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| NEWS > 23 December 2005 |
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Police acted illegally suggest
In recent months South West Regional Voices have reported on two blatant examples of anti-white racism practised by South West police forces. In November we reported how the Avon and Somerset Constabulary discriminated against young white job applicants as a matter of policy. We also, a little later, reported on the Gloucestershire Constabulary doing exactly the same thing! These actions making a mockery of their claims to be even-handed, equal opportunities employers and promoting good community relations.
We have this evening received the following communication from our Bristol and... Read more
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 Article sourced from
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Albany Democrat Herald - Alban
23 December 2005
This article appeared in the above title/site.
To view it in its entirity click this link.
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Editor's mailbag - Police acti
I’d like to express my concern with the ethics of the Albany Police Department. I am a person who has never had any problems with the police department and have considered them an important part of mine and my family’s safety. Actions taken by them this past weekend have me second-guessing myself. How can I put my trust into these cold-hearted people?
I was attending the funeral of my father-in-law, who passed away this last week. Things were beautiful. Everything was just like he would have wanted. Everyone was there paying their last respects. I thought to myself: I bet he is loving this, exactly how he wanted everything.
Stepping out of the funeral home, we were greeted by the Albany police surrounding the building. They were there to arrest his son. Instead of waiting until he was away from the funeral home, where they could pull him over, they took him into custody there. Not only that but then they proceeded to harass other people attending the funeral. Innocent people. People there to mourn. People with broken hearts.
This is going to be a day I never forget. I just don’t understand where these people left their hearts. Aren’t they suppose to care about people? What is happening to our system? The police kicking people when they are down. Thank you to the police involved in ruining my final memory and adding to my pain.
Brandy Skelton, Albany
And the response:
We were called by the suspect’s ex-wife regarding a custody issue. She has legal custody but Joshua Skelton has had their 6-year-old daughter, Destiny, with him in Missouri for two years. Sarietha Follett, his ex-wife, came to the station and advised that he was in town and would be at his father’s funeral. She thought her daughter may be with him.
She showed officers the paperwork from Linn County Circuit Court, giving her full custody.
A computer check revealed two warrants for Joshua as well. One for Fail to Appear on a DUII charge out of Linn County and one for Fail to Comply on Contempt of Court charges out of Albany Municipal Court.
The officers called the funeral home prior to responding to ensure the funeral was over out of respect to the family and a sense of compassion.
When they arrived, they saw people were gathered outside (AAsum Funeral Home — ed.) and observed a subject who fit the description of Joshua. As they approached, the subject began to walk away and several people from the crowd yelled, “Run.” Joshua ran and was taken into custody behind St. Mary’s Catholic Church.
Family members came to the arrest location, demanding to know why he was being arrested. They were advised of the warrants and advised that we were most interested in his daughter’s whereabouts. One subject, possibly Joshua’s brother, said, “You guys will never find Destiny, we’ll never tell you where she is.”
Though some of the crowd was disorderly, officers demonstrated professional restraint and good judgment and chose not to arrest additional offenders.
Joshua advised that his daughter stayed in Missouri with his girlfriend. He provided a phone number, and we talked with his girlfriend, who confirmed Destiny was still there.
The officers intended to make this contact as low-key as possible but the suspect chose another path. Had he been cooperative, they could have had the discussion in relative privacy, and they were prepared to issue citations on the warrants, if possible, rather than take him into custody.
Since he was uncooperative and resisted, he now has the added charges of Resisting Arrest and Escape III along with the warrants.
I think the officers handled it exceptionally well. Had we waited and somehow missed contact with Joshua, his ex-wife would have been complaining about our lack of action.
Bill Kinch, Interim Chief of Police, Albany
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