San Jose Police Accused Of Racially Profiling, Beating Filipino Family

(CBS 5 / BCN)  SAN JOSE About 80 people gathered Tuesday in front of the Santa Clara County Hall of Justice in an emotional show of support for three members of a San Jose Filipino family that claim to have been beaten and racially profiled by San Jose police.

The Justice for the Custodio Family Campaign representing Marlo, 19, Romel, 25, and their mother Marilou Custodio, a 50-year-old single mother and Santa Clara County employee, went public Tuesday with the accusations.

Members of the campaign claim that on Feb 5, three members of the Custodio family were racially profiled then beaten in the Evergreen Valley area of San Jose.

"I just don't know why those cops had to take it that far," Marlo said, fighting back tears.

The group claims that officers slammed Marilou's head into a police car three times and brutalized her sons, Romel and Marlo.

The group also claims that Romel was already pacified when officers used a stun gun on him with three separate weapons causing excessive burns. Marlo was allegedly choked and kneed in the face by officers, according to the campaign.

The group alleges that Marilou Custodio, who stands about 5 feet 2 inches tall, is suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder.

"They need to stop racially profiling our community and they need to stop assaulting unarmed citizens," Raj Jayadev said, spokesman for the Justice for the Custodio Family Campaign. "We think there are some structural problems with the police that need to be corrected immediately."

"I'm appalled with police conduct against the Custodio family and urge the District Attorney's Office to drop charges against the family members right away," said Dr. Peter Chua, a sociology professor at San Jose State University. "This is a clear case of police misconduct and hypocrisy. The police charged them with resisting arrest. The offending officers should be facing criminal charges."

The crowd, gathered in support of the family, waved signs with messages like "protect and serve" and "end police brutality" while others chanted protests and urged support from passing motorists.

"This family is a good, hard working family," Mike Gray, a Custodio family friend said. "This should never have happened, we shouldn't be here today."

Jayadev nor the Custodio family would comment about what led to the Custodio family's encounter with police on the advice of attorney Richard Konda of the Asian Law Alliance.

"The district attorney needs to drop the charges against the family and they need to file charges against the officers," Konda said.

Konda called stun guns "weapons of torture" that are used to injure people. [MORE]

Comments

[deeznutz]

Great, in this article stun guns are called "weapons of torture" and in another article, the family said the police should have used tazers against their boy instead of shooting him because he had a gun. These articles are making me sick. It's amazing how many narrow minded ignorant idiots are out there roaming around. I'm outta here.

[Andre]

Public safety for American civilians has become more of a threat these days and not only by international terrorists and national criminals, but at the hands of law enforcement officials. These are people who vowed to protect and serve our communities.
The increase of excessive force by police officers violates human right laws. It may be me today, but it could be you tomorrow. Become proactive in the struggle against unjustified brutal abuse on American people.

Together let's put an end to police brutality!
Visit my website to see how (encourage your family and friends to sign as well):


http://www.petitionspot.com/petitions/ProtectionInGivingService