Warren family seeks probe into 4 arrests

The complaint was filed Monday.
By PEGGY SINKOVICH
VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF
WARREN -- A mother who says she and her three teen children were wrongfully arrested has filed a complaint asking police for an internal affairs investigation.
During a press conference Monday, Terra Brown, 34, of Atlantic Street, and her attorney, Gilbert Rucker, said they think police department administration should be looking into the matter.
"They should have started looking into this last week and not waiting for us to file a written complaint," Rucker said. Brown filed the complaint Monday.
Police Chief John Mandopoulos has said the matter wouldn't be investigated until a formal complaint is filed. Mayor Michael O'Brien, however, said Monday that officials did begin investigating last week.
Brown and her children, Regis, 14, Donald, 16, and Canchata Allgood, 15, were all arrested on misdemeanor charges after a disturbance Oct. 19 that started on Mercer Place.
Brown pleaded innocent last week in municipal court to charges of assault on a police officer and resisting arrest. Regis faces charges of disorderly conduct and obstruction of official business; Donald faces charges of disorderly conduct and resisting arrest; and Canchata faces charges of assault of a police officer and resisting arrest.
Questioning boy's arrest
Rucker and Tom Conley, chief executive officer of the Warren-Trumbull Urban League, who also attended the press conference, said they don't understand why Regis was arrested.
The police report states that the 14-year-old swore at officers who were riding bikes in the neighborhood. Regis denies the allegation.
"Even if he did, there is case law stating that you can't arrest someone for swearing at a police officer," Rucker said.
Conley stated that Regis, a freshman basketball player at Warren G. Harding High School, has no prior criminal record.
"What is it going to take for the community to get mad at some of the police officers that keep doing this?" Conley said, noting that over the past year several complaints have been filed alleging wrongful arrest.
"I am still asking the U.S. Department of Justice to come to the city and look at the police department," Conley said.
Mandopoulos, however, has defended the officers. He said they were patrolling the neighborhood on bikes in an attempt to help elderly residents feel safer.
The police chief said that after Regis' arrest, other juveniles sent a vicious dog after officers. Regis' brother, sister and mother also began fighting with officers, police said.
Mother's account
Brown said she was trying to find out why her son was being arrested when officers began yelling at her.
"I approached the officer and he began yelling obscenities towards me," Brown stated in her complaint. "Then he grabbed my arm and jerked it behind me. Then I remember seeing my daughter being Maced. I tried to turn to see her when I was Maced. I dropped my head to the ground and by then I had someone punching me, someone with their knee in my neck and when I tried to turn my head over to breathe I was choked and my head held into the muddy grass."
Canchata also said the officers sprayed her and then ordered her to take her shirts off. She said that when was transported to the juvenile justice center she asked the officer his name and he answered, "Big Daddy." Police officials said they did not know who transported Canchata. O'Brien said he would try to find the officer's name.
sinkovich@vindy.com