Man tasered at John Kerry forum for asking a question

[James_Potter]

Another incident of police officers abusing their power:

Woman says she didn't deserve Taser treatment
And here's the video.

[maestro8]

Originally Posted by James_Potter

Another incident of police officers abusing their power:

Woman says she didn't deserve Taser treatment
And here's the video.

Did you even read that article?

FTFA: "Kovach acknowledges using the stun gun several more times to try to get her under control. He said once he got her into his cruiser, she kicked out the back window, tried to climb in the front of his car and would not listen to him, the report said."

This woman is drunk beyond reason and acting dangerously belligerent. The officer shoulda "softened her up" a bit with his baton, rather than using his taser, IMHO.

[James_Potter]

Of course, she was acting violently which justified maybe a single shot with the taser, even though I think he could have gotten her under control without it. Instead he tasered her several times for over thirty seconds, even when she was on the ground and trying to get away from his attack. In the video you can hear the cop saying something like, "you're messin' up my cruiser!!" Which to me implies he cares more about the car than about the human rights of this woman, even if she was plastered and violent.

[maestro8]

Originally Posted by James_Potter

In the video you can hear the cop saying something like, "you're messin' up my cruiser!!" Which to me implies he cares more about the car than about the human rights of this woman, even if she was plastered and violent.

You're makin' assumptions again, dude.

Perhaps the cop was trying to make her conscious of her actions. The lady was out-of-her-mind drunk; people in that state often aren't aware of what they're doing.

I wonder if the lady remembered anything about that night, or if she needed to be reminded by an onlooker. I've never been that drunk but I've known others who, at some point, forget everything that happens.

It's odd that the video puts the label "victim" below the lady as she's being interviewed... the media sure is trying to make a pretty picture outta that violent, alcoholic "citizen". If she would have driven off in that SUV and killed some people, then she'd have been labelled "suspect" or even "killer".

[James_Potter]

Possibly. Still though, in the video starting at about 30 seconds, she was out of the car on the ground trying to get away from the cop, and he continued shooting and kicking her...there is no justification for that. She was no threat whatsoever to anyone, so why would he possibly do that to her?

[monkeyman]

Originally Posted by JP

She was no threat whatsoever to anyone, so why would he possibly do that to her?

Originally Posted by James_Potter

Possibly. Still though, in the video starting at about 30 seconds, she was out of the car on the ground trying to get away from the cop, and he continued shooting and kicking her...there is no justification for that.

.

[James_Potter]

Originally Posted by monkeyman

.

If someone was torturing you by constantly sending 50,000 volts of electricity surging through your body, even after rendered helpless, would you cooperate by sitting still? I would run like hell man...or try to.

[feel the light]

He is assaulting a handcuffed woman who is threatening no one. Her intoxication makes it even worse, as she is likely to fall down and hit her head. If she is guilty of DWI she should face her punishment in court, not the street at the hands of a sadistic moron.
My bet is that cop is out a job, and deservedly so.

[john_childs]

Originally Posted by feel the light

Her intoxication makes it even worse, as she is likely to fall down and hit her head.

She did. The final round of taseing cased her to fall down, hit her head, and be knocked unconscious. A CBS News story mentions that bit. A concussion from being knocked out could be what is causing her vision problems.

Unbelieveable. How did cops handle that kind of situation before tasers?

A friend offered to drive her home. She got in the wrong car. A cop comes and says get out of the car. She says no (she thought she was in the right car legitimately). Then the cop instantly goes for the taser. Nice escalation of force there. A polite "ma'am, you're in the wrong car" just might have gotten the response the officer wanted.

At least the cop wasn't creating a chilling effect for free speech and public discussion. That would be double plus bad rather than just single plus bad.

[johnfoss]

Originally Posted by maestro8

The lady was out-of-her-mind drunk; people in that state often aren't aware of what they're doing.

That much seems obvious. Potentially very dangerous when someone is in that state, walking around and still able to attempt to drive, for instance, when they're likely to remember none of it later.

If she would have driven off in that SUV and killed some people, then she'd have been labelled "suspect" or even "killer".

True, though it wasn't even her car, and she didn't have keys for it. However if it had been her car...

But the cop seems to have gone well "over and above." Sometimes I think they just need to use a modicum of duct tape.

[john_childs]

Campus police goons cleared in use of Taser on student

GAINESVILLE, Fla. - University of Florida police were justified in using a Taser against a student who refused to stop questioning Sen. John Kerry on campus last month, according to a state investigation released Wednesday.

Some had questioned the use of force in using the stun gun against Andrew Meyer, leading to the investigation by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement. A summary of the agency’s report was released Wednesday.

“In short, the FDLE determined that our officers acted well within state guidelines,” university President Bernie Machen said in a letter to students, faculty and staff members.

If that is justified reaction then the populace should be afraid but will only be apathetic instead. Brilliant campus policing there bro. Please sir, can we have some more?