{"id":929,"date":"2019-11-11T02:07:39","date_gmt":"2019-11-11T02:07:39","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/hqnn.org\/hqpress\/2019\/11\/11\/20191110up7c7o1t9rbcewe76tgvx2clzxusdl\/"},"modified":"2020-09-05T19:24:30","modified_gmt":"2020-09-05T19:24:30","slug":"20191110up7c7o1t9rbcewe76tgvx2clzxusdl","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/hqnn.org\/hqpress\/2019\/11\/11\/20191110up7c7o1t9rbcewe76tgvx2clzxusdl\/","title":{"rendered":"Protests continue over Hamden police officer"},"content":{"rendered":"<div\n        class=\"\n          image-block-outer-wrapper\n          layout-caption-below\n          design-layout-inline\n          combination-animation-none\n          individual-animation-none\n          individual-text-animation-none\n        \"\n        data-test=\"image-block-inline-outer-wrapper\"\n    ><\/p>\n<figure\n            class=\"\n              sqs-block-image-figure\n              intrinsic\n            \"\n            style=\"max-width:1981.0px;\"\n        ><\/p>\n<div\n              \n                style=\"padding-bottom:66.6834945678711%;\"\n              \n              class=\"\n                image-block-wrapper\n                \n          \n        \n                has-aspect-ratio\n              \"\n              data-animation-role=\"image\"\n              \n  \n\n          ><br \/>\n            <noscript><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/hqnn.org\/hqpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/img_5f53e5ee83b94.jpg\" alt=\"Protesters standing in front of Mayor Curt Leng\u2019s house, Smith Dr., Hamden. Photo by Bryan Proctor.\" \/><\/noscript><img class=\"thumb-image\" data-src=\"http:\/\/hqnn.org\/hqpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/img_5f53e5ee83b94.jpg\" data-image=\"http:\/\/hqnn.org\/hqpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/img_5f53e5ee83b94.jpg\" data-image-dimensions=\"1981x1321\" data-image-focal-point=\"0.5,0.5\" alt=\"Protesters standing in front of Mayor Curt Leng\u2019s house, Smith Dr., Hamden. Photo by Bryan Proctor.\" data-load=\"false\" data-image-id=\"5dc8b97f7cdf127e99aab6ff\" data-type=\"image\" \/>\n          <\/div><figcaption class=\"image-caption-wrapper\">\n<div class=\"image-caption\">\n<p class=\"\">Protesters standing in front of Mayor Curt Leng\u2019s house, Smith Dr., Hamden. Photo by Bryan Proctor.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p class=\"\" style=\"white-space:pre-wrap;\">On a bitter cold Wednesday evening police cars circled the neighborhood as Hamden Action Now stood in front of Hamden Mayor Curt Leng\u2019s house demanding that Hamden Police Officer Devin Eaton be fired.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p class=\"\" style=\"white-space:pre-wrap;\">Protestors shouted.<\/p>\n<p class=\"\" style=\"white-space:pre-wrap;\">\u201cJustice for Stephanie! Justice for Paul! Discharge the officer now!\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"\" style=\"white-space:pre-wrap;\">On April 16, Hamden Police Officer, Devin Eaton, stopped a car while investigating an attempted armed robbery in Hamden. When the driver, Paul Witherspoon, was pulled over in New Haven, he stepped out of his car. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=tPvhtYpm78g\"><span style=\"text-decoration:underline\">Eaton fired his gun at the car 13 times, and a Yale Officer fired at the car 3 more times.<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n<p class=\"\" style=\"white-space:pre-wrap;\">While Witherspoon wasn\u2019t injured, 22-year-old passenger, Stephanie Washington, was seriously injured but survived.<\/p>\n<p class=\"\" style=\"white-space:pre-wrap;\">Though Mayor Leng wasn\u2019t home to see the protest, organizer of Hamden Action Now, Rhonda Caldwell, said he watched the group\u2019s Facebook Live broadcast.<\/p>\n<p class=\"\" style=\"white-space:pre-wrap;\">Eight different protesters took a turn with the microphone to give a speech.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p class=\"\" style=\"white-space:pre-wrap;\">\u201cMy message for the mayor tonight is that your police disturbed our neighborhood, Newhallville South Hamden, that\u2019s my neighborhood,\u201d said Laurie Sweet, a Hamden resident. \u201cWe are here to disturb yours.\u201d&nbsp;<\/p>\n<div\n        class=\"\n          image-block-outer-wrapper\n          layout-caption-below\n          design-layout-inline\n          combination-animation-none\n          individual-animation-none\n          individual-text-animation-none\n        \"\n        data-test=\"image-block-inline-outer-wrapper\"\n    ><\/p>\n<figure\n            class=\"\n              sqs-block-image-figure\n              intrinsic\n            \"\n            style=\"max-width:2292.0px;\"\n        ><\/p>\n<div\n              \n                style=\"padding-bottom:66.66667175292969%;\"\n              \n              class=\"\n                image-block-wrapper\n                \n          \n        \n                has-aspect-ratio\n              \"\n              data-animation-role=\"image\"\n              \n  \n\n          ><br \/>\n            <noscript><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/hqnn.org\/hqpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/img_5f53e5eee867b.jpg\" alt=\"Laurie Sweet speaking in front of Leng\u2019s house demanding justice for the police shooting that took place in April. Photo by Bryan Proctor.\" \/><\/noscript><img class=\"thumb-image\" data-src=\"http:\/\/hqnn.org\/hqpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/img_5f53e5eee867b.jpg\" data-image=\"http:\/\/hqnn.org\/hqpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/img_5f53e5eee867b.jpg\" data-image-dimensions=\"2292x1528\" data-image-focal-point=\"0.5,0.5\" alt=\"Laurie Sweet speaking in front of Leng\u2019s house demanding justice for the police shooting that took place in April. Photo by Bryan Proctor.\" data-load=\"false\" data-image-id=\"5dc8baa909cdf43d6dcf9623\" data-type=\"image\" \/>\n          <\/div><figcaption class=\"image-caption-wrapper\">\n<div class=\"image-caption\">\n<p class=\"\">Laurie Sweet speaking in front of Leng\u2019s house demanding justice for the police shooting that took place in April. Photo by Bryan Proctor.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p class=\"\" style=\"white-space:pre-wrap;\">Rodney Williams, Witherspoon\u2019s uncle, showed up to the protest to express his frustration. Eaton was charged with a felony and a misdemeanor.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p class=\"\" style=\"white-space:pre-wrap;\">\u201cIf the state found enough evidence to convict him, not convict him but at least charge him, how is he still a Hamden officer?\u201d Williams said. \u201cOur family ain\u2019t going to heal, the community ain\u2019t going to heal, until this officer at least gets terminated.\u201d<\/p>\n<div\n        class=\"\n          image-block-outer-wrapper\n          layout-caption-below\n          design-layout-inline\n          combination-animation-none\n          individual-animation-none\n          individual-text-animation-none\n        \"\n        data-test=\"image-block-inline-outer-wrapper\"\n    ><\/p>\n<figure\n            class=\"\n              sqs-block-image-figure\n              intrinsic\n            \"\n            style=\"max-width:2499.0px;\"\n        ><\/p>\n<div\n              \n                style=\"padding-bottom:66.70668029785156%;\"\n              \n              class=\"\n                image-block-wrapper\n                \n          \n        \n                has-aspect-ratio\n              \"\n              data-animation-role=\"image\"\n              \n  \n\n          ><br \/>\n            <noscript><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/hqnn.org\/hqpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/img_5f53e5ef543fb.jpg\" alt=\"Rodney Williams said his family has been wronged by the mayor, the police, and the media. Left to right: Cassi Meyerhoffer, Kerry Ellington, Rodney Williams, Zach Carter. Photo by Bryan Proctor.\" \/><\/noscript><img class=\"thumb-image\" data-src=\"http:\/\/hqnn.org\/hqpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/img_5f53e5ef543fb.jpg\" data-image=\"http:\/\/hqnn.org\/hqpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/img_5f53e5ef543fb.jpg\" data-image-dimensions=\"2499x1667\" data-image-focal-point=\"0.5,0.5\" alt=\"Rodney Williams said his family has been wronged by the mayor, the police, and the media. Left to right: Cassi Meyerhoffer, Kerry Ellington, Rodney Williams, Zach Carter. Photo by Bryan Proctor.\" data-load=\"false\" data-image-id=\"5dc8bb747cdf127e99aae36d\" data-type=\"image\" \/>\n          <\/div><figcaption class=\"image-caption-wrapper\">\n<div class=\"image-caption\">\n<p class=\"\">Rodney Williams said his family has been wronged by the mayor, the police, and the media. Left to right: Cassi Meyerhoffer, Kerry Ellington, Rodney Williams, Zach Carter. Photo by Bryan Proctor.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p class=\"\" style=\"white-space:pre-wrap;\">On April 16, there were reports of an attempted armed robbery at the Go On Gas Station. The suspect was said to be driving a red Honda Civic. Eaton and Yale officer, Terrance Pollock (who was not charged), investigated the reports.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p class=\"\" style=\"white-space:pre-wrap;\">Eaton pulled over Witherspoon\u2019s car, and Pollock, arrived at the scene.<\/p>\n<p class=\"\" style=\"white-space:pre-wrap;\">At 4:32 a.m., when Witherspoon stepped out of his car without being ordered to, Eaton <a href=\"https:\/\/youtu.be\/tPvhtYpm78g\"><span style=\"text-decoration:underline\">fired 13 shots, and Pollack fired three more.<\/span><\/a>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p class=\"\" style=\"white-space:pre-wrap;\">The two people in the car were later found to be unarmed.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p class=\"\" style=\"white-space:pre-wrap;\">In investigations, Eaton said he saw Witherspoon holding a gun in his hand, but an<a href=\"https:\/\/portal.ct.gov\/-\/media\/DCJ\/041619-New-Haven-Use-of-Force-Report.pdf?la=en\"><span style=\"text-decoration:underline\"> evidence report <\/span><\/a>showed there was no gun in Witherspoon\u2019s possession, or in the Civic. Hamden Police Commissioner, John Cappiello, stated in a press conference on Oct. 21, that the department will complete its internal investigation by Nov. 20.<\/p>\n<p class=\"\" style=\"white-space:pre-wrap;\">On the day of the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/NewHavenIndependent\/videos\/2692330137454404\/\"><span style=\"text-decoration:underline\">press conference Cappiello<\/span><\/a> also announced Eaton was being put on unpaid leave from the department, and facing charges of first-degree assault (a felony), and two counts of first-degree reckless endangerment. Eaton posted bail of $100,000.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p class=\"\" style=\"white-space:pre-wrap;\">Kerry Ellington, a Hamden Action Now activist, says she doesn&#8217;t agree with the town conducting its internal investigation.<\/p>\n<p class=\"\" style=\"white-space:pre-wrap;\">\u201cThe city is giving us the excuse that it needs to do its own internal investigation, even though this officer has been charged with felony charges,\u201d said Ellington.<\/p>\n<p class=\"\" style=\"white-space:pre-wrap;\">After her speech Ellington led a chant saying,<\/p>\n<p class=\"\" style=\"white-space:pre-wrap;\">\u201cNo justice, no peace, no racist police!\u201d<\/p>\n<div\n        class=\"\n          image-block-outer-wrapper\n          layout-caption-below\n          design-layout-inline\n          combination-animation-none\n          individual-animation-none\n          individual-text-animation-none\n        \"\n        data-test=\"image-block-inline-outer-wrapper\"\n    ><\/p>\n<figure\n            class=\"\n              sqs-block-image-figure\n              intrinsic\n            \"\n            style=\"max-width:2500.0px;\"\n        ><\/p>\n<div\n              \n                style=\"padding-bottom:75.0%;\"\n              \n              class=\"\n                image-block-wrapper\n                \n          \n        \n                has-aspect-ratio\n              \"\n              data-animation-role=\"image\"\n              \n  \n\n          ><br \/>\n            <noscript><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/hqnn.org\/hqpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/img_5f53e5efce44b.jpg\" alt=\"Kerry Ellington said she doesn\u2019t agree with how Hamden\u2019s handled Devin Eaton\u2019s case. Kerry Ellington (left), Zach Carter (right). Photo by Bryan Proctor.\" \/><\/noscript><img class=\"thumb-image\" data-src=\"http:\/\/hqnn.org\/hqpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/img_5f53e5efce44b.jpg\" data-image=\"http:\/\/hqnn.org\/hqpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/img_5f53e5efce44b.jpg\" data-image-dimensions=\"2500x1875\" data-image-focal-point=\"0.5,0.5\" alt=\"Kerry Ellington said she doesn\u2019t agree with how Hamden\u2019s handled Devin Eaton\u2019s case. Kerry Ellington (left), Zach Carter (right). Photo by Bryan Proctor.\" data-load=\"false\" data-image-id=\"5dc8bd85913dc6206ee040b9\" data-type=\"image\" \/>\n          <\/div><figcaption class=\"image-caption-wrapper\">\n<div class=\"image-caption\">\n<p class=\"\">Kerry Ellington said she doesn\u2019t agree with how Hamden\u2019s handled Devin Eaton\u2019s case. Kerry Ellington (left), Zach Carter (right). Photo by Bryan Proctor.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p class=\"\" style=\"white-space:pre-wrap;\">A week prior to the protest at Leng\u2019s home on Oct. 30, protesters walked down Dixwell Avenue holding protests signs and blocking traffic. They walked to Leng\u2019s office demanding justice and action. Protesters said <a href=\"https:\/\/www.acluct.org\/sites\/default\/files\/2017_c_4686-2017_c_4756.pdf\"><span style=\"text-decoration:underline\">Hamden Police Department contracts<\/span><\/a> state that there must be a hearing about an officer\u2019s unpaid leave status 10 days after the leave is given.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"block-animation-none\">\n<blockquote data-animation-role=\"quote\" \n<p>   ><br \/>\n    <span>&#147;<\/span>We will not ever stop fighting for justice for your family Mr. Williams.<span>&#148;<\/span><br \/>\n  <\/blockquote><figcaption class=\"source\">&mdash; Caldwell<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p class=\"\" style=\"white-space:pre-wrap;\">On Nov. 5, Eaton pleaded not guilty to his assault and reckless endangerment charges. He\u2019s scheduled to appear in court again on Dec. 10.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p class=\"\" style=\"white-space:pre-wrap;\">Protestors say a lack of justice by the Hamden Police Commission, and an insufficient show of remorse by Eaton continue to fuel their protests.<\/p>\n<p class=\"\" style=\"white-space:pre-wrap;\">\u201cYou keep saying you\u2019re waiting for the internal investigation to be completed before you can make a decision about the termination, but there is nothing in the union contract that says you have to do that. There is enough just cause to discharge the officer,\u201d Cassie Meyerhoffer, professor of sociology at Southern Connecticut State University, said.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<div\n        class=\"\n          image-block-outer-wrapper\n          layout-caption-below\n          design-layout-inline\n          combination-animation-none\n          individual-animation-none\n          individual-text-animation-none\n        \"\n        data-test=\"image-block-inline-outer-wrapper\"\n    ><\/p>\n<figure\n            class=\"\n              sqs-block-image-figure\n              intrinsic\n            \"\n            style=\"max-width:2500.0px;\"\n        ><\/p>\n<div\n              \n                style=\"padding-bottom:66.41279602050781%;\"\n              \n              class=\"\n                image-block-wrapper\n                \n          \n        \n                has-aspect-ratio\n              \"\n              data-animation-role=\"image\"\n              \n  \n\n          ><br \/>\n            <noscript><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/hqnn.org\/hqpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/img_5f53e5f04b81b.jpg\" alt=\"Cassie Meyerhoffer speaking to the crowd in front of Leng\u2019s house. Left to right: Zach Carter, protestor, Justin M. Farmer. Photo by Bryan Proctor.\" \/><\/noscript><img class=\"thumb-image\" data-src=\"http:\/\/hqnn.org\/hqpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/img_5f53e5f04b81b.jpg\" data-image=\"http:\/\/hqnn.org\/hqpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/img_5f53e5f04b81b.jpg\" data-image-dimensions=\"2500x1667\" data-image-focal-point=\"0.5,0.5\" alt=\"Cassie Meyerhoffer speaking to the crowd in front of Leng\u2019s house. Left to right: Zach Carter, protestor, Justin M. Farmer. Photo by Bryan Proctor.\" data-load=\"false\" data-image-id=\"5dc8be13394ef27dc9b969ef\" data-type=\"image\" \/>\n          <\/div><figcaption class=\"image-caption-wrapper\">\n<div class=\"image-caption\">\n<p class=\"\">Cassie Meyerhoffer speaking to the crowd in front of Leng\u2019s house. Left to right: Zach Carter, protestor, Justin M. Farmer. Photo by Bryan Proctor.<\/p>\n<p class=\"\">\n<\/div>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p class=\"\" style=\"white-space:pre-wrap;\">Protesters say they plan to show up at the Hamden Police Commission\u2019s monthly meeting next Wednesday and will continue to fight until justice is served.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p class=\"\" style=\"white-space:pre-wrap;\">\u201cWe will not ever stop fighting for justice for your family Mr. Williams,\u201d Caldwell said.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<div\n        class=\"\n          image-block-outer-wrapper\n          layout-caption-below\n          design-layout-inline\n          combination-animation-none\n          individual-animation-none\n          individual-text-animation-none\n        \"\n        data-test=\"image-block-inline-outer-wrapper\"\n    ><\/p>\n<figure\n            class=\"\n              sqs-block-image-figure\n              intrinsic\n            \"\n            style=\"max-width:2500.0px;\"\n        ><\/p>\n<div\n              \n                style=\"padding-bottom:66.68000030517578%;\"\n              \n              class=\"\n                image-block-wrapper\n                \n          \n        \n                has-aspect-ratio\n              \"\n              data-animation-role=\"image\"\n              \n  \n\n          ><br \/>\n            <noscript><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/hqnn.org\/hqpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/img_5f53e5f0b5a12.jpg\" alt=\"Rhonda Caldwell, organizer, speaking at the protest in front of Leng\u2019s property. Photo by Bryan Proctor.\" \/><\/noscript><img class=\"thumb-image\" data-src=\"http:\/\/hqnn.org\/hqpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/img_5f53e5f0b5a12.jpg\" data-image=\"http:\/\/hqnn.org\/hqpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/img_5f53e5f0b5a12.jpg\" data-image-dimensions=\"2500x1667\" data-image-focal-point=\"0.5,0.5\" alt=\"Rhonda Caldwell, organizer, speaking at the protest in front of Leng\u2019s property. Photo by Bryan Proctor.\" data-load=\"false\" data-image-id=\"5dc8bf0cdf818a4a7447a3c7\" data-type=\"image\" \/>\n          <\/div><figcaption class=\"image-caption-wrapper\">\n<div class=\"image-caption\">\n<p class=\"\">Rhonda Caldwell, organizer, speaking at the protest in front of Leng\u2019s property. Photo by Bryan Proctor.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p class=\"\" style=\"white-space:pre-wrap;\">\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p class=\"\" style=\"white-space:pre-wrap;\">Hamden Action Now protesters gathered in front of Mayor Curt Leng\u2019s house to express their frustrations with how the town is handling the case of police officer Devin Eaton. In April, Eaton fired 13 times at an unarmed couple\u2019s car. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":119,"featured_media":930,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[5,142],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-929","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-hamden","category-homepage"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/hqnn.org\/hqpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/929","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/hqnn.org\/hqpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/hqnn.org\/hqpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/hqnn.org\/hqpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/119"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/hqnn.org\/hqpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=929"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/hqnn.org\/hqpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/929\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1582,"href":"https:\/\/hqnn.org\/hqpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/929\/revisions\/1582"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/hqnn.org\/hqpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=929"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/hqnn.org\/hqpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=929"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/hqnn.org\/hqpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=929"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}