Police shake up daycare workers, kids (Who's at fault - you decide)

KFOR ^

[chance33_98]

OKLAHOMA CITY, January 3, 2002 - They say police from Forest Park came to their daycare trying to serve a warrant -- and left with children and employees in a state of shock and fear.

Angry at what they call “unneccesary force” those workers called our public defenders in to investigate.

Employees of the playtown daycare center say they've never had any trouble. That is until recently. That's when Forest Park police came to serve a traffic warrant for a daycare employee.

Employees say they told police that particular employee wasn't there -- and that's when things escalated out of control.

When Forest Park police showed up at the door of the Playtown Daycare looking to serve an $80 traffic warrant, employees told them the person they were looking for wasn't there.

“They kept getting persistent, they started kicking on the door, bamming on the door and we said ‘We're not going to let you in because we have kids in here,’” said Beverly Gewinn, an employee of the daycare center.

Gewinn says she was hesitant in the first place, because the officers were in plain clothes.

“There's people pretending all the time, knocking on your door, especially a place of business,” she said. “I mean, it's two women and we have about 15 kids, so that's why I didn’t let him in.”

They shuttled the terrified kids downstairs.

“I said, ‘Flo get the kids downstairs, get the kids downstairs,’” she said.

And finally let the officers in.

“They came through here and started searching the facility,” she said. “Again, they never showed any paperwork, they just came in.”

Employees called the owner's son who rushed to the scene.

“I asked what was going on. I was concerned about what was going on at the daycare because my mother and me are the owners here,” said Marshall Cudjo, co-owner of the daycare.

He says officers immediately assumed he was the man they were looking for.

He says they handcuffed him, hit him and threw him to the ground, injuring his shoulder, leg and chest.

“The one that had his foot on top of my head kept asking ‘Is it him?, Is it him,’” Cudjo said. “The other officer pulls out and says, ‘No, this ain’t him, we got the wrong one.’”

The daycare officials are furious. They say they understand police have to do their job but the way they handled it crossed the line.

“They wouldn't have went to La Petite or any of the other big centers,” Cudjo said. “I think its very sad because this is a business place and not only that, there's children.”

Forest Park police refused to comment on camera, saying the chief is the only one who can comment, and he's out of town. They did say they never kicked or banged on any doors. In fact, they say they went, looked around, and politely left.

As for Marshall Cudjo, police say they arrested him for "refusing to comply" and add that no one ever touched him.

[ProudGenXLibertarian]

No, the police were wrong and should face disciplinary action. But to just give the daycare owners a free pass here isnt being honest either.

[hopespringseternal]

But to just give the daycare owners a free pass here isnt being honest either.

He was beat up and charged with a crime. What more do you want, a public beheading?

If that is what you call a free pass, I would hate to see what you call a slap on the wrist.

[takenoprisoner]

Once again, the cops are wrong here. But the daycare had other options then the ones they chose as well.

I disagree that they had other options. Their number one priority was the protection of those children in their care. They did exactly as I would have done or any other reasonable caretaker of infants and children. No one enters that don't belong period. You got my child, that better be your rule. And two unknown guys in plain clothes don't qualify as someone who belongs. I don't care who they say they are or what badges they may possess. If they are legit, they can call for a patrol car to prove their status and their business.

All I see the daycare workers did wrong was when the men began kicking and bamming on the door they should have called 911 immediately.

[zog]

--in the article the lady said plain clothes, no presented ID I am presuming, and they have had trouble with weirdoes trying to get in before. A common tactic now for badguys breaking into places is just to say they are 'the police" and that's supposed to be enough. No, it ain't enough, they all have gotten too big for their britches the last ten years or so, outta control. They have completely lost any notion of 'right and wrong" they are only interested in giving orders and throwing their weight around mostly. Sadly, the good ones left in cop-dom are getting out, I've talked to several, they refuse to do this nazi-like crap anymore and have quit.

[goodieD]

ummmm how about because they had no search warrant?? or doesn't the Constitution mean anything to you? They showed no paperwork.. why should the daycare people let them in? If someone claiming to be plainclothes police came to your door demanding to be let in..would you just open the door? You are NO libertarian, that's for sure..I believe the Generation X part though.

[harpseal]

To the police issues list

[ProudGenXLibertarian]

NO I wouldnt just let them in, I would have called the police to verify who they were. If they continued to bang on the door I would have called 911 who could have verified them for me. Remember you are only getting one side of the story here. If being a Libertarian, means ALWAYS blaming the government agency than maybe Im not one.

[ProudGenXLibertarian]

I agree with you, also I have several friends who are cops who can tell you about "set-up" situations they have been in. Like the kid in the stolen car they chased for 11 blocks, only to have him ditch the car and run into a house.....to see daddy standing there with a video camera ready to tape the police "brutalizing" his son.

[ProudGenXLibertarian]

Also how do you know they didnt have shields on?? Maybe this lady freaked out, when she saw them at the door and panicked. Im not saying that she was right or wrong, all Im saying is dont judge this until all the facts are in.

[ProudGenXLibertarian]

That happened after the inital incident. In that instance the cops were 100% wrong there.

[takenoprisoner]

I agree with you, also I have several friends who are cops who can tell you about "set-up" situations they have been in. Like the kid in the stolen car they chased for 11 blocks, only to have him ditch the car and run into a house.....to see daddy standing there with a video camera ready to tape the police "brutalizing" his son.

I would think it unwise to chase any suspect into a private home...and not for reasons of fear of some pappa videographer!

[ProudGenXLibertarian]

True, but do we tell the police that they can no longer chase suspects??

[Steve0113]

how do i find the police issues list?

Dunno how it's supposed to be done, but this will work: Do a self-search, then click on "Search". Type "donut watch" in the search box, then click on the "Search" button next to it.

[Bahbah]

You are absolutely right about not letting in someone just because he or she claims to be law enforcement. The piece is not terribly well written but it does seem that these individuals had a warrant. Also, it is not clear to me that they didn't identify themselves. We have only the word of the daycare worker for that. I don't think there are enought facts to make a judgment.

[Steve0113]

Cancel the above -- it won't work. Sorry!

[harpseal]

The key words are donut watch (the police issues list). Yes I have a weird sense of humor.

To find all articles tagged or indexed using above index words

Go here: OFFICIAL BUMP(TOPIC)LIST

and then click the topic to initiate the search! !

Stay well - Stay safe - Stay armed - Yorktown

[MistrX]

Better safe than sorry.