Midwest
Wild Oklahoma dashcam video shows trooper thrown from side of highway crash
The Oklahoma Highway Patrol released gnarly dash camera video capturing the moments a trooper was speaking to the driver of his traffic stop when another vehicle crashed into them.
“This video is difficult to watch,” Oklahoma Highway Patrol wrote on Facebook Wednesday, sharing the graphic footage.
It shows the moments Trooper Jesse Gregory came to the passenger side of a vehicle as he conducted a traffic stop on Thursday along I-40 at Cimarron Road.
While Gregory was speaking to the driver, another vehicle crashed into the stopped vehicle, which struck the trooper and sent him flying. The trooper is tossed along the ground and rolls over before he miraculously somehow gets up and runs out of frame. At the same time, the stopped vehicle is knocked aside, and the other is seen flipping over several times.
“We show this video as a graphic reminder of the consequences of distracted or impaired driving and the importance of the slow down, move over law,” Oklahoma Highway Patrol wrote. “We are in the middle of a distracted driving emphasis right now in honor of Trooper Nicholas Dees, who lost his life in the line of duty after being struck by a distracted driver.”
“Luckily, Trooper Gregory is expected to be OK. In fact, all three people involved in this incident were treated and released,” Oklahoma Highway Patrol added. “Our investigators are looking into the cause of this crash and the investigation is ongoing.”
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Oklahoma Trooper Jesse Gregory miraculously was not seriously injured when a vehicle crashed into another as he was conducting a traffic stop last week. (Oklahoma Highway Patrol )
In an interview with KWTV aired Wednesday night, Gregory said that “after watching the video, I don’t even remember barrel-rolling to my feet.”
“When it threw me from the vehicle, I think it really just took most of the blow, most of the damage,” he said, showing a scratch on his left forearm to the camera.
“Hopefully, this is my scare of the career,” Gregory said, crediting God for him and the other two drivers making it out unscathed.
But the incident last Thursday was not Gregory’s first scare this year. Earlier this month, a driver barreled into a Canadian County Sheriff’s deputy conducting another traffic stop.
And Gregory was at that scene. Dash camera footage shows Gregory running up to Deputy Jose Tayahua-Mendoza, who was sprawled on the ground, yelling, “Hey, are you OK, brother?”
Mendoza was standing on the passenger side of that car he had stopped for a tag display violation on Jan. 5 along I-40 and Garth Brooks Boulevard when a vehicle veered off the interstate. Authorities say the vehicle sideswiped the deputy’s truck and hit the stopped car. The force was so great that the vehicle then careened through the highway sound barrier wall.
Sheriff’s Deputy Jose Tayahua-Mendoza, 46, of Mustang, Oklahoma, was injured when a vehicle veered off the interstate and struck a vehicle the deputy had stopped along I-40, in Canadian County, Oklahoma, according to authorities. (Canadian County Sheriff’s Office)
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“And he’s actually our neighbor. He lives a couple houses down,” Gregory told KWTV of Mendoza, who is in a long-term rehabilitation facility but survived the crash. “He was struck in the exact same situation. I was less than a mile from him, and I was actually first on scene and called for help.”
“When something like this happens to two law enforcement officers within the same month, you know, this was a month’s period that two of us were struck, in the same county within, I would say, two to three miles of each other is pretty crazy,” Gregory said.
Oklahoma Trooper Nicholas Dees died in the line of duty on Jan. 31, 2015. (Oklahoma Highway Patrol)
“I’m ready to come back and just kind of work through it because I know it’s going to take a little bit mentally to come back.”
Investigations into both crashes are ongoing. The two drivers in the Jan. 5 crash that injured Mendoza also survived, and the driver who was initially stopped by Mendoza is the son of Oklahoma Senate President Pro Tempore Greg Treat. In a statement to KWTV, Treat said his son was released from the hospital on Wednesday.
“While the healing process will take time, he has recovered remarkably well for the type of life threatening accident he was in,” Treat said, thanking first responders and medical staff.
Treat initially confirmed his son was involved in the crash in posts on X. “For anyone who is unaware, my oldest son, Mason, was in a very serious car accident Friday morning while on his way to school after being pulled over for a minor traffic violation,” Treat wrote on Jan. 6. “Mason suffered serious, life-threatening injuries, which required surgery. He is still in the hospital and is thankfully recovering. Maressa and I are beyond grateful for all of the outreach and support.”
Oklahoma Highway Patrol referenced the Jan. 31, 2015, death of Trooper Nicholas Dees, who, along with another troop, was dispatched to a collision involving a tractor-trailer on Interstate 40 in Seminole County.
Both troopers were standing outside their patrol units when a driver failed to yield to their warning lights, traveled into the collision scene and struck both of them. Dees died instantly, while the other trooper was seriously injured. The driver was convicted of first degree manslaughter and sentenced to 12 years suspended, except for the first five years.
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Detroit, MI
Fired Detroit TV anchor Taryn Asher files sex discrimination lawsuit against old station, claims new GM protected men
A fired Detroit TV news anchor blasted her former station, and their parent company, for letting her male colleagues’ bad behavior slide and then axing her when she complained about the unfair treatment, a new lawsuit claims.
Taryn Asher filed the federal sexual discrimination lawsuit on Wednesday against Fox Television Stations and her former workplace, WJBK TV, known as Fox 2 Detroit, in connection with her sudden termination in November.
The station went downhill after Fox 2 hired Paul McGonagle as their general manager — sparking a slew of female firings, while men, including Asher’s co-anchor Roop Raj, were offered more perks, the 26-page complaint obtained by The Post alleged.
“If Asher had not been female, she would not have been treated in the same discriminatory manner,” the filing, first reported by Deadline Detroit, said.
Raj was treated “more favorably” and offered “more guest interview segment opportunities on the evening news,” as well as scheduling adjustments, Asher claimed.
In one example, Asher alleged the station refused to let her adjust her schedule to host a show called “Let it Rip,” though Raj was given the leeway to host his show, “The Pulse.”
The suit also alleged that WJBK allowed him to “circumvent and undermine” Asher’s work responsibilities.
She later emailed McGonagle about the situation, writing, “I’m concerned about the lack of balance and equity, particularly compared to my co-anchor who holds the same responsibilities but has a more accommodating schedule.”
McGonagle met with Asher to tell her she would not be adjusting the schedule, and her new program would be put on hold, according to court papers.
An Emmy award-winning veteran broadcast journalist, Asher claimed that Raj had also been assigned all of the guest interviews they were supposed to split for Election Day, court documents said.
After complaining to management to no avail, Asher decided to speak with the co-anchor about her concerns that he was receiving “preferable treatment.”
The next day, Raj contacted human resources and “offensively labeled Asher as ‘jealous,’ and grossly mischaracterized Asher’s complaints of sex-based discrimination as Asher ‘[having] an issue with men vs. women,” court papers claim.
Shortly after, Asher was placed on leave “pending an investigation into alleged complaints of ‘egregious behavior’” with her Fox colleagues — and fired after a two-week probe for “outbursts” in the newsroom, the lawsuit said.
Asher denied having any such “outbursts” that warranted her to be fired, according to court papers.
Several male employees at the station had also exhibited “unprofessional behavior and misconduct” with lesser consequences, the filing alleged.
Among the examples, Raj was allegedly “merely suspended” for two weeks after being arrested for driving under the influence in 2012, and McGonagle was also allegedly promoted after a DUI arrest at a different Fox station.
Asher is seeking unspecified damages from Fox Television Stations and WJBK TV.
The action followed the longtime Detroit anchor’s complaint with the US Equal Employment Opportunity Commission that was subjected to “less favorable treatment” than male employees.
Neither Fox, McGonagle, nor Raj responded to The Post’s request for comment.
Milwaukee, WI
Friends, family gather to remember gunshot victim Pepe Sikisi-Belle Jr.
Tears, prayers, songs and memories filled the Lancaster Elementary School parking lot June 2 as family, friends and fellow members of S.I.G. Youth Fraternity, Inc. gathered at a Blackout Community memorial to honor Pepe Sikisi-Belle Jr.
Sikisi-Belle, 22, was killed May 30 during a birthday party for his son at Center Street Park in Milwaukee. During the private memorial, loved ones shared stories of the Milwaukee man, who was known within the fraternity as “House Party.”
‘He was the life of the party’
The memorial was emceed by fellow S.I.G. Youth Fraternity member Juanie Johnson, who said he had known Sikisi-Belle, a father of three, since he was a freshman.
“I actually pledged him into [S.I.G. Youth Fraternity], so I’ve had the opportunity to work with Pepe since he was in ninth grade,” Johnson said. “Like we said, we’re here to celebrate his life. This is what we do when one of our members passes. Just remember that although he’s gone, he will forever live in our hearts.”
Several fraternity brothers remembered Sikisi-Belle as the ‘life of the party’ who regularly checked on friends and family.
Speakers said Sikisi-Belle’s fraternity name, “House Party,” reflected not only his outgoing personality but also the comfort he provided to others. One fraternity member described him as a sincere soul who was always there for those around him, while others recalled his playful side and said he was known for teasing and trolling his friends.
One of Sikisi-Belle’s fraternity line brothers was too emotional to speak during the memorial, so Johnson spoke on his behalf.
“They were like two peas in a pod. They gave me a headache,” Johnson said. “They used to always get in trouble together, but to know Pepe is to love Pepe. He was always the life of the party, the spirit of the party, and he used to call me every morning just to be like, ‘You good, bro?’”
Sikisi-Belle’s parents also attended the memorial and shared remarks about their son.
“I miss my son,” said Marissa Bopilo, Sikisi-Belle’s mother. “I know that he loves y’all very, very much, and he’ll live on with us for the rest of our lives.”
Bopilo said she hopes those responsible for her son’s death are brought to justice.
“He was the life of the party, and he was definitely loved by many,” Bopilo said after the memorial. “I’m hoping things move forward with the situation. I’m hoping that we get justice.”
Members of the organization blew out candles one by one in honor of Sikisi-Belle before closing the memorial with a song.
Sikisi-Belle died from multiple gunshot wounds
At 6:47 p.m. May 30, Milwaukee County Sheriff’s Office deputies responded to Center Street Park, 420 W. Clarke St., for reports of a shooting.
When authorities arrived, they found Sikisi-Belle dead from at least two gunshot wounds to his upper torso, according to the Milwaukee County Sheriff’s Office.
A 25-year-old Milwaukee woman was arrested at the scene in connection with the shooting. MCSO said the woman knew Sikisi-Belle and was found with two firearms in her possession.
As of June 3, no criminal charges had been filed in the case.
Adrienne Davis is a south suburban reporter for the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Got any tips or stories to share? Contact Adrienne at amdavis@gannett.com. Follow her on X at @AdriReportss.
Minneapolis, MN
Minneapolis leaders split over ShotSpotter contract
Minneapolis leaders are divided over whether to keep paying for ShotSpotter as the city weighs a new contract for the gunfire detection system.
A public hearing at City Hall focused on the technology as Minneapolis negotiates a new contract with SoundThinking, the company that provides ShotSpotter. Deputy Chief of Investigations Travis Riddle told the council the system supports gun violence strategies and can alert police no later than 60 seconds after shots are fired.
Critics at the hearing said the technology is not proven enough and argued the money could be spent in other ways. The proposed deal would cost $3.7 million through 2029 and would expand ShotSpotter into new areas of Minneapolis.
“We have actually had a contract with SoundThinking for their ShotSpotter services since 2014, and even with this technology for over 12 years now, MPD’s solve rates for homicides and non-fatal shootings were some of the worst in the country,” Council member Robin Wonsley said.
Council members pushed back on the long-term proposal and said they want a one-year deal instead. Council Member LaTrisha Vetaw disagreed with concerns raised by her colleague during the debate.
“In my opinion, and in folks I’ve heard from the North Side who have shown up here time and time again to say that we want this technology, we believe that ShotSpotter is a tool that the police use to save lives,” LaTrisha Vetaw said
City Council is set to take up the issue again on June 17. Minneapolis police are expected to return with a one-year contract instead of the three-year contract brought forward at the hearing.
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