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﻿﻿Over the weekend Drew and Nick, of CopBlock.org’s podcast, stumbled across this video showing D.C Metro Transit Police officers assaulting a man in a wheelchair. The man, who was allegedly drunk and resisting, was slammed to the ground by these thugs – even though neither of those claims (or ‘crimes’) bears a victim. Seems the only person actually harmed was in cuffs bleeding from his head.

Today Robert, researcher here at CopBlock.org, decided to touch base with the department. He was passed around until directed to a Public Information Officer who emailed Cop Block this press release:

On Thursday, May 19, the Metro Transit Police on routine patrol at the U St. Metrorail station observed a patron in a wheelchair drinking an alcoholic beverage. The officers asked the patron to leave the area and he refused. The officers then attempted to issue the patron a citation and when the patron refused to comply with the issuance of a citation he was told that he would be placed under arrest. The patron resisted arrest which resulted in him falling out of his wheelchair. The patron was arrested for assault on a police officer and drinking in public. The patron was transported to a local hospital with a minor injury.

Metro Transit Police are following up on this report. Steven Taubenkibel

Public Information Officer

WMATA-Office of Media Relations

P: 202 962 2474

In typical “thin blue line” fashion the police are backing their colleagues by refusing to provide the names of the officers, information about their current status or what will be done (to the officers) if found to have used excessive force. The press release above is also a joke stating, “the patron resisted arrest which resulted in him falling out of his wheelchair.” Seriously? Falling by definition means to: Move downward, typically rapidly and freely without control, from a higher to a lower level. I didn’t see anyone fall freely, I seen two men pick a guy up and slam him to the ground. Drunk or not this man wasn’t harming anyone and didn’t deserve this.

If you feel the same way, please, par take in CopBlock.org’s call flood to the DC Metro Police, 202.962.2474, let them know your thoughts. This is unacceptable.