Guest guest Posted January 22, 2007 Report Share Posted January 22, 2007 ATLANTA (Reuters) - Maybe, like the pronunciation of tomatoes, some things -- like jaywalking -- just don't travel well between the United States and Britain. A British history professor has caused a stir in Atlanta, and back home in Britain, over his arrest this month after he tried to cross the road outside an Atlanta hotel where he was attending a conference. Felipe Fernandez-Armesto has complained his arrest was a " violent assault. " According to a police report, officer Kevin Leonpacher, working off- duty for hotel security and wearing a jacket marked " Atlanta Police, " blew his whistle for Fernandez-Armesto to stop crossing Courtland Street in central Atlanta on January 4 and directed him to a crosswalk. The historian ignored Leonpacher who then asked " as many as ten times " for Fernandez-Armesto's identification. When he refused and instead demanded Leonpacher's identification, the officer made an arrest, the report said. " I asked him to put his hands behind his back so that he could be handcuffed .... He pulled away and began to wrestle with me. After about a minute I was able to wrestle him to the ground ... as I called for backup, " the report said. Fernandez-Armesto said he was not aware it was an offence to cross the street at that point. " I was an absolutely innocent person. I am very sorry to have crossed the road when I shouldn't have and to have failed to recognise he was a police officer but I cannot find anything I did as not the normal behaviour of an honest person, " he said in an interview on Friday from Tufts University near Boston where is teaching. Fernandez-Armesto was detained for eight hours before being taken before a judge who dismissed a charge of disorderly conduct. The case might have ended there. But in an opinion piece in the Atlanta Journal-Constitution last week, the historian said being " assaulted by the police and locked up for hours in the company of some of the ... dregs of the American underclass " had taught him something new about the country. " No one truly knows a nation until one has been inside its jails, " he said, quoting former South African President Nelson Mandela, although he added he was well treated by staff at the jail and by the judge. Subsequent comment in the newspaper and on the city's talk- radio shows was largely unfavourable to the historian. One letter called him an " arrogant Englishman, " although the newspaper said in an editorial the incident had " bruised Atlanta's reputation as a ... city known for Southern hospitality. " Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 23, 2007 Report Share Posted January 23, 2007 jaywalking isn't illegal there? >heartwerk <jo.heartwork >Jan 22, 2007 2:43 AM > > Jaywalker Causes Stir > >ATLANTA (Reuters) - Maybe, like the pronunciation of tomatoes, some >things -- like jaywalking -- just don't travel well between the >United States and Britain. > >A British history professor has caused a stir in Atlanta, and back >home in Britain, over his arrest this month after he tried to cross >the road outside an Atlanta hotel where he was attending a conference. > >Felipe Fernandez-Armesto has complained his arrest was a " violent >assault. " > >According to a police report, officer Kevin Leonpacher, working off- >duty for hotel security and wearing a jacket marked " Atlanta Police, " >blew his whistle for Fernandez-Armesto to stop crossing Courtland >Street in central Atlanta on January 4 and directed him to a >crosswalk. > >The historian ignored Leonpacher who then asked " as many as ten >times " for Fernandez-Armesto's identification. When he refused and >instead demanded Leonpacher's identification, the officer made an >arrest, the report said. > > " I asked him to put his hands behind his back so that he could be >handcuffed .... He pulled away and began to wrestle with me. After >about a minute I was able to wrestle him to the ground ... as I >called for backup, " the report said. > >Fernandez-Armesto said he was not aware it was an offence to cross >the street at that point. > > " I was an absolutely innocent person. I am very sorry to have crossed >the road when I shouldn't have and to have failed to recognise he was >a police officer but I cannot find anything I did as not the normal >behaviour of an honest person, " he said in an interview on Friday >from Tufts University near Boston where is teaching. > >Fernandez-Armesto was detained for eight hours before being taken >before a judge who dismissed a charge of disorderly conduct. > >The case might have ended there. But in an opinion piece in the >Atlanta Journal-Constitution last week, the historian said >being " assaulted by the police and locked up for hours in the company >of some of the ... dregs of the American underclass " had taught him >something new about the country. > > " No one truly knows a nation until one has been inside its jails, " he >said, quoting former South African President Nelson Mandela, although >he added he was well treated by staff at the jail and by the judge. > >Subsequent comment in the newspaper and on the city's talk- radio >shows was largely unfavourable to the historian. > >One letter called him an " arrogant Englishman, " although the >newspaper said in an editorial the incident had " bruised Atlanta's >reputation as a ... city known for Southern hospitality. " > > > > >To send an email to - > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 23, 2007 Report Share Posted January 23, 2007 That's interesting! Jo , fraggle <EBbrewpunx wrote: > > jaywalking isn't illegal there? > > > > > >heartwerk <jo.heartwork > >Jan 22, 2007 2:43 AM > > > > Jaywalker Causes Stir > > > >ATLANTA (Reuters) - Maybe, like the pronunciation of tomatoes, some > >things -- like jaywalking -- just don't travel well between the > >United States and Britain. > > > >A British history professor has caused a stir in Atlanta, and back > >home in Britain, over his arrest this month after he tried to cross > >the road outside an Atlanta hotel where he was attending a conference. > > > >Felipe Fernandez-Armesto has complained his arrest was a " violent > >assault. " > > > >According to a police report, officer Kevin Leonpacher, working off- > >duty for hotel security and wearing a jacket marked " Atlanta Police, " > >blew his whistle for Fernandez-Armesto to stop crossing Courtland > >Street in central Atlanta on January 4 and directed him to a > >crosswalk. > > > >The historian ignored Leonpacher who then asked " as many as ten > >times " for Fernandez-Armesto's identification. When he refused and > >instead demanded Leonpacher's identification, the officer made an > >arrest, the report said. > > > > " I asked him to put his hands behind his back so that he could be > >handcuffed .... He pulled away and began to wrestle with me. After > >about a minute I was able to wrestle him to the ground ... as I > >called for backup, " the report said. > > > >Fernandez-Armesto said he was not aware it was an offence to cross > >the street at that point. > > > > " I was an absolutely innocent person. I am very sorry to have crossed > >the road when I shouldn't have and to have failed to recognise he was > >a police officer but I cannot find anything I did as not the normal > >behaviour of an honest person, " he said in an interview on Friday > >from Tufts University near Boston where is teaching. > > > >Fernandez-Armesto was detained for eight hours before being taken > >before a judge who dismissed a charge of disorderly conduct. > > > >The case might have ended there. But in an opinion piece in the > >Atlanta Journal-Constitution last week, the historian said > >being " assaulted by the police and locked up for hours in the company > >of some of the ... dregs of the American underclass " had taught him > >something new about the country. > > > > " No one truly knows a nation until one has been inside its jails, " he > >said, quoting former South African President Nelson Mandela, although > >he added he was well treated by staff at the jail and by the judge. > > > >Subsequent comment in the newspaper and on the city's talk- radio > >shows was largely unfavourable to the historian. > > > >One letter called him an " arrogant Englishman, " although the > >newspaper said in an editorial the incident had " bruised Atlanta's > >reputation as a ... city known for Southern hospitality. " > > > > > > > > > >To send an email to - > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 23, 2007 Report Share Posted January 23, 2007 what the hell exactly is jaywalking? The Valley Vegan.................. Its on Americas tortured brow Mickey Mouse has grown up a cow fraggle <EBbrewpunx wrote: jaywalking isn't illegal there?>heartwerk <jo.heartwork >>Jan 22, 2007 2:43 AM> > Jaywalker Causes Stir>>ATLANTA (Reuters) - Maybe, like the pronunciation of tomatoes, some >things -- like jaywalking -- just don't travel well between the >United States and Britain. >>A British history professor has caused a stir in Atlanta, and back >home in Britain, over his arrest this month after he tried to cross >the road outside an Atlanta hotel where he was attending a conference.>>Felipe Fernandez-Armesto has complained his arrest was a "violent >assault.">>According to a police report, officer Kevin Leonpacher, working off->duty for hotel security and wearing a jacket marked "Atlanta Police," >blew his whistle for Fernandez-Armesto to stop crossing Courtland >Street in central Atlanta on January 4 and directed him to a >crosswalk.>>The historian ignored Leonpacher who then asked "as many as ten >times" for Fernandez-Armesto's identification. When he refused and >instead demanded Leonpacher's identification, the officer made an >arrest, the report said.>>"I asked him to put his hands behind his back so that he could be >handcuffed .... He pulled away and began to wrestle with me. After >about a minute I was able to wrestle him to the ground ... as I >called for backup," the report said.>>Fernandez-Armesto said he was not aware it was an offence to cross >the street at that point.>>"I was an absolutely innocent person. I am very sorry to have crossed >the road when I shouldn't have and to have failed to recognise he was >a police officer but I cannot find anything I did as not the normal >behaviour of an honest person," he said in an interview on Friday >from Tufts University near Boston where is teaching.>>Fernandez-Armesto was detained for eight hours before being taken >before a judge who dismissed a charge of disorderly conduct.>>The case might have ended there. But in an opinion piece in the >Atlanta Journal-Constitution last week, the historian said >being "assaulted by the police and locked up for hours in the company >of some of the ... dregs of the American underclass" had taught him >something new about the country.>>"No one truly knows a nation until one has been inside its jails," he >said, quoting former South African President Nelson Mandela, although >he added he was well treated by staff at the jail and by the judge.>>Subsequent comment in the newspaper and on the city's talk- radio >shows was largely unfavourable to the historian.>>One letter called him an "arrogant Englishman," although the >newspaper said in an editorial the incident had "bruised Atlanta's >reputation as a ... city known for Southern hospitality." >>>>>To send an email to - > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 23, 2007 Report Share Posted January 23, 2007 crossing a street in a non designated area on any major street/thoroughfare, you are only allowed to cross the street in marked crosswalks or from street corners......... peter VV Jan 23, 2007 2:06 PM Re: Jaywalker Causes Stir what the hell exactly is jaywalking? The Valley Vegan.................. Its on Americas tortured brow Mickey Mouse has grown up a cow fraggle <EBbrewpunx wrote: jaywalking isn't illegal there?>heartwerk <jo.heartwork >>Jan 22, 2007 2:43 AM> > Jaywalker Causes Stir>>ATLANTA (Reuters) - Maybe, like the pronunciation of tomatoes, some >things -- like jaywalking -- just don't travel well between the >United States and Britain. >>A British history professor has caused a stir in Atlanta, and back >home in Britain, over his arrest this month after he tried to cross >the road outside an Atlanta hotel where he was attending a conference.>>Felipe Fernandez-Armesto has complained his arrest was a "violent >assault.">>According to a police report, officer Kevin Leonpacher, working off->duty for hotel security and wearing a jacket marked "Atlanta Police," >blew his whistle for Fernandez-Armesto to stop crossing Courtland >Street in central Atlanta on January 4 and directed him to a >crosswalk.>>The historian ignored Leonpacher who then asked "as many as ten >times" for Fernandez-Armesto's identification. When he refused and >instead demanded Leonpacher's identification, the officer made an >arrest, the report said.>>"I asked him to put his hands behind his back so that he could be >handcuffed .... He pulled away and began to wrestle with me. After >about a minute I was able to wrestle him to the ground ... as I >called for backup," the report said.>>Fernandez-Armesto said he was not aware it was an offence to cross >the street at that point.>>"I was an absolutely innocent person. I am very sorry to have crossed >the road when I shouldn't have and to have failed to recognise he was >a police officer but I cannot find anything I did as not the normal >behaviour of an honest person," he said in an interview on Friday >from Tufts University near Boston where is teaching.>>Fernandez-Armesto was detained for eight hours before being taken >before a judge who dismissed a charge of disorderly conduct.>>The case might have ended there. But in an opinion piece in the >Atlanta Journal-Constitution last week, the historian said >being "assaulted by the police and locked up for hours in the company >of some of the ... dregs of the American underclass" had taught him >something new about the country.>>"No one truly knows a nation until one has been inside its jails," he >said, quoting former South African President Nelson Mandela, although >he added he was well treated by staff at the jail and by the judge.>>Subsequent comment in the newspaper and on the city's talk- radio >shows was largely unfavourable to the historian.>>One letter called him an "arrogant Englishman," although the >newspaper said in an editorial the incident had "bruised Atlanta's >reputation as a ... city known for Southern hospitality." >>>>>To send an email to - > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 23, 2007 Report Share Posted January 23, 2007 Jeez Louise, how do brits manage when they visit? Over here ( and probably every other country in the world?)you can cross anywhere you like? The Valley Vegan.............fraggle <EBbrewpunx wrote: crossing a street in a non designated area on any major street/thoroughfare, you are only allowed to cross the street in marked crosswalks or from street corners......... peter VV Jan 23, 2007 2:06 PM Re: Jaywalker Causes Stir what the hell exactly is jaywalking? The Valley Vegan.................. Its on Americas tortured brow Mickey Mouse has grown up a cow fraggle <EBbrewpunx (AT) earthlink (DOT) com> wrote: jaywalking isn't illegal there?>heartwerk <jo.heartwork >>Jan 22, 2007 2:43 AM> > Jaywalker Causes Stir>>ATLANTA (Reuters) - Maybe, like the pronunciation of tomatoes, some >things -- like jaywalking -- just don't travel well between the >United States and Britain. >>A British history professor has caused a stir in Atlanta, and back >home in Britain, over his arrest this month after he tried to cross >the road outside an Atlanta hotel where he was attending a conference.>>Felipe Fernandez-Armesto has complained his arrest was a "violent >assault.">>According to a police report, officer Kevin Leonpacher, working off->duty for hotel security and wearing a jacket marked "Atlanta Police," >blew his whistle for Fernandez-Armesto to stop crossing Courtland >Street in central Atlanta on January 4 and directed him to a >crosswalk.>>The historian ignored Leonpacher who then asked "as many as ten >times" for Fernandez-Armesto's identification. When he refused and >instead demanded Leonpacher's identification, the officer made an >arrest, the report said.>>"I asked him to put his hands behind his back so that he could be >handcuffed .... He pulled away and began to wrestle with me. After >about a minute I was able to wrestle him to the ground ... as I >called for backup," the report said.>>Fernandez-Armesto said he was not aware it was an offence to cross >the street at that point.>>"I was an absolutely innocent person. I am very sorry to have crossed >the road when I shouldn't have and to have failed to recognise he was >a police officer but I cannot find anything I did as not the normal >behaviour of an honest person," he said in an interview on Friday >from Tufts University near Boston where is teaching.>>Fernandez-Armesto was detained for eight hours before being taken >before a judge who dismissed a charge of disorderly conduct.>>The case might have ended there. But in an opinion piece in the >Atlanta Journal-Constitution last week, the historian said >being "assaulted by the police and locked up for hours in the company >of some of the ... dregs of the American underclass" had taught him >something new about the country.>>"No one truly knows a nation until one has been inside its jails," he >said, quoting former South African President Nelson Mandela, although >he added he was well treated by staff at the jail and by the judge.>>Subsequent comment in the newspaper and on the city's talk- radio >shows was largely unfavourable to the historian.>>One letter called him an "arrogant Englishman," although the >newspaper said in an editorial the incident had "bruised Atlanta's >reputation as a ... city known for Southern hospitality." >>>>>To send an email to - > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 23, 2007 Report Share Posted January 23, 2007 obviously they get tickets!!!! peter VV Jan 23, 2007 4:17 PM Re: Jaywalker Causes Stir Jeez Louise, how do brits manage when they visit? Over here ( and probably every other country in the world?)you can cross anywhere you like? The Valley Vegan............. "Every gun that is made, every warship launched, every rocket fired, signifies in the final sense a theft from those who hunger and are not fed, those who are cold and are not clothed." -- Dwight Eisenhower Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 24, 2007 Report Share Posted January 24, 2007 Jaywalking is a stupid law, it is when cars matter more than people. it is an cop telling that I do not have the freedom to cross the street wherever I deem safe and implying that the pedestrian broke the law by not crossing at the " designated " corners is ludicrous and Not a CRime! but alas, that is the society that i live in and I want to go to Jail for other reasons, not that one. -anouk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 24, 2007 Report Share Posted January 24, 2007 Dear Peter, That is why everyone loves cities like New York and (I am assuming), San Francisco and Chicago They are one of the few places left in the US,where Pedestrians Rule! If you ever go there, You and I can have fun, crossing the streets when the sign says DON'T WALK you won't get killed there, it is a right. -anouk , peter VV <swpgh01 wrote: > > Jeez Louise, how do brits manage when they visit? Over here ( and probably every other country in the world?)you can cross anywhere you like? > > The Valley Vegan............. > > fraggle <EBbrewpunx wrote: > crossing a street in a non designated area > > on any major street/thoroughfare, you are only allowed to cross the street in marked crosswalks or from street corners......... > > > > > peter VV > Jan 23, 2007 2:06 PM > > Re: Jaywalker Causes Stir > > what the hell exactly is jaywalking? > > > > The Valley Vegan.................. > Its on Americas tortured brow > Mickey Mouse has grown up a cow > > > fraggle <EBbrewpunx wrote: > jaywalking isn't illegal there? > > > >heartwerk <jo.heartwork > >Jan 22, 2007 2:43 AM > > > > Jaywalker Causes Stir > > > >ATLANTA (Reuters) - Maybe, like the pronunciation of tomatoes, some > >things -- like jaywalking -- just don't travel well between the > >United States and Britain. > > > >A British history professor has caused a stir in Atlanta, and back > >home in Britain, over his arrest this month after he tried to cross > >the road outside an Atlanta hotel where he was attending a conference. > > > >Felipe Fernandez-Armesto has complained his arrest was a " violent > >assault. " > > > >According to a police report, officer Kevin Leonpacher, working off- > >duty for hotel security and wearing a jacket marked " Atlanta Police, " > >blew his whistle for Fernandez-Armesto to stop crossing Courtland > >Street in central Atlanta on January 4 and directed him to a > >crosswalk. > > > >The historian ignored Leonpacher who then asked " as many as ten > >times " for Fernandez-Armesto's identification. When he refused and > >instead demanded Leonpacher's identification, the officer made an > >arrest, the report said. > > > > " I asked him to put his hands behind his back so that he could be > >handcuffed .... He pulled away and began to wrestle with me. After > >about a minute I was able to wrestle him to the ground ... as I > >called for backup, " the report said. > > > >Fernandez-Armesto said he was not aware it was an offence to cross > >the street at that point. > > > > " I was an absolutely innocent person. I am very sorry to have crossed > >the road when I shouldn't have and to have failed to recognise he was > >a police officer but I cannot find anything I did as not the normal > >behaviour of an honest person, " he said in an interview on Friday > >from Tufts University near Boston where is teaching. > > > >Fernandez-Armesto was detained for eight hours before being taken > >before a judge who dismissed a charge of disorderly conduct. > > > >The case might have ended there. But in an opinion piece in the > >Atlanta Journal-Constitution last week, the historian said > >being " assaulted by the police and locked up for hours in the company > >of some of the ... dregs of the American underclass " had taught him > >something new about the country. > > > > " No one truly knows a nation until one has been inside its jails, " he > >said, quoting former South African President Nelson Mandela, although > >he added he was well treated by staff at the jail and by the judge. > > > >Subsequent comment in the newspaper and on the city's talk- radio > >shows was largely unfavourable to the historian. > > > >One letter called him an " arrogant Englishman, " although the > >newspaper said in an editorial the incident had " bruised Atlanta's > >reputation as a ... city known for Southern hospitality. " > > > > > > > > > >To send an email to - > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 24, 2007 Report Share Posted January 24, 2007 Hi Fraggle >jaywalking isn't illegal there? Nope - in the UK a road is a " public right of way " , which means that the public have the right to use it as they see fit (provided they don't damage it or cause problems for other users). The only exceptions are motorways, which it is illegal to walk along or cross, purely for issues of safety. Interestingly, I was told yesterday that the US laws on jaywalking specifically cover " walking or running " on the highway, so presumably, it is perfectly legal to crawl, skip, caper or roll across a road in the US? :-) BB Peter Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 24, 2007 Report Share Posted January 24, 2007 Hi Anouk >Jaywalking is a stupid law, I agree. And surely it is against the basic human right of freedom of movement? :-) BB Peter Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 24, 2007 Report Share Posted January 24, 2007 Hi Anouk >That is why everyone loves cities like New York and (I am assuming), >San Francisco and Chicago >They are one of the few places left in the US,where Pedestrians Rule! >If you ever go there, >You and I can have fun, >crossing the streets >when the sign says >DON'T WALK >you won't get killed there, it is a right. Well, I have done SF and Chicago (although didn't go into the town in Chicago, just the suburbs). I'm pretty sure I must have " jaywalked " in SF without realising it!! :-) BB Peter Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 24, 2007 Report Share Posted January 24, 2007 LOL Peter :-) I can see you capering across the road. BBJo - Peter Kebbell Wednesday, January 24, 2007 9:55 AM Re: Jaywalker Causes Stir Hi Fraggle >jaywalking isn't illegal there? Nope - in the UK a road is a "public right of way", which means that the public have the right to use it as they see fit (provided they don't damage it or cause problems for other users). The only exceptions are motorways, which it is illegal to walk along or cross, purely for issues of safety. Interestingly, I was told yesterday that the US laws on jaywalking specifically cover "walking or running" on the highway, so presumably, it is perfectly legal to crawl, skip, caper or roll across a road in the US? :-) BB Peter Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 24, 2007 Report Share Posted January 24, 2007 Is it O.K. to loiter with intent? The Valley Vegan...............jo <jo.heartwork wrote: LOL Peter :-) I can see you capering across the road. BBJo ----- Original Message ----- Peter Kebbell Wednesday, January 24, 2007 9:55 AM Re: Jaywalker Causes Stir Hi Fraggle >jaywalking isn't illegal there? Nope - in the UK a road is a "public right of way", which means that the public have the right to use it as they see fit (provided they don't damage it or cause problems for other users). The only exceptions are motorways, which it is illegal to walk along or cross, purely for issues of safety. Interestingly, I was told yesterday that the US laws on jaywalking specifically cover "walking or running" on the highway, so presumably, it is perfectly legal to crawl, skip, caper or roll across a road in the US? :-) BB Peter Peter H New Mail is the ultimate force in competitive emailing. Find out more at the Mail Championships. Plus: play games and win prizes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 24, 2007 Report Share Posted January 24, 2007 i wish..................... how else do you think i got my pelvis shattered? and i was in a crosswalk.................. >flower child <zurumato >Jan 24, 2007 1:01 AM > > Re: Jaywalker Causes Stir > >Dear Peter, > >That is why everyone loves cities like New York and (I am assuming), >San Francisco and Chicago > >They are one of the few places left in the US,where Pedestrians Rule! >If you ever go there, > > >You and I can have fun, >crossing the streets >when the sign says >DON'T WALK > >you won't get killed there, it is a right. > >-anouk > > , peter VV <swpgh01 wrote: >> >> Jeez Louise, how do brits manage when they visit? Over here ( and >probably every other country in the world?)you can cross anywhere you >like? >> >> The Valley Vegan............. >> >> fraggle <EBbrewpunx wrote: >> crossing a street in a non designated area >> >> on any major street/thoroughfare, you are only allowed to cross >the street in marked crosswalks or from street corners......... >> >> >> >> >> peter VV >> Jan 23, 2007 2:06 PM >> >> Re: Jaywalker Causes Stir >> >> what the hell exactly is jaywalking? >> >> >> >> The Valley Vegan.................. >> Its on Americas tortured brow >> Mickey Mouse has grown up a cow >> >> >> fraggle <EBbrewpunx wrote: >> jaywalking isn't illegal there? >> >> >> >heartwerk <jo.heartwork >> >Jan 22, 2007 2:43 AM >> > >> > Jaywalker Causes Stir >> > >> >ATLANTA (Reuters) - Maybe, like the pronunciation of tomatoes, some >> >things -- like jaywalking -- just don't travel well between the >> >United States and Britain. >> > >> >A British history professor has caused a stir in Atlanta, and back >> >home in Britain, over his arrest this month after he tried to cross >> >the road outside an Atlanta hotel where he was attending a conference. >> > >> >Felipe Fernandez-Armesto has complained his arrest was a " violent >> >assault. " >> > >> >According to a police report, officer Kevin Leonpacher, working off- >> >duty for hotel security and wearing a jacket marked " Atlanta Police, " >> >blew his whistle for Fernandez-Armesto to stop crossing Courtland >> >Street in central Atlanta on January 4 and directed him to a >> >crosswalk. >> > >> >The historian ignored Leonpacher who then asked " as many as ten >> >times " for Fernandez-Armesto's identification. When he refused and >> >instead demanded Leonpacher's identification, the officer made an >> >arrest, the report said. >> > >> > " I asked him to put his hands behind his back so that he could be >> >handcuffed .... He pulled away and began to wrestle with me. After >> >about a minute I was able to wrestle him to the ground ... as I >> >called for backup, " the report said. >> > >> >Fernandez-Armesto said he was not aware it was an offence to cross >> >the street at that point. >> > >> > " I was an absolutely innocent person. I am very sorry to have crossed >> >the road when I shouldn't have and to have failed to recognise he was >> >a police officer but I cannot find anything I did as not the normal >> >behaviour of an honest person, " he said in an interview on Friday >> >from Tufts University near Boston where is teaching. >> > >> >Fernandez-Armesto was detained for eight hours before being taken >> >before a judge who dismissed a charge of disorderly conduct. >> > >> >The case might have ended there. But in an opinion piece in the >> >Atlanta Journal-Constitution last week, the historian said >> >being " assaulted by the police and locked up for hours in the company >> >of some of the ... dregs of the American underclass " had taught him >> >something new about the country. >> > >> > " No one truly knows a nation until one has been inside its jails, " he >> >said, quoting former South African President Nelson Mandela, although >> >he added he was well treated by staff at the jail and by the judge. >> > >> >Subsequent comment in the newspaper and on the city's talk- radio >> >shows was largely unfavourable to the historian. >> > >> >One letter called him an " arrogant Englishman, " although the >> >newspaper said in an editorial the incident had " bruised Atlanta's >> >reputation as a ... city known for Southern hospitality. " >> > >> > >> > >> > >> >To send an email to - >> > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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