San Bernardino Co. SO--Apparent Beatdown

[Bat Guano]

Just found this on Drudge. If there's a "good side" to this one, I'll be interested to know what it is.

Me, I'm headed out into the sagebrush. I may never come back.

Sheriff Orders Immediate Internal Investigation Into Arrest Seen on "Disturbing" Video | NBC Southern California

 

[Watchdog]

The sheriff has a gift for understatement when he refers to this as simply "disturbing".

And the apparent latest on this is that ten of the officers have now been suspended for the duration of whatever investigation will take place. They'll be lucky keep their jobs and stay out of jail themselves.

I'm usually pro-law enforcement. That said, what's shown in the video isn't law enforcement...it's a textbook case of what happens when mob mentality takes control of men. In the video, when the suspect is face down on the ground surrounded by cops, you can clearly see one of them kicking the suspect between the buttocks, probably right in the testicles. You aren't human if you don't cringe when you see parts of this video.

You have to wonder, what were these cops thinking? They had to know the helicopter was filming the chase and the capture, but they just kept pounding the guy.

This incident is way beyond disturbing.

 

[Garintheair]

It has been reported that the suspect shot a puppy in front of other family members...

A beating just doesn't seem appropriate...

On a professional level, however, once he complied he should have just been taken into custody.

 

[ladder13]

wow ...................

 

[Watchdog]

It has been reported that the suspect shot a puppy in front of other family members...

A beating just doesn't seem appropriate...

On a professional level, however, once he complied he should have just been taken into custody.

I saw that about the puppy, and although it's reported as having happened on "another occasion", that's a vile and despicable act in itself. In my book, he deserves some severe punishment for that.

Sad to say, I don't think this story of this beatdown, the police officers, and the suspect's background is going to get the attention it deserves...the shooting in North Charleston is going to be the bigger attention-generating story.

Now, if this had happened back in the late 19th Century, they'd have just hung the guy for stealing the horse and been done with him.

 

[dmar]

I saw the video, and it looked like the horse considered getting involved, but then thought better of it, and stepped away from the fracas.

I'm sure the kid deserved a good kick in the shorts, but clearly this stuff is a no-go these days...

 

[LMWIS]

Doesn't excuse anything, but depending on the altitude they may have been unaware the news helicopter was there.

The fact that cameras are everywhere is a lesson being learned by some officers at great cost to the profession, their departments and to them personally.

Of course it isn't simply a matter of playing nice for the cameras - although that can be effective in the short term - there has to be a solution that addresses the cause rather than the symptoms.

But frankly, if basic human rights aren't a part of your personal moral code already, ethics training is a waste of time this late in the game.

 

[Shootbrownelk]

I guess the lesson to be learned by criminals is don't try to escape from police, evidently it makes them very angry if they have to chase you for 40 or 50 miles. Stealing the horse just might still be a hanging offense there, it's grand theft.

 

[Faulkner]

One lesson learned here is you might not want to screw around in San Bernardino County.

 

[Engine 21]

When I was on the job the CoD always warned everyone at staff meetings - "you and your people have NO reasonable expectation of privacy in your professional career and God forbid, in your private life either". Some learned this the hard way and it cost them their career. The true test of integrity and character is what you do when no one is looking. Problem is - in this age of technology someone is always looking and some just don't care.

 

[islamoradamark]

if he would have complied in the beginning none of this would have ever happened one action causes a reaction

 

[Warren Sear]

The common denominator in every one of these recent cases seems to be resisting arrest. The lesson should be to stop when arrested. Better yet would be to just abide by the law in the first place.

This does not in any way condone abuse by police.

 

[Watchdog]

One lesson learned here is you might not want to screw around in San Bernardino County.

Another lesson that will be learned by San Bernardino County sooner or later is that police brutality costs them a whole bunch of money.

 

[Watchdog]

Stealing the horse just might still be a hanging offense there...

Nope. Death by hanging is no longer a means of capital punishment in any state. It's also no longer used in the military.

 

[Watchdog]

The common denominator in every one of these recent cases seems to be resisting arrest. The lesson should be to stop when arrested.

He can't really be charged with resisting arrest, simply because he hadn't been arrested yet. The cops were attempting to serve a warrant, but he ran before they could take him into custody. He can be charged for fleeing to avoid arrest, but that's just a misdemeanor, and certainly doesn't justify the beating this guy took.

I'll be surprised if he even goes to trial. I'm betting there'll be a plea bargain, then the county will settle a civil suit against them for "an undisclosed amount of money".

The last thing California needs is another Rodney King type of thing with years of bad publicity and millions spent on various legal actions, although it also won't surprise me if some or all of the cops get fired and/or do some jail time. California's gonna have to hang someone out to dry over this one, and it ain't gonna be the guy who stole the horse.

 

[arjay]

And the taxpayers will foot the bill,just like they do for every damn screw up.

 

[ladder13]

if he would have complied in the beginning none of this would have ever happened one action causes a reaction

The next reaction likely will be lawsuits and firings.

 

[Watchdog]

I saw the video, and it looked like the horse considered getting involved...

It was initially reported that one of the cops did get kicked by the horse. Frankly, I'm surprised they didn't shoot or try to tase the horse.

I'm sure the kid deserved a good kick in the shorts...

No, just no. Not when he's already laying face down on the ground with his hands behind his back. People go to jail for kicking and beating animals like this.

 

[Engine 21]

It was initially reported that one of the cops did get kicked by the horse. Frankly, I'm surprised they didn't shoot or try to tase the horse.



No, just no. Not when he's already laying face down on the ground with his hands behind his back. People go to jail for kicking and beating animals like this.

Absolutely correct. Looks like SBSD did not get the message after the Rodney King incident. All Police Officers and Firefighters are held to higher standard than the ordinary guy walking the street. Idealy, the arresting officers' make the arrest without letting personal emotions enter into doing their job. Sometimes that is very difficult to do as we are all human.
No badge, or shield gives anyone the right to beat a man like that - no matter how dispicable a person he is. There is an axiom that is used to put this in perspective - With the authority bestowed comes responsibility. You can not have one without the other. These guys forgot that part and now they will learn a hard lesson and should any be fired - they will never have that authority again.

 

[CAJUNLAWYER]

Nope. Death by hanging is no longer a means of capital punishment in any state. It's also no longer used in the military.

Yea but back in the WWII wra you had fireing squad or hanging

http://www.loc.gov/rr/frd/Military_Law/pdf/procedure_dec-1947.pdf

I'm particulary interested in Paragraph 15(g) and 19(b). Just what is "a lively air"????? I'm thinking "hi ho hi ho it's off to work we go......" may not quite fit.