That last thing in the B-29
Nightline segment that I want to discuss, is a summary of the events of 2/26/12, presented in voice over with a montage of stills and clips (5:35-6:25).
5:40-58
On February 26, 2012, Martin was walking back to a house, where he and his father were staying. He caught the attention of the self-appointed neighborhood watch captain, George Zimmerman, who called police. . . . They suggested he stay in his car.
Both these memes, 'self-appointed' and 'stay in his car', should be well debunked by now. One of the prosecutors, John Guy, disavowed both in the 6/21/13 session, between jury selection and opening statements (
video).
20:54
As a matter of fact, I believe it would be incorrect to say he's the self-appointed neighborhood watch captain.
22:00
The facts are that he was told not to follow anyone, specifically, he was asked 'Are you following anyone?', he said 'Yes', the dispatcher said 'We don't need you to do that.' That conversation happened after he was out of the car.
The president of the Home Owners Association for the Retreat at Twin Lakes, Donald O'Brien, testified in George Zimmerman's trial on 6/25/13 (
video, 6:40).
Mantei: Was there a person, sort of appointed to be the contact, or the committee chair, as it relates to Neighborhood Watch, by the HOA?
O'Brien: Yes.
Mantei: And this was during your term as president?
O'Brien: Yes.
Mantei: Who is that person?
O'Brien: George Zimmerman.
The 'self-appointed' meme appeared very early, at least as early as
Huffington Post, 3/8/12.On his way back home, according to reports, he caught the attention of George Zimmerman, a self-appointed captain of The Retreat at Twin Lakes neighborhood watch.
No source was cited. I have seen this meme repeated many, many times in the press. I haven't seen a source for it cited once.
That the dispatcher, or 'police', directed or advised GZ to 'stay in his car', was foreshadowed in the first national story on the shooting.
Reuters 3/7/12"If the 911 protocol across the country held to form here, they told him not to get involved. He disobeyed that order," said Ryan Julison, a spokesman for the family.
"He (Zimmerman) didn't have to get out of his car," said Crump, who has prepared a public records lawsuit to file on Thursday if the family doesn't get the 911 tape. "If he never gets out of his car, there is no reason for self-defense. Trayvon only has skittles. He has the gun."
Ryan Julison, specialist in
communications, and 'spokesman for the family', would not appear to be an expert in 911 protocols. Reuters quoted him as one, and didn't bother asking a real expert in the subject.
ABC News, 3/13/12 (Matt Gutman and Seni Tienabeso)
A dispatcher told him to wait for a police cruiser, and not leave his vehicle.
No source was cited. The NEN call was publicly released, along with the 911 calls, on 3/16/12.