South Central Conference of Seventh-Day Adventists
Police Storm Brooklyn Seventh Day Adventist Church
05/19/10
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| NYPD Commissioner Kelly defended the officers who entered a Brooklyn church during sacrament looking for an alleged car thief. |
Two weeks ago, security cameras caught more than two dozen officers storming the Shiloh Seventh Day Adventist Church during Sabbath service.
Police said they acted appropriately when they chased 18-year-old Kendall Jones into the house of worship. They said Jones stole a car, drove recklessly, and was a danger to the public.
Local leaders said the cops acted totally inappropriately...Rest of the story at this link:
Police said they acted appropriately when they chased 18-year-old Kendall Jones into the house of worship. They said Jones stole a car, drove recklessly, and was a danger to the public.
Local leaders said the cops acted totally inappropriately...Rest of the story at this link:
Video News Report at this link:
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The same story (different perspective) as reported
by a member from the church:
Police Storm Brooklyn Seventh Day Adventist Church
Saturday, May 8, 2010, 10:01 AM, The New York based Caribbean Guyana Institute for Democracy (CGID) on Saturday blasted the NYPD for storming a Seventh Day Adventist Church in Crown Heights, Brooklyn, during the Holy Sabbath, and has joined elected officials and community leaders in calling for a full investigation, and for the officers concerned to be disciplined.
The Institute said that at approximately 8:30 P.M last night, Friday, May 7, 2010, about fourteen Police officers from the 77th Precinct stormed the Shiloh Seventh Day Adventist Church, located in the heart of the Caribbean-American community at 449 Eastern Parkway Brooklyn, NY 11216, during their Sabbath Bible study service.
The officers were in pursuit of an 18 year-old church member, whom Police alleged committed a traffic infraction and ran into the Church. The officers did not have a search warrant or the permission of the Pastor. As the Police officers entered the sanctuary, the First Elder of the Church, Peter Leonce, approached and reminded them that they were entering a church; that the Holy Sabbath was in progress; that they were disrupting Sabbath Bible study service, and that their intrusion violated the constitutional rights and sanctity of the Church. Elder Leonce further offered to mediate, so as to avoid Officers desecrating the sanctuary. However, he was brushed aside, and over the strong objection of congregants, the officers proceeded to raid the sanctuary.
The 18 year old was later found and arrested on the second floor. Eyewitnesses allege that at no time during the arrest was the suspect mirandized. During the mêlée, several parishioners, including Attorney-at-Law Lisa Luke – the Church’s risk manager, cautioned the officers that the child was epileptic and could collapse under such abuse, but their warnings were rebuffed and ignored.
The suspect was then transported to the 77th Precinct, where his parents and other family members were denied access to him. While at the Precinct, the teenager suffered multiple epileptic seizures. What was even more repugnant is that the suspect was left on the floor without aid from Police officers, in an unconscious state in the presence of his family, until paramedics arrived. The teen was taken unconscious to Kings County Hospital, with his feet and hands handcuffed. He was admitted on arrival under Police guard. Although, he was admitted to hospital, the Police continued to refuse to allow the parents to see or speak with their son.
The suspect was released from hospital on Saturday morning and taken to jail, from where he telephoned his parents to notify them that he was beaten about the head and body by the officers and that the seizures were triggered by the blows to the head. President of CGID, Rickford Burke condemned the incident and likened it to the NYPD’s 1994 assault on a Harlem mosque. Burke observed that “The Police would dare not attempt such desecration of a Jewish synagogue or a Catholic Church, and added that “This incident is a manifestation of Police officers’ utter disrespect for the African-American community and its religious institutions.