[After yet another incident involving one of our friends and neighbors, I wrote the following formal complaint against a thug cop, Angel Gonzalez, of Middletown, a few miles outside Harrisburg, Pennsylvania's Unfriendly City. The complaint pretty well speaks for itself.]
6 January
To: Charles Kellar, Chief
Harrisburg Police Department
123 Walnut Street
Harrisburg, PA 17101
And Demand for Investigation and Prosecution
Pursuant to the laws and rules of court of Pennsylvania, I hereby formally complain against one Angel Gonzalez (or a person of similar name) a person presenting himself to be a police officer for the City of Harrisburg.
I complain on the basis of
- (1) official oppression,
- (2) police harassment and stalking,
- (3) police brutality,
- (4) violation of the First, Fourth and Fourteenth Amendments of the United States Constitution and
- (5) violation of Article I of the Pennsylvania Constitution.
I complain in my own behalf and as next friend of a non-English speaking neighbor.
I demand that the said Angel Gonzalez (or a name similar) be suspended and/or discharged as a police officer.
1. In the past I've had occasion to complain against this individual for harassing, bullying, intimidating and misusing his authority in his treatment of Hispanics. Characteristically, no apparent measures were taken [by city officials] to constrain, control or educate him.
2. I am an invalid on oxygen and in a wheelchair. I can only leave my home where there is an emergency or a pressing need such as doctors' appointments.
on information and belief:
3. At about 1:30 PM on the afternoon of Tuesday, 6 January, our neighbor, Sergio Santoz, the victim, walked down Derry street in the City of Harrisburg to a neighborhood store at about Twelfth and Derry streets in order to purchase discount telephone calling cards.
4. In route he encountered a relative, perhaps a cousin. He greeted the relative and shook his hand. Each of these actions was open, aboveboard and absolutely legal.
5. The victim entered the store and attempted to purchase the calling cards.
6. While in the store, in strutted Mr. Gonzalez. He accosted the victim. He ordered the victim to submit to a put-down or a frisk search.
7. In the process the victim was roughly handled and physically abused. He was required to stand spread-eagle with his hands against a wall.
8. No contraband was discovered. The victim was carrying only about $10 to pay of his calling cards.
9. Mr. Gonzalez dragged the victim outside the store and handcuffed him. He subjected the victim to questioning and intimidation. He demanded the victim's Social Security card. He threatened the victim that if he saw him on the street he would be arrested and immigration would be called.
10. At about this point a second police office, apparently a "white" man appeared on the scene and the victim was released from the handcuffs and allowed to telephone my wife. My wife went to the scene, but the police were by then driving away.
11. The victim felt intimidated and humiliated, demeaned and embarrassed and anxious. The encounter had resulted in injury to the victim's side exacerbating a surgical wound.
13. None of the victim's conduct rose to the level of reasonable suspicion for a stop and frisk.
14. None of the victim's conduct rose to probable cause for arrest or to be handcuffed. From the start of the incident, the victim was not free to depart or leave the scene in peace.
15. The victim was singled out for harassment because he was profiled as a small, defenseless Hispanic man who could be easily bullied and intimidated. During the incident black men were openly selling drugs from an adjacent corner. They were not accosted.
16. The police officer has been seen to carry on lengthy (more than an hour) apparently friendly conversations with a neighbor whom we have reason to believe to be a drug dealer and prostitute.
17. As a citizen and next friend, I have been injured by the improper and illegal conduct of the police officer. I've been made to feel anxious, apprehensive and intimidated.
18. The police officer appears to have a personality or behavioral disorder where he needs to feel powerful by dominating others.
19. I demand that
- (A) the police officer be investigated,
- (B) neither the victim or I be subjected to any form of retaliation,
- (C) the police officer be suspended and/or discharged and/or trained how to conduct himself in a proper professional way.
I aver under the penalties of 18 PaCS 4904 relating to unsworn falsification to authority, that the facts stated herein are true and correct to the best of my knowledge information and belief.
I am:
George Feigley