Excessive Force During Tuesdays Action At the Port

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Excessive Force During Tuesdays Action At the Port

Submitted by bamboozledchic on Fri, 05/26/2006 - 3:04pm.

Citizen Oversight of OPD

Since the beginning of the actions at the port, many have posted in comments that we 'deserved what we got.' In response to this, and to provide one more account of the recent actions at the port, this is an account of what happened on Tuesday compared to the first blockade on Wednesday. First of all, the people involved in the incident on Tuesday did not have the intention to get arrested at the time that the arrests took place. The first arrest took place as a protester was moving out of the road, so this person was moving toward the sidewalk when they were snatched by Officer Watkins (badge number 44 for those of you who were witnesses). This person was cooperating at this point, they were in motion toward the sidewalk and within the boundaries of the crosswalk when the arrest took place. The first protester sat down in a passively resistant manner, which does not constitute the use of excessive force. A second protester attached themselves to the first in an act of solidarity and to stand up against the unlawful arrest of their comrade. Two police officers grabbed ahold of the second person, who could have been easily removed by simply pulling the persons arms apart. Let me put this into perspective: two small, non-threatening women and two large white police officers - it doesn't seem hard to figure out that pulling the attached woman's arms apart would be the easiest and least abusive way to get the woman to release her arms. Compare this to what the officers chose to do: one officer kicked the girl in the back, and the other proceeded to pinch her arm resulting in bruises the size of a fist that are now a deep purple and black color dotted with broken blood vessels. The bruises are the result of Officer Watkins actions, the kick in the back was inflicted by Sheriff Jay Swanson. There are also finger marks in the form of deep blue bruises on her outer arm, also attributed to Officer Watkins. This use of force was not only unnecessary, but relflects the state of mind of the police officers. Plain and simple - they overreacted, which resulted in the use of excessive force. During the first action on Wednesday, with the press and a city council member present the police negiotiated individually with each person and gave them fifteen minutes to disperse. This is compared to the fifteen seconds given to the first person arrested on Tuesday. The protesters in this blockade were then led off by the police without being slammed against the police car as was the first protester in Tuesday's unlawful and abusive arrests. This only reflects more why we need an independent organization to investigate and monitor police activity in Olympia.

Sorry

Submitted by Norm on Fri, 05/26/2006 - 3:55pm.

I'm sorry but I have to believe you are lying at this point. I've known Jay Swanson for years, have ridden with him on numerous shifts and you can't tell me this man "kicked" one of those girls in the back without just cause. You are either lying, exaggerating, or completely miss-saw what happend. Jay is probably the kindest, well spoken ( and talks his way out of every confrontation I've ever seen him in ), good-hearted deputy in this state. I would normally give someone the benefit of the doubt but I truly believe you are simply making things up at this point. Not only that, but have you even SEEN Jay? He's the size of a grizzly bear, if he intentionally kicked someone in the back I'd be surprised if they ever walked again, provided they lived through it. Show me some pictures of this and MAYBE I'll believe it.

maybe Jay's got somthing to say

Submitted by crackhole on Fri, 05/26/2006 - 4:20pm.

well, if that's the case, then let Jay come here and defend himself. It does appear that others saw the same thing - him kicking someone in the back. If you're pals with him, have him come here and state what happened from his side. I'd honestly like to hear it, as would countless others I'm sure.

HA!

Submitted by Norm on Fri, 05/26/2006 - 6:48pm.

You must be joking. I just stated that I think this person is lying. Why would I even bring this up to him (provided I run into him anytime soon ) when I think this is a farce? I don't feel he has to explain anything because he wasn't the one in the wrong in this case. IF he did this, then I am sure that someone has pictures of it and I'm SURE that the person who was kicked seeked medical help and it's well documented that she was kicked in the back. Because this is such a terrible experience I'm sure that she's called her lawyer and is currently pressing charges against him, so I'm very sure that we'll all be hearing about this terrible abuse when it goes to court.
The next time I run into him, if I happen to hear him talking about the last time he kicked a protester in the back, I'll make sure and bring it up and ask him to him explain himself on this forum. Until then, if you want to hear his side of the story I suggest you call the Sheriff's office and ask to speak with him. Better yet, why don't you present all this evidence to the Olympian and get a nice story going, then he's bound to plead his case! Until then I'm going to stand up for him any chance I get.

Do I sound like I'm joking?

Submitted by crackhole on Fri, 05/26/2006 - 7:39pm.

Do I sound like I'm joking? No. So, you standing up for him doesn't mean diddly squat. You are very sure of many things where you have no facts, just assumptions. There are several witness accounts of what happened, and yours that says he wouldn't do it - who do you think people will listen to? My point here is you claim to vouch for him, which really means nothing, he needs to vouch for himself.

Accusing someone of lying about what was a very public incident is pretty weak when you have no facts, just guesses. If he's such a stand up guy and really didn't kick anyone, let's hear it from him, not someone with zero facts on what happened.

Last - it's not my evidence, it was the person who was kicked. I don't personally know him, but he has cleared out several of the meth dealers in my neighborhood. My point being I don't have issue with him - I have issue with you coming out and standing up for him with nothing more than "we was pals for years" type of statement.

And just where are these

Submitted by Norm on Fri, 05/26/2006 - 8:19pm.

And just where are these several witness accounts? this is the first I've heard and this looks like one person. Yeah, my basis of this guy being a great guy, and this person and her "witnesses" being a bunch of protesters, who do YOU think people will listen to? The Cop, or the hippy? Go ahead, who do you think will be believed when it matters most. I'm attesting to this man's character, that is all. I simply don't believe he would have done that without warrant. Were you there Crack? Do you know what happend or know any of the people involved? Had this been ANY other cop I wouldn't have spoken up. It's no different than a man being accused of rape and having an attorney call a neighbor to testify as to the man's character. Honestly I don't give a flying fart what you think of him or ME for that matter. I'm not wanting a response out of you crack, I want to know if this person has something that shows she was "kicked" or if it's another bunch of protesters saying, "Ow, you're hurting me, why are you arresting me I haven't done anything wrong." You don't like my calling someone out? Fine, but that's not going to prevent me from doing it.

Let's tell the truth

Submitted by olympiabuzz on Fri, 05/26/2006 - 10:05pm.

Having watched the nappy haired spoiled white kids, they did get what they deserved. Let's face it mostly the military is made up of all types of people that volunteered for the service. Get with the times, this is not Vietnam where I was on the other side. Guys were being shipped out that did not want to go. These guys today know what they are in for or they would not have signed up. They are protecting your sorry spoiled a**. I did not see one hispanic or black person with you. You just a bunch of spoiled rich kids that need to someday figure out what you need to do when you grow up. I understand when one of your "ring" leaders was confronted by a guy that was on one of the planes behind the one that hit the towers, he started to cry. Look at your pictures, it's the guy with the red & white striped shirt, ask him. Then he asked for a hug.

You people are just maggots of the earth. The only reason you are there is you don't have anything else to do. Mama and Dada have spoiled you. And by the way, your other fearless leader, Drew is living in a house owned by IndyMedia. Because they are a non-profit they don't pay taxes, since they don't pay taxes, why does he always say he pays taxes to the Port. Ask him and you'll find out the truth. He's just one big lie that you spoiled lemmings just follow along.

Let's just have a group hug and sing Cumbya or is it we will overcome .... one more time!

Dear olympiabuzz

Submitted by Rick on Sat, 05/27/2006 - 6:55am.

You may have the impression that it is ok to just dump on people on this blog. I would like to gently disabuse you of this notion. Here we talk respectfully to each other, without name calling or hyperbole. The motto is: "Play the ball, not the (wo)man." If this is unacceptable to you, go get your own blog where people can call each other names with out restraint. Here, we focus on the ideas, not the people.

Cheers,

Rick

Whoa

Submitted by Sarah on Sat, 05/27/2006 - 7:59am.

Whoa, as I read this, I feel like I am reading a post on a Nazi forum.

Beg your pardon

Submitted by k_girl9841 on Sat, 05/27/2006 - 2:26pm.

I would like to say that, first of all, as a Hispanic woman raised in the South I feel I know a little something about issues surrounding diversity and I do not feel that race should not be an issue in this protest--either pro or con. Olympia is not a racially diverse city in general, thus making it irrelevant to bring it up in this context. Secondly, I have several friends who are currently enlisted. While yes, there are all types of people that volunteer for the service, the majority come from working class families who either cannot afford to go to college and/or are in search of vocational skills to further their careers once they leave the service.

Finally, I am a full time student, employed part time and am also responsible for financing my own education and my out of state tuition. While there are probably people who have nothing better to do than raise hell on the streets of Olympia, there is also an equal number of people who take time out of their busy schedules to be a part of something they believe in. Making generalizations splits communities, spreads anger, and discredits personal statements, regardless of whether they are being made on blogs or at a protest.

Assumptions

Submitted by DrewHendricks on Sat, 05/27/2006 - 9:47am.

"And by the way, your other fearless leader, Drew is living in a house owned by IndyMedia. Because they are a non-profit they don't pay taxes, since they don't pay taxes, why does he always say he pays taxes to the Port. Ask him and you'll find out the truth. He's just one big lie that you spoiled lemmings just follow along."

WOW. What a load of assumptions! Who the hell said I was the leader? You don't know much about how group dynamics work in the activist community here. That I am a leader is not in doubt. That I'm the only one? Or one of just a few? Dream on.

I have been a renter in this county since 1999, most of that time in a duplex on Fair Oaks Road until just about the end of 2004. In that time I spent more than $43,000 in rent on a place in which I had no equity. That money went to a man who lived on Cooper Point in a house worth a million dollars - in 2000. You know what? He probably spent some of that money on his property taxes, which must have been enormous. When he sold our rental to a retired couple, I was paying them even more per month (thus the figure above is conservative) and they spent that money, in part, to pay the taxes on a place which is worth half a million dollars on a lake in Lacey. So yes, I have paid a lot of money toward property taxes in this Port district. The fact that I have now found a way to avoid paying for something I don't support must really gall you. Oh, and you neglect to mention my office space, on property which is taxed. I pay $200 per month on that as well.

"Ask him and you'll find out the truth."
Indeed you will, but you didn't. You published before you asked me. That's bad journalism, by the way. And I find it very interesting that you are trying to find out where I live. If you want to visit me, call me on the phone and we can have a conversation that way or arrange to meet. If you show up at my abode with intentions of harm, you won't be happy with the results.

blind faith

Submitted by olyrickm on Sat, 05/27/2006 - 12:15pm.

"When facism comes to America it will be wrapped in a flag and carrying a cross." Sinclair Lewis

I would add it will have the unquestioned support of the police and those who support the police, who believe the police never or hardly ever engage in brutality or excessive force, who believe those who are arrested are guilty until proven innocent, who would never believe the police fabricate or exxagerate events.

Sophie Scholl

Submitted by DrewHendricks on Sat, 05/27/2006 - 3:15pm.

Sophie Scholl was a univerity student in Germany in 1943, who was part of a small group of people (The White Rose) who pamphleted against the war, and against the Nazi Party's control of Germany. She was exceuted for it - as a "terrorist."
Her story is playing this week at the Capitol Theatre.

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