This is an update from yesterday's diary about a man with Down's Syndrome, Antonio Martinez, who was beaten, pepper-sprayed and detained by San Diego Sheriff's Deputies.
Antonio Martinez, after being beaten and pepper sprayed. -- CNN photo.
If I had been drinking some tea earlier this morning, it would have been up out of my nose and all over my computer when I read this new development in the story from UT San Diego News
The family said the beating left the young man in pain, depressed and afraid of police.
We want them to fire the officer who hurt him," Martinez said. "We want him to be punished for what he did."
She said the captain offered the family a turkey.
Caldwell said the department will thoroughly investigate the incident. She also said the offer of a turkey was done in the spirit of the season.
There's more new information in this article.
Something about Tiny Tim being sent to a workhouse. The officer involved is Jeffrey Guy, and he transfered not long ago from the San Jose Police Department where "he had a good reputation as a law enforcement officer." We also learn more about the sequence of events that led to Antonio being pepper-sprayed and beaten.
Guy pulled his car in front of the man and repeatedly ordered him to stop, but the young man did not respond, Caldwell said.
When the deputy tried to detain him, Martinez kept his hands clenched in his pockets and ignored several commands, Caldwell said. The deputy then used pepper spray on Martinez, she said.
Another deputy arrived and, in front of a growing crowd of onlookers, the two men struggled with Martinez. Guy struck him several times with a baton to get him to comply, Caldwell said...
A witness said she was screaming that he had Down syndrome.
This might have been one of several clues to the officers that it was time to rethink what they were doing. But no...
Martinez's sister Jessica Martinez, 20, was at the family bakery when witnesses who knew her brother came running for help.
She said "He was on the ground calling for help and screaming from the pepper spray. He was yelling, 'It burns, it burns.'"
She said her brother was cowering and trying to cover his body from the blows. "My brother wasn't even fighting."
It's always good to know that the officer who just pepper-sprayed and beat your son is known for his stellar record in law enforcement. It should give us all great confidence in our local police force's sworn pledge to "protect and serve." At least the serve part. If your story happens to make the national news and it's near the holidays.
Maybe the family appreciated the turkey. I dunno. Me, if I had the guts, I would have mailed it back to the Sheriff's Department along with a (fake) horse's head.
All I can do is end this update with the beginning of my previous one:
Just what TF is wrong with these people?