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Former officer who killed Rayshard Brooks should be jailed for violating bond, DA says

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Kuzma/iStockBy STEPHANIE EBBS, ABC News

(ATLANTA) — The former Atlanta police officer charged with the fatal shooting of Rayshard Brooks in a Wendy’s parking lot in June could be facing imprisonment for allegedly violating the conditions of his bond agreement.

Fulton County District Attorney Paul Howard filed a motion Tuesday to revoke former officer Garrett Rolfe’s bond, after Howard ‘s office was notified that Rolfe had left the state “for a short vacation.”

“While his bond does not preclude out of state travel, we wanted to make you aware of this,” Rolfe’s attorney Bill Thomas wrote to members of Fulton County’s District Attorney Office on August 3, according to court documents.

After receiving the email, the state of Georgia contacted the company responsible for Rolfe’s monitoring. Rolfe’s location history indicates that he entered Florida the morning of August 2, the day before his lawyer’s email to the Fulton County District Attorney’s Office.

The District Attorney’s office said Wednesday that it was unclear if Rolfe had returned to Atlanta yet.

The state had no prior knowledge of Rolfe’s travel and said it is unaware of any special permission given by the court for travel outside of the jurisdiction, Howard said in the motion.

Rolfe was granted $500,000 bond on June 30, partly under the condition that he adhere to a curfew and only leave the home for medical, legal, or work reasons. Howard states in the motion that Rolfe “has clearly shown that he will not abide by the conditions of bond imposed by the Court.” He requested the judge revoke his bond and remand him to custody.

Brooks’ widow Tomika Miller says she was shocked to hear allegations that the former officer who gunned down her husband potentially violated court orders and went on a beach vacation.

“I was baffled when I heard about this. It was very hurtful. It let me know that Officer Rolfe did not care about what the judge had laid down, as well as caring about how anyone else would feel,” Miller said. “I’m hurt and again I’m just wondering when will justice be served. When will things change?”

Miller, who tearfully pleaded that the judge not grant Rolfe bond at the hearing in June, said something should be done in response to Rolfe’s possible bond violation.

Miller’ attorney, Chris Stewart, echoed her disbelief that Rolfe would go on vacation after killing Brooks and in the middle of the coronavirus pandemic.

“I believe that a lot of us would love to be on vacation,” Stewart said. “And it was mind-blowing to see that Officer Rolfe decided to ignore the court rules and regulations and standards that have been set upon him for his bond.”

Stewart also questioned Rolfe’s lawyer’s reported defense that the judge did not explicitly state Rolfe could not leave the state.

“If that’s the situation, then the entire situation for bonds and the detail that’s needed in these is going to be tragically destroyed,” Stewart said. The judge, said Stewart, “was very clear that officer Rolfe was not supposed to leave the state.”

Stewart said he is waiting for the judge to enforce the law and he hopes that Rolfe’s bond will be revoked.

“Officer Rolfe should not be vacationing in Florida, which we believe is a full violation of his bond and furthermore shows the mental state of this officer to feel that he can just go on vacation after being charged with the murder of Rayshard Brooks,” Stewart said.

Brooks was killed on June 12 after a Wendy’s employee called police to complain that Brooks was passed out behind the wheel of a car in the drive-thru lane, according to police.

Officer Devin Brosnan was the first to arrive on the scene and knocked on Brooks’ window but could not wake him up. Body camera video showed Brosnan opening the door and shaking Brooks awake.

Rolfe responded to the scene when Brosnan radioed a dispatcher saying he needed a DUI-certified officer.

When officers tried to put Brooks in handcuffs, Brooks struggled, wrestled with both officers on the ground, and then grabbed Brosnan’s stun gun.

Surveillance video showed Brooks running through the parking lot as the officers chased after him. While fleeing, Brooks appeared to shoot the stun gun at Rolfe, who drew his weapon and opened fire. Brooks died from two gunshot wounds to his back, the medical examiner determined.

Rolfe’s lawyers said the killing was in self-defense and that it was legally justified.

In a news conference in June, District Attorney Howard also alleged that video of the incident showed Rolfe kicking Brooks as Brooks lay dying on the ground, and Brosnan standing on Brooks’ shoulder. But during Rolfe’s bond hearing, another one of Rolfe’s attorney, Noah Pines, denied that Rolfe kicked Brooks after shooting him.

Brosnan, who has been placed on administrative leave from the police department, was charged with two counts of violations of oath and one count of aggravated assault for allegedly standing on Brooks’ shoulder after Brooks was shot by Rolfe. Brosnan surrendered to authorities on June 18 and was released on $50,000 bail.

One factor in the judge’s decision to grant Rolfe bond in June was her determination that he was not a flight risk. She noted that Rolfe did not attempt to flee after the Fulton County District Attorney announced murder charges against him on June 17, and she gave him more than a day to voluntarily surrender.

“We have the answer to that one,” Justin Miller, an attorney for Brooks’ family, said after being informed that Rolfe had left the state. “That is flight. He is actually gone.”

On Tuesday Rolfe’s attorneys began fighting another legal battle to reinstate Rolfe’s position with the Atlanta Police department.

Rolfe’s lawyers filed a petition seeking an order that would require the city of Atlanta to follow city ordinances which provide its employees with due process, including notice and an opportunity to be heard, before they can be fired in connection with allegations of misconduct, according to a statement.

“The City of Atlanta willfully and blatantly failed to abide by these ordinances, firing Garrett Rolfe within days of his lawful use of force on June 12, 2020,” reads a statement on behalf of Rolfe’s attorneys.

A representative for Rolfe’s legal team told ABC News they have no comment at this time on allegations he violated the conditions of his bond.

There is no hearing date set for Howard’s motion to revoke Rolfe’s bond.

Copyright © 2020, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

'Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.' props and costumes to hit the auction block

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ABC/Mitch Haaseth(LOS ANGELES) — With Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. wrapping up its seventh and final season on August 12, Marvel has just announced an opportunity for fans to get their hands on some prized props, thanks to an upcoming auction. 

U.K.-based Prop Store will put on the block some 500 items from the ABC show — including memorable props, costumes, set decoration items, and more — at a live auction in November. 

You can register to bid, or just do some wishful window shopping, at PropStore.com/marvel.

Some of the items up for grabs: Mack’s shotgun axe, carried for years by Henry Simmons, which is expected to fetch between $10,000 and $15,000; Robbie Reyes’ Ghost Rider costume worn by Gabriel Luna, between $8,000-$10,000; the light-up S.H.I.E.L.D. badge wielded by Clark Gregg’s Phil Coulson, expected to fetch between $2,500 and $3,500; and costumes worn Chloe Bennet’s Quake and Ming-Na Wen’s Melinda May, ranging from $8,000-$10,000.

These offerings are only the tip of the iceberg, in terms of the magical weapons and futuristic tech gear that are hitting the block. 

Mike Pasciullo, senior vice president of Marvel Marketing and Communications, said, “Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. was not only our first live-action television series, it’s also Marvel Television’s longest-running television series…I cannot imagine a better way to celebrate that fandom than by giving everyone a chance to add authentic pieces of this groundbreaking series to their cherished collections.”

Marvel is owned by Disney, parent company of ABC News.  

By Stephen Iervolino
Copyright © 2020, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

Robert Downey Jr.'s production company launching Apple TV series

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Karwai Tang/WireImage(LOS ANGELES) — Hot on the heels of their reboot of Perry Mason getting renewed at HBO, Robert Downey Jr. and his wife Susan Downey’s Team Downey production company has inked a drama deal with Apple TV. 

Variety reports the pair will produce the as-yet-untitled show about a frustrated detective’s attempts to crack a cold case that spirals out of control. Based on “The Sting,” an article from Toronto Life written by co-producer Michael Lista, the project will center on what Lista called “the inside story of a brutally botched undercover operation.” 

Variety says there could be a supporting part for now-Marvel movie icon Downey in the Apple TV project as well.  If so, it would be his first TV role since he was fired from Ally McBeal following a drug arrest in 2001 before his massive career comeback as the star of Iron Man in 2008.

By Stephen Iervolino
Copyright © 2020, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

Female country artists have highest percentage of number-one hits on Country Airplay chart in 14 years

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ABC/Image Group LAWomen have seen an uptick in airplay on country radio lately.

Published this week, a new study by Billboard shows that five female artists have had number-one singles on the Billboard Country Airplay chart so far this year, the most in a four-year span. 

Additionally, women have accounted for 21% of number-one songs on the chart in 2020, the highest percentage since 2006, when women made up 23% of the chart-toppers. 

Miranda LambertMaren Morris and Gabby Barrett are among the artists who have topped the charts this year — Miranda with “Bluebird,” her first solo number-one since 2014, and Maren and Gabby scoring multi-week hits with “The Bones” and “I Hope,” respectively. 

Gwen Stefani and Carly Pearce also found themselves at the top with duet partners Blake Shelton and Lee Brice. Gwen and her longtime boyfriend Blake hit number one with “Nobody but You” while Carly and Lee reached the top with “I Hope You’re Happy Now” earlier this year.  

The last time that five or more female singers had number-one hits on the Country Airplay chart was in 2016, when Carrie Underwood reigned with “Church Bells” and “Heartbeat,” while Kelsea Ballerini scored with “Dibs” and “Peter Pan.” 

Karen FairchildCassadee Pope and pop star Pink also made it to the top of the country charts alongside their male collaborators in 2016. 

The data comes in the wake of multi-year conversations surrounding the lack of airplay for female artists on country radio. 

Women saw a record high of airplay in 1998 when they accounted for 52% of number-one singles on the charts. Overall, women have accounted for 17% of all number-one singles on the Country Airplay chart since it launched in 1990.

By Cillea Houghton
Copyright © 2020, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

Keith Urban debuts 'Speed of Now Part 1' track list

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ABC/Image Group LAKeith Urban has unveiled the track list for his upcoming album, Speed of Now Part 1. 

Keith shared the news via social media Wednesday, debuting a photo of the album cover that shows the singer with his eyes closed and hands lightly touching his face over a neon yellow backdrop with the album’s title written in purple lettering. 

Speed of Now Part 1 will feature 16 tracks and three surprise guests. The album’s opening numbers “Out of the Cage” and “One Too Many” both feature collaborators, but their names are obscored in yellow, rendering the identities a mystery for now. The former song includes two singers, while the latter is a duet. 

Speed of Now Part 1 includes lead single “We Were” and a version that features its co-writer Eric Church, along with the other previously released songs “God Whispered Your Name,” “Polaroid” and “Superman.” Other titles are “Soul Food,” “Ain’t It Like a Woman,” “Better Than I Am,” and more.

Urban’s 11th studio project was nearly completed before the COVID-19 pandemic shutdown earlier this year, but in a recent interview with VarietyKeith says that his time in solitude allowed for more time to write and make changes to the project

Speed of Now Part 1 will be released on September 18.

By Cillea Houghton
Copyright © 2020, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

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