The Rev. Fred Morris has traveled throughout Latin America, but not until arriving this week in Miami has he ever felt so intimidated by the police.

"I've been horrified by what I have seen and experienced," said Morris, executive director of the Florida Council of Churches in Orlando. "I lived in Nicaragua during Somoza's dictatorship, I lived in Brazil when the military was in control, and I have never seen so many police gathered in one place trying to intimidate people as I have in Miami."

Tuesday, Morris said he was walking to the First United Methodist Church downtown when he was stopped by police officers on bicycles.

"They were very aggressive and very frightening," said the minister, 70. "They told me I couldn't walk down the street, to go around. When I asked why, they told me it was none of my business and to move along."

His son and daughter were walking a short distance away. "They were shouted at and yelled at by the police, as well," he said. "We weren't in a restricted area. We were at least five blocks away from the Hotel Inter-Continental. I'm just amazed."

Jessica Walker Beaumont of the American Friends Service Committee, a Quaker organization, brought 30 people from Philadelphia to protest the Free Trade Area of the Americas.

"Ever since we arrived, it's been nerve-racking," she said. "I've been to protests across the country and I have never seen this type of police buildup before. We are staying at a hotel downtown and numerous people from our group have been stopped by the police, asked to produce ID, and questioned about why they are here. Many are now afraid to march in the protests. It's disgraceful what the police are doing."

SCARE TACTICS

Beaumont said there was a seminar Tuesday inside the Gesu Catholic Church, 118 NE Second St., on free trade and the military. Halfway through the discussion, 10 police officers showed up, walked through the meeting, stood in the back for a few seconds, and then marched out.

"Pretty severe intimidation tactics," she said. Beaumont and Morris fear the police are more likely to provoke violence than deter it.

Police disagreed. "We've seen what happens in other cities, so the prudent thing to do is have manpower on hand," said Miami police spokesman Delrish Moss. "The intent is not to intimidate anyone."

Whether it was their intent or not, Miami police Chief John Timoney and Miami-Dade police Director Carlos Alvarez have helped create an environment where the police view protesters as the enemy. And the politicians are doing nothing about it. Miami-Dade Mayor Alex Penelas has not objected to this treatment and Miami Mayor Manny Diaz is in a fantasy land, telling The Herald: "This should be a model for homeland defense."

Sure, if your model homeland is Mussolini's Italy or Franco's Spain.

BOGUS ARREST

In the meantime, protesters, I'm proud to announce the "Bogus Arrest of the Week Contest." Today's nominee is the arrest of Jared Francois Aldrich, 26, by Miami police Officer Freddy Ponce on Monday at approximately 4:40 p.m. According to the arrest report: "The [defendant] was observed staring at the fence along Biscayne Blvd. and Flagler Street. We approached the [defendant] in a friendly manner and began a conversation. The [defendant] made a quick motion toward right side pocket. I observed a bulge and when I attempted to pat down for my safety he pushed my arms down."

Setting aside the issue of the police targeting someone for "staring at a fence," consider this: If a cop tried to grab the bulge in your pants, might you instinctively push his hand away?

Police found no weapons once they did search him. But they still charged Aldrich, a California carpenter, with battery on a police officer, a third-degree felony.

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