Cops Just Love Those Tasers

[lafinjack]

Dayton police "mistook" a mentally handicapped teenager's speech impediment for "disrespect," so they Tasered, pepper-sprayed and beat him and called for backup from "upward of 20 police officers" after the boy rode his bicycle home to ask his mother for help, the boy's mom says

Comments

[lafinjack]

NOT ALL COPS ARE LIKE THAT

[archanglrobriel]

THIS. Exactly this. I wasn't aware that "disrespecting" an officer was against any law that I've ever seen. Apparently now we should all know that "disrespect" for authority, regardless of the actuality behind the officer's perception (like say, being mentally challenged, having a speech impediment, being schizophrenic, having a seizure, being delirious from a fever etc.) is something that could be punished by multi-officer, multiple weapon, closed fist smack-down.
Good to f**cking know.

[holdyourdevil]

THIS THIS THIS THIS THIS THIS THIS

[terribilita]

A man here in Colorado was recently charged with harassment for giving a cop the finger. The charges were dropped but it goes to show how ridiculously cops abuse their power.

“Our client engaged in peaceful, silent symbolic expression that is protected by First Amendment,” said Mark Silverstein, ACLU Legal Director. “The protection of the Constitution is not limited to speech that is acceptable in polite society. The First Amendment also protects expression that may be disrespectful, coarse or even vulgar. It’s rude to flip off a cop, but it’s not a crime.”

http://aclu-co.org/news/aclu-will-defend-colorado-man-arrested-for-giving-trooper-the-finger
http://blogs.westword.com/latestword/2011/05/flipping_the_bird_shane_boor_aclu.php

[lykomancer]

I don't advocate violence, but seriously, isn't shit like this precisely why we have a Second Amendment? To prevent abuse from authorities run rampant? Because this is insane: chasing and beating and pepper-spraying and Tasing a mentally handicapped teen; as well as threatening by-standers who tried to intervene with jail time. WTF.

[sizequeen]

This kind of shit terrifies me. I have an severely autistic sister who has violent outbursts. She bashes her head against walls, destroys furniture, punches holes in the walls, bites, punches and scratches anyone around. Her rage cannot be calmed once it starts; it has to go its course. Now imagine this happening in a grocery store. Imagine a cop trying to subdue her.

This would a fucking nightmare. They would probably shoot her.

Many cops have no patience for perceived disrespect. They can fuck up your world and then charge *you* with a crime. As long as it is almost impossible to prosecute a cop for a crime, they will continue to be dangerous.

[teacup_werewolf]

Shit, I am high functioning most of the time, and I am just as terrified. I have some pretty intense meltdowns (head-banging and screaming and smacking my face) I can't even imagine having a meltdown and dealing with cops.

I swear to god, cops scare the ever living hell out of me.

[pandaseal]

I'm with you on being terrified. I'm not neurotypical and I'm Black, so my ability to believe that cops might do the right thing? It doesn't exist.

[romp]

It's not even rare, you know? Many families and every community has someone with a similar situation. This should be part of basic training and heavily emphasized. Like, be an abuse bully and lose your job.

[lickety_split]

turned and rode his bike back to his home in an attempt to ask his mother, Ford, to help him communicate with defendant Cooper

Totally teared up when I read this part.

[clevermanka]

Me, too. Oh my god oh my god that poor kid. And his poor mom.

This is obscene.

[lanwut]

That's where I teared up, too.

[romp]

I know! I can't imagine the betrayal he must have felt.