GREG BRENNER'S ILL-FATED PARTY FEATURING
Here's a tale of woe as told by our patron saint Greg Brenner of Punkrocknight.com. Pizzle was fortunate enough to have played early 'afore it got stupid.
As you may or may not know I was arrested this weekend for throwing a benefit for local Indianapolis bands. I have used all these bands to help support and draw crowds for national acts. 9 times out of 10 they go unpaid for hauling all their gear back and forth to the venue. This is because we want to pay these national acts well so that we get a good reputation that it is worth a band's time to come to Indianapolis. In addition, when an Indianapolis band goes to their hometown I hope they get extended the same great treatment that we in Indianapolis offer. I had hoped that I conducted the benefit in a socially responsible manner.
I invited all my immediate neighbors and gave them my personal cell phone number in case of any problems. We called the ABC to check if I needed a permit. None was needed for a private function. We called IPD to inform them of the event and the lieutenant on duty said he did not have a problem unless he had to keep coming out to the house. The house had been soundproofed to cut down on noise and I went out to the street several times to make sure we were not being too loud. What else should I have done to ensure the legality of the event?
Saturday night I had an invitation only benefit for some local bands at my house.. We asked for a $10 dollar donation at the door... some gave less, some gave more and some gave none at all. We had a free supply of food, beer, soft drinks and candy available for all guests. Nonetheless, somehow some uninvited guests showed up and entered the event later in the evening. I was not at the door at the time and do not know what went on; I did want to enjoy a little of the event. Yet, a little after midnight, without a warning, a man who I did not know approached me and asked if he could speak with me. I immediately thought “well I need to speak with you too because I have never see you before and wanted to find out why he was here.” I walked out to the front porch with him and without showing a badge he said, "I am officer X from the IPD you are under arrest and to come quietly". Naturally, I was taken aback by this total strangers request and thought it was a joke. "You must be kidding" I replied. At that point he grabbed me by my hair and dragged me out to the sidewalk where he forced me down and twisted my arm saying he was going to "break it". I looked up and there were numerous police. I tried to roll over asking what I was under arrest for but he stomped on my back and told me to “shut the fuck up”. Most of the police seemed very well versed with word “fuck” and could probably conjugate any sentence that uses the word at least once. They were obviously very angry at something and I thought something must of happened that I was unaware of.
No one would tell me what was going on. My friend on the front porch saw uniformed police officers coming up the walk and tried to stop them at the door, he was grabbed by the throat and pushed off the porch. The police invaded my home, kicking in all the locked doors upstairs. My fiancé said the police repeatedly called her a "bitch" and told her to "shut the fuck up" or she would go to jail. The police could beat me or do anything they like but please respect my future wife. There was no call to be rude to her. Any man or woman would be livid if that happened to their partner. She is the most kind and wonderful person one would ever encounter, yet the Indianapolis Police Department just ridiculed her and called her names, even provoking her saying “ooh its sooo sad, why don’t you cry about it” in a sarcastic tone. What are we in high school again? What would any man want to do in that situation? More importantly, what would you do if someone did that to someone you love? Yet, there I lie helpless face down on the sidewalk. All she was trying to do was to find out what happened to me.
Many of my guests were manhandled, verbally accosted and antagonized by the Indianapolis Police Department. It was crazy and makes me very sad that I had to witness such an event. Everyone has heard stories about the IPD, I am sorry I had to experience it. I was totally cooperative but was treated as if I had just shot a cop. Now to some of their credit a few Police officers were reportedly acting in a professional manner and obviously just following orders but they seemed to be in the minority that evening. I guess you can’t let a bunch ruin the actual good ones that were there. When they finally took me away to the 42nd and College police station they read me my rights and told me I was being charged with something that I did not understand. The court summons says "maintain place unlaw sell alcohol / FD". Well I assume this means they are saying I was selling liquor in my house like a speakeasy and I am being charged with a class D felony. Yet, no beer was ever sold, it was all free to the guests.
We got no warning from the police and were just invaded. I would think if there was a complaint they would tell me to quiet down. They could have handled the situation much better. I spoke to several neighbors the day after I was arrested and they claim that they had no problems and "did not hear a thing". The police claim there were "several" complaints that night but after dealing with them I think their statement was a fabrication. Especially after I spoke with dispatch on Sunday.
I would be happy to provide more details if you require but I think you can get a general understanding from the above. I just do not understand how police are allowed to do this without a warrant and without a warning. The police had 4 narcotics units there but the benefit, like all my events, are strictly drug free. 4 narcotics units… I wonder how much this investigation cost us all? But I guess they had to make a point so I was the only person arrested and I am really at a loss about what I have done wrong besides being a little loud.
I have a clean record and found the police very rude, physically and verbally abusive and antagonistic to my guests and myself. I do understand that they have a tough job but they should look at things for what they are. They physically assaulted me and I am hurt as a result of their actions both physically and mentally. I love Indianapolis and just want to help promote Indianapolis music so the rest of the country can see some of the talent Indianapolis possesses. This was a great show and everyone was having a good, clean, legal and fun night until Indianapolis intervened. We are anti-drug and I thought that we were behaving in a responsible manner. The police invasion was chaos and their manner uncalled for. Damnit we were having a great time too!