Deseret News | Reader comments: Officer cleared in theater fight

Reader comments
Officer cleared in theater fight

Dude | 7:26 a.m. Feb. 12, 2008

Am I wrong or didn't the tax payers pay the guy in this case a huge amount of money. How does Curtis feel about the burden being shifted from his back over to the tax payers?

Mightyhunterhaha | 7:48 a.m. Feb. 12, 2008

Finally justice prevails and the gold diggers lose

lpack | 8:14 a.m. Feb. 12, 2008

Proving once again that we live in a "Police State".

Comments continue below

Police Abuse | 8:48 a.m. Feb. 12, 2008

Gold diggers or not, Curtis' abuse of police power is reprehensible. Since when is it ok to arrest a citizen in a movie theater after the police man cussed at you? Whether this woman is injured or not is irrelevant.

That policeman's conduct shocks my conscience. I guess it doesn't shock anyone else's conscience since we've moved more to a police state since 9/11.

police abuse? what? | 9:59 a.m. Feb. 12, 2008

I don't condone police abuse. I do agree; however, with slowing down the overwhelming majority of people today who find it okay to step on the peace and calm of society in the name of "freedom." We've became an "I'll do what I want" state long before 9/11. I guess we can thank all of the spineless parents in the state/world who don't teach their kids common decency. Maybe Ms. Arnold should have "shhhhhhhh'd" in the movie and all would have been okay.

Whoa Nellie | 10:03 a.m. Feb. 12, 2008

Sounds like Dude and Police Abuse were eye witnesses to the altercation, the trial and the jury's deliberation. You two are amazing. I only hope you and lpack become educated about this great nation before you become recipients of the Darwin Award.

SCJ | 10:21 a.m. Feb. 12, 2008

This was a refreshing surprise. Police Officers live under scrutiny every day and place their lives on the line for us. You are a Police Officer 24 hours a day. They can't take off the shield when they are not on the job as they are expected to respond anytime they witness a violation of any law. It was not a mistake to arrest this gold digger if she was breaking the law. She simply saw the opportunity to make a few bucks simply because he was a Police Officer. Glad to see the courts can see through this type of abuse!

Texan | 10:29 a.m. Feb. 12, 2008

There definitely are some bad apples in the police force, but this guy isn't one of them. How many inquiries have to be done to show that? God bless the many good police officers who are underpaid, overworked and put their lives on the line regularly for us.

Walk away | 11:13 a.m. Feb. 12, 2008

This whole thing could have been avoided if Officer Curtis had just walked away. Our police officers should be held to a higher standard. From how the article reads it sounds like Curtis either provoked or allowed the situation to escalate needlessly. Instead he decides to flash the badge and let the weight of state police action bear down on these movie theater yappers. Certainly not something to get arrested over in my book. Notice how the article never mentions what the "gold diggers" were charged with? Never says they were convicted of anything. So much for probable cause when arresting someone.

Maybe now | 11:12 a.m. Feb. 12, 2008

we can make talking during a movie a first degree felony so this kind of thing wouldn't happen again.

Janey | 11:22 a.m. Feb. 12, 2008

How interesting you were so surprised SCJ. The police officers ALWAYS win. If you were there and "scrutinized" what happened as the witnesses did, would you still be of the same frame of mind? Well, maybe you would because you sound very much like someone who is either a lawman or know one very well. The girl, Vanessa, played the drama queen but that does not deter the fact that "Skip" skipped his chance to be a "peace" officer and instead threw his abundant weight around - because he could.

Educate me Nellie! | 11:42 a.m. Feb. 12, 2008

Educate me about this great nation that starts wars based on lies. Educate me about one of the wealthiest nation's in the world where somewhere around 15% of the population lives in abject poverty. Educate me Please! Your comments carry so much weight and value when you throw around personal insults.

FYI: A Darwin Award is a tongue-in-cheek honor named after evolutionary theorist Charles Darwin. "Awards" have been given for people who "do a service to Humanity by removing themselves from the Gene pool", i.e., lose the ability to reproduce. It is for people who kill, or in rare cases, sterilize themselves accidentally by attempting to do stupid feats.

Explain how Lpack's or Police Abuse's comments qualify them for recipients of the Darwin Award, oh intelligent one.

Joe Mama | 11:45 a.m. Feb. 12, 2008

I think both sides screwed up on this, but I have to ask why would Curtis arrest Castillo? Castillo probably shouldn't have been talking throughout the movie, but the las time I checked that wasn't against the law. It's certainly inconsiderate, but not illegal.

Even if Castillo seemed threatening while confronting Curtis, if it's true that Curtis was cussing and yelling at them throughout the movie, one can make the argument that Castillo was provoked. If he had become angry because of how Curtis was speaking to him, even though Castillo was talking during the movie, it could appear that Curtis was trying to get him angry so he could arrest him.

The one thing the article says that I find interesting is that Curtis' behavior did not shock the conscience. Even though his behavior could have been out of line, as long as it did not "shock the conscience" then it was okay. I have an issue with that - there is a fine line between inappropriate behaviour and behaviour that is "shocking to the conscience".

Anyway, I think the cop got lucky.

2 cents | 11:51 a.m. Feb. 12, 2008

I've been in movie theaters and pay good money to attend. Of course, everyone else there has paid the admission too, but that does not afford anyone the right to be rude and disruptive through a movie. They may have the right to sit there and disrupt everyone, but I also have the right to enjoy the movie. This is becoming a society of rude pigs, and I agree with police abuse? what? that children aren't taught respect. There are many comments on different subjects in the paper today about illegals, and the rights they expect from citizens. Is this another example, as it is quite evident by the article saying dad gave his statement through a Spanish interpreter, Arnolds aren't long time citizens, if at all. Is his daughter one of those we know who are here for a better life and will take every opportunity to be sure she gets what she feels she deserves at everyone's expense. An officer is on duty 24/7 and when it crossed the line with them being beligerent, and confrontational - it became a public safety situation, where anyone else would have called the police for help. Curtis couldn't walk away.

Tucson | 11:57 a.m. Feb. 12, 2008

Amen Texan. Good luck to Officer Curtis AND his family. Maybe the law ought to check Miss Arnolds father identification as he may be an illegal???

2 cents | 11:59 a.m. Feb. 12, 2008

Another thing I just thought of in re-reading the article, it says during the confrontation, Curtis showed his badge. It could have ended right then, but another article I read said Arnold tried to grab him (Curtis) and that was when she lost her balance and fell down the stairs. I know there are some bad cops and they like to throw their authority around, but they are few and far between.

The article says boyfriend, Castillo approached Curtis demanding an apology. Even if Curtis didn't apologize, how did this blow up into the confrontation it did? Someone's not telling the truth, and my guess would be the ones who approached the officer. I'm sure if Curtis would have just been the average Joe Blow, and no police agency - government behind him where Castillo and Arnold knew they wouldn't have a chance to get any money, no one would have heard about it, nor would it have gone to court.

Dude | 12:32 p.m. Feb. 12, 2008

Dear Whoa Nellie Curtis,

The literacy parade has passed you by. The plaintiff lost and should have. Her escort on the night of this event made a lot of money because an 'off the clock' officer became emotionally involved and made a poor judgement call. He had a number of options available to him and choose poorly, thus, writing a check drawn on the tax payers account. Perhaps you could enroll in a basic English class to help you with the written word.

Anonymous | 12:49 p.m. Feb. 12, 2008

To those who believe the officer reacted badly,

Isn't it possible the officer ran into one of those groups of people who think they have more rights than others?

Have you ever been in a theater where someone just wouldn't shut up?

I was in a theater where the loud mouths were right behind me kicking my seat before the movie even started. When I asked them to stop kicking my seat they wanted to fight about it. Then a group of other patrons decided to escort the "men" out of the theater. Some of the patron escorts were "off duty" cops. Sometimes keeping the peace means being a cop at the movies or the mall. How many of you ï¿½police abuseï¿½ accusers think the off duty cop in the Trolley Square shooting was police abuse. The guy wasn't shooting at him. He was off duty and not in his jurisdiction. Perhaps he should have quietly asked the manager of the mall to have the killer leave the mall instead of protecting others from insanity. Cops should never ï¿½mind their own businessï¿½ unless you mean the business of keeping the peace.

Dean of Ed. | 12:58 p.m. Feb. 12, 2008

I was in a movie with my wife and there were two patrons the next row up text messaging. I was very distracted by the light of the cell phone screens and it ruined the first five minutes of the movie. Finally I asked them if they wouldn't mind waiting until the movie was over. They both quickly apologized and never brought out their phones again. After the movie I brought it up with one of the ushers and he gave me free tickets. I think Officer Curtis was caught in a situation from which he could not escape--these two were problem children (previous article said Arnold's boyfriend had warrants). He handled it as well as he could and justice finally prevailed. Sometimes we encounter these types of problems so we can expose those who aren't right with society--even if it means we look bad for awhile.

Mary | 1:11 p.m. Feb. 12, 2008

Why is it necessary to show the badge because someone is talking in a theater?

This guy initiated, escalated, shoved someone down, muddied the reputation of honorable police everywhere, left us taxpayers with the bill for his arrogance, and now shows his face like the righteous peace officer for tv interviews.

Citizens do not have to shut up and do what a bully like this guy says when he is having his little power trip. Why are we battered with misbehavior from our protectors?

We, the citizens, need to fire this bully. He shoved this person down the stairs and offered no medical interest in what damage may have been done.=. Maybe she was hurt, maybe not, but what if she was desperately hurt and he rendered no aide?

Society if losing faith in the police? These guys have got to act better.

Come On!! | 2:13 p.m. Feb. 12, 2008

Come on Mary. You sound like one of those people who is the only one who has any rights and it doesn't matter whose rights you infringe on, because no one else has any. Nowhere have I read that the officer "initiated, escalated, shoved someone down". The article stated citizen (?) approached officer after the movie and demanded an apology. Also it does not state officer showed his badge because someone was talking. He showed it when citizen (?) became confrontational. Yeah, it was a two sided situation, but when Arnold wanted to get in on the confrontation, seems likely she caused her own injuries. I'm not saying officer was totally in the right, he should have walked away, but I'm sure with 2 idiots yapping in his face, that wasn't an option. Seeing idiots like this, he probably flashed his badge so they would back down and not go any further, but idiots were probably cop haters for whatever reason and continued to escalate. What about their little power trip??? Why do law abiding citizens have to put up with them, and from the sound of your comments, you must be in that group.

Lionheart | 2:26 p.m. Feb. 12, 2008

Is it just an amazing coincidence that law abiding citizens going about their lives like human beings and not mindless animals never seem to have a problems with the poice?

Re Mary | 2:35 p.m. Feb. 12, 2008

Mary, I would not want to be in a movie theater with you. If it is ok to threaten someone, who has asked you to be considerate of others rights and shut up, you live in a sorry self important state of mind. The officer showed the badge when the loud mouth threatened him. Normal people would have walked away and had some respect for the law. Some backgrounds (other countries) have no respect for the police because they live in lawless societies corrupted by greed. This couple seems to be motivated by lawlessness, self importance and greed. Perhaps we need to open a ï¿½no respect for othersï¿½ theater where Mary and her loud obnoxious friends can miss the whole show.

missing the point | 3:05 p.m. Feb. 12, 2008

What about theater patrons rights? We have laws on the books which the officer was enforcing. In this case, the offenders were creating a public nuisance (infringing on other peoples rights), This offense is a misdemeaner.

jsheen | 3:01 p.m. Feb. 12, 2008

I agree that policemen hold a special trust that should not be violated for petty reasons -- which appears to be the case here. Pulling a badge on and unruly moviegoer?? come on!

Nancy | 6:03 p.m. Feb. 12, 2008

The movie gold digger. I've seen her kind many times before. Poor and picked on.
Another thing, It is rude to be blabbing your mouth-off when others pay money to watch a flick. We as well have come across aggressive movie goers many times. I wasn't surprised about this woman one little bit.

Psychological Problems | 8:59 p.m. Feb. 12, 2008

Insecure, bad-boy cops ruin it for the rest of us. What happened to all of his training?

His career in law enforcement should be scrutinized for psychological problems.

UtCoPatriot | 9:43 p.m. Feb. 12, 2008

Yarh, SKIP!

Wondering? | 10:40 p.m. Feb. 12, 2008

Would it matter to any of you if you knew the police officer was on probation for helping associates advance within his ranks by cheating on exams?

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