Pubdate: Wed, 26 Mar 2008
Source: Chronicle, The (Duke U, NC Edu)
Copyright: 2008 Duke Student Publishing Company
Contact: http://www.dukechronicle.com/contactus/
Website: http://www.dukechronicle.com
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2269
Author: Matt Goldman

THE INCIDENT ON 1026 W TRINITY AVE

As a resident of 1026 W. Trinity Ave., I am writing to share both my
relief over the dropped charges against my housemate, senior Eric
Halperin, as well as my continued anger at the blatant abuse of power
by the Durham Police Department. On the morning of Feb. 27, our home
off East Campus was raided by a team of State Bureau of Investigation
agents and members of DPD. Without warning, our front door was knocked
down and a handful of fully armed officers entered our home.
Subsequently, we were ordered to the ground at the behest of assault
rifles, dragged across the floor, hand-cuffed and forced to strip naked.

In carrying out their search warrant, police officers destroyed
hundreds of dollars of our personal property.

Upon failing to find anything incriminating, my friend, Halperin, was
falsely charged with drug trafficking without any investigation or
evidence, except his signing for a DHL package not addressed to him.
After nearly a month, the bogus charges were dropped and Eric's
character and integrity have been publicly restored.

I would like to commend the job done by Duke administrators. Although
it may have required the Duke lacrosse scandal and another drug charge
against an innocent student last year to open their eyes, we are
grateful that they finally took a stand against DPD. In this instance,
the administration fully supported Halperin and others in our house in
the wake of his arrest.

The school warily looked to the police to present evidence that an
upstanding student with a clean record could be behind such a serious
crime.

With their support, the ordeal was made easier to deal with and,
thankfully, the truth was revealed in a timely manner.

In contrast, the actions of the DPD continue to remain
appalling.

In my four years at this university, I have witnessed five of my peers
and two of my close friends charged with felonies without proper
investigation. I have seen first-hand the department's lack of any
decorum.

As Halperin, my housemates and I approach graduation, I hope in the
coming years that improvements are made to protect Duke students
off-campus better against both the violent criminals that plague our
neighborhoods and the injustices of the inept Durham police that
patrol our streets.

Matt Goldman

Trinity '08
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MAP posted-by: Larry Seguin