The Other McCain

"One should either write ruthlessly what one believes to be the truth, or else shut up." — Arthur Koestler

Miami-Dade Schools Could Have Saved Travyon Martin’s Life by Arresting Him

Posted on | July 15, 2013 | 139 Comments

Leniency is not always mercy when dealing with juvenile delinquents, and I say this on the basis of my own experience of having been a teenage dopehead in the ’70s. My hoodlum buddies got away with a lot of stuff, but we also caught a time or two, and Sheriff Earl Lee was not the kind of man a dopehead hoodlum could take lightly.

Anyway, I hadn’t followed every detail of the Trayvon Martin story, which meant I missed one of the biggest untold aspects of the story: How a see-no-evil policy by Miami-Dade Schools resulted in Trayvon getting off lightly — suspended from school for criminal acts that should have gotten him arrested.

The Last Refuge has been trying to call attention to this story for months, but of course, the mainstream media wouldn’t touch it because it looked like a story about demonizing the dead kid. (Mark Steyn had some harsh comments about the beatification of St. Trayvon, if you’re interested.) But I never noticed this angle until Pamela Geller blogged it Sunday and, the more I read about it, the more I realized that this isn’t so much about Trayvon being a hoodlum. No, this is a story about bureaucrats trying to game the system, and pretend that there was less crime in the Miami-Dade schools than there actually was. The villain in this story isn’t a racist, just a disgraced cop:

The February 2012 shooting death of 17-year-old Trayvon Martion might never have happened if school officials in Miami-Dade County had not instituted an unofficial policy of treating crimes as school disciplinary infractions. Revelations that emerged from an internal affairs investigation explain why Martin was not arrested when caught at school with stolen jewerly in October 2011 or with marijuana in February 2012. Instead, the teenager was suspended from school, the last time just days before he was shot dead by George Zimmerman.
Trayvon Martin was not from Sanford, the town north of Orlando where he was shot in 2012 and where a jury acquitted Zimmerman of murder charges Saturday. Martin was from Miami Gardens, more than 200 miles away, and had come to Sanford to stay with his father’s girlfriend Brandy Green at her home in the townhouse community where Zimmerman was in charge of the neighborhood watch. Trayvon was staying with Green after he had been suspended for the second time in six months from Krop High School in Miami-Dade County, where both his father, Tracy Martin, and mother, Sybrina Fulton, lived.
Both of Trayvon’s suspensions during his junior year at Krop High involved crimes that could have led to his prosecution as a juvenile offender. However, Chief Charles Hurley of the Miami-Dade School Police Department (MDSPD) in 2010 had implemented a policy that reduced the number of criiminal reports, manipulating statistics to create the appearance of a reduction in crime within the school system. Less than two weeks before Martin’s death, the school system commended Chief Hurley for “decreasing school-related juvenile delinquency by an impressive 60 percent for the last six months of 2011.” What was actually happening was that crimes were not being reported as crimes, but instead treated as disciplinary infractions. . . .

Read the whole thing at The American Spectator. Leniency is not always mercy, and going to jail is better than getting shot.

UPDATE: The Last Refuge today published a recap of their excellent work in chronicling the Miami-Dade School Police cover-up.

What is interesting is that the Miami Herald, which first broke the story in March 2012, has failed to follow up on Frances Robles’ original report, and we naturally suspect political correctness as the explanation. Maybe you could talk to Frances Robles on Twitter.

She’s now with the New York Times.

 


Comments

139 Responses to “Miami-Dade Schools Could Have Saved Travyon Martin’s Life by Arresting Him”

  1. Dianna Deeley
    July 15th, 2013 @ 12:53 pm

    Stacy! Congratulations, you’ve been mentioned by Rush!

    With any luck, they’ll go visit the American Spectator, then come here and hit the tip jar!

  2. TsT
    July 15th, 2013 @ 1:00 pm

    TY 4 the heads up

  3. LoriKreitman
    July 15th, 2013 @ 1:09 pm

    Miami-Dade Schools Could Have Saved Travyon Martin’s Life by Arresting Him http://t.co/kYi4Ru3GB7

  4. Mm
    July 15th, 2013 @ 1:11 pm

    Yup – just heard it, too!

  5. robcrawford2
    July 15th, 2013 @ 1:24 pm

    The solicitation of drugs and illegal possession of a firearm weren’t enough evidence?

  6. robcrawford2
    July 15th, 2013 @ 1:24 pm

    Well, Lisa would have been too high to read it.

  7. robcrawford2
    July 15th, 2013 @ 1:25 pm

    Remember that the feds have been making noises about racial quotas for school discipline.

  8. Hardline_Stance
    July 15th, 2013 @ 1:53 pm

    Miami-Dade schools could have saved #Travyon ‘s life by arresting him … http://t.co/U9kpUQdihj

  9. Hardline_Stance
    July 15th, 2013 @ 1:56 pm

    Must read ==> Miami-Dade public schools could have SAVED Travyon ‘s life by arresting him … http://t.co/U9kpUQdihj

  10. MMcLeieer
    July 15th, 2013 @ 1:57 pm

    RT @Hardline_Stance: Must read ==> Miami-Dade public schools could have SAVED Travyon ‘s life by arresting him … http://t.co/U9kpUQdihj

  11. primetimecrime
    July 15th, 2013 @ 1:59 pm

    RT @Hardline_Stance: Must read ==> Miami-Dade public schools could have SAVED Travyon ‘s life by arresting him … http://t.co/U9kpUQdihj

  12. Another story the media will never tell. Why Miami-Dade schools could have saved Trayvon Martin | The Daley Gator
    July 15th, 2013 @ 2:01 pm

    […] The Other McCain looks into an angle of the Trayvon Martin case that I would bet you have not heard […]

  13. Aaron "Worthing" Walker
    July 15th, 2013 @ 2:04 pm

    It would be so illegal, that there would be a massive investigation. if it was a lawyer, disbarred. and lawyer or not, likely charged with a crime.

  14. GuyMonzeglio
    July 15th, 2013 @ 2:23 pm

    Miami-Dade Schools Could Have Saved Travyon Martin’s Life by Arresting Him http://t.co/3uABnb3FG1 #tcot #irs #benghazi #teaparty #NoJustice

  15. staylormusic
    July 15th, 2013 @ 2:29 pm

    RT @Hardline_Stance: Must read ==> Miami-Dade public schools could have SAVED Travyon ‘s life by arresting him … http://t.co/U9kpUQdihj

  16. ConsrvMomOf3
    July 15th, 2013 @ 2:46 pm

    RT @Hardline_Stance: Miami-Dade schools could have saved #Travyon ‘s life by arresting him … http://t.co/U9kpUQdihj

  17. Richard McEnroe
    July 15th, 2013 @ 2:53 pm

    Investigated by whom? The DOJ? The state and city officials who wrecked the careers of good men who refused to cooperate with their corrupt show trial? Those people?

  18. Cube
    July 15th, 2013 @ 3:29 pm

    Try this for racial equality – the same rules apply equally to everyone. If some groups are then disciplined more than others, that says something about the law-abiding nature of the various groups relative to each other. When the facts aren’t hidden behind a smokescreen of political correctness then we can make good choices based on those facts. Honest dialog – what a concept.

    Note that there is nothing inherently racial about this. If it wipes out the meal tickets of a bunch of race hustlers and guilty liberals, that’s just too bad. Want to be relevant, try doing something useful.

  19. K-Bob
    July 15th, 2013 @ 3:54 pm

    It wasn’t just the pothead aspect that made him a “troubled” youth. High schools are full of potheads who don’t steal from each other or act like thugs.

    In America, potheads can go on to become President. Let’s just say that Mr. Martin had chosen a different path.

  20. ZION'S TRUMPET » Trayvon Martin Should have been in Jail Instead of Sanford Florida
    July 15th, 2013 @ 3:54 pm

    […] Miami-Dade Schools Could Have Saved Travyon Martin’s Life by Arresting Him […]

  21. K-Bob
    July 15th, 2013 @ 4:00 pm

    That apparently all the vast majority of people who wear hoodies are now racist or something because now only black thugs get to wear them. Or something.

    Sorry. I just don’t get the hoodie obsession of these race hustlers. I’m not giving up my hoodie or peanut butter sandwiches.

    It’s bad enough that white people have been killed for wearing FUBU clothes.

  22. Evi L. Bloggerlady
    July 15th, 2013 @ 4:01 pm

    Is Lisa in Washington or Colorado now? Party on Lisa, Party on!

  23. K-Bob
    July 15th, 2013 @ 4:02 pm

    They should come here. The comment section isn’t a swamp like it is there.

  24. Evi L. Bloggerlady
    July 15th, 2013 @ 4:02 pm

    So it is better to channel your anger in a passive aggressive way and go for scuttling the greatest nation on Earth.

    That takes ambition!

  25. K-Bob
    July 15th, 2013 @ 4:05 pm

    Although it’s a LOT better than places like Breitbart or Politico.

  26. joethefatman
    July 15th, 2013 @ 4:10 pm

    I’ve quit going to Breitbart, way too many autoplay vids. I’ve never been a Politico fan, so I’ve never seen their comments.

  27. K-Bob
    July 15th, 2013 @ 4:17 pm

    By the way folks, yet another poorly covered topic in the media is the phenomenon of homemade drug cocktails involving drugs like cough syrup, skittles and fruit beverages like the Arizona brand Martin was carrying.

    I know most of you all have seen it mentioned, but no one has the complete rundown on the stuff like Doug Ross (the Economy Charts Boss). Go check out Doug’s article on “Lean”. It goes to Martin’s state of mind, and people are being all too dismissive of it, based on what is known about the abuse of these drugs.

    Martin was clearly a young man spiraling down a path of self-destruction. As Stacy’s article shows, he could have been saved if all of the people acting like they care about him today had actually cared about him before he was sent to live with his Dad’s girlfriend.

  28. Frances_D
    July 15th, 2013 @ 4:35 pm

    Miami-Dade Schools Could Have Saved Travyon Martin’s Life by Arresting Him http://t.co/wLbEI5O16l

  29. marymauldin
    July 15th, 2013 @ 4:35 pm

    “@Frances_D: Miami-Dade Schools Could Have Saved Travyon Martin’s Life by Arresting Him http://t.co/80rzsNZvDe”

  30. PhilJustTalking
    July 15th, 2013 @ 4:36 pm

    RT @marymauldin: “@Frances_D: Miami-Dade Schools Could Have Saved Travyon Martin’s Life by Arresting Him http://t.co/80rzsNZvDe”

  31. Frances_D
    July 15th, 2013 @ 4:48 pm

    RT @marymauldin: “@Frances_D: Miami-Dade Schools Could Have Saved Travyon Martin’s Life by Arresting Him http://t.co/80rzsNZvDe”

  32. Cuco3
    July 15th, 2013 @ 4:51 pm

    RT @marymauldin: “@Frances_D: Miami-Dade Schools Could Have Saved Travyon Martin’s Life by Arresting Him http://t.co/80rzsNZvDe”

  33. AGFELPASO
    July 15th, 2013 @ 4:55 pm

    RT @marymauldin: “@Frances_D: Miami-Dade Schools Could Have Saved Travyon Martin’s Life by Arresting Him http://t.co/80rzsNZvDe”

  34. Im4theUSA
    July 15th, 2013 @ 4:58 pm

    RT @marymauldin: “@Frances_D: Miami-Dade Schools Could Have Saved Travyon Martin’s Life by Arresting Him http://t.co/80rzsNZvDe”

  35. patriciawilley
    July 15th, 2013 @ 5:01 pm

    Miami-Dade Schools Could Have Saved Travyon Martin’s Life by Arresting Him The Other McCain – http://t.co/Yazqcb0fIW #p2 #TCOT #PJNET #p2b

  36. QueenGrannyBee
    July 15th, 2013 @ 5:02 pm

    RT @marymauldin: “@Frances_D: Miami-Dade Schools Could Have Saved Travyon Martin’s Life by Arresting Him http://t.co/80rzsNZvDe”

  37. ‘Little Trayvon’ And The System That Killed Him | Regular Right Guy
    July 15th, 2013 @ 5:19 pm

    […] The Other McCain via American Spectator: […]

  38. DudgeOHPolitix
    July 15th, 2013 @ 6:04 pm

    “So…let me get this straight. We have “zero tolerance” policies wherein an Eagle Scout and…” — Modern Comments http://t.co/V0F1tjMyaR

  39. thatMrGguy
    July 15th, 2013 @ 6:06 pm

    Miami-Dade Schools Could Have Saved Travyon Martin’s Life by Arresting Him http://t.co/QgkqLB35Dm

  40. BillPeriman
    July 15th, 2013 @ 6:14 pm

    Miami-Dade Schools Could Have Saved Travyon Martin’s Life by Arresting Him http://t.co/e5eDLv29aV

  41. postaldog
    July 15th, 2013 @ 6:16 pm

    Apparantly not, for either the media or the father who had blinders on about his son’s dangerous downward spiral.

  42. Godskittypatt
    July 15th, 2013 @ 6:16 pm

    RT @BillPeriman: Miami-Dade Schools Could Have Saved Travyon Martin’s Life by Arresting Him http://t.co/e5eDLv29aV

  43. K-Bob
    July 15th, 2013 @ 6:18 pm

    Autoplay – the blinking font of the new masters of the web.

  44. K-Bob
    July 15th, 2013 @ 6:19 pm

    Heh. It’s the only “work” for which he ever deigned to show up.

  45. concern00
    July 15th, 2013 @ 6:32 pm

    Fred has a great article on disparate impact, which is exactly what this is.

    http://www.fredoneverything.net/AsiaSchools.shtml

  46. Finrod Felagund
    July 15th, 2013 @ 6:44 pm

    Eventually the only proper investigations will be done by citizens with torches and pitchforks, sadly.

  47. Finrod Felagund
    July 15th, 2013 @ 6:47 pm

    In a world of legal marijuana, pot wouldn’t be cool for the punks so they’d get into crack or smack or other such.

  48. Finrod Felagund
    July 15th, 2013 @ 6:48 pm

    We’re on three presidents in a row now that have admitted openly or tacitly that they’ve smoked pot.

    Heck, even Sarah Palin said she tried it once, when it was legal in Alaska.

  49. Wombat_socho
    July 15th, 2013 @ 6:48 pm

    Uh, what?

  50. Finrod Felagund
    July 15th, 2013 @ 6:50 pm

    Frankly, I thought the stolen jewelry and possession of what was clearly burglary tools was more damning. Lots of potheads aren’t thieves.