Light 'Em Up

Phillip Rizzo

"Light 'Em Up" takes a deep dive on the criminal justice system, crime scene investigation and leadership. We take you under and behind the crime scene investigation tape to get at the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth, so help us God! Justice comes to those that fight ... not those that cry!

  1. 5d ago

    Female Cop Roughed Up During Radio Run at Well-known Nuisance Property. FOP President Turned it Into a Pissing Match with: Mayor’s Office & City Council. Coded, Condescending Comments Concerning Akron’s Black Community. SOP by the FOP "Bomb Thrower"

    Tonight, on this explosive, investigatory brand-new episode of Light ‘Em Up. We support the truth by asking the tough questions — whether our critics like it or not! We’ll investigate the incident which took place on Monday, September 28th, 2026, where an Akron, Ohio female police officer was assaulted: bitten and punched. There are other reports (that) at the present, Light ‘Em Up has not been able to independently verify — that said that the burglary suspect allegedly attempted to take the officer’s firearm during a struggle, at a vacant Copley Road apartment building in the west side of Akron’s 4th ward — according to a press release from Akron Mayor Shammas Malik's office. The city has exploded over this one case. The Mayor’s Office, The City Council and the often-outspoken President of the Fraternal Order of Police have ALL weighed in in less than 24 hours after the incident. This topic has been the talk of the town. We accepted the challenge to tackle this topic because we know that there is far more to this case than what the elected officials are willing to discuss and crucial aspects that they have willingly chosen to overlook in the fact pattern. In this episode: —     We’ll review the incident (as best we can) with the information that we have (as this story is still developing), and we’ll share updates as more information is confirmed. —     We’ll evaluate if it is best to have solo officer patrols, as 21st century law enforcement best practices evaluate patrol configurations based on risk, call type and staffing metrics vs. gender alone. —     We’ll investigate the tactical procedures carried out for this radio call and ask, could better tactics have been employed to ensure the safety of both the officer and the public? —     And we’ll delve into the language, actions and often incendiary, race-baited rhetoric used by police unions, in general, including the Akron Fraternal Order of Police (FOP), Lodge #7, which has been a central point of debate in discussions surrounding race, civil rights, and criminal justice in Akron, and as an extension, America as a whole.  Critics and defenders hold deeply contrasting views on the intent and impact of the Akron FOP as an organization and relating to its public statements over the decades. We’ve uncovered a dark historical perspective that we’re pretty sure you didn’t know anything about — facts that have permeated the Akron PD for decades. We’ll report what we’ve seen regarding the apparent “outrage” that occurred following this incident. This perspective touches on a deeply polarizing debate surrounding the actions and statements of elected officials regarding police conduct, public safety, and accountability. The tension between how political leaders respond to civilian deaths versus line-of-duty incidents is a central theme in discussions about systemic justice. The person arrested is named Leotis Daggett. According to records, Daggett was taken into custody and charged with the following: 1 count, Assault on a police officer, 1 count, Aggravated robbery, 1 count Possession of drugs, cocaine, 1 count Illegal use or possession of drug paraphernalia, 1 count Obstructing official business, 1 count Resisting arrest - causing physical harm to law enforcement officer - aggravated assault. Police records show that he also had a warrant out for his arrest on a prior offense. He’s being held in The Summit County Jail on East Crosier Street in Akron on a $100,000 bond. Police officials say officers were dispatched to 914 Copley Road for a report of people removing wood from a vacant building, an apartment building called “The Belvidere”. From video footage it appears as if only one female officer responded on scene. When police arrived, reports stated that the officer saw a suspect, who was identified as 56-year-old Leotis Daggett, exiting the building and the officer attempted to stop him. New eyewitness video obtained by Light ‘Em Up appears to show the scene where the struggle between the officer and the suspect took place. The eyewitness account comes as the Akron Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 7 President Sergeant Brian Lucey says the officer was punched in the face and bitten during the struggle while bystanders recorded video of the confrontation.   Sergeant Lucey added that bystanders recorded the confrontation on their phones and laughed. "Nobody stepped in to help her," Lucey wrote on social media. Intervening physically in an active police arrest is extremely dangerous and carries a high risk of serious injury, legal arrest, or criminal charges. It is very dangerous to involve yourself in any struggle with law enforcement. It is hilarious that the FOP President and anyone else ridicules the general public for NOT getting involved. As I recall, no one helped Eric Garner. No one helped George Floyd. No one helped Sandra Bland when she was pulled over by an irate Department of Texas Public Safety officer. And here in Akron, no one from the Akron Police Department stepped in to help Jazmir Tucker for MORE than 7+ minutes after he was shot by a high-powered military style weapon that had no place whatsoever being used by a patrol officer --- helping to facilitate his death.  We speak the truth, protect the vulnerable and always pursue justice. Tune in for all the explosive details and our sponsors Newsly & Feedspot! We want to hear from you! Support the show

  2. Oct 10

    Murder In Times Square! Legally Justified, or Officer-Created Jeopardy by the NYPD? A Tragedy of Tactical Errors, Missed Opportunities, Poor Police Positioning, Ineffective Use of Less-Lethal Options & Inadequate Crisis Intervention Training.

    Tonight, on this fact-finding, exclusive, explosive episode of Light ‘Em Up … What may have lingered under the surface for years … with only subtle, sporadic indications of any significant problem … burst loose in a blink of an eye in Times Square for the world to see late in the afternoon on August 31. The assailant, Pamela Cisneros, 49, of Queens, stabbed two people, 1 fatally, before being fatally shot by the NYPD. Cisneros had a “documented mental health history” that included encounters with the police in 2018 and 2019, Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch said while speaking at a news conference that day. Just like Tuesday September 11th, 2001, Monday, August 31st, 2026, in the heart of The Big Apple started out as a completely normal day. Erin Piacenti was walking through Times Square in Manhattan, heading home from work in the afternoon. She never made it home. Ms. Piacenti was walking on West 42nd Street when she was approached by a 49-year-old woman who stabbed her in the abdomen. She was taken to Bellevue Hospital, where she was pronounced dead. The other victim, a 68-year-old Rhode Island man named Tak Kam, who was in the city visiting his son, was expected to recover. We begin this incendiary episode with the exclusive audio from a brief evening press conference on Monday August 31st in Times Square with comments from the mayor and the 48th NYPD Police Commissioner, Jessica Tisch. We’ll look at what we know about: —      the stabbings in Times Square, The NYPD and law enforcement’s response in general to suspects with mental illnesses, some case law about shootings of suspects brandishing a knife, And as we push further: —     We’ll speak to the requirement to de-escalate and analyze the law enforcement critical, emergency response to this high stress incident, analyzing their TTP’s (Tactics, Techniques and Procedures) in this specific case. And we’ll close … —      with a look at less-lethal options available to police when confronting suspects armed with knives or similar cutting instruments. This incident happened right by a Times Square NYPD sub-station … which was put into place to improve emergency responses. The recently elected New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani said he did not call for a mental health professional to be deployed during the active August 31 stabbing attack in Times Square, but instead publicly praised the responding police officers for stopping the suspect. While some online critics and policing observers later questioned whether alternative tactics or mental health de-escalation could have been attempted earlier, city leadership firmly defended the officers' use of lethal force given the immediate threat. If Ms. Cisneros… a Hispanic woman of color …if she were white, would they have shot her? Weren’t there other less lethal options at the NYPD’s disposal other than shooting her in the middle of a bustling Times Square, with traffic moving behind the knife-wielding woman who was clearly in the grip of a mental health meltdown. How many times has this been the case … (especially in New York City) with only the specific details changing? No one could see it coming. No one was able to address the “push factors” … Wrong, as she was, to stab anyone, Ms. Cisneros simply became eligible to be shot down like a dog in the streets … because she no longer had the ability to deal with society in a rational manner — the way “we see it”. None of her medical doctors could prevent it. Her family had no clue. This will happen again and again and again. It won’t stop.  The names will simply change. We’ll shine the antiseptic light of the truth, and we’ll plant our flag on these topics … y mucho, mucho más aquí …  y solamente aquí… con: Light ‘Em Up! Without fear or favor … we follow the facts wherever they lead. In times of uncertainty, facts provide clarity … The search for the truth begins RIGHT HERE and RIGHT NOW! We speak the truth, protect the vulnerable and always pursue justice. Tune in for all the explosive details and our sponsors Newsly & Feedspot! We want to hear from you! Support the show

  3. Sep 19

    Seashells, a Wannabe Strongman & the Pettiest Prosecution in American History. Was Ex-FBI Director James Comey's "86 47" Instagram Post a Crime, or Proof the 1st Amendment is Breaking Under the Strain of the Trump Administration's Rogue DOJ?

    Tonight, on this fact-finding, explosive episode of Light ‘Em Up: We’ll examine the weaponization of the Department of Justice under President Trump and on how this impacts you, directly. This case is but one example of Donald Trump’s vindictive, petty and small nature.  A man uniquely unqualified to be the President of The United States. This case is centered on the two-count federal indictment of the former FBI Director James Comey, who was indicted by a federal grand jury in April 2026 for a social media post showing seashells on a North Carolina beach arranged to spell "86 47". Prosecutors claim the numbers implied a threat to kill President Donald Trump. The government purports that "86" means to get rid of or kill, and "47" represents Trump, the 47th president, according to the DOJ and its legal briefs. James Comey, through his legal team, maintains that he did not arrange the shells and that he encountered them while on vacation. Comey shared the display on an Instagram photo in May 2025.  Comey's attorneys filed motions in a North Carolina federal court asking the judge to dismiss the indictment with prejudice. His defense team’s core arguments are that the Instagram photo of seashells spelling "86 47" is protected political speech under the First Amendment and does not constitute a "true threat". We’ll examine what a “true threat” is and isn’t. And we’ll spend time with the 1st Amendment (reviewing the text to see what it exactly says).  There is no doubt, the First Amendment is under extreme and intense attack from the Trump administration. —     We’ll delve into what “selective prosecution” is — and as we investigate, we ask you, our dedicated listeners, if you think “selective prosecution” seems applicable in this specific case. —     And we’ll ask if the grand jury process needs a “full-body-off restoration” for returning a true bill and indicting James Comey in this case. Do you think this is old news … or water under the bridge? I can assure you that it isn’t! This is the kind of thing that can change your life in an instant. Everything you’ve ever thought about or hoped for a democracy can fly right out of the window when a dictator rules under a tyrannical regime and good people do nothing to stop it.  When you lose rights that are supposed to be inalienable, rarely and I mean rarely are they ever restored. Under the law, a threat is a communicated intent to inflict physical harm, property damage, or other illegal injury upon another person. It causes the victim to feel a reasonable fear for their safety, separating a punishable crime from protected speech or general anger. The First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution states that "Congress shall make no law... abridging the freedom of speech." The First Amendment is a cornerstone of American democracy. It allows us to express our views, challenge authority, and engage in public debate. In recent years, however, these freedoms have come under intense scrutiny; from debates over protests on college campuses to concerns about government retaliation against journalists and activists. Understanding what the First Amendment protects is more important than ever.  Today, Americans face new challenges to free expression: increasing restrictions on the right to protest, to government censorship, and limits on free speech in schools and on campuses. Immigrants, students, and public employees have all faced threats to their rights, highlighting the need to stay informed about what the Constitution guarantees. The actions of the Trump administration have a profound chilling effect. In constitutional law the “chilling effect” describes how individuals self-censor protected speech or conduct out of fear of government prosecution, penalties, or retaliation. The criminal case against James Comey is likely to deepen concerns that the Justice Department is being weaponized in pursuit of investigations and now prosecutions of public figures the president regards as his political enemies. It was filed as the White House has taken steps to exert influence in unprecedented ways on the department, blurring the line between law and politics at an agency where independence in prosecutorial decision-making is a foundational principle.  When a government uses its power to target private citizens for revenge, it damages the core rules of a free society.  This behavior: —     breaks public trust, —     weakens the rule of law, and … —     shifts a nation away from democracy and toward authoritarian rule. At the end of the day, a democracy doesn’t die in total darkness — it dies in broad daylight, piece by piece, when the law is twisted into a weapon for personal score-settling.  The stakes couldn’t be higher for James Comey and for each of us, by extension. We speak the truth, protect the vulnerable and always pursue justice. Don’t move a muscle! Tune in for all the explosive details and our sponsors Newsly & Feedspot! We want to hear from you! Support the show

  4. Aug 29

    Get the Flock Out of Here! Flock Automated License Plate Readers (ALPRs) are Everywhere, Tracking You, Every License Plate, Every Movement, Every Moment. Citizens Aren’t Staying Quiet. Some are Ripping the Cameras Down with Their Bare Hands.

    Get the “Flock” out of here! With the recent spree of vandalism locally and nationwide that has affected FLOCK surveillance cameras, we delve inside the growing vigilante movement to knock out these Automated License Plate Readers. Tonight, on this explosive, investigative, informative brand-new episode of Light ‘Em Up — like an intense laser beam, we’re focusing on Flock Automated License Plate Reading Cameras and this AI-driven technology.  The industry, for short refers to them as ALPRs. It seems like Flock Automatic License Plate Reader Cams are everywhere, on every street and corner.   Big brother is certainly watching you and there doesn’t seem to be a damned thing you can do about it! Flock Safety’s automated license plate-reading cameras, used by thousands of law enforcement agencies in the U.S., have drawn intense criticism from concerned citizens and civil liberties groups, among others. Are they an unlawful, unconstitutional invasion of your privacy? Can you have and expect any expectation of privacy while you are in public? The argument rages on. Flock Safety is a private company based in Atlanta, GA valued at $8bn that supplies the lion’s share of the license plate-reading cameras used by law enforcement departments across the nation. Law enforcement agencies have embraced them, but police departments are not the only customers. College campuses and homeowner’s associations have also put up the cameras. More municipalities, both large and small, are budgeting for them. More than 7,000 organizations in the United States have contracts with Flock Safety, according to the company. The proliferation of Flock cameras has divided the public and rattled civil liberties watchdogs. The ACLU argues that the extensive network: —                 constitutes mass surveillance, —                 raises privacy concerns regarding tracking daily habits, —                 and can be used to track people attending protests or religious institutions. How do you feel about your every move being watched and surveilled by the government? Does this fact stress you out or perhaps make you feel anxious? Or do these cameras provide you with a heightened sense of physical safety and security? —                 Do you think these cameras offer any significant crime reduction? —                 Do you feel unease from a loss of privacy? We want to know … you can email us at prizzo7778@gmail.com Tell us exactly how you feel about the Automatic License Plate Reader Cameras taking your picture EVERY time you drive down the street: —                 Do you even notice? —                 Do you care? Some say the cameras are a valuable tool to help catch criminals and senior citizens when they wander away from their homes, while critics argue that the information they collect can be misused by the government or rogue law enforcement officers. Several law enforcement officers have been disciplined for misusing data from Flock’s cameras, including an officer in Milwaukee who was criminally charged after using camera data to track someone he was dating and the person’s ex. We’ll examine what the Supreme Court has said about this. —                 Does the government throw a too large and too wide of a dragnet … considering EVERY person to be a suspect? That isn’t how the U.S. Constitution works, and it doesn’t permit that, either. All people are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law and an officer must possess a reasonable, articulable suspicion of a specific crime that has been committed to briefly stop or detain a person. That kind of stop is referred to as a Terry Stop. We’ll examine exactly what Flock cameras are: We’ll share with you why they’ve come under such public fire as they produce a treasure-trove of highly sophisticated surveillance records instantly. Sure, proponents say this helps prevent crime, opponents say the information can be dangerous in the wrong hands and are the tools of tyranny and control. That criticism has intensified as the Trump administration has carried out immigration crackdowns across the nation, fueling concerns about clients sharing license plate information with Immigration and Customs Enforcement and other federal agencies. In Washington State, at least seven police departments and one sheriff’s office had granted access to the U.S. Border Patrol to their license plate reader networks in 2025, according to an analysis by the University of Washington. An audit by the city of Columbus, Ohio, found that its Flock data had been searched more than 15,000 times for potential immigration-related purposes since 2024. Since the company’s inception in 2017, many municipalities have added the popular technology, however as of late more communities have either deactivated the cameras or canceled their contracts with ALPR suppliers because of complaints about mass surveillance and what critics have called a lack of guardrails over who can access the information. This technology is testing the Fourth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, which prohibits unreasonable searches and seizures, in ways the constitutional framers could never have anticipated. You can register for Flock Safety’s SafeList here: How Flock's SafeList Removes Your Car From Camera Searches Frequently Asked Questions | Flock Safety Listen to our first episode on this topic, here. We speak the truth, protect the vulnerable and always pursue justice. Tune in for all the explosive details and our sponsors Newsly & Feedspot! We want to hear from you! Support the show

  5. Aug 8

    ICE Kills Again & Again with Impunity & Immunity: The Cold-blooded Killing of Lorenzo Salgado Araujo in Houston. How the Trump Administration Has Given the “Green Light” for Rogue, Trigger-happy, Federal Agents to Shoot First and Lie About it Later

    ICE, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, seems to have a mandate to kill. They’ve struck again! Welcome to this explosive, fact-finding episode of Light ‘Em Up. On Tuesday July 7th in the early morning hours, 52-year-old Lorenzo Salgado Araujo took his coffee and food his wife had prepared for him, said goodbye to his wife and their dog, and left the house he built. He drove his white van, picked up three co-workers, and headed towards a construction site to work on some houses. But Salgado never made it to work. During a “targeted enforcement operation”, ICE officers shot and killed Salgado and arrested the three other men. ICE says Lorenzo Salgado Araujo tried to ram agents with a van before one shot him dead.  Almost immediately, questions emerged over how the encounter had escalated.  In initial statements, homeland security officials said that Mr. Salgado Araujo had tried to use his vehicle as a weapon. History and the evidence have shown that ICE has a long track record of lying. They lied about Renee Good and they lied about Alex Pretti as well. Pam Bondi immediately held a national press conference to spin farcical stories to help cover the Trump administration’s asses.  Claiming that agents shot Renee Good because she “refused commands to exit her vehicle” and “attempted to run over an officer with her car” — weaponizing her vehicle. Through their legal representation, the three witnesses who were in the vehicle with Mr. Araujo (all Mexican nationals) dispute the account by ICE of the fatal shooting. A lawyer for these men (a Mr. Hugo Balderas-Ibarra) said that account of ICE was untrue. Salgado’s death marks the 10th of 11 fatal shootings by federal immigration officials nationwide since the second Trump administration took office, a review of public reports by Light ‘Em Up shows — as the Trump administration continues with its anti-immigrant crackdown. For 35 years, Lorenzo Salgado Araujo was undocumented and chasing the American Dream.  He hoped to obtain legal status, his family said. Those dreams ended when he was gunned down in the streets — something you wouldn’t even do to a rabid dog — gunned down last week by an immigration agent who was looking for a different man. This comes on the heels of learning that there will be no charges for the federal officers who killed Renee Good and Alex Pretti. In this incendiary episode we’ll investigate in-depth: —     Can you sue an ICE agent who has gone rogue? —     Will there be any accountability in this case? —     Will the government try to protect their story and deport the witnesses before they have an opportunity to tell their full stories in a court of law? —     With the Trump administration, does ICE have a mandate to kill? The deadly confrontation has set off protests in Houston, prompted investigations by local and federal officials, and renewed national focus on President Trump’s mass deportation campaign. An independent inquiry has been called for in this specific case.  Will one be granted? If yes, what might be the outcome? Only time will tell. Trust isn’t something that this administration has built up regarding any topic — especially as it relates to ICE enforcement and matters of immigration. —     Can the federal government ever be trusted under this administration to tell the truth? We speak the truth, protect the vulnerable and always pursue justice. Tune in for all the explosive details and our sponsors Newsly & Feedspot! We want to hear from you! Support the show

  6. Jul 18

    TAKEN! The Kidnapping of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro by Donald Trump. International Law Be Damned! Is the U.S. stealing Venezuelan Oil? The Negative Cascading Consequences for the World. Trump’s Recent Diversion from the Epstein Files.

    Tonight, in this incendiary investigative edition of Light ‘Em Up! We’re burying our nose into the international intrigue, kidnapping and arrest of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro. The arrest of Maduro is not the first time the US has captured a sitting head of government in Latin America. In December 1989, the George H.W. Bush administration launched Operation Just Cause, deploying over 24,000 U.S. troops to depose Panama’s Manuel Noriega and bring him to the United States to face federal drug-trafficking charges. For the longest time, President Trump has had a “hard on” for Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro. Maduro is accused by U.S. authorities of being one of the world's largest narco-traffickers, actively working with cartels to smuggle fentanyl-laced cocaine into the U.S. and engaging in narco-terrorism. In March 2020, Maduro was charged in a Southern District of New York federal indictment for: —     narco-terrorism, conspiracy to import cocaine, —     possession of machine guns and destructive devices, —     and conspiracy to possess machine guns and destructive devices in violation of Title 21 U.S.C. §§ 960a and 963, and 18 U.S.C. § 924. —     The U.S. Government initially offered a reward offer of up to $15 million for any information leading to the arrest and/or conviction of Nicolás Maduro Moros in 2020.  The Biden Administration’s Department of State on January 8, 2025, announced raising the reward offer to up to $25 million and ultimately $50 million under Trump 2.0. President Trump's opposition to Maduro was driven by Maduro’s alleged authoritarian governance, political corruption, and alleged involvement in large-scale drug trafficking. Trump also frequently criticized Maduro for undermining democratic elections (as he himself has done) and allying with U.S. geopolitical rivals like China, Russia, and Iran. In this episode, we’ll shine the antiseptic light of the truth and examine: The allegations that Nicolás Maduro and his wife Cilia Adela Flores de Maduro stand accused of — and have been indicted on. As you know from previous episodes of Light ‘Em Up: Criminal charges are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless found guilty at trial or by plea. —     Straight from the indictment we’ll investigate the Trump administration’s case and legal arguments … —     We’ll examine the legal nuances of the DOJ indictment detailing narco-terrorism and drug trafficking charges, —     As well as the international impacts and law that cover head of state sovereignty, state sovereignty and the “legality” of such a sweeping international action. —     All with an intense focus on the response from the EU, Latin America, China, Russia. Trump says, “The Venezuelan people are “Happy”.  We’ve learned differently. The fallout from this raid continues to shape international relations, with global leaders split between condemning the breach of sovereignty and supporting the removal of an autocratic regime. Arresting and extraditing your political enemies can serve as a convenient way to get rid of political rivals — but it doesn’t make the process clean, easy or lawful. Was this massive use of military force in Caracas a violation of international law, and more specifically Article 2 §4 of The UN Charter? Is Mr. Maduro entitled to immunity as the head of state of a sovereign country?  The U.S. government maintains that he obtained the status through a fraudulent election. General Noriega made a similar claim and lost. Nicolás Maduro declared himself a prisoner of war, a status that the last Latin American leader seized by U.S. forces, Gen. Manuel Antonio Noriega, also claimed. What will be the geopolitical impact for Venezuela and what does its future look like in conjunction with President Trump’s declaration that the U.S. would “oversee” Venezuela’s transition, and the subsequent installation of Maduro’s Number 2 … interim president Delcy Rodríguez. These actions will certainly have broader geopolitical and energy implications for the region. The search for the truth and justice begins RIGHT HERE … and RIGHT NOW! Tune in for all the explosive details and our sponsors Newsly & Feedspot! We want to hear from you! Support the show

  7. Jun 27

    Donald Trump’s Relentless Attacks on Journalists — Echoing the Oldest Tactics in the Authoritarian Playbook. The Despotic Decline of Dictators who Fear the Free Press. The 1st Amendment: The Backbone & Foundation of a Free People or 45 meaningless w

    Tonight, on this penetrating, investigative episode of Light ‘Em Up… With the 250th birthday of the United States rapidly approaching — we take a critical and intensive look at the 1st Amendment to the U.S. Constitution and at its foundation and the importance of a free press in a democracy. The most basic liberties guaranteed to Americans — embodied in the 45 words of the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution — assure Americans a government that is responsible to its citizens and responsive to their wishes. These 45 words are as alive and important today as they were more than 249 years ago. These liberties are neither liberal nor conservative, Democratic nor Republican — they are the basis for our representative democratic form of government. 45 words that grant us the inalienable right that: Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances. Thomas Jefferson in 1787 famously articulated that a “well-informed public holds ultimate power; without truth and oversight, even the best-intentioned government can devolve into tyranny”. Jefferson's preference for “newspapers without government” over “government without newspapers” was essential to the fledgling U.S. democracy and, as the truly wise man that he was, these maxims hold true to this day as the press is being tested like it never has been before. President Trump had his most recent “meltdown” in an on-air interview with NBC’s Kristen Welker. The world bore witness to “Exhibit A” … of Donald Trump’s face becoming as red as a beet … as he shouted at and insulted another female, minority reporter — this time it was Kristen Welker, an NBC journalist who is biracial. Welker’s mother is black and her father is white. It is crystal clear Trump is triggered by reporters that aren’t ass-smooching sycophants as the members of his entire presidential cabinet are. Intelligent women in general and minority women especially trigger Trump the most. We’ll shine the antiseptic light of the truth on the importance of having an independent free press and how it has proven to be an essential ingredient in the making of and maintaining a democracy. Also, we’ll investigate the damage the free press has suffered at the hands of Donald Trump and his constantly dishonest style of “scorched-earth politics” — where he rails against all media, unless of course, it’s his coveted Fox News. And we’ve researched and plan to share with you if there are any fair and accurate comparisons to Mussolini’s Fascist Italy and Hitler’s Nazi Germany and their treatment of the press in the lead-up to their power-grabs as they sought to change the balance of power for the free world. Every time Donald Trump attacks a reporter — the free press dies a little bit each time. The second Trump administration's core campaign pledge to protect open discourse has sharply clashed with its executive actions, resulting in a systemic contraction of First Amendment protections. Critics and civil liberties watchdogs argue that while the administration aggressively targets what it deems "left-wing bias" and "federal collusion" with tech platforms, it simultaneously deploys state infrastructure to: —     penalize critical media, —     restrict assembly, and … —     mandate strict government-approved speech orthodoxy. The fact of the matter is: Donald Trump rails against EVERYONE who doesn’t blow smoke up his ass — as a lot of people do. He’s always done this. He will continue to do so.  He’s a thin-skinned, weak-charactered, congenital narcissist — THIS is what they do.   They can’t take any criticism … a narcissist to this degree can’t even entertain anything that isn’t praise. We’ll examine all this … pero mucho más aquí y solamente aquí — on this edition of Light ‘Em Up! The search for the truth and justice begins RIGHT HERE … and RIGHT NOW! Tune in for all the explosive details and our sponsors Newsly & Feedspot! Support the show! We want to hear from you! We want to hear from you! Support the show

  8. Jun 6

    From Peeing on the Sidewalk to Being Ordered out of Your Vehicle at Gunpoint: Officer-Induced-Jeopardy. 10+ Officers with Assault Rifles Ready to Fire. The Akron Police Department: Manufacturing Danger Where None Existed & How They Tried to Keep it Quie

    Tonight, on this explosive episode of Light ‘Em Up. If you are hearing this episode, it is a miracle from God. Believe me! About a week ago with no advanced warning, we suffered the most serious catastrophic equipment failure that we’ve ever experienced — thanks to Windows 11. The Security settings on Windows 11 cancelled our access to our “drivers” which support our show.  We scrambled; we researched the problem day and night, tried one of everything and troubleshot the issue until we were asleep on our feet. Long story short, we’re back!  Bill Gates can’t keep a good show down! Tonight, we focus our investigative reporting skills with the intensity of a surgical laser on better understanding officer- induced jeopardy, which also can be referred to as officer- created jeopardy. "Officer-induced jeopardy" refers to situations where a police officer’s own unreasonable tactics, actions, or decisions prior to a force encounter unnecessarily create or escalate the danger, increasing the likelihood that force will be needed. The phrases of “officer-induced jeopardy” or “officer-created jeopardy” describe actions taken by police officers that increase the risk of injury to the officer and escalate the probability of use of lethal force by officers, which may have been avoided had the officer not placed himself or herself in a self-created dangerous situation. Be clear in the fact that this action stems from willful actions taken by the officer that put the officer and the person of interest or suspect in danger … such as: —                 rushing in without backup, —                 poor de-escalation skills and tactics, —                 or standing in front of a fleeing vehicle, which may have been avoided. Officers rarely are but can be criminally prosecuted for using force when their actions led to escalation during contact with subjects. However, the facts bear out that fewer than 3% of killings by police result in officers being charged with a crime. Recently, a fan of the show contacted us and informed us of an incident where their family — in their home -- became inadvertent ear and eyewitnesses being directly next door to where the Akron Police Department had terminated a vehicle pursuit — barricading and cornering a driver in his vehicle and ordering him to exit his vehicle while at gun point:  More than 10 officers with their weapons drawn and pointed at the person who had previously committed what would amount to minor misdemeanors. The family that contacted us were concerned because they were in the direct line of crossfire if the officers decided to fire. This unnecessary contact with a 66-year-old black man (the suspect) could have easily turned into a “contagious fire” incident, with many of those shots coming from high-powered, military style assault rifles. In this explosive episode, in order to further our understanding about officer- induced jeopardy —   as a case study we’ll examine Barnes v. Felix, 605 U.S. ___ (2025), which is a recent Supreme Court decision which assesses whether an officer acted reasonably in using force under the Fourth Amendment, and that a court must consider all the relevant circumstances, including facts and events leading up to the climactic moment. And we’ll touch upon a few brief case summaries and instances that support our topic … As well as: —     How the use-of-force management training has changed over the course of the last decade. —     How has the use of less-lethal tools and devices changed? And … —     What we feel law enforcement agencies in the 21st Century should focus more on when it comes to officer- induced jeopardy and the use-of-force continuum. All this, pero mucho más aquí y solamente aquí — on Light ‘Em Up! The search for the truth and justice begins RIGHT HERE … and RIGHT NOW! Tune in for all the explosive details and our sponsors Newsly & Feedspot! We want to hear from you! Support the show

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About

"Light 'Em Up" takes a deep dive on the criminal justice system, crime scene investigation and leadership. We take you under and behind the crime scene investigation tape to get at the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth, so help us God! Justice comes to those that fight ... not those that cry!

Information

  • Creator
    Phillip Rizzo
  • Years Active
    2020 - 2026
  • Episodes
    120
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Light 'Em Up
  • Show Website
    Light 'Em Up