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| Chris Blevins |
The Alabama deputy who beat and pepper sprayed me inside our own home -- and helped cause me to spend "five months in jail for blogging" -- has died.
Chris Blevins died on July 25, 2022, at age 48. From his obituary:
After graduating from Erwin High School, [Chris] went on to graduate from the Birmingham Police Academy in 1996 where he remained until 1999. That year he joined the Shelby County Sheriff’s office where he worked as a Field Training Officer and on the Tactical Response Unit. Chris received the Medal of Valor in 2005 for his actions in attempting to save a drowning person who was fleeing apprehension. He was known for his calm demeanor even during times of tremendous stress and would receive numerous commendations over his 26 years as a law enforcement officer. In 2015 he was awarded Officer of the Year.
Blevins was good at his job, and his survivors include a wife and two daughters.
Blevins looked like a strong fellow, and I can confirm that he was powerful. It's always sad when someone dies too young, perhaps unexpectedly. I've tried not to hold ill will toward Blevins. I'm not sure I've always been successful on that front, but I suspect his actions in our home come under the heading of "following orders from someone above." I doubt Blevins ever made another arrest like mine in his career.
The order giver should have known that such an arrest was unlawful, per Payton v. New York (U.S. Sup. Ct., 1980). And it put Alabama on par with Russia, Uganda, Iran, Iraq, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, and other rogue states when it comes to arresting journalists. I'm sure it wasn't part of Blevins' duty to make determinations on such legal issues, so it's probably fair to say he was just doing his job.
In his obit, I could not help but notice that Blevins was an animal lover -- with one dog and three cats. Mrs. Schnauzer and I have had one dog and three cats over the years.
In our brief time together, I wish Blevins and I could have spent time swapping stories about our pets. That's not the way it worked out, but I'm sorry to learn of his passing. Our sympathies go out to his family and friends, including his four-legged friends.
It would be understandable if you did hold a bit of a grudge. When he beat you up he must have known that his actions were uncalled for at the least.
ReplyDeleteBut letting go of bitterness is the right thing for you to do.
I hope you are able to get justice against those crooks who orchestrated the destruction of your and Carol’s life.
"Two Indiana officers were suspended after a stunning courtroom revelation that police thought a potential town council candidate was anti-police and arrested him, stopping him from running for office.
ReplyDeleteDuring a July 19 hearing, Franklin County Prosecutor Chris Huerkamp dropped charges that included drug possession against Trevin Thalheimer after an officer and witness recounted how Brookville police talked about Thalheimer. Huerkamp, who also did not pursue a rape charge police had investigated, said he was “disturbed beyond words” by the alleged police conduct and reported the incident to the Indiana State Police, which launched a criminal investigation. The transcript of the hearing was made public Monday."
https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2022/08/10/indiana-police-arrest-political-candidate/
"Thalheimer said he is looking into pursuing a civil rights claim against the police department, at a time when the Supreme Court has made it easier to sue police over wrongful arrests. Thalheimer said he had never considered himself anti-police before this experience. He said he and his criminal defense attorney, Judson McMillin, have wondered whether the police were concerned that he would have been in favor of requiring officers to wear body cameras."