[Ppnews] Rebel Diaz' Member home Stormed by NYPD

[Political Prisoner News]

LATEST RELEASE June 25 1pm*:

REBEL DIAZ MEMBER G1's APARTMENT STORMED BY NYPD EARLY THIS MORNING,
DAYS AFTER BRUTALITY INCIDENT;

ARMED, WARRANTLESS INVASION WITH NO PROBABLE CAUSE HAS COMMUNITY
FEARING NYPD SCARE TACTICS.


PERSONAL STATEMENT FROM G1 OF REBEL DIAZ:

Early this morning, at around 2am, I, Gonzalo Venegas aka G1 of Rebel
Diaz, was in my home in Harlem, working on my computer in the living
room, when several police officers burst into my unlocked apartment,
with guns drawn, ordering us to get down and put our hands up.

I was in the apartment with my roommate DW who was in the adjacent 
bedroom, and my friend MM, who slept on the couch nearby.

Both were awakened by the home invasion and were witnesses to the 
events occurred.

The uniformed police officers did not knock, nor announce themselves, nor
verbally identify themselves before or during their entry into my
apartment.

They pointed their guns at us the whole time as they verbally 
barraged MM and I with questions as to who we were and what we were 
doing there.

As I lay on the ground with my hands up, I replied loudly and clearly 
that I lived there, and that everyone in the house was supposed to be there.

They replied incredulously, repeatedly yelling their questions as to 
who we were, with threats as to what would happen to us if I was 
found to be lying.

After various other taunts and threats, including accusing us of 
harboring a fugitive criminal suspect, they departed just as quickly 
as they had arrived, down a side stairway adjacent to my apartment.

They did not stay to search me or my roommates, or the apartment for 
any signs of the supposed fugitive they were looking for.

After a few seconds of disbelief and shock, I decided to follow the 
officers outside in order to fully understand what had just happened, 
and to document their identity.

One police van sped off as I came out of the side door of my building.

The remaining police squad car was pealing off when I ran into the 
middle of the street to flag it down.

They stopped the car, as I respectfully asked for their name and badge numbers.

Both police officers allowed me to walk closer to them, as I verbally 
noted their name and badge numbers.

The officers quickly got back into their squad car, provided no 
explanation for the home invasion, and sped off.

I was left in a state of shock and terror, as I frantically asked 
some of my neighbors outside if they knew of why the police had 
entered my building- and specifically my apartment--without justification.

I received no conclusive answers from the residents outside.

As of 10:30pm EST on Tuesday June 24, 2008,I have not received any 
official explanation for the events occurred, neither from the police 
precinct nor my building manager or owner, despite numerous calls and
requests for an explanation.

Both the 25th and 23rd NYPD precinct, which patrol my block, have 
denied that the officers involved are from their command.

The questions as to why several armed police officers mysteriously 
and violently invaded my home without any clear legal justification 
remain unanswered.

One is left only to think that the occurrences of this morning are 
not a coincidence of mistaken identity, but a direct response by the 
NYPD to an incident of police brutality I was involved in last week 
in the South Bronx.

Until we have a clear understanding of the causes and the people 
behind this morning's home invasion, Rebel Diaz will engage in 
limited communication outside of our legal representation.

We are not looking for the next NYPD scare tactic to turn into a tragedy.


For more information regarding the incidents of police brutality
against G1 and Rodstarz of Rebel Diaz last week, and the pending case
them, please visit www.rebeldiaz.com



Freedom Archives
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415 863-9977

www.Freedomarchives.org  
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