All Charges Dropped Against Coppock

Another controversial Portland Police Bureau incident has taken a surprising turn, bolstering the growing movement to increase police accountability and flood Thursday's Portland City Council meeting, where police oversight is on the agenda.
All charges were dropped yesterday against TriMet passenger Lisa Coppock, who was arrested two years ago by Officer Chris Humphries for not paying her train fare.
Coppock says Humphries threw her down during the arrest and split open her head; she was taken to the hospital and received stitches to close the wound before she was taken to jail.
Coppock, who had no arrest record before the incident, argued that the TriMet ticket machine was broken, and that she held out the ticket fare to Humphries as he approached her on the train.
Coppock was supposed to appear in court March 16 on charges of theft of services, disobeying an officer and resisting arrest. Her mother reports, however, that all charges were dropped and the case was dismissed March 11.
"After dozens of court appearances stretching over two years, Lisa stood her ground," said her mother Marcia Meyers in a widely distributed email statement.
"She never conceded to the system that charged her, but had no consequences for Police Officer Chris Humphreys who in the process of arresting Coppock, threw her to the ground and slammed her head into the pavement," Meyers said.
Coppock and Meyers say they are planning to join the Albina Ministerial Alliance at the City Council meeting Thursday, March 18 at 2 p.m., when Commissioner Randy Leonard has scheduled a hearing on his and City Auditor Yvonne Griffin-Valade's proposal to tighten civilian oversight of the police bureau at the City Council.