Hugo-award-nominated science fiction author Dr. Peter Watts is in serious legal trouble after he was beaten, pepper-sprayed and imprisoned by American border guards at a Canada U.S. border crossing December 8.
Peter, a Canadian citizen, was on his way back to Canada after helping a friend move house to Nebraska over the weekend. He was stopped at the border crossing at Port Huron, Michigan by U.S. border police for a search of his rental vehicle. When Peter got out of the car and questioned the nature of the search, the gang of border guards subjected him to a beating, restrained him and pepper sprayed him.
At the end of it, local police laid a felony charge of assault against a federal officer against Peter.
On Wednesday, he posted bond and was taken across the border to Canada in shirtsleeves (he was released by Port Huron officials with his car and possessions locked in impound, into a winter storm that evening).
He’s home safe. For now. But he has to go back to Michigan to face the charge brought against him.
The charge is spurious. But it’s also very serious. It could mean two years in prison in the United States, and a ban on travel in that country for the rest of Peter’s life. Peter is mounting a vigorous defense, but it’s going to be expensive – he’s effectively going up against the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, and he needs the best legal help that he can get.
RTFA for details, an interview with Peter, comments by friends and peers.
Thanks, Cinaedh
Sorry, I have to make a correction. The other language is a mix of english, mandarin & punjabi
Let’s assume for a moment that he was a complete ass and we’d all hate him. How does that justify dumping someone out after dark, in a Canadian winter, in their shirtsleeves. No money, no car, no cell phone.
For those of you have never lived in a real cold weather climate, that’s attempted murder.
#22, JCD
#13 — YOU ARE LOSING IT. They are called Border Patrol and they are all over the place along the US Canada border.
And where on earth is the word POLICE in that? The Border Patrol officers are called AGENTS.
This happened at a border entry point. They would have been Customs. Regardless, both divisions have the power of arrest and would have no need to call in local Police to press charges.
As pointed out, there is more to the story than the article is letting on. While I certainly don’t condone any police brutality, I also don’t condone unsupported allegations against any law enforcement agency just because they are in law enforcement.
Pedro: There is no language called Afghan. The country has two official languages: Pashto and Dari. Most official business is conducted in Dari but Pashtun speakers account for about a third of the population. Dari used to be called Farsi and the Iranians insist it is and has always been Persian. There are a bunch of other languages but the two most common would probably be Urdu (from Pakistan next door to the east) and Uzbek (from Uzbekistan to the west).
By the way, I don’t know if this statistic is still accurate but, a few years ago, they claimed the USA had the second largest population of Spanish-speakers in the world. According to Wikipedia it still is: http://tiny.cc/AMSdu
Bryan #42 : “that’s attempted murder.”
The situation as described is awful but let’s not get carried away. he did say he didn’t have his coat, etc. but he did not say he was dumped somewhere in the hinterlands and had battle the blizzard to make his way back to civilization. He would have been handed over to the RCMP. He probably spent the night toasty warm in a border station until transportation could be worked out. He didn’t say anything about his wallet being taken from him so likely he had an ATM or credit card. And, in any case, if the car was impounded,then the other passengers were likely waiting on the other side telling their version to the Mounties. If this is as described, I assume the video cameras will back him up as well as the other passengers in the car. In which case, I hope they get their asses handed to them for dinner. But, I can’t help wondering what really set them off.
#44 I made the correction already, but thanks for the info.
And regarding the wiki post about the US being the second largest spanish specking country in the world, I have it from a good source that both the Demagogues & Repugblicans are mad about that fact and are doing anything in their power to make it the first one.
Surely the evil Boooossshhhh is to blame.
Let’s here it from you libs.
It was Bush/Cheney. Oh, wait… well, so much for that hope and change!
#47 Does anybody remember the guy that during the election race didn’t want to wear the flag pin because the troops were not doing anything patriotic in the middle east? Anyone? Beuler?
I think that qualifies as change. How can you doubt that anyone that flip-flops so often is capable of change?
There are obviously issues with the way the U.S. border is policed, i.e. with no common sense sometimes; but much of this story seems suspicious, like, why would he get out of his car in the first place? Isn’t it common sense that you should not get out of your car if the police ever pull you over?
Maybe one of the agents was angry at him for turning his son into a limp-wristed nerd with all those scribbles about space and aliens and treating non-white, non-bible thumpers as equals.
#50 The aliens referred in the sci-fi novels are not the illegal aliens.
It is Freedom guys! That is what they tell us these 2 illegal wars are for. We are fighting for Freedoms, but we are losing our Freedoms over here. How simple so the dumb down public need it to be! I forgot, American Idol and Sports, I almost forgot. Wake up sheeple, it’s only just begun.