If you’re unfamiliar with the case, I’ve included a summary below.
I started watching Manhunt: Deadly Games on Netflix and it’s got me wondering whether or not this would make a good episode topic. It has a lot of elements that were important parts of other great episodes. Richard Jewell in a certain sense reminds me of the West Memphis Three. He had faith that the system was just and that since he didn’t commit the crime he had nothing to fear from the police and the investigators 100% took advantage of him. Additionally the media hounded him and his family and vilified him by implying that he had planted the himself to gain fame.
These are both topics the guys love to hit on in their episodes and I think it’d be a very interesting topic for a deep dive. One problem I see with it is the structure of the story doesn’t lend itself to the typical LPOTL narrative style. They usually focus on the killer, but Richard Jewell’s experience seems much more interesting than Eric Rudolph’s though I know little about him.
In short, Richard Jewell was a cop groupie working as a security guard during the Olympic Games in ‘97. He discovered a bomb, alerted proper authorities, helped clear the area, and saved many lives. The FBI, however, began to suspect him to have planted the bomb himself so he could find it and play the hero because he fit the profile of a “lone bomber,” despite no evidence supporting this. His status as a “person of interest” was leaked to the media who then hounded him and implied during news coverage that he was the bomber. The FBI’s investigation of him culminated with the FBI “[trying] to manipulate Jewell into waiving his constitutional rights by telling him he was taking part in a training film about bomb detection” (quoted from Wikipedia). The FBI only let up their investigation of him after Jewell passed a polygraph organized by his attorney. An anti-abortion, anti-LGBTQ, and anti-socialist terrorist named Eric Robert Rudolph was later convicted for the bombing and others and received a life sentence.
First and foremost, why did he try to kill me in 1996? How did Richard Jewell get blamed so quickly and assumed guilty? Did the media cook it all up or were they fed bad info? Was there a rise in extremist groups at that time or is that just my bias?
Rudolph was captured, if I remember correctly, dumpster diving in NC after spending a long time evading capture on the Appalachian Trail. How long was he on the trail? Did he just hike like a dirt bag hiker or was he more stationary? How did he ultimately get caught?
Crack an egg of knowledge on me, please.
There will be filming tonight in Centennial Olympic Park based around the bombing that occurred during the 1996 Summer Olympic Games. There will be numerous loud special effects and emergency vehicles lasting as late as midnight and possibly beyond.
Since 1996 is free game, I'm curious about how the Olympic Park bombing affected US security policy for large scale public events. Did the bombing lead to an increase in security measures when large scale events (such as say the Super Bowl) were held?
Anyone know what’s filming there right now? Crews are in there and it’s been closed off at least a day.
Is West Midtown or Westside good/affordable?
So tonight went on skyride ferriswheel and decided to walk through Centennial Olympic Park. We go to where the water is and my crazy kids run through the concrete area with the dancing water feature like the do in summer between songs (when it is not running). I'm go to the other side to get the kids, a Georgia World Congress Center female bike officer tells my wife they cannot do that. Immediately, while I'm on the other side, I have no idea and let them run back, as they get to my wife the female officer runs up to my wife, in front of the crowd, with my kids and plenty of other people's children present says, "Yo Bitch, Yo Bitch, Yo Bitch, I told you now you have to leave." My wife tried to explain there is no way she could have told me in the time it happened, and I apologized, the officer said, "you have to leave now, you are done for the day." For the day? I don't need to spend anymore money down there, I'm good, enjoy the park. So much fun answering my kids questions on the ride home, "daddy, why would a police call mommy a bitch" - sometimes people have a bad day, and then "why is mommies eyes all red, does she have allergies?" Nope, that police officer was being a bully" Daughter, we should go tell our elf and he can tell Santa and Santa can put her on the naughty list. Yes, we will do that...
I understand that it is tactically wise not to resist an officer, especially when they are acting very unprofessional. I still cannot help feeling like I should have done more to defend my wife's honor. But she and I are not in jail, so we have that going for us. Feels good to vent on the interwebs... Last time I take the family downtown for a long time.
UPDATE: Chief of Police just called me - we identified the person and turns out she is a security guard, not a police officer. He was very genuine and forthright and apologized. I let him know my main concern was it might be systemic and if people simply leave without making complaints, others will leave with a negative opinion. Like any city, there are rough people who make smiling difficult for any police officer or guard.
TL;DR my 5 and 8yr old do something innocently wrong, female police ofc decides calling wife a bitch in front of kids is professional way to handle the situation.
