Shocking moment a Tennessee police officer chokes unresisting college student until he is UNCONSCIOU

[SorellaLaBefana]

Source: Mail (UK)

A photographer on the scene took a series of photos of a deputy choking a student into unconsciousness
The student did not resist arrest, says the photographer
He was complying with officers when the officer began to choke him
Two other officers were behind the student, handcuffing him



Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2614386/Tennessee-police-photographed-choking-unresisting-college-student-passes-out.html

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Have seen nothing in US news about this.

[ballyhoo]

2. I'll put up some money if someone can find

the magistrate. No, not the magistrate--someone in charge.

[Comrade Grumpy]

3. Ho hum. Just another day in America.

[SorellaLaBefana]

4. Again Googled: University Tennessee knox county choke college student unconscious

And the only other hit found is
http://interceder.net/latest_news/Distressing

Which simply links to the Mail report.

The Mail is a tabloid, but this does not seem apocryphal to me - thus confused by lack of other sources.

Does anyone live near there?

[exboyfil]

29. You are right something odd

about the report. Finals week for UT Knoxville starts this week. The timing is not right based on the story.

[Uben]

5. Needs to be fired immediately

When cops get this aggressive on cooperative people, it's time to fire them and see that they NEVER, EVER serve as law enforcement again. This guy has a serious problem, probably a short dick syndrome thing. I'd hate to see what he'd do if they resisted. Probably draw his gun and shoot them in the back. Fucking scum.

[TeamPooka]

64. He was fired.

[itsrobert]

7. Hard to tell from the photos that choking is going on

Not saying he's not. Just can't tell by those photos what is happening.

I guess there will be a few/or a lot who will bash me for my opinion. So be it.

[TheSarcastinator]

10. total horse manure

Your post is an astonishingly foolish and naive. Did you even look at the entire series of photographs? The kid is obviously being choked out by the officer. If you can't tell what is going on in those photos I'm not sure how you can manage to tie your own shoes or feed yourself on a daily basis without assistance. There is clear line of sight in every image.

Really, just an astonishingly ridiculous response.

[itsrobert]

13. I looked at the photos objectively

I see hands on a neck. I can't tell by that how much, if any pressure is being applied.

Just being honest.

[Vincardog]

16. Maybe that is why the Sherif demoted the 5 officers involved. IF the choke had been clear

they would have been fired.

[itsrobert]

17. thanks for the info. I didn't read the part where they were demoted

But if there was choking going on, criminal charges against the officers should be done.

[Sweet Freedom]

20. Were they?

Sounds like officers from a previous incident were demoted. Can't tell because the writing sucks, but it seems that three officers were involved in this incident.

All three officers are Knox County deputies assisting the Knoxville Police Department.

A call placed to the department seeking comment wasn't immediately returned.

In 2011, Knoxville County officers stopped a carload of teenagers and forced them to run in circles around a bat he kept in the trunk of the car.

Sherriff Jimmy 'JJ' Jones demoted the five officers involved in the incident.

Jones' action in disciplining the officers was well-received by the community. He's now up for re-election, with early voting already taking place.

[uppityperson]

18. that is true, the nice police officer is also a chiropractor and helping adjust his neck. The man is

so grateful, he sinks to his knees in thanks.

[Union Scribe]

28. Check out the strained look on the cop's face

and the tension in his arm. He's exerting a lot of effort. Hard for me to think that isn't going into his hands and doing exactly what the photog says.

[okaawhatever]

36. The officer was using a pressure point technique to render the victim unable to fight. The question

is, what it necessary? (I'm thinking no). The student had thrown beer bottles at the officers so clearly there were some concern but from what I see the police had him under control at that point. We'll see.

[quakerboy]

61. And what function do hands around a neck serve?

Im unfamiliar with many, aside from choking. Maybe frontal neck massage? direct trachea mini Heimlich?

[rhett o rick]

46. I find your post to be over the top rude. Apparently there are four

others here that think that statements like, "I'm not sure how you can manage to tie your own shoes or feed yourself on a daily basis without assistance." are just peachy. I am truly disappointed.

[greiner3]

47. I predict.......................

The Sarcastinator will soon become just one more 'Name Removed' and 'Message Auto-Removed' on the new Democratic Underground 2.0.

[rhett o rick]

53. I agree. What bothers me more is that there are four people that seem to

like his brand of rude.

[TeamPooka]

65. Are you a police brutality apologist? The facts in the story state that he was fired for

choking the man.

[itsrobert]

72. Looks like the original story has been updated with new info

the earlier version did not have this information.

Looks like my initial opinion is wrong.

[aint_no_life_nowhere]

8. Looks like the local police out there are power happy

"...In 2011, Knoxville County officers stopped a carload of teenagers and forced them to run in circles around a bat he kept in the trunk of the car. ..."

Maybe this guy fulfilled some kind of childhood dream to know what's like to choke someone. At least he didn't dream about what it would be like to shoot a guy.

[Tsiyu]

9. That is the face of a deranged bully

probably jealous because he never got to go to college.

Very frightening man. I wonder if his family suffers the same abuse?

He appears to feel he has the right to do this to another human being. Why? What makes this man claim the authority to do this? God? Government?

This cop needs to be put away for the good of society. And his apathetic cohorts ( maybe just glad he isn't choking them? ) need to quit policing and slink away in shame.

That cops face is going to give me nightmares...

[bjobotts]

51. Yes.They should check this cops basement. U can see...

see the derangement in his face.

[Octafish]

11. It's like a Police State.

But with supercomputers.

[GoneFishin]

12. Is there some social engineering playbook/training manual wherein these assholes

are encouraged to ramp up the violence to desensitize the public to police tazing, shooting and beating the shit out of handcuffed citizens, the elderly, and children?

[VanillaRhapsody]

76. That training would be a warzone...

Most of these police officers are former military....and find it tough to readjust to a non-battlefield. Pretty sure the same problem occurred after our last lengthy wartime....

[itsrobert]

14. One of his fellow officers was arrested for child rape

http://www.chattanoogan.com/2014/4/9/273852/Knox-County-Sheriff-s-Lieutenant.aspx

[SoapBox]

15. If the student did the same, it would be attempted murder.

But since it was a Police State Militia member...he'll get a promotion, pay raise and praise from Militia leadership and Fuks News.

[Ahpook]

19. Fucking disgusting

I wrote the editor of numerous "news" sites in Knoxville and asked why this is not being covered.

[Arugula Latte]

21. And of course it is UK, not US, media covering it.

[Ed Suspicious]

24. I was just going to post the same thing.

The fact that we need to get this type of news from overseas says a lot to me.

[Dr Hobbitstein]

33. UK TABLOID...

Take it with a grain of salt. No different than all the wonderful articles in the National Enquirer. If you'll notice, ONLY The Daily Mail has "reported" this. Once source for the photos and article. Not very compelling.

[Arugula Latte]

37. Um, that vicious cop has his hands around the guy's neck and is squeezing to the

point where the guy buckles and falls. That's pretty fucking compelling if you ask me.

[aint_no_life_nowhere]

39. I don't know one way or the other

but the photographer would be a freelance photographer who works for the Knoxville News Sentinel named John Messner. The Knoxville newspaper at its website references the UK newspaper story and the fact that the Knox County Sheriff's Office (KCSO) is investigating. It also names the person who allegedly was strangled (Jared Dotson) and mentions that he was arrested for public intoxication. I guess we'll have to wait on the local papers to see where this story goes.

http://www.knoxnews.com/news/2014/apr/27/kcso-actively-investigating-alleged-choking/

[Dr Hobbitstein]

41. If you look at the first picture, the cop who

is purported to choke him is standing behind him with a flashlight, and the guys hands are cuffed. In the following picture where he is supposed to be chocking him, the cuffs are not on. Matter of fact, if you pay attention to the details in the picture, it appears they are displayed in the reverse from how they were actually taken.

And that KnoxNews article wasn't up earlier.

I will say, if the cop did choke the guy, then all 3 of those officers need to be removed from duty and arrested. But The Daily Mail loves to post anti-US cop stories, so I always take these with a grain of salt.

[MidwestTransplant]

54. SUBSTANTIATED

The officer has been fired and case referred to the DA.

http://www.commercialappeal.com/news/2014/apr/27/knox-county-sheriffs-office-actively-investigating/?CID=happeningnow

[Dr Hobbitstein]

68. Thanks! See post 67 for my response. NT

[DisgustipatedinCA]

63. Anything to add, now that this piece of shit has been fired?

It's nice to give the pig the benefit of the doubt, Doctor, but you may want to hold your enthusiasm back before defending another human piece of shit.

[Dr Hobbitstein]

67. Like I said, if true, he should be fired...

I just try not to jump all over something until ALL the evidence is in. I try to look at things from all sides before rushing to judgement. In this case, my skepticism was wrong, and I'll admit that. There have been plenty of times that my skepticism is spot on, however.

I hope that the student presses charges, and this asshole ends up in jail where he belongs. Where the other 2 officers present reprimanded in ANY way?

[gtar100]

22. Who the hell thought that asshole would make a good police officer.

He's a sick, demented human being who should be in a psychiatric clinic, not caring a gun and in a position to enforce laws. He clearly lacks good judgment. And the same could be said for the other two idiots who just let him do it without protest. I hope they lose their jobs and get the help they need. We need police officers but we don't need them. They are sick

[Comrade Grumpy]

23. Does this officer have a name?

[lumberjack_jeff]

25. Is the photographer a professor of engineering at the school?

http://www.engr.psu.edu/AE/faculty/messner/index.asp

Google image search only returns one hit for the images in the article. Weird.

[Dr Hobbitstein]

26. If someone were to post from

The National Enquirer, The Sun, or any other US tabloid, they'd be laughed out of here.

But post an unsubstantiated story from the UK's Daily Mail (really, no different from our tabloids), and people bite all over it...

[DallasNE]

31. So, Are You Claiming That This Photo Is A Fake?

If not, what is your point.

[Dr Hobbitstein]

32. No, just unsubstantiated...

There's no other source aside from the Daily Mail, and it's been aggregated across various blogs and message boards. But that's it.

The Daily Mail is a tabloid. Mostly false, always sensationalist. No different from The Enquirer or Weekly World News or The Globe. Take it with a grain of salt.

[Tempest]

56. The cop was fired because of this "unsubstantiated" event

Don't you look the fool now.

[Gore1FL]

58. Don Giljum and Shirley Sherrod were also fired right after a story was released.

I, for one, am happy that this is being investigated and hope more information turns up han a few pictures to either clear or convict this officer.

[Tempest]

59. The pictures tell the story

Enough so that he was fired and the case sent to the D.A. for prosecution.

And your attempt at comparison was some weak ass shit.

[Gore1FL]

70. If the pictures tell the story, then how come so many are unconvinced by them alone?

The tapes of Don Giljum and Shirley Sherrod were also convincing.

Your apparent conclusion that this police office doesn't deserve due process is weaker ass shit than my comparison.

[Dr Hobbitstein]

69. I don't feel like a fool for looking at all sides before I rush to judgement.

I was wrong in my opinion, and it happens from time to time.

No need to be jerkish about it.

[DirtyDawg]

27. And I...

...thought the Athens Po-lease were tough on UGA students. They certainly are on the football players...oh, and b-ball too.

[DallasNE]

30. Fat, Jackbooted Thugs

The militarization of the domestic police forces has been an unmitigated disaster. And these guys have jobs for life. This is the level of big government we need to be looking at. It is corrupt and rotten at the bottom.

[olddad56]

38. agreed, I don't even call the the police any longer, they are the Municipal Armed Forces.

[Brigid]

45. Somebody here on DU recently called them

"Weaponized police." I think that's perfect.

[blkmusclmachine]

50. Blackwater/Xe (or whatever new name they're using nowadays) thugs???

[sulphurdunn]

34. According to the UT website,

final exams begin tomorrow morning (4/28). If the article is accurate, and the website schedule has not been changed, the incident cannot take place until tomorrow night at the earliest.

[Jesus Malverde]

40. KCSO 'actively investigating' alleged choking photographs

The Knox County Sheriff’s Office says it has been made aware of and is “actively investigating” published photographs that purportedly show a Knox County Sheriff’s Office deputy choking a University of Tennessee student in Fort Sanders on Saturday night.

The photographs, which first appeared with an article on the website of the U.K. Daily Mail, were taken by John Messner, a freelance photographer in Knoxville.

Messner’s photos don’t identify the student, Jared Dotson of Powell, 23, an architecture major at UT, but Messner’s photo captions say a Knox County Sheriff’s Office deputy placed his hands around Dotson’s neck and rendered him unconscious.

KCSO records said Dotson was publicly intoxicated, smelling of alcohol and drinking from a cup “that had an odor of an alcoholic beverage” at 23rd Street and Laurel Avenue, the site of a “loud party.”

http://www.knoxnews.com/news/2014/apr/27/kcso-actively-investigating-alleged-choking/

[sakabatou]

42. Good

[TorchTheWitch]

43. he's not choking him

Look at his fingers. Like the article says, he was activating a pressure point to physically calm the guy down since he was resisting arrest. I don't feel all that comfortable with that being done, but it's probably better than hitting him or tazing him or a pile on of officers. I don't think doing that to a pressure point all the way to unconsciousness (which he wasn't in this case since he walked to the vehicle under his own steam) is appropriate though. From the guy's mugshot it certainly looks like he suffered no ill effects, but I think doing that to someone's pressure point there for so long that their knees buckle is too long and potentially dangerous. It's my understanding (though I could be wrong) that doing that cuts off oxygen to the brain.

"The disturbing sequence of shots show the 22-year-old appear to lose consciousness, his knees buckling as he sinks to the ground, while the deputy continues to choke him or activate a pressure point that renders him unconscious."

You can see him pressing the point on the back of his neck with his forefingers a lot better in this photo...

[blkmusclmachine]

49. Apologize much???

[TorchTheWitch]

52. apologize?

Where the hell do you get that? Wasn't me that wrote the article or put out the photos.

[crim son]

55. The officer has been fired

because he *was* choking him. End of story.

[TorchTheWitch]

71. he wasn't choking him

You can see in the photos what he was doing. He wasn't cutting off his windpipe so that he couldn't breath which is what "choking" is. He was pressing on a pressure point that cut off or at least limited oxygen to the guy's brain which is something other than choking. You can SEE what his fingers are doing in the photos, and they weren't tightly wrapped around his neck cutting off his breathing.

I SAID that I didn't think what he did was appropriate and that doing it is dangerous, and if he's been fired, good. And even the original article the OP had used admitted that it might not have been choking but pressing on a pressure point which I also pointed out. Jesus Christ, can people not READ?

[Hassin Bin Sober]

73. Lol. Cutting off blood supply to the brain is a form of choking.

Did you ever hear of The Boston Pressure Point Applying Guy?

[JoeyT]

57. Yeah, he's cutting off the blood flow to his brain.

and causing his blood pressure to drop to try to knock him out. The technical MA term for that is "strangling".

I dunno what the technical term for that choke is, because I don't think there is one. If you hear "You guys hold his arms behind his back while I choke the shit out of him!", you didn't join a martial arts school, you've joined a gang. Or the police force, apparently.

[workinclasszero]

44. Meanwhile right wing terror squads roam around small towns in Nevada

armed and dangerous scaring the citizens into hiding in their homes.

And not a thing is done about it.

[ConservativeDemocrat]

60. Breaking news!

Somewhere in a nation of 311 million people there is a bad cop who did a bad thing, got caught, and was fired for it.

Why is this news again? Is there something political about this?

- C.D. Proud Member of the Reality Based Community

[aint_no_life_nowhere]

62. Well what would a cop have to do for it to be breaking news in your opinion?

Or are we supposed to have a hands off attitude towards all police, no matter how outrageous the conduct? A policeman strangling someone into unconsciousness, if true, is not newsworthy?

[ConservativeDemocrat]

78. Firing a guy isn't exactly "hands off"

As far as I'm concerned, the system worked.

- C.D. Proud Member of the Reality Based Community

[m-lekktor]

74. this is a big story all over the internet.

it is popping up everywhere else, it has come through my facebook newsfeed quite a few times, so no surprise it shows up here as well.

[Comrade Grumpy]

75. A careful observer might see this as part of a pattern of police misbehavior that is concerning.

And, yes, effective control over law enforcement is political.

I think we need a national commission on law enforcement standards and practices.

This is only Exhibit #3,293,411.

[ConservativeDemocrat]

77. The guy was fired

I'm not sure what more you want.

- C.D. Proud Member of the Reality Based Community

[Dustlawyer]

66. I hope the other 2 officers who failed to intercede, and probably didn't report the abuse, were

disciplined. It needs to be so harsh that the officers would rather stop the abusing officer, or failing that, rat out the bad conduct instead of backing up a felonious co-worker.
Has the officer been charged with assault and battery? I would be shocked if they did more than fire him. Hell, I am shocked that they fired him!

[Sunlei]

79. Some police love to hurt people.

I'll never forget when I was about 15, our car got stopped by NJ state police. We friends were driving to the beach. We line up outside behind the car and the officer, all of a sudden, really fast, hard!! punched one of my friends in the face- for a mild smart mouth remark.

I feel safer, the pubic tends to photograph the police these days.