Laserfiche WebLink
Session 1852 <br />September 23, 2002 <br /> <br />who had been beaten bloody with a baseball bat. The most distressing violation of their <br />rights as citizens is by their elected officials. They have followed every recourse <br />suggested to them. They feel helpless and unprotected. They are taxpaying, law <br />abiding citizens of University City. A real estate agent had recently told her that her <br />home, if located on the south side of Olive, and depending on its proximity to Clayton, <br />would be worth $275,000 - $500,000. She was told that she could currently ask for no <br />more than $120,000 for her home. This is due to social and economic factors beyond <br />their control, but not completely. A visitor or perspective buyer can, on any given day, <br />witness crime and neglect of houses and children. They have done their parts as active <br />citizens it is now the responsibility of our elected and city officials to do theirs. <br /> <br />Richard Dockett, 6844 Crest, is the President of the Roth Grove Neighborhood <br />Association. He recounted an incident that occurred to him on August 27, 2002 <br />involving an incident with the University City police department that frightened and <br />shocked him. Evidently an anonymous caller called the Police department claiming that <br />he had a gun to his head. He was assaulted with a great deal of police force and bright <br />lights. The Police department later said that they knew who had made the call. The <br />day before, the police received another call that he was sitting in his yard waving a gun <br />around. Several police came up and parked in front of the house. The police <br />questioned him. The police told him that they had received three cell phone calls that <br />day regarding him. The police knew clearly that the calls were bogus. It would be totally <br />different if he was suicidal, which he isn't, to require that type of police force. He is very <br />upset and shocked. A local individual known as Big Ronnie had personally threatened <br />him with violence. When the police responded to his call for assistance, the police <br />asked him what he wanted them to do. They eventually issued a citation for a peace <br />disturbance on his insistence. He has had several conversations with the police <br />department about the prank calls and is still baffled about the need for the unnecessary <br />show of force at his home on August 27. He has been an active citizen for over 34 <br />years. He has never, in this time, witness the police pull a rifle or a gun on anyone. <br />There was no concern for his well-being, because he felt that there should have been a <br />hostage negotiator or a mental health expert with the police that evening. He felt that if <br />he would have sneezed or made any other sudden move, that he would probably be a <br />dead man considering all the guns that were aimed at his head. In his capacity as <br />President of the Roth Grove Neighborhood Association, he is waiting for an internal <br />investigation explaining the actions that occurred at his home the evening of August 27, <br />2002. The people of this neighborhood have launched a campaign to preserve their <br />safety, beautification and preservation. They are active in keeping their area drug free, <br />quiet and peaceful. The neighborhood will remain active in eliminating nuisance houses, <br />serious disregard for city ordinances, and drug houses, in spite of the fact that there has <br />been rock throwing, verbal abuse and intimidation tactics used against the neighbors. <br />Something went wrong that night and he feels it is critical that police processes and <br />procedures are analyzed. 6901 Bartmer is a nuisance house and Robert Jones, Jr. who <br />lives at this home has threatened him and intimidated him on numerous occasions. Mr. <br />Dockett was pulled over because Mr. Jones said that he was stalking him. This is the <br /> <br /> <br />