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A number of student groups have rallied together to voice concerns of police brutality following the arrest and alleged harassment of a student at a party Sunday, Oct. 8.

Ray Dolphin ’01, who is African-American, was arrested by the Middletown Police Department (MPD) at an off-campus party at approximately 3 am Sunday, Oct. 8. He was charged with interfering with a police officer, which is a misdemeanor. However, several student witnesses and Dolphin claim that his arrest was racially motivated and unwarranted.

According to Dolphin, he and Sam Siegel ’03 were waiting for a friend on the front lawn of 55 Oak Street, when two police officers, responding to a noise complaint, drove up and asked the students to either go into the house or leave the property. Neither he nor Siegel left because he said he expected his friend to join them outside shortly. Dolphin and Siegel, who is Caucasian, had been standing with their hands in their pockets when Officer David Galm approached them and asked that they reveal their hands. 

When neither responded, Galm forcibly removed Siegel’s hands from his pockets. Galm then approached Dolphin from behind and took him by the hands. Dolphin said he turned to see what Galm was doing, at which point Galm grabbed Dolphin, wrestled with him, thrust him against a car and sprayed him with pepper spray. Dolphin’s glasses were knocked off and he fell to the ground.

The MPD declined comment. The policy of the MPD does not allow them to comment on an open case.

According to Siegel, approximately 20 students were standing outside at the predominantly Caucasian party. Dolphin said he believes that Galm overreacted because of Dolphin’s race.

"[Galm] saw a big black man wearing a puffy jacket and a baseball cap backwards," Dolphin said. "As soon as I moved I think he felt hreatened, and he [let] the situation get out of control."

"If it wasn’t a racial situation why wasn’t Sam arrested, too. We both had our hands in our pockets," Dolphin added.

Siegel said he agrees that Dolphin’s arrest was racially motivated.

"The officer basically freaked out on Ray because he’s black and I’m white. It ain’t rocket science," Siegel said.

Two students who witnessed Dolphin’s arrest went down to the Middletown Police Station to file a complaint. However, they said they were treated unfairly by the other police officers.

"The police there were very hostile to us," said Ona Osato ’04, one of the witnesses. "The sergeant refused to give the name of the officer...and as we handed [the complaint] in they threatened us with disciplinary action at Wesleyan."

Lieutenant Christopher Barrow of the Middletown Police Department later called the students and told them that the MPD was investigating their complaints.

Dolphin’s arrest is not the first incident to raise concerns about the MPD’s response to incidents involving African-American students. In 1995, a Middletown police officer arrested four students walking on Mt. Vernon Street when they refused to produce identification, which was within their legal right. The officer was later suspended. 

In 1996, a second Middletown police officer was suspended for posting a bulletin advising other officers against responding to calls from Wesleyan students because they had rallied in support of Mumia Abu-Jamal. Abu-Jamal is an African-American convicted of killing a police officer. 

The following year, Middletown police officers responding to a noise complaint, brought in police dogs, seven squad cars and the assistance of the nearby Portland police to break up a DJ competition. The audience for the event, which was held at Joe’s Juice and Java in Middletown, was predominantly African-American. 

Alana Lopez ’03 said it was this pattern which prompted her and Andrew Rothman ’03 to organize a meeting on Monday night to inform students and discuss responses to it. Under the umbrella of the Student Unity Network, several student groups including Refuse and Resist, American Civil Liberties Union and Connecticut Students Against the Death Penalty have planned a march to the Middletown Police Department which will coincide with Oct. 22, a national day for activism against police brutality.

"It’s really important to act on Ray’s case," Lopez said. "It personalizes the issue for a lot of people. It’s really easy to overlook a problem if it doesn’t affect you, but he’s a fellow student and more than an image on TV. [Dolphin’s arrest] makes you realize how important police brutality is to yourself."

Dean of Student Services Michael Whaley said he supports the student’s action.

"People should be able to bring their concerns forward via the oppropriate channel," Whaley said. "If something’s not working then they should be able to voice these concerns."

Some students said they are still shaken by incidents such as these.

"I know it exists everywhere but coming to Wesleyan you think you’re in this bubble," Osato said. "To blatantly see racism is a real reminder that it’s everywhere."

Student, page 4