Police Illegally Raid Philadelphia Home, Kidnap Owners

[Cyre2067]

RELEASE: Homeowners Fighting Police Brutality Illegally Arrested, Never Charged
Home Closed by Dept. of Licensing & Inspections, Property Seized by PA State Police
Press Conference: Tuesday, June 17th, 1 pm, Outside West Side of City Hall

On Tuesday, June 17th, at 1pm, the owners and residents of 1652 Ridge Avenue will hold a press conference on the western steps of City Hall to inform reporters and interested parties about the June 13th police action seizing their property and sealing off their home. Please read the release below for more details.

Contact: Hannah Sassaman, hannahjs@prometheusradio.org, 267-970-4007
Andy Switzer, andrew_switzer@hotmail.com, 267-269-5448

On the morning of Friday, June 13th, 2008, plainclothes detectives and a Ninth Precinct Police Captain entered a Ridge Avenue home without a warrant and arrested four Philadelphia community members - Daniel Moffat, Trevor Burgess, Andrea Okorley, and Jennifer Rock. These residents were pulled from their home at 1652 Ridge Avenue, arrested, and detained without charges at the Ninth Philadelphia police precinct for over twelve hours. Less than twenty four hours later, almost half a dozen other law enforcement agencies, including the Department of Homeland Security and the Housing Authority, had conducted a tour of the property, and the Department of Licensing and Inspections had closed and sealed the property.

While police claimed entry to the property under the pretext that it was an abandoned building, the residents of 1652 Ridge Avenue have owned and lived at the property for up to four years, while they worked on and improved their house. They have been active members of the Francisville neighborhood – partnering on community food distribution and community garden projects, among others.

On one of the hottest days of the year, these community members were locked into police cars, waiting to discover the nature of the criminal charges against them, as multiple officials searched their home. "They said it wasn't an arrest," says Mr. Moffat. "The police captain [Wilson] said he'd do me a favor, and put us in a cell because it was so hot outside. I asked, if we weren't being arrested, why we were being sent to be processed in jail? He smiled at me in a joking manner, and said, "Call it a kidnapping." That was my last word with Captain Wilson before later that night, when I was in jail." Moffat and his housemates were never charged with a crime.

The residents of 1652 Ridge Avenue learned that night, while in jail, that the Department of Licensing and Inspections had written up their home for multiple code violations – and that they would have only a few hours the next day to retrieve personal possessions, before the house was sealed to them and all other nonofficial entrants. When the residents returned to their home the next day, they found that personal papers, books, and computers had been rifled through or confiscated. Trevor Burgess, who returned to his room Saturday morning under police escorts, noted, “The only thing I really noticed they messed with was my photographs. All my photographs were just, like, torn through and all over my room. [The policeman] kept asking me about the photographs.”

"When I was allowed to enter the building, to get stuff out, when I got to my room, my room had been thoroughly searched," said Moffat. "My computer was gone. I was informed that the Department of State had taken my computer for evidence. I couldn't find my phone list that was posted on the wall. I couldn't find a notepad with a bunch of my notes in it. I couldn't find this little book with a lot of phone numbers in it."

Residents stress that this incident happened just a week after they had begun circulating petitions about police surveillance cameras that had been installed in the neighborhood. Francisville, which abuts the newly affluent areas of Fairmount and Spring Garden, has seen a rise in police presence and in residents being asked for identification in their own neighborhood and in front of their homes. "It's clear to me that you don't have to be doing something wrong in order to be targeted by the police," said Andrea Okorley. "The fact that we were communicating with our neighbors about the presence of surveillance cameras was threatening enough."

These residents have called on press to not only hear their story, but to deepen coverage of increased police presence in the city – and the ways in which the city is driving out residents who have lived there for generations. "I want to go home," says Jennifer Rock. "But this is not an isolated incident. So many others are losing their homes or their freedom – and they can't be here to speak today."

This is circulating on facebook, I'd say 'unbelievable' but in this day and age it's all too common. I would assume they have some sort of legal redress, like pushing charges for kidnapping? Theft? Or maybe since the patriot act the government can do anything they want if they start throwing around the T word.

 

[StrangeCaptain]

The MOVE bombing occurred in Philly in 1985 I think, so cops in Philly are known for fascist tactics even before the more overt trends since 9-11. The MOVE bombing was when the cops dropped a bomb out of a helicopter onto a building inhabited by the members of a black poltical activist organization. Look it up in google and you'll get plenty of hits if you have not heard of it.

 

[name]

They have been active members of the Francisville neighborhood – partnering on community food distribution and community garden projects, among others.

That was their crime - building social structures inimical to the pathocracy.

 

[D Rusak]

That's no joke- I live just a few blocks from this place, and I have been twice been approached by officers and asked what I was doing there while roaming in this area in just the past couple of months. Francisville is probably one of the last undeveloped areas in what could be termed center city. There are many abandoned buildings, and also a homeless shelter about 4 blocks from the address listed. West Poplar, on the other side of Broad (the main N-S drag here) where I live, is much the same, although recently there has been an upsurge in people buying up properties, renovating them, and then charging exorbitant sums to rent/buy them. There are still a lot of families and long time residents here and the gentrification movement that's finally hitting us is kind of scary and making people mad.

The thing that I'm pretty disturbed about is that I hadn't heard anything about this until just now on SOTT! Granted, the local papers are pretty terrible, and I only check in every couple of days or so, but I'd hazard a guess that most people around don't know about this.

I did a search for any news articles about this incident. Here's some telling media slant
_http://www.philly.com/philly/blogs/inq-blinq/20009829.html

Tuesday, June 17, 2008
Who Wrote 'Kill The Pigs' at 17th & Ridge?
Blog Image
Photo by Christina Mazza/Daily News

Now that he's had time to think -- and 10 hours in police detention gives you time for introspection -- Dan Moffat concedes things might have gone better if he'd cooperated.

When officers came to his door in Francisville Friday morning about 10 a.m. asking to speak to the owner of the property where he and three roommates were living, he said the guy wasn't home.

Even though he's been co-owner of the place since 2004.

And when they said they were going in anyway to investigate a complaint, he says he probably shouldn't have tossed the keys behind a gate where the cops had to fish them out.

He woundup cuffed in the back of a squad car for a couple hot hours then taken to the 9th District where he was held another eight hours as the police sorted out what was happening in his house before freeing everyone without bringing charges.

But not before the police thoroughly searched the place, carting away a computer, and L & I sealed the building, leaving the four roommates homeless. Police told a City Paper reporter on the scene that the roommates were being investigated for belonging to a hate group or terror cell.

The four roommates -- two men and two women in their 20s -- are to appear at a press conference outside City Hall at 1 today to make their case that they were mistreated by police, who they say searched before getting a warrant. Accusations on both sides are prickly.

I talked to Moffat yesterday. He said he's interviewing lawyers. He said he does not know why he was targeted by police, but he had been going around the neighborhood with a petition that questioned why police had installed five security cameras on utility poles without asking for input of the residents. He also had been getting names on a petition calling for city leaders to address the community about the recent police beating that involved 18 officers.

He says police came to his door investigating whether the group was living legally above the old Gilbert's Shoes store at 1652 Ridge Ave.

That wasn't why they were there, police say. Department spokesman Lt. Frank Vanore said one of the neighborhood surveillance cameras had been spray painted yellow and was out of commission. Someone living nearby fingered people living in Moffat's house, which is why the police went there, Vanore said.

And when two women inside wouldn't give their names, and Moffat said he didn't know where to find the owner, police assumed the group was trespassing.

Moffat says he messed up. "I just woke up and was making bad decisions," he says. He's not an anarchist. Not even an activist, at 28, unless you consider feeding neighborhood residents on Fridays from their community garden to be activism.

Yet police say they recovered anti-police propaganda in the house, and that someone had written "Kill the Pigs" in yellow spray paint on the walls.

If anyone did that, Moffit says, it was the police, themselves.

Vanore says the police had every right to be there to investigate vandalism to the camera, especially after finding the writing on the wall and the beginnings of what he called a bunker on the roof.

"We've seen things like this in Philadelphia that lead to bad situations. We're trying to be proactive. The totality of what the officers saw there led to further investigation."

Moffat scoffs at the word bunker, which, of course, was what the MOVE group had atop their home.

"We have a greenhouse on the roof."

So the investigation continues. Moffat and friends hold a press conference, consider lawyers, and someone isn't telling the truth. The Daily News has an account as well.

All I know is that if a bunch of cops came to my door and woke me up -- at 3 a.m. even -- my instinct would be to cooperate to the point of blurting out anything I'd ever done, including not telling on my friend Gary when he stole a comb from Mr. Vincent's barbershop 40 years ago. But that's just conservative old me.

That last quote in particular is pretty telling- fear mongering- an upright citizen would never, never, ever question the police, and feel guilt for every little insignificant "sin" he/she may have ever committed, and comply completely. The charge about the bunker is completely ridiculous- I'd hazard a guess that a good 1/4th if not more of homes in the area have rooftop decks and/or gardens.
Notice how the headline is very accusatory. Then, in the article, one realizes that it never had been completely determined who exactly wrote this on the wall. It's hard to know either way, but it's quite provocative to use that as a title, especially when one comes back to the thought that the police did not even have a warrant, and there's at least theoretically the 1st amendment. Very very scary, coming to a home near you (or, it's there already).

The whole incident sounds like a message being delivered to those who would dare question the police's actions, especially in the aftermath of the police beating last month. If you haven't read it, Brian McKenna's article (http://www.counterpunch.org/mckenna05192008.html) has some interesting insights from former force members.

According to the website _http://www.spunk.org/texts/pubs/lr/sp001716/notes.html the address was formerly known as the Ben Fletcher Center, and did have some anarchist affiliations at one point, although it is not clear what exactly it was being used for today. Anarchist leanings, of course, being a crime in the USA apparently (also, breathing). It sounds from the description that it was going to be set up as a very nice grassroots sort of place, that would really be used by people in the area. Prior to that, it was known as the Eternal Cause Society, and had a similar ambition to be a community education outreach center available to all in an economically depressed, diverse area of town.
_http://directory.ic.org/2908/Eternal_Cause_Society

There are quite a few community outreach places like this around town (LAVA space in West Philly being a case in point). I have to go by this way later today so I will investigate as I may.

 

[Cyre2067]

It will be interesting to see what ends up on their computers now that the pathocrats have their hands on them. Just as easily as they could have written "Kill the Pigs" on the wall they could plant files with 'terrorism' connotation.

Also:

Department spokesman Lt. Frank Vanore said one of the neighborhood surveillance cameras had been spray painted yellow and was out of commission. Someone living nearby fingered people living in Moffat's house, which is why the police went there, Vanore said.

And when they said they were going in anyway to investigate a complaint...

Which is it? A complaint or a vandalized security camera? Seems the cops can't get their story straight.

Though, admittedly their reaction was poor. They should have identified themselves as the owners and talked to the police like a normal sane person. If they wanted to ask questions they could have simply deferred 'Sorry, I don't have to answer of your questions without a lawyer present' or my personal favorite 'Officer, am I under arrest?' In PA they legally can't detain you, so the officers actions in this case are quite unwarranted and thus illegal. I should hope charges are filed.

 

[kenlee]

Department spokesman Lt. Frank Vanore said one of the neighborhood surveillance cameras had been spray painted yellow and was out of commission. Someone living nearby fingered people living in Moffat's house, which is why the police went there, Vanore said.

And when they said they were going in anyway to investigate a complaint...

Something tells me that there will be a lot more of these ‘complaints’ coming from any number of various sources as lockdown continues into the near future. As I understand it they don’t have reserve police in Philly yet but considering that police spokesman Lt. Vanore used to work in DC where they have reserve police, it's probably only a matter of time before they have something like it in Philly (although something like it probably exists in Philly but maybe not 'officially named').

Lt. Frank Vanore (the officer mentioned above) says in a Q/A meeting:

http://chat.go.com/abclocal/postMessage?event_id=322
chris rodriguez
How about Volunteer Auxiliary Police like the NYPD. It seems to work in a bad area and great for people who want's to be a peace officer in the city of Philadelphia. I would and will do it.
:
Thank you for your question. I used Reserve Officers in DC which is the same concept as the Auxiliary Police you mention in your question. I am not opposed to doing it here however it is something that would have to be discussed with the Fraternal Order of Police before moving forward.

On the section of the MPDC website for the Police Reserve Corps (in the training section for the Reserve cops):
_http://mpdc.dc.gov/mpdc/cwp/view,a,1242,Q,547109,mpdcNav_GID,1541,mpdcNav,%7C,.asp

they have the listed duties for these reserve officers. They have two levels of officers, level II (unarmed) and level I (armed): The level II unarmed reserve officers have the power to make arrests “when in the company of a sworn member.”

http://mpdc.dc.gov/mpdc/cwp/view,a,1242,q,547123,mpdcNav_GID,1541.asp

[…]
Level II (unarmed)
Authorities
• Perform assigned duties and responsibilities consistent with MPDC directives, as approved by the unit commanding official of the unit to which the Level II Reserve Officer is assigned
• Make arrests when in the company of a sworn member
• Prepare Department reports
• Issue Civil Notices of Infraction (NOIs) for non-moving traffic violations
• Issue Violation Citations (PD Form 61D) for criminal offenses in accordance with Standard Operating Procedures
• Appear before courts and administrative tribunals as a sworn officer
• Carry and utilize Department-issued OC spray and an ASP baton
• Operate Department vehicles when on patrol with a sworn member or traveling to and from an assignment, in the company of a sworn member

Minimum Service Commitment:
• 16 hours per month / 192 hours per year

Level I (armed)

Duties and Authorities

• Perform routine WALES (Washington Area Law Enforcement System) and NCIC (National Crime Information Center) inquiries
• Assist in Policing for Prevention and crime analysis tasks
• Perform all duties and responsibilities of a sworn officer, pursuant to applicable Department directives and policies
• Exercise the authorities of a Reserve Officer Level II
• Issue civil Notices of Infraction (NOIs) for moving traffic violations
• Carry and utilize a Department-issued firearm

Minimum Service Commitment:
* 16 hours per month / 192 hours per year

It would not surprise me if the requirements to become level 1 and level 2 reserve officers are lowered and their powers of authority significantly increased in the near future as the pathocracy gains more and more “in your face” overt control of the citizenry. In a way I guess these reserve cops are kinda like ‘super Elvis’ (with cape) when he was given powers to act as an honorary cop in the cities that he performed in. It would be nice if they would all dress in identical Elvis uniforms so that they could be recognized much easier.