Police Beat: The American Rights of a Dinka Warrior

Officer Richard Bell reports:

On 02/05/2010 at 2202 hours, I was dispatched to 2 14 AV E for a domestic violence assault. Victim told dispatchers she was slapped by her intoxicated boyfriend. I could see obvious red marks to both sides of her face, neck, and left ear. I could see blood under her nose, and her mouth was swollen. Victim was holding her 6 month old child. The child was crying. Victim stated that the suspect was in the bathroom, which is where we contacted him. Suspect was unclothed and brushing his teeth.

The suspect became hostile toward Officer Michaud and failed to follow his commands. We immediately placed him in handcuffs to prevent further aggressive actions. Suspect was still nude and Officer Michaud and I offered to assist him in putting on some clothes. Suspect replied: “Just try to force me to put my clothes on.” Suspect made it clear that he would resist officers and/or assault officers if we attempted to put his clothes on. I requested two additional units to the scene.

I continued interviewing victim after Officer Sherk photographed her injuries. She stated suspect arrived home around 2100 hours and was intoxicated. She had been packing the household items all day as they are moving on Saturday. When suspect came home, he wanted to have sex with victim, who said “no” because they needed to pack up the house. Her refusal to have sex turned into a “mild” argument. Suspect told her he could go get [sex] “for $2.” Victim said suspect started repeating himself and then backhanded her. She said she was slapped approximately 15 times total by suspect.

Victim told me that suspect is a Sudan citizen and grew up in a refugee camp. She said he had to fight for himself since he was very little and his culture does not respect women as equals to men. Victim further stated he regards their child as “only his.” They have been dating for 2 years.

[Later at the East Precinct,] while reading the suspect his rights, he asked me if I thought he was scared of anything. He advised me he was a Sudan refugee and a Dinka Warrior, so he was not scared of anything. Victim stated he hated the United States and wants to be deported back to Sudan. A stated he hated the victim and his child. Suspect wanted me to contact the Southern Sudan Embassy on his behalf. I called the Sudan Embassy, and left a voice mail informing them of suspect’s arrest.

While in the sally port of the holding cell area, suspect looked hatefully at two female officers and mumbled something to himself. Officer Sherk later informed me that suspect gave her the same hateful look in the hallway [of his house.] A seems disrespectful and hateful toward women.

What can be done about this sad situation? Clearly, the Dinka man had a terrible childhood, and he may never be able to make any peace with the horrors of that past—hope has limits. His life might be doomed to never emerge (or break) from its painful memories.

As for his whole thing against women, there is nothing more unmanly than a man hitting a woman. (Nor is it manly for a man to hit another man.) If that sort of behavior is considered manly in his culture, then it is a culture that produces mosquitoes, not men.

Lastly, the bizarre business about wanting to go back to Sudan has no substance—it is a dream within a dream. If it is at all possible, and it may not be possible, this Dinka must get real and not play such childish games with the facts of life.