Democracy Gone Astray

Democracy, being a human construct, needs to be thought of as directionality rather than an object. As such, to understand it requires not so much a description of existing structures and/or other related phenomena but a declaration of intentionality.
This blog aims at creating labeled lists of published infringements of such intentionality, of points in time where democracy strays from its intended directionality. In addition to outright infringements, this blog also collects important contemporary information and/or discussions that impact our socio-political landscape.

All the posts here were published in the electronic media – main-stream as well as fringe, and maintain links to the original texts.

[NOTE: Due to changes I haven't caught on time in the blogging software, all of the 'Original Article' links were nullified between September 11, 2012 and December 11, 2012. My apologies.]

Tuesday, September 06, 2011

N.L. Police Kicked, Insulted Woman During Arrest: Witness

A man in Corner Brook says he witnessed a Royal Newfoundland Constabulary officer assault a woman during an arrest Saturday night.

Frank Ledrew said he was on Broadway, one of the key streets in downtown Corner Brook, when he saw the woman break down emotionally.

He said the woman, 45, who is from Ontario, had just received a phone call informing her that her son had been murdered there.

Ledrew said the woman lay on the ground, kicking her legs in the air and screaming, and was hysterical as two RNC officers arrived on the scene.

"They moved in on her quickly," Ledrew told CBC News.

"I heard one officer claim, 'You kicked me. I'm arresting you for assaulting a police officer.' And then with one great big boot, gave her a kick and called her a slut."

The RNC has not commented on Ledrew's allegations.

The constabulary had said earlier they had responded to a report of an intoxicated woman in the area, and had charged the woman with assaulting a police office and with mischief under $5,000 for damage caused to a police vehicle.

Ledrew said that when he told the officers he was a witness to the arrest, he was threatened with arrest for interfering with police.

Ledrew said the scene disturbed him as it unfolded.

"I saw a woman in distress [and a] hysterical nervous breakdown," he said in an interview. "I saw a police officer kick her, call her a slut and throw her into the back of a cruiser."

Ledrew told CBC he plans to file a complaint with the Royal Newfoundland Constabulary Public Complaints Commission.

Origin
Source: Huffington 

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