Excerpts from the Hammond Cops use Taser on Passenger during seatbelt stop complaint

[KurtNYC]

A lawsuit has been filed against the City of Hammond and the officers involved in the tazing of passenger. I post this because I think the Complaint adds details to the story that are not covered in news accounts.

20. Upon approaching the vehicle, Vicari or Turner placed spike strips under the wheels of Plaintiffs’ vehicle, which made Plaintiffs even more fearful for their safety.
...
32. Lisa called 911 and requested a supervisor, and Jamal declined to get out of the vehicle because they were in reasonable fear for their safety.

After 2 minutes of inaction the officers pulled their guns out, not in response to any change in the situation. They did not order anyone to raise their hands and did not say that anyone was under arrest. Without warning, provocation or conversation they smash the glass, taze and remove the passenger as seen in the video.

The police never searched the car for weapons although they allege that was their concern in smashing glass all over the family and tazing the crap out of the passenger.

The Complaint alleges that 2 of the officers involved have a "history of using objectively unreasonable force against citizens and arresting citizens without probable cause." It then names 3 prior lawsuits against them and the City of Hammond. Says they were not disciplined but promoted to supervisory positions. Alleges that City policy is, therefore, to violate Constitutional rights of citizens.

Violation of 4th and 14th Amendment, Assault and Battery, False Imprisonment, Intentional Infliction of Emotion Distress

Full text:
https://www.scribd.com/doc/242183022/Complaint-against-Hammond-Police

[truedelphi]

1. The CIA openly stated on their web page, their official web page,

Circa late 2001, early 2002, that one of the biggest problems facing the CIA is getting to have American service people turn on their fellow Americans.

The military service people may or may not do this. Perhaps the notion of keeping our service people involved in perpetual tours of duty was to break down their humanity. But this effort turned around on that purpose, as many of those who served more than two or three tours eventually became either too dis-associative to do anything, or else were so seriously wounded with head injuries due to IED attacks that they are lucky if they can turn on or off their TV using a remote.

But the mercenary forces such as Blackwater (or whatever they call themselves these days) and the police are all too glad to be able to be militarized in such a way that they turn on us. The Blackwater types are offered very decent wages - sometimes over $ 50 an hour. Most police seem to be doing this just for the right to call themselves "patriots" and to get the chance to play with ever increasingly lethal "toys" our tax monies provide their departments with.

When I look to a 'larger picture" of what may be coming down the road, I am truly afraid of our future.

[SomethingFishy]

5. I remember reading about that,

they were trying to come up with ways to make sure if a soldier was told to fire on Americans, that he would in fact fire on Americans.

They are pulling it off too. There has been a seismic shift in consciousness in this country since 9/11. The citizens have become the police. They are armed to the teeth, they are told "be vigilant" "if you see something say something". They patrol neighborhoods, they make up little militias and "patrol" the border. It's a fucking freak show.
The cops, have become the military. They have military grade weapons, military strategy, body armor, riot gear. It seems like if you come into contact with a cop these days, getting pepper sprayed or tased is probably the good outcome. They are prepared to defend this nation against... well they can't figure that out so they just started with minorities and are working their way up...

And the military? They are an arm of the corporations. War For Profit, which lucky for them creates... more War For Profit.

[KurtNYC]

3. honestly I would have been scared shitless from the point where they put down the spike strips.

I would just assume that they thought I was someone else because not having a seatbelt on is nothing that would warrant that much action. If I had fled or sped or didn't turn off my engine or the vehicle was stolen or I had tinted glass all the way around my vehicle then spike strip, but if I pulled over when the lights roll and shut my motor off then I don't see cause for that much concern on their part.

It was a soccer mom van with a family of four in it, in broad daylight. WTH?

[MohRokTah]

7. The thug cops did it because they could.

They also know they will get away with their thuggery because they have guns, badges, and blue suits. Trusting cops will get you killed.

[frylock]

4. fuck tha police..

promoted to supervisory positions by good cops I suppose.

[Hoppy]

6. One of them is probably the chief, by now.