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Arthur McDuffie (died 1979) was an African American, whose death at the hands of Miami, Florida police caused one of the worst riots in United States history. For the Smashing Pumpkins song, see 1979 (song). ...
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About McDuffie
McDuffie was an insurance salesman, and had previously been a United States Marine, and a military police officer. He had two daughters and was planning to remarry his former wife. United States Marine Corps Emblem The United States Marine Corps (USMC) is the second smallest of the five branches of the United States armed forces, with 170,000 active and 40,000 reserve Marines as of 2002. ...
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The Incident In the early morning hours of December 17, 1979, police officers pursued 33-year-old McDuffie who was driving his 1973 black and orange Kawasaki motorcycle. McDuffie had accumulated traffic citations and was driving with a suspended license. A high-speed chase ensued. December 17 is the 351st day of the year (352nd in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar. ...
For the Smashing Pumpkins song, see 1979 (song). ...
1973 (MCMLXXIII) was a common year starting on Monday. ...
Kawasaki Heavy Industries, Ltd. ...
The four white officers involved in the chase (Ira Diggs, William Hanlon, Alex Marrero and Michael Watts) later filed a report claiming that McDuffie had run a red light and led police on an eight-minute chase. They claimed that, after losing control of his vehicle while making a left turn, McDuffie attempted to flee on foot but was subdued by the officers. McDuffie was accused of kicking Diggs during the scuffle. By the end of the struggle the officers had cracked his skull, in the words of the prosecutor at the trial, "like an egg."
McDuffie was taken unconscious to a nearby hospital, where he died four days later. The coroner's report concluded that he had suffered multiple skull fractures after being hit by a blunt object. A skull fracture is a break in one or more of the bones in the skull caused by a head injury. ...
The Trial The four officers were indicted for manslaughter, as well as tampering with or fabricating physical evidence. Marerro's charge was later elevated to second degree murder. The acting director of the Dade County Public Safety Department, Bobby Jones, suspended them on December 27, noting that the four officers had been cited in 47 citizen complaints and 13 internal affairs probes since 1973. In addition, two other officers, Herbert Evans, Jr. and Ubaldo Del Toro, were charged with being an accessory to the crime and also fabricating evidence. All of the officers were fired less than a month later. Dade County can refer to the following places: Dade County, Florida, the states southeastern-most, now renamed Miami-Dade County Dade County, Georgia, the states northwestern-most, bordering Alabama and Tennessee Dade County, Missouri, in the southwestern part of the state This is a disambiguation page — a...
December 27 is the 361st day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (362nd in leap years). ...
Due to the volatile atmosphere in Miami, which presiding judge Lenore Nesbitt had termed a "time bomb," the trial was shifted upstate to Tampa, Florida, where jury selection began on March 31, 1980. The lead prosecutor of the case was future U.S. attorney general, Janet Reno. Nickname: Cigar City, The Big Guava, T-Town, Jook City Location in Hillsborough County and the state of Florida. ...
March 31 is the 90th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (91st in Leap years), with 275 days remaining. ...
1980 (MCMLXXX) was a leap year starting on Tuesday. ...
Janet Reno (born July 21, 1938) was the 78th Attorney General of the United States (1993–2001), and was the first woman to hold that post. ...
Defense claims that the police were under attack were disputed by fellow officer, Charles Veverka, who had received immunity in exchange for his testimony. Veverka stated that officers hit McDuffie 10-12 times with clubs and fists until he was motionless, then attempted to cover up the attack by using a police car to run over the motorcycle and claim that McDuffie's injuries were the result of an accident.
Hanlon, who had also received immunity, testified that he had choked McDuffie to the ground with his nightstick before Marrero began striking him. Hanlon also backed up Veverka's account by saying he was the officer who had driven over McDuffie's motorcycle.
On April 25, still another police officer given immunity, Mark Meier, testified that the high-speed chase had slowed to 25 miles per hour when McDuffie shouted, "I give up." Meier then stated that 3-8 officers surrounded McDuffie, pulled off his helmet, and proceeded to beat him with nightsticks, with Marrero striking him at least two times. April 25 is the 115th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (116th in leap years). ...
Testimony from one medical examiner stated that McDuffie's injuries were the equivalent of falling out of a four-story building, while Dade County's chief deputy medical examiner, Dr. Ronald Wright, said McDuffie had suffered the worst brain damage he had ever seen in over 3,600 autopsies.
On May 8, Del Toro was acquitted, with Nesbitt saying the state had failed to prove their case. Nine days later, an all-white six-man jury acquitted the remaining officers on all 13 counts of the indictment after less than three hours of deliberation. May 8 is the 128th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (129th in leap years). ...
The Riots The verdict sent people pouring into the streets, with approximately 5,000 people attending a protest at the downtown Metro Justice Building. However, by 6:00 p.m., the protest turned into a riot as three whites were killed by enraged blacks were and at least 23 injured. Several of the injured whites were in critical condition from being shot, beaten or stabbed by the black protesters.
Florida governor Bob Graham immediately ordered 500 National Guard troops into the area, but despite doubling their presence the next day, 12 more people died and 165 were injured as violence spread to the Black Grove, Overtown and Brownsville sections of town. In addition, fires, burglaries and looting increased, with police reluctant to enter some areas due to sniper fire. This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ...
Daniel Robert Graham (born November 9, 1936) is an American politician. ...
By the third day, the violence declined as an 8 p.m.-6 a.m. curfew, coupled with a temporary ban on the sale of firearms and liquor, finally helped get things under control. In addition, Graham sent in an additional 2,500 National Guardsmen.
Aftermath On May 22, former defendant Michael Watts was rushed to the hospital after a carbon monoxide suicide attempt, although police stated that his attempt was the result of a romantic breakup and not related to the trial. Meanwhile, the federal government declared Miami a disaster area, allowing the city to receive funds to rebuild. May 22 is the 142nd day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (143rd in leap years). ...
The following day, the five officers acquitted were reinstated to their jobs after threats of a walkout by the Miami Fraternal Order of Police.
The U.S. Justice Department announced just days after the verdict that it would press for indictments of the policemen for civil rights violations. On July 28, 1980, Veverka was indicted by a federal grand jury, despite having received immunity during the original trial. July 28 is the 209th day (210th in leap years) of the year in the Gregorian Calendar, with 156 days remaining. ...
The subsequent trial was held in San Antonio, Texas, after Atlanta and New Orleans asked that it be moved from their areas due to the explosive racial component in the case. Their reluctance gave rise to the case being nicknamed as "The Trial That Nobody Wants." Nickname: Alamo City; River City Location in the state of Texas Coordinates: Counties Bexar County Mayor Phil Hardberger Area - City 1067. ...
This article is about the state capital of Georgia. ...
New Orleans is the largest city in the state of Louisiana, United States of America. ...
On December 17, Veverka was acquitted in the week-long trial after over 16 hours of deliberation. Minor incidents of violence were reported in Miami after the verdict was announced. December 17 is the 351st day of the year (352nd in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar. ...
On November 17, 1981, Dade County commissioners agreed to a $1.1 million settlement with McDuffie's family in exchange for dropping their $25 million lawsuit. Of that amount, the family's legal team received $483,833, while McDuffie's children each received $202,500, and his mother, $67,500. 17 November is also the name of a Marxist group in Greece, coinciding with the anniversary of the Athens Polytechnic uprising. ...
1981 (MCMLXXXI) was a common year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ...
References - The World Book Encyclopedia, 1982, volume 13, pg. 396
- The Miami Riot of 1980, Porter, Bruce & Marvin Dunn, 1984, D.C. Heath and Company, Lexington, Massachusetts.
- The Washington Post, various news articles, May 21 & 22 and June 22,1980.
D.C. Heath And Company is a small publishing company located at 125 Spring Street in Lexington, Massachusetts. ...
Settled: 1642 – Incorporated: 1713 Zip Code(s): 02420 / 02421 – Area Code(s): 339 / 781 Official website: http://ci. ...
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