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Pastor says Eastpointe cops beat black man, asks action
A Detroit pastor is calling for the termination of the Eastpointe police officers named in a lawsuit that alleges they beat a black man unconscious while in police custody last year.
The Rev. W.J. Rideout III of All God’s People Church said he is also demanding an apology and an explanation from Eastpointe officials about the treatment of Frankie Taylor after he was arrested for drunken driving Aug. 10, 2015.
“I just want Eastpointe and the mayor to come out and address this issue,” Rideout said. “We want to know why are you allowing this to go on when you see what America is facing right now?”
Rideout plans to gather with other Detroit leaders Tuesday at his church to publicly denounce police brutality against black people.
Taylor, 38, of Warren filed a federal lawsuit this past September against Public Safety Director John McNeilance and five officers that alleges Eastpointe police put Taylor in a restraint chair, bound his arms and legs, and punched him in the head and face more than 10 times in the booking room.
Taylor became unconscious during the incident and suffered “severe and permanent injuries,” according to the complaint.
“The defendant officers did not have a justifiable reason to use the force that they deployed at any time prior to or during the confrontation or brutal physical attack on Taylor,” the lawsuit says.
McNeilance said the department does not comment on pending litigation. However, he released the incident report where police officers allege Taylor was being uncooperative and intentionally fell to the ground during the booking process.
In the report, an officer writes Taylor then hit his head against a bench and the floor in an attempt to injure himself. The report also says Taylor resisted officers and spit on them when they tried to place him in a restraint chair.
Taylor was found guilty of two counts of resisting and obstructing a police officer and one of operating while under the influence of alcohol. He was ordered to serve two years of probation and pay a fine, according to the Michigan Department of Corrections.
Taylor’s attorney, James Rasor, was not available for comment Monday.
Mayor Suzanne Pixley said she could not comment on the lawsuit. But she said previous lawsuits that accused Eastpointe of racial profiling were not successful “because they have always been disproved.”
City officials say Eastpointe has been making efforts to welcome a massive influx of black families within the past decade. The police department recently hired its first black police officer — Marcel Prude — in several years.
“The community and police officers probably feel that there is more interaction and it’s more comfortable for everyone to have people that look like them,” City Manager Steve Duchane said in a previous interview. “As a matter of business logic and public administration, we would like to encourage and see that.”
Rideout said he will not accept the city’s public silence on the “inhumane treatment of African-Americans.”
“It’s clear that this is racism and discrimination,” he said. “And it’s clear that this young man’s civil rights were violated by these police officers.”
Rideout said he believes police brutality against black people is the reason for a rash of cop killings nationwide.
“Cops are getting killed who are innocent,” he said. “But because of this kind of behavior from these kind of police officers, they are making it very hard for the others out there.”
Activists say Eastpointe not safe for African-Americans after police brutality claim
EASTPOINTE, Mich. (WJBK)
- Cameras roll as Eastpointe police allegedly beat an arrested man until he passed out.
"Eastpointe is not safe for black Americans to travel through," said Sam Riddle of the National Action Network.
Activists are urging African-Americans to stay away from Eastpointe - this after FOX 2's story last week about a police video from August 2015. Frankie Taylor had been pulled over for drunk driving and once in lockup he was difficult and an officer threatened to restrain him.
"Frankie stop acting like a child," said one officer.
A few minutes later the video shows Taylor falling on the floor. Officers then move him to the chair where they attempt to restrain him - another officer puts on gloves and apparently proceeds to hit him over and over again.
"Stop resisting," says an officer while Taylor appears to be struck during the incident, although police surround him with their backs to the camera.
Eastpointe police are still not commenting but they have released their arrest report detailing a very uncooperative and combative Frankie Taylor - a man they say refused to be restrained. The report says that he clawed at them, tried to bite them and even spit at them - claiming he had AIDS.
"You had him restrained and you kept beating him," said Rev. W.J. Rideout III of All God's People Church. "You beat him unconsciously so now you're bringing an excuse and lie as they always do to cover this up and brush this under the rug."
"He had four officers, five all around him, surrounding him," Riddle said. "You can't even see Frankie because of the officers surrounding him."
Taylor ended up in the hospital the next day - had to have surgery on his eye - police say in the report they only restrained him because he was trying to hurt himself.
The video caught the attention of the FBI - now investigating. Eastpointe police say they are providing the FBI with all of their materials.
As for the pastors - they're demanding a meeting with the director of public safety.
"They've brought dishonor to the uniform and it makes it harder for the good officers," said Troy Muhammad from the Nation of Islam. "We're here today to ask the good officers to stand up and uphold the law that you're giving your life for."
"Since you feel like you can get away with this - we're coming to see you and we're coming in numbers," Rideout said. "And we're not scared because we're not criminals - we don't have warrants."
As the pastors plan their protest, the director of public safety telling fox 2 - he is reaching out to Rev. Rideout and welcomes a discussion with the concerned pastors. A meeting has been set for Tuesday between the chief and Rideout.
Taylor underwent surgery on his eye and lost his peripheral vision and has filed a lawsuit against Eastpointe police.
Pastors urge blacks to avoid going to Eastpointe
He says they’re not safe in wake of African-American’s alleged beating by cops; city says Frankie Taylor resisted police
Detroit — A coalition of Detroit pastors has a strong message for black Americans in the Metro area: Stay away from Eastpointe.
The leaders issued what they are calling a “travel warning” for blacks to avoid the city after an African-American man alleged he was beaten unconscious by several officers while in police custody last year.
The Rev. W.J. Rideout III said a pattern of racism and discrimination is occurring in the city’s police department and he’s received several complaints from black residents who are fearful.
He was joined by a group of activists at his Detroit church, All God’s People, Tuesday and announced plans to protest soon at the police department. Rideout is founder of the grassroots group Defenders of Truth and Justice which he says fights for victims of injustice.
“The shame of it is we’ve got to designate an American city as unsafe for black Americans because of the brutality of the police department which engages in systemic racism by not only stereotyping but profiling African-Americans,” said Sam Riddle, political director for the Michigan National Action Network. “The ones (black people) that live there are already aware of it.”
Rideout and Riddle said they are meeting with John McNeilance, the Easpointe Department of Public Safety director, at 1:30 p.m. Thursday at the city hall.
Eastpointe Mayor Suzanne Pixley said the police department does not discriminate against blacks and it isn’t necessary for them to stay away from the city. Eastpointe has a growing African-American population and recently hired its first black officer in several years.
“I don’t think it’s appropriate,” she said. “They (police) are not going to pull an African-American over in preference over a white person. All of our laws apply equally to everybody.”
Frankie Taylor, 38, of Warren filed a federal lawsuit this past September against Public Safety Director John McNeilance and five officers that alleges Eastpointe police put Taylor in a restraint chair, bound his arms and legs, and punched him in the head and face more than 10 times in the booking room.
He had been arrested Aug. 10, 2015, for drunken driving.
Taylor is now partially blind in one eye after the beating dislodged an artificial lens that was implanted during a surgery about 10 years ago, according to Taylor’s attorney, James Rasor. The issue became irreparable when Taylor did not receive immediate medical attention, he said.
But a department police report says Taylor was being uncooperative and intentionally fell to the ground during the booking process. In the report, an officer writes Taylor then hit his head against a bench and the floor in an attempt to injure himself. It also says Taylor sprayed himself in the face with Windex and spit on an officer.
Rasor said the police were aware during the arrest Taylor is handicapped from a permanent injury to his leg.
Rasor, along with the Detroit pastors, say they believe the Eastpointe police are creating a false narrative.
“I think the police report is a spectacular work of fiction created some time after the fact to justify an unlawful beating and to justify excessive force,” he said.
Added Rideout: “We know they are lying.”
Eastpointe officials declined to discuss the lawsuit saying they can’t comment on pending litigation.
Rasor said Taylor’s case is another example of the “institutional racism” in Eastpointe that has been backed by research showing police disproportionately target black people in the city.
He referenced a 2010 study by the Wayne State University that says black motorists in Eastpointe were more likely to be ticketed, arrested and searched than whites, particularly on side streets.
“You’re taking your life in your hands driving through these communities if you are black,” Rasor said. “Isn’t it time we grew out of that as a Metro region?”
Edward Williams, who is black, has lived in Eastpointe since 2008 and told The Detroit News he’s never experienced racial profiling by the police.
“Some areas are targeted for speeding but that’s in all suburban cities,” he said.
Edward Williams, who is black, has lived in Eastpointe since 2008 and told The Detroit News he’s never experienced racial profiling by the police.
“Some areas are targeted for speeding but that’s in all suburban cities,” he said.
