Shattered door panels and off-kilter hinges still remain at the Campbell Club, but residents are beginning to pick up the pieces and move past what they say was brutal police activity occurring late Saturday night, Nov. 22.
In the aftermath of the police activity, club residents claim Eugene Police Department officers were unnecessarily aggressive and did not allow detainees to use the restroom or access warm clothing. Some residents and party-goers, including the four who were arrested, plan to take legal action against EPD, but declined to specify what that will entail.
“Two of the most misrepresented aspects of this party were, one, that the cops reported only knocking down one door when actually nine were damaged, and two, they say they found people ‘hiding’ when in fact those people lived here,” club representative Jason Ellis said.
Sgt. Carl Stubbs said officers were barred from entering, and club residents requested that officers obtain a search warrant. Ellis said officers weren’t initially allowed in because residents believed officer entry would violate their rights. Ellis says that because residents requested a search warrant, the police were more aggressive than necessary.
Although filing for a search warrant takes time, Stubbs said EPD didn’t want anyone’s rights to be violated. Police waited for an estimated three hours on the club porch for the warrant to be obtained, Stubbs said.
“When a crime is committed, we need cooperation,” Stubbs said. “Because no one stood up to take responsibility was one of the reasons why everyone was given a citation.”
The club, Ellis said, is a co-operative living residence where members “equally share everything,” and there is no hierarchy. Stubbs said he believes such an equality philosophy explains why residents opted to have multiple members cited, even though the option of one citation was offered.
“If they would have allowed us to enter or if they had just brought out the kegs, chances are we would have only written one citation and left,” Stubbs said.
Ellis, however, said no such option was ever provided and residents were exercising their personal rights by requesting a search warrant. EPD issued a total of 47 citations, the majority of which were for loud noise complaints. Ellis said he now worries club members won’t be able to pay their citations.
“A number of students who live here can’t afford to pay the fine,” Ellis said. “We’re talking about fundraising to help those who are severely impaired financially.”
However, a number of individuals who attended the event left without a citation, Stubbs said. After obtaining a warrant, Stubbs said EPD officers ordered all party attendants to exit the building.
“Once inside, we made the announcement that the party was over and that everyone who wanted could leave right now,” Stubbs said. “People flooded out and I’m sure that in that crowd there were both residents and minors. We didn’t check.”
Stubbs said officer safety was his biggest concern during the incident. With an estimated 200 to 500 guests, Stubbs said officers worried about a riot breaking out, especially with the presence of alcohol.
“One resident was very agitated,” Stubbs, who remained inside the house during his time on site, said. “He jumped in an officer’s face and repeatedly asked, ‘Why are you here?’ He was detained after trying to fight and trying to hit an officer.”
Stubbs said the individual also tried to incite the people who were leaving the building with cries of “we can take them.” Ellis, the club representative, said such action never occurred, and residents were not trying to cause a fight.
University junior and club resident Fred Sproat said he offered his keys for an officer to open the door to his room but the officer refused to take them. Sproat said his door was subsequently knocked down.
“The officer said something about safety,” Sproat said. “They were hesitant to let us upstairs because if there was someone behind the doors, the officers would be outnumbered.”
Stubbs said officers first moved upstairs to search for five kegs that were reported to be at the site. The kegs were found behind locked doors, Stubbs said. However, Ellis said it is club policy to never allow anyone upstairs during parties, and he discredits the police report that said people were hiding in upstairs rooms. However, Lt. Angie San Miguel said people were found in parts of the house that were non-living quarters.
“I define people ‘hiding’ as those who were found up in the attic,” San Miguel said. “Those people were not resting in their rooms.”
Ellis said problems with police also occurred outside, where some party-goers were detained, and he said some were not allowed to use the restroom.
Stubbs said people were not allowed out of their handcuffs to urinate because of safety concerns.
“One man in handcuffs had to use the restroom, so we allowed his girlfriend to help him,” Stubbs said. “He was not released from his handcuffs because he had previously been threatening officers, and it was a safety issue.”
University senior Joe Condon was arrested during the incident because, Condon said, he was asking officers to explain their presence at the house.
“I went to ask an officer at the front door what his name and badge number was,” Condon said. “I was told to wait at the side and my questions would be answered. I reached into my pocket to get my cell phone and suddenly I was being handcuffed for ‘interfering with police business.’”
Party attendee Aaron Nelson was also arrested for allegedly serving alcohol to a minor and interfering with police officers. Nelson said he was trying to film police action while simultaneously questioning why the officers were there.
“I dropped my camera and lost the footage when I was slammed up against the wall and arrested,” Nelson said. “Now I see the police as people more to be feared than those who want to protect and serve the public.”
Ellis also said the relationship between the club and the police has been severely altered.
“I can say that ever since this event occurred, people here have been traumatized,” Ellis said. “Whenever a door bangs or car lights flicker along the walls, people jolt. We’re all very anxious and upset over what happened, especially since we feel like we didn’t do anything wrong.”
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