Law Enforcement Rips Phone From Bystander

[tomm2thumbs]

Any guesses that he'll regret that?

[Major Nikon]

1. There's more

[tomm2thumbs]

3. good update - thanks

[Cooley Hurd]

2. LATimes article on this:

http://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-ln-feds-probe-video-phone-in-south-gate-20150421-story.html

Woman whose phone was slammed by marshal says she feared for her life

A South Gate woman said she feared for her life during a confrontation with a deputy U.S. Marshal that was captured on video, showing the deputy grabbing her phone while she was recording and slamming it to the ground.

In an interview Tuesday, Beatriz Paez, 34, said she was out for a stroll Sunday afternoon in South Gate when she came upon what appeared to be a massive federal operation in her neighborhood involving local bikers.

U.S. Marshals and local law enforcement officers had blocked off a stretch of San Juan Avenue and had eight to 10 people lying on their stomachs with their hands on their heads when Paez took out her Samsung cellphone and began recording, she said.

What happened next – and captured in a 53-second video from a neighbor and posted on YouTube – is now being investigated by the U.S. Marshals Service, the agency said.

In the video, Paez is shown standing on the sidewalk aiming a cellphone toward two men standing a short distance away in black shirts with tactical vests reading “Police” across the back.

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[TrollBuster9090]

7. Good article, thanks for posting it.

I especially found this part interesting:

“We’ve had incidents where people have videotaped us and it requires unbelievable restraint. Typically during times where things can be a little chaotic,”

I have two things to say about that:

1. I respect and admire law enforcement officers for doing a dangerous and difficult job to maintain the peace and protect the public. And,

2. Boo-f#$king-hoo! It shouldn't require 'unbelievable restraint' to enforce the law while remaining WITHIN the law. If you're not doing anything wrong, you have nothing to worry about. But the days of being able to do whatever you like to suspects and bystanders, and have people simply take your word for what did or didn't happen are over. Get used to it. And if you can't, resign and find another profession.

There are only a few people that a society ENTRUSTS with the use of lethal force in the service of maintaining peace and good order in society. It's not too much to ask that they are held to a high standard of behavior.

[sulphurdunn]

4. Let me see. The guy with the gun

is sworn to uphold the law. The law states clearly that the woman has a right to photograph him. But he doesn't like that law, so he deliberately breaks it, going so far as to commit a theft and a battery in the process. That makes him a criminal. Had the woman attacked him he could have killed her. Had she defended herself, he could have killed her. Had she done nothing, he could have killed her anyway and gotten away with it. She should have been very afraid. I think she got the message. Maybe that's the message the police are sending the rest of us.

[Dustlawyer]

8. +1!!!

[zebonaut]

5. Destruction of Property. He owes her a brand new phone.

[valerief]

6. Sadly, he'll suffer no repercussions. Cops are mobsters. nt

[RKP5637]

9. Couple of things I've noticed in my lifetime. Crooks and Robbers have moved more and more

into the corporate arena to make $$$$$'s robberies that are perfectly legal, justice often looks the other way, and when really on the edge, it's often brushed aside as just doing business.

Many politicians have become the storm troopers for the corporate elite and are highly rewarded for their efforts.

And those having a lust for war, violence, brutality, maiming, killing and assholishness have moved more and more into police operations.

All of the above often have no consequences for lacking responsibility, and often have no punishment for deeds committed.

[valerief]

10. Exactly. We don't hear much about "the Mob" these days, because

they're now the police and the corporations who own them. Pols are agents for the corporations/fascists. They attempt pacification of the masses while ensuring the corporations (Mob) get what they want.

[RKP5637]

11. It seems, and don't quote me, that the Mafia/mob is now down to about 3,000 nationwide.

I was thinking the same when I heard that, why bother with illicit activities when lots can be had by playing the game and being legit and crooked with minimal risk.