OKLAHOMA — Officers have gruesomely beaten a 64-yr-old deaf man during a traffic stop, an incident which has left the man’s community horrified, according to reports.
It began on January 3rd when Pearl Pearson was stopped over a traffic violation.
Pearl had various permits and notices on his vehicle and his driver’s license stating that he was a deaf driver, in accord with state law.
He never expected what happened next.
As soon he rolled down his window to greet the police, they began pounding him in the face, according to reports.
The police claim that Pearl “refused” to follow their orders — even though Pearl has a large notice on his driver’s side door stating “Driver is deaf.”
Pearl says that he tried desperately to show his ID which states that he is hearing-impaired, but couldn’t do so because the officers were beating him so badly.
“He’s hearing impaired, you can’t yell at him from behind his car and get a response,” said Saca Law, one of Pearl’s neighbors, in an interview with Fox 4.
To make matters worse, after seven minutes of being punched and beaten he was then arrested and charged with “resisting arrest.”
Once he was taken to jail, he was denied an interpreter the entire time, according to reports.
Pearl is loved by his family and community, and they started www.PearlPearson.com in an effort to bring attention to the brutality and help him find justice. Included on the site are the following facts among others:
1. The Oklahoma Highway Patrol pulled Pearl over late in the evening on January 3, 2014. Pearl pulled over as he should.
2. Pearl’s driver’s license indicates he is Deaf. He also has a placard in his driver’s door that says, “Driver is deaf”.
3. Pearl pulled over and rolled down his window, expecting an officer to ask for this identification. An officer struck him in the face before Pearl had the chance to do anything. As you can see, he was struck multiple times.
4. An interpreter was never provided while Pearl was under the care of law enforcement. Not during the booking, hospital, or time at the jail was an interpreter provided, even through Pearl requested one.
5. Pearl was left wondering “why” the the entire time. He has no clue why he was beat. Pearl and his family are still not sure, but are ready for some answers.
The two officers who beat him have been suspended “with pay,” according to reports. Their department is conducting an “internal investigation” into their behavior.
George Brown, an Oklahoma Highway Patrol spokesperson, assured reporters that “If it is determined there were any violations of department policy, the appropriate action will be taken.”
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You can find more updates about the case and help support Pearl at www.PearlPearson.com.