Critical Mass Brutalized by Tempe Police : AZ IMC

On the final Friday of January of this year, approximately 20 bicyclists gathered at Gentle Strength Cooperative to soon begin the festivity known as Critical Mass. Critical Mass is a movement of bicyclists who use direct action to assert their right to public roads. We promote alternatives to supporting the oil oriented motor industries, and believe this can best be achieved through healthy and conscious living, community, and environmentally clean transportation. Some participants attend to protest, while others simply attend to enjoy themselves amongst fellow bicyclists.

We first headed north on the Mill Avenue Bridge, and then back south on Mill to Apache Boulevard. We peacefully bicycled and followed all traffic signals and broke no laws.

Eventually, we headed north on Rural Road to University. Before being able to complete or left turn onto University, a participant in front of the Mass was asked for his Identification Card. At this point, there were two police vehicles, and about half a dozen Bike-Cops. The CM participant complied with the officer, and was asked to merge off the turn lane and onto the sidewalk. At this point, the remaining portion of the Mass, about 18 people, was also escorted onto the sidewalk for questioning. While the first approached individual gave the police officer (Officer K. Mayer, male, Badge#15984) the needed information, another CM participant (we’ll call him Subject A) monitored the police officer for any wrongdoing or unlawful conduct. Subject A was told that he was obstructing a “criminal investigation” and eventually made his way to the east side of the parking lot, less than one hundred feet away, where the majority of police and bicyclists were at. Subject A was not at this point being questioned by any police official, and decided to simply leave. Before he could leave the area, Officer R. Smith (male, Badge# 10291) grabbed his arm and told him several times to “go over there”. Subject A complied, but asked Officer Smith, “Am I under arrest?” (According to the American Civil Liberties Union, one can legally leave if not detained or under arrest) Subject A repeatedly asked if he was being placed under arrest, and finally, Officer Smith replied, “Yes”, and tackled Subject A to the ground, causing the arrestee to hit his head and face as his legs were tangled in his bicycle. At this point, several other police officers joined the violent arrest and piled upon one another to restrain him and put him in handcuffs. Subject A showed no resistance to his arrest, and complied with the officers, however he continued to ask Officer Smith, “on what grounds…On what grounds am I being placed under arrest?” Subject A was charged with “Obstructing and interfering with an criminal investigation”. His court date is scheduled for early March.

Moments later, another arrest followed. A female officer (Officer K. Click Badge#167474) instigated violence upon a participant for using ‘excessive’ body language to express her feelings of disappointment of the Police behavior. She said nothing foul or inappropriate, but simply expressed her feelings on the matter. Officer K. Click suddenly grabbed the CM participants hand, and screamed violently, “Don’t you ever point your finger at me!”. It was at this point that the participant’s boyfriend (we’ll call him Subject B) stepped in out of concern. He made no physical contact with the police officer. Approximately four Police officers surrounded him and placed him in handcuffs.
At this point there was two police vehicles temporarily blocking northbound traffic, almost one dozed Bike-Cops, a paddy wagon, and at least two more police vehicles in the parking lot. This was a clear example of the Police State repressing our basic freedoms and way of life. We can’t allow them to come into our communities and instigate violence with a badge as justification. Something has to be done.

Passers-by were very sympathetic of the brutalized Critical Mass, and were disgusted with the ill behavior of the Tempe Police Department. Below is a list of mostly all of the officers involved:
Officer K. Mayer, male, B# 15984 [personally gave citation(s)]
Officer K. Click, female, B# 167474 (personally arrested Sub. B and gave other citation(s)]
Officer K. Kelch, male, B# 15293
Officer D. Lee, male, B# 15749
Officer D. Diaz, male, B# 16715 [personally gave citation(s)]
Officer McCormick, male, B# 435
Officer R. Smith, male, B# 10291 [personally arrested Sub. A]
Officer S. Gage, female, B# 11435
Detention Officer Richards, male, B#558--also the driver of the Paddy Wagon (License # G 299DM)
Officer K. Renwiche, male, B# 266

*Please Note: The above information is partial; it does not include the names and numbers of the police officers in some of the vehicles, because they left before their information could be attained. And in the brackets next to specific names is that officers direct involvement, however all officers were participants *

After the brutal arrests took place, and all the citations were given out, the remaining Mass dispersed into small groups and slowly began to leave the area. About seven bicyclists went to the Tempe Police Department to show jail solidarity to both Subject A and Subject B. The girlfriend of Subject B posted bond for $500 dollars and he was released with a court trial pending. Subject A, however, stayed the night and was released the following morning, January 29, at 9:30am.

Those who were ticketed were cited mostly for not having bike-lights. One was cited for having an expired drivers license (even though he was not presently driving), and another for simply not having her bike-light switched on while being questioned. All arrested and those given citations are to appear in court in early March.

The brutal effort by the Tempe Police Department was intended to repress the freshly birthed Tempe Critical Mass and to intimidate us into no longer participating in this monthly event. But they will not succeed. We will be back, and we will not be hindered by their attack as they intended. We welcome every one of all walks of life that are fighting for coexistence and alternatives to mass oil consumption to come and participate in the Phoenix area Critical Mass. Don’t allow the police to dismay you. The greater our numbers, the greater our strength and effectiveness. We are Traffic!

*For future information on the local chapter of Critical Mass, check out http://www.cmphx.org or the AZ Indy media Calendar page