Charging new case of abuse

Group calls for community control of police

By Workers World Denver bureau

On the early morning of May 18, at around 2 a.m., Allen Kerford, an 18-year-old Black youth who suffers from bipolar disorder, noticed several Denver police vehicles flashing their lights and using their sirens to disperse a crowd of club-goers at Club Vinyl on 1082 Broadway.

According to the Colorado United Communities Against Police Brutality (CUCAPB), the actions of the police “were aggressive, constitute harassment and were agitating the crowd.” Kerford, noticing the crowd’s reaction, commented that the officers were being rude. He stated that they would get better results if they didn’t flash their lights and blare their sirens.

“An officer told Mr. Kerford to shut up and that he would be arrested if he didn’t leave. Mr. Kerford then remarked that he had done nothing wrong and so the officers had no reason to arrest him. He then proceeded to walk away. One of the officers then sprayed Mr. Kerford with pepper spray,” related the anti-abuse group in a statement.

After being pepper sprayed, Kerford began to run but was chased and pinned against a wall by a Denver police vehicle.

Somewhere along the way he had picked up a small rock. Kerford showed police the rock that easily fit in his palm. Having just been attacked, he told them, “I don’t wanna use this. Just let me go.” The group says, “He was then rushed by eight cops who beat him, causing lacerations, bruising and further injury to his person.”

Kerford was taken to Denver Health Medical Center and then Denver County Jail. To this day, says the group, he has not received proper care for his injuries.

Says the CUCAPB, “The community has learned of this case and is again in outrage at DPD officers’ harassment of club-goers, of the dismissal of Mr. Kerford’s concerns, and of the unprovoked attack and escalation that left Mr. Kerford with what he thought was his only alternative, which was to attempt to defend himself from attack by Denver police officers.”

Instead of receiving an apology, Kerford was charged with three counts of first-degree assault on a peace officer, three counts of felony menacing, one count of resisting arrest and one count of criminal mischief.

In response to this latest incident of abuse at the hands of Denver police, the group issued the following demands:

• That there be a review of police procedures, especially regarding the aggressive handling and harassment of club-goers and a review of police procedure regarding mentally disabled persons, that the procedures be made public and the community be involved in changing them;

• That all charges be dropped, as Mr. Kerford was unjustly provoked and attacked and because his disability and the unprovoked nature of the attack led him to feel he had to defend himself;

• That an official apology be made to the community, especially communities of color, to Allen Kerford’s family for the ordeal and most notably to Allen Kerford himself

• That all officers involved be suspended, an investigation by an office independent of the city be conducted and that the histories of complaint against the officers be made public

• That the community be given control over the police department and over discipline regarding the abuse of community members.

CUCAPB is calling on the community to support Kerford and his family at his next hearing on Friday, June 22, starting 8:30 a.m. at the Denver City and County Building, Courtroom 472W, in front of Judge Eileen Ortiz-White.

Colorado United Communities Against Police Brutality (CUCAPB) used to be called Colorado Communities United Against Police Brutality (CCUAPB). It recently changed its name on learning that another group in Minneapolis had been doing great work under the name Communities United Against Police Brutality since 2000. CUCAPB says, “We apologize both to activists in Minneapolis and around the country for any confusion and/or slights regarding the use of the name.”

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