How Jackinthebox Got Jacked-up by the Police (with update)

I posted this material in another forum and figured I would share it here so that you can all get to know a bit about where I am coming from. This incident happened about a year ago now.

I suppose I should start a dedicated threat to my most recent experience with police brutality/excessive force. I have talked about this incident in other threads before, and recently another member was asking me about it. So instead of derailing that thread, I decided to finally start this one. I really shouldn’t be talking about this in a public forum since the case is still pending, but I think the level of anonymity is suffice to protect me from the damages that can be done by talking about an open case.

The police were in the neighborhood investigating a broken window at my neighbors’ apartment at about two in the morning. I came out and stood on my front porch to speak with two officers from the local department. Having worn a shield for several years, I asked to be allowed to empty my pockets before we engaged in conversation, as I had been drinking a bit and was armed.

The conversation was amicable for a few moments, and I was granted permission to smoke a cigarette while we spoke. Quickly though, their attitude shifted toward threats and intimidation. I responded by making a wise-crack along the lines of not really being afraid of a few local cops from their small department.

In an instant, I was face-down on my front porch. I was kicked about my torso and in the head repeatedly. A hand-held stun gun was applied to my back and legs ten times. They made no attempt to put the cuffs on my, until they noticed that the neighbors across the street were all watching. Throughout the beating, I did my best to simply lay there like a dead fish, knowing full well that any motion would only intensify the force applied by the officers.

I was charged for supposedly fighting with the officers, though anyone who knows me, or even had an idea about my size, would know that these two officers certainly would not have come away unscathed had I decided to engage them. Almost a year later, the charges are still pending.

UPDATE

We have all seen the many examples of police brutality over the years. Now it seems we are seeing more and more cases of it, without any meaningful accountability, or changes to prevent these abuses by authorities in the future. The police, once rightfully respected as the protectors of our communities, have now become our abusers, and even the murderers of people they are sworn to serve.

I do not envy the officers who truly believe in what they are doing, and have a genuine desire to help people. For I believe they have now become the minority, and have been swept up in the group mentality of a fascist force which is bringing down upon the people a thuggish police-state, where the rights of the people are no longer honored or respected. In the past, I have made many excuses for the police, in my respect for them and the difficult job they do each day. Always siding with the reasoning that the crimes by those in uniform were isolated cases, and that no force can be immune from corruption now matter how very necessary it is to strive for that goal. But I am drawing the line now. What I have seen and experienced in the last year has led me to believe that what is happening in this country is no longer excusable.

The main purpose of my writing today, is to provide an update to a case where I became the victim of a violent assault by two police officers.

I faced charges stemming from my alleged resistance to arrest and assault of the police officers, as well as a minor property crime. A finding of guilt on those charges would have likely resulted in a sentence of considerable jail time. Today, I was in court for the last time, and judgment was passed under the terms of a plea-bargain agreement. I feel somewhat vindicated. Though I had serious reservations about pleading guilty to anything at all, I was not willing to risk losing my freedom with a long jail sentence, had a jury been swayed by the testimony of two police officers over that of my civilian neighbors who witnessed the incident in disgust of the officers’ actions. Therefore, I chose to plead guilty to the non-criminal violation of Disorderly Conduct, and to pay ten dollars in restitution for a broken window.

In reading the other thread, you will find that I was evasive about the issue of the broken window which had been the initial cause for the police to be called to the neighborhood. Now that the case is over, I can reveal the specifics regarding the window. I did in fact break the window, but no crime was committed, as I had not done so intentionally. I had knocked at my neighbor’s door to complain for the third time about their cats leaving feces all over the lawn and driveway. This time, after two guests had stepped in it coming to my apartment. The neighbors did not answer.

It was dark out, and there is absolutely no light on the property. They had their porch light turned off. When I turned to leave, and stepped down off of the porch, I tripped over a cement statue, and my hand went through the window. If the police had bothered to properly investigate, they would have been able to quickly ascertain the facts of the matter. Instead, they chose to be belligerent, and ultimately, violent with someone who had no reason whatsoever to not be fully cooperative. So much so, that I had actually stepped onto my front porch and called to them, to offer my willingness to have the matter resolved in whatever reasonable way they saw fit.

In the end, I elected to plead guilty to the violation for two reasons. I had been drinking alcohol that evening, and may not have stumbled so hard, had I not been. Legally speaking, I probably could have sued over the lack of lighting on the property, and the obstacles in an area where people might reasonably be expected to walk, but then there is the second point to consider as well. Though my neighbor was often up late, and would often come knocking at my door for various reasons at such an hour, it was rather late at night to be knocking on someone’s door.

As I said, I am not completely comfortable with the outcome, but it is certainly better than gambling with my freedom.

The real point to all of this though, is that I DID NOT, do anything to warrant the violent abuse at the hands of these officers. And for that to be known publicly, leaves me feeling some sense of justice served. Though the officers in question will not be penalized in this matter, I can only hope that one day someone will be on more solid ground to bring a case against them when they violate the public trust once again. Apparently the judge felt the need to render justice in my favor as well, electing to impose no fine and waiving all court fees.