Greenville News Libels Congressional Candidate Ilario Pantano
The political slant of The Greenville News is obvious for all to see, but rarely gets so blatant as this attack on North Carolina congressional candidate Ilario Pantano:
The headline for the piece is “Ex-Marine Accused of Murder Now Running for Congress.” Scintillating but false. It would be more accurate to say that Pantano was acquitted of murder … in 2005. But here’s how GreenvilleOnline.com reports the story:
WILMINGTON, N.C. — A former Marine once charged with murder in the deaths of two Iraqis is running for Congress in North Carolina
Ilario Pantano announced his candidacy Thursday in Wilmington. He is seeking the Republican nomination. The 35-year-old Pantano will challenge Democratic Rep. Mike McIntyre for North Carolina’s Seventh Congressional District.
Pantano shot two men in Mahmudiyah, Iraq, in 2004 and hung a warning sign on their corpses. A Marine general decided in 2005 not to bring Pantano to trial, following the advice of an officer who presided over the military equivalent of a grand jury hearing.
Now one could point out that this is an AP report, but look at the difference between GreenvilleOnline’s AP piece and the same piece from The Atlanta Journal-Constitution:
WILMINGTON, N.C. — A former Marine cleared of wrongdoing in the deaths of two Iraqis is running for Congress in North Carolina.
Ilario Pantano announced his candidacy Thursday in Wilmington. He is seeking the Republican nomination. The 35-year-old wants to challenge Democratic Rep. Mike McIntyre for North Carolina’s 7th Congressional District.
Pantano shot two men in Mahmudiyah, Iraq, in 2004 and hung a warning sign on their corpses. He claimed self defense and a Marine general decided not to bring him to trial.
The subtle difference in the text of the GreenvilleOnline piece works to paint Pantano as if he’s still thought to be guilty but got off on a technicality. That’s not the case, as forensic evidence proved that Pantano’s version of the incident was the correct account.
But the headline, which each paper running an AP piece chooses itself, is the real tell. In the AJC, the headline reads “NC ex-Marine Announces He’s Running for Congress.”
It’s a big difference.
I can’t think of any reason for The Greenville News to print such a misleading headline and make these minor alterations to the text except as a way to campaign against Ilario Pantano. Is that what a newspaper is supposed to do? Pantano was proven innocent, he was not just let off the hook. Why would The Greenville News want people to think differently?
Strangulation Possible Cause of Death in A’sha Rucker Case
Investigators are still unsure how 17-year-old A’sha Rucker died, but the Greenville County Sheriff’s Office is treating her death as suspicious in nature. GreenvilleOnline.com is reporting that the Williamston teen, whose body was discovered Friday in southern Greenville county, may have been strangled.
Scott Ramsey, Greenville County deputy coroner, said the autopsy revealed A’sha Rucker, 17, had marks on her neck indicating possible strangulation, but “at this point, we can’t confirm” that is how she died.
Investigators estimate that Rucker, who disappeared on Wednesday, died on Thursday, Ramsey said.
The autopsy conducted Saturday was ruled incomplete, and the Greenville County Coroner’s office is awaiting toxicology results. It is worth noting that other area news organizations, including News Channel 7 and WYFF4, are not reporting the possibility of strangulation as a cause of death.
The Palmetto High School student was reported missing by her family on Wednesday. Her body was discovered outside an abandoned home in Greenville county Friday evening, just east of Ware Place near the intersection of Long Cane Road and Highway 418.
The teen’s family believes she was killed.
“There’s no way A’sha would not have contacted her mother during this time unless she was being held against her will, or she just couldn’t,” said Heather Holcombe, who the family has asked to speak on their behalf. “Of course we found out on Friday night, that was exactly the reason.”
The ongoing investigation is being conducted jointly by the Williamston Police Department and Greenville County Sheriff’s Office.
Suspect Sought in Five Forks Convenience Store Robberies
Looks like Eric Conor of the Greenville Snooze is ahead of the pack on this story:
The same Woodruff Road convenience store has been robbed three times in the past three weeks, and authorities said they are looking for who is likely the same person involved in each.
The rough English translation of that sentence? Deputies believe the same suspect robbed a Woodruff Road convenience store three times in the last three weeks.
Perhaps we’ll learn more after copy editors have their way with Eric’s writeup of the crimes.
For now, we’ll take you over to News Channel 7, where Rob Landreth is serving up a healthy portion of readable English topped off with a generous helping of facts:
Master Deputy Melissia McKinney says that the Sheriff’s Office is investigating three armed robberies that happened at The Corner Mart, located at 2608 Woodruff Road. McKinney says the first robbery occurred on Sunday morning at 3:35, the second at midnight Thursday morning and the third, just three hours later at 3 am.
Deputies say the suspect entered the store Sunday morning brandishing a handgun and jumped over the counter and demanded money. In the next two robberies, the suspect waved a gun at the store clerks and demanded they take him around the counter and open the cash registers. After receiving money in each robbery, the suspect fled on foot towards Scuffletown Road.
Lest you accuse us of being unfair to The Greenville News, reporter Eric Conor does include one more vitally important detail of earth shattering significance near the top of his piece: the handgun was silver.
So if you see a black male between 5′ 7″ and 6′ tall weighing 150-170 pounds and he’s waving around a black handgun, no need to contact authorities. But if he’s got a silver handgun, please get in touch with Greenville County Crime Stoppers.
All joking aside, WSPA.com goes on to describe the handgun as “black and silver,” and notes that the suspect has been seen in dark pants, dark tennis shoes, and a black ski mask.
Police Nab Counterfeit Sellers at White Horse Flea Market
The White Horse Flea Market may not be the best place to pick up authentic name brand items on the cheap. Who knew? In other shocking news, rain is wet and is expected to remain so for the foreseeable future.
Authorities busted five men after discovering $44, 600 of counterfeit goods for sale at the White Horse Rd. marketplace. GreenvilleOnline.com reports:
The items included DVDs, sunglasses and pirated apparel involving labels such as Coach, Nike, Timberland, Gucci, Phat Farm, Louis Vitton and Major League Baseball, Greenville County Sheriff’s Deputy Matthew Armstrong said.
The bust resulted from firms hired by companies to investigate counterfeit goods, who in turn report the activity to local law enforcement agencies, Armstrong said.
Hmm. And I thought the White Horse was mostly stall after stall of over-the-counter cold medicine, gently used kitchenware, and the contents of some guy’s attic. All this time I could have stopped by for a genuine Coache bag, Timbaland boots, and Goochi sunglasses.
The following men were arrested:
- Terry M. Mull, 48, of 133 Robinson Road in Taylors
- Cornelius S. Lyles, 30, of 722 North Vernon Street in Spartanburg
- Kip S. Hughes, 31, of 132 21st Street in Easley
- Norman T. Gibson, 45, of 4 Lindberg Ave. in Greenville
- Carl E. Ross, 40, of 211 Cranberry Drive in Mauldin.
Counterfeiting is sometimes linked to organized crime. Whether this was an isolated operation at the White Horse Flea Market or part of a larger criminal enterprise remains to be seen.
Oh, and just letting the folks at The Greenville News know: it’s Louis Vuitton, not Louis Vitton. Just sayin’.
Greenville Police Looking for Violent Robbery Duo
They’ve already shot one man and robbed at least three stores. Police are searching for them to stop them before they strike again, but I guess they won’t get much help from the public since the ever politically correct Greenville News refused to give an accurate description of the suspects so citizens could be on the look out for the out of control thugs:
Police were looking Friday for two men who they said likely robbed two convenience stores the same night they robbed and shot two people who were sitting in a car outside a Berea laundromat.
A 68-year-old Travelers Rest man who was shot in the chest was taken to the hospital and treated for injuries not considered life-threatening, while another who was hit by the same bullet suffered minor injuries, Greenville County Sheriff’s Master Deputy Melissia McKinney said.
The first robbery happened just before 10 p.m. at the Lil’ Cricket convenience store at 6008 White Horse Road when a man pointed a gun, demanded money and made away on foot with cash, McKinney said.
In the second robbery at about 1 a.m., two people were sitting in a car outside the Berea Coin Laundry on Hunts Bridge Road when two men approached the vehicle and shot the man, who was an employee of the Laundromat, McKinney said.
Following the shooting, two men believed to be the same involved in the two earlier robberies walked into the Palms gas station on Easley Bridge Road just before 2:30 a.m. and one pointed a gun and demanded money, McKinney said.
The two were given cash and fled the business on foot, she said.
Soooo … be on the look out for two guys I guess. Two heightless, weightless, raceless, ageless guys. That’s good reporting, Eric Conner.