Personal account of police brutality here in Rochester
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I left work at the University of Rochester at 9:10 PM, pulled into the parking lot on Chili Avenue next to phone booth/liquor store (closed) and Sunoco gas station to make phone call. About 5 minutes after parking, a Gates police car quietly pulled directly behind me and put on flashing lights. He went to his car and came back indicating that he needed to tow my vehicle because of suspended registration….even though everything else was in effect.
I turned and got back into the vehicle and no sooner did I take my seat when the passenger front door opened and an officer LEAPED across the seat and started trying to yank the keys out of the ignition. Instinctively I turned to reach and ask, "what are you doing?" when the driver door opened and two officers yanked me by the collar and threw me violently to the ground. I was kicked and roughed up while on the ground. I recall a knee or foot in my back and my hands were eventually forced behind my back and handcuffed extremely tight. I was told to stop resisting and was told to walk to the police car. Shocked and dazed I layed still, on the ground, and they said they would help me. I was grabbed by the arms and dragged. My shoes and the knees of my pants were evident of the dragging. Once I got to the patrol car I was on my knees still dazed. They insisted I get up and still dazed they helped by grabbing my waist..one officer grabbed my employee ID badge and did a triple take when it read University of Rochester employee. I told him he had a legitimate girl and not a criminal; he reported his finding to his colleague, who grabbed my U of R badge the Officer did a similar triple take to see I was a employee of a major employer. Nevertheless, one officer grabbed me by the hair from one side of the police car while the other pulled me up and threw me in and slammed the door on my legs. The main officer who did the arrest and who was particularly abusive was Martin Verbakel. On the ride to the police station I reminded this officer that I had scars on me from this assualt and his remark was I already had some scars so this did not make much difference. I also tried to make him understand I was a chronic pain sufferer, but to no avail.