We’ve seen some bad videos on this site, but this one is a doozy. On the footage, Oakland School District Police Chief Art Michel berates and curses out Oakland Tribune photojournalist Jane Tyska at a protest against immigration raids on October 31. He accuses of her of hitting his patrol car with her elbow and trying to incite a riot.
Here are some of the highlights:
“You hit my car, you’re going to jail!”
“You stick to that story, so help me god, I’ll take all your equipment and take you right to jail!”
“Get in the car or I’m going to stuff you in there!”
“You’re a lying son of a bitch, you hit my car!”
This man is downright frightening, even more so since his job is as a SCHOOL police chief and he works with children. Wouldn’t you hope someone in his position would model calm, reason and maturity during a confrontation?
And invariably, in all of these stories, there is always the commenter who says something to the effect of “Right on police!” And to that I say, really? Really? Because clearly this video shows an extreme overreaction and a scary abuse of power, regardless of whether or not a female journalist – who is obviously cooperating and repentant – hit his car with her elbow.
The Oakland Tribune published an editorial today demanding the chief’s firing. If you agree, send Interim Superintendent Roberta Mayor a note.
See the full video here.
boywithgrenade.org 
I can’t see why the press cant do more about this… Why don’t you sue! I know it would never get heard, But this needs to be out more. Cops are doing more and More of this crap! They now treat the media as the bad guys!
if any prank-call enthusiasts are wondering, here are art michel’s phone numbers, which have been conspicuously absent from the school district site.
510-301-6701
510-879-3670
tell him how you feel about him and his nasty little temper.
you should feel horrible about yourself for giving this info out about someone who protects our communities and school even if he was involved in an altercation, this reporter wasn’t an someone that was a victim she was saying just as bad things but of course it isn’t mentioned what she was saying!
wow….just wow…..
I do try to respect and appreciate our boys in blue…..but yikes……
tanner,
i smell a cop, but are you a cop that follows the law or breaks the law, I’m not sure?
is this cop’s behavior protecting a community? a school? i really don’t think so.
where’s the video evidence of the reporter acting the same as this cop was acting…like an asshole cop out of control on a power trip.
PS we don’t feel horrible at all. you should though for supporting this out of control cop who forgot that he works for the people and the community that he is supposedly protecting…not terrorizing.