Sci-Fi writer beaten by Port Huron border guards

[freydis]

Sci-Fi writer beaten and arrested for getting out of his car and asking why he was stopped at border search.

[Slogo]

holy shit

[bean]

That is seriously fucked up.

[Msterbeau]

Way to go assholes.

[Gaf The Horse With Tears]

He seems to admit that he didn't follow insctructions.

[freydis]

He seems to admit that he didn't follow insctructions.

But seriously, did that warrant being beaten, sprayed with pepper spray, being held overnight with no access to representation, then deposited on the other side of the border on foot with no coat in the middle of winter?

Basically, dude was mad he was being searched and wanted to know why.

Usually when you see this kind of thing happen, its a case of escalated dickishness. One person does something a little dickish, the other responds more dickish, etc. In this case, the border guards proved they were the bigger ones.

Either way, theres apparently video, so whatever happened, the truth will out once it's public.

Edited January 2, 2010 by freydis

[Nate Kriepp]

Well, he's a Canadian sci-fi writer...

I'm kidding. That sucks!

[Fidget(+)]

Well, he's a Canadian sci-fi writer...

I'm kidding. That sucks!

lol

[freydis]

Bad enough when these things happen to the everyday person.... but to people with visibility and a following?

PR nightmare....heh.

[Gaf The Horse With Tears]

Don't get me wrong, I wasn't trying to excuse what the border gaurds did. I totaly agree that this was most likely a case of esculating dickishness.

[DJ Saint]

Certainly sounds like the whole story isn't being told here. I've been stopped at the border several times (pre and post 9-11, Windsor and Sarnia/Port Huron) and had my car or friends cars inspected. It's usually just random searches that turn up nothing. Never bothered to ask why, rather just let them go about their business and then I can be on my way. When you start questioning their actions that can only raise suspicions don't you think?

This author is a piece of work as well with his flair for the dramatic..."If you buy into the Many Worlds Intepretation of quantum physics"...WTF? How about writing about the exact details of the ordeal?

[freydis]

Don't get me wrong, I wasn't trying to excuse what the border gaurds did. I totaly agree that this was most likely a case of esculating dickishness.

Oh, indeed. Apparently, the dude has a reputation for being a bit abrasive.

[AstralCrux]

Note: Border Patrol always searches rental vehicles. I found that out going with my aunt on a trip. As soon as we said "rental car" we got searched.

[dragonluv]

Abuse of power. Sad to hear.

[Msterbeau]

Note: Border Patrol always searches rental vehicles. I found that out going with my aunt on a trip. As soon as we said "rental car" we got searched.

I read that. Curious thing, though... He was outbound. Since when has anyone ever been searched then? Usually it's when you get to the other side.

I have a lot of family in Canada. Crossing the border used to be a piece of cake in either direction. I went over recently for a funeral. Going over there was no big deal, though they were slightly more serious than in the past. Coming back was a whole different story. I had my daughters and ex wife with me. The guy took a considerable amount of time with us. The self-important tough guy attitude was all over his face... I don't plan to cross the border too often if I have to deal with people like that. Way too much potential for some simple thing to trigger a bad situation. If you read the comments related to this story in various blogs, many Canadians are thinking the same thing. "Who wants to deal with those asshole Americans". There goes a bunch of tourist dollars, all because we apparently can't screen for tendencies for violence and people who take advantage of having authority. Then again.. the same kind of people are probably in authority at the top.

I'll be interested to see if the video that should exist ever surfaces. If not, I think we have our answer as to who was more wrong.

[AstralCrux]

I get an abundance of Canadian shoppers that stay here at the hotel and I almost never hear about issues crossing the border. I've been subject to a few searches, but if you follow instructions and just speak when spoken to it is painless and simple. Yes, it's annoying, but the searches are random and it might prevent someone from bringing a bomb or weapons over.

The trick is to just be simple while crossing the border. Answer questions without jokes. (I assure you, I'd have someone searched after I'd heard the same damn joke 15 times and I get stupid jokes alot in my line of work. IE- Is it free? Ha, Ha.) Have all forms of ID ready with the driver and give a good amount of eye contact while answering questions. I crossed the border all the time in college and it was simple, but everyone knew these simple rules. You wouldn't be allowed to travel across the border with sorority sisters again if you acted like an ass.

[Homicidalheathen]

My husband said they used to stick the stupid ones in the air force...out on the flight lines with guns cause they were too dumb to read the manual and get training to work on the planes...

yah give the dumb asses a gun...good going.

quote: Nor was I finally dumped across the border in shirtsleeves: computer seized, flash drive confiscated, even my fucking paper notepad withheld until they could find someone among their number literate enough to distinguish between handwritten notes on story ideas and, I suppose, nefarious terrorist plots. I was not left without my jacket in the face of Ontario’s first winter storm, after all buses and intercity shuttles had shut down for the night...

This pissed me off sooo much.

I got stopped once and they searched EVERYTHING asked my why I had sk8ter equipment and domination equipment in my truck along with drumming equipment...um so I am preparred assholio?

It just pisses me off they were more worried about my hobbies or finding a joint (which they didn't and Yes, I had one...)

...than looking for someone with explosives.

The guy who tried to blow up a plane last week...was ON A WATCH LIST and still not searched well enough, hell I wouldn't allow him to board...but thats me.

[pomba gira]

Assholes. I don't care how snippy the guy was, the guards should have more professionalism than to go to such extremes.

[Gaf The Horse With Tears]

Maybe when he was told to get back in his car, he should have done that rather than jumping a Border Gaurd and putting him in a choke hold.

[torn asunder]

Maybe when he was told to get back in his car, he should have done that rather than jumping a Border Gaurd and putting him in a choke hold.

where did you find this information? and what were the circumstances of this situation?

[DJ Saint]

How can you condem the actions of the border guards when we don't know the full story of what this sci-fi writer did? Perhaps it was necessary for conflict resolution? Anybody stop to check if the writer has a book coming out and this was a publicity stunt?

[AstralCrux]

Times Herald

The Canadian science fiction writer was arrested Dec. 8 for assaulting a customs officer while attempting to cross the Blue Water Bridge into Ontario.

He claimed in a blog posting the officers gave him an unprovoked beating.

A police report, released Thursday by the police department after a Freedom of Information Act request from the Times Herald, describes Watts as unwilling to listen to demands of the customs officers.

"As officers began searching the vehicle the driver exited the vehicle and became irate with officers," the report states. "When the subject was ordered back into the car the subject refused."

The officers then tried to handcuff Watts "for their safety," but Watts resisted and pulled away. Officer then used several "muscling techniques and (officers) took the subject to the ground."

Watts continued to struggle with officers and eventually made it back into his vehicle, the police report states.

The customs officer, Andrew Beaudry, then tried to get Watts out of the vehicle, a 2010 Toyota sport utility vehicle owned by Hertz Vehicles of Seattle.

During the attempt to get Watts out of the vehicle, Watts grabbed Beaudry "by the collar of his uniform and began choking" the officer, the report states.

The officer broke free of Watts and he "did give the subject two elbow strikes to the subject's chest and chin area and a knee strike and was able to break free from the subject in the vehicle."

Once the officer separated from Watts, "the subject did come out of the vehicle and still continued to be aggressive towards officers and were (sic) ignoring their commands to go into the arrest positions."

Beaudry then sprayed Watts in the face with pepper spray. The spray "did not appear to have any effect on the subject as he wiped his face off and continued to ignore commands from officers."

[DJ Saint]

Times Herald

The Canadian science fiction writer was arrested Dec. 8 for assaulting a customs officer while attempting to cross the Blue Water Bridge into Ontario.

He claimed in a blog posting the officers gave him an unprovoked beating.

A police report, released Thursday by the police department after a Freedom of Information Act request from the Times Herald, describes Watts as unwilling to listen to demands of the customs officers.

"As officers began searching the vehicle the driver exited the vehicle and became irate with officers," the report states. "When the subject was ordered back into the car the subject refused."

The officers then tried to handcuff Watts "for their safety," but Watts resisted and pulled away. Officer then used several "muscling techniques and (officers) took the subject to the ground."

Watts continued to struggle with officers and eventually made it back into his vehicle, the police report states.

The customs officer, Andrew Beaudry, then tried to get Watts out of the vehicle, a 2010 Toyota sport utility vehicle owned by Hertz Vehicles of Seattle.

During the attempt to get Watts out of the vehicle, Watts grabbed Beaudry "by the collar of his uniform and began choking" the officer, the report states.

The officer broke free of Watts and he "did give the subject two elbow strikes to the subject's chest and chin area and a knee strike and was able to break free from the subject in the vehicle."

Once the officer separated from Watts, "the subject did come out of the vehicle and still continued to be aggressive towards officers and were (sic) ignoring their commands to go into the arrest positions."

Beaudry then sprayed Watts in the face with pepper spray. The spray "did not appear to have any effect on the subject as he wiped his face off and continued to ignore commands from officers."

And there ya have it! Thanks for posting the real story.

In the States, you MUST comply IMMEDIATELY to a direct request from a law enforcement officer, REGARDLESS of how unfair you're making him or her out to be at the time. 'Demonstrating your education' in Constitutional law is better left for another time and if your a Canadian arguing with U.S. officials - best of luck with that.

[Msterbeau]

Maybe when he was told to get back in his car, he should have done that rather than jumping a Border Gaurd and putting him in a choke hold.

The Port Huron newspaper reported it that way. The author categorically denies that happening and points out that the newspaper didn't even get the circumstances of the crossing correct. ie. They said he was coming to the US when he was in fact going back to Canada. The newspaper just quoted the security guys without corroborating evidence.

[Msterbeau]

Times Herald

The Canadian science fiction writer was arrested Dec. 8 for assaulting a customs officer while attempting to cross the Blue Water Bridge into Ontario.

He claimed in a blog posting the officers gave him an unprovoked beating.

A police report, released Thursday by the police department after a Freedom of Information Act request from the Times Herald, describes Watts as unwilling to listen to demands of the customs officers.

"As officers began searching the vehicle the driver exited the vehicle and became irate with officers," the report states. "When the subject was ordered back into the car the subject refused."

The officers then tried to handcuff Watts "for their safety," but Watts resisted and pulled away. Officer then used several "muscling techniques and (officers) took the subject to the ground."

Watts continued to struggle with officers and eventually made it back into his vehicle, the police report states.

The customs officer, Andrew Beaudry, then tried to get Watts out of the vehicle, a 2010 Toyota sport utility vehicle owned by Hertz Vehicles of Seattle.

During the attempt to get Watts out of the vehicle, Watts grabbed Beaudry "by the collar of his uniform and began choking" the officer, the report states.

The officer broke free of Watts and he "did give the subject two elbow strikes to the subject's chest and chin area and a knee strike and was able to break free from the subject in the vehicle."

Once the officer separated from Watts, "the subject did come out of the vehicle and still continued to be aggressive towards officers and were (sic) ignoring their commands to go into the arrest positions."

Beaudry then sprayed Watts in the face with pepper spray. The spray "did not appear to have any effect on the subject as he wiped his face off and continued to ignore commands from officers."

I noted in several comments by people in various blog stories on this that police routinely way overstate the the actions of the defendant in order to paint them in a bad light - as a cover their ass tactic. Until we see video, which there should be, I wouldn't take this any more seriously then the author's story. As I stated before, if the video "get's lost" the cops are the guilty ones. They have something to hide.