- Craig Baker
I get that TPD felt like they needed to be prepared for anything last night—there is, admittedly, a bit of a history in Tucson of post-game shenanigans when it comes to Wildcat Basketball during the month of March. I even understand that there were some minor uprisings on University Boulevard and at the south end of 4th Ave after Arizona’s heartbreaking overtime loss to Wisconsin—thankfully, no one was seriously hurt and no damage was reported. What I don’t quite understand is why, once the threat seemed to have passed, did TPD continue to not only lock down the public street, but also to push back against fans and citizens that obviously presented no harm.
While walking home toward the UA campus from our viewing post at Sky Bar, our small party of four hit what could only be described as a wall of riot police stretched across the whole of the street like a bulletproof black curtain. Anxious to document the situation for the Weekly (that is my job, as it were), I naturally began taking photographs of our newly-trained riot squad with my iPhone. There was some Facebook photo-posing by at least one bystander, but certainly no hint of aggression nor threat thereof. But the police, nonetheless—apparently still on hyper-alert after the rush that immediately followed the game—still seemed anxious for one last opportunity to put their new riot training to work. The street was clear, though officers pushed forward still and even began muscling people on the sidewalks. To simply be in the area of University and Euclid after the game apparently became a crime once the boys (and girls) in blue—or rather, black—had their adrenaline pumping.
When the line of cops started moving, I switched to video. Though you cannot see it in the clip, my wife—who was following police orders to disperse—took several sharp, painful shoves in the back from a baton as police re-cleared the already-clear street. I continued filming as the police approached, walking backwards in pace with them as best as I could manage while continuing to film and, before I knew it, my hands were being cuffed behind my back and I was led up the road to a waiting paddy wagon. I never saw the face of my arresting officer before he/she transferred me to another officer (the one that led me to the van). At no point was I read my rights nor was I told why I was being arrested, though about ninety minutes later I was issued a citation by yet another officer for “unruly gathering”. They were then nice enough to remind me how lucky I was not to be spending the night in County.
The other arrestees with whom I shared the space in the back of a police van for a long, uncomfortable hour-or-so (it’s hard to check the time with your hands secured behind your back) were an eclectic bunch ranging from a shirtless law student covered front and back with bean bag welts, a University freshman who claimed to be walking to Chipotle to buy a burrito after the game when he was apprehended, and a spiritually aggressive campus evangelist who never gave a reason for his detention except that he was apparently destined to convert the other eight people in the van to Christianity (editor’s note: This evangelist would be Dean Saxton, otherwise known as the “You Deserve Rape” guy).
I’m not saying that TPD should not have riot police at the ready on big UA game nights. That just seems like common sense. But when it comes down to it, though the New York Daily News reported that Tucson Police Sergeant Pete Dugan claims that only those advancing on officers were arrested, there is at least one video (namely, this one) that proves you didn’t need to do any “advancing” whatsoever to be viewed as a threat by a super-charged, riot-ready police squad.
Though the plastic zip-tie cuffs left blisters on my left wrist and my sense of security as a journalist and citizen was left in doubt, the entire ordeal was still only slightly more difficult to handle than watching the tragic end to the UA season just a few moments before.
This article appears in Mar 27 – Apr 2, 2014.
You don’t realize how much of a joke this city is until you venture outside of it for a bit.
There is a very specific breed of boredom that afflicts the TPD, this boredom blurs all lines of legal and illegal.
A crime that would typically require 1 squad car, suddenly requires 5 squad cars and a K-9 unit.
Something that would normally get you a slap on the wrist and a fine, suddenly turns into being aggressively forced into a county cell with very vague reasoning.
Some drunk college kids causing a commotion downtown (per usual), suddenly needs the force of a “newly trained” swat force.
I toured the country with musical acts, sometimes things got really ugly. But I was always impressed how officers in these places presented themselves as keepers of the peace, not soldiers creating their own version of peace.
“To simply be in the area of University and Euclid after the game apparently became a crime”
Yeah they declared it an unlawful assembly, that sounds like the legal definition.
” walking backwards in pace with them as best as I could manage “
When the cops say leave that means leave, not see if you can walk backwards as fast as they walk forwards.
“At no point was I read my rights”
You get an F in journalism. If you took the time to do some research you would know that the cops don’t have to read you your rights when you get arrested, only if they’re going to ask you investigative questions. Overall sounds to me like you were being a D-bag and received the consequences of your actions.
Something is really wrong when a nations people are afraid of its “peace keepers”
You’re right, Raymond. I forgot about the part of the U.S. constitution that reads “do whatever the cops say or else you deserve to get beaten or arrested”
clowns wielding chainsaws, packs of feral babboons and cops in riot gear are to be avoided at all costs…Not pro cop…but pro common sense…
Keep us up-to-date on what happens next,the whole process please. How many times you have to go to court, how much it costs. What kind of legal counsel you come up with whether the weekly pays for it. the outcome, is important for all to know.
Personally I don’t know what the law is for or against you in this situation.
I like to know that also .good luck
I noticed a few things in the video: 1) The street was not “already clear” 2) There was verbal evidence that some individuals were being unruly 3) the police treated the crowd collectively rather than individually 4) The people on the sidewalks were left alone by the police, and 5) the author/photographer stopped “walking backwards in pace with them” and in fact stopped and stood his ground rather than complying with the order to disperse. I did not see evidence of police misconduct.
Cartman as an adult.
You act surprised, but nationwide the local PDs are training in the Miami model (see also John Timoney) and even tiny little towns are stocking up on military grade equipment and learning how to use LtL shock methods of crowd control. Mayberry RFD has been militarized, and you’re just now waking up to it?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u2QfHaFitM…
“Something is really wrong when a nations people are afraid of its “peace keepers”
Sorry “genius” something is extremely wrong when morons choose to riot over the loss of a damn GAME!!
It’s odd to me that the police are actually the cause of what they are working to prevent. Someone in a decision making/training capacity at TPD should study the social sciences. This is just stupid.
“unruly gathering” So that’s what they call it when TPD gears up and goes looking for a fight? Sorry to those who like to live their lives as a doormat and accept a PD that conducts itself like this, but TPD went down there looking for a fight and their numbers and tactics provoked this. We knew what took place on University was a safe bet to happen hours before tipoff when a TPD sergeant went on local TV news to show off their new gear and video cameras.
Contrast the scene in Tucson with that of Madison, WI where even more students emptied out of the bars and into the streets, climbing up trees and onto buildings. Note the difference in police tactics and lack of riot gear. Huh, funny how there were no arrests there.
http://host.madison.com/wsj/news/local/fan…
Hopefully there is some kind of city government review of TPD tactics after this. Yes, I continue to be a dreamer. Have a nice day everyone.
Decades ago my father gave me some excellent advice: If you are near a riot, leave immediately, if only so you don’t get caught up in the mob.
TPD has to justify their paychecks when they are not hunting down migrants.
TPD and Villasenor have to justify their paychecks when they are not hunting down migrants. Esp. In their new riot fashion togs.
First of all you all need to read what “unlawful assembly” is. This is a law being abused by the thugs in blue not unlike ” I smell marijuana” or ” you look suspicious” or any other go to jail free card these thugs are twisting for their pleasure to use force. People have the right to assemble. People have the right to speak loudly and forcefully about what ever the hell they want. People have the right to stand on streets and sidewalks and a public property including parks and government areas to do what ever they want. The line is blurred by abusive government. You cannot block traffic of vehicles, persons or businesses in a protest and you cannot instigate a riot. So if you are marching down a street and a car comes, move, or a sidewalk and person needs to get by, move or a business entrance just step aside. But no, cops tell you that you cannot be there if you are following these rules then they are wrong. Now with that said, anyone illegally arrested must sue the shit out of the city.. its a must. Yeah taxpayers pay the bill, but maybe tax payers will get pissed enough to grow balls and congregate in the masses as these people did for the right reason. That is the only thing that really upsets me is a cop can murder a guy for illegal camping and you may see 400 people but a fuck ing game and there are so many more. So I guess this country gets what it deserves since a game is more important than a life.
TPD 15—drunk stupid U of A students 0. Game over.
Craig, I was supportive of your stance until I saw the video! Ha! I laughed out loud. You were testing the limits and got caught. You get no sympathy from me. You could do everything I saw on the video on any other night and not have a problem. You were trying at a bad time to test your civil liberties. Maybe if you were protesting bad government but a basketball game?
Your video kinda makes you look like a jerk Craig. How much did you drink that night?
You were not walking in pace with them (well you were when you were in the middle of the street!), you stopped walking, thrust your camera in their faces while chanting “we are not doing anything illegal” . Seems like you were encouraging others to not disperse which could be interpreted as an attempt to incite or at the very least disrupt the police activity. You gave them every reason to detain and ticket you.
While the police reaction may be an embarrassment for the city your blog is an embarrassment for The Weekly.
AZRLS; Unfortunately I learned that the hard way in 1970 in Carbondale Il.
At least they didn’t shoot you (in the back) like the Border Patrol!!
“What I don’t quite understand is why, once the threat seemed to have passed, did TPD continue to not only lock down the public street, but also to push back against fans and citizens that obviously presented no harm.”— Really the students presented no harm… So you don’t think them throwing glass bottles, cans, smoke bombs, fireworks/sparklers isn’t harmful. TPD was doing their job and making sure that the the riot that just happened didn’t escalate like it did before. Also not going to lie but, putting a camera in someone’s face is just plain rude and disrespectful and I am surprised you didn’t get punched in the face for that because I know I would have! For everything thing that you did and how big of a douche you were you deserve your hour or so detainment and your citation. How dare you attack those that go out everyday making sure that you and everyone else is safe from the all the bad that they have to experience.