Spring Break
Arrested students accuse police of aggression
by Rachel Marder and Lital Shair
News | 10/9/07
Posted online at 9:28 PM EST on 10/8/07
/ Last updated at 4:56 PM EST on 10/8/07
Two students and one alumnus were arrested last month by the Waltham police on charges of drug possession, disturbing the peace and disorderly conduct and resisting arrest, according to a police report of the incident. Their arraignment is scheduled for Oct. 22 in Waltham District Court.
Although the students, Meredith Ives '09, James Fruchterman '09 and Anderson "Knox" Thomas '07, don't dispute the charges, they said the officers were overly aggressive in their treatment of them and inaccurately reported the African-American alumnus' behavior during the arrest.
According to the report, Waltham officers arrived at 73 Highland St., Fruchterman's residence, the night of Friday, Sept. 14 after a neighbor called in with a noise complaint.
The Waltham police "got called there for disturbance … when they got there they discovered a loud party, and when they got there they could smell the marijuana coming from the apartment," Waltham Police Department spokesman Sgt. Tim King said.
Ives, thinking a friend was at the door, rushed to open it with a pipe of marijuana in her hand, she said. The two officers then ordered Fruchterman, Ives, the 25-year-old Thomas, and the 10 to 12 other Brandeis students in the house outside, Fruchterman said.
Once outside, Waltham officer Cory Amarante arrested Ives for possession. The incident report, given to the Justice by Ives, said that as Amarante "was double locking Ives' handcuffs Anderson Thomas [approached Amarante and Ives] flailing his arms in an aggressive manor and he began questioning why we were placing Ives under arrest."
Ives and Fruchterman said this description of Thomas' behavior is completely inaccurate.
Thomas couldn't be reached for comment Monday.
"My friend Knox … [saw that] I was crying, he was worried about me," she said.
Fruchterman said when the officer grabbed Ives and handcuffed her, Thomas stepped forward and asked why Ives was being arrested, and the police told him to back away.
Although the students, Meredith Ives '09, James Fruchterman '09 and Anderson "Knox" Thomas '07, don't dispute the charges, they said the officers were overly aggressive in their treatment of them and inaccurately reported the African-American alumnus' behavior during the arrest.
According to the report, Waltham officers arrived at 73 Highland St., Fruchterman's residence, the night of Friday, Sept. 14 after a neighbor called in with a noise complaint.
The Waltham police "got called there for disturbance … when they got there they discovered a loud party, and when they got there they could smell the marijuana coming from the apartment," Waltham Police Department spokesman Sgt. Tim King said.
Ives, thinking a friend was at the door, rushed to open it with a pipe of marijuana in her hand, she said. The two officers then ordered Fruchterman, Ives, the 25-year-old Thomas, and the 10 to 12 other Brandeis students in the house outside, Fruchterman said.
Once outside, Waltham officer Cory Amarante arrested Ives for possession. The incident report, given to the Justice by Ives, said that as Amarante "was double locking Ives' handcuffs Anderson Thomas [approached Amarante and Ives] flailing his arms in an aggressive manor and he began questioning why we were placing Ives under arrest."
Ives and Fruchterman said this description of Thomas' behavior is completely inaccurate.
Thomas couldn't be reached for comment Monday.
"My friend Knox … [saw that] I was crying, he was worried about me," she said.
Fruchterman said when the officer grabbed Ives and handcuffed her, Thomas stepped forward and asked why Ives was being arrested, and the police told him to back away.
Viewing Comments 1 - 3 of 3
Ryan
posted 10/09/07 @ 8:22 AM EST
Sounds like the cops did thier job. Everyone knows not to talk back to a cop, it's useless. They'll just cuff you regardless of skin color. Talking back to them, or "standing your ground" and asking questions, threatens them so they feel forced to flex thier power. (Continued…)
Sam
posted 10/09/07 @ 8:42 PM EST
That may be true Ryan, but they wouldn't necessarily _arrest_ someone for "talking back." It's too much. Regardless of the situation, we shouldn't be afraid to approach an officer and ask s/he questions. (Continued…)
anderson thomas
posted 3/24/08 @ 12:21 AM EST
FUCK DA POLICE
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