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About The Battalion. (College Station, Tex.) 1893-current | View Entire Issue (March 23, 1999)
Page 10 • Tuesday, March 23, 1999 News Botched raid lands former officer on trial HOUSTON (AP) — A former Houston police officer who partici pated in a controversial raid that left one man dead went on trial Mon day for misdemeanor trespassing, despite objections from the victim’s family that the prosecution could impede a federal probe. James Willis, 28, was one of six officers who raided the apartment of Pedro Oregon last July 12, acting on a tip that drugs were being sold there. Oregon was shot 12 times, including nine times in the back, and no drugs were found. A gun was found in Oregon’s apartment, but it had not been fired. All six officers were fired, al though Willis was the only one in dicted. Jury selection began Mon day afternoon after a judge reject ed pleas from Oregon’s family to dismiss the trespassing charge. Family attorneys contend the state trial could interfere with a fed eral grand jury investigation and prevent more serious charges from being filed against the officers. They deny accusations by Willis’ attorney that the family wants the charge dropped because Oregon’s brother, Rogelio Oregon, was involved in dealing drugs. “There’s a legitimate federal in vestigation into a homicide that we want completed before Mr. Oregon takes the stand,” said Chris Flood, Oregon’s attorney. “He has noth ing to hide. He just doesn’t want to participate in this cover-up.” if ing TVftr ujfunrjBf i/iai 1 W mmm t mMmm m m JrmmLmmJrmwl W?cks'n'St?cks Customer Appreciation Month 10% Discount with this coupon, limit one coupon per purchase, thru Sunday 3/31/99 Post Oak Mall TAVCE 7 Defensive \ Driving with a ! 150) E as t mar k Apartments DEFENSIVE DRIVING ... COMEDY STYLE Punch (Line)! (Only $25 with Coupon) USA Training Co. Inc. C0928 • NOW OFFERING MON./TUES. 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Texas Ave Bryan, TX 77802 (409) 846-0823 (Near Fajita Rita’s) Accident at theme par kills 1, injures 10 othei ARLINGTON (AP) — Three people remained in good condi tion at an Arlington hospital Mon day, a day after an amusement ride at Six Flags Over Texas went awry, killing a woman and injur ing 10 other people. Arlington authorities and park officials worked through the night and early Monday searching for clues at the park as to why a raft like boat on the Roaring Rapids ride overturned Sunday. “The witnesses who were on the boat say everything was pro ceeding normally when they were about to finish the ride,” police spokesperson Dee Anderson said, “then the boat suddenly over turned when it went down into a depression.” In the ride, raft-like boats carry up to a dozen passengers while floating through a series of rapids in water up to 4 feet deep. Velaria Cartwright, of West He lena, Ark., apparently drowned af ter being trapped upside down in waist-deep water when the raft capsized. The 28-year-old woman was taken to Arlington Memorial Hospital, where she was pro nounced dead. Autopsy results were expected Monday afternoon, Anderson said. Most aboard the overturned raft were able to unbuckle their seat belts and get out of the water, authorities said. Six of the victims were treated for minor injuries and released Sunday evening. Three others — two women and one man — were in good condition Monday, ac cording to hospital officials. Jessica Venneberg of Lawrence, Kan., was released Monday from Cook Children’s Medical Fort Worth. The 9-year-i mother was treated and for a broken leg, and hei was in good condition. Six Flags spokesperson St. Pierre said park offic chiding engineers and a pendent safety expert, exj» begin their investigation incident Monday evening Wendy Crown, a witne attempted to give mo mouth to Cartwright shoni the accident, said parkemp. looked as if they were it pared for the emergency. "That’s an outsider’s per live.’’ St. Pierre said. “Itwail ic. It was an accident see f we knew exactly whatwi doing. Our employees resp exactly how they were tram respond in an emergency St. Pierre said all parkerj ees receive emergency ti and are tested . She noted( training does not include ing procedures, such as mo mouth resuscitation. Joel Cliff, a spokespers the International Associat Amusement Parks & Attract Virginia, said the typeol gency training is usually mined by the amusementp conjunction with (heir in and outside consultants. “Since safety is fundame the industry — if you’reno I kJ' A cc you’re out of business-i to say parks make safely c part and parcel of theiri mission,” Cliff said. Cartwright’s death mar ' ■: fatality at Six Rag. w*. the park opened in 1961 by r he Texa: with th mit harmfu tudents anc Abortion rights grou targets Bush, Dole in at WASHINGTON (AP) — An abortion rights group launched a series of television ads Monday that accuse presidential hopefuls George W. Bush and Elizabeth Dole of camouflaging strict anti-abortion positions. The two early favorites for the Republican presidential nomina tion, who have also been attacked by anti-abortion groups questioning their commitment to the cause, are now the target of ads bought by the National Abortion and Reproduc tive Rights Action League (NARAL). The ads, which began airing Monday morning on stations in Manchester, N.H., and Des Moines, Iowa, use quotes from the pair in an attempt to show they are op posed to abortion. The ads accuse them of trying to “hide their ex treme views,” NARAL director Kate Michelman said. “George W. Bush opposes a woman’s right to choose. Elizabeth Dole opposes a women’s right to choose,” she said. “But they both know they must communicate more moderate views in order to be elected.” Michelman would not say how much money was being spent on the campaign or how often the ads would run. “It is a significant buy,” she said. The ads are running around morning and evening newscasts in pproaching; uiring bars ( f income ti er Dr. J. Mal- en t for stml \ prelimmai fministiYitic e options fc oblems ale the two cities and later wu ,. W(? ire ^ broadcastin otherregim , and Bush, the governor of Texas, iri t said he is opposed to wiih exceptions0T*|taML latjon id , l ie mother, rape and '| clion is uil Though he personally woulf, 0CCLIr ml abortions to be outlawed, nt p r Denni ■^“■■"■■■'^^“■^^^cohol and “/ don't expectfcfj al | oho1 ' late at the get everyone’s amoum | Bowen sai should I decide ttem stems fr ■, ig students I m pro-life.ence of a roups, alcol —GeorgeW : t uc i enls ami Governor of’jliU f° r sw run Americans’ “hearts are on the issue, so Republicans) fight for incremental steps banning late-term abortions^ quiring parental consent(o tions for teenagers. “I don’t expect to get D/reti body’s vote should 1 decide’: for the presidency,” Monday. “I’m pro-life.” * •]! ) Dole has declined to discc* LJlIvt abortion views in any deplly. entering the presidential fray^ Iowa is the site of the (ini idential caucuses in 2000. Hampshire holds thefirstprf BY Panelist attempt to quell fea§M e c) Te " misconceptions about Y2Kb ‘Be titiated in WASHINGTON (AP) — The greatest danger from the Year 2000 computer problem may be panic among Americans convinced there will be major disruptions, emer gency experts told a House hearing Monday. The panelists did, however, cau tion people to be ready for minor breakdowns in basic services. The International Association of Emer gency Managers said communities should prepare as if for a storm, in cluding aftereffects, lasting about seven days. “It is important to say the sky is not failing because of Y2K,” Mike Walker of the Federal Emergency Management Agency said, which is helping local emergency systems deal with the computer problem. “There is no need to hoard, there is no need to take money out of banks, there is no need to head for the hills,” he told the House Gov ernment Reform Committee’s gov ernment management panel. “Fear of unknown consequences places citizens at the risk of either lii overreacting or not reacting) tlie subcommittee’s chairman] Stephen Horn, R-Califsaid. The Y2K problem arises 2 the ability of many compiiffl-r read only the last two digits in)' WO/71 Those computers would ref m 'peak year 2000, or “00,” as 1900,cf, computers to malfunction or down, possibly threateningsef ranging from electricity to . J * plies. lliUlt Walker joined other expf concluding that, after spendiry> 'm* reh BY ME i laren Kai: lions to fix computers, thef?| government and the larges industries can say there will major infrastructure problem 1 Jan. 1. But there has also beendi; motion and hype, much on Od author,v ternet, that has some peoples 400 at a lur for catastrophic events. >hting Worn “There are those who™ Clark’s ligl ic,” Rep. Jim Tlirner of Texf-d “Downsi subcommittee’s top DemocUcouragedp He said his own fatherw.Jffotic schet ing about spending more >ch personr $2,000 for an electric general) Clark, pres tecutive Pla