On Saturday, July 27th, Escambia County police officers Jeremiah Meeks and Sgt. Matthew White opened fire on Jeremiah Middleton, a 60 year old man retrieving a cigarette from a vehicle in the driveway of his mother's home in Warrington. A neighbor called to report that Middleton was breaking into his mother's vehicle at the residence, though he was trying to find a cigarette. The officers arrived and fired 17 bullets at Middleton, striking him in the leg, after he took too long to respond to their demands.

http://www.cnn.com/2013/07/31/us/florida-police-shooting/index.html?hpt=hp_bn1

 

Sheriff David Morgan is slanderously accusing Middleton of being on drugs or alcohol and "lunging" at the officers. It is clear that the man was harming no one, and due to his advanced age and the time of day may have had difficulty moving as fast as the officers would have liked. This is a rally to show that the community stands behind Mr. Middleton and his family and to demand that the officers in question are held accountable for their hasty actions. Officers who shoot first and ask questions later are a danger to the citizens of Pensacola, and the two in question put multiple people an their property in danger as they haphazardly fired 17 shots to subdue a man who was in his own driveway.

 

We the people are tired of seeing cops in our community acting rashly and then being rewarded with two week paid vacations, and believe that a department investigating itself is a conflict of interest and hindrance to justice. The county department has a long history of bending the law when they see fit, and we're not going to put up with it.

 

This event will also serve as a fundraiser, but if you can help out now, that would also be appreciated especially if you are unable to make it. Any amount is helpful. You can send check, cash, or money order to Ms. Walker's residence:

 

Roy Middleton or Ceola Walker

218 Shadow Lawn Ln

Pensacola, FL 32507

 

Join us in putting pressure on the ECSO to fully evaluate these officers and bring justice to the family of the victims. If you have more details on the case, feel free to privately message me or email at mksilent.h@gmail.com. RSVP on Facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/events/450574848383793/?notif_t=plan_user_joined