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Phillip Swarts

pswarts@washingtontimes.com

Phillip Swarts was an investigative reporter for The Washington Times.

Articles by Phillip Swarts

U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder, center, holds a roundtable meeting with law enforcement, local officials, and community leaders Thursday, Dec. 4, 2014, in Cleveland. The US Justice Department issued a report Thursday that says Cleveland police officers use excessive and unnecessary force far too often, are poorly trained in tactics and firearm use and place the public and their fellow officers in danger because of reckless behaviors. (AP Photo/Tony Dejak)

Federal investigation finds pattern of abuse by Cleveland police

A Justice Department investigation found "a pattern or practice of unreasonable and unnecessary use of force" at the Cleveland police department, the agency announced Thursday — a possible preview of similar federal reviews in Ferguson, Missouri, and New York City.

December 4, 2014
A group of protesters with signs, rear, rally against the decision not to indict the police officer involved in the death of Eric Garner as they mix with spectators near Rockefeller Center during a ceremony to light the Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree, Wednesday, Dec. 3, 2014, in New York. (AP Photo/Jason DeCrow)

Eric Garner: Justice Department to investigate death

Attorney General Eric Holder announced Wednesday that the federal government would launch an investigation into the death of Eric Garner, following a New York grand jury announcement that a police officer would not face any charges for putting Mr. Garner in a choke hold that led to his death.

December 3, 2014
Benjamin Carr, relative of Eric Garner, leaves the district attorney's office after a grand jury's decision not to indict a New York police officer involved in the death of Garner, Wednesday, Dec. 3, 2014, in the Staten Island borough of New York. A video shot by an onlooker and widely viewed on the Internet showed the 43-year-old Garner telling a group of police officers to leave him alone as they tried to arrest him. The city medical examiner ruled Garner's death a homicide and found that a chokehold contributed to it. (AP Photo/John Minchillo)

Eric Garner chokehold death: N.Y. officer won’t face charges

A New York police officer will not face charges for putting a suspect in a chokehold that led to the man’s death, a grand jury announced Wednesday, evoking fears of another racially-based legal controversy in the wake of the violent events in Ferguson, Mo.

December 3, 2014
Shan Zhao, owner of On On Cop Suey restaurant, looks at his business while cleaning up Tuesday, Nov. 25, 2014, in Ferguson, Mo. after it was damaged in overnight protests following a grand jury's decision not to indict a white police officer in the killing of unarmed black 18-year-old Michael Brown. (Associated Press)

Obama demands Ferguson looter prosecution, eyes race-based police hiring

While black leaders relentlessly questioned the fairness of the Ferguson grand jury proceedings, President Obama on Tuesday demanded the prosecution of the violent looters who trashed the city and set the stage for a national debate on criminal justice reform and even possible race-based hiring changes at police departments.

November 25, 2014

Darren Wilson defends actions in Michael Brown shooting death

After months of enduring trial by media while remaining silent, embattled Ferguson Officer Darren Wilson finally got to tell in his own words Tuesday night how an unarmed 18-year-old black man charged at him and then tried to take his weapon and kill him.

November 25, 2014
Attorney General Eric Holder speaks during a news conference at the Justice Department in Washington, Thursday, Nov. 13, 2014, with Italy's Minister of Justice Andrea Orlando, and Dimitris Avramopoulos, EU Commissioner for Migration, Home Affairs, and Citizenship, after their meeting. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)

Justice Dept. to send more counterterrorism advisers overseas

The Justice Department is strengthening its overseas counterterrorism program, including sending a high-level prosecutor to the Balkans region to help coordinate efforts to prevent foreign fighters from joining terrorist groups, the agency said Thursday.

November 13, 2014
Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon has called upon the residents of Ferguson, and all Missourians, to maintain public calm in the wake of whatever are the grand jury's findings in the shooting death of unarmed teenager Michael Brown by Officer Darren Wilson. The governor has further asked that those who wish to protest the announcement do so peacefully. (Associated Press)

Ferguson on edge ahead of grand jury’s findings in Brown case

Residents of Ferguson, Missouri, remained on edge Tuesday as they awaited the findings of a grand jury investigation that will determine whether to charge a white police officer with murder for shooting an unarmed black teen on the streets of the St. Louis suburb.

November 11, 2014
President Obama. (Associated Press)

Obama ‘net neutrality’ plan sparks Republican backlash

President Obama on Monday endorsed an aggressive federal role in setting traffic rules for the Internet, sparking sharp criticism from congressional Republicans and leading telecommunications firms that his embrace of "net neutrality" will stifle innovation and investment to improve the Web.

November 10, 2014