A joyful baptism celebration at a Hispanic household in Woodbridge, VA was abruptly interrupted by police who reportedly barged in requesting immigration documentation from the homeowner – the night ended with the tasing (shock with taser gun) of two adults and their subsequent arrest. Relatives of the man and woman that were arrested claim to have caught this all on video. The incident occurred on July 25, 2009.
This story is still very much in development, I heard it on the way to work this morning while listening to the local Spanish-language radio station, El Zol. Relatives of the man and woman who were arrested came on the morning radio show to tell their story.
The story as told by relatives of the two arrested individuals:
Police enter the household, shoot three electroshock currents.
Police rushed into the house, which was in the midst of celebrating a child’s baptism (christening), and insisted on speaking with the owner of the house. Upon identifying the homeowner (Edgar Amado Rodriguez, 55), the police asked the gentleman for his immigration documentation. The homeowner, an immigrant from Guatemala, made every effort to comply with the police officers’ instructions – and immediately upon removing his wallet from his rear pant pocket to, one of the officers shot an electroshock current into the man using a taser. Typically one electroshock current is more than enough to subdue an adult male, in fact, the gentleman hit the ground; nevertheless, the officer shot two more currents into downed homeowner, for a total of three shocks.Female Relative comes to the man’s aid, receives one electroshock in her back.
Upon witnessing the man’s weakened state, obviously down for the count and seemingly unconscious, a petite female relative (Leticia Elias, 25) came to his aid, as soon as she hunched over to check him she received an electroshock current from the officer’s taser. The two individuals who were tased were then arrested and taken back to the police station. They were charged with disorderly conduct and resisting arrest – relatives claim that police officers never mentioned anything about an arrest and confirmed that Miranda Rights (“You have the right to remain silent, etc.”) were not read.Status of arrested individuals, immigration issues.
I don’t know what their status is, but I’m assuming that there are immigration issues on the table – and now, definitely allegations of excessive force from police. A representative from Guatemala’s consulate was part of the radio show conversation this morning and he insisted that this incident will not be overlooked – he also stated that a meeting is being arranged to bring together the arrested persons’ families, Prince William County Police, and several Latin American consulate representatives.Relatives claim police misconduct, seek justice.
The relatives that spoke about this incident on the radio this morning spoke with conviction and are determined to fight for justice and fairness as it relates to allegations of police misconduct. They mentioned that even beyond the blatant use of excessive force, there is the factor of humiliation that the homeowner endured throughout that night’s incident. The gentleman is a source of strength and dignity for his own family and a dignified figure for many members of the local community since he also teaches classes and serves as a family counselor at the local church.
Summary of the story as told by Prince William County Police:
Police respond to a noise disturbance at the baptism party.
The homeowner (Edgar Amado Rodriguez, 55) was not cooperative, in fact he cursed at the police officers and refused to turn down the loud music, even after officers explained local noise ordinances. Apparently he was drunk because he was eventually charged with Public Intoxication and Resisting Arrest. He also refused to identify himself to police – this is when he was actually placed under arrestAnother person attempts to interfere with homeowner’s arrest.
A young lady (Leticia Elias, 25) was charged with Assault on a Police Officer, Obstruction of Justice, and Resisting Arrest.Officers felt the need to call for backup.
The officers called for backup when several people at the party surrounded them.Claims of mistreatment and excessive force, dismissed.
According to First Sgt. Kim Chinn (Prince William County police), the first officer that arrived on the scene was Hispanic and spoke fluent Spanish – this contrasts claims that Robert Rodriguez could not understand what the officers were saying.
Prince William County controversial immigration laws.
Two years ago, I wrote about Prince William County’s controversial immigration laws when they were first introduced. The law states that police officers can demand proof of lawful presence (right to be in USA) from any individual that can be detained on probable cause of violating federal immigration laws.
Final Thoughts.
Whether the cops acted correctly or not, which is up for argument, they have done irreparable damage to their reputation in acting the way they did. The fact that a non-lethal weapon was utilized, at a party full of children and community members, celebrating the baptism of two toddlers, on a key figure of the local community, and on a pregnant lady…is not going to look good, just about any way you tell the story. I can’t get over thinking that this event could have passed without incident if only the correct words were spoken (or the incorrect words not spoken).
I can’t get over that a taser was produced to begin with…citizens should know what to expect when encountered by police officers, and this ultimately displays a lack of effective community communication. These folks come from countries where police will beat the crap out of you just for talking back – you could also pay the same police a few dollars and they’ll let you beat the crap out of them. So we must understand that our immigrant populations have a different sense of policing…they know that police here are kinder, there are different rules, there is respect for the citizen, regardless of social class. So education must exist to dispel myths and generate goodwill throughout the community for the local police force – at the same time, immigrant populations should not be treated like they are often treated…as ignorant populations.
There is no doubt that force must be used to ‘control the situation’ and neutralize volatile people…so the usage of non-lethal weapons like stun guns and rubber bullets makes sense in many situations. But, no type of force can be more effective than amicable conversation and community involvement. Effective policing comes from deep integration with the community – an integration that involves dialogue and open communication between the police force and the citizens it cares for.
The Prince William County police department has just started doing a great job at listening to the community and this is why we’ve come to expect a lot from this police department…standards are already so high. The county is exhibiting an unprecendented surge of immigration from an influx of residents representing a variety of ethnicities – but it is obvious that most of the immigrants are coming from Latin American countries, primarily from Central America. In a few years this police department will have a level of expertise in dealing with the Hispanic community that could rival that of the NYPD, LAPD, and Miami-Dade Police.
Cry me a river … these things happen when someone is belligerant and uncooperative with law enforcement.
Yes, law enforcement. I know that because our government coddles illegal immigrants, for the sake of reducing wages in America, many people in the US think our laws are a joke and maybe even think uniformed officers coming to their house are some kind of joke. Seems like the grandfather did if he cursed at the officers. To most of us in America, our laws are not a joke and rules are to be followed generally.
Too often the illegal immigrants in our communities and their friends and family flaut laws. We have two sets of rules in America. One is for English-speaking citizens who expect to have their identity tracked through their lifetime – who can’t expect to bail on financial or legal obligations for the price of a streetcornerphony ID. Another is for Spanish-speaking citizens who can claim they can’t speak English, and can flaut laws by way of not even being required to have legal identification. The most obvious example of the latter is the plethora of overcrowded flophouses we’ve seen in this area over the past few years, and the way zoining inspectors have to take people’s word for being related to each other, by virtue of their not having proper identification. They lack the proper documentation for one simple reason which should not be overlooked or brushed aside with semantics – because they don’t belong here.
Other little things fall by the wayside too. Want to set up a drunk driving checkpoint? Can’t, you’ll just ensnare dozens of illegal immigrants and be told you’ve “done damage to the community”. Remember how in older times citizens had to prove who they were and where they lived before their child could attend school – preventing us from school-shopping, locking us in to a particular public school? Gone by the wayside, providing you can speak Spanish.
The video evidence of the party shows that it was far too loud for that neighborhood where we live stacked up next to each other. There’s no excuse for that kind of nonchalance about neighbors’ rights. Supposedly there were fireworks in this party, and the music was heard 5 blocks over. Personally I support tasering even if only to send a message that noise pollution is actually against the law and our laws need to be respected. Nothing else seems to work.
And if you think that I care what the Guatemalan counselate thinks about the incident, you’re sadly mistaken.
Rick, I understand why you’re so upset at this uncontrolled influx of immigration into the DC Metro region…but you should also understand that most immigrants (legal and illegal) share the same concerns that you do.
Legal immigrants come over here on a variety of visas (student, worker, etc.) and fill out stacks of seemingly endless paperwork, various consulate visits, and substantial filing fees to enter this nation lawfully. Once they get here, they also want to live peaceful and serene lives in family-friendly neighborhoods, to raise their children with morals – often times mixing their culture with American culture.
Many illegal immigrants also feel the same way…and most of them are here to work – not by selling drugs, trading in arms, or to form new units for motherland gangs. These are the immigrants that are here because of the dire circumstances back home…they get over here, pick up a hammer, and get to work – contributing back to our local economy by providing their labor/services, then spending their money with local businesses, and finally, sending whatever they can back home…to support their families.
Prince William County passed a law in 2007 that allows police to ask anyone for proof that they are in the United States legally. So there are active policies in place to curb unlawful immigration and kick out illegal immigrants – we’re making it harder to be illegal in this country…if you’re here illegally then you’re looking over your shoulder and avoiding contact with anyone that requires ID, whether it’s the DMV or the hospital. All these illegal immigrants know they are subject to immediate deportation and in some cases, criminal charges – they’re taking a gamble.
That said – we currently have a good deal of policy in place. But policy can only go so far – this is where the community comes in:
Why do overcrowded and noisy flophouses exist? Because landlords need to pay their own bills and they rent indiscriminately…if they cared as much as you do about the community you live in they would ask the tenants to show them proof of lawful presence. It’s also possible that these homeowners don’t live in that area and either don’t understand or don’t care about the long-term effects of renting to illegal immigrants.
All true, I can’t argue with that. My own neighborhood was sliding into a ghetto a few years ago – full of overcrowded houses, people paying less tax per capita, budgets bursting accordingly at all levels of government, legal residents abandoning the neighborhood as fast as they could sell their houses, shadowy anonymous figures walking around day and night, and NOISE constantly. It’s better now, I’m living in a neighborhood of single-family townhouses that are mostly inhabited by single families. But I remember what was happening, and why – because the elitists who run this country will sacrifice law and sovereignty for a quick dollar – and I’m still angry about it.
The first point that needs clearing up here is the law that was PASSED and upheld to this day is that the police will check the immigration status of ANY INDIVIDUAL who is ARRESTED. You are only ARRESTED when you commit a CRIME. Secondly, since when does a Baptism involve loud music from 4 foot speakers, lots of Alcohol, fireworks, and an unwillingness to turn the music down 3 HOURS LATER when the police ask you too? When the man started to become beligerent the TWO officers attempted to arrest him, he began to resist and the crowd began to approach the officers, at this point being OUTNUMBERED they called for backup, as the man continued to resist arrest he was tased with the contact portion, not the projectile. The woman made physical contact against the officers in an attempt to help the man, at which point is assault and she was tased. Put yourself in the shoes of the TWO officers facing a LARGE AMOUNT OF ANGRY PEOPLE that simply DONT WANT TO TONE THE BAPTISM DOWN. As was admitted by the woman she is NOT pregnant. All in all they should have just said, “I’m sorry officers, Ill turn the music down” then at that point if the police were wanton racists who just wanted to beat on some hispanics they would have a case and we would all be in shock. However as you can read from both sides of the story that is not the case. This family needs to just drop everything to avoid further embarrassing themselves and the latino community. And while they’re at it, its AUGUST, take the CHRISTMAS LIGHTS DOWN ALREADY.
Oh and yes if your are in drunk in your backyard in VIEW of neighbors you are drunk in PUBLIC. Would you not get arrested for indecent exposure if you were naked in your backyard where the neighbors could see?
As far as the whole in front of the children thing, they were all getting smashed drunk in FRONT OF THE CHILDREN… sigh, Let us all learn from this, if the cops say keep the noise down, keep it down. simple. Has anyone on their side interviewed their neighbors?
No, we only here from the “victims’ who want to make a quick buck and pass off PW County in a bad light. Just the same with the lady in manassas park who was driving without a license with a broken headlight but the police discriminated against her. I guess they’re not after the guy who broke into burger king and robbed them because he committed a crime, its only because he’s white?
To me…this is less of a racial issue, and more of a policing issue. Sometimes there are no alternatives to using force (i.e. tasers, guns, wolverine claws, fists of fury, etc.) — but the fact that there is no alternative to force is clear evidence that something could have been done preemptively to prevent the need for force. What I’m trying to say is that this incident is a good opportunity for the police department to review its community outreach efforts – the way it’s marketing and branding itself…and how the public is perceiving the police force.
The law is always going to be an enemy of criminals…police are there to prevent and interrupt crime. But the law is not an enemy of lawful citizens – and citizens need to know that they must comply with police officer orders, agreeing to resolve any disagreements after the officer’s orders are met. Beyond this, ‘officer orders’ should come across more like ‘officer requests’ — we’re not in a state of martial law here – and talking back to a police officer to ask ‘why’ should not be encountered with ‘because I said so.’
That said, I think PWC Police is doing a great job with multicultural communities – and I guarantee that most immigrant residents will agree.
Hello. Fantastic job, if I wasn’t so busy with my school work I read your entire site. Thanks!
Really great article – I was thinking about a similar article which I will probably still take a shot at, but from a slightly different angle. Thanks for sharing this with your readers…Obviously a lot of others appreciate it too!