ChipThaMac

Malika, who was initially arrested for auto theft, kicked her shoe at the deputy in a manner that does not appear to be very threatening before the deputy rushes in and kicks the teenage girl, slamming her to the floor and striking her and pulling her hair.

Deputy Schene has pleaded not guilty to assault charges. According to Chen, the deputies claim the girl was “real lippy” and called them “fat pigs.” Malika says the deputies had attitude and were being rude to her, which is why she kicked off her shoe at the deputy, which does not appear to actually hit him. The deputy told her this was assaulting a police officer, and then charged in and began beating her.

Here is the shocking video, transcript from interview with Julie Chen below.

Deputies say the girl was, quote, “real lippy,” and that she had called them, quote, “fat pigs.” Paramedics were called after Calhoun had complained that she had difficulty breathing, but she did not require hospitalization. Calhoun and another 15-year-old girl were arrested after they were found in the other girl’s mother’s car, which had been reported stolen.

[Transcript]

CHEN: Joining us now for an exclusive interview, Malika Calhoun and her father, Curtiss. Good morning to you both.

MALIKA CALHOUN, POLICE BEATING VICTIM: Good morning.

CHEN: Malika, let me begin with you. What do you remember about the beating?

M. CALHOUN: I remember the way he just came in after I kicked my shoe off, and we were arguing back and forth all night since the arrest happened. And just…

CHEN: What were you arguing about back and forth all night?

M. CALHOUN: Just the way he was talking to me, and we were just, I don’t know, he just had an attitude…

CHEN: Which was how?

M. CALHOUN: … with everything.

CHEN: How was he talking to you when he arrested you?

M. CALHOUN: He was being — just talking about us in rude ways, making rude comments about things, like, oh, you guys steal cars, and it wasn’t

– technically, we didn’t steal the car. We were just borrowing my friend’s mom’s car without permission. We used it without permission.

CHEN: And then what was the exchange going on between you and the officer in the cell during the beating?

M. CALHOUN: He first, when he first came in, where I kicked the shoe off at him, and I was about to take my other one off, he said, you know, it’s assaulting an officer. And that’s when he charged in and started beating me. And I was yelling. I was like, this isn’t — I’m not resisting. I’m not resisting. And he said, whether you’re resisting or not, that was assault.

Then he just kept doing it and kept going and going.

CHEN: Why did you kick the shoe off at him?

M. CALHOUN: Because my arms were folded, and I was upset with the way he was talking to me. And I was talking back to him. And I just took it off. And I was ready to take off my other shoe, and then that’s what happened.

CHEN: Did the shoe hit him?

M. CALHOUN: No, it didn’t hit him at all. I was standing in the inside of the door, and he was standing holding the door open. Didn’t hit him, and he was saying that it made blood pockets and stuff, and it didn’t even hit him at all.

CHEN: Tell me about the beating. How hard was it?

M. CALHOUN: It was horrible, like my head hit the wall when he first came in and kicked me. And then my head hit the wall in the back. And then he kept — threw me to the ground, was pulling my hair constantly.

And it was just horrible.

CHEN: Were you screaming for him to stop?

M. CALHOUN: Yes. I said, I’m not resisting. I’m not resisting.

CHEN: And what did he say?

M. CALHOUN: He didn’t say anything back until after, when I was like, I didn’t resist. And he said, well, it was still assaulting an officer.

CHEN: Curtiss, let me turn to you. This video’s so difficult to watch. What did you think the first time you saw it?

CURTISS CALHOUN, FATHER OF POLICE BEATING VICTIM: I didn’t see it the first time until Friday evening, when I got home from work, and it was very disturbing. I didn’t know it was this severe of an assault.

CHEN: What do you want to see happen to this officer? He’s currently on administrative leave. If he’s found guilty, he could spend one year behind bars. What do each of you want to see happen to this officer?

Curtiss?

C. CALHOUN: As far as what happens to him, I wouldn’t like to see him work as a police officer anymore. I don’t think that’s the job for him, based on the way he reacted. Dealing with people, I don’t think he can respond that way and still be an officer.

CHEN: Malika, in the last five seconds, what do you want to see happen to him?

M. CALHOUN: I just want to — I don’t know — justice. I don’t want this to happen to anyone else.

CHEN: Malika and Curtiss Calhoun, thank you.

M. CALHOUN: Thank you

 [End Transcript]

The cop pleads not guilty? Really?  People, and especially cops need to be accountable for thier actions.  How can he possibly think he is not guilty?
The Deputy’s name is Paul Schene, and the incident occured in the Seattle-Tacoma City Hall holding cell. Malika the girl, is a young 15 years old.
I am fed up with seeing reports/videos/testimonies of police abuse.  It’s our fault as the public, because until we make a united stand, this crap will continue.  The minimum punishment this officer should get is 2 years in prison.  Why so severe?  I would say because he is an officer of the law, and put in a position of power.  Every officer should know that if they take part in abuses of power such as this, then there will be a hefty price to pay.

1. reyad says:

   March 2, 2009 at 9:30 pm

   These two officers should be put in jail for a long long time. The girl is only 15 and they did that. I wonder what they do with their wives, girl friends or their daughters every time they make a mistake. I also wonder if she was white girl would they have done the same. I wish I would be one of the jury people when they go to court for this. I would ask the judge to give them 15 years without a possibility of parole.
2. John says:

   March 3, 2009 at 9:59 pm

   Here is some background information which may add some very worrisome context to this disturbing incident.

   Over the last decade the United States has slipped from 2nd to 15th the UN Human Development Index(HDI). One of the reasons for this is that although the US has 5% of the world’s population the US has 25% of all people incarcerated. The HDI measures how likely people in a country will have long, healthy, dignified and happy lives. If you feel like the country has been moving in the wrong direction it is not paranoia but just rational observation and analysis which led you to this conclusion.

   Around two thirds of the people incarcerated come from the black and Hispanic minority groups which make up around 25% of the population. This incident is just the tip of the iceberg of a systemic savagery directed at minorities by a foul legal system. I live in Dallas where every other month some new murderer or rapist is exonerated by DNA evidence which the first ever black DA in Dallas is willing to use.

   I hope some opportunistic and enterprising attorney takes this case and creatively manages to hammer Seattle with a settlement that is so spectacularly high it forces a systemic change. If slipping down the HDI is not reason enough to cause change then perhaps a verdict of many tens of millions of dollars will focus the Seattle PD and political leaders on the required change.
3. ChipThaMac says:

   March 4, 2009 at 9:46 am

   John, I aggree with you, as you can tell from my blog post. I live in Fort Worth, so I’m on the nicer side of crime in DFW. I really hate it that we live in a nation with the government tainted in so many places. Like Obama said, “We need Change”