The Register
Lakeland (Fla.) Police docuented call-blocking, when they get annoyed at callers yes, even 911
calls
* BREAKING: (Mon.15 July 2019) Lakeland (Fla.) Police have been "call-blocking" phones for decades: We've now learned they've even been blocking 911 calls if they "get annoyed" at callers. DOCUMENTED: Damning Proof

By Gordon Wayne Watts, Editor-in-Chief, The Register, Monday, 15 July 2019 *Last Updated: Monday, 16 September 2019
-- Readers of The Register know us for delivering stories you won't find elsewhere, and this certainly qualifies as "bizarre" even by the standards of the Lakeland Police Department, legendary for being in the news for infamous corruption. If you didn't get the note: Google: Lakeland Florida Police Department corruption *** Or Yahoo! them. Without any further ado, here are details and documented proof:

TABLE of CONTENTS:
* “Video #1”: A compilation of nine (9) shorter videos documenting the illegal call-blocking.
* “Video #2”: Documentation of illegal perjury by several members of the Lakeland (Fla.) Police Dept.
* “Video #3”: Much subsequent news coverage of this sordid “call-blocking” saga.
* “Video #4”: Huge wreck, and I can't call 911! This picks up where episode 9 of “video #1,” above leaves off, and includes STEREO video/audio footage of the wreck, documented call-block of 911, and then resultant visits to City Commission, including Lakeland (Fla.) Mayor Bill Mutz, himself, getting involved and asking to “test out” 911. – I grant his request, and we 'test out' both 911 and non-emergency dispatch.

  • “Video #1”: A compilation of nine (9) shorter videos documenting the illegal call-blocking.
    * THE PROOF * Nine (9) annotated videos documenting illegal call-blocking by LPD:

    ** YouTube ** Facebook #1 ** Facebook #2 ** Right-click to save: ** Local directory cache (MP4) ** Local directory cache (WMV) ** GoDaddy hosting cache (MP4) ** GoDaddy hosting cache (WMV) ** HostGator hosting cache (MP4) ** HostGatory hosting cache (WMV)
  • * THE Intimidation / DELAY * Readers might wonder why there was a delay in reporting this when it happened. The short answer is that when it initially happened, LPD sent a message that they would (falsely) accuse me of making "harassing phone calls," as some sort of justification for the illegal call-blocking. In that corrupt era, one was "guilty until proven innocent," and so, to prove 'false' this claim, I asked for a copy of the last call to LPD, immediately before I got blocked, in which I asked to speak to the chief, to report documented perjury in a report. The dispatcher insisted that I call I.A. (Internal Affairs), but I had already tried to report a public defender being illegally denied an exculpatory call-record, and they were very threatening, and I told the dispatcher that I did *not* feel comfortable calling them. But she insisted, and so, I called and left a message. Then, a few days later, when I tried to report a bus parked dangerously close to the roadside, my call was blocked (as documented by the phone company, numerous witnesses--see video--and even admitted to by LPD Detective Elisa Martin, in the presence of a witness, PSO Ryan Christopher Schuck). And, my attempts to get an audio copy (under Public Records laws) of my call, showing I was only following orders of the dispatcher to call I.A. (and not making "harassing calls") was illegally denied, and this went on for years of haggling back and forth to get those records, without which I would have no credibility were I to speak at, say, the city counsel to report these abuses. (Now, however, with LPD's documented LPD's documented refusal to comply with Public Records Law, in addition to the other fraud, and documented perjury that initiated this matter, I now feel I have sufficient 'credibility' to bring this matter to city elders, news media, and state & Federal agencies tasked with "policing the police.") The long story is documented below. **UPDATE: NEW LINKS JUST ADDED-- You may now, also, click this link to show why there was "no way" around a delay. LINKS: (Local Cache) ** (GoDaddy Cache) ** (HostGator Cache) **
  • * Other Corruption * Besides illegally blocking my phone (which we just recently found out was also 911-blocked, a very dangerous Civil Liberties violation of the 1st amendment rights of redress), and then trying to cover it up and intimidate me into not reporting it, by refusing to release the call to the dispatcher who asked me to call I.A., there was (as one might expect) other corruption, which we were finally able to document and bring to readers. Now that LPD has done something so bizarre as to block peoples' 911 calls (as well as 'regular' non-emergency number calls to dispatch), perhaps these other 'forgotten' crimes will now come to light under the heat of these shocking new allegations:

    “Video #2”: Documentation of illegal perjury by several members of the Lakeland (Fla.) Police Dept.
    ** PERJURY in an official report:
    This is what started it all: After I was falsely arrested, perhaps to 'meet a quota', officers wrote an official report claiming that an LPD dispatcher told me to stay out of, or otherwise avoid, a certain area -- that there was police activity there. However, if you're going to be honest about it, you'll listen to the actual call, and compare it to the report -- and can come to your own conclusion as to whether these police made a false report, and then swore on oath (see the signature line of the report and who all signed it), thus making their lies official perjury under oath:
    ** YouTube ** Facebook #1 ** Facebook #2 ** Right-click to save: ** Local directory cache (MP4) ** Local directory cache (WMV) ** GoDaddy hosting cache (MP4) ** GoDaddy hosting cache (WMV) ** HostGator hosting cache (MP4) ** HostGatory hosting cache (WMV)

  • OTHER Corruption & Crimes by LPD:

    ** Illegally denying my rights to free press
    ** (GoDaddy cache) ** (HostGator cache)

    ** Even after repeated warning, documented here, the Lakeland Police Department continued its illegal pattern of harassment against this gentleman:
    ** (GoDaddy cache) ** (HostGator cache)

    ** Lastly I was even able to get my public defender to admit that my "trial by jury" rights were denied me, as documented by the case-law governing this. (But he was in private practice, when I contacted him, and if I'm not rich -- or "famous" -- then my rights 'go by the wayside.' -- Perhaps, this news item will make me 'famous' enough to get justice elsewhere.)
    ** (GoDaddy cache) ** (HostGator cache)

    Conclusion: Of course, "harassing phone calls" do NOT justify illegal call-blocking by the Lakeland Police Department (either to their non-emergency dispatch or their 911-centre). Indeed, even if I was making harassing phone calls (to the non-emergency number) or abusing their 911 call-centre (also illegal), they could press charges for either "harassing phone calls" or "911 abuse" (but they didn't--proving I was never at fault in this regard). So, their documented illegal blocking was egregious--and dangerous: Indeed, had I not had my cell phone to report that huge wreck in front of my old Lakeland residence, I would not have been able to call 911 and report it. Moreover, if they only blocked "non-emergency" calls (as Detective Elisa Martin told me when she and PSO (Public Safety Officer) Schuck came out to meet me in the LPD lobby), that is still not only quite stupid (preventing citizens from reporting crimes until they become an emergency), but with a good lawyer, I might have a huge Federal Civil Rights case, in particular, both First Amendment Rights of Redress and also illegal punishment without proper Due Process. Speaking of which,... (Now hiring -- One tough lawyer. Contact: Gordon Watts.)

    For more information:

    "/LPD"

    "/LPD-supplamental"

    "/LPD/VIDEO-Notes.html"

    "/LPD/Notes-lpd-issue.html"

    NOTES: One unnamed lawyer friend suggested maybe a new trial could be had (based on STATE, not FEDERAL standards, saying Federal standards didn't apply here) since my trial by jury rights were denied. If that's so, he'll need a copy of my docket:
    * "/LPD/ArrestDocket.mht" * "/LPD/ArrestDocket.pdf" * "/LPD/ArrestDocket.html" * Oh, and it might be helpful to get PROOF that my trial-by-jury rights were DENIED, so here's a link - -again -- to said proof from two (2) witnesses, with proper case-law commentary: * /LPD-supplamental/TrialByJuryDenied/PublicDefenderAdmitsJuryTrialRightsDenied.pdf

    Plus, it might be good to review the following case-law: "The Ball Case, 163 U.S. 662 , 41 L. ed. 300, 16 Sup. Ct. Rep. 1192, establishes that to try a man after a verdict of acquittal is to put him twice in jeopardy, although the verdict was not followed by judgment." KEPNER v. United States, 195 U.S. 100, at 133 (1904) Question-- does double jeopardy prevent a retrying of my case where, as my docket shows, a nolle prosequi (or: "NOLLE PROSSED" as they spell it for my 08/20/2003 entry) was done? --E.g., the plea deal, which got me off even if no innocent verdict was entered? Does that holding apply to me?

    UPDATE:

    * “Video #3”: Much subsequent news coverage of this sordid “call-blocking” saga.
    ** YouTube ** Facebook ** Right-click to save: ** Local directory cache (MP4) ** Local directory cache (WMV) ** GoDaddy hosting cache (MP4) ** GoDaddy hosting cache (WMV) ** HostGator hosting cache (MP4) ** HostGatory hosting cache (WMV)

    * VIDEO #4 ** HUGE Wreck – can't call 911!
    ** YouTube ** Facebook ** Right-click to save: ** Local directory cache (MP4) ** Local directory cache (WMV) ** GoDaddy hosting cache (MP4) ** GoDaddy hosting cache (WMV) ** HostGator hosting cache (MP4) ** HostGatory hosting cache (WMV)


    Fair Use EXCERPT from July 17, 2014 news story from WTSP: “The city of Lakeland has paid a $25,000 settlement to a woman ordered to shake out her bra during a traffic stop last year. [] A public records request by The Ledger shows a check dated July 7 to 29-year-old Zoe Brugger. [] Authorities say Brugger was pulled over by Lakeland police officer Dustin Fetz in May 2013 for a broken headlight. Silent video taken from the patrol car shows her being forced to shake out her bra multiple times in a search for drugs. The officer also searched her car over her objections. No drugs were found. [] Fetz has not been reprimanded for the search itself, but he served a one-day suspension for not having his microphone on. [] City officials say they're still waiting for an executed release, which will free them from a future lawsuit.” – Source: “Lakeland pays $25,000 in bra-shaking case: The city of Lakeland has paid a $25,000 settlement to a woman ordered to shake out her bra during a traffic stop last year.,” by Associated Press and AP staff writers, WTSP, July 17, 2014, LINK: https://www.WTSP.com/article/news/local/lakeland-pays-25000-in-bra-shaking-case/67-300320420

    Point of Order: If this this woman, who had ONE DAY of discomfort got $25,000.oo, how much more am I owed when police illegally put a “call block” on my phone – not only for “regular” dispatch calls – but also, apparently, 911 calls – FOR DECADES (thus call-blocking MY ENTIRE FAMILY from calling police!!) – and threatened me with slandering my good name (falsely accusing me of harassing phone calls) if I reported it – and ILLEGALLY violating Public Records Laws when they continually refused to release my phone call to the station showing I was NOT making harassing phone calls – but rather “just following orders” when I called the Internal Affairs to report DOCUMENTED PERJURY. (That's also illegal.)

    Fair Use EXCERPT from Aug 31, 2019 news story from BuzzFeed: “Debra Stevens, 47, was delivering newspapers for the Southwest Times Record early in the morning on Saturday, Aug. 24, when her car was swept away in a flash flood...Aric Mitchell, a spokesperson for the department, told BuzzFeed News the dispatcher who answered is named Donna Reneau.” – Source: “A 911 Operator Is Being Accused Of Being "Rude" And "Condescending" To A Drowning Victim Before She Died: "You're not gonna die, I don't know why you're freaking out.",” by Stephanie McNeal, BuzzFeed News Reporter, BuzzFeedNews, August 31, 2019, LINK: https://www.BuzzFeedNews.com/article/stephaniemcneal/911-call-arkansas-debbie-stevens-drowned

    Point of Order: If this this 911 dispatcher nearly got fired (and was taken to task by numerous news outlets), for merely being "rude," how much **MORE** should the Lakeland (Fla.) POLICE Department be taken to task, and possibly sued? (Answer: The drowning woman was at least able to call 911 and get help. In **my** case, it is documented—in excruciating detail—that both the non-emergency and 911 numbers were call-blocked for me--and my entire family--at our home number.)


    CONCLUSION: Yes, the mayor and I DID “test out” the 911 (and also, at my request, the non-emergency dispatch aka the “main call-in” number to the police station). Both had **finally** unblocked me, no doubt because they knew that they were about to be caught red-handed violating the law, and publicly embarrassed, not to mention, possibly sued for egregious & gross Civil Rights violations. Some have suggested that since my phone is unblocked, I should just “let it drop.” – Oh, really!?.. – Let me ask YOU a question, OK? What if YOUR family was captured and held hostage for roughly THIRTEEN (13) YEARS, and not released except under exceptional duress, pressure, and threats of lawsuits & embarrassment, ok? Now, you might forgive them, so far as not being vindictive, hating them, or seeking revenge. Forgive, as my Christian faith instructs, ok? Forgive, yes, but forget? Let it drop? Would YOU just “drop it,” if YOUR family was finally released? Hell no! And neither should I. – How many **other** victims will they bully? I think it should be looked into, addressed, and that we should never forget—never again. Craziness like these things (not just illegal call-blocking, but the illegal perjury, & other abuses) unnecessarily places lives in danger. Word.


    The 'Credible' Hulk
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