UCLA student stunned by Taser plans suit

[kpete]

Buildings should be occupied until there's a response to this. Classes should be disrupted,
disobedience constant, the student body lit with fury. This can't happen. And every student,
and every person, should be outraged that it did.http://ezraklein.typepad.com/blog/2006/11/still_proud_to_.html


UCLA student stunned by Taser plans suit
By Stuart Silverstein, Times Staff Writer
November 17, 2006


The UCLA student stunned with a Taser by a campus police officer has hired a high-profile civil rights lawyer who plans to file a brutality lawsuit.

The videotaped incident, which occurred after the student refused requests to show his ID card to campus officers, triggered widespread debate on and off campus Thursday about whether use of the Taser was warranted. It was the third in a recent series of local incidents captured on video that raise questions about arrest tactics.

Attorney Stephen Yagman said he plans to file a federal civil rights lawsuit accusing the UCLA police of "brutal excessive force," as well as false arrest. The lawyer also provided the first public account of the Tuesday night incident at UCLA's Powell Library from the student, Mostafa Tabatabainejad, a 23-year-old senior.

He said that Tabatabainejad, when asked for his ID after 11 p.m. Tuesday, declined because he thought he was being singled out because of his Middle Eastern appearance. Yagman said Tabatabainejad is of Iranian descent but is a U.S.-born resident of Los Angeles.

more at:
http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-ucla17nov17,0,3038756.story?track=mostviewed-homepage

[annabanana]

1. Good!

That whole incident is very disturbing.

[ixion]

2. good. I hope he sues their pants right off

:grr:

[williesgirl]

3. Good, but criminal action is also in order. recommended

[let us vote]

4. kick

[Dhalgren]

5. K&R!

Police assaults on citizens must stop! We cannot condone nor accept the State, in the guise of police, attacking citizens! I hope this makes Mr. Tabatabainejad a very rich man and ends with these police thugs doing time. A line must be drawn and an example set.

[jesus_of_suburbia]

6. Good... I hate God Cops

God Cops = cops who think they are above the law and can treat ordinary
citizens however they want to.

[jesus_of_suburbia]

7. Good... I hate God Cops

Sorry, duplicate post

[DemoDemoCratCrat]

8. The last two paragraphs

of the article were especially interesting to me. This is the first I've heard of the "Taser Award." I can't help but wonder if one of those involved with Tabatabainejad had received one of those (department wouldn't comment). Could their actions on Tuesday night have been influenced by a desire to receive a Taser Award? Does it carry any real prestige? (I doubt it)

[Sapphocrat]

9. GOOD. n/t

[Karenina]

10. Yagman is a SERIOUS HEAVY-HITTER

:bounce: HEADS are going to ROLL!!! :popcorn:

[ProudToBeBlueInRhody]

11. Well, he got what he went looking for

And then some. Must feel like he hit the lottery.