WARREN Residents voice complaints about police
A councilman wants the U.S. Justice Department to investigate the allegations.
By PEGGY SINKOVICH
VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF
WARREN -- The city's minority community must register to vote, file written complaints and unite to help fight what many residents believe is harassment by the city police department, the three members of the Warren Coalition say.
More than 70 people attended the coalition's community meeting Tuesday at Second Baptist Church on Main Street. The meeting was held to inform the community about what is taking place regarding recent allegations of police harassment. The coalition is made up of leaders of black organizations in the city.
"We are in a situation" regarding relations with police, said the Rev. Alton L. Merrell Sr., president of the Trumbull County Interdenominational Ministerial Alliance, and a member of the coalition.
In the past few weeks, two videotapes have surfaced that some minority leaders believe show police abusing their powers.
Videotape of arrest
A videotape released two weeks ago by a resident shows three white officers arresting Lyndal Kimble, who is black. The tape was broadcast nationally.
Kimble states he was beaten by police. Warren Police Chief John Mandopoulos says a preliminary review shows the officers acted appropriately.
The second video shows Mandopoulos and other officers as they stopped by 77 Soul, a nightspot, on May 24.
A friend of club owner LaShawnZiegler's taped Mandopoulos and patrol officer Manny Nites, who put their faces up to the camera, giving the cameraman close-up views of their eyeballs. Mandopoulos also asked the cameraman if in high school if he had been voted "the nerd most likely to succeed."
The chief said he and Nites were just joking. Nites can also be heard calling the cameraman a snitch and telling customers walking into the club that the cameraman is a snitch.
"People are tired of this happening," said Tom Conley, a member of the coalition and president of the Warren-Trumbull Urban League. "Every time we talk about this to the police, Chief Mandopoulos says he doesn't have any complaints. We must write these complaints down."
Ron Brown, the third member of the coalition and president of the A. Philip Randolph Institute, said minority residents must vote so that their voice is heard.
Police and fire tax
"Start registering now and if we do that we will scare some people," Brown said. "The police and fire tax is coming, and if we don't like what they are doing we can put it down, but we must vote."
The coalition members also advised the residents that the FBI is investigating Kimble's allegation, but several people in attendance were not pleased by that information.
"We don't feel comfortable with the FBI," said Councilman James A. "Doc" Pugh, D-6th, as several audience members applauded. "I can only remember one time in 25 years that the FBI found something wrong. We want the Justice Department to look at civil rights violations. We don't want the FBI."
The coalition members also instructed residents to work together. They noted they would like to add at least two new members to the coalition and start a fund-raising campaign.
"We can't fight this alone," Conley said.
sinkovich@vindy.com