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June 9, 2005

Yawu Miller

Standing in front of the Greater Love Tabernacle, a coalition of community activists called on the Middlesex County district attorney to investigate an incident in which five black teenagers were arrested following an altercation with Medford police.

“We’ve come together to let the community know that racism is alive and well in the Greater Boston area,” said Greater Love Pastor William Dickerson.

Emily LaGrassa, a spokeswoman for the Middlesex district attorney’s office, said her office is investigating the incident as a matter of course.

“It’s an active, ongoing investigation,” she said. “The investigation always continues until the case goes to trial.”

The incident occurred on April 20, when the five teenagers — three of whom attend Dickerson’s church — sought entrance to a fair in Medford. The fair was closing and the teenagers were turned away.

NAACP Boston Branch President Leonard Alkins, who spoke with the teens, said they told him one of them approached a police officer and asked where they could get a meal.

At that time, another officer approached the teens holding a billy club. “He said, ‘what are you, wise guys?’” Alkins quoted.

The officer in the car suggested the teens get food at a nearby Store 24. After the teens left the Store 24, the second officer was waiting for them outside the store.

“He punched one kid in the mouth,” Alkins said. “The kid said, ‘what did I do?’ Then he punched him again.”

Alkins said the teen ran to the front of the officer’s patrol car, then turned and struck back at the officer. At that point, other officers appeared and arrested the teens, charging Isaiah Anderson, 17, and Calvin Belfon, 18, each with two counts of assault and battery with a dangerous weapon, two counts of assault and battery on a police officer and one count of disorderly conduct.

Three of the teens who are juveniles were charged in the incident as well.

Police said the teens became disruptive while in the vicinity of the carnival, then lingered in front of the Store 24. Police said the teens then attacked them, stealing one officer’s baton and using it to beat them.

Medford Police Lt. Paul Covino told the Somerville Journal that the officers feared the teens would take their guns. “The fight escalated to the point where the suspects were trying to pull equipment off our duty belts,” said officer Harold MacGilvray in an incident report. “I felt as though I was in a fight for my life.”

MacGilvray and two other officers were treated in a hospital following the incident.

Those who defend the teens are not denying that the altercation took place.

“We’re not condoning fighting with cops,” Dickerson said. “But something happened that night. These are good kids. There are gangbangers I know who would not just hit a cop unprovoked.”

Dickerson said he knew all five teens. Three of them are attend a youth program on Monday nights at Greater Love performing in plays aimed at teenage audiences.

Nation of Islam Minister Rodney Muhammad said that when Calvin Belfon told the white officers his father was a Boston police officer, the Medford police called him a piece of - - - -.

Dickerson, Alkins and others at Sunday’s press conference said the teens were profiled by Medford police who treated them like criminals.

“Boston and its surrounding areas must deal with the stereotypes that want to label all black men as members of gangs,” Dickerson said.

Several members of the Massachusetts Association of Minority Law Enforcement Officers also attended the meeting.

“These are the types of issues we get involved in,” said MAMLEO board member Shumeane Bedford. “We’re a community-based organization. These are youths who belong to our community.”

Alkins called on the Massachusetts attorney general’s office to investigate the incident, suggesting that the Middlesex district attorney’s office might be partial to the police.

In a response to Sunday’s press conference, LaGrassa e-mailed the Banner a statement apparently questioning the allegations of profiling.

“We were surprised to learn that some members of the public, who have little or no specific or accurate information on the alleged incident, have reached wildly varying conclusions, and have made certain allegations of impropriety,” the statement read.

“To the extent that any of those individuals have specific factual information regarding this incident, it would be helpful for them to forward it directly to the district attorney’s office. In addition, if there are any concerns regarding a conflict of any sort, apparent or otherwise, we would also suggest that those concerns be brought forward in an appropriate fashion so that we may review them.”

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