Russell Poole
Encyclopedia
Russell Poole is a former LAPD
detective most noted for taking over the investigation of the slain rapper
known as The Notorious B.I.G.
. Poole is also known for investigating the March 18, 1997, killing of LAPD Officer Kevin Gaines
by LAPD Officer Frank Lyga.
, Poole would "follow in his father's footsteps" and join the LAPD in 1981. He rose quickly, becoming a detective trainee only three years after being sworn in. Before being chosen to work in the Robbery-Homicide division in 1996, he spent over 9 years as a homicide investigator at the South Bureau and Wilshire Division. He served as the primary investigator (taking a case all the way through the trial) on at least 135 homicide cases, and assisted on over 500 more. Noteworthy cases investigated personally by Poole before the Rampart scandal include and the murder of Ennis Cosby
, the son of actor/activist/comedian Bill Cosby
.http://dir.salon.com/story/news/feature/2000/09/27/rampart/index2.html He also was one of the officers involved in the investigation that followed the 1997 North Hollywood shootout
, just months before the murder of the Notorious B.I.G. Throughout his career up to his involvement in the Rampart scandal, Poole was a highly respected and decorated LAPD detective.
was arrested. His involvement would begin when Poole and his then-partner at Robbery/Homicide, Fred Miller, were assigned to investigate the March 1997 Studio City shooting death of LAPD Officer Kevin Gaines. Gaines was killed in a "road rage" dispute after he brandished a gun at another motorist, which turned out to be undercover officer Lyga.
CEO Sean Combs
, and their entourage left the 11th Annual Soul Train Music Awards
after-party, held at the Petersen Automotive Museum
, in two GMC Suburbans to return to his hotel after an announcement was made that the party would finish earlier than planned. Biggie traveled in the front passenger seat of the second Suburban alongside his associates, Damion "D-Rock" Butler, Junior M.A.F.I.A.
member Lil' Cease
and driver, Gregory "G-Money" Young. Combs traveled in the first vehicle with three bodyguards. The two trucks were trailed by a Chevrolet Blazer carrying Bad Boy's director of security.
By 12:45 a.m., the streets were crowded with cars full of people leaving the event. Biggie's truck stopped at a red light 50 yards (46 m) from the museum. While waiting for the light to change, a white Toyota Land Cruiser
made a U-turn and cut in-between Biggie's vehicle and the Chevrolet Blazer
behind. Simultaneously, a black Chevrolet Impala
pulled up alongside Biggie's SUV. The driver of the Impala (an African-American male neatly dressed in a blue suit and bow tie) rolled down his window, drew a 9mm blue-steel pistol and fired several rounds into the GMC Suburban; four bullets hit Biggie in the chest. Biggie was rushed to Cedars-Sinai Medical Center
by Combs and the rest of Biggie's entourage, but was pronounced dead by doctors at 1:15 a.m.
, along with his friend, Amir Muhammad
, of being complicit in the murder. Poole had enough evidence that Officer Mack had ties with the CEO
of Death Row Records
, Marion "Suge" Knight
to suspect him and possibly other officers in the murder. He had sources that he grew up in the same neighborhood as Knight (Compton), was in the same gang as Knight (the Bloods), was a frequent visitor at Knight's private parties, and wore the same blood red clothes as Knight and the Bloods gang.
, who ordered Poole to cease all investigations on Officer David Mack, as Mack had been arrested for bank robbery in December 1997 and already was on his way to prison. Poole, in protest of Parks and the LAPD's handling of the case, retired from the department in late 1999 after a long and rewarding career. Distraught from being forced into early retirement and the end of the investigation, Poole initially planned on committing suicide
, but reconciled in thought of his family and relatives. He would later state that "I almost took my life, but it was my kids that actually saved me". Furthermore, he filed a lawsuit against the LAPD for violating his First Amendment rights
by preventing him from going to the public
with his information. He has since taken over the investigation of the rapper's slaughter himself after starting his own detective service
. Poole was featured in a 2001 interview with VH1
and in the controversial documentary film
, Biggie & Tupac
, conducted by Nick Broomfield
in 2001 and released on VHS
and DVD
in January 2002.
Los Angeles Police Department
The Los Angeles Police Department is the police department of the city of Los Angeles, California. With just under 10,000 officers and more than 3,000 civilian staff, covering an area of with a population of more than 4.1 million people, it is the third largest local law enforcement agency in...
detective most noted for taking over the investigation of the slain rapper
Rapping
Rapping refers to "spoken or chanted rhyming lyrics". The art form can be broken down into different components, as in the book How to Rap where it is separated into “content”, “flow” , and “delivery”...
known as The Notorious B.I.G.
The Notorious B.I.G.
Christopher George Latore Wallace , best known as The Notorious B.I.G., was an American rapper. He was also known as Biggie Smalls , Big Poppa, and The Black Frank White .Wallace was raised in the Brooklyn borough...
. Poole is also known for investigating the March 18, 1997, killing of LAPD Officer Kevin Gaines
Kevin Gaines (police officer)
Kevin Lee Gaines was an officer assigned to the infamous Los Angeles Police Department Community Resources Against Street Hoodlums unit implicated in the Rampart Scandal....
by LAPD Officer Frank Lyga.
Early career
The son of a 27-year L.A. County SheriffLos Angeles County Sheriff's Department
The Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department is a local county law enforcement agency that serves Los Angeles County, California. It is the fourth largest local policing agency in the United States, with the New York City Police Department being the first. The second largest is the Chicago Police...
, Poole would "follow in his father's footsteps" and join the LAPD in 1981. He rose quickly, becoming a detective trainee only three years after being sworn in. Before being chosen to work in the Robbery-Homicide division in 1996, he spent over 9 years as a homicide investigator at the South Bureau and Wilshire Division. He served as the primary investigator (taking a case all the way through the trial) on at least 135 homicide cases, and assisted on over 500 more. Noteworthy cases investigated personally by Poole before the Rampart scandal include and the murder of Ennis Cosby
Ennis Cosby
Ennis William "The Music" Cosby was the son of comedian-actor Bill Cosby and Camille Cosby. He was murdered in 1997 on Skirball Center Drive, an access road of Los Angeles' 405 Freeway by Mikhail Markhasev.-Life:...
, the son of actor/activist/comedian Bill Cosby
Bill Cosby
William Henry "Bill" Cosby, Jr. is an American comedian, actor, author, television producer, educator, musician and activist. A veteran stand-up performer, he got his start at various clubs, then landed a starring role in the 1960s action show, I Spy. He later starred in his own series, the...
.http://dir.salon.com/story/news/feature/2000/09/27/rampart/index2.html He also was one of the officers involved in the investigation that followed the 1997 North Hollywood shootout
North Hollywood shootout
The North Hollywood shootout was an armed confrontation between two heavily armed bank robbers and officers of the Los Angeles Police Department in the North Hollywood district of Los Angeles on February 28, 1997...
, just months before the murder of the Notorious B.I.G. Throughout his career up to his involvement in the Rampart scandal, Poole was a highly respected and decorated LAPD detective.
LAPD Rampart investigation
Poole's involvement in the Rampart scandal began less than six months before the murder of the Notorious B.I.G. and a year before Rafael PerezRafael Pérez (police officer)
Rafael Antonio "Ray" Pérez , is a former Los Angeles Police Department C.R.A.S.H officer and the central figure in the LAPD Rampart Scandal. He was involved in the coverup of a $722,000 bank robbery, shot and framed Javier Ovando, and stole and resold at least $800,000 of cocaine from LAPD...
was arrested. His involvement would begin when Poole and his then-partner at Robbery/Homicide, Fred Miller, were assigned to investigate the March 1997 Studio City shooting death of LAPD Officer Kevin Gaines. Gaines was killed in a "road rage" dispute after he brandished a gun at another motorist, which turned out to be undercover officer Lyga.
Death of Notorious B.I.G.
On March 9, 1997, at around 12:30 a.m., Biggie Smalls, Bad Boy RecordsBad Boy Records
Bad Boy Records is a record label founded in 1993 by producer/rapper/entrepreneur Sean "Diddy" Combs. Today it operates as a subsidiary of Warner Music Group, and is distributed by Atlantic Records.-Beginnings:...
CEO Sean Combs
Sean Combs
Sean John Combs , also known by his stage names Diddy and P. Diddy, is an American rapper, singer, record producer, actor, and entrepreneur. He has won three Grammy Awards and two MTV Video Music Awards, and his clothing line earned a Council of Fashion Designers of America award. He was originally...
, and their entourage left the 11th Annual Soul Train Music Awards
Soul Train Music Awards
The Soul Train Music Awards is an annual award show which previously aired in national television syndication, and honors the best in Black music and entertainment...
after-party, held at the Petersen Automotive Museum
Petersen Automotive Museum
The Petersen Automotive Museum is located on Wilshire Boulevard along Museum Row in the Miracle Mile neighborhood of Los Angeles. One of the world's largest automotive museums, the Petersen Automotive Museum is a non profit organization specializing in the education and history of the...
, in two GMC Suburbans to return to his hotel after an announcement was made that the party would finish earlier than planned. Biggie traveled in the front passenger seat of the second Suburban alongside his associates, Damion "D-Rock" Butler, Junior M.A.F.I.A.
Junior M.A.F.I.A.
Junior M.A.F.I.A. is an American hip hop group from Bedford-Stuyvesant, Brooklyn, New York. The acronym M.A.F.I.A. stands for Masters At Finding Intelligent Attitudes. They were formed and mentored by New York rapper, The Notorious B.I.G., in the early 1990s and released their debut album,...
member Lil' Cease
Lil' Cease
James Lloyd, is an American rapper and member of hip hop group Junior M.A.F.I.A..Cease's first album release was Conspiracy with the Junior M.A.F.I.A in 1995....
and driver, Gregory "G-Money" Young. Combs traveled in the first vehicle with three bodyguards. The two trucks were trailed by a Chevrolet Blazer carrying Bad Boy's director of security.
By 12:45 a.m., the streets were crowded with cars full of people leaving the event. Biggie's truck stopped at a red light 50 yards (46 m) from the museum. While waiting for the light to change, a white Toyota Land Cruiser
Toyota Land Cruiser
The is a series of four-wheel drive vehicles produced by the Japanese car maker Toyota Motor Corporation. It is not related to the Studebaker Land Cruiser car produced in the US from 1934-1954....
made a U-turn and cut in-between Biggie's vehicle and the Chevrolet Blazer
Chevrolet Blazer
Chevrolet Blazer can refer to one of several SUV models from General Motors:* The full-size Chevrolet K5 Blazer, based on the C/K pickup chassis and built from 1969 to 1994....
behind. Simultaneously, a black Chevrolet Impala
Chevrolet Impala
The Chevrolet Impala is a full-size automobile built by the Chevrolet division of General Motors introduced for the 1958 model year. Deriving its name from the southern African antelope, Chevrolet's most expensive passenger model through 1965 had become the best-selling automobile in the United...
pulled up alongside Biggie's SUV. The driver of the Impala (an African-American male neatly dressed in a blue suit and bow tie) rolled down his window, drew a 9mm blue-steel pistol and fired several rounds into the GMC Suburban; four bullets hit Biggie in the chest. Biggie was rushed to Cedars-Sinai Medical Center
Cedars-Sinai Medical Center
Originally established as Kaspare Cohn Hospital in 1902, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center is a non-profit, tertiary 958-bed hospital and multi-specialty academic health science centre located in Los Angeles, California, US. Part of the Cedars-Sinai Health System, the hospital employs a staff of over...
by Combs and the rest of Biggie's entourage, but was pronounced dead by doctors at 1:15 a.m.
Investigation of Notorious B.I.G.'s death
After months of investigating and substantial amounts of evidence, Poole accused an LAPD officer, Officer David MackDavid Mack (police officer)
David Anthony Mack , is a former LAPD Rampart Division Community Resources Against Street Hoodlums officer. He is one of the central figures in the LAPD Rampart police corruption scandal. Mack was arrested for masterminding the November 6, 1997, robbery of $722,000 from a South Central Los...
, along with his friend, Amir Muhammad
Amir Muhammad
Amir Muhammad may refer to:*Amir Muhammad , Malaysian film director and producer*Amir Muhammad, individual cleared of suspicion of involvement in the murder of the Notorious B.I.G.*Amer Mohammad Rashid, former Iraqi politician...
, of being complicit in the murder. Poole had enough evidence that Officer Mack had ties with the CEO
Chief executive officer
A chief executive officer , managing director , Executive Director for non-profit organizations, or chief executive is the highest-ranking corporate officer or administrator in charge of total management of an organization...
of Death Row Records
Death Row Records
Death Row Records is a record label founded in 1991 by Marion "Suge" Knight Jr., Andre Young , Tracy Lynn Curry and Michael Harris . It is known to have been home to many popular West Coast hip hop artists such as Dr...
, Marion "Suge" Knight
Suge Knight
Marion "Suge" Knight, Jr. is the founder and CEO of Black Kapital Records and co-founder and former CEO of Death Row Records. Death Row Records rose to dominate the rap charts after Dr. Dre's breakthrough album The Chronic in 1992. After several years of chart successes for artists including...
to suspect him and possibly other officers in the murder. He had sources that he grew up in the same neighborhood as Knight (Compton), was in the same gang as Knight (the Bloods), was a frequent visitor at Knight's private parties, and wore the same blood red clothes as Knight and the Bloods gang.
Chief Parks' involvement and Poole's resignation
Poole eventually sent this information to the then-chief of the Los Angeles Police Department, Bernard C. ParksBernard C. Parks
Bernard C. Parks is an American politician. He is a member of the Los Angeles City Council, representing the 8th District in South Los Angeles. He served as chief of the Los Angeles Police Department from August 1997 to May 2002...
, who ordered Poole to cease all investigations on Officer David Mack, as Mack had been arrested for bank robbery in December 1997 and already was on his way to prison. Poole, in protest of Parks and the LAPD's handling of the case, retired from the department in late 1999 after a long and rewarding career. Distraught from being forced into early retirement and the end of the investigation, Poole initially planned on committing suicide
Suicide
Suicide is the act of intentionally causing one's own death. Suicide is often committed out of despair or attributed to some underlying mental disorder, such as depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, alcoholism, or drug abuse...
, but reconciled in thought of his family and relatives. He would later state that "I almost took my life, but it was my kids that actually saved me". Furthermore, he filed a lawsuit against the LAPD for violating his First Amendment rights
First Amendment to the United States Constitution
The First Amendment to the United States Constitution is part of the Bill of Rights. The amendment prohibits the making of any law respecting an establishment of religion, impeding the free exercise of religion, abridging the freedom of speech, infringing on the freedom of the press, interfering...
by preventing him from going to the public
Public
In public relations and communication science, publics are groups of individuals, and the public is the totality of such groupings. This is a different concept to the sociological concept of the Öffentlichkeit or public sphere. The concept of a public has also been defined in political science,...
with his information. He has since taken over the investigation of the rapper's slaughter himself after starting his own detective service
Private investigator
A private investigator , private detective or inquiry agent, is a person who can be hired by individuals or groups to undertake investigatory law services. Private detectives/investigators often work for attorneys in civil cases. Many work for insurance companies to investigate suspicious claims...
. Poole was featured in a 2001 interview with VH1
VH1
VH1 or Vh1 is an American cable television network based in New York City. Launched on January 1, 1985 in the old space of Turner Broadcasting's short-lived Cable Music Channel, the original purpose of the channel was to build on the success of MTV by playing music videos, but targeting a slightly...
and in the controversial documentary film
Documentary film
Documentary films constitute a broad category of nonfictional motion pictures intended to document some aspect of reality, primarily for the purposes of instruction or maintaining a historical record...
, Biggie & Tupac
Biggie & Tupac
Biggie & Tupac is a 2002 feature-length documentary film about slain rap icons The Notorious B.I.G. and Tupac Shakur, made by Nick Broomfield. It is an investigation of the deaths of the two icons, which some people claim were orchestrated by Suge Knight, head of Death Row Records. Collusion on...
, conducted by Nick Broomfield
Nick Broomfield
Nicholas "Nick" Broomfield is an English documentary film-maker. He is the son of Maurice Broomfield, a photographer.Broomfield works with a minimal crew, recording sound himself and using one or two camera operators...
in 2001 and released on VHS
VHS
The Video Home System is a consumer-level analog recording videocassette standard developed by Victor Company of Japan ....
and DVD
DVD
A DVD is an optical disc storage media format, invented and developed by Philips, Sony, Toshiba, and Panasonic in 1995. DVDs offer higher storage capacity than Compact Discs while having the same dimensions....
in January 2002.
External links
- Russell Poole at Internet Movie DatabaseInternet Movie DatabaseInternet Movie Database is an online database of information related to movies, television shows, actors, production crew personnel, video games and fictional characters featured in visual entertainment media. It is one of the most popular online entertainment destinations, with over 100 million...
- http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0371115/ at http://www.imdb.com/