A letter from Richard Polendo, and another side to the story.

I couldn't leave y'all hanging with a teaser like that. Late late last night/early this morning Richard sent me his story, which again paints a very different picture of the event than Officer Gabrielson's sworn statement:

Dear Jason and Austin Texas Bike Stuff and International Bicycle Community,

I have made it safe to a friends house tonight. I have been utterly shuddered by the past recent events. To have experienced what one may fear is sickening and disturbing. Having spent time for what occurred brings feelings of sickness, disgust and angst, further enforcing the distrust so many of us feel. As for the ride itself, it was the most positive, encouraging, healthy, and helpful activity that Austin does have to offer. What other event where you get fresh air, clean parks, open streams, friendly citizenry, where the entire family, and neighbors can gather, converse, laugh, and travel to beautiful parts of the city, together, en mass, like family. It is an element that must exist and be preserved to exist for every national community. Yet again a victory for the Austin and the International Cycling community, as the 2 innocent cyclers snatched up by Austin's Downtown Initiative, and handled roughly, are finally free and safe at home with their friends and families and pets. I am fortunate to have a friend allowing me to sit in her darkness and type.

To the day of the event, to the time we turned left onto Congress. We approached in mass heading east, on the right side of the lanes. As approaching and turning left on Congress, I was riding along side a female rider, who was wearing a white outfit. She happened to approach the turn to fast , in which she "spilled" slipped out and wrecked, she fell and looked like she did a skid laying across the road way, her glasses being knocked off. Upon noticing this I immediately came to a halt, as did several other riders. We assisted in helping her up, finding the glasses, lifting her and her bike up making sure she was okay. We had stopped to render aid. The vehicles that stood behind us had not even started to drive into the intersection, and it seemed that upon noticing the severity of the situation, they waited patiently, until it was safe to pass, upon this pause, the mass of cyclist finished passing through. As i uponed witnesses this, it was the most beautiful experience. I as well noticed a figure dressed darkly running along side the mass, as in trying to stop the whole ride. The figure then approached the group that rendered aid, and demanding we stop. As he got closer he directed it my way. Wanting to show decency I respected the officer, yet officer shouting, grabbing me off my bike, shoved into the ground Having contact with the ground, I cut my knees and pushed into a stone bench. The officer was shouting your under arrest, I asked in calm manner cant I just get a citation. He repeated I'm under arrest, commanding back and openly bragging to his partners, that "He Got One, He Got One". As the officer took me down the others saw that, and didn't want to get arrested and they continued to catch up with the rest. I repeated to the officer I had only stopped to help my partner who had just taken a horrific fall. But he did ignore that, happy with his arrest of a cyclist.

And I soon to find out a other cyclist was also attacked, moments after I was.
Being relatively new to the Austin Community and having just meet these groups of wonderful people cycling and enjoying and appreciating the city they live and work in, The fear I did have was not really knowing anyone by name and no one knowing my name and the predicament I was just in. I myself was dumbfounded when assaulted and hauled away after just assisting someone in need of aid. Instinctively I wasn't just going to ride past a fellow cyclist who may have been seriously hurt.

The incarceration was another ordeal, and constant victimization. Changed out, bunked, and spending 4 days, scrubbing floors and disinfecting things, including the burning cut, throbbing knees from the apprehension was not how I envisioned my move and visitation to the city of Austin to be. Everything I did envision I did experience on the Austin Critical Mass Monthly Bike Ride. A true gem of the Austin community.

I want to thank everyone for the support and solidarity shown to strengthen and keep this monthly event, happy, fun and healthy. A truly positive event in the Austin City Limits.

Thank you Talib for spreading the word rallying support for other cyclists, Austin Cycling Association, Rob D'Amico President of League of Bicycling Voters, Jay W. , Austin Texas Bike Stuff, Rhizome Collective, Bikes Across Borders, Yellow Bikes Projects, Who ever brought the bagels to share at the start of the bike ride. Thanks to you who will read this, you, who ride the bike daily, you, who rides in the Critical Mass where ever it may be.

As for myself I have been riding bikes for eleven years, being 25. I visited Austin in hopes of getting a good job to make a living, listen to the Austin music scene, and find a home here.
I successfully rode 100 miles, 10 hours to make it into the Austin City Limits, being in the city during the week of this great ride. Again thank you all for we have accomplished something and should continue this healthy dialogue with the Austin Police Department to ensure cyclists in this city are truly protected by who we entrust for that protection.

To show my gratitude, I will promote safe and healthy cycling where ever and every where I may be. I hope to take an active participation in this effort in any way.

Richie- Richard Polendo

A very different picture, indeed. If Police Chief Acevedo was being honest when he said he'd "critically evaluate the incident and take appropriate corrective action if needed", then things might get interesting. I'm hoping he lives up to what he committed to, and takes similar action to the NYPD when an incident very like this one occurred during one of their Critical Mass rides. Should be fun to see how the APD stacks up against the NYPD in this instance, and if they treat Richard's case similarly when all is said and done.

Thanks for writing us, Richard. I'm glad to know you're out and are getting the assistance you require. Hopefully this all works out to your benefit, and the benefit of the cycling community as a whole. While I only ASK for understanding from the APD, I DEMAND that they stop assaulting us and making up false testimony. Hell, isn't that last part one of them commandment things?