Alleged Abuse of Sikh Truck Driver by Oregon State Police Officer

September 4, 2004

Source: Appeal-Democrat

http://www.appeal-democrat.com/articles/2004/09/04/news/local_news/news3.txt

On September 4, 2004 Appeal-Democrat reported, "Some members of the Yuba-Sutter Sikh community are outraged over an alleged racial profiling and beating of a Yuba City Sikh truck driver by an Oregon State Police officer Wednesday. Gurpal Singh Gill, 44, said he was driving a truckload of produce from Stockton to Tacoma, Wash., when he was pulled over by a state police officer, cuffed and then beaten near the city of Roseburg in southwestern Oregon. Gill said he suffered scrapes to his face and shoulders and pain in his lower back from the incident. He also had a ceremonial knife, called a kirpan, taken from him, he said... The Punjabi-American Heritage Society and the Sikh Coalition are considering legal action against the officer for the incident, according to Dr. Jasbir Kang, a member of the Society. 'They (the state police) should have the courtesy to drop the charges,' Sraon said. Gill said there was no reason to pull him over as he was obeying the traffic laws."