Police Action during Quakes/Galaxy game (9/25/04) [R]

IBleedTeal · Sep 26, 2004

Re: Quakes/Gals (9/25/04) inmatch/postmatch [R]

Well.

The police riot was the most exiting action from this tilt.

markmcf8 · Sep 26, 2004

Re: Quakes/Gals (9/25/04) inmatch/postmatch [R]

IBleedTeal said:

Well.

The police riot was the most exiting action from this tilt.
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What police riot?!

Naturally, the stinking LA announcers didn't say spit about that.

LONG LIVE THE QUAKES!!

- Mark

tonyh01 · Sep 26, 2004

Re: Quakes/Gals (9/25/04) inmatch/postmatch [R]

IBleedTeal said:

Well.

The police riot was the most exiting action from this tilt.
Click to expand...

Yeah...what happened over there? From the east side I thought I saw some night sticks swinging. What happened?

Bummer for the LA fans that ended up in the po po....go on vacation, come home on probation!

IBleedTeal · Sep 26, 2004

Re: Quakes/Gals (9/25/04) inmatch/postmatch [R]

For the LA/Police situation

I will give more details later, but pretty much 15-20 LARS'ers were beat with clubs and escorted out (not so much escorted. think handcuffs and hair pulling), im talking 3 cops to a LA fan. The LA fans were asked to sit down by security, but they refused, saying "we payed for these tickets under the promise we would be able to stand, like we always do". Security decided they didn't want to F around and called in the cops, who came in with clubs and started swinging at everyone who wouldn't sit down. It was like a police riot scene. Unbelieveable. BUT, its similar to what the Ultras' deal with every game.

Also, notice we were there, LOUD, pre-game. But not during the game? Guess who? Security again. What dicks tonight. Like I said, i'll give more details about the LA incident and a full-blown essay about the Ultras security problems. Im not joking this time, but I think a full-blown lawsuit might be in order. When you hear the stuff I will say, you will be amazed.

TyffaneeSue · Sep 26, 2004

Re: Quakes/Gals (9/25/04) inmatch/postmatch [R]

Tonight I've gotta agree with IBT, seeing the LARS guys getting carried out of the stands was the best part of the evening. Though there were some exciting moments in the first half (after the guys stopped flailing around and settled down) and a few close chances. My impression was that the players felt frustrated by a lot of the calls (or non-calls) and didn't have their heart in it the second half.

Despite the number of attendees, the crowd energy was below its typical level. A constant buzz of noise but not much cheering or player encouragement. Normally we can follow the Casbah's lead, but we could hardly hear them tonight.

Also, I thought Eddie looked very weak and was surprised he wasn't subbed off. On at least two occasions he made dangerous passes that went to a fast-moving Gals forward. We were also wondering about the Brian/Ramiro switch.

At least Dom subbed early, but Jamil, Landon, and DeRo played as though they'd never seen each other before tonight. And Landon was his old (young) self during the first half, but then he sort of fizzed out and went into his spectating mode.

supersport · Sep 26, 2004

Re: Quakes/Gals (9/25/04) inmatch/postmatch [R]

IBleedTeal said:

For the LA/Police situation

I will give more details later, but pretty much 15-20 LARS'ers were beat with clubs and escorted out (not so much escorted. think handcuffs and hair pulling), im talking 3 cops to a LA fan. The LA fans were asked to sit down by security, but they refused, saying "we payed for these tickets under the promise we would be able to stand, like we always do". Security decided they didn't want to F around and called in the cops, who came in with clubs and started swinging at everyone who wouldn't sit down. It was like a police riot scene. Unbelieveable. BUT, its similar to what the Ultras' deal with every game.

Also, notice we were there, LOUD, pre-game. But not during the game? Guess who? Security again. What dicks tonight. Like I said, i'll give more details about the LA incident and a full-blown essay about the Ultras security problems. Im not joking this time, but I think a full-blown lawsuit might be in order. When you hear the stuff I will say, you will be amazed.
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What a shocker! GM/FO makes promise to supporters group. Spartan/yellow jackets say they heard of no such thing. The Ultras have been up against this all season. Maybe what happened tonight will make some believers out of some people? Maybe Lalas will finally be forced to come clean about the events of this season? In any event as much as I hate LA and their fans, this should have never happened.

1Bri Fanatic333 · Sep 26, 2004

Re: Quakes/Gals (9/25/04) inmatch/postmatch [R]

I'm way tired, and am heading to bed as I just got home (yes, it is almost midnight!), but I wanted to give a little info on the whole LARS situation. We saw a bunch of commotion going on over there, and it was basically what IBT said. They were asked to sit down because the people in the rows behind them couldnt see. Many of them were intoxicated, and absolutely refused. Those two things mixed with our oh so lovely yellow jackets, and then the LARS members started yelling profanities at other fans around them. The police were called in, and the situation was handled however from there on. It was about half time when Alexi went over there to "rectify the situation". If you noticed, at the start of the second half, there was about 2 dozen fans sitting on the north end of the field...on the field, in folding chairs....? These are those people that were behind LARS. Alexi took them out of their seats, and in order to not piss off LARS, and let them stand, took these QUAKES FANS, and asked them to move onto the field (it was a young boys team, like they'd say no to sitting on the field!). They were quite roudy and would barely let the guys warm up/down in the second half. NOT one of Alexi's best decisions, IMHO! I was rather mad at the whole situation, but hey, whatever.

btw, all this info came from a security guard who happens to be a friend of mine....

IBleedTeal · Sep 26, 2004

Re: Quakes/Gals (9/25/04) inmatch/postmatch [R]

TyffaneeSue said:

Tonight I've gotta agree with IBT, seeing the LARS guys getting carried out of the stands was the best part of the evening.
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Not even what I was trying to get at.

It was disgusting.

These guys drove 5+ hours, had a crappy ass trip (from what I heard), and get into a CLUB fight with Police because they want to STAND? They bought group tickets from our Front Office, because the Front Office had already sold the tickets in 135 when they were looking to buy.

These guys are MLS fans just like us, and maybe the reason I sympathize with them is because this is what the Ultras' deal with every week. An Ultras member (and BS poster) had a police citation because he was HOLDING TOILET PAPER. They believed he was going to throw it over, so they decided to escort him out.

Now I will explain my situation.

This Ultras' member was being talked too by the police on the upper level where the stairs are, and this guy, being my friend, I went out to go check on him. The security supervisor (gray shirt) was there, and as soon as I got up there, told me I was blocking the aisle to the entrance to the upperdeck (if you've never been up there, the aisle is about 8 feet wide). I told him I want to check on my friend and he told me "go sit down in your seat, its none of your business, or I can have you kicked out and cited also." I asked him for his badge number or name so I could file a report about how he was harassing me and how rude he was, and he replied "Its none of your business. One more word and your getting booked." I went back to my seat, and with another Ultras member we decided to go seek out a higher level of authority, because the other security (the one on top of Section 201) confirmed with me that the guy must identify himself if I ask for his info. As I got into the section entryway by the stairs again, I asked the yellow-shirted guy who to talk too. He refered us to the gray-shirt who I was to complain about, and at that moment the gray-shirted guy appeared at the stairs. He came over to us and told us "go sit down or get out of the stadium". I explained to him I was asking the yellow-shirted security guy something, and he once again replied "if you dont sit down, i'll have you taken out of the stadium". At that point another gray-shirted supervisor appeared. I went to talk to him, as the first guy tried to hold me back. The other guy just re-iterated the firsts words. I asked him for the first guy's badge number or ID, and he told me to "stop getting smart and sit down and enjoy the game". I at that point asked him for his name and/or badge also. He told me that he is the director of security. I asked him "so your the highest guy I can talk too", he replied yes. I asked him "so your the general manager of Spartan Stadium". he replied yes. I asked him "Who are you employed by", at that point he told me "shut the ******** up or go back to your seat." At this time my friend was also kind of re-iterating my comments and talking to the first guy. He made a comment to the guy I was talking too to the effect of, "you have to tell us your employer or badge number or something", and he then got in his face, and said, "you smart little mother********er. go sit in your seat right now and dont say another word to me or i'll have you arrested for being drunk in public. At this point I grabbed my friend and took him back up to the top of 201. This was rediculous, and I tried to get down again. The first gray-shirted guy was going to stop me again, but I told him I had to use the restroom. My friend followed soon therafter saying the same thing. We asked a few more yellow-shirted guys on the concourse about who to complain too, and they all referred us to the gray-SFO guys. We walked to the North side of the stadium, where I finnaly found a security guy I know. I explained the situation to him and he radioed to the command post, and asked if he could get the real director of security to come talk to us. We walked and waited for about 15 minutes, and finnaly saw a women named Elizabeth who heard me out and told me to write out my "complaint" and send it to Spartan. This is the first thing i'm going to do tommarow morning. I kind of wrote this whole thing a little fast, so excuse any spelling or gramaticall errors. Also, if you feel like you would like to add a comment that I will put in my letter, post it or PM me. It is just rediculous how much they can harass one single person, and I know for a fact its illegal for them to lie to me like they did, and be so rude, obnouxious, and threatening about it.

Edit:

I did not overdramatize the language that the security personelle used with us.

A big thumbs up to Alexi Lalas, who himself came over to the LARS section and attmepted to straighten the situation out when the Cops came ready to fight. I never thought i'd see this kind of stuff in MLS. He was there right in the thick of it, trying to calm the situation down. Applause from me.

If any of you guys know a security guy with a ponytale named Michael, ID number 1205804, give him a big pat on the back. This guy understands fans and was the only security guy who was willing to help us finnaly talk to the right person.

We Were Cut · Sep 26, 2004

Re: Quakes/Gals (9/25/04) inmatch/postmatch [R]

We were sitting just to the right of the Galaxative fans. I was kinda pissed, as we've had these seats for years, and someone stupidly put the travelling fans right in our view. With the terrible sightlines at Spartan, and with the fans standing, one third of the field was blocked from view. That sucked. Why didn't the Galaxatives sit in their usual spot in the corner?

Some fans complained about the Galaxatives fans standing, security came over and asked them to sit. They didn't. The cops showed up, talked to the fans for about 15 minutes, between talking to someone over their walkie talkies, then started removing fans along the aisle. A couple resisted, were thrown around by the cops and security, and then the nightsticks came out.

The ones who got whacked that I saw were the ones who didn't listen to the cops. I'm kinda mixed on this: on the one hand, security/SJPD seemed to overreact to the situation, but on the other hand, if you don't listen to the police, what do you expect?

Alexi came over and tried to calm the situation, but by then the worst had already occured. Very ugly any way you look at it.

And I understand about traveling fans, standing at a stadium, inappropriate language, flipping off the opposing team, etc. I didn't complain-we planned to move at halftime. But the Quakes need to take responsibility here for screwing up in the first place and not isolating the LA fans.

On the way to the other side of the stadium at halftime, we passed an older female LA fan who was being helped by a medic. Didn't get a good look, but when I asked if she was ok, she was quick to reply no.

Also, I'd expect to see lots of photos posted. Seems like 5 LA fans pulled out cameras and started taking photos.

1Bri Fanatic333 · Sep 26, 2004

Re: Quakes/Gals (9/25/04) inmatch/postmatch [R]

We Were Cut said:

Why didn't the Galaxatives sit in their usual spot in the corner?

Also, I'd expect to see lots of photos posted. Seems like 5 LA fans pulled out cameras and started taking photos.
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I was told by Maynard that since it was AYSO night, the youth teams had first dibs on the normal place in the corner where they usually put all the LA Fans.

When I was walking out to my car, I saw a bunch of LARS people with a few cameras, and they were all gathered around them looking....prob wut u said....

IBleedTeal · Sep 26, 2004

Re: Quakes/Gals (9/25/04) inmatch/postmatch [R]

Yeah I saw that too. I was standing right outside the Galaxy section as the half ended, and saw all the guys being taken out. Following them was a lady with EMT's. A bunch of non-arrested Galaxy guys started talking with us, and they said that she was hit by a baton. Pretty much, the police whipped em out and of course there was a struggle from the LA fans (nobody is going to stay still and get beat), and the cop missed and nailed the middle-aged women right square in the back of the head. Quite a bit of blood when she was helped out of the section. Disgusting.

An update from someone inside the LA fans who came down here:

The LA fan who was hit over the head is now being tended to at a hospital in the area.
Another has a possible fractured arm.
Two are in jail.

Naco · Sep 26, 2004

Re: Quakes/Gals (9/25/04) inmatch/postmatch [R]

IBleedTeal said:

An Ultras member (and BS poster) had a police citation because he was HOLDING TOILET PAPER. They believed he was going to throw it over, so they decided to escort him out.

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Howdy.

IBleedTeal · Sep 26, 2004

Re: Quakes/Gals (9/25/04) inmatch/postmatch [R]

Update from LA board, the LA women who was injured is now back at the hotel and is recovering.

rokstedy · Sep 26, 2004

Re: Quakes/Gals (9/25/04) inmatch/postmatch [R]

The simple solution (after the fact): Put the LA fans where they were before in previous games (Section 135?), however some other groups had dibs on that place.

The next simple solution: Sit down when told to. Yes, they paid for the seats, however it does not guarantee that you can stand and be rowdy like that. Alcohol had to be a factor here.

Man, I'll probably catch flak from my fellow LARSers for that but it could've been avoided if they complied.

Naco · Sep 26, 2004

Re: Quakes/Gals (9/25/04) inmatch/postmatch [R]

As far as I was informed, they were told before they even left LA that they would be able to stand.

ZiggyGalaxy · Sep 26, 2004

Re: Quakes/Gals (9/25/04) inmatch/postmatch [R]

We Were Cut said:

The ones who got whacked that I saw were the ones who didn't listen to the cops. I'm kinda mixed on this: on the one hand, security/SJPD seemed to overreact to the situation, but on the other hand, if you don't listen to the police, what do you expect?
Click to expand...

Yes, that fan was Linda Pickle. Many know her on various soccer boards as Snapshot, if I'm not mistaken. Linda apparantly was doing nothing wrong and was not resisting in any way shape or form. For a cop to not receive any future penalty or be reprimanded in any way for those actions is pathetic. You harmed an innocent person and could've caused significant damage to one's health. If that isn't a reason for one to lose their job, then I don't know what is. Protect and serve...maybe sometimes...that is just a sheer example of how one power hungry group of cops was attempting to use their authority inappropriately and it resulted in the spilling of an innocent woman's blood. Terrible...

billward · Sep 26, 2004

Re: Quakes/Gals (9/25/04) inmatch/postmatch [R]

In the rest of the world they set aside a section for traveling fans. They should never have sold tickets to LA fans and Quake fans in the same section. There were scattered LA fans in other areas of the stadium, too, even in the north end zone. One of them was throwing french fries into the Casbah - I never was able to determine who exactly it was, but I got beaned on the shoulder and saw a few others too.

I don't know when the LARS bought their tickets, but they should have been allocated one of the sections in the south end zone that are normally tarped off.

yalpstel · Sep 26, 2004

Re: Quakes/Gals (9/25/04) inmatch/postmatch [R]

Wow. SJ police in Spartan with their batons out causing injuries upon an innocent person? I'm so glad we didn't see any of this stuff.

That poor woman.

I wish her a speedy recovery.

Psyche · Sep 26, 2004

Re: Quakes/Gals (9/25/04) inmatch/postmatch [R]

Update as of 1am: found on http://www.matchnight.com/?Page=ARTICLE&articleid=483

(oh, and the one arrest was from the other LA support group, the Galaxians. No LARS members were arrested.)

0-0. Brawl.

Major Incident at Spartan Stadium results in one arrest and one ER visit.

Benjamin Bird
September 26, 2004

A clash between Galaxy supporters and San Jose police officers marred an exuberant 0-0 draw at the Earthquakes home stadium during the Western Conference matchup on Saturday night.

One supporter was arrested while another was admitted to the hospital for a head wound. Alan Hernandez, 25 from Los Angeles, was arrested by a San Jose City Police officer after refusing to sit down while cheering his team to victory. Linda Pickle, of Santa Ana, fell during the huge melee and incurred a serious head wound. She was taken by ambulance to a local medical center for treatment.

The melee began at the end of the first half. According to several vocal witnesses, fans were standing, chanting, and enjoying the game when a group of San Jose State University police officers began escorting fans away from the section.

"The first few officers were taking the fans out like they should be," said a San Jose fan from Salinas.

"But there was a lady police officer who came down and just started hitting this poor guy like crazy. Then she took out this electrical thingy, a taser, and shocking him and he was shaking like crazy."

When the fans saw the San Jose City Police officer hitting and shocking Alan Hernandez, they began to vocalize their frustration towards the officers.

Rick Valasquez, a five year supporter of the Earthquakes, said, "I saw the police come down and get out of control with the fans. I saw them take him [Hernandez] down, saw him shock them with some kind of laser gun, and they were a little forceful with the clubs. I saw them get too physical with the fans."

"One officer was hitting him like he was Pinata."

Linda Pickle, who was admitted to the emergency room, was tossed out for standing and cheering. One Galaxy supporter said, "she is the nicest lady to support the Galaxy, no other woman love's the game like her, and she got tossed on her ass and hit her head."

Outside the western gate of the stadium at halftime, a group of supporters were milling around waiting for word on their friends.

Dan Loney said, "look, I didn't come here to start any trouble. No one did, but things got out of hand and I just left."

Trent, another Galaxy fan, said, "I don't know why they came into our section, but they just started pulling us out."

Eddie "Gunner" Garcia of the Los Angeles Riot Squad informed MatchNight who was the officer that electrocuted Mr. Hernandez.

Wearing a badge #2091, the woman San Jose city police officer deflected all questions to Mr. J. Laws of the San Jose State University Police department.

Mr. Laws, standing next to three other SJSU PD officers, two of which were wielding air guns with rubber bullets, said, "word came down from Suite 4 to start escorting fans from the stadium."

When asked who sat in Suite 4, Mr. Laws replied, "the mangement and security. The people who make decisions."

After the game, San Jose GM Alexi Lalas was asked who gave word to escort fans from the stadium. He told MatchNight, "we don't just escort fans out of the stadium for absolutely no reason."

"Anyone that was escorted out was escorted out for a reason. I can't speak to every single case, we have a responsibility to protect the fans in the stadium and the fans that were visiting."

"If I give the word to escort fans out, if you are doing something that is disruptive to the crowd and you are doing something that is dangerous to yourself and others we are going to escort you out."

When asked if that happened during the melee, the rookie GM answered, "of course that happened."

While Lalas cannot be faulted for his decision making process, the disarray of the confilict exacerbated his need to dispell any problems.

Spending the entire 2nd half with the Galaxy supporters, Lalas tried to calm the fans.

Alan Hernandez was processed at the San Jose State University Police Department and then sent to Santa Clara County Hospital.

The biggest issue with the incident, said another supporter, was that the section of the stadium had two clubs' fans in it.

"We bought our tickets, and they weren't in our usual section," the fan said.

"We usually sit in the corner by ourselves, but now we had to sit here with the San Jose fans, and it cost us two or three times as much. The ticket rep Vic knew we were going to be standing and cheering and he said that was fine."

Both the Galaxy and San Jose suggested that supporters clubs should buy their tickets sooner and avoid having to buy higher priced seats in sections mixing two team's fans.

Future MLS games pitting rivalrous clubs will need to allocate specific sections for visiting fans to prevent future incidents like this.
Click to expand...

All things considered, this does not bode well for MLS overall.

Goodsport · Sep 26, 2004

Re: Quakes/Gals (9/25/04) inmatch/postmatch [R]

Psyche said:

Update as of 1am: found on http://www.matchnight.com/?Page=ARTICLE&articleid=483

(oh, and the one arrest was from the other LA support group, the Galaxians. No LARS members were arrested.)

0-0. Brawl.

Major Incident at Spartan Stadium results in one arrest and one ER visit.

Benjamin Bird
September 26, 2004

A clash between Galaxy supporters and San Jose police officers marred an exuberant 0-0 draw at the Earthquakes home stadium during the Western Conference matchup on Saturday night.

One supporter was arrested while another was admitted to the hospital for a head wound. Alan Hernandez, 25 from Los Angeles, was arrested by a San Jose City Police officer after refusing to sit down while cheering his team to victory. Linda Pickle, of Santa Ana, fell during the huge melee and incurred a serious head wound. She was taken by ambulance to a local medical center for treatment.

The melee began at the end of the first half. According to several vocal witnesses, fans were standing, chanting, and enjoying the game when a group of San Jose State University police officers began escorting fans away from the section.

"The first few officers were taking the fans out like they should be," said a San Jose fan from Salinas.

"But there was a lady police officer who came down and just started hitting this poor guy like crazy. Then she took out this electrical thingy, a taser, and shocking him and he was shaking like crazy."

When the fans saw the San Jose City Police officer hitting and shocking Alan Hernandez, they began to vocalize their frustration towards the officers.

Rick Valasquez, a five year supporter of the Earthquakes, said, "I saw the police come down and get out of control with the fans. I saw them take him [Hernandez] down, saw him shock them with some kind of laser gun, and they were a little forceful with the clubs. I saw them get too physical with the fans."

"One officer was hitting him like he was Pinata."

Linda Pickle, who was admitted to the emergency room, was tossed out for standing and cheering. One Galaxy supporter said, "she is the nicest lady to support the Galaxy, no other woman love's the game like her, and she got tossed on her ass and hit her head."

Outside the western gate of the stadium at halftime, a group of supporters were milling around waiting for word on their friends.

Dan Loney said, "look, I didn't come here to start any trouble. No one did, but things got out of hand and I just left."

Trent, another Galaxy fan, said, "I don't know why they came into our section, but they just started pulling us out."

Eddie "Gunner" Garcia of the Los Angeles Riot Squad informed MatchNight who was the officer that electrocuted Mr. Hernandez.

Wearing a badge #2091, the woman San Jose city police officer deflected all questions to Mr. J. Laws of the San Jose State University Police department.

Mr. Laws, standing next to three other SJSU PD officers, two of which were wielding air guns with rubber bullets, said, "word came down from Suite 4 to start escorting fans from the stadium."

When asked who sat in Suite 4, Mr. Laws replied, "the mangement and security. The people who make decisions."

After the game, San Jose GM Alexi Lalas was asked who gave word to escort fans from the stadium. He told MatchNight, "we don't just escort fans out of the stadium for absolutely no reason."

"Anyone that was escorted out was escorted out for a reason. I can't speak to every single case, we have a responsibility to protect the fans in the stadium and the fans that were visiting."

"If I give the word to escort fans out, if you are doing something that is disruptive to the crowd and you are doing something that is dangerous to yourself and others we are going to escort you out."

When asked if that happened during the melee, the rookie GM answered, "of course that happened."

While Lalas cannot be faulted for his decision making process, the disarray of the confilict exacerbated his need to dispell any problems.

Spending the entire 2nd half with the Galaxy supporters, Lalas tried to calm the fans.

Alan Hernandez was processed at the San Jose State University Police Department and then sent to Santa Clara County Hospital.

The biggest issue with the incident, said another supporter, was that the section of the stadium had two clubs' fans in it.

"We bought our tickets, and they weren't in our usual section," the fan said.

"We usually sit in the corner by ourselves, but now we had to sit here with the San Jose fans, and it cost us two or three times as much. The ticket rep Vic knew we were going to be standing and cheering and he said that was fine."

Both the Galaxy and San Jose suggested that supporters clubs should buy their tickets sooner and avoid having to buy higher priced seats in sections mixing two team's fans.

Future MLS games pitting rivalrous clubs will need to allocate specific sections for visiting fans to prevent future incidents like this.
Click to expand...

All things considered, this does not bode well for MLS overall.
Click to expand...

Yikes!

Albany58 · Sep 26, 2004

Re: Quakes/Gals (9/25/04) inmatch/postmatch [R]

Ekelund4life said:

Howdy.
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Holding of toilet paper is an offense under the California penal code punishable by no less than 18 and no more than 45 years at hard labor in San Quentin.

God what a mess. This all could have been handled in a better manner I'm sure. Sheeeesh.

rokstedy · Sep 26, 2004

Re: Quakes/Gals (9/25/04) inmatch/postmatch [R]

Ekelund4life said:

As far as I was informed, they were told before they even left LA that they would be able to stand.
Click to expand...

Oh wow, miscommunication or misunderstanding? Why doesn't that surprise me? Obviously this whole ordeal was messed up.

sj_quakes_fan · Sep 26, 2004

Re: Quakes/Gals (9/25/04) inmatch/postmatch [R]

ZiggyGalaxy said:

Yes, that fan was Linda Pickle. Many know her on various soccer boards as Snapshot, if I'm not mistaken. Linda apparantly was doing nothing wrong and was not resisting in any way shape or form. For a cop to not receive any future penalty or be reprimanded in any way for those actions is pathetic. You harmed an innocent person and could've caused significant damage to one's health. If that isn't a reason for one to lose their job, then I don't know what is. Protect and serve...maybe sometimes...that is just a sheer example of how one power hungry group of cops was attempting to use their authority inappropriately and it resulted in the spilling of an innocent woman's blood. Terrible...
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OMG! I know Linda! We hung out after the Cup in Columbus! And we talked for a while before this game. Very passionate fan - been a great fan of your team for years. She's a very nice, fair person. I'm so sorry to hear she got injured in this. Hope she's doing okay.

sj_quakes_fan · Sep 26, 2004

Re: Quakes/Gals (9/25/04) inmatch/postmatch [R]

Not to take away from what happened to Linda....

However, why didn't the Galaxy fans offer to move to the top of the section. First, when they bought the tickets, did they ask to be in the corner? If they weren't allowed in the corner, did they ask to be put at the top of the section so their standing would not bother fans? And lastly, when asked not to stand, did they offer to move? As a Quake fan, I've had to give up my seat and move quite a few times, some of those times in LA, so as not to disturb fans who also paid their money to see the game. Sorry if this has been answered elsewhere, I don't have time to go back and read through this (I'm headed back to Portland right now.). But it seems to me there were ways to handle this even before the groups entered the stadium, and I'm wondering if anything was done then.

JacksonJazz#9 · Sep 26, 2004

Re: Quakes/Gals (9/25/04) inmatch/postmatch [R]

Bottom line is here.... Cops ask you to do something, do it.... im sure they need some training in dealing with crowds it sounds like, but a simple "im sorry for the miscommunication, but you cannot stand and block all these other paying customers view" and if they dont sit down, talk once more to the LARS coordinator and let them know they are going to start taking people out....

feel bad for that Linda Pickle lady, and hope she is doing better, but had the LA fans done as they were told, no melee would have occurred...

should the Earthquakes front office send her flowers or something???