The BLOG

The Week That Just Kept Happening

· Posted 21/11/07 by Danielle

A special report from Survivors Director Cheryl Conrad

You never know what tomorrow holds. Last week demonstrated how bizarre twists can come in a moment’s notice.

The Campus Life Team is taking off the week of Thanksgiving, so they decided to partake of an early Thanksgiving meal together as a team. As they broke bread, they each shared what they should be more thankful for. They discussed the many blessings, freedoms and liberties they were blessed with. They thanked God for the many lives they have been privileged to save and impact.

The week before Thanksgiving promised to be a quiet week. The team was staying near home and going to local colleges.

But just when you think all is quiet a storm blows in – and a big one blew in for our team. A week so bizarre it would test their mettle.

Beginning late Sunday evening three Survivors left my office to find that Katie White’s car had been broken into. The thieves had stolen her school books, her purse and the Survivors computer she had in her trunk.

The loss of the Survivors computer would not have been too devastating except she also had the only backup of the files in her purse! The Survivors credit card was also among the stolen items. I was reeling; I wanted to lecture the obvious point that the computer and backup should never be transported together, but I bit my tongue.

We called the police and they assured us there was nothing they could do but take the report. Most people would have called it quits right there, because by now it was 1:00 in the morning. But the answer wasn’t good enough for our Survivors so they began investigating. They found (through online records) that the suspects had used the Survivors credit card at a WalMart less than an hour earlier.

They jumped in my car and we all sped to WalMart at 1:30 in the morning. We began to talk to clerks and managers, asking if they remembered the sale, and indeed they did.

We discovered the suspects had come and left in a taxi. So again the Survivors called police to follow up with the cab company. But again the police assured them there was little chance of finding them. But James and Jason (my sons) continued to ask questions of employees. They were not giving up!

One employee remembered the cab driver’s name because the suspects had paged the driver when he was using the restroom. So they drove to the cab company. It was now 6:30 a.m. and we were all tired. The cab driver had gone home but James offered him $100 if he would come in and show him where he had dropped the 3 suspects off.

The driver came back and took them to the location where he dropped the suspects off – it was a house! We were so excited! The police were called only after the Survivors had surrounded the house so no one could leave and the computer was recovered! All because the Survivors just would not quit.

And that was only Monday!

Unexpected and unprovoked

On Tuesday the entire Campus Life Tour team went to Chaffey College in Rancho Cucamonga for what they thought would be a normal day. They had been to this school before and there had been no major problems.

After talking with the administration they set up their signs in the free speech area and began distributing literature. A police officer approached the team to inform them that they could engage in free speech activities, but asked them to move to the other side of the quad in order to separate the two groups that would be occupying the quad. Kortney complied and moved the team.

A little later the same officer approached Kortney Blythe and Joey Cox and explained that he must have not been clear enough. He then told them they would all have to stand around an 8-foot-square planter. There are 8 team members, and Kortney knew that just wouldn’t work.

So Joey went to the on-campus police station to talk to Chief Ramirez. He explained that confine 8 people to that space was unreasonable and impractical. The small area was not enough room to accommodate the group, and according to the administration the free speech area included the entire quad. Joey asked the chief on what authority he was making this rule. The chief mocked him saying, “I’m the Chief of Police, and I decided this” and “stop being insubordinate”.

Joey kept trying to reason with the uncooperative chief, and finally said he wasn’t sure he could comply but that he would talk with the team. As Joey stood up to leave, the chief grabbed his arm, twisted it and placed one handcuff on his wrist. Three other deputies joined in by slamming Joey into a corner. After yelling, “stop resisting!” they flung him to the ground face down while one officer dug both his knees and all his body weight into Joey’s shoulders. During this entire time, Joey did not fight or resist any of the officers.

Hunched over, moaning in pain, head smashed in the corner, Joey’s hands were cuffed together. The officers emptied his pockets. Chief Ramirez scrolled through Joey’s confiscated cell phone, and then saw that Joey had an audio recorder. Once the Chief of Police realized that this radical abuse of power had been captured on audio recording, he and the other officers panicked. They were caught red-handed.

And so these public servants tried to do the only thing they thought would protect them – the officers tried to fiddle with the recorder in an attempt to erase and tamper with the evidence. When they couldn’t figure the controls out, they asked Joey how to delete the recording! Joey refused to say anything, to which Chief Ramirez retorted, “we’ll figure it out,” as he threw the recorder onto a table, breaking the battery cover off.

Joey asked on what grounds he was being arrested. The chief said he was not being arrested, but detained. When Joey asked why he was detained, the chief replied, “you’re being insubordinate and we don’t like insubordinate people on our campus.”

Two police officers kept Joey cuffed and put him in a patrol car. They dumped him two blocks away from the college and told him to stay off campus. Joey’s personal items were returned, with the significant exception of the audio recorder. Joey was stunned! He called Kortney to tell her what happened.

Meanwhile, Jason Conrad approached a couple officers asking why Joey was removed from the campus. They said he needed to speak with the police chief to get more information. One of those officers was a cop named Tran – he was also present during the entire unlawful detention and abuse of Joey. When questioned about what happened, Officer Tran told Jason, “I saw what happened but I don’t want to tell you. I don’t have to tell you anything. I have my rights.”

A few minutes later, Kortney told Jason and James Conrad the truth about Joey’s detention. James and Jason were shocked to learn that the police chief had confiscated the recorder (and removed Joey from campus) without any probable cause that Joey had committed a crime and then tried to erase the evidence of police misconduct.

So, the Conrad brothers decided to try to get the recorder back and entered the police station reception area. James had a second recorder with him. They told the receptionist they would like to speak with Chief Ramirez, and she left the reception desk to check with the chief. When she returned, she told James and Jason that the chief was not available and they needed to make an appointment. When they refused to leave without getting their property back, the receptionist said she would get an officer to speak with them.

Officer Hunsaker entered the area and said the recorder had been confiscated “as evidence.” Jason and James both asked what crime had been committed because Joey was not cited for any crime. Officer Hunsaker refused to answer. The Conrads explained that the police couldn’t just take someone’s property for no reason. Officer Hunsaker deferred to Chief Ramirez. When the Conrads asked to talk to the chief, Hunsaker claimed the chief was not available. Then, he stated that the chief was not even in the building. The Conrads reiterated the fact that their property was illegally confiscated and they wanted it back. They explained that if the police officers couldn’t name what crime they were investigating, they needed to return the property.

At that point, things went from bad to worse. Hunsaker spotted the second recorder in James’ hand, became belligerent and demanded they turn off the recorder and leave the building. The boys told him that they were waiting to get their property back. “If you do not comply with my orders, you will be arrested,” Officer Hunsaker said.

The Conrads exited the building and Officer Hunsaker followed. In the plaza outside the police station, Jason asked Hunsaker for his name and badge number. While Hunsaker responded, James held out the recorder to clearly record his answer. Officer Hunsaker snapped, “turn that tape recorder off right now or you’re going to jail.” Abruptly, the officer cuffed Jason.

When James protested this action, asking what Jason was being arrested for, an unidentified person wearing ordinary plain clothes approached and started pushing him back. “Stop touching me. Who are you? Are you an officer? If you’re not, then this is assault. Identify yourself,” James asked over and over with no response.

Finally Officer Hunsaker came over and grabbed James. James offered no resistance and both boys were escorted into a side entrance of the police station. Kortney attempted to follow the officers into the building with a video camera, but the man in plain clothes shoved her back and slammed the door in her face.
The man in civilian clothes (later identified as Officer Acosta) stood in front of the door intentionally blocking the window on the door, so that Kortney couldn’t see inside with the video camera. However, she captured shocking sounds on film – Jason was hysterically shouting “STOP CHOKING HIM! THEY’RE CHOKING HIM!” from inside the building.

Kortney ran around to the other door and entered the reception area. She tried to open the door into the main room where the boys were. It was locked. The receptionists told her to leave, even as Jason could still be heard screaming. Kortney returned to the side door. Shortly afterwards, all doors to the building were locked and window blinds closed.

There remained a small space over Acosta’s shoulder as he blocked the door window into the room, so Kortney did her best to record what was happening inside. She could see James standing in the room, now handcuffed, when his cell phone started ringing. Since officers had only told James he was being detained, he reached for his phone. Without warning, he was attacked by two officers and slammed onto a table while his pockets were rifled through. “Quit resisting arrest,” they yelled out at him. “I’m not resisting arrest,” James frantically responded. James was placed on the ground and lectured by Officer Tran, who told him that the college was private property and he had no right to record him. At this point, the door window was covered with paper so that nobody could see in.

While James was held in the main room, Jason had been taken into the bathroom and handcuffed to a pole. The escorting officer intentionally squeezed the cuffs tightly causing Jason to yell out in pain and then turned the light off and closed the door. Jason heard the officer holler out a smug comment about leaving him in the dark – maybe that would scare him.

After standing in the dark for some time, Jason tried to reach his phone and make a call, but when the officer came in and discovered this he yelled at Jason and banged his head against the wall. James was then brought into the bathroom with Jason.

Meanwhile, off campus, Joey called the city police and asked the dispatcher to send officers to escort him back on campus so he could get his recorder or at least a receipt. The dispatcher told him they couldn’t send someone, but he could walk on campus and ask for the receipt. He arrived and saw the police building was totally locked down. He hit the call button by the door and two police officers came outside. They immediately cuffed him as he said, “I have permission to come on [the campus]” “Not from us,” they retorted. Joey was escorted into a small locker room, where the police turned off the lights and locked the door, leaving him inside.

Around 2:30 p.m. all three of the guys were taken to a police SUV. Officer Tran told Officer Acosta that they shouldn’t fasten the seatbelts, in an attempt to show the boys he disregarded their safety as well as their rights. But Officer Acosta insisted upon buckling them in. The two officers then began driving them to West Valley Detention Center in the San Bernardino County jail complex.

On the way to jail, Officer Tran went on a rampage. He ridiculed Joey calling him a retard. When Jason explained that Joey is only physically disabled, Tran snorted, “like I said – a retard.” He continued the verbal abuse, disdainfully telling the boys that they weren’t doing anything to save babies. He said that in China women are forced to have abortions and his mother used to make aborted baby casseroles that he ate. Then Tran mockingly asked if they were cold in the backseat. It was a warm day, but Officer Tran turned the heater towards the back seat on high. When Joey’s phone rang from the possessions bag, Officer Tran urged Officer Acosta to answer it. “It belongs to us now.”

The unprofessional harassment continued all the way to the detention center where they would thankfully be handed over to the San Bernardino Sheriff’s Department.

But when the Chaffey College police dropped them off, they also left them with one final injustice – trumped up charges they knew wouldn’t stick.

James and Jason were charged with felony eavesdropping and their bail set at $25,527 each! The officers got a good laugh out of that, I am sure, because it meant the two would be in jail for at least 48 hours before their case was reviewed.

Joey was charged with non-student refusing to leave campus and offensive words in a public place. He was thankfully released that night.

Eventually Jason and James would have their charges reduced to disturbing the peace and interfering with a police officer. Both charges will be easily defended in court, as they did no such thing. But for now we posted their bail and got them out after three days in jail.

View video of the arrests at Chaffey.

Now for most of us, our friends getting arrested and beat up would have ended our activities for the day – but not the Survivors! During the time that Joey, James and Jason were being detained, the remaining five team members continued their work on campus.

And this is once again where God does great works amidst great trials.

One person continuing her work was Amanda. She was manning an informational table when a group of students began reading the educational sign leaning up next her table. Amanda held up a model of a 20 week unborn child to the group and one girl responded, “Yes, that’s the same age as my baby. I guess I am doing that tomorrow morning,” she said, casually pointing to a picture of an abortion procedure. Amanda was a little taken aback but continued to try to engage the girl, named Brittany, and asked why she was doing this.

“I have no choice – if I keep this baby I will lose my track scholarship. But looking at this stuff makes my decision difficult. You guys are everywhere and hard to avoid.”

Amanda shared with Brittany about the development of her baby. “I know all that, I’m a medical major,” she stated coolly, but her composure broke slightly.

“Won’t you consider adoption?” Amanda asked.

“If I carry my baby nine months I will still lose my scholarship and at that point I might as well keep the baby,” Brittany answered.

Amanda tried to offer her literature which she declined to take. “It’s difficult enough now as it is,” Brittany said, her eyes starting to mist up. Another girl approached and started talking with Amanda, and when Amanda looked again Brittany was gone.

Later the team saw Brittany walking to the cafeteria with friends. Amanda grabbed Kortney and they headed after the group with the 20 week model in hand. Brittany’s friend who had been at the table with her earlier was tearfully imploring Brittany not to go through with the abortion, even offering her support. Kortney and Amanda sat down with the girls and continued to plead with Brittany. Amanda placed the baby model in her hands explaining that it was the same size and weight as the child within her. The intercession continued until Brittany and her friend finally left. Brittany hadn’t changed her mind, but she gave Kortney her phone number and the time and place of her next day appointment.

Several team members noted that except for the police interaction, the day was remarkably peaceful and calm.

Only the Survivors would report that except for a few arrests every thing was calm! It makes me laugh and makes me proud. They said students were extremely responsive to the signs, many stopping to dialogue with the Survivors, asking sincere rational questions. Numerous students inquired how to get involved. There were no complaints from the administration. This positive trend continued the rest of the week on the other campuses visited by the CLT team.

The team went back to the Survivors office to regroup. Press releases were sent out, pictures and videos reviewed, statements written out for our attorney. Kortney called Brittany several times – but no answer.

That night I went home and considered all that had happened in the prior 48 hours. It was clear that we were in the midst of spiritual warfare. I prayed for safety for my sons in jail, for strength for the Campus Life team members, for Brittany’s soul and protection for her unborn child.

Keeping On

Joey was released early Wednesday morning at 1:00 a.m., and the team let him have the day off. Wasn’t that nice of them!
But the rest of team was on the road at 5:30 in the morning to arrive at the downtown Los Angeles Family Planning Associates before 8:30 a.m. The pregnant girl at Chaffey College, Brittany, had told Kortney when and where she was going to get her abortion. So it was time for one last ditch effort to intervene on behalf of Brittany’s baby. The team prayed Brittany would not go through with the abortion, and spent the morning sidewalk counseling and watching for Brittany. She never showed. Kortney continued to call her.

While at FPA, the Survivors talked with an abortion clinic employee named Tiffany. Tiffany said she didn’t like working at FPA but desperately needed the job. If she could get a job elsewhere, she would quit. The team passed on the information to a local pro-lifer who is looking into job possibilities to get the young woman a new job and exact a toll on the abortion industry.

At the end of the morning, the CLT team left the clinic have never seen or heard from Brittney. By mid afternoon they were busy shopping for baby items for the Survivors Christmas Caroling Campaign. Then, unexpectedly, Kortney received a message from Brittany – she was not going through with the abortion. The team cheered! Thank you God for using us to spare that child was the sentiment of the day.

But the long day wasn’t yet over. Several of the team members rushed to hold a pro-life training for the new Survivors Riverside chapter.

Now I will tell you, they were all tired by this time – but they pushed on. The high school student starting the chapter had 30 + people present from her church, and they expected a solid presentation. Kortney is a good speaker, but that night in spite of her fatigue she was exceptionally passionate. In addition to the ProLife 101 training, she shared the outrageous events from the prior days and many were motivated to step up their pro-life activities. Sacrifice modeled begets willingness in others to follow.

Miracles at Harbor College

The next morning the Campus Life Tour arrived at Los Angeles Harbor College, where team members spoke to a young man and his sister, both students. The young man’s girlfriend and his sister were both pregnant and scheduled for abortions.

Now – as I wrote the paragraph that follows, it just flowed as if the things I reported were common everyday occurrences. Upon rereading what I wrote I realized how easy it is to speak of lives saved as if just like a bill being paid. I want to stop right here and sing loudly praises to God for the precious lives saved by this courageous and bold team!

Wow – a sister and girlfriend both scheduled for abortions. What tragedy lay ahead for that family. But after seeing the signs and talking with team members, both siblings changed their minds and chose life for their children! They were now decidedly pro-life.

Then still another female student came by and shared that her friend was scheduled for an abortion. The girl didn’t want to have the abortion, but her family was pressuring her and her mom was going to kick her out of the house. The desperate student asked Joey if he could recommend somewhere she could take her friend for help. She left supplied with phone numbers and literature, promising to do all she could to persuade her friend to keep her baby.

Punk Rock and Punches

By Friday the Conrad boys had endured three days in jail for committing no crime. They were released around 1:00 a.m. after a kind supporter offered to post the now reduced but still ridiculous bail of $7500 each.

But in spite of their ordeal, they were both up and working by 9:00 a.m. The day was spent recording statements, writing press releases, conferencing with our attorney, and making signs for the Planned Parenthood event that evening. Our Campus Life Tour kids never slowed down.

At 5:00 p.m. the team headed over to a Riverside coffee shop to protest a Planned Parenthood punk rock concert fundraiser. Amazingly, the concert was marketed to 13-19 year olds! I decided to sit this one out and let the young people handle it. I had just sat down to relax, thankful my sons were out of jail, and thankful the week had finally ended, when the phone rang. It was Kortney – just as they were packing up to leave, several of the concertgoers attacked our team members.

A girl that seemed to be on drugs jumped on one of our signs and then started punching Joey. Kortney and Krista Fagan tried to get between her and Joey, but she just kept slugging. Then several other pro-aborts jumped in the fray.

All of a sudden the instigating girl just took off running. Jason called 911, but when the police showed up they told Kortney that the problems were caused by the pro-lifers being there! The police wrote an incident report but made no attempt to locate the girls involved in the assaults. “Insist on charges being filed,” I instructed Kortney. I hopped in my car and drove to the coffee shop. When I arrived the cops had located one girl and called her dad to come and pick her up. I sent out several Survivors to look for the other girl who had started the punching. A few minutes later, Kortney called – she had been sighted. The girl started to run, and Kortney called out directions on the phone as she pursued her on foot. I passed the directions on to the police officer. “Tell Kortney to fall back; we will take it from here,” said the cop. “Not until you have an officer there,” I answered back and continued to call out directions. A few minutes later, the girl was apprehended. For the second time this week, the Survivors had to do the police department’s work for them!

After filing charges we left to take our jailbirds and assault victims out to dinner where the team filled me in on the evening’s happenings. Another baby saved! Just before the melee, a girl had walked up to Krista and whispered to her that she was pregnant. “My friends are pressuring me to have an abortion but I don’t want to do it. Especially after seeing what an abortion does. Can you help?” she asked. Krista counseled her and exchanged information. Then the girl gave Krista a hug and left to go into the concert.

At the same time, Jason and James were sharing the gospel with a young man at the back entrance of the coffee shop. He had cancer and was afraid. He had just walked out the back and up to the boys like he was an old friend. He spilled his sad story. Jason and James were ready once again to offer an answer of hope to that young man. This is how it is sometimes when you show up as God’s ambassadors, ready to serve. They were there to confront Planned Parenthood but in His sovereignty God used them to lead the lost to Him. God uses those who are ready and who step out in faith. Those two jailbirds were blessed by the opportunity God brought to them.

What a week it was. Through it all I was impressed with the team’s courage, boldness and perseverance in the face of all the physical and spiritual warfare. During the course of the week, they have not grown weary in well doing and kept their eyes on the prize. They never grew bitter toward police in general in spite of the injustices they had endured. They never pulled back, they never said “that’s enough let’s take the rest of the week off.”

They met every obligation and capitalized on every opportunity God brought their way. I am extremely proud of all of them – Kortney, James, Jason, Joey, Amanda, Krista, Gabriel and Steven.
They have been real soldiers of the cross, true servants of Christ reaching out with a message of hope, a message of life. This week’s trials have been a refining fire for the entire Campus Life Tour team.

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