Skate Daily has posted some disturbing news, on 6/21 6 skaters crossed the path of Officer Joey Williams, a mistake. Joey took it upon himself to choke out a 16 year old skateboarder and in doing so, was filmed. Thanks to Youtube, the entire world can now see what happened on the streets of Hot Springs, Arkansas.
After you watch this disturbing video – please email a civil statement to the Cheif of Police Bobby Southard (bsouthard@cityhs.net) demanding the firing of officer Joey Williams.
MORE UPDATES: EMAILS FOR CITY COUNCIL NOW POSTED
‘pege1947@aol.com’; ‘direlainejon1@sbcglobal.net’; ‘srsmith12003@yahoo.com’; ‘sable@hsnp.com’; ‘td7965@aol.com’
UPDATE: emails no longer work, please use this contact information to get your message accross: Phone: (501) 321-6789 Fax: (501) 321-6708
This is unacceptable behavior by anyone wearing a badge.
UPDATE: Officer on leave after tussle with Hot Springs skateboarders!
[Photo: Skylar Nalls]
From WMC-TV Memphis – Officer on leave after tussle with Hot Springs skateboarders.
HOT SPRINGS, Ark. (AP) – Hot Springs police have placed an officer on administrative leave while they investigate an Internet video that appears to show him choking three youths who were skateboarding in violation of a city ordinance.
Mayor Mike Bush says investigators have talked with passers-by and business owners who saw Officer Joey Williams stop the young people on a downtown sidewalk Thursday. A YouTube video shows Williams apparently choking one youth after forcing him to the ground, while later chasing and wrestling two others while holding them in a headlock.
In all, police say six youths were involved — three 16-year-olds, 1-13-year-old, one 19-year-old and one 21-year-old.
Bush says he does not condone the officer’s actions.
Williams did not return calls for comment.
The shows the youths along Hot Springs’ Central Avenue, an area where the city has banned skateboarding. Voices in the background can be heard asking Williams why he was arresting the youths.
Police officer assaults skateboarder.
Additional links:
YouTube: Go skateboarding day: cop v.s. skaters.
USA Today: Arkansas skateboarding arrest.
Portland Independent Media Center: Hot Springs, Arkansas: More Police Brutality on Go Skateboarding Day
Houston Chronicle: Officer accused of choking skateboarder
30 comments
Randy Young
Skateboarders need to learn to OBEY THE DAMN LAW!!!! I used to a Hot Springs Police Officer and I have arrested several skateboarders in the Central Ave. area. Skateboards are illegal on sidewalks in the state of Arkansas.
noah hyma
i think he is working in pampa texas as the local code enforcment officer…another state. once a police officer now code enforcment while under investigation perhaps
tush_bmx
although i bmx, i am freinds witha lot of skaters and yes i am in the uk but the problem is this happens all the time my freinds have had unjustible force used against tem whilst skating ina skate park.
i how ever have never had that from a police personnal, although i had it of a member of the public from the local shop i was riding past his shop and he came out and pulled me off my bmx by my hood this was caught on cctv and the police dropped all charges and i ended up getting in trouble now this is not fair and he should lose the write to ever work on the police force or any other forces for this matter
big bob
http://www.petitiononline.com/hspd123/petition.html he is no longer on the police force
Randy Young
Actually, he is still on the force and there is not one damn thing that you asshats can do about it.
blake
fuck u joey…damn it to hell its fuckin skateboardin for christ sake…and w the fuck was u think..if anyone gets arrested for skatin thats fucked up oh and yaeh dgk says skateboarding is not a crime soo fuck u… oh and lay of the donuts and u mite the them next time u fat fuck if that was me i would or beat the fuck out of u
Randy Young
Skateboarding on a sidewalk IS A CRIME!! The “victims” in this situation was the 67 year old that was assaulted by these “innocent skaters.” Also, Joey is not choking the little ass hole, he is holding him down. And Blake, threatening a police officer is also a crime.
JakeAndAnnoy
Someone should “hold you down” then, and stuff dead snails down your yap. Redneck closet-case.
Robbinskate
fuck, that cop sucks
Peter
fucking rediculous. anyone know if he actually is still an officer?
fucking pig.
Glenn L.
This is why I teach my kids to fear the police. This guy is undoubtedly still an officer.
Indiana Man
Father of two street-smart kids.
Anon
hay guyz anon delivers this pigs infoz http://www.whitepages.com/10583/logfeature/perssearchwemail/search/FindPerson?firstname=joey&name=Williams&cityzip=hot+springs&stateid=AR&defaultlisting=phone&extralisting=mixed
call until you find out who is a cop there
Hopkins
Why is anyone even suprised. I’m not, and I could careless about it. This shit has been going on for years. In my 16 years of Skateboarding (yes as long as that kid being choked has been alive) it’s happened to me more than once and it will always happen as long as we have cops, and as long as we have skateboarders. Skateparks(Concentration Camps)are nice but aren’t the answer either. Who wants to be confined all the time.
Conahan
The word skateboard was in the story, so there you go. Think what you want. This isn
Scumbag
Punks fail to obey police officer. I’m supposed to be sympathetic?
Paige
All you will need in 2008 to be a member of the Portland Police is a high school diploma. Maybe even a Good Enough will work.
Kilwag
Hmm. Even if what the girl said was true, it’s still not an appropriate response from that meathead. Unfortunately, the job of being a cop tends to attract a lot of people who have a bully mentality. They have a hard time filling positions as it is. Portland is currently talking about reducing education requirements for entry level police. I believe it’s just an undergrad degree that they need now, and they want to make loopholes in that!
Paige
On Portland’s Indymedia site, a girl claiming to be an eyewitness to this Hot Springs incident states that the skaters were taunting the police in various ways after being asked to leave, came back with a posse and cameras, and “set up” the police officer to respond the way he did.
In a highly visible public servant position, I’d say that every police officer needs to have incident response testing. I looked into being a 911 operator, and the psychological testing as part of the interview process was intense. It’s too bad they don’t do that for police as well. There are a lot of nutjobs who work as police. My boyfriend has been hit with a maglite in the head by the Portland Police but was advised by CopWatch not to report it due to retaliation by the police fraternity. In that respect, these kids have balls.
Marek
Brad, are you out of your fucking mind? those kids were skating not killing anybody. There was no need to arrest them or hand cuff them in any way. If im gonna pretend like im law respecting guy id say they should have got citation with a court date on it without any pig violence. Why the fuck should be cops be able to arrest you for even a minute if there isnt danger of either you hurting somebody else, yourself (even that might be questionable) or simply trying to run away from court (no fifteen year old will evade court date and if theres one in hundret who would do so it doesnt justify aressting all others). it is all just an example of police bullying people. shit like that cn happen only in america or in some other police state.
Randy Young
Skateboarding on a sidewalk is a crime and on that sidewalk it endangers others.
Kilwag
There’s a difference between force and justifiable force. You seem to be implying that any lack of cooperation with police allows them to do whatever the heck they want. Police should be held just as accountable for their actions, if not more so. They are supposed to be the ones enforcing the laws, and so they need to behave accordingly – not as bullies who hide behind their badges to justify their actions.
Once a suspect has been detained, there’s no need to continue to choke him as retribution for trying to evade the police. A police officer is not there to dole out punishment (except in the form of citations), that’s the job of the courts.
brad
I think that police can and should be able use force when a person resists arrest period, not just when they feel threatened. I’ve never understood why people who resist arrest or otherwise disobey the police are so suprised when problems arise. Responsible people should remember that when they chose an action they also choose the consequences. For these kids to say that “they were just riding a skateboard” likely implies something very different from what actually was happening here. Videos like this need to be watched very closely for context and investigaton needs to be done regarding what happened prior to the camera even rolling. We shouldn’r react so emotionally and with such conviction before such an analysis has been done. This happens over and over in the media and if you aren’t recognizing it then you don’t have your “bullshit detector” on as Strummer liked to say.
Andrew
The kids may or may not have known whether they can skateboard through there but it doesn’t matter. You do not wrestle someone to the ground and begin to choke them especially a 16 year old kid. The kid was posing no immediate threat to the officer or anyone around him. He was simply skateboarding. Not to mention he tried to put the girl in a headlock and threatened to mace the one laying on his belly. I’m quite sure you are only supposed to use force if threated. Can this officer, who looks to be at least 200 pounds of muscle, honestly say he felt threated by a 16 year old kid, who was probably barely 100 pounds. It is quite obvious this police officer has anger issues and can’t control himself. How can he be trusted should something like this arise again. The citizens give these people a right to carry a badge and have an authority over us so they can serve and protect us. Who was this guy serving and protecting? A huge responsibility, one he shouldn’t be allowed to have anymore.
kate tippett
My son has been an avid skateboarder since he was 15. He is now 35 and I don’t think he would even consider giving up his hobby for a family weekend getaway. It is harmless fun and also good for his morale and body. Too bad this Officer allowed his anger at being “dissed” (kids ran from him) to cloud his rational thinking. He now most likely will be seeking other employment. If this boy were my son, I would be more outraged than I can even imagine. I am almost at that point for this young man and young lady. Thank god this swas captured on film!
Damienhialation
It says a lot when the cheif of police changes his email address due to the write-ins. Very nice. PS. I particurlarly liked the part where he tossed around the little girl.
Paddy McGizzle
Just called them, and I mentioned it so they hung up. It was pretty beautiful. This dude needs to get grilled
Paige
Skate and Annoy almost needs a “Police Brutality” section. The actions of that “Officer” Williams were completely unnecessary and abhorable. It may be the nation’s second headline next to Benoit due to ‘roid rage in 48 hours, though!
Estes
Thats because in the last 48 hours they have recieved just over a half million emails! Skaters are proving themselves……once again.
orezona
the email address for the chief doesn’t work anymore. You could always try calling him though: 501-321-6705.
Cancer Chris
Police abuse of power… So rare, and so sexy. What a hero that virile bald headed officer of the peace is.