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STATE OF NEW YORK vs CLAYTON PATTERSON
A STREETS OF NEW YORK PRODUCTION
Produced, directed, and edited by Elsa Rensaa | New York 1996 | 35:44 min
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REVIEWS
GRAND JURY DENIED VIDEOTAPE
By ASSOCIATED PRESS
New York Times, Sunday, August 21, 1988A Manhattan artist who made videotapes that show apparent wrongdoing by police officers during the clash at Tompkins Square Park said yesterday that he would not surrender his tapes to the Manhattan District Attorney for presentation to a grand jury.
The artist, Clayton Patterson, said he did not want to appear defiant but believes that District Attorney Robert M. Morgenthau is too close to the Police Department to conduct an impartial investigation.
"It's not that I don't want to give up a copy of the tape, it's just I don't see anybody to give it to," he said.
The 40-year-old artist said he received a subpoena several days ago directing him to hand over the tapes to a Manhattan grand jury by Wednesday. His lawyer, Alton H. Maddox Jr., had the date postponed until Sept. 1, he said.
The District Attorney's office said Mr. Morgenthau was out of town and unavailable for comment yesterday.
Mr. Patterson's four hours of tapes show that before midnight on Aug. 6, while relative calm prevailed around the park, some mounted officers had already removed or covered their badges. Officers, on foot and on horseback, are seen repeatedly charging into crowds, apparently without orders, sometimes running past superiors shouting for them to stay back. During the melee, the police clubbed and kicked uninvolved bystanders in the streets around the park. About 100 complaints of brutality have been filed.
Mr. Patterson said that, on the advice of Mr. Maddox and the Rev. Al Sharpton, he would seek to have his tapes reviewed by Representative John Conyers, a Michigan Democrat who has investigated allegations of police brutality in the city.
He said he feared a city investigation would make scapegoats of officers who were the most blatant offenders but exonerate the commanders on the scene.+ + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +
MAN JAILED FOR REFUSING TO GIVE UP MELEE TAPE
By CONSTANCE L. HAYS
The New York Times, September 7, 1988LEAD: Defying a court order and disdaining professional legal help, a Manhattan artist refused again yesterday to surrender his videotape of police officers and demonstrators clashing in Tompkins Square Park and was jailed for contempt.
Defying a court order and disdaining professional legal help, a Manhattan artist refused again yesterday to surrender his videotape of police officers and demonstrators clashing in Tompkins Square Park and was jailed for contempt.
The artist, Clayton Patterson, 39 years old, of 161 Essex Street on the Lower East Side, was led from the courtroom in handcuffs after acting Justice Richard B. Lowe 3d of State Supreme Court pronounced him guilty of civil contempt and ordered him to jail for at least 90 days.
A dozen supporters of Mr. Patterson attending the hearing, at State Supreme Court in Manhattan, broke into applause and shouted, "Free Clayton Patterson!" and "This court is in contempt!"
Mr. Patterson's videotape of the Tompkins Square incident on the night of Aug. 6 was subpoenaed last month by a Manhattan grand jury investigating allegations of police brutality and misconduct. Maddox Was Dismissed.
Mr. Patterson was arrested last Thursday after his lawyer at the time, Alton H. Maddox, filed a letter telling the grand jury that the tape had been given to a Michigan Congressman, John Conyers, chairman of the House Subcommittee on Criminal Justice.
The four-hour tape, which was viewed last month by The New York Times, shows police officers striking demonstrators with nightsticks and some officers wearing badges with their numbers concealed.
Just before a hearing on the charge began Thursday afternoon, Mr. Patterson dismissed Mr. Maddox and said he wanted to represent himself. Judge Lowe adjourned the hearing until yesterday, released Mr. Patterson on his own recognizance and appointed a lawyer for him, saying he did not want to proceed otherwise.
Mr. Patterson told the judge yesterday, however, that he did not want his court-appointed lawyer, Gerry Rosen, to represent him. At one point, when Mr. Rosen whispered, "They're going to toss you in jail," Mr. Patterson interrupted him, saying, "Excuse me. You're not wanted here. And I'm not interested, for the 100th time, in what it is you have to say." Action 'Hampers' Investigation
After questioning the defendant, the judge said he was satisfied that Mr. Patterson understood what he was taking on in becoming his own lawyer. Mr. Patterson is a sculptor and painter and an embroiderer of hats. He and his wife, Elsa Rensaa, run a hat store, Clayton Hats, at 161 Essex Street.
The Manhattan District Attorney, Robert M. Morgenthau, said in a statement yesterday that Mr. Patterson's action "hampers the grand jury's efforts to investigate allegations of illegal police conduct." At least one copy of the tape exists, Mr. Patterson has said, but it is not known where it is.
In an impassioned statement to the court, Mr. Patterson told the court that he was not going to turn over the videotape because of his concerns about conditions in New York City, ranging from crime to homelessness.
"It's my belief that in America, there's a certain time to stand up for your rights," he said, when asked by Judge Lowe why he would not produce the tape. "It's my belief that it is wrong for the police to beat up and maim and kill people. It's wrong for the drug dealers never to go to jail and for there to be large amounts of illegal activities. It's wrong for the Mayor to separate himself from his constituents. It's wrong for the District Attorney never to effectively prosecute the police, and it's wrong to have blocks of empty buildings and the streets filled with homeless people." A 'Statement' in Jail
He concluded, "This is not a racial issue, but an issue that involves everyone in this city. I think my going to jail works as a statement towards that."
When asked by Judge Lowe yesterday whether his refusal to turn over the videotape was a publicity stunt, Mr. Patterson denied it.
His arguments did not convince the judge. "I don't think the law is adequately served by making martyrs out of people who want to be martyrs," Judge Lowe said in delivering his verdict. "I also don't think the law is served when the law is flouted."
Mr. Patterson was sent to a special section of the Bronx House of Detention for Men for 90 days.+ + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +
JUDGE RELEASES VIDEO ARTIST TO DISCUSS TOMPKINS SQ. CASE
The New York Times, September 14, 1988A Manhattan artist was released from jail temporarily yesterday after he again refused to surrender a videotape of the clash in Tompkins Square Park to a grand jury.
The video artist, Clayton Patterson, was released until Friday to discuss the case with his lawyers. He has been held in the Bronx House of Detention for Men since Sept. 6, when he was found in contempt of court for failing to comply with a subpoena ordering him to turn over the videotape of a clash between people protesting a curfew at the park and police officers. Mr. Patterson has said he distrusts the officials investigating the allegations of police brutality.
