CItizen Complaint 2 ~ Harassment, Brutality and Prevention of Freedom of Speech

This report was writen immediately following the incident where I was unjustly harassed, grabbed by the throat and yelled profanities at while standing on a public sidewalk attempting to distribute flyers about Fox COPS coming to Worcester. This report is parallel to <a href="http://worcester.indymedia.org/news/2006/09/4200.php">Keven Ksen's Report</a> of the incident during which he was wrongfully arrested. I stand in solidarity with all those who face police harassment on a regular basis and those who face brutality and find no justice through legal channels. There are many of us committed to stopping these injustices and innacting true police accountability, which I see as an essential part of finding safety in our city.

Date, Time and Location of Incident: 12:45am on July 22nd, on Sidewalk in front of 5 Sycamore St

Statement of Complaint:

Specific Complaints:

• Harassment and Brutality by Officer Tarckini
• Instigative language by Officers Rojas and Tarckini
• Prevention of Freedom of Speech

At approximately 12:47am, 2 police cruisers parked on Sycamore Street. Officer Rojas approached Kevin and told us to “Get the fuck out of here.” We both replied that we were just handing out flyers. Then 5-6 officers got out the vehicles and approached the people with whom we were speaking and others on the steps of 5 Sycamore Street. They started searching 3 individual’s pockets. Officer Rojas yelled at us again to “Go the fuck home,” and Kevin read his nametag out loud as he left where we were on the sidewalk and had gone up to search people on the steps.

We continued to stand on the sidewalk and talk to people by the fence. Another police cruiser arrived and more police officers got out of their car. At no time did either Kevin or I step onto the building’s property or interfere with the searches. We did not speak disrespectfully to any PO or instigate their discourteous behavior. One person carrying a large video camera was filming them searching the people who had been standing on the steps.

Kevin then took out his camera and took a few photos from a distance and the officers continued to search people on the steps. Rojas came over to where Kevin was standing on the sidewalk with his camera and grabbed Kevin’s neck and started twisting Kevin’s hands behind his back and cuffed him. Kevin asked why they were detaining him. They confiscated his camera. I asked to have his camera, and the arresting officer yelled at me if I wanted to be arrested with him. I replied that we were standing on a public sidewalk, flyering. Officer Rojas got in my face and told me to stand in a driveway 15 feet away. I moved to the driveway and continued to watch them harass Kevin and then continue a search of a person on the steps for 5 minutes. Officer Rojas then yelled to me that he was being really nice there, meaning with the person he was searching, and would I “go the fuck home.” I replied that I was standing where he asked me to.

At this point Officer Tarckini approached me, got in my face and abruptly told me to “go the fuck away” and then asked where I live. I replied that I live in Worcester and that I was standing where Officer Rojas had asked me to stand. Officer Tarckini asked me for my ID, which I gave to him. He read my name and while reading my address, I looked at his nametag. He said “oh you’re going to look at my nametag you little fuck?” and proceeded to push me very forcefully. He painfully grabbed my throat and pushed me down the hill. He threw my ID into the street and continued to yell at me to “go the fuck home” and called me several profanities including a “piece of shit.” I went to pick up my ID and was walking away when he pursued me and pushed me while yelling “You’re moving too slow, you piece of shit.” At approx. 12:57am I left the area.

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