Six SDPD Officers Make Arrest at Park & Market Trolley Station

“Whatever that man said, I didn’t give him nothing,” the 30-ish African-American man told the six police officers who had descended on him at the Park & Market trolley station on the evening of April 26.

“We’re only arresting you for your warrant,” said one of the policemen.

“You’re a liar. You’re an f*ing liar,” said the dreadlocked arrestee. “I already went to court.”

Moments earlier, while waiting for the northbound trolley, the suspect had briefly interacted with another man on the sidewalk. Seconds later, a uniformed policeman stealthily hopped across the median fence and headed toward the suspect. Two other officers who had arrived from the south pounced on the man at the same time. Three more officers and two white flashes of a Taser later, and the suspect was lying on the sidewalk, unable to move.

In the minutes leading up to the takedown, six police cruisers had driven past the station. By the time the arrest occurred, the entire block had been sealed off and the departure of a northbound trolley had been delayed. The arrest had been a planned operation.

Still protesting, the man was carried off by the officers toward four police cars parked on the east side of Market Street. He didn’t go easily: in the tussling that occurred, one of the officer’s radios became disconnected from his belt and landed on the sidewalk. “I got it, “ replied a comrade as the trolley’s horn blew and rolled north.