Thursday, 4:30 PM
Guilty verdict in Quincy fracas
By Jonathan Saltzman, Globe staff
Three of four young Asian-Americans whose arrests in a fracas last year spurred protests and accusations of racism against Quincy police were found guilty Friday of resisting arrest or disorderly conduct or both after a jury deliberated less than three hours.
The verdict in Quincy District Court stunned about two dozen friends and relatives of the group dubbed ‘‘the Quincy Four’’ and caused many to weep and condemn the justice system.
‘‘We believe strongly that these individuals were guilty of nothing more than being at the wrong place at the wrong time,’’ said Lydia Lowe, executive director of the Chinese Progressive of Association of Boston. ‘‘Not only were they not guilty, but they suffered brutality at the hands of the police.’’
Robert L. Sheketoff, a lawyer for one of the defendants, said of the verdict, ‘‘It means that if you’re Asian, don’t come to Quincy.’’
But Bruce Tait — president of the Quincy Police Patrol Officers’ Association, who was in the courtroom during closing arguments — called that absurd.
‘‘Prior to this and after this we had an excellent relationship with our Asian community,’’ he said. ‘‘The most sad thing of all was that these defendants were willing to totally trash that relationship in order to excuse their unlawful behavior.’’
The trial stemmed from a late-night incident April 30, 2006, outside the Super 88 Market on Hancock Street that police said was fueled by alcohol. Four defendants were charged with disorderly conduct and three with resisting arrest.
A jury of five whites and one black convicted Quan Thin of Quincy of disorderly conduct and resisting arrest, Tat Yuen of Quincy of disorderly conduct, and Karen Chen of Allston of resisting arrest. The jury acquitted Howard Ng of Somerville of disorderly conduct, the only charge he faced.
Advocates for the defendants said Quincy police pepper-sprayed the group and shoved and bruised them for no reason.
But the police report said a state trooper had called officers for help because one of the four was drunk, out of control, and verbally aggressive. While trying to subdue the man, police inadvertently pepper-sprayed Chen, who kicked, swung her fists, and screamed, said the report.
Thin and Yuen were sentenced to immediately begin serving 10 days in the Norfolk County Jail Friday and placed on probation for two years. Chen was sentenced to 18 months of probation.
