You, on the other hand, do not identify that you were present or involved in this matter. You are merely guessing based on whatever guides your opinions. …not sure….but its not wise.

I stand by my story for it is a fact.

It is interesting that, in this day and age of “big brother” and surveillance cameras, that North Star Mall will not release video to me, Lens Crafters or anyone interested in reviewing them.

The video would certainly set the record straight. The SAPD and North Star’s abuse was recorded. I dare them to release the tapes. I visited to mall yesterday to conclude that there were video cameras in most of the area that I walked and where the abuse occurred.

On it, you will see me speaking with North Star Security under the guise of them filing a stolen phone report. The conversation was amicable and helpful, I thought. You will see me walking calmly towards the North Star Mall exit. You will see that I was abruptly, and for not reason apprehended and humiliated both by North Star Mall security and SAPD.

I am particularly glad that unaware folks like yourself, SAPD Police Officer Ingram, Lens Crafters, and North Star Mall act the way they do. It is important to be aware of the sentiments out there and what others might be confronted with, when guards are down.

Now we both know how the other feels, with three important distinctions:

- I identified myself Kevin Vidal: You are who?
I was present at this event; Were You?
I dare North Star Mall to release the video surveillance, and challenge the naysayers to watch the. – If so moved, won’t you do the same.

….then express an opinion. Otherwise, it is just a propagation of rumors, lies and ignorance. …like talk radio.

Dear Mr. William McManus, Mr. Mayor, and US Department of Justice:

I wanted to inform you of my decision not to pursue filing an SAPD Internal Affairs complaint. Coming to this conclusion was not easy for I assure you that the incident as I presented did occur. In spite of knowing the mall surveillance tapes would vindicate me, I still feel that the best decision at this time is to drop this matter.

Here are my reasons:

1. The SAPD Internal Affairs process is threatening and intimidating, i.e.:

• Sworn notarized SAPD-written statement required, and my already written statement not accepted
• Potential requirement to take a polygraph test
• Potential perjury exposure
• Only the complainant (me) is subjected to the above requirements, but not witnesses involved in the incident.

2. Lawyers, whose primary interest is making money off of my misfortune. I never had interest in filing suit against anyone. I have maintained that I was only interested in preventing the treatment that I experienced from happening to anyone else. I worked briefly with one attorney, Melaina Hood, who wanted to charge over $ 3000 just to sit in the Internal Affairs interview with me. ….this was not to file a suit….just to sit in the Internal Affairs interview.

3. Fear of retaliation. I have searched the net to find numerous stories of unethical, as well as questionable SAPD Officer’s behavior and practices. This includes the very officer who was abusive to me. It is for this reason that I have posted my experience on the web to make it public knowledge. Similarly, I have found numerous complaints on North Star Mall and LensCrafters that seem to have gone nowhere.

4. I have informed the public of this. I have posted my experience to the web on various blogs. I have received support and feedback from others, including attorneys trying to encourage me to sue. Again, I am not interested in suing. I am only interested in civic responsibility.

5. Avoidance of stress. I came to realize that pursuing SAPD will be very stressful and could be damaging to my health.

6. No confidence. I don’t feel that anything will ever be done to rectify my concerns. I now realize that the SAPD has had more significant police abuse complaints that go back to the 1960’s and 1970’s, many involving minorities. I believe that the federal government has had to intervene historically. There seems to be a very deep rooted problem with SAPD.

7. So far, no or marginal follow-through. I have written and called the mayor’s office, the US Justice Department, the San Antonio City Council, and various other private and public agencies. I never expected anything miraculous to happen with regard to these communications, but do feel good that I put the story out there so that perhaps on the 1000th such complaint, someone will “get it”. Again, the most responsive individuals have been attorneys interested in “a buck”. I avoided them, though. I hopeful that LensCrafters and North Star Mall will respond with the results of their investigation, but will not hold my breath on this.

I want to make it unequivocally that I am telling the truth, and posed no threat verbally or otherwise to justify the treatment that I experience from SAPD, Lens Crafters, and North Star Mall.

God is my witness, as well as North Star Mall surveillance tapes. I was profiled by SAPD, North Star Mall security and LensCrafters. Unfortunate to each of you, I am not a criminal or thug, but instead a well educated and well travelled citizen.

However, I will not proceed with the SAPD Internal Affairs complaint for the process/system is too intimidating and all the odds seem to be stacked against an honest citizen who wants to make “bad things” good. This is unfortunate, but “it is what it is”.

I have found some relief in the fact that I have voiced, documented, and publicized my concerns about North Star Mall, LensCrafters and SAPD.

In fact, this email to you will be published on the web, by the time you read it.

Warm Regards,

Kevin M. Vidal
210-464-4302

I did not cause a scene though this will be the angle from which I will be pursued. It seems reasonable that if someone causes a scene security/police should be called for assistance. But I did not. I was persistent, not accepting that Lens Crafters had no available manager, no customer service phone number, and would not record that the incident occurred. I did not cause a scene, but at the same time I did not back down.

When I left the Lens Crafter store, I was not escorted by security. I actually greeted security and walked with them back to the store. Security was presented as “helpful”. They came under the guise of assisting me to file a lost/stolen report. My discussion with security was very amicable.

If any tension ensued, it was propagated by Lens Crafter employees Michael and Brian, and security guard Mendoza.

On my way from the security office Mendoza, I was surprisingly handled aggressively physically and verbally, by SAPD and security. If their goal was to diffuse an “unruly” situation (which it was not), their aggression was inappropriate and over the top. I believe that their actions were more about their own shortcomings not mine.

If only I were aggreesive and unruly, or had drugs or weapons, I would have played right into security and SAPD’s plans. But I was calm and had not broken any law. I had no weapons or drugs. Otherwise I would have been arrested. I was not, and was let go.

I guess I was raised differently than you. I learned during adolescence not to call people names such as idiot, especially when I did not know them or was not present in situations involving them.

For the record, I am highly educated, well travelled, and have worked for many of the largest corporations on the planet, including Ford, Toyota, Boeing, etc.

Unfortunately, I was profiled as the antithesis of this. Their bad, not mine.

You may want to note that the officer who was abusive recently killed someone at a mall. Perhaps you are not aware that SAPD has a serious issue with police abuse, particularly amongst blacks.

We shall see how this all plays out. I don’t think you are an idiot. I just see you as unaware. We all need time to evolve into awareness. Give it time. You will too.

Thanks to video surveillance, my actions and theirs is on tape. It will speak for itself, if does not mysteriously disappear.

Perhaps you should look at these searches:

Lens Crafters Complaints (also check the BBB reports) – http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&source=hp&q=lens+crafters+%2B+complaints&aq=f&oq=&aqi=g-s1

SAPD and Abuse – http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=SAPD+%2B+complaints&btnG=Search&aq=f&oq=&aqi=

He shoot a suspect for “fear of his life”. The suspect only had a hunting knife inside of his car.

See story below:

Contact: Sgt. Gabriel Trevino Date: 07-14-08 Release No. 08-069

News Release – http://www.sanantonio.gov/sapd/pdf/Adv_071408.pdf

Contact: Sgt. Gabriel Trevino Date: 07-14-08 Release No. 08-069
News Release
OFFICER INVOLVED SHOOTING
A preliminary investigation pertaining to an officer involved shooting reveals the
following: On July 14, 2008, at approximately 7:04am, San Antonio Police Officer
Robert Ingram, an 11-year veteran, was patrolling behind the strip retail center
located at 5740 Walzem Rd. As Officer Ingram drove his patrol car behind the
businesses, he saw a car backed into a loading dock. As officer Ingram got closer,
he saw a lone male sitting in the driver’s side. Officer Ingram reports that at that
point, the suspect looked up and motioned his head side to side and pointed his
finger up and also motioned his finger side to side (indicating a “no” gesture). The
suspect then placed his car in gear and accelerated directly towards Officer Ingram,
who was still sitting inside his patrol car. The suspect’s car then struck Officer
Ingram’s car, pushing the patrol car back several feet until it was pinned between a
concrete pillar and the suspect’s car. The suspect then reversed his car and then
again came forward, spinning his rear tires, as the suspect’s car again struck Officer
Ingram’s patrol car. Officer Ingram, fearing for his life, began to fire his service
weapon, through his own patrol car’s front windshield, towards the suspect. Officer
Ingram continued to fire as he was able to exit his patrol car and flee for cover.
The suspect was hit by Officer Ingram’s fire and subsequently died at the scene.
Officer Ingram did not receive serious injuries from the ramming of his patrol car.
A preliminary view inside the suspect’s car revealed a hunting knife and drug
paraphernalia. The identity of the suspect is being withheld pending official
identification and the notification of death to the next of kin.
The San Antonio Police Department’s shooting Team is handling the investigation
and will submit their findings to Police Chief William P. McManus and the Bexar
County District Attorney’s Office. As per policy, Officer Ingram will be placed on
administrative duty while the investigation continues.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

I just spoke to a regional manager at Lens Crafters, Terry Garcia. She was very unapologetic and said that she “stands by the integrity of her employees”. She did not care to receive this incident in writing from me, though it contains additional details. She listened to my store summarized on the phone and told me that I would never hear from her again regarding this matter. She relinquished Lens Crafters’ responsibility to formally investigate this matter. She tended to point responsibility for this matter to mall security and the SAPD. ….”not in her control”.

I have since written the TV Stations, North Star Mall’s parent company, Lens Crafters’ parent company (in Italy), and the mayor, Julian Castro. I have not heard from any of them on their own accord.

I did speak with the San Antonio Police Department. They did not return my calls, nor did they respond to emails or on line forms. The officer I called told me that he has to finish speaking with the mall and Lens Crafters, then he will decide if he will “even take my case”.

North Star Mall management never responded to calls, or emails either. I called them and spoke to Operations Manager Dave Stetler. He told me that he would look into this matter, but did not offer to follow up with me. I do not expect a response either.

I am simply trying to shed light on the treatment I experienced. I am sure that others have experienced the same, but as citizens and consumers we never take action. My actions may seem in vain, but I am proud that I am not “taking this lying down”.

I am more interested in sharing this situation with the community, and management who both can effect changes. At this time I am not considering legal action.

I send you very warm regards for your reply. The more responses I receive, the more this story gets circulated.

Kevin