Police officer seeks criminal charges against woman who videotaped police beating

[Playinghardball]

Source: Raw Story
By Eric W. Dolan

A police officer from Springfield, Massachusetts has filed an application for a criminal complaint against a woman who recorded his fellow officer beating a black suspect while he stood by, according to The Republican.

In November 2009, Tyrisha Greene made a 20-minute recording of now-retired Springfield patrolman Jeffrey M. Asher repeatedly beating Melvin Jones III with a flashlight during a traffic stop. The recording shows a group of other officers standing around Jones without intervening.

Jones was partially blinded in one eye from the attack, and had bones all over his face broken. The officers claimed that Jones grabbed one of their guns as they tried to arrest him and that Asher struck Jones with his flashlight in order to "disorientate him."

But a grand jury rejected that claim, finding no evidence that Jones behaved aggressively towards them.

More at: http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2011/08/11/police-officer-seeks-criminal-charges-against-woman-who-videotaped-police-beating/

[FiveGoodMen]

1. We need a law that says cops who abuse their power get thrown into the GP

...wearing their uniforms.

[MagickMuffin]

2. So, What IS the Crime here, Shooting while Recording???

Is it now against the law to use recording devices???

:shrug:

Throw the book at her, she should spend the rest of her natural born days behind bars. We must set an example.


And of course I'm showing :sarcasm:

[mrmpa]

9. Some states such as Illinois have tried using the state's

wiretapping laws against individuals. Most wiretapping laws are such that you can't record a person's (voice) without their permission. Since the videotape has voice on it, and you did not ask their permission to tape, you are guilty of wiretapping.

[personman]

11. I thought wiretapping laws don't count in public?

Maybe I've watched too much law and order, but I was under the understanding that any place where there is no reasonable expectation of privacy is public, and therefore wiretapping laws don't apply.

I'm obviously not a lawyer though.

[1monster]

12. What about presumption of privacy. If they are in a public place, they have no

presumption of privacy. Also, there is that little factor that the laws they seek to use are WIRE tap laws. No wires are involved in most cell phones and video cameras.

In my state, there is a separate law against intercepting and taping cell phone calls and of course the wire taping laws regarding telephone laws.

[mrmpa]

13. I don't disagree with you, the laws haven't caught up with

the new technology yet. In most states it is illegal to tape a person's conversation without their permission.

[Obamanaut]

3. . nt

[OverBurn]

4. This Piece Of Shit Officer

should have to pay court costs and pay a huge fine for filing a frivolous claim.

[ProgressiveProfessor]

5. See PINAC for more on this

www.carlosmiller.com

[Selatius]

6. The sad part is Tyrisha would likely have to spend money hiring a competent defense attorney.

While every person should have their day in court, it tends to bare down most on the poorest, who can least afford a good defense.

[Marrah_G]

7. He has a lot of f'n nerve

[donna123]

8. Police officers who are guilty

and found criminally liable or dismissed for other egregious acts should lose their pensions. Jail and that would hurt them the most.

[Downtown Hound]

10. Pig. n/t