Harvard Student Arrested, Calls Policeman 'Abusive'

A Harvard senior yesterday was arrested and charged with idle and disorderly conduct at the corner of Putnam Avenue and Kinnaird Street, where two controversial incidents between the student and and off-duty Cambridge policeman working a private detail occurred yesterday morning.

James R. Holt '80-4, faced with a June 30 trial and out of jail on personal recognizance, said yesterday following his arraignment that he intends to be found innocent and register a complaint against patrolman Reuben Dottin who allegedly abused Holt physically and verbally prior to arrest.

According to Holt, Dottin twisted his arms, scratched and bruised his neck and left arm and used profanity. But Dottin said last night that while his fingernails "probably scratched" Holt, he only used "necessary force" during the arrest.

Dottin arrested Holt--using handcuffs--at about 10:45 a.m. after Holt returned to Putnam and Kinnaird to complain about the patrolman's conduct toward him during an incident at the same corner earlier in the morning, Holt said.

Driving north along construction-filled Putnam at about 8:45 a.m. Holt had attempted to skirt around a barrel with a

"Do Not Enter" sign. Dottin was sitting in his own car at the turn onto Kinnaird working on his own time as a guard for the street construction company.

According to Holt. Dottin emerged from his car on Kinnaird "gesticulating and swearing, saying "Hell" and "Damn," while telling Holt not to turn down Kinnaird. Holt added he told Dottin that an officer directing traffic on Putnam had said he could turn onto Kinnaird.

Dottin then asked Holt to present his driver's license, which Holt said he had forgotten along with his wallet at his home at 177 Putnam, a few blocks away. Holt said Dottin then acted "very much out of control" by first beginning to handcuff him, then stopping and finally commenting on Holt's statement that there was no need to use profanity by saying" "Fuck, do you hear that" six inches from his face before letting him go without arrest.

Dottin denied using that profanity last night, but said he recalled initially telling Holt to "Get the hell out of here." He also said that he'd decided to give Holt "the benefit of the doubt" concerning the license.

Holt's return visit less than 90 minutes later on foot en route to a dentist appointment caused a second conflict which resulted in his arrest. Holt said he asked Dottin for his name because he resented being "verbally abused by a police officer."

According to Holt, Dottin refused to write down his name but wrote down his badge number. Then, after Holt complained to Dottin about the patrolman's treatment of him earlier in the morning. Holt said Dottin handcuffed him. Holt added that Dottin, "twisted and ripped" the collar off his shirt by grabbing his neck.

But Dottin related a different story concerning the arrest. Dottin said Holt "got very loud" upon his return to Putnam and Kinnaird. "I was very upset with his attitude," he said, adding that Holt created a disturbance which attracted the attention of construction workers and necessitated the arrest.

Dottin said that Holt "came back looking for trouble" which "made me sorry I didn't arrest him the first time." He added that Holt's desire to walk over and talk with bystanders and construction workers about what they had witnessed made the force necessary.

"If he really felt offended by my profanity or anything else, he should have gone to the Cambridge Police Department to file a complaint," Dottin said, adding. "He had no business coming back to me."

Dottin also said he was particularly disturbed that Holt had returned after "I gave him a break the first time."

Cambridge police took Holt to the Cambridge Police Station where Holt said he told officers there of the alleged abuse and showed the back of his left arm asking. "Is this good police work?"

Holt spent the remainder of the morning and early afternoon in prison cells at the police station and the Middlesex County Courthouse prior to his arraignment before Judge James W. Bailey.

Holt said he plans to request an apology from Dottin, in addition to being found innocent and filing an official complaint concerning the patrolman's actions. But Holt also said he fears that the incident may adversely affect him--particularly when he applies to law school next fall.

John Yellin. Holt's attorney, said yesterday that his first attempt to "dispose of the case" will be based on the fact that Holt has no criminal record. He added that Holt may press charges in federal court claiming a civil rights violation