Richmond Police Officer, Howard Noyes, is on a mission to lock up Pro-life Christians

November 18, 2004

On Friday, November 5, Officer Howard Noyes of the Richmond Police Department arrested Fred Neal, a Christian, as he preached truth on the public sidewalk at Richmond Medical Center for Women. Fred's charge was "disorderly conduct". This is a favorite "catch-all" charge used when no law has been violated. This is another instance in a long history of harrassment by this officer who is on the payroll of RMCW. For several years this police officer has been moonlighting at the clinic.

In recent days Officer Howard Noyes has been threatening Christians on a regular basis with arrest if they speak out to those entering the abortion clinic. Three weeks ago Officer Noyes issued a citation to Mark Goodell as he spoke to someone entering the establishment. The charge was also "disorderly conduct".

This criminal charge is described as performing "an act of disorderly conduct with the intent to cause public inconvenience, annoyance, or alarm, or to recklessly create a risk thereof."

The harrassment often follows the following mode. Noyes will come out to the Christians on the street and say that they have been warned about some often undiscribed violation of some undescribed ordinance. When asked what he means or for clarification, the response is usually silence while he turns and walks back into the abortion clinic ignoring our requests for clarification.

"The abuses perpetrated by this man continue even after his actions have been regularly related to his supervisors and to the Chief of Police. Wielding a badge and a gun, he is out of control and dangerous. When will the Police department rein in this enemy of the first amendment and the Gospel?" asked Dennis Green.

Green's first dealings with Officer Noyes stem back several years ago when he (Green) arrived at Richmond Medical Center for Women with two of his small chidren to minister to those entering. Officer Noyes called for backup and had Greens truck searched for explosives. The responding officer doing the search related that he knew that there were no explosives hidden in the truck but he had to finish the job of searching because the report had been made by Noyes. Although explosives were not found, several dubious items were discovered including two infant carseats and gospel literature.

Life and Liberty Ministries asks that letters be sent to the Chief of Police requesting immediate intervention. Officer Howard Noyes is a danger to citizens whose only crime is that they take the Gospel seriously and are willing to share it with others on the public sidewalks of Richmond.

Letters should be addressed to the following individuals

Chief Andre Parker
200 W. Grace Street
Richmond, VA 23220
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Captain Michael Shamus
2nd Precinct Police Department
177 E. Belt Blvd.
Richmond, VA 23224
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Lt. A. A. Jones
3rd Precinct Police Department
301 S. Meadow
Richmond, VA 23220
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David Hicks
Commonwealth Attorney
900 E. Broad Street
Richmond, VA 23219
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Doug Wilder
Mayor Elect
900 E. Broad Street
Richmond, VA 23219
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Calvin Jamison
City Manager
900 E. Broad Street
Richmond, VA 23219