Support a Family's Recovery from Police Brutality
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On July 11, 2024 I was pulled over for traffic violations (speeding and invalid plates). In the vehicle with me were my wife and 2 children, then 8 and 3. Traveling on rural highway 47 does not provide many safe places to pull over. Additionally, cars were on the side of highway 47 West due to the Lincoln County Fair. Once past the line of vehicles I turned on the next road, pulled over and turned the vehicle off: a total of 6/10ths of a mile.
With my window down and identification in one hand and papers in in the other, the office ordered me to exit the vehicle. I did as he said and attempted to hand him my documents. With no warning the officer grabbed my wrist and told me to turn around and handcuffed me. Twenty three seconds after first contact with the officer, I was tased the first time.
I was told to go to the ground. As my knee touched the ground I was tased a second time by another officer. Three seconds later, I was tased a third time...all of this within 30 seconds of initial contact with law enforcement. I was placed in an officers car, but not before being taken to the ground by an officer, for no apparent reason.
While this was happening, my wife was recording the incident on her phone through the drivers window. An officer continued telling her to stay in her seat, to which she replied "I am." The officer continued with his orders and finally came to the window and told her to sit in the passenger seat; she complied. In under 2 minutes the officer that had commanded my wife to sit in the passenger seat, came to the driver side door. He opened the door and with handcuffs in his hand, said "We're sick of you, you're under arrest." My wife responded to the officer and said "No sir, I'm on the phone with _____ (another officer in the dept). My wife slid to the backseat; the officer went around the vehicle and opened the driver side passenger door. He reached across my 8 yr. old, pressing against her stomach and chest with his vest and pinning her arm towards the seat. Once he handcuffed a wrist of my wife, he proceeded to pull on her arm, dragging her across my child; with no regard to any harm he was inflicting on my child.
This part...I don't know any other way to describe it except that the officer pulled the cuff that was on my wife's wrist and literally flung her out of the vehicle. Her feet did not touch the ground. She was flung out of the vehicle and her head hit the pavement. Her head. Stopped her fall. She went unconscious. The officer is telling her to put her arms behind her back; and she is.unconscious. He says it more than once before he realizes she isn't responding because she can't. He rolls her over and begins a sternum rub. After some seconds, she comes to. Two officers help her up and walk her to the police car. During the walk to the patrol car, officers make off-handed comments to my wife. To what end?
My children sat in the back seat, watching. Watching their Dad being badly hurt and not understanding any of what was happening. They watched their Mom being dragged out of the family car and go unconscious (what does that look like to a child, unconscious?).
They were confused, crying and scared.
My family and I have been traumatized. We all have PTSD. We are not okay. My wife suffered a concussion. Currently she can't drive; shouldn't drive. When I drive, she loses time, spaces out. It's probably not safe for her to drive. She sometimes does it at home. A trip to the ER confirmed a torn muscle in my back that has yet to heal. The wrong kind of movement results in stabbing pain. My lifting capacity has diminished somewhat. I feel it if I put too much strain on it. The kiddos...night terrors, bed wetting, waking to check on Mom and Dad to see if they're still here. The mental and emotional stress and anguish that July 11, 2024 has had on my family and I; I don't have words.
One kiddo is in trauma therapy. The rest of us are on a waiting list.
Needless to say, the above mentioned has resulted in not being able to work. And like everyone else, we have bills. Bills we can't pay at the moment. I honestly can't say when one of us will be able to go back to work. Our bills...the most needed are things like:
Car Loan
House Payment
Electric
Cell Phones
Internet (kiddos school stuff)
Fuel
I do side jobs at home as I can, back permitting. It's not enough to pay all of our bills. Wife and I don't know what else to do, asking for dollars wasn't on a list of things we wanted to do, but here we are. Any amount is helpful and will be greatly and humbly appreciated.
We have had tremendous support online since our videos have gone viral. That too, is so, so appreciated. We feel validated. Thank you!
I'm told you can do a Google search and type in Troy, MO PD and our story pops up. Our story was shared on KMOV and KSDK, in the St. Louis Post (front page) and the Lincoln County Journal (also front page). In addition, San Joaquin Valley Transparency has interviews and video as well. Facebook, TikTok, YouTube; all have something on our story. There will also be a protest on Oct. 25, 2024 at 12? 1? Time is not concrete yet. It will be held at the Justice Center in Troy, MO.
Again, thank you for your support in any way that you're giving it. For those that are able to provide monetary help...WE ARE GRATEFUL FOR YOU and THANK YOU SO INCREDIBLY MUCH!
I’ll provide case numbers and links below
24L6-CR00719 wife's court case
24L6-CR00720 Andrew's court case
please send help to hurricane victims!!!!!!!
Organizer
andrew mencin
Organizer
Troy, MO