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The HK Story
Skateboarding and the authorities have always taken to each other like ice and fire. Things seem to have improved in recent years with the general public becoming more accepting towards our sport. But back in the times when i would label ourselves as ardent 'Skaters', the sight of a cop car causes a scrambling as everyone pick up their boards and flee in scattered directions. I remember once running all the way Raffles MRT right up to Far East Square, quite a distance i tell you, now whenever i drive that stretch, i mumble in disgust at what my body have become.
It used to be so bad, you would get a whole bucket of shit for mock-yelling "5-0!" while everybody is skating. It is not uncommon to see skaters like ourselves getting booked for skateboarding in public spaces and overtime, we have come to learn what to do and what not to do during such situations. For example, we have learnt that trying to run away only serves to double the offense if you're caught. So most often when the cops come to check us out we will not put up any forms of resistance (minus the time i was hiding in the bush) as we allow them to do their mandatory checks. We always get off with a warning, after which we would go get some food or drinks before coming back to the spot again. It was all good, kind of like a love-hate relationship.
And then there was HK.
Kurt and i met HK one night while skating at Roxy, Kurt being Kurt, invited HK to come join us for abit. HK was a little over Kurt's age, and had been skating longer than either of us. I remember at that point we were content with ollieing up or kickflipping up the set of 4 stairs at Roxy, but HK would do shove-its and 180s up those steps to our wide-eyed amazement.
Sometime back i met HK skating alone at Bedok park and had a little chat with him, he was doing some freelance editorial stuff for CLEO magazine (envy) and the following events would shock him out of street skating.
Back then, HK hadn't graduated from Harvard University and was back in Singapore on holiday. He made a few appearances with us, and we kind of hit it off from the beginning, then again, can Kurt ever 'not' get along with anybody?
There was one particular night, we were skating at Roxy (I'm sure I was there with Muhd and either Kurt or Mann) when the cops pulled up beside us. Me and Muhd were at the lower part of Roxy where the cops pulled up while HK was standing further away, above the stairs.
 Instinctively when the cops came, me and Muhd proceeded to sit our asses down on the benched as we prepared our ICs for routine checks. When the two officers came up to us, HK was still standing rooted where he was but he seemed iffy and hesitant to comply.
Me: Dude what are you doing?
Officer: Sir can you make your way down here please?
Hearing this must have set something off in HK's head because he bolted. He just got on his board and started pedalling with his backpack and everything. We saw him pedalling with all his strength trying to get away from the situation. On seeing this, one of the cops, a staff sergeant, gave chase whilst his partner stayed with us. HK was already quite a distance away.
Me: Fuck man the guy's a cheetah!
Muhd: Yah sial.
The staff sergeant was a running machine, and we silently hoped HK manages to escape, because deep down we knew that if he got caught, he would be up to his eyeballs in shit.
On seeing the officer closing in, HK got off his board and popped it into his hands running now as fast as his legs could carry him. The officer must have been on steroids because he caught up with HK in no time at all. We saw from a distance away the officer in one swift motion grab hold of HK's backpack before flinging HK clear off the pavement onto the grass patch. The both of them could be seen rolling around as the officer tried to restrain HK as best as he could.
After what seemed like 15mins, the officer managed to pin HK face-down on the grass while he had his knees painfully pressed against HK's back. HK was brought back to us handcuffed and visibly shaken. Me and Muhd could only look on in shock as they made HK kneel down on the rough floor.
One officer emptied HK's backpack onto the floor indiscriminately as they rummaged through his belongings obviously searching for contrabands while the other went through his pockets and wallet for identifications.
Officer 1: Wah!
Officer 2: What is it?
Officer 1: Wah you're from Harvard ah? Are you sure?
HK: Yes sir.
Officer 2: Harvard also got people like you ah?
Before shoving him to the ground face first.
One of the officers poked HK indignantly with his boots as he questioned his identity and particulars.
Officer 1: What are you studying in Harvard?
HK: ** mumbles something under his breathe **
Officer 2: Wah! I thought you study skateboarding in Harvard!
Officer 1: No lah Harvard people where got skateboard one?
Altough not personally being involved in their interogation, i can't help but feel sorry for HK's plight being restrained and indignantly humiliated with derogatory remarks. At one point we even witnessed one officer roughly pressing his foot on top of HK's head.
Almost in tears, HK was led into the cop car as he was brough back into lockup. I stole a glance at HK as the car pulled away from Roxy. All i could see in that moment HK's eyes met mine, is melancholy and humiliation as me and Muhd sat on the bench in shell-shock silence.
We met up with HK a few times after that night to corroborate our statements. Apparently, the officer had accused HK of elbowing him when he tried to resist arrest and he was being tried for assault on a police officer.
Things turned out well after the trial and HK was deservedly acquited of the charges, but we were never to see him again.
When i talked to HK at Bedok Skatepark (almost 6 years after that night), he revealed that he was still scarred by the incident and that he only restricts himself to skating at parks and other designated areas for now.
You can take the Man out of the street, but you can never take the street out of the Man.I apologise for this post having no pictures, so i will leave you with a picture of me frontslide boardsliding down a set of Handrail somewhere in Marine Parade. GOOD TIMES!!
posted by Ken The Man at
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