Video shows unruly fan tased, clubbed by Pittsburgh police

[OhioChick]

Posted: 11:59 AM

PITTSBURGH, Pa. - A man was tased and clubbed by police before being arrested at a Pittsburgh Pirates game over the weekend.

A fan took video of the incident and then posted it online, which has generated thousands of views and sparked debate as to whether police used an appropriate amount of force.

The officers involved in the incident said "We both feared for our safety," according to the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review .

Scott J. Ashley, 41, was arrested at the Pirates game and charged with four misdemeanors, including public drunkenness and resisting arrest, according to USA Today.

More: http://www.newsnet5.com/dpp/news/national/video-shows-unruly-fan-tased-clubbed-by-pittsburgh-police

"Fans can be heard yelling “U-S-A” in the background of the video."

[valerief]

1. OMG, that guy didn't do anything to deserve that beating. nt

[RamboLiberal]

11. So far I'm siding with the Pgh cops on this one

Everything that is being said here says this drunken lout was out of control, refusing to leave the stadium, threatening other fans and employees. The guy is in his 40's. Can't he control his behaviour?

[valerief]

12. We must have viewed two different video clips. He may be an idiot but he didn't do anything

to warrant that beating. Yes, probably be escorted out but savagely beaten like that? It was criminal.

[RamboLiberal]

16. According to discussions I've heard locally

there was stuff going on prior to the video with his behavior.

[valerief]

17. But they were peaceful in the video clip and the cops just started bashing him for nothing.

They peacefully walked down the stairs, the drunk guy high-fived someone and lightly pushed the guy in his way (there was no violence) but he continued walking with the cops, and the cops started bashing the drunk guy. The beating was unwarranted. If the drunk guy provoked the cops earlier, why did they wait until later to beat him? Why would they beat them when he was cooperating?

[FiveGoodMen]

2. Never ends.

PDs never weed out the bad ones.

[Ian David]

3. It looks like the taser failed to work and the man failed to submit.

I can't tell if the cops ordered him to do anything with which he failed to comply before they hit him with the club.

[Vinnie From Indy]

4. The cop did not look at all afraid during this encounter

Actually he looked a bit stunned that the two club smacks and the taser failed to drop this guy.

[Taverner]

5. Of course not. How afraid would you be in a bullet proof vest, armed to the teeth, and ...

...buddies who will show up the same way on a moment's notice

Hell, I wouldn't be afraid of anything like that

[L0oniX]

6. It's much safer if you are a baby squirrel.

[Billy Burnett]

7. USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA

Yep. We're #1



With a bullet.

[Taverner]

8. That was excessive force.

Fuck all that was excessive force

[KurtNYC]

9. Looks like they want to take him out of the stands before they cuff him

at 14 secs he high fives some other intoxicated guy but a park employee (?) tries to block the high five. That guy says something and Ashley elbows him. They fire the taser but it doesn't seem to connect. You can hear it buzzing but see no impact. He taunts the cop nearest him. Then that cop hits him with a baton in what looks to be the collar bone (?) Then more words then he gets hit in the head, back of the left arm and then the back of the left leg. The drunk guy never drops his beer cooler bag. They rip the bag away from him, knock him down, roll and cuff him.

[Taitertots]

10. Justified use of force

It needed to be done to protect the officers, park staff, and other fans.

[ManiacJoe]

13. Are we watching the same video?!?!?!

He was peacefully walking out until the cops tried to tase him in the back. The baseball employee who got elbowed brought it on himself.

[sarcasmo]

14. Can't we all just get along?

[Gemini Cat]

15. I'm trying to understand why the fans were yelling USA.

The guy was an asshole, but he didn't deserve the beat down.
I still don't get the USA part.