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Chief offers apology to family
By MOLLY MOORHEAD ZEPHYRHILLS -- Police Chief Jerry Freeman apologized Monday to members of a family who complained that an officer used excessive force against them. The Police Department's internal investigation found that Officer Robert Pittman should have handled the situation differently when he approached several men gathered in the yard of an Airport Road home on Dec. 8, according to a report released Monday. "We're admitting we're wrong," Freeman said. Pittman drove past the house, at 5350 Airport Road, about 2:30 p.m. and cautioned one of the men, who was seated on a dirt bike, not to ride in the clay pits near the airport. Rubin "P.J." Pickett Jr. agreed, and Pittman drove on. But Pittman returned moments later and asked to see Pickett's registration after he recognized the dirt bike as one he had tried to pull over on Nov. 24. The situation grew more hostile as a crowd of 15 to 20 gathered in the yard, and Pittman threatened to use his pepper spray on several people, according to the report and witnesses. Pickett, 30, and his cousin Orion McCants, 31, were put into handcuffs but not taken to jail. They face no charges. Monday's report said Pittman, 23, was justified in displaying his pepper spray because the crowd was becoming aggressive. But Pittman failed to communicate effectively and to explain his reason for questioning Pickett. His "lack of experience and diplomacy" let the matter get out of control, the report states. Pittman, who was hired in March 2001 and has a clean record, will be cited for conduct unbecoming a member of the Police Department, receive a written admonishment and be required to attend a class on diversity, the report states. Freeman met Monday with Frankie McKenzie, who owns the house, and Geraldine McCants, McKenzie's sister and a member of the city's Planning Commission. Orion McCants is her son. "We told them the truth," Freeman said. "That's all we could do." McKenzie declined to comment, except to say she has no plans to sue over the matter. But Pickett, an employee at Zephyrhills Bottled Water Co., said a citation on Pittman's record does not satisfy him. "He's going to still be an employee there. He's going to still treat people the same," Pickett said. "That's just a piece of paper in the file." -- Molly Moorhead covers news about Zephyrhills and crime in east Pasco. She can be reached at (352) 521-5757 or toll-free at 1-800-333-7505, ext. 6108, then 29. Her e-mail address is moorhead@sptimes.com
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From today's Pasco Times |
