Grand Jury Clears Two White Texas Cops Who Brutally Beat A Black Woman Over An Unpaid Traffic Ticket
Two former Jasper, Texas police officers will not face criminal charges after they brutally assaulted a black woman who was in their custody last year. That incident prompted racial tension in the East Texas town.
[su_center_ad]Texas Observer reports:
The Beaumont Enterprise reported in November that a grand jury had cleared officers Ricky Grissom and Ryan Cunningham, who are white, for a violent encounter with a black woman named Keyarika Diggles inside the Jasper City Jail. Overhead cameras caught the officers grabbing Diggles by the hair, slamming her face onto a counter and pinning her to the floor, before dragging Diggles, by the feet, into a holding cell. According to her lawyers, Diggles spent hours in the dark “detox” cell before being strip-searched by police dispatcher Lindsey Davenport.
Along with the damning video footage, the case was troubling because Cunningham and Grissom had arrested Diggles at home that morning for nothing more than an unpaid traffic ticket. And the ticket wasn’t quite unpaid—the single mother of two had been paying down her debt in monthly installments. Even after those payments, she still owed $100 at the time Grissom and Cunningham knocked on her door—but it’s still not clear why they’d chosen to arrest her that day.
Footage of the incident was released last year:
Diggles settled a civil rights lawsuit against the city and the officers last December for $75,000.
It was less than a month after the beating that Jasper’s city council voted to fire Cunningham and Grissom.
H/T: Burnt Orange Report via LL’s Mod God @Mea_Mark. [su_csky_ad]
CHOCOL8MILK December 4th, 2014 at 4:52 pm
At least they got fired. :-/
Mike December 4th, 2014 at 5:46 pm
Whoopdy f’ing doo.
whatthe46 December 4th, 2014 at 4:54 pm
all of these jurors in each of these cases must be made up of the kkk. what’s wrong with these people. if these videos aren’t enough to charge any of these cops then body cams won’t mean a damn thing.
bahlers December 5th, 2014 at 12:37 am
I was unaware that blacks could be in the kkk
whatthe46 December 5th, 2014 at 1:22 am
you’re not very bright are you?
bahlers December 5th, 2014 at 1:42 am
I was being facetious
whatthe46 December 5th, 2014 at 2:18 am
ok. whew
mea_mark December 4th, 2014 at 4:56 pm
What gets me is one of the officers fired from the city of Jasper is now a cop for Jasper county. You know the county has to be aware of what happened, they just don’t care. These officers shouldn’t be in law enforcement.
Suzanne McFly December 4th, 2014 at 4:56 pm
Why are violent reactions okay for $100 ticket? Loose cigarettes? Walking in the road? What will these slobs do to someone who actually commits a crime?
mea_mark December 4th, 2014 at 5:00 pm
Depends on how much money they have and the color of their skin.
edmeyer_able December 4th, 2014 at 6:08 pm
If only we could get them to serve papers on the Bundy ranch.
Suzanne McFly December 4th, 2014 at 6:30 pm
That is where these abusive cops need to have their anger issues worked out.
bahlers December 5th, 2014 at 12:37 am
Literally everything you just stated is a crime lol. Oh the irony haha
red-diaper-baby 1942 December 5th, 2014 at 12:49 am
In your opinion, are these crimes deserving execution without a trial, or at the very least a bad beating?
bahlers December 5th, 2014 at 1:44 am
Of course not, just highlighting the fact that it would be better to find acts that aren’t criminal for her rant
whatthe46 December 5th, 2014 at 2:08 am
she was highlighting the recent cases where these people were murdered by the cops for those very “offenses” that were only at best worthy of a ticket even though they are “criminal” acts, that wouldn’t even be on the radar if you were to check for a history of criminal behaviors.
whatthe46 December 5th, 2014 at 1:21 am
yet, none of them are worthy of more than a simple citation. i.e., ticket. not a death sentence.
bahlers December 5th, 2014 at 1:44 am
Thats the thing, she was saying that those acts weren’t criminal, but in reality they are.
whatthe46 December 5th, 2014 at 2:04 am
samantics. you knew exactly what she meant.
Suzanne McFly December 5th, 2014 at 4:24 pm
What are you talking about? These are “crimes” but the punishment is hardly death for these “crimes”, you seem to blow things out of proportion, you called my post a “rant”? You should read a little more and work to empower yourself with knowledge, it will get you further in life.
Mark F. Walker December 5th, 2014 at 8:00 pm
I see you didn’t read the story. She was paying DOWN her ticket. She was on a payment plan and had $100 left to pay. How is that a crime? And the others aren’t punishable by death…
whatthe46 December 5th, 2014 at 8:15 pm
don’t ask him if he cares.
whatthe46 December 4th, 2014 at 5:18 pm
makes one wonder about the D.A. presenting these cases.
Suzanne McFly December 4th, 2014 at 6:35 pm
That is what I am waiting to hear. Was it another defense for the cops instead of a true presentation of all of the evidence. What happened to that saying of a ham sandwich can be indicted, is pork truly the other “white” meat?
whatthe46 December 4th, 2014 at 6:39 pm
which also begs the question, will body cams actually make a difference when there’s video evidence like this and still the wrong outcome? 2 grown men beating on a woman and its justifiable?
Suzanne McFly December 4th, 2014 at 7:02 pm
That is what I have been thinking since the recent lack of incitements. I still believe in body cams though, we need to change who presents these cases to the GJ. The prosecutor is too familiar with the police force they may have to indict one day. We need to have either a group of federal or state prosecutors who never have worked with the police force so they can present an impartial case to the GJ. Some don’t even want the GJ to come from the local community because the racial bias may be common in that area, birds of a feather type of thinking.
whatthe46 December 4th, 2014 at 9:31 pm
you got that right.
Suzanne McFly December 5th, 2014 at 4:20 pm
🙂
Mike Haubrich December 5th, 2014 at 12:02 am
I think we need independent civilian review boards with authority.
Boehner-Monkey December 4th, 2014 at 5:19 pm
What kind of instructions are conservative judges giving these grand juries?
mea_mark December 4th, 2014 at 5:31 pm
Bad ones, obviously.
tiredoftea December 4th, 2014 at 8:50 pm
“Cops have special privileges and we can’t find enough evidence to bring probable cause for you to indict.”
Kelly Basden December 4th, 2014 at 9:08 pm
It seems that whatever they read on the Cheerios box before the day got under way is good enough to recite to the prospectives and alternates.
Foundryman December 4th, 2014 at 9:12 pm
Probably something like..The cops are never wrong, they are our friends, besides, the woman was black….
red-diaper-baby 1942 December 5th, 2014 at 12:47 am
Perhaps “besides, it was just a black woman ….”
Lindsey Leigh Phillips December 4th, 2014 at 6:01 pm
These fat-f_ck pigs really haven’t a shred of decency. How a woman arrested on bs pretenses can be treated so brutally says enough about the police state we live in. The yahoos defending their actions (“if she didn’t get mouthy, there wouldn’t have been a problem!”) say so much more about why we’re in the mess we’re in. As long as average citizens defend these pitiful scuzzbuckets, what reason do they have not to act like the insecure bullies they are? The “good” cops haven’t shown much interest in holding them accountable, and their abuses become more and more accepted. This is effective use of time and resources? Beating up a woman who shouldn’t have been arrested in the first place?
More depressing are the people who will defend these assaults, ignoring the obvious, even when its taped for all to see.
MIAtheistGal December 4th, 2014 at 6:24 pm
I know not all cops are like this, but why aren’t more good ones stepping up? Is it the blue line thing?
I’m so frustrated right now!
Radioman KC December 4th, 2014 at 10:19 pm
Apparently prosecutors are part of the Code of Silence.
M D Reese December 4th, 2014 at 7:51 pm
I’m going to file this under “What the hell else is new”.
Bunya December 4th, 2014 at 8:12 pm
It seems to me cops all over the country have a problem with black folks.
bahlers December 5th, 2014 at 12:33 am
Yet more whites were killed by police last year then blacks, and over the last 50 years a 70% reduction in the number of blacks has occurred.
bahlers December 5th, 2014 at 1:43 am
*killed by police
Radioman KC December 5th, 2014 at 4:17 am
If that’s true, that would make sense. The question is, how many of them could have been avoided with different police tactics? Are local police becoming storm troopers and are the 2a afficionados okay with that?
eaglesfanintn December 5th, 2014 at 2:05 pm
Have some numbers for that? I’m not saying you’re wrong, just curious. I would also wonder how that works out as a percentage of the population groups.
tiredoftea December 4th, 2014 at 8:52 pm
Just another Beaumont TX. day.
Warman1138 December 4th, 2014 at 9:21 pm
It’s like open season for police to do what they want and they don’t care what they do. Because they’re righteous and citizens are (potential) criminals, especially those of color.
Imma Commenter December 5th, 2014 at 1:10 pm
Or not. There’s no requirement that killings by cops get reported nationally. Also, many times they “fudge” things so the numbers fit what they want it to. And lastly, it would make sense because whites are a much higher % of the population…but since there’s no standard for reporting killings by cops no one really knows for sure.
Except the right winger Medved who knows his info isn’t correct but it doesn’t matter because RWNJs will spread that message anyway.
http://www.politifact.com/punditfact/statements/2014/aug/21/michael-medved/talk-show-host-police-kill-more-whites-blacks/
Valerie Henry December 4th, 2014 at 10:00 pm
wow…all I gotta say….I can’t believe this, poor Lady was trying.
Radioman KC December 4th, 2014 at 10:03 pm
Yup, clearly an assault case. Beware of stormtrooper cops with shaved heads. Need feds to go down and take THIS prosecutor out too! When are cops going to go to jail for this kinda stuff?
bahlers December 5th, 2014 at 12:32 am
Someone on here that supports the 2A? I never thought I’d see the day lol
Radioman KC December 5th, 2014 at 4:15 am
Just not walking around Target with it. After all, we know what happens to a black guy walking around Target with a toy gun! Gets jumped by the police.
Danny Wade December 8th, 2014 at 1:58 pm
Tangentially, a shaven head is extremely comfortable and low maintenance.
Radioman KC December 8th, 2014 at 2:57 pm
Well of course it is… but it has some consequences of image that may or may not be INTENDED. It also covers up middle aged baldness that’s seen as pretty nerdy. I hope you’re openminded enough to have figured out what I said without me saying it. If not, then you’re a pretty cut and dried (and shaved) kinda thinker!
Danny Wade December 8th, 2014 at 3:30 pm
I really did mean it tangentially and wasn’t trying to derail. Also, my thinking is as hairy as Chewbacca.
Radioman KC December 8th, 2014 at 4:48 pm
Is ‘tangentially’ today’s word from the high school paperbook, “30 Days to a More Powerful Vocabulary”?
Danny Wade December 8th, 2014 at 4:49 pm
I learned it from listening to neurologists, which does indeed strengthen one’s vocabulary.
Radioman KC December 8th, 2014 at 4:51 pm
Imagine what you could learn if you spent more time listening to gynecologists!
Danny Wade December 8th, 2014 at 5:06 pm
Such as what it smells like in an OR when they use electrocautery to control bleeding during a hysterectomy? I’d pay to unlearn that 😀
Radioman KC December 8th, 2014 at 5:15 pm
I take it if you were in med school, you no longer are!
Luckily, we have people who can handle looking at and helping to repair their fellows’ insides. I’m not sure I could handle it, myself but I know people who can.
searambler December 4th, 2014 at 10:38 pm
It’s truly mind-boggling what cops can get away with these days. Literally everything they do is acceptable to these prosecutors and grand juries. Everything. Anything. Words fail me…..
Ed Eller December 4th, 2014 at 10:48 pm
They should be boiled.
Gayle Jolluck December 5th, 2014 at 1:42 am
fat.bastards
secondlook December 5th, 2014 at 12:50 pm
A poor woman slowly paying off a traffic fine and they think it’s OK to haul her in to begin with?
OldLefty December 5th, 2014 at 1:15 pm
This is why they say, “It’s expensive to be poor”.
How municipalities in St. Louis County, Mo., profit from poverty
http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-watch/wp/2014/09/03/how-st-louis-county-missouri-profits-from-poverty/
How segregation led to speed traps, traffic tickets and distrust outside St. Louis
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/wonkblog/wp/2014/11/26/how-segregation-led-to-speed-traps-traffic-tickets-and-distrust-outside-st-louis/
Meanwhile;
Prison bankers cash in on captive customers
Inmates’ families gouged by fees
http://www.publicintegrity.org/2014/09/30/15761/prison-bankers-cash-captive-customers
Wallace Torbert December 5th, 2014 at 3:59 pm
Skin head Neo Nazis
jazkeys December 5th, 2014 at 4:19 pm
Folks, this happened in the ignorant, illiterate, bigoted, inbred state of TEXAS — no one should be at all surprised by this delicious display of racism and governmental blessing thereof…those knuckle-dragging, neo-Nazi Good Ol’ Boys do love them their black punching bags, and their toothless redneck neighbors praise them for their ability to assault those uppity Darkies. Texas: America’s Cesspool.
canyonlobo December 7th, 2014 at 4:42 am
I have my own way of dealing with those arrogant Texans – I don’t eat at any chain restaurant that is operated out of Texas – there are many. They don’t want the “guvmint” telling them wah to do
but were quick to press for funds after their fertilizer explosion and their brush fires. The truth is that Davy Crocket and John Wayne didn’t beat back the Mexicans at the Alamo – Texas Mexican Americans did! Boycott Texas owned restaurants.
Cindy Conceicao December 30th, 2014 at 8:00 am
That’s a messed up comment. .I’m from Texas and definitely not inbreed. What those officers did was totally messed up and hopefully they lost the right to be officers anywhere else but don’t downgrade the rest of us. You and ppl like you is what’s wrong with the world. One bad apple or a few doesn’t make the entire state worthless. . Shame on you who made you judge and jury
AnthonyLook December 5th, 2014 at 5:52 pm
“It was less than a month after the beating that Jasper’s city council voted to fire Cunningham and Grissom.”
It would be interesting if a journalist would do a follow up story and see where these two are working now and if they merely ended up working for another police force elsewhere (like Cleveland).
Glen Davis December 5th, 2014 at 8:28 pm
Soooooooo, the town admitted culpability with a settlement, the town fired the officers in question, BUT the grand jury found nothing to indict them on…. good old AMERICAN justice in Texas. If it was good old TEXAS justice the two cops would have been taken out and been slapped around themselves!- except that they were white- so they get a pass….
Leeland Hackbarth December 6th, 2014 at 1:08 am
Sadly, this is not the first Jasper race incident I have heard.
Danny Wade December 8th, 2014 at 1:57 pm
Some people get arrested for unpaid traffic citations. Others can’t get themselves arrested even if they beat somebody up in front of a video camera.
We invented the idea of justice. There will be none if we don’t create it.
Stephen Bellinger December 30th, 2014 at 10:20 am
Justice in America… The town admitted culpability with a settlement, The town fired the officers in question, BUT the grand jury found nothing to indict them on… no crime was committed? SMDH.
Regina Taylor December 30th, 2014 at 5:11 pm
She should have gotten 10 times that amount. Those ex cops were ugly and tremendously brutal. My God, they should be under the jail. Pathetic useless grand juries should be banned.
truthseeker2436577@yahoo.com December 30th, 2014 at 5:34 pm
This story is so tragic. The woman was treated brutally by two real thugs in blue. Yet, these crooked cops have not been indicted by the grand jury. This is why people are protesting in the streets demanding change. Sister Keyarika Diggles deserves a whole lot more than $75,000. The grand jury members, who refused to indict the officers, should be totally ashamed of themselves.
John Carter December 31st, 2014 at 12:04 am
Probably went to shake her down for more money and she couldn’t pay. Mafia.
John Carter December 31st, 2014 at 12:05 am
The faces of stupid and brutal. Mark them well.
Darcy Jackson December 31st, 2014 at 1:32 pm
Rest assured that both cowards will be hired by unscrupulous police departments in the very near future not far from where all this happened.
Paula Denmon December 31st, 2014 at 7:17 pm
Jasper is known for bigotry and violence towards minorities. . Even years ago when I grew up in East Texas.
Ceaz Amaze January 24th, 2015 at 12:33 pm
you can clearly see they look like Criminals and they appear to be Violent as well as Horrible Husbands if at all married.they seem like the Abusive type , the Kind this Government would take in . also they look like Military PIGS , they are Savages they still act like they are from their Cave dwelling Days .
Bunny_Power May 28th, 2015 at 12:42 am
for a traffic ticket? WTF?! Once you enter into a payment plan here your warrant for arrest is suspended. Regardless of this ….those arseholes need to be locked up, Im starting to believe that cops in the US are either fat old power crazed creeps or hyped up on steriods!!!