RepConyers On The Arrest Of Antiwar Protesters Kept handcuffed 12 HOURS

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Wed, 28 Sep 2005 02:34:28 -0400

RepConyers On The Arrest Of Antiwar Protesters Kept

handcuffed 12 HOURS

 

 

 

 

 

Rep Conyers On The

Arrest Of Antiwar Protesters

9-28-5

 

 

Congressman John Conyers writes:

 

September 27, 2005

 

Office of the Chief

United States Park Police

Dwight E. Pettiford

1100 Ohio Drive S.W.

Washington, D. C. 20242

 

Dear Chief Pettiford:

 

I am writing to request information regarding the treatment of

individuals arrested on September 26, 2005 in front of the White House

and processed at the United States Park Police Anacostia Station.

 

Yesterday 384 protestors, including peace activist Cindy Sheehan, were

arrested outside the White House and were brought to United States

Park Police Anacostia Station. I was very surprised to learn that many

of those arrested were kept handcuffed in vans and buses for up to 12

hours before they were charged and released. Some of those were

released at 4:30 in the morning after being arrested at 4:00 the

previous afternoon. Many of those held captive the longest were

grandmothers and senior citizens.

 

Those released after midnight were unfamiliar with Washington, DC and

had no means to travel back to their hotels once the metro had closed.

Anacostia is not frequented by taxicabs after midnight.

 

I have the following questions regarding the treatment of those

arrested yesterday:

 

1. Why was the Anacostia Station chosen as the sole location to

process all 384 arrestees when there were several other Park Police

stations in the greater Washington, DC area?

 

2. In what other circumstances have arrestees been detained by U.S.

Park Police for periods exceeding twelve hours before being charged

with a crime?

 

3. In what other circumstances have arrestees been detained by U.S.

Park Police, and kept handcuffed on buses for periods exceeding ten hours?

 

4. What is the established U.S. Park Police procedure for processing

large numbers of arrestees in the Washington, DC area?

 

Please respond to the Judiciary Committee Minority Office at 2142

Rayburn House Office Building, Washington, DC 20515, telephone number

202-225-6504, fax number 202-225-4423.

 

Sincerely,

John Conyers, Jr.

Ranking Member

House Committee on the Judiciary '

Via Jonathan Godfrey [jonathan.godfrey a_t_ mail d o t house.gov,

Conyers's Internet Communications Director