Jackson Says Police Hurt Him
Michael Jackson said that he was “manhandled” by police during his
arrest last month, suffering injuries to his arms, including a
dislocated shoulder, that continue to cause him pain. Jackson spoke
with 60 Minutes‘ Ed Bradley on Christmas day in an
interview that aired yesterday.
“I’m in pain all the time,” Jackson said. “It keeps me from
sleeping at night.” Jackson said that arresting officers placed
handcuffs too tightly on his wrists causing swelling. CBS’s Web
site offers a photo of Jackson, believed to be taken after the
arrest, with bruises on his wrist.
Jackson, 45, also accused authorities of trying to “belittle me,
to try and take away my pride.” Among his charges was the
accusation that he was locked into a restroom for approximately
forty-five minutes. “There was doo doo, feces thrown all over the
walls, the floor, the ceiling” he said. “Then one of the policemen
came by the window and he made a sarcastic remark. He said, ‘Does
it smell good enough for you in there?’ So I just sat there and
waited.”
Though authorities didn’t offer grant the show an interview,
earlier this month, the Santa Barbara District Attorney’s office
offered a statement in response to allegations that Jackson was
mistreated. “Mr. Jackson was treated with courtesy and
professionalism throughout the process,” it read. “At no time was
he mishandled or subjected to any form of mistreatment. His
attorney and security staff thanked members of the Sheriff’s
Department for the professionalism demonstrated throughout the
course of the process. Furthermore, there is a formal complaint
process available to any person who believes they have been
mistreated. There have been no complaints lodged by Mr. Jackson or
his attorney.”
Jackson is charged with seven counts of performing lewd or
lascivious acts on a child under fourteen, as well as two counts of
administering an intoxicating agent. He turned himself into
authorities on November 20th and was freed on $3 million bail. He
will be arraigned next month.
Jackson and Bradley also addressed the child molestation
accusations, which Jackson maintained were “totally false.” “Before
I would hurt a child, I would slit my wrists,” he said.