Please vote against the Ramsey County Sheriff Bob Fletcher...

[Eric J in MN]

..if you live there.
http://www.democracynow.org/2008/9/5/ramsey_county_sheriff_admits_local_police

AMY GOODMAN: News conference of the RNC Eight. During it, a nineteen-year-old activist named Elliot Hughes said he was beaten and tortured inside the Ramsey County Jail.


ELLIOT HUGHES: My name is Elliot Hughes. E-L-L-I-O-T, H-U-G-H-E-S. Me and some friends were chanting for—so that we could receive food in Ramsey County Jail, because we hadn’t been provided food. And six or seven officers came into my cell, and they took—one officer punched me in the face, right here where you see this bruise. And then they slammed—and I fell to the ground, unconscious. And the officer grabbed me by the head, slammed my head on the ground and re-awoke me out of—to consciousness. And I was bleeding everywhere. They dragged me to another detaining cell. They put a bag over my head that had a gag on it. And they used pain compliance tactics on me for about an hour and a half. They pressed—they separated my jaw as hard as they could with their fingers. And they bent my ankles back. They basically bent my foot backwards. I was screaming for God and like screaming for mercy, crying, asking them why they were doing this. And I’ve never been so violated in my life.



AMY GOODMAN: That was nineteen-year-old Elliot Hughes, speaking at a news conference on Thursday. Sheriff Bob Fletcher told the Star Tribune that Hughes was, quote, “extremely disruptive in jail,” and that, quote, “it took some force to control him.”

I didn't know that jails in America put bags over the heads of prisoners.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

1. Fletcher is a douche.

I wish I could move back to Ramsey County just to vote against that ass.

[loveable liberal]

2. I heard on Thom Hartmann that Fletcher wanted....

New York DNC style 'protest areas'. I know a Ramsey County detention deputy. He's an angry, angry man. I live in Ramsey County; I didnt vote for him.

[CubFan7125]

3. So You Voted For Chief Fenney

I don't even need to run down his list of problems. Fletcher is a Class A slimebag who can't even keep his own kid out of jail but Fenney wouldn't have been any better. I do support ousting Fletcher but please don't sound all high and mighty that you didn't vote for him.

Peace

Out

[loveable liberal]

6. Before you get all self righteous

Why dont you find out if I voted for either before you ASSume. I'm going to assume you meant Finney.

[Bjorn Against]

4. He needs more than to simply be removed from office, he needs to be imprisoned

Make no mistake about, Fletcher committed many very serious crimes this week. He tortured, he violated the constitution, he authorized assaults on innocent political protesters, he is now officially one of the very worst criminals in Minnesota. He needs to be held accountable, and getting voted out is not enough. He needs felony charges to be brought against him, enough of the police acting as if they are above the law.

[Minnesota Raindog]

5. Fletcher has a history of this kind of behavior dating back to Hamline U

Friends of mine went to Hamline when he was there in the 70s and have told me stories about his abusive behavior back then. The jerk has been a thug all his life.

[azurnoir]

7. The people of Ramsey County and Minnesota

need to ask the question In who's employ and in who's interests were law enforcement officers acting last week?
Were they acting as the "bought and payed for" private goon squad of the RNC, $60,000,000 speaks loudly that would be in the form of a $50,000,000 grant from Homeland Security and a $10,000,000 insurance policy purchased prior to the convention, that itself implies a plan to knowingly and illegally strong arm protesters not to mention with so many St Paul cops involved in the "fun and games" who was protecting the people of St Paul?

[dodger501]

8. Is he up for re-election this year?

I thought he was elected fairly recently?

[ButterflyBlood]

9. He ain't up till 2010 sadly.

n/t

[annm4peace]

10. Fletcher will be charged !!!!

On Thursday morning, I stopped by the jail vigil just to see who was there and how things were going.
About 20 people where there, some had slept overnight on the grass.. and some where standing there with a dazed look. I asked if anyone needed a ride home.
Two said yes. One was a mid 20 year old female and she was fine. The other was a mid 20year old guy holding a small zip lock bag. He needed a ride to powderhorn but then realized he didn't have his keys so I took him to his girlfriend's place in Uptown.

He was dazed but I realized he was actually still in shock. He didn't talk except to answer only with short or yes/no questions until we dropped the female off.

I could tell he was a gentle person, I gently asked him questions to try to get him to open up to see how he was. He has arrested the night before with many others but because he didnt' have his driver's license they jailed him. They had let his girlfriend go after processing her. He said he was prepared to get arrested but not harassment. They made him change into a jumpsuit..and moved him from cell to cell to cell. They would tell him he was getting out soon and then not come back for awhile and them move him to another cell.. all to confuse and disorient them. He said he only had quarters on him when they arrested him, so when he got his stuff back they gave him a check for his money. So he didn't have a ride.

** the Sherrif's dept kept people's keys, cell phones, wallets.. when they released people. So many don't have access to get into the apts or cars.. or credit cards. I helped a friend's friend who is here from out of state for the Vets for Peace Convention. He was arrested Thursday night and processed him in a couple hours but kept all his stuff so he had no access to his own money, his phone. etc. We helped him out but many are here without help.

[MnFats]

11. Fletcher, like his counterpart across the River, Rich Stanoch, is angling..

...for higher office.....the legislature, Congress, the sky is the limit.

I have met him. He's worse than you think.

some stuff about Fletcher may be made public before long.
his political future is hazy at best....