Indiana

IMPD Conspiracy Theory

By Abdul Hakim-Shabazz

The squirrels must really be excited today because the conspiracy theory nuts are out in force.  I’m not talking about my usual conspiracy theorists, I’m talking old school wing-nuts.

In case you hadn’t heard, because you live in the real world, there is a school of thought out there that the shootings that occurred a couple Saturdays ago during Indiana Black Expo were actually committed by the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department as a way to make Expo look bad and to put young black men behind bars.

You can pick your jaw up off the floor now.

Now I have lived in enough places to know that the nut jobs will always be with us, heck, I’m a radio talk show host.   And I can live with the crazies spouting off their theories.  However, when local elected officials start spouting that same insanity, it’s time to step up and nip this silliness in the bud.

During an afternoon radio interview on the black gospel station, Indianapolis City-County Councilor William “Duke” Oliver said police need to release the videotapes of the shooting incidents so that the public “can know the truth”.  Know the truth about what?  To say the public needs to “know the truth” insinuates that IMPD is lying about the shooting.

Did I forget to mention the nut jobs also say the probable cause affidavit doesn’t mention accused shooter Shamus Patton being caught on tape, although it does mention the bullets were fired from the gun used that night  were consistent with the one he owned.

I have never considered Bill Oliver to be one of the great minds of Indianapolis, but to make statements like this, as an elected official, is irresponsible and frankly reprehensible.   It only fuels ignorance and makes it more difficult for us to have grown up discussions about serious problems.

I would hope that this would be the last time Oliver would make an idiotic statement like this, but knowing his past record, it probably won’t be.

Full post as published by Indiana Barrister on July 30, 2010 (boomark / email).