crazy cop puts whole family on the ground and threatens them w/ taser

[littlewolf]

Aaron Tatkowski told Toledo News Now that he returned home on Sunday to find his daughter-in-law, Cassandra Meyers, pulled over in a traffic stop on their street by a Washington Township Police officer. Tatkowski witnessed the officer speaking to her in a way that upset him, so he questioned the officer.

“He hollered for me to get back in my truck, so I got back in my truck,” Tatkowski told reporters. “Next thing you know, I’m yanked out of the truck and it made my girlfriend say a few things. He yanked her out of the truck.”
Tatkowski, his girlfriend, and his 14-year-old son were all ripped from the vehicle and made to lay down in the street. Tatkowski began to fear for the safety of his family and called out to a witness to begin recording.

The video begins with the encounter already in progress. An adult male, an adult female, and a boy are laying face down in the street with a heavyset officer pointing his taser at them, screaming.
“Sir, get off the phone,” said the officer. “This is not the city of Toledo and they’re already on their way. Now hang up the phone.”
“What are you afraid of?” the male witness challenged.
The officer snatched the man’s phone and chucked it to the ground.
“Go! Get out! I don’t need you people…” he barked.
“What you’re saying is you don’t need witnesses,” retorted the neighbor, fetching his phone from the ground.


Washington Township is found in Lucas County, Ohio, in the vicinity of Toledo.


link
http://www.policestateusa.com/2013/bizarre-scene-toledo-cop-holds-entire-family-ground-taser/

[Downwinder]

1. Trying to get a paid vacation.

What you have to go through without shooting someone.

[FreakinDJ]

2. Dognut Withdrawls made him do it

At least that is what he will claim on his Disability forms after he gets repremanded

[Scurrilous]

9. Mmmmmmmmmmmmm.....

...Dognuts!

[IdaBriggs]

3. The officer is officially crazy. He needs to be fired.

Anyone know how the story ends so far?

ON EDIT: The scene where he pulled the man up by his arm with the obvious intent to drop him was terrifying.

[Comrade Grumpy]

4. Officer Nazi is currently on paid vacation.

http://www.toledoblade.com/Police-Fire/2013/09/18/WashingtonTwp-TPS-officer-puton-paid-leave.html

Washington Twp., TPS officer put on paid leave
Moves taken after video of traffic stop goes viral
BY TAYLOR DUNGJEN
BLADE STAFF WRITER
1704 24 5 1823 1823 2 1823 1823

A Washington Township police officer is on administrative leave after a videotaped traffic stop was posted online and went viral.

Officer Eric Hart is being paid while on leave, Washington Township police Chief Christopher Kaiser said. Officer Hart has worked part-time for the department for about two years.

“He’s not in trouble, but to keep things aboveboard, we put him on administrative leave until an internal investigation is fully complete,” the chief said. “I’m not saying he did anything wrong, but we’re trying to show we’re not trying to sweep this under the rug or cover it up.”

In the four-minute, 50-second video, a woman shouts at Officer Hart that he is harassing people. The woman, who screams and shouts throughout the encounter, also claims Officer Hart smashed her cell phone when she tried to call 911.


Read more at http://www.toledoblade.com/Police-Fire/2013/09/18/WashingtonTwp-TPS-officer-puton-paid-leave.html#4hDy5AmgagCMyPMe.99

[IdaBriggs]

5. On second thought, I need more information. I have sent the following email

to the police department at [e-mail]

Hello. I am currently writing a blog post about the above incident.

I would like comments from your department relating to several sections of the videotaped incident:

At 1:26 Officer Hart is seen picking up one victim/handcuffed suspect by his handcuffs and pants while the victim's legs flail unable to gain purchase to stand upright. At no point does the victim/suspect appear to be resisting in any fashion. Please describe if this is considered standard practice in your department.

At 3:30 Officer Hart is seen raising another handcuffed victim/suspect's hands at an angle that appeared to be threatening her with dislocated shoulders. Again, at no point does this victim/suspect appear to be resisting, and is instead screaming in pain and anger. Please describe if this is considered standard practice in your department.

At 4:19 Officer Hart is seen approaching a witness, taking his phone from his hands, and then throwing it to the ground. This assault appears to be completely unprovoked and appears to be done to intimidate the person, while the destruction of property appears to be vindictive. Have charges been filed against Officer Hart for this videotaped behavior?

It seems unlikely that a middle aged father with three children in his vehicle (two still in car seats in the vehicle) would deliberately initiate an encounter where his children would be left unattended. The three people lying on the ground include a 14 year old minor; the adults repeatedly are crying out for help, and begging their neighbors to "call the police" while Officer Hart's report includes him pointing his gun at the victims/suspects. Does this refer to his "stun gun" or a service revolver?

Last but not least, per the report submitted by Officer Hart, he was unable to establish a positive rapport with any of the people in the video before escalating the situation to the videotaped violence/arrest. Per the official report, Officer Hart was being verbally abused (while other witnesses report he initiated the encounter with rude and/or inappropriate language to a 21 year old girl), and unable to calm the situation using any tactic other than intimidation and violence. Since Officer Hart does not appear to be able to establish "calm rapport" with citizens who were NOT engaged in criminal activity prior to his interaction with them, will he be relieved from his duties?

Does your department place a value on "positive rapport / trust" with citizens?

To be blunt, Officer Hart looks like a stressed out ticking time bomb. Not every man is qualified to be a peace officer, and I would love a statement on whether there have been any other "questionable" instances in his past performance.

Thank you in advance.

Respectfully,
Etc.

[Comrade Grumpy]

6. Thanks, nice job. I'll be curious to see whether you get any response.

[11 Bravo]

7. Nicely done! Please let us know if you get a response.

[gopiscrap]

8. fucking Nazi's! more and more everyday we see

cops misbehaving. They are so out of control now and we are lurching more and more in becoming a police state.

[Th1onein]

10. Yay cops! Cops are great!

Fuck the police.

[Th1onein]

11. PSSST! DO something!

Give the Township Police Dept. a call; express yourself:

Jacqueline Curl
Public Information Manager

[phone]