Officers who punched Arizona man: He was prepping to fight

[Judi Lynn]

Source: Associated Press


Astrid Galvan, Associated Press
Updated 3:07 pm, Thursday, June 7, 2018

PHOENIX (AP) — Police involved in the beating of an Arizona man who on video doesn't appear to resist or attack officers say his body language was projecting that he was preparing to fight.


A report from the May 23 incident in the Phoenix suburb of Mesa states the man, 33-year-old Robert Johnson, was "verbally defiant and confrontational." Mesa police released the report, along with footage from police-worn cameras, on Wednesday afternoon after video released by Johnson's attorneys circulated this week, raising criticism over the handling of the incident.

But Johnson's attorney, Benjamin Taylor, said his client was not a threat and had already been searched. Johnson was charged with disorderly conduct and hindering prosecution.

Three officers and a sergeant are on leave while the department investigates.

Read more: https://www.chron.com/news/crime/article/Officers-who-punched-Arizona-man-He-was-prepping-12976214.php

[Eliot Rosewater]

1. Without clicking is the person who was beaten NOT white?

[ADX]

2. Ding, Ding, Ding...

...we have a winner.

The four cops who administered that beating should be fired and then prosecuted for assault and battery. There was absolutely no reason whatsoever for them to resort to that level of violence...

[asiliveandbreathe]

3. NOT white...correct..this police dept has been out of control with blatant misuse of

force..if you haven't watched the incident - don't! It is brutal...and now this report the fellow was iching for a fight..NO..the cops should NEVER have escalated the situation..but they did...

I know of a recent incident where a female cop handcuffed a gal, and told her to sit on the ground..when the gal didn't, they wrestled her to the ground...there was no provocation - this is very much the same situation..only the gal was white...the cop told her they were checking her record..THERE WAS NO RECORD..they let the gal go...

police force is out of control... - on another vein - the NFL is wrong and the players union will not allow it to stand...Kapernak, and others, are RIGHT..and we cannot allow the POS in the WH to co-opt the message....

Be well...RESIST!!!

[Bernardo de La Paz]

4. Thought crime. "Minority Report". Texting While Black.

[Bernardo de La Paz]

5. Obeying while Black: MESA Police officer acquitted after shooting man doing as commanded.

https://www.vox.com/policy-and-politics/2017/12/8/16752914/police-arizona-philip-brailsford-daniel-shaver

An ex-cop from Arizona was acquitted for shooting an unarmed, sobbing man
Critics have called it the latest example of police brutality.
By German [e-mail]@vox.com Dec 8, 2017, 4:20pm EST

Daniel Shaver, 26, was unarmed. He was sobbing, begging the police officers not to shoot him. He was crawling on the floor toward officers, as a cop on the scene told him to do. But as he inched forward, he appeared to extend his hand backwards — and an officer, 27-year-old Philip Brailsford, opened fire, killing Shaver.

On Thursday, Brailsford was acquitted of a murder charge over the 2016 shooting. Police then released video of the encounter.

The video footage, taken from Brailsford’s body camera, begins with Mesa, Arizona, police officers intercepting Shaver and a friend outside of their hotel room, where officers responded following a report of someone pointing a gun out a window. The officers are very aggressive from the start, warning Shaver and his friend that they will be shot if they disobey any orders.

“If you make a mistake, another mistake, there’s a very severe possibility that you’re both going to get shot,” Charles Langley, a since-retired police officer, said. After they both responded, Langley said, “Shut up. I’m not here to be tactful or diplomatic with you. You listen, you obey.”

[dingosatemyusername]

7. not that it really matters,

but Shaver was white.

[Bernardo de La Paz]

11. Oops. Thanks for the correction!

[Ferrets are Cool]

6. That is so much bullshit. I hope they sue the HELL out of that dept. nt

[safeinOhio]

10. Hope you are right.

When the City of Mesa runs out of money for the cops, due to law suits, things will change. They Mayor, who hires the Commander can't win re-elect due shortage of $, they will understand.

[samir.g]

8. You can tell, he was clearly

downloading a fight app on his phone.

[Coventina]

9. I'll keep posting this until the police change: