Simeon Castille Update:

[crimsonaudio]

PDF of the police report.

Gotta admit, if he was acting that way, he was being foolish - but why couldn't the officer talk to the other folks to see if this was worth arresting him over?

If my child were arrested for similar behavior, I'd be all over the police dept about it as well. Is this really criminal behavior? Is this really within the spirit of the law?

 

[jeffs4thetide]

I have a huge issue with this statement made by the officer in the report:

" I also told him that he was a member of a nationally recognized school and football team and that he was representing while in the street yelling and cussing the way he was acting was embarrassing to the school."

I do not feel it is any police officers duty to place judgement for the university whether it is right or wrong. That should be the university(President, AD, Coach Saban) place to judge that after the case is presented to them.

My feeling is the arrest was warrantied for disorderly conduct, however I can about guarantee you that there were many more people walking the strip wasted that should have gone to jail before Simeon.

 

[dudefortide34]

Who exactly was he yelling and cussing at? Was it really his own teammates? Auburn fans? I'd like to cuss at a few Tennessee fans myself. :biggrin2:

It sounded like he created quite a commotion on the strip. Maybe the cop thought he was a gang member or something. Those gangbanger fights can get out of hand pretty quick. Next thing you know somebody pulls a knife or a gun or something. Maybe the cop didn't know what was going on and he just decided to start arresting people and sort it all out at the police station. Cops do that sort of thing at 2 am in the morning or whenever it was.

Who knows? Maybe Saban is still going to suspend him for a few games. Some of the people calling into Finebaum's show want Saban to do something about all these arrests. It's making Alabama look bad. ESPN might be reporting on this soon on College Football Live or something. Not good. :rolleye2:

 

[alextupelo]

Interesting that it doesn't appear that the officer made an attempt to find out what was going on prior to putting Castille against the wall. Seems like they should have tried to diffuse the situation prior to making an arrest.

Now I'm not familiar with University Blvd, but how heavy could traffic be at 2:00AM?

Not very, good bit of foot traffic but not a bunch of car traffic.

My major fault with his police report is that if there were 200 hundred people standing around and the people in the SUV why couldn't he have listed them as witnesses in the police report?

 

[lafella]

PF is saying CNS will address this today at 5:15 or so. That'll be nice to see.

 

[Godfather]

wow! All I can say is wow! Not sure what they're teaching in police academy these days but this report is rediculous. Rules of writing a good police report...Provide probable cause, state facts and only facts that support elements of crime, limit personal and department liability.
How this got past the LT.'s desk I'm not sure?

 

[Alanbama27]

Hey, I agree with you, I said after the police investigated was open for debate. The post I was responding to seemed to say that the police should have ignored this apparent fight to check out drunk co-eds and possible drunk drivers, which I found ridiculous.



That's the problem all known accounts, the full story hasn't come out. Was the comment about Coach Saban out of the blue or did it come as a response to something Castille said? Just like we should wait to judge Castille, I think we should also wait to judge the police.



I'm not sure what civil rights they violated. Joke or not, horsing around (which the usual definition means some type of physical altercation, but with no malice) could very easily fall within the prohibition of the statute. In the police officer's opinion a law was broken, it was an arrestable offense, so they arrested the person. True, the police could have chosen to let it go with a warning, but were under no compulsion to do so. They made that judgment at the time, we have no facts (other than he plays football for Alabama and seems like a good kid) to second guess that judgment. At some point in the future, probably at trial, facts will come out and someone can second guess that decision.



I don't know if traffic was held up, another poster said it was. But again, the fact that the police did not arrest someone else for the same offense is not a defense. Even if traffic were not involved, if you look at the statute the description of the events leaves several other things that could constitute a violation. So if we don't like to arm-chair QB the coach, I don't want to arm-chair QB the police.



IF the police did anything wrong, I hope they are also. But if Castille is in the wrong, I hope he is taught a lesson.

Here is what I can tell you. So far ALL witnesses gave the exact same account as Simeon. The police officers (as far as ALL Witnesses are concerned) were not warranted in their actions.

From a civil right standpoint, Police officers must have a reasonable belief that a crime was being committed and from ALL accounts they did not. It is irrelevant what they claim as claims aren't allowed in court. Proof is all that matters and they have none. That is why it is my belief that this will be THROWN out by the D.A. If not, the police will pay...believe me, they will pay. This is not a question of assault, fighting, drugs, alcohol...this was joking around and the last time I checked...that was legal. Using the definition of disorderly conduct is also a joke. It was never meant to be used in this manner and if this matter has to go before the state supreme court to stop moronic cops from stretching the law to fit their wants, so be it.

Again, so far ALL...that is 100% of the witnesses available have backed Castille's story. Unless they've got video evidence proving otherwise, the police are in the wrong. I have read every report that has been given so far to either the media or people I know and all say that this is a bunch of "barney fife" wannabe's making idiots of themselves.

Again, horseplaying is not grounds for disorderly conduct...regardless of what the statute says...laws are rarely adhered to BY THE LETTER...that is why we have officers who are supposed to interpret the law as they see it. Again, this was joking around and to arrest anyone...regardless of how meaningless of an arrest it is, still means it will be on his record forever because he is an adult. That is why they should fight this to the end! You are making it sound as though no damage is done if the charges stand even though all witnesses have given the same statement...they were playing around. I beg to disagree.

 

[TideAlum]

PF is saying CNS will address this today at 5:15 or so. That'll be nice to see.

He'll probably say that this issue like similar issues will be handled internally. I don't expect much to come out of this afternoon's press conference.

 

[rgw]

Admittedly, Castille was acting like a idiot out there...

 

[CapstoneTider]

I have no doubt that this will be dropped, I only hope that it doesn't take until the day of court.

Have faith in the system. The D.A is not going to risk harming this young man's draft status over this.

 

[Alanbama27]

Admittedly, Castille was acting like a idiot out there...

Admitted by whom? Since when is a 21 year old being goofy acting like an idiot? These are kids and kids play around...the cops are supposed to be adults and should know that. It's a stretch to use the term idiot.

If you want use the term Castille was acting goofy, fine, but idiot is a bit harsh for kids goofing around. Had you used this or :conf3: or then I would have understood you were using the term idiot with the same connotation as goofy, so if that was your meaning, my apology.

 

[ColumbusTide]

All the folks on here calling for a game suspensions over this cannot be serious. Read that police report. This was a kid who was a bit rambunctious in the street with his buddies. There was no alcohol involved (by the way, Castille is old enough to drink legally). There was no fight. He did not act disrespectfully to the officer. Once in the police cruiser he even asked for permission to speak. This is not somebody with a bad attitude.

Just from reading the police report I don't think that the officer had enough to make the case stick. It is an entertainment district in a university town for goodness sake. He wasn't standing up and cursing in church.

We shouldn't be suspending this kid for games. He should get a good talking to about being careful about his behavior in public and that is it. Let it drop.

 

[alextupelo]

All the folks on here calling for a game suspensions over this cannot be serious. Read that police report. This was a kid who was a bit rambunctious in the street with his buddies. There was no alcohol involved (by the way, Castille is old enough to drink legally). There was no fight. He did not act disrespectfully to the officer. Once in the police cruiser he even asked for permission to speak. This is not somebody with a bad attitude.

Just from reading the police report I don't think that the officer had enough to make the case stick. It is an entertainment district in a university town for goodness sake. He wasn't standing up and cursing in church.

We shouldn't be suspending this kid for games. He should get a good talking to about being careful about his behavior in public and that is it. Let it drop.

I agree with you, but if Coach Saban sees fit to suspend Castille then thats what has to happen...i'll leave it up to Coach.

 

[CapitalTider]

Geez, read the report. The officer says he was yelling and cussing in the street challenging someone to fight and blocking traffic. That sounds like a text book case, he meets multiple elements of the crime. I haven't pulled the legislative history on the statute, but I doubt that the Alabama Legislature said but it wasn't a crime if the perpetrator was "just joking around."

By the officer's account the calling Coach Saban comment was misquoted and taken out of context. It sounded like he was asking about the procedure and whether they had to call the coach.

The only complaint I would have with the officer was the part about representing the school and being a member of the football team shouldn't have been said. That's really not the police department's issue.

As far as violating civil rights and having probably cause to arrest. Yelling and cursing in the middle of the street should qualify no problem.

 

[CapitalTider]

THE SUSPECT STATED THAT THIS WAS GOING TO HURT HIS DRAFT STATUS

I guess I know why the Castilles are fighting this so hard now.

 

[THE BAMA IRISHMAN]

Interesting that it doesn't appear that the officer made an attempt to find out what was going on prior to putting Castille against the wall. Seems like they should have tried to diffuse the situation prior to making an arrest.

Now I'm not familiar with University Blvd, but how heavy could traffic be at 2:00AM?

Exactly. I am surprised the individuals in the SUV were not questioned. To either dispute or collaborate S. Castille's story. As a former Peace Officer I will just say mistakes were made. This gets to court it could be thrown-out on the testimony of the people in the SUV. I know if I am a Peace Officer I will not let myself be setup by failure on my part.

Personally I would have just written the report (No Arrest) and filed it away. When you are a police officer there are times you must assess the situation and look for agreement while getting your point across. I will say it again, I am alarmed the individuals in the SUV were not questioned. If I am defending S. Castille in court I would use those individuals to collaborate the story.

Back to the top. How much traffic is on the Blvd at 2:00 AM. As we all know if there is traffic that group is together. Been there done that. :BigA:

 

[RT3413]

I haven't weighed in on this at all until this second. I generally side with the police and try to read any official documents or filings available.

Having read the police report I sincerely hope the charges against Simeon are dismissed and the record expunged completely.

Now, for the record, I am a white male.

I don't want to start a race war here, but I've seen white guys act like this (and a lot worse) on the Strip and the police didn't do a thing. I am not saying that Officer Mitchell is racist but I think he may have let his prejudices allow him to think that this situation was a lot worse than it was. It's clear to me in his report that as he had Simeon against the wall he felt in some level of danger as he "noticed three other UA officers holding four or five people back...and the passengers from the suv were walking up." He later refers to the event as "what appeared to be an ugly fight waiting to happen." Given the number of fights I've seen in Tuscaloosa in my time unless there's 5-6 people involved it's not going to elevate the level of "ugly."

I feel for Simeon. He made a mistake that most of us make at some point in college to some degree - a bit too loud and/or a bit too late. It cost me a warning from my RA and a $25 fine. It may have cost Simeon 1/2 round of draft selection and $3M in contract. But all of that could have been solved if the officer put him in his car, wrote up the SNAMS and gave him a stern talking-to. He could have even carried him back to Bryant Hall in his patrol car and dropped him off there with a word to the coach.

Don't get me wrong - athletes get away with FAR too much in today's society. But in this case, even after reading the facts you really have to think that this officer went a bit too far in this case.

 

[TideAlum]

Admitted by whom? Since when is a 21 year old being goofy acting like an idiot? These are kids and kids play around...the cops are supposed to be adults and should know that. It's a stretch to use the term idiot.

If you want use the term Castille was acting goofy, fine, but idiot is a bit harsh for kids goofing around. Had you used this or :conf3: or then I would have understood you were using the term idiot with the same connotation as goofy, so if that was your meaning, my apology.

Since when is a 21 year old a kid? When you're 21 you have many privileges, rights, and responsibilities. Simeon's not a kid. Let's not excuse his actions by referring to him as such.

 

[Queasy1]

I have no doubt that this will be dropped, I only hope that it doesn't take until the day of court.

Have faith in the system. The D.A is not going to risk harming this young man's draft status over this.

Doesn't matter. The spin will now be that Castille gets off because he is an Alabama football player. I just happened to tune into 680 the Fan in Atlanta at the same moment they were talking about this. Yep, Castille gets off because he's a Bama player according to them.

 

[RT3413]

Geez, read the report. The officer says he was yelling and cussing in the street challenging someone to fight and blocking traffic. That sounds like a text book case, he meets multiple elements of the crime. I haven't pulled the legislative history on the statute, but I doubt that the Alabama Legislature said but it wasn't a crime if the perpetrator was "just joking around."

There is an element of judgement on both the part of Simeon and the officer here that wasn't applied correctly. Simeon is a 21-year-old kid who exercised poor judgement in being out at 2am and in acting this way. However, the officer is a trained law enforcement official who should have used his judgement to see that this is a situation that didn't necessitate an arrest.

As far as violating civil rights and having probably cause to arrest. Yelling and cursing in the middle of the street should qualify no problem.

You obviously weren't walking down The Strip after the MSU game last year. If the UAPD/TPD used this standard they would have needed to ship 2/3 of the folks I heard off to Guantanamo.