Legal Commentary

Houston Police Accused of Beating Marvin Driver Jr.

By TChris

The truth of these allegations hasn't been established, but it's undisputed that Marvin Driver, Jr. was hospitalized after his encounter with the Houston police. The incident merits mention here because Marvin is the father of beloved Green Bay Packers wide receiver Donald Driver, who missed two days of practice this week to visit his dad in a Houston hospital.

According to the Driver family, Marvin was stopped by Houston police and arrested on outstanding traffic warrants.

"Later, the family found out he never made it to the jail, he was picked up by the paramedics several blocks from his parents home laying in the street bloody and unconscious and the police were no where to be found."

According to Marvin, who had to write out the details on paper towels because he was unable to speak: [more ...]

Driver wrote that the officers, whom he said he knew personally, took him to a station, kicked him in the stomach, elbowed him in the neck and forced something down his throat.

Those officers have been removed from patrol duties and given administrative jobs pending investigation. This is their version, as related by the police department:

"Mr. Marvin Driver Jr. was arrested during a traffic stop and placed into custody on outstanding traffic warrants about 1:30 am on Monday (Nov 17). Officers placed him in the back seat of a patrol unit and transported him to our Southeast Jail at 8300 Mykawa Road. Upon arrival to the jail, our officers stated Mr Driver was unresponsive. One of our jail doctors examined Mr. Driver and advised officers to contact HFD paramedics. HFD then transported Mr. Driver to Memorial Hermann Hospital.

Driver was treated for a brain hemorrhage. By Thursday, his condition had been upgraded from critical to good, although he remains hospitalized. Meanwhile, Donald Driver has returned to team practices and is expected to play in Monday night's game against the Saints.

Full post as published by TalkLeft on November 22, 2008 (boomark / email).