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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: 5484
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 # 87.
#75. To: All, ruthie, Jethro Tull, christine, zipporah, tom007, dakmar (#0)
Fyi, I have determined that Michelle's court records are sealed, or at least withheld from the public. Ruthie, perhaps you'd like to start a ping list that folks could subscribe to so as to be notified when you have new information?
Unreal..
I wouldn't infer too much from that at present. That could play to Michelle's benefit as well as the prosecution until such time as Michelle is allowed to present her evidence. IIRC, Michelle was not permitted to present evidence to the grand jury, which is not surprisng either. So if, as is likely at present, it is just the one-sided prosecution's allegations on file, there is little benefit for Michelle to have those unsubstantiated and unrefuted charges 'broadcast'. OTOH, nothing prevents the press and blogosphere from digging and discussing what appears to be excessive police force, and maybe even a trumped up PI allegation. The recent 'PI raids' in Deep Ellum may be an attempt to buttress prosecution arguments of an ongoing problem in Deep Ellum: in which Officer Gordon observed Metzinger to be contributing a couple months back, yada yada yada... (as I envision the prosecution argueing).
that's awful - surely they wouldn't try to justify what he did? how is Public Intoxication measured btw - is it by blood or urine tests...or just the opinion of a police officer? love ruthie
They sure would. If they can show that PI is a problem in Deep Ellum and Michelle was part of the problem, it may help them get a conviction which in turn helps them defend against a civil suit which could cost them a lot of money and bad PR. Deep Ellum does seem to have a PI problem. Was Michelle part of it? Don't know. Her witnesses say she wasn't. But would Dallas conduct a few PI raids to save a couple million bucks? Yep. Don't know. We've kicked that around a little. Maybe some others can dig out the facts of what proof is required of PI in Dallas?
thank you for helping me with the "ping-thing" :) (i hope its working now)
#88. To: ruthie, robin, BTP Holdings, ruthie, indie TX, christine, zipporah, Neil McIver, Tom007, Dakmar, *Muff Thumper News* (#87)
Heads up all y'all. New ping list *Muff Thumper News* setup by ruthie.
It's working fine. You did good. Now you can also check periodically to see who signs up.
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#76. To: Starwind (#75)
Fyi, I have determined that Michelle's court records are sealed, or at least withheld from the public.
#77. To: Zipporah (#76)
Unreal..
#82. To: Starwind (#77)
The recent 'PI raids' in Deep Ellum may be an attempt to buttress prosecution arguments of an ongoing problem in Deep Ellum: in which Officer Gordon observed Metzinger to be contributing a couple months back, yada yada yada... (as I envision the prosecution argueing).
XXXXXX
http://www.myspace.com/ruthiesb69
#85. To: ruthie, Jehro Tull, indieTx, BTP Holdings (#82)
surely they wouldn't try to justify what he did?
how is Public Intoxication measured btw - is it by blood or urine tests...or just the opinion of a police officer?
#87. To: Starwind (#85)
Replies to Comment # 87.
#89. To: ruthie (#87)
(i hope its working now)
End Trace Mode for Comment # 87.