Ah, the wonders of living in a police state
- Thread starter fossten
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JWerner2
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The irony. A cardboard shield against a gun and a ballistics shield against a few words?
The Sheriff is right something should be done but will it actually be done considering he admits he should have stopped those comments from being made? Doubt it. He probably laughed again as soon as the camera was off.
The Sheriff is right something should be done but will it actually be done considering he admits he should have stopped those comments from being made? Doubt it. He probably laughed again as soon as the camera was off.
Cops are testi-liars and not to be trusted.
When in the presence of the police it is best to be on guard as if one had stumbled upon a dangerous animal.
At least this guy who blindsided a bicyclist will be fired and hopefully charged assault and making false statements but only because there was a video.
http://www.thesmokinggun.com/archive/years/2008/0729081bike1.html
Police abuse of power happens a lot.
A few months ago a scu mbag cop dumped a guy out of his wheelchair.
Cops will plant evidence if it suits their purpose and toss a street gun at the site of a police shooting if the suspect was unarmed.
It happens.
Police here in Buffalo were caught on video planting cocaine in a bar so as to arrest the owner.
Of course they were not charged or fired.
The police are not your friends.
Beware.
When in the presence of the police it is best to be on guard as if one had stumbled upon a dangerous animal.
At least this guy who blindsided a bicyclist will be fired and hopefully charged assault and making false statements but only because there was a video.
http://www.thesmokinggun.com/archive/years/2008/0729081bike1.html
Police abuse of power happens a lot.
A few months ago a scu mbag cop dumped a guy out of his wheelchair.
Cops will plant evidence if it suits their purpose and toss a street gun at the site of a police shooting if the suspect was unarmed.
It happens.
Police here in Buffalo were caught on video planting cocaine in a bar so as to arrest the owner.
Of course they were not charged or fired.
The police are not your friends.
Beware.
fossten
Dedicated LVC Member
And they use this stupid "we acted with the best information we had at the time" canard too. Well, his phrase works fine if you're negotiating a new lease on an office building, or an end to a baseball strike, or who's going to get the contract to build the new interstate highway overpass, or how to divvy up some tax money.
But it doesn't work when the issue is fundamental rights.
After the Waco massacre, there were two years of investigations, and all the government said was that Koresh was a child molester, his religious cult was sleeping with underage teen girls. No one said, "Using helicopters and machine guns on citizens for a small tax bill is morally wrong."
The worst part is that for these people, it's just a job, a paycheck, a way to make the VISA payment. It's not like they're acting out of some deep moral purpose. Violating people's rights (which they've sworn to protect) is just a day in the life for them. The Nuremberg defense.
I copied this post from a guy on another forum:
But it doesn't work when the issue is fundamental rights.
After the Waco massacre, there were two years of investigations, and all the government said was that Koresh was a child molester, his religious cult was sleeping with underage teen girls. No one said, "Using helicopters and machine guns on citizens for a small tax bill is morally wrong."
The worst part is that for these people, it's just a job, a paycheck, a way to make the VISA payment. It's not like they're acting out of some deep moral purpose. Violating people's rights (which they've sworn to protect) is just a day in the life for them. The Nuremberg defense.
I copied this post from a guy on another forum:
The cops here in Florida are a nuisance. Second time i ever drove here, got pulled for speeding and fined 200. (i was merging on to main road and getting up to traffic speed to merge safely, according to the DMV hand book, i did nothing wrong
)
Stopped and searched twice in my apartment car park for... working on my car. 3 cars came the first time (ok, it was late) second time, was early, just one car.
On Boscobel road trip, only saw one car pulled up by cops the whole trip, got back in to Florida, counted 10 cars pulled up on I 75, within the space of a few miles.
I don't live in a tourist area, so there's now reason for the abundance of cops. Appears to have become a 'police state'
) Stopped and searched twice in my apartment car park for... working on my car. 3 cars came the first time (ok, it was late) second time, was early, just one car.
On Boscobel road trip, only saw one car pulled up by cops the whole trip, got back in to Florida, counted 10 cars pulled up on I 75, within the space of a few miles.
I don't live in a tourist area, so there's now reason for the abundance of cops. Appears to have become a 'police state'
ketyokeinnor
Well-Known LVC Member
http://www.nypost.com/seven/07212008/news/regionalnews/gun_seizure_lawsuit_120836.htm
How about this one.
Gabriel Razzano(gun owner) displays "disruptive and threatening" behavior at Rep. Carolyn McCarthy's (Congress' biggest gun control advocate) office.
"Razzano visited McCarthy's Garden City office to discuss an article about an illegal immigrant who was deported but was later nabbed in Freeport for the attempted murder of a cop."
The next day his house get "raided" and 24 legally owned guns get seized by Nassau County PD.
Ron
How about this one.
Gabriel Razzano(gun owner) displays "disruptive and threatening" behavior at Rep. Carolyn McCarthy's (Congress' biggest gun control advocate) office.
"Razzano visited McCarthy's Garden City office to discuss an article about an illegal immigrant who was deported but was later nabbed in Freeport for the attempted murder of a cop."
The next day his house get "raided" and 24 legally owned guns get seized by Nassau County PD.
Ron
fossten
Dedicated LVC Member
Pr. George's Officers Lacked 'No-Knock' Warrant in Raid
Authorities, Who Broke Down Door During Search for Drugs at Home of Berwyn Heights Mayor, Had Said They Obtained Document
By Rosalind S. Helderman
Washington Post Staff Writer
Wednesday, August 6, 2008; B01
Prince George's County authorities did not have a "no-knock" warrant when they burst into the home of a mayor July 29, shooting and killing his two dogs -- contrary to what police said after the incident.
Judges in Maryland can grant police the right to enter a building and serve a search warrant without knocking if the judge finds there is reasonable suspicion to think evidence might be destroyed or the officers' safety might be endangered in announcing themselves.
A Prince George's police spokesman said last week that a Sheriff's Office SWAT team and county police narcotics officers were operating under such a warrant when they broke down the door of Berwyn Heights Mayor Cheye Calvo, shooting and killing his black Labrador retrievers.
But a review of the warrant indicates that police neither sought nor received permission from Circuit Court Judge Albert W. Northrup to enter without knocking. Northrup found probable cause to suspect that drugs might be in the house and granted police a standard search warrant.
"There's nothing in the four corners of the warrant saying anything about the Calvos being a threat to law enforcement," said Calvo's attorney, Timothy Maloney. "This was a lawless act by law enforcement."
Police spokesman Henry Tippett said yesterday that the statement about the warrant that public affairs officers released Friday was based on information provided by Maj. Mark Magaw, commander of the narcotics enforcement division. A request to interview Magaw was not immediately granted yesterday, and Tippett said he could not explain the discrepancy.
"That was the information that was given to us," he said.
Calvo's home was raided after he brought a package addressed to his wife inside from his front porch. Police had been tracking the package since a dog sniffed the presence of drugs in Arizona. It was delivered to the house by police posing as deliverymen and left on the porch on the instruction of Calvo's mother-in-law.
After the raid, police found the unopened package, containing 32 pounds of marijuana, in the house. According to law enforcement sources, police are investigating whether a deliveryman might have been the intended recipient of the package instead of Calvo or his wife. The sources spoke on condition of anonymity because the case is open.
Calvo has said that sheriff's deputies entered without knocking and began shooting immediately, killing 7-year-old Payton first, then shooting 4-year-old Chase as he ran to another room.
Sheriff Michael Jackson (D) has not returned several messages about the case. Sgt. Mario Ellis, a Sheriff's Office spokesman, said last Wednesday that deputies regretted shooting the dogs but that they had felt threatened by them. He has not returned calls since.
The case has highlighted friction between law enforcement agencies. The county police and Sheriff's Office have jurisdiction throughout Prince George's and typically handle major crimes, but they share jurisdiction with smaller police forces in some of the county's 27 towns and cities.
Berwyn Heights Police Chief Patrick Murphy has been highly critical of the county police for not alerting his eight-member department before the raid. He said his officers could have gained entry to the home without incident or informed county police that Calvo was unlikely to be violent.
Greenbelt Police Chief James R. Craze said yesterday that county officers contacted his 54-member department the day of the raid to ask whether his emergency response unit could serve the warrant. County police have said the Sheriff's Office was asked to participate because its team was busy at the time. Craze said it is not unusual for agencies to cooperate in such cases.
"From what I know, their SWAT team wasn't available, and that's why they were out shopping," he said.
He said his department, which conducts a drug raid a month, declined to take part because it is authorized to operate outside city limits only when the raid is conducted by a regional task force led by the Maryland State Police. County police are not part of the task force, Craze said.
Craze said county police do not always alert his officers when operating in Greenbelt. "Obviously, I would prefer that they do," he said.
The warrant issue will probably only heighten anger in the community over the incident. Even when a search warrant has been issued, courts have held that police must generally knock to announce their presence, preserve the privacy of a homeowner and let occupants know they are not experiencing an illegal home invasion.
"It's a traditional constitutional protection, going back forever," said defense attorney Richard A. Finci, who is not involved with the Calvo case.
Police officers are sometimes allowed to search without knocking, even without getting authority in advance, but courts have ruled they can do so only if there are specific circumstances at the time of the search that lead officers to conclude evidence might be destroyed or law enforcement could be endangered, said lawyer William C. Brennan, who is not involved with the case.
Were Calvo or his wife, Trinity Tomsic, to be charged in the case, the issue of the search could come up if prosecutors tried to introduce the box of marijuana as evidence. More likely, experts said, the issue could form the basis of a civil rights lawsuit filed by the family against the county in the incident.
Another issue that could arise in court is whether officers provided Calvo a copy of the warrant at the time of the raid, as required by law. Maloney said they did not, even though a detective signed a sworn statement to the judge indicating that he had. Instead, the detective brought the warrant to Calvo several days later, Maloney said.
Maloney said that Calvo and Tomsic are waiting for an explanation from law enforcement and that it would be premature discuss legal action.
Authorities, Who Broke Down Door During Search for Drugs at Home of Berwyn Heights Mayor, Had Said They Obtained Document
By Rosalind S. Helderman
Washington Post Staff Writer
Wednesday, August 6, 2008; B01
Prince George's County authorities did not have a "no-knock" warrant when they burst into the home of a mayor July 29, shooting and killing his two dogs -- contrary to what police said after the incident.
Judges in Maryland can grant police the right to enter a building and serve a search warrant without knocking if the judge finds there is reasonable suspicion to think evidence might be destroyed or the officers' safety might be endangered in announcing themselves.
A Prince George's police spokesman said last week that a Sheriff's Office SWAT team and county police narcotics officers were operating under such a warrant when they broke down the door of Berwyn Heights Mayor Cheye Calvo, shooting and killing his black Labrador retrievers.
But a review of the warrant indicates that police neither sought nor received permission from Circuit Court Judge Albert W. Northrup to enter without knocking. Northrup found probable cause to suspect that drugs might be in the house and granted police a standard search warrant.
"There's nothing in the four corners of the warrant saying anything about the Calvos being a threat to law enforcement," said Calvo's attorney, Timothy Maloney. "This was a lawless act by law enforcement."
Police spokesman Henry Tippett said yesterday that the statement about the warrant that public affairs officers released Friday was based on information provided by Maj. Mark Magaw, commander of the narcotics enforcement division. A request to interview Magaw was not immediately granted yesterday, and Tippett said he could not explain the discrepancy.
"That was the information that was given to us," he said.
Calvo's home was raided after he brought a package addressed to his wife inside from his front porch. Police had been tracking the package since a dog sniffed the presence of drugs in Arizona. It was delivered to the house by police posing as deliverymen and left on the porch on the instruction of Calvo's mother-in-law.
After the raid, police found the unopened package, containing 32 pounds of marijuana, in the house. According to law enforcement sources, police are investigating whether a deliveryman might have been the intended recipient of the package instead of Calvo or his wife. The sources spoke on condition of anonymity because the case is open.
Calvo has said that sheriff's deputies entered without knocking and began shooting immediately, killing 7-year-old Payton first, then shooting 4-year-old Chase as he ran to another room.
Sheriff Michael Jackson (D) has not returned several messages about the case. Sgt. Mario Ellis, a Sheriff's Office spokesman, said last Wednesday that deputies regretted shooting the dogs but that they had felt threatened by them. He has not returned calls since.
The case has highlighted friction between law enforcement agencies. The county police and Sheriff's Office have jurisdiction throughout Prince George's and typically handle major crimes, but they share jurisdiction with smaller police forces in some of the county's 27 towns and cities.
Berwyn Heights Police Chief Patrick Murphy has been highly critical of the county police for not alerting his eight-member department before the raid. He said his officers could have gained entry to the home without incident or informed county police that Calvo was unlikely to be violent.
Greenbelt Police Chief James R. Craze said yesterday that county officers contacted his 54-member department the day of the raid to ask whether his emergency response unit could serve the warrant. County police have said the Sheriff's Office was asked to participate because its team was busy at the time. Craze said it is not unusual for agencies to cooperate in such cases.
"From what I know, their SWAT team wasn't available, and that's why they were out shopping," he said.
He said his department, which conducts a drug raid a month, declined to take part because it is authorized to operate outside city limits only when the raid is conducted by a regional task force led by the Maryland State Police. County police are not part of the task force, Craze said.
Craze said county police do not always alert his officers when operating in Greenbelt. "Obviously, I would prefer that they do," he said.
The warrant issue will probably only heighten anger in the community over the incident. Even when a search warrant has been issued, courts have held that police must generally knock to announce their presence, preserve the privacy of a homeowner and let occupants know they are not experiencing an illegal home invasion.
"It's a traditional constitutional protection, going back forever," said defense attorney Richard A. Finci, who is not involved with the Calvo case.
Police officers are sometimes allowed to search without knocking, even without getting authority in advance, but courts have ruled they can do so only if there are specific circumstances at the time of the search that lead officers to conclude evidence might be destroyed or law enforcement could be endangered, said lawyer William C. Brennan, who is not involved with the case.
Were Calvo or his wife, Trinity Tomsic, to be charged in the case, the issue of the search could come up if prosecutors tried to introduce the box of marijuana as evidence. More likely, experts said, the issue could form the basis of a civil rights lawsuit filed by the family against the county in the incident.
Another issue that could arise in court is whether officers provided Calvo a copy of the warrant at the time of the raid, as required by law. Maloney said they did not, even though a detective signed a sworn statement to the judge indicating that he had. Instead, the detective brought the warrant to Calvo several days later, Maloney said.
Maloney said that Calvo and Tomsic are waiting for an explanation from law enforcement and that it would be premature discuss legal action.
fossten
Dedicated LVC Member
Providence RI, Industrial Workers of the World (IWW) march on Jackies Galaxy, a local restaurant chain supplied by HWH/Dragonland in NYC, a supplier notorious for slave labor conditions and a lack of basic labor rights. A few blocks before finishing the march North Providence police brutally tackled two of the marchers after they moved to the sidewalk too slowly, both were arrested and one suffered a badly broken leg in the attack.
fossten
Dedicated LVC Member
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080813/ap_on_re_us/arkansas_town_curfew
HELENA-WEST HELENA, Ark. - Officers armed with military rifles have been stopping and questioning passers-by in a neighborhood plagued by violence that's been under a 24-hour curfew for a week.
On Tuesday, the Helena-West Helena City Council voted 9-0 to allow police to expand that program into any area of the city, despite a warning from a lawyer with the American Civil Liberties Union of Arkansas that the police stops were unconstitutional.
Police Chief Fred Fielder said the patrols have netted 32 arrests since they began last week in a 10-block neighborhood in this small town on the banks of the Mississippi River long troubled by poverty. The council said those living in the city want the random shootings and drug-fueled violence to stop, no matter what the cost.
"Now if somebody wants to sue us, they have an option to sue, but I'm fairly certain that a judge will see it the way the way the citizens see it here," Mayor James Valley said. "The citizens deserve peace, that some infringement on constitutional rights is OK and we have not violated anything as far as the Constitution."
The area under curfew, in what used to be a West Helena neighborhood, sits among abandoned homes and occupied residences in disrepair.
White signs on large blue barrels warn those passing by that the area remains under curfew by order of Mayor James Valley. The order was scheduled to end at 3 p.m. Tuesday, but Valley said the city council's vote would allow police to have the same powers across Helena-West Helena.
Among the curfew operation's arrests, 10 came from felony charges, including the arrest of two people carrying both drugs and weapons, Fielder said. The police chief said the officers in the field carry military-style M-16 or M-4 rifles, some equipped with laser sights. Other officers carry short-barrel shotguns. Many dealing crack cocaine and marijuana in the city carry pistols and AK-47 assault rifles, he said.
"We've had people call us, expressing concern for their children," Fielder said. "They had to sleep on the floor, because of stray bullets."
Fielder said officers had not arrested anyone for violating the curfew, only questioned people about why they were outside. Those without good answers or acting nervously get additional attention, Fielder said.
However, such stops likely violate residents' constitutional rights to freely assemble and protections against unreasonable police searches, said Holly Dickson, a lawyer for the ACLU of Arkansas who addressed the council at its packed Tuesday meeting. Because of that, Dickson said any convictions coming from the arrests likely would be overturned.
"The residents of these high-crime areas are already victims," she said. "They're victims of what are happening in the neighborhoods, they're victims of fear. But for them to be subject to unlawful stops and questioning ... that is not going to ultimately going to help this situation."
The council rejected Dickson's claims, at one point questioning the Little Rock-based attorney if she'd live in a neighborhood they described as under siege by wild gunfire and gangs.
"As far as I'm concerned, at 3 o'clock in the morning, nobody has any business being on the street, except the law," Councilman Eugene "Red" Johnson said. "Anyone out at 3 o'clock shouldn't be out on the street, unless you're going to the hospital."
The curfew is the second under the mayor's watch since the rival cities of Helena and West Helena merged in 2006. That year, Valley set a nightly citywide curfew after a rash of burglaries and other thefts.
Police in Hartford, Conn., began enforcing a nightly curfew for youths after recent violence, including a weekend shooting that killed a man and wounded six young people.
Helena-West Helena, with 15,000 residents at the edge of Arkansas' eastern rice fields and farmland, is in one of the nation's poorest regions, trailing even parts of Appalachia in its standard of living.
In the curfew area, those inside the homes in the watch area peered out of door cracks Tuesday as police cruisers passed. They closed the doors afterward.
HELENA-WEST HELENA, Ark. - Officers armed with military rifles have been stopping and questioning passers-by in a neighborhood plagued by violence that's been under a 24-hour curfew for a week.
On Tuesday, the Helena-West Helena City Council voted 9-0 to allow police to expand that program into any area of the city, despite a warning from a lawyer with the American Civil Liberties Union of Arkansas that the police stops were unconstitutional.
Police Chief Fred Fielder said the patrols have netted 32 arrests since they began last week in a 10-block neighborhood in this small town on the banks of the Mississippi River long troubled by poverty. The council said those living in the city want the random shootings and drug-fueled violence to stop, no matter what the cost.
"Now if somebody wants to sue us, they have an option to sue, but I'm fairly certain that a judge will see it the way the way the citizens see it here," Mayor James Valley said. "The citizens deserve peace, that some infringement on constitutional rights is OK and we have not violated anything as far as the Constitution."
The area under curfew, in what used to be a West Helena neighborhood, sits among abandoned homes and occupied residences in disrepair.
White signs on large blue barrels warn those passing by that the area remains under curfew by order of Mayor James Valley. The order was scheduled to end at 3 p.m. Tuesday, but Valley said the city council's vote would allow police to have the same powers across Helena-West Helena.
Among the curfew operation's arrests, 10 came from felony charges, including the arrest of two people carrying both drugs and weapons, Fielder said. The police chief said the officers in the field carry military-style M-16 or M-4 rifles, some equipped with laser sights. Other officers carry short-barrel shotguns. Many dealing crack cocaine and marijuana in the city carry pistols and AK-47 assault rifles, he said.
"We've had people call us, expressing concern for their children," Fielder said. "They had to sleep on the floor, because of stray bullets."
Fielder said officers had not arrested anyone for violating the curfew, only questioned people about why they were outside. Those without good answers or acting nervously get additional attention, Fielder said.
However, such stops likely violate residents' constitutional rights to freely assemble and protections against unreasonable police searches, said Holly Dickson, a lawyer for the ACLU of Arkansas who addressed the council at its packed Tuesday meeting. Because of that, Dickson said any convictions coming from the arrests likely would be overturned.
"The residents of these high-crime areas are already victims," she said. "They're victims of what are happening in the neighborhoods, they're victims of fear. But for them to be subject to unlawful stops and questioning ... that is not going to ultimately going to help this situation."
The council rejected Dickson's claims, at one point questioning the Little Rock-based attorney if she'd live in a neighborhood they described as under siege by wild gunfire and gangs.
"As far as I'm concerned, at 3 o'clock in the morning, nobody has any business being on the street, except the law," Councilman Eugene "Red" Johnson said. "Anyone out at 3 o'clock shouldn't be out on the street, unless you're going to the hospital."
The curfew is the second under the mayor's watch since the rival cities of Helena and West Helena merged in 2006. That year, Valley set a nightly citywide curfew after a rash of burglaries and other thefts.
Police in Hartford, Conn., began enforcing a nightly curfew for youths after recent violence, including a weekend shooting that killed a man and wounded six young people.
Helena-West Helena, with 15,000 residents at the edge of Arkansas' eastern rice fields and farmland, is in one of the nation's poorest regions, trailing even parts of Appalachia in its standard of living.
In the curfew area, those inside the homes in the watch area peered out of door cracks Tuesday as police cruisers passed. They closed the doors afterward.
The Rev
Dedicated LVC Member
Fossten,
North Providence cops are absolute dicks. My mother saw that arrest go down and those pictures don't even show the worst of it. They have nothing better to do than pull people over and harass them, I have been pulled over many a time by them. Never issued a ticket luckily. North Providence is heavily italian, and the cops have no problem pulling you over if you don't look familiar.
North Providence cops are absolute dicks. My mother saw that arrest go down and those pictures don't even show the worst of it. They have nothing better to do than pull people over and harass them, I have been pulled over many a time by them. Never issued a ticket luckily. North Providence is heavily italian, and the cops have no problem pulling you over if you don't look familiar.
The Rev
Dedicated LVC Member
And the curfews are good. Centrall Falls, RI was under one, possibly still is. 2 Teens were murdered in one week, and after 11pm anyone under the age of 18 out not traveling to/from work were stopped and possibly arrested.
fossten
Dedicated LVC Member
East Carolina U. faces complaints of excessive police force against football fans
By Elise Phillips
September 09, 2008
Source: East Carolinian, East Carolina U.
East Carolina University officials are investigating the alleged use of unnecessary force by police officers against fans rushing the field at the conclusion of Saturday's home football game against West Virginia.
ECU Police Chief Scott Shelton confirmed that some fans were tackled or pushed to the ground by police officers, and punches were thrown by a sheriff's deputy whose name was not disclosed.
In a briefing before the game, police officers were instructed to deter fans from rushing onto the field after an ECU victory. According to Shelton, officers were told to be conscious of their surroundings and "to make a visible presence" around the field. Shelton said Monday that approximately 114 police officers were present at the game, about 60 of whom were on the field.
ECU Police were not the only force on the scene Saturday. Kinston and Greenville Police and both the Pitt and Lenoir County Sheriff's Departments were also on site.
Shelton said that these five law enforcement agencies did expect an ECU victory and anticipated that some fans would try to run onto the field following the game.
Allegations of misconduct after the Pirates' 24-3 win include reports of officers pushing one fan and throwing another to the ground, according to a press release sent out by the university on Sunday. Other witnesses say that fans were punched, elbowed and held to the ground after running onto the field.
"I can't determine a reason why [these things] happened," said Shelton, "but I can determine that they happened."
Shelton said Sunday that he will look into the allegations by reviewing videotapes and photos, and interviewing witnesses.
"Preliminary investigation indicates excessive force was used in an incident of most concern by complainants," he said.
As of Monday, the police department was still reviewing videotapes and photos -- from several sources, Shelton said -- and interviewing witnesses or victims.
About a dozen complaints had been filed as of yesterday, according to Shelton, and more are still coming in. Lt. Curtis Hayes of the ECU Police Department will be receiving all complaints and leading the investigation. Shelton encourages individuals who were victims of unnecessary police force, or witnessed the use of unnecessary force by police officers, to step forward.
Only one arrest was made during the rush of fans onto the field Saturday, but two other arrests were made while the game was being played.
ECU football coach Skip Holtz said Monday that Saturday's win is being overshadowed by the fans' behavior.
"I hate that [the win] is being marred by some fans that rushed the field," he said. "I know their intentions were not malicious or negative. They were excited [and] enthusiastic and they wanted to come out and share in the joy and jubilation, but I enjoy it a whole lot more when our players can go over and enjoy celebrating with the entire student body."
Lifelong Pirates fan Thomas "Bubba" Rosenbaum, a teacher from Thomasville, N.C., attended the game, and said that the conduct he saw by police officers was uncalled for.
"I saw cops grabbing students and throwing them down. … One cop was continuously punching one student in the face," he said. "People were just celebrating ECU's win, not bashing West Virginia."
This particular incident was not confirmed by Shelton or the Greenville Police Department.
Rosenbaum did admit that some of the conduct by the officers might have been necessary, although he did not recall ever seeing police officers react the way they did at Saturday's game.
"Obviously I couldn't see everything that was taking place and it's possible that some [force] was necessary, but I doubt that was the case," he said. "There's no harm in rushing the field with the team as long as [the fans] aren't bashing the other team."
Some YouTube videos were posted directly after the game, and some have already received thousands of views.
One video shows fans rushing onto the field from the ground level, some being chased by police officers. In another video, comments from fans can be heard regarding the police officers' conduct, including "He ... tackled him!" followed by boos from the crowd.
By Elise Phillips
September 09, 2008
Source: East Carolinian, East Carolina U.
East Carolina University officials are investigating the alleged use of unnecessary force by police officers against fans rushing the field at the conclusion of Saturday's home football game against West Virginia.
ECU Police Chief Scott Shelton confirmed that some fans were tackled or pushed to the ground by police officers, and punches were thrown by a sheriff's deputy whose name was not disclosed.
In a briefing before the game, police officers were instructed to deter fans from rushing onto the field after an ECU victory. According to Shelton, officers were told to be conscious of their surroundings and "to make a visible presence" around the field. Shelton said Monday that approximately 114 police officers were present at the game, about 60 of whom were on the field.
ECU Police were not the only force on the scene Saturday. Kinston and Greenville Police and both the Pitt and Lenoir County Sheriff's Departments were also on site.
Shelton said that these five law enforcement agencies did expect an ECU victory and anticipated that some fans would try to run onto the field following the game.
Allegations of misconduct after the Pirates' 24-3 win include reports of officers pushing one fan and throwing another to the ground, according to a press release sent out by the university on Sunday. Other witnesses say that fans were punched, elbowed and held to the ground after running onto the field.
"I can't determine a reason why [these things] happened," said Shelton, "but I can determine that they happened."
Shelton said Sunday that he will look into the allegations by reviewing videotapes and photos, and interviewing witnesses.
"Preliminary investigation indicates excessive force was used in an incident of most concern by complainants," he said.
As of Monday, the police department was still reviewing videotapes and photos -- from several sources, Shelton said -- and interviewing witnesses or victims.
About a dozen complaints had been filed as of yesterday, according to Shelton, and more are still coming in. Lt. Curtis Hayes of the ECU Police Department will be receiving all complaints and leading the investigation. Shelton encourages individuals who were victims of unnecessary police force, or witnessed the use of unnecessary force by police officers, to step forward.
Only one arrest was made during the rush of fans onto the field Saturday, but two other arrests were made while the game was being played.
ECU football coach Skip Holtz said Monday that Saturday's win is being overshadowed by the fans' behavior.
"I hate that [the win] is being marred by some fans that rushed the field," he said. "I know their intentions were not malicious or negative. They were excited [and] enthusiastic and they wanted to come out and share in the joy and jubilation, but I enjoy it a whole lot more when our players can go over and enjoy celebrating with the entire student body."
Lifelong Pirates fan Thomas "Bubba" Rosenbaum, a teacher from Thomasville, N.C., attended the game, and said that the conduct he saw by police officers was uncalled for.
"I saw cops grabbing students and throwing them down. … One cop was continuously punching one student in the face," he said. "People were just celebrating ECU's win, not bashing West Virginia."
This particular incident was not confirmed by Shelton or the Greenville Police Department.
Rosenbaum did admit that some of the conduct by the officers might have been necessary, although he did not recall ever seeing police officers react the way they did at Saturday's game.
"Obviously I couldn't see everything that was taking place and it's possible that some [force] was necessary, but I doubt that was the case," he said. "There's no harm in rushing the field with the team as long as [the fans] aren't bashing the other team."
Some YouTube videos were posted directly after the game, and some have already received thousands of views.
One video shows fans rushing onto the field from the ground level, some being chased by police officers. In another video, comments from fans can be heard regarding the police officers' conduct, including "He ... tackled him!" followed by boos from the crowd.