Phoenix Police Officer Brutalizes Councilman

Note: Although my sources don't mention race as a factor in the incident, it is worth noting that Councilman Johnson is African-American and Authement is Caucasian.

Phoenix, Arizona Councilman Michael Johnson was the target of unlawful and immoral police action late last month. He was checking on his neighbor whose house was on fire when police officer Brian Authement, 27, wrestled him to the ground and handcuffed him.

Johnson, a retired detective, said he was woken up when he heard the sirens of a firetruck outside his window. He rushed outside and saw paramedic and fire department vehicles lining his street. He then saw that his neighbor's house was on fire.

"He's disabled and I wanted to make sure he was out of the house safely. I talked to the fire battalion chief and asked permission to talk to my neighbor. Then I was stopped by a young police officer," said Johnson.

The Councilman was neither disrespectful nor confrontational when Authement, the policeman, began pushing him.

"After repeated requests to talk to the officer's supervisor, I was told they don't have supervisor on the scene and 'we don't do it like that out here.' Instead, I was thrown to the ground and handcuffed, face down, in the middle of my street," the Councilman continued.

Authement's partners yelled at him to calm down and to leave Johnson alone, but he didn't listen.

Two Phoenix Fire Department officials back up Johnson's story. Asst. Chief Frank Cheatham and Capt. Courtney Jenkins were just arriving when they witnessed Johnson being brutalized. They said they saw the policeman put his knee in Johnson's back and threaten to drag him across the street. Johnson was recovering from prostate surgery and couldn't get up off the ground.

Cheatham said to the officers, "Do you know who he is? This is Councilman Johnson." According to the fire officials, Authement's reply was, "I don't care if he is the President of the United States."

"I plan to sit down with our chief and discuss the treatment of residents by our police," said Johnson. "This happens to people who can't say something or don't know who they can turn to. I'm going to be a voice for the voiceless and I'm going to be heard."

Thousands of incidents like this happen across the United States, and in other countries as well, each year. This shows that the police force is in serious need of change and is filled with bullies, elitists, and racists. Many people who abuse drugs also act in violent manners like Authement did, and it wouldn't be surprising if there is a drug problem in various police forces across the US.