Post by KC on Oct 14, 2006 20:20:04 GMT -5
Jennings Missouri - The FBI is investigating complaints that some Jennings police officers have harassed residents in recent weeks. The residents are black and the police are white.
The latest incident occurred ten days ago on Lucerne Court, a quiet street behind the old River Roads Shopping Center.
Steve Robinson, an insurance agent, called police because a neighbor woman and her boyfriend were fighting in the street, and he was worried about the woman's safety.
By the time police arrived, Robinson says the disturbance was over and the police came to his house. The officer wanted to enter Robinson's house, but Robinson refused him entry. The police officer then demanded access, and Robinson locked the door, until the officer started kicking it in.
Robinson says he admitted the officer, who threw him on the floor. As Robinson was laying in his own living room, police searched his house, while using racially- charged language.
Robinson was put into a squad car, but his neighbors came to his defense, saying he had done nothing wrong. Police arrested three of Robinson's neighbors, again using racially charged language. One of those cuffed was a 24-year-old woman who is four months pregnant.
That woman's uncle, Jeffrey Curtis, a former public school assistant principal, was also arrested, but not before he was shot with a stun gun by arresting officers.
Curtis says he was arrested because police were realizing they had made a mistake arresting Robinson, and they had to make the disturbance look worse than it was.
Robinson has been charged with interfering with an officer, but his only consolation now is that the city of Jennings will pay to replace his broken door.
In September, there was a similar incident involving police. This incident involved the son of Jennings city councilman Rodney Epps.
Epps says his son had been searched by police, because of a nearby burglary. Then, the son went into his home, and Epps asked the teen to walk the family dog.
As he went to get the pooch, police again searched the son. Epps says he questioned police about the double search, and was told to get away from the officers or be shot by a stun gun.
Epps says the officers are "cowboys" and are "overzealous" and have no reason to be so aggressive.
Epps is asking the officers involved be disciplined, adding the latest incident involving Robinson proves the need for change in the department.
www.ksdk.com/news/news_article.aspx?storyid=105365
The latest incident occurred ten days ago on Lucerne Court, a quiet street behind the old River Roads Shopping Center.
Steve Robinson, an insurance agent, called police because a neighbor woman and her boyfriend were fighting in the street, and he was worried about the woman's safety.
By the time police arrived, Robinson says the disturbance was over and the police came to his house. The officer wanted to enter Robinson's house, but Robinson refused him entry. The police officer then demanded access, and Robinson locked the door, until the officer started kicking it in.
Robinson says he admitted the officer, who threw him on the floor. As Robinson was laying in his own living room, police searched his house, while using racially- charged language.
Robinson was put into a squad car, but his neighbors came to his defense, saying he had done nothing wrong. Police arrested three of Robinson's neighbors, again using racially charged language. One of those cuffed was a 24-year-old woman who is four months pregnant.
That woman's uncle, Jeffrey Curtis, a former public school assistant principal, was also arrested, but not before he was shot with a stun gun by arresting officers.
Curtis says he was arrested because police were realizing they had made a mistake arresting Robinson, and they had to make the disturbance look worse than it was.
Robinson has been charged with interfering with an officer, but his only consolation now is that the city of Jennings will pay to replace his broken door.
In September, there was a similar incident involving police. This incident involved the son of Jennings city councilman Rodney Epps.
Epps says his son had been searched by police, because of a nearby burglary. Then, the son went into his home, and Epps asked the teen to walk the family dog.
As he went to get the pooch, police again searched the son. Epps says he questioned police about the double search, and was told to get away from the officers or be shot by a stun gun.
Epps says the officers are "cowboys" and are "overzealous" and have no reason to be so aggressive.
Epps is asking the officers involved be disciplined, adding the latest incident involving Robinson proves the need for change in the department.
www.ksdk.com/news/news_article.aspx?storyid=105365