community-based, non-corporate, participatory media
Bush arrests- what the police say
by hfghfg
Wednesday, Apr. 21, 2004 at 11:26 AM
Information about the Bush arrests. What the police say.
A lot has been asked about what exactly the police did and why in response to what exactly the protestes did and why.
According to the police arrest statements:
On April 19th several people left the main group of protesters at 10th and Penn Ave. and walked down the 900 block of Penn Avenue. One of the males ran into the street and was obstructing traffic and causing a disturbance. When this man was arrested several other people linked their arms together and barricaded the sidewalk in front of 955 Penn Ave. They were yelling and causing a disturbance, and refusing to allow pedestrians to pass. They were arrested after ignoring several warnings to disperse.
The officers who gave this "evidence" supposedly based on personal observations were Sgt. William Bair, Officer Jason Lando, Officer Ron Hough, and Officer James Levier. [I believe Officer Hough was the mean man on the Motorcycle.]
Video evidence that exists, and other eyewitnsess confirm the following about the actual situation regarding the arrests. The group of 9 or so people who went down Penn Avenue were attempting to walk back to the main group of protesters at 10th and Penn. 2 of them were far in front of the main group when they encountered 2 officers coming towards the group. The police said nothing as the 2 protesters attempted to walk around the officers now blocking the sidewalk. When they tried to walk around them on the sidewalk they were both attacked and arrested. There was no order to disperse, there was no statements from the police that they were being arrested, there was no linking of arms, and no blocking of pedestrian traffic. After these arrests many people had gathered around to bear witness to, and protest, the violent turn of events. The police began attacking those in the crowd with batons and threatening violence against people.
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by amanda
Wednesday, Apr. 21, 2004 at 11:36 AM
if the video confirms that i say those arrested may have a lawsuit on their hands. nail them.
Officer Hough
by anon
Wednesday, Apr. 21, 2004 at 11:51 AM
Officer Hough (the infamous HOG) is the man choking the first male arrestee in the photos. He is known to be violent and aggressive.
Mistakes were made
by quis custodiet ipsos custodes?
Wednesday, Apr. 21, 2004 at 12:02 PM
That's one of the problems with top down power structures; they can't think for themselves. Due to the lack of a lieutenant or someone to do the thinking for them, they fuck up badly, as in this case. Even the capitalist media showed that clearly.
chokeholds?
by ...
Wednesday, Apr. 21, 2004 at 12:25 PM
Does anyone know what the Pittsburgh police use of force guidlines are for using chokeholds? I can't believe that something potentially deadly like that is acceptable to enact an arrest on someone who isn't resisting arrest, is never even told they are under arrest, and hasn't done anything violent.
Word is the person who was choked for 25+ seconds may have longer term damage to their throat. I have a feeling that officer houge might be looking at a lawsuit :)
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by amanda
Wednesday, Apr. 21, 2004 at 12:49 PM
I will try to find out Pittsburgh Police guidlines as far as chokeholds go by tomorrow from one of my professors (a former pgh cop). I can also find try to get information on other uses of force by the pghpolice.
and from what I've been told you cannot sue an officer, you have to sue the department (pittsburgh police). Sometimes if its found that the training the officer received was less than necessary or the department was negligent in training you can sue the city/and or state also.I'm not familiar with any case law to that extent though.
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by anon
Wednesday, Apr. 21, 2004 at 12:49 PM
I believe The Hog is also looking for more children to devour.
Hungry, hungry Hough
by orange bloccer
Wednesday, Apr. 21, 2004 at 1:47 PM
Hog was also whining and crying to his lieutenant that the Orange Bloc was "gonna do something" "I know they're getting ready to do something". Apparently he does better with a babysitter.
But all things being equal, imagine being an overweight person named Hough? I don't know about you, but I'd probably grow up to be a violent meter maid, too.
Bullying hurts, like PSA's say.
Get your bling-bling
by Covington Law
Wednesday, Apr. 21, 2004 at 2:44 PM
I'm pretty sure one can sue an officer as an individual if they go way beyond the scope of what they were authorized to do. But the $ and publicity are better if one sues the po-po department/city as well.
thanks for posting.
by ....
Friday, Apr. 23, 2004 at 1:11 PM
I think it is good to have the information out there. The reality is the state and the police overall already have access to the information about everyone who was arrested (and many other people in the community as well). Maybe people who live near these people could start some type of campaign to let neighbores know that these officers have been involved in questionable incidents that are in fact part of the public record. There is a sharp difference between activists and police. The police are hired by the state to perform public duties for the good of the public. They are also granted vast amount of privilage, supposedly because of this. Like politicians, when they choose to involve themselves in things like saying in front of tv cameras they're going to crack people's skulls in, motherfuckers they have much less of an expectation to privacy then people who are just excercizing rights to protest. A good example of this distinction is the fact police are required by regulation to wear name tags and to give their personal informaiton to people who ask whereas citizens who are protesting are afforded the explicit right not to identify themselves publicly, and even to take steps to conceal their identity.
Pigs are unclean animals
by E. Cleaver
Monday, Apr. 26, 2004 at 7:00 AM
The fire this time...
What the polive say
by ;)>
Monday, Apr. 26, 2004 at 7:11 AM
WHAT WE ALL SAY TO THE PRO-TERROR ACTIVISTS
Fight crime
by Shoot first
Monday, Apr. 26, 2004 at 7:43 AM
Get these criminal out of our communities.
I'm with you kid
by 2Beers
Monday, Apr. 26, 2004 at 5:05 PM
Even a five year old Euro soccer fan has more sense than an American pro-terror and oppression (oh, excuse me, Anti-war) activist.
Y-M-C-A
by 2beers is Michael Jackson?
Tuesday, Apr. 27, 2004 at 3:41 AM
2beers loves a man in uniform, and apparently little boys, as that's at least the third time it's been posted here.
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