| VOLUSIA EXPOSED.COM |
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OUR OPINION Why Law Enforcement Officials REALLY Don't Want To Release The Gregory Edwards Jail Surveillance Video |
August 11, 2020 |
NO LEGAL OPINION, OR AUTHORITY, SHOULD BE INFERRED
Combat Medic Gregory Edwards
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Vs. The Truth Of The Matter If you take Brevard County's (Florida) Sheriff Wayne Ivey at his word, then, he is unable to publicly release a jail surveillance video, because it may endanger the security of his jail. Sheriff Ivey is quick to refer to Florida Statute 281.301, that allows such videos to be exempt from public record releases. However, in truth, we (VolusiaExposed.Com) suspect that the ramifications of that video release is far more reaching then the mere security and safety of a jail. Read on - and allow us, with the assistance of Sheriff Ivey's very own attorney to convince you of that. Combat Medic Gregory Edwards met his demise on December 9, 2018 - when he was incarcerated within the Brevard County jail for less than two hours. Shortly after arriving at the jail, he was medically transported to the local hospital, placed on a ventilator, and would die the next day. Two medical examiners differ on his manner of death. One ruled it as an "accident", the other indicated, that Edwards' death was more consistent with a "homicide". One thing is clear - Edwards and corrections staff engaged in nearly a five (5) minute physical altercation - sending one correctional deputy to the hospital with a serious head injury, and with Edwards arriving at the hospital shortly thereafter. We have been provided with reams of documentation that support that deputies pepper sprayed, tased, and body kicked Edwards. That Edwards was secured in a restraint chair, and denied immediate medical attention. Much of these documents are available for review within our earlier articles (see below links). August 12, 2019 Murdered By The BCSO July 9, 2020 Lack Of Transparency Sheriff Wayne Ivey's Blinding Of Justice September 25, 2019 A Receipe For Murder The In-Custody Death Of Gregory Edwards What is absent within these reams of BCSO documents? Answer - it's the jail surveillance video. As per the FDLE review, Edwards entire jail incarceration was captured on video. Nineteen (19) cameras within the jail can provide the public, with a play by play account of the entire incident that lead to Edwards' death, and the hospitalization of a deputy. Ahhh.. but there is that snag... of Sheriff Ivey refusing to release the video. Now Imagine, if there had been no video in the 1992 LAPD beating of motorist Rodney King. Without the video - the officers would have never been arrested.....Los Angeles would have been spared the 1992 LA riots, and some have argued - that absent the LA riots, O.J. Simpson would have been convicted of murdering his wife (1994). See what one little video of the police using excessive force can lead to? It can "jeopardize the security and safety" of an entire community (that quote is important later on - read on). |
 Gregory L. Edwards August 7, 2020 Court Hearing Florida Today Vs. Wayne Ivey Part 1 of 2 August 7, 2020 Court Hearing Florida Today Vs. Wayne Ivey Part 2 of 2 Click Below To Review Lawsuit Florida Today Vs. Wayne Ivey  |
Imagine, the 2020 Minneapolis PD's incident with George Floyd - without any video being available. Floyd would still be dead - but, would the officers have been arrested for his death? We think not ! Then again, absent the video - this country would probably not currently be going through a series of protests, some refer to them as riots (Minneapolis, Portland, Chicago, etc).
Again, see what a few videos of the police kneeling on a man's neck, and killing him can cause...complete social chaos!
History has demonstrated for us, that absent the video - police officers are very rarely held accountable for their excessive usages of force.
So here is the "question" - is Sheriff Ivey's refusal of releasing the Edwards video, really because of his concerns for jail security, OR has his refusal, more to do with, trying to avoid street protests (aka riots by some) - in the streets of Brevard, during an election cycle?
Inquisitive Minds Are The Best,
Put Your Justice System To The Test
FloridaToday.Com, a long established local newspaper, that always seems to rub Sheriff Ivey the wrong way, has recently filed a lawsuit requesting that the local Court, order Ivey to release the jail video as a public record.
So, how is the Florida Today lawsuit possible? Well F.S. 281.301 has an exception to the public record exemption. For "good cause" - the record, in this case, the jail video, can be released, if it is in the public's best interest.
Within this lawsuit, the entire Brevard justice system will be put to the "test" - of whether the public has a right to know, if their community's security and safety were / are in jeopardy?
On Friday, August 7, 2020 - the Court had it's first hearing on the matter. Due to COVID19, the hearing was a telephonic hearing. VolusiaExposed.Com attended and audio recorded the hearing. We made the Court aware, via an email (see introduction in attached video)- that it was our intentions to attend, and record the hearing for publication (see upper right - for audios files).
The Devil Is Within The Details
During minutes twenty-seven (27) and twenty-eight (28), of the hearing (see part 1 - above right of this page) BCSO Attorney Laura Moody telegraphed the actual "devilish" reason why Sheriff Ivey was refusing to release the Edwards video. Moody stated that the release of the video would "certainly jeopardize the security and safety of the community, as well as the jail".
The statutory exemption (F.S. 281.301) relates ONLY to jail security - so why is Attorney Moody referring to both the "security and safety of the community, as well as the jail"? We (VolusiaExposed.Com) allege that the sheriff's actual concern are the "public protests" (possible riots), that would be incited, if the video was released.
We further allege that this concern is NOT uniquely held by Sheriff Ivey, but is also a concern of the state attorney, FDLE and the Court, especially within an election cycle, and during a pandemic. Such is why the state attorney, and FDLE, have been so accommodating regarding Sheriff Ivey's desire not to release the video. We expect that Sheriff Ivey will receive the same accommodation from the Court.
Sheriff Ivey's Week-End Press Release "Inviting" FDLE To "Review" Edwards' In-Custody Death
In reality, nobody cares where the jail has mounted their security cameras, or where they hang their fire bottles, as is the rationale for the F.S. 281.301 record exemption. HOWEVER, if someone REALLY did have an interest in obtaining this secret squirrel information about the jail - they only need to go to Sheriff Ivey's YOUTUBE channel, and watch his self-produced mini-series of videos titled "Behind The Bars".
In the end, it is the OPINION of this publication that Sheriff Ivey, in concert with his three ring circus (state attorney, FDLE, and the Court itself) are providing the public with a "dog and pony" show (Jive Talk'in) - whereas, it only appears, that they are "investigating", "reviewing", and seeking an honest legal decision - of whether the public has a right to view a video - that should provide us a clear understanding of how we lost a U.S. combat veteran.
We submit this for your consideration - that you ask youself - why wouldn't Sheriff Ivey just release the video, and put this matter to bed. Maybe, the answer is, that upon release, the video may intice exactly what they (Ivey, state attorney, FDLE, and the Court) fear - protesting within the streets of Brevard County, Florida.
Civil protest is a constitutional right - the mere avoidance of civil protest is NOT a statutory public record exemption.
So stand by to stand by ....... there is surely more to come of this ......and remember this, transparency brings truth...truth brings justice...and as we all know justice brings peace .....
Santana
While My Guitar Gently Weeps
Sheriff Wayne Ivey's Blinding Of The Public
The In-Custody Death Of Combat Medic Gregory Edwards
We look forward to your comments on this situation.
Drop us a line to let us know what you think.
EMAIL US
Again, see what a few videos of the police kneeling on a man's neck, and killing him can cause...complete social chaos!
History has demonstrated for us, that absent the video - police officers are very rarely held accountable for their excessive usages of force.
So here is the "question" - is Sheriff Ivey's refusal of releasing the Edwards video, really because of his concerns for jail security, OR has his refusal, more to do with, trying to avoid street protests (aka riots by some) - in the streets of Brevard, during an election cycle?
Put Your Justice System To The Test
FloridaToday.Com, a long established local newspaper, that always seems to rub Sheriff Ivey the wrong way, has recently filed a lawsuit requesting that the local Court, order Ivey to release the jail video as a public record.
So, how is the Florida Today lawsuit possible? Well F.S. 281.301 has an exception to the public record exemption. For "good cause" - the record, in this case, the jail video, can be released, if it is in the public's best interest.
Within this lawsuit, the entire Brevard justice system will be put to the "test" - of whether the public has a right to know, if their community's security and safety were / are in jeopardy?
On Friday, August 7, 2020 - the Court had it's first hearing on the matter. Due to COVID19, the hearing was a telephonic hearing. VolusiaExposed.Com attended and audio recorded the hearing. We made the Court aware, via an email (see introduction in attached video)- that it was our intentions to attend, and record the hearing for publication (see upper right - for audios files).
During minutes twenty-seven (27) and twenty-eight (28), of the hearing (see part 1 - above right of this page) BCSO Attorney Laura Moody telegraphed the actual "devilish" reason why Sheriff Ivey was refusing to release the Edwards video. Moody stated that the release of the video would "certainly jeopardize the security and safety of the community, as well as the jail".
The statutory exemption (F.S. 281.301) relates ONLY to jail security - so why is Attorney Moody referring to both the "security and safety of the community, as well as the jail"? We (VolusiaExposed.Com) allege that the sheriff's actual concern are the "public protests" (possible riots), that would be incited, if the video was released.
We further allege that this concern is NOT uniquely held by Sheriff Ivey, but is also a concern of the state attorney, FDLE and the Court, especially within an election cycle, and during a pandemic. Such is why the state attorney, and FDLE, have been so accommodating regarding Sheriff Ivey's desire not to release the video. We expect that Sheriff Ivey will receive the same accommodation from the Court.
Sheriff Ivey's Week-End Press Release "Inviting" FDLE To "Review" Edwards' In-Custody Death
In reality, nobody cares where the jail has mounted their security cameras, or where they hang their fire bottles, as is the rationale for the F.S. 281.301 record exemption. HOWEVER, if someone REALLY did have an interest in obtaining this secret squirrel information about the jail - they only need to go to Sheriff Ivey's YOUTUBE channel, and watch his self-produced mini-series of videos titled "Behind The Bars".
In the end, it is the OPINION of this publication that Sheriff Ivey, in concert with his three ring circus (state attorney, FDLE, and the Court itself) are providing the public with a "dog and pony" show (Jive Talk'in) - whereas, it only appears, that they are "investigating", "reviewing", and seeking an honest legal decision - of whether the public has a right to view a video - that should provide us a clear understanding of how we lost a U.S. combat veteran.
We submit this for your consideration - that you ask youself - why wouldn't Sheriff Ivey just release the video, and put this matter to bed. Maybe, the answer is, that upon release, the video may intice exactly what they (Ivey, state attorney, FDLE, and the Court) fear - protesting within the streets of Brevard County, Florida.
Civil protest is a constitutional right - the mere avoidance of civil protest is NOT a statutory public record exemption.
So stand by to stand by ....... there is surely more to come of this ......and remember this, transparency brings truth...truth brings justice...and as we all know justice brings peace .....
Santana
While My Guitar Gently Weeps
Sheriff Wayne Ivey's Blinding Of The Public
The In-Custody Death Of Combat Medic Gregory Edwards
Drop us a line to let us know what you think.
EMAIL US