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Title: Skater charged with assault on officer
Source:
The Dallas Morning News
URL Source: http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcon ... 31706dnmetskater.304e63a6.html
Published: Mar 16, 2006
Author: ROBERT THARP
Post Date: 2006-03-18 02:02:18 by Starwind
Keywords: charged, assault, officer
Views: 3458
Comments: 228
Witnesses denied she was aggressor; internal investigation continuing 09:38 PM CST on Thursday, March 16, 2006 By ROBERT THARP / The Dallas Morning News A Dallas Roller Derby skater was indicted Thursday on a felony charge of assaulting a Dallas police officer stemming from a January incident in which she and several witnesses say the officer was the aggressor and used excessive force. Reports related to the indictment charge that Michelle Metzinger, 25, was belligerent and fought with Officer Ceaphus Gordon after the officer asked to see her identification because, he said, she had been roller skating recklessly through traffic on Elm Street in Deep Ellum. Michelle Metzinger According to Officer Gordon's report, Ms. Metzinger tried to gouge his eye with her fingers when he tried to handcuff and arrest her on a charge of public intoxication. The officer then tried to force Ms. Metzinger to the sidewalk using a "straight arm bar take down," but instead, she "rolled from the police car to the ground," his report says. Ms. Metzinger continued scratching and kicking the officer on the ground, the report says. Officer Gordon described his injuries as three 1/8th-inch scratches near his right eye and scratches and bruises on his chin. He described Ms. Metzinger's injury as a "small laceration that required a stitch," although his report indicates that she spent five hours at Parkland Memorial Hospital before she was taken to jail. Kevin Clancy, Ms. Metzinger's attorney, said he was disappointed that he was not allowed to present evidence to the grand jury that would have offered a different account of what happened. Eight witnesses to the arrest have filed affidavits saying that Ms. Metzinger was not intoxicated and that she did not resist the officer. The witnesses state that after Ms. Metzinger was forced to the ground, Officer Gordon put his knee on her back or neck while he was handcuffing her, which is not described in the officer's reports. "I think it's a travesty that this poor girl was charged with this," Mr. Clancy said. "I really do think that the grand jury did not look at the evidence." A separate investigation into the incident by Dallas police internal affairs is ongoing. Mr. Clancy said Dallas police have so far not interviewed any of the witnesses. Officer Gordon has had 27 complaints filed against him in his 14-year career, most of which were ruled "unfounded" or "inconclusive." Of those inconclusive complaints, at least two involved allegations of excessive force. E-mail rtharp@dallasnews.com
Poster Comment: ------ see also: (Dallas) Police Deny Excessive Force In Bloody Arrest (black cop, white girl) 
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Begin Trace Mode for Comment # 22.
#1. To: All, ruthie, jethro tull, btp holdings, christine, zipporah (#0)
Fyi...
No shock that the GJ found for the state. It's a rubber
stamp. Have I missed something regarding the public intox charge? What was her
blood alcohol level? Was a test taken in the hosp as she was being stitched
up? With any type of representation, she walks, but who knows? Juries are
comprised of people who live in, and around us. Next time you're in K-Mart
take a good look at the people in line. Scary....
JT What is your opinion on this? The same article is posted here but I can't get the link to work.
Quite an article, GJ. I'm not surprised at all. I had no experience with the
lab testing, but it's my experience that people looking to fill these
positions couldn't cut it in the real world. IOW, these labs are staffed by
minimially qualified people which works well for the state. One thing: have
all your paperwork and DL ready to hand out the window immediately. I can't
tell you how important it is to get the sob's away from you as quickly as
possible.
It is my experiance that it is better to give them an option. When pulled for speeding tell them you don't have your DL or Reg with you, much more often than not they will choose to exert their authority by ticketing you for failure to display (no points) rather than speeding. It lets them claim to be a nice guy while breaking it off in you. Another added benifit is it keeps you from having to reach into the glove box or god forbid, under the seat. Peace
Without the DL tho, they assume you're suspended and will run a check. Same with reg. Some eager beavers will use this as an excuse to get you out of the car so they can check vin #s, etc.
#27. To: Jethro Tull (#22)
Man you have been out a long time! They run a check on EVERYBODY. They even have radios in the cars now! #;o)
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#5. To: Starwind (#1)
Eight witnesses to the arrest have filed affidavits saying that
Ms. Metzinger was not intoxicated and that she did not resist the officer.
#8. To: Jethro Tull (#5)
#14. To: Grumble Jones (#8)
#18. To: Jethro Tull (#14)
One thing: have all your paperwork and DL ready to hand out the window immediately. I can't tell you how important it is to get the sob's away from you as quickly as possible.
#22. To: Hmmmmm (#18)
Replies to Comment # 22. Without the DL tho, they assume you're suspended and will run a check.
End Trace Mode for Comment # 22.