Post by WaTcHeR on Mar 22, 2006 13:01:06 GMT -5
03/22/2006 - BALTIMORE -- A Baltimore City auxiliary police officer said city police officers barged into her house and falsely arrested her family without cause.
WBAL-TV 11 News reporter Darrielle Snipes said the officers claimed they were pursuing a suspect, but Winnie Gibson Watts said no suspect came into her home. Watts said when she tried to explain that, the officers got belligerent and started threatening her and her family with their authority.
"I'm not speaking out as a part of the department," Watts said. "I'm speaking out as a citizen of the city."
Watts said four city police officers from the Northeast District came into her home in January searching for someone, but she said they didn't have a warrant.
She said when she asked them for their names and badge numbers that they declined. When she told them she was an auxiliary officer for the last 14 years, she said they didn't care.
"When a police officer says to me that because they are police they can do and say what he wants -- that says something," Watts said.
Watts said her grandson was arrested for loitering on his own porch and her daughter for disturbing the peace.
"You charge her with disturbing the peace in her own home because she inquiring about the arrest of her 15-year-old son," she said.
Snipes reported her daughter let go with a citation, but her grandson was taken to Central Booking with adults. Watts filed a complaint with the commissioner's office and Internal Affairs.
She said she also feels there is some retaliation going on since is speaking out about the run in with police.
"If the department need dirty police like these officers, something is wrong with this picture," she said.
Police officials said they couldn't comment on an on going investigation.
WBAL-TV 11 News reporter Darrielle Snipes said the officers claimed they were pursuing a suspect, but Winnie Gibson Watts said no suspect came into her home. Watts said when she tried to explain that, the officers got belligerent and started threatening her and her family with their authority.
"I'm not speaking out as a part of the department," Watts said. "I'm speaking out as a citizen of the city."
Watts said four city police officers from the Northeast District came into her home in January searching for someone, but she said they didn't have a warrant.
She said when she asked them for their names and badge numbers that they declined. When she told them she was an auxiliary officer for the last 14 years, she said they didn't care.
"When a police officer says to me that because they are police they can do and say what he wants -- that says something," Watts said.
Watts said her grandson was arrested for loitering on his own porch and her daughter for disturbing the peace.
"You charge her with disturbing the peace in her own home because she inquiring about the arrest of her 15-year-old son," she said.
Snipes reported her daughter let go with a citation, but her grandson was taken to Central Booking with adults. Watts filed a complaint with the commissioner's office and Internal Affairs.
She said she also feels there is some retaliation going on since is speaking out about the run in with police.
"If the department need dirty police like these officers, something is wrong with this picture," she said.
Police officials said they couldn't comment on an on going investigation.