.
THEY CALL IT
DISCRIMINATION.
HE ACCUSED A POLICE OFFICER OF
VIOLATING HIS RIGHTS.
MINNESOTA DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN
RIGHTS SAID THE OAKDALE POLICE
DEPARTMENT PAID TO SETTLE A
COMPLAINT MADE BY REED.
THEY ARRESTED REED THAT HE
SHARES WITH HIS ADULT DAUGHTER.
HE AND HIS DAUGHTER GOT INTO AN
ARGUMENT.
ANGELA DAVIS EXPLAINS WHAT
HAPPENED NEXT.
Reporter: AMERICAN SIGN
LANGUAGE IS HOW ALAN REED
COMMUNICATES.
HE HAS DIFFICULTY WITH WRITTEN
LANGUAGE.
WHEN HE WAS QUESTIONED ABOUT A
DOMESTIC ABUSE, HE ASKED FOR
INTERPRETER.
I WAS ARRESTED AND BROUGHT
TO JAIL.
I DID NOT HAVE A SIGN
LANGUAGE INTERPRETER AND THEY
DID NOT PROVIDE ME WITH AN
INTERPRETER AND DENIED MY
REQUEST.
HE ASKED THE OFFICER TO CALL
HIS MOTHER TO FIND AN
INTERPRETER.
I WAS THERE AT THE
WASHINGTON COUNTY JAIL FOR 48
HOURS WITHOUT A SIGN LANGUAGE
INTERPRETER.
SO NO COMMUNICATION.
HE PLED GUILTY AND FILED A
COMPLAINT WITH THE STATE
DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN RIGHTS.
THIS IS A SITUATION IN WHICH
THE POLICE SHOULD ENSURE THAT
THE CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS BEING
COMMUNICATED TO THE INDIVIDUAL
BEING ARRESTED ARE CLEARLY
UNDERSTOOD WHICH MEANS AN
INTERPRETER SHOULD BE PROVIDED.
HUMAN RIGHTS DEPARTMENT SAID
THAT HE THEY DIDN'T PROVIDE
TRAINING TO OFFICERS OF DEALING
WITH HEARING IMPAIRED SUSPECTS.
THEY ARE NOW ENSURING THAT
THOSE WHO ARE DISABLED, WILL
GET THE ACCOMMODATIONS ONCE
THEY ARE ARRESTED.
THAT IS SIGNIFICANT.
IT HAS A FAIRNESS AND JUSTICE
IS APPLIED.
ASSAULT OF THE CASE.
THEY HAVE A DETAILED PROCEDURE
FOR DEALING WITH THE HEARING
IMPAIRED.
HE SAID HIS ARREST WAS
CONFUSING AND SAID THE
DAUGHTER'S ARGUMENT HE HAD IS
ACCUSING HER OF STEALING MONEY
FROM HIM.
