Background
Davis, Robert was born on January 18, 1941 in Johannesburg, South Africa. Son of Simon and Sarah Ethel (Friedman) Davis.
officer elementary school teacher officers
Davis, Robert was born on January 18, 1941 in Johannesburg, South Africa. Son of Simon and Sarah Ethel (Friedman) Davis.
B.Medicine and B.Surgery, U. Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 1963. Diplomate American Board Surgery. Rotating intern internal medicine and surgery Johannesburg General Hospital, 1964, senior house surgeon, 1965.
General practice, Florida, South Africa, member hemodialysis staff Discover"s Memorial Hospital, 1965-1971.
Surgical registrar University Group Hospitals, Johannesburg, 1972-1973. Resident in surgery Albert Einstein College Medicine, New York City, 1973-1974, University Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, 1974-1976.
Practice general, thoracic and vascular surgery, Houston, since 1976. Member of staff Methodist Hospital, Diagnostic Center Hospital, Park PlazaHosp.
Member courtesy staff Texas Children"s Hospital, Saint Luke"s Hospital, Texas Woman"s Hospital, Twelve Oaks Hospital.
Clinical instructor surgery University Texas, Houston, Baylor College Medicine. President MacMedic Publications.
A fifth officer was charged with assaulting an Associated Press producer. Davis is an African American and the two officers who beat him (while two others held him down) are white, adding to the controversy. Davis, who was charged with public intoxication, resisting arrest, battery, and public intimidation, pled not guilty on October 12, 2005.
The officers have also been charged with battery and were accused of using extreme force.
Regarding the charge of public intoxication, Davis said, "I haven"t had a drink in 25 years."
Davis said he returned to view and possibly rebuild his family"s six properties that were destroyed by Hurricane Katrina. He went out during the night to buy cigarettes in the French Quarter and asked a mounted officer when a curfew would go into effect that night.
"This other guy interfered and I said he shouldn"t. I started to cross the street and. bam.
I got lieutenant. All I know is this guy attacked me and said, "I will kick your ass," and they proceeded to do lieutenant"
- Robert Davis
As Davis was arrested, Associated Press producer Rich Matthews was jabbed in the stomach and shoved into a police cruiser by a third officer who shouted, "I"ve been here for six weeks trying to keep fucking alive.
Fucking go home."
Officers Lance Schilling, Robert Evangelist, and Stuart Smith were released on bond after appearing before a judge to make their not guilty pleas. The police union and a lawyer for the accused officers challenge Davis" version of the events. According to their account, a drunken Davis walked into a police horse while asking about the curfew, and belligerently resisted officers who confronted him.
Davis" mugshot shows stitches beneath his left eye and a bandaged left hand, and sustained injuries.
On October 12, 2005, Davis revisited the site saying, "Is that my blood? lieutenant must be. I didn"t know I was bleeding that bad."
The policemen"s trial was set for January 11, 2006.
Davis" trial began on January 18. The police chief in charge of the investigation, Warren Riley, also an African American, claimed that he did not believe race was an issue in the beating.
Charges against Davis were dropped in April 2006.
Stuart Smith was the officer charged with assaulting the Associated Press producer. He was suspended for 120 days, while Robert Evangelist and Lance Schilling were fired for their participation in the beating. Lance Schilling was found dead on June 10, 2007, from a "gunshot wound to the roof of the mouth" that was apparently self-inflicted.
On July 24, 2007, Officer Robert Evangelist was cleared of all charges by Judge Frank Marullo, who was later quoted in reference to the trial, "I didn"t even find this a close call." The deciding factor was the video evidence that showed Davis struggling for several minutes while police tried to detain him.
"This event could have ended at any time if the man had put his hands behind his back," the judge concluded.
Fellow Royal College Surgeons (Edinburgh), American College of Surgeons, International College Surgeons. Member American Society Abdominal Surgeons, American Medical Association (Physician"s Recognition award 1978, 83), Texas Medical Association, Harris County Medical Society, Houston Surgical Society, Houston Gastroenterological Society, Singleton Surgical Society. Clubs: Doctors, Chancellors, Houston Yacht.
Married Arlene M. Friedman, June 15, 1943. Children: Garth, Toni, Kim.