Carolyn Sackariason/Daily Press Doris Johnson was arrested for jaywalking Wednesday on the Third Street Promenade. She was handcuffed after refusing to sign a citation Santa Monica Police attempted to issue her for crossing Santa Monica Boulevard without a green light. The Santa Monica elementary school teacher gave officers Edgar Navaro and Adam Gwartz a hard time, claiming she was being harassed because she is black. She argued with officers that a white woman crossed before her and wasn’t stopped, which is why she refused to accept the jaywalking ticket. “I am getting really upset for something so idiotic,” she yelled. “I stopped when you told me to stop and she continued and I am being harassed.” Her claims of harassment drew a small crowd along the Promenade who watched a simple jaywalking incident turn into an arrest. “I don’t know why you are making a federal case out of this.You can arrest me and take me to jail but there will be consequences,” she said. “Because you are a macho cop, officer Navaro, you want to detain me. I will have your badge for this.”
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on December 6, 2001. Read the original PDF.