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Summary of Events Surrounding the Arrest of Patricia Imani

author: anonymous
Aug 03, 2008 23:41

This is the story, as best as I understand it.

Patricia Imani was arrested early August 3rd and taken to Pierce County Jail. Several people went to the jail to post bail for her. The clerk at the window stated that Patty had not been booked and therefore could not be bailed out.

When asked why Patty had not been booked, a jail officer stated that she was not being booked because she was “screaming and kicking and acting like a bitch.” Patty was held in solitary confinement and denied her basic legal rights. Those who know Patty are aware that she has always upheld the principles of nonviolence with dignity and grace.

During this time, while several people physically present at the jail were informed (correctly) that Patty was not being booked, the Pierce County web site posted misleading information indicating that she had already been released.

After several calls demanding her release, Patty was finally booked and allowed to be bailed out around 2 PM today.

The treatment of Patricia Imani is nothing short of reprehensible, indicative of an extreme abuse of power on the part of the officers of Pierce County Jail. Even worse, jail officials mislead the public by publishing Patty’s release before it happened—thus confusing the efforts of activists working for her release.

Importantly, and despite all this, activists worked hard, shared information with each other to counter the lies of Pierce County, and pressured the jail to ensure her release.

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