The police are still out of control in the USA

//www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2014/08/15/the-day-ferguson-cops-were-caught-in-a-bloody-lie.html

08/15/2014 12:55:25 PM · #51

08/15/2014 02:01:21 PM · #52

Originally posted by franktheyank:

//www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2014/08/15/the-day-ferguson-cops-were-caught-in-a-bloody-lie.html

Thanks for that link, I'm a bit surprised that the officer didn't have a history (at least a RECORDED history), but this sort of thing is exactly what I had expected to start hearing. And while many here think this is the exception, I suspect that it's simply a darker shade of gray than most. What I don't think, is that this sort of behavior is at all extraordinary, things just got a little further out of hand in this department.

Message edited by author 2014-08-15 14:02:04.

Sony 24-70mm F4 Vario-Tessar T* FE OSS

08/15/2014 03:08:47 PM · #53

A new bit of info.. Looks like the victim was also a perp. Quite interesting. I still don't think death was the right punishment.

Bear_Music

Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra

08/15/2014 03:11:24 PM · #54

Apparently the victim, Brown, robbed a convenience store immediately before the incident that resulted in his death. Stole some cigars, majorly intimidated and pushed around the clerk. Penny-ante stuff, but apparently what the cop was responding to. Also, from what I saw, the cop accosted Brown at 12:01, called for backup, which arrived at 12:04, and Brown was dead at that time...

running updated reports here, Slate...

Hah, Cory and I cross posted.

Message edited by author 2014-08-15 15:12:07.

08/18/2014 07:07:02 PM · #55

An interesting update here.

It's looking more like the kid really was rushing the cop when shot, the autopsy results, along with a couple of credible accounts that match the wounds seem to be in direct conflict with what the witnesses said happened.

Now for the $1,000,000 question: If the 'witnesses' provided false testimony, and spurred this entire event when there was actually no valid cause, what should happen to them for that? I mean, the difference between 'hands in the air' and 'rushing' is pretty damned stark isn't it?

In the end, I absolutely get disliking the police and their tactics, hell, it's what I'm known for around here apparently, but if the kid was charging at the cop (head-down charge) then of COURSE he got popped, and the liars should be held to account, if, in fact, they are indeed liars.

Canon EF 17-40mm f/4.0L USM

08/19/2014 01:43:57 PM · #56

lol

lets all rush to judgement as usual..

blindjustice

Canon EOS-7D

08/19/2014 01:59:00 PM · #57

I believe the "details" will help us to lose a bit of focus. A guy shoots up a theater in Colorado and gets arrested, not killed. A guy, a white guy, shoots a congresswoman and some others in Arizona-gets arrested. Here, a black teen, unarmed, steals less that 10 bucks worth of cigars and gets shot multiple times?

White america is afraid of black teens, views them as thugs, and that pervasive notion, especially in the South, leads to unarmed kids being shot and killed.

That story sounds for shit. 1. once that gun went off, they would have been a million miles away. 2. If they taunted the cop- "what are you going to do, shoot me" if he had the clarity to do that, he never would have charged, just ran or walked away.

This is all a mess.

GeneralE

Canon PowerShot S3 IS

Canon 12x IS USM (S3 IS built-in Lens) -- 36-432mm (35mm EQ)

08/19/2014 02:05:21 PM · #58

Is there some law that a police officer can't just run away from an unarmed attacker until help arrives? Get in the car? Use some pepper spray or jiu-jitsu?

What I have yet to hear is any explanation of how this particular officer came to confront him, since it is known he was not responding to the robbery call.

There are enough invesigations and media interest that we will (probably) know (most of) the truth in due course.

Message edited by author 2014-08-19 14:06:05.

Canon EF 17-40mm f/4.0L USM

08/19/2014 02:47:15 PM · #59

Originally posted by blindjustice:

White america is afraid of black teens, views them as thugs, and that pervasive notion, especially in the South, leads to unarmed kids being shot and killed.

when one's own culture perpetuates a negative stereotype... just saying.

blindjustice

Canon EOS-7D

08/19/2014 02:59:34 PM · #60

Originally posted by Mike:

Originally posted by blindjustice:

White america is afraid of black teens, views them as thugs, and that pervasive notion, especially in the South, leads to unarmed kids being shot and killed.

when one's own culture perpetuates a negative stereotype... just saying.

I think every Black leader would admit there are parenting/parental guidance issues in the community that need to be addressed. Of course in the poverty filled tough urban areas, you have to look and act tough, even if you would never confront police directly- that doesn't help things. What passes as "youthful indiscretions" among white teens, ends up fatal for many black teens.

Canon 12x IS USM (S3 IS built-in Lens) -- 36-432mm (35mm EQ)

08/19/2014 03:27:47 PM · #61

Originally posted by blindjustice:

so if you want to stop being treated like a dangerous thug, you need to stop acting like a dangerous thug?

the solution seems simple to me, application, however, always proves more difficult.

I'll let you guys get back to blaming the police who apparently have trouble differentiating real and perceived threats.

GeneralE

Canon PowerShot S3 IS

08/19/2014 04:02:23 PM · #62

Originally posted by Mike:

Originally posted by blindjustice:

I think every Black leader would admit there are parenting/parental guidance issues in the community that need to be addressed. Of course in the poverty filled tough urban areas, you have to look and act tough, even if you would never confront police directly- that doesn't help things. What passes as "youthful indiscretions" among white teens, ends up fatal for many black teens.

so if you want to stop being treated like a dangerous thug, you need to stop acting like a dangerous thug?

I think the outcome of the New York "Stop and Frisk" trial would indicate that one does not have to Look like a dangerous thug" to be harassed by the police.

Perhaps if the police stopped acting like dangerous thugs people might be more sympathetic to their concerns for their own and the public's safety.

08/19/2014 07:58:16 PM · #63

Originally posted by GeneralE:

Originally posted by Mike:

Originally posted by blindjustice:

I think every Black leader would admit there are parenting/parental guidance issues in the community that need to be addressed. Of course in the poverty filled tough urban areas, you have to look and act tough, even if you would never confront police directly- that doesn't help things. What passes as "youthful indiscretions" among white teens, ends up fatal for many black teens.

so if you want to stop being treated like a dangerous thug, you need to stop acting like a dangerous thug?

I think the outcome of the New York "Stop and Frisk" trial would indicate that one does not have to Look like a dangerous thug" to be harassed by the police.

Perhaps if the police stopped acting like dangerous thugs people might be more sympathetic to their concerns for their own and the public's safety.

lets keep blaming cops. i've known a few cops over the years, a few from Philadelphia, they act a particular way for a reason, because they spend their time babysitting a segment of the population who don't know who to act civilized.

Art Roflmao

Canon EOS-6D Mark II

08/20/2014 02:39:11 AM · #64

Gotta shake your head at this shit...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=emuawtRLrgc

...or your fist.

Erastus

08/20/2014 02:43:54 AM · #65

Ferguson would seem to be an excellent venue to test out state of the art face recognition tech. Maybe we could identify some of the few protesters who come from all over the country to stoke the fires.

Maybe all citizens of the US should have a "kill switch", as in cell phones, installed. Push a button and the person gets drowsy and goes to sleep over a few tens of seconds. Mike Brown could have been hand cuffed after passing out, rather than shooting him after he assaulted the the officer.

Because it appears Brown caused a small orbital fracture on the skull of the officer involved. These can be mostly benign and usually heal on their own. They do indicate fairly massive physical force was imparted to that part of the skull. Or maybe he just bumped his head getting out of his cruiser in his haste to assault an innocent citizen.

In the words of a famous US citizen; "Can't we just all get along?"

Erastus

08/20/2014 02:51:59 AM · #66

Originally posted by Art Roflmao:

Gotta shake your head at this shit...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=emuawtRLrgc

...or your fist.

Yup, that one made me sick to my stomach. I suspect, eventually that the citizens that support this swat team with their tax dollars will also end up paying a huge settlement to this family. Lawyers gotta eat, same as worms.....

DrAchoo

Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX5

Canon EF 70-200mm f/4.0L USM

08/20/2014 03:50:01 PM · #67

The more we learn about this incident the less it seems like some egregious civil rights abuse perpetrated on an innocent black boy. It seems to more and more to be an ugly encounter with an ugly ending but one which could be understood. It strikes me that the media jumped to conclusions far too early. Some of the less newsworthy and more sensational sites like Salon.com have been having a field day.

But then we learn:

Oh, there was a wrestling match for the officer's gun
Oh, MB was probably involved in a strong arm robbery previously
Oh, MB wasn't shot in the back after all
Oh, the officer sustained significant injuries in the wrestling match

I don't care if you are black or white or purple. If you are 6'4"-292 pounds, wrestle with a cop over his gun where it actually discharges, manage to land some blows in the fracas, run away and then turn and either confront (or possibly charge) the officer, you are gonna get shot.

I find it sad. A wasted life. I fully understand there are underlying racial tensions in places like Ferguson with a ill-represented police force. But this isn't some modern day version of a lynching.

Message edited by author 2014-08-20 15:50:18.

karmat

Apple iPhone 7

08/20/2014 10:32:50 PM · #68

Originally posted by DrAchoo:

It strikes me that the media jumped to conclusions far too early.

Seriously? You REALLY think this would happen?

(please note the sarcasm in my typing. . . . )

Art Roflmao

Canon EOS-6D Mark II

08/21/2014 12:50:42 AM · #69

At this point, I don't think it matters if a video surfaces that clearly and completely shows that the officer's story is true. We are beyond the point where truth is relevant. I HOPE that's not the case, but I feel like it is.

Note: I have switched sides on this issue at least three times as new evidence was released and now I am just waiting for ALL the evidence to come in.

08/21/2014 02:14:45 AM · #70

Originally posted by Art Roflmao:

Note: I have switched sides on this issue at least three times as new evidence was released and now I am just waiting for ALL the evidence to come in.

Canon EF 28-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM

08/21/2014 07:32:14 AM · #71

wait, what?

taking a backseat approach and waiting for facts might crumble the pillars our modern news media is built upon. How unAmerican of you think think this way.

smh...

Kelli

Canon EOS-D60

08/21/2014 10:08:26 AM · #72

Originally posted by karmat:

Originally posted by DrAchoo:
It strikes me that the media jumped to conclusions far too early.

Seriously? You REALLY think this would happen?

(please note the sarcasm in my typing. . . . )

ROFL! //wonkette.com/557751/now-captain-ron-johnson-is-a-gang-member-sure-why-not

DrAchoo

Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX5

08/21/2014 11:30:17 AM · #73

Originally posted by karmat:

Originally posted by DrAchoo:
It strikes me that the media jumped to conclusions far too early.

Seriously? You REALLY think this would happen?

(please note the sarcasm in my typing. . . . )

Well it looks like we can agree on something. :)

I note that at least on NPR, my main source for news, they still ubiquitously precede Michael Brown's name with the adjective "unarmed". Either they are continuing to try to paint a picture that probably isn't so clear or shooting unarmed people is rare (and thus newsworthy). I can't decide.