Cops in Black and White, Part 71

Jerry Bledsoe continues his series in the Rhino Times with a discussion of Lorraine Ahearn's column Sunday regarding Peggy Barker.  The following represents a summary.  We had discussed Ahearn's column in a lengthy thread here several days ago. 

Ms. Barker was the mentally ill woman who harassed David Wray at his townhome complex.  It turns out that Jim Coman, the assistant Attorney General, attempted to use the Barker incident against Scott Sanders in court last week.

Former Chief David Wray had received a phone call from Ms. Barker, who was staying in the unit beside him, 3:30 one morning.  He had not met her previously.  Ms Barker was displaying some psychotic manifestations on the telephone.  Wray met her outside at her door.  The woman claimed to have some information for the FBI about David Wray, and wanted to give it to him, assuming he was from the FBI.  When she learned he was David Wray, she slammed the door in his face.

It turns out Barker had in the past been an informant when the FBI had been investigating a local business.  And and FBI agent soon told Wray she had been making wild accusations about him.  She accused him of having sex with 8-10 women every night.  The FBI agent felt she was unstable, and demonstrated that she had been stalking Wray.

Randall Brady felt, based on what he heard, that Barker was irrational and unpredictable; and that it could become a safety issue.  He took control of the matter so that Wray did not have to be directly involved.  It turns out Barker had made false accusations against another police officer in the past.

Bledsoe then quoted the entry that Matt Lojko made at this blog several days ago.

Barker was known to several others in Greensboro who had encounters with her as well.  She once threatened to place a curse on a News and Record editor.  Wray advised Ed Kitchen of the situation, and advised him he was going to "get intelligence to look into it".  Special Intelligence had a role in investigating threats against public officials.

Wray informed his landlord of the situation.  Scott Sanders was assigned to the case.  He interviewed people at locations where she previously lived-- and there were problems there also.  She had been forced to leave another apartment only recently. 

Sanders found out that Barker had been permitted to stay in the townhouse by the owners of the unit for a few days; but would have to leave because they were planning to use the unit themselves.   The investigation ended.  There was nothing Sanders or Brady or Wray did that precipitated her being thrown out of the complex.  The owners of the unit had only planned to house her temporarily; and Barker left about two weeks later.

Mitchell Johnson later used Sanders' tapes Sanders to make the role played by Brady and Sanders appear evil.  Brady felt that Johnson retaliated against him because he had just won his suit for his retirement benefits.

Bledsoe pointed out other errors and omissions in Ahearn's column:

1. She focused on Brady's verbal bluster instead of the way the case was handled.

2. Mitchell Johnson did not share the parts of the tapes that revealed the problems Barker was creating.

3. Ahearn indicated the unit was sublet by Barker, but it was not.

4. Ahearn said Sanders spoke with Wray's neighbors and visited the neighborhood, but he had not.

5. Ahearn said Barker was "put out" of the condo, implying Sanders was responsible.

6. Ahearn made it appear it should have been obvious to the men she would be immediately homeless, but in fact she left driving a Volvo.  Bledsoe said Wray offered to help her, but they had no reason to believe she would become homeless (if she did).

7. Ahearn reported Barker later became afraid police were checking her PO Box, but Wray's men had not been doing that.

8. Ahearn referred to Barker as Wray's neighbor, but she was not.

Bledsoe concluded: "As Ahearn's column illustrates, violating truth also violates common decency."

Comments

[Spag]

You know Ahearn wasn't going to report all that. Didn't fit the narrative, and like a true liberal activist she believes the ends justify the means. If you have to lie or only tell half the story, so be it. It's for the greater good.

[Spag]

Oh yeah, and in true N&R tradition, don't expect her to correct the record either. Leave the lie out there and hope enough people believe it.

[wayne]

This has taken on the plot of the movie "Absence Of Malice". In the movie Megan, an ambitious newspaper reporter is fed info by an over zealous FBI Agent Rosen about a local business man named Gallagher. It all blows up when Gallagher out smarts all of them and Megan has to quit her job in disgust. Rosen info is all wrong and he looks like a fool.

Sound familiar?

[Joe Guarino]

Sam, I am afraid you may have nailed it.

Of course, Wray, Brady and Sanders committed a horrible error. They had the temerity to have been born phenotypically white, and then became police officers (even though Sanders is apparently part Asian). The symbolism of a white police officer leading and doing some things that make certain minorities unhappy, regardless of the circumstances, is simply intolerable for some. They had to be stomped on like a bug, in numerous ways-- and this story is one manifestation.

[Joe Guarino]

Wayne, the question is-- which person(s) are Ahearn's agent Rosen?

[jaycee]

When has Lorraine Ahearn ever let facts get in the way of a good, tear-jerking story about "bad" police officers?

[cara michele]

I wish that Bledsoe had more clearly stated that Wray really didn't have a lot of options. The reality is that if someone is mentally ill, doesn't meet criteria for commitment (suicidal or homicidal) and doesn't want help, then you can't force them to get help -- you can't hospitalize them or force them to take medication or receive services. That's one reason why we have so many homeless people on the street, and it's very, very frustrating. And untreated mentally ill people can cause significant problems for those around them.

Many people believe in protecting the "rights" of the mentally ill. But when I see homeless, mentally ill people on the street who are miserable and unable to care for themselves, I don't consider them to be free, I think they're in bondage.

Perhaps Wray could have told his neighbor about mental health services, but he couldn't have made her go to treatment. And if she had a history of causing problems, it's very likely that she had already been referred for treatment. It's a sad and frustrating story, and I hope that she got help somewhere and that she's not homeless. And I admit that Brady's comments did seem insensitive when I heard them, but I don't know him, and maybe that is how he jokes around.

I don't see how this has anything to do with the allegations against Scott Sanders (which he now been cleared of), though...

[cara michele]

P.S. Just FYI, for full disclosure, I was very upset when I first heard about Peggy Barker. But then I found out from other sources that there was more to the story. Now I just think the whole thing is tragic.

[Roger]

Brady's comments and his action are two entirely different things. Plenty of people say crazy stuff they don't act on for a variety of reasons, usually just to be outrageous or funny.
Usually, its best to save the outrageous stuff for when you are not at work though.

[Joe Guarino]

Jaycee, Ahearn had not done much with the GPD story for a long time. It is truly regrettable that her column Sunday was written and published.

Michele, you are right. There was a political movement decades ago to deinstitutionalize the mentally ill and grant them certain rights. Ironically, this movement was spurred by people in the same ideological camp as Ahearn. This change had the effect of putting many mentally ill individuals out on the streets.

But I think Bledsoe's point is that Brady and Sanders should not necessarily have even felt an obligation to arrange for alternative housing for this woman. She was, by all appearances, a member of the middle class. They were not instrumental in pushing her out of the housing. They really had not interacted with her directly; and were not close to her. But you make some good points, that even if they had attempted to help her, it might have been futile.

And Bledsoe said Wray offered to help her.

[Joe Guarino]

Roger, there can also be a desire to verbalize a hyper-get-tough approach while ultimately remaining within boundaries. Yes, people will keep themselves out of trouble politically if they refrain from this behavior. So politically it is best to "save the outrageous stuff for when you are not at work".

But I would also counter with another point. Perhaps people should be sanctioned who point fingers without sufficient cause, who make mountains out of molehills in cases such as these. Perhaps these people should be held to account, who publicly adopt a judgmental attitude toward others over matters that turn out to be inconsequential.

[scharrison]

"Mitchell Johnson did not share the parts of the tapes that revealed the problems Barker was creating."

Just one more reason to push for having all the tapes released. Has Jerry Bledsoe asked for all the tapes to be released to the public, or is he satisfied with being able to create information not in evidence?

[Stephen]

I'm reminded of the saying " The truth will come out even if we have to lie a little bit." No,truth can stand on it's own. And it seems to be standing a little taller these days.

[bubba]

"Has Jerry Bledsoe asked for all the tapes to be released to the public, or is he satisfied with being able to create information not in evidence?"

Why would that particular responsibility fall to Bledsoe?

As far as "being able to create information not in evidence", we'll leave that sort of thing to people like you and Ahearn, in recognition of your penchant for unfounded innuendo. Both of you obviously enjoy things like that when it comes to the Wraylroad you want to perpetuate.

[scharrison]

"Why would that particular responsibility fall to Bledsoe?"

Because he's a reporter?

He's told about information on the (not released) tapes, but he doesn't try to get access to the tapes to verify such. He's told about Barker being booted out of a previous apartment complex, but he doesn't pursue an interview with the previous landlord to verify that. He's told about Barker being a (former) FBI informant on an unrelated investigation of a business, but he doesn't try to verify that, or try to determine if the FBI used a crazy lady's testimony to put some other person behind bars. Doesn't matter.

And then there's:

"Sanders found out that Barker had been permitted to stay in the townhouse by the owners of the unit for a few days; but would have to leave because they were planning to use the unit themselves."

followed by:

"4. Ahearn said Sanders spoke with Wray's neighbors and visited the neighborhood, but he had not."

?

So...how did Sanders find out the former? Wray tells Brady, Brady tells Sanders? A crystal ball perhaps, with a Gypsy lady translating the smoky images in the glass? I guess that's on one of the other tapes, which we don't need to hear. Why do we need actual recordings or third-party substantiation when we have former Chief Wray's narrative of everything that took place? That's good enough.

[Spag]

"I was very upset when I first heard about Peggy Barker. But then I found out from other sources that there was more to the story. "

CM, the former is exactly the effect Ahearn wanted, the latter is exactly what she was hoping you wouldn't find out.

Again, don't expect any follow up by her or the N&R in response to the revelations by Bledsoe. I am certain that Ahearn already knew all this information but wrote her story in the untruthful and biased manner that she did anyway.

[Joe Guarino]

scharrison, Bledsoe reported that Sanders was put in contact with the children of the owner of the townhome by the complex's property manager. It is possible, I suppose, that all of this was done by phone. In any case, that is how Sanders found out about the use of the unit without visiting the neighbors.

One larger point. Sam Spagnola, Roch Smith and I made a public documents request with the city requesting primary documents for virtually everything under the sun with regard to the GPD fiasco. Ed Cone and I had long been calling for the release of contemporaneous documentation long before that. The city has largely hid behind personnel law, and claimed ongoing investigations, when refusing to release documents. The city has been exceedingly sparse with respect to what it has been willing to release.

[Joe Guarino]

Stephen, I wholeheartedly agree with your statement that the truth is standing a bit taller these days.

[Fred Gregory]

Joe, could it be that we have a Mary Mallon type over at the N & R . I am sure you see the metaphor.

[Roch101]

scharrison wrote:

-----------------------
"Sanders found out that Barker had been permitted to stay in the townhouse by the owners of the unit for a few days; but would have to leave because they were planning to use the unit themselves."

followed by:

"4. Ahearn said Sanders spoke with Wray's neighbors and visited the neighborhood, but he had not."
------------------

Your confusion is understandable. It is brought about by the distortions Ahearn employed.

Sanders visited BARKERS's neighbors, at her FORMER residence, not WRAY's AND BARKER's neighbors when she lived next door to Wray as Ahearn would have you believe.

Also, I don't know why you are pinning the responsibility for getting full disclosure on a select few. Wagging your finger at me and Sam or Jerry Bledsoe while ignoring Ahearn, the N&R, Greensboro City Council -- the very people one would expect would lead such efforts, seems a little disingenuous.

[bubba]

"That's good enough.'

Indeed it is.......for you to deflect attention away from the real issues in this matter.

[scharrison]

"Sanders visited BARKERS's neighbors, at her FORMER residence, not WRAY's AND BARKER's neighbors when she lived next door to Wray as Ahearn would have you believe."

So if Sanders never went to the "new" neighborhood, which I'm assuming also means he never talked to Barker herself, then what was this testimony about:

http://www.yesweekly.com/article-5779-an-innocent-man.html

'Cohen addressed the Barker tape on redirect, and Sanders said he handled her as a “DP,” or displaced person. “A lot of them are schizophrenic or bipolar,” he said. “The full moon’s out, they’re off their meds, a lot of times the police get called.

“We’d build a rapport with these people,” he continued, “get them back on their meds and with their families.”'

So...was he "handling" her, or not? If he had no contact with Barker at all, then all this jibber-jabber about "building rapport" was merely an attempt to mislead the jury into thinking Sanders tried to help the old lady.

Roch, my confusion is brought about by distortions on both sides of this issue. I'm wagging a finger at you and Sam because you guys appear to be only pursuing information that will impugn Mitch, and couldn't give a rat's ass about other stuff. I want to know about the Mitch stuff, but I want to know about the other stuff too, you dig?

I'm wagging a finger at Jerry because he's exposing David Wray's recollections about events as a sort of, "Gospel According to St. David", which only requires an occasional, handed-to-him-on-a-platter fact-check. It may well be that Wray and Jerry have some ground rules, and this is the only way Jerry can keep the information flowing. If that's the case, I'm cool with that. But it's sauce for the goose.

There are many aspects of the way this (Cops in Black & White) series has been presented that are in common with the poor reporting everybody's accusing the N&R of. What is it now? 71 installments? Even if David Wray was a frigging Jesuit priest, there would be a few comments here and there that would be "contradictive", causing the reporter to exert a little pressure to get the story straight.

Instead, the weaving continues, all questions get answered properly with uncanny detail, exact conversations are remembered from years ago, and all is well. Very convenient, but it ain't investigative journalism. If Wray wants to publish a memoir, he can use my publisher. They'll publish anything.

[Bubba]

Isn't the art of deflection a wonder to behold?

And isn't it amazing just how hard some people push to perpetuate the thoroughly discredited "Wray the Racist/Wray the Bad Employee/Wray the Bad Cop" rationalization for the atrocities committed by Mitch Johnson, the majorities on City Councils and Mayors past and present, the N&R, Ahearn, John Robinson, and a cast of what must be down to the tens or twenties by now?

It's OVER, Stevie.

Give it a rest.

[Brenda Bowers]

scharrison is so obviously a new comer on the scene. To explain or answer his questions we would have to go back almost to the beginning when David Wray was locked out of his office.

Joe, Bubba and I were the first three always defend Wray against the initial charges of racism because we found the charges to be illogical. Roch had questions and swayed back and forth with the prevailing lie from Mitch up until he and Spag and Joe took on the city. Spag came in slowly and reluctantly as he became angered at what was happening since he really didn't want to get involved. Fred and Stormy also came in as they became disgusted and angry with how the City Council was allowing the government to deteriorate.

We have all hashed over this "St. David" thing and if you want the information you are asking for I suggest you simply go back and read Joe's post from January 2006. Or if you want you may try my posts at http://triadblogs.com/BrendaBowers/ under the categories of "Greensboro" and "Greensboro City Council" starting in January 2006 and moving forward.

My accounts aren't as fact filled as Joe's, but I believe even he would say they were a lot more colorful. BB

[Joe Guarino]

Brenda, yes, they are more colorful. And more spirited.:)

And Bubba, you are right. It IS, for the most part, over. There is still a chance that Wray's men who remain within the department could be mistreated in various ways. But the longstanding debate is coming to a conclusion.

[YB Normall]

Mitch Johnson has built a gaudy house of cards with a foundation of innuendo, intimidation, character assasinations and outright lies. It's all coming down now around Mitchie's jug ears and should you be surprised?

The truth points to itself.

Johnson's days are numbered. He knows it. He's getting desperate. Why else would he sick his hatchetmen John Robinson and Lorrainne Ahearn on the most bogus, disconnected aspect of the David Wray saga?

If this town actually had a newspaper with some guts instead of the pathetic, cringing cowards at the News & Record, the truth would have come out long ago.

[Joe Guarino]

YB, the traditional role of the media is to act in an adversarial role. The News and Record did some good work holding the city of Greensboro accountable on the matter of Project Homestead; and it likely took some heat because of it. But its handling of the GPD fiasco has been unfortunate-- and in fact, the polar opposite of what an adversarial press would do.

[Bubba]

"If this town actually had a newspaper with some guts instead of the pathetic, cringing cowards at the News & Record, the truth would have come out long ago."

Actually, if the power brokers/political leaders/civic leaders/media in this town had anything that remotely resembled good judgment, personal ethics, any real sense of civic responsibility, and a basic understanding of the concepts of "right" and "wrong", these situations under discussion would never have happened in the first place.

Sadly, these leaders have failed us.....badly.

[Joe Guarino]

I obviously agree, Bubba. And unfortunately, they have been quite entrenched. Perhaps that can change one day.