Eva Foster, 85, told the Greensboro City Council on May 18 that Chief Tim Bellamy had reneged on a promise to compensate her for medical costs incurred in the aftermath of a traumatic experience in which she was caught up in a police raid on Oriental Market on Coliseum Boulevard last September.
“A group of vice-squad members entered the place with guns drawn and told everyone to get on the floor immediately,” Foster said. “‘Put your hands behind your back.’ I attempted to do so, but failed to act fast enough. Once I was stretched out on the floor, a white police officer roughly handled me as he placed me in handcuffs. During this episode, I screamed for someone to help me. A black officer came over and helped me get off the floor. I screamed so loud that they finally let me put my hands in front of my body. I was released after they discovered I was not guilty of any crime.”
Lt. Hope Newkirk describes the operation this way to Assistant City Manager Michael Speedling in a May 27 memo: “On 9/21/2009 a search warrant was executed at Phongsavanh Oriental Food Mart located at 1810 Coliseum Blvd. The vice-narcotics division had previously received a complaint alleging that an illegal sports betting operation was being operated at this location. The officers involved in the execution of the search warrant were members of the vice-narcotics division, gang unit and southern patrol division. In addition, two Guilford County medics were present to address any possible injuries occurring to the officers, citizens or suspects at the time of the search warrant being executed.
“Upon the officers entering the business all subjects inside the business were given verbal commands to show their hands and lay on the floor for officer safety reasons,” the Newkirk memo continues. “During this time a male subject tried to conceal cocaine and a handgun belonging to one of the subjects which was also located. Inside the room where the officers initially made their entrance were numerous subjects involved in illegal sports betting. This is also the room where Mrs. Foster was when the officers entered the business. The focus of this investigation was only directed at the parties involved in running the illegal sports betting operation and not directed at individuals placing bets.”
Then-Mayor Yvonne Johnson intervened on behalf of Foster, and asked Chief Bellamy to visit her at home to discuss her concern.
“A few days later, the mayor came by,” Foster told the council earlier this month. “[Chief Bellamy] said, ‘Don’t worry about a thing.’ He gave me a card to call him. And he would get things straightened out about my bills. I was unable to sleep because of insomnia. I called Chief Bellamy to let him know that the bills were piled up. He said, ‘I don’t remember being at your house.’ I said, ‘Well, you don’t remember giving me your card with your private number on it?’ No. He said, ‘Well, maybe you need to talk to the Salvation Army.’”
Newkirk states that although Foster told Bellamy that her arm was broken, “there were no visible signs of injury.”
The Newkirk memo was sent out to council members yesterday in the City Manager’s weekly Items For Your Information packet. The lieutenant reports that Foster indicated to the chief that she was concerned about her medical bills, and her “request was referred to the Insurance Advisory Board to determine if the bills should be paid by the city. In January Mrs. Foster spoke with professional standards. During the conversation, she advised Mrs. Santor that her only concern was her injury (crushed bone in her wrist from being handcuffed) and incurred medical costs. Mrs. Santor provided her contact information for the Insurance Advisory Board and contact information for professional standards in case she had additional questions or concerns.
So ends the Newkirk memo.
A couple questions arise: Did Chief Bellamy or anyone in the police department substantiate the injuries reported by Foster? Did anyone request and obtain copies of medical bills from Foster? Will Foster be compensated by the city for her reported injuries?
Will members of city council be asking these questions?
New Kirk
Newkirk memo2
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