Krayeske Files Lawsuit Against Hartford Police
by Christine Stuart | May 24, 2007 5:04 PM
Posted to Courts
| Legal
Ken Krayeske, a freelance journalist, photographer, and law student who was arrested while taking photographs during Gov. M. Jodi Rell’s inaugural parade in January, filed a federal civil rights lawsuit Thursday against the City of Hartford and its police officers involved in his “false arrest.”
You already know the story.
Krayeske was put on a state police hit list for his political activities, including his role as campaign manager for Green Party candidate Cliff Thornton who ran against Rell in the Nov. 2006 election.
The federal lawsuit claims that prior to the inaugural parade a member of the Connecticut State Police informed Hartford Police that Krayeske “was among a group of political activists who posed a possible threat to the governor.” But the state dropped the charges in March when it discovered there wasn’t any probable cause with which to prosecute Krayeske.
Prior to his arrest, Krayeske had written about the inauguration in an ironic tone, informing readers that “[T]ickets to see the Fairy Godmother turn herself into Cinderella are only $150.”
“Mr. Krayeske expressed dissent about the governor’s priorities,” the lawsuit claims. It goes on to explain that: After Mr. Krayeske was arrested, defendant Andrew Weaver of the Hartford Police read him his Miranda rights and asked the plaintiff the following: “‘If we let you go now, will you be going to the inaugural ball tonight?’ Mr. Krayeske answered that he did not intend to go to the ball.”
“Thereafter, Defendants Weaver, Antuna and John Doe, whose identity is at this time unknown, conspired together to impose an unreasonable bond intended to prevent Mr. Krayeske from being released from custody while the governor’s inaugural ball was taking place. Bond was set in the amount of $75,000 and was not reduced to a promise to appear until after the inaugural ball had ended.”
The lawsuit filed late Thursday afternoon by Krayeske’s attorney Norman Pattis claims Sgt. Andrew Hawkens, “requested a high bond, leaving word with the Hartford Police Department that he was to be notified at the ‘Connecticut State Police at 550-1033’ if Mr. Krayeske were released from custody before 8 p.m.”
State Rep. Michael Lawlor, D-East Haven, has said Krayeske was singled out “irresponsibly by state and local police because of his political views and prior political statements and activity.”
“The bad news is that state and local taxpayers will bear the cost of this violation of Ken Krayeske’s constitutional right,” Lawlor said in a March press release.
While that may sound like a ringing endorsement, it didn’t stop Capitol Police from harassing Krayeske at the state Capitol this week.
Krayeske went up to the Capitol Wednesday to speak with lawmakers and media colleagues when he was stopped by the Capitol Police who asked for his press credentials.
For anyone who doesn’t know journalism is not a licensed profession and there is no such thing as a press credential. Not to mention the Capitol is a public building.
The Capitol reporters who spoke to Krayeske were asked by Capitol Police shortly after the conversation, why he was there. According to one reporter, police wanted to know what they had spoken about.
Lawlor said Thursday that he would look into the matter.
Comments (12)
Posted by: Kerri | May 25, 2007 8:41 AM
The explanation of press credentials is right on. Last year, HIMC volunteers were harassed by security at the CT Democratic Convention at the Expo Center. We have footage of some unnecessary physical intervention on their part, while they demanded to see our press credentials. It's as if the video camera, notebooks, and ability to listen to footage on the radio later wasn't enough.
Posted by: visitor | May 25, 2007 10:17 AM
"Krayeske made a state police hit list for his political activities...." maybe this could rewritten so that it does not give the impression that Ken made a hit list.
Posted by: Christine | May 25, 2007 10:32 AM
Okay would political enemies list have been a better term. Being on the list was what got him arrested, despite what Chief Roberts says. I think it was already proven when the state dropped the case against him that Hartford Police did not make the arrest based on his actions.
Posted by: guest | May 25, 2007 10:34 AM
To our tireless reporter Christine Stuart:
Isn't the state police under the ultimate authority of the governor?
Why is she remaining silent and inactive on this?
Isn't the state police now headed by a former Asst. U.S. Attorney, who is supposed to have some honor and integrity in these matters?
Did the reporter at the capitol ask the officers why they wanted to know what Ken discussed with them? Can you find out? I hope none of them felt compelled to submit to this investigation.
Can you call Rell's office for comment on the state police connection, and can you ask capitol police why they dogged Ken the other day?
During hearings on this in the legislature, didn't capitol police testify in such a way that would suggest they were superior in their handling of political activists to Hartford police, because of their daily exposure to the capitol building and its political activities?
Are capitol police facilitating a retaliation claim Krayeske can add to his lawsuit?
Do they want a medal for this?
Maybe these police officers should pay these settlements out of their own pockets. Maybe taking out second mortgages or selling their homes will drive the message home.
Posted by: guest | May 25, 2007 10:40 AM
Christine, you are being too soft on the facts. It was not proven when the state dropped the charges -- note a judge then dismissed the charges, which is more significant. It was proven when the statement of probable cause showed not that there wasn't enough probable cause, but that there simply wasn't probable cause.
Saying in a sworn statement that you detained someone because they were on a list and almost nothing else is about as much proof on its face as you can get. Worse, it proved that Hartford police don't know what probable cause is, or they would have made something up and sworn to that. Even more disturbing, is it suggested the state's attorney's office accepts statements like this and prosecutes them, probably routinely, which is frankly a scandal, a scandal that should prompt far more public outcry than it has.
This is pretty much endemic statewide.
Posted by: visitor | May 25, 2007 11:06 AM
What I meant was that as it is written, "Krayeske made a state police hit list for his political activities" does not give the impression that Ken was PUT on a list (which is the case), but that he, himself, "made" or composed a "hit list," giving the impression that he is a threat. I know most people would know this is not the case, but a new reader may not.......
Posted by: guest | May 25, 2007 11:19 AM
This is John Danaher's declaration on the Department of Public Safety web site:
"DPS has a commitment to ensure the safety and well being of Connecticut's citizens and to enforce the state's laws and regulations vigorously, fairly, and impartially.
We do so while respecting the dignity and rights of all with whom we come in contact and with respect for the trust and faith that the citizens of this state have placed in us." [uh huh]
Posted by: Christine | May 25, 2007 2:14 PM
To Visitor: Point well taken. Rereading that sentence I can see your point. I will rewrite it to make sure it illustrates that he was PUT on the list.
To Guest No. 1: I apologize for not having time to call the Governor's office on this, but I had an hour to write it. Maybe if I had gotten the suit sooner I would have been able to get the governor's office on the phone, but I had other priorities last night. If I hear back from the governor's office today I will update the story.
To Guest No. 2: I agree and have tightened up the language.
Thank you all for your comments
Posted by: Christine | May 25, 2007 2:50 PM
Update: I asked the governor's office whose jurisdiction the Capitol Police fall under and the answer was Legislative Management. The chairs of the Joint Committee on Legislative Management are Sen. Don Williams and Speaker James Amann. I will field my follow-up questions to them since the Capitol Police seem to want to crack down on the media by putting some reporters in the middle of this whole thing by asking them about their private conversations with Mr. Krayeske. No doubt it sends a chilling message to the media who are just up there to do their jobs.
Posted by: Christine | May 25, 2007 8:49 PM
Update 3: All non-essential state workers were let go at 2:30 p.m. today and no one returned our phone calls, but you can guarantee we'll be following up on Tuesday.
Posted by: Jim Brewer | May 27, 2007 11:53 AM
Now that we have many, many independent journalists and photographers the government doesn't know what to do.
The usual pack of TV and old print newspaper folks get in because they are known or they have some bulky camera with them. Unfortunately, anyone reading this news site knows that these "professional" often self-censor the news or the news is edited down to dribble by the suits. The result is now a sort of revolution of real news.
And THEY don't like that.
Control is everything in a burdened society. And the loss of control is obvious.
Why would a police officer care what reporters asked another reporter? Hmmm? Are they still keeping a file on him?
So it seems to me the "press credentials" former Hartford Police Captain Fallon, who is now the Capitol Chief, wanted from Ken Krayeske were two fold.
One, don't be political or on "the list."
Two, employment with the old print papers or TV.
Gee, I wonder if Mike Fallon was giving a "shout out" to his old Hartford friends by harassing Krayeske. He was a "made man" for many years in the Hartford Police.
The state of Connecticut has historically hired retired Hartford brass for various "chief" positions. Often their tactics do not fit in the more civilized forums they retire to.
When Bill Morgan was Chief, Hartford Police tactics were noticeably absent from the Capitol.
It is OUR Capitol. Let the brother speak.
Posted by: guest | June 11, 2007 6:52 PM
Ken Krayeske recounts his version of events in this April 21 video at the CT Green Party convention.