February 19, 2014
Wife says MPD is responsible for husband's death
MOORE —
Nair Rodriguez said her husband, Luis Rodriguez, was killed by members of the Moore Police Department.
According to the Norman resident, her husband didn’t try to fight the
police or give them reason to attack him, but they brutally beat him to
death Friday at the Warren Theatre in Moore.
Nair said video from her cell phone and video from the Warren Theatre, once released, will prove her accusations.
“It will prove my husband was murdered at the scene by five police,”
Nair said. “I’m desperately screaming for the government to stop hiring
criminals and give them license to kill anyone. We are human beings.
“This has to stop one way or another. Being violated. And we have to
speak out. If my husband died in a very vicious way, this cannot be in
vain. We’re going to fight. Then I can go to my corner and cry all day
long for the husband of 22 years they took away from me.”
Moore Police Chief Jerry Stillings hosted a press conference Tuesday
afternoon explaining where the investigation stood and that he was
giving his full support behind his officers.
“I know these officers and I know their hearts,” Stillings said. “I
don’t feel they would approach any situation with ill intentions. It is
my intention and my duty to thoroughly investigate this incident.
Collect all evidence, conduct all interviews and turn over a full and
thorough investigation to the Cleveland County District Attorney’s
office.”
During his 30-minute press conference at the Moore Community Center,
Stillings detailed what led the MPD to stop Luis on Friday at the
theater and why he felt it took three members of the police department
and two off-duty Oklahoma game warden officers to restrain Luis.
Rodriguez was at the theater when an argument broke out between Nair and his daughter, Lunahi Rodriguez.
According to Stillings, the two on-duty MPD officers were already at
the theater on an unrelated call. They were advised by patrons of a
physical fight by other customers.
“Mr. Rodriguez made statements that led officers to believe that the
fight was a case of domestic violence,” Stillings said. “Domestic
violence is a serious situation. Officers are obligated to investigate
all matters of domestic violence.
“The altercation between the members of the Rodriguez family, which was
recorded by the eyewitness, made this situation a criminal matter.
Officers tried to explain the criminal nature and situation to Mr.
Rodriguez and he was uncooperative.”
At that point, according to Stillings, Luis tried to leave and took an “aggressive stance.”
“When the officers attempted to detain Mr. Rodriguez, at which time Mr.
Rodriguez tossed the officer off his arm, the additional officers
assisted in an attempt to detain him. Mr. Rodriguez was continuing to be
uncooperative. At some point during the attempt to detain, pepper spray
was used by an officer,” Stillings said.
Stillings said the officers didn’t use batons or weapons at any point
during the altercation. After gaining control of Luis, the officers used
two sets of handcuffs linked together because of his large size,
Stillings said.
The officers called for the EMS, who were already on scene due to a
previous incident. Stillings said the response was in moments and Luis
was taken to the hospital less than a block away, which is where he
died.
“As far as the altercation, an independent witness has stated that they
observed the incident and never observed a beating occur,” Stillings
said, “but did see officers attempting to grab Mr. Rodriguez’s limbs to
get control of him. It was described as officers trying to get an
out-of-control person under control.”
Stillings said the investigation is still ongoing and that the three
MPD members are on administrative leave. To his knowledge, none of the
officers have ever been accused of using excessive force.
After the conclusion of the press conference, Nair arrived at MPD to
pick up her cell phone, which officers at the scene of Friday’s incident
had taken from her.
“They took the video without permission,” Nair said, “without a search
warrant. I understand they have to have a search warrant to obtain it.
But they were looking and illegally took it from my daughter’s hands.
I’m sure of what I saw. I’m sure of what I record.”
According to Stillings, the phone was taken to preserve the evidence
and the chain of custody. After obtaining a search warrant, the video
was copied by the MPD.
After retrieving her phone, Nair was escorted away and didn’t speak to
the media again. Melissa Lujan, the attorney representing the family,
said they wouldn’t show the video of the alleged beating at this time.
Nair said she hasn’t had time to completely process everything that has gone on. Now she just wants justice to be served.
“(My message) isn’t just to (the) Moore Police Department,” Nair said.
“Unfortunately, this is one of many cases going on across the nation.
They do not have the license to kill. They have the license to protect.
“They swear under God to protect our community. We are more afraid and
scared of the police than we are of the criminals because at least with
the criminals, we have a chance to prove they were after us. But with
the police, they have the authority and the power.
“They are the Goliath of the system,” Nair continued. “We are still the
David. But David, at the end, defeated him with one stone. Lies will
come, but the truth will prevail.”
More Video here:
http://www.normantranscript.com/headlines/x1196445040/Moore-police-chief-responds-to-man-s-death-at-Warren-Theatre
Nair
Rodriguez said her husband of 22 years, Luis, was trying to calm her
down after she slapped her daughter when he was stopped by police
Incident took place February 15 outside Warren Theater in Moore, Oklahoma
Mrs
Rodriguez and her daughter claim three cops and two security guards
kicked and punched the man until he lay motionlessness and bloodied
Wife recorded beating on her cell phone by police seized it as evidence
Three Moore cops have been placed on administrative leave pending internal probe
- See more at:
http://www.vadailynews.com/national/32221-woman-calls-for-justice-after-police-beat-her-husband-to-death-in-front-of-their-daughter-in-a-movie-theater-row.html#sthash.f9WzzsYN.dpuf
Nair
Rodriguez said her husband of 22 years, Luis, was trying to calm her
down after she slapped her daughter when he was stopped by police
Incident took place February 15 outside Warren Theater in Moore, Oklahoma
Mrs
Rodriguez and her daughter claim three cops and two security guards
kicked and punched the man until he lay motionlessness and bloodied
Wife recorded beating on her cell phone by police seized it as evidence
Three Moore cops have been placed on administrative leave pending internal probe
- See more at:
http://www.vadailynews.com/national/32221-woman-calls-for-justice-after-police-beat-her-husband-to-death-in-front-of-their-daughter-in-a-movie-theater-row.html#sthash.f9WzzsYN.dpuf
Nair
Rodriguez said her husband of 22 years, Luis, was trying to calm her
down after she slapped her daughter when he was stopped by police
Incident took place February 15 outside Warren Theater in Moore, Oklahoma
Mrs
Rodriguez and her daughter claim three cops and two security guards
kicked and punched the man until he lay motionlessness and bloodied
Wife recorded beating on her cell phone by police seized it as evidence
Three Moore cops have been placed on administrative leave pending internal probe
- See more at:
http://www.vadailynews.com/national/32221-woman-calls-for-justice-after-police-beat-her-husband-to-death-in-front-of-their-daughter-in-a-movie-theater-row.html#sthash.f9WzzsYN.dpuf
