Woman charges police brutality, racial profiling

In response to a story, “Two village officers injured during arrest,” (Oct. 29-Nov. 4), Laura Dennis, referring to herself as "the girlfriend” of her alleged assailant, James Fowler, wrote in an e-mail and an online posting on the Herald’s Web site that information contained in the police report — and the Herald article based on it — was incorrect. Saying the story was “concocted” by police, she accused officers of using racial profiling and excessive force in making the arrest.

Fowler was arrested on Oct. 18 after police responded to a reported disturbance at the Long Island Rail Road station at 3:30 a.m. during which he is alleged to have violently resisted being taken into the custody. During the struggle, police said Fowler caused minor injuries to two police officers who fell while attempting to subdue him. Police said that once in the police patrol car that was taking him to police headquarters, Fowler kicked out its rear window. He was charged with menacing, obstructing governmental administration, criminal mischief, resisting arrest and two counts of assaulting a police officer.

A police spokesman said that in cases where officers can establish use of force that constitutes a criminal act in a domestic dispute, state law gives them no choice other than to make an arrest. It’s a mandatory arrest policy, he said, regardless of whether the parties involved settle their dispute. The spokesman said police would be unable to provide any additional details on the incident in light of pending testimony in an ongoing criminal case. The spokesman added that if Dennis has a legitimate complaint, she should step forward and file an official complaint with the police department that it would then investigate.

Dennis responded to an e-mail from the Herald seeking more information for a follow up story on her accusations against the Rockville Centre police officers, saying her attorney has advised her to refrain from any contact with the Herald at this time. And despite the fact that she has yet to file an official complaint with the police department, Commissioner Jack McKeon said his department would refer her original e-mailed complaint to the district attorney's office for independent review.

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