Police Brutality

Video 1

Note that Mike is NOT:

Drunk or belligerent
Having a mental breakdown
“Ramping up” behavior

Note that Mike IS:

Calm and coherent
Following instructions
Already in custody

Video 2

Note that MIke’s behavior is not “ramping up”, as police chief Bill Dove claims in the KBZK story below.

Mike points out here, in a cogent and rational fashion, that the officer’s bodycam footage will show that Mike’s conduct was not disorderly concerning the general public.

Without saying it, Mike is referring specifically to the fact that the officer targeted him for only one reason, which is to say retaliation for being flipped off.

Video 3

This video does not show the officer breaking Mike’s leg, we’ll have to wait for the bodycam footage.

This video does show the aftermath after the officer had broken Mike’s leg without provocation, where he was yelling for an attorney and screaming out in excruciating pain.

KBZK Story

Mike’s Take:

This piece, published by KBZK, is mostly inaccurate and includes details about the case which are missing in the written citations.

Inaccuracies include the accusations: (1) that I was intoxicated at the time, and (2) that I have a history of mental health problems. Neither of these things is true, nor is there any evidence to support such claims.

Further, certain details that are true have been omitted or misrepresented by the arresting officer in his account recorded in the written citations.

First, that the surveillance video shows me being inappropriate (i.e. making a humping gesture) with a metal table and not towards a person, as written by the officer.

Second, that I flipped off the officer once I had entered the concourse, which was curiously omitted from the written citation.

I believe the occurrence of my rude gesture was omitted because it is the sole reason why the officer attacked me and broke my leg.

There is no evidence of drunkenness, mental problems, or resisting arrest.

Bozeman airport police chief talks about arrest of man harassing TSA agents, recent increase in incidents

The man’s arrest is the fourth incident at Bozeman Yellowstone International Airport in less than two weeks, according to Police Chief Bill Dove.

By: Jolee Sallee

Posted at 1:38 PM, May 08, 2024

BOZEMAN — On Monday, travelers at Bozeman Yellowstone International Airport pulled out their phones in shock as they watched a man being detained by police.

“With the population growing, we’re starting to see a slight increase in this kind of stuff,” said BZN Police Chief Bill Dove.

In a video shared by a woman at the airport on Monday, you can see and hear a man yelling with his hands cuffed, legs restrained, and a mask put over his head by airport police, assisted by Belgrade police officers.

The man’s name is Michael Steen. He was seen in Gallatin County Justice Court Tuesday morning. He is charged with disorderly conduct and resisting arrest.

Dove recalls what happened as 47-year-old Steen and his wife arrived at the airport.

“He had been drinking prior to arrival,” said Dove. “That, combined with some mental health issues led to a mental health crisis once he passed through security and on to our concourse.”

I wasn’t allowed to film it, but in the security footage I was shown, Steen can be seen making inappropriate gestures on a metal table by the TSA checkpoint. He later is seen flipping off TSA agents.

Once he reaches the concourse, police try to reason with Steen.

“That’s when his behavior actually ramps up,” said Dove.

Eventually, police detain Steen and wheel him away.

“Our job is to protect the public and there is no way he could be on an airplane,” said Dove.

Dove says this is the fourth event like this at the airport in less than two weeks. But luckily, they have an experienced staff with expertise in de-escalating these situations.

“A lot of the guys here are seasoned veterans who’ve had mental health crisis counseling and crisis intervention training,” said Dove.

But even so, Dove says he’s cautiously optimistic it’ll be a nice and calm summer at the airport.

“We would hope the issues don’t continue to ramp up,” said Dove. “Maybe we just hit a little speed bump here for a week or two and it’ll die down.”

Steen pleaded not guilty to both charges. His next appearance is scheduled for July 24.

In My Defense: CASE# TK-2024-2419
By M. ROCK STONE, 9/4/24

Disorderly conduct – MT CODE 45-8-101

(1) A person commits the offense of disorderly conduct if the person knowingly disturbs the peace by: (c) using threatening, profane, or abusive language;

Citation – 01160: Made humping gestures towards a restaurant female manager at TSA checkpoint. Also using profane and abusive language.

Defense – Allegations are false, supported by video evidence.

KBZK report states: I wasn’t allowed to film it, but in the security footage I was shown, Steen can be seen making inappropriate gestures on a metal table by the TSA checkpoint. He later is seen flipping off TSA agents.

Humping gestures were made towards a metal table, NOT a “restaurant female manager” as falsely claimed by the arresting officer.
- Humping gesture was directed towards the defendant’s own wife with the intent of making her smile since her father had just gone missing and was presumed dead in the Phoenix area – the very reason for being at the airport, having booked a flight to Phoenix.
  - LACK OF INTENT – Actions were misinterpreted as being disorderly but were not actually meant to cause disruption or harm.
Using an offensive gesture, NOT “profane and abusive language” as falsely claimed by the arresting officer.
- Offensive gesture was directed at the officer, NOT “TSA agents” as falsely reported by KBZK.
- Profane language was only used by the defendant AFTER he was placed in custody and was directed solely at the arresting officer(s).
  - FREEDOM OF SPEECH – The U.S. Constitution protects the right to free speech, which includes the freedom to express opinions, even if they are unpopular or controversial. The defendant’s actions were neither disruptive nor threatening and did not in any way infringe on the rights and safety of others.

Resisting arrest – MT CODE 45-7-301

(1) A person commits the offense of resisting arrest if the person knowingly prevents or attempts to prevent a peace officer from effecting an arrest by:
(a) using or threatening to use physical force or violence against the peace officer or another; or
(b) using any other means that creates a risk of causing physical injury to the peace officer or another.

Citation – 01161: Steen refused instructions and physically would not stand. He was put in a wheelchair and had to be restrained by the officers he was rocking chair so hard.

Defense – Allegations are false, supported by video evidence.

At the time the instruction was made for Mr. Steen to physically stand, he was already in custody, with hands tightly cuffed behind him, and had complied with the officer’s instructions to remain seated.

Since he was already complying, handcuffed, and in custody, it was impossible for him to prevent the officer from effecting an arrest.
- Video evidence shows Mr. Steen made no attempt to use physical force or violence against the police officer, nor did he create any risk of causing physical injury to the officer or anyone else.
He was put in a wheelchair because the officer used excessive force, severely fracturing Mr. Steen’s leg, and NOT because he “needed to be restrained” as falsely claimed by the arresting officer.
- The injury that Mr. Steen sustained from the excessive force exhibited by the arresting officer was so severe that he was forced to undergo two surgeries and spend nearly a month in the hospital.
- After 5 months, he is still on crutches and suffers chronic pain.