HPD allegedly injures Chinese Diplomat

pgabriel · Apr 30, 2010

Thought this might be interesting to our US/China debaters.

Story

An investigation is under way after three Houston police officers allegedly injured a Chinese diplomat during an arrest at the country’s consulate on Montrose last week.

The arrest occurred in the parking garage of the Chinese consulate at 3417 Montrose Saturday, according to a news release from Mayor Annise Parker.

Yu Boren, deputy consul general at the local consulate, was arrested and allegedly injured.

The officers have been placed on desk duty while the case is being investigated by the Houston Police Department and the Harris County District Attorney's office..

HPD declined comment except to say the department had nothing to add to information released in Parker’s statement.

Parker said officers were unaware that the diplomat was on Chinese consulate grounds when he entered the parking garage. A small sign at the garage entrance identifies it as property of the Chinese consulate.

According to the Associated Press, CBS News reported the officers tried to stop a car which was missing a license plate, but the driver did not stop and pulled into the garage.

The news report stated that the officers handcuffed and arrested the driver, injuring him, according to the Associated Press.

Teijun Wang, spokesman at the Houston consulate, declined to go into detail about the incident.

Wang issued a statement saying: "The relevant case is being handled. The Chinese Foreign Ministry and U.S. embassy and consulate have made solemn exchanges with the U.S. side. We’re asking them to quickly investigate the details of the incident to ensure the premises and rights of diplomats are not infringed. We have already urged the U.S. side to observe the Vienna Convention on consular relations."

Foreign consulates and embassies are considered to be outside the jurisdiction of local law enforcement, and diplomats have legal immunity.

The U.S. State Department was taking the matter very seriously and findings of the investigation would be shared with China "as soon as appropriate," said Susan Stevenson, spokeswoman for the U.S. Embassy in Beijing.

In her statement, Parker said Police Chief McClelland acted quickly and is taking appropriate steps in this situation.

"In addition to working with the state department, he is issuing a directive that all beat officers receive the addresses of every consulate in the city," she said. "This is important as Houston has the third largest number of consulates in the country. We cherish our international residents and want to assure them they are welcome in our city."

The case comes at a time when HPD is investigating allegations that eight police officers were involved in the beating of a 15-year-old burglary suspect while he was being handcuffed last month following a brief chase.

A surveillance camera at a self-storage business where the alleged beating occurred recorded the arrest and the officers’ behavior.

Those officers have been suspended with pay while the case is investigated.

The Associated Press contributed to this report
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kpsta · Apr 30, 2010

I must have driven past the consolate right around when that happened... there were a number of cop cars out there and about a dozen Chinese men in suits talking with a few officers. Usually, it's just Falun Gong protestors.

conquistador#11 · Apr 30, 2010

The only thing missing from this story is a massage parlor.

pgabriel · Apr 30, 2010

conquistador#11 said:

The only thing missing from this story is a massage parlor.
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ever seen the movie rising sun with wesley snipes and sean connery?

thadeus · Apr 30, 2010

I wonder if the cops who "allegedly" injured this diplomat will end up getting in more trouble than the 8 pigs who were videotaped beating the **** out of a handcuffed 15 year old boy.

dback816 · Apr 30, 2010

thadeus said:

I wonder if the cops who "allegedly" injured this diplomat will end up getting in more trouble than the 8 pigs who were videotaped beating the **** out of a handcuffed 15 year old boy.
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Of course they won't get in trouble for injuring an Asian, did the soldiers responsible for My Lai massacre get in trouble? Nope.

oldgunrules · Apr 30, 2010

No need to beat up a guy who is 40~50 years old with his wife. Did the police really think he was trying to run away? He was pulling over into a gurage for Chirst's sake!

They should be punished no matter who they did this to. Imagine this happened to a regular Joe, chances are these basterds will get away with it.

University Blue · Apr 30, 2010

When's the QX press conference?

Hayden_SFC · May 1, 2010

Sorry, or not....
but the HPD sucks.

Mr. Brightside · May 1, 2010

Didn't something like this occur in Season 5 of 24? I recall bad things happened afterwards. You don't mess with the Chinese or their Embassy.

Rocket River · May 1, 2010

University Blue said:

When's the QX press conference?
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DEFINATELY!! . . HE needs to be there
a Nation of over a BILLION PEOPLE having this guy's back is not NEARLY ENOUGH

Rocket River

vlaurelio · May 1, 2010

University Blue said:

When's the QX press conference?
Click to expand...

why? is it still necessary?

Teijun Wang, spokesman at the Houston consulate, declined to go into detail about the incident.

Wang issued a statement saying: "The relevant case is being handled. The Chinese Foreign Ministry and U.S. embassy and consulate have made solemn exchanges with the U.S. side. We’re asking them to quickly investigate the details of the incident to ensure the premises and rights of diplomats are not infringed. We have already urged the U.S. side to observe the Vienna Convention on consular relations."

The U.S. State Department was taking the matter very seriously and findings of the investigation would be shared with China "as soon as appropriate," said Susan Stevenson, spokeswoman for the U.S. Embassy in Beijing.

In her statement, Parker said Police Chief McClelland acted quickly and is taking appropriate steps in this situation.

"In addition to working with the state department, he is issuing a directive that all beat officers receive the addresses of every consulate in the city," she said. "This is important as Houston has the third largest number of consulates in the country. We cherish our international residents and want to assure them they are welcome in our city."
Click to expand...

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HPD allegedly injures Chinese Diplomat

pgabriel Educated Negro

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