Just as another example of how 'Pepper Spray Pike' is not a bad apple but a sign of a broken system:
Story Here:
A police officer killed an elderly, deaf and mentally disabled man riding his bicycle by shooting him with a Taser stun gun after he failed to obey instructions to stop.
Roger Anthony, 61, was killed as he made his way home in Scotland Neck, South Carolina, after officers responded to a 911 call about a man who had fallen off his bicycle in a car park.
Much like Pepper Spray, we all know Stun-Guns have become 'ok to use on the public as a compliance tool'. Even though as a kid I was taught by my police officer/nacotics agent father that use of force was a last resort, and that 'To Protect And Serve' actually means something.
But watching an episode or two of 'Cops' and you will see countless violations of suspects rights, as well as the 'macho' attitude of cops, who just love tackling, tazing and macing. Shows like this, 'SWAT', and the other million police propaganda shows have desensitized a nation as to how a police officer should act.
The caller told dispatchers that the man appeared drunk and that it looked like he had hurt himself.
Officers said they repeatedly told Mr Anthony to get off his bike, but when he didn't respond, they shocked him.
Elderly man on a bike.... doesn't sound like he is going to be able to go on a high-speed chase, why taze him instead of following him in a patrol car until he has stopped?
Hell even the mayor says and knows its wrong, but cannot get a response from his own department:
Scotland Neck Mayor James Mills said he wouldn't blame the family for suing.
'There has been no information that this man was a threat to anybody,' he said.
'If I was a family member, I'm sure I'd be thinking the same way.'
Mills said he has tried to get information from the police department about what happened to Mr Anthony, but they have turned him away.
Police are not all bad apples, much like GITMO this is something that starts at the top. Handbooks need to be rewritten, penalties for out of control cops need to occur, and 'paid leave' is an effin' glorified vacation, not a penalty. If he's still going to be paid, break out the mop and bucket, I'm sure there's something around the department or jail that needs cleaned.... unless of course they had their kids do it.
6:41 AM PT: Thanks to 'FreedMan' From the comments, a local news report:
http://www.wral.com/...
1:54 PM PT: A list of 700 people who have been killed by tasers:
http://truthnottasers.blogspot.com/...
Notice how the numbers seem to double from year to year.
2:38 PM PT: Not just a single incident... .epidemic abuse:
Cops Taser Deaf, Mentally Disabled Man
(AP) Police in Mobile, Alabama, used pepper spray and a Taser on a deaf, mentally disabled who they said wouldn't leave a store's bathroom.
The family of 37-year-old Antonio Love has filed a formal complaint over the incident on Friday.
Police tell the Press-Register of Mobile that officers shot pepper spray under the bathroom door after knocking several times. After forcing the door open, they used the stun gun on Love.
Police spokesman Christopher Levy says police didn't realize Love had a hearing impairment until after he was out of the bathroom. The officers' conduct is under investigation.
The newspaper says the officers attempted to book Love on charges including disorderly conduct, but a magistrate on duty wouldn't accept the charges.