I was driving downtown to Bread of Life when I knew it was not to be a typical evening. Here is a letter that I have written to an ex-student who works in the San Diego City government -- I sent it, but it bounced back to me until I find the appropriate email address.

Dear ____:

It is with profound sadness that I write this inquiry to you. But since you offered . . .

Tonight I was driving down 8th Street to preach at the Salvation Army before our meal there -- the Bread of Life. I believe you occasionally dropped down there. As I approached the intersection at 8th and F (I believe), in front of Caesar's Cafe, I noticed a disturbance with two police involved. A large African American male had been placed on his stomach with this hands behind his back, and was crying out. He was either handcuffed already or the process was near its end. I was shocked as a Caucasian man sprinted over across the street and suddenly struck the man on the ground in the face with two full round house fist punches; I started to yell out the window, and then became additionally amazed as a white male policemen who was on the man's back, leaned over the man and punched his a third time with a full fist on the left side of the face.

I pulled over the car and ran over to the scene to observe, comfort the man arrested, and try to calm him while the officers emptied his pockets. I was told to keep away. I soon learned that the first man who had hit him was a plain clothed policeman. He told me that I didn't know what that man had done, maybe he was a murderer, that justified the use of force. I replied something to the effect that I didn't care; they didn't need to strike him in the face.

I stood to the side and asked for names and badge numbers, and continued to try to assure the arrestee that I was there. Eventually I was handed the names and badge numbers of the police involved in the arrest after they had placed the man in the squad car: Officer _____ (badge ____) was in plain clothes who ran up and first struck the man; Officer ____ (badge _____) was restraining the man, searching, emptying his pockets, and never struck him, nor talked at all to me; Officer _______ (badge _____) was the officer on the back of the man, handcuffing him and who leaned over to strick him from on top of him in the face after he had secured the arrestees hand by the handcuffs. I heard them as they were moving the man to the police car to make sure that the charged him with "resisting arrest." I did not see how he got placed on his stomach on the concrete sidewalk; I never saw his arms flailing or him trying to turn over. I did see him lifting his head and yelling about his innocence. Obviously I have no idea what precipitated the whole affair as I was not present.

I told the arrestee to cooperate, not risk more violence in the car; Officer _____ threatened to arrest me because it is supposedly illegal to talk to someone under arrest (I am checking this with a law student parishioner). Officer _______ instructed me not to jaywalk as he got in the car to take the arrestee to wherever he will be held.

I do not know the name of the arrestee -- I would like to find it out, if you could find it for me so that I could visit him in jail. The incident took place around 6:30 pm. He kept yelling, "Who did I supposedly beat up? I'm innocent; I didn't do anything". He looked to me for protection. Could you help me find his name and where I might visit him?

I am extremely uncomfortable at the event, both in its violence and racial component. Tomorrow (Wed) I plan to contact Rev. William Ardnt, a wonderful African-American pastor who has helped San Diego work through racial tensions before and is widely and justly respected. I do believe that the incident needs investigated. Those in the Salvation Army said that "it is getting worse" on the streets in how they are being treated by the police.

I would like to report the incident to the appropriate authorities. You have my permission to forward this email to the appropriate office in the City Government and the Police. I am a bit uncomfortable with this being kept an internal police matter because of the conflict of interest in police investigating their own.

I derive no pleasure in any of this, nor did I ask to be involved. I obviously do not know the whole story, but from what I saw, the ending of the affair was very, very ugly. I would deeply appreciate it if you could get back to me as soon as possible.

Peace,
Rev. Dr. John W. Wright
Senior Pastor, Church of the Nazarene in Mid-City, English-Speaking Congregation
Professor of Theology and Christian Ministry
Point Loma Nazarene University

After the squad car pulled away, I went the final blocks to the Salvation Army. This congregation is so kind to the Mid-City congregation and especially me -- when they saw it was me there to preach, they applauded. I told them that they'd better wait until they listen to me first. I first advised them not to give the police any grounds for violence, but to "go limp" if they have any encounters -- to not resist at alll, that this is the gospel. Then I preached from Ruth 1 -- how these transients were brought back to Bethlehem and from them God brought the salvation of the world to bear in Jesus Christ. I probably talked 20 minutes -- way to long. They applauded when I finished. They served chicken legs and thighs, cooked by David Crazythunder et al!, and a beautiful salad.

I left early, apologizing to go to the hospital where "Hankster the Prankster" had been admitted after staying for a week under the car of Mike Valentine -- God bless you, Mike! Hank is suffering from cellutitus (sp?) -- a disease that I am getting much too familiar with as it is the same disease with which Bill Hatcher suffers. A wonderful surprise was finding that Hank's nurse was an ex-student of mine. She actually had time to talk with me and Hank, go over the procedure that had been done that day, what would probably happen, correct his chart from mistakes about his residence, and line up communications with us for Hank's benefit. Hank takes care of the folk in OB, third picnic table from Dog Beach. I've known him about 6 years now, seeing him off and on. Let's pray that we can find Hank a place where he can care for himself as he has cared for others. I emphasized that he is going to have to do this now.

So, it's now after 10:00 pm. Papers remain to be graded; books to read. The adrenaline is passing through my system. It is hard to digest all that has gone on, and why God puts me in such situations -- I had been happy -- it's almost been two years since I was last threatened with arrest!

I continue to read through Mother Teresa of Calcutta's book. Her witness has much to teach me.