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  • Murder charges filed against third defendant in slaying of Oakland police officer

    Murder charges filed against third defendant in slaying of Oakland police officer

    Alameda County prosecutors have filed murder charges against a third defendant in connection with the fatal shooting of an Oakland police officer, who was killed last month while responding to a report of a burglary, according to the district attorney’s office.

    On Friday, prosecutors filed murder charges against Marquise Cooper in the killing of Officer Tuan Le, 34, officials said. Cooper is being held without bail and is scheduled to have an initial court appearance on Tuesday, jail records show.

    Earlier this month, prosecutors announced they had filed murder charges against Mark Demetrious Sanders, 27, and Allen Starr Brown, 28, for their roles in the killing. A fourth defendant, Sebron Ray Russell, 28, was charged with burglary, according to a statement from Alameda County Dist. Atty. Pamela Price.

    “I will leverage the full weight of my office against these people who we believe ruthlessly and wantonly murdered an officer,” Price said.

    Le, an undercover officer, was shot and killed inside an unmarked police vehicle while responding to a report of a burglary on the morning of Dec. 29, police said. He was 36.

    Oakland Police Officers Assn. President Barry Donelan has described the killing as an ambush, saying that Le and the officer with him, who suffered minor injuries, “were taken entirely by surprise” and “never had an opportunity to draw their service weapons.”

    Born in Vietnam, Le emigrated to Oakland and graduated from the police academy in 2020, according to a tribute posted on the website of the City of Oakland.

    “Officer Le was a devoted husband to his wife,” the tribute reads. “His passing leaves a void in the law enforcement community, the city of Oakland, and in the hearts of those who knew him.”

    Marisa Gerber

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  • Former NFL Star Has Quite The Weed Confession

    Former NFL Star Has Quite The Weed Confession

    PITTSBURGH — Former Pittsburgh Steelers and New York Jets running back Le’Veon Bell says he smoked marijuana before playing some NFL games during his career.

    “That’s what I did,” Bell told Barstool Sports’ “Steel Here” podcast which was published Friday. “When I was playing football, I smoked, bro. Even before the games, I’d smoke and I’d go out there and run for 150 (yards), two (touchdowns).”

    Jersey Jerry, who co-hosts the podcast with Kevin Adams, then asked: “In the NFL?”

    “Yeah,” said the 31-year-old Bell, who hasn’t played in the league since the 2021 season.

    Pittsburgh Steelers running back Le’Veon Bell carries the ball against the Houston Texans on Dec. 25, 2017 in Houston.

    Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

    Bell was suspended twice for violating the NFL’s substance abuse policy while he played for the Steelers. He began his professional career in Pittsburgh in 2013 and became one of the league’s most dynamic and productive players. Bell was a one-time All-Pro and three-time Pro Bowl selection as a dual threat out of the Steelers’ backfield.

    He sat out the 2018 season because of a contract dispute after refusing to sign the franchise tag Pittsburgh used on him for a second straight year. Bell told the podcast the Steelers wanted to guarantee only his first year of a potential extension, but he wanted more than that.

    “Yeah, it was a little petty, the little guarantee stuff,” Bell said. “I’m thinking like, damn, could I have really just ate it? Yeah, I probably could’ve. Probably could’ve really ate it.”

    Le'Veon Bell of the New York Jets signals to fans before a game against the Buffalo Bills in 2019.
    Le’Veon Bell of the New York Jets signals to fans before a game against the Buffalo Bills in 2019.

    Bryan Bennett via Getty Images

    Bell signed a four-year, $52.5 million contract, including $35 million guaranteed, with the New York Jets the following offseason.

    But his tenure with the Jets was disappointing, lasting less than two years before he was released midway through the 2020 season. The running back blasted then-New York coach Adam Gase on the podcast, saying he was a “terrible” play caller.

    “Bro, we get to New York, and that’s when you instantly find out that head coaches make a huge difference,” Bell said. “As soon as I get to New York, I find that out like the first week.”

    Bell said then-quarterback Sam Darnold struggled with knowing the offensive line protections “because he’s so confused about our offense because the coach is confusing him.”

    The Jets went 7-9 in Gase’s first season in 2019 and then 2-14 the next season, leading to the coach being fired.

    “Bro, the team wasn’t that great, don’t get me wrong,” Bell said. “But I feel like if (Steelers) Coach (Mike) Tomlin was coaching that team, we win nine games, at least.”

    Bell had short stints with Kansas City in 2020, and Baltimore and Tampa Bay in 2021 after leaving the Jets. He has run for 6,554 yards and 42 touchdowns in his career, along with catching 399 passes for 3,289 yards and nine scores.

    Despite not playing last season and dabbling in a professional boxing career, Bell said he hasn’t yet officially retired from playing football. He told the podcast he’d like to retire with the Steelers, but wants a chance to get a few carries in the preseason “so I can show y’all” he can still play.

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  • Grand jury indicts deputies in shooting death of young man

    Grand jury indicts deputies in shooting death of young man

    DENVER — A grand jury has indicted two Colorado sheriff’s deputies in the death of a 22-year-old man who was shot after calling 911 for roadside assistance while experiencing what his mother described as a mental health crisis, according to online court records.

    The indictments of former Clear Creek County Sheriff’s deputies Andrew Buen and Kyle Gould were returned Wednesday, five months after Christian Glass was killed by law enforcement. The case has become a flashpoint amid a national outcry for police reforms focused on crisis intervention and de-escalation.

    Charges against the two deputies include second-degree murder, official misconduct, and criminally negligent homicide, according to the court records, which did not provide further details.

    The records did not list a lawyer for either deputy. A telephone message left at a number believed to be Buen’s was not immediately returned. No telephone listing could be found for Gould.

    A federal judge issued warrants for both Buen and Gould, who face bonds of $50,000 and $2,500 respectively, according a press release from Fifth Judicial District Attorney Heidi McCollum, who empaneled the grand jury.

    Nichole Lentz, spokesperson for the Clear Creek County Sheriff, said in a statement that both officers have been terminated following the indictments.

    The sheriff office’s ongoing internal investigation found “policy and procedural failures,” Lentz said, adding that the office’s initial news release following the shooting “does not reflect the entirety of what happened on that terrible night.”

    Late on June 10, Glass called the police because his car had become stuck on an embankment. Body camera videos show Glass refusing to get out of his car while telling police he is “terrified” and making heart shapes with his hands to officers.

    Officers talked to him to try to persuade him to leave the car. After more than an hour of negotiations, police said Glass was being uncooperative and they broke the passenger window and removed a knife from the vehicle.

    Glass offered to throw two knives out of the window but the video shows officers telling him not to.

    Once the window was shattered, Glass seemed to panic and grabbed a second knife. Police then shot Glass with bean bag rounds and shocked him with a stun gun. The footage shows Glass twisting in his seat and thrusting a knife toward an officer who approaches the rear driver window. Then another officer fired his gun, hitting Glass six times, according to the autopsy report.

    During a September news conference, Glass’s mother, Sally Glass, said her son suffered from depression, had recently been diagnosed with ADHD and was “having a mental health episode” and was “petrified” the night he was killed.

    ———

    Jesse Bedayn is a corps member for the Associated Press/Report for America Statehouse News Initiative. Report for America is a nonprofit national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on undercovered issues.

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  • On Jake Paul-Anderson Silva Undercard, It’s Le’Veon Bell Vs. Uriah Hall

    On Jake Paul-Anderson Silva Undercard, It’s Le’Veon Bell Vs. Uriah Hall

    Call it a novelty fight: a football player vs. an MMA fighter in a boxing match.

    Ex-NFL All-Pro running back Le’Veon Bell will face former UFC fighter Uriah Hall as part of the Jake Paul-Anderson Silva undercard on Oct. 29 in Glendale, Arizona. The card — promoted by Paul’s Most Valuable Promotions — will air as a Showtime pay-per-view event.

    Bell and Hall are slated for a 4-round bout at a contracted 195 pounds. Neither competitor can exceed 200 pounds on weigh-in day, and they will wear 10-ounce gloves.

    Although it’s his pro boxing debut, Bell saw action in an exhibition bout when he demolished fellow former running back Adrian Peterson with a fifth-round knockout on Sept. 10. Bell, who played last season for Tampa Bay and Baltimore, announced in the summer that he would be leaving football to pursue a boxing career.

    Paul is now giving Bell his big (boxing) break.

    “As soon as Most Valuable Promotions approached me about joining the Paul-Silva pay-per-view, I told them I want in and didn’t care who the opponent was,” Bell said. “Uriah Hall is going to feel my punching power and tap out like he’s getting submitted. He is not built like me.”

    Bell, 30, is getting in the ring with a combat-sports veteran in Hall, who is a 17-year MMA pro and owns a black belt in Kyokushin Karate.

    Hall, 38, announced his retirement from the UFC in August after losing to Andre Muniz at UFC 276 on July 2, his second consecutive defeat. He spent nine years in the organization.

    Hall has always been a dangerous striker, even as a prospect on The Ultimate Fighter in 2013 when he scored a sensational KO with a spinning hook kick. Hall showcased his power during his UFC career with eight KO/TKO victories, which are tied for the most in the history of the organization’s middleweight division. Anderson Silva and Thiago Silva also have eight.

    Bell had previously called out Paul for a fight, but now Paul sounds excited to put the former NFL star on his card.

    “Adding NFL superstar Le’Veon Bell to the card only increases this fight’s star power and to have him go head-to-head with a fighter as experienced and dangerous as Uriah Hall — it’s going to be fireworks,” Paul said. “Taking on this challenge is proof that Bell, like myself, is serious about professional boxing and after his knockout of Adrian Peterson, he looks like a force to be reckoned with. Hall on the other hand has already proven himself multiple times in the UFC and we know what he is capable of.

    Paul, the YouTuber turned prizefighter with a 5-0 record, will headline the event versus Silva, an MMA legend, who owns the record for most consecutive wins in UFC history (16). And perhaps Paul will consider Bell as future opponent, if the former football player beats Hall and increases his star power.

    Anthony Stitt, Contributor

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