Police harassment in Burnsville, NC

Editor, Asheville Global Report,

On May 14, 2000 I was returning to my home in Bakersville, NC from a day of tennis with friends in Bryson City. As I was driving through Burnsville, the traffic was very light, and there was only one car in front of me that eventually turned off to the right. I was consciously obeying all traffic laws, as I was very lucid and aware of my surroundings. I had consumed no alcohol or any substance that would impair my ability to drive. In fact, I am very health conscious and do not make a habit of drinking. After making my way into town, a flashing blue light appeared behind me.

When I noticed this, I pulled off to the right to let the squad car go by. I was certain that I was not being stopped. After all, I had not broken any laws. I noticed that it was in fact the officers intent to stop me, so I began to prepare my license and registration to be reviewed. The number of officers that arrived on the scene immediately multiplied. Surprisingly enough, they immediately launched into accusations that I had been drinking. Their “questions” were to the effect of “How long have you been drinking?...We know that you have been drinking, how much have you had to drink?” etc. etc. This went on for some time. I insisted that I had drunk nothing, and I requested that I be administered a sobriety test. The officers refused to give me such a test of any nature! I was only told that they had received a phone call reporting that I was drinking and driving. I then asked who had made such a call. I was told that they did not have to give me that information. At this point, I was understandably frustrated. I watched the officers pass around my wallet and pilfer through my truck and personal property. I told them that I myself had previously been deputized and worked in law enforcement after serving my country as a member of the military police. With this background, I was well aware of the illegality of their actions. I told them that they had no right to detain me against my will and furthermore to search my property.

At this, I watched and listened in disbelief as they proceeded to collaborate before my eyes on a story of how I had “pushed one of the officers into traffic” and concoct a fictitious story of how I had reportedly resisted arrest and endangered these police officers. These individuals blatantly proceeded to lie and engage in a travesty of justice! I was handcuffed and placed in the patrol car. They proceeded to search and seize my vehicle. In doing so, they found some knives that I had in the duffel bag with my tennis rackets and tennis balls. I had been throwing these knives at targets earlier in the day. This is a sporting hobby that I have practiced since my days in the military. I should make clear that these knives were sheathed and stored in a duffel bag in the additional seating area in the extended cab of my truck. They were in no shape, form, or fashion being carried on my person or used in any illegal activity.

I was then taken to the police station where I was charged with “Resisting, Obstructing, and Delaying an Officer;” as well as an additional charge of “Carrying a Concealed Weapon.” The fact of the matter is that these charges were fabricated, and I vehemently proclaim my innocence! I was told that I was to be released, but that I would not be able to retrieve my vehicle until the following day. My court date was set for June 28, 2000. I called my son to come pick me up and take me home. The following day I was able to have a friend drive me to the police station to retrieve my truck. I was again subjected to ridicule as the individual that I approached proceeded to read aloud in detail the Magistrate’s Order and clown around with a fellow officer. Their demeanor was atrociously unprofessional, and in every sense of the word obstructive. I told him that I would not continue to be harassed in this fashion. I left without learning where my truck was or how I could go about getting it back. It was not until the following day when I called that I received an apology and was told where I could go to get my vehicle, which cost me $30 in towing fees.

At this point, I am awaiting my court date, and I am in need of legal counsel. I am a disabled American Veteran. This experience has been an insult and a violation of my civil rights as an American Citizen!

]Thomas E. Greene, Jr.
Bakersville, NC

Union win “no victory”

Editor, Asheville Global Report,

I was saddened to read of the unfriendly battle and the tortuously bureaucratic solution regarding labor management relations at the French Broad Food Co-op. I have been an active union supporter and at times an agitator since I was very young, and my reflex is to support unionization for workers. But a co-op like the French Broad may be an exception to the rule.

Surely, workers cannot believe that the often corrupt and anti-democratic Teamsters, with their millions of members and dollars and their ties to the pathetic Democratic Party will better serve them than would the simple, ongoing task of building relationships with co-op members and the Board of Directors and management.

A co-op is a union --a union of consumers, workers, producers, and distributors. If this co-op is not living up to that ideal (though it has done a good job of it in my opinion), workers can run for the Board, communicate with customers, or organize themselves. Why bring in the Teamsters? This is knee-jerk liberalism at its worst.

It sounds to me like anger and a thirst for power have caused slightly more than half the co-op “staff” to take leave of their senses. This “victory” is no victory at all for the Asheville community.

Dan Brezenoff
Chapel Hill, NC