January 21, 2007
Jaywalking UK Historian Causes Stir in Atlanta
>true crime
Felipe Fernandez-Armesto has complained his arrest was a "violent assault."
According to a police report, officer Kevin Leonpacher, working off-duty for hotel security and wearing a jacket marked "Atlanta Police," blew his whistle for Fernandez-Armesto to stop crossing Courtland Street in central Atlanta on Jan. 4 and directed him to a crosswalk.
The historian ignored Leonpacher who then asked "as many as ten times" for Fernandez-Armesto's identification. When he refused and instead demanded Leonpacher's identification, the officer made an arrest, the report said.
"I asked him to put his hands behind his back so that he could be handcuffed .... He pulled away and began to wrestle with me. After about a minute I was able to wrestle him to the ground ... as I called for backup," the report said.
Atlanta Journal-Constitution Editorial:
History lesson in jaywalking case with link to YouTube interview with prof. (1/11/07)
The History News Network (really) version: http://hnn.us/roundup/entries/33876.html
[photo google not from above links]
Felipe Fernández-Armesto's wiki bio (updated with the "Atlanta Incident")
[>Diederik was moved to write: "Great story. [link to wiki article above] My hands just itch to make a short movie of this, academic Jaywalker versus brutal "just doing my job' copper asking for "ID". Tragic music and slow-motion wrestling chaos. Some Foucaultian slogans mumbled by male voice over. Pernennial story. Great. I could cry right now."
Stubbornson's reply: "It could work as a modern dance piece. Various couples of various genders spaced around a huge gymnasium-style floor which the audience views from slightly above. Uniforms not required. The couples all do the same walking, rushing, touching, ignoring, avoiding, clutching, flailing, grabbing, kicking, falling, slamming motions--in sequence but not necessarily in tandem--- over and over and over until the audience leaves and/or the 'backup' dancers arrive to subdue and surround the couples from the audience's view. Lights fade. Music by Phillip Glass or Steven Reich."]
>also Stubbornson: One might wonder what conclusions the professor would have drawn had he been tasered or clubbed while arrested for assaulting the police officer(s). Then represented by a public defender who'ld insist he take the usual plea agreement for assault ---"With good behavior you'll be out in 18 months."? During those eight hours spent in stir did he get a glimmer of how badly it could have gone?
It's nice that the Atlanta Police Department allows its moonlighting officers to wear jackets identifying them as "Atlanta Police". Did the police union have to fight for that concession or was it granted without much discussion?
The History News Network story suggests the professor was unable or unwilling to believe the hotel's rent-a-cop had the authority to arrest him.
Did the rent-a-cop? Handcuffs on the street? While being paid by the hotel? [Perhaps related: The Private Arm of the Law on Spitting Image.]
By the way when is it permissable for a private citizen--a perp, skell or vic-- to ask a police officer (or 'rent-a-cop'...who knew?) for his or her identification? Never on the street in these War on Terror times? Never without one's lawyer and/or a film crew from a national broadcasting network present? Only at the front door of one's home and apartment (if your name appears on the mortgage or lease) or place of business? Never when the officer's in command of some situation, no matter how trivial, while wearing a jacket that says "Blankville Police Department" certainly. (We homelanders know that.)
Anonymous police authority is much more intimidating and effective, don't you think?---and safer for the families and friends of America's 700,000+ duly-sworn taxpayer-funded law enforcement officers.
This gives me an idea for a tourist campaign. Sell American-style police tactics to masochists overseas. Offer package deals that include pre-travel classroom instruction absolutely guaranteed to have five or six of America's finest doing things to them for free they could never afford at home. Being bad in America will guarantee a vacation they won't ever forget.
Posted by Stubbornson at January 21, 2007 12:57 PM