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

Tempe Cops Suck
by Stand Up For Your Rights Saturday, Jan. 29, 2005 at 11:53 AM

The Tempe cops totally suck! Email the Mayor and City Council.

mailto:hugh_hallman@tempe.gov mailto:ben_arredondo@tempe.gov mailto:hut_hutson@tempe.gov mailto:mark_mitchell@tempe.gov mailto:len_copple@tempe.gov mailto:pam_goronkin@tempe.gov mailto:barb_carter@tempe.gov

Take this one all the way, 5 to 4 or not!

Tempe Police Repression of Critical Mass
Flagstaff Police Repression of activists at Kerry Rally
Tucson Police BRUTALITY with 70 rubber bullet hits on one guy

These are all current stories on Indymedia Arizona.

We need to have a statewide day of action to stop the brutality and harassment we feel, it is totally out of control now. If you don't think we live in a police state, then you must already be in jail. Action Now!

I have called for actions in Flag in solidarity with the rest of the state. Lets make FEB 25 a statewide show. Critical Mass, Rally, Marches, Picket the Police stations, press releases, press conferences, the whole nine yards.

Stop the hate and end the Police State!

Seriously, if you know how to organize...NOW in the time.
FEB 25
STATEWIDE DAY OF ACTION AGAINST POLICE REPRESSION AND BRUTALITY

This could follow with MAR 15 (This date gets worldwide support)
International Day of Action against Police Brutality

I think that a protest should be staged as soon as possible in front of the Tempe police station.

Signs, etc and hopefully get the corporate media out for it.

Maybe the anarchists can organize this? [sic]

How's this you crazy liberals - GET THE FUCK OFF OUR ROADS. You have NO rights to block traffic, cause dangers to pedestrians and motorists, and distract the police from doing their more important jobs (such as stopping drunk drivers, rapists, murderers.) Instead of letting the police work ,you PURPOSEFULLY draw them out, provoke them, and force them to protect you incompetent idiots from yourselves.

Let me put it this way again - YOU HAVE NO FUCKING RIGHT TO BE IN THE ROAD WITH 20 PEOPLE BLOCKING TRAFFIC. You cannot evan maintain the speed limit, by doing so, you're causing MASSIVE risks to yourselves, and to the people around you. It's all fun and games, but what happens when you cause people to get killed? You're going to go crying to the police to help.

GET OUT OF OUR FUCKING ROADS. God you liberals are so clueless.

Get a car you fucking bums

This is why the founders created the 2nd Amendment. If the government fails to obey the constitution we have the right to overthrow the government. And thats what guns are fo.

Beat 13 Sgt. S. Gage (480) 350-8187

I have nothing but praise for the officers. May God bless them, their families and America ... HOOYAH !!!!

K. Renwiche is Sergeant Kevin Renwick of the bike squad

Whose Streets? Our Streets! We have a right to be on the street without the police using violence against us.

There is a 4th Amendment, too, for all the good that seems to do these days.

Incomplete listing of Tempe PD officers

Officer Frank Aguilera, crime prevention unit

Officer Kevin Ameiss, bike squad, witnessed choking a handcuffed black teen in 2003 in front of Circle K at Ash & University, extremely abusive

Officer Roger Austin, crime prevention unit

Officer John Avalos, Firearms/ defensive tactics training

Officer John Bier

Officer Dan Brown, crime prevention unit

Officer Joey Brudnock

Officer Elliot Campbell

Officer Anna Cano, bike squad

Officer Steve Carbajal

Officer Kathie Click

Officer Aaron Colombe, bike squad

Officer Dan Conboy, DUI squad

Officer Jeff Corder, DUI squad

Officer Chris Eastman, patrol, DUI squad

Officer Jon Evans, works homicide.

Officer Chris Gulli, known to work in the bike squad, as well as patrol. Harasses anarchists and activists.

Officer Jake Haines, bike squad

Officer Mike Hayes, former bike squad, now patrol. Extremely confrontational, abusive.

Officer Dave Hess

Officer Steve Horsman, firearms and defensive tactics training

Officer James Jandreau, patrol officer, known to have harassed man for not showing ID

Officer K. Kelch is Kevin Kelch, who also serves in a reserve component in the military.

Officer Jeff Lane, also public info officer

Officer David Larson

Officer Michael Lin

Officer Todd Long, DUI squad

Officer Greg Mayer, has worked bike squad

Officer Kurt Mayer, bike squad

Officer Chris McCormick, bike squad

Officer John McGowan, contributor to the Arizona Republican Party

Officer Robert Mitchell, known to harass over showing ID

Officer/Detective Josie Montenegro, high school officer

Officer Rich Monteton, bike squad

Officer Darin Mowery, bike squad

Officer Heather Penner, bike squad

Officer Derek Pittam, bike squad, also thought to do riot training, SWAT

Officer Jack Rall

Officer Whit Roesch, bike squad

Officer Ken Scheffner, bike squad

Officer Adrianne Schmidlin, works as apart of the "Order Out" anti-prostitution squad

Officer Kyle Schmidt, shot and killed a suspect in 2000.

Officer Aki Stant, bike squad, also public info officer

Officer Stefan Springstroh, DUI squad

Officer C. Stant, patrol

Officer Sean Still, DUI squad

Officer Robert Sullivan

Officer Bill Vanek, crime prevention unit

Officer Chad Watts

Officer Kevin Weeks, DUI squad

Officer Ed Wells, motorcycle squad, DUI squad

Tempe PD Sergeants
Sgt. Joe Brosius, auto theft squad

Sgt John Butler, DUI Squad

Sgt. John Ferrin

Sgt. Bob Gage, DUI squad

Sgt. Noah Johnson- Firearms/defensive tactics training

Sgt. Dan Masters, Tempe PD's press spokesman. Was involved in two shootings.

Sgt. Mike Pierce, bike squad

Sgt Kevin Renwick, hostile to protesters, anarchists, works bike squad

Sgt. John Rush, bike squad

Sgt. Chuck Schoville

Sgt. Craig Stapp, firearms/defensive tactics training

Sgt. Jon Waide, crime prevention unit

Sgt. Larry Wylie

Sgt. Don Yennie

-Commander John Dorsey
-Commander Tom Long, ordered attacks on protesters numerous times

-Detective Mark Allen, worked in auto theft
-Detective Larry Baggs
-Detective Chris Hoffman
-Detective Brian McCluskey
-Detective Tom O'Brien
-Detective Dan Peckham
-Detective Russ Welke, worked in auto theft
-Detective Rob White

Brandon Eaden, Community Service Officer
Kathy Groenewold, Crime Free Multi-Housing Coordinator, crime prevention unit
Angie Palma, Administrative Assistant II
Linda Saliani, Administrative Support Supervisor
Loretta Sutton, Community Service Officer

Many years ago there was a HUGE shake up with a new City Manger & so-called "Leaders" in Tempe City Gov't/Police... Tempe/Police has since gone to Hell. Since there ISN'T good investigative Journalist left in the Valley,ie New Times,Repub,Tribune,and College Times,I'll run thru some things,and sure readers here can add more:

1)With recent "Bikini-Gate",Tempe police had to "pull" a city worker away from his city job,then city fired the city worker.

2)Police has blown ANOTHER murder investigation,ie that "boyfriend" that killed his "girlfriend" somewhere between Tempe & Tucson.

3)Besides like other Valley Cops having "sex" on the job,the police force is so high turn over,that the city can't keep enough officers to fit the needs of the public. The Police force has more turn over then the local Burger King.

4)Police are told of HIGH CRIMINAL activity at a place on Baseline Road,but refuse to do anything about it.

5)You don't see them on the streets "Patroling" the roads to do something about the bad drivers,because they are "ordered" to only "Protect" Downtown & TownLake.

6)Tempe City officials are Bitching & Complaining of being in debt & city losing Sale Tax $$$,while not doing anything about high crime neighborhoods that is losing sale tax revenue.

7)If you don't think Tempe Gov't/Police are acting very "Neighborly",have you piece this Wednesday at the annual "Neighborhood Day" in front of the State Capitol. The Governor is suppose to speak there at Noon time.

8)To the Lurks reading this,ie the Tribune,the Repub,and the New Times,get off your fucking ass & do some Investigative Reporting of corruption of the Tempe City Gov't & Police!

The worse ever is sgt Randy Scott

corupt, politician, a man with a agenda

Copy below of Audio Story of previous Protest against the Police in Tempe,last August 2003.......Nothing changes.
----------------------------------------------------------------
Arizona Independent Media Center

Original article is at http://arizona.indymedia.org/news/2003/08/11689.php
Audio:Protest Against Police,Tempe Az
by AZ Radio IMC • Sunday August 17, 2003 at 09:23 PM

Audio of August 1st Police Protest directed at meeting of National Association of Women Law Executives at Hotel in Tempe Arizona.15 minutes long.

This is a short summary of the protest against the national gathering of the National Association of Women Law Enforcement Execustives (NAWLEE) that was held on July 31- August 3 in Tempe, AZ. by Collin Sick Nearly 30 Anti-police activists from a variety of groups such as Phoenix Copwatch, Tempe Copwatch, No Jail Fees, Phoenix Anarchist Coalition, and the AZ Socialist Party came out to the hour long demonstration that was held in front of the Tempe Mission Palms hotel on 5th st. in downtown Tempe on Friday, August 1. There was some confusion as to whether the NAWLEE attendees would be bussed in to the hotel or how they would enter the hotel as the NAWLEE schedule of events was changed, more than likely due to security concerns by the Tempe PD after it was learned there would be a protest. As we waited for the NAWLEE attendees to arrive, the Tempe PD approached our group to ask how many people would attend, they received no serious answers, but more cops on horseback, bike, and in unmarked cars appeared. Soon enough NAWLEE attendees began walking to the entrance of the hotel, which was barricaded by security and hotel vehicles. The NAWLEE attendees were booed and heckled by the crowd of protesters, as they trickled into the hotel for over 45 minutes, the group started chanting "No justice, no peace! No racist police!" others chanted "NAWLEE out of Tempe," while others handed out fliers to passer-bys. It seemed that the NAWLEE attendees got the message. The Tempe PD at the demo, who were previously spread out, began congregating in opposite directions of the protest, so we made the decision to call it a night and disperse, as no NAWLEE attendees had come by in 15 minutes, or so, and it looked like the Police may have been preparing to make some arrests, or confront the crowd. There were no arrests, even with the large police presense. This was an important event for Tempe and valley area anarchists and radicals, as police harassment and brutality of protesters and activists has been on the rise in the last two years, and in the Tempe/Phoenix area, as well as around the nation, there has been a marked rise in the amount of police brutality and police shootings witnessed by the public and recorded in the media. This violence aimed at communities of color, at poor people, at women, at queer people will continue, unless, we take a stand, and beat back the police attack.

add your comments

15 minute Audio
by AZ Radio IMC •

audio: MP3 at 1.7 mebibytes

********************

CM in Tempe has a new participant as of now.

Critical Mass meets every final Friday of the month at Gentle Strength Cooperative (234 W University, Tempe -- the NW corner of Ash/University) at 7:00pm.

Lets take back the streets!

It looks like some of the CM people are idiots. Notice i don't say all so don't go off the deep end.

I'm glad a friend sent this to me. The article starts out nice about wanting to peacefully demonstrate and ride your bicycle legally and lawfully. However I don't see a complaint that the officers issued tickets for not having bicycle lights. You complain more like "we got tickets for something stupid" but you don't deny the fact it probably is against the law not to have a light? I don't know if it is or if it isn't but I'm guessing it is since the article tries to minize that point.

I find it hard to believe officers tackeled someone who was just asking what he was under arrest for? I'm not saying it probably has never happened but in all the contacts with the police I've ever had I found showing respect gets respect in return.

My guess is a majority of the CM people protest oil oriented motor industries and ride bicycles because they don't have jobs or can't afford a car in the first place. Go to school, get a job and join the real world. Think of all the free time you'd have if you didn't beg or take up room on Mill Ave all the time?

I wish people would see that civil disobedience ONLY makes things worse. Please don't judge ALL bike riders by those who were civilly disobedient in the Critical Mass ride. Most of those are weekend riders and NOT regular commuters. I am SO OVER this kind of thing. It just makes things harder for the rest of us.

I didn't know that riding your bike legally was an act of civil disobediance. Again, let's take a step back and put this in perspective. 20 bicyclists doing NOTHING wrong other than a few of us had missing lights ends up in 2 arrests, 20 people threatened to be arrested if they left even if they DID have legal lighting and had therefore done nothing wrong.

Nobody ever said getting a ticket for lack of lights is dumb. It's the law, it's published and known, and if you don't have a light, you deserve the ticket. How about this - getting a ticket for not having the proper light because a rider turned off the battery AFTER we were stopped, AFTER we pulled over, to save batteries. That's not retarded?

And despite what you find hard, it wasn't hard to find some ogre of a police officer on a power trip *tackling* a rider for doing NOTHING but trying to leave. I was 10 feet away. One cop said he could go, and the other one didn't hear him say it was okay to leave; when the arresting/tackling officer saw the rider try to leave he was taken down by his neck and then 3 other cops joined in. This was probably the excitement of their night. I mean, who cares about the rapists and murders, we've got some people having fun over here. Do you realize there were TEN police officers sitting around over a few people with missing lamps on their bicycle? What about the drunk driver that just drove by... with a missing headlight? Not a blink of an eye.

People don't ride CM because they can't afford to drive. They do it because they PREFER to ride. Yes, I drive a 8000# truck (it runs on biodiesel) But what does getting a job have to do with driving a car? In most cases the only reason people really need cars is to get to their stupid job, so they can afford to pay for insurance, gas and maintenance. Seems like a little bit of a stupid cycle to me.

In response to Taxpayer's Feb 10 post: I was present the evening in question and found it very hard to believe that a person could be "taken down" as the police like to say, for simply leaving when he was not being detained. I mean he politely asked if he was being arrested for God's sake. Nevertheless it happened and I saw it. The police acted as if the cyclists present that evening were an armed insurgency bent on wreaking havoc because of some escalating misinformation the cops continually fed one another. (read the police report) They bred their own fear and created an unsafe situation when their mission, in fact, is to make Tempe a safer place to live.

Your assertion that the cyclists involved are uneducated, unemployed vagabonds interested in protesting for its own sake is entirely withour merit. While each has their own reasons for standing up for cyclists rights, my experience is that they are a well educated lot who have opted to live in a manner that does not support the "oil oriented motor industries" you mention. Does that make them less important or nullify their taxpaying right to gather freely and express concerns for things like dependence on foreign oil or the importance of urban planning and public safety? Of course not. Do you think they like paying for a transportation system that does not recognize them or just pays them lipservice? Do you think they like the fact the police spend most of their time sweeping up motorists who pile into one another rather than actual public safety issues? Do you believe that spending more than 20 per cent of your take home pay on transportation makes for a healthy society? How about paying for government subsidized gasoline which "forces" us to spend billions sending our family members to occupy foreign countries in order to exert political and physical pressure in order to take natural resources and keep the cost at the pump artificially low? I can't speak for anyone but myself but I strongly believe that we would live in a vastly improved world/state/city/school district if more people cared enough to attend a public expression like Critical Mass rather than spending their free time getting loaded and driving around the desert as if they inhabit a pickup truck commercial. I strive to live independent from cars and if you gave a crap about anyone but yourself, you would lower your dependence on them too.

Personally, I am educated. I pay taxes. I own property and a ten year old business in Tempe. I have lived here most of my life. I served on a volunteer citizen committee (for the full allowable 6 yr term) that advised City Council on bicycle safety and bike/pedestrian oriented urban planning. I have stood on a busy corner with motor officers informing cyclists of the rules of the road. I currently volunteer to teach kids about bikes and bike safety and I am fucking livid that my tax money is being misspent because the police are out looking to create situations which they can then dominate.
If my headlight isn't on and an officer decides to ticket me for it, fine. Despite the fact that this and all other bike traffic infractions in ARS Title 28 Chapter Three Article 11 go completely unenforced the rest of the year. (Unless, that is, you get hit by a car while cycling)
In this instance, the police, in their zeal to find something to accuse riders with, created a dangerous situation by collecting IDs and writing citations in a live (and busy Friday evening) left turn lane. They then completely blocked motor traffic on Rural Road (an offense the cyclists are wrongly accused of), the police then delayed individuals from meeting their respective commitments and obstructed the group's goal of peacefully making their point that bikes are traffic and not obstructions to traffic. Further, the police escalated the tension which they brought to the situation by physically tackling a cyclist, then arresting another when he expressed his concern for his and his companion's safety given the violent attitudes and actions displayed by the police.

I find it hard to believe too.

I am now obligated to spend more city resources by appearing in court where I am subjected to a schedule of their convenience. I miss work and may get fired, I get a criminal record, I have to spend more time and money defending myself to the court from defending myself from the police: all of whom are supposed to protect the innocent, of which I am one as I have done nothing wrong.
It is ridiculous and YOU should be outraged.
Here is Tempe PD's # (480) 350-8306
Here is the city Bike Coordinator: (480) 350-2775
Here is Mayor Hallman's 480-350-8865

I have a job. I own a car. I pay taxes for roadways, just as much as anyone else. I ride my bike to work. Not only do I have a right to the roadways, but it is ILLEGAL if I do not ride on the road (i.e. ride on the sidewalk).

If a car does not have its lights on, people just flash their lights to tell you it is off...you don't get tackled at the next corner.

If there were a group of 20 cars and 1 of them got pulled over, the other 19 cars would not be arrested for leaving the scene.

It's 1 world, I'm doing my part. I'll see you at Gentle Strength.

Of course, I'm very disturbed by this incident. Tempe Police department rabblerousing the cycling community. I'm also disturbed by the lack of enforcement on some motorists who disregard any cyclist travelling in urban industrial areas, where sidewalks are the only viable way of commuting by bike safely, yet they travel (the motorists) at high velocity and close proximity. Some sidewalks along this path are covered by river rock landscape, and of course AZ Codes do not permit travelling by bike on sidewalks. These are on my side of town, mostly DUI, DWI cases.

I appreciate the work that most officers in PHOENIX have done to eliminate criminal elements, but remembering the time when a kid by the name of Julio Valerio back in 1996 was shot down because he was drugged up and waving a knife at police who had guns.

Now Tempe police in this situation have clearly shown their chivalry, by manhandling a group of cyclists. So I have to wonder as I begin my cycling journey everyday, how I will be handled by PPD on the west side while trying to dodge traffic by a bunch of drunk and disorderly drivers whether I am commuting to work or just travelling on a bike. Let alone some individual who may be a bit eccentric about riding bikes and have a pre-paid legal helper and lots of money to boot.

HMMMMMM...This situation is looking grim for the Tempe PD, or anyone who caters against the cycling communtiy throughout the world.

So when does it end? The violent agression against us cycling folk? Or do we really have to pull our weight, and our oxygenated might to get this problem solved in all governmental and environmental issues? Do we flex our muscle, or do we let the government handle this 'delicate issue' of integration of the cycling community and motorized community, or should we chevrolegging people just take over?

lour.1@netzero.com