Family: Donald Driver's dad beaten by Houston police after dispute

[Pap]

Family: Donald Driver's dad beaten by Houston police after dispute

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/200...=si_topstories

Posted: Wednesday November 19, 2008 9:36PM; Updated: Wednesday November 19, 2008 9:55PM
HOUSTON -- The father of Green Bay Packers wide receiver Donald Driver was beaten by Houston, Texas, police officers as they arrested him for outstanding traffic warrants, Driver's family members claimed Wednesday.

As they beat him and forced him to swallow something, the officers told Marvin Driver Jr. he was "going to see Jesus," according to relatives and community activist Quanell Evans, who identified himself as Quanell X.

"Mr. Marvin Driver Jr. is now at Hermann Hospital in ICU where he can't even speak," relatives said in a statement. "Doctors say there is some bleeding on his brain from blunt force trauma."

Police said Driver was arrested for outstanding traffic warrants and was found to be "unresponsive" upon his arrival at jail. Paramedics transported him to the hospital, they said. The Houston Police Department said in a written statement it takes the assault allegations "very seriously, and will begin a thorough investigation into the matter."

The two officers involved remain on duty pending further investigation, police said. However, relatives and Evans called for the officers involved to be suspended or placed on administrative leave until the investigation is complete.

The incident began late Sunday when Driver was dropping his brother, Winston Driver, off after the two had moved furniture, family members said.

Officers stopped Marvin Driver Jr. in front of his mother's home, relatives said. An argument took place between police and Driver's family, as well as between Driver and officers over the language police were using, according to the written statement issued by family members.

Police told relatives Driver was being taken to jail for the outstanding warrants, relatives said. "Later, the family found out he never made it to the jail," the statement said.

.....Evans showed reporters paper towels upon which he said Driver had written his account. On them, he said Driver wrote that the police took him behind a Valero gas station and beat him. The officers kneed Driver and elbowed him in the throat, Evans said. They also made him swallow something, he said, telling him he was "going to see Jesus" and made disparaging remarks about his family, including "one particular family member."

One officer parked his cruiser behind the station and watched the beating, the activist alleged. Evans showed reporters photographs he said depicted Driver lying a hospital bed with a tube in his mouth.

[Steel]

this is phucked up. If this is true I hope they hang these cops. This fits my outlook on some cops, people who got their ass kicked all their lives and then take it out on others as they try to grow up. Sick story and may the Driver family get justice.

[mark12]

Driver has a great rep in the Houston community and I don't think police are looking to beat up on his dad.

Anyone who has lived here knows you don't mess with Houston cops. You answer their questions and don't act like a smart ass and everything will be OK. Act like a jerk and mouth off, which it sounds like he and the family did, and you take you chances. See it on the news here all the time people scream and disrespect police because they think they are somebody and the cops wouldn't dare touch them. If you are in Houston think again.

If the family knows Quanell X and he is involved there is a good chance this guy did something wrong. Because that is who Quanell X usually has around him. How long before the race card is played here. Less than a day -600.

Not saying the cops couldn't have crossed the line but I'll wait to here both sides of the story.

Chris Rock has it right.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uj0mtxXEGE8

[THE12WATCH]

I agree with you Mark, The whole story sounds very odd. As he Cops are whooping his rear they say to him now your going to go see jesus? Doesnt even sound right. If they said something Racial then I may buy into this story a little bit. Race card used by this time next week.

[Pap]

Originally Posted by mark12

Driver has a great rep in the Houston community and I don't think police are looking to beat up on his dad.

Anyone who has lived here knows you don't mess with Houston cops. You answer their questions and don't act like a smart ass and everything will be OK. Act like a jerk and mouth off, which it sounds like he and the family did, and you take you chances. See it on the news here all the time people scream and disrespect police because they think they are somebody and the cops wouldn't dare touch them. If you are in Houston think again.

If the family knows Quanell X and he is involved there is a good chance this guy did something wrong. Because that is who Quanell X usually has around him. How long before the race card is played here. Less than a day -600.

Not saying the cops couldn't have crossed the line but I'll wait to here both sides of the story.

Chris Rock has it right.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uj0mtxXEGE8

I don't agree with you at all. While the whole story isn't out, police shouldn't use force unless absolutely necessary. If Driver's dad was being belligerant, there are many ways to get his ass down and in cuffs. Beating him to the point where he can't even speak, and to the point where "bleeding on his brain from blunt force trauma" is absolutely unacceptable. Had there been a weapon involved, I would have understood. But ganging up on a man with nightsticks and beating him to the point where he needs to be hospitalized is absolutely ludicrous. "Houston Police" or Houston police, I could give less of a **** where you're stationed. Rude behavior is not an excuse to bash a man's brain in.

[Big Pimpin]

Yes I am sure Mr. Driver didnt do anything at all and they just beat him for know reason and then made him swallow something..

Yeah right...


Obviously this story is missing a TON of info

[captaincapper]

You know you live in the Bible Belt when as you are getting beat within an inch of your life by the cops you're being told you are going to meet Jesus. I was skeptical of this story until I read that part and then I thought, yeah that sounds about right for Texas.

[be47320]

i wouldnt consider houston part of the bible belt

[captaincapper]

I don't know about Houston, but I live north of Dallas and there is a church (sometimes two) on every corner it seems. Austin is a lot more free thinking than the rest of the state is.

[wherethecashat]

then why beat him to the point that he's all ****ed up? I don't see how the use of that kind of force can be justified.

[be47320]

yeah, you go out to west texas and drive down hwy 27(i think) from amarillo to lubbock and you will find the def of bible belt...pass through tulia and plainview and its almost creepy...religous signs everywhere and impossible to get a beer....good luck finding a minority too.

[captaincapper]

Originally Posted by wherethecashat

then why beat him to the point that he's all ****ed up? I don't see how the use of that kind of force can be justified.

I don't know how much truth there is to this story in particular, however there is no doubt in my mind that shit like this happens on a fairly frequent basis. Law enforcement officials are generally outstanding individuals, however there is a segment of the law enforcement agencies who are no more than bigoted thugs on a power trip just looking for any and every excuse to beat the shit out of someone they don't personally like. And 999 out of 1000 times they'll get away with it.

[be47320]

Originally Posted by captaincapper

I don't know how much truth there is to this story in particular, however there is no doubt in my mind that shit like this happens on a fairly frequent basis. Law enforcement officials are generally outstanding individuals, however there is a segment of the law enforcement agencies who are no more than bigoted thugs on a power trip just looking for any and every excuse to beat the shit out of someone they don't personally like. And 999 out of 1000 times they'll get away with it.

http://www.cappersmall.com/forums/members/big-pimpin/

[captaincapper]

Originally Posted by be47320

yeah, you go out to west texas and drive down hwy 27(i think) from amarillo to lubbock and you will find the def of bible belt...pass through tulia and plainview and its almost creepy...religous signs everywhere and impossible to get a beer....good luck finding a minority too.

The Panhandle is the definition of Bible Belt. I lived in Lubbock and went to Texas Tech before transferring to SMU. Couldn't stand Lubbock, absolutely nothing to do except drink beer, and you had to take a drive just to get the beer.

[captaincapper]

For some strange reason the chicks in Lubbock are smokin' must be something in the water.