LITTLE ROCK -- A Hot Springs police officer who appeared to choke a skateboarder and put two others into a headlock in a video posted online used the proper amount of force when making his arrests, an internal investigation by police found.
The report, signed by five officers, found officer Joey Williams confronted a situation that "would have overwhelmed any single officer" when he stopped those breaking city ordinance by skateboarding on a downtown sidewalk June 21. However, the investigation faulted Williams for leaving a handcuffed suspect unattended while chasing another youth in the resort town's historic Bathhouse Row.
"I think it was fair," City Manager Kent Myers said. Witnesses "consistently supported the actions of the officer and his efforts to control the situation."
Video of the incident from a business' security cameras show 10 skateboarders rolling down the city sidewalk at a good clip, followed by Williams, who sprints past the last skater. A video taken by skateboarders and later posted to YouTube shows Williams on top of one of the skaters, apparently choking him. The video also showed Williams putting another two skateboarders in a headlock and the officer can later be heard threatening to use pepper spray on a skateboarder lying on the ground.
What remains unclear is what led up to Williams chasing one of the skateboarders down the sidewalk. Myers said it was "premature" to discuss what provoked the incident, saying it would be part of an upcoming court case against those charged in the incident.
Police said they arrested four juveniles and Matthew Jon McCormack, 21, and Skylar Nalls, 19, both of Hot Springs. McCormack faces a misdemeanor battery charge accusing him of pushing or striking a 67-year-old city employee during the melee. Nalls was cited for skateboarding and faces misdemeanor charges of fleeing and obstructing governmental operations.
YouTube shows the video has been viewed more than 1.4 million times since it was posted June 25. Since the YouTube video hit the Internet, Williams has been on administrative leave. Police said he would return Thursday to active duty in the city's downtown.
In their report, the officers described the June 21 event as being "part of a planned participation in a nationwide anti-authority demonstration." However, organizers of Go Skateboarding Day describe the event organized by skateboarding companies as an effort to encourage more people to take up skateboarding.
Those around the country who took part brought video cameras to record their tricks to win contest prizes, said John Bernards, executive director of the International Association of Skateboard Companies, based in Rancho Santa Margarita, Calif.
Myers acknowledged the investigation wouldn't have happened without the YouTube video, but said the city had no immediate plans to post its own video response on the site.
"I think it shows the power of the Internet," Myers said.
Source: The Morning News - Jon Gambrell
Wednesday, July 4, 2007
Tuesday, July 3, 2007
Hot Springs: Skateboard Video Controversy Continues
Skateboard Video Controversy Continues
Source: Fox 16 News
Click here for video
New video released exclusively to FOX16 shows a new angle of the scuffle between a Hot Springs Police officer and some skate boarders. The video came from the camera of a business along Central Avenue. It actually shows what happened before the scuffle took place.
The eyes of the world have focused on Hot Springs for the past week. The reason, a highly watched video posted on YouTube. It shows Officer Joseph Williams in a scuffle with a group caught skate boarding in a prohibited area along Central Avenue.
After seeing the video lots of people posted comments saying the police officer used excessive force and poor judgement.
"Pick up your skateboards and walk next time I guess and if you really have a problem go to city council and fight it there, but that cop needs to be fired," says one poster.
However, some sided with the officer. "Even at the start of the video the cop says, 'I told you to stop and you didn't' what do you expect when you run away from the police?" adds another poster.
That's what many business owners in the area believe. And they say this video released exclusively to FOX16 News proves their point.
Employees standing out front of the wax museum say the YouTube video doesn't tell the entire story. They were able to catch some of what happened on their own surveillance video and they say it clearly shows the skate boarders disobeying the police officer.
"I seen the cops and about 10 skate boarders come flying by and when they seen the cop they hollered run run and they took off running and the cop was steadily chasing them and he got one down over there," says Tracy Hicks.
Alan Hickman was also on the street that day, he too has a different account of what happened. He says while the YouTube video shows the officer grabbing the kids, what you don't know is he was reacting to them attacking him out of view of the camera. "The kids were way in the wrong, the kids were way out of line, the cop was basically protecting himself," says alan Hickman.
The investigation into Officer Williams' actions is still underway. Police haven't said when it will wrap up.
Source: Fox 16 News
Click here for video
New video released exclusively to FOX16 shows a new angle of the scuffle between a Hot Springs Police officer and some skate boarders. The video came from the camera of a business along Central Avenue. It actually shows what happened before the scuffle took place.
The eyes of the world have focused on Hot Springs for the past week. The reason, a highly watched video posted on YouTube. It shows Officer Joseph Williams in a scuffle with a group caught skate boarding in a prohibited area along Central Avenue.
After seeing the video lots of people posted comments saying the police officer used excessive force and poor judgement.
"Pick up your skateboards and walk next time I guess and if you really have a problem go to city council and fight it there, but that cop needs to be fired," says one poster.
However, some sided with the officer. "Even at the start of the video the cop says, 'I told you to stop and you didn't' what do you expect when you run away from the police?" adds another poster.
That's what many business owners in the area believe. And they say this video released exclusively to FOX16 News proves their point.
Employees standing out front of the wax museum say the YouTube video doesn't tell the entire story. They were able to catch some of what happened on their own surveillance video and they say it clearly shows the skate boarders disobeying the police officer.
"I seen the cops and about 10 skate boarders come flying by and when they seen the cop they hollered run run and they took off running and the cop was steadily chasing them and he got one down over there," says Tracy Hicks.
Alan Hickman was also on the street that day, he too has a different account of what happened. He says while the YouTube video shows the officer grabbing the kids, what you don't know is he was reacting to them attacking him out of view of the camera. "The kids were way in the wrong, the kids were way out of line, the cop was basically protecting himself," says alan Hickman.
The investigation into Officer Williams' actions is still underway. Police haven't said when it will wrap up.
Monday, July 2, 2007
Skatehead Zed Skate Park in Rogers Arkansas
Skatehead Zed's skatepark is an indoor skate park that was opened back in 2002. It's a 17,000 sq. foot spot with a street skate area and an area for the more experienced for 'big air' rides. The vert is 10 ft and the mini is 6 ft. There are nice transitions ramp to ramp. Nice wood for wallriders too.
Sunday, July 1, 2007
Plan B Skateboard
Plan B was formed in 1991 as a superteam, made up of an elite group of skateboard professionals at that time. Plan B was started under Steve Rocco's World Industries empire, and the team was headed by H-Street ex-co-owner Mike Ternasky. The original team was made up of top riders from other companies who all left to form Plan B. It consisted of Danny Way, Matt Hensley, Rodney Mullen, Mike Carroll, Sean Sheffey and Rick Howard, and later added riders Colin McKay, Pat Duffy, Sal Barbier, Ronnie Bertino, Jeremy Wray, and Moses Itkonen. They also took the superteam concept to snowboarding and formed Type A Snowboards.
In 1993 Rick Howard was disgruntled over a wheel invoicing dispute and left Plan B with fellow team riders Mike Carroll, and Sean Sheffey, as well as Megan Baltimore who worked in administration. They went on to form Girl Skateboards.
In 1994, Mike Ternasky was killed in a car accident. Danny Way and Colin McKay took over the team while still maintaining pro status and eventually went independent, separating from World Industries. World Industries in turn formed their own superteam, with the Rodney Mullen headed A-team. With the loss of Ternasky, the team lost focus and Way and McKay pulled the plug on the brand and went on to focus their efforts on their individual professional careers, with Way joining Alien Workshop and McKay first joining Girl Skateboards and later Seek Skateboards.
Reformation
In 2005, Plan B was resurrected by Way and McKay with the financial backing of Syndrome Distribution, using the same formula as the original Plan B, as a superteam of elite skaters picked from other teams. Paul Rodriguez Jr. from Girl, Ryan Gallant from Expedition-One, PJ Ladd from Flip. Way and McKay maintained their roles as team co-owners/pro skaters. Pat Duffy, Darrell Stanton, and Brian Wenning were later added to the pro roster. Ronson Lambert became the team's first amateur. Wieger van Wageningen became the first international team rider after the demise of his previous sponsor, The Firm, with éS Game of SKATE winner Alex Mizurov joining afterwards. Stanton later left the team for Element Skateboards in August 2006. On January 2, 2007, Plan B made a press release to confirm the addition of Ryan Sheckler to the team. On March, 26, 2007 Angel Cardenas from Bakersfield was added to the amateur team.
Plan B debuted their promo film, Live after Death, at the September 2006 Action Sports Retailer Expo. It is viewable online on Plan B's website, downloadable as a Podcast from iTunes, and also included on DVD with the puchase of select Plan B decks. Their first major skateboarding film, Unquestionable, is slated to be released sometime in 2007.
Watch YouTube Video of Skateboarding Arrest in Hot Springs Arkansas
Watch the video - uncut version at YouTube - to see the takedown of skateboarders in Hot Springs Arkansas.
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