Watching your husband die at the hands of police (Warning: graphic video)

[geardaddy]

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2014/02/25/1280319/-Watching-your-husband-die-at-the-hands-of-police-Warning-graphic-video?detail=facebook#

http://www.newsok.com/article/3937085
Police in Moore, Oklahoma, were summoned to the Warren Theatre. Nair Rodriguez had slapped her daughter for "lying and making bad decisions," which led to police being called on a domestic disturbance complaint.
When police arrived, they say Luis Rodriguez was uncooperative when asked for identification and five Moore Oklahoma police officers took him down. You can hear Luis groaning and those were, unfortunately, the last sounds he appears to make. His wife captured the entire thing on video (warning: this can be very difficult to watch):

What a fucking tragedy.

[Sunlei]

1. what a tragedy! Our police are totally out of control!

[Taurusny22]

2. This video does not show excessive force.

The mother and daughter were in a physical confrontation. The cops are conducting a domestice violence investigation. It's routine for cops to ask for identification. The husband refused. The cops can then lawfully detain him until he is properly identified. The husband resisted that arrest and then probably dies from some unkown physical ailment. An autopsy wil reveal this. This man was not beaten to death.

[Drew Richards]

5. You need to head back to cop lovers dot come then...There were 3 cops on that mans back compressing

his chest so he could not take a breath...

no no excessive force just compression suffocation...a terrible and painful way to die...

[pacalo]

60. I so agree on the cause of death & about the *excessive* force used to cause it.

This was literally overkill. The poor guy was lifeless & extremely disoriented -- not combative to warrant the strength used against him. The wife is forever going to be haunted by her husband's last moments.

And, just for Sid Dithers, I'm going to put my on & ask: Are police officers being trained to hate us?

[dilby]

8. Not sure about the laws in Oklahoma but in Oregon

You do not have to identify yourself period, this guy was not a suspect in a crime he should not have been asked for ID or detained. This was abuse of power by the police.

[avebury]

10. It looked like the cops suffocated the guy.

His face was planted right into the concrete of the parking lot. When they brought him up to a sitting position, there is no movement or sound from him. He never showed any response to his wife calling to him to see if he was ok. I don't care what the Moore police say, I suspect that he was dead before they took him to the hospital. He showed no sign of life and the police made no effort to provide him any assistance.

[Warren Stupidity]

13. A jury didn't get it.

Hopefully MIRT will do better.

[uppityperson]

96. Do you have jury results? thanks

[Gothmog]

23. I disagree with your opinion

The video shows excessive force was used.

[Rex]

26. If that story makes it easier for you to sleep at night.

They made sure the husband could not breath and therefore died...but sleep well with your illusions of nice cops that never do anything wrong.

[seveneyes]

35. Not beaten, smothered to death

The cops had no reason to put all their weight on him while he was handcuffed. They killed him and they will likely get off.

[amuse bouche]

37. Defending murderers?

How quaint

[LiberalAndProud]

45. Chief Stillings, is that you?

[L0oniX]

47. Message was hidden by jury decision.

...well it would be if I were say what I think about you. Enjoy your stay.

[Enthusiast]

65. Yeah. I'm trying to hold back.

[1awake]

54. Let me explain from the point of view of someone who has taken many people down...

Excessive force was used. Being beaten or not being beaten means nothing. Those police officers are responsible for his well being once they lay hands on him. Yes, sometimes there are injuries in cases like this and possibly many times those injuries are unavoidable. This was not the case here, unless possibly it was a heart attack or stroke. But even then, they are still liable if not criminally, civilly. And if he died from suffocation... administrative leave will be the least of their problems.

[Egalitarian Thug]

63. Only 4 posts. It's getting harder and harder to catch you guys before you out yourselves

and are subsequently banned.

I think I found you early enough.

[Warren Stupidity]

3. After they finished murdering him by having at least two murderers kneeling on his chest,

once they realized they had murdered him, they did two guilty acts:
1) they propped him up as if he wasn't dead.
2) one of the murderers attempted to block the camera.

[Hassin Bin Sober]

6. Yep, talking a mile a minute, side stepping side stepping side stepping to block the camera.

Could they be more obvious?

[qwertyq]

22. and notice,

The one cop tries to frame what happened that some how the woman hitting her daughter is a much more agregious act then 5 cops murdering a guy.

[Hassin Bin Sober]

29. They must be giving these guys lessons on how to abuse people WHILE being filmed.

Block the camera, yell stop resisting, frame the abuse as reasonable.

[polly7]

66. Apart from the horrific suffocation of the poor man without letting off

pressure just once to check that he was ok, those are the things that had me nearly pulling my hair out. "once they realized they had murdered him, they did two guilty acts:
1) they propped him up as if he wasn't dead.
2) one of the murderers attempted to block the camera."


And then they actually took her camera? Seems there are a whole bunch of cops there who need to pay with prison time and not another restful night in their lives. Such a horrible, awful thing.

[JJChambers]

4. While sad

The video clearly shows the officers' use of force was not excessive. There was no beating, no taser, no shooting; they restrained him and he died. Sad, absolutely. But unless we are advocating the police not be able to restrain anyone who resists arrest, I don't see how anyone can condemn these officers. Their force was clearly minimal and reasonable.

[Cali_Democrat]

7. "Restraining" to the point of death

is excessive.

[Warren Stupidity]

14. Like flies to honey.

[Rex]

28. At least they are obvious.

Hey NP, I guess that means the poster is okay with cops sitting on his back until he suffocates.

[qwertyq]

24. Lots of badge bunnies round here

[Rex]

27. Then why did he die?

I understand, you have to lie to yourself to sleep better at night.

[JJChambers]

31. Good question

What does the autopsy say?

[Rex]

32. So you don't have a problem with a man dying at the hands of cops.

Good to know where you stand.

[JJChambers]

34. That's useless way to frame that question

I have a problem with anyone dying needlessly. By all appearances the officers used necessary, reasonable and appropriate force to subdue this man who had just been involved in a reporter domestic disturbance. I, being a reasonable person, recognize that sometimes the police will have to use some level of force to make an arrest. Asking someone nicely to turn around and submit to an arrest may well work most of the time; and we likely never hear about those cases.

But, as is suggested in this thread, should the police encounter someone who doesn't submit to arrest -- are they to simply give the man a business card and ask him to turn himself in when he feels like it? Be realistic. Sometimes people, by their own actions, leave the cops no choice but to use force. And cops are allowed to do so, as long as the force is reasonable, necessary and appropriate.

Based upon the video, there was nothing excessive about the force used in this case. It's unfortunate that the decedent's actions required the officers to use force, but that falls on his shoulders, not theirs.

[Logical]

44. Enjoy your short stay! nt

[JJChambers]

46. Is this what passes as a Democratic Party welcome around here?

Anyone with differing views on certain issues gets a troll brigade making comments like yours? Disgusting. I've voted Democrst since I was eligible to cast a ballot. I am an ardent supporter of GLBT rights, a living wage, and many other flagship Democratic Party issues. But because I'm new here and DARE to voice my differing opinion on other issues, I'm met with hostility and arrogance.

How progressive.

[morningfog]

57. Please. You have outed yourself repeatedly in your short time.

Cheering an execution and apologizing for murder by cop. Why would you expect a blood thirsty authoritarian to get a warm welcome?

[frwrfpos]

52. yea..his death by suffocation by pigs is just fine

i wont type what i think of you

[pacalo]

64. If not for the police officers, the man would be alive.

It was under their excessive restraint that the man died, regardless of what the official cause of death will be on the death certificate.

[Logical]

43. LOL, so killing someone by suffocation is ok? Classy!

[L0oniX]

50. Message was hidden by jury decision.

Here's some rocket science for you. If those fucking murdering pigs never showed up he'd still be alive!

[MrScorpio]

59. You might as well announce yourself as a cop advocate here on the site

Because it's quite apparent from you that you think that cops never do wrong.

[JJChambers]

70. Nonsense

That's just silly. Obviously cops can, and frequently do, commit heinous abuses of power and use excessive force. I just think it's also silly to argue that any injury or death at the hands of cops is automatically excessive. It is apparent from watching this video and reading the information available that the cops did not use excessive force, that they simply restrained restrained a resisting person after being called to investigate domestic violence, and that the perdon tragically died. What's the alternative here? Simply not let the police make arrests when someone resists?

How many times do you think these same cops, and cops everywhere, have had to use comparable restraint tactics without any injury resulting? I'm sure it happens many times each and every day.

It just seems shady and dishonest to try to paint legitimate police use of force with the same brush we use to paint the cops who brutalize and murder.

[MrScorpio]

78. I have good reason to suspect that cops operate on a predatory instinct in most of these incidents

Especially, if a group of them is involved. It was particularly chilling to read early on that many cops go out their way to incite behavior in the people that they're detaining to create an excuse for them to assault and arrest the detainees. Or, how people who are beaten to an inch of their lives, while offering nothing more than a protective/defensive posture are charged with assaulting a police officer. Or how cops routinely shout things like "Stop resisting!" to people who either aren't resisting at all. or who are reflexly reacting to being beaten with fists, batons or are being Tasered.

Resistance is highly subjective… Tell that to the young boy who was arrested for giving a top "dehumanizing looks" while being detained.

Think about the epidemic of cops shooting pets to death that aren't posing any kind of danger towards them at all.

Many cops don't give a tinker's damn about the well-being of people they detain or arrest, and are no more than a hair's breadth away from beating someone to a pulp, if not shooting them. Most cops are paranoid and any one of them could find themselves using lethal force against someone posing a minimal threat. Especially, if they know that there aren't any camera rolling around them. Which is why I'm a fierce advocate of having cops under surveillance at all times while on duty. Personal cameras, dash cams, citizen footage and the whole nine.

Only a complete fool would trust anyone with that kind of power, especially when they are empowered to detain, arrest, lie, steal, (using asset forfeiture), assault and kill at will.

[Laelth]

79. Once handcuffs have been applied, is the suspect not restrained enough already?

Is it necessary to suffocate the suspect as well?

Why are you defending this behavior?



-Laelth

[SamKnause]

9. Judge, jury and executioners.

Pepper spray makes breathing difficult.

Then add 5 cops crushing the air out of your lungs.

I need your ID, I need your ID.

Sickening, absolutely sickening !!!!

[lillypaddle]

11. The whole world

has gone batshit crazy.

[30cal]

12. Anyone that has never had the wind knocked doesn't understand

That is what happened to him. I don't know the scientific term for getting the wind knocked out but
it has happened to me and if on top of it .If I had 300 to 400 pounds of pressure being forced
to stop me from catching my breath. It could easily result in death.

And I'm no rocket scientist to figure this out.

[Warren Stupidity]

15. no shit. We have two peopel in this thread defending a murder.

[30cal]

17. I don't get it

It's scary as hell when you lose your wind.
It feels like drowning , you just try to fill your lungs back up with air.

Now imagine as you are doing this someone keeps pulling you under the water.

That's what this poor guy went through.

Police should have some common damn sense.
I have lost all faith in this , I fear them

.

[spanone]

38. trolls. shit stirrers.

[JoeyT]

55. Diaphragm spasm.

Cutting off air through weight on the chest has been used as a murder weapon, an instrument of torture, and more commonly than people would think, state sanctioned execution (pressing/crushing). For people to claim it isn't deadly force is absurd.

[Vashta Nerada]

16. Horrible.

And the cops were covering up the man's murder on the camera by standing in front of it and propping the man up like he was fine.

[alittlelark]

18. Another link with more context...

Her phone was also taken by police...

http://www.news9.com/story/24735856/family-says-moore-police-beat-father-to-death

[LittleBlue]

19. Seems excessive to me

I'm reading people above saying it's not excessive. Should have been a straightforward conversation and everyone walks away.

Shame he died. RIP

[30cal]

20. Some posters in this thread seem to think only if kicks or punches are thrown

by police it becomes excessive force.

Breath control is the ultimate excessive force anyone can use on an individual.

That is what water boarding is. I would rather get punched and kicked in the face
than have my breathing controlled to the point of panic

[geardaddy]

21. This^

Excessive force isn't necessarily punches and kicks.

Someone is killed because they were beaten to death is more real than someone who is strangled?

[geardaddy]

84. Hahaha!

I know!

[Rex]

33. They don't really believe that, basically there are a few 'posters'

that believe cops can do no wrong. Sad ain't it?

[30cal]

36. It sure seems that way

and yes it is sad

[aikoaiko]

25. Do we know cause of death yet?

[MO_Moderate]

39. No

We are still at the 'jump to conclusions" stage.

[L0oniX]

49. You can conclude this: If the pigs didn't show up he'd be alive!

[MO_Moderate]

82. Very true

I can also 'conclude' that if the police stop responding to calls of assault, battery, domestic abuse etc..., macho tough guy wannabes who love to call them pigs would be crying "where were the police."

So where does that lead us? Hmmmm?
Proper investigation instead of jumping to conclusions, which will hopefully lead to measures being taken to help avoid such results in the future?
Or, trying to explain to the next of kin why the "pigs" didn't show up while their loved one was being beaten to death?

[L0oniX]

94. Yea ok ...just like the military then huh ...it's just bug splat.

[L0oniX]

48. Cause of death = pigs. If they never showed up he'd be alive.

[Rex]

30. I don't know what is more pathetic, the fact that the cops murdered that man

or that we have a few cop apologists that obviously care NOTHING about human life. So fucking sad.

[struggle4progress]

40. Fuggin family drama bullshizz: who needs it?

Woman assaults her daughter and storms off. Her husband follows. Police are called for disturbance call, see man chasing woman, and intervene. Man gets in fight with police, attempting to get free to follow woman. Man dies in struggle with police, while woman tapes encounter on cellphone

[Warren Stupidity]

41. Wow. Even for you this is an unbelievable viewpoint.

Is there any authoritarian action by your government that you will not support?

[struggle4progress]

42. It's a sad story. The police may not have understood the situation fully when

they were called to the theatre for a domestic disturbance and found a man chasing a woman. It would be natural under the circumstances to detain the man. Some details are disputed. Cause of death will be determined by autopsy. I don't see any immediate way to determine exactly what happened, but I do see that the mother assaulted the daughter in some dispute in the theatre loud enough for someone to call the police and that she subsequently taped the police confrontation, evidently without making any effort to explain the situation to police

I don't live in Moore City OK, so the actions of police there are not actions of my government

[morningfog]

58. The answer is no.

[HangOnKids]

61. But But But he has a clever sounding handle

And a black woman as his avatar!

[Rex]

92. Not at all, clearly you haven't been paying attention.

nt.

[Bonobo]

68. More like "struggle2bhuman". nt

[struggle4progress]

69. We don't actually know yet what happened

[morningfog]

71. An unarmed man was killed by 5 cops.

He was alive, cops took him to the ground and dog piled him until he died.

[struggle4progress]

73. Could be. It's not clear at present

[Rex]

75. Yeah about that...you will never get an agreement

the poster was obvious...cops kill people, but that is okay. Good to know where he stands.

[Rex]

76. YEP.

Funny how that works.

[Rex]

74. "Man dies in struggle with police"

Good to know where you stand.

[struggle4progress]

80. My stand is: anonymous internet posters only pretend to know what happened

The cellphone video doesn't show the entire incident, so one can't determine from it exactly what happened. In particular, the video does not show anything before the man has been restrained on the ground; so it is impossible to determine from the video exactly what happened prior to the man being brought to the ground or how much pepper spray was used and when. Nor does the video show the police officers beating the man, as the wife claims: it is, of course, possible that they did beat him, but that's not an established fact. It is unclear from the video how many, if any, men are actually on top of the man at any point.

Nor is it possible to know the cause of death from the video. It is one story if the officers took the man down while he was conversing reasonably with him, emptied a can of pepper spray into his nose and mouth, repeatedly punched him, and then several knelt on his upper torso for an extended period until he became unconscious; it is another story if something else happened

The Moore PD officers involved were placed on administrative leave immediately after the incident; I have been unable to determine whether the two game wardens were placed on leave. The investigation has been handed over to the SBI. Autopsy results will be available within two months

[Bonobo]

83. I wonder why they tried to conceal the fact that he was dead? They knew he was, after all.

But they tried to hide it.

Why?

Because they already knew they had killed him.

[Rex]

86. You mean when they 'propped his dead body' up and tried to take the camera?

I don't get why something so obvious to 99% of the people that post here, continues to allude the chosen few.

[polly7]

85. I don't understand you.

In my view, it was plainly visible on the video, the man was not moving once they had him down and were compressing his chest with all of that weight. He didn't move! And yet, it went on and on. I did see what I thought was a quick and sneaky check for a pulse, at that point the officer should have screamed out to stop, further checked for pulse and breathing and started rescue procedures - he obviously was in great distress, if not gone already. Restraint asphyxia is not an unexpected or new phenomenon, I would assume all LE personnel are trained to see it and deal with it. WHY did they not start any rescue attempt other than propping him up (to deceive his wife and her camera, imo)? That's just as horrible as was what they did to cause his death. I don't understand how you can excuse any of it?

[Rex]

87. Just remember this - some people will deny what their own two eyes see.

nt.

[polly7]

89. True, but I still can't understand why. Maybe that's a good thing. nt.

[Rex]

90. It is a good thing, you accept reality when you see it.

Just think how dangerous it would be if a majority of Americans decided to deny what they see with their own two eyes.

[Bonobo]

88. I watch a lot of MMA. When a body goes limp, they know. You can feel it.

When a body is dead...even easier to tell.

[polly7]

91. Yes.

Possibly their adrenalin was at such a point some might have missed it, but at least one would have known.

[struggle4progress]

95. I don't know exactly what happened. According to accounts, police used pepper-spray; but the video

doesn't show that; and it might matter a great deal whether it was a quick dose to face or whether he inhaled most of a container of it. The wife claims police beat him, but the video doesn't show that either; it may have happened, or it may not have happened. The cellphone video isn't taken from a convenient angle: it might show one officer kneeling on the man's back; so far as I can tell, it doesn't show more than one officer on his back. I expect a heavy person kneeling on another person's back might indeed cause suffocation, but honestly I can't tell

At the time of the incident, the police had medical personnel come, and the ambulance arrives in the course of the video. Comments in the course of the video claim the man is still alive. I don't know whether that's true or not. But press reports say Luis Rodriguez was taken to the hospital and later pronounced dead, which suggests he was still alive at the theatre

The cause of death is unknown pending autopsy. Actual cause of death would be important for determining whether police were responsible for the death: for example, did he die of physical suffocation (in which case one might have expected him dead at the scene), some lung reaction to pepper spray, from trauma attributable to a beating, from an aneurism, from a cardiac event, or what?

Diagnoses by anonymous internet posters don't help

[frwrfpos]

51. these pugs suffocated this poor guy to death

murder charges should be in store for these asshole pigs

[Harmony Blue]

56. No proof is necessary

for the police to act with inappropriate force.

All it takes is one false/overblown accusation by anyone about you and you can die. Don't trust the police.

[Rex]

77. TO protect other officers careers and make you subservient EVEN

if it means you have to die...welcome to COPS! YAY COPS!

[Egalitarian Thug]

62. Yay cops. Always looking to protect us from the scourge of movie viewers with children.

[Rex]

93. It is a shame they don't receive any training on how to keep their suspects alive

I did notice how well the propped up the dead body and tried to take the camera. Well played police state!

[Bonobo]

67. So that's what murder looks like. Murder and coverup in jut a few minutes. Wow.

May those people be haunted to their graves. They just destroyed several generations of a family for NOTHING.

[gollygee]

72. Police get training, right?

They are taught how to restrain without killing. They have tasers so they can stop someone without shooting them. I don't think they're even bothering to stop people without killing them anymore. They've been given a green light.

Even people who do something wrong are worthy of being treated like human beings.