Three weeks ago, a Moreno Valley police officer shot Dante Meniefield to death, for trespassing in an abandoned apartment. Now, two of his family members have been arrested for a similar offense simply for visiting a shrine created in his memory to pay their respects.
Last week, two members of Dante Meniefield’s family were arrested by Moreno Valley Police Department officers for allegedly trespassing when they visited a memorial site at the apartment complex where he was shot to death by a police officer on March 10.
Billy Maroney, who was Meniefield’s brother and Shannon Nolley who was his girlfriend, were walking through a gate onto the apartment complex, when the officers who followed them inside, asked Maroney to get off his bike, and then they placed him under arrest. When Nolley, who is four months pregnant, asked the officers why they were arresting Maroney, they said, “let’s arrest her for trespassing too,” she said. The two were taken to the police station, where they were cited for trespassing and obstructing a police officer and released. Another man who went to the complex was arrested and taken to Robert Presley Detention Center, because he was on parole when he was arrested. Residents of the complex came out of their apartments to yell at the officers to leave Meniefield’s family alone, but were ignored by officers.
Boris Robinson, from the police department was succinct, when asked about the incident. “Some arrests were made for trespassing,” he said.
Harassment by police officers at the complexes in Edgemont has been a fact of life for the residents who live there. In previous months, police officer Dion Davis would come to the complex and “bully the people there,” said Bernell Butler. Davis had accompanied officer Robert Marks, when Marks allegedly discharged his weapon at Meniefield when he had his hands up, hitting him in the face and killing him.
Davis is not under investigation, departmental officials have said.
The apartment complex owner had decided to leave the shrine dedicated to Meniefield’s memory, up for 30 days and had opposed the shooting that happened on his property.
Rallies have continued on Mondays beginning at the gas station near where Meniefield was killed, and protesters march down to City Hall, and the new police station. Police surveillance has been present, with officers who videotape the protests, and only turn away their cameras when some one else is photographing them. When asked why they photograph the protesters, the officers said, “I’m sorry, I can’t answer any questions.”
Several investigations, both criminal and administrative are being conducted regarding the shooting. The federal Department of Justice and FBI have also launched investigations.
Original: Moreno Valley arrest Meniefield's relatives for trespassing at memory shrine