Sheriff’s Deputy was found to have issued an unlawful order in an arrest that sent a 20-year old girl to the hospital.
WICHITA, KS — Karen Myers was found not guilty in a jury trial today stemming from a violent arrest at the Kansas Coliseum in 2003 that sent her by ambulance to the hospital. Myers was charged with failure to obey a lawful order of a police officer during an anti-abortion protest at a Cher concert.
According to testimony, Myers was among a small group of protesters that were holding signs in the grassy public pedestrian right-of-way outside the Coliseum entrance on March 14, 2003, when they were approached by Sedgwick County Sheriff’s Deputies Elton Bowman and Edwin Simpson. It was determined in court that Myers and others were issued an unlawful order by Simpson to move back from the Coliseum driveway 100 feet. The group had engaged in First Amendment activity at that location previously without incident and questioned the validity of the order. According to witnesses, Simpson, without warning, grabbed Myers, a slender 20-year old, twisted her arms and slammed her to the ground. He then put his full weight on her back with his knee and cuffed her as she screamed in pain and begged him to stop hurting her.
The incident was photographed and those pictures were entered into evidence on Myers’ behalf. (More photos can be viewed in the next section.)
So severe were the injuries inflicted upon Myers by Deputy Simpson that she was rushed to the hospital via ambulance directly from the scene that evening.
Further sworn testimony stated that Simpson then threatened two others with “you’re next” if they did not leave the scene. That threat became reality for ORW President Troy Newman who arrived after the Myers arrest and began taking photos. Again, without warning, Newman was arrested, handcuffed, and made to sit in a ditch for over 45 minutes.
Charges against Newman were subsequently dropped. Newman was represented by Wichita defense attorney Jay Greeno.
Brian Fahling and Joe Murray of the American Family Association Center for Law and Policy represented Myers, with the assistance of Greeno.
“Justice was served today as an innocent young lady was vindicated from criminal charges for simply trying to exercise her First Amendment rights,” said Newman. “Our attorneys did a magnificent job defending not only Miss Myers, but the First Amendment as well. A Civil lawsuit against the Sedgwick County Sheriffs, especially Deputies Simpson and Bowman for their unprofessional and brutal treatment of peaceful citizens, is being seriously considered at this time.”
Congratulations to Karen’s defense team on winning the trial. Under normal circumstances I would reccomend against a civil suit against the police department. In this case, a civil suit is well-warrented and may prevent the same thing from happening again to someone else in the future.
What else is new? Pittsburgh, Los Angeles, West Hartford. Pro-lifers have been brutalized by police for decades just for exercising their first amendment right to free speech. And the media ignores it. I sat in jail for 21 days after being arrested in Buffalo’s Spring of Life and watched Rodney King dozens of times, over and over. The media skipped the video of King charging police to gain him total media sympathy. But when pro-lifers have bones broken, are picked up and physically thrown, etc. the media won’t give it a line on the back page. I definitely think this young woman should pursue a civil case. It’s the only way to stop brutality against pro-lifers by out-of-control cops.
Vote for George Bush 2 or three justices on the Supreme Court and Abortion is gone
Sherman
Congratulations on vindicating the First Amendment. It’s good to hear that the US Constitution is still alive out there in Kansas City.
As for Deputy Simpson, he is obviously a train wreck waiting to happen. His actions were totally off the wall – what is he playing storm trooper rodeo? How does a cop doing traffic end up face slamming a girl peacefully holding a sign? He is an embarrassment to all well trained police officers.
I dread to think what he might do if he were actually faced with an incident calling for real police action. For the sake of the citizens of Sedgwick County, he should immediately be reassigned to guard a desk in the basement file room. In many jurisdictions, Deputy Simpson would be arrested and charged with assault and civil rights violations.
If Sedgwick County officials were smart, they would offer Ms Myers a voluntary settlement with a promise to properly train their police offices about proper police practices and the rights guaranteed to citizens under the US Constitution. Ms Meyers clearly has the right to be compensated for all her medical costs and pain and suffering.
As for Deputy Bowman, from the pictures he appears to the junior guy. His involvement with the Meyers’ situation seemed limited.
As for the Newman detention, there seemed to be no real basis for handcuffing. It is also worth noting that it was irresponsible for Bowman to place a detainee in a ditch, at dusk, next to a busy road out of sight of drivers. The results of such inattention could have been terrible if a driver pulled off the road into the ditch. This error is compounded when it realized that instead of directing traffic, the cops have instead created a rubberneck circus by playing Rambo on the Rampage by the side of the road. Sedgwick County better really improve its police training program – very sub par performance.
A big thank you to Jay Greeno and the other attorneys for successfully defending the First Amendment rights of Ms. Myers. I agree with Mark Gietzen that, under normal circumstances, a civil suit may be fruitless, however in this instance, I strongly urge Ms. Myers to pursue the matter.
Good job by the courts vindicating this young woman of any wrong doing. If I were her, a lawsuit against the city, the county, the Sherrif’s department and officer Simpson (personally) would be quickly filed.
With photgraphic evidnce, such as seen here, and witness testamonies that vindicated her, it’s clear that this police officer is a “wannabe”.
What kind of a man has to forcefully drop a woman easily half his size and then torture her? He must have a real inferiority complex and has to rough up women to make himself feel better.
You guys should start a massive letter writing campaign in the area to get this officer fired. Better he ends up working at Mc Donalds and losing his police officer’s pension than being out on the street where his a danger to himself and others. What a loser!
Thank God for Miss Myers; she is a blessing to all of us for standing up for the weak and innocent. The photographer also has my compliments — good evidence. I hope ORW will file a sizeable civil lawsuit against the Sedgwick County Sheriffs/abortion industry thugs.
We shouldn’t allow some dregs of society posing as officials who help people to use their position to inflict violence and brutality on the weak and the innocent (I’m talking about the abortion industry in general).
The pics don’t lie.
I know Karen Myers as I have visited my daughter Linda Harris in Kansas for 10 years. Karen is a lovely, godly young girl who is an inspiration to all. Karen should never have been exposed to such violent behavior on the part of the officer who caused her physical harm.
I admire Karen for her beliefs as I too am against abortion where so many babies are killed.
I shudder to think how far this country has gone from supposedly grown up adults murdering babies to burly police officers beating up small women or girls right out in public just for doing their God given and Constitutionaly protected duty yet women like Cher can go out on stage naked in front of 1000′s and get by with it.
Let me get this straight,
an abortion mill doctor who crushes a childs head with a forceps and then rips the dead body out of a womans womb is routinely embraced and celebrated as a hero by the liberal media, gnashing teeth feminists, Democrats and the Sedgwick County Sheriffs Department;
yet, an innocent, Pro-Life woman can be thrown to the ground, tortured, brutalized and unlawfully arrested by the POLICE for LAWFULLY and PEACEFULLY protesting the barbaric deaths of American children? Where is the outrage by the Media? Where is the outrage by the left wing civil rights “leaders”? There is no outrage on their part because they are collectively a group of “frauds”. They are not interested in civil rights for all Americans, they are only interested in advancing their own pagan, liberal agenda. My hunch is that if they had witnessed the attack on Miss Myers, they would have cheered on the Police Officer while he brutalized the innocent Pro-Lifer. Somehow, Pro-Lifers and Christians have become second class, throw away citizens. How did this happen?
The Police Officer (thug) should be immediately arrested and charged in Federal Court for violating the civil rights of Miss Myers.
Let’s re-elect Bush and DEMAND that he appoint Pro Life Justices to the Supreme Court. We need Justices who think like Scalia, not Ginsburg.
I have never met Karen but her and her story are an inspiration to all youth involved in the fight against abortion and the entertainers (like Cher) who advocate for the continued destruction of our generation. May Karen’s boldness continue to inspire others.
Well it is only standard that the president has set a standard for free speach zones in this country. If you are not in it then you will be removed with force. Get used to it.
Related News -
Pro-Life Women Forcibly Dragged From John Kerry Abortion Rally
Washington, DC (LifeNews.com; April 27, 2004) — Five pro-life college students were forcibly removed from a pro-abortion rally held by presumptive Democratic presidential nominee John Kerry on Friday. The students were literally dragged off after they began leading a pro-life chant and one woman suffered injuries to her feet as a result. Suanne Edmiston, a sophomore at George Washington University, was one of the pro-life students who attended. Several aborton advocates told the students they had to leave. Edmiston said the students told
them they would leave, but wanted a uniformed official to explain why they had to leave a public event and one for which they had obtained tickets from the Kerry campaign. After seeing the students wouldn’t leave, the NARAL women told each other to link arms and began to surround the pro-life students. The NARAL women eventually enveloped three of the students, including Suanne, in a circle and began dragging them away. The abortion advocates dragged Suanne over a rough gravel surface that caused her foot to bleed so much that Edmiston required medical attention afterwards.
http://www.lifenews.com/nat483.html
Congratulations to Ms. Myers and Mr. Newman, Truly they are Saints and Warriors. We have seen all too many times the complete injustice by our legal system towards prolifers. Call it luck if you wish, but Jesus was with them. My advice, don’t settle with the city, that is the first thing they will want to do to make it all go away, take it all the way, get damages and a restraining order against the police. -yes, thats right a Restraining Order against the Police. They need to stay x amount of feet away from Ms. Myers. USE the law against them, if you are fortunate you will get a judge with a conscience who will do the right thing here.
This is a well-deserved victory for all prolifers who speak up in this Culture of Death. The tide is turning in this country and this brutal behavior on behalf of the police is no longer going to be tolerated.
Praise be the name of Jesus, our King. Our protector, our rock who sends his mighty angels to aid us in our troubles.
Karen, have heart and be encouraged that God is always on our side despite trials and tribulations. Thank you for standing up for life and I hope and pray that this incident will not discourage you from proclaiming the truth in the future.
SHE IS NOT 20, AND SHE IS NOT SLENDER. SHE IS BUILT LIKE PEASANT BREEDING STOCK. WHY CAN’T ORW EVER TELL THE TRUTH–EVEN ABOUT A WOMAN’S AGE?
Sara, Karen was 20 at the time of the incident. As for your other comments, how rude! When all else fails, resort to personal insults? I guess you have just shown us all your lack of personal integrity and character.
Sara, I should delete your vile post, however, I think it’s telling of you and those on your side. I pray you’ll rethink your hate – choose to turn toward the love that is available to you through repentance and forgivness in Christ Jesus. May God have mercy on you.
To all concerned reagarding Sara’s post…
“By their fruits you will know them”
what difference does it make if the age was off or she wasn’t that small??????? she was wronged and hurt and in the right. I guess Jesus will have mercy
Cha-ching! I hope the police pay BIG time!
I just want to say “Thank you” to each and every one of you who’ve prayed for me through this whole ordeal. Besides the mental terror, emotional distress, and excruciating pain that wreaked havoc on my body during Deputy Simpson’s assault, I’ve since battled with nightmares about the incident and experience panic attacks when I see a sheriff’s officer. Additionally, the financial drain of procuring medical treatment for the nerve, muscle, and tendon injuries to my neck, back, arms, and shoulders – not to mention the sleepless nights of pain and the manifold household or work-related activities in which I can no longer engage – have really tested my faith through the last 1.5 years. But because of your prayers for the Lord to uphold me, I have endured these afflictions with the sustaining knowledge that they work “a far more exceeding weight of glory.” I believe that my just and right acquittal may be the first glimpse of that glory – and may all the glory go to CHRIST ALONE!
Excuse me, “Breeding stock”??? Not that there’s anything wrong with real reproductive freedom and the BREEDING that normally & naturally results from its proper exercise (as per Psalm 78:63, Psalm 127:3-5,etc.), but it is obvious that Sara shares that scornful,cruel,snobbish,elitist attitude that is the sine qua non of eugenics/population control freaks that makes them think that everyone else is their property, like livestock. For the real scoop on that bunch, see all.org, eugenics-watch.com, and follow any links they have on that.
Another good online read on that topic is “Eugenics and other Evils” by G.K. Chesterton.
I’ve got a strong hunch that Sarah would, if asked, consider herself an arch-feminist; but nothing could be further from the truth. Elizabeth Cady Stanton, one of the founding feminists, sharply observed, “When we consider that women are treated as property, it is degrading to women that we should treat our children like property, to be discarded as we see fit.”
How dare Sarah treat another woman, esp., like her property with that kind of remark? Jealousy, perhaps?
My husband just walked in and read this, and confesses himself at a loss to understand just how “being built like breeding stock” really comes out to an insult, though he has no doubt that Sarah certainly intended it as one. Most “stock” of kind that actually do end up participating in the propagation of their kind generally get involved in that activity because someone else of their kind thought their build was “not bad, not bad at all…” …
Well, later, y’all!
Pat McNutt
Hi, everybody!
Way to go, Murray, Fahling & friends!!! You guys are truly the resistance front against Nazi (whatsleftof) America.
Blessings on you, Karen Myers for your compassion and courage; May God bind up all your wounds, and soon.
As for this egregious abuse of power on the part of the sheriffs involved, yes, I agree that they, and their bullying coward counterparts in the abortion industry, should at the very least get themselves some serious biblical counseling, especially along the lines of anger/hostility management in addition to getting comparatively honest work in professions for which they are mentally and emotionally qualified.
Did you know that the very first sheriffs were organized and trained, in England, for the express purpose of protecting their communities against occult crimes, esp. human sacrifice?
It is also my understanding that, while some in the seeker-friendly American “church” may think the comparison of legalized induced abortion with child sacrifice to Molech “something of a stretch”, Satanists and many occultists involved in the industry do not: they consider every aborted child a sacrifice to Satan.
As grievously as Karen’s brownshirted, wannabe assailants have dishonored & perverted their originally honorable profession in general and their oath “to protect and serve the innocent” in particular, there may be more to their despicable act of bullying violence than meets even the sharp eye of the camera.
In front of the Alabama childkilling chamber which was bombed in January,1998 has been planted a small magnolia tree in honor of a police officer who did off-duty “security watch” there, and was killed in the bombing.
That man is probably burning in hell as i write this, as i don’t think he had much opportunity to repent of his participation in the slaughter of innocents, and in “serving” as a prop for the lie that he was giving some sort of real protection to women in distress when he was, in fact, luring them, and with them their innocent children, directly into harm’s way.
But several years ago, two young fathers, overwhelmed with guilt and grief over the loss of their unborn children to induced abortion, committed suicide. One was a college student, the other a police officer in his early 30′s with several other small children. One wonders where the magnolia is for THAT fallen officer…
On the other hand, the way many post-abortive men cope with their angst is through intense outbursts of anger(hence the dramatic rise in domestic violence as well as child abuse since 1-22-73); and what would then be more predictable that for such a man to take that anger out on an anti-abortion protester who is, after all, trying to protect the unborn, something he instinctively knows he should do, but somehow failed to do when it came to his own?
One prolife woman I know had a police officer (off duty)swerve his car at her, as though he was going to hit her, for holding up a photo of an aborted child to him as he was leaving a Planned Parenthood deathcamp after dropping off his partner there. . .
I’m not sure that I agree that another Bush victory will do as much for the unborn as some think, seeing how he has had 4 years to sign an executive order banning abortion (it is, after all, a domestic enemy of the U.S. and the Constitution thereof)and has not done so.
Did you hear in his acceptance speech at the RNC how he enthusiastically touted the “No child left behind” educational bill drafted by none other than arch-liberal Ted Kennedy and aimed at ensuring that every school-aged child in America is thoroughly indoctrinated in the secularist propaganda that is now forced on them via the public school system, then turned around and castigated Kennedy’s protege & ideological clone, John Kerry, for both claiming, and failing, to be “candidate of conservative values”?
And, i’m at a loss at how erasing America borders and outsourcing America’s jobs overseas, as the FTAA, which W. supports, intends will do much to build our economy or ensure freedom, esp. from terrorists…
Just my take on all this;
Hang in there, everybody!
slainte,
Lime 5
Can’t wait till all the first-line abortion protesters, the unborn, are vindicated, can you?
If anyone reading this doesn’t think of the unborn as anti-abortion protesters, watch “The Silent Scream” (you can do this online)and THINK AGAIN.
Baby Roedoe
Unbelievable. ORW, do keep these very poignant photos posted, will you?
The second tableau, especially, is such a striking illustration of a very simple and profound truth shared with me by a Savannah street preacher on a recent visit to that city.
I mentioned what a horde of predators have been sicked on the U.S. by judicial activism, esp. via Roe v. Wade, Doe v. Bolton, and Lawrence v. Texas; and he said
“It’s really very simple…
The further a person advances into the kingdom of darkness, the less there is that (s)he will not do TO others, given the chance; conversely, the further one follows the kingdom of light, the less there is, (within reason!) that (s)he will not do FOR others, given the chance.”
This calls to mind a better known remark by Someone Else Who said, LET YOUR LIGHT SO SHINE BEFORE MEN, THAT THEY MAY SEE YOUR GOOD WORKS AND GLORIFY YOUR FATHER WHO IS IN HEAVEN.
And again, “For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light: (For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth;) Proving what is acceptable unto the Lord. And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them. For it is a shame even to speak of those things which are done of them in secret. But all things that are reproved are made manifest by the light: for whatsoever doth make manifest is light. Wherefore he saith, Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light.” — Ephesians 5:8-14
THERE IS A WAY OUT OF DARKNESS, AND A WAY FURTHER INTO IT.
In view of Lime 5′s suggestion that Karen’s attacker(s) may have been venting a male form of PostAbortionStressDisorder — as likely as not — There are basically two ways of dealing with any sin: one is to confess and forsake it: this leads out of darkness into light: the other is to try to deny or justify it: This leads further into darkness. This is why THOSE WHO COVER THEIR SINS WILL NOT PROSPER, BUT THOSE WHO CONFESS AND FORSAKE THEM WILL FIND MERCY.
And, I don’t think that L5′s reference to the attorney’s defending ORW in this as “the front line of resistance to Nazi America” is hyperbole. Just the thought of Troy being handcuffed and deposited in a ditch–or knocked into a ditch then handcuffed, whichever–bears a “too close for comfort” resemblance to Jews being placed in similar positions some 60 years ago, just before being shot by brownshirts in Eastern Europe.
SUPPORT YOUR LOCAL POLICE WHEN THEY DO RIGHT, AND FOR CHRIST’S SAKE, KEEP THEM INDEPENDENT!
peace & love,
gaelyn k mcnutt
p.s. and may the preborn win this election!
lime 5
appreciate your posts, and obvious knowledge on the sanctity of life issue….however, let’s keep our remarks on subject…
doubting the sincerity of president bush on this or any other issue is hardly helpful….abortion is a 31 year old octopus with its evil tentacles intertwined with the medical community, the church, government, etc… and it will take more than one man to slay it. congresswomen marilyn musgrave has a bill that would restore protection to the unborn through, of all things, roe v wade. in roe, it states “it is not necessary for us to determine the difficult question of when life begins” and then “if this question of personhood is established, then the plaintiff’s case collapses….”. this means that since we can now biologically prove that the unborn is a member of the human family in every way, it remains only for we the people to elect legislators who will address this. from another angle, president bush has tried to get conservative judges confirmed, but we all know that the libs can’t have that – their only hope is an activist judiciary. but daschle is on thin ice in south dakota, and he’s one of the main obstructionists. an executive order could be overturned by the congress, and likely would be as things stand right now. we must remain vigilant, and persistent, and vote out people like kerry, edwards, kennedy and also the RINOs who keep selling us out.
you neglected to note that president bush mentioned in his speech that the unborn deserve life. i admire this president, and the next four years with anyone else at the helm is……well, unthinkable.
hi, Jerry!
Actually, several posts before mine mentioned the upcoming election (or i’d probably not have mentioned it) but without drawing any corrective response from you!
yes, I heard W. say “since we are a caring/ compassionate people, we must make a place for the unborn” and found it heartening that this remark drew longer & louder applause than anything else he said. (I am assuming that the “place” he is referring to is not an incinerator, garbage disposal, dumpster, cosmetics factory, stem cell research lab, or other “place” assigned to those of the PNG status accorded them for the last 31 years. I think his audience assumed that.)
I expect he’ll win this one and while I can’t agree with anything I’ve heard Kerry say so far (I am particularly appalled at Kerry’s statements that he “has always believed that human life begins at conception”, and STILL opposes a Roe reversal. Someone who opposes that on the grounds that human life begins at some later time can at least be disproven, and repent; but Kerry is thus admitting to supporting legalized murder of the innocent) I wouldn’t go so far as to suggest that “ANYONE else” at the helm of U.S. Government would be a disaster…Kerry, Hilary, Daschle, et al, yes; but there are others interested and, i expect, at least as qualified as W. the President.
Anyway, I’ve written to W. expressing some of my reservations/concerns; will see if it gets answered, or if those concerns prove to be baseless if he is reelected.
L5
lime 5
i only found one post that mentions our president, and it advocates his reelection, so that supreme court justices will be named during his term who are hopefully prolife.
regarding my comment about the unthinkable, if bush is not reelected, i think it’s safe to say that while peroutka might make a good president someday, he can’t possibly win this year. and so we’re talking about two men, bush vs. kerry. and that was the context of my remark. but even if you substitute any of the other democrats who ran in the primaries, the essence of what i am saying still holds true. they were all heavily proabortion. abortion notwithstanding, imagine a gore presidency on sept 12th 2001, and you’ll see what i mean….
i don’t understand what appears to be your somewhat cynical or even sarcastic remark about ‘assuming’ that the place bush referred to is not a garbage dump, etc…. clearly, we know that bush meant that since the unborn are not considered persons under the law, that they ought to be… i agree that more needs to be done on this all important issue of protecting the unborn, but bush has done his level best to get constitutional judges appointed – democrats fight that tooth and nail because that’s the only way they get their agenda implemented – through liberal judges.
i don’t think it’s realistic to expect one man to turn 31 years of evil around with a stroke of the pen. would that it were that easy….
appreciate your thoughtful and insightful posts on this issue – you clearly have a grasp of the facts and have much to bring to the table. keep it up….God bless you.
Let me say Karen you are a WOMAN. Thank you for standing up.
Lets take word conception. The live sprem joins with the live egg to make one. In order for life there must be an action and a reaction. We started moving inside of our mothers at the time of conception, therefore we started our life’s journey.
For Cher she is half Native American and she should go set by the fires of ancestors and and let them tell her of the holocaust that our people went through. I give thanks every day to my ancestors for having many children, because I would not be here if they didn’t. They did not aborted thier children, because that would have dishonored thier mother and father’s blood.
I have sat down and done the math on the projected 3 million babies that were born 2005. Through the current rate of abortion, infant death, same sex unions, and less children born via scar tissue in the women’s uterus the year 2185 there will only be 4 that will carry the blood lines of those 3 million.
My blood line ended March 2005, because my daughter had her seven month baby Partial Birth Aborted. She has had two other abortions, which I only knew of the second one and discovered the first baby at the same time I was grieving the third. It is a terrible feeling to know that your blood line has ended, especially when you are still alive to witness it.
If The Creator came down and ask me to sacrifice my live to make those 50 million aborted babies live again, without hesitation I would proudly give my life, because I am the walking dead any way.