Denver Post

Activist says cops harassed him
Incident at scene of arrest is cited
By Annette Espinoza
Denver Post Staff Writer

Wednesday, August 20, 2003 - Denver community activist Alvertis Simmons is accusing an Aurora police sergeant and several officers of harassment and racial profiling.

Simmons said he called Aurora Mayor Paul Tauer last week to complain about a crack house near East 14th Avenue and Peoria Street.

Simmons said he watched several Aurora police cars pull up to a house on Monday and went to see what was going on.

The handcuffed suspect recognized Simmons and called his name.

Simmons said he said to the suspect, "Well, well, well," and before he knew what was happening, a police sergeant and four other officers put their hands on their guns, then forced him to sit on a curb. They ordered him to "shut up," then verbally harassed him, he said. Simmons said he was detained for nearly 15 minutes.

"I felt humiliated," Simmons said. "I felt like I was in 1929 Mississippi."

Simmons said the sergeant told him, "You're gutless, you're spineless and all you do is run to the media."

Simmons, a community activist who helped organize local men for the Million Man March, has been an advocate for the families of police shooting victims. He rallied behind the families of Paul Childs, 15, who was killed by a Denver police officer July 5, and Denise Washington, who was shot and killed by an Aurora police officer in early August.

Since the deaths of the two young African-Americans, Simmons has organized community meetings that have addressed racial profiling and the use of deadly force by police.

Aurora police spokeswoman Kathleen Walsh declined to release the names of the officers involved in the incident because of the investigation.

"We are conducting an investigation and have no further comment," Walsh said.

The Rev. Paul Martin of Macedonia Baptist Church joined the activist Monday.

"I've been concerned that this thing will get out of hand," Martin said. "This is an indication of racial profiling."

Martin said he has received 50 complaints about police from black, white and Hispanic residents after the Childs shooting. "This bothers me," Martin said.

Simmons said he has contacted an attorney and is considering filing a lawsuit against the police.

"I won't let them treat me like a dog again," Simmons said.

A community meeting called by Simmons and other community leaders to address racial profiling and police issues will be held at 7 p.m. Thursday at Cleo Parker Robinson Dance School, 119 Park Ave. West, Denver.