Woman Tasered In Front Of Customers At Best Buy

[Echo In Light]

Woman Tasered In Front Of Customers At Best Buy

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. -- In front of a crowd of customers, a Volusia County woman was shocked by a taser while she was trying to shop. The 35-year-old yoga instructor got so loud and irate inside a busy Daytona Beach store, a police officer tasered her.

The surveillance video from inside the Daytona Beach Best Buy has the American Civil Liberties Union up in arms. The police officer said she used the taser to calm the irate and upset woman down.Daytona Beach's police chief is defending his officer's actions. Chief Michael Chitwood said his officer acted appropriately when she tased an allegedly unruly customer at the Best Buy. The entire incident was caught on store surveillance.In the video, 35-year-old Elizabeth Beeland is visible as she allegedly causes a commotion at the entrance to the store after being confronted about the use of a suspect credit card that was actually her's. The video shows her waving her arms and appearing upset.As Beeland turns away, Officer Claudia Wright confronts her and then deploys her taser, striking Beeland in the abdomen."The woman is repeatedly told to cease and desist her conduct and activities. As the officer is trying to approach her, you can see her throw her hands up and her arms flailing. The taser is designed for incidents like that," Chitwood said.Neither Beeland nor her attorney spoke to Channel 9 about the incident, but the officer said Beeland was "verbally profane, abusive, loud and irate." Beeland was booked into the Volusia County jail.It was the first time a Daytona Beach officer has used a taser without actual physical confrontation or resistance."If the officer goes hands on and takes her down and she breaks her nose or breaks her jaw or knocks her teeth out of her mouth, well then it's, 'How come you didn't use the taser?'" Chitwood said.Beeland still faces the charges related to the incident, including disorderly conduct and resisting arrest.

http://mparent7777-2.blogspot.com/2007/12/woman-tasered-in-front-of-customers-at.html

[shadowknows69]

1. Public anger is a crime now huh?

I guess I'd better not go to the mall anymore.

[Deja Q]

3. But that will wreck our economy; don't you dare stay home!

[shadowknows69]

33. Fuck that

The economy will have to survive without me. I'm an openly cynical and outspoken person to begin with, which it seems in our society is apt cause to get your ass tasered. If I want 10,000 volts running through my body I'll stay home and chew on a power cord.

[Javaman]

120. with an attitude like that, I'm going to have to tase you! nt

[earth mom]

153. Yup Public anger is now a crime-the dude at Wendys said he was gonna call the police on me.

I complained about the cold fries and wanted my money back and he totally lost it when I said he was wrong the fries were cold because I was watching him the entire time, he told me to get out or he'd call the police. :wtf:

It was unreal. Forget the apology, or treating the customer with dignity and respect. These days, the customer is always WRONG.


We are officially living in a fascist country. :puke:

[shadowknows69]

160. Oh, I would have so gone to jail if I was in your shoes that day

That's why its better that I'm just a hermit for a while until this madness that has infected our country passes.

[earth mom]

165. Well, I've given up on the fast food, not that our family gets it that much....

The whole thing left a bad taste-pardon the pun-in my mouth.

And you know, becoming a hermit doesn't sound like a bad idea at all-that's probably what I will do too. Who needs this crap?!

And thanks for your reply. I almost didn't post what happened to me. I know I did nothing wrong, but it's how the guy reacted that really threw me and made me question myself afterward.

They are really messing with our minds you know?

1984.......

[FreeStateDemocrat]

182. You did a lot better than I would have done, I would have lost it & it isn't worth it.

[phantom power]

157. No kidding. And.... he used a taser to "calm" her? WTF???

This must be some new definition of "calm" that I'm not aware of.

[eib1]

162. It certainly is in a totalitarian state.

nt

[taterguy]

2. Serves her right for supporting a giant corporation

If people want liberty they need to stop putting money in the pockets of the ones who are most eager to enslave us

[Sanity Claws]

4. You are one cold dude.

[taterguy]

170. I'm just trying to help

Every good taser thread needs at least one "They deserved it" comment.

Otherwise these threads are no fun.

[tavalon]

178. And goodness knows,

taser threads need to be fun.

[Snarkturian Clone]

13. i'll just go to Uncle Bob's HDTV Emporium NT

[taterguy]

18. Or you could go outside

There's a big old beautiful world out there.

You don't need to give a giant corporation thousands of dollars just so you can sit on your couch and ogle plastic crap.

Go seek out something wonderful.

[Snarkturian Clone]

22. Ugh. Snob.

The funny thing is that there are these local electronic stores near me (everyone around here calls them the hoopty stores- I don't know what it means) that sell HDTV's. I COULD buy one there if I wanted to, but I would spend an extra $1000 and there would be no return policy or warranty (I guess they are honest, because it is nearly impossible to collect on a warranty or do a clean return at the big stores).

I'm just saying that there is a market of people who want that stuff for whatever reason and the big box stores are the only ones around that will give it to them. Just because they like something that you don't doesn't mean that they are evil. Of course, they shouldn't go around tazing people either.. probably not good for business for 2 reasons: 1) no one wants to get tazed, 2)If they pissed her off enough to get her that crazy, I don't want to shop there.

There's a big old beautiful world out there...

Go seek out something wonderful.

...said by someone sitting at a computer. Hey, I don't know.. maybe your system is made of twigs and berries.

[JVS]

28. Been there, done that, got the t-shirt. It sucked.

[LanternWaste]

43. It's a rare gift indeed

It's a rare gift indeed to have such an absolute knowledge of what we should or should not do...

[Dorian Gray]

81. I suppose

you're typing away on your computer out there?

LOL.

And I suppose you got your computer in some giant cave under a beautiful waterfall.

[0007]

96. Tell me more ol' holy one! Did you discover this by yourself?

[Touchdown]

154. Oh' so you give Nikon all your money instead?

Then...you need to give money to Sandisk or Kodak, Adobe, Epson, Epson's paper, and Epson's ink.;)

Look, I waste most of my fun money at the camera store being the sutterbig that I am, but don't for a minute tell me you took that picture with just a picnic basket full of chicken.

[bvar22]

186. That photo was taken by

An Olympus C160.D395 Digital Camera at 3:34PM on July 5th, 2004

The exposure was 1/263s @ F/6 ISO=50
It was saved in camera as a High Qualityjpg

No flash was used.

Download a free version of "Opanda" if you're interested.
:hi:

[taterguy]

193. If you're so smart, where was the photo taken?

[Rabrrrrrr]

192. Yeah - a great big world that's fucking ANALOG. Screw that.

:eyes:

Luddite.

[taterguy]

202. Fuck you

My analog world kicks your world's ass

[TheWatcher]

27. And When They Come For You.....

Will You Be Pleased If Someone Says, "Well, we could have spoken for him, but it Served Him Right."

:eyes:

[devilgrrl]

72. Oh, get off of your high horse!

Jesus H. Christ :eyes:

BTW, where did you get the computer you post from?

[taterguy]

171. Jesus H Christ right back at ya

Everyone knows I ride a bicycle, not a horse :evilgrin:

Not that it matters but my computer was a gift, I have no idea where it was purchased from

[devilgrrl]

173. Was the person who gave it to you tasered?

:P

[taterguy]

194. No

[devilgrrl]

201. So you're saying that they got it at Circuit City?

;-)

[tblue37]

175. I have never purchased a computer. Every one I have

ever had was given to me.

[Lorien]

166. Best Buy is blue. n/t

[TheUniverse]

188. And considering you are throwing the stones I assume you dont support any corporations

Which means you didnt post this on a computer made by a corporation or buy any food funiture housing supplies or anything else at a large corporation store, or even buy anything second hand that was made by a corporation...

[MadHound]

5. So much for talking with people

Cops are now going to listen to about two words of what a person has to say, and if they don't like where the conversation is going, or if they're late for lunch, they're going to tase the person.

Sad state of the country we're in, with shit like this. Sounds like the store gave her a major league hassle over a credit card and she was upset. She wasn't violent, she was just rude. There is no law against that, yet just when the suspect appeared to be going away, Officer Wright had to take it to an entirely different level.

Pretty soon anytime we step out of line, raise our voices, make life difficult for our corporate masters, we're going to be tased. Somewhere around here I saw an article about a prototype taser defense jacket. I might just have to get one.

[RedCappedBandit]

6. But, but.. she caused a COMMOTION!!!111!!`~

Don't you damn libruls understand! The government must use such force to protect you from yourselves! Oh you delicate little souls!!

:sarcasm:

Fuckin' blood boils every time I hear about shit like this..

[Pavulon]

42. Here are your choices as an officer..

The taser is a better choice.

[BB1]

47. none of the options is 'Talking'?

Hmm, funny. And they have the gall to proclaim to 'serve and protect'. Whom?

[Pavulon]

52. Talking comes first...

then an officer is required to arrest a person. They do not have an option to leave. Once that is going to happen a taser is a better option than a baton or a physical fight.

I have seen my drunk friends take a pretty good beating while resisting arrest.

You should speak to a police officer some time to understand what they do.

[BB1]

59. I do, quite regularly.

The problem is that I am a Dutch citizen, and therefor protected by the police, since they're the Dutch police force. And being a first world western country lioke the USA, I'm surprised the police doesn't have the same priorities everywhere.
We seem to have the same kind of voting-system, tax-system, religious aspects in society (albeit the empasis on religion is much greater at your place), but the police in the States is viewed the world over as brutal, vicious and good at random violence. As a ordinairy guy from Holland, I wonder if a cop is a cop is a bad cop in the States.

Once I met a Highway Patrol Trooper by the name of Donny Hesman (1995) who told me about the zero-tolerance policies they had. At the time I grew pot in my backyard, which my grand-ma would tend to while we were on a short vacation. Zero tolerance is not something we agree to. We have zero-tolerance for zero-tolerance.

Tell me, what do they do to serve and protect?

[Pavulon]

74. Like the police in Western Europe

they have laws and and are bound to enforce them. Some are jerks, no doubt. Most are doing their job as the law defines it.

Now some male police officers will tell you females are quicker to use force because they are not able to fight with a man.

However any fight with the police is bad for all involved.

Drug laws vary by state. Obviously what is legal in holland is illegal in the us or singapore.

Many police here work closely with the netherlands. They have the best K9 (dog) program in the world.

The elected officials here make the laws.

[uppityperson]

198. and the police decide how to interpet tham and enforce them.

Speaking of western europe, saw an interesting thing outside the Paris Notre Dame. 2 gendarmes separating and talking with a couple guys getting into it with each other. They took the 2 guys apart, talked with them, got them back together to talk. They argued. Gendarmes took the guys apart and talked with them, finally the 2 guys talked and worked things out with moderated help by gendarmes. 1 told me that they try to get them to work out their differences, otherwise the argument will continue and may escalate. Yes, it took 1/2 hour, but it got worked out.

So, talk first and no, it doesn't happen all the time. Too many cops see tasers as a way to not have to talk. I see tasers as a tool less lethal than a gun, but should not be used unless the only alternative is shooting someone.

[killbotfactory]

200. It isn't appropriate to use tazers on people who pose no danger to the police

and who's only crime is not "co-operating" or in this case, backing away from the cop in fright.

Unless you think people like Rosa Parks should have been tazed.

[awoke_in_2003]

87. "what do they do to serve and protect?"

the same thing our gov't does, US corporate interests.

[Kucinich4America]

142. Why is an officer "required" to arrest a person who has not commited a crime?

What was this woman guilty of? Maxing out a fucking credit card??

[Cronus Protagonist]

174. Refusing to leave the store?

Suspected of passing a fraudulent card? Just a thought, but I don't know for sure.

[MadMaddie]

181. Suspected but the card was hers...the store is at fault and she

should go after them.

These stores pay minimum wage and get what they pay for in most cases.

The individuals that actually have common sense are run off and find other jobs because of stupid shit like this.

[krispos42]

147. Nobody is arguing the point about being arrested

However the police are under an obligation to use minimum possible force againt a person. Tazers are not lethal, they are "less lethal". Although, like pepper spray and unlike a baton, they are usually binary in their damage: either you're fine afterwards, or you're dead. Pepper spray can cause a fatal allergic reaction in a small percentage of the population, and tazers have a similar problem.Baton use ranges from bruises to crushing injuries and internal organ damage.

The question is, was this necessary at the time this happened? Could the arresting officer have waited for backup to either intimidate the woman into giving up or grabbing her and pushing her up against a wall? Were all alternatives exhausted?

[Th1onein]

167. WHERE IS THE CRIME, THOUGH?

Where's the crime here? Did the officer even talk to the woman, to determine if a crime was being committed? I'd get a little pissed off, too, if someone accused me of having a stolen credit card.

There was no crime here. No reason to arrest. No resisting arrest. Are you resisting arrest BEFORE you get arrested? At what point was this woman under arrest? Was she even informed of her arrest?

This is bullshit and I hope she sues the hell out of the police department AND Best Buy. Fucking Nazis.

[truebrit71]

80. Yeah much better than talking...

..:eyes:

[Kucinich4America]

141. The HELL it is

At least when the billy club and the gun were the only options, MOST cops (with the exception of the LAPD and redneck sheriffs) probably would have attempted reasonable negotiations in a situation like this, where the woman obviously was not a physical threat to anybody. But with the tazer, it's increasingly becoming a case of "shoot first and ask questions later", because it's (supposedly) non-lethal force.

Well, sticking a fork in a 110 volt electrical socket probably won't kill most people either, but I really wouldn't recommend it.

Fuck this fascism, and fuck anyone who tries to justify it.

[Name removed]

7. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[BB1]

36. Right!

If there were more officers, all of them could have taken the woman outside to cool it off. There would have been no need to taser. If there was only one officer, why the hell didn't she get knocked over (accidently, of course) by a swaying customer overcome by the situation... And take out the surveillance camera on your way down as well.

[Echo In Light]

37. I don't know about that, but The People need to make an example of the thugs who...

Seek to make examples of us via FEAR ... to show them that, no, this is not acceptable, and if you persist, we kick stomp your ass like a narc at a biker rally :D

[EnviroBat]

46. Agree 150%

Any rent-a-cop who pulls that shit on me best kill me with it. If I get a shot, some pig is getting their jaw broke.

[Echo In Light]

63. Violence is always the last resort. But I agree. I'm very liberal but not passive n/t

[EnviroBat]

84. Me too. Not passive, and I don't fight with police when confronted.

If they are willing to explain the reason for attemting to subdue me, or if I'm being arrested for something other that the "flavor of the week" invented on the spot BS charges, no problem.

[maine_raptor]

8. Chief Michael Chitwood, eh?

If this is the same guy, Portland, Maine threw his ass out of the Police Chief's position a couple of years back and it had to do with something like this.

[eShirl]

12. Media Mike

wasn't he kicked out of Philadelphia before he came to Maine?
Something to do with police firebombing of MOVE headquarters? My memory's not so great lately...

[eShirl]

31. ah, it's his son

"In Charge In Daytona!" http://www.countywidenews.com/articles/2006/10/21/news/02chitwood.txt

"Chitwood's dad, another Michael Chitwood, has been frequently referred to as “Media Mike” - a title that also fits his quotable son. With more than 41 years in law enforcement, the senior Chitwood has appeared in connection with his police work on America's Most Wanted, Unsolved Mysteries and Larry King Live, and has testified before the U.S. Senate on policing issues.

Chitwood Sr. became best known for his work on the Ira Einhorn (“the Unicorn Killer”) and Henry Fahy cases. After receiving 70 commendations for his work as a Philadelphia police officer, Michael Chitwood Sr. left to become chief of police in Middletown Township, and moved on from there until he became chief in Portland, Maine. He has now returned to the Philadelphia suburb of Upper Darby as police superintendent."

[Gormy Cuss]

125. Yeah, chip off the old blockhead.

Sounds like junior was taught media handling by dear old Dad.

[xchrom]

9. damn -- that was harsh. nt

[NoPasaran]

10. Florida, eh?

Hmmmm

[JustABozoOnThisBus]

11. Use a taser to calm someone?

I gotta get me one of those.

It might enhance the yoga experience.

:rofl:

[Bassic]

14. I can't fucking believe

how fast some police resort to that thing. The ones who do are nothing but fucking pigs.

[DCKit]

15. By fascist standards a taser is now equivalent to a warm, fluffy blanket?

To calm her down????

Come to think of it, there may be plenty of highbrow fascists, but I've only ever been confronted by the kind that likes to carry weapons and dress up in uniforms. Dumbya must fall in-between the two extremes: Sometimes he do, sometimes he don't.

[ixion]

16. lawsuits for BestBuy, the cops, the city -- the lot of them

Tasers are debilitating, not 'calming'. To use them on someone who is frustrated is simply an abuse of power, pure and simple.

[bluerum]

17. Fear and dehuminization tactics. Is it facism yet?

[Buns_of_Fire]

19. Your new word of the day: Tasers will henceforth be referred to as "Calming Wands".

WWTD? (What Would Tinkerbell Do?)

[Echo In Light]

23. Just like how slaughtering Iraqis equates to their "liberation"

[maine_raptor]

24. Wrong Phrase!

The slaughtering Iraqis actually equates to "The Surge is Working".

Get with the Program, will ya?

:rofl:

[Echo In Light]

25. Auh...well, how Double Plus Ungood of me, to be sure...lol

[qanda]

20. Hold on! It was actually her credit card?

Unbelievable!!!!

[izzie]

21. Little power will go to any ones head and a 'rude' women is

almost as bad as a women learning to read in the Middle East. We must stamp out all these things bring our country down. The war of the taser gun is alive and well, and Miss Manners is dead and gone. I will not laugh about this crazy world as I am sure I helped make it. :spank: :spank: :spank:

[Vinnie From Indy]

26. I smell a lawsuit!

[flashl]

29. Wow, wonder where is this in the 'level of force' instruction manual?

"she used the taser to calm the irate and upset woman down"

[tinymontgomery]

30. So the next time

some high school student gets loud and obnoxious the teacher should pull out a taser and calm them down. I wonder how many parents that agree with the above situation would like their kid to get the same treatment.

[caraher]

137. A lot of teachers would love that, sadly

So my wife reports from her substitute teaching gigs. She's pretty appalled that they actually think it's funny to "tase" people and talk about all the kids that allegedly have it coming to them.

Seems we've become a rather sadistic nation in many respects.

[demnan]

32. It used to be "The Customer is Always Right"

Now I think with most of these retailers its "Fuck the customer, another one will come along and I could care less how I treat her, I don't get no stinking commission."

When I was young there was something known as "Customer Service". And if you had a complaint you could call and get a real human on the phone. An understanding human. My first job even was in Customer Service.

Now Best Buy insulted this woman's honesty. If she is a really honest person, maybe drank a bit too much over the holidays, is a bit stressed out, work or marital problems, etc. this could put her over the edge. It could put any of us over the edge. Look how over the edge this board is most of the time.

Also, is this a coincidence that it always seems to be a woman who is restrained inhumanly by police or a minority? You hardly ever hear of this happening with a white male. I'm reminded of the woman who killed herself at the airport. Are men in uniform really so afraid of women being angry now that they taser and torture us?

Too bad we no longer live in a civil society where people are presumed not to be criminals unless proven otherwise. That was a society I remember as a child, but its completely gone now. It's screw the customer, don't give satisfaction or a refund, because I'm just in this for myself.

[TreasonousBastard]

34. Everybody taking sides without seeing the tape or..

knowing anything more than this account.

OK.

So, tazing is probably out of line even if it was a huge enraged woman threatening a small woman cop who had no backup. But we don't know if that was the case.

Me, I understand losing it this time of year, and someone caught Beeland on a really bad day. But, there's something about a yoga instuctor losing it that badly that just doesn't make sense.

Anyway, Merry Christmas, muddafuggas. Have some more spirit.

[Echo In Light]

40. There's been many incidents like this lately. Hence it's noteworthy, esp...

In keeping with the Draconian mentality of our establishment's favored "post 9/11 world."

[jayfish]

44. Here's The Tape

Make sure you watch the whole thing

http://www.wftv.com/video/14900666/detail.html

Looks like it was a huge enraged woman cop threatening and eventually attacking a small woman. But hey, be as impartial as you want. :eyes: this shit is out-of-hand and people need to start defending themselves from these paid thugs.

Jay

[Echo In Light]

48. She's clearly backing her down like a schoolyard bully. Typical macho pig shit

These types don't give two shits about justice or fairness.

[Pavulon]

89. "Under Arrest, No way, f u, I'm leaving" ZAP...

does not work that way in the us. Or anywhere else for that matter..

[jayfish]

102. Your Delusional

The "officer" and the victim are face to face through the entire incident. The whole time the "officer" is backing the victim into the store. Can you put all of the canned justifications into a single post so they can be flushed in one swoop?

Jay

[Pavulon]

112. Judge gets that call

the beauty of the system. The SUSPECT is arrested. Just because she is backing up does not mean she can not be tazed.

I have seen gunfight video that look like that. Person backs up and draws a weapon.

Bottom line, you cant go nuts in public. Tape showed NOTHING before the incident.

She resisted arrest and got zapped.

[jayfish]

115. Well We Can Agree On that.

The judge gets the call part anyway.

Peace,

Jay

[Gormy Cuss]

138. Tape doesn't show her "going nuts" either.

If using profane language and yelling is going nuts half the drivers on the road should be arrested and tasered every day.

[truebrit71]

117. You heard that on the tape?

:eyes:

The pig overstepped her bounds and will get her ass handed to her...and not a moment too soon...

She physically intimidated and then assaluted an unarmed, physically non-threatening person...and you defend that activity...

Are you sure you're on the right board?

[truebrit71]

76. Wow, that's a pig that will soon be unemployed...

..absolutely ZERO reason for the taser use...I hope that woman sues the ever-loving shit out of that department...

[jayfish]

91. The Department Says It's All Good.

Don't they always though? Then there are just enough people like Pavulon around to ensure that nothing ever changes except to make things worse. It a great f'ing system.

Jay

[awoke_in_2003]

92. "that's a pig that will soon be unemployed"

not very likely. Even when caught on tape, pigs never pay a price.

[truebrit71]

95. Not 100% accurate...that one pig in Ohio (?) that zapped a woman on a traffic stop..

..wound up losing his job iirc...

[riverdeep]

123. On a different tack,

does Daytona have any physical fitness requirements for its police officers. If that woman were chasing a suspect that jumped a fence, well that suspect would be gone. I have known woman fire fighters that had to be, and were, in top physical condition and be able to lift and drag a certain amount, run a certain amount, etc. Why doesn't that stuff apply to police officers in Daytona?

Or is this beat the equivalent of a desk job?

[jayfish]

124. Why Be Physically Fit When She Can Just...

tase the shite out of someone for even looking like they'll run.

Jay

[barbtries]

105. i saw the tape.

it was a huge woman policeman chasing a woman in a circle then knocking her off her feet and cuffing her.
edit to add
http://www.wftv.com/video/14900666/detail.html

[eShirl]

35. See, the police officer's only two choices were to taser, or to tackle

Those are the only 2 possible ways to deal with the situation of someone waving their hands about in a store.

[Pavulon]

38. Choices are made

taser, incapacitates. Not PC

physical force, baton, asp, form tackle, .40 handgun round.

Results spiral fractures, broken bones, injured officers and suspects, and of course gunshot trauma leading to death.

Taser is a great thing for out of control people.

[Echo In Light]

41. And apparently it's quickly becoming a weapon of choice used inappropriately by authoritarians

[Pavulon]

45. Nope, You can't go nuts in public

it is illegal. When the police show up to arrest you and you fail to comply with orders the choices kick in.

This is the same in any country. You are safer not being involved in a fist fight with police.

You are definitely safer without a skull fracture, broken bones, or gunshot wounds.

Those are the rules, places without rules tend to be much worse.

[jayfish]

49. Watch The Fucking Video!

People like you make me sick.

Jay

[Pavulon]

54. Again You can not go nuts and not expect to be arrested

sorry. The police do not get to choose whom to arrest. Once that process starts, a person who fails to comply with verbal orders, the officer can use force to arrest a person.

A taser is less dangerous than a fight.

I saw the video. Officer is obviously ordering person to comply, person is not.

You dont know me.

Sick or not is you go nuts in public expect an arrest and then a trip to the drunk tank or a 3 day psyc eval.

Real word, opt in.

[Echo In Light]

55. Then here's to a world of NON COMPLIANCE! Propaganda world, opt out...

[Pavulon]

65. Sierra Leone. DPRC, Sudan

have programs all set up. A great free for all. Do whatever you want.

Western europe, most of asia, and north america have and enforce laws.

[jayfish]

67. Could You Refreash My Memory On What Law Was Being Inforces Here?

And don't feed me the "failure to comply" BS. That cop shouldn't have been in the womans face to begin with.

Jay

[Pavulon]

70. Disorderly Conduct, still illegal

like I said you cant go nuts in public. You are welcome to go nuts at home.

Them are the rules.

BTW every nation I have ever visited has a similar law.

[jayfish]

75. Did You See The Video?

I don't know what you see that qualifies as nuttiness from this woman but from what I can see in the video and from what I have read the officer instigated the entire incident and then escalated the situation to a point where it should not have been. The only crime committed here was assault with a deadly weapon on the part of this "police officer"

Jay

[Pavulon]

83. No audio, no context.. Pulp, but worthless.

So the police were called for a reason. Once a police officer informs you that you are going to be arrested you cant walk off, no matter how meek you act.

I would bet the officer instructed the woman and the woman did not comply.

[jayfish]

94. Audio Is Unnecessary And Context Is Provided By The Article.

It's more information than the officer had and you didn't have any problem with that.

Jay

[Pavulon]

109. Audio is key.

but I am sure someone heard the police officer inform the person they were under arrest, or issue verbal warning or orders.

I have no problem with a person being tazed while being arrested in place of a physical fight.

[ladjf]

133. Unable to see the video. What type of player is required to

view it?

[jayfish]

135. Windows Media player.

Probably best to open the link in IE and see what happens. I sometimes have trouble viewing embedded video with browsers other than WMP.

Jay

[truebrit71]

82. No-one except the fascist pig went nuts in the video I saw...

...but please feel free to defend the oppressors... :puke:

[Pavulon]

86. Please..No context, no audio.

you saw a few seconds of an incident. Not what led up to it, nothing useful.

However, when the police inform you that you are under arrest you cant walk off.

[truebrit71]

97. ..and you know that it was the customer was being informed of how?

Oh, that's right, from the pig's report...

:eyes:

[Pavulon]

107. I am sure no one on scene

heard anything...Pig is such a funny word. Grouping lots of people into a term. Generally frowned on by educated people.

Police never issue verbal orders.

[truebrit71]

118. No i'm pretty sure that "everyone on scene" ie PIG and store employees heard the exact same thing...

...it'll be up to other witnesses to correct the "official" line...

Police never issue verbal orders? How do they do their jobs then? By telepathy?

I'm sure there are really nice policemen out there, but this one is a pig...

[dionysus]

130. so how long have you been on the force?

[jayfish]

66. You Know What, I Take It Back

You don't make me anymore sick than a bunch of cows lead to the slaughter. I think I actually feel sad for folks like you. It's conditioning and you have been conditioned to comply. The gears of the police state will continue to turn just fine with the lubricant provided by your ilk.

Jay

[Pavulon]

71. My neighbors

are the police state. I have done PLENTY of dumb shit. Have interacted with the police many times. Been arrested, but always complied with reasonable things like "lie face down and place your hands behind your back, etc"

Sorry. You are living in a different world.

[truebrit71]

79. You obviously saw a different video to me...the pig got in her face..

...the customer was backing away (because the pig was threatening her) and then the customer got zapped..

The only person that was acting nuts was the facist pig assaulting the customer..

Reality. Opt in.

[Gidney N Cloyd]

104. "The police do not get to choose whom to arrest."

:rofl:
You never heard of "Hat Days" like we have around Chicago, then. Or getting pulled over on a DWB.

[Echo In Light]

51. And most cops would use that justification to cover their every crime

And how is it that this woman went "nuts?"

I'm guessing you have friends or family who are cops.

[Pavulon]

56. Nope, but

I knew many from the NG. Most were reasonable people.

Police have a difficult job. Dealing with drunk, stoned, and the mentally ill. Along with regular assholes.

Tasers reduce the chance of injury of both parties. Ask a doctor what a baton break is.

[Echo In Light]

60. "I knew many from the NG." = explains your position 110%

Not saying they're all semi-retarded authoritarians who become sexually excited over wielding power over others and inflicting injury upon them ... but there are way too many incidents of abuse...and worse.

[Name removed]

68. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[jayfish]

73. That's Not How It Works.

I don't have to like them ever! ...for anything! But when I call they sure as hell better respond. It's called tax money and I pay it to the city the state and the federal government for these services. Are they to receive some special consideration because they chose a line of work they cannot handle?

Jay

[Pavulon]

78. Good luck with that..

Police enforce laws. Dont like a law, call your elected reps. The police are not responsible for the rules they enforce.

[uppityperson]

197. Police ARE responsible as to HOW they enforce rules, or IF they enforce rules.

Don't like a cop? Let the chief of police know.

[Madam Mossfern]

61. I beg your pardon?

I have heart issues.
If I were tasered, I would die.

[Pavulon]

69. So if you were hit with a baton

pepper sprayed or form tackled you would be better off? The person refused to comply, and was arrested.

Come on.

[earth mom]

158. By who's definition is someone nuts?

The woman had a right to be pissed off and upset, then they added insult to injury and tased her.

I had something similar happen, though I didn't go off like her. However, I was threatened that the police would be called if I didn't leave because the bully behind the counter couldn't take the stress of working in a fast food place and decided to take it out on me.

If you can't see that these tactics are wrong, just wait until they come for you someday. Because if we allow this kind of crap to continue, you will see so many rules and regulations coming out your ears that you will be thrown in jail for walking on the wrong side of the street! :puke:

[symbolman]

180. Every country, eh?

Ever heard of England? Cops with No Guns? Yeah, they dealt just fine for hundreds of years..

What kind of a nut are you? If cops decided to beat people with fucking toasters you'd be right here defending them.. What this PIG did (and that word is making a comeback thanks to ridiculous actions like this) is INDEFENSIBLE, period.

All you do is excuse these hateful assholes on every thread where this kind of injustice appears...

Police Chief?

[Kucinich4America]

144. "out of control people"???

Yes, god forbid that someone might get a little upset if they were doing last minute christmas shopping and their credit card went tits up. :eyes:

Where the FUCK is the crime here? Aside from a fat pig using excessive force, that is.

[acmavm]

39. Best Buy is a hole. They used to throw people out of there if there

were as suspicion that they had just come from Nebraska Furniture Mart. They ejected anyone who they suspected as being a 'comparison shopper'. It was quite the scandal when they had a guy arrested who refused to leave their shitty establishment because 1) they didn't know what the hell they were talking about and 2) because he felt that the store was open to the public and he was part of that public.

[Jeff In Milwaukee]

50. This is ridiculous...

Officers need to be trained that tazering someone can be just as deadly as shooting them. I've got no problem if a person is being violent or struggling to resist arrest (Don't Taze Me, Bro -- that guy should have been tazers just for being a white guy using the word "Bro"), but using a tazer as a way to make somebody shut up is both dangerous and excessive.

[LostinVA]

53. An officer should think of a Taser as a GUN

If they wouldn't use a firearm in that situation, then they shouldn't use a Taser. A Taser isn't to "calm down" someone or a situation. Officers are taught ways -- both verbal and physical -- to do this (including pepper spray). I was never a cop, but I dated and lived with one for three years.

Outrageous. I'm starting to think Tasers should be banned for law enforcement, period.

[Pavulon]

62. Tasers in place of a fight

are a good thing. Any time a person gets into a fight with police both run the risk of serious injury.

Instead of a fight a taser in SOME situations is a good thing.

[Echo In Light]

64. You're failing to acknowledge that this wasn't one of those instances n/t

[LostinVA]

85. Thanks for replying -- I can't see the post

It sounds like I'm glad I can't!

[Pavulon]

90. You can't opt out of an arrest..

If you try expect t o be tackled, zapped, maced, etc..

Does no one teach this stuff.

[uppityperson]

128. as you say "SOME" situations. But not all.

This situation looks like one in which it was NOT necessary. And you seem to want to argue.

[Nihil]

57. "In-store entertainment hits a new low at Best Buy!"

:evilgrin:

[jeffrey_X]

58. I need to calm down....can somebody taser me?

thanks.

[flvegan]

77. What's up with shitty security cameras?

I've never understood why video that stands little more than to be for evidence at some point, is shot by the shittiest equipment available. $50 webcams shoot in better resolution than that. Best Buy allegedly sells some high end-ish stuff, yet their own security equipment sucks.

[EnviroBat]

88. Do we have to start wearing stuff like this in public/

http://no-contact.com

This version is for self-defense, but I imagine it could be modified using protective panels, (similar to the ones installed in motorcycle jackets), to stop the penetration of the taser barbs. So far this model has been marketed towards women. I think they should make them in all sizes. If a cop is being reasonable, calm the fuck down, and comply with them. Unfortunately these days, it seems as if cops are adopting a tase-first, answer questions never mentality.

WE HAVE A RIGHT TO DEFEND OURSELVES AGAINST MORONIC, THUGGISH POLICE. Stand up for yourselves for Christs-sake!

[boricua79]

93. If she was a Yoga instructor...why didn't she take few DEEP

breaths, and calm the hell down? Isn't that what Yoga teaches...Kriya breathing to relax and release stress.

That's one Yoga teacher I wouldn't go to.

[truebrit71]

98. Aaah, so it's the unarmed VICTIM'S fault now?

Brilliant!

:eyes:

[Pavulon]

108. Now that she is arrested she is a suspect

not a victim.

Disorderly Conduct..

[truebrit71]

116. Arrrested on specious grounds and will most likely be thrown out...

...just in time for a nice fat lawsuit and one ex-pig hitting the unemployment lines...

[Ignis]

139. It's just a good thing she wasn't riding a bike.... (nt)

[boricua79]

204. you're right...otherwise...VROOOM!!

[boricua79]

203. Not even responding to your bait

move along, shortround.

[L0oniX]

99. I threw a fit at a Best Buy too but it was before tasers were being used

Damned store advertises special sale stuff and then only stocks 5 items so if you are not the first one at the doors when it opens you won't get the deal. It's a bait and switch scheme to get you into the store. In my situation they did get me an equivalent deal but only because other observers piped up and said the same thing had happened to them at Best Buy stores. As for the asscarrot war pig, you can expect much more of this as time goes on. If you haven't noticed by now, we live in a fascist country.

[0007]

103. Best Buy is the worse of the worse. They have the dumbest help

and their policy is to fuck you at any cost.

BEST BUY CAN KISS MY ASS

[riverdeep]

121. Well, the problem is the alternatives in most places.

Best Buy is very often the only game in town. That or maybe Wal-mart. How would you like that shit sandwich?

[0007]

206. Wal Mart and Best Buy are on the same level.

They both serve 'Hot Shit Sandwich' to alternative fools.

[BuelahWitch]

148. I almost went to work there one year, as Xmas help

When I had my interview the manager was such a pig that I decided I didn't want to work for them. Bragging how he could fire someone with seniority anytime he wanted and hire a temp like me in their place. :puke: I think he was trying to impress me in some way, but it worked just the opposite.

[0007]

205. Good for you!

[barbtries]

114. i had a semi melt down in a best buy too

clerks who knew less than me about the store policy. i've always heard that the squeaky wheel gets the grease and sometimes being docile and compliant is not really advisable especially when you ARE RIGHT. it was her card - who wouldn't be pissed?

every new story and video makes me feel that much more uneasy about the direction our society is moving in. and still the bushies remain. eh, eh

[HiddenInVA]

100. Dang........

That's all kind of f*'d up....

I'd love to hear the officer explain her reasoning for the escalation of force. Must be a heck of lot
different than when I went through it last time....

Whatever happened to talking and trying to verbally get the person to calm down w/o escalating the
incident even further? Sad..... I've been in situations where I would have technically been cleared
to reach for the OC, but I talked it out, and am glad for it.

Looks like somebody got on a "Don't question my authoritah!!" power-trip.....:-(

[bdamomma]

101. taser use should be made illegal.

so violence is the answer for everything, what would have happened if that woman had a heart condition?? these cops are going overboard on this tasering shit. Is that their answer for handling cases such as this??? they use it on kids, the elderly, pregnant women, this is totally uncalled for.

[Mika]

106. Incomplete headline. Should be - Woman Tasered and Arrested In Front Of Customers At Best Buy

The store fucked up with the " confronted about the use of a suspect credit card that was actually her's " crap in the first place.

For this, waving her arms and appearing upset, she get tazed AND arrested.


Chilling.


Are we getting close to pitchforks and torches yet?

[Guaranteed]

110. Simply "calming someone down" is abusing the taser.

Unless she was threatening violence, it was entirely excessive to be using that level of force against her. The taser is a step above the nightstick, anyway.

Police definitely need more training with this thing.

[FlyingSquirrel]

111. If all they wanted to do was calm her down... how bout a tranquilizer gun?

[Kucinich4America]

145. At least that would be more humane than fucking electrocution.

Might even be worth it if the drugs were good.

[karlrschneider]

113. Looks like a gorilla escaped the zoo and grabbed that woman

judging from the video...

[mmonk]

119. The sad thing about watching that is how nobody around

the scene seems particularly alarmed. Acceptance is settling in.

[villager]

122. Interrupting "the right to shop:" America's new highest crime

n/t

[riverdeep]

126. Does that officer technically have the right here?

Probably. The way the codes are written she probably does. But that doesn't mean she handled it well. Of course, when dealing with a cop, you should be as docile and cooperative as possible. Why? Because getting mad at a cop will do nothing. That's why. It's a pragmatic issue. It's like getting mad at a cashier for store policy. You want the higher ups. Let the cop do what they're going to do, even if it's unfair. Don't give them a reason for making it worse. Then, when you're on even ground, deal with it there. Like this guy did-

A CIRCUIT CITY shopper who was arrested after refusing to show his receipt or identification will have the record of his arrest expunged, he's reported on his bog (sic).

It turned out he was within his rights under black letter Ohio law. In Ohio at least, one really doesn't have to show a copper one's identification just for breathing in public.

http://www.theinquirer.net/en/inquirer/news/2007/09/22/ohio-man-prevails-in-circuit-city-arrest

However, a cop should know how to de-escalate situations because they will run into them all the time. Being macho, isn't always the best strategy. There certainly are times when making it clear who's in charge is warranted, but this situation could be done differently. In this case, it looks like simply not following the lady, but giving her some space, letting her get it out of her system, could have made a difference. There certainly wasn't any physical threat to anyone's safety here. And why exactly were they keeping her around anyway, after it was determined her card was hers, let her go.

[Indy Lurker]

127. All depends on police policies

http://www.commondreams.org/archive/2007/12/20/5927/

Daytona Beach Police Department policy states an officer can deploy his or her Taser “for the purpose of subduing a violent, noncompliant or combative subject.”

The officer should have attempted to cuffed her for disorderly conduct, and if she resisted, the officer should then have escalated the use of force. (of course it's easy to Monday Morning QB)



From what I've just been reading, even in the kindest police policies, you can expect the following:


If you do not comply with verbal instructions, an officer will attempt to physically force you to comply, (such as trying to pull your arms behind your back for cuffing. If you resist or pull away, you will be knocked to the ground, and then cuffed. If you try to push away instead of simply resisting (or even pulling away), it's seen as an attack on the officer, and opens you up to a baton, Taser, or pepper spray.

Most policies however, only distinguish between Deadly Force, and Less-Lethal Force, leaving discretion up to the officer.


Here's a typical police dept policy.


3 Parameters for Use of Less-Lethal Force:

1. Where deadly force is not authorized, officers should assess the incident in order to determine which less-lethal technique or weapon will best de-escalate the incident and bring it under control in a safe manner.
2. Officers are authorized to use department approved less-lethal force techniques and issued equipment for resolution of incidents to protect themselves or another from physical harm, or bring an unlawful situation safely and effectively under control. Neck restraints or similar weaponless control techniques with a potential for serious injury or death shall not be used.

4. Training and Qualifications:

1. Deadly weapons: Ref. Policy B-7
2. Less-lethal force weapons and methods:
1. An officer is not permitted to use a less-lethal weapon unless qualified in its proficient use as determined by training procedures.
2. In-service training for less-lethal weapons will be conducted biennially.
3. The following issued less-lethal weapons are authorized: ASP baton, OC spray and Taser.



----------------

Here's a very detailed policy from LAPORTE COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE that gives examples.



The list of Deputy responses is NOT intended to be in any specific order, but reflects on
the amount of resistance encountered. The Deputy will choose the necessary response to
gain control of the situation based on Sheriff’s Office policy, his physical capabilities,
perception, training, and experience.

---

Action-Response Use of Force Continuum
These options are listed from the lowest levels of resistance to the highest levels of
resistance.


Suspects Actions
Not responding to commands Verbal or physical danger cues

Deputy’s Responses
Balance displacement, escort or come along techniques, assistance from other Deputies, verbal or
Physical Commands, and Deputy Presence.



Suspects Actions
Pulling away from the Deputy
Refusing to move or dead weight

Deputy’s Responses
Striking nerve motor points or muscle masses, take downs, Joint manipulations, or pressure Point compliance.



Suspects Actions
Wrestling with Deputy OR Pushing the Deputy

Deputy’s Responses
Striking structural areas, mace or pepper spray (OC), electrical Devices, and Baton Restraints



Suspects Actions
Striking or kicking Deputy

Deputy’s Responses
Baton techniques



Suspects Actions
Weapons used against Deputy OR Attempting to disarm a Deputy OR Life threatening weaponless assaults (Car)

Deputy’s Responses
Deadly Force

[uppityperson]

129. Newest addition to Baby Shower presents: Tasers!

Baby getting upset? Taze him! Whiny toddler? Taze her! Wooohoo!!!

[yodermon]

131. ROFL! "she used the taser to calm the irate and upset woman down"

Good grief, tasers don't calm people down. They subdue and incapacitate, which it did in this case, but "calm down"? Please.

Does she smack her screaming 2-year-old to make her stop screaming, too?

[Beelzebud]

132. We are livestock to the rulers. Cattle. To be bred for service.

When you can be tortured (electric shock is torture in civilized countries) for being angry, this country isn't worth fighting for.

[earth mom]

163. Bingo. Stick a fork in this country, it's done. nt

[Xenotime]

134. Elizabeth Beeland will be Best Buy's new CEO

[Subdivisions]

136. So, did she touch or threaten anyone or is getting pissed a

crime now?

[Indy Lurker]

143. Florida Law

Disorderly Conduct Statutes

877.03 Breach of the peace; disorderly conduct.--Whoever commits such acts as are of a nature to corrupt the public morals, or outrage the sense of public decency, or affect the peace and quiet of persons who may witness them, or engages in brawling or fighting, or engages in such conduct as to constitute a breach of the peace or disorderly conduct, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor of the second degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082 or s. 775.083.

History.--s. 1, ch. 59-325; s. 1147, ch. 71-136; s. 2, ch. 86-174.







509.143 Disorderly conduct on the premises of an establishment; detention; arrest; immunity from liability.--

(1) An operator may take a person into custody and detain that person in a reasonable manner and for a reasonable time if the operator has probable cause to believe that the person was engaging in disorderly conduct in violation of s. 877.03 on the premises of the licensed establishment and that such conduct was creating a threat to the life or safety of the person or others. The operator shall call a law enforcement officer to the scene immediately after detaining a person under this subsection.

(2) A law enforcement officer may arrest, either on or off the premises of the licensed establishment and without a warrant, any person the officer has probable cause to believe violated s. 877.03 on the premises of a licensed establishment and, in the course of such violation, created a threat to the life or safety of the person or others.

(3) An operator or a law enforcement officer who detains a person under subsection (1) or makes an arrest under subsection (2) is not civilly or criminally liable for false arrest, false imprisonment, or unlawful detention on the basis of any action taken in compliance with subsection (1) or subsection (2).

(4) A person who resists the reasonable efforts of an operator or a law enforcement officer to detain or arrest that person in accordance with this section is guilty of a misdemeanor of the first degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082 or s. 775.083, unless the person did not know or did not have reason to know that the person seeking to make such detention or arrest was the operator of the establishment or a law enforcement officer.

[jayfish]

149. I Don't Know What Your Trying To Say By Posting That But...

509.143,(1,)(2),(3)and(4) do not apply here. The key words to look at are "and" & "created a threat to the life or safety of the person or others". The word "and" is inclusive. It means that in order for 509.143 to have force the perpetrator of 877.03 must have "created a threat to the life or safety of the person or others" I don't think a reasonable bystander would have perceived a threat to life or safety. having said that the operator of the store and the arresting officer have no protection.

Now as for 877.03. That law looks like it was written by George Bush the same day he tried to give a definition of sovereignty. I don't see how it could be enforced. Flatulence sounds like a violation of 877.03.

Jay

[Indy Lurker]

187. Mostly I was refering to 877.03

509.143 was with it and I thought it might be of some interest.

Disorderly conduct laws such as 877.03 are common for most places.

and used every day.

The Illinois law written in 1961 is as follows:

(720 ILCS 5/26‑1) (from Ch. 38, par. 26‑1)
Sec. 26‑1. Elements of the Offense.
(a) A person commits disorderly conduct when he knowingly:
(1) Does any act in such unreasonable manner as to alarm or disturb another and to provoke a breach of the peace; or...




Causing a public disturbance is illegal.

Doing it in front of an officer who is sworn to uphold the law (including 877.03) is really stupid.

What I'm trying to say is that the woman was in the wrong, and should have complied with the officer.

You can not ignore a lawful order by a police officer. Even if the officer is in the wrong, you must comply. There are other methods to address police misconduct.


The officer can not walk away, she had to arrest this woman.
Did the officer use too much force, probably, but it was not illegal, as the woman was not complying.


Should the officer be disciplined, probably, but that is up to a review board.

[jayfish]

190. I Disagree With Your Interpretation, But...

we won't know until a case comes to trial.

Jay

[Kucinich4America]

140. Geezus.... I've seriously considered buying a gun during the last 7 years because of the Freepers

...Now I might have to get one to protect myself from tazer-happy pigs.

[Nailzberg]

146. Really? My Best Buy was sold out of tasers!

That's just my luck. I hate the holidays.

[Dudley_DUright]

159. My Best Buy has free demonstrations,

since unfortunately mine is exactly the one where this poor woman was tasered. You would think with all the bike week and spring break experience the local cops have, they would be better at handling these types of situations. :-(

[killbotfactory]

150. They are trying to make everybody scared to protest anything

So many of these incidents could be avoided if people were treated with the slightest bit of dignity and respect.

It is not appropriate to tazer someone just because they are upset and making a scene.

[goodgd_yall]

155. Absolutely! n/t

[Kurovski]

151. Merry Christmas, baby Jesus.

[Ignis]

156. Baby Jesus best not cry too loud in that manger...

Or he's gettin' tased for disorderly conduct!

[Kurovski]

161. Evidently.

This taser crap is a pretty ominous message over-all, IMO.

[goodgd_yall]

152. I could just see this happening to a friend of mine

She speaks up to store personnel including managers. All she does is talk and because she's not a passive sheep people sometimes overreact. Speaking up for your rights is considered a dangerous thing is this culture.

I say this woman probably had a good reason to be upset and, as usual, god forbid you don't just mosey along like a little scared puppy dog with its tail between its legs, you'll have the police called on you.

The other thought too is, some people have PTSD or other emotional problems. Cops need to learn how to recognize the signs and understand how to deal with that kind of person.

I find this trend of calling force on people for talking and confronting store personnel absolutely disturbing.

[Desertrose]

164. We're just livestock......

herded to the proper place to spend our money...or credit.

"Don't disrupt the shopping" is the new motto......

baaaa baaa .....moooo mooo...

[RamboLiberal]

168. I'll go with Jonathan Turley's opinion on this case

What is incredible is the response of Chief Chitwood who stated that his officer acted appropriately. “The fact that she (Beeland) was resisting and not following commands being given by a uniformed officer, that means that officer eventually was going to get hurt.” Wow. So anytime a citizen does not follow a command, an officer will eventually be hurt unless they act to subdue the individual with a Taser shot? It is little surprising that Taser abuse occurs under Chitwood who seems to believe that noncompliance with an order is the same as a threat against an officer.

http://jonathanturley.org/2007/12/21/video-yoga-instructor-tasered-for-being-loud-and-profane/

I'm betting the charges against this woman will be dropped and I'll bet she may get some $$$$s in settlement from Daytona and/or Best Buy. To me this was an abuse of power by the police officer. That woman was no threat to her.

[bemildred]

169. The yoga instructor is going to be rich. nt

[RamboLiberal]

172. Apparently what caused her to walk away was some bad news

That afternoon when Beeland suddenly walked away from her transaction, leaving her credit card behind at the cash register, she had received an upsetting telephone call from her husband about their child, said Beeland's attorney, William Chanfrau Jr.

Distraught, she walked outside to speak to him more privately, forgetting for that moment about her card and her purchase, he said.

"She fully intended to go back inside and finish making her purchase," Chanfrau said.

http://www.news-journalonline.com/NewsJournalOnline/News/Headlines/frtHEAD01122007.htm

So maybe she wasn't just an ahole and irrational - perhaps whatever was said on the phone upset her. And who among also wouldn't be upset to be suddenly accused of being a thief?

I remember a few years ago at a restaurant I eat at frequently the waitress sat down in my booth and said to me - "did you forget to pay your check the last time you were here". Well after being stunned I remembered that the asst mgr or mgr trainee who checked me out the last time I was there was having a helluva problem getting the bill through the computerized register. But as I drove home after that confrontation I was stewing more and more and getting pissed by basically being accused of being a thief. I sent off an email to the company HQ explaining that problem and what the waitress accused me of - and to their credit I did get a phone call and apology from the restaurant manager. Plus coupons for a free meal. Also I never saw that waitress again at that restaurant.

[proud2BlibKansan]

176. "a suspect credit card that was actually her's."

What are we becoming in this country?

[tavalon]

177. Those police are having way too much fun with their new toy

I think we need to take it away and send them to time out!

[tblue37]

179. Everyone needs to watch the damned video.

The woman is standing at the counter, probably yelling (I don't have any sound on the video), but then the cop comes out and gets very aggressive with the woman. The woman backs up and keeps backing up as the cop comes after her and after her, very aggressively. Finally the woman turns to leave the store, and the cop tases her.

All the aggression is by the cop, not by the woman. All the woman does is back up to escape what looks like imminent violence from an aggressive cop coming after her for no reason. No doubt the woman raised her voice (I know I would have, too!). But the cop does way more arm-waving than the woman, who mainly sems to be raising her arms partway in a "What they heck?" gesture. The cop is the one who keeps after her as she backs up. The COP escalates the situation and attacks the woman. It was clearly an unprovoked assault.

Oh, this is going to be a very nice lawsuit. Best Buy is so screwed, and so is that stupid cop. Go ACLU, go! That woman won't have to teach yoga or anything else from now on if she doesn't want to. She is going to be very, very rich.

Good for her. These cops are so dumb they keep forgetting that surveillance videos will show what they really do. I think the cops get so excited, so adrenaline pumped, that they just forget that there are surveilance cameras and people all over the place with cell phones who can take videos of them.

[killbotfactory]

183. In almost every incident like this the cop escalates the situation

What is worse is when they tazer someone, and then immediately order them to get up. When the person is incapable of standing or needs a moment to think because they just got electrocuted, they tazer them again.

[BlueIris]

184. Ding, ding, ding.

[K Gardner]

195. That was my take on it too, and therefore we are collectively right :-)

[tblue37]

185. Have you seen this example of fine customer service by brilliant Best Buy employees

This happened in 2005. Notice that Baltimore County police spokesman Bill Toohey thinks that 9/11 changed everything. Be very afraid--the terrorists might get their hands on $2 bills!:

A man trying to pay a fee using $2 bills was arrested, handcuffed and taken to jail after clerks at a Best Buy store questioned the currency's legitimacy and called police.

<snip>

After Best Buy personnel reportedly told Bolesta he would not be charged for the installation of a stereo in his son's car, he received a call from the store saying it was in fact charging him the fee. As a means of protest, Bolesta decided to pay the $114 bill using 57 crisp, new $2 bills. As the owner of Capital City Student Tours, the Baltimore resident has a hearty supply of the uncommon currency. He often gives the bills to students who take his tours for meal money.

<snip>

"She looked at the $2 bills and told me, 'I don't have to take these if I don't want to.' I said, 'If you don't, I'm leaving. I've tried to pay my bill twice. You don't want these bills, you can sue me.' So she took the money – like she's doing me a favor."

<snip>

Bolesta was taken to the lockup, where he sat handcuffed to a pole and in leg irons while the Secret Service was called. . . . Commenting on the incident, Baltimore County police spokesman Bill Toohey told the Sun: "It's a sign that we're all a little nervous in the post-9/11 world."

http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=43685

[superkia]

189. Did the officer even warn her that she would taser her if she...

didn't comply or did she do like some of the other videos and pull it out first thing so she could zap someone. It causes a scene and it teaches those who witnessed it to never disobey! More tazering YAY, I cant wait until I get electrocuted for being a citizen.

[K Gardner]

191. I just saw a video of this on my Local News.. unless of course

there are TWO women who have been tasered at Best Buy - and the woman was doing nothing but backing away from the officer, who had confronted her. This narrative stated the woman had left her credit card at the counter and stepped outside to use her cell phone. It was very bizarre, but I'm definitely avoiding Best Buy.

[THUNDER HANDS]

196. as someone who's worked in retail

i can tell you i've met a few customers I'd like to taser.

why can't people just remain calm? really, it's freaking shopping, not the end of the world.

[LittleClarkie]

199. Conversely, if you taser her and she dies of a heart attack

then it's, "How come you did use the taser?"

That argument can be used both ways.