Leverett Senior Alleges Racism In Grille Arrest

Charles E.M. Sims '99, a resident of Leverett House, was arrested early Sunday on charges that he assaulted a Cambridge Police Department (CPD) officer outside the Crimson Sports Grille on JFK Street.

According to CPD spokesperson Frank T. Pasquarello-who said he had no direct knowledge of the event outside of a police report-Sims allegedly spit at and pushed the police officer, who had ejected him from the Grille earlier.

Additionally, Sims resisted when officers attempted to handcuff him, Pasquarello said.

Sims disputed the chronology offered by arresting officers in the police report. He said the police used excessive force both in forcing him to leave the Grille and in arresting him.

Sims, who is black, says he feels the two officers, who are white, mistreated him because of his race.

Sims said he arrived at the Grille early Sunday morning to socialize with friends. One friend, Marvin V. Caze '98-'99, arrived after 1:45 am., when the Grille stops letting in patrons.

Sims said he walked to the front of the bar and tried to negotiate with the bouncer to allow Caze to enter the club.

Sims admitted he had been drinking, but said he was in control of his actions and not causing a disturbance.

"Had I been drinking? Yeah, like everyone else in the Grille," he said.

But once at the door, he was asked to leave by the CPD officer stationed at the door of the bar. Then, Sims said, the officer grabbed him and attempted to push him out the door.

"What's salient is that the doorman at the Grille never asked me [to leave,]" Sims said.

Once outside the Grille Sims said he then asked the officer, who was soon joined by a colleague, for permission to re-enter the Grille to retrieve his jacket.

Others at the Grille that night report that they heard Sims ask to go back and get his jacket. Then, according to Sims, the police officers became violent.

"The older white cop was twisting my arm, saying 'I'll break your fucking arm.' The other cop had a choke hold on me," Sims said.

Sims said that then the officers threw him against a wall outside the Grille's door.

Several witnesses said Sims called the officers "racist bastards."

"Why did I call them a racist bastard? Becausehe put his hands on me and threw me out, "Simssaid.

Witnesses said they saw between six and eightofficers and four squad cars at the scene. At onepoint, the police officers were surrounded by acrowd of 40 bystanders who questioned them about aracial motive behind the arrest, witnesses said.At 2:10 a.m., Sims was placed in the CPD paddywagon and driven to department headquarters at 5Western Ave.

Officers booked him on charges of assault,resisting arrest and disorderly conduct. Thepolice released him around 3 a.m., Sims said.

Pasquarello defended the action of the CPDofficers, saying they acted within the latitudeaccorded to them by their job.

"Usually, whatever force is necessary toapprehend a suspect, officers will use to effectthe arrest," he said.

Pasquarello said that Sims' actions toward theofficers-which he said included spitting andpushing-justify the charges against him.

Sims faced a Cambridge District Court judgeyesterday morning, but the hearing's result wasnot known. Sims did not comment when contractedlast night

"Why did I call them a racist bastard? Becausehe put his hands on me and threw me out, "Simssaid.

Witnesses said they saw between six and eightofficers and four squad cars at the scene. At onepoint, the police officers were surrounded by acrowd of 40 bystanders who questioned them about aracial motive behind the arrest, witnesses said.At 2:10 a.m., Sims was placed in the CPD paddywagon and driven to department headquarters at 5Western Ave.

Officers booked him on charges of assault,resisting arrest and disorderly conduct. Thepolice released him around 3 a.m., Sims said.

Pasquarello defended the action of the CPDofficers, saying they acted within the latitudeaccorded to them by their job.

"Usually, whatever force is necessary toapprehend a suspect, officers will use to effectthe arrest," he said.

Pasquarello said that Sims' actions toward theofficers-which he said included spitting andpushing-justify the charges against him.

Sims faced a Cambridge District Court judgeyesterday morning, but the hearing's result wasnot known. Sims did not comment when contractedlast night