A 60 year old grandfather was convicted Tuesday (8/11/09) of groping Minnie Mouse. Yes, Minnie Mouse or rather a woman in a Minnie Mouse costume at Disney World. She attests that John William Moyer made attempts to grab her breasts. Wow, is nothing sacred?

 Exactly what is the punishment for trying to get with Mickey’s girl? Moyer must write the victim an apology, serve 180 days probations, complete 50 hours of community service and pay $1000 in court cost. Also, for his conviction of misdemeanor battery, he may have to undergo a mental evaluation. (No kidding!)

While the Crowley-Gates issue was getting way too much attention, another story failed to reach the same level of national interest. Another questionable arrest for disorderly conduct begs the question: Are arrests for disorderly conduct done because a law has been violated or is it just a manifestation of the policeman’s disposition? 

In Alabama, the police were called when a man who was using the bathroom in a Dollar General store was taking too long. The police knocked on the locked door and called out but when no one responded, they used a tire iron to open the door. At this point their actions made sense to me. 

However, on the other side of the door there is also the other side of the story. Antonio Love, a deaf, mentally challenged man was having stomach problems (we all know what that means), and couldn’t rush things. Suddenly he saw the door being pried and pushed open so he pushed back to keep it closed.  He thought it was the devil trying to come in and get him (did I mention he was mentally challenged?). Now in all fairness to Antonio, what was he supposed to do – not fight the devil? I mean, as ridiculous as it sounds it’s also logical. Who’s going let the devil just come and get them totally unopposed? 

I mean, let’s just take a moment and put ourselves in Antonio’s position. What if it was you in a public restroom with stomach problems, minding your own business while you try to…um …to put it delicately, work things out?  Suddenly, someone (and let’s say for argument sake that it’s not the devil) is trying to force their way in. I imagine it would scare the “stomach problems” right out of anybody. It’s not taking a big leap to assume a reasonable response is to try to hold the door closed against the intruder. At this point, I think Antonio’s actions and those of the police are understandable. However, what happens next is hard to reconcile.

The police push in far enough to pepper spray Antonio but then they decided to taser him as well. He was hit in three places – stomach, chest and hand. According to the police, they saw an umbrella in the corner which could be considered a weapon and that was their justification for the addition (and unnecessary) force. 

After subduing Antonio, they found a card in his pocket which informed them he was handicapped at which point the cops fully understood that the entire incident was a misunderstanding. Common sense on the part of those sworn to serve and protect should have prevailed and Antonio should have been sent home. Instead, the policemen on the scene decided that undergoing a police raid during a personal bathroom moment, being pepper sprayed, tasered and fighting off Satan was not punishment enough for the deaf and mentally challenged man. They decided that he needed the Alabama court system to teach him a lesson too, so he was arrested for disorderly conduct. The magistrate refused to issue a formal arrest warrant so the cops took Antonio home. Thank goodness the court saw the big picture and didn’t want to waste anymore valuable court time or taxpayers dollars on what amounts to bad judgment.

What happens next? More familiar fallout both from the police and the other (injured) party. 

The Standard By The Book Police Behavior: Once an arrest is made the police department will “Tammy Wynette” it and stand by their man (or woman) rather than admit their officers were anything other than absolutely justified in all of their actions. If they get pushback from the community, then they announce they are launching an investigation into the issue. Of course, this “investigation” is simply a stall tactic to get an issue off the front page. Once public attention is successfully diverted, the police department will quietly release their findings which are identical to their findings on the day the original incident too place. 

 

The Standard Other (injured) Party Behavior:     Sue  

 

Apparently, President Obama is going to meet with Sgt James Crowley and Prof Henry Gates to discuss the incident (see previoius blog). He wants to meet at the White House and talk over a couple of beers. Beers? Well, I hope everybody behaves. I'd hate to have to call the cops on them.

Did Gates use the race care or did Crowley use the cop card? I always try to be as objective as possible but it’s only natural to use your own subjective line of reasoning when forming an opinion on any issue. I found this to be true when visiting the Henry Gates-James Crowley incident.

Before getting to the actually incident, I have to say as a black person, I have never experienced any racist incidents with the police. I do know that my minority male friends or acquaintances have, so I know that it happens. Interesting enough, I do feel that I have experienced favorable treatment by the police over my male counterparts because I am a woman.

For instance, when I’ve been out late nights with my girlfriends (I was much younger) and we were stopped by the police, the driver would only get a license and registration check with a warning. My black male friends have been made to get out of the car, put their hands behind their heads or on the car itself to keep their hand in plain sight. Sometimes they had to lie on the ground. We ladies usually knew why were being stopped (such as speeding and we were wrong) while the guys believed it was “DWB” - driving while black. They weren’t given tickets or even told why they were being stopped. They didn't exhibit odd behavior, or happen to be in crime ridden area. The cops would just do a car check.

I’ve had a couple of other very minor interactions with the police but they were all normal – no big deal. They certainly were not racist and as a matter of fact, the police weren’t even disrespectful. But do I think that means my experiences are the final word in racist encounters with the police? Of course not, but when incidents happen, I just don’t make racism the first thing I think about (subjective) but I don’t rule it out either (objective). 

In the case of Officer James Crowley, a policeman responding to a 911 call of a possible burglary, I agree with his actions up to a point. After listening to the 911 tape, it seemed that a concerned neighbor/citizen called to report what could (but not necessarily) be a burglary in progress. The police officer did the right thing by responding cautiously. 

Professor Louis Gates was one of the people who seen entering the house. It turned out to be his own home and he was understandably angry to be accused of a crime, (or treated like a criminal) in his own home.  To Gates, it was the police officer who was the intruder and he verbalized his anger. However, it was still Crowley’s duty to identify Gates, whether he liked it or not, and settle the issue. Once Gates was identified, Crowley as the professional should have diffused the situation. All he had to do was leave, however I think Gates belligerent attitude made him mad. 

I understand how Crowley could get a little pissed off with what he percieved to be Gates “trash talking” but making a policeman mad is not a criminal offense (although it might not be the smartest thing to do). According to those who have read the police report and know Massachusetts laws, no crime, even disorderly conduct, was committed.  It was just an honest mistake. Crowley was doing his job but Gates felt victimized and believed the catalyst for Crowley’s actions was grounded in racism. Truthfully, it seems to me that it was a case of “Quien es mas macho”, not racism. Two angry guys demanding respect and neither willing to give it. Gates used the race card so Crowley used the cop card. 

Once Crowley discovered there was no crime, he had no reason to escalate the situation by calling for back up or to “keep the cars coming” (on taxpayer dollars I might add). This is where I part company with agreeing with Crowley’s actions. He chose to escalate rather than act as a peace officer and it’s at this point, I have to say Crowley was wrong. Choosing to arrest Gates in his own home rather than just leaving the scene where he was no longer needed or wanted is pretty over the top.

In full disclosure, I have to admit that I have great appreciation and admiration for policemen (and policewomen). I do recognize that they are some bad apples too. However, I also have to disclose that I understand Gates’ (alleged) behavior perhaps better than I let on. You see, I have been on the darkside too…… 

I had been following some co-workers to a business destination and was caught in a “speed trap”. I had only been driving fast to keep up with the other cars and in general, most cars had been going so much faster that I had stayed in the slow lane.  I felt the cop had unfairly singled me out and to say I was mad would be an understatement. 

I have since matured and I am not proud of the moment but I…how do you say… “went there” with this police officer. My disrespectful verbal assault went from “donut eating, lazy slob, etc….to your mama, your wife, girlfriend or is it boyfriend, etc… to why aren’t you out catching real criminals.” My tirade was peppered with the most colorful language I knew and sometimes I formed conjunctions with curse words just to create a completely new and equally offensive verbiage. Again, I am not proud, but I am glad the policeman remained professional and did not overreact. He let me talk as he wrote the ticket and he never said a word out of the way to me. He then gave me my ticket and told me “Alright, move it along”.  So I did. I was mad. I was wrong. But the police officer got it right. Thank goodness.

I didn’t want to jump on the Michael Jackson bandwagon, although I have my opinions, I think it’s best to let him rest in peace. Peace, of course, is something that was extremely elusive for him in life, and as of this writing, it has also been elusive for him in death. However, time will tell. 

My comments are directed more to the doctors who swore to “first do no harm”.  I’ve blogged previously (post have been removed) about getting healthy after having back issues (first blog – The Trouble w/Doctors  is still available).  The choices given to me were drugs, stronger drugs, surgery or just learn to live in horrible pain. Other choices were dictated by insurance (if I chose to research and seek out less invasive options on my own). It was disturbing that heavily medicating me seemed to be such an easy option for my doctors. I was disturbed enough to seek out other options. I am now healed and thankful that I’m not a drug dependant or prescription drug addicted citizen.

 

I heard someone say (paraphrasing) “The people who get the worst healthcare in this country (US) are the economically deprived and the economically privileged.” Most people understand the way it works without money or proper insurance coverage, but when a person has the means to pay to get unnecessary drugs the results are different but equally as damaging.  Onlookers preach to the addicted on the virtues of personal responsibility but where’s the sermon, disgust and outrage for the doctors who created the addict in the first place? If “Tyrone” on the street corner can get punished by law for distributing drugs for money, why can’t the guy with the M.D. behind his name also be held responsible? Should the fact that some drugs are illegal be the deciding factor, even if the drugs in both cases are for recreational, not medical purposes? Shouldn’t the doctors be held accountable for acquiescing to the demands of an addict, even if the patient asks for the drugs and is intent on going elsewhere if necessary?

 

I certainly do not believe all doctors are tainted or drug pushers. There are good doctors who are interested in getting their patients healthy. However the ease and expectation of prescribing medication as the first, last and only resort is out of control. Too many doctors give the green light for expediency and profit. Those doctors not only fail their patients and tarnish their profession but they also cross a legal line. It shouldn’t matter that it’s a high profile celebrity involved or that the world is looking on. The right thing needs to be done for the sake of improving healthcare for the general public. If that means rich, professionals need to go to jail, then so be it. I’m sure all the “Tyrones” out there will be happy to share a cell with one of their own.