Post by admin on Feb 13, 2008 7:59:57 GMT -5
Several participants on the site have wondered if the Human Relations Committee will look at the incident where police brutality accusations have been made. It appears thery are on top of it and will be watching with vigilance. Here is the write up from the News Transcrupt.
newstranscript.gmnews.com/news/2008/0213/Front_Page/009.html
Panel hears opinions on police vs. teen incident
BY CLARE MARIE CELANO Staff Writer
FREEHOLD - Members of the Freehold Borough Human Relations Committee who met on Feb. 5 listened as a group of people expressed concern about a Jan. 29 incident that resulted in the arrest of a Freehold Township woman and her 15- year-old son.
Allegations have been made that police officers used excessive force on the teenager during an incident that began with a motor vehicle stop on First Street.
Police arrested Migdalia Irizarry and charged her with disorderly conduct and obstruction of justice. Her son was arrested and charged with disorderly conduct, resisting arrest with force and aggravated assault on a police officer.
Councilman Jaye Sims, who is the Borough Council's liaison to the committee, read a statement that said the mayor and council are taking the allegations that have been made against the police very seriously. He said a thorough and fair investigation would be conducted to find the facts.
The Rev. Frederick Parrish, who chairs the Human Relations Committee, said the panel members would listen to what people had to say and bring those concerns to the council.
Retired police Sgt. De Lacy Davis, founder of Black Cops Against Police Brutality, East Orange, said he respected the members of the committee. He asked them to "do the right thing and send the right message to the community."
"I want you to be aware to ask these questions. Why was the vehicle stopped if the police were looking for a group of black males? There was a 4-year-old in that car. How does a motor vehicle stop escalate to violence and excessive force? I raise this question but I already know the answer," Davis said. "What decent man would allow a man to put his hands on his mother? He has death and destruction on his side and dark and ugly in his heart.
"We are challenging the infrastructure of all law enforcement. Black officers refused to acknowledged that they knew her. They won't break the code of silence. Ask yourself this question. Why does it take four officers to take down a 15-year-old little boy? Let's assume he did (assault the officer). Why did it take that many men to maneuver him and why is his mouth busted? Why punch a child in the face? As cops, we are trained to stop aggression against us. We are not trained boxers."
Derrick B. Parreott, who represented the New Jersey Justice Advocacy Group, said the only person who had taken immediate action on the matter was Police Chief Mitch Roth.
"He is responsible for taking the police officer off the streets of Freehold Borough," Parreott said.
Denise Flagg said the boy who was arrested is her nephew. She said he is "a most respectful young man." She said she worries about her own son.
"How do we instill values and respect when we see (the 15-year-old) living through this incident? I think young blacks and Latinos, all their friends, are dealing with this mentally. Please be considerate. We are all going though this," Flagg said.
Parrish addressed the audience, saying, "When I left home this morning the sun was shining. I came here into a snow storm without a plow."
He said although he could not discuss the incident and could not make any promises about what would occur next, Parrish assured those in attendance that he would present the information to the council members for their review.
newstranscript.gmnews.com/news/2008/0213/Front_Page/009.html
Panel hears opinions on police vs. teen incident
BY CLARE MARIE CELANO Staff Writer
FREEHOLD - Members of the Freehold Borough Human Relations Committee who met on Feb. 5 listened as a group of people expressed concern about a Jan. 29 incident that resulted in the arrest of a Freehold Township woman and her 15- year-old son.
Allegations have been made that police officers used excessive force on the teenager during an incident that began with a motor vehicle stop on First Street.
Police arrested Migdalia Irizarry and charged her with disorderly conduct and obstruction of justice. Her son was arrested and charged with disorderly conduct, resisting arrest with force and aggravated assault on a police officer.
Councilman Jaye Sims, who is the Borough Council's liaison to the committee, read a statement that said the mayor and council are taking the allegations that have been made against the police very seriously. He said a thorough and fair investigation would be conducted to find the facts.
The Rev. Frederick Parrish, who chairs the Human Relations Committee, said the panel members would listen to what people had to say and bring those concerns to the council.
Retired police Sgt. De Lacy Davis, founder of Black Cops Against Police Brutality, East Orange, said he respected the members of the committee. He asked them to "do the right thing and send the right message to the community."
"I want you to be aware to ask these questions. Why was the vehicle stopped if the police were looking for a group of black males? There was a 4-year-old in that car. How does a motor vehicle stop escalate to violence and excessive force? I raise this question but I already know the answer," Davis said. "What decent man would allow a man to put his hands on his mother? He has death and destruction on his side and dark and ugly in his heart.
"We are challenging the infrastructure of all law enforcement. Black officers refused to acknowledged that they knew her. They won't break the code of silence. Ask yourself this question. Why does it take four officers to take down a 15-year-old little boy? Let's assume he did (assault the officer). Why did it take that many men to maneuver him and why is his mouth busted? Why punch a child in the face? As cops, we are trained to stop aggression against us. We are not trained boxers."
Derrick B. Parreott, who represented the New Jersey Justice Advocacy Group, said the only person who had taken immediate action on the matter was Police Chief Mitch Roth.
"He is responsible for taking the police officer off the streets of Freehold Borough," Parreott said.
Denise Flagg said the boy who was arrested is her nephew. She said he is "a most respectful young man." She said she worries about her own son.
"How do we instill values and respect when we see (the 15-year-old) living through this incident? I think young blacks and Latinos, all their friends, are dealing with this mentally. Please be considerate. We are all going though this," Flagg said.
Parrish addressed the audience, saying, "When I left home this morning the sun was shining. I came here into a snow storm without a plow."
He said although he could not discuss the incident and could not make any promises about what would occur next, Parrish assured those in attendance that he would present the information to the council members for their review.
