Chattanooga Police Department Declines to Charge Officer ...

[meegbear]

Who Allegedly Threw a 71-Year-Old Man to Floor and a Good Samaritan Through a Glass Door

The Chattanooga Police Department has decided that an officer who assaults two people, including pushing one through a plate glass window, will not be criminally charge. Det. Kenneth Freeman is truly a free man after, on Christmas Eve, shoving 71-year-old Wal-Mart greeter Bill Walker to the ground. Why? Because he was asking for a receipt check. Freeman then reportedly shoved Gholom Ghassedi through a glass door when he tried to assist Walker. The police routinely charge people with battery and resisting arrest if they touch the sleeve of an officer. Even hugging an officer or passing gas near an officer has led to a charge of assault. Yet, the Chattanooga Police Department can’t imagine what it would charge Freeman with after assaulting an elderly man and shoving a good samaritan through a glass door.

Collegedale Judge Kevin Wilson reviewed the complaint filed by Walker and decided that there was no room for an assault charge.

Walker said an alarm went off when Det. Freeman and another city police officer, Edwin McPherson, were leaving the store. He tried to stop Freeman and pushed against a soft drink machine and to the floor. He said the officer then stood over him in a threatening manner as he lay on the floor.

A customer, Gholom Ghassedi, then told Freeman, “You can’t push down an old man” and began struggling with him only to be shoved through a glass door. He was bleeding from his neck when officers arrived.

Cpl. Larry Robbins Jr. of the Collegedale Police said he decided not to bring assault charges against Det. Freeman because the incident was a misdemeanor not committed in the presence of an officer — not counting the officer doing the beating of course. He further insisted that, since Gholom Ghassedi, did not seek medical attention, it did not meet that criteria. Finally, he explained “there were no other crimes committed along with the possible simple assault.”

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http://jonathanturley.org/2009/01/10/freeman-chattanooga-police-department-declines-to-charge-officer-who-threw-a-71-year-old-man-to-floor-and-a-good-samaritan-through-a-glass-door/

[Solly Mack]

1. Damn

Fucked up and then some

[crim son]

2. Vile.

I know most cops are good. Does that mean we should excuse the crimes of the rest of them?

[MadHound]

4. I wouldn't assume that most cops are good anymore

The evidence, both anecdotal and otherwise, is showing that right now there's somewhere around a fifty-fifty split, and the good ones are on the decline. That's one of the major reasons that my cousin, a career officer, decided to take early retirement.

[tularetom]

7. My son says anybody who really WANTS to be a cop should never be allowed to become one

He worked for the local PD for about 5 years and left because he got so fed up with the racism, contempt for citizens, and outright corruption he witnessed on a daily basis.

The system punishes those who want to do a good job and rewards the slackers, sadists and bullies.

[olegramps]

10. Your assumption is just that; an assumption

The fact of the matter is that the vast majority of police are skum bags that are drawn from the dregs of mankind. They are the former schoolyard bullies and class dimwits whose only aspired to make their revolting behavior authorized. Every time they have been given the authority to beat people they have shown no restraint. Go look at the videos of the Freedom Marchers and the Chicago Democratic Convention if you need further proof.

[LostinVA]

15. Having dated a cop for three years and gotten to know a bunch of cops

BINGO! Most were nothing but sociopathic criminals with a badge and legal gun. I have NEVER been around a more repulsive group of people in my life.

There's a reason why they have the highest rate of domestic violence.

[notadmblnd]

3. So where is the cop that was posting a few days ago

whining and moaning about how wrong it is for people to have bad attitudes in regards to cops?

I doubt if we'll here from him on this thread.

[ellisonz]

5. Probably shopping at Wal-Mart...

...or shuffling non-violent drug arrest paper work.

[olegramps]

12. Most are on the take from the drug pushers

Just what type of person wants to be a lousy cop?
The bottom feeders of society.

[Zodiak]

16. He's probably licking his wounds

DU gave him one heck of a beat-down.

I admit I participated. I cannot stand authoritarians excusing the behavior of bad cops.

[proud2BlibKansan]

6. Possible simple assualt isn't a crime?

I am so over these asshole cops.

And those store alarms go off when you breathe funny as you go by them.

[Romulox]

8. Since when are police in charge of prosecuting crimes???? nt

[Dhalgren]

9. So this pig not only stole items from the store,

he also assaulted two citizens for no cause and he will walk. And folks say this isn't a police state. When the pigs are above the law, there is no law. And before someone jumps on me for calling these assholes pigs, forget it, I know what a "pig" is...

[Zodiak]

17. Let's not forget property damage

That window did not replace itself. Funny how the cops didn't consider the property damage part of the crime, either.

But a protester breaks a car window and it is "off to Gitmo for you".

[Dhalgren]

18. Excellent point about the window!

Cops are just mercenaries, above the law. The only ones that can be considered "good" are the ones who don't mistreat you. The same can be said of slave owners...

[arcadian]

11. Fucking pigs. "not in the presence of an officer"

Bullshit. That is the official, "din't see nuthin" report. They have used it against me. They know this shit would embarrass the hell out of their department. Why is a Corporal deciding what the fuck goes on in this case?

[KG]

14. but it's okay, coz this kind of thing happens in all proffessions, dontcha know?

:eyes:

[baldguy]

13. If you're not cop, you're little people.