Police taser sleeping man

[screembloodymurder]

http://www.pennlive.com/news/article266135.ece

The indiscriminate use of the tazer is becoming a real threat to our liberties. I have a heart condition and now will think twice before protesting or putting myself in a position where I may be confronted by the police. For me, the risk of being tasered may be sudden death. Is it wrong for me to feel that my "freedom of speech" is compromised by the threat of unwarranted force? Why are we allowing these attacks to go unpunished and where does the ACLU stand on this issue?

[flashl]

1. They have lowered the bar

for taser use to the point that usage to get compliance such as showing ID is OK.

[tblue37]

20. They Tased him AFTER he showed them ID, too.

I think they were just Tasing for the hell of it. Probably hadn't had a chance to use their new toys yet, and were just looking for anything they could use as an opportunity.

He was in his own home!

[flashl]

25. Bummer. Imagine this

Man Tasered In Hospital Bed, Forced To Give Urine Sample

A police officer twice used a Taser stun device on a drug suspect who was restrained to a hospital bed because the man refused to give a urine sample to medical staff, authorities said.

Just more "anecdotal" evidence.

[AX10]

33. We have sheeple around here who defend this kind of behavior.

[NutmegYankee]

58. Who?

There are some of us who defended the use in limited situations, but a man strapped down by all four limbs in a bed? That's called torture. It doesn't matter if it was hospital protocol, All Humans have the right under law to refuse medical treatment.

I think that gross generalization you stated is BS.

[AX10]

99. Just look at some of the thread below.

You are the one throwing out BS.

[MadHound]

2. What a sad commentary on how our country has declined

A man, asleep in his own home, is tasered by the cops who busted in, both while he was asleep and after he showed them his ID. And people wonder why cops have such a bad rap these days. It is authoritarian abuses of their power that they carry on daily.

I hope this guy sues for the big bucks since the cops refuse to charge one of their own with a crime.

[lonestarnot]

4. Send ACLU money.

[Uben]

3. The police put their life on the line

...but tazing someone asleep is cowardice!

[DemBones DemBones]

5. He was asleep in his own house. Unbelievable!

They supposedly were responding to a silent alarm from his home and found him sleeping on the couch.

OK, it's logical that they'd want to make sure he belonged there, though maybe they should have just knocked on the door and waited for someone to answer or try to flee. I don't think it said how they got in.

So he's sleeping on his own couch in his own house and they taser him.

Then he shows them ID and they taser him again, probably because he was a little pissed off and said something they didn't like.

Too many cops are like stormtroopers and you'd better be compliant and meek or they'll tase you or worse. Protesting is going to get more and more dangerous.

I'm glad he's going to sue and hope he gets a big settlement or jury award.

I think we need a federal law to ban tasers entirely.

I want my country back.

[knitter4democracy]

21. I'd agree with that law.

It's gotten out of hand. People have died from those things and yet, they're still considered non-lethal. That makes no sense.

Those things scare me. I have various health problems, and I'm not sure what one of those would do to me. That scares me.

[Pithlet]

102. I fully support a ban.

They are torture devices and are used far too indiscriminately. They are changing the nature of our police force and how they deal with the public. And it will only get worse. They should never have been introduced in the first place. Ban them across the board.

[Solon]

6. Those officers should be charged with assault with a deadly weapon...

its fucking ridiculous that the Police are considered above the law.

[0007]

7. This is almost unbelievable! Isn't this act of stupidity almost the

same as tasering a baby or a corpse?

[Algorem]

8. the dream police came to him in his bed

he was dreaming of harming officers of the law

[RUMMYisFROSTED]

10. They persecute me, they're the judge and jury all in one.

Oh, no!

[ThePowerofWill]

9. As i see it......

We are going to have to learn to defend ourselves from the police. Cops frickin' scare the shit outta me these days.

I think we need to start wearing protection, and tasing their asses.

Oh yeah, Fuck the police!

[Uben]

11. The anti-Taser

I need to invent a device that will reverse the charge of a taser and shock the one holding the taser. That would make them think twice before using it irresponsibly!

[ThePowerofWill]

12. Yeah, or at least some type of effective armour.

This overzealous behavior by many police needs to stop!

[Solon]

18. Some type of grounded suit or clothing may work...

The challenge is that it must insulate your body against the charge, and be armored, most likely around the chest, to prevent the leads from piercing the armor and your skin. I'm thinking a soft chest plate, just thick enough to absorb the impact of the leads of a projectile taser, with a rubber backing, and being aluminized on the exterior, where the charge from the taser will go. Then have some insulated wires run down your legs to your shoes, where you have, underneath the rubber soles, a grounding plate to dissipate the charge harmlessly into the ground.

Such a thing would be easily enough hidden under standard clothes, and it wouldn't have to be that big, most police always aim for the center of mass on your body, chest and torso, so that's the only part that would need a semi rigid plate of any sort. The rest of the "suit" would basically be to dissipate the charge without harming you.

You can get even fancier and have the capacitor wired up to the suit, that can hold the charge, and then, using insulated, wired, gloves, you can then discharge the capacitor by touching someone else with the hand.

[AX10]

32. I'd love to have some armored clothing that can reflect the...

electric charge back to the person with the gun in their hands. If you could amplify the power being sent back, maybe the taser could explode in that person's hand. That's rough I agree, but that would teach them a good lesson!
I have no tolerance for authoriatians!

[Solon]

48. I was just thinking about that...

If you had a simple plate, as I pointed out in post 46, but NOT wired up to the ground, or a capacitor or battery that would absorb the electricity, then the circuit will have to completed another way. If the insulation you are wearing is good enough, then the charge will end up going back to the source, possibly causing a short. Most likely this will just heat up the taser enough to burn up the circuits in it, or burn out the leads, but it could lead to the batteries heating up and exploding. To be honest, this wouldn't be ideal, because more than just the cop would be hurt, if he's anywhere near you, then you could just as easily be a victim of the explosion. Probably not enough to kill you, but severe chemical burns from the batteries wouldn't be out of the question.

[AX10]

100. I understand that part too. Too bad we could not perfect the technology.

It would be a great deterent to abusing such weapons though.

[Popol Vuh]

69. LMAO

AX10 you just gave me the image of Bugs Bunny plugging up Elmer Fudd's shotgun barrel and the ensuing backfire..

:rofl:

[ThePowerofWill]

39. I have had similar thoughts on this.

I've been trying to come up with a good idea for some taser armour. It could be light, and fairly flexible. Just figuring out the penetration characteristics of the barbs shot from the taser.

This is seriously something that needs to be done, or well thought out anyway. Might want to add some reflective mylar, or other for that fancy new microwave deal they have now.

[Solon]

46. The key are the barbs, having a suit that has them "bounce off" would be far too...

hard, more like plate mail of the middle ages. However, having a type of semi-rigid plate that captures the barbs and prevents complete penetration of the plate to touch your skin would be key. Some type of rubber or nylon plate, let's say as rigid as nylon straps used on professional grade parachutes or backpacks would probably be tough enough. The fibers would be tightly wound enough to absorb much of the energy, similar to Teflon bullet resistant vests. You can have, and I'll say it, tinfoil, on the outside of the plate, to send the charge to some insulated wires to find a way to either dissipate or store the charge, in a capacitor or battery. The part of the plate in contact with the skin would be insulated with a rubber backing, though nowadays, you can make it as comfortable as clothing.

If you restrict the size of the plate to the upper torso, it wouldn't impede movement, though it would probably be wise to have two plates, one for the back as well. It would be composed of 3 layers, each serving a specific purpose, a conductive layer on the outside, whether tinfoil, aluminized plastic or rubber, whatever. A nylon center layer, to absorb the impact of the barbs, and to capture them, and then an insulating layer of rubber or another non-conducting substance.

As far as protection from microwaves, well, there are several ways to do it, the problem is that you would have to be protected from head to toe, because such devices affect the entire surface area of your body. The other problem is having conductive objects on your person actually increases the risk of possible electrocution and burns.

[datasuspect]

60. i bet they would make that illegal

if you put it into production.

but most people don't think they need to be protected from the police.

you'd sell a lot of those in the hood though.

[Solon]

61. Protesters would probably buy them...

Hell, make them cheap enough and it would be popular with the 30 year old and under set.

Even though I bet they would try to make such an outfit illegal, for civilians at least.

[intaglio]

75. check out the material fencing plastrons are made from

it is conductive and tough. 2 or 3 layers with a spacer layer of a dense foam (camping sleeping pads?) and the foam cut with vent slots no more than 2.5 mm wide oops, sorry, a tenth of an inch :D

A simple multi meter would allow you to check the conductance of metalised fabrics

[ManiacJoe]

79. Thick leather coats work real well,

or so I have been told. :evilgrin:

[Warren Stupidity]

81. It already exists but you can't buy it.

google defense against a taser. Ah never mind, here I went and found it for you: http://www.thorshield.com/

[baby_mouse]

29. They're quite happy to just kill people. They don't care.

I used to try and see things from their point of view, but I just can't anymore.

[mcscajun]

13. The ACLU has a stand on it.

http://www.aclu.org/police/abuse/19977prs20051006.html

[izquierdista]

22. But are they doing anything?

Is the ACLU supporting any wrongful death suits against the manufacturer? I mean this is advertised as a "non-lethal" product, so a death from its use must involve some sort of product liability, right?

[mcscajun]

44. They're involved in legal actions, yes.

This is just one of them, from 2005:
In Las Vegas, the ACLU of Nevada filed a federal wrongful death and civil rights lawsuit Thursday seeking more than $10 million from Las Vegas police and the company that manufactures the stun gun.
http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4176/is_20051007/ai_n15805498

[uppityperson]

49. Good for the ACLU. I started supporting them 2000 when mrbush inaugerated

I figured we'd need every bit of help we could get.

[izquierdista]

53. Way to go!!

:yourock: :yourock:

[screembloodymurder]

38. Thanks for the link.

And I will send them money.

[Zodiak]

14. As a fellow heart patient I know what you mean

Might as well shoot one of us with a gun.

And young people have heart conditions, too, so age and apparent health are no indicators.

Perhaps that is why there have been over 200 cases of death from tasers.

I think the fucking things should be banned.

[China_cat]

15. I'm in the same condition

except that I have to use a wheelchair or scooter to get around...and those devices have been no deterrent to the police using their tazers.

[Beam Me Up]

16. Why ISN'T it a "crime" to taser someone in their own home?

Asleep or awake, WTF? Police can come into my home and taser me or you or anyone in the household?

Why ISN'T this illegal?

[tom_paine]

17. It's trickling down to our daily lives now. Anyone could see that from the very first.

It is the inevitable outgrowth of totalitarianism, after it is finished reducing the top and governing strata to lawless servility, not only does the attitudes required to make such a transition happen trickle-down, but also the perps, in this case the Bushies, find themselves with too much time on their hands once the top is so docile and self-censoring, they inevitably have to think about bringing the rest of us into line (gleichschaltung, in the original German).

Zapped in his own home, while he was sleeping on his own couch, without even waking him to ask.

And the fact is, you could just about make book that this zapped individual was from one of Imperial Amerika's many underclasses on undesirables/enemies-of-the-Bushie-State: maybe black, poor, liberal or gay...maybe all four...notice how the paper didn't mention it either way (no news NOW usually means Bushie Lies of Omission)

I do not say this play the race card merely to point out that as totalitarianism strengthens, despised sub-groups become more despised and the restraints which keep everyday authority figures from assaulting those despised sub-groups in physical, economic and other ways unjustly.

This increase as the perceived "permission from authority" increases. The major news events of taserers and LE murderers getting off undoubtedly contributes to this perceived permission. Not to mention the fact that the Bushies actually ARE giving permission in so many ways, with their directives and their own illegal unjust actions.

This sort of thing is to be expected, and to increase with a general approval from the Imperial Subjects of Amerika.

I hate the reality of the situation, but on some level I guess I am happy it's not the Jews, this time. Give me some more time to practice my Rev. Neimoller...except, I was one of the few (so are many DUers) who spoke out from the very beginning, so maybe I will leave that to others.

[screembloodymurder]

42. Good point. The use of force is encouraged.

It doesn't matter if one is guilty of a crime. Comply with authority or suffer the consequences.

[scarletwoman]

43. FYI, the man who was tased IS an African American.

Caption: SHOCKING—Shawn Hicks’ Taser gun pellet bruises were photographed after his July 28 encounter with North Braddock police.

Link to news story: here

[tom_paine]

97. Totalitarianism is so predictable to those who know what to look for

:puke:

[harlinchi]

98. There's a shock!

:sarcasm:

First they came for the ...

[tblue37]

19. He was sleeping on the couch in his own home.

The cops tasered the hell out of him (i.e., repeatedly tasered him) for sleeping on the couch in his own home, even after he showed them ID to prove he was in his own home!

The are just having fun with those frickin' tasers. They think they are toys. (I also have a heart condition and know that if I were tased I would probably die.)

[malaise]

45. Imagine if this guy was awake and

opened fire on these intruders. They may have killed him in his own home just like that old lady in Atlanta.

[backscatter712]

66. Or maybe if we were lucky,

those inhuman pigs would have had their brains blown out.

Reap what you sow, motherfuckers.

[Berry Cool]

23. Absolutely, completely unbelievable.

I keep thinking "There has to be some untold part or extenuating circumstance here." But it sure doesn't look as if there is.

If what happened is really exactly as described, I hope this guy wins a huge amount in damages. Just might make someone think twice.

[NashVegas]

24. Someone Needs to Run Against That DA

Who refused to press charges.

Interesting bit from an earlier story:

"It angers me," she said. "It really angers me that they Tasered him. They had no way of knowing what was going on with him when he was asleep or why they couldn't wake him. And then they continued to shoot him with that thing even after they knew who he was. I know what electricity can do to a beating heart. They could have killed him."

http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/07256/816957-56.stm

http://newpittsburghcourieronline.com/articlelive/articles/38666/1/Man-claims-police-Tasered-him-while-asleep/Page1.html

[DemGa]

26. Just because he is asleep doesn't mean he can't resist

:sarcasm:

Seriously, this one must go in the tazering hall of fame. Absolutely disgusting.

[baby_mouse]

27. It happened as a consequence of his own actions.

Ignoring a police officer.

[baby_mouse]

28. Seriously, what did he expect to happen?

I want the police to be able to use whatever powers are necessary for them to do their job as they're putting their lives on the line. Does that mean I'm happy with them coming into my house and tazering me while I'm asleep? HELL YES! I might only be PRETENDING to be asleep. And I could have had whirling blades on springs surgically implanted into my forehead, which could leap out suddenly and eviscerate the cops as they search my home. WITHOUT. WARNING.

[flashl]

30. Brillant

good point with that obvious "whirling blades" thingamabob threat scenario.

[baby_mouse]

35. I KNOW.

People just don't think about these things.

[The Count]

31. As this wasn't during a Kerry event, Maher show, it's safe to agree it's bad, right?

Just checking - was the sleeping man "asking for it" in this case - or only when people we like condone it that's the case?

[AX10]

36. I know what you are saying.

Kerry handled that case very poorly.

[renie408]

71. What did Kerry have to do with it? HE didn't tase Meyers. n/t

[renie408]

70. So, you are saying that ALL uses of a taser are identical and should therefore

produce identical results? Are you really saying that some guy asleep on his sofa is the same thing as a struggling person who strikes at police officers? And when did the hecklers on Maher's show get tased?

Actually, I think you are saying that no matter what happens, we should ALWAYS be on the side of the person opposite what YOU percieve to be authority. NO matter what they are doing. Gosh, that is a really intelligent veiwpoint.

No, I don't think this guy was 'asking for it'. And YES, I think that the Maher was within his rights to have hecklers removed from his show. And while I think that Meyers was a jerk who should have been removed, he shouldn't have been tasered. See, having a BRAIN I can evaluate each instance separately and come to different conclusions in each instance. I understand that you are incapable of such advanced thought processes.

[Warren Stupidity]

82. Exactly. nt.

[windoe]

34. the slippery slope

we are on is so disturbing. Electrical armor would work until you are manually overpowered. Under this administration, aggressive predatory types thrive from the top down. I acknowlege there are honest ethical people mixed in with these aggressive types doing a good job, and these are the people that need to stand up, be whistleblowers, witnesses, and not allow abuses to happen behind closed doors. In dark times, the light of truth is a great ally, and I think these are some pretty stormy times.

[tuckessee]

37. Just a bad apple.

I'm sure the good cops on the scene immediately arrested their taser wielding comrade for assault.

:sarcasm:

[windoe]

105. I wish we had better whistleblower laws to protect them....

anyone who wants to speak out against the abuse is mostly screwed, so it doesn't happen enough. Excuse me for being optimistic, I have to believe that there are honest people hidden amongst the aggressive type people....somewhere~~~~?!

[seabeyond]

40. treat us all like criminals and that is what we will become. they have done this

with the people in iraq. dehumanize all and so much easier to treat all as animals. it all feeds each other. accept torture and it will come to our shore. no tolerance in our schools allows all to blindly follow rules without thinking, just hand out punishment.

anyone with half a brain could have seen years ago how this very situation was being created. people spoke out, while other simply blindly supported this behavior because of their fears. the same that we saw what bush was creating but people buried head because of their own person fears.

it is a shame. it will continue to get worse, and we are to blame. we create. this is what we will live and we honestly earned it.

[Squatch]

41. The guy probably deserved it.

Nobody's innocent, yano?

:sarcasm:

[unblock]

47. i can't believe you people have no sympathy for the police in this situation!

these brave policemen face great dangers, and few are more deadly than a sleeping criminal. sleeping criminals quietly exhale mounds of carbon dioxide, which can lull an innocent cop in the room to drowsiness or even to fall asleep himself. imagine if the sleeping criminal wakes and finds a sleeping cop in the room!

moreover, how can a criminal be expected to submit to authority if he's asleep and unaware that the cops are present and in control of the situation? cops cannot be expected to fall victim to some criminal's sleep-shooting.




:sarcasm:
:sarcasm:
:sarcasm:

[MadHound]

50. I'm surprised here.

Forty eight posts and we haven't heard a peep from the law and order uber alles, pro tasering folks yet. Perhaps they're still busy trying to rationalize their support for an off duty cop who tasered a fourteen year old girl who was handcuffed at the time.

And people wonder why support for police is going down the tubes, it is shit like this.

[seabeyond]

51. i couldnt get many on the man tasered to death held for ten hours at airport

and DARED he DARED to become fuckin frustrated. i kept bringing the thread up day after day and so many stayed off.

[Sugar Smack]

62. May I please see a link?

I never saw that story.

[seabeyond]

63. surely

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=389&topic_id=2152004

[Sugar Smack]

68. Oh no, NO!!

Oh, GOD. If I couldn't speak the language & I was frantic, confused & tired, I'd feel extreme frustration as well. This is so horrible, I can't even speak. I wish I'd seen that thread before it was archived, dear lady.

[seabeyond]

73. i am just so bothered with this one. a mans life does not seem very important

to too many people. i dont get it. that man could have been me. could have been any of us. i wont keep mouth shut. and i wont let them whip me out of my justified anger, or being mad or frustrated with their abuse. i wont be intimidated. and we see, this allows our police to taser us.

[LanternWaste]

101. Or maybe people look at individual scenarios

Or maybe people look at individual scenarios before making a judgment.

(which would be a nice thing if everyone did that....)

[seabeyond]

52. waiting for those defending the tasering to explain to me how this man caused his own

tasering. or for these people to say MAYBE, JUST MAYBE, there is an issue here. and why the higher ups did not put there foot down on this. and with the higher ups supporting the cops, if this is not the very things that is losing the support they so stridently are demanding.

[Sugar Smack]

54. Seabeyond, I :heart: you. You were brilliant on the other thread

and I wish I'd seen the thread sooner. You are a huge asset to DU. Don't ever leave, now.:yourock: :loveya: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause:

[seabeyond]

55. smack

(kiss) right back atcha. thanks

[NutmegYankee]

67. This is not the same case.

One was a combative student fighting the cops and tased with a hand held taser which is far from lethal after he was purposely making a scene (which he later admitted).

The other is a man shot in the back by a wire and barb taser while sleeping, risking cardiac arrest and proving he was not in a position to fight or threaten the officers. The fact that they tased him after seeing his ID highlights that these cops were just sick fucks having fun.

[seabeyond]

72. ahhhhhh, so we are not allowed to make a scene either.

and the student was not combative, he was merely making a scene. ergo constitutes zappin. no scenes to be made. eyes down. submit. be intimidated at all cost. no emotions. no mad, no angry, no frustrated, be the nice docile zombie. or receive punishment from our cops.

[NutmegYankee]

74. Spare me the hyperbole.

He was fighting with the officers, risking injury to them and himself. It is still a crime, and it's called resisting arrest. The old method to subdue someone fighting his arrest was brute force.

That was nothing new, resisting arrest has been a great way to get beat up going back to pre-Constitution days. Think billy clubs.

So like I said, spare me the hyperbole bullshit. When you grow up some, you'll understand. Every youth likes to think about fighting the cops off, its a stage of life.

[seabeyond]

76. what exactly are you talking about. i take it the student at ucla

but then that is just a guess on my part. not that i said anything about the student at ucla in my post. but if that is what you are going on about talking on a thread about a man being tasered while sleeping on his couch, lets talk. bottom line, you changing the argument to some other person not a part of the thread to justify the taser is the very hyperbole you bitch about

i watched the video and a zillion other ways the cops (security cops) could have handled that other than the way that they did. the repeated zapping was disgusting. but.... regardless of my personal views on the ucla student, i have never held that up as an example of abuse with tasering.... too close to the line to argue. it was your comment of creating a scene justifies a zap that got me to comment.

[NutmegYankee]

77. What is with you?

"then that is just a guess on my part. not that i said anything about the student at ucla in my post."

Well that's BS:

and the was not combative, he was merely making a scene. ergo constitutes zappin

"but if that is what you are going on about talking on a thread about a man being tasered while sleeping on his couch, lets talk. bottom line, you changing the argument to some other person not a part of the thread to justify the taser is the very hyperbole you bitch about"

First, look up the definition of Hyperbole. This is hyperbole:

no scenes to be made. eyes down. submit. be intimidated at all cost. no emotions. no mad, no angry, no frustrated, be the nice docile zombie. or receive punishment from our cops.

Second, my original post was that taser incidents vary, some are justified, some like the sleeping man, are not. Nice straw man you created there. Making it look like I support the tasering of a sleeping man. Sick. Where'd you learn that? That was so Rove like.

"it was your comment of creating a scene justifies a zap that got me to comment."

I used creating a scene as in, he was doing what he did for the camera, a show of sorts, and he didn't think about the consequences of fighting with the cops. It's called the stupidity of youth. And like all of us, he eventually learns that the rules apply to all of us equally. That is not authoritarianism, it's reality. Every teenager I've ever known feels the rules so not apply to him at one point. And all of them eventually find the limit or grow out of it.

The bottom line is that he thought it would be funny to fight the cops, and they didn't find it funny. And I don't always side with the cops, as I've been through Georgia enough times to know that some cops out there are pigs. Georgia cops fly to a Yankee license plate like flies to shit.

[seabeyond]

78. i can ask the same. i will try one more time.

generally these threads are impossible to clear up and i dont try. your initial post to me #67 was in response to this

"waiting for those defending the tasering to explain to me how this man caused his own
tasering. or for these people to say MAYBE, JUST MAYBE, there is an issue here. and why the higher ups did not put there foot down on this. and with the higher ups supporting the cops, if this is not the very things that is losing the support they so stridently are demanding. "

where you got that i was talking about a student leaves me clueless. this is the post you responded to. i see in this post of yours you are picking up other things i have said in other posts. makes for confusion.




"no scenes to be made. eyes down. submit. be intimidated at all cost. no emotions. no mad, no angry, no frustrated, be the nice docile zombie. or receive punishment from our cops."

this is from another post and talking about my general feel that we are to behave. though you may feel it is hyperbole i do not. i could go into an argument on that, but i dont want to bother.

[NutmegYankee]

80. Post 72.

You seem to be avoiding the fact that I posted to comment that not all people who support a taser incident support this one. Some are justified, some are not.

My point. Take it or leave it.

[aikoaiko]

83. I'm one of those people who is often at odds with you in tasering threads.

And I can find nothing in this report to justify a tasering.

[seabeyond]

84. i am glad to hear. beyond the cops, for the boss to not do something

does more damage than what this single event will ever do. the boss man that did no disciplinary action against these police needs to be fired. he is the one that creates the atmosphere that his men/women work. it is that attitude that goes out on the street.

[Miss Chybil]

56. Why didn't they just shoot him while he was laying there?

Hey, the alarm went off and he could have been a burglar. Who would think he was sleeping in his own house. Pisha! They should have shot him. After all, this IS the United States of America.

/sarcasm

I hope Mr. Sleeping Home Occupant ends up a very rich man.

[Sugar Smack]

59. See? He wouldn't have put up as much of a struggle

if they'd shot him.

I hope he ends up a very rich man, too.

[Sugar Smack]

57. BAD BOYS, BAD BOYS, Whatcha gonna do?

If this had been caught on tape, would there be riots, or would people just be quietly outraged?

[NOLALady]

86. No riots.

Worse has happened (is happening) and there are no riots.

[SoCalDem]

64. Here's the thing.. Police who aim to arrest someone, often

wait until the wee hours of darkness, when even criminals must sleep. The BEST time to arrest someone, is when they are at their most vulnerable, so it's not unusual for a mob of cops to burst into an apartment/home, where everyone is sleeping. The suspect is unlikely to be awake enough to flee or to even resist.. The cops may have been planning this "take down" for days, if not weeks, and they are pumped up, and ready to "roll".. ANY deviation from their "plan" is likely to startle THEM, and that's when things go awry.


Flip this tactic on its head and you can see the difference..

A wealthy person is suspected of some crime, and has lawyers on retainer, or easily accessible.. These folks are either "invited" to come in to the station, or they are confronted at their home or workplace, in a courtesous manner..often accompanied with a rash of "Sir"s or "Ma'am"s... Their lawyer either meets them at the station, or they sit quietly while they wait for them to arrive.

These folks don't usually climb out a bathroom window and run away in their jammies, with cops chasing them..

The "underclass" will always be aggressively handled.. It's a chicken egg thing too.. Aggressive police make them more aggressive or is it the other way around..but then the criminals ( or assumed to be criminals) may be aggressive to start with and that makes police fear them more..

I think police departments love tasers because they think they are effective but non-lethal, so they can avoid killing people (and doing the paperwork that entails)..

The flaw in that thinking, is that people ARE dying because after all, it's electricity..y'know..like the old electric chairs??

Electricity and human bodies are not that compatible..some people live and some people die, and there's no way to tell in advance, which is which..

[seabeyond]

65. except it wasnt a take down. it was a silent alarm they responded too

and since they zaqpped a sleeping man, one would have to assume the cops figure the burgler broke in, layed on the couch and went to sleep, hence the immediate zapping of the man. who is to know.... but if they are breaking into peoples home in the middle of the night without warrant or evidence of crime, they had better damn well make sure the innocent are not murder thinking about an old lady in altanta that was shot dead in her bed

[RaleighNCDUer]

85. That seems to be the general idea.

It is less the actual tasing that is important than the threat of tasing anyone or everyone else. That's how they shut us down. Pick a few and make examples of them to terrify the rest - one of Naomi Wolf's ten steps to an authoritarian society.

[God23]

87. This country has reverted to a fascist/dictatorship society.

And no one has noticed yet.

[glowing]

88. I found this... its a few weeks old.. but its about an American Cop

being tased for a demonstration:

http://www.janes.com/news/lawenforcement/pr/pr071011_1_n.shtml

Officer injured in Taser demonstration

A roll-out of Taser for non-firearms-trained Met officers has been postponed after the Metropolitan Police Authority (MPA) vetoed the plan.

A police officer in the US who volunteered to be the subject of a Taser demonstration has suffered possibly lasting damage, including spine fractures after receiving a five-second discharge, according to a respected medical journal.

The 38-year-old victim was rushed by ambulance to hospital where a scan showed he suffered compression fractures in his spine caused by muscle spasms triggered by being Tasered in a training class.

Nine weeks after his injury he has continued to report significant pain


The site I looked at that referenced the article included this: Not sure if you must subscribe to get full details, or if they have been erased:

A police officer in the US who volunteered to be the subject of a Taser demonstration has suffered possibly lasting damage, including spine fractures after receiving a five-second discharge, according to a respected medical journal.

The 38-year-old victim was rushed by ambulance to hospital where a scan showed he suffered compression fractures in his spine caused by muscle spasms triggered by being Tasered in a training class.

On Edit: I'm not sure that the cops are all aware of the things that can happen... Otherwise, I doubt this cop would vollunteer for tasing.

[seabeyond]

90. i read another cop say he volunteered and he wished he hadnt.

that it was really bad. there wasnt anythng much more in it. but this is what i figure. people just do not see it as a big deal. i think of the pain, the loss of all control, the vulnerability and i see it as horrible.

[flashl]

93. Law enforcement officers' injuries and lawsuits

are the reason that requirement for mandatory participation during taser training is now voluntary.

[seabeyond]

95. thanks again. i had heard that all had to be zapped in the past. my son was telling

me that they had to today, but i didnt think so. so, these non harmful things to zap anyone and their brother and bothersome enough cops dont want to be zapped by them. i wish this would get out. a handful of people think it is less offensive than being thrown on the ground. i dont see it that way

[NuttyFluffers]

89. a paucity of taser defenders? perhaps this is the threshold for "abuse of authority"

so remember this folks: to stay in the clear with "the authoritarians" you must remain prone and unconscious in your own home. then you're on the side of right. anything else and you were probably asking for it.

i think i'm now going to take a nap and dream thoughts of Bush out of office... nyah, nyah, nyah, it's my non-violent protest. i'm just like gandhi or MLK jr, now.

:evilgrin:

[Vinca]

91. A police chief in a nearby town was just given the ax and part of the reason

was officers on the department using tasers on nonviolent protesters.

[seabeyond]

92. thank you i am so glad to hear that. though some may think i just go negative

on the police, they are wrong. what i want is for the issue to be addressed. this is addressing the issue. we need more people in authority holding departments responsible. i appreciate your post. now maybe who is head of this boss will get it and fire his ass, and suspend or fire the two cops. set boundaries. or pull the damn things.

[Vinca]

94. I used to be a cop and I'm horrified at how tasers are used

so casually. It can be more that just a zap, it can kill. The acceptability of torture at the very top seems to have seeped down to local law enforcement levels.

[seabeyond]

96. YOU.... make me so happy. YOU.... i value so much.

we need police like you in the force to help bring this issue forefront and deal with it. thank you for seeing citizens as more than criminal or animals to be zapped for any little thing. i appreciate it. when i have a cop with attitude, or trying to intimidate, i look in the eye. i am not so nice either. when i have a cop treat me like a person, then i am utmost respectful to the person. (all i get in trouble for is speeding. i am bad. not criminal, just bad). i am concerned i will be the one to be zapped because i was not humble enough, or intimidated enough. airports are an hairy place for me too.

anyway, i read posts from police that have this attitude and it really helps me a lot. i need, want to support the police. i just will not be a criminal or animal for them

[KG]

103. but, y'know, we don't live in a police state.

nope.

[CT_Progressive]

104. Why can't things like this happen to me? I want to retire today!

I dream of the billions (with a "B") I would get from my lawsuit...

/sigh