theroot--2020-12-31--2nd Officer Involved in Andre Hill Shooting Said She 'Did Not Observe Any Threats' Before Shooting S

2nd Officer Involved in Andre Hill Shooting Said She 'Did Not Observe Any Threats' Before Shooting Started

The Dec 22 shooting of 47-year-old Andre Hill in Columbus , Ohio , is arguably among the most reckless acts of police brutality we ’ ve seen this year—and that ’ s saying a lot .
As the investigation into the incident —in which a white police officer opened fire on a Black man who was standing in a garage clearly holding a cellphone , repeatedly shouted at him to “ put your fucking hands out to the side ” while he was lying on the ground shot and then failed to provide medical help —continues , new details have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ officer on the scene reporting that she “ did not observe any threats ” from Hill that would prompt an officer to shoot in the first place .
ABC News reports that Officer Amy Detwiler , who arrived at the scene after now-former officer Adam Coy , the one who fired the shots and was subsequently fired for incompetence and “ gross neglect of duty , ” said she saw Hill walk away from a car when she arrived in response to a non-emergency call involving an SUV left idling .
As The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ t have his body camera on until after the shooting , but because the cameras have a function that records 60 seconds of “ look back ” footage , video footage of the shooting was recorded and recently released by the police department .
No audio could be heard before the shots were fired , but Detw iler ’ s report to investigators sheds some light on what preceded the shooting .
Detwiler didn ’ t see any interaction between Hill and Coy , but said Coy told her Hill had walked into @ @ @ @ @ @ @ crossed over to the garage they saw Hill , with Detwiler telling investigators “ she felt Mr. Hill may need assistance to enter the residence , ” according to her interview .
Coy asked Hill in a “ normal tone of voice ” to exit the garage and Hill complied but without responding , Detwiler said .
As Hill walked out , Detwiler “ did not observe any threats from Mr. Hill , ” nor did she see a gun , the internal affairs report said .
“ Officer Detwiler stated Officer Coy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ There ’ s a gun in his other hand , there ’ s a gun in his other hand !
’ ” the report said .
“ Officer Detwiler heard gunfire at this moment.
” No gun was found at the scene , police said .
A few gentle reminders : First , t his all came from a call to police about a truck left running in the street .
Second , Hill approached officers after he was ordered to do so and was holding his cellphone in the air with the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he was going far out of his way to show he wasn ’ t armed or presenting any kind of threat , but he was still shot all the same .
Third , despite the spotlight on police brutality and systemic racism in policing that has been in place since the death of George Floyd , a lot of cops seem to not be getting the message .
Lastly , as we previously reported , Coy is no rookie cop .
He ’ s a 19-year police veteran with dozens of misconduct complaints—including @ @ @ @ @ @ @ file .
Coy is still under criminal investigation and hopefully , he will be charged in Hill ’ s death , but his firing should have come long ago .
Hill should still be alive today .

The Dec 22 shooting of 47-year-old Andre Hill in Columbus, Ohio, is arguably among the most reckless acts of police brutality we’ve seen this year—and that’s saying a lot. As the investigation into the incident —in which a white police officer opened fire on a Black man who was standing in a garage clearly holding a cellphone, repeatedly shouted at him to “put your fucking hands out to the side” while he was lying on the ground shot and then failed to provide medical help —continues, new details have emerged. Those details include the second officer on the scene reporting that she “did not observe any threats” from Hill that would prompt an officer to shoot in the first place.
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ABC News reports that Officer Amy Detwiler, who arrived at the scene after now-former officer Adam Coy, the one who fired the shots and was subsequently fired for incompetence and “gross neglect of duty,” said she saw Hill walk away from a car when she arrived in response to a non-emergency call involving an SUV left idling.
As The Root previously reported, Coy didn’t have his body camera on until after the shooting, but because the cameras have a function that records 60 seconds of “look back” footage, video footage of the shooting was recorded and recently released by the police department. No audio could be heard before the shots were fired, but Detw iler’s report to investigators sheds some light on what preceded the shooting.
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From ABC :
Detwiler didn’t see any interaction between Hill and Coy, but said Coy told her Hill had walked into a next-door garage. After the officers crossed over to the garage they saw Hill, with Detwiler telling investigators “she felt Mr. Hill may need assistance to enter the residence,” according to her interview. Coy asked Hill in a “normal tone of voice” to exit the garage and Hill complied but without responding, Detwiler said. As Hill walked out, Detwiler “did not observe any threats from Mr. Hill,” nor did she see a gun, the internal affairs report said. “Officer Detwiler stated Officer Coy observed a firearm and yelled, ‘There’s a gun in his other hand, there’s a gun in his other hand!’” the report said. “Officer Detwiler heard gunfire at this moment.” No gun was found at the scene, police said.
A few gentle reminders: First, t his all came from a call to police about a truck left running in the street. Second, Hill approached officers after he was ordered to do so and was holding his cellphone in the air with the screen lit up and facing the officers—meaning he was going far out of his way to show he wasn’t armed or presenting any kind of threat, but he was still shot all the same. Third, despite the spotlight on police brutality and systemic racism in policing that has been in place since the death of George Floyd, a lot of cops seem to not be getting the message. Lastly, as we previously reported, Coy is no rookie cop. He’s a 19-year police veteran with dozens of misconduct complaints—including excessive force allegations — in his personnel file.
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Coy is still under criminal investigation and hopefully, he will be charged in Hill’s death, but his firing should have come long ago. Hill should still be alive today.


theroot--2020-12-30--Perk up Your Coffee Station With Our Favorite Coffee Makers

I don ’ t know about you , but I can ’ t start my day without coffee .
And with the pandemic still raging on , I ’ m trying to limit the time spent outside of my apartment as much as possible .
If you ’ re a germaphobe like me , then you ’ ve probably also had to sacrifice trips to your local coffee shop for the foreseeable future .
However , just because you ’ re observing social distancing guidelines , it doesn ’ t mean that you have to sacrifice the taste and experience @ @ @ @ @ @ @ or maybe three ) .
With that in mind , we at The Inventory have researched and sampled some of the best-rated coffee machines out there .
This way , you are that much closer to the perfect cup of home-brewed coffee .
What Is the Best Coffee Maker ?
Before purchasing a specific coffee maker , there are a few factors to consider first .
Are you shopping for a household of big coffee drinkers ?
Or do you live alone and only drink one cup per day ?
Do you prefer @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on cold brew blends of iced coffee ?
Can you splurge a few hundred dollars on a high-tech machine , or are you just looking for the best coffee maker under $ 50 ?
These are all important questions to ask yourself while you ’ re in the preliminary shopping stage .
And depending on your answers , we ’ ve got you covered .
If you like freshly ground beans and a luxury experience , the Capresso Team Pro Plus is the coffee maker for you .
Once you fill and program @ @ @ @ @ @ @ right into the filter , then automatically brews fresh coffee .
You can make up to ten cups with each brew , which should be plenty to get you through even the longest day .
I love that it has an easy-to-clean , permanent filter , so you don ’ t have to bother with buying paper ones .
The Capresso ’ s grinder has three different settings for different types of beans , and it cleans itself after every cycle .
That said , if you want to feed the machine pre-ground @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
My wife looked at me using the Jura Ena Automatic Coffee Machine and said , “ You really love that thing , don ’ t you ?
” I certainly didn ’ t think I would love this automatic Jura espresso machine , given its price , but I was surprised how quickly I fell in love with it .
This automatic espresso maker , which received a five-star rating from BBC ’ s Good Food , packs a punch for its size .
It offers ten different beverage options , including @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and even a flat white .
The machine has a built-in coffee grinder and automatic milk frother .
It even virtually cleans itself every time you turn it off !
Jura is not an inexpensive brand by any stretch , with machines going up into over $ 6,000 , but this espresso maker does a whole heck of a lot for $ 1,850 .
I ’ m positively smitten with it myself , having enjoyed multiple espresso drinks on a daily basis since I set it up .
If you prefer your @ @ @ @ @ @ @ luck .
OXO ’ s simple three-part cold brew coffee maker is designed to brew a cold concentrate for delicious cold ( or hot ) coffee .
The coffee is less acidic and lasts longer than coffee brewed and chilled .
Simply steep the coarse coffee grounds in cold water for 12 - 24 hours , and you ’ ll get yourself a cool , tasty brew every time .
I ’ m not the only one that loves this simple maker .
It ’ s well-reviewed on Amazon , and over 2,100 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 4.5 / 5 stars overall , and over 1400 reviews .
At $ 50 , you would pay for it by skipping 10 days at Starbucks .
If you are a no-frills drip coffee drinker , this $ 90 Hamilton Beach coffee maker is the budget-friendly option for you .
While it certainly makes good coffee , I also appreciate that it is easily programmable .
In a few minutes , you can automate it to have your coffee brewing well before your third snoozed alarm goes off .
It is also compatible @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , perfect for stocking up on your favorite cup of joe .
The whole thing syncs with Alexa , too , so you won ’ t have to fiddle around with too many buttons if that ’ s not your thing .
No matter what type of coffee you prefer , there is a perfect coffee maker here for you .
Take the chill away or awaken your senses with a bold cup of joe , made just right .
This story was originally published by Chaya M. Milchtein on 12/08/2020 and was @ @ @ @ @ @ @

Chaya M Milchtein and Juliana Clark on Roundups, shared by Gabe Carey to The Root

Top Pick: Toddy Cold Brew System | $35 | Amazon
Maybe it’s just because mornings are dark and cold, or maybe it’s just because we always get woken up by cats and kids, but coffee isn’t a luxury anymore; it’s a necessity. The idea of starting your day off without coffee is like trying to go to bed with a duvet, or trying to go through a day without accidentally closing Twitter on PC before opening it on mobile and then having an existential crisis.
The best way to upgrade your coffee experience is with the best coffee makers. As with so many essential gadgets though, there are a lot to choose from. How can you be sure you’ll manage to get one of the best coffee makers, and not one of the more middling options. Well, that’s where we come in.
What Is the Best Coffee Maker?
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The key thing to keep in mind is what you want it for. Are you looking for one of the best drip coffee makers, or just one of the best electric coffee makers? Are you looking to grab one that can make one very good cup, or do you need something a little more productive to fuel a large household? You need to have a look through our list of the best coffee makers and make sure you understand what all of them do, because then you’ll have the best coffee maker for you, and that’s the important thing.
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The Cuisinart DGB-400 Automatic Grind & Brew is one of Amazon’s top-rated coffee makers but that doesn’t come as a surprise to anyone here. This product comes with a built-in grinder and can make up to 12 cups of coffee in one sitting. It’s fully automatic and even has a self-cleaning setting. All that for only $90.
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At less than five inches in width, the Keurig K-Slim Coffee Maker is perfect for the shopper with a cramped kitchen. This machine can brew for three cup sizes, including eight, 1o, and 12-ounce cups. Get a warm and delicious cup of coffee in just a few minutes. It also has a removable 46-oz. reservoir, which is perfect for cleaning or brewing to four cups of coffee at a time. Plus, it’ll even accommodate travel mugs up to 7.0" in height.
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One of the pioneers in cold brewing, the Toddy Cold Brew System is an incredible non-electric coffee maker. Using an incredibly simple filtration process, this product produces a super-smooth, rich liquid concentrate, which can be served piping hot or iced cold. This system also includes a one-year manufacturer’s warranty, along with two reusable filters and a silicone stopper.
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There’s a reason why the Chemex Pour-Over Coffeemaker has been all the rage. Made of high-quality, non-porous Borosilicate glass, this product won’t absorb odors or chemical residues. The patented design allows coffee to be covered and refrigerated for reheating without losing flavor.
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The Black+Decker CM1160B-1 CM1160B can brew 12 cups with the push of a button. Its screen is easy to read, displaying the clock, brew time, and other programmable options. This machine even temporarily stops the flow of coffee so you can sneakily pour your first cup without making a mess. I mean when you’re caffeine-deprived, who wants to wait? And, the carafe plat will keep your coffee warm for an hour after brewing is complete.
You can also rest assured knowing that this coffee maker has a two-hour auto shutoff for added safety.
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This story was originally published by Chaya M. Milchtein on 12/08/2020 and was updated with new information by Jason Coles on 02/15/2022.


theroot--2020-09-22--How To Keep Your Bedroom Warm and Toasty All Winter Long

It ’ s a crap-filled year , so we should at least have one warm , toasty , and safe escape from reality .
For me , that ’ s my bed , which means a comfortable goose down comforter , a luxurious duvet cover , and a few other knickknacks to bring a sense of comfort to my bedroom .
Bringing It All Together Having a cozy blanket and the perfect duvet will certainly keep you toasty , but how do you use them to make your room feel like a snug heaven ?
“ My favorite duvets and/or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as linen or cotton and are neutral in color , ” says Hannah , home organizer , coach , and founder of Spruced Milwaukee .
“ I like to mix cool and warm neutral tones ( like grey , cream , taupe , etc ) to bring the room together because almost anything can be added or removed without ruining the look.
” “ When you ’ re shopping for a new blanket , make sure you keep your design and the aesthetic you want to create in mind .
Get colors that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ well with your theme , ” Jen Stark , an interior designer and the home improvement expert behind Happy DIY Home .
“ If you had a beach theme with green-blue walls , a deep blue or beige comforter or duvet could help pull the room together .
If you want an elegant and timeless look , black can achieve it.
” Don ’ t forget layering .
Hannah explains , “ I also prefer a lighter weight because I think they lay nicer , and can easily be layered with more or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Duvet inserts and comforters come at a range of price points and varying filling options like goose down .
Depending on your city ’ s climate and your sleeping tendencies , you ’ ll want to make sure you pick the right filling for your needs .
“ My favorite duvet is the Utopia Bedding Comforter Duvet Insert , ” Stark tells me .
“ It comes in several gorgeous shades with classic stitching that helps it effortlessly blend with many different decors and design aesthetics .
It has nicely piped edges with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ siliconized fiberfill alternative filling is both soft and luxurious .
The corner tabs make it easy to slip a cover on to protect it , and you can toss it into the washing machine to clean it.
” I , on the other hand , prefer the feel and comfort factor of a true goose down duvet insert .
The Royalay Luxirious Goose Down comforter ’ s exterior is 100 % cotton exterior and feels butter soft .
It can be used with a duvet cover , or on its own like a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
I love the grey color for my bedroom , but it also is available in white .
And I ’ m not the only person in love with it : with a 4.7 rating on Amazon , 87 % of reviews gave it a perfect 5 stars .
Stark is also a fan of the LinenSpa comforter and its luxurious feel .
“ It has an all-season microfiber fabric that is breathable in the summer but warm in the cooler winter months .
The reversible color design allows me to switch designs @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to purchase a whole new comforter set , and you can put it in the washing machine to clean it , ” she tells me .
Right on the Money You don ’ t have to spend a lot of money on duvet covers and other bedding to get a god night ’ s sleep .
Hannah talked to me about her favorites .
“ I buy all of my bedding from Target because I find it all to be a good balance of convenience , quality , affordability , and trendiness , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ option , try Casaluna ’ s Heavyweight Linen Blend Duvet and Pillow set , which comes in eight colors that will surely blend into your room ’ s vibe .
My go-to duvet cover is also a budg et-friendly option from Amazon .
I ’ ve had this one since 2016 , and it ’ s held up to washes and constant wear .
It looks great , too , making it a well-rounded , excellent intro into the world of cozy bedding .

Chaya M Milchtein on The Inventory, shared by Gabe Carey to The Root

Top Product: Utopia Bedding Comforter Duvet Insert | $28 | Amazon
It’s a crap-filled year, so we should at least have one warm, toasty, and safe escape from reality. For me, that’s my bed, which means a comfortable goose down comforter, a luxurious duvet cover, and a few other knickknacks to bring a sense of comfort to my bedroom.
Bringing It All Together
Having a cozy blanket and the perfect duvet will certainly keep you toasty, but how do you use them to make your room feel like a snug heaven?
Advertisement
“My favorite duvets and/or comforters have natural looking fabric textures such as linen or cotton and are neutral in color,” says Hannah, home organizer, coach, and founder of Spruced Milwaukee. “I like to mix cool and warm neutral tones (like grey, cream, taupe, etc) to bring the room together because almost anything can be added or removed without ruining the look.”
“When you’re shopping for a new blanket, make sure you keep your design and the aesthetic you want to create in mind. Get colors that complement your existing decor and that blend well with your theme,” Jen Stark, an interior designer and the home improvement expert behind Happy DIY Home. “If you had a beach theme with green-blue walls, a deep blue or beige comforter or duvet could help pull the room together. If you want an elegant and timeless look, black can achieve it.”
Don’t forget layering. Hannah explains, “I also prefer a lighter weight because I think they lay nicer, and can easily be layered with more or less blankets through the changing seasons.”
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Warm and Cozy
Duvet inserts and comforters come at a range of price points and varying filling options like goose down. Depending on your city’s climate and your sleeping tendencies, you’ll want to make sure you pick the right filling for your needs.
Advertisement
“My favorite duvet is the Utopia Bedding Comforter Duvet Insert,” Stark tells me. “It comes in several gorgeous shades with classic stitching that helps it effortlessly blend with many different decors and design aesthetics. It has nicely piped edges with an elegant box stitching, and the siliconized fiberfill alternative filling is both soft and luxurious. The corner tabs make it easy to slip a cover on to protect it, and you can toss it into the washing machine to clean it.”
I, on the other hand, prefer the feel and comfort factor of a true goose down duvet insert. The Royalay Luxirious Goose Down comforter’s exterior is 100% cotton exterior and feels butter soft. It can be used with a duvet cover, or on its own like a comforter due to its unique pleated design. I love the grey color for my bedroom, but it also is available in white. And I’m not the only person in love with it: with a 4.7 rating on Amazon, 87% of reviews gave it a perfect 5 stars.
Advertisement
Stark is also a fan of the LinenSpa comforter and its luxurious feel. “It has an all-season microfiber fabric that is breathable in the summer but warm in the cooler winter months. The reversible color design allows me to switch designs and decor in the bedroom without having to purchase a whole new comforter set, and you can put it in the washing machine to clean it,” she tells me.
Advertisement
Right on the Money
You don’t have to spend a lot of money on duvet covers and other bedding to get a god night’s sleep. Hannah talked to me about her favorites. “I buy all of my bedding from Target because I find it all to be a good balance of convenience, quality, affordability, and trendiness,” she told me. For affordable option, try Casaluna’s Heavyweight Linen Blend Duvet and Pillow set, which comes in eight colors that will surely blend into your room’s vibe.
Advertisement
My go-to duvet cover is also a budget-friendly option from Amazon. I’ve had this one since 2016, and it’s held up to washes and constant wear. It looks great, too, making it a well-rounded, excellent intro into the world of cozy bedding.