JNS Blog "Waved Off" On A Pointergate Story November 22, 2014, Didn't Want "Political Interference" With Gun Crime Prosecution...Oh, Well, I Should Have Just Written That Story!

Images from Instagram account of Montanatherealchief,
here used under First Amendment Fair Comment and Criticism


I guess the time has come to tell this sordid tale of how JNS blog didn't write a story, trying not to cause political interference with a criminal prosecution but, it appears, political interference happened anyway...

The Story About The Story About The Story 

A story by KMSP on December 29 reported how the Hennepin County prosecutor didn't pursue gun crime charges against Navell "Pointergate" Gordon, even though Godon's DNA was reportedly found on a weapon used in a robbery. 

The story by KMSP was so hot that other media reported the existence of the KMSP story like the story, by itself, was newsworthy. 

City Pages wrote a story like that, and so did MPR saying, in effect, "Holy cow, KMSP just wrote another Pointergate story!" (Maybe they'll write a story saying "Holy cow, Johnny Northside just wrote another Pointergate story?") (Hands clasped, hopefully) 

In light of how hot Pointergate continues to be, even when the story is only simmering instead of boiling over, there's something I need to get off my chest. 

Or, to phrase it like the scandal it is, "What did Johnny Northside know and when did he know it?"

On November 22, 2014, an individual I will describe as a "trustworthy but secondhand source" told me as follows:

His case on illegally possessing a firearm has now been sent to the Hennepin County Attorney's Office to review for possible criminal charges. I am told his DNA is on the gun. 

My fingers flew to my keyboard upon reading that. I was in the very act of logging into my blog to write something when I started to "game it out." 

Wait a minute, Johnny, I said to myself. If you write a story saying Gordon's DNA is allegedly on a firearm, it's going to become political like the Al Flowers assault. Better to lay off this story and let the prosecutors actually press charges!

So I laid off the story. And what happened?

The prosecution went away for, it appears political reasons. More comment on THAT later, and why I actually think Hennepin County Prosecutor Mike Freeman made the correct decision, OH YES!!!!! 

JNS Blog Provides Pointergate Bonus Material

In the meantime...

Click here for a criminal complaint concerning a gun crime by Navell Gordon, for which he was ultimately convicted. 

And, even though I've published this link before, click here for the Instagram photo album of Navell Gordon, a/k/a Montanatherealchief (Montana The Real Chief). Peruse the photo album, admire the firearms, read the captions, and prepare to be shocked out of your assumptions about "Pointergate." 


I mean, so what if the very same politically correct forces wearing their jaws to the bone over "Pointergate" would expel a child from grade school for using the same "pointy finger that looks like a gun" gesture? (Click here for story) (Click here for another story) 

And how many times have I heard certain members of our local Green Party declare in the most shrill of tones that "pointing" is a "threatening and hostile gesture?"  

But "a foolish consistency is the hobgoblin of small minds," right? What MATTERS is that poor, misunderstood Navell Gordon is "just starting to turn his life around" but then he gets burned by the red hot KSTP limelight for using a hand gesture that, even when closely examined, doesn't even LOOK like a "gang sign." 


KSTP file photo originally taken from 
somebody's social media, now in wide
circulation as part of a public controversy, 
here used under First Amendment
Fair comment and criticism 

That's just WRONG, right? 

It must be underlying prejudice against Navell Gordon and the big bad police union trying to embarrass our mayor with an image taken "out of context," right? 

Gang Sign Of The Notorious "Sticc Up Boys" (Note Spelling)  

Many of the Pointergate stories have mentioned the "Sticc Up Boys" street gang sign but those stories all spelled it "Stick Up Boys." 

I wondered why nobody was publishing a picture of the Sticc Up Boys gang sign for comparison with the Pointergate gesture. I quickly realized the problem was everybody assumed a standard spelling, so nobody was going to find online images by searching "Stick up" instead of "Sticc up." 

 I realized I have in my possession photos of two actual "Sticc Up Boys" gang signs. 

The image above shows murder victim Rayjon Gomez (the smallest one with hands in his pockets) with Malo and Dashaunta Gomez, both subsequently convicted of serious crimes. Malo tried to shoot a couple cops in front of Union Liquor because (he said) he was "bored." Dashaunta was convicted of murdering Johnathon "Jada" Harris. (Click here for STrib story) 


This image was in the social media of Rayjon and the caption on the photo clearly identified the other two as members of the "Sticc ups."

Look closely at the hand signs. What's happening in the photo is very complex. The guy with his arms wrapped around Rayjon is using a "double barreled" gesture with one hand, but the single barrel "pointy finger" in the other. The gesture literally embraces Rayjon in a way that appears deliberate, calculated, meaningful and symbolic. 

Shortly before his murder, Rayjon took a picture of himself and posted it to social media. 

Note how Rayjon makes a "double barrel" with one hand. His other hand is obviously occupied holding the cell phone. One might argue the "Sticc up boys" hand gesture is NOT exactly the same as the gesture made by the Mayor and Montana TheReal--oh, I mean Navell Gordon. 

But, in heart and substance, it is the same gesture....it is the "pointy gun" gesture with thumb cocked upward. Indeed, pointing cocked fingers pointing AT EACH OTHER is another aspect of the gesture in the first photo.  

Damning Instagram Pictures From "Montana The Real Chief" 

The story spun by the critics of KSTP is the story of a young man working for "Neighborhoods Organization For Change" who has turned his life around but now is criticized for mistakes in his past. Gordon's admittedly regrettable past is filtered through controversy over an innocent but "misinterpreted" hand gesture seized upon by closed minded, even RACIST critics with an anti-Hodges political agenda. 

That is the common critical "Pointergate" narrative by defenders of Mayor Hodges and Navell Gordon. 

But the photos KSTP turned up from Gordon's account on the popular online service "Instagram" are shocking, damning, and show highly questionable activity. And these photos do not appear to be from long, long ago. No, the photos seem pretty recent (a few months ago) and are actually interspersed with images of Gordon's activities with Neighborhoods Organizing For Change. 

KSTP used some of the photos in their most recent "in defense of Pointergate" story. But I want to make sure every relevant detail becomes a matter of public record. So I'm posting more of the photos that I feel are relevant, for POSTERITY, before (as I suspect they will) those photos and captions GO AWAY. 

It's hard to tell which is more damning, the image of the what looks like a submachine gun or the image (top of blog post) of Navell Gordon with a pistol tucked into his pants, taken just a few months ago months ago. 

Here's the machine gun picture:

Here is what Gordon wrote about this picture:

I ANT GOT TO CALL NOBODY TO DO MY DURT! ON MOMMA OMA OG AND IF ANYBODY DON'T LIKE IT ! COME SHOW ME AND FUCK THE POLICE THEY CAN GET IT TO GLOCKBOYZ! BITCH

"Glockboyz" huh? Hmmm. Is that a gang or just an expression? Because that gun is NOT a Glock. So why would you post a picture and write "Glockboyz?" 

I ask readers in North Minneapolis and beyond, is this who you want knocking at your door and telling you to register to vote? More like he should be telling you to get a video security system and a concealed weapon permit to protect yourself against "Glockboyz." 

As for this photo...

Here's what Gordon had to say about it:

BITCH I GOT MOE POWER THEN THE POLICE GLOCKBOYZ PRESIDENT! NOW COME FIND ME!

Is that word "moe" just a casual misspelling for "more?" Or does it refer to affiliation with the Almighty Black P-Stones? JNS blog has been writing about that "Moe" thing since 2012, click here for story. 

What does it mean to be the "Glockboyz President?" Is that wild talk on Facebook or actual gang affiliation? 

Pointergate Forces Were Committed Early And Overwhelmingly, Was That A Horrible Mistake?

After KSTP revealed more Navell Gordon's Instragram account, Pointergate was being reevaluated. And it would appear some of the reevaluation was done by people who were on the side of the Mayor and Navell Gordon. Here's what somebody posted to Gordon's Instagram account in the comments for this "President of the Glockboyz" photo shortly after the controversy broke wide open. 

God, how I wish this poster had thrown in some refreshing paragraph breaks....so I am throwing in a few. 

You're welcome. 
----------------------------------------------------------------

• 

  Themikethatmatters

  1 day ago
  
  
  

  Umm...did you ever consider that NOW that you happen to be part to a story that has caught NATIONAL attention that you should clean up your social media sites?! Don’t you know they’re going to scrape and dig for any ammunition they can? With these prejudice ass people and MPD finally gets someone to monitor them after ALL the abuse, corruption, and bullshit they’ve done over the years…this is the closest they’ve come to being watched. We FINALLY have a good Mayor working on it. And those on the other side of the fence are looking to divert attention from that to ANYTING they can…at this point it’s you. 
  
  As a black man I’m telling you to take this dumb incriminating stuff down brah! On another note,You’re lucky they don’t attempt to press charges on you and they make you have to hire and attorney to lie and tell everybody it was a “toy gun.” 
  
  It’s 2014 and ppl are still posting pics of weapons, drugs, and other incriminating stuff on public websites?! Keep your guns…cool! Just keep it off the f*cking Internet! Yes, we all go a past. But brotha you’re up against some very resourceful white people who are using YOU to defend their prejudice ass point!! Michael Quinn (the former police chief), is obviously apart of the problem, but now thanks to your Instagram account, he doesn’t have to hang his head low…he can smirk and say “I told you so…” 
  
  We all know pointing isn’t a gang sign…this is a part of the ammo thry try to use to make it look like one! Don’t set us back… Take it down brah, clean up your “past” and take down all the bullshit. I wish you the best, and keep your nose clean!! You’re in the public eye now…don’t do anything stupd!

----------------------------------------

Take this down. Take this dumb incriminating stuff down. You are in the public eye and everybody is watching. 

So says the commenter, TheMikeThatMatters 

Too late.

Here's more photos and more captions. 

Hmm. Double finger gun pointy thing in this photo. Here's what the caption says:

GLOCKBOYZ Is that MONTANA

Check out the hat and read the backwards mirror writing. 

Here's the caption:

GLOCKBOYZ WE OUT HERE VIDEO SHOOT TO DAY WE NOT DONE ON MOMMA

Video shoot today, huh? What video shoot is that? Is that the video documentary about Neighborhoods Organizing For Change? 

Here's another from two months ago and more mention about the "video shoot."

Video shoot card party at Montana house turn up GLOCKBOYZ TRUE GRIND

Again, JNS blog asks, WHAT VIDEO SHOOT? Was there some other video shoot happening besides the one for Neighborhoods Organizing for Change? And where does Navell's activity with NOC begin and end, versus his activity with "Glockboyz?"

So a few months ago, Navell was talking on Instagram about the "video shoot." And activity associated with the video shoot was associated with Navell's "house." 

Here's another instance:

BBQ AT MY HOUSE VIDEO SHOOT TURN UP! GLOCKBOYZ TRUEGRIND

More talk in this photo, below, of "Glockboyz."

GLOCKBOYZ ON MY MOMMA EVERYBODY LOOKING AT US!

Even a photo of delicious-looking fried chicken gets associated with the name "Glockboyz" and there is mention of a "team."

MY TEAM EAT GOOD EVERY DAY GLOCKBOYZ TRUE GRIND!

During this same exact period of time, the photos interspersed with each other, Navell also published photos associated with political activity, like this stirring union photo. 

Here is what he wrote:

I MAKE 15$ HOUR! AND THAT'S WHAT WE FIGHTING FOR ! FOR EVERYBODY CAN GET THE SAME! YALL NEED TO GET OUT HERE AND GET YOU SOME MONEY! ON MY MOMMA TRUE GRIND!

In this photo below, while wearing a NOC shirt, Navell associates himself with "Glockboyz." There is no boundary for him between his "Glockboyz" activity and his NOC activity. It's all the same hustle, the same work, the same "true grind" to advance himself and his "team," the Glockboyz. 

YOU NEVER KNOW WHO I WILL MEET AT MY JOB! HE WORKS FOR THE NEW STATION! GLOCKBOYZ IS MORE THEN A TEAM WE MAKING MOVES OUT HERE ! TRUE GRIND!

I'm going to go out of my way to say something positive, here...

Yummy. 

 "Montana" proudly posts pictures of food he has cooked and brags on his cooking skills. (The food looks amazing and delicious!) He posts pictures of a woman having a baby and says how hard she works. He posted pictures of items he states are purchased for his baby, not yet born at the time of the photo. (I presume by the woman in the photo, but the statement is not made explicitly) 

There is a lot of positive stuff in those photos. And then there is "Glockboyz" activity. Even in a photo of Navell posing in front of a car, you can look at his shirt and read "GB."

I doubt the letters stand for "George Bush." 

In the photo below, with his "GB" hoodie, Navell is making some kind of "embracing" gesture with his hands. I wouldn't think much of this gesture except...well, it's very similar to a mutual gesture made by Navell and the mayor in the video snippet shortly BEFORE the now-infamous "Pointergate" gesture. 

I don't know how to interpret it. So I just throw it out there. 

Here's a photo taken at the memorial to a shooting victim at 26th and Penn (how well I know THIS particular shooting!) where Navell wishes the shooting victim's family well on behalf of the "Glockboyz." 

WE OUT HER FOR DREW SON'S THEY ALWAYS BEN THE MOB GLOCKBOYZ R.I.P TO OG DREW

A few months ago, Navell offered this item for sale at the price of $200. 

For Sale 200 Rite Now Who Need It ? #GLOCKBOYZ

Where did Navell get an extra electronic tablet in a pretty pink carrying case? Hmmmm? 

Oh, wait, am I just reading too much into this oh-so-innocent sale of electronics on Instagram? I must be leaping to terrible and unsupported conclusions like the president of the police union! (sarcasm font) I'm sure "hashtag Glockboys" means nothing, and it also means nothing that THIS was the photo posted immediately before the picture of the electronics. (End sarcasm font)

To those who leaped into "Pointergate" with both feet, I say: You committed your credibility to this guy Navell Gordon because you thought way too much was being made of an "innocent" hand gesture. Without looking deeply into the facts, you wrote and spoke in defense of this guy and in white hot criticism of KSTP and the police union who had concerns...

But LOOK at this guy! This is the kind of guy you don't want to meet in a dark place while carrying your valuable electronics. 

Here's another one posted a few months ago. 

Studio flow My house

Here's another one. Sox and Glocks. 

The "Discretion" In "Prosecutorial Discretion"

I am, admittedly, disappointed that Navell Gordon seems to have avoided prosecution for a gun crime simply because he snapped a photo with the Mayor, and then later was at the center of a surreal "Pointergate" scandal. There are already too many unsolved crimes in my neighborhood, so to just let one go when THE DNA IS RIGHT ON THE GUN, ALLEGEDLY, it sticks in my craw.

And yet I will say...

The prosecutor is correct in dropping this matter. 

Game it out. If Navell were prosecuted, his defense would be "that DNA must have been planted by the police union who are trying to embarrass the Mayor!" 

You couldn't sway a jury with something like that. But you could probably sway one or two nutcase jurists who also believe exploding paint manufactured in Iraq brought down the Twin Towers instead of hijacked planes. And a "hung jury" in this instance is simply unthinkable. It would be a disaster. 

To function, a legal system must project legitimacy and authority. That's why cases are tried in courtrooms instead of outside on park benches in the sunshine, where everybody could kick back and be a lot more comfortable. It is essential to maintain that image of legitimate authority. If a "hung jury" came back, more damage would be done to our system then letting a single photogenic no-account slip out of the net, to either straighten himself out or find himself back in court facing more serious charges. 

And so charges are dropped (for now?) and Pointergate continues to cool off.

Or does it? There's just something about "Mr. Personality" Navell Gordon which makes me think...

This is the controversy that just keeps coming back.