smile for the camera, officer!! wait, wait, OUCH!!!

[racrguy]

Hmmmmm...how does someone with a video camera in one hand (while the camera is pointed at the officer the whole time) grab another's shoulders? Seems impossible to me...

I don't understand the guys motive for telling the cop that he didn't live there. I'm not saying that would have avoided what happened, but it might have made a difference. Cooter - legally speaking, he would have been trespassing if that wasn't his property, unless the owner gave him consent. Unfortunately, the cop never thought to ask him whether he had consent. Again, I'm not saying that would have saved him a beating, but it might have made a difference.

Lastly, NEVER try and debate your "legal rights" with a LEO. They rarely know the intricacies of the law and more often don't give a crap. They are not lawyers or judges that have a chance to analyze the situation and make an informed decision - they are in the heat of the moment. I'm not saying that cops are ignorant or that they don't necessarily know criminal law, but as you all know, there are a lot of gray areas of law. The one thing I know is that it pisses LEO off. Just imagine someone coming to your work and telling you how to do your work. I know my initial reaction would be "who is this joker" regardless of whether they were right or wrong.

Yet they're able to arrest you for breaking a law, as you say, they don't know the intricacies of? Seems to me that they should know the ins and outs of their job, and part of their job is knowing what's legal and what isn't.

When someone has the power to destroy someone's life they'd better have their ducks in a row and know the law better than the average layman. It may be a lot to ask, but I think every cop should know everything there is to know about the laws they're tasked with enforcing.

[03trubluGT]

I don't see anywhere where I lay the blame souly on anyone , I do believe this though

The occurances of these types of situations are on the rise, I also believe that police being involved in crimes , dui's. random unlawful attacks are as well .

It seems to me how people interact with police and the police themselves need to do something to help the situation and not point fingers on who or what to blame

It is not "on the rise", it (DWI, etc.) is not being tolerated and now prosecuted. With the advent of the highly portable video recording devices, the incidents are now being recorded and highly publicized.

[03trubluGT]

The problem is, that isn't enough. They need to have equal legal action taken against them. The charges need to be filed, and they need to be prosecuted like any Joe Blow. Instead, slaps on the wrist, and they get to find a new career. Meanwhile, Joe Blow goes to prison (worse case) or on probation (best case).

Stevo

So what do we do with all the bad attorneys, prosecutors, judges and politicians???

[03trubluGT]

The cop is the one who beat the dude up without a reason, I don't know where else you'd lay the blame.

Different subject Al.

[03trubluGT]

You fogot that Matt assumes you weren't there, therefore we need more evidence before opinions can be presented, (VIDEO) lol!

So you will put words into my mouth but won't agree to meet me for lunch???

[Vertnut]

You're making stuff up to add to your side of things. Neither the cop nor the victim identified a specific location.

Again, is "here" the house they are investigating at, his home, the property where he was beaten???

None of us knows and I imagine there was a miscommunication that night between the victim and the perpetrator.

We've given too much power to the gov't in all walks of life and actions like this are the result. It's just one small example of an overall large scale problem. We've got a system that's invaded the American psyche over a very long period of time that overwhelmingly favors the power of the government and it's agents while crushing the individual and common sense.

One person may see it as an asshole abusing his authority, but I see it as symptom of a much larger problem that has brainwashed specifically the gov't employed and leftists, but also society as a whole.

In the article, they quote Crooks regretting he didn't tell the officer he was in his own driveway. The man changed his story and has a share in what happened. Plus, Crooks sounds a bit like a douchebag with his history of trying to sell video's for evidence, etc.

[jw33]

I see it as a win/win. Both folks are assholes and happen to run into each other. One get his bell rung and the other will probably get shit canned....

[Vertnut]

I see it as a win/win. Both folks are assholes and happen to run into each other. One get his bell rung and the other will probably get shit canned....

Yeah. Pretty much.

[scootro]

suspended with pay!! WOOEEEE! Harsh Penalty

[Pro88LX]

The cop is the one who beat the dude up without a reason, I don't know where else you'd lay the blame.

No shit! Dude may have been an idiot about not turning the camera off and saying where he lived, but that pig has a hair trigger and was itching for a reason to smash on someone. Like at the end where he REPEATEDLY told him "disobey me and be in a world of hurt!" and was making fun of his breathing. Guy wasn't even breaking any laws.

[kingjason]

Hell, maybe the guy was scared as fuck? Have you never just flat out said the wrong word at the wrong time? Besides, I'm pretty sure a fucking cop having a "bad day" doesn't give him a right to beat the fuck out of someone for no reason, but let me go read the law books just to be sure.

Nope I know how to answer a question and not lie. Also I did not say it was right I just said why chance it. I already said I would not have handled it this way.

Because legally he didn't HAVE to stop filming and put the camera down? Why bow down to some jack-booted cop telling you to stop doing something you are allowed to do for no reason?

Actually they were investigating a burglary, it was dark, and some nice chap was standing around filming. How do you know he was not a suspect? It has been proven that suspects like to come back and observe the police work. Cop had every right to walk over and question him, then the guy lied, so maybe interfereing with and investigation? He did put himself in that position no?

Who said he struggled? The crooked cop that lied? You automatically believe the word of the lying cop.

How do you know? That video was so crisp and clear wow and it showed blow for blow the cop beating that guy right?

Again, you have decided to automatically believe the word of the lying cop, instead of the person that was assaulted for doing nothing illegal. If you actually watched the whole video, you would have saw where it mentioned his injuries.

I did watch the whole video, and even though I had been sipping Crown I still got it. All of it.



Yeah, it did to me, but it depends on who you are inclined to believe. You are predisposed to listen to the word of the lying cop. I'm not.

No sir, I hate crooked cops, however you just hate cops and want to Monday morning quarterback what happened even though the video really shows little. Just that the cop was quick to be aggressive with the guy that did absolutly nothing wrong in your eyes.


Yeah, the camera doesn't lie, and in this case, it isn't "his best defense", it is his worst nightmare, as it proves he is a crooked cop. Funny how that goes both ways, huh?

Really you got all that from a video on the internet. Everything on the internet is real right?



If he lied? Everyone saw the video, everyone read the report, so where do you get the "if"? He straight up lied, and that is why his police force is taking action against him.

Yeah I would say you have a good point however the video doesnt show that at all. I have seen many a people with one hand occupied take a swing at a cop. I know hard to believe but it happens. In this case with this fella I doubt it so not sure where the battery on a officer came from. Just because they dropped all the charges doesnt mean some of them could not have actually applied.

As far as you not defending him, that is subjective, as different people reading your comments can form their own opinion.

I am not defending the cop at all, I am just giving a different perspective on how some officers may view this or actually other people.

It is kinda hard to fabricate evidence when a video is running, while you are laying on the ground bleeding, and while you are handcuffed going to the emergency room. On the other hand, it is real easy to fabricate evidence on paper while you are setting in a cop car away from the camera.

Once again I want you to show me how the video showed them or him getting his ass kicked. Maybe all the screaming and crying is what got you. I have also seen many a suspect get put on the ground gently and cuffed to have them screaming bloody murder about how they were slammed to the ground.

Stevo

Once again I want to state that I would have not handled the situation the same way. I probably wouldnt of even taken a second look at that guy. Hell who knows maybe the people that got burglarized asked the cops what that guy was doing. However I do not want to read to much into the story. I mean cleary since it stated in big letters that the guy got kicked in the nose an his chest was messed up that is exactly what happened.

[JamisonFRC]

I can't tell you how many times criminals are not charged with assault on a P.O. They are righteous arrests but get dropped to resisting arrest most of the time. Then they get probation. I can tell you with 100% certainty that assaults on my fellow officers (Lubbock) are on the rise. I am not making excuses for the guy in the video. He lost his cool. You can't do that in our line of work.

Coming from patrol and transferring to detectives gives me a different perspective. I can see the numerous reports that come across my desk involving assaults on PO and resisting arrests.

Someone brought up being sued. I have in federal court. It was for excessive force, violation of civil rights and a number of other charges. My case was dismissed with prejudice. After the plaintiff gave his deposition his attorney apologized to us for wasting our time. The suit was total BS.

To sum it up, the world is getting more violent. Go to Youtube and you can watch thousands of fast food fights, random people getting assaulted by mobs, etc. While violence increases the public expects LEOs to use kids gloves against people actively resisting. I foresee Police becoming hesitant in using force and getting themselves hurt.

[kingjason]

I see it as a win/win. Both folks are assholes and happen to run into each other. One get his bell rung and the other will probably get shit canned....

I like this.

[Cooter]

I like this.

pretty solid post IMO

[78X]

He acted like matt