A small township is being sued by 7 black residents after they were all arrested for loitering (PA)

[Nevilledog]

Link to tweet

Tweet text:
Peter Bonilla
@pebonilla
A small township is being sued by seven black residents after they were all arrested for loitering (by the same cop) simply for being in front of their houses. One was arrested twice in two days, and one was tackled when he didn’t comply fast enough.
https://inquirer.com/news/chester-township-police-loitering-arrests-lawsuit-20211016.html…
Image
Image
5:14 AM · Oct 16, 2021 from Chicago, IL

https://www.inquirer.com/news/chester-township-police-loitering-arrests-lawsuit-20211016.html

Seven Black Chester Township residents have filed a federal civil rights lawsuit against the tiny municipality’s police department after they were arrested in the span of 10 days by the same officer for what they say was nothing more than standing in front of their homes.

One of the plaintiffs, Keith Briggs, was arrested twice in two days under the same loitering statute, which his attorney, Kevin Mincey, says is overbroad, prejudicial, and unconstitutional. Another, Ed Baldwin, said he was tackled to the ground by officers who had minutes earlier detained his cousin for allegedly loitering.

All of the charges filed against Briggs, Baldwin, and the others — ranging from summary offenses to resisting arrest — were later dismissed by the Delaware County District Attorney’s Office for lack of evidence.

But the residents aren’t satisfied with that outcome. They say the police conduct in their cases demonstrates a clear, deliberate pattern of harassment, and shows that their township’s 16-member police department is in need of reform.

*snip*

[tulipsandroses]

1. This was common occurrence in NYC

I hope they get some justice. It’s unfortunate that we have to pay for own abuse. Nothing you can do but to sue, then you and your community pay for it with your tax dollars.
In 2012 NYC settled a class action lawsuit with 20,000 people arrested for loitering. I know guys that were repeatedly arrested in the projects for loitering, including an ex who was visiting a friend.
Thank goodness that everyone has a camera in their pockets these days so everyone can see police misconduct. If I told people not familiar with black communities, that people routinely were arrested for nothing more than being in front of their building, I’m sure many would have thought I was lying.

[ZonkerHarris]

2. This will continue if citizens have to write the check. The moment it comes out of the cops pockets

the abuse will end.
When they have to pay for their abuses themselves they will stop.
Right now they get a free ride to harass, abuse, and kill.

[Withywindle]

3. Exactly

I am sick of paying to cover corrupt, abusive cops. So much of police $$ is payouts for completely legitimate abuse, harassment, and brutality cases. I always root for the victims to get as much as they can because they need it and deserve it, but it's such a massive drain on the city budget, and the cops causing it need to GO. The cops are the financial burden on the taxpayers, not the victims.

[MissMillie]

4. Jeez, if you're not allowed to "loiter" on your own property...

...where can you?

[ret5hd]

5. Jail.