Retired Army general ‘ashamed to be an American’ after rough arrest by Georgia cops
“It’s the first time in my life I’m ashamed to be an American,” 84-year-old William J. Livsey told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. “They took me away without my shoes, glasses or medicine. I fought for this country so hard, and I’ve tried to do good all my life.”
Livsey was arrested at his home on Saturday and charged with simple assault, robbery, misdemeanor obstruction, theft and making terroristic threats. Police said he grabbed the driver by the throat and pinned him against a refrigerator when Livsey’s debit card was not accepted and the driver said he could not take a check to pay for an order.
OK. I was a delivery dude for 6 long years (during the Cheney Administration when real jobs were locked in a freezer with plastic bag duct-taped around their heads) and one comes across irate people. You cannot take these frustration out on us. We're there to give you something you ordered and leave.
Retired Four-Star Generals should have a few bucks in the bank but neither here nor there, you cannot take it out on delivery dude. People have tried with me and I don't take it, again, another story.
Once the cops were called he resisted and struggled resulting in 10 cops eventually showing up and apparently manhandling him as they attempted to handcuff him. Neighbors report feeling like it was blown way out of proportion.
Note the man is something of a war hero
The Journal-Constitution noted that a portion of Highway 314 in town was renamed the “General Bill Livsey Highway” in Livsey’s honor. He retired from duty in 1987, following a career that saw him win the Distinguished Flying Cross, Silver Star and Distinguished Service Medal, among other honors.
and this appears to have played into his initial $12000 bond being jettisoned and he was allowed to leave on his own recognizance. Fayetteville is a small area 20 minutes or so south of Atlanta, an enclave of white flight during the 70's, now a concentration of wealthy retired mostly white people. The streets are paved in white privilege and I would not recommend messing with their cops.
I get the impression from reading this story in detail that our General lost it with the delivery guy (whose race is not mentioned but could have been less than white) and then with the cops and still was let off without any bond at all.
Livsey’s bond was originally set at $12,000, but he said a local judge released him on his own recognizance. A photograph of Livsey’s wrist after the arrest showed lacerations, but he told WSB on Thursday he was feeling better.
It was then he uttered his statment about wiping a tiger's ass with sandpaper.
Note that I am not harshing on the cops this time around. Unsure what they were supposed to do with the old guy going off like he apparently was. Yeah, if he was black he'd have at least gotten tased, or worse, 4 Star General or not.
I posted this mostly because I enjoy crabby old military men and their colorful language.
Video at the link.