Slog
News & ArtsWednesday, November 17, 2010
Crime UPDATED: Video Shows Seattle Cop Kicking 17-Year-Old Boy in the Groin Even Though His Hands Were Up; SPD Begins Misconduct Investigation; KIRO Says SPD Had Video for Some Time But Did Nothing
Posted by Dominic Holden on Wed, Nov 17, 2010 at 11:30 PM
- KIRO
- Suspect puts up hands before undercover SPD officer kicks him to the ground
Originally posted at 6:22 p.m.; updated throughout the night with comments first from SPD and later from KIRO, and updated again at 11:30 p.m.—KIRO HAS POSTED THE VIDEO.
The Stranger has learned about a video that the SPD has had in evidence for a while but didn't use to reprimand its officer until today, which shows a Seattle cop kicking a 17-year-old boy in the groin even though his hands were up and wasn't a threat to the officers, according to several sources. The youth reportedly fell to the floor and then the officer proceeded to kick him in the chest and face. Police were looking for the perpetrator of an assault on 2nd Avenue last month and found the teen, who was one of the suspects, shortly afterward in a nearby convenience store.
"We have a copy of the video," says Sgt. Sean Whitcomb, a spokesman for the Seattle Police Department, when asked about the incident. He could not provide details about what the video contains but confirmed it shows "kicking."
KIRO television news director Todd Mokhtari says his station originally obtained a copy of the store's surveillance video earlier this week. “We were going to run it tomorrow,” Mokhtari says. But since this report was posted on Slog, he says, "Now we are going to run it tonight.”
KIRO investigative reporter Chris Halsne, who watched the footage and shared his account with The Stranger before the station airs the video at 11:00 p.m., says recordings from two cameras inside Joe's Mart show the suspect has "his hands up standing by the counter, not moving."
The officer "gives a flying kick," Halsne continues. "He lunges at the kid and kicks with his right foot and connects with the kid's upper inner thigh. Then the kid goes down. The kid goes straight to the floor, straight down on his side. The blow definitely took him down. Then the officer takes another step and kicks him really hard in the chest, then he pulls back and takes one more kick—it definitely hit the kid in the face.
Halsne notes that SPD already had the video—KIRO didn't provide it—but police didn't take action until he called the SPD today.
"The owner of the cameras at the store says police came some time ago and took all of [the footage]," Halsne says. "No action was taken against the officer until we called for comment. They are kicking out a press release now when we called for comment, so we knew that they had possession of the video for some time," Halsne says. "Command had not seen it, but somebody [at SPD] had it in their possession—we haven't figured out exactly who."
City officials are now scrambling to mitigate the potential fallout from the incident, which underscores a trend of controversial actions by the SPD this year. (In a similar incident—the "Mexican piss" case—police also knew of potential misconduct but didn't reprimand the officer until contacted by media several weeks later.)
SPD's Whitcomb issued a statement tonight that said, "Seattle Police command staff sought and obtained the evidentiary video shortly after 4:00 p.m.... In reviewing the video, questions arose as to the force used in this situation." Two deputy chiefs who screened the footage this evening took the officer off duty and began an internal investigation.
The incident occurred on the night of October 18, shortly after the SPD conducted an undercover narcotics bust downtown, according to a police statement released this evening. An officer had attempted to buy drugs, but he was reportedly lured into a parking lot and punched by assailants. One of five suspects, the teen was found at the nearby store, where officers kicked him, placed him under arrest, and booked him for investigation of robbery and investigation of assault.
Mokhtari says that, according to his staff, the video shows the officer approach a young African American man “and they kick him a few times... The guy is standing there not doing anything."
After viewing the footage today, police brass put the 10-year-veteran officer on administrative reassignment. SPD's Whitcomb says the Office of Professional Accountability, which looks into allegations of police misconduct, has begun an investigation.
This is one of many controversial incidents involving an SPD officer this year. Of note: In April, video surfaced of a Seattle police officer stomping an innocent Latino man’s head against the concrete and threatening to “beat the fucking Mexican piss out of you, homey”; in August, Officer Ian Birk fatally shot a Native American wood carver who was of no apparent threat to the officer; last month, officers conducted an armed raid on an innocent man who had two legal medical pot plants. Mayor Mike McGinn appointed the new chief John Diaz this summer, despite criticisms that Diaz didn't have a strong enough grip on rank-and-file officers.
Mayor's office spokesman Aaron Pickus also confirms that the city has the video but did not provide any comment.
2
Choosing Diaz to become chief was the worst mistake McGinn ever made. It's not too late to make things right and fire Diaz, before more innocent people get assaulted or murdered.
3
SPD needs to get their shit together. I've had many cops come after me for no reason then mysteriously back off when I ask for their ID number and name.
Aggression never works in a mellow city like Seattle.
Aggression never works in a mellow city like Seattle.
4
I've had very few interactions with SPD - or any police officers, for that matter - but the ones I have had were pleasant.
Then again, I'm a young, white, reasonably well dressed male.
They better get their shit together quick, though. This is starting to get ugly.
Then again, I'm a young, white, reasonably well dressed male.
They better get their shit together quick, though. This is starting to get ugly.
5
#3's first sentence says it all. I know I'm tired of these occurrences. GET IT THE FUCK TOGETHER YOU FUCKING COPS!
6
Didn't the city pay for billboards in Chicago or New York, to hire cops, stating that our starting pay is much higher in the city those cops worked in?
7
Howzabout we cut the thugs we pay to protect us from the city budget? They never help when you need it anyway. Might as well have a private security service cover the entire city instead. At least then we could with-hold payment to them if they acted like these thugs do.
Howzabout we cut the thugs we pay to protect us from the city budget? They never help when you need it anyway. Might as well have a private security service cover the entire city instead. At least then we could with-hold payment to them if they acted like these thugs do.
9
@1 and @2:
Diaz has only been chief for a few months. Hard to see how the recent rash of problems could be due to something he has done.
So far, Diaz has seemed more responsive than past police chiefs to these sorts of incidents. His insider status at the SPD may actually put him in a better position to deal with both shitty officers as well as the good officers who made a mistake. The fact that a hippy like McGinn seems to trust him tells me that Diaz may actually be part of solution.
Diaz has only been chief for a few months. Hard to see how the recent rash of problems could be due to something he has done.
So far, Diaz has seemed more responsive than past police chiefs to these sorts of incidents. His insider status at the SPD may actually put him in a better position to deal with both shitty officers as well as the good officers who made a mistake. The fact that a hippy like McGinn seems to trust him tells me that Diaz may actually be part of solution.
10
"We're going to have a statement that will be release here soon,"
It's going to be a lie, along the lines of:
"The male stood up and made advances toward the officer [while walking backwards with a with a closed knife]"
Fuck these pigs.
It's going to be a lie, along the lines of:
"The male stood up and made advances toward the officer [while walking backwards with a with a closed knife]"
Fuck these pigs.
11
@9 "Chief Diaz began his career with the Seattle Police Department in 1980.....[and] has served as deputy chief since 2001 overseeing the Operations Bureau....he became the Interim Chief of Police on May 7, 2009, and was sworn into office as the permanent police chief by Mayor McGinn on August 16, 2010."
Hardly a newcomer.
Hardly a newcomer.
12
@11: So, you think stupid cop behavior in Seattle started with Diaz? Um, no.
Look, no one is going to accomplish any significant reform with the job title "interim chief", and as chief, any changes he does make to training/accountability aren't going to be visible for at least another year.
My read on Diaz is that he is receptive to change. He's from San Francisco, and his parents are from Mexico - hardly the template of a close-minded, business as usual, crooked cop. As someone who really wants to see an improvement in the quality of our city's law enforcement, I think it's worth actually giving him a chance to do something about it before we start blaming him.
Look, no one is going to accomplish any significant reform with the job title "interim chief", and as chief, any changes he does make to training/accountability aren't going to be visible for at least another year.
My read on Diaz is that he is receptive to change. He's from San Francisco, and his parents are from Mexico - hardly the template of a close-minded, business as usual, crooked cop. As someone who really wants to see an improvement in the quality of our city's law enforcement, I think it's worth actually giving him a chance to do something about it before we start blaming him.
13
PTSD is a bitch and not the best way to staff or operate a police force... two wars to draw recruits from, then the Monfort and Clemmons effect are going to naturally end up with these kind of results. good policing is going to suffer. not that it was that great before.
16
Hey SPD, it gets better:
http://colorlines.com/archives/2010/11/s…
Dom, here's ANOTHER incident just out in the past 6 hours, separate from this.
http://colorlines.com/archives/2010/11/s…
Dom, here's ANOTHER incident just out in the past 6 hours, separate from this.
17
Diaz needs to step up and get his force under control, and he needs to get it done NOW. I think that's what's happening; the force thinks he's weak, so they think it's open season on baddies because they know he won't do anything about it except talk. That needs to stop NOW. If the force gets their way a second longer they will be IMPOSSIBLE to control later.
18
There better be a run on pink copy paper in this city because I am fucking fed up with this bullshit.
19
The second to last paragraph fails to mention the incident last June in which a cop punched a 17 year old girl in the face.
SPD is out of control.
SPD is out of control.
20
I still think that the cop punching the chick wasn't a problem.
What was a problem was his failure to defuse the situation before that. A problem, but not as bad as 'police brutality'.
What was a problem was his failure to defuse the situation before that. A problem, but not as bad as 'police brutality'.
21
You what else would be a good investigation for the Stranger? Why didn't the police or mayor's office report THIS police attack until the tapes were leaked?
I'm sort of appalled even more now that I've realized this.
I'm sort of appalled even more now that I've realized this.
22
Did the other cops present and unaware fail to report it when it happened in October? Was the SPD and Mayor unaware until today when the tape surfaced? Was there a cover up? This is really bad.
23
Good reporting decisions showing up this week covering cops, first from the Times and now from KIRO.
24
@19: Watch the video again - she came at him first.
If that was Officer Birk, she'd probably be dead. Whoever that cop was handled the situation as well as it could be handled, given that he'd been specifically sent there to deal with the J-walking problem at that location.
If that was Officer Birk, she'd probably be dead. Whoever that cop was handled the situation as well as it could be handled, given that he'd been specifically sent there to deal with the J-walking problem at that location.
26
Go to hell all you Cop HATERS! you don't like the way police work then sign up and do the job your selfs. You weak pansy idiots don't have a clue as to what it takes to do the job. Soo just crawl into yor holes and smoke your pot and be glad that when you dial 911 for help that there is at least a person coming.. Oh yeah douche bags, remember that they are picked from the same community that you live in. As imperfect as they are .. and we all are, they at least have the balls to do the job when pussys like you get to stay home and sleep.
27
SPD buy/bust operations are unconstitutional. They're also a refuge for gangsters and thugs hiding behind the authority of a badge.
29
Go to hell all you Cop HATERS! you don't like the way police work then sign up and do the job your selfs. You weak pansy idiots don't have a clue as to what it takes to do the job. Soo just crawl into yor holes and smoke your pot and be glad that when you dial 911 for help that there is at least a person coming.. Oh yeah douche bags, remember that they are picked from the same community that you live in. As imperfect as they are .. and we all are, they at least have the balls to do the job when pussys like you get to stay home and sleep.
30
One more thing a$$holes, for the past month prior to that incident there were a rash of assaults in the same area. The victims was cold cocked and then robbed. Some wre serioulsy injured when thier heads hit the pavement, didn't make the News cause they were found out to be drug rips. No one gives a sh1t about drug users getting their asses kicked. I can tell you this because I work in the area and see it all night long. You see a bunch of thugs hanging out at the McDonalds of next to the indian restuarant next to the Noc Noc, and the next thing yu see is an unfortunate soul laying on the ground bleeding with the POS's fleeing in all directions. Cops arrive but shit damn near all the black thugs dress alike and look alike.
32
The "victims", if awake dont want report it , refuse treatment and walk away. So the Cops can do is document the incident.
Well long stroy short, since that Oct 18TH incident the shit bags haven't been trying to rip people off, at least for awhile there has been a lulled.
If you asses are still reading this what i am saying is theat the POS in the store desrved to get kicked in the nuts. Fuck him, it is called Karma..
Well long stroy short, since that Oct 18TH incident the shit bags haven't been trying to rip people off, at least for awhile there has been a lulled.
If you asses are still reading this what i am saying is theat the POS in the store desrved to get kicked in the nuts. Fuck him, it is called Karma..
34
The article says: "An officer had attempted to buy drugs, but he was reportedly lured into a parking lot and punched by assailants," so yourneighbor2010 has a point about the drug rips. This is a 10-year veteran cop, and we don't know his side of the story. No one appointed this cop (or his boot) judge and jury, but if he'd just seen that kid punch his friend, maybe we can at least give him some leeway to defend the perceived unfair brutality of his actions.
36
I saw the video, nothing there. I hope the department doesn't throw the 10 year vet under the bus, like they have been doing lately. Come on Chief Diaz where are you balls. Well POLICE CHIEF!!!
37
@33 your an idiot! Figures some one would teach a gorilla how to spell and type. Me stronger me fight you ugh ugh ugh. APE go smoke a doobie.
38
Ha I mean @35, benjammin509 your an idiot! Figures some one would teach a gorilla how to spell and type. Me stronger me fight you ugh ugh ugh. APE go smoke a doobie.
40
wow, real clusterfuck here. I guess the moral is: we all make mistakes, and don't necessarily deserve a kick in the face because of it.
43
Dear SPD, be less fucking worthless. You get involved in this stupid shit while you let a burglar burglarize the same fucking neighborhood nightly FOR MONTHS while you didn't do shit. A bunch of frat guys ended up taking him down. A friend of mine was assaulted and it took you 20minutes to show up. It took so long that they realized we were tailing them and they came back to pull a knife on me. I came to you about a hit and run with witnesses and the culprit's vehicle and license yesterday and you told me you wouldn't even contact the owner of the vehicle.
I've lived in major cities all over the country, and without a doubt, this is the most pathetic force I've ever seen. I'm normally with the law, but no one is fucking scared of you, and you are completely ineffective in enforcing the law.
I've lived in major cities all over the country, and without a doubt, this is the most pathetic force I've ever seen. I'm normally with the law, but no one is fucking scared of you, and you are completely ineffective in enforcing the law.
44
@43 and all the rest...go back to what ever "major" city you came from. If you can do a better job, stop being an arm chair QB and sign up to do the job. Once your on the other side you will see how difficult it is to serve and protect a society out of control. Oh all the other major cities have departments that larger than Seattle. Or better yet why don't you become a Real Life Super Hero and patrol the streets. Or maybe just go f yourself. LOL. I bet you all want to kick my ass right now. GO SPD!!!!
45
And it was not stupid shit you dummy, maybe if you worked or travel through the area with out your left wing pot haze blinders you would see the what goes on. SPD was doing what the was asked of them by the merchants in the area. Go ask the people who work at the Noc Noc, they complain about the thugs all the time.
47
@41 LAW ABIDING citizens are not the problem. and don't talk about John T Williams , you people didn;t give a sh!t about him when he was alive, didn't even know or cared that he existed. Citizens go take control o your city that is going to Sh1t. We were once the most livable city inthe country, not any more.
48
Blah Blah Blah, you people still can't come back with aything to get me back even though I try to egg you on. Ha losers.
50
Why is it that as soon as I post, all the trolls come out to forage by the light of the moon?
This one is dumber than the rest, judging by his general lack of intelligibility. Perhaps, due to his subpar mental capacity, he has been outcompeted by the other trolls for food and attention. Starving and butthurt, the failed troll resorts to increasingly desperate measures, such as attempting to feed after a predator (me) has scared the other trolls away. Just as a lame tiger may resort to raiding domestic livestock, this troll must risk being pwned in order to have a chance at survival and attention-whoring.
This one is dumber than the rest, judging by his general lack of intelligibility. Perhaps, due to his subpar mental capacity, he has been outcompeted by the other trolls for food and attention. Starving and butthurt, the failed troll resorts to increasingly desperate measures, such as attempting to feed after a predator (me) has scared the other trolls away. Just as a lame tiger may resort to raiding domestic livestock, this troll must risk being pwned in order to have a chance at survival and attention-whoring.
52
You don't have to defend your case to Slog, @49 et al, but the SPD. I hope you're more coherent when you plead your case to them, or else you might turn out to be the one idiot out of hundreds of violent asshole cops to actually get punished.
53
Ha now that is more like it..... no one here is weak. I believe in a strong police force, with oversight. what I don't like is all the f@#k the police talk as if they make the rules.. They don't. Every thing they do and are trained to do is approved by the people you(we) vote for.. EVERYTHING. It is not like they thumped a meek law abiding pot smoker on the hill. If you look at the video you will notice the cop pointing at the subject, no sound but i will bet my house that he was yelling for him to get on the ground, (WHICH IF YOU FOLLOW POLICE TRAINING AS YOU ALL SHOULD AS TAX PAYING CITIZENS) which is standard , then he leads with a kick (training) the subject falls to the ground with arm tucked in. The way they are trained that is a bad position because the subject could be hiding a weapon. ( again based on statistics which alot of the trainig is derived from, if you don't believe me look it up on your INTERNETS..lol)
54
Then a couple of more strikes to get the subject to completely comply then it's all over. Nothing wrong there.
Look with all the kidding aside it would be best if each and every one of you went to the SPD citizens training, not to drink the Kooll aid but to edumecat yourselves on what an how your police operates. Listen do you belive a story based on on newsourc or do you gllen your info and base youe opinions on several maybe more sources. Take a ride along with an officer on patrol for a night. Really we deserve a better city than what it has become and it is not the Seattle police's fault it's ours for allowing the crap to go on because we don't want to get involved. enough for me got to get to sleep. Good night citizens legal and illegal.
Look with all the kidding aside it would be best if each and every one of you went to the SPD citizens training, not to drink the Kooll aid but to edumecat yourselves on what an how your police operates. Listen do you belive a story based on on newsourc or do you gllen your info and base youe opinions on several maybe more sources. Take a ride along with an officer on patrol for a night. Really we deserve a better city than what it has become and it is not the Seattle police's fault it's ours for allowing the crap to go on because we don't want to get involved. enough for me got to get to sleep. Good night citizens legal and illegal.
58
@56 Cop troll. Or maybe even a professional troll from a pr firm hired by the Police Guild. Professional trolling is a growing and important part of image management campaigns - the mirror image of the posters who go on sites to surreptitiously advertise products or services (seriously, there is an add for the latter job for WA on Craigs List right now.)
I'm not sure the objective is to spam the comment thread to the point where people stop posting, but that approach could have benefits, such as reducing a build up of community passion.
I'm not sure the objective is to spam the comment thread to the point where people stop posting, but that approach could have benefits, such as reducing a build up of community passion.
59
non-incident, since the victim hasn't filed a $5M suit against the city yet. fuckin' attention whores, those suspects with criminal backgrounds. look up. suspect's record.
60
What is wrong with these fuckin Seattle cops??? This is a serious problem...how many times do we need to hear that Seattle cops have overstepped their bounds while pretending to protect the public safety??
It's time to call bullshit on the Seattle police dept...time for some real accountability.
It's time to call bullshit on the Seattle police dept...time for some real accountability.
61
@53: He's holding his hands clearly and non-threateningly above his head. What's your evidence that the cop is telling him to drop, rather than to stick 'em up?
You are made of FAIL and bullshit, mah boi.
You are made of FAIL and bullshit, mah boi.
63
What bothers me most is this line because it means that there's a brotherhood in SPD.
"No action was taken against the officer until we called for comment. They are kicking out a press release now when we called for comment, so we knew that they had possession of the video for some time," Halsne says. "Command had not seen it, but somebody [at SPD] had it in their possession—we haven't figured out exactly who."
"No action was taken against the officer until we called for comment. They are kicking out a press release now when we called for comment, so we knew that they had possession of the video for some time," Halsne says. "Command had not seen it, but somebody [at SPD] had it in their possession—we haven't figured out exactly who."
64
More SPD jackassery. For a city that prides itself on having such a well-educated population we seem to hire only the lowliest knuckle-dragging drek for our police department.
65
The open questions here are
1. Was there an illegal police cover up or anything improper here? Why didn't they do anything until the media contacted them?
2. Who is this cop?
3. What happened to the charges they laid on this kid?
4. What are McGinn and Diaz going to do on the record to leash an out of control number of officers?
I'm normally pro-cop but this is getting totally ridiculous. #1 especially is beyond appalling.
1. Was there an illegal police cover up or anything improper here? Why didn't they do anything until the media contacted them?
2. Who is this cop?
3. What happened to the charges they laid on this kid?
4. What are McGinn and Diaz going to do on the record to leash an out of control number of officers?
I'm normally pro-cop but this is getting totally ridiculous. #1 especially is beyond appalling.
66
And #5, which I may as well say: do we need to start pushing for a Justice Department investigation of this police force's now clear pattern of behavior, or is McGinn willing to head that off?
It only takes a single orchestrated media or citizen campaign to bring a world of hurt down on the force and McGinn. Is he willing to do anything finally, on the record?
It only takes a single orchestrated media or citizen campaign to bring a world of hurt down on the force and McGinn. Is he willing to do anything finally, on the record?
67
I've gone through raw multi-camera security video to find the relevant bits of an incident and it can take HOURS. The files are watermarked and timecoded so they are admissible in court, so you can only go through the files with really limited crap software. It's like putting together a jigsaw puzzle while wearing mittens.
Since officers were assaulted, SPD would want a rock solid prosecution, so I'm guessing the evidence was given to someone fairly senior with more on their plate and it just took a while before it was reviewed.
As far as Seattle cops go, I think most of them are cool and the ones who can't control themselves shouldn't get to be cops any more. It's really just that simple.
Same goes for bloggers who can't be bothered to spell check their posts.
Since officers were assaulted, SPD would want a rock solid prosecution, so I'm guessing the evidence was given to someone fairly senior with more on their plate and it just took a while before it was reviewed.
As far as Seattle cops go, I think most of them are cool and the ones who can't control themselves shouldn't get to be cops any more. It's really just that simple.
Same goes for bloggers who can't be bothered to spell check their posts.
68
"It's 8:31 p.m., and less than a block away, chaos and violence is just starting to emerge from the shadows." -- Hilarious sentence! Just normal night time activity in that area!
http://www.kirotv.com/news/25834713/deta…
"KIRO Team 7 Investigators are not going to name the juvenile who was arrested that night in October, but can tell you, court records show he has a criminal past.
Both drug dealing and simple assault show up as juvenile court cases connected to his name.
Prosecutors have also charged the young man with attempted robbery, saying he was present in the parking lot the night when the undercover officer was hit in the jaw near the store."
>>>> THEREFORE I am not going to spend any time waaah-waaaahing over this thug getting kicked in the nuts etc.
I hope that kick made it so the little shit can't breed, but unfortunately since he is 17 he probably already has.
http://www.kirotv.com/news/25834713/deta…
"KIRO Team 7 Investigators are not going to name the juvenile who was arrested that night in October, but can tell you, court records show he has a criminal past.
Both drug dealing and simple assault show up as juvenile court cases connected to his name.
Prosecutors have also charged the young man with attempted robbery, saying he was present in the parking lot the night when the undercover officer was hit in the jaw near the store."
>>>> THEREFORE I am not going to spend any time waaah-waaaahing over this thug getting kicked in the nuts etc.
I hope that kick made it so the little shit can't breed, but unfortunately since he is 17 he probably already has.
69
@68: Okay, then. If you have any sort of criminal record, you don't have the right to not be beaten up, unprovoked, by the police.
Sounds pretty good to me.
Sounds pretty good to me.
70
Whoops! Gotta be careful SPD and kick the ass of the right 17 year, corn-rowed thug hanging out at 2nd and Pine late at night. Lots to choose from so be sure to get the one who actually attacked you.
Can't the Urban league find a non-thug to defend? This one looks like another Aeisha stewart-Baker.
Can't the Urban league find a non-thug to defend? This one looks like another Aeisha stewart-Baker.
72
@ "yourneighbor2010" your last name wouldn't happen to be palin would it? or maybe you're just a dumb cop. and no, you did'nt make to be my neighbor in 2010. i don't live in sultan.
74
Days like this I wish the Stranger would flip a programmer a couple hundred bucks to make this a native feature on the site:
http://userscripts.org/scripts/show/4858…
You all can use that script to ignore asshats at will, if you use firefox.
http://userscripts.org/scripts/show/4858…
You all can use that script to ignore asshats at will, if you use firefox.
75
Fuck the police
@74 want my Chrome extension I wrote to automatically click every thumbs down possible on whatever page you're on in Questionland? It's awesome for trolling.
@74 want my Chrome extension I wrote to automatically click every thumbs down possible on whatever page you're on in Questionland? It's awesome for trolling.
78
"The 17-year-old who was kicked multiple times is one of four people charged with first-degree attempted robbery for an incident that happened shortly before the controversial arrest. During that incident, investigators say, an undercover officer was assaulted during a failed drug bust.The 17-year-old who was kicked multiple times is one of four people charged with first-degree attempted robbery for an incident that happened shortly before the controversial arrest. During that incident, investigators say, an undercover officer was assaulted during a failed drug bust."
Sloggers as cops:
"Hellow, poor wittle cwiminal, thank you for beating my ass, committing so many cwimes against black people and wuining downtown. Would some wace and justice initiatives help?"
Put the cop on one month's leave. Paid.
Sloggers as cops:
"Hellow, poor wittle cwiminal, thank you for beating my ass, committing so many cwimes against black people and wuining downtown. Would some wace and justice initiatives help?"
Put the cop on one month's leave. Paid.
79
@ Yourneighbor2010: I realize you're home on admin leave and have lots of time on your hands until this is all resolved, but you aren't helping your case any by being such a whacko.
81
#74 -- yes, let's please petition the Stranger to get this installed. I hate wasting valuable seconds of my life scanning the unintelligible/uneducated/uninformed rantings of elementary school dropouts. Now if I could just get a Web-wide app like this that would screen out any articles relating to Sarah Palin -- THAT would be worth some gold...
Oh, and kudos to all of you out there who don't take the bait.
Oh, and kudos to all of you out there who don't take the bait.
83
I am so fucking SICK of the police and their sense of entitlement and racist bullshit. Why is this happening?
A guy I know from high school became a cop and said it makes you racist and stereotype certain communities. Well guess what, if that happens to you, then time to get out and try a new profession because police are supposed to HELP PEOPLE, not hurt them.
A friend of mine got a DUI and also had the nice experience of getting the shit kicked out of him by the arresting officer in some room at the police station. All the while the cop was screaming racial profanities and insults at him (he's Native American). He couldn't even do anything, just take it.
I am so sick of it.
A guy I know from high school became a cop and said it makes you racist and stereotype certain communities. Well guess what, if that happens to you, then time to get out and try a new profession because police are supposed to HELP PEOPLE, not hurt them.
A friend of mine got a DUI and also had the nice experience of getting the shit kicked out of him by the arresting officer in some room at the police station. All the while the cop was screaming racial profanities and insults at him (he's Native American). He couldn't even do anything, just take it.
I am so sick of it.
84
The only up side for SPD is that the bike cop came in and stopped the beating. Its not like the Rodeney King beating where four cops hit him and 19 others egged them on.
85
Personally I'd like to know more about the undercover cop's state of mind when he ran into that store. It's obvious he made a mistake. That much is clear.
But assuming that he thought that this kid was one of the kids that jumped his buddy then it's not that clear to me that going right in and taking him down was the wrong thing to do -- even if the kid raised his hands. If the cop really did think this was one of the attackers than it seems reasonable that he would assume that the kid could attack again and that the right thing to do is take him down no matter what he does. Especially as the cop was apparently unarmed.
The question is was this just a simple case of taking down the wrong guy in the right way, or was this take down just plain wrong no matter who it was? I'm not convinced it was the latter and not the former.
But assuming that he thought that this kid was one of the kids that jumped his buddy then it's not that clear to me that going right in and taking him down was the wrong thing to do -- even if the kid raised his hands. If the cop really did think this was one of the attackers than it seems reasonable that he would assume that the kid could attack again and that the right thing to do is take him down no matter what he does. Especially as the cop was apparently unarmed.
The question is was this just a simple case of taking down the wrong guy in the right way, or was this take down just plain wrong no matter who it was? I'm not convinced it was the latter and not the former.
86
Joe Szilagyi @74
Thank you and programmer "Jon" for that link.
Install greasemonkey plugin < 1 minute
https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox…
Install Comment Filter < 1 minute
http://userscripts.org/scripts/show/4858…
Find "unhide" checkbox during my test drive = 2 minutes
Happier SLOGreading = all day long.
Thank you and programmer "Jon" for that link.
Install greasemonkey plugin < 1 minute
https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox…
Install Comment Filter < 1 minute
http://userscripts.org/scripts/show/4858…
Find "unhide" checkbox during my test drive = 2 minutes
Happier SLOGreading = all day long.
87
What the hell is going on? I know, and work with, lots of SPD officers who are really level-headed, calm and respectful people. We come in contact with every drunk, drug addict, homeless/mentally ill, beligerent asshole...you name it and I've never seen anything like what we've been seeing lately.
Who are these cops and where do they come from?
Who are these cops and where do they come from?
88
YOURNEIGHBOR2010! NAIVE WHITE SEATTLE LIBTARD (or whatever your handle is)!!
Do you both want to come over to my house and give each other back rubs? We can drink white wine and just see where things go. I find your ignorance and aggression really hot, in a Bruce Le Bruce kind of way.
Just think about it.
Do you both want to come over to my house and give each other back rubs? We can drink white wine and just see where things go. I find your ignorance and aggression really hot, in a Bruce Le Bruce kind of way.
Just think about it.
89
one of the things that was reported in the video...this kid and his friend came from a different direction than the undercover buy. So did they run around the block to get in the store, or did this kid "fit the description"?
90
what do you expect from cops? people who want to have authority over others are, in general, violent and irrational individuals (similar mindset to criminals). if you look at the psychology of the situation, you might see why the police will never be peaceful.
91
Ooh! New troll! New troll! Or maybe not, but I would have figured on the Mystery of the Tainted Cocaine drawing a cop-troll like, well, cocaine. Let's check the old comment history... huh. Posted on one other story, over a year ago... LONG LOST UNCLE TROLL! Welcome home!
From one of your posts, yourneighbor2010: "Cops arrive but shit damn near all the black thugs dress alike and look alike." From another: "Oh and I am NOT a COP, but I am BLACK."
I'm curious now, because I haven't heard any other people with dark skin say all Black people look alike or dress alike, even a limited group of Black people, like "black thugs". Hell, I've never heard someone with light skin who lives in an area with a significant population of people with dark skin make the assertion that sie has trouble telling people with dark skin apart, except for raging bigots who just don't care to make the effort. Obviously it can be hard to distinguish features in poorly-lit spaces irrespective of the skin tone of the person in question, but that juxtaposition strikes me as false.
@58: Holy shit, really? Might be time to compare that to competing offers for my soul...
I <3 you venomlash. :-)
From one of your posts, yourneighbor2010: "Cops arrive but shit damn near all the black thugs dress alike and look alike." From another: "Oh and I am NOT a COP, but I am BLACK."
I'm curious now, because I haven't heard any other people with dark skin say all Black people look alike or dress alike, even a limited group of Black people, like "black thugs". Hell, I've never heard someone with light skin who lives in an area with a significant population of people with dark skin make the assertion that sie has trouble telling people with dark skin apart, except for raging bigots who just don't care to make the effort. Obviously it can be hard to distinguish features in poorly-lit spaces irrespective of the skin tone of the person in question, but that juxtaposition strikes me as false.
@58: Holy shit, really? Might be time to compare that to competing offers for my soul...
I <3 you venomlash. :-)
93
"An officer had attempted to buy drugs, but he was reportedly lured into a parking lot and punched by assailants." Personally, I would have kicked the kids ass too if he had just assaulted one of my brothers. This is reality, people...
94
@93. I agree. But that's why I (and you) are not police officers who are trained not to react emotionally and irrationally in situations like this. Whether this kid was or was not involved is not the point. An arrest is not a chance for "revenge" and to get a few hits in on someone to "teach them a lesson." Punishment comes through the courts. Until a guilty verdict is handed down, the kid in the video IS ENTIRELY AN INNOCENT PERSON. And he must ALWAYS be treated as such by the police. Period. Regardless of whatever emotions might be going through the officer's head. That's what makes a professional, respectful, and respectable police force.
95
@70 "Whoops! Gotta be careful SPD and kick the ass of the right 17 year, corn-rowed thug hanging out at 2nd and Pine late at night. Lots to choose from so be sure to get the one who actually attacked you. "
Right. I absolutely want physical force and violence deployed randomly on people because of their hairdo.
Right. I absolutely want physical force and violence deployed randomly on people because of their hairdo.
97
I believe that YourNeighbor2010 may be a cop. He writes at a 4th grade level and actually uses LOL. Police aren't the brightest crayon in the box...as we have all experienced.
98
I'm getting the impression it's becoming open war fare between drug dealers and the police. Just looks like open warfare to me. Any thing goes sort of thing. Dealers selling in the light of day in public places with no shame, police kicking groins in the light of day with no shame. Lordy please don't give them guns! What? You don't say, they already have guns!
99
@yourneighbor2010, just know that everyone is laughing at you. you've pissed off noone really. your efforts are waisted on this board. BUT that was last night....by now the ecstacy has worn off. you've pulled the various dilldo's from your ass. wiped the lipstick and makeup from your face. removed the panty hose. your mother has made you breakfast and you're off to wander the public library to wait in line for a free computer and troll some more.
pussy.
pussy.
104
And I wrote earlier that I would like you come break my dick in an attempt to breed. C'mon Naive White Libtarded Seattle Progressive!! Does it want to come over for to make some man on man? Does it? Does it?
I think ever since high school I've just had this thing for doing it with small minded dudes with a lot of anger. I've never gotten a chance to, but the whole world is different now that I have a stranger handle. Lustlab? Who needs it with hotties like you right here!
Put your money where my mouth is! lets fuck already! (message me!)
I think ever since high school I've just had this thing for doing it with small minded dudes with a lot of anger. I've never gotten a chance to, but the whole world is different now that I have a stranger handle. Lustlab? Who needs it with hotties like you right here!
Put your money where my mouth is! lets fuck already! (message me!)
105
@104
Why don't you go ask some of the homeys down at 3rd & Pine & the surrounding area? I'm sure many of them are "keepin it on da downlow". Just tell them how "down you are" with "people of color".
I guarantee you that they will be far stupider and more violent than I am.
In reality, this little shit was doing basically what the shits who killed the Tuba Man were doing. I hope its dick rots off and it dies in agony.
Why don't you go ask some of the homeys down at 3rd & Pine & the surrounding area? I'm sure many of them are "keepin it on da downlow". Just tell them how "down you are" with "people of color".
I guarantee you that they will be far stupider and more violent than I am.
In reality, this little shit was doing basically what the shits who killed the Tuba Man were doing. I hope its dick rots off and it dies in agony.
106
you are really turning me on right now. tell me more about "them" and how baaaaad "they" are. I own a copy of raspberry reich if you want to come over. just saying.
107
I was beat by two police officers before my arrest at my apartment at the Ben Lomond on the 12th of November. The officers were there on a legitimate manner, but their actions were brutal and savage. I am currently preparing my case against them but I have to wait until my criminal defense process is further along.
108
This is really disheartening. I just did not think this was the kind of city I lived in. I've been here for 22 years and for most of that time I did not think about the police often, but had a generally positive impression. I always felt safe at various events, and the police presence seems of an appropriate level and usually very polite. That being said, I am white and middle class, and so are the events I go to. Even though I would not consider myself that mainstream, it's clear I probably seem nice and harmless to cops; they wouldn't give me a second look. My biggest complaint has been that they can take a really long time to show up to a call.
This kind of incident has been coming to light for several years now. It's clear that some cops have been contemptuous and violent toward suspects, almost always non-white ones.
It is just not acceptable. There will always be some individual officers who cross the line. The problem is that the SPD has not been drawing a line. There have not been appropriate consequences, and police who are brutal continue to work and show the same pattern.
I'm really curious if things have gotten significantly worse over the last few years, or whether I have just become more aware because now there are cameras everywhere, so incidents are exposed. (Not to mention, I read The Stranger.) I'd be interested to know what other long-time Seattle dwellers think, especially anyone who is not white, or who has actually been questioned or arrested.
This kind of incident has been coming to light for several years now. It's clear that some cops have been contemptuous and violent toward suspects, almost always non-white ones.
It is just not acceptable. There will always be some individual officers who cross the line. The problem is that the SPD has not been drawing a line. There have not been appropriate consequences, and police who are brutal continue to work and show the same pattern.
I'm really curious if things have gotten significantly worse over the last few years, or whether I have just become more aware because now there are cameras everywhere, so incidents are exposed. (Not to mention, I read The Stranger.) I'd be interested to know what other long-time Seattle dwellers think, especially anyone who is not white, or who has actually been questioned or arrested.
109
I hope the SPD apply more beatdowns to those thugs. They can start with all the drug dealers and hoodlums on 3rd and Pine, then maybe work over Tuba Man's killers as a closer.
110
Where the fuck is Tim Burgess' leadership on this. To prove he is not a yes man to the cops he needs to come out and take control of all this shit going on with the police--otherwise it just looks like he supports this kind of behavior.
111
Figures. It's SPD. My dad got DUI long ago in International district while he was sitting in the parked car. When my dad told cop he wants to go use the restroom, cop told him to "quit being a wise ass, won't you get the hell out of my country". My dad is not an American citizen. So when I heard the news, it really didn't surprise me. Being a cop is just like any other paid job. You will have bad ones and good ones just like any other workplace. They do need to get their shit together. "TRUST" is earned, not given. And SPD sure need to work extra hard on earning the trust of the public, if they ever had one...
112
http://www.seattle.gov/police/OPA/docs/M…
Only TEN PERCENT of complaints against the pigs are ever 'substantiated'. The fine blue line is only a few miles wide in Seattle.
And to those of you who want to make light of people's criminal records: EVERY incident is to be handled on an individual case-by-case basis. If you committed a crime 5 years ago, then your neighbour commits a crime, but he and you are similar in looks, is it okay for the cops to beat you because you LOOK like the person they're looking for, and hey, you have a criminal past, so that gives them every right to beat you? Some of you are so delusional, it's nearly amusing. Then we have the obviously mental incompetents who are either the cops in question, or friends/family of said cops. Don't think cops are that dumb? I used to have a friend who was a reporter in a small town where they reported the week's tickets, meaning she actually had to go through the tickets herself. The misspellings, the mistakes, etc. were cringe-worthy. She said she frequently even saw cops misspell their own names. IF they remember to sign the ticket at all.
Only TEN PERCENT of complaints against the pigs are ever 'substantiated'. The fine blue line is only a few miles wide in Seattle.
And to those of you who want to make light of people's criminal records: EVERY incident is to be handled on an individual case-by-case basis. If you committed a crime 5 years ago, then your neighbour commits a crime, but he and you are similar in looks, is it okay for the cops to beat you because you LOOK like the person they're looking for, and hey, you have a criminal past, so that gives them every right to beat you? Some of you are so delusional, it's nearly amusing. Then we have the obviously mental incompetents who are either the cops in question, or friends/family of said cops. Don't think cops are that dumb? I used to have a friend who was a reporter in a small town where they reported the week's tickets, meaning she actually had to go through the tickets herself. The misspellings, the mistakes, etc. were cringe-worthy. She said she frequently even saw cops misspell their own names. IF they remember to sign the ticket at all.
113
How bout dis homey! Raymel Curry is black of course.
http://www.king5.com/video/featured-vide…
Developmentally disabled bus passenger assaulted and nobody helps
by KING 5 News
Posted on November 18, 2010 at 12:05 AM
SEATTLE – A Metro bus surveillance video shows a man punching a developmentally disabled man as he got off a Seattle bus – and nobody stopped and help the victim.
The King County Sheriff's office released the surveillance tape from the September 17th assault. The attack took place at Rainier Avenue South, near Mount Baker Station. The two were on the No. 7 King County Metro Transit bus.
The 55-year-old victim is seen getting off the bus, then is punched from behind by the suspect, who walked away.
The victim crashed head first on a window ledge of a store and then fell to the sidewalk.
As the victim lay on the ground, three bystanders could be seen standing nearby, but none of them did anything to help the man. Two of them, instead, boarded the bus.
Before the assault, the surveillance video showed the suspect walking up and down the aisle, even talking directly to the surveillance camera.
"I'll punch you, on camera," the suspect says.
He is also seen yelling at the victim.
The suspect, 32-year-old Raymel Curry, is charged with second-degree assault. Trial is set for January 18.
According to The Seattle Times, Curry has been arrested at least 50 times.
http://www.king5.com/video/featured-vide…
Developmentally disabled bus passenger assaulted and nobody helps
by KING 5 News
Posted on November 18, 2010 at 12:05 AM
SEATTLE – A Metro bus surveillance video shows a man punching a developmentally disabled man as he got off a Seattle bus – and nobody stopped and help the victim.
The King County Sheriff's office released the surveillance tape from the September 17th assault. The attack took place at Rainier Avenue South, near Mount Baker Station. The two were on the No. 7 King County Metro Transit bus.
The 55-year-old victim is seen getting off the bus, then is punched from behind by the suspect, who walked away.
The victim crashed head first on a window ledge of a store and then fell to the sidewalk.
As the victim lay on the ground, three bystanders could be seen standing nearby, but none of them did anything to help the man. Two of them, instead, boarded the bus.
Before the assault, the surveillance video showed the suspect walking up and down the aisle, even talking directly to the surveillance camera.
"I'll punch you, on camera," the suspect says.
He is also seen yelling at the victim.
The suspect, 32-year-old Raymel Curry, is charged with second-degree assault. Trial is set for January 18.
According to The Seattle Times, Curry has been arrested at least 50 times.
115
Seattle Cop Kicking 17-Year-Old Boy in the Groin Even Though His Hands Were Up has a Seattle cop kicking a 17-year-old boy in the groin even though his hands were up, but football in the groin has a football in the groin!
116
Did Slog cover the white disabled guy getting assaulted by a crazed black man on the bus? Nope, just like they didn't cover the hate crime against the white kid in West Seattle. Slog hates western culture, they hate straight white men, queers, like most people who aren't straight white men, hate straight white men because they realize that not only is the white man responsible for over 90% of contributions to the liberal arts, he created the liberals arts. We live in a modern Clockwork Orange, the lefts ultra-violent fantasy, that the conservative Burgess saw coming, has arrived.
117
RTA’s board has tabled, and effectively killed, a controversial proposal to crack down on youths who aren’t paying fares on rapid-transit lines.
George Dixon, chairman of the Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority board, said Tuesday that he feared the policy would fall too heavily on young black males and minority communities served by the transit lines.
Dixon said he and at least two other black male members of RTA’s nine-member board had concerns about sending young fare-jumpers to the county’s juvenile court.
Minority leaders have long been concerned about the disproportionate number of blacks in the county’s juvenile and adult court systems.
George Dixon, chairman of the Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority board, said Tuesday that he feared the policy would fall too heavily on young black males and minority communities served by the transit lines.
Dixon said he and at least two other black male members of RTA’s nine-member board had concerns about sending young fare-jumpers to the county’s juvenile court.
Minority leaders have long been concerned about the disproportionate number of blacks in the county’s juvenile and adult court systems.
118
This shit has been going on for decades but the dumb ass pigs haven't figured out that everyone's got a camera these days.
119
Obviously "yourneighbor2010" is a cop or family of a cop. I have a (large and growing) database of incidents of "our" police using their authority to molest, upbraid, abuse, inflict harm and even murder citizens of this country. In EVERY instance... EVERY SINGLE ONE, their "supervisors" say they were doing their jobs properly and received nothing in the way of reprimand or punishment for their actions. If you haven't noticed yet, there is not one single police cruiser with the words "To Serve and Protect" left in the USA. Why? Because their job is NOT to protect ANY citizen of the USA. Their job is to make sure we don't get "out of hand" or start acting like we have any rights. The purpose of the beatings is to make the arrested "criminal" look like he suffered the damages due him for "resisting arrest" and "assaulting a police officer". When WE are allowed to defend ourselves from the "police", and when the "police" are given nothing more than a billy club, THEN we'll see who's so GD DMND powerful!!
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