Strip Search Investigation
So far nothing is being done to investigate the sheriff deputies’ behavior. What do you think should be done?
posted by lbarr at
6:47 PM
Friday, February 01, 2008
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186 Comments:
What!!! Is there not one descent prosecuting attorney left in Ohio ?
How can anyone who has taken an oath to uphold the law set back and do nothing?
It is time that those who have the power to take action do so , We holler about our streets and crime but yet the very people we expect to hold them selves to the highest standard are worse than the very criminals we fear.
Here is the problem .. The police, school boards , teachers, judges have all put them selves above the very people who pay their paycheck and are offended when we ask why or expect them to answer for their behavior. Descent taxpaying citizen & their children are not treated with any respect, if you butt the good old boy system then you’re a trouble maker, if your child is harassed to the point of no longer going to school and you ask what is going to be done your told you can be barred from the school and the harassed child see’s that if you bad enough you get away with it so the behavior transfers to the streets , Where you have holy’er than tho attitudes from the police because they know we will not buck the good old boy system.. If we want change we need to BUCK THE System to the point we recall, vote out or just plain fire everyone one who looks the other way.. If we don’t we will be no better then the out of control extremists overseas .
This was one of the most disturbing incidents I have ever seen! Are we still in the USA? No matter what the woman may have said, to be stripped of clothing, put in a cell for hours and having male deputies in on the event- that is sick. I dont care who you think you are- no one has the right to violate another person in this matter! Personally, I feel all seven of the deputy sheriff's need to be diciplined. I can see how the victim felt she was "raped without penetration". I hope she sues each and every one of them. It will not bring back her dignity that they have taken away, but it will sure make them think again on violating another citizen! That was not only uncalled for behavior (aren't the police suppose to protect?) , I can't believe that the department can actually stand there and defend their actions.
I am a 49 year old female from Wayne County who frequently shops, etc. in Stark County. This story disturbed me so badly, I could hardly sleep last night. It makes me sick to my stomach to think something so unspeakable could happen to this lady. And that so many officers were involved in this outragous act against this woman! Especially the women officers!! How could they do that?? It was not clear to me why they turned on her and how they can justify their actions is beyond me. Actually, it doesn't even appear that anyone is asking the officers to explain why they did this to this poor woman. Why the strip search? Why not give her back her clothes? The whole thing is disgusting and I have no respect for the entire Stark County law enforcement if they can let this go unchecked. They should all be ashamed to be associated with Stark County Law Enforcement.
I hope that your news story on this appalling behavior gets all the involved officers fired. At a minimum, it was police brutality; but it sure looked like rape to me. I hope Mrs. Steffey has received counseling, and hopefully at Stark County's expense. What an outrage!
I normally do not get "worked up" over stories like this, but the video showing the degree to which the Sheriff's Department handled this case is quite disturbing. It's not difficult to picture someone close to you (wife or daughter) in a similar situation, thus making this story feel closer to home. I feel that the Sheriff's Deputies involved deserve to be treated in the same fashion they treated Steffey! See how they like being HUMILIATED! I do not feel that Steffey was the least bit unruly, so as to be forcibly stripped NAKED for 6 (SIX!) hours!!! I think it's a classic case of police brutality!
As Tom Meyer pointed out, they violated their own policies regarding strip-searches. Lord only know what other of their own rules they BLATANTLY violated!
To the people who are criticizing WKYC for "convicting" the Stark County Sheriff's Department, did you view the video that was shown?!?! Imagine those things happening to your wife, or daughter!!
I honestly feel that WKYC, and Tom Meyer are only looking to expose the injustice that Steffey had to endure that night, in a Stark County jail.
I have never seen such irresponsible reporting in my entire life. If you are unable to acquire only one side of a story, especially one of this nature, you should not be reporting on it. How dare you call for punishments on hard-working and dedicated deputies when you have yet to hear their side of the story. Maybe there is a reason you are the only station reporting this story and maybe there is a reason why I avoid your news programs. Unbelievable...
Unfortunately there are officers of the law that think they are above the law. Even more unfortunate, is the fact that there is a excellant chance that all the officers involved will get off with nothing more than a slap on the wrist. The ones who will be investigating this case are probably going to be co-workers of the accused, not an outside agency. The comments made by the chief himself already are supporting his officers. I wish this family the best of luck. They will probably get money if they get a good lawyer and sue. And in this case definately deserve it. However, the officers involved will still have jobs "PROTECTING AND SERVING"
Officers of the Law should be held accountable for their actions to even higher standards than the citizens they are paid to protect. After all, they are given higher respect with their position in society, right? This strip search was an assault on Mrs. Steffey at the very least - regardless of what she did or did not do that landed her in their CONTROL. This kind of misconduct happens more than we ever get to know and someone needs to "Serve and Protect" US, the people that give Officers of Law their authority, which they sometimes abuse, like any other human.
This is an outrage! She was the victim. I hope she gets an exorbitant sum in damages and they have sanctions on those deputies.
It is CLEAR that there are 2 male deputies 'assisting' with the strip search...as well as the tape is heavily edited.
She is lucky that they didn't taser her, it really sounds like those deputies had some sort of power trip. I am glad she wasn't killed 'for her safety'.
http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2007/08/29/america/NA-GEN-US-Detention-Center-Tour-Lawsuit.php
Apparently this office isn't at all unfamiliar with these kinds of humilating strip searches. The Sheriff is denying these underage girls allegations too.
One of the most disgusting things I've seen happen in America in some time. Why are we seeing more & more of these incidents of police abusing their authority & acting as if they are judge,jury & executioner? Why are we as citizens tolerating it? Once a 125 lb.woman is handcuffed I find it pretty hard to believe she was much of a threat to anyone. Surely this video is grounds for immediate discharge of the deputies involved as well as any others who stood by & failed to help this woman. All evidence should be reviewed& appropriate criminal charges filed.I am really sick of the tired old excuse of police officers acting like this because of the "dangers" of their job. If anyone is that frieghtened of a 41 year old woman in handcuffs they're in the wrong line of work. As far as "doing it for her own good,well I'd hate to see what they'd do to her if they weren't so caring. Stark County- demand this Sherriff resign,because his tolerance of this is about to cost you a whole lot of money.
i think when all this over and done with the policemen involved would be lucky if they could get a security job. they are out of control
I am not condoning the activity, but bear in mind: The dashcam, other than audio, records only the front of the vehicle and if the camera manually turned to the rear will record the interior. Thus, there was no reason to have the camera on prior to the Deputy realizing there was going to be something that he felt should be recorded on the scene, which is why the camera must have been eventually turned on. Secondly, the "other video camera" at the jail is that which recorded the activities of the restraint and clothing removal. The fixed camera appears to have recorded her being escorted to the cell, and it is evident that the Sheriff does the supplementary recordings to prove or disprove events while dealing with prisoners. I think that if Ms Steffy was that agitated, rather than fight to get a jail uniform on her, they could have placed her in a cell, on a one to one observation if they felt that she was suicidal. The jail garb could just as easilly act as a suicidal tool, as could her own garments. After she was calmer, or eligible for bond, which should have been immediate being it was a misdemeanor charge, at that time if unable to post bond maybe she could have been afforded the opportunity to change into the required jail garb. It appears on the exterior, that un-needed force was used especially when it came to placing her in the jail garb, as well as her own dignity violated, if they would have taken a bit of time to let her calm down. I am not taking a side, as there is two sides to every story, but she was convicted of Disordly Conduct, so it must have been an ugly scene at the house, but once at the jail that was another story.
The sherrif needs to lose his job along with all the officers involved in the strip search for cover up the sherrif says that a strip search is only done with the same sex officers it is as plain as the nose on my face those were not the same sex officers.they have been tring to cover this up but now the tapes out were are the rest of the tapes and why do they still have there jobs?
Give me a break. She gives a false ID, she's clearly resisting. Thank you Law Enforcement for doing a great job, and keeping these type of people off the streets.
They should be fired. Just because they are sheriff deputies doesn't mean that they are above the law.
This happens more often than you think. Unless someone comes forward and "snitches" on a fellow officer, or unless a news outlet starts digging around, it is never uncovered.'
There should be a independent agency created with authority to enter all jails/prisons at any time to interview detainees, copy video tapes, and privately question officers. Only an independent agency could uncover the percentage of officers who are unbalanced, the 10-20% of police who are abusive towards women.
I have always been held accountable for my actions and I am just a citizen. Tim Swanson SHOULD BE DEFINITELY HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR HIS OFFICER'S ACTIONS AND THEY ALSO SHOULD BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE. The video says it all.
They have wronged her and her husband and grievously insulted the honor and dignity of that woman. Biblically speaking, the husband would be within his right to demand either a steep fine or the very lives of those who brutally assaulted his wife.
Personally for me, if somebody tried to arrest my wife when she hadn't done anything, I would have assumed they were bogus cops or the sort of cops who have been known to arrest women so they can then take them away and rape them, and I would have responded to the attempted arrest with an M4 carbine.
When the government fears the people, you have freedom. When the people fear the government, you have tyranny.
Welcome to America, 1984...
this investigation is poor at best.hope meyer was convicted of her charges in a court of law which proves the arresting deputy was not "confused" as reported.just because a "victim" calls doesn't mean they are immune from arrest or not held to the same standard of conduct as every other citizen.
next, the reason there are so many deputies in the cell is for hope's protection. as you can clearly see, no "force" be it excessive or not was ever used. most of the time only one hand was present at the cuff site to hold her still. the male deputies could be seen on video looking away from hope as she was undressed. the females removed the clothing. when a person makes claims of being suicidal be it "real" or "joking" the deputies must take it serious. attornies like david malik have seen to that w/ frivilous law suits. the "heavy" apron that hope had to wear is called a suicide gown. it is made so it can not tear to be used for the act of suicide unlike a t-shirt, pants, or a bra. all of which have been used in the past for inmates/arrestees to end their lives.
the request for the "missing" video from the camcorder seen on the in jail surveyllience is not missing. what do your viewiers think they are watching as part of your investigation, a re-inactment. that is the "missing" video.
it is not a strip search that was conducted on hope, as a result of the notification of intent to commit suicide, her clothing had to be removed for her protection. perhaps if she complied w/ deputies requests to remove the items herself, she wouldn't be "traumatized" as your article states.
i have seen nothing wrong w/ what deputies have done. one thing can be seen from this investigation, hope is alive to file her frivilous law suit because the deputies did their job. imagine that.
when this circus makes its way thru the court system and is dismissed, i wonder if channel 3 will do a two part segment appologizing to each deputy shown on tv who was accused by tom meyer for wrong doing. than again that wouldn't be "big news".
Obviously the officers involved need to be fired and prosecuted. But moreover, her misdemeanor conviction needs to be revisited because - according with the news report - her conviction (an assault victim that mistakenly gave her late sister's id and leaned on the officer for support) makes NO sense. There is a great deal about this case that stinks.
This is awful. I hope they pay for the awful things they did to steffy. I am from Oklahoma and I am very upset to say the least..
Janice
These Officers involved need to be fired & prosecuted!x
Typical of some SCUMBAGS in law enforcement. This is what happens when GOVERNMENT comes and demands that you give up some rights (gun ownership for one) for the sake of security. There is absolutely no excuse for the deputies actions. ALL the deputies involved should be charged with assault & battery as well as sexual assault and if convicted, serve their time in the general population of a state prison.
I was thoroughly disgusted to see how this young woman was treated.Did anybody try to listen to her? Last time I checked police officers were " Serve To Protect" not " Serve To Disrespect"! These officers should be dealt with appropriately. Pull the badges and weapons. A desk job sounds pretty fair. Along with some required class credit hours on dealing with citizens in a compassionate manner. Especially a woman who obviously was distrought upon their arrival. And shame on you women officers!!!!! From one woman to another, would you not be terrified? Why didn't you stand up and take control of the situation and help a fellow female? Every woman is somebodies wife, mother, daughter, sister, etc. How would any of these officers feel to see someone they love being treated in this manner? I can't believe that my tax dollars are paying for this kind of brutality. This family will be scarred for life!! Thanks to our ever faithful " Serve and Disrespect " GOD BLESS THE STEFFEYS J&R in CANTON
Anyone defending the actions of these officers obviously hasn't seen this video.That was the most disturbing thing I have ever seen and it actually brought tears to my eyes to see it.God Bless her for having the courage to come forward and demand the sheriff's department and the officers involved be held accountable.Shame on them for this obvious abuse of power.And to the person that says she was disorderly at the scene,remember she was the victim that called for help!I would be disorderly too if I called 911 for help and was treated like a criminal.
I hope the Steffeys end up being OK after this ordeal.The Sheriff and those deputies need to serve some time, as well as have some major drainage in their financial holdings and status.
The sheriff denied that was a strip search? Is he serious?
The sheriff and the police are liars and obviously abused their powers. These "police" need to be prosecuted, fired and jailed.
These Officers both the men and women officers should be jailed.
The county and city should pay a heavy price for allowing this behavior by their police department.
That video made me cringe it was so disturbing. Watching the police tear her clothes off was more disturbing then watching the islamic extremists beheading the men in iraq a few years ago. What has America come to? This is not an isolated incident, look into the militarization of our police forces. America is becoming a Police state.
TERMINATED and criminal charges should be brought for misuse of their authority.
I feel sorry for this lady and hope she can recover and the police will be punished.
My friend slapped her husband after he pushed her twice one evening and he called the police and she was the one that was arrested. The police asked her if she slapped him and she said she did (protecting herself) and they didn't ask what he did to get slapped. She was not read her rights until she was in jail in Stark County. And she now has a criminal record and can't find a good job in her field of education.
That was rape as surely as if they had penetrated her. These "officer" are a disgrace to the uniform and should be prosecuted. If they want to make the point that it is dangerous to call 911 in Ohio then they have done their job.
Dont thous cops have anything better to do. so thay picked on that poor lady . all thous cops stuck together .thay should all pay together. just becouse there cops dont mene there good cops ! I hope the lady has a good attorny !the tape says it all .
Matt said, "I have never seen such irresponsible reporting in my entire life. If you are unable to acquire only one side of a story, especially one of this nature, you should not be reporting on it. How dare you . . . ."
Unbelievable. Did you read the story? Channel 3 contacted the sheriff, and he responded by e-mail. He got to have his say. Just because his answer was weak and unpersuasive doesn't mean the media should just forget the story.
If we followed your view, the government could always decline to comment to avoid embarrassment. There would then be only one side available to the media and there would therefore be no story. But that's what you want, right?
Please, be honest: you just don't like people questioning the police or the government, right?
Feel free to clarify whether you believe in (a) liberty and (b) keeping a close watch on the institution (government) best equipped to take it away.
You people will eat your words when the Stark County Sheriffs office gets to tell their side. As you people sit in the comfort of your homes and those deputies spending their time making sure the type of disorderly such as this criminal are off the street and that she does not kill herself while in jail. Why has not anybody asked about the suicide policy for correctional institutions? You all make it sound like their was not a supervisor their telling them what to do. Deputies and officers follow orders from their superiors and you are basing everything off of some partial information and story your hearing about and jumping on the band wagon of bashing hardworking people keeping you safe. Shame on you Channel 3, I hope all law enforcement boycotts your station and those deputies sue your station for defamation of character for your senseless reporting. If she would have kept her clothes and hung herself you would still make a story of that and find some other policy that you would say they violated! I am ashamed of the people bashing these officers and hope that you never cry out for help for an officer. One person with bad information and a sob story and your going to degrade some officers? You are all going to owe these officers an apology.
Sadly, this sort of thing happens more often than most people realize. Thanks to the 'thin blue line' and an 'us against them' attitude, the perpetrators almost always get away with it. As often as not, the jackbooted thugs are actually *promoted* for their actions. Welcome to the American Police State. Unless and until the citizenry at large wakes up enough to notice- and then proceeds to take the steps necessary to regain our freedom and dignity, these incidents will continue to occur- with ever increasing frequency.
Personally, I think the founders of this country had the right idea when they chose to tar and feather the minions of King George when they were caught abusing the populace. Now that we find ourselves under the reign of George The Third, maybe it's time to requisition a little of that $100/bbl crude and put it to good use.
Come on. The opportunity to beat up, humiliate and dominate someone else IS the non-cash portion of this low-wage job. If they couldn't mistreat suspects for kicks most cops would go back to pumping gas or sweeping floors.
Humiliating others, especially other men, is the spice of life for these guys. Just watch the video to get an idea of how much "fun" they are having.
Has anyone that has left a comment been in these officers shoes? Know what they deal with on a daily basis? I'm gonna guess no. First off, they were not doing a "Strip search"...they were stripping her down because of being a possible suicide risk. And just because she is screaming that she is "cooperating", doesnt mean she is. Most people that resist arrest and similar acts of resisting generally yell things like "I'm cooperating" and "I'm not resisting" when in reality they are. They scream that hoping some gulible person is going to hear that and immeadiately take their side not knowing the whole circumstance. Obviously in this case, it worked. Its so easy for people to sit back and hate the police. Police officers are not perfect and neither are you. Normal people being held to extraordinary standards. Life changing decisions that have to be made on the fly. Can any of you say you do that on a daily basis? Again, I'm going to guess no.... So before you sit and judge and heckle about something, just remember, you dont know the whole situation. Just that 1% you saw... If these deputies did anything wrong, they should go to a judicial court, not the court of public opinion. I think most people would agree that they would want the same for themselves.
It sounds like these public "servants" couldn't get it right from the beginning!! She leans on a police officer AFTER she's the victim of an attack and she is hauled off to jail?? What is wrong with that officer? Does Stark County not properly train their officers to deal with emotional victims?
Now on to the stripping down of her and leaving her nude for 6 HOURS... Everyone who was in that room shold be filed with sexual assault and other assault charges. They violated their own policies even if it was a strip search, which they said it wasn't. Additionally, I have never heard of someone having ALL their clothes removed for their "safety". Shoelaces, jewlery, yes. Their panties, bra, pants and shirt??? NO!! And if such items are removed, they are replaced with appropriate clothing or at least a blanket for modesty!!
They degraded her, humiliated her...it WAS RAPE without penetration. I hope they are fired and charged and I hope Stark County has to compensate her with an enormous amount of money for her ordeal.
Good grief.
I'm sad to say that this woman is ultimately responsible for what happened to her. Police don't know her. When police respond to a call they don't know anything about the people on scene. Frankly having a drivers license that doesn't belong to you is a crime. Presenting it to an officer as your identification is all the officer needs to take it from you. It was not her right to have it. It would seem that she didn't have the good sense to realize being arrested is a big deal. When asked if she ever thought about hurting herself a joke was not the appropriate response. Again, the police are not your friends. They don't know you. As far as they're concerned they have someone in their custody who is likely to harm themselves. They acted accordingly. It is tragic that this had to happen to this woman. I believe that there is a lesson to be learned but it is not for the police department. It is for the public. The police are not your mother and father. Treat them accordingly.
I can’t tell what he pigs did to this woman. I would want to be objective, but with wkyc not allowing audio to be played, how would I know? (The next site over, my audio sounds just fine btw). As usual, the msm is complicit with egregious acts of injustice against the citizens it holds in contempt.
I just had the link to this video sent to me & I am in utter shock, disgust, & outrageous anger. If the officer on the scene was that "confused", then obviously we have an intelligence (meaning IQ) & competency problem with who they are hiring in law enforcement. For anyone to forcibly completely strip someone for their own "safety" is such a ridiculous statement, it's not even a bad joke - it's them trying to come up with anything they can to get us to accept their illegal, immoral, & indecent, ugly power-tripping behavior. Do they honestly think we are to believe she would kill herself with her own underwear? Absolutely insulting, not only to her, but to us - as if we, the public who support them & pay for their "services", are going to believe that crap!
To anyone who thinks this type of behavior is acceptable, let me know & I'll immediately come over with some thugs & we'll smash your face in the ground & strip your ass butt naked in front of anyone & everyone who wants to check your ugly ass out! Then we'll leave you there in the cold for a few hours. Anyone who approves of this type of behavior should receive it!!
"This is NOT America"!!! This is a POLICE STATE & PEOPLE HAD BETTER START THINKING ABOUT HOW THEY'RE GOING TO DEFEND THEMSELVES AGAINST POWER CRAZED MANIACS IN GOVERNMENT!!
I hope these officers get what they deserve. If there is a law where the same sex must strip search then why were there men? The officers can’t explain this can they? They were wrong for what they did and they know they were. I hope the sheriff also receives some punishment for allowing his officers to act the way they did. They were wrong for taking her close and leaving her in a cell with no clothes.
I am a law abiding citizen who has never been arrested, but after having to deal with cops myself, the stories other people have told me, and stories like these in the press have made me lose all respect for police enforcement. They are cocky SOB's who believe that they are above the law and can do whatever they want. I have almost been killed by cops who can't wait at a red light like the rest of us and I have been treated like garbage when I have done nothing wrong. I also believe that whoever decided to give cops tasers should be shot. I am so sick of the videos and stories of people being needlessly electrocuted because they don't move fast enough for the officer or aren't responding correctly because of a medical problem. Yeah they were good in theory, but they are abused by these police officers. Maybe if examples are made of the offending officers, it'll keep other officers in line. I hope Mrs. Steffy gets to see every last one of those officers arrested and get treated like a prisoner themselves. Who is policing our police?!?!?
Becca
I am usually a very pro-law enforcement person but seeing this video made me sick to my stomach.
This woman's civil rights were violated and she should sue everyone involved in that assault. Wearing a uniform does NOT give you the right to abuse a person.
She deserves justice.
Welcome to the Culture of Abu Ghraib. The chickens have come home to roost. If you don't fight back now, don't be surprised when you get the same treatment after government surveillance of your internet activities.
Those who have posted about the initial incident leading to the arrest have to take a breath, and think for a moment. The situation on the scene is ugly, people are yelling, the civilians there are highly agitated, possibly as a result of alcohol or just anger after a fight had just ocurred, and the deputies arriving have their hands full trying to sort out the facts. Think about watching a Cops episode, where everyone is yelling and no one is making sense. So the Deputy asks for ID and is given someone elses, and you can bet that she must have gotten a bit mouthy, thus subsequently arrested, since the scene had to be calmed. I am sure that if she had been asked for ID, and if had even given the wrong one, had she been calm, cordial and cooperative maybe the entire incident would not have happened. Please read my post above, and understand , I am not taking a side, as there are two sides to every story, BUT, the last thing any Deputy or city copper wants to do is have to make an arrest, versus calming a situation and going about his or her business, safely for the rest of the shift. And, as my previous post said, I did not condone the way she was stripped, when that jail garb can be just as dangerous as one's own garments. One that agitated, until she calmed down should have been observed on a one to one to ensure that she did not harm herself, while wearing her own clothes, versus having to fight with her.
Of all police abuse, this is the worst I have seen. The one man in the video is huge. They needed 7 people? This one woman must have been too tough for them.
The officers need to have this done to their wives as they are forced to watch, then fired, then sued of all their assets. The sheriff needs to have the same thing done.
I wouldn't normally condone this, but these officers need to be shamed in public and driven from the country. Perhaps they can be police in a nice 3rd world country where that is normal police tactics. I will bet that a lot of officers in Stark county have pictures of that woman nude on their cell phone cameras.
People who are going to be stopped for any reason in Stark county should continue driving until they reach a county other than Stark county. If they can't make it out of the county, then they should barricade themselves in their car until a news crew arrives and demand a lawyer be present when they are eventually taken into custody.
Furthermore, Stark county and all it's businesses should be boycotted until their sheriff has been replaced.
If possible, drive around Stark county.
These officers are terrible people. This story is horrifying and the people who did this to this poor woman should be fired and jailed!
Boy...I agree...and then some. These people should be made an example of, found guilty of all acts of violence toward Hope, sentenced and jailed highest extent of the law, WITH NO HOPE FOR PARDON OR EARLY RELEASE, this should be in their personal files and guarantee their files will never be sealed. IF the Judge or other court officers FAIL Hope, locals should have him disbarred, DA on down the line.
I'm not sure it will help but I've emailed every group and person I could think of who would be interested in helping Hope and 'hope-fully' will have this spread in every newspaper possible. Now let's pressure the censors or expose them.
This is the reason I left the law enforcement field, I know Sheriff Swanson and I am praying he is staying silent to think with a clear head about what he should honestly do. I was unable to sleep after seeing this and told my children about it. What I hated the most was not only th video but the laugh from a female as they were leaving the cell. Did you hear it? Listen again. They might want to move the Hall of Fame now. I am not in any hurry to go to Stark County now.
This is one of the reasons I left the field of law enforcement. I believe in Sheriff Swanson and am praying that he does the right thing. This was clearly the wrong thing. I have put people in a cell by themselves until they calm down with serviellance and then worked with them. It was not necessary to overpower and humiliate Mrs. Steffey, male officers, wrong, wrong, wrong, definetly against protocol. Shame upon the OC in charge at the time. May want to rethink a new location for Hall of Fame (Shame). Officers on leave? Tell us something to keep the faith in the system. I was apalled with the video and the laugh of a female I heard as the male officers were the last to leave the cell. Listen again to the end, hear the laughing?? discussting.
You won't see me in Stark County. Told my family, warned them too! Pray this works out. Very sad.
Based on what I've seen and read so far, this seems to be a case of Cops out of control. I know they have a tough job and deal with a lot of stress and some people can be pretty obnoxious, but a 125 pound woman??? If I give them the benefit of doubt and grant that they were concerned about her hurting herself with her clothing I have to wonder what else was going on. In this day and age don't most of us take care to dot the "i's" and cross the "t's" to c.y.a.? Why else would the video cam be running? Yet to leave her for 6 hours without even a paper gown?
Its all too easy for me to imagine what has happened in the past with cops who are racist / bigoted and prisoners who were easy victims and didn't get the video tape proof of the abuse. I know a lot, perhaps most of the "abuse" charges are bogus, but the next time you hear someone claim abuse, think about Hope Steffey.
I wonder how the local tax payers will feel about having to pay for this sex crime.
Let us hope that this case sets a precedent for HONEST investigations of these typical examples of what is seriously wrong with law enforcement in the U.S.
As an American and human being, this disgusts me to know end.
And, I am a guy.
Everyone involved in this incident and involved in the coverup of this incident needs to be fired and charged with the appropriate crimes. This is not what I want my country to be... this is not what the founders had in mind. It is not what any citizen of this nation has in mind. This is abuse of power.
I can only tell you that as a husband and the father of a daughter, the male deputies would need to be in fear for their lives had this been my wife or daughter. I will never spend another tourism dollar in the state of Ohio, regardles of the outcome in this case. This is unforgiveable.
All of the deputies involved and the sheriff should be fired, and the deputies should be prosecuted for every crime they committed. Their actions were not only wrong but also unreasonable. It looks like a deputy got his nose out of joint and all the others, including the sheriff, went along to cover it up. They had the power to do this and abused that power.
that town needs desperatly a whole new police dept. from top down including prosecutors. they all belong in jail for a very long time...this is disgusting and sick. i am ashamed for that town and its people. police are out of control. that film proves it. who polices the police? call in the federal govt.and aclu. nothing can undo what was done to that woman.
Watching this video made me outraged and sick to my stomach. If the woman appeared 'disorderly' on video she had a right to be! She was having her clothes forceably taken from her! She had the presence of mind to ask what they(the deputies)were doing which indicates to me she was not having a suicidal moment. I hope this matter and the law enforcement agency is investigated.
This is just of an known example that police departments are out of control, acting like the wild west and not there To Protect and Serve. I am Retired Army and have seen better practices by Third World countries, Wake up America, you vote these people in who control these folks. Do your job and make them do theirs.
There is no justification for the way these officers treated this woman. Why didn't one of the officers have the sense to question their handling of the situation. It's unbelievable the prosecutor, attorney general or some higher authority hasn't stepped in to investigate. Keep up the good work channel 3!
Don't just sue, file felony charges against police:
http://piratenews.org/affidavit-criminal-complaint13jun05.htm
5 TN deputies arrested, convicted and sent to federal prison for torture
http://piratenews.org/tortured-by-copsters-in-tn.html
How to deal with crooked copsters: The Battle of Athens TN 1946
http://www.constitution.org/mil/tn/batathen.htm
Ron Paul asks Congress: "Are We Doomed to Be a Police State?"
http://www.house.gov/paul/congrec/congrec2002/cr062702.htm
O K... I've taken a look at the video and do not see any police "brutality" anywhere.
Of course all of the arm chair quarterbackers know beyond a shadow of a doubt that Ms. Steffey was not under the influence of anything intoxicating, she did not yell at or become combative with the officers at the scene of the original disturbance, she of course complied with all of the requests that were made of her by the officers such as 'please take off your clothes so you will no be able to attempt to kill yourself' after of course she didn't make any statements to the effect that she would harm herself.
What I saw on that video was an out of control female who was handcuffed and screaming after obviously not complying with some requests or orders from the sheriffs deputies.
Kudos to the officers who put up with her spoiled and childish actions.
Additionaly my wife would not be in that situation, because she has enough common sense not to get involved in a fight with some of her trailer trash relatives and be in need of a Jerry Springer style intervention!!
Wake up people... act like an adult and you won't go to jail in the first place!
I can see no circumstance that might warrant this kind of force. If the woman were violent and the officers feared she was dangerous, an appropriate search might have been done. why would anyone be humiliated and denied clothing? A prison issue suiIt or at least a blanket was the very least this poor woman deserved. i am glad this brave family came forward. I am glad that channel 3 told the story and is taking a stand about what police can and can NOT do. I can't imagine this would be acceptable by Geneva convention standards for a POW. I hope that the victim heals and remembers this horrific series of actions against her says alot about those who committed them and NOT about her. I wonder why no one present during this attack/search was able to muster the courage to step back and say, hey guys let's re-think this. i am very certain that more video was shot. It is amazing that they were able to get away with the lame excuse that the dash cam was turned off. I hope the guilty parties pay their due.
I was sickened to see what happened to Mrs.Steffey, but NOT suprised. I hope this story causes more people to start paying attention before it happens to their own family. CIVIL RIGHTS
ARE BEING VIOLATED more often than most people would imagine. And please note that it is not limited to the Stark Co. Sheriff's Dept.
I am a 45 year old married, mother of 4 who was wrongfully arrested (for disorderly conduct persisting in my own living room.)AFTER police illegaly entered our home. I was thrown around and hurt at the police dept. by law enforcement while in handcuffs.I was totally compliant and addressed them as "SIR"
(I had never even had a speeding ticket.)
We fired our first lawyer,because we learned that "Local" police, prosecutors,judges, AND lawyers all play together,in the same sandbox.
We hired a huge civil rights att.outside of Lorain Co.We spent thousands to fight this simple charge because every action by the police that night was illegal. Charges against me were DISMISSED
in exchange for my right to sue. Unfortunately, in my case there were supposedly NO TAPES! (Why would police and prosecutors need protection from a lawsuit if there was no misconduct?) My attorney encouraged me to accept the offer. Reason being that in his experience theres only a 30% chance a jury will believe a citizen over police.(The tape of Mrs. Steffey being "assaulted" is visual proof, and you still have law enforcement and some people denying it.) My husband, myself and our kids have been forever altered.(I suffer from anxiety, neck, and back damage. My husband struggles with the knowledge of what happened to his wife & kids , in his own house.He has had to live with the fact that he could NOT protect us.) I KNOW MR.& Mrs.Steffey are suffering, my heart aches WITH them. Counseling can help. Unfortunatly, people like us can't ever again feel safe or free because we CAN'T unlearn what we know. Who do we call if we need help? And to those in law enforcement that are offended with being lumped together with the bad, I have as much sympathy for you, as you do for citizens that you see being mistreated by your co-workers and do nothing. Blame them! TO SERVE & PROTECT???
BULL! They are the ones I fear!
The STARK CO. Sheriff's looked like a pack of wild animals.
The attack on MRS.Steffey was worse than rape because everywhere she goes she will see law enforcement of some kind and THEY ARE HER NIGHTMARE.
BEST WISHES TO THE STEFFEY'S
Why do we always assume that the officers did something wrong? How do we know that she was being cooperative? I for one do not condone the action of the officers but they do have a job to do and they live by a different set of work rules then we do.
They need to be the ones in control not the inmates.
We somebody says that she was being cooperative and that she was forced to do something against her will then we shall be free to judge the officers.
Thank you Tom Meyer for bringing this story to our attention. No matter WHAT Steffy did (or didn't do), this was a blatant abuse of power. Personally, I remember waiting at the airport for over 10 minutes until a FEMALE officer was able perform a random search. I gladly waited. It would have been incredibly invasive for a male officer to do a search (with clothes ON), not to mention illegal. I hope these officers are stripped of their badges.
Watching that video made me sick. It seems like we are having more and more of incidents like this coming out of Ohio (i.e. Warren police). I don't care what she was doing, there is no excuse for the treatment she received.
It's easy for the "facts" to get lost in the fog when there's a videotape like this floating around. The police can say a hundred times "there's more to it than is shown on the videotape", but it won't erase the images from the publics' minds. The Sheriff can get out his checkbook and get ready to write a huge one. The sad thing about that is that even if the officers are "disciplined" (which can mean just about anything), the taxpayers are ultimately responsible for the hit the Sheriff is going to take. The Sheriff needs to get in front of this, even at this late date, and announce an independent investigation but it's probably too late once the tv news people have the upper hand and your strongest defense is "we'll wait and tell our story in court." Good luck, sheriff, you're going to need it.
The husband should wait for the court to give his wife justice and handle the problem.
If the court does not administer justice he should wait a year and find his own justice 1 with each officer 1 at a time.
Just because you wear a uniform does not give you the right to do what you want.... Policemen and women have hard jobs.. .. but these men and women deserve to be beated with baseball bats..
it doesn't have to be this way folks,
yes, we need people who can help when they're needed. People who will help when we're the victim of a crime or accident. And yes, people who will keep us from causing anyone else to be a victim.
BUT WE DON'T NEED THIS
Remember we employ these folks. We pay their checks and buy them medical insurance. And WE support them and their families when they retire.
If that doesn't work, we still have our strength. We have our numbers who still believe in goodness. Goodness must prevail over tyranny, and what we saw was tyranny, and yes, it was rape.
We can not hesitate at this time. Please watch this and ensure ALL involved are charged and convicted. And who is responsible? Every single person who participated or stood by idly while this crime was committed. If justice is not served for this woman, it will not be served for us either. If we do not ensure justice is served for this woman, we are not worthy of justice ourselves.
Watch this. Don't ignore it anymore, it's not to late for us.
And Please remember, violence is to be avoided when any other choice remains... but only when another choice remains. It's that serious.
This appalling video is a perfect illustration of the absolute power that police officers have over citizens in their custody. Whether or not you have been charged with a crime, you are entitled to be treated humanely and with dignity.
Where is the dignity in having male officers remove the clothing of a handcuffed woman? Are we really expected to accept the excuse that removing her clothing was for her own protection? Why is the Sheriff's first instinct to defend his officers' conduct, especially after having viewed the video? Wouldn't it be more appropriate for him to simply state that the incident is being investigated?
Police officers already have an inherent power and control over the freedom of citizens. Because of that power, police officers need to be trained and cognizant of the awesome responsibility to NEVER ABUSE THAT POWER. After all, whom can you call when the police are imposing the abuse? Who are we more inclined to believe - the citizen in handcuffs being charged with disorderly conduct or the uniformed officer employed to serve and protect us?
When there is an abuse of power (as this video illustrates), or even a claim of abuse of power, there should be an independent review board afforded the authority to freely investigate police misconduct. The police department cannot and should not be entrusted to determine the outcome of such misconduct claims.
Allow me to clarify that in no way do I believe all police officers abuse their power. I am sure there are officers who are sickened by what this video shows. I only wish we would hear more police officers speaking out against this type of abhorrent behavior. Their silence only serves to condone this unacceptable treatment of citizens in police custody.
The egregious abuse of police power displayed in this video should make all of us painfully aware of just how vulnerable we are to suffering abuse and humiliation at the hands of the very people who have sworn to serve and protect us.
Unfortunately, this is by no means an isolated incident. Until we citizens stand up and demand oversight of police officer misconduct claims, the abuse of power will continue unabated.
I shudder to think of the indignities committed by police officers for which there is no video proof. Before you erase this video from your memory, please remind yourself that the next victim of police misconduct could be yourself or a loved one.
They kidnapped, assaulted, and raped the lady. They need to go to jail for varying amounts of time. The Sheriff lied and covered up. Fire him and charge him as accessory-after-the-fact.
Someone needs to over that verdict against the woman as well.
As a former Law enforcement officer, this was going way to far and was abuse of power. The defense will be that this is "Policey" or that they were only dong their jobs. That is what the criminals said from the german SS division when brought to trial for their torture and killings. They were only following orders. Wearing a uniform does not mean they are not criminals.They have a moral duty to know right from wrong.Total power can also result in total abuse of it.These officers need to be arrested. I am in Florida and hope the rest of the nation see's this disgraceful conduct.
Sure, they need to be prosecuted. Few would argue once seeing the video. But will a jury be allowed to really see even this much video, let alone the rest of the edited out part?
The good ole boys' club does a fine job at protecting its finest. And when they look for a jury, they gotta find someone under the auspices who isn't already biased because they saw this video. Nope, can't have that. The jury might have an opinion!
My opinion is prison time will give each officer a new feeling of what protection is and isn't. And serving or receiving "service" will take on a whole new meaning too. I just wish I could see the trial and their faces as they depart in their new duds.
That's it from Alaska!
An absolute outrage. Those police, and their supervisors should be prosecuted and this poor woman deserves restitution.
Unbelievable!
i can not even see it on the website channel 3 sucks
there we go another good example of what our swine department gets away with all the time.its time we the people take on the justice system and their brainless law enforcers,who take matters into there on hands.this is due to no respect for anyone other than therir own swine kind,this will be stopped,we the people need to form a league much greater than swine department that will eradicate any such bs from our justice system,that includes judges,prosecutors,attorny..and the supreme courts that allow such things to happen,then allow every one to make bucks off the issue.and a lot of the blame is to be put on the morons who train them to carry on in such ways.WE THE PEOPLE STAND FOR NO MORE SWINE,WE WANT REAL .POLICE OFFICERS IN OUR COMMUNITY.TO SERVE AND PROTECT not police wanna be. we have no room in our society for more law breaking scum,like these seen in those videos.WE THE PEOPLE CAN NO LONGER TRUST OUR LAW ENFORCEMENT,AND SHALL MAKE THEM DUE TIME FOR SUCH IGNORANCE,INCLUDING NEVER WORKING FOR ANY LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY,including security,and we need to go back and dig up history of all these officersand their track record in society. time has come to end all the bs in all law enforcement.over the years i along with millions of other americans will no longer tolerate such bs.theres no trust...not to mention they can twist and make any issue the want out of anything to protect their own kind.75% of the police wanna bees are worse the our general society of crooks,but went and got a badge so the can be legal at crimes..
This can happen to anyone by a law enforcement person. Let's hop that Hope gets her say in court and the deputies are prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law the criminal they are.
I can't believe there are people defending the police. What is wrong with you people? There is no excuse--NO excuse for the way she was treated. It makes no difference that she freaked out or "resisted". These cops, at best, are clueless about how to handle people. At worst, they are criminal tyrants and should be fired--especially the males.
The Officer involved should be given accommodation letters for showing such restraint. The female in question put herself in that position.
This is an outrage- These deputies should be fired and prosecuted. What bothers me as well is the people responding believing this treatment was warrented. Also, it is scary to think we would probably not even hear about this story if not for the reporting of Tom Meyer. Well Done!
This is not the first “incident” in the Stark county jail. The police were called, they arrested the victim, and then abused her in jail. I guess your rights as a citizen are null in void, in Stark County. It would be different if this was about a drug crazed perp, or a shooter.
The wife of a high school teacher in a middle class neighborhood? Come on did the officer even try to defuse the issue, by the look of the video, he used the typical “Brown Shirt” tactics this department is known for. Time for a change Stark County, Vote them out.
What is going on in our country that law enforcement officers, both men and women, would stand by and allow brutal treatment of this woman. Truly, we are a Police State. I'm surprised they didn't taser Hope to death, that seems to be the usual course of action these days.
All you people who are so outraged doesnt surprise me. But, what about the policy I am sure they have that requires prisoners turn in there clothing and are put into some type of jail uniform, the reason being to prevent suicides and the possible use of the clothing for other things. Example, wire from bra as a weapon or tool to escape. I suppose my question is this: When the police arrest somebody, and the person they arrest refuse to follow the directions, such as, get undressed and put these clothes on, what should the police do. If the prisoner refuses, the police cant just say ok,and walk away. Obviously this woman refused to comply with orders and the police had to forcefully undress her. The other issue brought up was the fact that there were men in the room. Well, I would imagine that the majority of officers there were men, and if the officers had to use force, they cant walk away and let just the female officer take care of the situation. Fact of the matter is that no matter how right the police are, the use of force shown on video is always ugly and not pleaseant to view. Some of you people who are so critical of these videos that pop up on the news should think twice before criticising.
This is outrageous! The police in this country are out of control. These people involved in this MUST be prosecuted if there is a DA that has the decency to do it!
I hope the victims get the justice they deserve! These officers are nothing but thugs.
Thank You law enforcement for keeping the trash in the place they belong! You did a great job and people will side against you because they dont have lives.
Steffy is a coward for not appearing on camera. This shows that she is really guilty and afraid to answer REAL questions. She has been convicted and is a REAL CRIMINAL now.
I can not believe that there are still people who think that only the police should have guns! It is time for the corrupt officers/rapists to be prosecuted to the full extent of the law and put away (in the general prison population) for a very long time... then have to register as level 3 sex offenders! If the "system" protects these criminals, it is time for a new American Revolution, while we still have the guns! X
I think that we need public flogging. 40 lashes each would set them straight and if you do it in public the humiliation of the act might bring their egos down to a normal level again.
This is truley unbelievable.What this women went through can never be taken back. All persons involved directly or indirectly(stood by and did nothin to stop it)should be charged to the fullest extent.If it were my choice these individuals would be publicly hanged so they may feel the humiliation and pain she endured.Wake up America, if we don't start demanding that our public servants start serving the innocent and stop acting above the law this country will fall to ruin. I hope this young lady can get through this and move on with her life,my heart hurts for her and her family.I commend her husband for not taking matters into his own hands as the corrupt system would only convict him.
No one deserves this kind of treatment! Everyone should contact their congressman and ask for a law to ban strip searches. The Sheriff that permitted this to happen should be stripped of his official duties. The police officers involved in this should be fired and never be allowed to serve as public servants again ever! This is only one instance. How many citizens have they done this to? It’s unbelievable that people that have taken the oath to protect and serve would do this to anyone. Outrage is an understatement for what these people did. If this is an expmple of our police departments in this country we are in serious trouble.
This is appalling. We are supposed to be able to trust ALL law enforcement officials. Guess we can't. Everyone of the participants, including the judge, need to be relieved of their duties. She was taken in front of a judge with nothing on but a vest and the judge didn't do anything?! My husband and I watched the video and we are both very sickened by it. My heart goes out to her and her family. I have no doubt there are more of these incidents than are reported. More of these incidents need to be reported like this. Start making the police responsible for their actions!
From Iowa
I just viewed this clip on the Internet in outrage. The sheriff can't speak because of the law suit? Why? If you or your department done something wrong, then it should come out right away. The Officers doing the strip search all should be fired. Your officers seem to have taken the time to record her being stripped, but not her resisting. Where is that tape? The one a "real officer" would want on tape as evidence. Frankly, I think this is just what it looks like, a gang rape.
I hope the people of this county demand a FBI investigation.
We in the US have the illusion that we have things called "rights," and that in a criminal situation we are "innocent until proven guilty." This woman, whether she was arrested for disorderly conduct or for murder, had not been convicted of anything. I wonder how many people would support the idea of a woman who has not been convicted of a crime having her clothes pulled off by two men. For that matter, I have never heard of a woman who has been convicted of a crime (at least in this country) being sentenced to have her clothes ripped off by men. Most people would simply not believe that it happens. But it does.
Most people are unaware, for example, that many of the guards in women's prisons are men. Men routinely watch women undress and go to the bathroom. In Michigan, there were so many accusations of rape and molestation that they finally removed male prison guards from women's dorms.
I was nauseous and shaking for almost an hour after watching this video. Don't tell me those two fat, bald "officers" didn't enjoy stripping an attractive woman naked. This is legalized rape. It could happen to any of us, and it will continue to happen unless we stand up and demand the "freedom" and "liberty" and "rights" our politicians keep telling us we have!
Stark County Jail is a maximum security jail and will take any precautions necessary to protect themselves and those being detained. We do not know this whole story or the events that took place before this search. There was a fight between cousins and Hope was carrying an illegal identification card. I don't know how the strip search came about, but something must have been said that gave these deputies a reason to believe Hope could harm herself. I am a woman whose has been on the inside of this jail for a short period of time, and I know that the deputies do not take anything lightly. The only wrongdoing I see in this search is that two males were assisting in the search. For that, they should be punished. As for the rest of the story, its just another day at the office. Or maybe there's more to the story. Get the facts first.
I am amazed by the many human rights violated by this team of authorities. I don't care what preceded the video (although I suspect the "lost" or not recorded information would be damning to these officers). No one should be treated like this. If she was disruptive or out of control search her (FEMALES PLEASE)!! When it is over, get her clothes back, a jail outfit or a blanket for God's sake. Even a straight jacket would have been better. Thank you for showing the video. Hard to watch but very important to see.
Channel 3 -- Keep reporting on this. Don't stop. The national media needs to pick this up. The FBI needs to be brought in to investigate the abuses and coverups in that corrupt Sheriff's office. And all the deputies need to be prosecuted for civil liberties violations (the one's that stood by) and sexual assault (the one's that participated).
Keep the faith. And keep reporting.
This was a crime agaist Hope committed by the Sheriff's department.
I think it's been pretty well known that the SCSD uses strip searches as a form of humiliation on female prisoners. When females are processed in to the jail they are asked a series of baited questions that if not answered properly, give the jailers cause to strip them and tie them down.
I took a female friend there to do her 3 days for a minor traffic violation, she had been prepped on what to say by a young lady who recieved that 'special' treatment previously. I believe the question was 'Have you ever thought of hurting yourself?' Of course my friend said no, which was untrue, but she saw girls jumped on by officers of both sexes and dragged off screaming. She noticed from the reactions of the jailers that they seemed to enjoy this part of there work. They seemed to joke around about it and she over heard a few of them talking about which of the new ones they wanted to break during processing.
I believe it's called the 'naked ward'. Yea, they have a name for it, psychopaths. The jailers know they have the best attorneys in the city.
RE: Anonymous said...They should be fired. Just because they are sheriff deputies doesn't mean that they are above the law. 10:38 AM
Yeah, retard. Thanks for being above the law, imprisoning victims, and nearly raping them. Thanks for keeping these victims off the streets and victimized in a controlled environment. I say what's good for the goose is good for the gander. Strip all the officers involved and leave them naked in a cold cell for 6 hours. Make sure the females are stripped by males and vice versa. Then show the video of that and maybe this can all "just go away" as they say.
There's more than one kind of justice. Everybody has to sleep some time.
Tom Meyers did you Check to see if this Deputy Gurlea is still on Road Patrol? This Deputy Should not even Wear the Badge,Tim should off Called Him in and took the Gun & Badge off Him and Those Correction Officers should be Fired and Charges Filed against them and the Deputy. A Korean Vet.
Having been a police officer for nearly 20 years seeing this video sickens and embarrasses me. Throughout my career I don't ever remember such things. Females received a limited pat down search in the field and then were returned to the station where they were thoroughly searched (not stripped) by a female employee. We didn’t have female policemen so it was usually a dispatcher. We (males) weren’t even allowed in the room while this was done per department policy. We had our own jail so I understand the need for security but there is no justification for this type of treatment. This is a straight up civil rights violation and I hope she gets everything she sues for. If I were one of the officers involved I would be a little nervous right now. A civil rights violation also carries with it jail time in a federal prison. Maybe they will get a strip search of their own.
Thank you for airing this story and the Steffey family for having the courage to step forward and share this with all of us. My peace of mind is racing after viewing that video and wondering what if it happened to me or a loved one? Let's hope only good may come out of this and ALL the people responsible are held accountable. Hopefully those involved will see the light and step up to take the responsiblity and punishment they rightly deserve. Cheryl
It is a sex assault by people who have probably done it before and who like doing it. You can tell by looking at the male culprits that it is about sex.
Obviously there is more to this story, then what is being reported. Lets not forget the deputies are filming this to document events. As for calling this a strip search it is not a strip search.
I bet when it is all said and done you will see she would change her clothes to a jail outfit. One reason this is done is so she can can not kill herself.
First I want to say that Tom Meyer is a patriot for pursuing this story when apparently no one else would.
There are so many stories related to this incident that we need to know about:
1. This event happened in October 2006. Why in the heck are we only hearing about this now?
2. Why when I do a Google news search on Hope Steffey do I find only five articles from Ohio. This is a story with national relevance. Why is it that a news search for Brittney will resolve over 30,000 results but Hope Steffey is getting virtually no attention when she is literally the flash point in the battle for liberty?
3. How common is this kind of treatment in Stark County jails and jails across the country. Honestly, that video looks like it comes right out of Abu Ghraib!
A poster from another discussion on this topic at youtube.com writes: "I used to be friends with an Alliance Police officer ( Located in Stark County) and he used to laugh about this type of thing going on all the time (strip searching, etc) He said the joke in the stark county jail was to taunt the prisoner into saying he wanted to kill himself at witch point the officers could then strip the suspect place them in a restraint chair and even administer drugs to completely imbobilize the suspect."
Steffey's attorneys need to be following up allegations like this.
4. Where are we in this case at this point? I'm guessing it is a civil law suit?
5. Where are the prosecutors? I don't care if these officers believed they were performing their "duty." The fact is that you do not treat American citizens this way. Each one of those people needs to see some jail time. Where is their humanity? Look in the eyes of the officer to the upper left of Steffey when he looks into the camera as she is screaming "What are you doing?" There is no humanity in his eyes. These officers are worse than the Blackwater mercenaries roaming the streets of Baghdad.
I'm sorry for such a long post but like the rest of you I am angry and dismayed.
I realize that the Steffey case is the flashpoint in the battle for our very liberty!
Ever since the passage of the USA Patriot Act the American people have been subjected to a series of liberty diminishing laws, and rules and policies. The NSA is performing more surveillance of us than of any actual criminals. And we are just taking it.
I look at the Steffey case as the moment when the true patriots in our country say: NO MORE!
This is it folks.
All of the other posts in this discussions say things like "those officers need to be fired" or "this situation must change" -- well, with sentences like those, nothing is going to change.
What will change this is when we DEMAND that the District Attorney presses criminal charges against all seven of those officer-offenders!
People need to demand the resignation of this Sheriff. Any man of decency would resign when he is exposed to have allowed a climate of abuse to flourish as this climate has.
These officer/abusers are so completely habituated to humiliating American citizens that it is very likely they would not even understand this conversation. Well... I say we provide them with a seat at the defendants table in a criminal prosecution and see how they feel then!
So... THANK YOU Tom Meyer! You are a patriot and you are the only journalist left in the US who is performing the duties of the fourth estate as they were intended to be performed. Do not let the heat you are bound to receive deter you. I hope that you find a partner in the print media so that you can spread these stories in as many venues as possible.
As a Trooper in another state, I can speak from experience. We take this job to be in control. We are taught to take control from the first moment of contact. When she gave the "wrong" ID, that would give any of us in the Brotherhood the protected right to do whatever we could do to protect you from this criminal. We are paid to do this job. Whoever released this video should most certainly be prosecuted for endangering officers of the law. As for strip searching this criminal, I am sure it was for her own good. You guys need to wake up. This is not an isolated incident that you need to get all worked up about. YOU don't work like we work. Our standard procedure is to protect even the criminal if it becomes necessary. And when it is time to strip search a person if only to gain compliance, then it is time! Geeesh. I will grant there might have been a misunderstanding, but don't you see? She was convicted, thus the deputies were in the right. 'nuff said!
Ok people you all need to take a deep breath and think with the brain that god gave you.
First of all you see the video and hear the (victim's) husband and attorney tell the story .Your first reaction is hang the police at the first tree you find.
Well lets talk about the video yes it's distressful to see a woman having her clothes taken off her against her will , but the police taped it for at least two reason that I can see evidence of the so called victim's behavior and evidence that they did not do anything wrong.
If there was some type of crime being done by the police do you think they would have taped it, so her attorney could get it for the law suit( THINK!!!!)
Why would the police subject them selves too a lawsuit and or possible arrest do this? Tape the incident then hand over the tape. In other words break the law and then follow the law by turning over the evidence.
I wasn't there anymore than her attorney or husband was, or you who have seen the video, but I can tell you from experience what may have happen.
The so called victim appears under the influence was involved in some type of fight(domestic) with a family member who most likely also was under the influence of something. When the police arrived at the scene the victim became upset gave the police id of her dead sister, was at some point place under arrest for dis. con while doing this she resisted police.
Also remember she was convicted of two charges resisting arrest and disorderly conduct so a jury of her peers also felt she had broken the law not just the police. Ask your self how come the attorney didn't enter the tape into evidence at court.
While enroute to the jail or at the jail was she combative or did she make some type of threat to harm herself . She was not stripped searched , her clothes were taken so she wouldn't harm her self, but as the video shows she was combative.
Again most of this is just a guess on my part but it's possible . Lets wait for all the facts not just one side before we all judge the police in this incident we owe them at least the same as anyone. No matter who pays their salaries!!!
Get ready for more of this... They're desensitizing American soldiers and police to violence by having them go through all sorts of "training" programs that entail arresting and detaining people for nothing other than being in disaster zones, refusing to turn in firearms, etc... -google: OPERATION URBAN WARRIOR-
What we are seeing in states such as Ohio, and across the Midwest, is nothing short of amazing. Under the guise of fighting the never-ending "war on drugs" we have seen the police become quasi-military units, with armored vehicles, automatic rifles, grenade launchers, SWAT team commando units, and the like. None of that is conducive to building a proper, decent, and effective force of peace officers who can relate to and appreciate the community.
Police used to call citizens, citizens, now they call them civilians... Since when did police become junior soldiers?
We have thousands of cops, who for whatever reason didn't make it into the military (or who are ex-military) running around on a power-trip playing soldier. This becomes dangerous when they have a badge, a gun, and the ability to act with virtual impunity when brutalizing citizens.
What is going on in Stark county???
first Bobby Cutts murders his wife, now these people rough house and humiliate this poor woman. Did Cutts work with these officers? Are they doing mental health screenings of their officers?? Thank you for airing this very important story.
this woman is a joke !
I love police officers, but those officers are a DISGRACE and need to remove their uniforms IMMEDIATELY. You are the reason people think badly of police. You are miserbale human beings and I hope you eternally pay for what you did, when you had no right.
This is incredible! The "officers" should be prosecuted!!! They completely and totally abused their power. And for 2 grown men to be alone with a female, naked female, in handcuffs, with no means to protect herself, for any length of time (even 1 minute) is unconscionable. Where was the law and order? This situation was completely out of order and if my boyfriend and a friend of his did that to some woman on the street, they would be prosecuted! Are "officers" above the law because they have a gun, a uniform, and a badge!?!
I didn't realize that giving someone else's ID - even for "bad" reasons justified a group of people - including 2 men - forcibly taking off a woman's clothes. I guess that "officers" get to be not only make the arrest, but decide the guilt, and issue the punishment in the degree of severity that they deem appropriate. YOU ARE SO KIDDING ME!
The stark county officials have refused to comment during an ongoing investigation, so get your facts straight Tom is not reporting a one sided story, I am sure if that was a loved one of yours you would be commenting very differently. It is appalling that this could happen in the USA, all involved should be fired and brought up on charges of battery and rape!
I haven't read any of the other comments but i did watch the report on TV, 1st it was not a STRIP search.Understand the first person to make contact with the inmate is a NURSE, and the inmate is asked a questions to include do you want to harm yourself or any one else,and depending on how they are answered the NURSE determines if the inmate is placed on SUICIDE,HOMICIDE,OR PSPYCOLOGICAL PERCOCSSION.and whether they can have clothing.If the inmate begins to refuse to remove their clothes,then they are assisted,and if there is a struggle, men are called in to assist.HENCE what you saw on TV.Now if the nurse tells the officer to remove the clothing because they fear SUICIDE,and the clothing isn't removed.THEN you will have a big story that the officer caused the suicide.Let the sheriff do there job ,trust me there was no strip search.
The main page of the Stark County Sheriff's Office says "To Serve and protect". Forcibly strip searching like what we saw in that video was neither serving nor protecting.
The deputies along with their chief need to be tried for civil rights violations. If, no, when found guilty they need to be given lengthy prison sentences, preferably at hard labor, without the possiblility of parole. Everything they own should then be siezed. Cars, homes, college funds, gold teeth, everything. These items should then be sold or auctioned off and the proceeds used to pay for the plaintiff's legal fees , court costs, and of course punitive damages for emotional and physical trauma suffered at the hands of these thugs. Once this precedent is established, perhaps other PUBLIC SERVANTS, because that's all that they are, SERVANTS, will think twice. Remember, when the people fear the government, that is TYRANNY; when the government fears the people, that is LIBERTY.
First off, I think it's sick that there are some people posting responses that praise the law enforcement in question for "doing a good job" and " keeping people like this off the streets". She weighed 125 pounds for crying out loud! My 73 year old grandma could handle a 125 pound woman. She was no threat to them and she was the one who called for help. I know there are two sides to a story but come one people! Wake up! This was excessive to say the least.
Seeing the footage is disturbing even when the victim is a complete stranger but putting it into context is absolutely terrifying. If it was my fiance that called 911 for help, and was then treated rudely and arrested, I'd be pissed. But if i found out that she'd went through what that woman had to go through while in custody, pissed wouldn't describe my anger. I'd want heads not jobs or fines. That type of behavior is inexcusable no matter what. This is America and we're supposed to live in a free society that embraces and values civil rights. That footage might as well be soviet Russia or Nazi Germany. In fact I wish it was becuase it both saddens and terrifies me that that was filmed in America. What has happened to this country? It may have been crappy and one-sided reporting but the video speaks for itself. A frightened, injured 125 lb. woman was forced down by over FOUR officers, two of which were MEN, and was forcibly stripped of her clothing, allegedly denied a phone=call, and left nude,frightened, and injured in a cold cell for SIX HOURS! WTF?! If it were my fiance in that situation, I'd sue the county for so much that their grandchildren's grandchildren would still be paying higher taxes to cover it. I'd want every single law enforcement officer in the county fired, including the sheriff, and demand a publicly televised appology from each of the officers involved. I also suggest that every single officer, both male and female, that was involved be subjected to the exact same treatment in another county jail and see how they like it. Then I'd suggest the involved officers move, change their phone numbers, and their names because my own personal "justice" would be next in line.
And what the heck was the female deputy doing videotaping the whole thing?! Was she going to show it in the breakroom or at parties for kicks and giggles? What was the point?
The skinhead jackboot thugs who strip "searched" Hope Steffey "for her own protection" MUST also be stripped publicly for their own protection, put in Town Square stockades (if there aren't any, make them), blindfolded, pelted with rotten food for a week by any citizen who wants to pelt them, then tarred & feathered and marched through every street in the city where they committed their outrageous crime.
Then they MUST be fired, sentenced to 1000 hours of unpaid community service that requires them to behave humanely. Of course, this is in addition to the legal proceedings underway against their militant-fascist police state, goon brutality.
Their professional LIAR leader should share their public humiliation fate and be exiled to a desolate rock in an inhospitable sea where it can ponder what it means to be a thug and the comeuppance for it.
Also, it is only fair that each of these criminal thugs' beloved mates suffer the same inhumane indignities of getting slammed to the ground, smashed face-first into the cop-cruiser, handcuffed, herded, stripped naked and abandoned on the cement floor of a cold jail cell for 6-7 hours while in need of, but denied medical attention. No Due Process for victimized Hope Steffey, then no Due Process for her "police" attackers. When they protest, taser, mace and club them severely for "disorderly conduct," "resisting arrest," "behavior unbecoming a police officer," "impersonating Law Enforcement officials," and "disturbing the peace." Convict, fine and sentence them accordingly.
Let this JUSTICE be a stern message, admonishment and warning to federal political hacks & bureaucrats who've militarized community police at the behest of Washington, DC's global-elitist masters who are grooming Americans for anti-Constitution martial law.
these perverts should be fired. and I'm talking about the female guards also. Then they should get some jail time. maybe 6 months. Then they should be listed as sex offenders and have to go through all the necessary steps sex offenders have to take. They should have strict parole terms too. lots of counseling.
Of all 95 comments, only about 3 recognize the TRUTH that the USA is being converted into a POLICE STATE. Thank those true Patriots for warning you.
Militarized community police are necessary to impose FASCIST TYRANNY. This is exactly what global elitist puppetmasters scheme to do and are quite successfully implementing in the USA.
In January, a SWAT team in Cannon County, CO stormed through the door of a family's home, threw the parents and children to the floor, handcuffed the parents, stuck a machine-gun in the face of the elder daughter before flinging her to the floor and pinning her there with a knee in her back, AND kidnapped their 10-year old son to abduct him to a hospital for a medical check-up "for his own good" after he fell on his head 30 hours earlier while playing. His father was a military medic and treated the boy immediately after he fell. The family has 10 children. Maybe life gave the parents some similar experience, don't you think?
SWAT threatened the parents that they'd be charged and arrested if they tried to follow the jack-boot thug squad of child abductors. The 10-year-old boy was scared to death by the life-threatening military invasion & assault that rendered his parents helpless, and revealed his home is forever insecure. The result of all this is that the hospital doctor said satisfactory medical treatment had already been rendered [by the father].
The moral of these stories is that We The Victimized American People are being desensitized by above-the-law, super-rich, power-crazy megalomaniacs who want to kill the USA because they think it is the last big obstacle to them consolidating their global domination of Earth. They psychologically filter severely dumbed-down (in publik skools) police wannabes, have senior police good handpick future molesters to add to "the force," and train community police to be little more than rabid hounds. They encourage police to sneer down their noses and scoff at average "civilians" and regard We The Idiots as stupid sheeple. They are taught to have unjustifiable superiority complexes. As though to prove their superiority, they're taught to trump up false charges for the least provocation or none at all.
Meanwhile, so-called "representatives" at all levels of criminal godvernment legislate unjust "law" after unjust "law" into existence. Almost everything John & Jane Q. Public do breaks some "law."
Some comments in this thread show that some of the more aware Americans understand this Truth. About 90% of the comments are from people who feel patriotic about the good ol' USA.
That's great. We The People need such genuine Patriotism because we don't live in the "good ol' USA" anymore. It's been conquered from within by a criminal racketeering 2-name, 1-party political system that forces us to vote for Pure Evil or Hideously Terrible. The lesser of two evils is still evil. We must act as true Patriots to take back America and restore the "good ol' USA" we love.
The poster from Utah got it right that Stark County citizens MUST evict its criminal godvernment's thugs, prosecute them to the maximum extent of all applicable laws, and make damn sure the thugs are punished as severely as possible.
Any posters commenting "Hurrah for the jack-boot thugs!" have their heads so far up their butts that's why their faces are still visible. They're too stupid to even suspect that they're stupid. They're perfect drones for global elitists to press into the anti-Constitution enforcement of police state tyranny and martial law. These are the sociopaths who answer "Yes" when asked by criminal godvernment "authorities" if they'd wield guns/weapons on We The Victimized People to make us "obey the [unjust] 'law'."
Think of Hope Steffey if you have doubts.
Applaud the Steffeys for making public this gross abuse of power by skinheaded mall-guards-gone-wild and their black-uniformed female accomplices.
Applaud channel 3 for reporting this story. It won't break and didn't break nationwide because mainstream propaganda networks are owned by the global elitists that impose their militantly fascist police-state tyranny. Telling & showing Truth is NOT in their brainwashing pogrom.
This is a bitter taste of We The Victims' enslaved future. We must snuff out "the establishment's" evil flashpoints against us. That'll hurt their evil scheme to convert the USA into a communist gulag. It'll be too late later if we don't stop them NOW !!!
This story was forwarded to me by a family member who was, like most people, appalled at the actions of the Stark County Deputies. I then found my way to this blog and feel a need, a duty if you will, to express my opinion in response. I respect others opinions, so please respect mine…to those people who so courageously posted their opinions condemning the deputies’ actions, anonymously. I ask…if you feel your opinion to be proper, what are you ashamed of?
I agree with Matt who expressed his disgust with the manner of the reporting of this story, but of course it happens all the time when law enforcement is involved. People are quick to judge the actions of those who choose to risk their lives to protect ours. Because of the lawsuit the sheriff's deputies are not able to tell their side of the story. Ms. Steffey may have been the victim of a domestic dispute, but I have personally seen victims of domestic violence turn violent upon the arrival of police officers. There is no question in my mind that this was a similar situation and in response I wish to remind everyone, if you don’t wish to be treated like a criminal, don’t act like one.
I ask everyone to please consider, there are two sides to every story. As one daring blogger pointed out, “I am really sick of the tired old excuse of police officers acting like this because of the "dangers" of their job.” To this I say my gutsy friend…BRAVO…you have proven you are an idiot…probably of the criminal nature. When you make the choice to leave your family every night to protect a community, who will probably condemn you at some point for your actions while trying to do so, then you will have earned the right to have such an opinion.
The outcries regarding the number of officer’s used to control Ms. Steffey and the claims of excessive force are in my opinion baseless. If Ms. Steffey were not being resistant and flailing around, I assume one officer would have walked her to her cell. Open your eyes people, multiple officers are used in this situation for the safety of the person in custody, as well as the safety of the officers involved. Without limiting her movement, officers could have been injured or Ms. Steffey could have easily injured herself.
I am appalled at the public reaction on the officer’s behalf ….to wish them all fired and prosecuted when you don’t know the entire story…I must assume that you, are part of the population that these deputies are forced to deal with on a daily basis…And to wish her an exorbitant amount of money…well that is what this is all about now, isn’t it.
Many thanks to WKYC for two things:
Producing this story and creating this blog space for people to discuss this.
Now I have two sad elements to present to this fine TV station:
1. This blog is generating no actual discussion. This is probably not the fault of WKYC. It turns out that all that is happening in this discussion is that appalled people share their disgust and people in law enforcement tell the appalled people to do either of two things: grow up, or get a brain. One even wrote: "Don't break the law and you won't go to jail."
Clearly these law enforcement Einsteins are on the side of the officer/abusers. They see nothing wrong in the treatment of Steffey. That is to be understood as they have been indoctrinated into the obscene culture of abuse that pervade law enforcement agencies across the U.S.
There have been some comments by the appalled and enlightened who see what happened to Steffey as the result of this culture of violence but they have a darker vision for us. These people are implying that we are being "conditioned" not only do violence to one another (if we are in law enforcement) but also to become accepting of violence done to fellow citizens.
I confess that I see that there is some sense to this. What I previously saw as patriotism on the part of Tom Meyer is now appearing little more than an opportunity by those would enslave and violate the American people to see if we are ready to suffer the Blackwater indignities that will surely follow this Steffey case.
Why do I say this?
Sad thing #2: WKYC has forced the removal of this news item from youtube.com -- even when posters were obviously using it in the fair use "educational exemption" that is allowed for by law.
Do a google news search for Hope Steffey -- there are less than 10 items thus far. And yet WKYC wants to jealously guard the copyright of a tape that consists mostly of the public domain footage that was shot by a public employee and shot on a camera that was paid for by public funds.
Clearly WKYC has the right to protect their copyrighted broadcast. Fine. But in this case... one that brings as much attention to your fine station as it does to the unconscionable act o violence that was perpetrated against Hope... all I can do is ask WHY?
And the answer that I come up with is that this was not an attempt to actually bring this to light. It was more like testing the water to see if the chickens are poached enough to start abusing.
Please say that I am wrong.
Please say that you really do want the people know about this and that you will allow the video to be shared, because people need to know about this.
You are not losing one darn thing by people posting that video. Especially those intelligent enough to edit commentary into it. I was shocked when I saw that you had brought the hammer down even on these.
Get with the 21st Century. It's bigger than all of us. And information longs to be free.
Most of the videos you have had removed are back up.
So... to Tom Meyey... Many excellent questions have been asked in these comments. We are all awaiting a new story. One commenter asked why Hope wouldn't be interviewed. It's a fair question.
And why hasn't NBC carried this story nationally? This is bigger than Abu Ghraib and Rodney King. If it is not, it would not be getting posted at youtube by so many people.
Please remember: linux users and mac users have trouble accessing your video stream but those two OSs have no trouble viewing youtube.com.
Please allow the video to appear in as many formats and arenas that it can.
This is the wake up moment for a sleeping generation.
This is what cops do. They are NOT in the business to 'serve and protect'. They are in the business of gathering evidence against any alleged perp they (and they alone) deem to be worthy of arresting. Bullying, intimidating, and threatening are all acceptable tactics to get what they want - the perp to surrender their Constitutionally guaranteed rights (via the 4th, 5th, and 6th Amendments specifically) and incriminate themselves - regardless of whether or not the charges are later deemed to be warranted or not. The average cop is merely a high school graduate, has serious violence issues (studies show upwards of 40% of cops have self-reported domestic violence events versus 10% for the rest of the population), and are trained from the beginning of their academy NOT to 'protect and serve', but rather it's 'us against them'....good guy (LOL) versus 'bad guy'.
Is it any wonder a relatively innocuous woman is stripped naked by a bunch of ruthless vultures?
Thank you for having the courage and independence to report this story. I am sure there are pressures to kill it from the locals.
Information and awareness are the tools needed to battle tyranny. Our right to bear arms is for when we begin to lose.
Those officers should be prosecuted for gang rape. They should lose their jobs and be labeled sexual predators. It was a heinous act and an incredible betrayal of trust.
I find it hard to watch this. It invokes an empathetic self preservation animal type of rage. This intrusion of personal space is certainly a violating assault. This whole event could have been avoided if the officer on the scene would have shown one once of compasion an taken this woman to a hospital instead of jail.
It is illegal for a person to strip themeselves or others in front of strangers in a public place. A person that does this is sure to be labeled a sexual predator. Penatration does not have to occur for there to be a sexual assault.
The officers stripping the woman didn't appear to be anything but matter-of-fact about this portion of their job. It didn't appear they were enjoying this. It seemed that they were doing what they were trained or told to do. The department as a whole needs to take responsibilty for their actions. This is a faulty policy that needs changed immediately. This woman and all others that have found themselves in this position should be compensated. This didn't look like the first time these officers did this. Hopefully our court system will see that it is the last!
The most interesting comment I read was that people taken into custody are baited with questions that give them the right to do as they wish. I have heard the same story from others arrested on misdemeanor charges. This is just as appalling as the young girls at the juvenile detention center that were stripped and laughed at during their "tour" of the facility by a bunch of reject guards. Of course they lost their lawsuit b/c all the perverts with badges stick together. They are not even human beings. This is how they protect us? If the citizen is suicidal or in a state of altered mental status, then take them to an E.R. to receive professional medical care.
This story was forwarded to me by a family member who was, like most people, appalled at the actions of the Stark County Deputies. I then found my way to this blog and feel a need, a duty if you will, to express my opinion in response. I respect others opinions, so please respect mine…to those people who so courageously posted their opinions condemning the deputies’ actions, anonymously. I ask…if you feel your opinion to be proper, what are you ashamed of?
I agree with Matt who expressed his disgust with the manner of the reporting of this story, but of course it happens all the time when law enforcement is involved. People are quick to judge the actions of those who choose to risk their lives to protect ours. Because of the lawsuit the sheriff's deputies are not able to tell their side of the story. Ms. Steffey may have been the victim of a domestic dispute, but I have personally seen victims of domestic violence turn violent upon the arrival of police officers. There is no question in my mind that this was a similar situation and in response I wish to remind everyone, if you don’t wish to be treated like a criminal, don’t act like one.
I ask everyone to please consider, there are two sides to every story. As one daring blogger pointed out, “I am really sick of the tired old excuse of police officers acting like this because of the "dangers" of their job.” To this I say my gutsy friend…BRAVO…you have proven you are an idiot…probably of the criminal nature. When you make the choice to leave your family every night to protect a community, who will probably condemn you at some point for your actions while trying to do so, then you will have earned the right to have such an opinion.
The outcries regarding the number of officer’s used to control Ms. Steffey and the claims of excessive force are in my opinion baseless. If Ms. Steffey were not being resistant and flailing around, I assume one officer would have walked her to her cell. Open your eyes people, multiple officers are used in this situation for the safety of the person in custody, as well as the safety of the officers involved. Without limiting her movement, officers could have been injured or Ms. Steffey could have easily injured herself.
I am appalled at the public reaction on the officer’s behalf ….to wish them all fired and prosecuted when you don’t know the entire story…I must assume that you, are part of the population that these deputies are forced to deal with on a daily basis…And to wish her an exorbitant amount of money…well that is what this is all about now, isn’t it.
These cops are worst than armed thugs and should be sent to prison!
This act was nothing less of torture and rape by the state of Ohio!
Why haven't the FBI gotten involved here? It is unbelievable that this happened not in Russia or some third world dictatorship but right here in the heart of the USA.
This makes me sick and ANGRY!
Charles
She 's not a victim, she a SUSPECT !!! WAKE UP PEOPLE!
These officers should first lose their jobs and second they should spend some time in jail at least 5 years. I thought she was the victim who called the police? Wow!
Even people who feel pity for Mrs. Steffy seem to have forgotten she called 911 because she was injured? Why did 911 send in the skinheads instead of an ambulance?
We have been friends of the Steffeys for almost 30 years and have never seen or heard anything disrespectful or disorderly out of either one of them. Hope is a wonderful mother and grandmother. And Greg is an awesome father and grandfather. He has been very involved in the upbringing of many of our local children as their teacher and coach and friend. It pains us to see what this terrible experience has done to their lives. They are a very respectable family in any community or school district they have resided and worked in. I just can't believe that this has happened to Hope, of all people. She loves her family with all her heart and would never jeopardize them in any way. This unfortunate experience has obviously affected the family as a whole. I do know that if any of this would of happened to either of us 20 years ago we would of really gave the cops a run for their money! Age and Time has slowed us down a little! To all of those who were involved in this whole ordeal God says, "Vengeance Is Mine" and he will take care of all the wrongs that have been done to his children. YOU DON'T MESS WITH GODS BLESSED!!!!!!!! I know that it does'nt make things any easier for them, especially, Hope, but I know she's a very strong woman who will be able to focus on all the positive things in her life. This is not going to be pleasant at all but she will focus on her FAMILY & FRIENDS for support, because that is the kind of person she is. Eventually, this will all be over in the public eye but will remain in every persons heart that witnessed this. I just pray that "TIME" will be her friend and the memories will dim and not sting so horribly. THANK YOU, Hope and Greg for having the stength to bring this to America's attention. Maybe something will be done to change the policies at the station and those who should be treated respectfully, will be treated in a more compassionate manner, especially when they have been the victim. JIM & ROBYN
Unfortunately all across the usa more and more of the people working in law enforcement are as bad or worse abusers than the people they arrest. I firmly believe many law enforcement people would be in jail themselve if they didn't have the ability to work as a police ooficer and get away with abusing people. I have no confidence in law enforcement . If I was this womans husband I'd take a ball bat to the men and the shariff. I hope this woman get millions. I think a just punishement just prior to being fired would be to let her strip all the officers filming it and leaking the tape and let them stay in a cell 6 hours naked. Just another example of a pathetic police depatment.
The strip search video was one of the most disturbing things I have ever seen. I AM OUTRAGED. No one should be treated this way regardless of what they have done or not done. I hope that some body pays for this disguisting incident and that the victim can find the strength and support to put the horror behind her.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Welcome to the New World Order. You must obey the "officers" no matter the situation or you will be charged with resisting arrest. If you resist "authority" they will do everthing to humiliate you. Unless there is video tape of the arrest and you are able to get you hands on it, they can and many times do anything they want to do to you. As my arresting officers said as I was in the back of the car 'it does not matter what you say, there are two of us and one of you and we know who the judge will believe'. Thrown to the concrete with knees in my back, strip searched, and put in a cold cell, cursed at, made fun of in many ways. All this for making an "illegal" left-hand turn. All 4 lawyers I consulted said that I could not get justice. That the officer was right that the judge would belive the officers not the victim. Justice American Style.
Every patrol car should be required to have video and every corner of every jail required to be video taped with the taping in the hands of a neutral third party.
"As a Trooper in another state, I can speak from experience. We take this job to be in control. We are taught to take control from the first moment of contact. When she gave the "wrong" ID, that would give any of us in the Brotherhood the protected right to do whatever we could do to protect you from this criminal. We are paid to do this job. Whoever released this video should most certainly be prosecuted for endangering officers of the law. As for strip searching this criminal, I am sure it was for her own good. You guys need to wake up. This is not an isolated incident that you need to get all worked up about. YOU don't work like we work. Our standard procedure is to protect even the criminal if it becomes necessary. And when it is time to strip search a person if only to gain compliance, then it is time! Geeesh. I will grant there might have been a misunderstanding, but don't you see? She was convicted, thus the deputies were in the right. 'nuff said!"
You take this job to be in control? What happened to the protect and serve LIE? I love how you scumbags show your true mentalities online. Look up Authoritarian Personality Disorder, thugscum. What makes you think that you should be in charge of anything? Your "training"? Please. You and your kind are just the idiot jocks we all had to deal with in high school. Big surprise--you couldn't stand one on one then either. Always in a gang like a bunch of cowards. The "Brotherhood"? You make me f___ing sick, you glorified frat boy. Endangering officers of the law? What are you so afraid of? The tape shows the truth. Are you afraid of the truth? I guess that's why you "lose" those dashcam videos so often. We need to wake up? YOU need to wake up to the fact that you are an indoctrinated idiot with an unjustifiably arrogant attitude. If we were to meet, I would prove it to you beyond all doubt. That's why you need fifty weapons and a radio to call for help like a f___ing schoolgirl. Humiliation and degradation is for her own good? Thanks, but no thanks. I think we'd all rather you just allow us to kill ourselves. It's not an isolated incident, you are correct. This happens far too often in our so-called free country. We don't work like you do, you are correct again. We have real jobs where we provide real services to people who choose to do business with us. YOU, on the other hand, do nothing but pretend to offer us safety while you taze us to death and beat us senseless while collecting a welfare check for producing nothing but revenue for your bosses. You are just a simple-minded pawn. A conviction doesn't mean a d___ed thing and you know it. It is only proof of how screwed up your system really is. Those deputies were in the right? No self-respecting man of any caliber, in any position, could do what those deputies did and feel justified in their actions. Again, this just shows how sick you and your kind really are. Until you and your INFERIOR kind are gone forever, there will never be enough said.
Heather...Athens, Ohio said...
"This story was forwarded to me by a family member who was, like most people, appalled at the actions of the Stark County Deputies. I then found my way to this blog and feel a need, a duty if you will, to express my opinion in response. I respect others opinions, so please respect mine…to those people who so courageously posted their opinions condemning the deputies’ actions, anonymously. I ask…if you feel your opinion to be proper, what are you ashamed of?"
Heather what? You are just as anonymous as everyone else on this board, you hypocrite. It's a good thing too, because if you had posted your last name, I'd be on my way there to strip search you "for your own protection" and see what you have to say then. You are clearly too stupid to be left to your own devices and a danger to yourself and others.
It takes 7 people to do this? Whimps! Bullies...I'd sue the pants off you...payback is going to
be a bi*__--sorry, that was clear brutality. Pictures don't lie guys.
I can NOT believe that ANYONE, law enforcement or not, could possibly feel good or defend any second of this toture and humiliation being done to that woman!
This was nothing but a horrific, violation of that person. There is NO REASON WHATSOEVER for a HANDCUFFED WOMAN to be stripped NAKED by several people, ESPECIALLY at least 2 of them being MEN! That is AWFUL! What good reason could they have??? SHe was a VICTIM!
There was NO reason she needed to be naked. NONE. Disorderly conduct, MY ARSE! She was HORRIFIED. You hear it in her scream. SHe was SCARED for her safety. I would be too if that were me.
What I was watching was so against the law and against humanity. That video is evidence of a RAPE being conducted in that cell.
Those officers should be fired! Any and all involved and assisting need to be FIRED! THE COUNTY, which is the TAX PAYERS OF THE COUNTY, should not "pay." those PEOPLE violating the rights and spirit of that human should pay. Their boss who told those officers that was acceptible conduct should pay with his job. The person video taping that event should be fired. They all should pay with their job and NEVER be allowed in a law enforcement position EVER. THOSE PEOPLE SHOULD NOT BE EARNING OUR TAX MONEY!
Disgusted that any loving, honest, honorable human being could think that was acceptable.
Let's say Steffy is a threat to herself, then why after being handcuffed was the need to strip her and leave her in a cell for 6 hours? Why did male officers have to strip her? That is what I see wrong here and that is why I hope she gets justice.
Can anyone think of a reason that this story is not as big as Rodney King?
This is America 2007. Look what we have become a country full of hate for each other. God please help us.
If someone is in danger of hurting them self, they should be watched, not stripped. The whole idea of stripping someone of their clothing should be illegal. It is done to humiliate and degrade, no other reason. The police are using it just to show the power they have over another person. It is easy for them to become sadistic when they are in an environment like a jail house. There needs to be a law passed against it. Write your Congressman!
Another Anon writes:"This is America 2007. Look what we have become a country full of hate for each other. God please help us."
Let's look at what God has already done to help you solve this situation:
He has made you aware of it... something that no other news org beside WKYC has the guts to do.
He has give you the power to read, think, write and communicate...
The rest is up to you.
Like another poster said: Contact your congress people.
I personally have been contacting news organizations. I have contacted the Ohio Attorney General. I have contacted the ACLU...
I don't know what effect these small efforts of mine are having but I can't care about that. If I want other Americans to be spared the kind of humiliation and abuse that was dished out to Hope, I just have to keep trying.
I suggest that you apply a little effort with your prayers.
NOTE: There is a button here that allows you to get updates from this conversation mailed to you -- click it. That's a small thing you can do to at least keep this story alive and in front of you until we can get it in front of the rest of the Nation.
It is disgraceful that the citizens of middle America must now fear to call the police for help. When did sexual assault by law enforcement become acceptable in America. Live in fear of criminals, live in terror of the state.
Cops are bullies. They become cops because they enjoy pushing other people around. That's the truth.
I hope the sheriffs deputy's who were involved with this get the same thing done to them in jail by the imates!!! Then lets see how they like it!
How is it possible that the news story about the guy in Florida that Sheriff's dumped from his wheelchair is getting 644 hits in a Google News Search and this story is still getting under ten?
They should be fired and sentenced to 20 years jail.
"How is it possible that the news story about the guy in Florida that Sheriff's dumped from his wheelchair is getting 644 hits in a Google News Search and this story is still getting under ten?"
Because the weelchair guy story was on the NBC Morning show and as far as i know this story hasn't
hit the national media yet..Don't worry,it's making it's way around MySpace and youtube now which is where i saw it..people are noticing..I am sickened by both stories..Cops pullcrap like this all the time..Difference is-now the cameras are catching them,,Can we say Rodney King?
This is outrageous! These police officers should be fired and charged with rape! Camera's should always be capturing officers in the line of duty and should never be off... Somehow made to where noone can tamper with them either because just as someone else said, "if there was no video it wouldn't be believed...it would be her word against the cops!" The police need big brother watching them all the time everywhere they go! Who's policing the police? I hope she wins a gigantic lawsuit and the cops involved are fired and charged with everything possible!
Do they honestly think we are to believe she would kill herself with her own underwear?
Many years ago I was a uniformed cop assigned to cell attendant duties in a Manhattan precinct.
During the tour a prisoner removed his outer garments, stuffed them in the toilet, and flushed the toilet in an unsuccessful attempt to drown himself. We removed his clothing from the toilet and left him sitting there in his socks, briefs and t-shirt while waiting for an ambulance to arrive and transport him the the local psych ward.
Ten minutes later he used his socks and briefs as a noose and attempted to hang himself.
So in answer to your query, yes there are instances when emotionally disturbed people will use their undergarments as instruments when attempting to cause their own demise.
While watching this video I was shocked and horrified that male officers would participate in removing a female prisoner's garments..and then force her to sit there naked for six hours.
The police had every right to forcibly remove items that could be used in a suicide attempt...but male officers should not have participated in removing her garments. Nor should the prisoner been forced to sit there naked for six hours.
This was clearly sick and inhumane treatment on the part of the officers. I feel ashamed for what they did to this prisoner.
Does anyone know what substance(s), if any, the prisoner was under the influence of at the time she was arrested?
Think that video will be on the Ohio tourist web site? Does anyone think this will be easily forgotten? I live in Florida and I am linking everyone I know across the U.S of this video. Hopefully, it will not get lost among the numerous other videos of police ignorance and brutality across this once great nation.
I am appalled that some of the comments here believe the strip search was justified. They are as sick as those officers. They performed that act for their own perverted violent reasons. Their photos and names should be on familywatchdog.org as criminals.
I hope the Sheriff and all those officers lose their job or get reassigned to park service with bathroom cleanup detail for the rest of their lives.
This just goes to show the level of incompetence in law enforcement today - a result of the declining state of U.S education standards. These officiers showed not one single ounce of human decency.
A caring former police officer asks, "Does anyone know what substance(s), if any, the prisoner was under the influence of at the time she was arrested?"
I suppose it's a good question but I confess I do not see how it applies to the evidence that is visible in the video.
I do not care if she was on PCP or Hells Own Metamophosing Pills Of Werewolfism...
She was clearly not a threat to these officers.
And considering she had only just been attacked by her cousin, there is no reason to assume that she was a threat to herself.
It's not like they took her down off of a ledge.
Somehow they managed to interpret her response of "now or ever" as meaning, I am a dangerous psychopath who needs her clothes ripped off by sadists...
Nice.
Welcome to the United States... wait until Blackwater troops start patrolling our streets if you really liked this.
And remember: The officers that get fired from Stark County Sheriff's Department will be rewarded with high paying gigs working for Blackwater... and where will Blackwater thugs be patrolling? Our streets.
Excellent.
The report indicates that the arresting officer's dash board cam is missing video portions of the incident... otherwise know as evidence tampering! Apparently an attempt by the officer(s), and or other police personnel, to distroy evidence in an effort to CYA, (COVER YOUR ASS).
Based on the video - they, (the police and any other involed personnel) should be placed on unpaid administrative leave pending investigation.
However, having seen enough for myself in the way of the video I would conclude that they are incompetent, violated the public trust, abused authority, and acted criminally.
Fire them, then prosecute them - then incarcerate them.
It's rouge cops like these who make all police look bad.
Of course the police will argue that they were just doing thier job, just following orders... but wasn't that the excuse the Nasi's used? I'd like to know how these police would want thier wife, mother, sister, daughter treated by other police?
The victims dignity is still intact.
I think these cowardly criminal police have violated or taken the dignity away from all responsible law enforcement by thier criminal behavior.
Had I been present and a police officer/deputy sheriff sworn to protect and serve I would have protected her from those criminal police/deputies, and that is what any good cop would have should have done.
It's obvious that most police are "trained" and do not think for them selves. I'll bet most don't even know the U.S. Constitution.
The deputies’ actions were not only unwarranted, but totally outrageous. The entire Stark County community should be ashamed to have these individuals that have been sworn to uphold the law as deputies. The sheriff and any other official that defends these actions needs to be relieved of their position and forbidden from holding any public office in the future.
It is my sincere hope that any litigation brought against Stark County, the Sheriffs Department and the deputies is successful.
I’ve been in law enforcement for 30+ years, and the behavior of the deputies’ involved is not only inexcusable but sickening.
This is utterly wrong and I wouldn't have been surprised even if the victim pulled out one of the officer's gun and shot em.. She would've been defending her honor yet without that and just screaming for help is disorderly conduct? All of their badges should be taken away forever, NOT suspension, NOT with pay, just the real deal of being fired forever from police or any government jobs.
I have a female friend who was also strip searched and left naked in the Stark County jail for 6-8 hours in Dec 07. She was also denied use of the restroom and food or drink. Maybe there needs to be a large lawsuit against Stark County- we see the type of cops they have. i.e. Bobby Cutts
To anyone who has heard of other behavior like the behavior you witnessed in the video:
Contact - Marc Dann
Ohio Attorney General
State Office Tower
30 E. Broad Street, 17th Floor
Columbus, OH 43215-3428
(614) 466-4320
Marc Dann is investigating this event and he needs to know that there is a clear pattern of abuse among these deputies!
It is plain that you are not asking for anything here except a lynch mob.
We don't really know what happened or may have led up to the search.
If they did it for no reason they should be punished, ob the other hand let's wait until we have all the information before we judge.
There are too many things that can come into play in a situation like this to have a "knee jerk" reaction.
Look at Rodney King.
Someone writes: If they did it for no reason they should be punished, ob the other hand let's wait until we have all the information before we judge.
There are too many things that can come into play in a situation like this to have a "knee jerk" reaction.
Wow. Clearly they did this for a reason. The reason was very simple: They did it because they enjoy doing it and because they can do it. The 4th installment of this story mentions a woman who was stripped naked when she went to clear up something that involves a home schooling citation. Clearly the officers are out of control and need to be removed from this force and placed in a prison so that other officers can be informed: the citizens of the United States will not tolerate this kind of behavior from our law enforcement.
I used to live in the Cleveland area, not too far from Stark County.
I'd like to comment on what this all means to our society and our culture. If you look at all the comments here about how these officers should be fined, fired, stripped naked themselves or even murdered, you might wonder how the police are able to function in our society at all. You'd be suprised to hear that in a whole year in the entire United States, only about 75 or so officers become homicide victims while serving in the line of duty. Fortunately for all of us, typing that something should be done in a forum like this one is a far, far cry from actually going out and performing that action.
You can't also help but be struck by the comments that run along the lines of either "she was a criminal who got what she deserved", or "I'm sorry this looks bad to you, but this is what we have to do in jail - we have no other choice."
Well, it's pretty obvious from the comments here that this is not what most people want to have happen in jail. And even given the presumption that she was suicidal and disruptive, it's hard to imagine why the five female officers in the cell weren't enough to control her, why more wasn't done to calm and reassure her DURING the process of removing her clothes, and why she had to be left completely naked in the cell without a blanket or paper dress for six hours.
Perhaps everything was done in accordance with policy, but it seems obvious that the people have spoken. Either that policy must change, or public trust in our police will decline even further.
One sign of a third world nation is that people are as afraid of police as they are of criminals, so most crimes do not get reported. Crime is rampant, to the point where the police do not provide security and become just another "gang" for people to contend with. Other civilized countries have fallen into this sorry state, and if it isn't checked, it could happen here.
I'm also troubled by some of the posts here implying that this sort of abuse on the grounds of inmate safety for females is systematic in Stark County. Certainly many people will be distraught in jail, and will be at as high a risk for suicide at any time in their life. But when it becomes well known in the community that a female must respond to questions in a strict and non-intuitive pattern or else be forcibly stripped and left nude in a cell, something besides protecting the most vulnerable of inmates is going on. I hope that isn't the case, and I hope that if it is some serious changs are in order.
For a man to love his country, his country should be lovely. A country is not lovely when it's inmates are treated the way we saw Hope Steffey treated on that tape, no matter how they've behaved up to that point.
Three cheers to eljefe3126 -- the post directly above this one -- he is clearly trying to sift through the strong emotions that are stirred up by this event.
I hope that I am not among the group he claims hoped the officers would be hurt. I know I haven't felt that and I think if there are posts to that effect they are probably written by children or people off meds.
I do know that I am in the group who believes that these officers need to be tried in a court of law -- I believe that if they are found guilty by a jury of their peers they should definitely be imprisoned. Why? Not simply to "punish" them -- but as an example to other law enforcement types that our society will not tolerate this kind of behavior.
eljefe3126 ends his post by saying:
"A country is not lovely when it's inmates are treated the way we saw Hope Steffey treated on that tape, no matter how they've behaved up to that point."
Amen. eljefe3126 also brought up how similar this event was to things that happen in third world countries where people are afraid of the police.
Clearly the attitudes that officers are being encouraged to maintain are scary. Look in these deputies faces. These hear people without souls.
The question is: What training is turning our once fine officers into machines or animals. And then the next question is: Who benefits when you turn the police into beasts?
All the other questions fall in line after that one.
Please continue to keep this thread alive.
Hope Steffey deserves it. And so do the American people. Let's not let this outrage drift off the radar so that they can bury us in more tripe about Britney.
I'm not naive enough to know there isn't another side either.
For a fact we can all probably guess what went down.
Hope gave the cop a hard time about the license.
Cop blows his cool and gets pissed.
Slams her into the squad and then puts her on the ground to cuff her.
Takes her to the station, goes inside to alert the others he has a trouble maker and wants to 'set her up'. (Why go in alone?)
This is ALL a setup.
He goes back out to get her and tells her she can GO HOME after some questions.
They do indeed get her to say something stupid.
And they get to video her while they forcibly strip her naked 'for her own safety'.
The sheriff says that these things are UNPLEASANT for the deputies to do, even as what looks to be the whole night shift goes to watch. (8 people, 4 men & 4 women)Looks like they have made it a spectator sport to me.
And then they leave her six hours naked in the cell and then book her, again naked, except for a vest. (Which is completely BS again.)After she's was told she would be going home and then decide to charge her.
With no tapes and her word against the officer, she lost.
But I wonder what the jury would say if they had ALL the evidence.
She's going to kill herself while they escort her to booking? And then she's released, when they think she's suicidal? I call BS on this.
The crap hit the fan, and now they are trying to use the 'buddy system' to try to get away with this.
This is probably almost exactly what happened.
AND IT IS BS!! NO ONE should have to go through something like that for a misdemeanor. Let alone the victim that has been knocked unconscious. And I'm almost sure to a person that if it was anyone's wife on here, they would be going through the ceiling.
These criminals need to be rounded up & imprisoned!
EDIT: Yeah theres more to this story alright......theres a pattern of abuse in Stark County...
Teens Strip Searched in warped 'Scared Straight' in Stark County
http://www.cantonrep.com/index.php?I...ubCategoryID=0
Four More women come forward:
http://www.wltx.com/news/story.aspx?storyid=59226
CBS news comments:
http://search.cbsnews.com/?source=cb...Steffy&x=0&y=0
As outraged as I was about this incident, I was even more appalled when I started searching the internet and found case after case of the same type of abuses, and I found out that the Bill of Rights & 4th Amendment are no protection at all apparently from attacks like this by police.
Police need a warrant to search your house, but it seems the “law” doesn’t apply to the person themselves. And the interpretation and application of a “strip search” varies wildly from city to city, county to county and state to state.
Most of the time, it is said only to be allowed if the officer suspects you to have a weapon or drugs. But in practice this isn’t always the case. And in instances of abuse, it’s almost never the case.
Basically it comes down to this, the police can FORCE a strip search on you at any time or place. Even in a public place in view of bystanders or your neighbors. Let alone at the station with a trumped up disorderly conduct charge or something similar.
Your only recourse is to report the incident or take it to court in a lawsuit. The internal investigations are notorious for siding with their officers, even when wrong. Although it seems quoting that it is within ‘standards’ is supposed to excuse the police. I suppose to do otherwise would be to invite a lawsuit. And once a victim has gone through the process, what good is the police coming back and admitting they were wrong, or winning a lawsuit, the damage is already done. Innocent people are scarred for life.
And there have been many lawsuits for these actions, the surprising thing is nothing has been done to cure the problem and restore protections of the 4th amendment.
I believe if police need a warrant for a residence, then they absolutely should need a warrant to strip search a person.
As for the Stark County 'protocols', in Steffy’s case, the POLICE are not supposed to be able to 'punish' you for a 'crime' they THINK you might commit!!!
And with this suicide 'watch' that’s exactly what they are doing!
The excuse that it is for a persons own good is BS. And not part of their function.
If they REALLY think someone is suicidal, then they need to be transferred to a medical facility that is equipped to give a REAL diagnosis and handle patients like that. Plus they would have all the medication & equipment for people that may REALLY be suicidal.
NOT FORCEABLY STRIPPED NAKED AT THE JAIL!!
To NOT get them to a mental health facility is as much denying them medical help, as if they were hurt & bleeding and they didn't take them to a hospital!!
This whole thing needs to be changed or taxpayers will be paying lawsuit after lawsuit. It’s OUTRAGEOUS!
And some police would have you believe that a strip search is needed to search for ‘weapons or drugs’. With a pat down and all the metal detectors & wands we have, I don’t see the weapons search excuse as valid either.
Most court houses have detectors at the entrance to scan for weapons, either they are effective and stop the weapons, or they aren’t effective and they are a waste of money. You can’t have it both ways.
And if we are depending on winning the “War on Drugs”, by pulling down the underpants of women & children, then we are in big trouble.
I see the state AG is having problems of his own with sexual charges.
How can we expect a fair investigation of Hope Steffy's case, when the investigator seems to be part of the problem??
I also know probably what the state AG is up to. They are holding off on the investigation, until the settlement.
Which is supposed to be sometime this month.
Then more than likely, the settlement will include stuff to kill the rest of the investigation.
An official at the sheriff's dept claims this will not happen. That everything will come out after the state investigation is complete.
I been around the block a couple times and I didn't just get off the banana boat.
I'm calling BS on this, if I'm wrong, so be it. But I think they will quietly try to bury this in the settlement.
Anyone care to bet me $20?
How sad. We have these violations on video tape. And now you tell me that the AG is dragging his feet in the hope that all of this can be pleasantly swept under the carpet so that the status quo will go on unchallenged and unchanged.
Forgive me if I have forgotten the name of the intrepid reporter who broke this story for us. But isn't this the way that they hope it goes down? Another poster here has mentioned the alarming number of cases like this one. We get outraged for a day or so and then we all go back to watching American Idol or whatever it is.
I have not forgotten the name of Hope Steffey, however. I continue to search her in the Google News area and I see that she has disappeared.
I am grateful that I am subscribed to this discussion so that I can get these updates or I would not know anything. Thanks for John55 for the update.
I did not know that a settlement was pending.
I find it deeply sad that there has been no progress with the investigation.
John55 pens his note here as if he believes people are still paying attention. I would not even know how to navigate to this discussion if I did not have it bookmarked or be subscribed to it.
I felt like it one time had enough energy to actually help in the cause of justice. Now it seems that Hope Steffey will receive a payment for her humiliations and the whole thing will quietly disappear.
That's just wrong.
Hope Steffey needs to be compensated but these officers also need to sit in court and be charged for their crimes.
Other officers of the law need to know that the American people will not stand for this.
John55 -- you are likely the only person on the planet monitoring this discussion, I'll ask you directly:
How can we keep this topic alive?
Can we write the AG and ask what the progress is? Can we ask if there is a plan?
Clearly the Sheriff involved is a wants to defend his officers at all cost. What about that oter Sheriff -- the older guy from another county who went on record saying the actions of the officers were deplorable? Could we contact him.
I just don't want to see nothing happen with this.
It was in fact a crime against all of us. I picture my own sisters being treated that way -- lord knows they might disturb the peace some day -- I want to know that they are safe from this kind of violence at the hands of our public servants.
To everyone: What can we do?
To Tom Meyer (I looked it up): What is going on? Are there no more stories on this? Is there anywhere else to dig? I have always said this was your moment! Please stay with it!
Trained people deal differently with potential suicides: they just watch them: they may place them in special restraining jackets but they definitely don't strip them naked.
Having said that, I would caution anybody when they are dealing with Stark County Uniformed people, better yet: avoid them at all costs: if you can, stay out of the county.
Watching this episode when it first aired was a very upsetting episode for me (yes, I have been suicidal).
For anyone who didn't see the update Monday night on WKYC: Investigator Exclusive: Strip search case prompts 5th woman to come forward
Thanks for the link, Dan.
And thanks to Tom for making some effort to connect the dots for the people.
It is very nice to make note of the fact that not even terrorists are not asked to strip naked (except in Abu Graib). Of course Stark County Deputies probably do not find terrorists as attractive as either Elizabeth or Hope.
I appreciate the reference to 9-11. I believe that even in these local situations involving regular citizens (presumed innocent until proven guilty) that local law enforcement has been emboldened by provisions of the so called USA Patriot Act.
It is strange that the first skirmishes against the Police State would actually happen in Ohio.
Thanks to everyone at WKYC who is helping keep the people informed on this.
Utah Parents
I have done all I can think of to keep this in the public eye. I have contacted everyone I can think of and posted on web pages, blogs, news pages, television show messages and these type of message boards.
I have added a tagline to all my emails and even did a email campaign, to let other people know what is going on.
I plan on contacting the Ohio governor next about getting Marc Mann off the investigation. I think he has shown himself to be part of the problem, and is probably too close to the officials in that county.
I have also called the sheriffs office about the missing video.
Their response was that "it "probably" would be released to Steffy's lawyers in discovery"
I repeated "PROBABLY"??!?!?!
This is how I got the impression that they are holding off as long as they can with the video that could probably send they all to prison. And why I think the investigation will stop after the settlement.
I also talked to the Stark County Prosecutor John Ferrero on the phone about the three teen girls that were stripped before Steffy's case came up.
And of course I have contacted all my state & federal reps. They have been trying to ignore me as best they can. ;)
I get the feeling that strip searches are a political football.
Some police would have you believe that a strip search is needed to search for ‘weapons or drugs’.
With a pat down and all the metal detectors & wands we have, I don’t see the weapons search excuse as valid either.
Most court houses & police have detectors at the entrance & portable wands, to scan for weapons, either they are effective and stop the weapons, or they aren’t effective and they are a waste of money.
You can’t have it both ways.
John55,
Thanks for your tireless efforts on behalf of our liberty.
I too have sent letters to the AG's office. In the very canned replies I have received, Hope Steffey's name is actually mispelled!
Have you seen this? Could it be some way to confuse later searches for the correspondence or something like this? I realize that might sound paranoid but I can't see how an attorney's office could misspell the name of someone involved in a complaint of this magnitude.
May our voices echo in this empty chamber until it becomes full of cries for justice!
-- UPR
Hope J Steffy is the correct spelling.
Some people have claimed that she had another DUI and a couple of speeding tickets, but thats the other Steffey.
The problem comes when some of the wrong "Steffey's" court records are listed with "Steffy's" street address, BUT with the right zip code.
So they have this address listed:HOPE J STEFFEY Birth Date: 04-04-1966 346 MORGAN CRT SALEM OH 44706
This is the wrong woman, listed with the right Steffy's street address, except for the zip code.
There is no street address like that in that listed zip code.
Here is the correct address for 'the other' Steffey:HOPE J STEFFEY Birth Date: 04-04-1966
3715 KRISHER SW CANTON OH 44706
Same zips on both addresses.
I have contacted the clerk to alert them to the 'mixup'.
Still no change, so far. Hmmmm
Heres a link to all the local courts, so everyone can look:
http://www.starkcjis.org/
Correctional HealthCare Group is supposed to be the ones that are saying these women are ALL SUICIDAL, even this last case involving a woman that is employed by a detention prison!
She was deemed suicidal after making a lane change without signaling!?!??!
Now the sheriff's dept is saying that that decision was made by the personnel that they contract out to, not the police.
Of course she was a good looking blonde, that was sexually harassed by the cops, and then found to be suicidal, by someone the cops work with all the time.
Oh yeah, no collusions there.
When is Channel 3 News going to air the rest of the video they already have? It has become pretty obvious now that we are only seeing some chopped up pieces of what appears to be longer segments. It would be nice to see these in order to get the whole picture.
I don't know if the previous comment was intended as negative criticism or not but I have to say that considering no other station is investigating this at all, Channel 3 is doing an awesome job.
Frankly, I would love it if they had a crew to follow around your criminal sheriff 24/7 until he just broke down and started sobbing about his complicity in this matter but I don't think it would be worth the air time.
In short, while I too can't wait for more news on this topic, more video may not necessarily mean more information.
Anonymous, Channel 3 will probably show more video if sheriff Swanson ever releases it.
When this lawsuit was first filed the lawyers had to go back and file for the video, the sheriff did NOT willingly give it up.
And when he did, it was, as you say, highly edited.
Then channel 3 got a building video, that showed Hope being paraded down the hall with what looked to be the whole night shift of the jail. EIGHT people. It shows her CLEARLY being videoed by staff.
But THAT video was not turned over by the sheriff.
The sheriff ALSO claimed that the news was just releasing a edited version, then when the news denied this, the sheriff then said he didn't know what all video they had. Which was strange, because they were supposed to release it ALL!
And as the 5th victim comes forward with abuse charges against the jail the sheriff AGAIN releases a highly edited tape that just shows Steffy in the vest going to get booked.
As of May 5th the sheriff still has NOT turned over all the video.
I had contacted WKYC news to ask if it had been released yet.
Then I personally called the sheriff's dept to ask if it had been turned over to the news and Steffy's lawyers.
Their response was that it "probably" would be turned over to Steffy's lawyers in discovery.
I responded with "PROBABLY"!?!?!?
The police claim that Steffy was verbally & physically abusive, but I have NOT seen ANY video to back up their claims.
On the other hand all of the video so far seems to back up EVERYTHING Steffy has said, so far.
Someone is holding out on us, but it isn't the news.
I have a feeling that the WHOLE video tape will back up everything Steffy is saying. And instead of just losing a lawsuit, people involved will be looking at jail time.
Matt said...
"I have never seen such
irresponsible reporting in my entire life. If you are unable to acquire only one side of a story, especially one of this nature, you should not be reporting on it. How dare you call for punishments on hard-working and dedicated deputies when you have yet to hear their side of the story. Maybe there is a reason you are the only station reporting this story and maybe there is a reason why I avoid your news programs. Unbelievable..."
...however - you took the time to come to their website, post a response, and state your feelings about a channel that you "avoid". Sadly - this is more about police and the "long arm of the law" - than rights. Rights cease to exist when you are arrested/taken into custody (truthfully/to an extent). I would understand if she was "fighting" or if she was "kicking and spitting" - but this woman had to be held down and stripped by 7-8 officers? She's 100 and change wet....
To those who state that people will have to apologize for their statement - will you apologize when this happens to your daughter? Your Mother? Will you stand by and say nothing? If so then you are just as evil as the police of Stark County that participated in this asinine behavior.
My son is a patrolman and a summa cum laude; I understand the difficult circumstances & the officer's side of things. But male cops assisting in forcing this screaming woman to total nudity (even her panties for the love of God) is such an outrage of horrible judgement! She was gang raped except for the penetration part. Even the sheriff of another Ohio county said he would have immediately fired these officers if they were his. Many women might attempt suicide after this --were they trying to make the "suicide watch" a self-fulfilling prophecy? Concerning "jumping to conclusions", what we must most avoid is being so attached to one side that we try to justify an outrage of this proportion.
Matt wrote "To those who state that people will have to apologize for their statement - will you apologize when this happens to your daughter? Your Mother? Will you stand by and say nothing? If so then you are just as evil as the police of Stark County that participated in this asinine behavior."
I realize that there are far more posts here that are condemning of the sheriffs' actions than there are posts sympathetic to their side, but I too am astonished that there are even any posts that seem to be taking the side of the sheriff's in this situation.
Your comments seems to get to the heart of it: these people who sympathize with the abuse captured on tape simply cannot understand that this can happen to them and their loved ones.
This case is much bigger than Stark County.
We have to stop this behavior here (by severely punishing these officers) or it is going to become much worse as it spreads across our once fine nation.
It is heartening that even a parent of a patrolman can watch this tape with horror and take the time to chime in about this atrocity. Thanks for that.
John55 -- Thanks for the clarification about the spelling and for being so on top of this.
Has anyone heard if the ACLU is looking into this for civil rights violations?
What protections does the Bill of Rights and the Constitution offer us against behavior like this?
From my last post, I am thinking that the FBI really needs to be looking into this. The whole state of Ohio's laws are illegal. Since they seem to go against the 4th amendment.
Anonymous I also have family in the police. I have friends that I have worked with for 30 years in the sheriff's dept, besides knowing other police in the state patrol. I even have a prison guard, at a max prison, living across the street that I chat with.
Not one of them has sided with the Stark County Sheriff's dept.
Oh BTW heres something I found on the net while searching for info:
Teachers Authorized to Search/Strip Search Students
H.R. 3291, The Student and Teacher Safety Act of 2007
This is the same as the The Student and Teacher Safety Act of 2006.
In 2006 this bill PASSED the congress and died in the senate.
And now here it is yet AGAIN!
This MANDATES that schools have rules setup for TEACHERS to search students...up to, and INCLUDING STRIP SEARCHES!!!
We don't have enough teacher/student abuse, now they want to make it legal!!
Any politician voting for this will not only NOT get my vote, but I will spread the word far & wide as to what they are up to.
I will be screaming bloody murder if this passes and I won't stop till its revoked.
I cannot believe that only a civil suit is pending in the Hope Steffey case. These deputies should be behind bars for their reprehensive abuse of Hope Steffey's rights.
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