Kaheem Chambers, a 17 year old African American teen, has been arrested for trespassing and spitting and stomping on the grave of a police officer that lost his life in the line of duty – a police officer who once arrested him.
Janice Smarr, the officer’s mother visits her son’s grave every day. However, this one particular day she noticed footprints on her son’s black granite marker. “I saw the footprints on the grave before we even got out of the car,” Smarr said.
On a different day, mud and debris was noticed on the black granite maker. While, there were clear footprints leading to the grave, it became evident that whatever was happening was somewhat intentional. There were footprints on the grave, so that was obviously intentional,” stated Americus Police Chief Mark Scott.
Smarr, and other family members of Nicholas Smarr, the 25-year-old office at the Americus, Georgia, police department who was shot dead while on duty last year, decided to set-up cameras in the cemetery to get the bottom of things. The camera was able to record four people visiting Smarr’s grave around midnight.
The officers were immediately able to identify most of the people that the camera captured. “They’re very good pictures,” Scott said. “They were all known to officers.”
Kaheem Chambers, was recorded walking and spitting on Smarr’s grave, as reported by local media outlets.
Chambers along with the other girls that were with him were was arrested and were charged with criminal trespassing, and it’s unsurprising that Chambers and two of the girls had previous arrest records – having spent time at Regional Youth Detention Center in Macon. The other girl present didn’t have any previous arrest record and was released to her parents.
This is not the first time within the past few months that an American teen has shown disrespect towards an on-duty police officer that had lost their lives in efforts to protect American citizens. A teen from New York, Julien Rodriguez was noted blasting the rap song “F**k the Police” from his apartment window, during the time of Officer Miosotis Familia – who was shot dead in an unprovoked attack in the Bronx area. While Rodriguez argued that his act was due to his anger towards police officers. As he argued that, “Since they did not show respect for my brother and my friend, why I should show respect to them?” However, Chambers intentions for such a disgusting act still remain unclear.
“I think my son had arrested him before,” Smarr told the Telegraph. “It’s just very disrespectful, and he probably did it because he just got out of jail and he was mad at the police.”
Scott told the Telegraph regarding the suspect. “I just can’t fathom why you would think that would be OK on anybody’s grave.”
The usual chorus of activists are claiming that Janice Smarr was motivated purely by racism, in allowing for the arrests for the teens. However, Smarr argued back stating, “We didn’t care if they were white, black or Mexican.” And added, “We didn’t want anyone messing with [my son’s] grave.”
Nicholas Smarr, a young office was shot fatally when he and his friend Jody Smith – who attended school with him – were responding to a domestic call last December. Minquell Lembrick open fired and let to Smarr death in the efforts of the already shot officer trying to save the life of his friend Officer Smith.
Upon hearing of Smarr’s death, Interim Georgia Southwestern interim President Charles Patterson stated, “We have just received word that GSW Public Safety Officer Jody Smith has succumbed to his injuries and has passed away, we offer our deepest condolences to his family during this very difficult time. Officer Smith was a bright, young and energetic officer, and he will be sorely missed.”
“People need to show respect. Especially for Nick and Jody. I mean, they died heroes, and to us, they will always be heroes,” argued Smarr’s mother
“He already died for the city.” and now, “he needs to lie in peace.”
