'Copwatch' activist catches Chicago officer roughing up bus passenger David Edwards and Stephen C. Webster

Published: Thursday February 19, 2009





Print This Email This Chicago's Independent Police Review Authority is investigating a confrontation between a police officer and bus passenger after video of the incident was posted on the Internet by the co-founder of the city's chapter of 'Copwatch,' an activist network that observes police activity and reports abuses of power.



The video, captured Feb. 13 at 10:14 p.m., "shows Chicago police officer #10677 apprehending a citizen and violating his rights," wrote Spencer Thayer, who co-founded Chicago Copwatch. "The citizen was displaying signs of intoxication and was accused of not paying his fare, but the officer neglected to follow CPD protocol during the encounter, which led to a violent altercation. The code requires officers to wait for back-up before engaging in a physical struggle with a citizen during non-emergency situations."



"The CTA said the driver of the bus called police for assistance after the passenger refused to pay his fare," reported MSNBC.



"It seemed like the officer was escalating the situation more than the suspect," Thayer told the network.



"On the video, the passenger appears to resist arrest by refusing to leave and later by appearing to physically rebuff the officer," reported the Chicago Tribune. "The officer can be heard using profanity as he orders the passenger from bus. Their confrontation escalates into a physical struggle after the passenger, later identified as 49-year-old Lorenzo Wiley of Chicago, refuses to get off.



"Wiley was charged with misdemeanor theft of services for not paying."



In the video, after the man refuses to get off the bus, the officer confronting him appears to strike the man and begins swearing profusely. Several people moved away from the confrontation before law enforcement backup arrived.



"The officer's body was partly blocking the view from Thayer's camera, but the cop started to repeat, 'You want to fight me?' as they struggled," said the Tribune. "'Get off this [expletive] bus right now!' he shouted as he knocked the man against the window again."



At the end of the clip, Thayer can be heard asking for the officer's badge number. "You got a problem?" he's asked as the video cuts out.



Thayer's 'Copwatch' chapter is one of a network across the United States. Members of the organization observe police activity and report abuses to the group's online public database.



This video is from LiveLeak.com, broadcast Feb. 15, 2009.









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