Black family arrested for 'loitering' on their own front lawn

[Generic Other]

On October 1, a black family was standing in the front yard of their home, when police approached. They were arrested for loitering even though they were on their own property, reports KYW news.

Loitering offenses have historically been used as a way to purge people seen as undesirable, such as the homeless, from public spaces.

Now, the family is demanding answers from the Chester Township Police Department in Pennsylvania.

https://www.rawstory.com/2019/10/black-family-arrested-for-loitering-on-their-own-front-lawn/#.XaSxRD_5EaE.twitter

So besides not being safe from being shot inside one's own home, African Americans can't even stand in their own yards.

What is wrong with the cops in this country? Answer: Look at Ecuador. The military there came to the aid of civilians. None of the police did. They gassed and clubbed them in the streets.

[TreasonousBastard]

1. This is the kind of crap that demands the bully pulpit take it on. Unfortunately...

The current bully in the pulpit is encouraging it.

[TeamPooka]

24. He's why the racists are emboldened to act

[snort]

2. Pigs be piggin.

It's what they do.

[malaise]

3. We're not expected to own a yard

Don't you get it. We're too damned uppity - owning yards- what next a BMW?

[42bambi]

6. Let alone standing in their own yards! WTH.

[malaise]

11. Living while black is not good for our health

seriously.

[happy feet]

18. The truth!

[cwydro]

39. Is it that bad where you live?

I know there’s a hella crime and murder problem there, but I thought otherwise it was ok.

Certainly for those with money.

[MineralMan]

4. Incredible!

[BlancheSplanchnik]

5. So angry I could punch a wall. n/t

[moose65]

22. Better not do that while black!

[BlancheSplanchnik]

42. You're right!

I’m an old white chick. I realize I would be treated lightly. 😕

[Brainfodder]

7. Humanity is an embarrassment?

The other species are probably as pissed off as this family.

are they teaching these trigger happy cops?

[InAbLuEsTaTe]

8. Un-fuckin-believsble!! Cept its not... this shit has to end!!

Bernie/Elizabeth or Elizabeth/Bernie 2020!!
Either way, they're stronger together!!
Welcome to the revolution!!!

[Hermit-The-Prog]

9. lawyers should be lining up, filling their front yard

Make the township pay dearly.

[Takket]

10. I'm sure this happens to white families all the time

[lunamagica]

12. This has gone way, way too far...trumps legacy

[Perseus]

13. "What is wrong with the cops in this country?"...I think its obvious that white supremacists have

infiltrated police departments throughout the USA.

[Celerity]

35. they did not have to infiltrate, they were there from the beginning, often BECAUSE they were white

power FUCKERS.

I (multiracial part black) can be dressed like I just stepped out of Monte Carlo, literally, perfect dress, bag, heels, watch, jewellery, etc etc (I won't bore you with the brands), all posh as fuck, and my wife (white blonde Swede) can toss on old dirty sweats, unwashed hair, and a cap, we can walk into any ultra high end High Street store, Harvery Nics, Harrods, most places on Rodeo Drive, most on Champs-Élysées, Bergdorf Goodman, Barneys (NYC is the worst, along with Hong Kong) etc etc and I am going to be the one with the undercover store detectives following me around.

[Bettie]

14. WTF?

so, why aren't black people allowed to be in their own fucking yards now?

Oh and then this from a more local source:

When the young men, who are black, were released from jail, they were greeted by family members on that same lawn where they were arrested. Kevin Mincey, the family's lawyer, said that's when officer Storace, who is white, showed up and decided to re-arrest them as well as several other members of their family.

[link:https://kywnewsradio.radio.com/articles/news/family-fights-back-after-loitering-arrest-outside-their-home|

[obamanut2012]

15. wtaf

[Blue_playwright]

21. Holy. Shit.

That’s fing insane. Wtf is wrong with the world? We are supposed to be better than this by now...

[underpants]

29. Wow. That's all kinds of messed up.

[Demovictory9]

16. two days in a row, they were arrested

https://atlantablackstar.com/2019/10/11/we-just-came-home-black-philly-family-feels-targeted-after-police-arrest-them-two-days-in-a-row-for-loitering-on-their-own-property/

Rachel Briggs says their troubles began on Oct. 1 when Officer Pasquale Storace III arrested her sons and nephews for loitering as they were playing in their front yard. Family attorney Kevin Mincey told local radio station KYW 1060 that when the young men were bailed out and returned home the next day Storace came by the house and began to re-arrest the just-bailed out group, this time hauling in other family members as well.

Attorney Kevin Fitzpatrick, who also is representing the family, told CBS Philly the township’s loitering statute was struck down in court in 2012 because the court ruled it too vague.


Mincey told KYW of the statute, “It essentially says there are to be well posted areas of no loitering signs up that say ‘no loitering.’ There are no ‘no loitering’ signs in this particular neighborhood.”

Fitzpatrick added that, based on recent arrests, it seems police are using the disputed law to abuse their powers.

“Who do they think they are to victimize a family like this and do this to someone in the community,” Fitzpatrick asked. “Who do they think they are?”

Turquoise Benso, a neighbor who witnessed the incident, told CBS Philly he observed 15 police cars at one point in the encounter.

“I just felt that the police presence was excessive,” he said. “Fifteen police cars — that’s a lot for a family of four or five.”

The family is expected in court on Oct. 17.

[dalton99a]

33. +1

[stopdiggin]

17. whoever is advising this police department

is fixin' to cost the city a good chunk of change. Any statute they THINK they're hiding behind is plainly unconstitutional. And now they have a thousand lawyers lining up to take this case pro-bono. Great job, officer Storace! I'm sure the city council will be considering an award.

[aggiesal]

28. They should be considering a pink slip. n/t

[Hortensis]

19. Loitering laws? Outrageous. They shouldn't apply to anyone

at their own residence and, unless other laws or rights of others are violated, that includes the sidewalk, the planting strip, the driveway, etc. All the places residents normally have a right to be. Especially on streets like this where the setback is too shallow to reasonably keep to.

The police arrested some of these same people right before this. So this is a second harassment and arrest.

[WhiskeyGrinder]

20. "What is wrong with cops in this country?" It's an institution built on white

supremacy to uphold white interests.

[lunasun]

23. Well whether you are just standing around or doing something like cleaning up your own lawn it

is a danger while black
https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/2019/03/08/colorado-cops-confrontation-black-man-sparks-uproar-trash-video/3102930002/

The March 1 morning incident happened while the civilian was tidying up his own yard with a bucket and another trash tool that the officer appears to have mistaken for a possible weapon.

A viral cellphone video of the incident, taken by another person who lives in the same building, has sparked anger over perceived racial profiling in Boulder, home to the University of Colorado. Boulder police have launched an internal investigation

[rocktivity]

25. Bought this camera tripod with carrying case less than a month ago

Sounds like it's going to be so much fun to travel with




rocktivity

[no_hypocrisy]

26. Remember when Prof. Henry Gates was arrested for

breaking and entering INTO HIS OWN HOME?

[gay texan]

27. Wait a fucking second

So a family is arrested because they are enjoying their front yard as they see fit.

They get released the next day and are arrested again for enjoying their front yard as they see fit.

What the ever literal fuck.

Sometimes I wish I was a lawyer. I would gladly pro-bono my services and make the cops lives a fucking nightmare

[dawg day]

30. I hope the family sues them for many thousands

It seems the only way to get municipalities to take notice is to take their money.

[avebury]

31. I would up that to millions.

Arresting them twice for being outside their own home indicates a pattern. Their attorney should be looking for other people who have been arrested for being outside their homes. There might be a possibility of a class action lawsuits.

[LonePirate]

38. Bankrupting the cities and/or officers responsible for this crap may be the only solution.

There certainly will not be any job losses stemming from this mess, unless the victimized family members lose their jobs.

[burrowowl]

43. I hope so too

[spike jones]

32. "The cops don't need you, and man they expect the same." - B. Dylan

[Midnightwalk]

34. That is so horrible

And rearrested the next day? I wish I could call it inconceivable.

[Jarqui]

36. Beyond appalling. Hopefully, some unemployed cops in the near future.

And sue their heads off because saying this is horribly wrong isn't enough.
These so-called police need to be punished beyond reasonable doubt so that no one has any doubt about this BS not being tolerated in the future.

[Hav]

37. Not only arrested and dragged from their own porch

They are now also facing charges...With the news it generated, I'm sure the police will either drop it or a judge will hopefully throw it out.

On the other side, I guess it's progress that they survived this. Granted, for that they had to accept the crime of standing in front of their house.

[Demovictory9]

40. by the same cop. Clearly he's using his position to target them

[demigoddess]

41. What is wrong with the cops in this country?

[Maraya1969]

44. The prosecutor has not dropped the Criminal charges and they still have to go to court to defend

themselves! What?

I hope they sue; each one of them and I hope they get a lot of money!

[DFW]

45. I went to college in Southeastern Pennsylvania, and the cops there were like this 50 years ago.

The one time I ever voted Republican was when the Philadelphia Democrats nominated the corrupt police commissioner, Frank Rizzo, as their candidate for mayor. He used to be proud of how his goon cops would beat peace advocates at anti-war demonstrations with their nightsticks. He won, but at least he switched to the Republican Party soon after taking office, putting embarrassment back where it belonged.

These Chester cops need to be fired for false arrest, and then charged with criminal felony assault. The town of Chester deserves to file for bankruptcy after paying this family what it deserves to collect in damages.