This is a follow-up post to the Gerard's First Test of Leadership Post. 


While Martel Miller is calling upon the whole town to speak, his son Calvin's credibility is quickly deteriorating.  The police reports and Calvin's story differ greatly.  I read the front page of the N-G yesterday and it is clear that video evidence exists that can refute Calvin's story. 

After reading Smile Politely's coverage (Calvin's story), particularly in paragraph 4, we have an account that should easily be confirmed/refuted by in-car police footage. 

I've had several personal conversations with people from the community and those who were once standing with/sympathetic to Miller are now starting to distance themselves and redirect the conversation to the big picture, Chief Finney, or something else other than the actual incident that ignited more avoidable drama in our community. 

It appears this whole entire firestorm is the result of poor judgment and lies by Calvin Miller.  If the police and Julia Rietz have led us to believe this intentionally and are involved in a conspiracy of lies and deceptions as some are claiming, I'll be the first one to scream bloody murder.   If the police are showing video evidence to reporters to refute the claims by Calvin and Smile Politely, it raises serious doubts about Calvin's story. 

I know, I know, the in-car footage doesn't show what happened after Calvin ran from his car that the police allegedly rammed.  How in the world are we supposed to believe someone who obviously appears to be lying and expect that he was finally able to bring himself to tell the truth when it comes to his account of whether or not he reached for a police officer's belt. 

People are being told that people should not jump to conclusions and weshould understand all the facts before making irresponsible assumptions.  Has someone mentioned this to the political activists? 

Since this whole situation appears to be a sham, I'm horrified for the police officers who have deal with these sensational allegations and how the activist community will so easily jump on the bandwagon and start calling out the police department and their rogue officers after it is pretty obvious that Calvin's story can be refuted. 

The people of this community appear to be victims of lies and deceit and it is going to be very difficult to encourage people to come together when the "victim" was acting like an idiot kid and got caught lying about the details. 

Fall for your lies once, shame on you.  Fall for your lies twice, shame on me.