$1 Million Lawsuit Filed Against PISD Least Two Years, One Being Fourth Grade
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
Voice of Community-Minded People since 1976 February 12, 2015 Email: [email protected] www.southbeltleader.com Vol. 40, No. 2 Atkinson PTO scholarships The Atkinson Elementary PTO is offering $500 scholarships to two graduating seniors at Dobie High School who attended Atkinson at $1 million lawsuit filed against PISD least two years, one being fourth grade. Ap- plications and requirement information are available through the senior counselor’s offi ce Student says he was beaten by police officer for swearing at Dobie. The application must be received by A former South Houston High School student at the time of the incident, was being led out of the PISD Police Department cleared Y’Barbo of DA’s offi ce. Feb. 27, 2015, at noon to be considered. and his parents have fi led a $1 million civil rights the campus by an assistant principal and PISD any wrongdoing. “We recognize this is a topic of conversation lawsuit against the Pasadena Independent School police offi cer Michael Y’Barbo (also named in Suquet’s attorney, Mark Montgomery, a Hous- in our community and, for that matter, throughout Knights sell fish dinners District, alleging that an on-campus police offi - the lawsuit), he admittedly used profanity direct- ton Police Department veteran with 25 years on the country,” Ivy-Sims said. “As a result, we un- St. Luke’s Knights of Columbus will serve cer used excessive force last May, causing bodily ed at the offi cer. the force, however, disagrees saying the internal derstand the public’s need for information related fi sh dinners Fridays, Feb. 20 through March injury and psychological damage. At that point, the suit contends, Y’Barbo told affairs investigation confi rmed the student did to the allegations against the district. However, 27, during Lent. Each dinner consists of a In the suit, the student, Cesar Suquet, said Suquet he was under arrest and attempted to not physically threaten or advance on staff or the because of the pending litigation, the district is breaded USA catfi sh fried fi llet, hush pup- the incident began in the principal’s offi ce at the handcuff him. Suquet, who denies hearing the offi cer. unable to discuss specifi cs of the incident that oc- pies, cole slaw, corn-on-the-cob, french fries, high school when he was attempting to retrieve command, said Y’Barbo then twisted his arm and According to PISD records, district police curred in May 2014. Therefore, at this time, we and iced tea or lemonade. Baked fi sh fi llets his cellular phone that had been confi scated ear- began to beat him with a metal baton. have used nightsticks four times since 2012. will confi rm that immediately following the in- will be available in limited quantities. St. Luke lier that day. While it was unclear at press time The school’s surveillance system shows that Three of the four incidents involved Y’Barbo – cident on May 29, the PISD Police Department the Evangelist Parish Social Hall is located what Suquet had done to get his phone taken Suquet was struck 18 times, nine of which while just one of 35 offi cers on the force. conducted an investigation into the incident. The on 11011 Hall Road and will serve dinners away, it is South Houston’s policy (which the he was already lying on the ground. Suquet was The case has now been handed over to the district is confi dent in the results of the internal between 5 and 7 p.m. All money raised will student’s family signed off on) that phones are subsequently arrested for disorderly conduct, a Harris County District Attorney’s offi ce to con- investigation. The Harris County District Attor- benefi t local and community projects. Dine in to be used for instructional purposes only. Con- charge that was later dropped. Two months later, duct an independent investigation. ney has launched a separate investigation. We or take out dinners are $10 each. fi scated phones may be retrieved on Friday be- he was issued a ticket for using abusive language. PISD spokeswoman Renea Ivy-Sims said the will certainly cooperate completely with them. tween 2:30 and 3 p.m. after paying a $15 fi ne, Photographs taken by Suquet’s parents the school district is confi dent with its own investi- As always, our primary concern is for the safety Genealogy group meets and this incident took place on a Thursday. night of the incident document cuts, bruises and gation fi ndings but will fully cooperate with the and welfare of all PISD students and staff.” When school offi cials refused to return the swelling on the back of the student’s arms, legs, The Parker Williams Genealogy Group will phone, the discussion reportedly got heated, and elbow and neck. He later went to the hospital to meet Feb. 16, from 2 to 4 p.m. at the library at Suquet was told to leave. be examined but was not admitted for care. Scarsdale and Beamer. This group meets the As Suquet, who was a 16-year-old sophomore An internal affairs investigation conducted by Annual cookoff nears capacity fi rst and third Mondays to discuss genealogy research. Meetings are free and open to any- Previous and potential cookers wanting to display. This year marks the fi rst time the event one interested in tracing family history. take part in this year’s South Belt Spectacular will be offi cially organized by the newly incor- Cookoff, set to take place at El Franco Lee Park porated South Belt Spectacular Cookoff non- Chamber prepares for banquet from Thursday, April 30, through Saturday, May profi t organization. PIP meeting Feb. 17 2, are urged to contact organizers as soon as pos- While evenings at the function are geared The Positive Interaction Program will meet sible, as spaces are already nearly all accounted more for adults, Saturday afternoon is intended Tuesday, Feb. 17, at 7 p.m. at Memorial Her- for. for families, with kids 12 and under being admit- mann Southeast Hospital, 11800 Astoria in the Cooking teams that participated in last year’s ted for free with the purchase of an adult ticket. staff meeting room on the first floor. Guest event will have fi rst dibs on available spots, and The event will feature several free children’s speaker will be criminal investigator Todd roughly a dozen additional teams are already on activities. Last year’s activities included moon- Harris, who will speak on the subject of bur- a waiting list to fi ll any spaces not claimed by walks, rock climbing, pony rides, a petting zoo, glary and theft. previous participants. a train, a clown, face painting and hair braiding. PIP consists of police and citizens working Prizes will be awarded for best brisket, chick- While no outside alcohol will be allowed for for safer neighborhoods. For information, call en, pork ribs, chili, beans, chef’s choice, show- patrons, it will be for sale on the cookoff grounds, Officer Richard Buitron at 281-218-3900. manship and margaritas. Cooking spots start at along with barbecue sandwiches. $150 and include eight cooker wristbands and Admission Friday will be $10. Admission Sat- Ashley Pointe meets Feb. 17 two tickets. urday will be $5 before 4 p.m. and $10 after. The Ashley Pointe HOA will meet Tuesday Now in its 19th year, the event raises funds for For more information, call Linda Arnone at Feb. 17, at 6:30 p.m. at the Sageglen Commu- the annual South Belt Fourth of July fi reworks 281-484-4325. nity Building located at 11610 Sageyork. Brook to host cheer clinic MHSH CEO Asprec promoted The Clear Brook High School cheerleaders Memorial Hermann Hermann Healthcare System in 2002, working will host a cheer clinic Saturday, Feb. 28, from Southeast Hospital CEO as the director of business development and then 9 a.m. to noon in the CBHS gymnasium, 4607 Erin Asprec has been as the executive liaison to Dan Wolterman, presi- FM 2351 in Friendswood. The cost of $20 in- promoted to serve as re- dent and CEO of the system. cludes a snack and shirt. The clinic is for ages gional president for the Under Asprec’s leadership, the Memorial 4 through high school (will be separated by hospital district’s South Hermann Heart and Vascular Institute moved age) and will focus on jump technique, cheers/ Region. into a new home in 2008, becoming the fi rst free- motion placement, dance – proper movement At her new post, standing heart hospital in the area. The institute for cheerleading, basic stunting technique which takes effect March has also earned a range of prestigious honors and gymnastics. Participants should dress 1, Asprec will continue from several leading organizations, including in shorts, T-shirt and tennis shoes, with hair The South Belt-Ellington Chamber of Commerce will hold its annual banquet Tuesday, to oversee operations at Thomson Reuters, the Institute for Healthcare up. Download the registration form at www. Feb. 24. Guest speaker at the event will be new University of Houston head football coach the Southeast branch, as Erin Asprec Improvement and the American Heart Associa- brookcheer.weebly.com. Email the form to Tom Herman. Shown above preparing for the event are, left to right, chamber member well as Memorial Hermann’s Pearland, South- tion. [email protected]. For more informa- Kenny Fernandez, chamber Director Sally Mitchell and chamber President Chris Clark. west and Sugar Land locations. Asprec completed her undergraduate studies tion, call 832-618-7616. (See related photos page 6A.) Photo by Marie Flickinger “We are thrilled to see Erin take on a greater in chemistry at the University of Texas at Austin role at Memorial Hermann,” said Memorial Her- in 1994 and later earned a masters in health care Carnival vendors sought mann Southeast Hospital Director of Physician administration from St.