Officers cleared in internal investigation into Punk Week gathering arrests
An internal investigation found Ann Arbor police officers acted appropriately when they made eight arrests in August during a Punk Week gathering at Bandemer Park, Police Chief Barnett Jones said today.
Two people had filed complaints alleging excessive force, but Jones said officers handled themselves well considering people were screaming, swearing and threatening to sick dogs on them.
"I don't believe there is any cause or need for discipline," Jones said.
The Aug. 15 arrests occurred after police responded to a report that people were naked and smoking marijuana at the park. Officers ordered people to leave, and witnesses say a heated exchange ensued.
Those arrested were sentenced to time already served in jail after they each pleaded no contest to a misdemeanor charge of disturbing the peace.
Comments
krc
Sat, Oct 2, 2010 : 11:28 a.m.
Lee, it's 'sic', not 'sick', FYI
huh7891
Sat, Oct 2, 2010 : 7:38 a.m.
I agree with YouWhine...ths should have been a front page headliner considering the bad light it shed on the PD/ and the officers just trying to do their jobs. The video clearly showed it was handled with professionalism. Had the outcome been the opposite, you better believe it would have been the top news story with tons of blogs bashing the police. But I'm not surprised it's small blurb that will barely be noticed....are you?
stevek
Sat, Oct 2, 2010 : 3:54 a.m.
@AA.com---better take the comment from pawky down, says what I said, and for some unknown reason, mine was taken down.
pawky
Fri, Oct 1, 2010 : 11:06 p.m.
Good. I can't believe that this blog isn't clogged with the usual cop-hater rants.
stevek
Fri, Oct 1, 2010 : 10:41 p.m.
Once again---where are all the posters from the original story calling for the police to be hanged for their outrageous behavior and unjustified brutality?
Roadman
Fri, Oct 1, 2010 : 7:10 p.m.
The judge was the Hon. Elizabeth "Libby" Pollard-Hines. She is a former assistant county prosecutor and considered one of the most respected jurists in Ann Arbor.
YouWhine
Fri, Oct 1, 2010 : 6:39 p.m.
Too bad this story wasn't stuck to the very top of the page for as long as the original story, alleging misconduct, was.
Somewhat Concerned
Fri, Oct 1, 2010 : 6:31 p.m.
Here is what should be investigated: why the punks got off with such light non-sentences. Who was the judge?
UgottaBkidding
Fri, Oct 1, 2010 : 3:10 p.m.
It's a positive thing but the money wasted away in performing this ridiculous investigation is appalling, considering the source of the complaints. We need more judges that deny these kinds of frivolous investigations.
bedrog
Fri, Oct 1, 2010 : 2:30 p.m.
i meant 'prescribed'...although 'proscribed' is what the yahoos i mentioned should be in any sensible system, per justice holmes' dictum against 'falsely crying fire in crowded theaters' ( in an era of reasonable jumpiness about both violent fanatics and the unpredictable pharmaceutically addled).
djm12652
Fri, Oct 1, 2010 : 1:47 p.m.
Glad to hear this non-issue is resolved. Cops got a job to do..let them do it. also, I'm sure the young lady that claimed she was "roughed up" is happy she wasn't charged with escaping custody and felony eluding, nor her co-hort door opener for obstruction...
bedrog
Fri, Oct 1, 2010 : 1:38 p.m.
Maybe this a good time to have a 'bulk rate' review of what are presently ( but possibly grossly misguided and socially destructive) 'protected" ist amendment rights??? these could include 'punkers' 'rights ' to 'express themselves' via public bodily effluvia; asst. attorney generals' 'rights' to stalk college kids as self- proscribed 'therapy' for personal identity issues; synagogue harassers 'rights' to harass for the same sort of reasons as asst. AGs do. just a thought, since there seems to be 'perfect storm' of such over-the- top obnoxiousness locally.
Macabre Sunset
Fri, Oct 1, 2010 : 1:38 p.m.
No kidding. That's great. Sometimes our language is unintentionally colorful.
rusty shackelford
Fri, Oct 1, 2010 : 1:33 p.m.
Macabre, Merriam Webster has "sic" while OED lists "sick" as the proper spelling for that usage. Hmm.
Macabre Sunset
Fri, Oct 1, 2010 : 1:24 p.m.
Great typo - there's always the threat people will make their dogs vomit on approaching policemen. Anyway, I'm not surprised by this. I'm glad the policemen were able to do their jobs properly under the stress of a group that seemed to be looking to set up this complaint before they were even on the scene. Hopefully, this is the last Punk Week behavior we'll ever have in the area.
a2roots
Fri, Oct 1, 2010 : 1:09 p.m.
Good, a welcome relief that our PD can enforce the law. Some day maybe our PD can carry out their duties without the threat of an internal investigation looming over their head.