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60-year-old, 110 lb woman dropped on concrete, bloodied, arrested by cops
.250Savage
Member Posts: 812 ✭✭✭✭
Is it just me, or is this completely f---ing over the top?
Socialite's arrest draws charges of police overreactionBy J. Harry Jones STAFF WRITER February 25, 2002 A birthday party at a La Jolla (Note: La Jolla is the local RICH, WHITE section. This will be important later on - .250 Sav) home Saturday night ended with the 60-year-old hostess being arrested and bloodied by police. San Diego Police Lt. Boyd Long said an internal affairs investigation has been launched, based on the statements of numerous witnesses who say excessive force was used against socialite Mary Beth Jernigan. The story, as related by Jernigan's son Nathan and other witnesses, is this: The semiformal party on Cave Street near Prospect Avenue in downtown La Jolla was held at Mary Beth Jernigan's home to celebrate her son's 30th birthday. It began at 6 p.m. and was close to breaking up when two police officers came to the door at 10:30. Nathan Jernigan said the officers, whose names haven't been released, told his mother they had received a noise complaint and warned her that if they had to return a citation would be issued. They handed her a ticket book, telling her she needed to sign the warning. She refused, her son said, saying she first wanted the names and badge numbers of the officers. One of the officers complied, Nathan Jernigan said, but the other said the information would be included in Jernigan's copy of the warning. Mary Beth Jernigan still wouldn't sign the warning, her son said, and one of the officers tried to take the ticket book away from her. "At that point there was a tug of war over the ticket book," Nathan Jernigan said. "He said 'Fine, we'll just arrest you right now.' " Nathan Jernigan said at least seven witnesses saw the officer twist Mary Beth Jernigan's arms behind her back, drag her at least 12 feet and throw her onto the cement-tile driveway face first. "It was the worst thing I've ever seen in my 35 years in San Diego," guest and witness Jon Roseman said. "This one police officer acted completely out of line." Nathan Jernigan said his mother, a widow, weighs only 110 pounds. "There was blood on her chin and her shoulder was cut up," he said. Witnesses said while the officer held the woman down with his knee in her back, nearly a dozen party guests approached, many screaming at him to get off Jernigan. (No F---ing *! At this point, I would be screaming, too!!! - .250 Sav)"Everybody was getting hysterical," Nathan Jernigan said. At that point, he said, one of the guests jumped on top of the officer who was holding Jernigan down. (Who the F--- wouldn't? - .250 Sav) The second officer began spraying the crowd with pepper spray and radioed for help. Within minutes eight to 15 patrol cars arrived. (8 to 15? "Calling all JBTs" - .250 Sav) Nathan Jernigan said one of the officers newly on the scene came out of his car carrying a shotgun. Mary Beth Jernigan was taken to a hospital and treated for her injuries. She was then booked into jail on charges of obstructing a police officer and being drunk in public. Her $5,000 bail was posted around noon yesterday. The man who jumped on the officer was arrested on an assault charge. He too had been released on bail by yesterday afternoon. Nathan Jernigan said his mother had had only a few drinks that night. He did concede that most of the people at the party had been drinking, some heavily. Lt. Long said a decision had been made quickly to bring internal affairs investigators into the mix because of "numerous claims of excessive force." Long said officers interviewed witnesses until nearly 4 a.m. The investigation is ongoing.J. Harry Jones: (619) 542-4590; jharry.jones@uniontrib.com Copyright 2002 Union-Tribune Publishing Co.
Then, the next day...
Officers back on duty as arrest of La Jolla woman is investigatedBy Mark Arner STAFF WRITER February 26, 2002 Two police officers who arrested a 60-year-old La Jolla woman during a party at her home Saturday night returned to patrol duties yesterday while being investigated for allegedly using excessive force. A police report on the arrest does not mention whether the officers declined to give their names and badge numbers (why am I not surprised? - .250 Sav), which some witnesses said prompted a scuffle between the woman and one of the officers, Todd Wilkinson, 41. Mary Beth Jernigan, who received a cut on her chin during the incident, said the officers asked her to sign a warning citation, but she first wanted their names. Wilkinson reportedly declined to give the woman their names and badge numbers. A report of the arrest filed yesterday by Officer Michael Bland, 33, said he and Wilkinson walked to the door of Jernigan's home on Cave Street. Jernigan answered and came outside, closing the door, he said. "I smelled a strong odor of alcoholic beverage coming from her breath," Bland wrote. "I explained there was a complaint about the noise, and we were going to give her a first response notice (warning). I tried to explain the first response notice, but she became uncooperative and refused to listen . . . Officer Wilkinson tried to get (her) information, but she refused . . "I observed (Jernigan) grab the first response book from Officer Wilkinson in an aggressive manner," Bland wrote. "When he tried to get the book back, she put her hand up to keep him from getting it. "Officer Wilkinson escorted her to the front parking lot by her arm," Bland's report said. "Officer Wilkinson attempted to put handcuffs on (Jernigan), but she was actively resisting. Officer Wilkinson took (Jernigan) to the ground to gain control and handcuff her." Jernigan was taken to a hospital in Hillcrest and treated for a minor cut on her chin. She was then booked into jail on suspicion of obstructing a police officer and public drunkenness. Her $5,000 bail was posted by noon Sunday. An internal affairs investigation was launched Sunday, police said, based on the statements of witnesses who said excessive force was used during Jernigan's arrest. Lt. Boyd Long said yesterday that San Diego police officers are required by department policy to furnish their names and badge numbers to any person requesting such information while they are on duty, or while representing themselves as police officers. The only exception, Long added, is if anonymity is required to perform their duties, such as working undercover. Wilkinson is a 19-year-veteran and Bland was hired 16 months ago, said Bill Robinson, a spokesman for the San Diego Police Department. He said it is normal for an officer who is being investigated in such a case to remain on duty. Jernigan said during a telephone interview that she had hosted a birthday party for her son, Nathan Jernigan, 30, at her home. It began at 6 p.m. and was breaking up about 10:30 p.m., when police walked up to her door and told her they had received a noise complaint. She said she was surprised that the officers refused to give their identities, and became frightened when the officer started to arrest her, so she resisted. "I didn't go with him willingly," Jernigan said. "I was no threat to them. They were asking me information, and I wanted to write their names on the warning thing." Jernigan also said that she was not drunk when police came to her home and that she was not a "socialite," as she was described in a San Diego Union-Tribune story yesterday. "I am a law-abiding citizen, and I have a totally clean record," she said. Mark Arner: (619) 542-4556; mark.arner@uniontrib.com Copyright 2002 Union-Tribune Publishing Co.
And the letters printed in the paper that very day (boy, those "hate the rich white" folks didn't waste a second, did they?)...
February 26, 2002 Police overreaction? But also bad news judgment The La Jolla socialite who was arrested and bloodied by the police on Saturday night, Mary Beth Jernigan, 60, should have been more considerate of her neighbors so the officers would not have had to waste their precious time responding to the complaint of an excessively noisy party. Why didn't she comply with the officers' request to sign a warning? If she had done so and quieted the party, she wouldn't have been arrested. (Excuse me? Did we read the same story? - .250 Sav)STEPHEN WALLSan Diego Throwing a 60-year-old woman to the ground and handcuffing her demonstrates a complete disregard for what the police are supposed to be about. The San Diego Police Department should take appropriate action against the two officers. But I also have a problem with your paper reporting this story in the manner you did. The same thing - a host being dragged from a party, thrown to the ground and excessive force used - happens in areas like Linda Vista and Logan Heights all the time. (This is the Mexican section of town, where the YOUNG, MALE gang-bangers have wild, drunken parties til the wee hours involving drugs, weapons, and fights - trying to compare THAT to a 60-year-old WHITE woman, playing the "race card" - .250 Sav)Why are such arrests never reported in your newspaper? People who live in those neighborhoods today are thinking, "That's what happened to my friend a couple weeks ago. How come this one gets a full-blown story, and what happened to my friend wasn't even mentioned in 'Crime Watch'? Oh, that's right. It only matters when it happens to rich people in rich communities." Thanks for making a lot of citizens aware that, to you, they really are second-class citizens. JESSE GALLEGOSSan Diego It must be nice to live in a world where you don't have to obey the reasonable (sure - "reasonable" - .250 Sav) demands of a police officer. Jernigan learned a valuable lesson: All of her money, jewels, liquor and friends don't immunize her from the rule of law. JEFFREY NEEDLEChula Vista It seems as if San Diego police have taken lessons from Attila the Hun. Surely an "All right, lady" from the officers would have provided a satisfactory ending to this apparent fiasco. Do the cops get extra brownie points from the chief if they show their authority by bashing senior women? Surely the time has come for a Civilian Police Review Board that has some teeth. (FINALLY! SOMEONE WHO DOESN'T MAKE ME FEEL LIKE MY GRASP ON REALITY HAS SLIPPED!!! - .250 Sav)BOB O'DWYERSan Diego This story definitely was not worth printing. The issue isn't excessive force by the police, but the lack of respect people have for officers who are doing their jobs. The officers showed up to the Jernigans' because they had received a complaint. Now, they will have to go undergo a strict review process because an allegedly drunken suspect refused to comply with simple procedure. ERICA ADARGASSan Diego
People, for God's sake, please tell me I'm not going insane here. Please tell me it's the world that's going mad, and not me...
Socialite's arrest draws charges of police overreactionBy J. Harry Jones STAFF WRITER February 25, 2002 A birthday party at a La Jolla (Note: La Jolla is the local RICH, WHITE section. This will be important later on - .250 Sav) home Saturday night ended with the 60-year-old hostess being arrested and bloodied by police. San Diego Police Lt. Boyd Long said an internal affairs investigation has been launched, based on the statements of numerous witnesses who say excessive force was used against socialite Mary Beth Jernigan. The story, as related by Jernigan's son Nathan and other witnesses, is this: The semiformal party on Cave Street near Prospect Avenue in downtown La Jolla was held at Mary Beth Jernigan's home to celebrate her son's 30th birthday. It began at 6 p.m. and was close to breaking up when two police officers came to the door at 10:30. Nathan Jernigan said the officers, whose names haven't been released, told his mother they had received a noise complaint and warned her that if they had to return a citation would be issued. They handed her a ticket book, telling her she needed to sign the warning. She refused, her son said, saying she first wanted the names and badge numbers of the officers. One of the officers complied, Nathan Jernigan said, but the other said the information would be included in Jernigan's copy of the warning. Mary Beth Jernigan still wouldn't sign the warning, her son said, and one of the officers tried to take the ticket book away from her. "At that point there was a tug of war over the ticket book," Nathan Jernigan said. "He said 'Fine, we'll just arrest you right now.' " Nathan Jernigan said at least seven witnesses saw the officer twist Mary Beth Jernigan's arms behind her back, drag her at least 12 feet and throw her onto the cement-tile driveway face first. "It was the worst thing I've ever seen in my 35 years in San Diego," guest and witness Jon Roseman said. "This one police officer acted completely out of line." Nathan Jernigan said his mother, a widow, weighs only 110 pounds. "There was blood on her chin and her shoulder was cut up," he said. Witnesses said while the officer held the woman down with his knee in her back, nearly a dozen party guests approached, many screaming at him to get off Jernigan. (No F---ing *! At this point, I would be screaming, too!!! - .250 Sav)"Everybody was getting hysterical," Nathan Jernigan said. At that point, he said, one of the guests jumped on top of the officer who was holding Jernigan down. (Who the F--- wouldn't? - .250 Sav) The second officer began spraying the crowd with pepper spray and radioed for help. Within minutes eight to 15 patrol cars arrived. (8 to 15? "Calling all JBTs" - .250 Sav) Nathan Jernigan said one of the officers newly on the scene came out of his car carrying a shotgun. Mary Beth Jernigan was taken to a hospital and treated for her injuries. She was then booked into jail on charges of obstructing a police officer and being drunk in public. Her $5,000 bail was posted around noon yesterday. The man who jumped on the officer was arrested on an assault charge. He too had been released on bail by yesterday afternoon. Nathan Jernigan said his mother had had only a few drinks that night. He did concede that most of the people at the party had been drinking, some heavily. Lt. Long said a decision had been made quickly to bring internal affairs investigators into the mix because of "numerous claims of excessive force." Long said officers interviewed witnesses until nearly 4 a.m. The investigation is ongoing.J. Harry Jones: (619) 542-4590; jharry.jones@uniontrib.com Copyright 2002 Union-Tribune Publishing Co.
Then, the next day...
Officers back on duty as arrest of La Jolla woman is investigatedBy Mark Arner STAFF WRITER February 26, 2002 Two police officers who arrested a 60-year-old La Jolla woman during a party at her home Saturday night returned to patrol duties yesterday while being investigated for allegedly using excessive force. A police report on the arrest does not mention whether the officers declined to give their names and badge numbers (why am I not surprised? - .250 Sav), which some witnesses said prompted a scuffle between the woman and one of the officers, Todd Wilkinson, 41. Mary Beth Jernigan, who received a cut on her chin during the incident, said the officers asked her to sign a warning citation, but she first wanted their names. Wilkinson reportedly declined to give the woman their names and badge numbers. A report of the arrest filed yesterday by Officer Michael Bland, 33, said he and Wilkinson walked to the door of Jernigan's home on Cave Street. Jernigan answered and came outside, closing the door, he said. "I smelled a strong odor of alcoholic beverage coming from her breath," Bland wrote. "I explained there was a complaint about the noise, and we were going to give her a first response notice (warning). I tried to explain the first response notice, but she became uncooperative and refused to listen . . . Officer Wilkinson tried to get (her) information, but she refused . . "I observed (Jernigan) grab the first response book from Officer Wilkinson in an aggressive manner," Bland wrote. "When he tried to get the book back, she put her hand up to keep him from getting it. "Officer Wilkinson escorted her to the front parking lot by her arm," Bland's report said. "Officer Wilkinson attempted to put handcuffs on (Jernigan), but she was actively resisting. Officer Wilkinson took (Jernigan) to the ground to gain control and handcuff her." Jernigan was taken to a hospital in Hillcrest and treated for a minor cut on her chin. She was then booked into jail on suspicion of obstructing a police officer and public drunkenness. Her $5,000 bail was posted by noon Sunday. An internal affairs investigation was launched Sunday, police said, based on the statements of witnesses who said excessive force was used during Jernigan's arrest. Lt. Boyd Long said yesterday that San Diego police officers are required by department policy to furnish their names and badge numbers to any person requesting such information while they are on duty, or while representing themselves as police officers. The only exception, Long added, is if anonymity is required to perform their duties, such as working undercover. Wilkinson is a 19-year-veteran and Bland was hired 16 months ago, said Bill Robinson, a spokesman for the San Diego Police Department. He said it is normal for an officer who is being investigated in such a case to remain on duty. Jernigan said during a telephone interview that she had hosted a birthday party for her son, Nathan Jernigan, 30, at her home. It began at 6 p.m. and was breaking up about 10:30 p.m., when police walked up to her door and told her they had received a noise complaint. She said she was surprised that the officers refused to give their identities, and became frightened when the officer started to arrest her, so she resisted. "I didn't go with him willingly," Jernigan said. "I was no threat to them. They were asking me information, and I wanted to write their names on the warning thing." Jernigan also said that she was not drunk when police came to her home and that she was not a "socialite," as she was described in a San Diego Union-Tribune story yesterday. "I am a law-abiding citizen, and I have a totally clean record," she said. Mark Arner: (619) 542-4556; mark.arner@uniontrib.com Copyright 2002 Union-Tribune Publishing Co.
And the letters printed in the paper that very day (boy, those "hate the rich white" folks didn't waste a second, did they?)...
February 26, 2002 Police overreaction? But also bad news judgment The La Jolla socialite who was arrested and bloodied by the police on Saturday night, Mary Beth Jernigan, 60, should have been more considerate of her neighbors so the officers would not have had to waste their precious time responding to the complaint of an excessively noisy party. Why didn't she comply with the officers' request to sign a warning? If she had done so and quieted the party, she wouldn't have been arrested. (Excuse me? Did we read the same story? - .250 Sav)STEPHEN WALLSan Diego Throwing a 60-year-old woman to the ground and handcuffing her demonstrates a complete disregard for what the police are supposed to be about. The San Diego Police Department should take appropriate action against the two officers. But I also have a problem with your paper reporting this story in the manner you did. The same thing - a host being dragged from a party, thrown to the ground and excessive force used - happens in areas like Linda Vista and Logan Heights all the time. (This is the Mexican section of town, where the YOUNG, MALE gang-bangers have wild, drunken parties til the wee hours involving drugs, weapons, and fights - trying to compare THAT to a 60-year-old WHITE woman, playing the "race card" - .250 Sav)Why are such arrests never reported in your newspaper? People who live in those neighborhoods today are thinking, "That's what happened to my friend a couple weeks ago. How come this one gets a full-blown story, and what happened to my friend wasn't even mentioned in 'Crime Watch'? Oh, that's right. It only matters when it happens to rich people in rich communities." Thanks for making a lot of citizens aware that, to you, they really are second-class citizens. JESSE GALLEGOSSan Diego It must be nice to live in a world where you don't have to obey the reasonable (sure - "reasonable" - .250 Sav) demands of a police officer. Jernigan learned a valuable lesson: All of her money, jewels, liquor and friends don't immunize her from the rule of law. JEFFREY NEEDLEChula Vista It seems as if San Diego police have taken lessons from Attila the Hun. Surely an "All right, lady" from the officers would have provided a satisfactory ending to this apparent fiasco. Do the cops get extra brownie points from the chief if they show their authority by bashing senior women? Surely the time has come for a Civilian Police Review Board that has some teeth. (FINALLY! SOMEONE WHO DOESN'T MAKE ME FEEL LIKE MY GRASP ON REALITY HAS SLIPPED!!! - .250 Sav)BOB O'DWYERSan Diego This story definitely was not worth printing. The issue isn't excessive force by the police, but the lack of respect people have for officers who are doing their jobs. The officers showed up to the Jernigans' because they had received a complaint. Now, they will have to go undergo a strict review process because an allegedly drunken suspect refused to comply with simple procedure. ERICA ADARGASSan Diego
People, for God's sake, please tell me I'm not going insane here. Please tell me it's the world that's going mad, and not me...
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