Skylar Nalls Goes Public With Choking Officer's Actions

The truth about what happened on Go Skate Day
by Skylar Nalls

August 30, 2007 - Thursday

I am guilty of fleeing from a tyrannical, fascistic, oppressive officer of the Hot Springs Police Department. I say these words against officer Joey Williams because, like the dictator of a fascist government, he uses brute force to control and instill fear into citizens who habitually become his victims, which, generally, is not the policy in the democratic society of the United States. I say "generally" because I do see force as a necessity in certain circumstances, such as life-threatening situations involving weapons in the hands of violent and dangerous criminals. However, a group of skateboarders breaking a city ordnance by illegally but peacefully skateboarding in single-file along the sidewalk hardly fits the frame of a life-threatening circumstance and certainly does not constitute the use of force and unquestionably not the uncalled-for violence of choking.

Joey's new and unconventional but city-accepted policy of violence against ordinance-breakers, heinous though it may sound to those with morals, is a highly effective one. I, myself did not step onto my skateboard for a great deal of time after Joey's fit of rage and have yet to visit the beautiful downtown area of Hot Springs that I called my home for seven years. The mere sight of a skateboard or police vehicle nauseated me for weeks me as they were both constant triggers of a flashback in my mind of Joey rushing past me to tackle my young friend unknowingly from behind to the ground, the sweat rolling down his face as he proceeded to wrap his fingers around his throat and squeeze, the gargling sounds that were managing to escape the mouth of his purple face as one of his arms was struggling limply at William's arm pit then, hopelessly submitting to torture, falling lifeless at his side, of bewildered bystanders approaching to hear the lies of Joey that were justifying his actions, "I told you to stop, and you told everyone to keep going", of myself starting to walk off to find the rest of the group proclaiming to the bystanders as I go that I had just taken a photo of the child being choked, of officer Williams speaking to me for the first time saying," Hey you! Come here!", and the horror that consumed my shaking body and confounded mind in turning around to see the eyes of a sadist with authority glaring back into mine and, not even consciously deciding to run, running instinctually and feeling as though my life depended upon my running. I remember everything quite vividly still and have since acquired a new anxiety of police in general and would never dream of being anywhere downtown with a skateboard or otherwise. His new tactics have worked brilliantly.

Officer Williams has made a huge breakthrough in the field of law-enforcement. Just imagine; you are on the way to the park speeding but not dangerously when you see blue lights behind you, realizing you are about to be given a citation you pull over. The officer opens your car door drags you out onto the ground and begins to choke you until you no longer have strength enough to struggle. He then handcuffs you and drives you to the PD all the while using terrible profanities to you about your speeding, but you remain silent, not daring to speak. Upon your arrival, you are processed and put into a holding cell. After an hour in the tank the door finally opens and you jump at the chance to request a phone call, but your request is denied and the windowless, metal door is slammed in your face. Another two hours later you are allowed the phone call and leave the Police Department not only cited for speeding but also charged with resisting arrest, fleeing, and disorderly conduct. You are without any hope until you arrive home and realize that your friend had pulled over behind you and filmed what had happened without the officer's knowledge. Surely hard evidence like video footage would get you off your false charges, but you are ignorant of the corruption of the justice system. When you arrive in court your clearly unedited video is accused of and written off as being edited, and if that was not unjust enough, they provide witnesses who were not even present at the scene to testify against you and for the lies on your police report and whose stories conflict with each others and with the infallible evidence of your video. You are charged with everything and the officer with nothing. When you go out in public, people who recognize you curse you or otherwise give you disgusted looks for the false charges they heard you were convicted of on the news. These unconstitutional, Nazi tactics prove very effective because you never speed again. This new breakthrough of joeys is simply fool-proof and is sure to eliminate the dangerous criminals who change lanes in an intersection, speed, ect.. Think of all the trees that will be saved from officers beating up traffic and ordinance violators instead of using the outdated tradition of citation slips, very economical and effective Joey. Nice work.

I made a deal with the court: I change my plea of not guilty to guilty and after six months the charges will be sealed from my record. This is what my lawyer advised me to do so I did, and I have regretted it every day since. I regret not sticking with my defense until the end, sticking with the truth. I paid a fine of $370 dollars and I have 30 days of community service to do before February while at the same time being a full time student at Henderson and trying to make enough money to pay rent and bills. Thanks Hot Springs justice system. You sure taught me a lesson; the justice system works not to ensure that truth and justice prevail, but to make the decisions in favor of the interests of those whose vote puts the gavel into his or her hand and also make the city's image look the best.


(***Skylar Nalls is currently a student majoring in History with a minor in photography at Henderson State University in Arkadelphia, Arkansas. His recent actions have not only been in the photographing of Officer Joey Williams choking Jarrod Graham, but include a protest on the reinstatement of Officer Joey Williams back on the police force; a candle light vigil to denounce police brutality; and a historical walk on foot with skateboarders to the Little Rock Capitol from down town Hot Springs, Arkansas.

The link to this blog can be viewed at blog.myspace.com/index.cfm )



Afterword by Jason C. Waite
About This "Hot Springs 6" Incidence:

Skylar Nalls who witnessed Officer Joey Williams of the Hot Springs Police Department choke his friend, wrote this poignant and heartfelt blog about the "Hot Springs 6" incident of June 21st, 2007 in down town Hot Springs tourist area of Hot Spring, Arkansas.

For those of you who don't know, Officer Joey Williams of the Hot Springs Police department was caught red handed on video tape, and with a camera choking 13 year old- Jarrod Graham. Note the picture attached to this email.

Previously there has been a strong public disinformation campaign to silence the "Hot Springs 6" youths, but is now steadily fading due to the proof of the video and the resistance of those to speak out about the truth.

Jarrod Graham along with several other youths were illegally skateboarding on June 21st 2007 in down town Hot Springs, Arkansas. Jarrod Graham that day received a choking and arrest instead of a ticket, as the local city ordinance states is the fair and just punishment for such a violation. Many of the other of the "Hot Springs 6" youths were chased, headlocked, harrased, and arrested.

No concrete evidence proves Officer Joey Williams of the Hot Springs Police Department said "Stop". Officer Williams alleged he said stop after he choked Jarrod Graham, but no solid concrete evidence exists like the video that he made such a statement.

Many of us are wondering:

What does Officer Joey Williams and the Hot Springs Police Department have to hide? Do they have something to hide?


Here's a link to the videos of Officer Joey Williams choking, chasing, and harassing via the record 2,000,000+ viewed youtube video that was posted a few days after the incident. PARENTAL ADVISORY as the scenes are graphic in nature:

www.youtube.com/watch


Here's a link to the petition to re-investigate Officer Joey Williams and to hold his violent and despotic actions accountable. Please sign:).

www.petitiononline.com/hspd123/petition.html


(***Jason C. Waite currently resides in Texas and has started a nonprofit by the name of United Aid due to his experience with this issue. He has been a consistent and avid protector of the "Hot Springs 6" civil rights and currently works to expose the truths of this issue. His recent actions have not only been in the founding of United Aid, but include a protest on the reinstatement of Officer Joey Williams back on the police force; a candle light vigil to denounce police brutality; a historical walk on foot with skateboarders to the Little Rock Capitol from down town Hot Springs, Arkansas; a myspace page www.myspace.com/unitedaid ; and several articles written about the "Hot Springs 6" and officer Joey Williams incedent.)
 

Related

• http://blog.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=blog.view&friendID=95676749&blogID=305207405
  
• http://www.petitiononline.com/hspd123/petition.html