[van-announce] I got roughed up, handcuffed and thrown in a paddy wagon...WOODWARDS ARRESTS (fwd)

[Sid Tan]

Yo Folks.

This is beyond belief. People are meeting and the police swoop in. I'm
walking away but taking still photos and get jumped. My leg still hurts
from the leg lock. I get handcuffed and tossed in paddy wagon. There was
no warning to the crowd, just police officers saying move back. I did and
kept taking photos, two or three. When taken down, I tried to pass my
camera to someone but was unsuccessful. The police returned it to me
while I was handcuffed in wagon and said they did not want my camera.

Shorly after the door openned and a female constable 1956 (I think), quite
attractive blonde average proportion about 25-35, said I could go if I
left the site. I asked what I was been detained for and she said breach
of peace. I made it clear to her that I was stepping back but taking
photos when I was jumped. I asked if I could come back tomorrow. She said
no. That was not acceptable (legal?) so I would have to stay and said so.
A short while later the door openned and the same constable said I could
go if I left the site. I asked if I could come back tomorrow. She said yes
so I asked to leave. The handcuffs were taken off and I was given the
bum's rush and joined a group of squatters and supporters at the Abbott
mansion.

I'm going to lodge a police complaint tomorrow and consulting with my
lawyer to sue. There's a community meeting at Victory Square at Cambie and
Hastings at 10:00AM. This was a major travesty. If you want to hear the
horror stories, call me on my cell - 783.1853 - after 1:00 PM or come to
the meeting. Take care.  anon  Sid

Take care.  anon  Sid

 *** CHOW TAN is legal surname. You can call me SID
               or anything as long as you call me for dinner! ***

---------- Forwarded message ----------
Date: Mon, 23 Sep 2002 04:46:54 -0400 (EDT)
From: Tony Tracy <tony at tao.ca>
Reply-To: project-x at resist.ca
To: pga-van at lists.tao.ca, project-x at lists.tao.ca, mobglob-discuss at lists.tao.ca,
     van-discuss at resist.ca, Student Activist Network List <san at lists.tao.ca>,
     apc-announce at resist.ca
Subject: [pr-x] Update: WOODWARDS ARRESTS

Approximately twelve people were arrested outside the Woodwards Building
at Abbott & Hastings shortly after 11pm on Sunday evening. Police used a
good deal of force & violence in conducting the arrests, and it is unclear
at this point what injuries the arrestees might have sustained. Included
amongst the arrested was John Richardson, a lawyer who works for PIVOT who
has represented previous Woodwards arrestees at their release hearings on
Saturday.

After the police had conducted the arrests, they had a garbage truck pull
up and dispose of personal possessions, mattresses, etc. which were on the
sidewalk area outside the building.

A group of supporters is presently gathered outside the Vancouver Police
Department building on Cordova Street at Main Street in Downtown
Vancouver to continue with jail solidarity for the arrested.

The supporters have been told via another volunteer lawyer that the
arrestees should be released overnight (likely within the next few hours).

A community meeting has been called for 10:00am Monday September 23rd at
Victory Square (Hastings Street at Cambie) to address the Woodwards issue,
etc.



*******
Project-x mailing list, discussion around _Rebuilding the Left_ and similar initiatives in B.C.