jdperry:

I took down my previous post of my side of the story because it may have given you false impressions that I witnessed everything. I was a witness to only Ian’s arrest realtime and Chris’ arrest after the fact. My accounts are merely recollections of friend’s blogs and what I remember 2/3 of the way into the incident. As you can see the tape shows no actual physical contact or what spurred the arrests. I wanted to post this for everyone to see what happened but want to STRESS that I do not have a first-hand account of Police brutality. This is not me putting my tail between my legs and giving up, this is me trying to clear some muggy water. If you want a first hand account contact the bands on the tour or those that were in the alley last night. My goal was to spread the word and I’ve done so, do not take my words for scripture - they were fueled by anger and that may have led you all to believe more than what may have been true. Witness reports are still being taken today at 4 at the Police Advisory Commission offices. Do not waste their time with grape-vine accounts; this is for first-hand accounts and legitimate witnesses.

Police brutality is an harsh crime and should be dealt with properly. We have to take into account the whole situation and not make judgments based on other’s words.

Thank you.

Here’s Mercy’s view of the story:

Our(mercymercedes) van was parked behind the tla in an alley in which we were informed to do. 3bike cops roll up and give us tickets for being parked there, the same place we were instructed to park. The only way out of the narrow alley was to back out our van and trailer. We were in the process of loading gear after the show when the cops come back a second time. I am in the driver seat backing up the rig just as the cops asked. Then I hear a loud popping noise. I ran over a water bottle in the street that I obviously didn’t know was there. The water splashed over the the bike cop. At the time I had to hold the laughter in because it was priceless. these cops just gave us like 4 unecessary tickets and were very rude at doing so. The cop then approaches my window with his soaked clear-leansed bike-cop oakleys in hand and says “do you know how to f*cking drive?” I replied yessir I’m doing exactly what u asked. He then turnes to the other officer and says “write him another ticket and impound their van and trailer.” 

Word of this gets to Trevor aka T-fair, WTKs tour manager. Being the new “baby band” on this tour, T-fair has showed us the ropes and taught us a lot about how these bigger tours work. Already appreciative of him, he came to our aid to work things out with cops for us. He tried to work things out in a calmly manner, when the cops just start threatning him. Trevor calmly says “what are you gonna do I haven’t done anything.” And of coarce I saw the whole thing and never once did do anything threatning to the cops. They then throw him up against our van pretty hard. Then Chris V. WTKs merch guy walks out to see his friend and TM jacked up on our van for nothin. The cops start pushing every one to get back in the venue. And by pushing I mean really ruffing everyone. Chris V is a suuuuper nice dude just so u guys know that. By now everyone is screaming. The cops are cursing at all of us. One cop throws chris v in the venue and shuts the door. Then the doors opens back up. Still at this point and any point in the night no one has threatend a police officer. The officer that slammed the door on everyone runs in saying word for word, “come here you mother f*cker!!” He ran inside with metal baton in hand swinging. After this I heard more than I saw because of the situation. But my bandmates in mercy saw all of this and said that chris v never tried to fight the cop or resist arrest, but the cops repeatedly beat him with the metal rod.

Seriously people. I’ve never seen police officers so messed up in my life. All this could have been avoided, but because of these cops that provoked everything were the opitome of asshole. Its like they bored and out to find some action. Just like a buch of drunk bro dudes after a game.

As all this was happening I turn and am being escorted away by another officer. Hurds of fans from the show are watching in awe of the events taking place. I passed two girls bawling their eyes out because they were scared. And amongst the crowd I saw at least 6 kids video taping the whole thing. 

Well there ya have it. That’s my story. I will always remember this for the rest of my life. T-fair didn’t deserve this….Chris V definatly didn’t!

and here’s a picture of blood from Chris V’s head