NOLA PD vs.citizen

[solypsist]

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/9645260/

"Two New Orleans police officers repeatedly punched a 64-year-old man accused of public intoxication, and another city officer assaulted an Associated Press Television News producer as a cameraman taped the confrontations. After being questioned, the three patrolmen were arrested late Sunday and charged with battery. They were released and ordered to appear in court at a later date, Capt. Marlon Defillo said. The officers also were suspended without pay, he added." ... "When [he] held up his credentials and explained he was working, the officer grabbed the producer, leaned him backward over a car, jabbed him in the stomach and unleashed a profanity-laced tirade."

and, the video:

http://www.wdsu.com/news/5076290/detail.html

[Papewaio]

Attacking a reporter... assault. Could you make it a federal breaking of the law because it is against free speech?

Attacking a 64 year old for public intoxication... well I'm not sure how much alcohol I would be drinking after my house had been flooded by not one but two hurricanes in a month.

Surely unless he had assaulted someone it is a public health issue and the cops should have been trying to assist him.

[Adrian II]

"Two New Orleans police officers repeatedly punched a 64-year-old man accused of public intoxication, and another city officer assaulted an Associated Press Television News producer as a cameraman taped the confrontations." (..) and, the video: http://www.wdsu.com/news/5076290/detail.html

Seems an open and shut case to me. Stuff like this happens in every country. The incident mentioned at the end of the article, however, does not happen all the time:

On Friday, state authorities said they were investigating allegations that New Orleans police broke into a dealership and made off with nearly 200 cars — including 41 new Cadillacs — as the storm closed in.

A quick count tells me there must have been 200 drivers = 200 policemen involved.

Two hundred policemen stealing cars - come again?

[Crazed Rabbit]

Two hundred policemen stealing cars - come again?

Welcome to New Orleans.

Crazed Rabbit

[drone]

A quick count tells me there must have been 200 drivers = 200 policemen involved.

Two hundred policemen stealing cars - come again?

Maybe they were supposed to be driving all of those buses instead.

[Soulforged]

Seems an open and shut case to me. Stuff like this happens in every country. The incident mentioned at the end of the article, however, does not happen all the time:

On Friday, state authorities said they were investigating allegations that New Orleans police broke into a dealership and made off with nearly 200 cars — including 41 new Cadillacs — as the storm closed in.

A quick count tells me there must have been 200 drivers = 200 policemen involved.

Two hundred policemen stealing cars - come again?

This is nothing new. Here police=mafia. At least in the higher heads of the organization.

[yesdachi]

Sorry for the double post, the NOLA thru me while I was skimming topics.

The report I saw on cnn last night noted that he claims to have not been drunk and that he was asking a cop a question when another cop cut him off and started talking to the first cop. Robert Davis, the guy who got the beating, then commented on how it was rude to cut someone off and that started the fight. I don’t know the motives but definitely a case of excessive force.

The part that makes me dizzy is that the police are charging him with being publicly intoxicated. How can that be illegal in NO? Wouldn’t they have to arrest everyone I’ve seen in the Mardi Gras videos?

What a bunch of jack holes. I hope they end up mall security guards.

[PanzerJaeger]

Was that Journey in the background?

That journalist was not assaulted though. Hes just a -insert another name for cat-. If you approach officers during an arrest like that you can expect to be moved back.

[Red Harvest]

Was that Journey in the background?

That journalist was not assaulted though. Hes just a -insert another name for cat-. If you approach officers during an arrest like that you can expect to be moved back.

Wrong. That's assault. He wasn't doing anything to restore order, he was the one out of control, not the witnesses.

[Papewaio]

During the arrest, another officer, identified as Smith, ordered APTN producer Rich Matthews and a cameraman to stop recording. When Matthews held up his credentials, the officer grabbed the producer, leaned him backward over a car, jabbed him in the stomach and unleashed a profanity-laced tirade

That was not a by the book nothing to see here, please move along.

It was a fat overweight guy using a badge to push someone around filming an assault. Jabbing someone in the stomach is an assault, trying to stop reporters reporting on a crime isn't that an attack on free speech. I would use the maximum force allowed on these guys. Criminals are bad, and the worst are those who hide behind public office... politicians, judges and cops who commit a crime should do twice the time.

If you support this kind of abuse of power and then call someone a pussy by inference for standing up for themselves you are pretty damn brave yourself.

[Red Harvest]

Sorry for the double post, the NOLA thru me while I was skimming topics.

The report I saw on cnn last night noted that he claims to have not been drunk and that he was asking a cop a question when another cop cut him off and started talking to the first cop. Robert Davis, the guy who got the beating, then commented on how it was rude to cut someone off and that started the fight. I don’t know the motives but definitely a case of excessive force.

The part that makes me dizzy is that the police are charging him with being publicly intoxicated. How can that be illegal in NO? Wouldn’t they have to arrest everyone I’ve seen in the Mardi Gras videos?

What a bunch of jack holes. I hope they end up mall security guards.

He wasn't even given a sobriety test. It's pretty clear that whichever officer(s) instigated the affair needs a little jail time and a pink slip.

[PanzerJaeger]

Wrong. That's assault. He wasn't doing anything to restore order, he was the one out of control, not the witnesses.

Oh yes, it was certainly not procedure, most likely against procedure, but assault? Come on. Guy got pushed up against a car.. aww poor baby. Thats what happens when you get smart with the po po. People can claim assault for being touched these days..

[Xiahou]

Wrong. That's assault. He wasn't doing anything to restore order, he was the one out of control, not the witnesses.

I believe Louisiana defines assault as:

Threat to inflict injury with an apparent ability to do so.

So yes, I think it was very likely assault.


Battery is defined as:

A beating, or wrongful physical violence. The actual threat to use force is an "assault;" the use of it is a battery, which usually includes an assault.

So honestly, I think he could theoretically be guilty of Assault & Battery since the shoving, ect. probably falls under the category of wrongful physical violence.

link for my definitions.

[Zalmoxis]

Some reporters are just begging for it.

[Red Harvest]

Oh yes, it was certainly not procedure, most likely against procedure, but assault? Come on. Guy got pushed up against a car.. aww poor baby. Thats what happens when you get smart with the po po. People can claim assault for being touched these days..

You shove someone around and you are looking at assault. Personally, I'm the type that is likely to put that fat slob officer down on reflex if he lunged at me. Unfortunately, that would result in nothing but grief later as you simply can't get away with it, even if you are right and he is wrong. Calling someone a "pussy" for not responding with force against an out of control authority is bogus.

[Devastatin Dave]

Obviously tensions are high but there is absolutely no excuse for the actions of these "cops". From NOLA's on video stealing shoes to beating the hell out an old man, I'm surprised MORE didn't die during and after the hurricanes.

[Duke John]

Hes just a -insert another name for cat-. If you approach officers during an arrest like that you can expect to be moved back.

That is not what happened. From the link:

During the arrest, another officer, identified as Smith, ordered APTN producer Rich Matthews and a cameraman to stop recording. When Matthews held up his credentials, the officer grabbed the producer, leaned him backward over a car, jabbed him in the stomach and unleashed a profanity-laced tirade.

The officer just didn't want a camera filming, which is understandable when you are doing something out of line.