Gay man arrested for hating the police

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

D.C. Police Chief Cathy Lanier has ordered an internal investigation into a gay man’s arrest for disorderly conduct after the man filed a complaint alleging that an officer detained and arrested him for expressing his dislike for police.

District resident Pepin Tuma, 33, an attorney in private practice, said the arrest took place at 17th and U streets, N.W., shortly after midnight July 26, seconds after a police officer overheard him telling two friends “jokingly” and in a loud voice, “I hate the police.”

...

In an e-mail to Lanier, Tuma said that after repeating twice to his friends in a “sing-song” voice, “I hate the police,” an officer “charged 40-50 feet towards us while yelling at me phrases like ‘who do you think you are’ and ‘who do you think you’re talking to.’”

“I said nothing at this time, except asking why I was being detained, whether I was being arrested, and my belief that it was not a crime to offer an opinion to my friends about the police,” Tuma wrote in his e-mail to Lanier.

He said the officer, later identified as Second District Officer J. Culp, pushed him against a transformer box, placed him under arrest and handcuffed him without immediately informing him of the charge.

“As Officer Culp moved me toward a police cruiser, he told me to ‘just shut up, faggot,’” Tuma told Lanier in his e-mail.

He said police took him to the Second District station at Connecticut and Idaho avenues, N.W., near the National Cathedral, where he was booked and released about four hours later. He said his release came after he agreed to pay a fine as part of a “post and forfeit” plea, which is an acknowledgement of possible guilt.

Tuma said he agreed to the post and forfeit plea after officers who processed his arrest told him he would be forced to remain in a holding cell before being presented before a magistrate in D.C. Superior Court had he pleaded not guilty to the charge.

He said he had a longstanding commitment that morning and did not want to miss it by having to appear in court. Tuma said he plans to exercise his right to withdraw the post and forfeit the plea at a later date and fully contest the charge in court.

http://www.washblade.com/thelatest/thelate...m?blog_id=26502

[one...two...tree 2,762]

Congress shall make no law ... prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.

[_Simpson_ 250]

I cant wait to hear the other side of the story.

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

Don't be hating!

[one...two...tree 2,762]

I cant wait to hear the other side of the story.

The officer clearly felt threatened by a gay man poking fun at cops. He was only exercising his rightful authority.

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

I cant wait to hear the other side of the story.

The officer clearly felt threatened by a gay man poking fun at cops. He was only exercising his rightful authority.

Hmmm, just what was he poking with?

[one...two...tree 2,762]

Taunting or hurling profanities at police officers could soon land you in jail on obstruction charges — if the city’s police chief has his way. Chief Paul Schultz recently asked the City Council to strengthen Lafayette’s ordinance on obstructing a police officer, a move that has drawn concern from some council members and the Boulder County chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union.

“Officers have been subjected to very abusive language,” Schultz said. “This gives them a tool. Otherwise, they would just have to stand there and take that verbal abuse.”

Though the City Council recently approved the ordinance change on first reading, two council members voted no because of concerns about regulating speech.

“I don’t think we need to be in the business of regulating speech in Lafayette,” Council man Alex Schatz said. “Make no mistake about it, that’s what this ordinance does.”

The chairman of Boulder County’s ACLU chapter agreed.

“It’s a good intention — to let police do their job,” Judd Golden said. “But the ACLU is very concerned about broadly written laws that invite arbitrary enforcement. Speech, without direct threats or conduct, should not be subject to criminal sanction.”

http://www.dailycamera.com/news/2008/jul/1...d-equal-arrest/

[William33 110]

Given that the USA has over 1 Million Police Officers, there will be a few "bad apples". Just like any other organized group.......

At the end of the day, without order; we will wind up like other countries with rampant corruption, payoffs and disorder...

What is the best choice? I think we have it pretty good here....

[_Simpson_ 250]

I cant wait to hear the other side of the story.

The officer clearly felt threatened by a gay man poking fun at cops. He was only exercising his rightful authority.

He was singing I hate cops, not the most classy guy, not sure I can trust his oppinion. I just want to see the police reports before I jump to any conclusions.

[mendeleev 69]

I cant wait to hear the other side of the story.

The officer clearly felt threatened by a gay man poking fun at cops. He was only exercising his rightful authority.

He was singing I hate cops, not the most classy guy, not sure I can trust his oppinion. I just want to see the police reports before I jump to any conclusions.

I recall another prominent case lately where police overreacted. In that case, the police report stated that the individual calling police spoke of "two black men with backpacks". When the take of the 911 call was released, it turns out the caller said nothing of the sort. When that caller was asked the race of the odd men she called about, she said one might be hispanic and she had no idea about the race of the other.

Nevertheless, the written police report fabricates a statement claiming the caller claimed both men were black. How can that happen? Why trust the police report?

[_Simpson_ 250]

I cant wait to hear the other side of the story.

The officer clearly felt threatened by a gay man poking fun at cops. He was only exercising his rightful authority.

He was singing I hate cops, not the most classy guy, not sure I can trust his oppinion. I just want to see the police reports before I jump to any conclusions.

I recall another prominent case lately where police overreacted. In that case, the police report stated that the individual calling police spoke of "two black men with backpacks". When the take of the 911 call was released, it turns out the caller said nothing of the sort. When that caller was asked the race of the odd men she called about, she said one might be hispanic and she had no idea about the race of the other.

Nevertheless, the written police report fabricates a statement claiming the caller claimed both men were black. How can that happen? Why trust the police report?

Why trust the man singing I hate cops? I want to read the police reports so I will have both sides of the story before I state my opinion. Thats what reasonable people do.

About the two black men with back packs. I dont think there was any malicious or misleading intent here, IMO they filled out the police report knowing that it was two black men and hadnt really thought about what the actual 911 dispatcher had said. This topic has been discussed to great length here at VJ, maybe your being sarcastic by mentioning it but if not where you been my noble homie?

[GabiandVi 34]

Obviously no one should be arrested for singing "I hate the police," but let me point out that posters on either side of many of the issues on this forum resort to ad hominem attacks on other posters, or anyone who has an opposite point of view. It is hard to take personal attacks, I don't care how big of a person you think you are. Now imagine you are responsible for keeping the peace and the very people you are paid very little to protect begin taunting you and taunting you until you react. There will be police officers who take the bait, as this officer might have done.

[Danno 1,228]

How many times have we seen these little Smart Azzes try to puch the cops buttons and the whine like little girls when the cuffs are on too tight.

I'm not sure some sissy singing cops songs should be a chargeable offense, but "taunting an officer" on duty should get you a citation.

[meowmeowmeow 1]

this happened in DC...? yeah i can believe it...the cops there are #$%#@^$.

[mendeleev 69]

How many times have we seen these little Smart Azzes try to puch the cops buttons and the whine like little girls when the cuffs are on too tight.

I'm not sure some sissy singing cops songs should be a chargeable offense, but "taunting an officer" on duty should get you a citation.

Its good to see Dano weigh in with his opinion on free speech. Some citizens think freedom of speech is a fundamental asset this country has, distinguishing it from others in a very good way.