Disturbing news out of Houston today regarding Packers Wide Receiver Donald Driver’s dad, Marvin Driver:
The father of a noted NFL player was in critical condition Wednesday, two days after an incident in which his family says Houston police officers beat the man while arresting him on outstanding traffic warrants.
Police said Marvin Driver, the father of Green Bay Packers wide receiver Donald Driver, was taken into custody about 1:30 a.m. on Monday. He was unresponsive when he arrived at the Southeast Jail on Mykawa, police said.
Family members say 56-year-old Marvin Driver was beaten by officers after being arrested at his mother’s house in southeast Houston.
Late Wednesday, Houston police spokesman Victor Senties declined to address specific questions regarding the allegations. But in a statement, HPD noted that the internal affairs division is investigating claims “that injuries he sustained following his arrest were the result of an assault on Mr. Driver by two HPD officers.”
Wait, he was arrested and left the house in good shape and arrived at the jail having been beaten? How did this all start?
The incident began late Sunday when Driver was dropping his brother, Winston Driver, off after the two had moved furniture, family members said.
Officers stopped Marvin Driver Jr. in front of his mother’s home, relatives said. An argument took place between police and Driver’s family, as well as between Driver and officers over the language police were using, according to the written statement issued by family members.
Police told relatives Driver was being taken to jail for the outstanding warrants, relatives said. “Later, the family found out he never made it to the jail,” the statement said.
Something is missing here. I’d like to believe that HPD officers are not roaming gangs of thugs that randomly beat individuals for no reason, there has to be more to this story. Quanell X has appeared on the scene to help the Driver family and had this to say:
Houston Activist Quanell X says Marvin Driver was taken behind a local gas station by police officers, kicked and beaten. Quanell X also said officers allegedly forced Marvin Driver to swallow something and allegedly taunted him by saying, “This is going to take you to Jesus.”
What? “Take you to Jesus?” Really, that’s what they said? Isn’t there video of the event from the police car? HPD does not comment on cases like this, but I’m very interested in their side of the story. From the sports perspective, the Packers are giving all the time and support Driver needs to be there with his father.
The Packers previously had planned to give Driver, their 10th-year veteran receiver, time off from practice on Wednesday and Thursday because the 33-year old has been dealing with several nagging injuries, but coach Mike McCarthy said Driver has “had a personal situation that has come up, and he’s dealing with that right now.”
McCarthy declined further comment but said he believed Driver would be back with the team in time for Monday’s game at New Orleans.
Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers said he has not spoken with Driver but was aware of the situation.
“This is a family in here, and we support each other,” Rodgers said. “It’s a difficult situation, and we’re just going to come behind him and pray for him and be there for him when he returns.”
All I can say is, my thoughts are with the Driver family and I hope for the speedy recover of Mr. Driver. I also hope for a quick resolution of the events of this case and the guilty be punished with the same level of intensity used in the beating of Mr. Driver. If this case is found to be an act of brutality, HPD will have a lot of explaining to do.
Tags: Houston, NFL
More misunderestimation
