Arrests spur brutality complaint

[fbrepublican]

FREEHOLD — Internal affairs investigators are working to determine what led to the arrests Tuesday night of a 15-year-old boy and his mother by borough police in an incident that the woman says resulted in police brutality against her and her son.

The police contend that the boy hit one officer and that another was injured in trying to subdue him.

Police have said the Tuesday night incident began with officers looking for six men who had assaulted another man with a baseball bat and escaped in a car. Some time later, they pulled over a small sport-utility vehicle similar to the one in which the men drove off.

That SUV was occupied by 33-year-old Migdalia Irizzary, who was driving home from a Freehold girls basketball game with her three children, another child, and one of her son's friends.

Police said the woman and her 15-year-old son, who was not identified because of his age, were arrested after the vehicle was stopped, with a subsequent scuffle requiring several officers to respond.

Police said they can't comment on the case because an internal investigation is under way, but Lt. Mark Wodell confirmed that Irizzary was charged with obstructing the administration of law and resisting arrest.

Her 15-year-old son was charged on a juvenile complaint with third-degree aggravated assault and resisting arrest. The boy was released from the juvenile detention center Friday afternoon.

But Irizzary says she and her son were brutalized by police, and added that she filed complaints with both borough police and the Monmouth County Prosecutor's Office.

Borough police confirmed that the complaint was filed.

Monmouth County First Assistant Prosecutor Peter E. Warshaw confirmed the complaint also had been referred to his office but said he could not comment further on the investigation.

Irizzary said: "When the officer pulled me over, I had my license in my hand and I asked him why he had stopped me. He didn't answer me. He just said "Get the hell out of the car' and he twisted my arm behind me. I kept asking him "What did I do?' I never raised my voice to him."

At this point, she said, her son started to yell at the officer to get off of his mother and to "stop disrespecting my mother."

She said the officer tossed her to another patrolman and then "punched my son in the face, put him in a chokehold, and started to wrestle with him."

But, if the police were looking for the six men in connection with the baseball bat assault, they got the wrong car, her attorney, Norman M. Hobbie, said.

"She was in the car with a 4-year-old, an 8-year-old, a 12-year-old and two 15-year-olds," Hobbie said. "It looks like this was just a random stop of the wrong vehicle. We're going to plead not guilty to all of the charges."

Irizzary said her children are still crying over what they saw.

She said one of her son's teeth had been pushed back and his braces had been loosened by the police officer's punches. The boy's father, Russell Bailey, said he was shocked to see the bruising on his son's face and the injuries to his mouth.

"Now he's home under house arrest until this gets investigated," Irizzary said.

The police said that the boy hit one police officer and that another injured his hand and shoulder in trying to subdue the boy. The boy and the injured officer were both taken to a hospital for treatment, police said.

"I've always had respect for the police. They all know me. My father runs a store here in town," Irizzary said. "How do you explain to your children that the people who are supposed to be there to protect and serve can do this to them?"

www.app.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080202/NEWS01/802020338/1285/LOCAL09

[fbrepublican]

Sounds like we are in for some long overdue community outrage. The usual suspects have been too quiet for too long.

[admin]

newstranscript.gmnews.com/news/2008/0130/Front_Page/0008.html

BREAKING NEWS
Police officer reassigned in wake of allegations
BY CLARE MARIE CELANO and MARK ROSMAN Staff Writers

FREEHOLD BOROUGH — A Freehold Borough police officer who is alleged to have been involved in a Jan. 29 altercation with a teenage boy has had his duties changed.

Freehold Borough Police Chief Mitch Roth said on Feb. 5 that “in light of this (Jan. 29) incident, the pending investigation, the concerns raised by the community and in the interest of the police officer and all parties involved, Patrolman Chris Colaner has been reassigned to other police related duties pending the outcome of the investigation.”

The Jan. 29 incident was discussed by members of the public during the Feb. 4 meeting of the Borough Council.

One member of the public who spoke during the council meeting mentioned Colaner’s name in connection with the incident that occurred in the borough on Jan. 29.

Other members of the public who spoke before the council were reacting to a published report which stated that a borough police officer and a 15-year-old boy had a physical altercation during a motor vehicle stop.

Some people who spoke said the boy suffered facial injuries as a result of the incident. Another person indicated that a police officer had also been injured.

Details of the matter had not been made public as of the afternoon of Feb. 5, although people who spoke to the council on Monday indicated that they believe the altercation was the result of mistaken identity and that police did not stop the correct vehicle they were looking for on Jan. 29.

Borough officials listened to what members of the public had to say.

Mayor Michael Wilson said he could not comment on this specific situation, but said officials take matters such as this very seriously.

“Speaking for myself and the council, I can tell you that no one on this side of the table or in the audience will ever condone police brutality and we expect nothing less than a full and thorough investigation of the incident, not only internally with the Freehold Borough Police Department, but with the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office. I’ll leave it at that,” the mayor said.

Council President Michael DiBenedetto said, “I’ve heard a lot of reaction to this incident on the street. We are going to find the truth and settle this.”

In a conversation with the News Transcript on Feb. 5, Roth said, “We take the allegations that have been made against the police department very seriously and we will work hard to resolve the matter. This is a very unfortunate incident. We have a very good group of men and women, a good department, and they do good work and I am proud of them. I understand this is difficult for the community as well as the department. The matter is under investigation and I cannot comment further.”

[bergsteiger]

I bet this kid is a real savage. I feel bad for the policemen who had to deal with this.

[novillero]

what kind of 15 year old thinks he can take on a couple of cops?

I believe that all boro police cars are equipped with cameras and microphones. The truth is out there.

[admin]

www.app.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080206/NEWS01/80206043/1285/LOCAL09


FREEHOLD — Several dozen people called on borough officials to get to the bottom of an alleged incident of police brutality involving a mother and her teenage son. The police chief said the accused officer has been assigned other duties pending the outcome of an investigation.

"We take this very seriously," Mayor Michael Wilson told the crowd that gathered at Monday night's Borough Council meeting. "We expect nothing less than a fair and thorough investigation of this incident."

A number of outraged activists, friends, family members and citizens turned out in support of Migdalia Irizzary, a 33-year-old woman who says she and her son were victims of police brutality during a motor vehicle stop in the borough on Jan. 29.

She was driving home from a basketball game when her sport-utility vehicle was stopped; police have said the reason was that it resembled another vehicle sought in connection with an assault earlier that evening. At the time of Irizzary's arrest, police had been called in to settle an unrelated dispute that had erupted between two families. Initially, police said that Irizzary and her son had "called attention to themselves" as they drove by the investigation.

According to police, after Irizzary's vehicle was stopped, a scuffle ensued that required several officers to respond. Irizzary and her 15-year-old son … one of several children in the vehicle … were arrested.

Irizzary was charged with obstructing the administration of law and resisting arrest. Her son was charged on a juvenile complaint with third-degree aggravated assault and resisting arrest. He was released from a juvenile detention center Friday.

Irizzary has filed complaints with both the borough Police Department and the Monmouth County Prosecutor's Office. Both agencies will investigate, borough Police Chief Mitch Roth said.

"Excessive force is a problem," the president of the Greater Long Branch NAACP, Lorenzo "Bill" Dangler, said at Monday night's meeting.

According to Irizzary, the officer would not answer her when she asked why she had been pulled over. She contends he ordered her to get out of the vehicle and twisted her arm behind her back.

Her son then started yelling at the officer to stop disrespecting his mother, a friend of the family, Reinaldo Cruz Jr. of Perth Amboy, said Monday. The officer then allegedly handed Irizzary to another officer and reached inside the car to punch her son in the mouth, Cruz said.

Police have said Irizzary's son hit one police officer and that another injured his hand and shoulder in trying to subdue the boy.

The boy and the injured officer were both taken to a hospital for treatment, police have said.

In light of the pending investigations and the concerns raised by the community, the officer has been reassigned to "other police-related duties," Roth said. He did not describe those duties, but said the officer would not be on patrol and is not performing his regular duties on the Community Response Unit, which handles issues involving gang presence and narcotics, Roth said.

The officer has been on the force 15 years. He joined the Community Response Unit last February, Roth said.

Councilman Marc LeVine was among the council members weighing in Monday night, saying: "It's very unfortunate and it's sad that we in the 21st century have to meet up with these things. As dark as it may seem, we can come out of this stronger."

In an interview Tuesday, Roth said he takes the allegations very seriously but also defended his department.

"We at the Police Department realize this is an unfortunate incident. ... At the same time, we have a terrific group of men and women that work at the department. And they do a fantastic job," Roth said.

Kim Predham: [phone] or [e-mail]

[bergsteiger]

Councilman Marc LeVine was among the council members weighing in Monday night, saying: "It's very unfortunate and it's sad that we in the 21st century have to meet up with these things. As dark as it may seem, we can come out of this stronger."

What is that suppose to mean?

Anyone with balls would say something like this.

It's very unfortunate and it's sad that we in the 21st century have mothers who obviously have no respect for the law and allow there children to act like savages. This incident was a routine stop with probable cause and we will prosecute the perpetrators of this assault on an officer to the fullest extent of the law.

6 people in the vehicle, Hmmmmm I wonder if they broke any seat belt laws?

[Libyan Sibyl]

Roth defends the department, Levine's comments seem to condemn the department. This story is still missing a lot in the middle...

The mother didn't have her questions answered and a scuffle broke out? Am I reading this correct?

Let's go to the video tape!!!

[richardkelsey]

The only correct response to this by anyone who does not have first hand knowledge of the facts, or who has not been privy to a thorough investigation of the facts is:

"The complaint is and should be taken seriously. At this time, the entire incident is under full investigation."

Anything else is either speculation, purposeful inflamatory remarks, calculated political nonesense, or some combination thereof.

Sure -- I have some real questions, and I have a few gut opinions, but this is the type of situation that needs a thorough investigation -- with the facts on the table. Then, if questions remain, that is the time to ask them.

All in my humble opinion.

[bergsteiger]

richardkelsey said:

The only correct response to this by anyone who does not have first hand knowledge of the facts, or who has not been privy to a thorough investigation of the facts is:

"The complaint is and should be taken seriously. At this time, the entire incident is under full investigation."

Anything else is either speculation, purposeful inflamatory remarks, calculated political nonesense, or some combination thereof.


Sure -- I have some real questions, and I have a few gut opinions, but this is the type of situation that needs a thorough investigation -- with the facts on the table. Then, if questions remain, that is the time to ask them.

All in my humble opinion.

How long does this full investigation of a 1 minute scoffle take?

[ka19]

The police in Freehold Boro, in my experience, are extremely polite, professional and courteous. We all know that police officers go on little power trips from time to time, but we also know as citizens that the police require our respect--even when you believe you've done nothing wrong.

If you fail to follow this very simple rule of thumb, then you are asking for trouble.

[admin]

bergsteiger said:

I bet this kid is a real savage. I feel bad for the policemen who had to deal with this.

Rumor from a very credible source. This kid is a straight A student who has no history of trouble. We will see if my source is correct as time goes on.

[admin]

This entire incident is one in which we should all reserve judgment. There are bound to be passionate views from several different walks of life on this issue. There is a lot at stake in something like this, people's reputations, civil rights, the cops career, the respect and name of our police department, public safety and so on.

None of us was there. We only know what is said in the papers and they likely do not have the full story. People have mentioned the video tapes recorders in the police cars. This is the one piece of the puzzle I believe we should all wait for before making any judgment. This could mean that one side or the other, or both were in the wrong, or some accusations may prove to be false.

In situations like this, we all have to put faith in the system and hope that a good honest investigation will give us the best possible outcome. Every person should expect a transparent and open investigation so that we eventually find out what the facts are and the appropriate actions can be taken.

To not seek the facts and put faith in the system will only aggravate what is already a bad situation.

[Libyan Sibyl]

novillero said:

The truth is out there.

That's right Molder.

[richardkelsey]

wlisa54 said:

The teenager in question is an honor role student, a FHS basketball player and works part-time at the church.

So he is not the "savage" the bergsteiger is making him out to be. That doesn't mean that good people can do bad things for a moment.

The video tape may be inconclusive. The officer was in an unmarked car and they don't have video/audio because they don't own some of those cars. The other police cars that came to the scene had the tape rolling as soon as the lights go on. Who know what is on those tapes.

I wouldn't prejudge the situation either way.

I had a law professor who was a fabulous father, brilliant author, respected scholar, national political appointee, and a great guy -- right up until he killed his disabled son with a shotgun and then killed himself after a family squabble.

Like I said earlier -- let's wait for the actual facts to come in -- to insure that we don't spred speculation, hurt feelings, incite anger, or draw conclusions not substantiated by fact.

[bergsteiger]

wlisa54 said:

The teenager in question is an honor role student, a FHS basketball player and works part-time at the church.

So he is not the "savage" the bergsteiger is making him out to be. That doesn't mean that good people can do bad things for a moment.

The video tape may be inconclusive. The officer was in an unmarked car and they don't have video/audio because they don't own some of those cars. The other police cars that came to the scene had the tape rolling as soon as the lights go on. Who know what is on those tapes.

I wouldn't prejudge the situation either way.

Everyone is welcome to an opinion and I have mine. The kid is trouble, if not in the past, this is the start of it. Most likely because of the way he is being raised. He obviously does not know right from wrong, with lack of respect, and little common sense. Then there is always a chance it’s a cultural thing.

Feel free to say I told you so if it turns out different.

Maybe a Civics class in place of Spanish class could help.

[novillero]

I don't think anyone really understands what happened, so we'll all have to wait for official reports to come out. The kid may be "honor role," but I've not heard any "troubled" cop stories either.

So just as it may be wrong to call the kid "troubled," I hope people also feel that it is wrong for a knee-jerk reaction to call it "dark" and "unfortunate" and give it the feel that it was motivated by some hatred from the past. (I wonder what that insinuation was about, hmm?)

You can't have it both ways. If it's wrong to speculate on one side, it is equally wrong to speculate on the other side - no matter how much you feel that you know about it.

[fiberisgoodforyou]

bergsteiger said:

wlisa54 said:

The teenager in question is an honor role student, a FHS basketball player and works part-time at the church.

So he is not the "savage" the bergsteiger is making him out to be. That doesn't mean that good people can do bad things for a moment.

The video tape may be inconclusive. The officer was in an unmarked car and they don't have video/audio because they don't own some of those cars. The other police cars that came to the scene had the tape rolling as soon as the lights go on. Who know what is on those tapes.

I wouldn't prejudge the situation either way.

Everyone is welcome to an opinion and I have mine. The kid is trouble, if not in the past, this is the start of it. Most likely because of the way he is being raised. He obviously does not know right from wrong, with lack of respect, and little common sense. Then there is always a chance it’s a cultural thing.

Feel free to say I told you so if it turns out different.

Maybe a Civics class in place of Spanish class could help.

I am reserving judgment on this one, I know most of the officers and our Chief. What is IN THE PRESS regarding this incident, depicts FBPD well out of character, and "NOT" very indicative of how Chief Roth runs our PD.

I EXPECT this situation will be, as it must be expeditiously resolved so that the our community knows ALL THE FACTS so we can move back to our FB (ab)NORMAL before outside elements take advantage, turning this situation into poli-social capitol THEY can profit by. Let the truth be known and a swift application of justice be issued with great speed.

NOW about the use of the term "Savage", I find it insensitive and offensive because I do know the origins! And the more I read this here, the more disapointed (being Polite) I become.

Berg I agree with you on some issues, and I am tolerant of opposition opinions. The term "SAVAGE" is an unfortunate (I am being polite) lowly provincial expression. Without TRULY knowing what happened, and having very little basis of fact as to how this police stop digressed into what we THINK we know, I shrill with the notion that this term was entered into this domain.

Please keep posting, but in the interest of maintain an intelligent site, please rethink and rephrase your post. How about discribing the youth as possibly being Angry, Wild, Illmannered or illtempered. But the fact still remains you nor I know EXACTLY what went down, and as some on else mentioned here yesterday, maybe this young man took WRONGFULL action in defense of his hard-working mother that he loves and protected, to the point of criminal misconduct! The word SAVAGE has no place in this conversation!

[Libyan Sibyl]

dictionary.reference.com/browse/savage

[bergsteiger]

If it turns out that the little brat is innocent I will apologize for calling him a “Savage”, until then the label stands. Let it be a lesson to all the potential savages out there, assault a policeman get labeled as a savage.

Now instead of debating the kid’s savage behavior till we find out otherwise you can debate my vocabulary

[fiberisgoodforyou]

libyansybil said:

dictionary.reference.com/browse/savage

OK..I will be blunt, in many circles the word SAVAGE when used to describe a black youth is a racial slur.

Bob Grant has frequently called African-Americans names like "savages." He's used the slur to refer to everyone from black fraternities (who, because they left a mess on a New Jersey beach, represent "the savage mind, the primitive, primordial mentality"-- 7/15/93) to black churchgoers ("I can't take these screaming savages, whether they're in that A.M.E. Church, the African Methodist church, or in the street, burning, robbing, looting"-- 4/30/93).

Grant now puts a different spin on the word. "'Savage' has nothing to do with race," Grant told Larry King (Larry King Live, 4/30/96). "I was talking about people who were burning, robbing, looting in the wake of the Rodney King verdict, the first Simi Valley verdict. I was talking about people and their conduct, not people and their race."

Read this too
qtvoices.com/wordpress/?p=5

[fiberisgoodforyou]

bergsteiger said:

If it turns out that the little brat is innocent I will apologize for calling him a “Savage”, until then the label stands. Let it be a lesson to all the potential savages out there, assault a policeman get labeled as a savage.

Now instead of debating the kid’s savage behavior till we find out otherwise you can debate my vocabulary

Berg..All I will say is, your a man of your words!

I would have chosen a different vocabuary, I guess its a freedom of speach thing!

[bergsteiger]

Since the news is generally color blind when reporting on crime and in this case it holds true, we don’t know the race of the accused. In my circles anyone who assaults a policeman is demonstrating savage behavior.

Lets do some brain storming here. What would you call a kid that assaults a policeman during a traffic stop?

Troubled
Violent
Stupid
Nice kid
Hero

[jerrycurl56]

The mayor was absolutely correct.

You guys really are malcontents.

[bergsteiger]

jerrycurl56 said:

The mayor was absolutely correct.

You guys really are malcontents.

Quite frankly, I could care less what the mayor thinks. However he should care what we think and I don’t think he does.

[novillero]

bergsteiger said:

Quite frankly, I could care less what the mayor thinks. However he should care what we think and I don’t think he does.

If they didn't care, they wouldn't come here. But he, Levine and others do care --- on a daily basis.

[jerrycurl56]

Don't know about that.

Have not seen the mayor post here yet, have you. The only one who does or did was Levine as you mention and he left.

Geo left too.

Only people on this board are from the opposite side of the political spectrum.

Which is why mayor is correct, this site is for malcontents to
b + m. Not credible imho.

[Libyan Sibyl]

some would say only the malcontents left

now they watch...

leaving only a trail of IPs behind...

[concerned]

I am sure this ladies account of the story is true...police always punch kids and man handle people for no reason. Gimme a break! Word to the NAACP and our disgraceful Rev. Maguire..how do you sleep at nite knowing that you only have 50% of the facts and are more than willng to end someone's career without even knowing what really happened. No credibility at all. Of course it will be a vast cover-up when the officer is cleared rather that another example of the race card not working. Be accountable for your actions, stop relying on race to get you off.

[fiberisgoodforyou]

bergsteiger said:

Since the news is generally color blind when reporting on crime and in this case it holds true, we don’t know the race of the accused. In my circles anyone who assaults a policeman is demonstrating savage behavior.

Lets do some brain storming here. What would you call a kid that assaults a policeman during a traffic stop?

Troubled
Violent
Stupid
Nice kid
Hero

"The Accused"
"The Defendant"
"The Perpetrator"
"The Alleged"