The Virginian-Pilot reports a prosecutor on Monday dropped charges against Pamela Brown, the Hula Hoop Lady of Granby Street. Police also released a horrifying video showing her arrest during which Brown, a traumatic brain injury survivor, was shocked repeatedly with a Taser. The officer, identified in a police report as Nicholas Parks, is on administrative duty pending review of the case. Hoopers are gathering in Norfolk, Virginia, on Saturday, November 8th in her support. When asked how she felt about the outcome Brown said she couldn’t remember what the judge said. She pulled out a medical identification card listing her conditions and said she had tried to show it to the officer who arrested her. In fact, the two-minute, 40-second disturbing video below taken by a camera on the Taser itself on October 11th shows Brown repeatedly telling Parks that her medic alert information is in her back pants pocket.
Marylin Copeland, Regional Coordinator for the Brain Injury Association of Virginia, told Hooping.org, “This whole event was an outrage. Pam is shaken by this experience but she is determined to continue the hula hooping which has been a part of her physical rehabilitation for years. Our community has been outraged by this event and strongly supports Pam who has been a welcome fixture on Granby Street. Thanks to the Hooping Community for your support of Pam, a world class hooper!” You can get out and support Pamela this Saturday and by making donations to the Brain Injury Association of America, headquarterd in Virginia, in Pamela Brown’s honor. Full story: The Virginian-Pilot
Oh My God. I’ve been following this story and I just knew this was bad, but the video is so upsetting. I wish I was on the East Coast so I could be there this weekend. God bless you Pamela.
My heart goes out to Pamela. And this all started because she was hooping with her radio too loud? Unbelievable.
I hope to be there on Saturday. My friend and I are figuring out how to make it happen.
I am absolutely horrified and have tears in my eyes for Pamela. My heart goes out to you and if I can figure out how to be there on Saturday – I will.
This cop should be ashamed of himself!!!!!!!!
I can not believe this. The video is worse than I imagined it would be. That police officer is a disgrace, and my heart goes out to Pamela.
That is the most disturbing thing I’ve ever saw. I feel so bad for this poor woman, you know she will never be trusting around a officer again.
The policeman should be fired,and absolutely ashamed of himself for this.
It’s appalling what he did and obviously, he had no intent on listening on what she was trying to tell him about her medical condition.
What an unbelievable tragedy. This video is so hard to watch. I hope she recovers from this and the officer is adequately punished for his lack of compassion.
This is absolutely disgusting and this cop should be arrested if anyone! It saddens and hurts me that these are the people that are payed to “serve and protect” us, because I don’t see any of that going on in this video. My heart goes out to this woman and I hope that she fully recovers both physically and mentally. Keep Hooping Pamela! Love from the West Coast!
Fuck That Cop….administrative leave is not enough that ignorant bastard should be fired.
I live in Norfolk and I drive by this beautiful woman every day. She’s so harmless – and she always puts a smile on your face. The really sad part about this story, is that the area where she hoops is completely crime infested! You can find drug dealers on every corner! How dare they harass her! It’s unbelievable. I will be there November 8th!!!!!
I have lived in the area for over 15 years and she has been out there on Graby street since me and my friends have been i school. This officer had no reason to ignore what she was saying. He should be fired and Pamela should take charges out on him. She had no weapon on her or anything, there was no reason to take a tasor out on her. If anyone has any information about the gathering tomorrow please let me know.
WHAT TIME IS THE HOOPING EVENT ON SATURDAY? in NORFOLK?
THank you.
see you there!
OH MY GOD!!!
She is wearing her old “DEEP CREEK Cross Country” Teeshirt!
I wonder why the alumnus didn’t come to her rescue.
Will they come out Saturday?
Honestly, I can not watch that video all the way through. It is obvious that that part of her brain that should tell her, “OUCH!!!!” isn’t working like it should, yet, she still tries to tell the police officer her medical problems.
It’s at 2pm. More info here.
Heartbreaking. He wasn’t listening to her at all. I guess it’s a small blessing that she has no memory of this abuse. She was trying to hard to comply.
Well sew this on the news and then to see the video it just makes me sick that once again the cops in norfolk can pull something like this. think about this? how mine times have you been setting at a red light at wards corner and the person in the car next to had there radio so loud that is shook you car? or the words to the song playing was so nasty it would make a sailor blush. do the cops go after them? no they dont maybe its becouse thay are scared of whos in the car? but i guess thay make up for that by picking on her.
That is sad and demonstrates the mentality or lack thereof of our “boys” in blue. I’m afraid had I witnessed that event that I would have kicked his ass. He has no business in a uniform unless it is orange or has stripes.