UAPTSD works for systemic change in law enforcement agencies and advocating for victims of excessive force or police misconduct. We concentrate our efforts in the San Diego County and the collective’s work includes: informing people of their rights, lending support to victims of police terror by helping them file complaints in the police ethics system and dealing with wrongful accusations. We as an organization also denounce the harassment, violence, intimidation, arrests and abuse of power by police.
JUSTICE 4 VICTOR ORTEGA, SDPD AND JOHNATHAN MCCARTHY IS PUT ON TRIAL!!!
San Diego, Join the family of Victor Ortega as the trial for Victor’s wrongful death case begins today. Victor was killed in 2012 by SDPD Officer Jonathan McCarthy.
March 14th at 9am
San Diego Central Courthouse
Address: 1140 Union St, San Diego, CA 92101
Video of won appeal
San Diego police officer Jonathan McCarthy appeals from the district court’s denial of his motion for qualified immunity in a 42 U.S.C. § 1983 action brought by Shakina, Tamia and Jacob Ortega alleging that McCarthy shot and killed Victor Ortega.
14-56824 Shakina Ortega v SDPD Officer Jonathan McCarthy https://youtu.be/TaPrGXAEmBo
February 27, City Council meets to received SDPD’s plan for addressing the biased policing documented in this report. Racial profiling is unjust, unjustified, and undermines community trust.This past November, the Public Safety & Livable Neighborhoods Committee received an independent report analyzing demographics on police traffic stops. San Diegans then learned what many of us already knew to be true: the San Diego Police Department treats drivers differently based on race and ethnicity. The report data revealed disturbing disparities between policing of White drivers and drivers of color – particularly Black and Latino drivers, who were found to be stopped, searched and questioned more frequently.
The following incidents Uaptsd will address, all occurred in the City Heights Neighborhood are examples of those stops, and all videos are available online on the Irate Productions Youtube Channel. Links were also forwarded to members of City Council for both them and their staff to review (see below)
My name is Catherine Mendonca, I’m a principle member of United Against Police Terror, San Diego, and attached you will find incidents of racial profiling observed by our organization through our copwatch project complete with links, in anticipation of the PSLN mtg today at 1pm.
UAPTSD has documented over 50 stops in the past 3 months where, we feel that in many of these instances, the race of the individual stopped was a factor in why they were stopped.
As it was stated in every recent report based on racial profiling data cards from the San Diego Police Department; citywide, drivers of color were more likely than white drivers to be searched following a traffic stop and subject to more field interviews than whites, but white drivers were more often found in violation of the law.
The incidents below, for your review, all occurred in the City Heights Neighborhood, and are examples of those stops, and all videos are available online on the Irate Productions Youtube Channel.
On November 30th, a black man walking with a cane down University Avenue was stopped at the intersection of 44th and University. He was, cuffed, searched, and then released. Allegedly he was swinging the cane. No arrest was made.
On January 8th, 2 black males were stopped and searched in the alley way between 44th and Polk, where there was reported screaming in the alley way. When cop watchers arrived on the scene, everything was quiet. Both men were released and no arrests were made.
On February 7th, at the the Starbucks on Fairmount Avenue, a black male was stopped, cuffed, searched, and then released. Again, no arrest was made.
On February 15th, At the intersection of 43th and University two individuals of color were pulled over, their vehicle was searched, including the trunk, because, according to police audio, they “fit the description.” The couple was released and no arrests were made.
On February 20th, Cop watchers captured video of what appears to be San Diego Police Breaking Curb Sitting Policy TB14-03 IIIA,B according to their written policy while on 3800 43rd st in City Heights while stopping three latino males, and once again, no arrest was made. https://youtu.be/NZIzaO3uBcE
These stops ARE stop and frisk in practice, and in City Heights, this a normal occurrence. These are only 5 instances I summarized that indicate the larger problem: that stop-and-frisk is practiced regularly by SDPD, effectively making it SDPD policy.
In addition to observing and filming these instances, I also actively listen to police scanner audio as my right to stay involved in my community. Daily we hear instances of racial profiling by the San Diego Police Department over the police radio over many of the channels, but we must say that it is especially bad on the gang unit channel. From an individual’s hair, to their clothing, to what is posted on facebook, the San Diego police will come up with any reason they want to stop, question, and search you. Profiling is ingrained in the policies and practices of the San Diego Police department, and the practice needs to stop.
Page Dedicated to Uaptsd.org‘s campaign for Justice for all San Diego Stolen Lives by Law Enforcement
Uaptsd’s Campaign to demand Justice for San Diego Stolen Lives #SDStolenLives https://goo.gl/YSFEOS
To learn more follow our newly released database http://san-diego-stolen-lives.silk.co/
The Stolen Lives Project has documented cases of those killed by law enforcement nationwide since 1996 and aims to speak for victims of police brutality and murder, their families and loved ones, and for all of us who demand justice. Please see http://stolenlives.org/slpvolunteers.pdf and/or contact stolenlivesprojectonline@gmail.com for more information. Visit the website at http://stolenlives.org/
Undercover officer seen wearing a “Blue Lives Matter” Shirt, not so undercover, YouTube video Copwatch | SDPD Gang Unit Vehicle Stop | Copwatcher Sees The Light https://youtu.be/tpwHXIpojog
PLEASE join United Against Police Terror – San Diego and The Movement Productions San Diego as we remember the following 23 #SDStolenLives of 2016, reminding us for the new year, we must fight for EVERY life taken at the hands of every branch of Law Enforcement.
Saturday at 5 PM – 8 PM
City Heights/Weingart Library and Performance Annex
3795 Fairmount Ave, San Diego, California 92105
*This will be a vigil/visuals, candles and drawings encouraged.
Our Stolen Lives List has reached 744 as of 12/14/2016
to see full; list, please click the following link https://goo.gl/jBpE1i
Joshua Adam Sisson ♂ San Diego Police 1/1/2016
Gilbert Gearhart ♂ San Diego Sheriff 1/7/2016
Kelsey Rose Hauser ♀ El Cajon Police 1/16/2016
Ronald Welles ♂ San Diego Sheriff 1/19/2016
Richard Boulanger ♂ San Diego Sheriff 2/12/2016
Brandon Moyer ♂ San Diego Sheriff 3/11/2016
Pedro Arellano ♂ San Diego Sheriff 4/4/2016
Igor Ziazin ♂ Immigration Customs & Enforcement / CCA 5/1/2016
Adrian Vincent Sanchez ♂ San Diego Sheriff 5/3/2016
Gino Monteleone ♂ San Diego Sheriff 5/9/2016
James Douglas Grayson ♂ San Diego Sheriff 5/9/2016
Thongsoune Vilaysane ♂ San Diego Police 5/11/2016
Heron Dittenhaver Moriarty ♂ San Diego Sheriff 5/31/2016
Fernando Geovanni LLanez ♂ DHS Agent (plainclothed) 6/14/2016
Unknown ♂ Chula Vista Police 7/27/2016
David Michael Moya ♂ San Diego Sheriff 8/4/2016
Sergio Weick ♂ San Diego Sheriff 8/12/2016
Trenton Lohman ♂ San Diego Sheriff 8/18/2016
Carlos Antonio Sanchez ♂ Chula Vista Police 9/23/2016
Alfred Olango ♂ El Cajon Police 9/27/2016
Juan Carlos Fernandez ♂ San Diego Police 11/13/2016
Edward Ray Nett San Diego Sheriff 12/3/2016
Robert Bermudez San Diego Police 12/12/2016
Per the request of Robert Branch and his attorneys, attendance is needed for the trial of Robert Branch beginning on January 23rd, 2017.
Robert Branch faces, ” reckless driving, resisting arrest and attempting to pepper spray an officer” charges following the altercation that happened in Del Cerro on May 4, 2015.
Prosecutors say Branch was, “speeding and driving erratically when he almost struck the detective’s car.”
He claims he was put in a chokehold for no reason while prosecutors claim he tried to “pepper spray a deputy.”
Branch argued the detective, who has since retired from the department, used excessive force in the traffic stop.
The incident IS VIDEOTAPED and shared with the media.
He also filed an excessive force lawsuit against the county, which is on hold until the allegations against him are resolved.
After several weeks of witness testimony and evidence, a San Diego judge ruled there was sufficient evidence to hold Branch on all charges.
If convicted of all charges, Branch could face a maximum penalty of 5 years, 90 days.
