Today I have been reporting on the fight that occurred at Hickman High School last Wednesday and the video posted on YouTube. Here is how the events unfolded.
- Wednesday around 1 p.m., I found out that an incident had occurred during lunch. I then called Officer Brotemarkle to find out more information and he would not provide information about the incident.
- On Wednesday and Thursday I tried getting in contact with Hickman administration for comment with no success.
- Thursday night, the Missourian newsroom received a call from someone stating that a video of the fight that occurred at Hickman on Wednesday during lunch had been posted on YouTube. The video was posted around 8 p.m.
- Friday morning around 9:30, I spoke with both Doug Mirts, Hickman athletic and activities director and Resource Officer Mark Brotemarkle about the fight. Two students were arrested. Names of the students could not be released, and more arrests are expected. Neither Mirts or Brotemarkle knew about the video when I asked. I returned to the newsroom and posted a news burst about the fight and linked to the video.
- Around noon, I contacted the person who originally called the newsroom about the fight at Hickman, Demetria Stephens. I spoke with her about details that unfolded.
- Around 1 p.m., Ray Magruder called the newsroom. Magruder is founder of Rising Star Sports Association and mentor to Diamond Thrower, the girl in the yellow shirt in the video. He informed me that Thrower was trying to mediate the fight and felt unjustly treated by the officer. I checked the YouTube site to watch the video and it had been removed.
- Around 2 p.m. I spoke with Hickman principal Mike Jeffers about an investigation on the fight. He confirmed that Brotemarkle was under investigation and that he would not be at Hickman until the investigation was complete. According the Jeffers, the investigation began on Thursday. After the interview I began trying to contact the police department. I have not been able to get in touch with anyone to discuss the fight or investigation.
- After accuracy checking information from Stephens and Magruder, I gained contact information and permission from Thrower’s mother. Thrower was unable to comment because she was sleeping.
- Around 6 p.m., a news release from Capt. Tom Dresner was faxed to the newsroom. I did not see it until later in the evening. At this time, the news release has not been posted on the police department’s Web site.
- The newsroom received a phone call from the uncle of the girl who posted the video on YouTube. The father was standing next to him and provided information on how to contact the girl and the girl’s mother. I then spoke with the girl’s mother, who provided permission for the Missourian to post the video after it had been taken off YouTube. I then interviewed the girl. The mother requested that her and her daughter’s names not be used to protect her daughter’s safety. The girl said that she had not removed the video herself.
I have not spoken to Officer Brotemarkle since this morning, before the video was seen by Hickman administration and before I knew that Brotemarkle was under investigation.
If you have any information about the fight or other incidents, please contact the Missourian newsroom at 882-5720 or e-mail me at danielleboenisch@gmail.com. Comments are always welcome.
—Danielle Boenisch
[...] The link above will display a PDF version of the release sent to the Missourian from Capt. Tom Dresner of the Columbia Police Department. The story about the Hickman fight is here, and reporter Danielle Boenisch’s reporting timeline is here. [...]
I dont believe what officer Mark Bortemarkle did was wrong.
How was he suppose to know who was fighting?
I witnessed the fight and the girl in the yellow was trying to break it up, but think about it for someone who is running in trying to stop the fight from continuing, how is he suppose to know who is trying to help when they are all pulling on each other?
O and this who racial thing is stupid. It had nothing to do with anything. So get over it.
This kind of thing has been ongoing with this officer. I can recall several stories of his abuse from my son who graduated in 2007.
Furthermore, if you look at this in a rational(rational to whom?) manner as the student above, it would appear to some that nothing abnormal occured. But, let’s look at this from a different perspective. The young lady in question was assisting a staff member of the school in breaking up the fight. The officer doesn’t appear to use the logic of finding out who the actual troublemakers are before he assults the young lady. That’s problem number one! Who ever heard of being a police officer without the understanding that things must be investigated? But then again that’s the CPD m.o.. Beat down, then ask a question.
Also, he has a reputation of being abusive to students as well as rude to adults. Your actions tend to make you who people think you are. If you bully people you’re then known as a bully. Let’s also remember they are here to protect and serve, not beat the H out of you while responding to a minor disturbance.
Also, if you are black or white you can see his actions as abusive. He’s there to protect our kids not to intimidate and beat up.
If you look at the recent known fact that the community doesn’t trust the CPD and the Civilian Review Board shows it to be justified. He’s wrong for our students and our community. Officers like him need to be removed from our presence. Maybe the city manager can get him a job at University Medical Center as well and he and Boehm can remeniss about the “good ol’ days of beating folks down”.
So what your saying (If there was a weapon involved) you would want to figure out who is sitting there stabbing someone before just simple trying to separate them?
I see your point but maybe intimidation is a good thing at a school like hickman. I mean seriously two kids with guns and countless fights and disturbances and we are what?……. Six weeks into school? Maybe if the students see what the administrative is doing to the few Bad apples then they wil think twice about fighting or causing trouble.
If I see officer Brokemarkle any time son I would like to shake his hand, Because honestly hickman isnt the way it use to be. The sophomore class is out of control. And As a student I would like to see some action taken to prevent these hooligans and there money seeking parents from causing all of this stupid un needed drama.
I feel that everyone is due their opinion….. but if it was yourself or your child that experienced the situation that Diamond Thrower did, I am certain you would be thinking differently.
For a kid who is on track for graduating high school early, has focus on her future, and is a young lady who has said she would like a fresh start as soon as time allows….. this takes a strong personality.
The officer has had numerous complaints of this same issue in past years ( which all of those complaints should be a part of the investigation — there are 9-13 that have been obtained thus far )….. and it very surprising that 85%-90% of those people are African-American’s.
Nonetheless, this situation is not about color / race…. it is about the actions that were taken and the amount of force the officer used.
I am not sure if the public is aware, but allow me to inform you…….. Diamond Thrower has incurred internal bodily damage as a result of this incident and suffers everyday as a result. That is why she has missed school since the incident.
It is really amazing to know that people that have no facts seem to act as if they are the most knowledge and have solutions to all of the problems that arise.
I have been Diamond’s mentor for 6+ years and I can inform you that based on my knowledge of appropriate force needed to take a person down, this was excessive. ( ask other police officers, or even better yet ask Eric White from CPD….. he too thinks it was excessive force )
I have several family members who are police officers and I have reviewed the video with them and they have all said the techniques used were techniques that are used when you are attempting to cause bodily harm like a street cop may do to a criminal committing a serious crime.
I simply would like you to ask yourself, if this was to happen to your sister, brother, mother, father, best friend, you….. I am sure your views would surely change.
Our quest is to reiterate that Officers also should be accountable for their actions and if not, then The City of Columbia / Schools will have lost creditability and the community members will continue to have no confidence.
Thanks,
Ray Magruder