I’ve had an extensive debate with drug warriors lately regarding the central question: “why do so many people hate and fear the police?” Here’s just one answer:
Tape reveals terrifying campaign in war on drugs
They launched the attack with a stunningly simple message.
“It’s (expletive) over, son.”
For two hours, authorities say, that message would be pounded into Lester Eugene Siler’s head and body, reinforced with the barrel of a gun and echoed in threats of electrocution.
…It was this team of five who showed up at Siler’s home on July 8, 2004. They arrived in unmarked vehicles, dressed in plainclothes. But they were cloaked with the authority to serve Siler with a warrant for his arrest.
…With lawmen at her door, Jenny Siler turns on a tape recorder in her kitchen and sighs as she heads to the door to greet them. The recorder would continue to roll long after the lawmen send away Jenny Siler, 27, and her 8-year-old, leaving them alone with Eugene Siler.
It would produce a recording that spanned 40 to 45 minutes of what authorities contend was a two-hour ordeal.
Franklin then speaks to Siler, saying, “I tell you what we’re gonna do. Let me tell you what we’re gonna do. We’re gonna put them handcuffs in front of ya. Cut you a little slack. But if don’t start operating (sic), we’re gonna put the (expletive) behind your back, and I’m gonna take this slapjack, and I’m gonna start working that head over, you understand?”
The lawmen demand information from Siler, why he hasn’t been in touch with them, who supplies him drugs and where he has stashed his cash. Webber reminds Siler that he is alone and outnumbered.
“There’s nobody knows we’re (expletive) here,” Webber says. “We’re doing this on our own.”
The transcript indicates that Webber produces a form that, once signed, will state that Siler gave his consent for the officers to search his home. Siler apparently refuses to sign it. The beating resumes.
Moaning, Siler apparently tries to say something to the lawmen, but Webber is not in the mood for conversation.
“You’re not (expletive) listening,” Webber says. “You hear what I told you? I told you not to be talking. ? This (expletive) right here, he loves seeing blood. He loves it. He loves seeing blood. You’re talking too much. ? He loves (expletive) seeing blood. He’ll beat your ass and lick it off of you.”
Franklin orders another officer to remove Siler’s handcuffs so he can sign. Siler, who cannot read or write, asks one of them to read it to him.
Monday refuses.
“Just sign it,” Monday orders Siler.
Siler refuses.
“Git (sic) up,” Monday responds. “Git (sic) up. I said get the (expletive) up.”
Beating sounds follow.
“Now git (sic) up, (expletive) it,” Monday says.
Siler responds, “Oh, alright.”
“No, git (sic) the (expletive) up,” Monday says again.
“Let me ask David (Webber) something first,” Siler pleads.
“Look, you sign this (expletive) or I’m gonna hit you again,” Monday says. “One. Two.”
Slaps and blows are again documented on the transcript, with Monday continuing to order Siler to sign.
By now, Siler is crying.
Threats come next. The lawmen tell Siler they will jail his wife and have his children taken away from him. The transcript details more beating sounds, more moaning from Siler, who repeatedly asks to talk to Webber.
“You ain’t talking to nobody,” Green responds. “You’re gonna sign this (expletive) paper.”
Siler screams. More blows are heard. The lawmen continue to order Siler to sign. He responds with moans and more screams. But there would be no reprieve.
“Eugene, it’s just beginning, buddy,” Webber says.
Siler is going to die, the officers tell him.
“I want to help you,” Siler says.
Webber responds, “No, I don’t want your help. I want you to sign that form ’cause you’re the one we want and we got ‘cha (sic), and if you don’t sign it, you probably won’t walk out of here.”
Siler is next threatened with electrocution. Webber tells him that they could take a battery charger, hook some wires to it and attach it to Siler’s testicles. The federal informations allege that the lawmen later rigged up such a device and used clamps to attach it to Siler’s body.
Monday is accused in the informations with pointing a gun at Siler, threatening to shoot him.
The transcript backs up the allegation.
“Shoot his (expletive) ass,” Green says.
Amid the threats, Siler is again beaten, but he still refuses to sign. Siler pleads with the officers as Franklin threatens to burn him with a lighter after giving him a cigarette.
The transcript also reveals an obscure threat by Green.
“Let’s give him a haircut,” Green says.
At some point, one of the officers shows Siler a pellet gun apparently found in the house. Siler tells the officers it belongs to his son. Monday sees the find as another way to convince Siler his life is hanging in the balance.
“Eugene, you’re gonna sign this right here or I’m gonna (expletive) put a bullet in your damn head, and we’re gonna (expletive) plant this BB gun,” Monday says.
Webber later adds, “Hey, Eugene, what loss do you think it’s gonna be to us if you die, buddy? It’s going to be no loss to us.”
By now, Siler is groaning and gasping for breath, claiming he is suffering a heart attack.
Webber demands Siler tell him where he has hidden drugs or money.
“I want what you have right now,” Webber says.
Siler responds, “I don’t have nothing, sir.”
I have been carrying a personal tape recorder in my jacket pocket for three years now. We also have all manner of digital voice recorders and portable, web-capable cameras and video in our PDAs and cell phones. I think a great business could be had from installing recorders in people’s cars. If the technology improves enough, I would mandate that all police would have to wear cameras and recorders built in to their uniforms, with the feeds available to the public (not “live”, I do want the cops to have the ability to sneak up on a criminal).
But to those of you who are likely to claim that these are just a “few bad apples”, I say bullshit! If we’ve gotten a few bad apples, it is because we’ve put those apples in a fetid, moldy barrel to begin with. With the situations we create in the War On (Some Americans With Certain) Drugs — the profit motive, the quota incentive, and especially the demonization of drug users — instances like this one in Knoxville are not only not rare, but they are likely and to be expected. How many other abused citizens didn’t have the stroke of luck to have a tape recording? Without it, the cops in the story above would’ve stuck to their story, their word against a previously-convicted loser.
Of course, Inquisitor General AbuGhraibo Quaintzalez wouldn’t call any of the above “torture” anyway…
