Beaten to the Brink of Death in Chicago

[Akyeame Kwame]

Afrikan Beaten to the Brink of Death in Chicago

I just wanted to send you the incident report concerning my case in an attachment. Feel free if you know any people in the media feild or network of contacts to pass it on. I am working on my end to at least try and get my story told.

Peace

Donald Edwards
P.O. Box 51515
Chicago, IL. 60651
donaldedwards100@hotmail.com
773-456-0181

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My name is Donald Edwards and I have been a victim of police brutality! This unjust and vicious crime was inflicted by the Melrose Park Police Department. I had my civil rights violated, was beaten viciously while handcuffed, pepper sprayed, stripped of my clothes, and arrested without warrant. I was detained uncharged for more than 24 hours and left bruised, bloody and medically unattended in a jail cell. When my lawyer arrived shortly after the incident, I was in and out of consciousness in a cell. He demanded for me to be rushed to the hospital. Only then was an ambulance called and I was transported to the Westlake hospital emergency room.

At 6:30 pm on May 23rd 2005, I was visiting my seventy-five year old mother, a prominent Reverend of the A.M.E church, at her senior citizens residence located at 1750 Riverwoods Drive, Melrose Park, IL, 60160. I was driving a 1980 Chevrolet Camaro when I pulled into the parking lot to meet her. I stopped by to say ‘Hello’ for a second, before I had to be on my way. I pulled into visitors parking, left my car running, walked over and greeted her while she exited her car. She wanted me to help walk her to the front door, so I did. When we got to the front door she wanted to sit and talk for a few minutes before she went inside. We sat on benches in front of her building. A few minutes past and three elderly ladies congregated in front of my vehicle while walking their dogs. One of the elderly ladies walked over to us and asked, “Is that your car?� We responded politely and said “Yes, is there something wrong?� She said, “No, but those women are just nosey and they are going to call the police. They don’t know whose car it is. So you’d better go and let them know and turn your car off.�

I left my car idling quietly in the visitor’s spot, with the radio off, because I only meant to meet with my mother outside for a very short period of time. I walked over to the visitors spot, turned off my car, locked the doors and started walking back towards my mother sitting on the bench. The two elderly women said, “Is that your car? Why is it on?� I said, “Sorry if there is a problem, have a goodnight.�

While I was walking back to my mother, an unmarked black SUV pulled up very fast and screeched to a stop close to me. I turned around and two white males and one white female jumped out and said, “Get your nigger ass down on the ground and put your hands behind your head!� I was very shocked and terrified that someone would say that to me. I threw my hands up over my head with open palms and said, “Hey, what is going on?� Then one of the W/M grabbed some pepper spray from his waist and pointed it toward my face and sprayed it while replying, “Get down on the ground nigger.� Natural reaction made me turn and run. I ran about 50 yards until I stumbled. I saw my mother get up and start toward me. I then laid down on the ground with my hands behind my back. When the offenders caught up to me they proceeded to put their knee on my neck and beat me with their closed fists. I heard my mother yell “Stop, Stop! What are you doing?!� I yelled for her to stay back so she would not get hurt, as I lay prone on the ground. The offenders continued to beat me on the ground ferociously. I was not resisting. I could hear my mother screaming saying Stop, Stop Please! The offenders continued to kick and beat me until a crowd started to appear. About the same time a Melrose Park police car arrived on the scene, later identified as officer Negron. As onlookers started to gather they picked me up and put me in officer Negron’s police car.

I saw one of the offenders scream at my mother saying “Get out of here!� He moved towards her as to push her and other onlookers grabbed her and moved her away from them. I could see from the back of the police car that the offenders started to look about on the ground by my car, as if to plant something. I heard someone say “Don’t plant anything we are watching you!� It seemed the offenders started to get nervous so they directed one of the officers, Negron, to transport me back to the station. While I was being transported officer Negron said “If I was there, I would have shot your nigger ass!� He also said “You are going to get yours when we get back to the station,� in a menacing voice. When I arrived at the station, there were two additional officers waiting for me. They chained me to the wall. I was chained and handcuffed until the other offenders got back to the station. These offenders were now identified as Lt. Rogowski, I/O Rodriguez, and I/O Shankle. The offenders unchained me from the wall and while I was still handcuffed slammed me unto a steel table, face first. The 6 offenders then commenced another brutal beating. One of the officers tried to twist my neck as if to break it, while the others grabbed hold of each appendage to pound and maim. The offender Lt. Rogowski yelled out, “You like to run from police officers, huh Nigger?!� The offenders beat me until I passed out on the table. When I revived I was being taken to a cell. While being dragged to a cell I was again slammed face first into a concrete wall by the offender Lt. Rogowski. I was knocked senseless and bloodily beaten by the hands of approximately six officers and I/O’s while at the station, seemingly on camera. There was a camera positioned above the table where the offenders beat and strangled me. The next thing I remember was my lawyer coming into my cell yelling for the officers to get medical attention. I was rushed to Westlake Hospital for treatment of my wounds and to take x-ray’s. At that time clothes were given to me to wear by the medical staff, I was only wearing my shorts. My right knee was immobilized from ligament damage sustained from the beating. At about 3:00 a.m., I was released from the hospital and placed back into a cell.

Twenty-four hours past without being allowed a meal, phone call, being charged with a crime, or being finger printed. With pressure on the department from my lawyer, I was finally processed, charged with battery to a police officer, resisting arrest and disorderly conduct. I was released on bond approximately 9pm the next day. My car was impounded and I had a rare and expensive sterling silver moonstone pendant stolen from me by the offenders. Later that week my mother had to be admitted to the hospital for heart problems, triggered by the brutality from the Melrose Park Police Department.

These Offenders Lt. Rogowski, I/O Rodriquez, I/O Shankle, officer Negron and the Melrose Park Police Department are responsible for these apprehensible crimes and civil rights violations against me and my family. These offenders have caused me undue hardship, physical and personal pain, medical bills, job loss and most of all my freedom. They treated me less than a human being, tried to strip me of my dignity and basic rights as a citizen. The offending officers named in this complaint need to be investigated and brought to justice.



Donald Edwards
P.O. Box 51515
Chicago, IL. 60651
donaldedwards100@hotmail.com
773-456-0181

[Sadiku]

When are we ever going to stick together? When are we going to realize that without each other we are doomed? This is the story of our lives - the Black man's life in Amerikkka. I have been beaten by the pigs too, but not as sadistically as this, yet I have been beaten "while in handcuffs." Posting the story is "nice", but what are we going to do about it - talk? I am tired of talking!!! Enuff Said for me.

[Kimani]

sorry i gotta share; this reminds me when i was about 8 yrs old in Chicago; my big brother and cousin were getting into some petty argument cause my brother was blocking his car in our backyard; my cousin called the ho-lice; this hick white man and white woman came; they told my brother he had to move his car; my brother said something to the effect that "ah, you have to call these honkeys to get me to move my car"; apparently the hick male cop didnt like that; as my brother was walking to the car the cop just started choking him; my brother was gagging for air, his tongue was hanging out his mouth; my shy, timid big sister ran off the backporch and started punching this cop in his face; so did everyone else in our family; everyone who was outside in the neighborhood joined in; the hick male was trying to call for backup; and real boyz from the hood kept punching him; he finally got a chance to call in; by that time they had took his and the females gun, badge, and cap;we kicked those cops azz that day; my big brother ended up being the only one arrested; they beat him pretty bad when they got him to the station; we took pictures and he sued those crakkas.

[RASNUBIAN]

I Live Around The Chicago Area And These Kkkrakkkkaz Are Like This. I Dont Travel To Much Into The White Dominated Areas Because Ive Known People Personally Who Have Been Victims Of Police Brutality.

[Akyeame Kwame]

Originally Posted by Sadiku

When are we ever going to stick together? When are we going to realize that without each other we are doomed? This is the story of our lives - the Black man's life in Amerikkka. I have been beaten by the pigs too, but not as sadistically as this, yet I have been beaten "while in handcuffs." Posting the story is "nice", but what are we going to do about it - talk? I am tired of talking!!! Enuff Said for me.

i hope talking is not what you plan on doing. contact the Bro. and see what you can do.

AK

[Akyeame Kwame]

Originally Posted by kimani

sorry i gotta share; this reminds me when i was about 8 yrs old in Chicago; my big brother and cousin were getting into some petty argument cause my brother was blocking his car in our backyard; my cousin called the ho-lice; this hick white man and white woman came; they told my brother he had to move his car; my brother said something to the effect that "ah, you have to call these honkeys to get me to move my car"; apparently the hick male cop didnt like that; as my brother was walking to the car the cop just started choking him; my brother was gagging for air, his tongue was hanging out his mouth; my shy, timid big sister ran off the backporch and started punching this cop in his face; so did everyone else in our family; everyone who was outside in the neighborhood joined in; the hick male was trying to call for backup; and real boyz from the hood kept punching him; he finally got a chance to call in; by that time they had took his and the females gun, badge, and cap;we kicked those cops azz that day; my big brother ended up being the only one arrested; they beat him pretty bad when they got him to the station; we took pictures and he sued those crakkas.

good story Bro. Kimani...i'm glad it went relatively better...

AK

[Akyeame Kwame]

Originally Posted by RASNUBIAN

I Live Around The Chicago Area And These Kkkrakkkkaz Are Like This. I Dont Travel To Much Into The White Dominated Areas Because Ive Known People Personally Who Have Been Victims Of Police Brutality.

i'm in the city now...i've just been pulled over for DWB...no PB as of yet...u want to see what we can do to help the Bro?

AK

[RASNUBIAN]

Originally Posted by Akyeame Kwame

i'm in the city now...i've just been pulled over for DWB...no PB as of yet...u want to see what we can do to help the Bro?

AK

so whats the plan? e-mail me.....but first im gonna e-mail this to the chicago chapter of the nbpp at nbppchicagochapter@yahooo.com and i can also advise the brotha to call their hot line number at 1-773-250-7353 if someone picks up ask for "justice allah" or "ephriam" i was planning on attending the weekly meeting this weekend if i can secure some transportation and i could bring it up then also.

[Akyeame Kwame]

Originally Posted by RASNUBIAN

so whats the plan? e-mail me.....but first im gonna e-mail this to the chicago chapter of the nbpp at nbppchicagochapter@yahooo.com and i can also advise the brotha to call their hot line number at 1-773-250-7353 if someone picks up ask for "justice allah" or "ephriam" i was planning on attending the weekly meeting this weekend if i can secure some transportation and i could bring it up then also.

Black. i called the brother, Greg, directly to see what avenues he has already pursued. i will pass along any suggestions to him or you can contact him yourself. Uhuru!

AK