Group: Tukwila cops used excessive force
TUKWILA, Wash. -- A local Hispanic community group claims Tukwila police used excessive force against a group of innocent men following a brawl at a local soccer game over the weekend.
The Center for people of All Races, a group that serves Seattle and King County residents, says two Hispanic soccer teams got into a brawl on the field during a game at the Star Fire Sports Complex on Sunday afternoon. One man was knocked unconscious, and a witness called 911.
Six Tukwila officers - the entire police force on duty at the time - responded to the location, but the brawl had been broken up by then, the group said. And according to witnesses, the officers began to manhandle innocent bystanders.
"They didn't come in asking any questions. They just assumed that because we were all together, that that's where the fight was. So they started pushing everybody," said Jeimmy Ornelas.
"And ugly incident that we are convinced was racially-motivated," said Estela Ortega.
Outraged by the police officers' alleged actions, the witnesses, as well as representatives of several civil rights groups converged on Tukwila City Hall on Thursday. Those gathered said the officers used excessive and unnecessary force.
Shirad Alsamarrai said he was just standing on the sideline, but got agitated with police after seeing officers manhandle another man, a friend who was standing nearby. That's when police fought Alsamarrai, Tazed him and arrested him for disorderly conduct.
"The only question I have is, 'Why'd it happened to me? Why I had to get beaten up?'" Alsamarrai said. "Until now, I have (been given) no explanation. I did not get an explanation on that day. When I keep (sic) asking that question today, 'Why I was getting beat? Why I was on the ground?' Even though I was in a cop car until now, I have no explanation."
The group took its arguments inside City Hall to the mayor's office, but the mayor wasn't in.
In the police report officers claim the two men who were arrested were about to fight, and the officers were trying to break up the tension. But the protesters claim the two are friends who were upset the police were harassing them.
Police admit neither one of the men had anything to do with the fight that prompted the 911 call.
Investigators are still looking for the people involved in Sunday's brawl with the players, and said they plan to launch an internal investigation into the conduct of the officers.
"At this point an investigation will be initiated. We will be moving forward with due diligence and impartiality," said Tukwila Police Commander Erick Drever.
The Center for people of All Races, a group that serves Seattle and King County residents, says two Hispanic soccer teams got into a brawl on the field during a game at the Star Fire Sports Complex on Sunday afternoon. One man was knocked unconscious, and a witness called 911.
Six Tukwila officers - the entire police force on duty at the time - responded to the location, but the brawl had been broken up by then, the group said. And according to witnesses, the officers began to manhandle innocent bystanders.
"They didn't come in asking any questions. They just assumed that because we were all together, that that's where the fight was. So they started pushing everybody," said Jeimmy Ornelas.
"And ugly incident that we are convinced was racially-motivated," said Estela Ortega.
Outraged by the police officers' alleged actions, the witnesses, as well as representatives of several civil rights groups converged on Tukwila City Hall on Thursday. Those gathered said the officers used excessive and unnecessary force.
Shirad Alsamarrai said he was just standing on the sideline, but got agitated with police after seeing officers manhandle another man, a friend who was standing nearby. That's when police fought Alsamarrai, Tazed him and arrested him for disorderly conduct.
"The only question I have is, 'Why'd it happened to me? Why I had to get beaten up?'" Alsamarrai said. "Until now, I have (been given) no explanation. I did not get an explanation on that day. When I keep (sic) asking that question today, 'Why I was getting beat? Why I was on the ground?' Even though I was in a cop car until now, I have no explanation."
The group took its arguments inside City Hall to the mayor's office, but the mayor wasn't in.
In the police report officers claim the two men who were arrested were about to fight, and the officers were trying to break up the tension. But the protesters claim the two are friends who were upset the police were harassing them.
Police admit neither one of the men had anything to do with the fight that prompted the 911 call.
Investigators are still looking for the people involved in Sunday's brawl with the players, and said they plan to launch an internal investigation into the conduct of the officers.
"At this point an investigation will be initiated. We will be moving forward with due diligence and impartiality," said Tukwila Police Commander Erick Drever.