Latest news with #KevinJones
CBS News
17-07-2025
- Health
- CBS News
5 arrested on drug charges near scene of Baltimore mass overdose
Five people were arrested on drug charges near the scene of a mass overdose in Baltimore that sent at least 27 people to the hospital on July 10, according to police. The suspects were charged with drug possession with intent to distribute on July 13, though it's unclear if the arrests were connected to the mass overdose, according to Baltimore police. Baltimore Police said the five people were arrested in the 1700 block of North Carey Street. They did not identify what drugs the suspects had in their possession. The mass overdose in the intersection of Pennsylvania and North Avenues left seven people in critical condition and several others in serious condition. No deaths were reported, according to Fire officials. Officials have not yet confirmed the source of the drug overdose. However, witnesses at the scene told WJZ it involved a drug called "New Jack City," which allegedly was laced with antifreeze. The incident is still under investigation. Following the overdose, Baltimore Police Deputy Commissioner Kevin Jones said the area was treated as an active crime scene, with officers interviewing witnesses and reviewing camera footage. According to Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott, officials also checked nearly 177 vacant properties in the area as part of the investigation. The mass overdose prompted a surge of resources from community partners aimed at preventing overdose incidents. Personnel from the city Office of Overdose Response were in the area for several days after the incident, passing out Narcan and test strips. They also informed residents about public health resources and encouraged those using drugs to do so carefully. Johns Hopkins health policy expert, Dr. Joshua Sharfstein, called the tools a first step and emphasized that peer supervisors can also make a big difference in helping people access life-saving treatment. "It can get better, and so many people are living proof of that," he said. Peer supervisors are available at the Enoch Pratt Library, Pennsylvania Avenue Branch on weekdays during business hours. Baltimore residents can also call the 988 helpline to speak with a counselor or find treatment.
South Wales Argus
15-07-2025
- Politics
- South Wales Argus
Newport RAF veteran forced out of military seeks apology
This renewed expression of contrition follows an Argus report into the case of Kevin Jones, a Lliswerry man now living with an aggressive form of prostate cancer. Kevin is seeking accountability for the premature end of his military career, which he says was unfairly derailed due to his sexuality. Kevin told the Argus that he jumped before he was pushed, describing the suspicion, scrutiny and pressure he endured while serving as a gay man. He now seeks access to his service records in pursuit of redress; however, records have gone missing, which Kevin finds as frustrating as the lack of an apology and accountability. "I just want my apology and an explanation of why my records were destroyed. Without them, what can I prove?" Kevin said. In response to the story, the Ministry of Defence expressed deep regret over the treatment of LGBT personnel between 1967 and 2000, describing it as wholly wrong and completely unacceptable. However, it stopped short of speaking about Kevin's individual case. Historic Newport pub hosts its first same sex wedding Firefighters tackle huge fire at scrapyard for 24 hours to bring it under control Tributes paid to 'fearless' Monmouth environmentalist Kevin has said his efforts toward justice have been obstructed by the destruction of documentation during a 'shredding party' that saw thousands of cases erased. The MOD said the record destruction was in line with government policy and data protection legislation. The MOD confirmed that most records relating to decriminalised sexual offences were destroyed between 2010 and 2011. Officials stated that these documents were considered to hold no further investigative value and contained sensitive personal information. General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), a stricter successor to earlier data laws, was incorporated into British law in 2018. Kevin continues to seek answers and accountability for the loss of his otherwise unblemished career. The general apology coincides with the ongoing Government Financial Recognition Scheme, launched on 13 December, 2024. The scheme offers a flat-rate payment of £50,000 to individuals dismissed or discharged due to their sexuality or gender identity and additional awards between £1000 and £20000 pounds for other impacts, assessed by an independent panel. The MOD encourages affected individuals to contact LGBT-FRScheme@ for support. Instructions issued by the Defence Police Chiefs Forum in 2010 mandated the removal of historical investigation and conviction records, aligning with legal reforms that eliminated these offences from criminal background checks. Eligibility for the Dismissed or Discharged Payment includes those ordered to retire or resign, medically discharged or administratively removed due to their sexuality or gender identity. Individuals who exited voluntarily or due to contract expiry may still be eligible for the LGBT Impact Payment. The MOD states it is fully committed to recruiting and retaining in an inclusive way
Yahoo
13-07-2025
- Yahoo
' I want an apology,' says veteran forced to leave military for being gay
Kevin Jones, a former RAF sergeant from Newport, served his country with distinction - but was forced out of the RAF because of who he is. He says veterans like him, who were driven out of the military for their sexuality, need "their day in court and answers, just like the postmasters." Kevin spoke against a backdrop of secrecy, document shredding, suspected official cover-ups and personal illness. Kevin's unblemished service record included service aboard the Nimrod MRA2, conducting anti-submarine and anti-ship operations. The Lliswerry boy joined up in 1992, driven by a sense of service, purpose and the hope of starting anew. As a gay man, he thought life would be easier if he moved away to find freedom away from his own doorstep, a common delusion of gay men and women in those days, he recalls. He reflected: 'Life doesn't work that way.' I tried… Newport's new crisp bottomless brunch 'We owe it to Zach': calls for focus on veterans at risk of cancer After leaving Newport to live openly as a gay man, Kevin entered an institution where honesty was dangerous, because homosexuality was officially banned in the armed forces until the year 2000. Though he maintained a spotless record and served without incident for years, Kevin says his private life eventually became a target, a few years into his service. A letter from a former partner landed on his base commander's desk and suddenly his career was in jeopardy. Kevin recalls: 'I was summoned in Number Ones, full service dress. I had to walk through the tearooms, so everyone knew something was going on.' Confronted by his wing commander, with an incriminating letter from a former partner, Kevin made a bold decision to bluff and bluster his way out of trouble. He demanded his officer 'lose' the letter - a code for dealing with things in the old 'don't ask, don't tell', way. This tacit understanding of gay relationships had no fixed rules and left people at the mercy of fortune. On this occasion, is gamble was successful - for the time being. Kevin endured three more years of pressure and suspicion and riding his luck. Then one day, the RAF's Special Investigations Branch turned up at his house in plain clothes, an ominous sign of trouble: 'They were without a warrant, claiming authority from the procurator fiscal's office. My then partner denied them entry,' Kevin recalls. From then on, the pressure just grew and Kevin eventually left, 'under a cloud,' as he puts it. He continued: 'I am now ill and face a battle against an aggressive form of prostate cancer. I want my medals, an explanation and an apology. There is a compensation scheme and money would be nice, but recognition of how they ended my career in serving my country is what I want most of all. 'They have lost all of my files. I found out that this is common and I don't know how many files they shredded. Why did they do this to me and why are they getting away with doing this to so many? Why did they shred all those files and where is my recognition of my service?' In recent years, the Ministry of Defence has acknowledged the loss of files. It has confirmed veterans, subject to investigation for homosexuality, may not be able to access their records. In 2010, the MOD confirmed many files were destroyed following an order from the Defence Police Chiefs' Forum. In many cases, inserts were left in empty folders to confirm investigations had taken place, but records were missing. In 2023, the LGBT Veterans Independent Review documented widespread destruction of records and its impact on its victims. The MOD has fully responded to this story and has expressed contrition.
Daily Mail
11-07-2025
- Health
- Daily Mail
Notorious city is hit by mass overdose of terrifying NEW drug that saw two dozen struck down
A mass drug overdose saw over two dozen people rushed to hospital after a new street drug was reportedly given out to unsuspecting users to test. The incident unfolded in Baltimore on Thursday morning, leaving men and women sprawled across the streets of the Penn North neighborhood. Officials have said that there were no fatalities but at least 27 people had to be rushed to hospital following the suspected overdoses. Fire Chief James Wallace said in an update on Friday that seven were in a critical condition, 15 were in a serious condition while the rest were noncritical. Authorities in the city have yet to formally reveal the drug responsible and who administered it, but local residents told WJZ that it is a new drug given out as a tester. Those who spoke with the outlet said it was called 'New Jack City', alleging that it was laced with Freon or antifreeze. No arrests have been made. Wallace said on Thursday that emergency teams found people along two intersecting avenues, subway platforms, and alleyways. Rescue teams had to spread out across the area, searching for others who had overdosed out of sight. Police teams used surveillance cameras to track people and canvassed locals to find others, the city's deputy police commissioner Kevin Jones said. WBAL reporter Tori Yorgey posted on her X page that in the 90 minutes she spent at the scene reporting she saw two people overdosing. Mayor Brandon Scott, alongside Wallace, said on Friday that emergency teams would remain canvassing the area and administering Narcan. Sarah Whaley of the Mayor's Office of Overdose Response said teams would be in place to hand out Narcan, test strips and public health messaging. She added: 'If you are using today, please do not use alone. Please go slow and have Narcan available.' Scott said: 'The days of approaching drug addiction and overdose as a criminal thing are gone. 'The police department will deal with the actual folks that are providing and dealing drugs, and bring this into the community. 'But when you are talking about folks that are using, we have to be ready to help them with the services they need - when they are ready for them.' According to the CDC, drug overdose deaths have climbed 500 percent between 1999 and 2022. The CDC said that over that time period they have identified three distinct causes, the first involving prescription opioids, then heroin, followed by synthetic opioids. It came just one day after the local City Council held a public hearing on the drug crisis, headed by Councilwoman Phylicia Porter. She said in an interview with The Baltimore Banner on Thursday: 'It underscores the urgency that we have and continue to have to promote harm reduction approaches in Baltimore.' In an investigation led by The Banner and The New York Times, they found that the overdose epidemic in Baltimore had killed nearly 6,000 people since 2018. Maryland Governor Wes Moore said: 'Our team is coordinating with state agencies, city officials, and first responders on the ground in West Baltimore today. 'I'm grateful to those who quickly alerted us about this situation, and those who are providing support to the community.'
NBC News
10-07-2025
- Health
- NBC News
Multiple people taken to the hospital after mass overdose event in Baltimore
Several people were taken to the hospital after an apparent mass overdose in Baltimore, the local firefighters union said on social media post. The Baltimore City Fire Department responded "to a mass casualty incident involving multiple individuals exhibiting overdose symptoms" in the Penn-North neighborhood iThursday morning, the International Association of Fire Fighters' Baltimore unit said. "This tragic event once again underscores the severity of the opioid crisis in Baltimore and the systemic strain it places on emergency services," the group said. The Baltimore City Health Department said on Facebook it also responded to the overdose event. The department was distributing Naloxone, a medication that can reverse overdoses, throughout the neighborhood. As many as 15 people were hospitalized, and five are in critical condition, Baltimore Fire Chief James Wallace told NBC News affiliate WBAL-TV. He said the number is expected to change as other overdoses from the area are identified. It was not immediately clear what the people overdosed on. Their conditions and identities were also not immediately clear. Officials are still in the area to look for others who might be experiencing a medical emergency and are treating the area as an active crime scene, Deputy Baltimore Police Commissioner Kevin Jones said, according to WBAL.
