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October 20, 2009

Charges fly after woman arrested

CORRECTION: The headline in Sunday’s edition incorrectly stated that Vickie Crowe was arrested Sept. 9 during a Cherokee City Council meeting. Police Chief Doug Terry didn’t arrest her at the meeting. Crowe was arrested Sept. 25 at her home by deputies with the Crawford County Sheriff’s Department.

By Roger McKinney

rmckinney@joplinglobe.com

CHEROKEE, Kan. — Last week’s meeting of the Cherokee City Council was a subdued event compared to a previous meeting that led to an arrest and charges of battery on a law officer.

At a Sept. 9 meeting, some witnesses allege that police Chief Doug Terry “manhandled” resident Vickie Crowe while trying to arrest her.

Terry denies the allegations, and he has supporters, including other city officials who say his action was appropriate and that Crowe was disruptive.

According to the official minutes of the meeting: “A resident disrupted the meeting and was asked to sit down. The disruption continued and Doug was asked to escort the resident out of the building.”

Misdemeanor charges of battery on a law enforcement officer, obstruction of official duty and disorderly conduct have been filed against Crowe.

One faction

Bob Jones, Debbie Bennett, Paula Clugston and Crowe are members of a group calling itself Citizens for a Better Cherokee. Crowe and Bennett recounted their version of events before last week’s meeting and Jones and Clugston spoke during a break in the meeting.

According to Crowe, she was speaking at the Sept. 9 meeting to ask Terry to be more respectful when approaching residents’ houses. She said that when Terry approached her adult daughter’s house, he banged loudly on her door.

“She might have went a little overboard,” Jones acknowledged of Crowe’s comments at the meeting, but Bennett said she didn’t think Crowe was disorderly in any way. They also said no one told Crowe to sit down or stop talking.

As Crowe was speaking, the mayor, Dale Thompson, banged his gavel. He said “Doug!” and Terry approached Crowe preparing to put handcuffs on her.

“He immediately went to arrest her,” Jones said. “He already had his handcuffs out.”

Bennett alleged that what happened next was Terry assaulting Crowe; Jones used the term “manhandling.”

“He ended up wrestling her all the way to the door,” Jones said.

Jones alleged Terry pushed her against the wall and Bennett claimed Terry slammed her against the wall.

Crowe said she threatened to bite Terry, but didn’t bite him.

“I yelled, ‘Let go of me or I’m going to bite you,’” she said.

Someone — no one is sure who — said, “Enough of this!” or “That’s enough!” and the situation ceased.

“The whole thing was mishandled,” Jones said.

Crowe was arrested Sept. 25 at her home by deputies with the Crawford County Sheriff’s Department on the misdemeanor charges.

Crowe said she is afflicted with osteoporosis and could have been injured.

Terry’s version

Terry has a different account. He also spoke during a break in the meeting. He alleged Crowe became disorderly.

“She was loud,” Terry said. “She was told her time was up. She wouldn’t sit down.”

Terry said he asked the mayor if he wanted to arrest Crowe for disorderly conduct and he said Thompson told him to arrest her.

Terry said when he attempted to arrest Crowe, she resisted.

“She said, ‘Don’t put your hands on me!’” Terry said.

He said Crowe was fighting with him and under Kansas law, police may use the force necessary to make an arrest. He said he disagrees with those who allege he assaulted Crowe or manhandled her.

“There was no manhandling,” Terry said. “I had ahold of her arm.”

Terry also said he gathered more than a dozen witnesses to support the city’s case.

City Attorney Kevin Mitchelson said after the meeting that since the encounter between Crowe and Terry is the subject of legal action, he couldn’t comment on it. He commented briefly on Crowe’s actions before the encounter.

“The lady was asked to sit down,” Mitchelson said. “She was being disruptive and rather caused a scene.”

Mitchelson said he couldn’t recall who asked Crowe to sit down.

Thompson declined to answer questions.

“I have absolutely no comment,” he said.



Next step

Vickie Crowe’s initial court appearance on the charges is set for Oct. 26. The witness list includes Police Chief Doug Terry, Mayor Dale Thompson and Council member Lynn Grant.

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