Student raises brutality issue

By SUSIE XU
Collegian Staff Writer

Arrests in which police use force can cause some to question when force crosses the line and becomes police brutality.

Tony North (graduate-developmental psychology) has pursued an answer to this question after an incident in February 1998 between his friend and a State College Police Department officer.

North attempted to file a complaint with State College police earlier this month on behalf of his friend and former Penn State student, Melanie Stibick.

Stibick was pulled over for a traffic violation last year but left the scene before the officer issued a citation. She said she was pulled over again a block later and verbally protested the officer's orders.

The officer then attempted to arrest Stibick, at which point she resisted by kicking the officer, according to court documents. In retaliation, the officer pushed Stibick to the ground and used pepper spray to control her.

"I'm enraged about this for reasons of justice," she said, adding she sees the incident as an example of police brutality.

However, the complaint North filed this month was not successful because proper proof of Stibick's injuries was not presented to the police.

"I don't know how mad I should be about this," North said, adding he realizes police have a right to protect themselves, and therefore, there may not be anything else he can do at this point.

Cpl. Clifford Jobe, defense tactics and use of force instructor at the Southwest Training Center in Greensburg, said officers' immediate responsibility is keeping an incident under control.

"We are expected to bring a situation to an end and restore the peace as quickly and as reasonably as possible," he said.

Steve Dunne (junior-journalism), who witnessed Stibick's arrest, said he was disgusted with the officer's treatment of her.

"Basically I thought the police officer used really excessive force," Dunne said. "She was screaming, and the police officer was screaming, 'Get out of the car!' "

Jobe said many who witness an officer using force mistakenly interpret it as police brutality because the officer may be using more force than the person being arrested.

State College Chief of Police Tom King said although there are occasional reports of excessive use of force or police brutality, they often are unfounded.

All complaints are investigated thoroughly, he said, but there is only an average of one complaint per year in State College. He added the internal affairs department acknowledges the complaints and investigates the cases, usually within 30 days.

"(Excessive force) is something that will not be tolerated. We allow (the officers) to use whatever force is necessary," King said. "They know they cannot cross that line because they will be held accountable."