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.

If you think your going back to " work" with a gun,you are dead...wrong. matthew,my 2cents worth

The ugly face of fascism has appeared now in Moreno Valley. Apparently, the government there has learned nothing from their neighbor, Riverside. Looks like state Attorney General Bill Lockyer is going to have to start paying them a bunch of visits. My advice: if those cops try to arrest anyone while visiting the memorial, get names and badge numbers. Send these to: A. State Attorney General Bill Lockyer at http://caag.state.ca.us/piu/mail2.htm. and B. the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights at webadmin.hchr@unog.ch. When the rest of the world starts seeing Moreno Valley as another "Beijing West", as it already views Riverside, as a pit of human rights abuses, watch their tourist business crash just like the stock exchange.

police intelligence

by oxymoron 4:30pm Tue Apr 3 '01



Its time for all frontline police to wear large fluro numbers Sewn on or securely fastened.This is for their own protection .

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Saw this in london. proffr