I am a 48 year old man living in Keizer. I am a Business Professional, my wife is a career Oregon State Corrections Officer. I was at my son's apartment, he's 26, on X-mas eve 2005 with him and a friend of his.
We had been there about half an hour playing cards when a knock came to the door. I answered it to find two police officers standing outside and inquiring about a Hispanic man that they thought to live there. I told them I didn't know them and that my son lived there.
They asked my son's name and checked my ID. Fifty minutes later they came to the back patio area looking for my son who apparently had a 7 year old misdemeanor warrant still outstanding. This was at midnight and the back area was completely in darkness.
I was inside just coming out of the restroom when I seem a light being shown on my son and his friend. I stepped through the sliding glass door and not even realizing it was the police or that there was trouble I told them to get in the apartment.
My son stepped in and I followed and started to shut the door when the police broke through the fenced patio and rushed the door. The first one pushed me aside and commanded my son to get to the ground, which he did. I asked the police what this was all about and he told me about the warrant. I was confused and kept looking at my son.
The cop continued to shout to get on the ground which only confused me more because he was already down. About the time I figured out that he was talking to me another cop came in and threw me into the sliding glass door and then to the carpet.
I fully cooperated and offered my hands to be restrained. Within 5 seconds of being on the ground, with one hand cuffed and the cop sitting on my back a police dog came in and started to rip at my right foot. It pulled off my shoe and began to mutilate my foot.
I began to scream and try to get my foot out of it's mouth. The police tried 5 times to get the dog to release and the more I struggled the more the dog would try to pull me out from under the cop. The cop "Tased" me to get me to quit moving so the dog would stop. The "Tasing" lasting 20-30 seconds and blood came out of both ears.
I received 6 stitches in my right ear from the electricity exiting. I was taken to the hospital and the cops would not let the doctors take pictures of my foot before treating it.
It was not until after they sewed it up with 50-60m stitches did they take pictures. I was taken to the county jail with no pain pills, crutches, protective shoe, ect..The had done a lousy Job disinfecting the dog bites and I had to go back 2 days later after being released from jail and spend 4 days in the hospital.
I was charged with 1) Interfering with a police officer 2) Resisting arrest 3) Harassment. I am a runner and was scheduled to run the Phoenix marathon January 15, 2006. I have suffered permanent foot damage and will probably never be able to train for or run another marathon.
The Keizer Police came to my work twice to inform my employer of my arrest and voiced concern over their cars being serviced there at Skyline ford. I was at the time the business manager there and had an office next to Jerry Biggler(uncle of officer Scott Biggler).
We had always got along great and he was shocked to hear that this took place. I was basically driven out of my position there because the Keizer police department stopped bringing their cars there for servicing. I am currently the business manager at Delon BMW.
In the last 10 months my attorney has basically done nothing to prepare for my case and acts as though he is unfamiliar with the events of the arrest. I am scheduled for court next week and he says that I should plea out and take whatever is offered.
He believes that my witnesses are not credible enough and it would be my word against 5 police officers. The offer as it stands is for me to do 10 days in jail and 3 years supervised probation, along with random UA and polygraph tests.
My attorney feels we should just get past this and move on to the civil suit against the police department, but I can not in good conscience do this. I know that I am innocent.
The police reports have been completely falsified to cover up the truth. They say I was outside when they approached the apartment and I knew that they were there to serve my son a warrant (lie 1).
They say that the officer holding the taser on us came across the room and grabbed me(lie2). They said that I struggled with them on the floor for a lengthy time(lie3). They said that they tased me first and then called the dog in to control me(lie4), and the list goes on.
These officers deliberately falsified those reports and I no doubt they will perjure themselves in court next week as well. I intend to do everything in my power to see the truth come out in this malicious attack and cover-up. I will forward this letter to every government agency, politician and newspaper in Oregon.
I have offered to take a polygraph test to support my claim and offer the police involved that evening to do the same. My live has been forever changed due to this and now they want me to suffer even more.
Officers are supposed to "Protect and Serve", not assault and mutilate and lie. I have recently gone to court and against all that I believe in I was forced to plead 'No Contest'.
I was given 180 days in jail, suspended with 3 years of supervised probation. I have done considerable research in terms of tasers and can prove that the police lied in their reports based on that information. Any resources or suggestions would be most appreciated.