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“I was arrested for not smiling. I have Parkinson’s.”
If you saw a man watching a bicycle race, not interfering or even interacting with anyone else, would you be in the right to tackle him? How about kidnap him, take his prints, photo and DNA? That’s exactly what some individuals working for the Surrey (UK) Police did to Mark Worsfold. Thus far the aggressors have only apologized for their actions. What would happen if you did that to someone?
This write-by Inderdeep Bains on DailyMail.co.uk, shows clearly the double-standards by which Surrey Police employees operate and which many – including Bains herself – allows for. Instead of calling-out those responsible, Bains instead refers to them as “authorities.” What incentive do such thugs have to cease their wanton abuse if the Statist Quo is unthinkingly perpetuated? -Pete
Surrey Police
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A father with Parkinson’s disease was arrested as he watched the Olympic cycling road race because he ‘failed to smile or look like he was enjoying himself’.
Mark Worsfold, a martial arts trainer and former soldier, claims that he was thrown to the floor and handcuffed just as cyclists passed by.
His worried wife Nicola only found out he was being held after she reported him missing when he did not turn up for their daughter’s ninth birthday party.
The 54-year-old had his fingerprints, DNA and mugshot taken before being questioned about why he did not appear to be enjoying the event on July 28.
Police said Mr Worsfold, who was held for over five hours, was arrested because of ‘his manner, his state of dress and his proximity to the course’.
A spokesman added that the arrest was necessary to avoid a breach of the peace because he was standing near a group of protesters.
But Mr Worsfold, who was diagnosed with Parkinson’s in 2010, said that one of the symptoms of the disease is muscle rigidity, which can cause his face to become expressionless and mask-like.
Mr Worsfold, who had stopped to watch the men’s road race in Leatherhead, Surrey, after holding a Taekwondo demonstration nearby, said officers told him he was being arrested and taken to Reigate police station because he was not smiling.
‘I was sitting minding my own business,’ he told a local newspaper. ‘Before I knew anything the police grabbed me off this seven-foot wall, threw me to the floor and cuffed me so all I saw of the cycle race was between the feet of people from the pavement.
‘It could have been done better. I was arrested for not smiling. I have Parkinson’s.’
Mr Worsfold, who lives in an £800,000 three-bedroom house in the picturesque village of Ockham near Woking, has since asked for a letter of exoneration from police.
Surrey Police said he was initially arrested on suspicion of a public order offence but was ‘given words of advice’ before being ‘released with no further action’.
A spokesman added that he was found to be in possession of a legal folding knife and several rubber knives which had been used for his Taekwondo demonstration.
The officers who made the arrest have apologised to him.
In a statement, the spokesman added: ‘He was positioned close to a group of protesters and based on his manner, his state of dress and his proximity to the course, officers made an arrest to prevent a possible breach of the peace.
‘There were a number of factors which led officers to make this arrest, including the fact the race was approaching, the heightened level of security due to the high profile nature of the event and the sheer number of spectators.’
The force has received a letter from Mr Worsfold in which he has said he ‘fully understands and appreciates the action taken by officers’, the spokesman said.
Last night, campaigners for Parkinson’s patients said it was an example of the ‘chronic misunderstandings’ those with the condition face.
Laura Bowey, of Parkinson’s UK, added: ‘Despite affecting more than 127,000 people in the UK, those with Parkinson’s are subject to chronic misunderstandings and misconceptions about the condition.
‘All too frequently people with Parkinson’s tell us how are they are accused of being drunk, or acting suspiciously as they go about their daily lives.
‘We hope that Mark’s experience will help to raise awareness of this distressing problem.’
“I was arrested for not smiling. I have Parkinson’s.” is a post from Cop Block – Badges Don't Grant Extra Rights
2012-08-10 17:53:08
Source: http://www.copblock.org/19171/i-was-arrested-for-not-smiling-i-have-parkinsons/
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