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Family of Sean Smith-Arlt Interrogated for Hours after his Death, According to Family Friend
The family of Sean Smith-Arlt was interrogated in the District Attorney's office for 5 1/2 hours on the morning of Sean's killing by Santa Cruz police. The interrogation took place only two hours after they were first informed of Sean's death on October 16, according to family friend Don Payne. Payne spoke at a community forum organized by the Social Justice Alliance of Santa Cruz (SJA) at Peace United Church on November 1 to address Sean's killing. Payne said he was speaking in the "spirit of transparency" and that he meant no disrespect with his statements. He said that the sharing of information in the case was, "an opportunity to come together in the spirit of finding a solution." Sean was suffering from mental health issues at the time he was shot and killed by Santa Cruz police, who say they deemed him a threat when he advanced towards four officers with a garden rake in his hands outside of a home on the west side. [Photo: Outside of the SJA forum, community members hold protest signs behind Police Chief Kevin Vogel as he is interviewed by KION. Scroll down for more photos.]
About 75 to 100 people attended the Social Justice Alliance event, which was essentially organized as an open mic for community members to express their views. Santa Cruz Chief of Police Kevin Vogel was in attendance, as was Deputy Chief Rick Martinez. Both spoke briefly at the end of the forum.
Smith-Arlt family friend Don Payne spoke shortly before the police chiefs did.
Payne said he had known Sean since he was 2 years old.
He said that for many years Sean had no mental illness, but that, "somewhere along the line, something happened."
"I don't know what," he said.
"I saw Sean through college," Payne said, speaking about Sean's degree in Psychology. "He was a very bright young man."
Like many others in the community, Payne discussed how he hasn't been able to understand why the four officers involved in Sean's killing couldn't handle a situation with a person carrying a garden rake differently.
"What occurred on October 16, from my perspective, is very very hard to understand," Payne said.
"I was called to the Arlt's house at 6:30 in the morning," he continued.
"I say all of this in the spirit of transparency," Payne said, "because the chief has indicated that's his will as well."
"The community has expressed a desire for that," he added.
"I spent five and a half hours or more in the DA's office on the morning of October 16th while Sean's parents were both interrogated, essentially," he said, "two hours after they were told that Sean had died."
Payne said an officer of "substantial background in the police department" explained to him why Sean's parents were being questioned.
"I was told in no uncertain terms the truth had to be obtained in this case, and that's why they were being questioned right then, two hours after they were informed of his death."
Without speaking for Sean's parents, Payne attempted to describe how difficult the situation was for them.
Since his killing, Sean's family has not communicated to the media, except to release a written statement on October 18.
"The information that has been released so far is not telling the whole story. We are hopeful that with a more independent investigation, the entire truth will come out and justice will be done," the Smith-Arlt family stated.
"We understand there are many challenges for law enforcement officers who respond to 911 calls. It is clear more training and resources are needed for responding to a mental health crisis situation," the statement read. "On October 16th the police were well aware that Sean was struggling with mental health issues."
At the SJA forum, Payne expressed concerns about the police department's hiring practices, and the issue of hiring police officers who have previously served in the military.
He said he was told by police that the officer who shot and killed Sean had a military background.
"She told me point blank that the person who shot Sean was one of our best new recruits, well trained in the military," Payne said.
"I'm not a military person. My father died in World War II and I was exempt from the military, and I do not know what military training is, but I have to assume that it is training to kill the aggressor and not to keep the peace," he said.
"I would suggest that the police department carefully look at its hiring practices because it is very difficult from my perspective to overcome the initial training that is 'shoot first' rather than keep the peace," he added.
"I hope I have not offended," Payne said. "I am hopeful that transparency in all matters in this particular case will evolve, I think it will help the community."
A wide range of community members spoke at the forum, including political activists, and several public official were present. Sheriff Jim Hart and Chief Deputy Craig Wilson of the Santa Cruz County Sheriff's Office sat in on the event to listen. Santa Cruz City Council Member Micah Posner spoke, as did two candidates for council seats in this year's election, Sandy Brown and Steve Schnaar. Candidate Chris Krohn was also present.
Activist Abbi Samuels spoke, after earlier handing out protest signs with pre-printed messages such as "Release the Names Now" and "Release the Videotape Now." Despite pleas from the public, police have refused to release the video and audio evidence they say they have of Sean's killing, and they have also refused to release the names of the four officers involved.
Reverend Dave Grishaw-Jones of Peace United Church, Brenda Griffin, Vice-Chair of the Santa Cruz Chapter of the NAACP, and Darrell Darling all helped host and facilitate the event.
The Social Justice Alliance is a recently formed coalition of organizations that includes the NAACP of Santa Cruz County, ACLU Santa Cruz County, Barrios Unidos, Resource Center for Nonviolence, the Santa Cruz County Community Coalition to Overcome Racism (SCCCCOR) and SURJ (Showing Up for Racial Justice), including representatives from the Santa Cruz County Youth Violence Prevention Task Force.
To read the full statement from the Smith-Arlt family, see:
Family of Sean Smith-Arlt Releases Statement, Following his Killing by Santa Cruz Police
https://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2016/10/19/18792448.php
To view a video of Don Payne speaking to the Santa Cruz City Council on October 25, see:
https://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2016/11/04/18793098.php#18793100
Alex Darocy
http://alexdarocy.blogspot.com/
Smith-Arlt family friend Don Payne spoke shortly before the police chiefs did.
Payne said he had known Sean since he was 2 years old.
He said that for many years Sean had no mental illness, but that, "somewhere along the line, something happened."
"I don't know what," he said.
"I saw Sean through college," Payne said, speaking about Sean's degree in Psychology. "He was a very bright young man."
Like many others in the community, Payne discussed how he hasn't been able to understand why the four officers involved in Sean's killing couldn't handle a situation with a person carrying a garden rake differently.
"What occurred on October 16, from my perspective, is very very hard to understand," Payne said.
"I was called to the Arlt's house at 6:30 in the morning," he continued.
"I say all of this in the spirit of transparency," Payne said, "because the chief has indicated that's his will as well."
"The community has expressed a desire for that," he added.
"I spent five and a half hours or more in the DA's office on the morning of October 16th while Sean's parents were both interrogated, essentially," he said, "two hours after they were told that Sean had died."
Payne said an officer of "substantial background in the police department" explained to him why Sean's parents were being questioned.
"I was told in no uncertain terms the truth had to be obtained in this case, and that's why they were being questioned right then, two hours after they were informed of his death."
Without speaking for Sean's parents, Payne attempted to describe how difficult the situation was for them.
Since his killing, Sean's family has not communicated to the media, except to release a written statement on October 18.
"The information that has been released so far is not telling the whole story. We are hopeful that with a more independent investigation, the entire truth will come out and justice will be done," the Smith-Arlt family stated.
"We understand there are many challenges for law enforcement officers who respond to 911 calls. It is clear more training and resources are needed for responding to a mental health crisis situation," the statement read. "On October 16th the police were well aware that Sean was struggling with mental health issues."
At the SJA forum, Payne expressed concerns about the police department's hiring practices, and the issue of hiring police officers who have previously served in the military.
He said he was told by police that the officer who shot and killed Sean had a military background.
"She told me point blank that the person who shot Sean was one of our best new recruits, well trained in the military," Payne said.
"I'm not a military person. My father died in World War II and I was exempt from the military, and I do not know what military training is, but I have to assume that it is training to kill the aggressor and not to keep the peace," he said.
"I would suggest that the police department carefully look at its hiring practices because it is very difficult from my perspective to overcome the initial training that is 'shoot first' rather than keep the peace," he added.
"I hope I have not offended," Payne said. "I am hopeful that transparency in all matters in this particular case will evolve, I think it will help the community."
A wide range of community members spoke at the forum, including political activists, and several public official were present. Sheriff Jim Hart and Chief Deputy Craig Wilson of the Santa Cruz County Sheriff's Office sat in on the event to listen. Santa Cruz City Council Member Micah Posner spoke, as did two candidates for council seats in this year's election, Sandy Brown and Steve Schnaar. Candidate Chris Krohn was also present.
Activist Abbi Samuels spoke, after earlier handing out protest signs with pre-printed messages such as "Release the Names Now" and "Release the Videotape Now." Despite pleas from the public, police have refused to release the video and audio evidence they say they have of Sean's killing, and they have also refused to release the names of the four officers involved.
Reverend Dave Grishaw-Jones of Peace United Church, Brenda Griffin, Vice-Chair of the Santa Cruz Chapter of the NAACP, and Darrell Darling all helped host and facilitate the event.
The Social Justice Alliance is a recently formed coalition of organizations that includes the NAACP of Santa Cruz County, ACLU Santa Cruz County, Barrios Unidos, Resource Center for Nonviolence, the Santa Cruz County Community Coalition to Overcome Racism (SCCCCOR) and SURJ (Showing Up for Racial Justice), including representatives from the Santa Cruz County Youth Violence Prevention Task Force.
To read the full statement from the Smith-Arlt family, see:
Family of Sean Smith-Arlt Releases Statement, Following his Killing by Santa Cruz Police
https://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2016/10/19/18792448.php
To view a video of Don Payne speaking to the Santa Cruz City Council on October 25, see:
https://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2016/11/04/18793098.php#18793100
Alex Darocy
http://alexdarocy.blogspot.com/
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why was sean not rushed to the hospital in an ambulence and given cpr? why was there no ambulence?
For more information:
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Sean continued to fight the officers that tried to aid him before the Paramedics arrived.
There has never been any evidence released showing that Sean ever fought with officers. He didn't make contact with any of them, and he never got closer than about 10 feet to them in the 20 seconds time span of the incident that led up to them killing him.
It is true that the police press release from October 17 states the following:
"Mr. Arlt continued to fight with the officers as they attempted to render aid to him. The officers provided medical aid to Mr. Arlt until emergency medical crews arrived."
This police account, however, makes no sense as it is written.
It is true that the police press release from October 17 states the following:
"Mr. Arlt continued to fight with the officers as they attempted to render aid to him. The officers provided medical aid to Mr. Arlt until emergency medical crews arrived."
This police account, however, makes no sense as it is written.
To view all of the press releases, see:
http://cityofsantacruz.com/departments/police/press-releases
http://cityofsantacruz.com/departments/police/press-releases
I think the common meme about cops who've been in military service being somehow more brutal is needs some attention here. A US soldier who fought his way door to door in Sadr City Iraq or the hinterlands of Afghanistan IS NOT more likely to kill someone because of a stick. They'd LAUGH at a stick, and you know, they learned how to take one away from someone too.
However I do want to note that for every combat soldier there's dozens of support people in the military who never saw combat. THOSE PEOPLE could be a problem, and in my personal experience THOSE PEOPLE are the ones who've given me the most shit, the PATRIOT crap... over the years about my political beliefs and ANTIWAR position since childhood. I generally get along with the combat vets pretty well.
However I do want to note that for every combat soldier there's dozens of support people in the military who never saw combat. THOSE PEOPLE could be a problem, and in my personal experience THOSE PEOPLE are the ones who've given me the most shit, the PATRIOT crap... over the years about my political beliefs and ANTIWAR position since childhood. I generally get along with the combat vets pretty well.
"continued to fight with the officers as they attempted to render aid to him"
What the above means,if you take the case of Kelly Thomas who was literally beaten to death by three Fullerton cops a few years ago it was seen that they kept telling him to give them his hands so they could 'cuff' him, and when he did, they took it as a sign was struggling and tased, beat him some more.
What the above means,if you take the case of Kelly Thomas who was literally beaten to death by three Fullerton cops a few years ago it was seen that they kept telling him to give them his hands so they could 'cuff' him, and when he did, they took it as a sign was struggling and tased, beat him some more.
So if he DIDN'T fight the Cops, and they DIDN'T try to render aid, what DID happen?
Nevermind the FACT that you weren't there, and the video has not been shown to anyone.
Did the Cops sit around eating donuts while they waited for the Paramedics?
Nevermind the FACT that you weren't there, and the video has not been shown to anyone.
Did the Cops sit around eating donuts while they waited for the Paramedics?
I never said police didn't render aid. I don't know what they did.
There have been no reports of injuries to any of the police involved, or any physical contact being made with them, except for the report that they allegedly rendered aid to Sean.
My main point is that their press release doesn't make sense.
How could Sean have "continued" to fight with the police if he never fought with them in the first place?
He never made any physical contact with them during that 20 seconds they took to kill him, and he never got closer than ten feet, according to SCPD's own reports.
There have been no reports of injuries to any of the police involved, or any physical contact being made with them, except for the report that they allegedly rendered aid to Sean.
My main point is that their press release doesn't make sense.
How could Sean have "continued" to fight with the police if he never fought with them in the first place?
He never made any physical contact with them during that 20 seconds they took to kill him, and he never got closer than ten feet, according to SCPD's own reports.
Cops aren't going to show the video because it makes them look like the chickens shits they are for murdering a guy because they were afraid of a rake. Chicken shits.
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