A "rough ride" is not an accident, it is a weapon

[gollygee]

It means being handcuffed and thrown into the back of a van with a floor-to-ceiling steel interior. It means being shackled at the ankles and not being secured with a seatbelt as a police officer takes you on a hard-braking, high-speed ride. There is a clear intent to do harm.

Stray dogs on the street are assured greater safety when being taken to the local animal shelter.
As the New York Times reports, these tactics are well known in some communities.

In Baltimore, they are called “rough rides.” In Philadelphia, they are called “nickel rides,” which, according to the article, is a “reference to old-time amusement park rides that cost five cents.”

By design, these “rough rides” exist to do damage while keeping officers’ hands off of the arrested. Its effectiveness as a tactic to absolve blame is now being tested as the police department blames Freddie Gray’s death on a bolt in the van.


Read more: http://bluenationreview.com/a-rough-ride-is-not-an-accident-it-is-a-weapon/#ixzz3Yz5bwU5Q

[Trillo]

1. Then what is the rationale for 2nd degree murder?

Why not 1st?

Is it because it was more like Russian roulette? Because everyone doesn't die when getting a rough ride, for those that do, it wasn't "intent to murder"?

[gollygee]

2. I imagine they consider it intent to injure with potential for death rather than

premeditation to specifically kill.

I am glad they added on the "depraved heart" thing to it. That makes it fit what happened better than just 2nd degree.

[treestar]

4. Maryland law makes first degree murder

premeditated. So you have to have it planned out and lying in wait - that sort of murder.

[summerschild]

3. Any information on the crushed voice box?

Information on this injury has been almost nonexistent, or inconsistent.

Most sources don't even mention it, and I have never read anything that offered suggestions on how the larynx could have been injured inside the paddy wagon.

[treestar]

5. If that's a practice, then that's awful

Time for that to go. They should not transport anyone without a seat belt.

Stupidly dangerous too. Surely they will be sued if anyone gets hurt, and they have no idea what pre-existing conditions someone might have. The City has a financial interest in safe transport for anyone the cops have in their custody.

[etherealtruth]

10. Apparently this has been a practice for which the city has paid out millions

there was a very good story on one of the NPR news shows regarding this. I can't find a link to that, but here's another report based on the Baltimore Sun's reporting


http://www.vox.com/2015/4/28/8509065/freddie-gray-baltimore-riots

[treestar]

12. Oh dear, and that hasn't taught them anything

one became quadriplegic. What a horrid mentality. And the driving puts other drivers at risk too.

[malaise]

6. It is torture

plain and simple

[MoonRiver]

8. Yes

That sadistic driver deliberately tortured Freddie Gray to death.

[riderinthestorm]

7. Exactly. It's torture nt

[theaocp]

9. I hate the term "rough ride".

I much prefer the term, "nickel ride". It connotates the sense of sick, perverted joy these cops take in giving it. Like it's a goddamned thrill. It is literally one of the sickest fucking things I have ever heard of these days, outside of what Ramsay Bolton likes to do at the Dreadfort. Unbelievable and it ain't in just Baltimore. Christ.

[tblue37]

11. The fact that so many different PDs have well-known nicknames for the

practice indicates that it is common and, though not "official" policy, not at all discouraged by superiors--or by all those so-called good cops.

Furthermore, the fact that different places have different nicknames for the practice suggests that it is extremely widespread rather than limited to a specific area.