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Lawyer investigated for threatening posts about police
A San Gabriel criminal defense attorney is under LAPD investigation after posts from his Instagram account called for police to be murdered offered free legal representation to anyone who kills a cop.
SAN GABRIEL, Calif. - A San Gabriel criminal defense attorney is under LAPD investigation after posts from his Instagram account called for police to be murdered offered free legal representation to anyone who kills a cop.
FOX 11 exclusively obtained screenshots of highly disturbing social media posts allegedly authored by attorney Mark McBride on Instagram.
In response to a post about police brutality, McBride’s account commented:
“It won’t stop until black people start murdering cops, which they should do often and with great relish. These ****sucking, low IQ, can’t get into law school jarheads need an asphalt nap, during which they’re bleeding out on the street where they’re shot down. I would have no problem with them. I would absolutely 100% defend to the death of any African American who picked off a cop or two. It’s time, it’s well past time.”
In a follow-up post, McBride allegedly wrote: “It wouldn’t be the first time I’ve defended “terrorists”, sign me up pro bono for somebodies granddad putting a couple of hollow points between the eyes of these PTSD addled rednecks, I’d take one or two pro bono.”
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“When we first saw the comments it was disgust, it was anger,” said Sgt. Jerretta Sandoz, Vice President of the Los Angeles Police Protective League, the union that represents LAPD rank and file.
“There are so many good police officers in this country and to be painted with a broad brush and then threatened with bodily harm, just for wearing a uniform, it’s disheartening and disgusting.”
In a phone call with FOX 11, LAPD called the comments extremely disturbing and said an investigation was underway.
McBride didn’t return any of my calls, texts, or emails on Monday.
When we stopped by the Beverly Hills address his website lists as his law office, nobody there had heard of him and the owners of the property told me they do not lease out any space to anyone named Mark McBride.
We eventually found McBride in a small room at a house in San Gabriel where his bar license lists his current office location.
A very disheveled looking McBride came out of the room and shook his head yes when I asked him if he is Mark McBride.
When I told him who I was, and the story I was working on, he claimed to have not received any of my messages, told me he had nothing to say, then turned around, closed the door, and refused to make any further comment.
At no point did he deny authoring the posts.
State records show McBrides bar license is still active, though it has been suspended three times since 2018 for failure to pay child or spousal support.
Now, the LAPPL wants his license revoked.
“He should definitely be disbarred and he will be reported to the state bar,” Sgt. Sandoz said. “For threats, especially that vile, it’s disgusting, disheartening, and that person definitely needs to be reported and we will ensure there is a full investigation done, and that is underway.”
LAPD told FOX 11 they take these threats extremely seriously given the current climate, and the case will be investigated thoroughly.