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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsAttorney: East Point Police Fired Taser at Man 13 Times Before Death
This shit happens all the time in Atlanta.
Only Channel 2 Action News has learned that police Tased a man in handcuffs up to 13 times before he died.
Were learning about the department policies the officers allegedly violated during this deadly encounter.
Police records show two officers used their Tasers repeatedly to try to make Gregory Towns get up.
The lawsuit comes after the April death of Towns after he was repeatedly "drive-stunned" with Tasers by East Point police in an apparent effort to make him get up and walk after a foot chase.
Stewart alleges records combined with eyewitness accounts show two officers violated the city's standard operating procedures for Tasers.
He wasn't cursing. He wasn't being abusive. He was saying, Im tired, Stewart said.
Stewart said Taser logs, combined with other information from the city, show two officers triggered their Tasers 13 times around the time in question: 10 for Sgt. Marcus Eberhart and three times for officer Howard Weems.
Link: http://www.wsbtv.com/news/news/local/attorney-east-point-police-used-taser-against-man-/ng9RG/
Laelth
(32,017 posts)-Laelth
merrily
(45,251 posts)Does cursing? (Isn't cursing at law enforcement, an arm of government, protected by the First Amendment?)
And, even if either justifies the death penalty, doesn't the Constitution require due process first?
RiffRandell
(5,909 posts)merrily
(45,251 posts)getting the nation to examine police behavior (not exact words by a long shot). I believe that is so. However, we have had people killed and beaten before that caused us to examine the same issue. I hope to heaven we do not need more beatings and especially not more deaths.
To quote a very great man, "How long?"
RiffRandell
(5,909 posts)I'm not optimistic.
hifiguy
(33,688 posts)is enough to get you arrested for "resisting arrest" these days. A lot of cops are only missing the snappy black uniform coats and shiny knee-high boots.
"Due process" in the street is what a cop decides to give you, even if it's instantaneous execution.
gordianot
(15,232 posts)Police seem to want immediate submission in their Alpha Ape displays. Holding your hands in the air and saying I surrender has always been a good indicator of real submission. I am afraid the Alpha Apes will look at immediate surrender as a sign of defiance.
merrily
(45,251 posts)Laelth
(32,017 posts)-Laelth
hifiguy
(33,688 posts)Though generally apes recognize a surrender signal. Which puts them far ahead of cops on the evolutionary scale.
damnedifIknow
(3,183 posts)I don't understand this at all.
RiffRandell
(5,909 posts)over a decade and shit like this happens often.
I was thinking the same thing...I honestly can't believe we haven't had massive protests.
There have been small ones for Trayvon Martin, Michael Brown and others.
Do you remember the case where the police had BS info from an informant (they knew it was BS) then charged an old lady's house, she had no idea what was going on, pulled out a rifle and they shot her to death?
They tried covering it up for months, corroborating stories but one had a conscience and folded on the other 2.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kathryn_Johnston_shooting
gordianot
(15,232 posts)Add to that a lack of empathy fueled by personal anger knowing you can get by with whatever you inflict on others.
Iggo
(47,534 posts)gratuitous
(82,849 posts)It's nice to know that there may have been policies in place for the police department, and that those policies may have been violated when these police officers tortured Gregory Towns to death. I hope a very sternly-worded letter is placed in both men's personnel files.
gordianot
(15,232 posts)R.Quinn
(122 posts)This makes me sick to my stomach. These police officers lack any semblance of respect for humanity, much less professionalism.
For anyone who isn't a cop, this would be murder.
RiffRandell
(5,909 posts)Comrade Grumpy
(13,184 posts)valerief
(53,235 posts)plants in PDs all across the country and these plants would commit atrocious crimes and never be held accountable.
But that's just my imagination. It would never happen for real, would it?
I mean, all these cops committing all these atrocious crimes and not being held accountable is just due to, um, poor upbringing, right?