[Peace-discuss] Re: [Peace] P4P - witnesses needed!

[C. G. Estabrook]

Sounds like the cops are doing a sweet job of making this go away, Ricky.
If there are more witnesses, it may be a good idea to talk to a lawyer and
put this in professional hands, rather than relying on the bona fides of
the police. --CGE

"There is no condition of human misery which cannot be made infinitely
worse by the arrival of a policeman." --Brendan Behan


On Thu, 15 Jan 2004, Ricky Baldwin wrote:

> Help!
> 
> I just got a very disturbing call from Lt Gallo of the Champaign
> Police Dept regarding the young Naval Reservist who drove up on the
> sidewalk in December during a “Prospect for Peace” demonstration.  I
> had called Lt Gallo because the officer to whom I reported the
> incident at the time did not file any report.  After initial
> indications that this could be taken care of, now the police want to
> do nothing, essentially, and call it a “learning experience” 
 unless
> 

> 
> You may recall that the officer had ordered Dave Green to stop his
> legal distribution of leaflets, even though Dave had been following
> the safety guidelines we have with the police.  The officer claimed to
> know nothing of these guidelines or the Champaign City ordinance that
> specifies that we can do it, even if the US Constitution did not.  
> This officer yelled at Dave, took his name, and when I approached to
> explain, threatened to arrest me on an unspecified felony charge and
> called for backup for “multiple arrests.” He also insisted that we
> move signs we had stuck in the ground on public property, because
> Tires Plus management insisted it was their property.  There were
> utility poles, road signs and other public fixtures on the same turf
> as our signs, but the officer insisted that it was private property
> but that he was not taking sides.
> 
> I called to check on the status and found that the officer had
> reported nothing.  I went down to the station to file a report and was
> discouraged from doing so by officers present then, who said Lt Gallo
> was taking care of it.  At an AWARE meeting, I was asked to file the
> report anyway.  Before I could do so, however, Lt Gallo called me and
> told me that filing a report would mean another officer (presumably
> the one who would take my report) would be assigned to the case, but
> that he preferred the original officer who should have pursued it to
> do so.
> 
> Lt Gallo had investigated and finally let me know a week or two ago
> that the officer had spoken with the driver’s father, to whom the
> vehicle apparently belongs, and told him that we said we would not
> press charges if he would deal with the matter “appropriately”.  At
> that time we were not even aware that the father would be involved.  
> I may have told the officer that we were not interested in sending the
> guy to jail as long as he was made to understand the seriousness of
> the matter and that he could not do it again.  I did not tell him that
> I would not press charges, and I told Lt Gallo as much.  Lt Gallo had
> asked me what I wanted done, saying I would need to be the
> “complainant” if they were to pursue the matter.  I had told him I was
> willing to testify in court if necessary, but something must be done.  
> Lt Gallo told me they could issue a $75 citation for leaving the road
> -- not reckless driving and not vehicular assault.  I had agreed, with
> some misgivings.
> 
> I was and am concerned about our safety out on Prospect, and that of
> other protesters in the future, if this guy and his buddies start
> telling others that they can swerve at us, even up onto the sidewalk
> within a few feet of where we stand, and the consequences will be no
> more severe than a good talking to from dear ole dad.
> 
> Now Lt Gallo says the officer insists I made it clear to him I would
> not press charges, and after consultation with his superior, Lt Gallo
> has asked that I reconsider.  He added that if the case went to court
> I might be asked to identify the driver -- which I had already
> admitted to him I could not (I was focused on getting the license
> plate and not getting run over).  I got a good look at the guy in the
> passenger’s side, but not the driver.
> 
> Is there anybody who got a look at the driver’s face and who could
> testify in court?
> 
> Please let me know if you can! Ricky 328-3037
> 
>