Michael Pigott Commits Suicide

Lt. Michael W. Pigott, 46, a 21-year veteran of the NYPD committed suicide on Thursday Oct. 2, 2008 (his birthday). He leaves behind his wife, Susan, two sons and a daughter. He was the police officer who gave the order to taser Iman Morales, 35, who subsequently fell 10ft off the ledge of his apartment building and died. See the details here. and Learn more about Iman Morales here.

Following Morales' death, Pigott was stripped of his gun and badge and assigned to a job with the department's motor vehicle fleet — a huge demotion for a 21-year veteran who headed the elite team known as the Emergency Services Unit (ESU). Police Officer Nicholas Marchesona, 37, the officer who tasered Morales on orders from Pigott, was also disciplined. He was reassigned to desk duty but was not stripped of his gun and badge. The Brooklyn district attorney's office and the police department are both investigating the incident.

The episode also casts the spotlight on the NYPD's emergency services unit, a team of officers who deal with dozens of hostile scenarios every day, such as hostage situations, suicidal suspects, building collapses and hazardous materials threats.

"These guys are the best of the best, they really are," said Eugene O'Donnell, a professor of police studies at John Jay College of Criminal Justice. "When people need help, they call the police, and when police need help, they call the ESU."

Both Pigott and Marchesona were ordered to undergo counseling. Pigott was remorseful and distraught. He apologized directly to Morales' family saying he was truly sorry for what had happened.

"I am truly sorry for what happened to Mr. Morales," Pigott had said. "I feel terrible about what happened to the man."

He would not discuss the incident, but suggested his career would never be the same.

"I've been a police officer for 21 years," Pigott said. "And I loved being with the Emergency Services Unit."

On Thursday, Oct. 2, the morning of Morales' funeral, Pigott went alone to Floyd Bennett Field, the headquarters of the police Emergency Services unit, in Brooklyn, took a 9-mm Glock from another officer's locker (having been relieved of his own weapon) and committed suicide.

Nearby was a photo of his wife and children and a note. He didn't want his family to see him get arrested, according to sources familiar with the note, and he didn't want anyone to blame Officer Nicholas Marchesano, who fired the Taser at Morales on his order.

Marchesano, who has been on desk duty since the incident, could not be reached Thursday. A police officer posted outside his Staten Island home said no one from the family wanted to talk to reporters.

Reactions to Michael Pigott's Suicide

“The lieutenant was deeply distraught and extremely remorseful over the death of Iman Morales in Brooklyn last week,” Mayor Michael Bloomberg, said at a City Hall news conference. “Sadly, his death just compounds the tragedy of the loss of Mr. Morales.”

"On behalf of all of the members of the New York City Police Department, I extend deepest condolences to the family and friends of Lt. Michael W. Pigott, who served with dedication for 21 years," Police Commissioner Ray Kelly said.

"Lt. Pigott was an outstanding member of that unit who was called upon to make a split second decision which had a tragic result. Contrary to many accounts, that decision did indeed weigh very heavily on him," Thomas R. Sullivan, president of the Lieutenants' Benevolent Association, said in a prepared statement. "It's worth remembering that our police officers are not supermen but rather flesh and blood human beings who deal with life and death situations that most of us cannot even imagine on a daily basis."

"It's horrible," Morales' aunt, Ann DeJesus Negron, said after Morales' funeral at Our Lady of Pompeii Church. "This is not the justice we want. This really disturbs the whole family. This is not something we would want anyone to go through." She continued, “I’m sure he was asking for forgiveness,” she said. “And I’m sure that Iman would want us to forgive.” And, referring to the lieutenant’s family, she added, “I just wish that they find peace and healing and trust in life again.”

“Not your typical police officer,” said Jon O’Shaughnessy, a New York City fire marshal and an old friend. “That’s why he was a lieutenant. He was a very positive, upbeat guy. He could have retired last year.” The friend could say no more: His voice broke, and he began to cry.

Lt. Michael Pigott's Biography

Lt. Michael Pigott earned a bachelor’s degree in Aeronautics from Dowling College and joined the Police Department in 1987 after failing, because of a hearing problem, to become an Air Force pilot. He did become a licensed civilian pilot, however, as well as a motor boat operator. His police work included many years as an officer and a sergeant assigned to the 73rd and 81st precincts in Brooklyn and the 103rd Precinct in Queens.

He joined the Emergency Services Unit, in 2002, whose officers face a wide range of challenges, including rescuing window-washers dangling outside towers and trying to talk people out of killing themselves. He was cited 11 times for excellent police duty and 9 other times for meritorious service.

Lt. Michael W. Pigott and Iman Morales both victims of the Taser!

Eva Daley on Trial

Eva Daley, 31, will never be called the "World's Greatest Mom" or any variation of that title. If fact Eva Daley will be very lucky if she is ever called a "free woman" again. She has been in jail since being accused of helping her 14-year-old son, Mauricio Rivera, and his friends kill 13-year-old Jose "Bobby" Cano on June 25, 2007 in what has been called a gang-related murder. She and one of her son's friends, 17-year-old Heriberto Garcia, are both on trial, jointly charged with first-degree murder. They face 25 years to life, if convicted. See a previous report on this case here.

A total 7 kids ranging in age between 14 and 17 were arrested along with Daley. Six of them: Daley's son, Mauricio Rivera, Juan Bautista, Alejandro Flores, Jakkia Ross, Carlos Jimenez and Edwin Moran have already been tried in juvenile court. All but Flores have pleaded guilty to a charge of manslaughter and can be held in juvenile prison until the age of 26. Flores' sentencing, or disposition as it is called in juvenile court, is scheduled for Oct. 8.

Only 17-year-old Heriberto Garcia has been charged as an adult, meaning he faces the same possible maximum sentence as Daley: 25 years to life in state prison.

It all began on the night of June 25, 2007. Eva Daley is accused of driving the kids around in search of the LT (Latin Thugs) gang members. They wanted revenge after Jose Cano and his gang attacked Daley's home with roadside flares and slapped her, and because Cano had stabbed Daley's son in an incident six months prior, the prosecution alleges. Her son's gang the LMS (Los Marijuana Smokers) had a long standing rivalry with the LTs.

The LMS eventually found members of the LT in a park. Daley stopped her SUV, the kids all piled out, running towards them and a fight ensued. Jose Cano was caught, while trying to flee, by the LMS.

What happened next is described by homicide detective Daniel Mendoza, who testified at the trial. He interviewed Heriberto Garcia who admitted he "poked" the victim with his pocketknife while his cohorts beat the 13-year-old to the ground.

Mendoza said Garcia described all his friends punching and kicking the victim, and some of the other suspects hitting their rival with metal pipes, wood sticks or bats and a weapon Garcia called a "shank," which the defendant described as a piece of metal sharpened at one end.

Garcia went on to describe his part of the attack, saying he stabbed the victim twice, then kicked him several times and punched him.

"We're you concerned that you might have hurt the guy?" Mendoza asked.

"At first (no) Then I realized I hurt him," Garcia said.

"And that's when you put your knife back in your pocket," Mendoza said.

"Yeah," Garcia said.

One of the kids involved in the attack Edwin Moran was interviewed about his role in the fight that night, his comments were recorded by the police and played during the trial.

On the recording Moran claimed he tried to punch the dying Cano when he began to stand up, but missed, and then tried to kick the victim, but missed again, losing his Nike sneaker. He identified the shoe as one of three found at the murder scene by police.

In his interview, Moran said, "(Garcia) said, 'I got him, I shanked that vato.' ... He had blood on his shirt and he was kind of shaking."

That prompted several in the SUV to start yelling at Garcia, Moran told police.

"Somebody else said, 'Why'd you do it, what the f---?'" Moran said in the recording. "People was tripping, I was tripping."

Detectives asked Moran if Daley knew what they were going to do that night and he said, "Yeah, I guess. ... She probably just thought we were going to beat them up."

Later on in the interview, he told police, "She was telling (Garcia), 'Why did you do that?' She said, 'You're f------ nuts, you're going to get caught up.'"

In court Moran claimed he could not remember what happened even after listening to his recorded interview. He insisted he never saw the other defendant do anything to the victim and that he wasn't trying to set Garcia up.

"I know that we didn't intend to go kill anybody," the 18-year-old said.

During the trial the DA also called a local resident who testified he was standing near the alley at Locust Avenue and 14th Street one block east of Pine, when he saw a white Chevy Tahoe stop abruptly at the end of the alley. The witness said he hid behind a palm tree after he saw several boys jump out of the truck and run toward 14th Street. Within two to three minutes, he saw a woman run back toward the truck, followed by the boys, he said.

"The lady came and started the car and she started yelling, 'Let's go, let's go, come on, come on,'" the man said. "I heard one of the boys say, 'We slashed him good.'"

A mother of one of Cano's friends testified that she arrived shortly after the stabbing and found kids passing and carrying the limp and bloody 13-year-old from person to person around the park and street. He was eventually placed in her car, still alive, and she drove him to St. Mary Medical Center where he died, she testified.

Cano was conscious throughout the drive, struggling to breathe and to talk, she recalled.

She identified investigator's photos of her blood-soaked car and said she drove the entire way with one hand on the boy's gushing chest wound, using her free hand to steer and shift gears.

"He was telling me 'LMS, LMS,'" she said. "He was trying to talk, but all that came out was the three words 'LMS.'"

In closing arguments Eva Daley was described by the prosecution as a woman seeking revenge for her son's stabbing last winter. Deputy District Attorney John Lonergan told the jury that Daley knew what the teens planned to do to the rival gang. The jury of 11 women and 1 man will next begin deliberating the fate of Eva Daley and Heriberto Garcia.

A Tribute to Iman Morales - Tasered to Death

Iman Morales, 35, died Sept. 24, 2008. He did not die a natural death. He was tasered while he was on a ledge outside his apartment building and fell 10ft, headfirst to his death. He was a disturbed man who had not taken his medication and according to reports "freaked out". The circumstances, especially the actions of the police, surrounding his death are being investigated.

I posted the facts concerning his demise on this blog. One of his longtime friends happened to read my blog and contacted me. His name is Raul Anthony. I invited Raul to write me and give us all a better understanding of who Iman Morales was. Raul wrote back and I am posting his letter and pictures of Iman here without any further comment, except to say: Thanks to Raul for caring and giving us all an insight into a human being who so tragically lost his life. You are a good friend. God Bless you.

Raul Anthony's Letter

Iman was one of the best friends I ever had...I rarely used the term"best friend" however with him I did.
We had so much fun together dancing and laughing at ourselves  and each-other...we had our own language...some of the most memorable times of my life were spent with Iman.he was so silly and goofy...he was very much like a little boy.he LOVED going to the movies.we had movie nite every Tuesday...rain or shine. he also LOVED Twizzlers and Dr Pepper...that was a must have. he was always stopping to say hello to dogs and cats out on the streets...sometimes he even carried cat food in his bag to feed to strays... he was always concerned about my well being and constantly told me that he believed in me and that I was "super talented" in his own words. he was so generous to me with his kind words and encouragement. I am a make-up artist and have always been one ever since I have known Iman.

I was signed to be represented by Ford artist a few days ago.It has been a dream of mine to be represented by a big agency for the last 10 years...and it finally happened just days after Iman passed away.

I moved to NYC to live with Iman in Sept of 2007...it was his thought that living in NYC and working on my portfolio would be very good for me...I was ready to leave back in March...it was very tough for me to be in NYC...very little money sometimes eating one pack of Ra men noodles a day...extreme whether and the general hostility in the air were we were living in Brooklyn was just too much for me.It was Iman the talked me into staying and finishing what I had started so that when I did go back I would be more "valuable" as an artist and have a really strong book to show...I stayed and worked my ass off to complete my portfolio and came back home to San Francisco on Sept 11 2008...  Iman died on Sept 24 2008 and on Sept 29 2008 I was signed to Ford.

Getting signed was a bit confusing for me because I was happy however I was also very sad that I was not able to call Iman and tell him the great news. because of all the people I know in this world...he would have been the happiest to hear that news....and it would made him smile really big.

Iman wherever you are I want to to know that because of you and your unconditional love for me my future looks brighter than it ever has. I thank you for that from deep down in my heart. thank you for the gift of friendship...it will be cherished within my soul forever. I love you. I miss you.

Always your friend...your brother and one of your soul mates.

Raul

P.S.Thank You Shaun.

Dead Kids Found In Freezer

Renee Bowman, 43, of Lusby, Md is now in police custody. While investigating child abuse allegations involving her 7-year-old adopted daughter, authorities made a gruesome find. In her basement was a freezer containing the frozen remains of two other girls, aged 9 and 11, both of whom had been adopted by Bowman. She is charged with first-degree child abuse and is being held without bail while murder charges are being considered.

It all began when a neighbor Phillip Garrett found the 7-year-old girl wandering the neighborhood, injured and hungry in a blood- and feces-soaked nightshirt. She explained that she had escaped from a locked bedroom by jumping out a second-story window of her mother's house.

"I asked if she was OK. She said no," said neighbor Phillip Garrett, who found the girl walking down the street. "She said, 'My mother beats me to death all the time."'

Garrett, 21, who lives two houses down from Bowman, said he brought the girl to a neighbor's house, called 911 and ordered her a pizza. She indicated she had last eaten on Tuesday when her father was at the home, said Garrett, who realized he had met her mother once and described her as "frazzled."

The little girl had open sores and lesions on her buttocks and lower thighs, marks on her neck made by a cord, rope or other item and bruises on her hands and lips, police said. She told investigators her mother beat her with the heel of a blood soaked shoe. She was taken to hospital. The Maryland Department of Human Resources plans to petition the court to gain custody, said Nancy Lineman, an agency spokeswoman.

When police went to Bowman's home, there was no-one there. It wasn't until later that day when Bowman returned to find her daughter missing that she went to the police station. When she arrived at the police station she was questioned about the abuse of her 7-year-old daughter.

Under questioning Bowman admitted that he had beaten her daughter. She said she was angry over her daughter's mental capacity and was stressed out and she (Bowman) was out of control and needed help.

The 7-year-old had previously mentioned that she had two sisters who were both dead, killed by Bowman. When Bowman was questioned about the other girls she admitted that they were in a freezer in her basement. The police got a warrant to search Bowman's house on Pawnee Lane.

They found the bodies of the two girls, one 9-years-old and the other 11-years-old, encased in ice stuffed in the freezer. Police are still piecing together a timeline for the family, but believe the two girls were killed in Montgomery County one to two years ago. Their frozen bodies may have been transported in a freezer when Bowman moved more than an hour away to Lusby in February.



Sheriff Mike Evans said the surviving girl was never enrolled in Calvert County Schools and that no trouble had ever been reported at the house. Bowman's only contact with the sheriff's department since she arrived was a traffic stop.

Evans said Bowman had a boyfriend who was cooperating with investigators. The boyfriend was a potential witness, but Evans would not comment on whether he was a suspect. He said the man did not live with Bowman and was not a father to her children.

Bowman adopted the oldest girl in July 2001, D.C. officials said. Three years later, she adopted the girl who would now be 9 and her 7-year-old sister. She is not biologically related to them.

Texas Style Justice

Jose Luis Gonzalez, 63, was found not guilty of the murder of unarmed 13-year-old Francisco Anguiano, who he shot in the back. The week-long trial took place in the Texas border town of Laredo. It took the jury of 8 men and 4 women, just three hours to determine Gonzalez' innocence. In fact many people in town thought that he should not even have been arrested let alone put on trial.

“I thank God and my attorney, the jury and the judge,” Gonzalez said in Spanish after the verdict. “It was a case where it was my life or theirs, and it's a very good thing that (the jurors) decided in my favor.”

It all began in July 2007 when four young boys, ranging in age from 11 to 14, broke into Gonzalez' mobile home looking for snacks. Gonzalez, who had endured several previous break-ins at his trailer, was in a nearby building, came over and confronted the boys with a 16-gauge shotgun.

He then forced the boys, who were unarmed, to their knees. The boys say they were begging for forgiveness when Gonzalez hit them with the barrel of the shotgun and kicked them repeatedly. It was at this point that Francisco Anguiano was shot in the back at close range.

Gonzalez said he had the juveniles on the ground and was trying to keep them at bay with a shotgun when Anguiano made a sudden movement toward his feet. Gonzalez perceived the teen to be lunging for him and he fired the weapon into Anguiano's back, claiming he feared for his life.

According to one of the boys, Jesus Soto Jr., now 16, Gonzalez then ordered them at gunpoint to take Anguiano's body outside. Found on Francisco's body were two mashed Twinkies and some cookies that were stuffed into the pockets of his shorts.

Gonzalez said he was sorry for Anguiano's death, but "it was a situation in which I feared for my life."

Texas law allows homeowners to use deadly force to protect themselves and their property.

"I feel vindicated for Mr. Gonzalez and his family and for all of the homeowners and all of the seniors in Laredo," said Isidro "Chilo" Alaniz, Gonzalez's attorney. "This case has huge implications across the board. We always, always believed in Mr. Gonzalez's right to defend his life and his property."

However, Assistant District Attorney Uriel Druker maintained during his closing arguments that the case was not about homeowners' right to protect their property, but about when a person is justified in using deadly force to do so.

"What really took place here was a case of vigilantism," he said after the verdict. "A 13-year-old boy was killed because a man was enraged."

“This case was never about homeowners versus criminals. The evidence in this case was compelling enough to show that wasn't the case at all,” he said. “I think the message that was revealed is that it's OK for a person to take the law into their own hands.”

Francisco Anguiano's aunt, who asked not to be named, said in Saturday's editions of the Laredo Morning Times that she was disappointed with the verdict.

"The state fought the case the way it should have," she said. "There was a sufficient amount of evidence, and I thought that some of the jurors would be a father or a mother, and perhaps they would think about this happening to them."

In Texas, the state that made frontier justice famous, the right to use deadly force to protect your life and property is sacred. When Gonzalez entered the trailer, he had no idea who was inside and if the intruders were armed.

"These kids were inside his house," said food distributor Francisco Hernandez, noting a homeowner wouldn't know "if they're there to steal potato chips or to stab you. He really shouldn't be on trial."

Many people in Laredo defended Gonzalez's actions. In online responses to articles published by the Morning Times, comments included statements such as: "The kid got what he deserved“ and calls to "stop the unfair prosecution.“