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New Video found -- Three (3) New pieces of evidence found in Michael Dunn case could clear him of all charges LINK to VIDEO: https://www.Facebook.com/GordonWayneWatts/posts/10214411299261217 By Gordon Wayne Watts, Monday 04 March 2019 (The Register, Lakeland and Plant City, FL) GordonWatts.com/ gordonWAYNEwatts.com Reporting live from Lakeland and Plant City (FL), Gordon Wayne Watts, for The Register -- first person report -- (Mon.04March2019) -- When visiting the Vets Army Navy Surplus store, in Lakeland, Florida, where former Lakeland city commissioner Michael Dunn was working when he shot a suspected shoplifter, Christobal Lopez, also of Lakeland, I had hoped to let all parties (both Dunn and his accusers) know I was praying for them. In any event, reminiscent of The Batman (whose silhouette logo I have as my Facebook profile pic) and/or Detective Sherlock Holmes, I did observant sleuthing in my investigative reporting, here, and looked up to notice an outside video camera, two perhaps. I recall the video that the Lakeland Police Department released, but recalled that the angle at which we saw the infamous hatchet raised was "straight on," and thus subject to "parallax error," where you can't tell exactly what is going on if your angle is wrong. (Google "parallax error", if you missed that in science class.) In any event, I replayed the scene in my head, and saw more details, but could not confirm what I saw. So, I made contact with the Lakeland Police Department, and they released the other videos to me, under FLORIDA'S “Sunshine Laws” aka the “Public Information,” release of material of a non-confidential matter, and in which the investigation was done (like how they released the original video on their Facebook), showing the interaction at a different angle, specifically, one that was ninety (90^) degrees different, namely the outside camera. That constitutes the first of three new pieces of evidence. PART 2 The second, however, was not discovered by myself, but rather reported on by The Lakeland Ledger,which, on January 08 of this year (2019) reported that “The autopsy revealed that Christobal Lopez’s blood-alcohol level totaled 0.33 — more than four times the legal limit of 0.08.” Source: “Autopsy: Christobal Lopez had high blood alcohol level when fatally shot by then-Lakeland Commissioner Michael Dunn,” by By Suzie Schottelkotte, The Ledger,Jan 8, 2019 at 4:57 PM – Link: https://www.TheLedger.com/news/20190108/autopsy-christobal-lopez-had-high-blood-alcohol-level-when-fatally-shot-by-then-lakeland-commissioner-michael-dunn That is important as it relates to the third and last piece of evidence, this actually testimonial evidence, whether Lopez did anything besides merely shoplift. ABC Action Newsrecently reported that: '"At no time did the victim (Lopez) appear to have made any threatening movements towards the suspect (Dunn)," the arrest affidavit reads. [line-break] Police also note that witnesses revealed that Lopez did not make any verbal threats towards Dunn.' Source: “Police: Shoplifter did not verbally, physically threaten Lakeland commissioner before fatal shooting,” by Mary Stringini, WFTS-ABC (Tampa Bay, FL),Posted: 9:14 PM, Oct 19, 2018 Updated: 4:34 PM, Oct 22, 2018, Link: https://www.abcactionnews.com/news/region-polk/lakeland/police-shoplifter-did-not-verbally-physically-threaten-lakeland-commissioner-before-fatal-shooting- Disclaimer: Dunn is my friend, and I can not claim that I am objective, but I will try to be accurate, and back my analyses and assertions with facts and documented sources. So, was Dunn justified? “Rusty Franklin, who also represents Dunn, has argued that the shooting was justified because Lopez was holding a hatchet,” reported The Times. Source: “Former George Zimmerman lawyer set to defend shooter in Land O' Lakes road-rage death,” by By Justin Trombly, The Tampa Bay Times, February 26, 2019, Link: https://www.TampaBay.com/news/publicsafety/former-zimmerman-lawyer-set-to-defend-shooter-in-land-o-lakes-road-rage-death-20190226/ PART 3 The whole video, which I downloaded from the Lakeland Police Department's Facebook page, as we all recall, was well-over seven (7) minutes, but this does not even include that which transpired before that time-stamp. I seem to recall chatter on the Internet about witnesses in the store being scared to death of this fruitcake running around, screaming, and putting everyone on edge. Now, whether this was explicitly said, or, rather, I merely “read between the lines” of what was explicitly said (perhaps I was able to piece together this chaotic mayhem and yelling match, like I was able to ACCURATELY guess that new information could be gleaned from the newly-discovered camera), matters not: Without audio (which Dunn should have had turned on, as the store was “public” and not against the law to video AND AUDIO record), there is no “explicit” proof of Lopez yelling, but he can be seen running around, acting like a crazy nutcase, grabbing a stolen item, and trying to exit the store.
STAND YOUR GROUND Before I reveal point on this 3rdand last new evidence, I want to address the question of whether Florida's “Stand Your Ground” law applies. Self-defense seems sufficient to justify a person using deadly force, but “Stand Your Ground” in Florida: “says, the person using deadly force does not have to retreat, and indeed has the "right to stand his or her ground" if he or she "is not engaged in a criminal activity and is in a place where he or she has a right to be."” Source: “'Stand your ground' immunity also applies to Florida police, court rules,” By Jason Hanna, CNN, Updated 7:28 AM ET, Tue December 18, 2018, Link: https://www.cnn.com/2018/12/16/us/florida-stand-your-ground-police-officers-immunity/index.html So, Dunn had no duty to retreat when attempting to detain the alleged shoplifter, Christobal Lopez. If Lopez resisted with violence sufficient to threaten Dunn, he was justified in using force. But, here is where the lynchpin, or “key” piece of evidence comes into play: The Lakeland Ledger opines in their recent editorial that: “With the key video, viewers enter at the end of the chain of events.” Source: “Editorial: Dunn video only tells part of the story,” by The Editorial Board, The Lakeland Ledger, Oct 16, 2018, Link: https://www.TheLedger.com/opinion/20181016/editorial-dunn-video-only-tells-part-of-story So, remember those statements by Lakeland Police that Lopez did not act in a threatening manner, leading up to this? Well, point #2 above was the Ledger's report, just released, that Lopez' blood-alcohol level was more than FOUR (4) TIMES the legal limit for being intoxicated and drunk. The reports of him putting everyone in fear, running around, yelling and screaming (which I am sure will come out at trial), now seem more reasonable: "Bartow lawyer Rusty Franklin, an attorney representing Dunn, said he found the alcohol report compelling," reported The Ledger, in their January 8 story, cited above. Well, I find it compelling too! So, piecing together the blood-alcohol level with the reports of Lopez acting nutty leads us back to the newly-released video (for which the Lakeland Police Department didn't charge me, this time, probably as a courtesy, since they are making gains in their attempts to rid the department of corruption). Look, again, at the video I am publishing: Right as Lopez exits the door, his hand, which is holding the door, is also holding the hatchet, and his hand start raising up, giving the impression to Dunn that he might be struck. (Whether he was trying to strike Dunn or not, Dunn saw that threat, and seemed justified in defending himself; Note, if you would, the initial video the police released viewed the infamous "hatchet swing" straight on, and you could not tell whether it was raising up, or what... but you can now. This is only a small portion of the events that day, and, as stated in my video, it is tragic that anyone die. But, I must admit that my video is only a small portion of "new" evidence, that merely confirms what I all-along suspected. Of the 3 pieces of evidence (1. new video, 2. new blood alcohol data, and 3. reports of Lopez running around for 5 or 10 minutes yelling & acting crazy, nutty), probably the most compelling was this last one, which #1 and #2 proved to be likely or true. QUESTION: What if some crazy yelling nut came into YOUR house, ran around screaming, yelling, and threatening to steal stuff, putting ALL YOUR HOUSEHOLD in fear for what would seem like forever (even if only "ten minutes" on the clock), and then this nut started jerking a hatchet around. You tell me **you** wouldn't get a little nervous? Stop lying to yourself... While we don't know exactly the details (because Dunn had the audio turned off), we know enough to put a whole store in fear. So, this leaves us with this last question, asked by the family: “We just keep asking, ‘Why? Why did this happen over $16?’" the statement said. "It has been so hard for our family..."Source: "'We just keep asking why,' says family of man shot dead by Lakeland store owner," by Tony Marrero, The Tampa Bay Times, Published November 13 2018, Link: https://www.TampaBay.com/news/publicsafety/we-just-keep-asking-why-says-family-of-man-shot-dead-by-lakeland-store-owner-20181113/ No, it was NOT over a $16.oo item; it was because your friend and relative put everyone's life in fear for what seemed like forever (ten minutes is a long time when you're in danger or under threat). You say that it has been hard on your family. I am sorry for your loss, and grieve, but it has been hard for all those people whom Mr. Lopez terrorised, frightened, and scared half to death when he was acting drunk that day. We must never forget the power of alcohol, and we must strive to see things as they are—not as we would like them to be. Perhaps, Dunn would have done things differently if he had a second chance, but I hear too many stories of the store owner dropping his gun, and then getting shot. So, this should be a sober reminder to (1) Not drink to intoxication ; (2) Not scare people and cause a public disturbance ; and (3) if you do 1 and 2 above, please don't steal, and then start jerking a hatchet around. If you do so, it may not end well. The newly-released video is posted here, in this breaking news item of newly-discovered evidence. We report – You decide .. now that you have the testimony and evidence of all of what happened, not just a "few seconds." Gordon Wayne Watts