ass" man definately has a grasp on consequences. Autism or not, he knows better.
67
And it's not "his violence" that discredits his arguments. What discredits him ultimately is his overwhelming need to ascribe pretty much everything to racism.
I saw this whole thing on the news last night. Knew it was gonna blow up big. I'm not happy for his misfortunes, but jesus what an idiot. As it happens, your free speech protections have sharp limits. Even if there's no way in hell you're actually going to get to Sheriff Joe, you still don't get to fantasize about it in public.
I saw this whole thing on the news last night. Knew it was gonna blow up big. I'm not happy for his misfortunes, but jesus what an idiot. As it happens, your free speech protections have sharp limits. Even if there's no way in hell you're actually going to get to Sheriff Joe, you still don't get to fantasize about it in public.
68
Look, I dont fuckin know if he is autistic. Could have been that he felt extra guarded and akward about meeting someone in person that he only knew from calling a racist online. I hope he can get a decent lawyer.
69
Ok, gonna try a non-sarcastic comment for a change. I don't know or care if he's a racist or a troll or whatever his problem is. Whatever the case, and speaking only for myself here, he has made Blogtown a much less awesome place to hang out for quite some time now. I've been reading the Mercury since the very first issue, so I can remember the pre-DamosA days. Yes, there have been other trolls but this guy is up in the top ranking of number of comments made by an account, and the vast majority of them have been seriously wack. From the sound of it, he seems to be a bit of a magnet for trouble. I don't relish his misfortune but one cannot help considering the idea of karmic justice. I don't know what is in his heart, but the way he presents himself makes it hard for me to feel too much sympathy. Hopefully he is a good dude underneath all the b.s. behavior. Regardless, I think the government is way out of control when it comes to how they are handling situations like his. I hope he doesn't get fucked by the long dick of the law, because if he does, it's only a matter of time for the rest of us.
71
Yeah, Damos fucked up. He is constitutionally allowed to gloat about and encourage the killing of police, but it looks like he seriously threatened "Shrrif Joe," which is illegal.
That's what happens when you let anger consume you!
This is yet another lose-lose for our civilization...
That's what happens when you let anger consume you!
This is yet another lose-lose for our civilization...
72
You know who must be really pissed off - the rest of his roomates ( 6? ) who got woken up by the FBI too, and had their computers confiscated as well.
(wasn't 8 computers taken?)
(wasn't 8 computers taken?)
73
Oh yes: one of those roommates was on the news last evening, first denying entrance to the local media, then filmed on the street saying, "Basically, we got fucked!" She didn't come across as the most rational person either, but on the other hand, I don't fucking blame her.
74
I don't see where it says "I threaten to kill you" in the post from the warrant. I hope you die is not a threat. Someone else will kill you is not a threat unless you say I will get that person to kill you.
It does look like Sheriff Joe has his officers up in Portland conducting surveillance of Portland residents over some bluster posted on a blog, and that is fucking odd.
I too find DamosA annoying, but this only proves he was right all along.
It does look like Sheriff Joe has his officers up in Portland conducting surveillance of Portland residents over some bluster posted on a blog, and that is fucking odd.
I too find DamosA annoying, but this only proves he was right all along.
75
@rich bachelor. This the one?
http://www.kptv.com/story/16987008/portland-man-investigated-for-threats-against-az-sheriff
http://www.kptv.com/story/16987008/portland-man-investigated-for-threats-against-az-sheriff
79
Pound Sign: yep. That's it. Generally speaking, there's no reason to watch the local news. But there's huge potential for cheap laughs, and that's why I do it.
80
While I cherish the mental image of Boat Cop breaking down DamosA's front door with a battering ram I am a little sad that he is gone from Blogtown.
His comments were often idiotic and his grammar tortured but at least he had energy and a certain joie de vivre.
I checked out his TargetingCops website last year and thought that he was awfully close to the line between free speech and threats. I sincerely hope he can retain a very good attorney, perhaps the ACLU will help him out.
His comments were often idiotic and his grammar tortured but at least he had energy and a certain joie de vivre.
I checked out his TargetingCops website last year and thought that he was awfully close to the line between free speech and threats. I sincerely hope he can retain a very good attorney, perhaps the ACLU will help him out.
81
I've always been surprised at all the flak DamosA received from blogtown. He always seemed like the poster child result of 'progressive' ideas blogtownies are always patting themselves on the back for. I'm kind of for him, only because the blogtown 1%ers hate him.
83
@82 +1
Geez the last few comments make it sound like he died or something - he wasn't even arrested was he?
When he talks to a lawyer, the first thing he'll be told is FOR THE LOVE OF GOD SHUT THE FUCK UP ON THE INTERNET AND EVERYWHERE ELSE, so I'm guessing we'll meet a new constant commenter soon named SchamosA or similar.
In other words, I don't think we'll be so lucky.
Geez the last few comments make it sound like he died or something - he wasn't even arrested was he?
When he talks to a lawyer, the first thing he'll be told is FOR THE LOVE OF GOD SHUT THE FUCK UP ON THE INTERNET AND EVERYWHERE ELSE, so I'm guessing we'll meet a new constant commenter soon named SchamosA or similar.
In other words, I don't think we'll be so lucky.
84
@CC: I KNOW FOR A FACT THAT AT SOME POINT AFTER BEING RAIDED BY THE FBI, CLIFTON BROOKS WAS MAKING FACEBOOK POSTINGS.
SOMETHING TO NOTE: SINCE HE WAS NOT ARRESTED OR CHARGED WITH A CRIME, THE STATE IS NOT REQUIRED TO PROVIDE HIM WITH FREE LEGAL REPRESENTATION. I CANNOT HONESTLY SEE ANY LAWYER TAKING THIS CASE ON CONTINGENCGY AND IF BROOKS IS LIVING IN A TWO BEDROOD HOUSE WITH EIGHT OTHER PEOPLE, I DOUBT HE HAS THE FINANCIAL WEREWITHAL TO HIRE COMPETENT LEGAL REPRESENTATION.
MAYBE BROOKS SHOULD SEE IF COMMENTER NUMBER 63 IS WILLING TO TAKE HIS CASE PRO BONO.
SOMETHING TO NOTE: SINCE HE WAS NOT ARRESTED OR CHARGED WITH A CRIME, THE STATE IS NOT REQUIRED TO PROVIDE HIM WITH FREE LEGAL REPRESENTATION. I CANNOT HONESTLY SEE ANY LAWYER TAKING THIS CASE ON CONTINGENCGY AND IF BROOKS IS LIVING IN A TWO BEDROOD HOUSE WITH EIGHT OTHER PEOPLE, I DOUBT HE HAS THE FINANCIAL WEREWITHAL TO HIRE COMPETENT LEGAL REPRESENTATION.
MAYBE BROOKS SHOULD SEE IF COMMENTER NUMBER 63 IS WILLING TO TAKE HIS CASE PRO BONO.
85
@colin I'm not sure. Inciting is a weird thing. I mean, the supreme court ruled on things like the tired "fire in a movie theater" example but Palin wasn't exactly arrested for her cross hairs.
88
@56 SERIOUSLY WHAT THE FUCK IS GOING ON IN PORTLAND. ARE WE NOW BALTIMORE? JESUS FUCKING CHRIST.
(Or Little Beruit again.)
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/9… <-- For you newbies
(Or Little Beruit again.)
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/9… <-- For you newbies
91
#88: Portland isn't Baltimore, because The Wire and Homicide: Life in the Streets were brilliant, while Portlandia and Grimm are significantly less than brilliant.
92
My theory:
Someone got tired of his shit and forwarded a link to that sheriff office.
Now that person can't stop laughing for even a minute these last few days.
All thanks to a few minutes at a bus stop and my iPhone.
Ha ha.
Someone got tired of his shit and forwarded a link to that sheriff office.
Now that person can't stop laughing for even a minute these last few days.
All thanks to a few minutes at a bus stop and my iPhone.
Ha ha.
93
If Damos was able to post here, he'd mention how many fans he has. With 92 comments about him, he'd be right.
95
94 comments....incredible. This is a reminder that "threats" to public/government property and officials is taken very seriously.
97
What the FBI should do now is give Clifton his computers back, wait a little while and then have some undercover agents "befriend" him and coax him into a well-crafted (but FAKE guys, never any real danger, whew) terrorist plot. BOOM, instant patsy. I mean, he fits the profile when you consider it. Pioneer Square Christmas Tree patsy eat your heart out.
100
Damos is a really nice guy in his actual life. I don't know him particularly well, but I have always been impressed by his courage and his intelligence. I've stood by him in nonviolent protests, shoulder to shoulder, while rioting cops charged a line of peaceful people with their nightsticks swinging; and he didn't raise a hand. I've seen him prostrate himself on the street and allow himself to be rather severely beaten and arrested, again showing only nonviolent resistance. It's true that he makes some pretty inadvisable statements online - I think this is a kind of release for him, and a way of challenging conventional mores that works for him on a philosophical level as well. I like him. It pains me to think of him sleeping in jail tonight, and potentially serving Federal time for making some stupid website about that racist murdering scumbag Joe Arpaio.
The raid itself was completely brutal and unnecessary. The FBI forcibly entered a house full of unarmed artsy college students and musicians, set off flash-bang grenades in their living room, held them all at gunpoint and roughed them up. One of the residents of the house was asleep in bed, and instead of opening her door they used some kind of big saw to cut a hole in her wall. Their house is destroyed, all of their computers and phones were confiscated, and some of them are severely traumatized; even though none of them were suspected of involvement in this silly "cyber-crime", and the Police ultimately left without arresting anyone.
Here's how this should have gone: The Police get a search warrant. They knock on the door, like "Police - Search Warrant!" The kids let them in, or don't, or whatever. The cops go in, they search the place, the confiscate the computers and maybe make some arrests or question the people who live there. Can anyone explain to me why this wasn't done? I agree with many voices who call this an act of harassment and intimidation. If there were ever a more perfect example of why the local government shouldn't be cooperating with the FBI in their Joint Terrorism Task Force, I haven't heard about it.
My heart goes out to everyone at the Doll House, and to Damos in the Big House. Those of you who who can't see the tragedy of this should think about why that is.
- Noah Mickens
More...
The raid itself was completely brutal and unnecessary. The FBI forcibly entered a house full of unarmed artsy college students and musicians, set off flash-bang grenades in their living room, held them all at gunpoint and roughed them up. One of the residents of the house was asleep in bed, and instead of opening her door they used some kind of big saw to cut a hole in her wall. Their house is destroyed, all of their computers and phones were confiscated, and some of them are severely traumatized; even though none of them were suspected of involvement in this silly "cyber-crime", and the Police ultimately left without arresting anyone.
Here's how this should have gone: The Police get a search warrant. They knock on the door, like "Police - Search Warrant!" The kids let them in, or don't, or whatever. The cops go in, they search the place, the confiscate the computers and maybe make some arrests or question the people who live there. Can anyone explain to me why this wasn't done? I agree with many voices who call this an act of harassment and intimidation. If there were ever a more perfect example of why the local government shouldn't be cooperating with the FBI in their Joint Terrorism Task Force, I haven't heard about it.
My heart goes out to everyone at the Doll House, and to Damos in the Big House. Those of you who who can't see the tragedy of this should think about why that is.
- Noah Mickens
101
I dont see it as a tragedy. But then again, I don't have a blog that features police officers with blood running out of huge gashes in their heads, nor do I go online and threaten the lives of shitkicking southwest sheriffs. Oh, and breaking the windows out of a local buisness is not what I would consider to be "Nonviolent Resistance." He fucked with the bull and got the horns, along with his roommates who were subjected to a police raid and had their shit taken, all because of this egomaniac. On the plus side, he did give me cash money....
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