5 Lesbians Attacked; Police Refuse To Take Report

[kpete]

Source: Washington Blade

5 Lesbians Attacked; Police Refuse To Take Report
August 5, 2011 |
By Lou Chibbaro Jr. on August 5, 2011

A man who shouted the words “dyke” and “bitches” as he and another man assaulted five lesbians outside the Columbia Heights Metro station at 3 a.m. on July 30 was released by D.C. police officers after they apprehended him on the scene, according to two of the victims.

A third man who accompanied the two attackers used his cell phone to make a video recording of the attack and continued to record the unfolding drama after the police arrived, said Yazzmen Morse, 21, who suffered a black eye and a swollen face from the assault.

According to Morse and the other victim, six or seven officers arrived on the scene in four police cars after responding to an apparent 911 call from a bystander. The two women said the officers, who are assigned to the Third District police station, refused to take a report of the incident, ignoring the women’s repeated requests to make a report.

“The police grabbed one of the attackers and restrained him,” Morse told the Blade. “Then they let him go. And then they said they didn’t want to hear our stories.”

Read more: http://www.washingtonblade.com/2011/08/05/5-lesbians-attacked-police-refuse-to-take-report/

[dtexdem]

1. The officers need to be put on administrative leave pending investigation.

And if no investigation is forthcoming, it's lawsuit time.

[aquart]

2. Yes.

[Lucky Luciano]

3. Lawsuit either way. nt

[Occulus]

4. No, they don't deserve a paid vacation. n/t

[elleng]

5. Much more, at the link.

An officer assigned to the D.C. police Gay & Lesbian Liaison Unit did make a report of the incident three days later, on Aug. 2. Morse said the GLLU became involved after her mother called police to complain about the refusal of the officers on the scene to report the attack.

The GLLU report lists the incident as an anti-gay hate crime.

Morse and the victim, who spoke on condition that she not be identified, said all five women are pleased with the thoroughness of GLLU Officer Joseph Morquecho, who interviewed Morse at her place of work and the other four by phone. . .

[awoke_in_2003]

8. "Officer Joseph Morquecho"...

good to know there are still some good cops out there.

[JustABozoOnThisBus]

9. An anti-gay hate crime? Count again ...

there were two anti-gay hate crimes. One by the assailants, the other by the officers at the scene.

[elleng]

10. Sorry; that was a quote, from The Blade.

[dbackjon]

6. Those officers need to be in Jail

General Population.

[happyslug]

12. For what? Breaking up a fight? For restraining one of the attackers?

Police exist to keep the peace NOT to prosecute crimes, they can prosecute crimes but that is not and has never been they main role in any jurisdiction that I know of. Thus the police arrived, broke up the disturbance, restraining one of the men involved and then told everyone to go home. In the vast majority of cases that is what Police do. Sounds like no one wanted to do any paperwork so none was done, until one of the victims complained to the Department itself who then did the paperwork.

Please remember, police reports are HEARSAY, as a general rule NOT admissible in court. They can be used as prior inconsistent reports but only if the case goes to trial. The decision to take a case to trial is up to the District Attorney (Or the Federal Prosecutor, since we are talking about Washington DC) NOT the police. Thus if the victims really have a complaint about the attack they need to file with the District Attorney NOT the Police Department.

[BNJMN]

13. May you never get your *** beat by a gang of 'athletic black males', who record you getting beaten,

then laugh and taunt you as they are released by the police (who didn't even apprehend one of them). The nerve of some people.

[happyslug]

17. Police do NOT enforce the laws, that is the local DA's job, Police keep the peace.

Keeping the peace is the primary job of the Police, NOT to enforce the law. Police can enforce the law, but can also violate it IF THE POLICE BELIEVES THAT IS NECESSARY TO KEEP THE PEACE. If you are attacked, the Job of the Police is to stop the attack, which was done in this case, anything after that is the job of someone else.

Now the Police CAN investigate and provide evidence for the District Attorney but that is additional to their job of keeping the peace. It is NOT a primary job of the Police. That is the point I was trying to make, the Police kept the peace, which is they primary reason for existing. If you believe the attackers did criminal acts, the complaint and enforcement of those criminal statures are to be done by the District Attorney, NOT THE POLICE (again let me note this is Washington DC, a FEDERAL DISTRICT, thus the role of the DA is done by the Federal Attorney whose performs the function of the DA in DC).

Thus my point, once the peace was restored, the parties separated and one man restrained, the Police had perform the primary function why they exist and should be praised for that. Anything after that is up to the local DA to enforce, the Police CAN do so, but the law does NOT expect them or require them to do so. Thus NO misconduct by the Police. The police did not try to cover up this incident, the Police just treated it as a disturbance best debt with by separating the parities and the sending everyone home.

The Police can NOT do a report on every incident they are involved in, if they do, the police would be writing reports when the officer is really needed elsewhere. To a degree we have that today, police make reports that are never needed or used. An Police Officer has to balance between filing no reports and thus being on the street 100% of the time, or filing reports and being tied up filing those reports. In simple terms do you want these Officers filing out reports instead of responding to other complaints? That is often the issue. The Courts recognize this and thus give the Officer the benefit of the doubt when it comes to filling out or not filling out reports. We have to do the same. If the victims wanted to press charges all they have to do is to file with the Local DA or whatever is the District Attorney Equivalent in Washington DC.

[muriel_volestrangler]

18. They had evidence that the suspectas had committed assault

and the victims wanted to make a report. The officers refused to take it.

Of course that's part of their job. By your twisted interpretation of what the job of the police is, if they saw a man murder his wife, and walk away, they'd be saying "peace has been restored, we don't need to do anything until the victim contacts the DA asking for further action. Oh, she won't, since she's dead - good, no paperwork at all!"

If someone says they were attacked, the police have look into it. They can't just decide the victims "don’t know how to act". Given at least one of the victims was injured, they'd need a damn good reason for not taking the suspect to the police station. They certainly can't just say "peace is restored, la-la-la, we're not listening to you".

How, in your fantasy police world, does the DA catch up with the suspect that the police had but never even bothered identifying? You're saying it's the right thing to do to fail to collect any fucking evidence whatsoever? That's your idea of how to keep the streets safe?

:banghead:

[happyslug]

21. Actually what you say IS THE LAW OF THE LAND

Sorry, to disillusion you of your dream that Police enforce the law, that has NEVER been the law in this Country. If the police see a Murder and decides to drive away, he can do so. If someone is attacked in the presence of a Police Officer, the Police officer is under NO legal duty to do anything. The Officer CAN do things, but no laws says he MUST do things.

Our law reflects the norm in the English Speaking world prior to about 1900, where most people lived in areas WITHOUT POLICE. How do you report a crime where they is no police? the answer to the Local DA or the Local Judge. That basic concept has NOT changed do to widespread adoption of Police starting in the early to mid 1800s (And most rural areas did not have ANY police till State Police became the Norm after about 1920).

Police are a retrofit to the English Common Law System, as a retrofit its duties was limited and are limited. That is the point I am trying to make, and people just do NOT like hearing that the Police have NO duty to enforce the law, the only duty the Police have is NOT to break any law.

[muriel_volestrangler]

24. "the MPDC is the primary law enforcement agency for the District of Columbia"

http://1.usa.gov/oNOtgh

I don't know what libertarian dreamland you're writing from today, but, in the real world, the police are a law enforcement agency, not bouncers.

"How do you report a crime where they is no police?"

Irrelevant wherever there are police. Such as when they're standing next to you.

Law enforcement is a primary duty of the police. You seem to think that because there weren't organised police forces when the US Constitution was created, then you can decide by yourself what they should do.

[happyslug]

31. No, that is the opinion of the US Surpreme Court,

The last time in 2005 see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Castle_Rock_v._Gonzales for details

[StarsInHerHair]

28. then why are cops called LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS?

you're really stretching & straining must be difficult....for a slug

[happyslug]

30. Because it sounds better than "Peace Officer".

Yes, it relates to image more than facts.

[No Elephants]

20. Baloney. Breaking up a fight is enforcing the law. So is making an arrest.

[happyslug]

22. The Police DID break up the fight, just refused to make any arrests

All I am pointing out is the Police CAN enforce the law, but NO law requires the Police to do so. Thus if the Police want to break up a fight, the Police can do so, if the Police do NOT want to arrest anyone or make a report, the Police do NOT have to.

[BNJMN]

26. Funny, I thought you were saying, "Police do NOT enforce the laws, that is the local DA's job..."

But, what do I know?

[No Elephants]

33. Now, you're trying to backpedal. .

First, I can read an OP for myself,l thank you very much. Therefore, I never said that the police failed to break up the fight, so save the straw man for Dorothy.

I took issue with your Reply 17, in which you said repeatedly, all caps and all, that police do NOT enforce the law.

Not that they had no duty to enforce the law, but that they do NOT do it.

"All I am pointing out is the Police CAN enforce the law, but NO law requires the Police to do so."

Still baloney.

Police absolutely do have a duty to enforce the law. That happens to be the job of law enforcement officers. It's what they are hired by government and paid by taxpayers to do.

They may not have a duty to make an arrest in every fight they break up, but that is a different issue from saying they have no duty to enforce the law. They do.

The real issue here, anyway, is not some technicality, but why, in this case. they chose not to make an arrest.

[happyslug]

35. As per the US Supreme Court, Police have NO duty to enforce the law.

See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Castle_Rock_v._Gonzales for details

[w4rma]

34. Just who are you trying to fool? And why are you trying to fool them, happyslug? (nt)

[saras]

37. The police DID NOT break up a fight, they interrupted a mugging

Normally, when you catch a perp in the middle of a violent crime, you take them in, and let them go later, when and if their attorney forces you to.

[dbackjon]

19. for not doing their job

[happyslug]

23. As I said above, they did do their job, they kept the peace.

Police CAN arrest people who commits crimes, but no law says Police MUST do so. That is all I was pointing out, the Police were doing their job as the Courts have interpreted it to be, not what you or I think is the job of the Police Officer.

[dbackjon]

25. So if you are assaulted, and the police come, refuse to arrest your attacker

You are ok with that?

[happyslug]

29. No I am not, but that is the law in this Nation

See
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Castle_Rock_v._Gonzales

http://m.hg.org/law-articles/20903/No_Right_to_Police_Protection_in_the_United

This is discussed in the Gun Dungeon all the time:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=118x401065

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=118x333329

[Recursion]

7. On top of two murders and numerous assaults on transwomen in the District

This last attack was actually right by my house and I saw the police taking witness statements as I came home last night (I didn't know they hadn't filed charges, but the Police LGBT liaison unit was there, and was taking statements). Two of my friends (a bi woman and a transwoman) were attacked in Chinatown a few weeks ago.

EDIT: I misread it, last night was a separate incident. Good lord.

[jwirr]

11. Aren't hate crimes federal? They should report it to the FBI.

[BNJMN]

14. 'July 20 shooting that left transgender woman Lashai Mclean dead. Both cases remain open...' [nt]

The world is a cesspool.

[Jankyn]

15. Given the reported statement by the officer...

...that "You don't know how to behave," and that the victims were black, as were the attackers, this has a nasty stench of racism and homophobia all over it. There's a long history of ignoring black-on-black crime as well as crime against women in general and women of color in particular.

[BNJMN]

27. Even without dragging all the 'isms' into it, it's a despicable act made worse by indifferent police

[yardwork]

36. That's how I read it. Black men attack black women; police blame the women.

Presumably straight men attack gay women; police blame the gays.
Men attack women; police blame the women.
Blacks attack blacks; police can't be bothered to do anything about it.

Typical.

[on point]

16. 6 or 7 officers need to be fired!!

[LetTimmySmoke]

32. This kind of shit keeps happening because they get away with it.

If someone assaults 5 people in a subway station and gives someone a black eye and a swollen face, it's time to throw that person in a labor camp for a few years till they learn some fucking manners.

[saras]

38. If the lesbians were all legally packing heat and defended themselves, would that be acceptable?

No fatalities, just knees and genitalia.

If not, then what?

[wordpix]

39. the 14th St. corridor is a place I would never walk at 3 am so if you have to walk it,

go protected.

Even though DC is a very egalitarian place, the creeps are out at night and in the wee hrs. looking for action. There are a lot of muggings, break-and-enters, rapes and other crimes, even in the "best" neighborhoods.