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.

[Just another Joe]

Dude, I think you are just a tad paranoid....

Depends on the location.

In my hometown of 2000 I might let them in but that's because I know them personally.
In ANY large city in this nation I wouldn't let a policeman into my house without a warrant stating specifically what they were looking for and would want an independent witness to go with them.
Might not be possible but that's what I would want.

[ProudGenXLibertarian]

Im a libertarian, and yes a newbie. Im not a disruptor, Ive lurked for a long time. These guys had a warrant for a person they reasonably believed was at the daycare. What should they have done?? Take what the cops said, and what the daycare lady said and meet halfway, thats probably where you find the truth. Because I dont entirely blame the government agency here, that makes me not a Libertarian?? Who are you to judge?

[chance33_98]

Are you aware that this entire fiasco was over an $80.00 traffic ticket? $80.00. Methinks the OKCPD needs a short lesson in simple cost-benefit analysis as well as common sense

That is one thing that bugs me about this whole thing. Although when I was deputy we had a guy brought in for not paying a $20 fine for fishing without a license. The police over reacted a bit in my opinion but BOTH parties could have handled this better. I am sure both groups will have a memo on this one for their respective employees shortly.

[ProudGenXLibertarian]

I agree with you that there are bad cops out there, and yes it was just an $80.00 traffic warrant, but the cops went to the center, told the woman why they were there and then werent allowed inside. Did they show this woman ID? Were their shields clearly visible on the their clothing?? Did she ask for ID and did she call the PD to verify who they were?? Those are some questions that need to be asked.

[babygene]

Why not arrest the guy at home or at least arrest him when he left fo the day. It would seem that you would not want kids around durring an arrest.

[john639753]

Well lets see....I never heard of a seperated parent taking a child from someplace when the primary parent was absent....The daycare operators were absolutely correct in denying access to anyone who has not established their identy.....

[Libertina]

why not let the cops in to have a quick look see and then split. The sight of police officers walking through the daycare and then out quietly, Im sure would not have traumatized ...
For an $80 traffic ticket??? Are there no bad guys? This is really over the top.

[hopespringseternal]

Im a libertarian

Ha! Best joke today.

You are a liberal or a law&order conservative.

First off, they were plain clothes. Second, they had an arrest warrant, not a search warrant. Third, some guy drives up and they jump him violently not having any idea who he is.

Not only should these clowns be fired, they should be charged.

[ProudGenXLibertarian]

Thanks!!!

[ProudGenXLibertarian]

Again, Im not saying what the Police did was acceptable, but I also lay some blame at the feet of the daycare owner.

[thatsnotnice]

Dude, I think you are just a tad paranoid....

Heh, about 20 years ago there was a part of Portland, Or. called St. Johns. There was a house there that was a biker gang house. They were involved in a rolling biker war with some other gang so they had barricaded the ground level doors and windows with furniture and plywood.

Anyway, one day someone is trying to bust down the front door at 4am so one of the girls inside calls the police while the guys grab shotguns and pistols. The guy outside is able to kick the front door in partially and the bikers see no uniform so they blast him. They ended up having a 10 minute gunbattle with the people outside. They turn out to be police officers. The one attempting entry was killed and several others wounded.

After the smoke cleared there was a big investigation and the only drugs found were in the jacket pocket of the plainclothes officer that was initially trying to enter the house. It caused a big stink at the time. Of course, the bikers had plenty of time to dispose of any evidence they might have had, but still…

[ProudGenXLibertarian]

No there are bad guys, and these knucklehead police officers have some issues. But the daycare owner could have handled it a little differently. Had she requested some ID, asked to speak to a supervisior or Sgt. and explain to them what her problem with allowing them in was. I understand they did not have a search warrant, maybe she could have told them where the employee was. etc etc etc

[ProudGenXLibertarian]

I agree with you, that the police here are about 90% at fault. But the other 10% is with the daycare owner, not being reasonable.

[TexRef]

Dude, I think you are just a tad paranoid....

Dude, I think you are just a tad naive....

[takenoprisoner]

Take what the cops said, and what the daycare lady said and meet halfway, thats probably where you find the truth.

How bout Cudjo? And how would you like some JBT's boot on your face? They knew he wasn't the traffic violator they were looking for. They just wanted to kick some ass for having been dissed.

[hopespringseternal]

I agree with you, that the police here are about 90% at fault. But the other 10% is with the daycare owner, not being reasonable.

So you want to focus on the guy who is 10% at fault,
whose salary you do not pay,
and is far less likely that the 90% at fault cops to rough you up?

Real smart.

[LEGACIES ARE FOR LOSERS]

As for Marshall Cudjo, police say they arrested him for "refusing to comply..."

It was a warrant for another person over an $80 traffic ticket. What exactly was he supposed to "comply" with?

[ProudGenXLibertarian]

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