Standing Watch

Jordan Miles in hospital (Terez Miles – AP)

Pittsburgh PA: On a cold Pittsburgh evening around 11:00 pm January 11, 2010, Miles Jordon, who had just turned 18 the day before, began his usual ritual of walking from his mother’s home to his grandmother’s home 5 blocks away in the Homewood neighborhood, where he spent most nights. The classical musician and Honor Student at Pittsburgh’s prestigious Creative and Performing Arts High School never made it. The 5’6” 150 pound teenager who had been sheltered from street life by his family never had a chance.

About a block or so into Miles’ 5 block trek, Miles spots a white car parked with 3 white adult males in it. Suddenly, the car moves directly at him, stops just short, and the men jump out. One shouts “Where’s the money?” The other two shout “Where’s the gun? Where’s the drugs?”

Miles, believing he is about to be robbed and harmed, turns to flee from his attackers. He gets a few steps, but slips on a patch of ice on the sidewalk and falls. The three men jump him, stun him with a taser, and then proceed to punch and kick him, rip out his hair from his scalp, choked him, and at some point impaled his gums with a tree branch. The men then put handcuffs on Miles, and he becomes frightened he is being kidnapped for further abuse.

It isn’t until sometime later, when a marked police van arrives and he spots a uniformed officer, that Miles realizes he is being arrested, and that

Jordan Miles in hospital (Terez Miles – AP)

his attackers where undercover detectives.

The detectives, not surprisingly, tell a very different version of events. Detectives Richard Ewing, Michael Saldutte, and David Sisak, all claim they noticed Miles behaving in a suspicious manner, trying to evade their notice by leaning against a building, and appearing to have something large and heavy in his pocket. They each claim they had identified themselves to Miles as police officers as they approached Miles, and that Miles then attempted to flee. All three claim they only used that force which was necessary to subdue Miles. The large and heavy item Miles allegedly was carrying would later be identified as a bottle of Mountain Dew by police.

Miles is later transported to Penn West Hospital for treatment of his injuries. Upon being released by police, Miles returns to the hospital for treatment of what is obviously (from the pictures available) severe head and eye trauma, as well as other injuries. Miles is charged by the detectives with loitering, escape, aggravated assault, and resisting arrest.

The detectives fail to appear for the hearing on the charges against Miles on January 21, 2010. The judge is forced to reschedule the hearing for February 18, 2010. Miles had looked forward to pleading his innocence, and to outlining the abuse he suffered at the hands of detectives, but could not. It is likely a delay tactic by police, in order to allow the more visible injuries Miles suffered to heal.  Miles has no criminal record, and no affiliation, association, or other interactions with gangs.

One can be sure the emotional trauma Miles suffered will take far longer. He is currently plagued with nightmares and flashbacks, symptoms of post traumatic stress disorder, of the attack.

Jordan Miles (Terez Miles – AP)

Terez Miles, who took the pictures seen in this article and released them to the public, believes her son was racially profiled by police. Miles claims he didn’t have anything in his jacket, a birthday gift from the day before, and that he rarely drinks Mountain Dew. Miles continues to assert the detectives never identified themselves as police officers. He says he learned that by overhearing the conversation 15 minutes after the assault between the detectives and the uniformed officer.

The FBI is investigating, though at last word they did not receive a formal request as yet. Pittsburgh Mayor Luke Ravenstahl is “taking this very seriously,” said his press secretary, Joanna Doven. “The case is being investigated, he’s closely monitoring it. He’s met with the chief.” According to Pittsburgh Police spokesperson Diane Richard, the detectives have been reassigned and put them back in uniform while the city investigates. She declined to say whether racial allegations are part of the probe.

Jordan Miles is still recovering from his injuries, awaiting medical clearance to return to school.  He hopes to attend Penn State University upon

Jordan Miles on Jan 22 (Terez Miles – AP)

graduation, to study crime scene investigation.

Readers, particular those in the PIttsburgh area, are asked to write formal, polite, and strongly worded letters of protest to the City Mayor, denouncing this sort of racial profiling and abuse of power by police.  Where possible, readers are encouraged to hand deliver the letters.  Given what took place, I suggest not going alone.

Part of the continuing saga on the so-called “war on drugs,” which I think is quite obviously a war on something else.

Story compiled from multiple sources, including CNN, CBS, Huffington Post, BET, Zimbio, Washington Post, and the Pittsburgh Post Gazette.  Photos by Terez Miles, courtesy of Associated Press.