A video posted on Facebook of one man being roughed up by an unnamed Tucson Police officer outside the In-N-Out Burger at El Con Mall has gone viral.
Last night we got harassed by TPD. We arrived at in n out on Broadway just west of Alvernon just about 10 mins before TPD officer showed up. Already super aggressive officer Morken ID # 36815 came over stating that we were trespassing in the parking lot and said eat or be arrested. Not even letting up go get food grabbed and threw my buddy to the ground and putting him in hand cuffs, and directing his colleague to arrest me. This is getting outta hand we where not loud, offensive, rude, or in anyway disrespectful. There was no need for what they did to us and our freinds. Share this people can see what TPD has become Sean Sean Shawn John Steven John John Jordan
Posted by Tim John on Sunday, February 28, 2016
According to the poster, Tim John:
Last night we got harassed by TPD. We arrived at in n out on Broadway just west of Alvernon just about 10 mins before TPD officer showed up. Already super aggressive officer Morken ID # 36815 came over stating that we were trespassing in the parking lot and said eat or be arrested. Not even letting up go get food grabbed and threw my buddy to the ground and putting him in hand cuffs, and directing his colleague to arrest me. This is getting outta hand we where not loud, offensive, rude, or in anyway disrespectful. There was no need for what they did to us and our freinds.
So the other dude has an open carry.. And this rookie ass cop pulled his gun and in my opinion after 6 years in the Navy and training on use of force would've pulled the trigger. He was shaking, nervous, and excessively breathing.. All over a HOLSTERED open carry.. As you can tell I was pissed.. I had a gut feeling the cop was gonna shoot, and all I did was walk out of the door.. Protect and serve my ass..
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All bc we were paying customers that were parked. No excessive noise, not disturbing anyonePosted by T.C. Downey on Sunday, February 28, 2016
In March 2015, the Tucson Police Department and Sgt. Joel Mann settled with UofA coed, Christina Gardilcic, in her lawsuit filed in federal court after Mann roughed her up on March 29, 2014 after the University of Arizona men’s basketball team lost to the Wisconsin Badgers in the NCAA tournament.
In her lawsuit, Gardilcic alleged that TPD Chief Roberto Villaseñor, failed to properly train his officers.
Officers showed up on the night of March 29, 2014 in riot gear and attempted to clear the area. In an inexplicable act of brutality, Mann hit Gardilcic. The attack was captured on video, and was first reported by the ADI.
Video from TPD Sgt. Joel Mann as the incident occurred:
Original video showing the officer hitting Gardilcic: