Article from Miami New Times
http://www.miaminewtimes.com/2007-09-20/news/john-timoney-america-s-worst-cop/
Thursday, September 20, 2007
Monday, September 17, 2007
University of Florida Student Arrested, Tasered at Kerry Forum
orlandosentinel.com/news/local/state/orl-bk-gainesville091707,0,2849342.story?coll=orl_entertainment_dining_util
University of Florida student arrested, Tasered at Kerry forum
The Associated Press
8:56 PM EDT, September 17, 2007
A University of Florida student was Tasered and arrested Monday when he attempted to speak at a forum with U.S. Sen. John Kerry during a question and answer session, university officials said.
Andrew Meyer, 21, asked Kerry why he did not contest the 2004 presidential election, which he lost to President Bush, and why there had been no moves to impeach Bush.
"He apparently asked several questions -- he went on for quite awhile -- then he was asked to stop," university spokesman Steve Orlando said. "He had used his allotted time. His microphone was cut off then he became upset."
While as many as four police officers tried to remove Meyer from the forum, he yelled for help and asked "What did I do?" Minutes after Meyer started speaking, he was Tasered.
Meyer was charged with resisting an officer and disturbing the peace, according to Alachua County jail records. No bond had been set. Meyer was scheduled to appear in court Tuesday morning, a jail official said.
Orlando said university police would conduct an internal investigation on the incident.
"The police department does have a standard procedure for when they use force, including when they use a Taser," Orlando said. "That is what the internal investigation would address -- whether the proper procedures were followed, whether the officers acted appropriately."
The event was sponsored by the UF student government speaker's bureau, according to a news release. A telephone message left at the speaker's bureau office was not immediately returned Monday evening.
It was not known if Meyer had an attorney.
University of Florida student arrested, Tasered at Kerry forum
The Associated Press
8:56 PM EDT, September 17, 2007
A University of Florida student was Tasered and arrested Monday when he attempted to speak at a forum with U.S. Sen. John Kerry during a question and answer session, university officials said.
Andrew Meyer, 21, asked Kerry why he did not contest the 2004 presidential election, which he lost to President Bush, and why there had been no moves to impeach Bush.
"He apparently asked several questions -- he went on for quite awhile -- then he was asked to stop," university spokesman Steve Orlando said. "He had used his allotted time. His microphone was cut off then he became upset."
While as many as four police officers tried to remove Meyer from the forum, he yelled for help and asked "What did I do?" Minutes after Meyer started speaking, he was Tasered.
Meyer was charged with resisting an officer and disturbing the peace, according to Alachua County jail records. No bond had been set. Meyer was scheduled to appear in court Tuesday morning, a jail official said.
Orlando said university police would conduct an internal investigation on the incident.
"The police department does have a standard procedure for when they use force, including when they use a Taser," Orlando said. "That is what the internal investigation would address -- whether the proper procedures were followed, whether the officers acted appropriately."
The event was sponsored by the UF student government speaker's bureau, according to a news release. A telephone message left at the speaker's bureau office was not immediately returned Monday evening.
It was not known if Meyer had an attorney.
Wednesday, September 12, 2007
Deputy Charged with Plan to Rob Cop Posing as Drug Dealer
orlandosentinel.com/news/local/volusia/orl-deputy1207sep12,0,3219568.story
Deputy charged with plan to rob man
He and a suspected accomplice targeted an FDLE officer posing as a drug dealer, officials say.
Elaine Aradillas and Steven D. Barnes
Sentinel Staff Writers
(published) September 12, 2007
A Volusia deputy sheriff and a suspected accomplice were arrested Tuesday on charges they planned to take money from a Florida Department of Law Enforcement officer posing as a drug dealer, officials said.
Deputy Gene Walton, 40, was arrested on one count of unlawful compensation, one count of misuse of confidential information and one count of conspiracy to commit robbery. He was held in a separate part of the Volusia County Jail for his protection, with bail set at $21,000.
Harry Cooke, who is not an employee of the Volusia Sheriff's Office, was arrested on one count of conspiracy to commit robbery. He was held at the jail with bail set at $10,000.
Volusia Sheriff Ben Johnson had harsh words for Walton, who had been with the agency 14 years.
"This is not one of the days you enjoy being a sheriff," he said. "I don't want a dirty cop. Cops don't like dirty cops, and that's exactly what he is."
At the time of his arrest, Walton was served with notice of an internal investigation, suspended without pay and served with a notice that the Sheriff's Office intends to terminate his position, said sheriff's spokesman Brandon Haught.
Procedure allows three days for Walton to make an appeal, but he will most likely lose his job at the end of the week, Haught said.
The investigation started two months ago, when the FDLE received a tip. The investigation revealed Walton used the agency's computer system to collect information -- including information about a vehicle -- belonging to the person he thought was a drug dealer, Johnson said.
Walton planned to make a traffic stop and take the drug dealer's money, Johnson said.
"He thought he was ripping off a drug dealer for money," Johnson said. "He was trying to rip off a dope dealer."
Walton, who was a resource officer at Campbell Middle School in Daytona Beach, was working when he was summoned to a district office Tuesday afternoon, officials said.
Haught said Walton's personnel records showed two reprimands in 1996, two years after he was hired, for minor procedural infractions.
For example, instead of calling an ambulance after he stopped a driver and his pregnant wife on their way to a hospital, Walton provided a personal police escort.
Before joining the Sheriff's Office, Walton worked at a post office and as a security supervisor at Bethune-Cookman College in Daytona Beach, records show.
Johnson said he spoke with Walton when he was arrested.
"I told him, 'You had kids that were looking up to you. You were a role model.'"
Elaine Aradillas can be reached at 407-931-5940 or earadillas@orlandosentinel.com. Steven D. Barnes can be reached at sbarnes@orlandosentinel.com or 386-851-7911.
Deputy charged with plan to rob man
He and a suspected accomplice targeted an FDLE officer posing as a drug dealer, officials say.
Elaine Aradillas and Steven D. Barnes
Sentinel Staff Writers
(published) September 12, 2007
A Volusia deputy sheriff and a suspected accomplice were arrested Tuesday on charges they planned to take money from a Florida Department of Law Enforcement officer posing as a drug dealer, officials said.
Deputy Gene Walton, 40, was arrested on one count of unlawful compensation, one count of misuse of confidential information and one count of conspiracy to commit robbery. He was held in a separate part of the Volusia County Jail for his protection, with bail set at $21,000.
Harry Cooke, who is not an employee of the Volusia Sheriff's Office, was arrested on one count of conspiracy to commit robbery. He was held at the jail with bail set at $10,000.
Volusia Sheriff Ben Johnson had harsh words for Walton, who had been with the agency 14 years.
"This is not one of the days you enjoy being a sheriff," he said. "I don't want a dirty cop. Cops don't like dirty cops, and that's exactly what he is."
At the time of his arrest, Walton was served with notice of an internal investigation, suspended without pay and served with a notice that the Sheriff's Office intends to terminate his position, said sheriff's spokesman Brandon Haught.
Procedure allows three days for Walton to make an appeal, but he will most likely lose his job at the end of the week, Haught said.
The investigation started two months ago, when the FDLE received a tip. The investigation revealed Walton used the agency's computer system to collect information -- including information about a vehicle -- belonging to the person he thought was a drug dealer, Johnson said.
Walton planned to make a traffic stop and take the drug dealer's money, Johnson said.
"He thought he was ripping off a drug dealer for money," Johnson said. "He was trying to rip off a dope dealer."
Walton, who was a resource officer at Campbell Middle School in Daytona Beach, was working when he was summoned to a district office Tuesday afternoon, officials said.
Haught said Walton's personnel records showed two reprimands in 1996, two years after he was hired, for minor procedural infractions.
For example, instead of calling an ambulance after he stopped a driver and his pregnant wife on their way to a hospital, Walton provided a personal police escort.
Before joining the Sheriff's Office, Walton worked at a post office and as a security supervisor at Bethune-Cookman College in Daytona Beach, records show.
Johnson said he spoke with Walton when he was arrested.
"I told him, 'You had kids that were looking up to you. You were a role model.'"
Elaine Aradillas can be reached at 407-931-5940 or earadillas@orlandosentinel.com. Steven D. Barnes can be reached at sbarnes@orlandosentinel.com or 386-851-7911.
Friday, September 7, 2007
Orange Co. Deps. Shoot @ Car During Traffic Stop; Driver Later Dies
Source: Orlando Sentinel
Updated: 6 minutes ago
Investigation continues into man who died after traffic stop
April Hunt | Sentinel Staff Writer
3:10 PM EDT, September 7, 2007
Two law enforcement agencies are still sorting through details that led to a deadly shooting during a routine traffic stop Thursday night.
The sheriff's office and Florida Department of Law Enforcement are conducting concurrent investigations into the incident, which began when two motorcyle deputies pulled the man over during a speed check on South Rio Grande Avenue and Michael Terrace.
When deputies Chester Parker and Aaron Wilson walked toward the car, the driver revved the engine and hit one of the men with his car, said sheriff's spokesman Jeff Williamson. The officers, fearing for their lives, shot at the car before it sped off into the woods, Williamson said.
The driver dumped the car in the woods and began running. The deputies chased the driver through the woods, where they found him bleeding heavily. It was unknown Thursday night if the driver was hurt while driving through the woods or if he was shot by officers, Williamson said.
The man was taken to Orlando Regional Medical Center, where he later died, Williamson said. Deputies have not released his name, because they have not been able to locate next-of-kin.
The driver did have a criminal record, Williamson said.
Parker, 48, and Wilson, 40, have been placed on administrative leave, which is standard practice. Parker is a five-year veteran of the department, while Wilson has been a deputy for 12 years.
Neither of the deputies was seriously injured.
Updated: 6 minutes ago
Investigation continues into man who died after traffic stop
April Hunt | Sentinel Staff Writer
3:10 PM EDT, September 7, 2007
Two law enforcement agencies are still sorting through details that led to a deadly shooting during a routine traffic stop Thursday night.
The sheriff's office and Florida Department of Law Enforcement are conducting concurrent investigations into the incident, which began when two motorcyle deputies pulled the man over during a speed check on South Rio Grande Avenue and Michael Terrace.
When deputies Chester Parker and Aaron Wilson walked toward the car, the driver revved the engine and hit one of the men with his car, said sheriff's spokesman Jeff Williamson. The officers, fearing for their lives, shot at the car before it sped off into the woods, Williamson said.
The driver dumped the car in the woods and began running. The deputies chased the driver through the woods, where they found him bleeding heavily. It was unknown Thursday night if the driver was hurt while driving through the woods or if he was shot by officers, Williamson said.
The man was taken to Orlando Regional Medical Center, where he later died, Williamson said. Deputies have not released his name, because they have not been able to locate next-of-kin.
The driver did have a criminal record, Williamson said.
Parker, 48, and Wilson, 40, have been placed on administrative leave, which is standard practice. Parker is a five-year veteran of the department, while Wilson has been a deputy for 12 years.
Neither of the deputies was seriously injured.
Local TV Coverage of Incident Involving CopWatch Member
(awkwardly written story; it should be "Leclair" not "LeClair')
CopWatch Keeps Eye On Local Police
POSTED: 6:44 pm EDT September 6, 2007
UPDATED: 7:22 pm EDT September 6, 2007
ORLANDO, Fla. -- Volunteers are patrolling local streets to keep a close eye on the area's police force.
A man wrestled to the ground in a recent [Orlando] CopWatch video is actually a[n Orlando] CopWatch volunteer. (The media needs to get the name of our organization right.)
Josh LeClair was never arrested, but officers took issue with him because they said he was far too close -- 10 feet -- while they worked to arrest a DUI suspect.
"I think it's scary that a guy is taken to the ground and handcuffed and detained," LeClair said.
CopWatch patrols with video cameras.
The National Latino Officers Association has taken up the fight for [Orlando] CopWatch, saying LeClair was the victim of excessive force and unlawful detainment.
LeClair said he was 40 feet away.
(garbled partial quote) "Work hard to do the right thing," Sgt. Barb Jones said.
The Orlando Police Department said it has received an official complaint, it has seen the video, and it will look into it.
"Whether the actions of the officers were justified or not will be part of the investigation. It'll be up to internal affairs," Jones said.
To comment on this story, send an e-mail to Dave McDaniel.
Copyright 2007 by WESH.COM.
###
local6.com
Cell Phone Video Shows Officer Throwing Down Bystander Videotaping Traffic Stop
29-Year-Old Handcuffed, Then Allowed To Leave
POSTED: 4:54 pm EDT September 6, 2007
UPDATED: 5:19 pm EDT September 6, 2007
ORLANDO, Fla. -- Cell phone video of an Orlando officer throwing a bystander to the ground after the man was noticed videotaping a traffic stop has prompted accusations of police brutality.
IMAGES: Cell Phone Video Orlando police are investigating why Josh Leclair, 29, was handcuffed and forced to the ground by an officer this week, Local 6 has learned.
Leclair said he was on his way to a friend's house at about 1 a.m. when he noticed a police officer arresting a suspected drunken driver with his weapon drawn.
Leclair said he had a camera and began videotaping the incident until the officer until the officer noticed him.
Leclair's friend Rick Weedamen's cell phone camera videotaped the officer running over to Leclair and then forcing him to the ground and handcuffing him.
Police eventually removed the handcuffs and Leclair was allowed to leave.
Leclair, who is a member of the Cop Watch group, said police initially appeared to be acting lawfully during the traffic stop until they turned their attention to him.
"My video could have been used as an asset to their actual investigation until I was detained," Leclair said during a news conference Thursday.
The [Orlando] Cop Watch group has watched the video and claims the incident may be indicative of a bigger problem with police behavior.
"Where there have been threats made against [Orlando] Cop Watch when [Orlando] Cop Watch was out doing what they have every Constitutional right to do -- simply videotape law enforcement in action," [Orlando] Cop Watch representative George Crossley said.
Leclair has filed an official complaint with the Orlando Police Department and he said another complaint will likely be filed with the U.S. Justice Department over a civil rights violation.
Watch Local 6 News for more on this story.
Copyright 2007 by Internet Broadcasting Systems and Local6.com.
###
WFTV.com
Police Investigate After Controversial 'Copwatch' Video Surfaces
POSTED: 12:01 pm EDT September 6, 2007
UPDATED: 5:45 pm EDT September 6, 2007
ORLANDO, Fla. -- A group that uses video cameras to try to catch cops crossing the line said an officer went after one if its own members and they videotaped the whole thing.
In his own report, one of the officers said the amateur cameraman was interfering with his investigation, but the Orlando Police Department is doing an investigation of its own to see if the officers recorded on the [Orlando] 'Copwatch' DVD truly went too far.
RAW VIDEO: Copwatch Raw DVD video
Before an officer took him down, [Orlando] "Copwatch" cameraman Joshua LeClair [Leclair] said he didn't have a problem with how Orlando police handled this arrest of a DUI suspect early Sunday morning. He said trouble started when officers turned their attention to the camera.
"There was a second person out here who pulled out a cell phone with a video camera in it and kept rolling," said LeClair of the DVD police were investigating.
Sgt. Barbara Jones of the Orlando Police Department said the police had seen the video and will conduct an internal affairs investigation. But Jones would not criticize the officer's actions.
"We don't have a problem being videotaped. The question is, am I being distracted while affecting [effecting] an arrest," Jones said of the 'Copwatch' videotaping.
At a news conference, organizers of the group 'Copwatch' said they plan to file a federal civil rights complaint. Despite an officer's claim that LeClair got in the way, he said he wasn't picking a fight.
'Copwatch' said it will be out again in Orlando Thursday night. Orlando police said its investigation could take up to two months.
Copyright 2007 by wftv.com.
CopWatch Keeps Eye On Local Police
POSTED: 6:44 pm EDT September 6, 2007
UPDATED: 7:22 pm EDT September 6, 2007
ORLANDO, Fla. -- Volunteers are patrolling local streets to keep a close eye on the area's police force.
A man wrestled to the ground in a recent [Orlando] CopWatch video is actually a[n Orlando] CopWatch volunteer. (The media needs to get the name of our organization right.)
Josh LeClair was never arrested, but officers took issue with him because they said he was far too close -- 10 feet -- while they worked to arrest a DUI suspect.
"I think it's scary that a guy is taken to the ground and handcuffed and detained," LeClair said.
CopWatch patrols with video cameras.
The National Latino Officers Association has taken up the fight for [Orlando] CopWatch, saying LeClair was the victim of excessive force and unlawful detainment.
LeClair said he was 40 feet away.
(garbled partial quote) "Work hard to do the right thing," Sgt. Barb Jones said.
The Orlando Police Department said it has received an official complaint, it has seen the video, and it will look into it.
"Whether the actions of the officers were justified or not will be part of the investigation. It'll be up to internal affairs," Jones said.
To comment on this story, send an e-mail to Dave McDaniel.
Copyright 2007 by WESH.COM.
###
local6.com
Cell Phone Video Shows Officer Throwing Down Bystander Videotaping Traffic Stop
29-Year-Old Handcuffed, Then Allowed To Leave
POSTED: 4:54 pm EDT September 6, 2007
UPDATED: 5:19 pm EDT September 6, 2007
ORLANDO, Fla. -- Cell phone video of an Orlando officer throwing a bystander to the ground after the man was noticed videotaping a traffic stop has prompted accusations of police brutality.
IMAGES: Cell Phone Video Orlando police are investigating why Josh Leclair, 29, was handcuffed and forced to the ground by an officer this week, Local 6 has learned.
Leclair said he was on his way to a friend's house at about 1 a.m. when he noticed a police officer arresting a suspected drunken driver with his weapon drawn.
Leclair said he had a camera and began videotaping the incident until the officer until the officer noticed him.
Leclair's friend Rick Weedamen's cell phone camera videotaped the officer running over to Leclair and then forcing him to the ground and handcuffing him.
Police eventually removed the handcuffs and Leclair was allowed to leave.
Leclair, who is a member of the Cop Watch group, said police initially appeared to be acting lawfully during the traffic stop until they turned their attention to him.
"My video could have been used as an asset to their actual investigation until I was detained," Leclair said during a news conference Thursday.
The [Orlando] Cop Watch group has watched the video and claims the incident may be indicative of a bigger problem with police behavior.
"Where there have been threats made against [Orlando] Cop Watch when [Orlando] Cop Watch was out doing what they have every Constitutional right to do -- simply videotape law enforcement in action," [Orlando] Cop Watch representative George Crossley said.
Leclair has filed an official complaint with the Orlando Police Department and he said another complaint will likely be filed with the U.S. Justice Department over a civil rights violation.
Watch Local 6 News for more on this story.
Copyright 2007 by Internet Broadcasting Systems and Local6.com.
###
WFTV.com
Police Investigate After Controversial 'Copwatch' Video Surfaces
POSTED: 12:01 pm EDT September 6, 2007
UPDATED: 5:45 pm EDT September 6, 2007
ORLANDO, Fla. -- A group that uses video cameras to try to catch cops crossing the line said an officer went after one if its own members and they videotaped the whole thing.
In his own report, one of the officers said the amateur cameraman was interfering with his investigation, but the Orlando Police Department is doing an investigation of its own to see if the officers recorded on the [Orlando] 'Copwatch' DVD truly went too far.
RAW VIDEO: Copwatch Raw DVD video
Before an officer took him down, [Orlando] "Copwatch" cameraman Joshua LeClair [Leclair] said he didn't have a problem with how Orlando police handled this arrest of a DUI suspect early Sunday morning. He said trouble started when officers turned their attention to the camera.
"There was a second person out here who pulled out a cell phone with a video camera in it and kept rolling," said LeClair of the DVD police were investigating.
Sgt. Barbara Jones of the Orlando Police Department said the police had seen the video and will conduct an internal affairs investigation. But Jones would not criticize the officer's actions.
"We don't have a problem being videotaped. The question is, am I being distracted while affecting [effecting] an arrest," Jones said of the 'Copwatch' videotaping.
At a news conference, organizers of the group 'Copwatch' said they plan to file a federal civil rights complaint. Despite an officer's claim that LeClair got in the way, he said he wasn't picking a fight.
'Copwatch' said it will be out again in Orlando Thursday night. Orlando police said its investigation could take up to two months.
Copyright 2007 by wftv.com.
Thursday, September 6, 2007
CopWatch says video shows intimidation
Source: orlandosentinel.com/news/local/orl-copwatch0607sep06,0,7882778.story
CopWatch says video shows intimidation
Willoughby Mariano
Sentinel Staff Writer
(posted) 11:15 PM EDT, September 5, 2007
A police watchdog group accused an Orlando officer Wednesday of manhandling a volunteer who was trying to take video footage of an arrest near downtown.
Two CopWatch videos of the incident were released exclusively to the Orlando Sentinel. It shows a man who was videotaping an arrest being pushed to the ground by an officer and handcuffed.
Volunteer George Crossley said that Sunday's events demonstrate that Orlando police are trying to intimidate the group's members.
"The Orlando police chief says that CopWatch has a right to exist. That message clearly hasn't gotten down the ranks," Crossley said. He also serves as chairman of the Central Florida American Civil Liberties Union.
If CopWatch members have a complaint, they should take it to the department's internal-affairs office, said police spokeswoman Sgt. Barbara Jones.
Crossley said the group plans to file such a complaint early today and will have a news conference at noon.
The incident took place about 1 a.m. Sunday in the Colonialtown neighborhood of Orlando, according to a police report written by Officer John Seth James.
CopWatch volunteer Josh Leclair and a friend who is not with the group were driving to a nearby home on the 1200 block of Portland Avenue when they spotted an officer on the street holding a gun to the head of a belligerent drunken-driving suspect, Crossley said.
Leclair grabbed a camera and began filming. His friend, Rick Wiedemann, took out his BlackBerry, which has a video camera, and began filming as well.
When the officer spotted Leclair, he left the suspect, approached the volunteer and told him to go indoors, according to video footage.
Leclair did not.
"Detain him," the policeman said to an assisting officer.
"I'm not interfering with anything, sir," Leclair replied.
"Yo, hands behind your back!" the assisting officer said. He pushed the volunteer to the ground and handcuffed him. The officer's identity could not be confirmed Wednesday night.
Leclair later was released without charge. The incident left him with numerous bruises and scrapes to his chin, shoulder and arm, Crossley said. He did not go to the hospital.
James, the police officer, said in his report that Leclair was detained because he came within 10 feet of him and the suspect. He said he thought Leclair might interfere with the arrest.
Crossley said the video shows that Leclair was farther away.
The suspect, Michael Glenn Wallace, 25, of Casselberry was arrested on one count each of driving under the influence and resisting an officer without violence. He was being held in the Orange County Jail with bail set at $1,700.
Willoughby Mariano can be reached at wmariano@orlandosentinel.comƒo or 407-420-5171.
STATEMENT BY JOSH LECLAIR ON THE INCIDENT
Source: Joshua Leclair
I, Joshua M. Leclair, was visiting a friend's residence at 1209 Portland Ave., Orlando, FL 32803 at approximately 1:00 am on September 2, 2007 when an Orlando Police Department squad car made a traffic stop roughly fifty feet north of the residence. The officer approached the vehicle and drew his gun upon the driver's head. Being a member of Orlando CopWatch, I started to film the traffic stop. After Ofc. John Seth James removed the driver from the vehicle and had him handcuffed on the ground, Ofc. John Seth James left the scene of the traffic stop and approached me to demand that I "go inside." I then informed the officer of my legal right to film and told him I was not interfering. He then ordered another officer to detain me. The second officer ran up to me and told me to put my hands behind my back and threw me to the ground. The second officer then handcuffed and searched me while I was face-down on the ground. I repeatedly asked the second officer what I was being detained for and he said that he "didn't know." I was then picked up and led through the scene to a curb next to a squad car. At that time, Ofc. Richard Studer approached me and asked what I was doing. Before I could answer, Ofc. John Seth James yelled to him that I was interfering. I then told Ofc. Studer that I was not interfering. Ofc. Studer asked me if I thought he would believe me over his officer. He then asked if I had it on tape. I responded affirmatively and the second officer handed him the video camera. After viewing the video footage, Ofc. Studer ordered the second officer to release me. Ofc. Studer asked me to fill out an affidavit on the original traffic stop that I had witnessed and I did so. At approximately 1:35 am, I was escorted back through the scene and let go.
I went into my friend's home and noticed blood on my chin and a scrape on my shoulder. After returning to my residence, I took photographs of my injuries including a scrape on my chin, shoulder and elbow. I have since found a couple of bruises on my right knee and shin.
(signed) Joshua M. Leclair
(dated) September 6, 2007
CopWatch says video shows intimidation
Willoughby Mariano
Sentinel Staff Writer
(posted) 11:15 PM EDT, September 5, 2007
A police watchdog group accused an Orlando officer Wednesday of manhandling a volunteer who was trying to take video footage of an arrest near downtown.
Two CopWatch videos of the incident were released exclusively to the Orlando Sentinel. It shows a man who was videotaping an arrest being pushed to the ground by an officer and handcuffed.
Volunteer George Crossley said that Sunday's events demonstrate that Orlando police are trying to intimidate the group's members.
"The Orlando police chief says that CopWatch has a right to exist. That message clearly hasn't gotten down the ranks," Crossley said. He also serves as chairman of the Central Florida American Civil Liberties Union.
If CopWatch members have a complaint, they should take it to the department's internal-affairs office, said police spokeswoman Sgt. Barbara Jones.
Crossley said the group plans to file such a complaint early today and will have a news conference at noon.
The incident took place about 1 a.m. Sunday in the Colonialtown neighborhood of Orlando, according to a police report written by Officer John Seth James.
CopWatch volunteer Josh Leclair and a friend who is not with the group were driving to a nearby home on the 1200 block of Portland Avenue when they spotted an officer on the street holding a gun to the head of a belligerent drunken-driving suspect, Crossley said.
Leclair grabbed a camera and began filming. His friend, Rick Wiedemann, took out his BlackBerry, which has a video camera, and began filming as well.
When the officer spotted Leclair, he left the suspect, approached the volunteer and told him to go indoors, according to video footage.
Leclair did not.
"Detain him," the policeman said to an assisting officer.
"I'm not interfering with anything, sir," Leclair replied.
"Yo, hands behind your back!" the assisting officer said. He pushed the volunteer to the ground and handcuffed him. The officer's identity could not be confirmed Wednesday night.
Leclair later was released without charge. The incident left him with numerous bruises and scrapes to his chin, shoulder and arm, Crossley said. He did not go to the hospital.
James, the police officer, said in his report that Leclair was detained because he came within 10 feet of him and the suspect. He said he thought Leclair might interfere with the arrest.
Crossley said the video shows that Leclair was farther away.
The suspect, Michael Glenn Wallace, 25, of Casselberry was arrested on one count each of driving under the influence and resisting an officer without violence. He was being held in the Orange County Jail with bail set at $1,700.
Willoughby Mariano can be reached at wmariano@orlandosentinel.comƒo or 407-420-5171.
STATEMENT BY JOSH LECLAIR ON THE INCIDENT
Source: Joshua Leclair
I, Joshua M. Leclair, was visiting a friend's residence at 1209 Portland Ave., Orlando, FL 32803 at approximately 1:00 am on September 2, 2007 when an Orlando Police Department squad car made a traffic stop roughly fifty feet north of the residence. The officer approached the vehicle and drew his gun upon the driver's head. Being a member of Orlando CopWatch, I started to film the traffic stop. After Ofc. John Seth James removed the driver from the vehicle and had him handcuffed on the ground, Ofc. John Seth James left the scene of the traffic stop and approached me to demand that I "go inside." I then informed the officer of my legal right to film and told him I was not interfering. He then ordered another officer to detain me. The second officer ran up to me and told me to put my hands behind my back and threw me to the ground. The second officer then handcuffed and searched me while I was face-down on the ground. I repeatedly asked the second officer what I was being detained for and he said that he "didn't know." I was then picked up and led through the scene to a curb next to a squad car. At that time, Ofc. Richard Studer approached me and asked what I was doing. Before I could answer, Ofc. John Seth James yelled to him that I was interfering. I then told Ofc. Studer that I was not interfering. Ofc. Studer asked me if I thought he would believe me over his officer. He then asked if I had it on tape. I responded affirmatively and the second officer handed him the video camera. After viewing the video footage, Ofc. Studer ordered the second officer to release me. Ofc. Studer asked me to fill out an affidavit on the original traffic stop that I had witnessed and I did so. At approximately 1:35 am, I was escorted back through the scene and let go.
I went into my friend's home and noticed blood on my chin and a scrape on my shoulder. After returning to my residence, I took photographs of my injuries including a scrape on my chin, shoulder and elbow. I have since found a couple of bruises on my right knee and shin.
(signed) Joshua M. Leclair
(dated) September 6, 2007
Sunday, September 2, 2007
BREAKING! Orlando CopWatch Member Injured While Being Detained by OPD
Orlando CopWatch member Josh Leclair was physically assaulted by members of the Orlando Police Department last night. According to an e-mail from another Orlando CopWatch member: "Josh was 'detained' after being thrown to the ground by OPD tonight while filming a traffic stop. He has scrapes on his face, shoulder and arm. We have Josh's video plus a friend's who was filming Josh with his cell phone. ... He's ok and not in jail."
By coincidence(?), Josh and Orlando CopWatch member Mark Stevens had appeared yesterday on George Crossley's radio program PEOPLE POWER HOUR (WAMT-AM 1190, Saturdays 2-3 p.m.) to talk about CopWatch.
More details will be reported as they become available.
UPDATE 1: Josh explains that he was outside a friend's house, around 1:30 a.m., observing a traffic stop by OPD of a pick-up truck with two men, one of them drunken and belligerent. He was standing 30 feet away when an OPD officer ordered him to go inside the house. When Josh repeatedly asserted his legal right to observe the police on a public street, the officer ordered a lower-ranking officer to "detain" and handcuff Josh, who at that point was walking away. So the other officer tackled Josh, handcuffed him and sat him on a curb. Subsequently, an OPD captain showed up. Josh attempted to explain the situation to him, but the captain's attitude at first was that he wasn't going to believe Josh over one of his officers. However, after Josh showed the captain videotape he had taken of the incident, which backed up Josh's contention that he wasn't "interfering" in any way with the police (as the officer who ordered him handcuffed had contended), the captain ordered Josh released. Josh has photos of the abrasions and contusions he suffered while being "detained," and says he intends to pursue a formal complaint against the officer who ordered him to be "detained."
Josh says that the officers didn't appear to be doing anything inappropriate during the traffic stop itself. If the one officer hadn't reacted the way he did, the whole incident would have ended uneventfully as far as Orlando CopWatch is concerned. Law enforcement officers have no reason to be uneasy about Orlando CopWatch as long as they do their jobs properly and don't break the law or violate citizens' rights.
By coincidence(?), Josh and Orlando CopWatch member Mark Stevens had appeared yesterday on George Crossley's radio program PEOPLE POWER HOUR (WAMT-AM 1190, Saturdays 2-3 p.m.) to talk about CopWatch.
More details will be reported as they become available.
UPDATE 1: Josh explains that he was outside a friend's house, around 1:30 a.m., observing a traffic stop by OPD of a pick-up truck with two men, one of them drunken and belligerent. He was standing 30 feet away when an OPD officer ordered him to go inside the house. When Josh repeatedly asserted his legal right to observe the police on a public street, the officer ordered a lower-ranking officer to "detain" and handcuff Josh, who at that point was walking away. So the other officer tackled Josh, handcuffed him and sat him on a curb. Subsequently, an OPD captain showed up. Josh attempted to explain the situation to him, but the captain's attitude at first was that he wasn't going to believe Josh over one of his officers. However, after Josh showed the captain videotape he had taken of the incident, which backed up Josh's contention that he wasn't "interfering" in any way with the police (as the officer who ordered him handcuffed had contended), the captain ordered Josh released. Josh has photos of the abrasions and contusions he suffered while being "detained," and says he intends to pursue a formal complaint against the officer who ordered him to be "detained."
Josh says that the officers didn't appear to be doing anything inappropriate during the traffic stop itself. If the one officer hadn't reacted the way he did, the whole incident would have ended uneventfully as far as Orlando CopWatch is concerned. Law enforcement officers have no reason to be uneasy about Orlando CopWatch as long as they do their jobs properly and don't break the law or violate citizens' rights.
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)