| Subject: Press Release |
Author:
David Smith
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Date Posted: 14:14:47 10/18/02 Fri
Here's what I came up with so far... I'm not sure whether to include the last paragraph, as I had a lot of trouble finding information on the cases there.. I'd appreciate someone editing this, as this is my first attempt at a press release, and I appologize for the lateness of it. Also, I plan to put up flyers at UCO, but I cannot make it to the meeting saturday, as I have work and can't miss it. Is there any way I could pick up a few posters, etc. from someone on sunday?
Here begins the press release, in any case...
On October 22, a national day of protest is being held to increase awareness of police brutality cases. Protesters across the country are rallying to their meeting places to voice their concern of the actions of police agencies.
Oklahoma has a particularly bad record of police brutality cases. In July of this year, a videotape emerged of two Oklahoma City officers, Greg Driskill and E.J. Dyer, beating a local man, Donald Reed Pete, at least 27 times with metal batons. Pete was suspected of soliciting prostitution and possession of marijuana. When Pete allegedly swallowed the marijuana, the officers claimed this necessitated a thorough beating. "Our investigation into the use of force is ongoing," said Oklahoma City Police Chief M.T. Berry. "But the techniques I saw were those that our officers are taught at the academy. I did not observe strikes to areas of the body that are prohibited, such as the face or head." Despite this comment, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has been asked to investigate the case further. The fact that Donald Reed Pete is black adds suspicion to the case in regards to racial discrimination.
Years of complaints of mistreatment and death have accumulated in regards to the Oklahoma County Jail. The most recent involves local man Louis Avery Roberts Jr., who died in police custody on August 28, 2002. Oklahoma County Sheriff John Whetsel claimed there was “absolutely no beating.” The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner originally claimed “there was no sign of trauma,” however the office’s current official report is that "The left cheek, ear lobs, and behind the ears are free of traumatic injury.” Medical examiners also originally claimed that the cause of death was “sudden fatal cardiac arrhythmia due to cocaine induced agitated delirium.” It is quite likely that no controversy would exist on this case, were it not for photographs released by funeral workers of the body they received. These photographs show obvious signs of trauma, particularly to the head. The attorneys assigned to present the case in court have mysteriously dropped the case, and close ties have been found between Sheriff Whetsel and at least one of the attorneys. Police are also refusing to release the video of Roberts’ interrogation, adding further suspicion of a cover-up.
In January of 2001, Amnesty International wrote a letter to the Oklahoma City Police Department in regards to the death of Billy Bennet Jr. Bennet died after being hogtied and pepper sprayed by Oklahoma City officials. In June of 1999, Andrea Smith spoke out about the killing of her son, Justin Smith, by Tulsa police officers. Justin Smith had been beaten by officers, and was killed when he spit in face of one of his assailants.
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