WATCH chaotic protests grip Haiti’s capital as demonstrators torch cars & demand release of detained police officer

Haitian police officers have flooded the streets of Port-au-Prince to call for the release of a fellow officer they say was “illegally” jailed, paralyzing the capital as they set vehicles ablaze and clashed with security forces.

Scores of officers from the Haitian National Police, most dressed in civilian clothing, gathered with supporters in Port-au-Prince on Monday to demand the government frees Jean Pascal Alexandre, an officer arrested in May on charges of murder, vandalism, destruction of public property, and undermining the state security.

Footage of chaotic scenes in the Haitian capital was captured by RT’s video news agency Ruptly, showing protesters as they set fire to vehicles and tires in the streets, where they also erected makeshift barricades and reportedly threw stones at authorities. Demonstrators were also seen batting away tear gas canisters fired by security forces, as well as vandalizing a government building, which was also torched.

“We are out for our request to release Pascal, who was arrested illegally,” one uniformed officer representing the protesters told reporters at the scene of the demonstration.

If things turn out badly, the government is responsible for the situation. We will stay out until Pascal Alexandre is released.

Many of the demonstrators are believed to belong to the dissident police group ‘Fantom 509,’ which was designated as a terrorist organization earlier this year following attacks on several state ministries, according to local media. The group has reportedly issued an ultimatum to the Ministry of Justice, vowing to set fire to other government facilities in the event Pascal is not released.

While few details of Pascal’s case have emerged in media reports, the Haitian National Police Union denounced his May 8 arrest soon after it occurred, saying it was made under “unclear conditions.” Officers have arranged a number of protests over the incident in the time since.

Haiti has seen a wave of police-led protests in recent weeks, as officers have also taken to the streets to demand the release of several policemen arrested after the assassination of Monferrier Dorval, president of the Port-au-Prince Bar Association, in August. The five officers were accused of abandoning their post in front of Dorval’s home, stoking a separate round of heated demonstrations, also seeing vehicles torched and clashes with authorities.

https://www.rt.com/news/500708-haiti-police-protest-torch-cars/

Venezuelan Chief Prosecutor Brings Charges of Terrorism Against Alleged US Spy

According to Venezuelan officials, the man was plotting attacks targeting the country's oil industry and electrical system, which have both been under significant pressure, especially during the coronavirus pandemic.

The alleged US spy, Matthew John Heath, is charged with terrorism and weapons trafficking in Venezuela, the country's chief prosecutor, Tarek William Saab, announced on Monday.

"They tried to fill the country with blood", Saab said on state television. "The Venezuelan state has managed to neutralize the plans to attack the oil industry and national electric system."

The man was arrested along with three others who have been charged with treason, Saab said, adding that the authorities found weapons, a satellite phone, plastic explosives, and "money in foreign currency" (US dollars) at their disposal. Heath also had clothing "alluding" to a state agency.

Saab pointed out that the US citizen had no original document required for entering the country and crossed the border illegally via Colombia. He only had a copy of his passport, hidden in his shoe, and refused to unlock his satellite phone for the authorities, Saab said.

The United States has not yet commented on the incident.

https://sputniknews.com/world/202009151080458012-venezuelan-chief-prosecutor-brings-charges-of-terrorism-against-alleged-us-spy/

Abuse report leads police to discover girl has been missing for 10 years

Police and child protective services in California only realised a girl had been missing for a decade after they were called to her home on a different matter.

Kaya Centeno was taken out of public school 10 years ago, when she was eight, but has not been seen since.

It only dawned on authorities that she was missing last month when they were called to check on her two younger siblings.

Police in Sonoma County said the younger children, 15 and 17, had endured years of abuse.

"During an interview a reference was made about their older 'sister' Kaya that used to live with them in Rohnert Park," local police said in a statement.

"The children said Kaya went missing from their Rohnert Park home approximately eight to 10 years ago and she has not been heard from or seen since."

Her adoptive parents Jose and Gina Centeno have now been charged with torture and kidnapping.

Mr Centeno is also facing nine counts of sexual abuse of the unnamed 17-year-old girl.

The brother and sister of Kaya said they last saw her when she was between 8 and 12. She would be 18 now.

https://www.1news.info/abuse-report-leads-police-to-discover-girl-has-been-missing-for-10-years-777504

Fuckery's afoot

Jason Momoa says ‘serious stuff’ went down on the set of Justice League in 2017

Jason Momoa has issued an explosive statement standing by his castmate following allegations of abuse against Justice League director Joss Whedon.

Aquaman actor Jason Momoa has issued a stunning statement amid investigations into the behaviour of Justice League director Joss Whedon.

It comes after Justice League co-star Ray Fisher accused Whedon of “abusive” on-set conduct during filming for the 2017 movie, adding that Warner Bros and DC executives enabled his behaviour. He has not yet elaborated on the accusations.

Throwing his support behind Fisher – who first tweeted about the allegations in June – Momoa penned a furious, all-caps and expletive-laden message.

Captioning a photo of he and Fisher, he wrote that “serious stuff went down” when the Justice League reshoots under the direction of Joss Whedon took place, following Zack Snyder stepping down in May 2017.

Snyder had stepped away from production following his daughter’s suicide. Warner Bros, the studio which owns the rights to DC Comics, installed Buffy creator and Avengers director Joss Whedon to finish the film.

Last month, it was revealed by Fisher, who played Cyborg in the superhero team-up movie, that the circumstances of the film’s production during Whedon’s stand-in period were being formally investigated.

Today, Momoa took to his Instagram to air his stance on the scandal.

“THIS S**T HAS TO STOP AND NEEDS TO BE LOOKED AT @ray8fisher AND EVERYONE ELSE WHO EXPERIENCED WHAT HAPPEN UNDER THE WATCH OF @wbpictures NEEDS PROPER INVESTIGATION,” he wrote.

“I just think it’s fed up that people released a fake Frosty announcement without my permission to try to distract from Ray Fisher speaking up about the shy way we were treated on Justice League reshoots.

“Serious stuff went down. It needs to be investigated and people need to be held accountable,” he wrote.

https://www.news.com.au/entertainment/movies/jason-momoa-says-serious-stuff-went-down-on-the-set-of-justice-league-in-2017/news-story/b9935d2a777f709ffb39a7a4b90d5eb1

Reports of Momoa voicing Frosty The Snowman in an upcoming film – which producers at the centre of Fisher’s allegations are attached to – began circulating on July 1, the same day Fisher went public with his claims.