The following, jaw-dropping story is borrowed from fellow news source, The Daily Beast. After reading this story filled with government corruption, police brutality, and injustice, you will understand why is it so important to not only film all interactions you have with police, but to also record any you witness that may involve other citizens. Public officials in the United States commonly misuse their authority and abuse rights of individuals. Please exercise your first amendment right and not only speak out against acts of injustice but also record and share those acts via social media.
The mayor, police chief, city clerk, and former city clerk of a small Iowa town have all been charged as part of a “multi-year investigation” into a slew of criminal offenses, including “deploying a TASER against a civilian in exchange for cash,” authorities announced Friday, March 11, 2022.
According to the Emmet County Sheriff’s Office, three of the four accused public officials in the town of Armstrong—population roughly 880—have been tossed behind bars. Mayor Greg Buum, police chief Craig Merrill, city clerk Tracie Lang, and former city clerk Connie Thackery all face misdemeanor and felony charges in a 21-count joint indictment, police say. While the most serious charges against Buum, Merrill, and Thackery is ongoing criminal conduct, some of the defendants face other charges including theft, felonious misconduct in office, assault with a dangerous weapon and tampering with records.
The Iowa Attorney General’s Office is prosecuting the case. “The investigation uncovered wrongdoing committed by the defendants, including but not limited to misappropriation of city funds, the presentation of fraudulent public records, deploying a TASER against a civilian in exchange for cash, and falsification of ledgers to conceal embezzlement,” the sheriff’s office said. No further details were immediately available on the circumstances of the alleged crimes or who the alleged victims were.
Valid Media will continue following this story and will keep you updated.
