Redwood Curtain CopWatch, based in the north coast of California, is part of a larger movement of self organized CopWatch groups throughout the US. Our local efforts seek to intervene in the drastic rise of the presence, militarization, and violence of the police, and build support networks based on self-determination, caring, and concrete needs.
Hoffman, Brian
Officer Brian Hoffman Smashed Man's Face in Arcata, August 2008
Submitted by copwatch on Sun, 04/05/2009 - 3:22pmMAN SEVERELY INJURED BY ARCATA COP
[We used the name "Joe" here , not victim's real name]
A couple of days ago, Arcata Police Officer BRIAN HOFFMAN brutalized a young black man, Joe, whom we believe lives outside. We have been told that Officer Hoffman, near the Co-op in Arcata, slammed Joe's face into the cop car and ground his face into the cement. We were told that skin on Joe's cheek ripped off, and there was a puddle of blood on the sidewalk (about a foot wide in diameter) where the cop had attacked. Although the cops tried to wipe up the blood, a civilian later took a photo of the large stain on the sidewalk.
Update (and correction) re Injuries by Arcata Cops last week
Submitted by copwatch on Sun, 04/05/2009 - 3:22pmThis message is from Verbena of Redwood Curtain CopWatch:
Saturday I spoke very briefly with the man who's face was smashed by Arcata Police Officer, Brian Hoffman. He is out of jail and is NOT (as we initially thought) the same man who is locked up with a broken arm and leg, apparently due to police violence. I was relieved to hear "Joe" say
that he was out of jail and his legs and arms were fine.
While Joe's limbs are fine, he sustains injuries to his face; and we now understand that there is an additional man (whom our comrade heard about Friday, Aug 30th) who is in jail and who's leg and arm were broken by the police
in that week.
Man Severely Injured by Arcata Cop
Submitted by copwatch on Sun, 04/05/2009 - 3:22pmMAN SEVERELY INJURED BY ARCATA COP
[We are using the name "Joe" here because we are unable to contact the victim to ask permission to use his name]
A couple of days ago, Arcata Police Officer BRIAN HOFFMAN brutalized a young black man, Joe, whom we believe lives outside. We have been told that Officer Hoffman, near the Co-op in Arcata, slammed Joe's face into the cop car and ground his face into the cement. We were told that skin on Joe's cheek ripped off, and there was a puddle of blood on the sidewalk (about a foot wide in diameter) where the cop had attacked. Although the cops tried to wipe up the blood, a civilian later took a photo of the large stain on the sidewalk.
