Heated Florida Traffic Stop Sparks Protest
Updated: May 19th, 2006 11:33 AM EDT
KRISTEN KRIDEL
Sarasota Herald-Tribune
PUNTA GORDA -- Chants condemning the behavior of a police officer could be heard within the police station Wednesday evening as about 50 people marched outside.
The chief of police left before the crowd was finished voicing complaints.
Chief Chuck Rinehart refused to comment, but he has ordered an internal investigation into an arrest that has raised ire within the east Punta Gorda community.
"Even though the police represent authority, that authority cannot be misused and abused," resident James Moore said.
Denise V. Gates, a Punta Gorda Middle School teacher, was arrested May 10 and charged with two counts of resisting an officer without violence.
According to the police arrest report, Officer Jason Hilden clocked Gates, 31, driving 47 mph in a 30 mph zone. He activated his emergency lights and conducted a traffic stop at the Cooper Street Recreation Center.
Gates approached the officer, cursed at him and said "You are only stopping me because you see a black woman driving a Nissan Pathfinder," according to the report. She refused to give the officer her driver's license and vehicle information, and walked away from him when he repeatedly asked her to stop.
Hilden followed Gates into the recreation center and grabbed her arm when she turned toward him "aggressively," the report states.
Gates began to tense up and hide her hands and arms, so the officer could not handcuff her.
After being warned that additional force would be used if necessary, Gates continued to resist, according to the report. Hilden knocked Gates to the ground with a leg sweep.
On Wednesday, a lone Punta Gorda resident stood apart from the crowd, quietly holding a sign supporting the officer's actions.
Gary Marler's sign read: "A highly educated teacher should know to obey a police officer. 47 minus 30 equals a ticket -- if you drive a Nissan or a Volkswagen. Way to go Punta Gorda Police Department."
But Gates' attorney, H. Andrew Fritsch, said his client disagrees with some of the statements in the police report. Gates maintains that she was not speeding and never swore at the officer.
Gates also did not believe the officer had the right to touch her arm, Fritsch said.
In addition, he said, the officer did not announce that he was placing Gates under arrest at that point.
"She believed she did nothing wrong and wanted to go to her Bible study," Fritsch said. "We think it could have been handled differently."
The crowd, which included toddlers, teenagers and much older adults, gathered to make sure the police listen to Gates' side of the story, said Isaac Thomas, pastor of St. Mary's Primitive Baptist Church.
The police need to admit the officer used excessive force, he said.
While carrying posters stating "Crime While Driving Black" and "Police Brutality Must End," the demonstrators chanted "We want justice!" and "Protect our women!"
Leonard White, 52, said the officer had no reason to knock Gates to the ground and rough her up. "If I handled my wife like that, they would put me in jail," he said.
Gates thanked the community for coming out to support her but refused further comment.
Thomas led the group in a prayer that the charges against Gates to be dropped.
"We're not mad with anyone," he said. "We just want to have due respect. It's different justice for different neighborhoods.
"If nothing is done, City Hall will be the next place we gather."
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Sorry if this has been posted already. Anybody else tired of the DWB excuse?
Updated: May 19th, 2006 11:33 AM EDT
KRISTEN KRIDEL
Sarasota Herald-Tribune
PUNTA GORDA -- Chants condemning the behavior of a police officer could be heard within the police station Wednesday evening as about 50 people marched outside.
The chief of police left before the crowd was finished voicing complaints.
Chief Chuck Rinehart refused to comment, but he has ordered an internal investigation into an arrest that has raised ire within the east Punta Gorda community.
"Even though the police represent authority, that authority cannot be misused and abused," resident James Moore said.
Denise V. Gates, a Punta Gorda Middle School teacher, was arrested May 10 and charged with two counts of resisting an officer without violence.
According to the police arrest report, Officer Jason Hilden clocked Gates, 31, driving 47 mph in a 30 mph zone. He activated his emergency lights and conducted a traffic stop at the Cooper Street Recreation Center.
Gates approached the officer, cursed at him and said "You are only stopping me because you see a black woman driving a Nissan Pathfinder," according to the report. She refused to give the officer her driver's license and vehicle information, and walked away from him when he repeatedly asked her to stop.
Hilden followed Gates into the recreation center and grabbed her arm when she turned toward him "aggressively," the report states.
Gates began to tense up and hide her hands and arms, so the officer could not handcuff her.
After being warned that additional force would be used if necessary, Gates continued to resist, according to the report. Hilden knocked Gates to the ground with a leg sweep.
On Wednesday, a lone Punta Gorda resident stood apart from the crowd, quietly holding a sign supporting the officer's actions.
Gary Marler's sign read: "A highly educated teacher should know to obey a police officer. 47 minus 30 equals a ticket -- if you drive a Nissan or a Volkswagen. Way to go Punta Gorda Police Department."
But Gates' attorney, H. Andrew Fritsch, said his client disagrees with some of the statements in the police report. Gates maintains that she was not speeding and never swore at the officer.
Gates also did not believe the officer had the right to touch her arm, Fritsch said.
In addition, he said, the officer did not announce that he was placing Gates under arrest at that point.
"She believed she did nothing wrong and wanted to go to her Bible study," Fritsch said. "We think it could have been handled differently."
The crowd, which included toddlers, teenagers and much older adults, gathered to make sure the police listen to Gates' side of the story, said Isaac Thomas, pastor of St. Mary's Primitive Baptist Church.
The police need to admit the officer used excessive force, he said.
While carrying posters stating "Crime While Driving Black" and "Police Brutality Must End," the demonstrators chanted "We want justice!" and "Protect our women!"
Leonard White, 52, said the officer had no reason to knock Gates to the ground and rough her up. "If I handled my wife like that, they would put me in jail," he said.
Gates thanked the community for coming out to support her but refused further comment.
Thomas led the group in a prayer that the charges against Gates to be dropped.
"We're not mad with anyone," he said. "We just want to have due respect. It's different justice for different neighborhoods.
"If nothing is done, City Hall will be the next place we gather."
-----
Sorry if this has been posted already. Anybody else tired of the DWB excuse?
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