TOTAL ATTACKS: 11

MARCH

Carolina, Puerto Rico

Homeless Man Attacked by State Police

March 5: A homeless man was attacked at Plaza Escorial in Carolina by state police. They attacked him and shaved his head to humiliate him.

JUNE

Los Angeles, California

Scuffle between Homeless Woman and LAPD Leads to Investigation  

June 6: The Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) is looking into an arrest of homeless woman Faith Hernandez, 34, that occurred on June 6^th. Hernandez was approached by police for residing in an illegal “cardboard structure.” According to reports from the LAPD, when they approached Hernandez she fled the scene and fought with the four officers who were trying to subdue her.

The police report differs from a report made by witness O.C. Hasson who saw this incident occur from his bathroom window. He reports to LA Times: “They threw her down, she tried to get back up, and they threw her back down. And when she tried to get back up again they started hitting her.” Hasson continued, “They allowed her to get up after that, and let her go almost across the street, as if they knew she couldn’t get away. And then one of the officers took his foot and tripped her on the ground, and they dragged her a little bit, and they were still beating her.”

Unfortunately, none of LA’s public safety cameras caught images that could prove useful in determining whether the officers used excessive force in the detainment of Hernandez.

JULY

Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

Officer Kicks a Homeless Man in the Face

July 7: Jesse Haney, a homeless man, attacked a man near the City Rescue Mission. While another officer was trying to handcuff Haney while he was on the ground, Sgt. John Blumenthal kicked him in the head and face. Blumenthal, who has been on the force for 8 years, is facing a misdemeanor assault and battery charge for his misconduct.

Several of the officers who witnessed the attack notified their superiors, leading to an internal investigation of the incident.

Bradenton, Florida

Police Allegedly Beat Up and Dumped a Homeless Man Outside the City 

July 12:  Jose del Angel, a homeless day laborer, reported to a Manatee Sheriff Deputy that he was picked up by two police officers, driven out of the city limits, and beaten up.  Del Angel reports the officers, Jeff Cox and Dean Buttitta, told him to stay out of the city.  Del Angel reported that the offices put on blue latex gloves and threw him into a ditch after getting out of the car and punching and kicking him.

Once the deputy saw del Angel she called an ambulance and he was taken to a nearby hospital for care.  He was bleeding from his mouth and complaining of abdominal pain.  According to Sgt. Rod Taylor in the Sarasota Herald Tribune, “Angel’s injuries were consistent with his story.”  The deputy also made a report to her supervisor.  The Bradenton Police department declared they would conduct an internal investigation; however, no further details or statements have been released.  Both Officer Cox and Officer Buttitta remain on duty.

OCTOBER

Albuquerque, New Mexico

Security Guard Attacks Homeless Couple

October: A security guard allegedly beat up a homeless couple, saying they had “copped an attitude” with him. The officer put the man in a headlock, and then grabbed the woman, who was in a wheelchair, and yelled at her. An NBC-affiliate reported that exclamations made by bystanders such as, “Out of control get a cop out here,” were recorded on 911 tapes. The officer is being investigated and will remain on the job, although he will have no contact with the public until the investigation is complete.

Portland, Oregon

Police Officer Loses Job after Molesting Homeless Women

October 26: Officer Matthew Kohnke, 33, has been accused of groping five women within recent months. He has resigned from the force, pleading no contest to official misconduct charges.  His sentence includes 24 months of probation and community service.

The most recent account occurred in 2007 between July 3 and July 5. Kohnke served 9 years on the Police Bureau and complaints have been made about him by more than one woman. All of the women lived transient lives and only four of the five were located and contacted to gather further information about the investigation.

One woman said she was living in a homeless camp in Portland when she was molested by Kohnke. She says that Kohnke asked if he could search her for drugs or weapons, and reached down her pants. The victim was not arrested or cited, neither was this incident documented. The exact dates of all incidents are unknown.