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Title: Derby scuffle officer has internal affairs history
Source:
http://www.wfaa.com/sharedcontent/dws/wfaa/localnews/news8/s
URL Source: http://www.wfaa.com/sharedcontent/d ... 7_mo_rollerdervy.1320d250.html
Published: Jan 20, 2006
Author: nomr
Post Date: 2006-01-20 14:14:27 by tom007
Keywords: internal, scuffle, officer
Views: 497
Comments: 19
Derby scuffle officer has internal affairs history 12:37 AM CST on Thursday, January 19, 2006 By REBECCA LOPEZ / WFAA-TV Camille Dubose A witness captured the officer restraining Michelle Metzinger. click to watch The Dallas police officer accused of using excessive force while placing a female roller skating on Elm Street under arrest Saturday is not a stranger to such allegations, according to police records. The Dallas Police Department has launched an internal affairs investigation into the scuffle that occurred between Officer Ceaphus Gordon and Michelle Metzinger, a 25-year-old roller derby skater for Assassination City. However, it will not be the department's first look into the 15-year Dallas police veteran's actions. Police records show since 1994 there have been at least six allegations of excessive force, physical abuse or assault. Gordon has been disciplined twice for escalating or participating in a disturbance and once for conduct discrediting the department. Also Online Rebecca Lopez reports Stories differ after officer, skater scuffle Many witnesses who saw the latest incident said they have no doubt that Gordon used excessive force Saturday night. One witness called Gordon's actions "a textbook example of unnecessary, excessive force." "He grabbed her again by the hair, flipped her down on the ground and planted a knee on the side of her head and cut her face up on the concrete," said witness Derek Conway. Dallas police Chief David Kunkle said the department is taking the allegation seriously. "We just thought it was good to start the investigation now while the memories of the witnesses are fresh and they'll be easy to find," Kunkle said. Camille Dubose Blood was left on the concrete after the scuffle between Dallas Officer Ceaphus Gordon and Michelle Metzinger. Officer Gordon claimed Metzinger was trying to gouge his eyes while struggling with him when the incident occurred. While witnesses said Officer Gordon's force was unnecessary, some who live and work in Deep Ellum said police have a tough job policing the area. "The police here are all wired up late at night," said Barry Annino, President of Deep Ellum Improvement. "It's a very sensitive time, so I can see how things might happen if you're pressing them." Some of the probes into allegations pointed at Officer Gordon were inconclusive, and he has received some commendations for good work. Meanwhile, Metzinger and her attorney said they may also file a complaint against him. E-mail rlopez@wfaa.com
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#1. To: All, richard, neil mciver (#0)
One witness called Gordon's actions "a textbook example of unnecessary, excessive force." "He grabbed her again by the hair, flipped her down on the ground and planted a knee on the side of her head and cut her face up on the concrete," said witness Derek Conway. Hey Richie, ya better turn tail and run. Statist Creep.
"Our country is now geared to an arms economy bred in an artificially-induced psychosis of war hysteria and an incessant propaganda of fear." -- General Douglas MacArthur
"She smashed her face into his knee, then slammed the concrete into her face" Richard.
"Our country is now geared to an arms economy bred in an artificially-induced psychosis of war hysteria and an incessant propaganda of fear." -- General Douglas MacArthur
Derby Dilemma Deep Ellum takes a bloody blow to the concrete By Sam Machkovech Published: Thursday, January 19, 2006 By Monday, you couldn't turn on a computer in Dallas without seeing Michelle Metzinger's bloody face. The 25-year-old member of local roller derby league Assassination City Roller Derby found herself at the center of an Internet publicity firestorm. Blogs, message boards and MySpace posts made their way to the farthest corners of the Web with detailed stories and even more detailed photos. The reason? A violent arrest in Deep Ellum. On Friday, January 13, our "Deep Sixed" feature was still sitting on newsstands around the very district it was damning, and in response, the local club owners made an unofficial effort to convince concertgoers that Deep Ellum was still Dallas' center for arts, music and, of course, the weird. An art gallery opening on Elm Street included a freak show where a girl drank motor oil and a guy stuck needles into his face. The Dark Side Lounge hosted a noise-rock extravaganza with Unconscious Collective, Mazinga Phaser II and Jack With One Eye. Assassination City threw a benefit show at the Liquid Lounge. Even Tarantino's got in the act with a "Save the Music" show. Roughly around 12:15 a.m., this unofficial effort took an official blow. It only makes sense to start the story with the first-hand account that has made the most impact, initially posted on MySpace by Deep Ellum patron (and incident photographer) Camille DuBose: "There was a derby girl skating from the bar across [Elm Street] to the tattoo parlor. No big deal. But a cop stopped her to give her a ticket. Well, she gave some attitude but went with it. Kept her hands on the car while he wrote her a ticket." According to DuBose's account, the officer in question, Ceaphus Gordon, took Metzinger to the concrete after she lifted her hands off the car to turn and see someone yelling at her: "The cop got pissed. She gave attitude; I think he shoved her back on the car, so she struggled back up, and he shoved her around. He was at least 200 pounds. She was about 100. Her face was bloody." Shortly after, more than half a dozen police cars and an ambulance arrived on the scene. The Dallas Police Department tells the story a little differently; for starters, it contradicts witnesses' assumptions that the arrest was for jaywalking (and I hope so, because I jaywalk in Deep Ellum without even thinking about it). Rather, the report states the arrrest was actually for public intoxication. In addition, the report says that Metzinger attempted to gouge out Gordon's right eye, thus justifying the use of force. What's not being disputed, however, are the photos, which show Gordon pinning Metzinger on the ground by placing his knee on her back and her resulting bloody face. For a police force routinely maligned for not allocating enough staff to Deep Ellum, why does it take an incident with a bloody roller derby girl to get cops to arrive in the district in droves? Though I actually missed the arrest, I was in the district later that night, walking through unpatrolled streets and vulnerable as ever. I guess those cops were done with Deep Ellum by then. Also, the number of e-mails and MySpace messages I have received in the past few days brings up a startling truth. How come no drastic e-mail chain started when J.T. Nelson was murdered outside of Club Hush? Where was the outrage when I reported that Dallas police control dance club crowds with mace-loaded paintball guns? Face it--you're not reading this because of the story. You're reading it because of the images directly above this text. They're startling, no matter what really happened. So, uh, what really happened? Tough to say, at least from Metzinger's side. She declined to comment, as did her lawyer, Kevin Clancy, saying that he was "still investigating this case" before filing suit and/or a complaint. Assassination City released a short statement, stating the derby girls were "relieved that she is home recuperating." Most eyewitnesses have gone mum, aside from those who have already spoken to news crews from local TV stations. (By the way, they did not receive permission from DuBose to use her photos, nor did they credit her. Way to go, Channel 5 and Channel 8!) DuBose was mostly quiet, honoring the wishes of Metzinger, but she did have something to say when asked point-blank: Did Metzinger try to gouge out Gordon's right eye? "No. Not at all," DuBose says. "She was just standing there, like, 'Fine, just give me a ticket.' Not resisting it...I don't know why [gouging] came up. She was pushing against his face [when she was knocked down]. I'm sure she has nails; she's a girl. She wasn't like, 'I don't want a ticket. All of a sudden, I'm going to make a big deal about it!' It doesn't make sense." DuBose has since received many anonymous e-mails with more complaints about rough Dallas police in Deep Ellum, but she knows none of those stories, true or otherwise, will make it far in their text-only format. She has advice for Deep Ellum patrons: "Take a camera."
"Our country is now geared to an arms economy bred in an artificially-induced psychosis of war hysteria and an incessant propaganda of fear." -- General Douglas MacArthur
(DALLAS, January 17) -- A woman claims a Dallas police officer used excessive force during her arrest over the weekend. Michelle Metzinger was arrested while roller skating in Deep Ellum. Dallas police say an officer first stopped her for skating in between moving traffic. Then police say she became verbally abusive and tried to attack the officer. Dallas Police spokesman Lt. Rick Watson said, "The suspect grabbed the officer from side of his face and attempted to gouge his eye. The officer did a defensive tactic move and took her to the ground. At that time, the suspect started scratching the officer with rollerblades." Witness Derek Conway said, "It looked more like a fight ... Him fighting her more than anything ... Her feet were in the air and disappeared behind the police car .. and I couldn't see anymore." Metzinger was charged with public intoxication and assaulting a police officer. She plans to file a formal complaint with internal affairs today.
"Our country is now geared to an arms economy bred in an artificially-induced psychosis of war hysteria and an incessant propaganda of fear." -- General Douglas MacArthur
State Propaganda - 1. Fact Checkers - 0 January 18th, 2006 You know what I hate even more than mainstream news? Mainstream news that miss the most obvious inaccuracies in their reporting. Even when it’s a quote, the news has an obligation to point out when the official story is blatantly wrong. Take the example of Michelle Metzinger, 25, who was rollerskating this weekend after spending time at a local Dallas club. She was brutalized by a Dallas police officer twicer her size during a citation for public intoxication. Whether she was intoxicated or not, first-hand witness accounts of the incident tell a starkly different story than what the news is covering. Read both and decide for yourself. Pay special attention to the quote by Lt. Waston, the quoted representative of the Dallas police department. “Out of self-defense he took her down,” Watson said. “She was scratching him and kicking him with her roller blades.” Now, it may seem like a minor point. But Ms. Metzinger is clearly not wearing rollerblades. You have to ask yourself what other details and facets of this incident are being misreported. Star-TelegramPolice to investigate incident involving Deep Ellum skater Eye witness account and photos For all those concerned, Michelle is doing as well as expected and has contacted her lawyers. When she gets more info from her lawyers, she will then contact witnesses. Due to the number of people that witnessed the incident, there are many, many different accounts of the story, and some of these accounts have been misconstrued. ---------It's in Michelle's best interest for the different stories to stop--------, but for the pictures to keep circulating. Once again, when she's heard from her lawyers, we can then proceed to see if it will be beneficial to post an accurate description of the incident. Michelle can not express her gratitude enough for everyone who has stepped up for her defense and brought awareness to her issue. Please repost THIS bulletin so everyone knows the current status of Michelle's situation. Thank you all for your help, Christina and Samantha -------------------------------------------- Attention any witnesses or anyone with photos to the incident with Michelle on Friday the 13th..................She is requesting that anyone with any information contact her at: anchor131313@yahoo.com -------------------------------------------- FROM JOHN: I just got off the phone with President of the Deep Ellum Association Gianna Madini and she would like to speak with anyone who was at the scene, took pictures or has any sort of general grievance with the Dallas Police Dept. The plan is to get a panel of people together for a meeting with the Chief of Police. If you would like to be a part of it and want information, please contact her. Any testimony is helpful in bringing some heat on these tyrants we pay to "protect" us! Gianna Madini (214)939-5255 Thanks, John Thanks Carrie for the info!!! -------------------------------------------- How you can Help: Mayor Laura Miller City of Dallas 1500 Marilla Street, Room 5EN Dallas, Texas 75201 Phone: (214) 670-4054 Fax: (214) 670-3409 File A Complaint http://www.dallaspolice.net/index.cfm?page_ID=1755&openid=166 News: Call FOX 4 News at 214.720.3155 or e-mail at kdfw@kdfwfox4.com http://www.kdfwfox4.com/default.html Organizations: The Police Complaint Center http://www.policeabuse.org/ Date: 01/13/06 "There was a show at the LIQUID LOUNGE, even though the flyer said Lizard lounge, and it WASN'T free, for some of our Dallas derby girls. I met up with Amanda outside of Elm St. Tattoo, and there was a derby girl skating from the bar across the street to the tattoo parlor. No big deal. But a cop stopped her to give her a ticket. Well, she gave some attitude, but went with it. Kept her hands on the car while he wrote her a ticket. I crossed the street to the bar, and another skater went past me, nothing happened to her, even though her friend was getting a ticket for skating in the street.... very wierd. I turned back around to look at the girl and the cop, and I see him wrestling her to the ground. She's screaming, this tiny girl, is struggling, while about 50 people gather and start yelling. Turns out someone on the sidewalk yelled something to her, she turned to see the person, took her hands off of the car, and the cop got pissed. She gave attitude, I think he shoved her back on the car, so she stuggled back up, and he shoved her around. He was at least 200 pounds. She was about 100. Her face was bloody. I have a few pictures. I was questions, they got my info to call me. I hope they do. Honestly, this whole mess makes me fucking sick and sad. I want to be a cop, so it's not like I'm against them. About 6 more cop cars showed up. 18 cops. One ambulance. They're treating us, including us ones trying to be helpful and nice, like shit. And when we're explaining it to other people, they yelling at us, and threating us "we'll give you tickets for standing on the street, we don't care!" What.... what the hell? How ignorant. The girl got checked up, seemed fine, and then they took her off to jail.
"Our country is now geared to an arms economy bred in an artificially-induced psychosis of war hysteria and an incessant propaganda of fear." -- General Douglas MacArthur
And so it goes. This appears to be excessive force just as many here thought. Sue, sue, sue. That's the only thing they fear.
I second that. the officer should be fired unceremoniously. He is a coward #1, he is a baby as well. If he can't arrest this young lady without doing what he did, then he has no place on the force period. and any officer who objects should also be fired. The police chiefs and the civil authorities need to set decent standards for the police to follow. The way you do that is fire officers who break those standards. but alas people like Richard turn their backs on god. and they worship man instead. and this means glorifying the government that man has made. The government is brutal cold and dysfunctional. It needs to be restrained and tamed to serve the people. The people don't need to be beaten into serving the jack-booted-thugs.
Gordon has been disciplined twice for escalating or participating in a disturbance and once for conduct discrediting the department. What a P-I-G-!
Sounds like the perfect neighborhood to avoid drunks.
We've been challenged, and we've risen to those challenges. We've climbed the mighty mountain. I see the valley below, and it's a valley of peace. - W
Gordon has been disciplined twice for escalating or participating in a disturbance and once for conduct discrediting the department. Also Online Rebecca Lopez reports Stories differ after officer, skater scuffle Many witnesses who saw the latest incident said they have no doubt that Gordon used excessive force Saturday night. One witness called Gordon's actions "a textbook example of unnecessary, excessive force." uh huh. this nails it for me. no doubt whose story i believe. good find, tom.
LOLOL! yeah, right. how'd she manage to do that when they were on her feet? and you notice it's fellow officers who claim these things.
Now, it may seem like a minor point. But Ms. Metzinger is clearly not wearing rollerblades. oh! i just read this! duh, she's wearing roller skates not blades! oops, Lt. Watson!
Here's an earlier news item from Wednesday, with a different twist - the officer's report says he lost his balance and fell with the girl. (well, I guess it could happen). Police to investigate officer's scuffle with skater From Staff Reports Dallas police have launched an internal investigation into the arrest of a roller derby player who scuffled with an officer trying to cite her for public intoxication and skating in traffic last weekend in Deep Ellum. The investigation will determine whether Officer Ceaphus Gordon, 39, a 13-year department veteran, acted improperly when he fought with Michelle Metzinger, 25, a member of Assassination City, a roller derby team. About 12:45 a.m. Saturday, Ms. Metzinger was skating in traffic in the 2800 block of Elm Street when the officer tried to write her a ticket and arrest her on a charge of public intoxication, according to a police report. The officer stated in his report that she was belligerent and that when he tried to arrest her, she tried to gouge his eye. While trying to control her, the officer lost his balance and both fell to the ground, the report states. Dallas police Chief David Kunkle said the department is taking witnesses' allegations of excessive force seriously. "We just thought it was good to start the investigation now while the memories of the witnesses are fresh and they'll be easy to find," Kunkle said. Police records show since 1994 there have been at least six allegations against Officer Gordon of excessive force, physical abuse or assault. Gordon has been disciplined twice for escalating or participating in a disturbance, and once for conduct discrediting the department. Some of the probes into allegations pointed at the officer were inconclusive, and he has received some commendations for good work. Meanwhile, Metzinger and her attorney said they may also file a complaint against Officer Gordon. WFAA-TV reporter Rebecca Lopez contributed to this report. (The Gospel of Jesus Christ is the only true good news)
how'd that knee wind up on her back then?
The girl was doing an arabesque while the officer attempted a triple Salchow and came down wrong. He was aiming for her neck and undershot. In the next few frames you can see he recovered nicely.
(The Gospel of Jesus Christ is the only true good news)
cross-linking... (Dallas) Police Deny Excessive Force In Bloody Arrest (black cop, white girl) (The Gospel of Jesus Christ is the only true good news)
i'm glad you posted to this. i missed this first time around. lol.
That only happens when there is a real struggle. And then we all go down in a heap, hopefully with the creep we are trying to subdue on the bottom of the pile. But it don't always go that way. Once one of the guys on my crew ended up on the bottom and he was hurting just a bit later on. ;0)
The liberty of a democracy is not safe if the people tolerate the growth of private power to a point where it becomes stronger than their democratic State itself. That, in its essence, is Fascism -- ownership of government by an individual, by a group, or any controlling private power. Franklin Delano Roosevelt
Many witnesses who saw the latest incident said they have no doubt that Gordon used excessive force Saturday night.
#2. To: All (#1)
#3. To: All (#2)
#4. To: All (#3)
#5. To: All (#4)
#6. To: tom007, Richard (#0)
Meanwhile, Metzinger and her attorney said they may also file a complaint against him.
#7. To: tom007, Richard (#1)
Statist Creep.
#8. To: tom007 (#0)
Police records show since 1994 there have been at least six allegations of excessive force, physical abuse or assault.
Hey, Meester,wanna meet my seester?
#9. To: Richard, tom007 (#3)
An art gallery opening on Elm Street included a freak show where a girl drank motor oil and a guy stuck needles into his face. The Dark Side Lounge hosted a noise-rock extravaganza with Unconscious Collective, Mazinga Phaser II and Jack With One Eye. Assassination City threw a benefit show at the Liquid Lounge. Even Tarantino's got in the act with a "Save the Music" show.
#10. To: tom007 (#0)
Police records show since 1994 there have been at least six allegations of excessive force, physical abuse or assault.
#11. To: tom007 (#4)
At that time, the suspect started scratching the officer with rollerblades."
#12. To: All (#11)
“Out of self-defense he took her down,” Watson said. “She was scratching him and kicking him with her roller blades.”
#13. To: tom007 (#5)
Honestly, this whole mess makes me fucking sick and sad. I want to be a cop, so it's not like I'm against them. About 6 more cop cars showed up. 18 cops. One ambulance. They're treating us, including us ones trying to be helpful and nice, like shit. And when we're explaining it to other people, they yelling at us, and threatening us "we'll give you tickets for standing on the street, we don't care!" What.... what the hell? How ignorant.
#14. To: tom007 (#0)
11:00 AM CST on Wednesday, January 18, 2006
#15. To: Starwind, Jethro Tull (#14)
#16. To: christine (#15)
how'd that knee wind up on her back then?
#17. To: All (#16)
#18. To: Starwind (#16)
The girl was doing an arabesque while the officer attempted a triple Salchow and came down wrong. He was aiming for her neck and undershot.
#19. To: Starwind (#14)
While trying to control her, the officer lost his balance and both fell to the ground, the report states.
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