Post by WaTcHeR on Jan 3, 2007 13:34:52 GMT -5
01.03.2007 - An 82-year-old Newhall man is claiming he was a victim of police brutality this week - a claim California Highway Patrol officials did not comment on Friday afternoon.
A resident of Placerita Canyon, Frank Morgan said that after being stuck in traffic Thursday due to a railroad crossing malfunction he repeatedly asked a CHP officer to do something about traffic control. When Morgan did not get back into his vehicle, the officer pushed him to the asphalt and handcuffed him.
On Friday, CHP Officer John Lutz, spokesman for the Newhall area station, said he was aware of the incident, but since a report had not been completed he could not comment.
"I'd hate to speculate on it either way," he said.
Late Thursday afternoon, the railroad crossing arms at 13th Street and San Fernando Road were stuck in the down position for the better part of an hour.
Morgan said he was the second car in a line of traffic on San Fernando Road, waiting to make a right turn onto 13th and cross the tracks.
After sitting in traffic for about 15 minutes, Morgan said he got out of his truck and looked down the tracks in either direction, seeing no train.
With that, he said he approached the CHP officer at the scene and asked him to do something about traffic control. Morgan said the officer came across "angry as hell."
Shortly after that, Morgan said the motorist in line ahead of him finally pulled through the railroad crossing - a move he said the CHP officer did nothing about.
Thinking the officer must be allowing people to cross, Morgan said he motored through the crossing, only to be pulled over by the officer.
Morgan said he got out of his truck and what followed was an "adult-to-adult" conversation about how the traffic situation was being mismanaged.
"I'm one of those guys who tries to take charge when somebody needs to," he said.
The officer became upset, he said, and ordered Morgan to get back in his truck. When he didn't, he said the officer twisted his right arm behind his back "hurting the hell out of me," threw him to the ground and placed him in handcuffs.
"He immediately decided to show me his power," he said.
In the midst of everything, Morgan said he called out to other motorists to call 911.
"I used to be a (U.S. Marine) drill sergeant, so I could holler loud," he said. "(I was) appealing to everyone in sight."
Morgan said it was immediately clear that he was injured, with numerous cuts and scrapes on his body, and a sprained right wrist. He said he was at Henry Mayo Newhall Memorial Hospital receiving care until 10 p.m. that night.
Before an ambulance arrived to take Morgan to the hospital, he said a CHP sergeant arrived on the scene, had the handcuffs removed and issued Morgan a ticket rather than having him arrested.
"This kind of stuff shouldn't be going on," he said.
www.the-signal.com/?module=displaystory&story_id=35281&format=html
A resident of Placerita Canyon, Frank Morgan said that after being stuck in traffic Thursday due to a railroad crossing malfunction he repeatedly asked a CHP officer to do something about traffic control. When Morgan did not get back into his vehicle, the officer pushed him to the asphalt and handcuffed him.
On Friday, CHP Officer John Lutz, spokesman for the Newhall area station, said he was aware of the incident, but since a report had not been completed he could not comment.
"I'd hate to speculate on it either way," he said.
Late Thursday afternoon, the railroad crossing arms at 13th Street and San Fernando Road were stuck in the down position for the better part of an hour.
Morgan said he was the second car in a line of traffic on San Fernando Road, waiting to make a right turn onto 13th and cross the tracks.
After sitting in traffic for about 15 minutes, Morgan said he got out of his truck and looked down the tracks in either direction, seeing no train.
With that, he said he approached the CHP officer at the scene and asked him to do something about traffic control. Morgan said the officer came across "angry as hell."
Shortly after that, Morgan said the motorist in line ahead of him finally pulled through the railroad crossing - a move he said the CHP officer did nothing about.
Thinking the officer must be allowing people to cross, Morgan said he motored through the crossing, only to be pulled over by the officer.
Morgan said he got out of his truck and what followed was an "adult-to-adult" conversation about how the traffic situation was being mismanaged.
"I'm one of those guys who tries to take charge when somebody needs to," he said.
The officer became upset, he said, and ordered Morgan to get back in his truck. When he didn't, he said the officer twisted his right arm behind his back "hurting the hell out of me," threw him to the ground and placed him in handcuffs.
"He immediately decided to show me his power," he said.
In the midst of everything, Morgan said he called out to other motorists to call 911.
"I used to be a (U.S. Marine) drill sergeant, so I could holler loud," he said. "(I was) appealing to everyone in sight."
Morgan said it was immediately clear that he was injured, with numerous cuts and scrapes on his body, and a sprained right wrist. He said he was at Henry Mayo Newhall Memorial Hospital receiving care until 10 p.m. that night.
Before an ambulance arrived to take Morgan to the hospital, he said a CHP sergeant arrived on the scene, had the handcuffs removed and issued Morgan a ticket rather than having him arrested.
"This kind of stuff shouldn't be going on," he said.
www.the-signal.com/?module=displaystory&story_id=35281&format=html