On Dec. 18, 2012 a young man with Down Syndrome was pepper
sprayed, beaten to the ground and then kicked by a Vista sheriff’s deputy in
North San Diego, California. Antonio Martinez, 21, of Vista was walking to his
father’s bakery a few blocks from his house when Deputy Jeffrey Guy attempted
to stop him. Guy allegedly believed Martinez to be a suspect in a domestic
violence investigation despite Martinez not fitting the description. The only
thing Martinez had in common with the wanted man was that they were both
Latino. Deputy Guy yelled at Martinez to stop but he put up his hood and kept
walking. Guy responded with pepper spray. There were numerous eyewitnesses that
described Guy grabbing Martinez by the hood when he was on the ground and
repeatedly slamming his face into the pavement. When another office arrived as
backup he reportedly drew his gun on those who were trying to help Martinez and
said “Get the f*** back or I will arrest everyone here”. During the whole
incident Martinez’s sister was shouting to the officers that he had Down
Syndrome. They arrested him and then took him to the hospital when they finally
admitted he was not who they were looking for.
Guy had recently transferred to Vista from San Jose where he
had been under investigation for police brutality. Public response in San Diego
County was that of shock and outrage. A few days later the Vista Sheriff’s
Department insultingly tried to pacify the family by offering them a Christmas
turkey. The family refused. In response to this vile display of brutality the
community of North County San Diego led by the North County Coalition of
Concerned Citizens and supported by ANSWER San Diego held a protest and vigil
on Jan. 19. It was attended by more than 40 people. Some of the chants were “No
Justice, No Peace, No Violent Police!”, “Hey Hey Ho Ho, Deputy Guy has got to
go!” and “Justice Yes, Turkey No!” This case is not an isolated incident. The
Vista Sheriff’s Department is notorious for its violent and racist record. In
2005, they shot three unarmed Latino youths in the back, killing them. A few years
later they hog-tied two African American men and beat one while he was tied.
The list goes on. Protesters demanded the immediate firing of Guy although no
action whatsoever has been taken. Racist police brutality must end and ANSWER
will be in the street every time the police harass, brutalize or murder one of
our sisters and brothers!