Clifford Barnes #245

Bio:

Clifford Barnes, badge number 245, is an officer for the Federal Protection Service in Manhattan, New York City.

He was the arresting officer of Julian Heicklen each time he’s been arrested at the US District Court at 500 Pearl Street in Manhattan as well as the arresting officer for bile when he was arrested for filming Julian’s arrest on November 9th, 2009.

Barnes is a defendant in a civil complaint filed by Julian Heicklen and a separate case filed by the NYCLU on behalf of bile for false arrest and rights infringement.

Sources:

• http://blogofbile.com/tag/julian-heicklen/?order=ASC
• http://youtube.com/blogofbile

Images:

Julian Heicklen

Bio:
Julian Heicklen is a 78 year old libertarian activist known for his marijuana protests at Pennsylvania State University where he was a professor and more recently jury nullification outreach. Since October 2009 Julian has been traveling around the USA (mostly the northeast) to do jury nullification outreach at federal courthouses.

Self bio:

Julian Heicklen was born at an early age. At 8 days, he was circumcised. This was so traumatic that he did not walk or talk for a year. There was nothing unusual about his early development. He went to Cornell University to become the usual engineering nerd.

Unfortunately, while in high school, his uncle gave him a book about the Declaration of Independence and the U.S. Constitution. To complicate matters, while at Cornell, he read Les Miserables by Victor Hugo and The Fountainhead by Ayn Rand. He transformed from the ordinary engineering nerd into a raving maniac about freedom. Ever since, he engaged in all sorts of socially unacceptable behavior. He stole a house, won the Yom Kippur war for Israel, corresponded with Soviet Premier Yuri Andropov, tried to sue the U.S. Post Office, smoked pot at the main gate of Penn State University every Thursday for 3 years, had a municipal law declared unconstitutional, and distributed subversive material at the U.S. Courthouse in Manhattan. He has been arrested 23 times and incarcerated 8 times.

He has the delusional idea that he can transform the United States from a totalitarian government into a free society. His wife and daughters are trying to get him committed to an old age home. He prefers prison where he has around the clock police protection, something he could not otherwise afford. In addition, that is where the interesting people reside.

Status:

Freed on 2010-06-08. Despite the NYC DOC website indicating his arraignment date had been withdrawn it occurred and Julian was released in the early evening. At 5:57PM bile received a call from the NYC DOC indicating he had been released and at that time the inmate page confirmed as much.

Julian was arrested on May 25th, 2010 in front of the US District Court at 500 Pearl Street in Manhattan, New York City. As with every other time he was arrested at that location he went face down to the ground and was completely unresponsive to the actions taken by the arresting officer, Clifford Barnes #245.

Julian was eventually put onto a wheelchair and brought him into the building from the Worth St. entrance. Later that evening supporters of Julian calling to find out his status found that he had been turned over to the NYPD. His bail was remanded likely due to previous failures to appear at court hearings regarding docket 2007NY029913.

He is currently incarcerated in the North Infirmary Command at Riker’s Island in New York City at least until his court date on June 8th, 2010. He is charged with disorderly conduct and resisting arrest which come from his arrest in 2007.

On Saturday, May 29th, 2010 the NYC DOC website changed from listing him held at the Anna M. Kross Center to the North Infirmary Command which “Houses inmates requiring infirmary care.” This was confirmed after speaking with his wife who also indicated that he has started receiving medication that he was taking prior to the arrest.

On Wednesday, June 2nd, 2010 Joseph McNicholl visited Julian at Riker’s Island. In an email to bile of http://blogofbile.com he wrote:

I went to see Julian today at Rikers,  it is a pain in the ass to get to him,  but it was worth it. I’ve spoken with him on the phone a few times and had numerous emails,  but that was the first time I met him !!!!! He talked about what happened and his history of Arrests and how he has NO fear !!!!!!!!!  In fact he likes it there he has three meals a nice bed 24hr protection which he said he could NOT afford where he lives in NJ !!!!! The Hour went very fast and he gave me his wife Susans phone number to call, which I did when I got home about 6pm.  He asked me to stand in for him in Allentown, PA if I can make it . I’ll try my best to do that !!!!

Contact Information:

• http://www.personal.psu.edu/jph13/
• jph13@psu.edu

Sources:

• http://blogofbile.com/tag/julian-heicklen/?order=ASC
• http://youtube.com/julianheicklen
• http://blogofbile.com/2010/05/25/julian-heicklens-2010-05-25-jury-nullification-outreach/
• http://blogofbile.com/2010/05/27/update-on-julian-heicklens-2010-05-25-arrest/
• http://blogofbile.com/2010/05/30/update-on-julian-heicklen-after-talking-with-his-wife/
• http://blogofbile.com/2010/06/08/julian-heicklen-released-from-jail/
• NYC DOC

As described by activist Joe Skinner:

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Saturday January 16th 2010 was an unseasonably warm day in the New Hampshire region. Because of this my roommate Mike and I figured it would be a perfect day to go, live free and hold an impromptu 420 celebration at Veteran’s Park in down town Manchester. Celebrations like the one we were planning that morning were held throughout the late summer and fall in both Keene and Manchester, NH. These celebrations, in which the participants partake in the public and open consumption of cannabis, were left completely unmolested in every instance of them occurring in the Manchester area. That is until that Saturday in January. Around 4:00 PM Mike and I arrive on scene, close to the corner of Elm and Central in down town Manchester. We did not expect a large turnout because of the short notice, so we sat down smoked a cigarette and figured we’d just wait around until the hour arrived to do the public consumption and leave. We had done this dozens of times a few months earlier and it all seemed almost routine that afternoon. By the time it reached 4:20PM there were a total of six of us that had gathered, three of which were actually participating in celebration. As we were passing around a marijuana cigarette (and may I mention, not hurting, nor bothering any passersby) two gentlemen who were wearing jeans, fleece jackets and baseball caps, entered the circle and asked if we were smoking. As we were not there to hide anything we acknowledged what we were doing without even giving it a second thought. At that moment the two men identified themselves as police and stated that we were observed to be smoking marijuana in public and that we were being detained by the officers. At this point the marijuana cigarette was already consumed and the roach was disposed of. The officers then told the whole group to sit on the benches against the stone wall bordering the park while we were “dealt with appropriately”. They immediately asked for everyone’s ID, and out of the six of us, Mike, Brian and I all refused to give over any form of identification. It was at this point where we became the focal point of their questioning and “investigation”. Mike had already taken his phone out and was immediately accosted by one of the plains clothes cops for daring to try to record the interaction. Mike stood his ground, did not give up his camera, and refused to cooperate in any fashion. Mike then stood up and began talking to the cop who tried to take his phone, all the while recording what was going on with Brian and me. At this point things start to get a little jumbled around as so many things were going on at once. I will do my best to relay things in chronological order in attempts to make things as clear as possible. By the time Mike had stood up and was talking to the officer, at least three more cop cars, one police van, and about five or six regular uniformed officers had shown up to the “scene of the crime”. The literally had formed a semi-circle around us and were trying to look as intimidating as possible. They told Brian he going to be searched. Brian stated he had no interest in being searched but this did little to dissuade the armed goon, and Brian was stood upright by two officers and patted down. While this pat down was going on, Brian was on the phone with another activist telling him directions to get to the park, and to call for help as we were in the thick of things. When the search of Brian’s person led to the discovery of some contraband, Brian’s phone was taken from him, and he was placed in handcuffs and put to the side. After dealing with Brian their attention was then focused on me. I was forced to my feet after I refused to be searched, and my wallet was taken out of my pocket. As I carry no government ID, and all my wallet contained was a photo ID from my place of employment. This did not please the officer at all and he demanded to know my birth date. He also demanded to know if I held a license in any other state. As this was my first serious interaction with a police officer, my adrenalin was pumping and my nerves were high. I began spitting out my DOB when Mike looked at me and asked why I was answering their questions. I replied to him that I had no idea why I was answering their questions, and then asked the officer if I was legally required to tell him this information. The cop threatened me with arrest because I was impeding an investigation, and he NEEDED to know who he was dealing with for his safety. While I was being questioned, Brian was led into a police van and taken away, and another activist (the one who was on the phone with Brian earlier) had walked over and began filming and snapping pictures of the scene. It was at this point where I was able to take out my phone and begin recording. (You can view my video here) After I tell the cop that I will not give up my DOB, he then states I am wasting his time and tells me to leave. He then begins to search another activist who arrived on a bike, and had a backpack with him. I sit and record to make sure that nobody else gets hurt. After that search results in no arrest-able offence, the remaining activists that are seated on the benches are told to leave and get out. As Mike gets up to leave, he steps between 2 or 3 of the officers, and gently brushes one of their jackets. The officer then lunges his arm out, grabs Mike and then asks if he thinks he can “shove me like that”. Two or three officers then surround Mike, and place him under arrest. Mike then drops to his knees and goes limp. The officers ask if they told him to sit down, and demand he gets up. Mike passively resists and responds in no verbal or physical way. At this point my phone locks up and I begin getting phone calls from all over the state. Three officers stand Mike up straight; search him one more time (I don’t recall if he had been searched initially) then place him down again. They keep threatening him with abuse if he does not get up. They tell him to “get up and walk like a man” and other similar comments. The police then form a circle around him, trying to prevent us from recording what’s going on. Everyone then waits until the police van returns from dropping Brian off. At this point three officers pick Mike up and drag him about 20 feet across the sidewalk, and toss him head first into the back of the police van. It was one of the most disgusting displays of humanity I have ever seen. The activists that were left to view this display, heckled and berated the participants in their lack of conscience and morals, for what it was worth. And just like that, all the cops were gone, and we were left on the sidewalk alone again, not hurting or bothering anyone. There were four of us left after the cops had departed, so we decided to hoof it to the police station and wait to see if we could get our friends out of jail. Within thirty minutes of us arriving to the station, four had turned to eight. An hour after that eight had turned into eleven, and by the time we made our way to the Valley Street Jail to bail out Brian, eleven had turned into fifteen. The last three and a half hours of this story are rather dull, as is basically involves waiting for bureaucrats, sitting in uncomfortable waiting rooms, and being told half truths by every government employee we encountered. The real success I wish to point out is that we had three times as many people show up to lend their support after the arrests, then who showed up for the celebration in the first place. There was standing room only in the jail waiting room where we exchanged $500 for our friend’s (relative) freedom. But there is still a victim being held by the armed Manchester thugs. Big Mike is still refusing to identify himself to the state. Chances are that much like Sam last summer, the state more than likely knows Mike’s identity, and is just going to hold him until he voluntarily gives up his information. I met Mike in the middle of August, and we have been roommates ever since. I know for a fact he WILL NOT budge one bit. He is not afraid of the thugs, and is not afraid to spend months in jail to prove that he is not owned by anyone. But because of this, the state refuses to put a bail out for his release, state the charges against him, or even let the public know when is arraignment is. Brian, who was the last person to speak with Mike, stated that he had some serious bruising over his body because of the dragging and manhandling. I want this story to have a pleasant ending for Big Mike. I want my friend home from jail and to be safe from abuse. I want the state to stop kidnapping my friends over a plant, or chemical. I want the police thugs who think its appropriate behavior to arrest a person because they bruised their ego to see the evil in their actions and beliefs. I want the world to be free and people who occupy it to have their hearts filled with love and peace. That is the only way change will ever come to the world.

Monday, February 1st, 2010:

Two motions filed on Mike’s behalf.

from NHCLOG.org:

On 2010-02-01, activists and friends of Big Mike filed two motions in Manchester District Court in an attempt to have his $5000 cash bail converted to personal recognizance. One motion stated that Mike has identified himself and been processed completely by the jail, which was the stipulation the judge had placed on Mike’s case in order for him to be bailed. The other motion was a request by Mike for a jury trial.

Considering the run-around we had during the arraignment, and dealing with the jail over the past two weeks, this went surprisingly quickly. We arrived at the court around 08:15 and were done within an hour.

We expect that the motions will be taken up and ruled on today; if the judge grants the motion, Mike should be released immediately. Hopefully there will be no need for a hearing, as the motions provide everything the judge required in order to amend bail. We’ll post an update as soon as we find out if Mike has been released.

Wednesday, February 3rd, 2010:

At approximately 1:30pm it was reported that the motion previously submitted to the court to have Mike released due to the fact that Mike’s identity had been established had been accepted and that he would be released later that afternoon.

At about 5:50pm Mike was released after nearly two hours of paperwork.

Sources:

• http://freekeene.com/2010/01/18/details-on-saturdays-arrests/
• http://www.nhclog.org/stories/2010/02/01/big_mike
• http://nh.porcupine411.com/2010/02/03/audio-message-from-wireless-caller-8459879243-11/
• http://nh.porcupine411.com/2010/02/03/audio-message-from-wireless-caller-6033918900-2/

Mike Tiner

Status:

Released from the Nashua jail in the afternoon of May 3rd, 2010.

Was jailed for disorderly conduct in relation to the 420 protest held during the 2010 Free State Project Liberty Forum in Nashua, New Hampshire.

He was not arrested the day of the event but was picked up weeks later as was a Jim Johnson and Lauren Canario.

Contact:

• http://mail-to-jail.com

Sources:

• http://freekeene.com/2010/04/17/free-stater-dragnet-continues-big-mike-arrested-at-gunpoint/

Josh Kern

Status: Free. Released morning of 2010-01-09. Had been incarcerated at Rockingham County DOC for refusing to pay fine.

Recent Incident:

From Mail-to-Jail.com: Josh was cited for having a license plate for one of his cars on another of his cars and for driving on a suspended registration. He was between vehicles and didn’t have the money to pay for the new car’s registration until the upcoming weekend, so he used his other car’s license plate. And he did not know his registration was suspended because the DMV sent their notice to him and the wrong address and they claim the post office does not forward their mail; when they got their notice back, they suspended his registration without telling him. The judge found Josh guilty on both charges and he refused to pay their fines and instead will serve 5 days in jail.

Sources:

• NH Underground Thread with Details
• Free Keene forum thread

Monday, April 13th, 2009: Dave Ridley’s arraignment, Sam Dodson and others (including Kurt Hoffman) arrested.

Friday October 2st, 2009: Kurt Hoffman’s day in court for disorderly conduct as well as another incident from when he was pulled over in Roxbury, NH a couple months prior. The reason for the long delay relative to others was due to him being in jail at the time of his original court date. Due to construction on the roadway in which Kurt was taking to get to the court he was late to the trial. Upon arriving judge Burke asks him questions apparently regarding a charge of contempt for being late. Kurt indicated that he did not understand what was going on and Burke sentenced him to 180 days in jail for contempt.

After being brought into a back room to continue the trail, where no cameras were aloud and only his wife present, something occurred which caused Officer Eliezer Rivera to allegedly push Kurt while his arms were cuffed causing him to fall and possibly harm his neck. He was brought to the hospital and an X-ray performed. It was later reported that he was more or less fine physically and was brought to the Cheshire County jail.

The following is what Coconut reported regarding the events:

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Alright here’s what I have for you guys for now:

Kurt was initially refusing to sit at the defense table when Burke came in and ordered so. Burke says “We’re going to go on a recess, and I’m going to give you time to reconsider. You are ordered not to leave the courtroom.” He then left the courtroom and went to the bathroom, and came back, and Burke resumed with Kurt:

Kurt and Burke (audio file)

For those that don’t want to or can’t listen to the file, Burke found Kurt in contempt for interfering with the procedure of the court, and offered to let him “answer for himself.” Kurt continued his behavior and Burke then said “I’ll take that as you waiving your right to answer. You are sentenced to 180 days in the house of corrections.”

When approached by police, Kurt briefly stood up and then went to the floor. Officers and bailiffs forced everyone out except Auburn and Ian with his camera for some reason. I wish I’d just remained seated quietly in the courtroom as I had been. Kurt was then handcuffed and put in a rolly-chair and taken to the next room over. Ian was not allowed in there but Auburn was.

Kurt asked to be unhandcuffed to hug his wife goodbye for 180 days, and Lance would not comply. Kurt then tried some acrobatics to get his hands in front of him, and Lance called Eli Rivera in for backup. At which time Eli began forcing Kurt around.

Kurt Pushed Around (audio file)
(sorry. I probably shouldn’t have been arguing with the bailiff when I’m trying to record.)

Apparently Kurt somehow got to his feet and he and Eli did some sort of dance around the table before Eli eventually pushed him down. An ambulance was called and Kurt was taken out on a stretcher. Meanwhile, we are being forced away for fears we are going to take pictures of him. He is reported released from the hospital and at Westmoreland now.

Below is raw footage taken by Ian Bernard:

Show videos »

Thursday, November 5th, 2009: Judge Edward Burke denies the motion to reduce Kurt’s sentence.

Thursday, November 19th, 2009: In an immediate hearing for Kurt regarding a request his wife submitted the day before Kurt had his sentence suspended and was released from jail.

Saturday, April 11th, 2009: In the week prior the Keene City Council had voted to allocate $5,000 from the city budget to research the feasibility of a local food cooperative. In protest of the town using tax payer’s money for a private business Jesse decided to utilize the public park that makes up the town square in Keene, New Hampshire for a garden. The morning of April 11th, 2009 Jesse showed up to the square’s garden with top soil, gardening equipment, seeds and a .22 rifle (to shoot varmint) and was promptly arrested for “excavating without a permit.”

Sunday, October 11th, 2009: Police catch up with Jesse. He’s brought to the Keene, NH Police Department and processed at around 3PM. At about 4PM he calls Porc411 to inform people that he’s going to be held at the Westmoreland, NH Cheshire County Department of Corrections until the following Tuesday morning (Monday being a holiday) at which time he will have an arraignment. His bail was set at $1000 cash.

Tuesday, October 13th, 2009: Released on personal recognizance bail for the bail jumping charge.

Sources:

• Audio:
  • Porc411: msg0034, msg0035
• Articles:
  • FreeKeene.com
    • AnarchoJesse Arrested for Illegal Gardening!

Jesse Moloney

Status:

Free after being arrested and temporarily jailed for obstruction.

Monday April 13th, 2009: While attending an arraignment held for Dave Ridley regarding his right to record civil disobedience at Keene District Court Sam Dodson was arrested for refusing to turn off his camera.

Due to Sam’s screams of pain behind closed doors David Krouse refused to leave the lobby when directed to do so by Officer Rivera. David along with 5 others; Richard T. Onley, Nicholas Ryder, Patrick S. Shields, Kurt W. Hoffman, and Timothy Danforth was arrested.

Monday July 27th, 2009: David is found guilty. He was fined $260 + a surcharge which he said he would refuse to pay or work off through community service. He was therefore sentenced to 6 days in jail at $50/day to cover the fine.

Monday August 3rd, 2009: David arrived at the Cheshire County Department of Corrections at approximately 8:30am to turn himself in at 9am. He was admitted just before 10am.

Sunday August 9th, 2009: David is released from jail at approximately 8:30am.

Media:

• Audio:
  • Porc411: msg0063, msg0064
• Video:
  • Free Keene:
    • State v. David Krouse 07-27-09
    • David released

Sources:

• David’s post-trial thoughts
• Group of activists arrested, Keene District Court April 13, 2009
• April 13 Incident – Post Your Charges

David Krouse

Status:

Free. Sentenced to 6 days in jail after being found guilty on July 27th, 2009 of disorderly conduct stemming from his refusal to abide by Officer Rivera’s order to leave the lobby of the Keene District Court on April 13th, 2009 after Sam Dodson was arrested for refusing to turn off his camera. The jail time is in lieu of a fine which Mr. Krouse said he would refuse to pay or perform community service. He entered the Cheshire County DOC on August 3rd, 2009 and was released August 9th, 2009.

The specifics to David’s case can be found here: Dave Ridley’s April 13th, 2009 arraignment

Bio:

From FreeKeene.com:

Passionate about getting government to stop hurting people. Anti-war, because war always results in ‘collateral damage’, another word for murder. Anti-tax, because he doesn’t live for the purpose of funding other peoples choices. Happy to help when asked, or for a worthy cause. Keene is the smallest city David has ever lived in.

Images:

Contact Information:

• not currently incarcerated