EXCLUSIVE: Sanford City Commissioner Concerned George Zimmerman Will Flee Country
Source: Think Progress
EXCLUSIVE: Sanford City Commissioner Concerned George Zimmerman Will Flee Country
By Judd Legum on Mar 23, 2012 at 5:58 pm
Sanford City Commissioner Velma Williams
ORLANDO, FL Sanford City Commissioner Velma Williams is concerned that George Zimmerman, the man who killed Trayvon Martin last month but has not been arrested or charged with any crime, may try to leave the country. In an interview with ThinkProgress, Williams said that Zimmermans checkered history make his actions unpredictable. Speaking about the possibility that Zimmerman could leave the country to avoid arrest, Williams said he might do that.
Williams met several times with former Sanford City Police Chief Bill Lee, who temporarily stepped down yesterday, to discuss her concerns about the investigation. But these meetings left her unsatisfied. As an elected official, she says she has not been properly apprised of the conduct of the investigation, even as more problems came to light. Williams said she received no indication from Lee that the police knew of Zimmermans whereabouts or that any that any steps had been taken to prevent him from fleeing to avoid arrest.
There are mothers and grandmothers throughout Sanford who are concerned their children are in danger with Zimmerman still a free man, according to Williams. They tell her when my son goes out, Im worried he might not come back. Williams added that she was personally concerned for the safety of her 11-year old grandson.
These concerns extend beyond Sanford. The president-elect of the National Bar Association, John E. Page, wrote in a letter sent to Attorney General Eric Holder today: We join the call for the immediate arrest of Mr. Zimmerman to avoid additional harm to the public.
Today, Sanford City Manager Norton Bonaparte Jr. announced that two police captains, including one who led the Trayvon Martin investigation, would act as interim co-chiefs. Williams said she advised Bonaparte to replace Lee a week after Trayvons death, but her advice was not embraced.
Read more: http://thinkprogress.org/justice/2012/03/23/451181/exclusive-sanford-city-commissioner-concerned-george-zimmerman-may-flee-country/
peacebird
(14,195 posts)WheelWalker
(8,956 posts)which I actually hadn't heard of... I only knew of the American Bar Association.
elleng
(131,102 posts)consists largely of African American attorneys.
WheelWalker
(8,956 posts)peacebird
(14,195 posts)freshwest
(53,661 posts)ProgressiveProfessor
(22,144 posts)Without a court order of some sort they cannot restrict his movement nor take his passport.
I am leaning towards suicide my self, voluntary or otherwise
freshwest
(53,661 posts)ProgressiveProfessor
(22,144 posts)LiberalFighter
(51,084 posts)One of the reasons I stopped watching Hawaii 50. And I won't watch the one with Selleck as he is a damn Republican and it appears they are trying to give NYPD more respect than they deserve.
X_Digger
(18,585 posts)freshwest
(53,661 posts)My experiences helping people in civil matters don't have any of that drama. Well, not usually.
Unless there's a surprise piece of evidence while giving an affidavit and one side folds immediately. Saw that more than one time.
loudsue
(14,087 posts)I'd be afraid to ever show my face in public again. There are too many people that would just as soon not have to share the planet with that dude anymore.
obamanut2012
(26,137 posts)I would just like to see him brought to justice, and the Sanford PD's coverup investigated.
monmouth
(21,078 posts)dad financed him. He's as culpable as the rest of them if this is so.
barbtries
(28,811 posts)where he is. has anyone else noticed that there apparently is only one picture of the man? i've even googled "where is george zimmerman" multiple times and have never gotten a result that addressed that question.
where is he? why aren't his whereabouts being discussed? it seems really weird.
bathroommonkey76
(3,827 posts)"George Zimmerman, who shot a black teenager in Florida, is in hiding after receiving death threats. A full portrait has yet to emerge of the 28-year-old, one of the characters at the center of the drama that has turned questions about race and guns into a national debate."
http://www.latimes.com/news/nation/nationnow/la-na-nn-george-zimmerman-20120323,0,6326075.story
I also found this article that says he left a voicemail for Frank Taaffe. Taaffe released this yesterday.
In the message Zimmerman said-
"Hey Mr. Taaffe," the message began. "This is George. Um, first and foremost, I wanted to say I am very sorry for the loss of your son, and, um, I can't imagine what you must be going through. Um, secondly, I wanted to thank you for doing everything you've been doing. Um, I know you don't have to, and I appreciate it, and you're truly setting an example for me for the future of, uh, doing the right thing even when it's tough, and, uh, I appreciate it. I'll talk to you soon. Thanks."
http://globalgrind.com/news/george-zimmerman-trayvon-martin-sanford-florida-speaks-details
barbtries
(28,811 posts)now the police should put him in protective custody if they still can't bring themselves to arrest him for MURDER. either way he needs to surface, behind bars.
Justice wanted
(2,657 posts)elleng
(131,102 posts)Justice wanted
(2,657 posts)elleng
(131,102 posts)in this 'story' means little, imo.
The family appears to have moved to Florida from Virginia, within the last 10 years or so, there's no discussion of WHERE the father served as 'judge,' AND 'magistrate judge' has the least authority/clout; its the beginning, or end, of the judge ladder, and could have very well been in Virginia where he served (if he did.) Florida is very strict/stingy about accepting out of state attorneys to practice there, and imo its highly unlikely, unless the father had been earlier admitted to practice in Florida, that he was, actually, a judge in Florida.
'The images of Zimmerman not just his face, but the words used to describe him can confound and confuse. Why are they calling him white, wondered Paul Ebert, the Prince William County commonwealths attorney who knew Zimmermans mother, Gladys, from her days as an interpreter at the county courthouse. Zimmermans mother, Ebert knew, was Peruvian, and he thought of her as Hispanic. . .
In Manassas, (that's Virginia) where Zimmerman lived in the 1980s and 1990s with his parents and two siblings, neighbors tended to define the family based on their spiritual profile. Very Catholic .?.?. very religious, their neighbor Jim Rudzenski recalled Thursday. The children attended All Saints Catholic School on Stonewall Road through the eighth grade before going to Osbourn High School. George became an altar server and evening receptionist at All Saints Catholic Church. The Zimmermans were known and respected in the community for their dedication and service, said Robert Cilinski, pastor of All Saints Catholic Church.
The father, Robert Zimmerman Sr., is a retired military man. He could be strict. And the childrens grandmother, who lived with the family, also kept a watchful eye, said Kay Hall, who lived across the street from the Zimmermans in a neighborhood just west of Sudley Road for about 20 years. George and his siblings didnt play with the neighborhood kids, Rudzenski said. They had to stay home and play. It was always Yes, maam, No, maam, Hall said.
Zimmermans life was not without difficulties. In 2001 when he was 17 or 18 he was the victim of a minor criminal assault, said Manassas police Sgt. Eddie Rivera. The citys computer records do not provide details of the crime.'
http://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/style/who-is-george-zimmerman/2012/03/22/gIQAkXdbUS_story.html
freshwest
(53,661 posts)elleng
(131,102 posts)but I'm not that in touch. Am interested in/connected to matters concerning legal system.
freshwest
(53,661 posts)elleng
(131,102 posts)and that could help, but I don't see any evidence that they've been closer to it in Florida than anyone else. (from the reading I've done.)
Herlong
(649 posts)Gunning an unarmed child down in cold blood? What are we, the wild, wild west?
ProgressiveProfessor
(22,144 posts)secondvariety
(1,245 posts)Ruby the Liberal
(26,219 posts)Problem "solved".
ProgressiveProfessor
(22,144 posts)People have the right to refuse "protective custody"
Ruby the Liberal
(26,219 posts)on a minimum, manslaughter.
?
ProgressiveProfessor
(22,144 posts)Sanford PD is blaming the State Attorney who has since recused himself. New State Attorney seems to be staying with the Grand Jury route rather than arresting him.
secondvariety
(1,245 posts)RZM
(8,556 posts)I doubt he has the money or the contacts to make it work. He'll probably just trust his lawyer and cross his fingers if he's charged.
RUMMYisFROSTED
(30,749 posts)RZM
(8,556 posts)But he'll scrape together enough for a lawyer I'm sure.
yardwork
(61,703 posts)Send lawyers guns and money.
Major Hogwash
(17,656 posts)His dad's a judge, the victim is black, the PD Chief is white, it's springtime, what the hell.
Unbelievable.
-..__...
(7,776 posts)Probably holed up with Casey Anthony.
Who wouldn't be in seclusion with a nation wide lynch mob screaming for your blood.
It's not a matter of "cowardice" or fleeing justice... it's a matter of survival.
JDPriestly
(57,936 posts)A lot of people in my bailiwick get very damp eyes, nearly folding their hands in prayer, when they speak about a "Catholic education."
Maybe it is just my bad luck, but Zimmerman is yet another of the many very bad products of a Catholic education who happen to have passed my way.
Nothing wrong with a Catholic education. But it isn't better than any other education from what I can tell.