The Phoenix police released surveillance video showing the arrest of Carol Anne Gotbaum, a New Yorker who later died in police custody at Phoenix's Sky Harbor airport. Gotbaum had been upset about missing a connection to Tucson, where she was planning on entering alcohol rehabilitation, and became very upset at the gate. In the video, airline personnel are seen trying to talk to Gotbaum (wearing a white shirt at the top of the screen) who seems to be yelling (there is no sound) and keeps backing away, until the police arrive. Here's the video of the arrest, plus a description from the Arizona Republic:
Police Officers Andrew Woyna, Duane Rigg and Dick Richards approached Gotbaum and asked her to calm down, the video shows. When she continued to yell, one of the officers moved to arrest her...
...Gotbaum went limp when the officer grabbed her, and police fell to the floor along with her. One of Gotbaum's arms became pinned under her body, forcing police to roll her slightly in order to take her into custody.
She was not wearing shoes at the time of the arrest, and her purse was left in the gate area. Only birth-control pills and Motrin were found in her purse.
Gotbaum continued resisting arrest as police attempted to move her to a holding room, according to footage from three airport security cameras. At some points, she locked her legs so that police had to pull her forward. The three video angles shown by police Thursday didn't have sound. But witness accounts state that Gotbaum repeatedly shouted "I'm not a terrorist!" and said she "hated . . . the (expletive) American cops."
Here's another video with additional angles. After being escorted through the airport, Gotbaum was put in a holding cell, handcuffed to a bench, and later died after apparently strangling herself with the chain, in a possible attempt to escape. She was not supervised, but the police say they checked on her every 15 minutes and that she died during one 5-10 minute interval. The police also say they performed CPR on her.
While this was happening, Gotbaum's husband Noah called the airport's switchboard multiple timse. He had spoken to his upset wife earlier and told an operator during one of the calls, "She is, uh, uh, alcohol abusive ... but she is also in [a] deep depression and ... the police have to understand that they're not dealing with ... some lout who's just drank too much on an airplane. That's not what's going on here. This woman is suicidal. And they need to ... deal with very kid gloves. They don't know what they're dealing with." The operator told him, "Unfortunately, [the police are] still doing the investigation . . . so where can I have them give you a call? It's unfortunate we're going to have to wait until they give you a call."
Noah Gotbaum called the airport switchboard many times, and it's unclear when exactly the later calls took place (and whether they were after his wife was dead), but during one, he said, "I suggest someone give me a call immediately!" At one point he said the police are "playing with real fire right now." The police spokesman Sergeant Andy Hill said, "The officers had no knowledge of any of Ms. Gotbaum's personal issues. They had not been apprised of any calls from the family to the airport seeking to locate Ms. Gotbaum."
The lawyer for the Gotbaum family, Michael Manning, said that an airline employee saw Carol Gotbaum being taken to the detention area "listless, unconscious to nearly unconscious." According to the NY Times, Manning is withholding the name of the witness, "but planned to eventually release to the police. Once the employee is ready to be identified, Mr. Manning said, 'I want Phoenix police to interview this witness. This is important."
"Noah Gotbaum, Carol Anne's husband, is in Phoenix today to accompany his wife's body back to New York City. The memorial service will be held Sunday in New York and the family will sit shiva in the days following. The family has asked that the media respect their privacy during this time of mourning and allow them to grieve in peace through this weekend. The family's attorneys and other representatives will honor this request, as well, and will give no media statements or interviews after today. The family hopes you understand."
The Post has a PDF of the police report. In the next few weeks, more extensive results from autopsies by the medical examiner as well as a private pathologist hired by the family are expected.
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Police brutality at airports is out of control. Especially when the police beat up/kill young women and mothers. This is similar to the police beating of the young woman at Reagan National Airport in DC except she suffered brain damage and is still alive. My thoughts and prayers go out to Carol Ann Gotbaum's family. http://youtube.com/watch?v=XPNmxZwhMag
kantoka
I love how through all the debate, I can still laugh so hard I practically pee my pants when someone says "Jesus look at all the tubby people in that airport"
guest
Good lord - she was not tackled or wrestled to the ground - she VIOLENTLY resisted arrest and did so throughout the short trip to the cell.
She should not have died, but her behaviour, even for a drunk, was that of a tantrum throwing toddler.
Oh I'm tired of BOTH of yuhs-- ya big New York crybabies AND ya Mid-America whitebread creeps. You're both strutting bullies in your own way, and you have no idea how the rest of humanity views you. Let's face it, this woman seems to exemplify all that is so incredibly smackable about modern New Yorkers. Let's also face that since one of the phrases she was yelling was "I hate the fuckin American cops", this probably was received as justification by the friggin Captain Americas seen in the tape, and others back at the "station". to whup on her. A pox on both your houses. I know all about reasonable heartless bastards like you.
guest
Jesus look at all the tubby people in that airport.
guest
Ron Paul is the Republican who is using the term Police State. Who am I to argue with a Republican who is condemning the current war on terror results on our freedoms here in the U.S.
Did you hear about the woman who had to remove her bra in before entering the Federal Courthouse in Boise?
Did you hear about the good samaritan who didn't have ID and was arrested? How many people do you think have been arrested just because they did not give a police officer their name?
you mean another person died under custody by the Phoenix PD? Unbelievable.
ConroyBumpus
Look,
As someone who works for an NYC Agency that investigates allegations of police misconduct, I can say that after viewing what I was able to see of the video tape, the police acted within their authority to arrest Ms. Gotbaum and did so using a minimum amount of force. She did resist the officers and she was creating a disturbance in a busy part of the airport. It is a tragedy that she died, but let's not forget that she was an independent agent in this situation and that she is ultimately responsible for her conduct. Now, as for wht happened in the cells, I cannot be sure as there are not (and rightfully so) camera's in the cell area of the airport's command. Let's save the "fascist" comments for a situation that actually merits it, and let's all treat another adult like an adult and stop minimizing her responsibility for being arrested. And lastly, her lawyer's description of the police's tactics as "tackled, shackle, and cuff," are ridiculous. She was never tackled, she clerly dropped to the ground to evade arrest. Let's please, please, be adults and stop blaming the arresting officers for doing their job in what appears to be professional manner.
guest
No, by the Phoenix police. I linked to Tucson Citizen report. Here's a link:
Handcuffed man dies in custody of police, A second person in a week died in Phoenix police custody. A handcuffed man stopped breathing and died after ...
It's business as usual for the Phoenix police. Too bad, this 41 year old man, albeit a criminal, wasn't also well connected. This one will be swept under the rug.
notice how difficult it is for a full grown man to subdue a 15yr old girl on the hood of his car, he ends up warning her that she is going to end up hurting herself by continuing to resist attempts to be handcuffs then resorts to direct pepperspray into her face!!!
Dramatic Dashcam: Screaming 15-Year-Old Girl Pepper Sprayed After Biting Officer
honestly i didnt see anything about "Biting Officer" in the video
Phoenix police had the daughter of the currently acting Mayor of New York, while Bloomberg is away, die in their custody. They're statements are to taken with a grain of salt, especially considering their history on telling the truth.
guest
Why was she traveling ALONE? The husband is the guilty thing here.
guest
The sole person responsible for this is Carol Anne Gotbaum. However, I find it odd her family did not travel with her if she was suicidal, but maybe she insisted on going alone. I'm sure there is so much sad family history here with her outbreaks and abrasive drunk personality. I assume they didn't think she was suicidal though when she left. Maybe she hadn't been on a binge in awhile and was only suicidal when she was plastered. I would guess they know they should have traveled with her and have to lash out at someone other than themselves. Plus, if you're from a very rich prominent family, you don't make mistakes - it's always someone else's fault.
How sad her children will only have memories of her as a drunk and not as a recovering alcoholic.
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