Pythagoras: Yeah...let's video tape stuff and get people mad...but not actually do a thing to stop it.

You'd rather that they started a violent riot and attacked the police?

/Kent State?

MrGumboPants: Claybotron: /future officer
//sick of people "fighting the man/power" when it needs not be fought against

If you're a future officer, you need to look closely at the tape. They obviously farked up and mishandled the situation. You call that successful crowd control?!!

1. No, I don't call it successful crowd control because it wasn't a crowd to begin with.
2. It was, however, successful citizen-out-of-control control.

Why would the officers, though there be six of them, go through the risk of this asshat either hurting one of the officers trying to restrain him, or the guy getting hurt while officers put the cuffs on while he was resisting and then suing later for medical bills because he wouldn't comply? The taser leaves NO temporary or permanent damage to ones body- only temporary incapacitation and pain. The officers made the right decision to subdue an unruly and potentially dangerous (to himself and the officers) person.

Ctrl-Alt-Del: A suspect resisting arrest who has his hands free is a threat.

Not when they've been frisked already because they're at an event with a senator. An unarmed man with his hands free is obviously not a threat.

/nice try, though.

WiteBuddha: ok, suspend them with pay for that...

Have you ever noticed it is usually cops that get suspended with pay? Where in the private sector do they do stuff like that? I'd love for my boss to come into my office one morning and say, "You know, you didn't check the fax machine before leaving last night. I'm going to have to suspend you for a week with pay."

PanicMan: He was flailing around on the floor. He could have easily kicked an officer, or knocked someone off their feet. He would not put his arms back for the cuffs.

Their options were:

1. Force his arms back, possibly breaking an arm or dislocating his shoulder.
2. Mace him. In a room like that it would have effected everyone.
3. Hit him with a baton. Bruises likely, broken bones possible.
4. Tazer him. Painful, but not harmful. Most likely on the lowest setting.

Which would you prefer?

They gave him plenty of warning. All he had to do was go limp. He still would have gotten his point across.

I would have prefered the cops to have some restraint and let the guy spend 1 1/2 minutes asking an informed question, instead of censoring him by cutting his mic and forcibly removing him. What happened with the officers was brought on by themselves, at no point was violence necessary.

Pythagoras: Does it strike anyone as odd that NO ONE at the rally did anything and instead of opted to protest?

This just underlines that college students are all talk and no action.

I think that everyone in the place thought this guy deserved what he got. Everyone saw this guy come storming in there with cops following him so I dont think it was a suprise when they hauled him out.

Andric: LizKing531:
So 6 cops are total pussies and couldn't just pick him up a drag his dumb ass out?


You didn't answer my question. Have you ever tried to subdue someone who didn't want to cooperate? I'm thinking you haven't.

6 cops or 16 cops, it's and safer for them, and for him, to tase him. Carry him around while he's flailing like a retard and you risk dropping him. Judging by his actions, he'd be the kind to sue the department if they dropped him on the floor due to his flailing. The cops did the sensible thing in this case.

Wtortilla burger: Andric: LizKing531:
So 6 cops are total pussies and couldn't just pick him up a drag his dumb ass out?


You didn't answer my question. Have you ever tried to subdue someone who didn't want to cooperate? I'm thinking you haven't.

6 cops or 16 cops, it's and safer for them, and for him, to tase him. Carry him around while he's flailing like a retard and you risk dropping him. Judging by his actions, he'd be the kind to sue the department if they dropped him on the floor due to his flailing. The cops did the sensible thing in this case.

Look...if I can muscle a drunk, belligerent friend 1.5x my weight, a group of 6 trained law enforcement officers should be able to handle a single, measly loudmouth without needing a taser.

Thanks - beat me too it

stiletto_the_wise: No, he was dragged out for asking an unpopular question.

Liar. Lemme guess, you're a troofer just like this guy, right?

LOL COPS LOVE ICE CREAM

aphexcoil: WiteBuddha: ok, suspend them with pay for that...

Have you ever noticed it is usually cops that get suspended with pay? Where in the private sector do they do stuff like that? I'd love for my boss to come into my office one morning and say, "You know, you didn't check the fax machine before leaving last night. I'm going to have to suspend you for a week with pay."

its the cop 'slap on the wrist'... at my job i just have to stay an extra 30 minutes or something and do a shiatty subcontracted job

aphexcoil: If I'm not breaking any laws and a police officer asks me to shut up and leave a building, I'm going to tell him to go fark himself.

That's a taserin'.

LizKing531: Andric: LizKing531:
So 6 cops are total pussies and couldn't just pick him up a drag his dumb ass out?


You didn't answer my question. Have you ever tried to subdue someone who didn't want to cooperate? I'm thinking you haven't.

6 cops or 16 cops, it's and safer for them, and for him, to tase him. Carry him around while he's flailing like a retard and you risk dropping him. Judging by his actions, he'd be the kind to sue the department if they dropped him on the floor due to his flailing. The cops did the sensible thing in this case.

Wtortilla burger: Andric: LizKing531:
So 6 cops are total pussies and couldn't just pick him up a drag his dumb ass out?


You didn't answer my question. Have you ever tried to subdue someone who didn't want to cooperate? I'm thinking you haven't.

6 cops or 16 cops, it's and safer for them, and for him, to tase him. Carry him around while he's flailing like a retard and you risk dropping him. Judging by his actions, he'd be the kind to sue the department if they dropped him on the floor due to his flailing. The cops did the sensible thing in this case.

Look...if I can muscle a drunk, belligerent friend 1.5x my weight, a group of 6 trained law enforcement officers should be able to handle a single, measly loudmouth without needing a taser.

Thanks - beat me too it

damn rotsky'd myself

djmed: the guy was RESISTING ARREST and yelling "GET THE F OFF ME" to the cops. if you are ever in a situation where the cops are trying to escort you out and you do this, you will also be tasered.

Was he resisting arrest or being escorted out? Make up your mind.

Nelkar: "Each person has the right to resist an unlawful arrest. In such a case, the person attempting the arrest stands in the position of a wrongdoer and may be resisted by the use of force, as in self- defense." (State v. Mobley, 240 N.C. 476, 83 S.E. 2d 100)

It doesn't require committing an offense (hitting, assaulting, etc) to resist arrest.

Can't commit a crime to avoid being arrested.

The guy:
Barged his way into a closed event. One being attended by a US senator and former candidate for president.
Acted unruly and disrespectful to both the police who attempted to prevent him from entering, as well as event organizers and the other students who were also waiting patinently to have their questions answered.
Refused to leave when politely asked by event organizers and the police.
Resisted when being physically removed from the building.
Got tazered because he was resisting.

Police are TRAINED to use the tazer when resisting. I don't care if you have 1 cop or 20, one errant kick to the face or groin by a struggling perp = cop off the force for a while. They'd rather tazer some punk resisting arrest to prevent further injury to themselves.

Absolutely no fault here should go towards the police or the organizers. This kid was a complete douche to everyone around him, thought he was more important than everyone else, and acted accordingly. People refused to let him have his way, and he then resisted when they attempted to exercize their right to have him removed from private property/a private function when he did not leave of his own accord.

I honestly have no idea why UF hasn't expelled his ass yet.

Tatsuma: By the way, I've got awesome tips for you if you don't want to be tasered by police officers:

Firstly the video (pops)

*) If you are asked by police officers to leave a building, say "Yes, sir" and leave the building. No tasering for you.

He was not asked to leave the building. He asked if they evicting him, or arresting him. The officers were silent. He has a right to know his crime under Habeas Corpus. Since he was not committing any violent crime, the officers had plenty of chance to tell him why he was being extricated.

They didn't.

Meyer: 1
Officers: 0

*) If you are asked by an officer to get on the ground and put your hands on your back, say "Yes, sir", get on the ground and put your hands on your back. No tasering for you.

He was pinned to the ground. There was no option. They never asked him to the ground. While pinned, he was tasered.

Meyer: 2
Officers: 0

*) If you are being arrested, don't yell "You're not arresting me, I'm walking out of here!" and try to stop the officers from putting handcuffs on you. No tasering for you.

He didn't attempt to leave the premises. He attempted to return to the stage and complete his question, and listen to the response. All perfectly legal.

Meyer: 3
Officers: 0

*) If you are angry about the fact you're being asked to leave a building or being arrested, court is the time to fight the charges, fighting the police is just ridiculous. Now THAT'S a tasering.

He shouldn't have struggled or resisted arrest. But that arrest was unlawful.

Meyer: 3
Officers: 1

*) Use farking common sense. If you don't, you'll get a tasering. If you do, everything will go well.

Common sense is exercising your rights. It does not mean you should acquiesce to any claim of authority. Especially for non-violent crimes.

*) Obey the farking law.

Not all laws are just. Case and point, the Patriot Act.

*) In the event where you followed all of these things and STILL got a tasering, then sue everyone like R Kelly would have his ways with a busload of girl scouts.

So he should give up his rights in order to sue later? That's not patriotic, that's retarded.

/If you're ever put in a situation where you have to say "Don't taser me, bro", you're doing it wrong.

So if he had left off "bro" you would be fine with it?

---

So to summarize

Meyer: 3
Officers: 1
Tatusma: Retarded

Showing off your retardation on fark? Priceless.

Meyer will get off, and he'll get an apology from the department.

"And asking John Kerry a question during a Q&A session that he'd rather not answer is now a misdemeanor offense. What a crock. "

Kerry told them to let him go, and answered his questions. After he was tased.

amoeba: LOL COPS LOVE ICE CREAM

I want some of whatever you're smoking

Heck. OJ is in a courtroom today. I'm just happy the guy was white.

I'm amazed at the number of people here who think what the police did was all fine and dandy because the guy was an attention whore.

When they drag you away and taser you, I hope you think to yourself, "well, it's OK. I was probably being an attention whore!"

Codyl: He's lucky he ONLY got tasered. They should have beat him silly.

Oh that would have been something. Beat him silly in an auditorium with 250 other Universitiy of Florida students. That would have escalated to a full-scale riot.

I'm surprised so many other kids just sat there. I personally would have jumped up and told the cops to get the fark off the kid.

Tatsuma: *) If you are asked by police officers to leave a building, say "Yes, sir" and leave the building.



Remember kids, Tatsuma says: "Obey authority figures, blindly."

Yesterday I defended the guy, because I felt the tasering (stun gunning if you must) was a bit excessive.

I was amused to read this from the linking article:

Before asking his question Monday, Meyer handed a videocamera to Clarissa Jessup, a Santa Fe Community College student who didn't know Meyer, and asked her to record his question. Jessup followed him and wedged herself between police officers to capture his screams after being hit with the Taser. She uploaded it to YouTube that day.

I don't know about you, but I don't just do things like that. He had an agenda that day. Based off of the other "fact" cited in the article:

He's also known for posting practical jokes and comedy routines online.

I don't know about you guys, but I'm going with the "he's a farking asshat" and despite what I said yesterday I now feel that in light of the circumstances, he probably deserved what he got.

stiletto_the_wise: Beeblebrox: Wait, what was his question and when did he give Kerry a chance to respond?

I couldn't figure it out amidst all the rambling, but that doesn't make it an illegal question.

But that's my point. He wasn't asking a question. He was ranting. They asked him to move along and ask a question. He doesn't but continues his ranting. They want him removed so that others can get a chance. Nothing wrong with that.

The "illegal question" thing is a red herring.

stiletto_the_wise: Claybotron: Why can't people understand that he was not tasered for asking a question.

No, he was dragged out for asking an unpopular question. The tasering happened because he dared question the almighty police.

Just goes to show... in the New America, you MUST do anything and everything the police-gods order you to do, or be subject to immediate punishment until you comply.

If the police order you to let them sodomize you with a plunger, your response must be to immediately drop your pants, not question why. They know better than you.

Ignorant troll. Aren't you late for 3rd period Home Economics? Put that copy of penthouse down and stop whacking off in your mother's basement.

GodLovesBeer: So I'm walking down the street, and pass a cop who is walking his beat.

He say, "Go home, or I will arrest you!"

I'm like.. "wtf yo, I didn't do anything!"

...he pulls out his taser, and warns me again.. "Go home, or I will taser you, then arrest you!" then he grabs my arm.

"Fark you, for what!!" I asked, as I pull away.

***ZAP!***

I smell, a payout for this kid.

----------------

Uh yeah, because that's even CLOSE to what happened.

You fail.

I've had to remove far worse threats from classrooms without any backup whatsoever and with a minimum use of force (usually just an arm around a shoulder and a "Let's go, buddy. You're done."). Common sense would indicate that a large group of cops, security, teachers, or whatever would exacerbate the natural "fight or flight" response, so I always preferred to have a minimum of authority figures to confront a disruptive asshat.

Most of the serious disciplinary infractions occur in the course of removing a disruptive asshat for something relatively minor. With even my worst thugs, I could usually make them understand that I would go to bat for them if they cooperated and went to the office peacefully.

Cops, however, only understand aggression and strength in numbers, often by occupational necessity. I really don't understand why the cops didn't simply pick up the little punk and carry him out of the room, handcuffs or not.

Remove the little douche from an audience, and he becomes much more compliant. Then, in the hallway, taser and handcuff to your heart's content. There was, I'm sure, an element of "Let's make an example of him" in the minds of some of the cops, which is contrary to the role of a peace officer (let the judge set the example, it is all part of due process).

The taserin' was, perhaps, excessive, but I enjoyed the video of it immensely because I can't stand watching twentysomethings throw temper tantrums. I was actually shouting, "Zap him again!" at the video because it was farking hilarious ad immensely satisfying. That doesn't mean it was the right thing to do.

Andric: Didn't mean to hurt your feelings, there, guy. I rather think they chose not to try to drag his ass out because they didn't want to get sued when he breaks an arm flailing about like a fish.

Yeah, no hard feelings.

It's just weird to me that so many people get such pleasure out of hurting someone or seeing them hurt.

And then Tatsuma's post about all the different ways you can lay down and take it like a chump kind of irked me.

Claybotron: The taser leaves NO temporary or permanent damage to ones body- only temporary incapacitation and pain.

Wrong. There have been deaths due to tasering, because of pre-existing and unknown conditions.

/and before you go onto "well, it's not the taser, it's the heart condition", the same argument leads one to say that guns do no permanent damage, it's the lack of sufficient clotting ability that kills the person.

stiletto_the_wise: I'm amazed at the number of people here who think what the police did was all fine and dandy because the guy was an attention whore.

When they drag you away and taser you, I hope you think to yourself, "well, it's OK. I was probably being an attention whore resisting arrest!"

FTFY

This jerk off got what he deserved, he handed the camera to somebody and had them film it.... coincidence? Sounds more like he knew it was going to happen, most people don't give a detailed description of what's happening to them before it happens. its to bad they didn't shoot his arse, damn kids need to learn that they can't just do what they want and walk away free of consequence, that's why we have asshats like michael moore, I doubt he will act like a moron few a long time, I keep watching the video and still can't stop laughing

Ok where are the internet tough guys?

Tatsuma: *) If you are asked by police officers to leave a building, say "Yes, sir" and leave the building. No tasering for you.

*) If you are asked by an officer to get on the ground and put your hands on your back, say "Yes, sir", get on the ground and put your hands on your back. No tasering for you.

*) If you are being arrested, don't yell "You're not arresting me, I'm walking out of here!" and try to stop the officers from putting handcuffs on you. No tasering for you.

*) If you are angry about the fact you're being asked to leave a building or being arrested, court is the time to fight the charges, fighting the police is just ridiculous. Now THAT'S a tasering.

*) Use farking common sense. If you don't, you'll get a tasering. If you do, everything will go well.

*) Obey the farking law.

*) In the event where you followed all of these things and STILL got a tasering, then sue everyone like R Kelly would have his ways with a busload of girl scouts.


yes! OBEY!. farkin idiot. how about when asking a cop why am i being arrested...he tells you instead of just arresting you.

stiletto_the_wise: No, he was dragged out for asking an unpopular question. The tasering happened because he dared question the almighty police.

Just goes to show... in the New America, you MUST do anything and everything the police-gods order you to do, or be subject to immediate punishment until you comply.

You've just proven yourself to be a complete Conspiratard. "New America"? "police-gods"? "tasering happened because he dared question the almighty police"?

The IDIOT taunted the police, rushed to the mic, interrupted a fellow student who was asking a question, went on a rant, didn't let Kerry answer, and resisted arrest.

Let me just say this: People who think that the police can do no good are just as moronic as those who think that the police can do no wrong.

I'm just sorry you didn't get the GOOD delusions with your mental disorder - other people believe Jessica Alba is their wife, you get schizoid paranoia. Sucks to be you.

scifarker

Actually, you don't know what happened prior to that.

This guy thinks the whole world is just his own personal movie, where he is the star and should be able to grab center spotlight whenever he wants, and if any one objects, it's opression by the man.

The clock is ticking on this 15 minutes, but I suspect we will hear from him again.

Manfred J. Hattan: this obnoxious loudmouth who thinks that the standards of civilized society ought to be suspended for his convenience.

You mean waiting for his turn to speak, speaking only when spoken to, and using his alloted two minutes to ask his questions t the speaker in an open question and answer forum is a suspension of standards of civilized society?

Or interrupting him while he's doing that and forcibly removing him before his question is answered?

Because it can't be both.

It is very interesting to me how easily people today are willing to give up their rights.

Whether you agree with the guys point of view or not, or whether you would have asked the questions in the same manner as him or not, there were no valid reasons for him to be asked to leave or tasered.

Kerry can be heard in the back ground stating that he will answer the guys questions. They should have let Kerry answer and let the guy listen. He was never a threat to anyone. Kerry is experienced enough that he could have calmed this guy down and answered several questions that probably more than just the tasered guy wanted to hear.

The guy is a complete asshat attention whore who likely should be tasered on a daily basis.

saucydwarf: yes! OBEY!. farkin idiot. how about when asking a cop why am i being arrested...he tells you instead of just arresting you.

"WHY AM I UNDER ARREST?"

"FOR RESISTING ARREST!"

/cop logic

Theaetetus: You'd rather that they started a violent riot and attacked the police?

I think the difficulty of this situation is that there is no real good outcome. I would have personally liked to have seen a student or two ask the officers why he was being escorted out and why he was being arrested. I've seen a few of the videos and all I could hear was Kerry saying, "Let me answer his question."

I know near the end of one of the videos, a girl says that she'll testify on his behalf.

Personally, my tendency is to act when something doesn't look right. A while back, I saw a car moving with no driver. Most people just stared at the car. I ran to the car and put the brake on.

I guess that's kind of what I'm looking for. Was someone there? I would like to be corrected if possible.

thomas paine would've had a blog

F42: Remember kids, Tatsuma says: "Obey authority figures, blindly."

If Andre the Giant told me to leave the building, I would skeedaddle.

dogfood: scifarker

Actually, you don't know what happened prior to that.

This guy thinks the whole world is just his own personal movie, where he is the star and should be able to grab center spotlight whenever he wants, and if any one objects, it's opression by the man.

The clock is ticking on this 15 minutes, but I suspect we will hear from him again.

I love the smell of an ad hominem attack in the morning... it smells like... logical fallacy.

Fail.

Tatsuma: Obey the farking law.

Ok, I came in here to point out how stupid that post was (to add to the many voices), but then I looked at his profile after seeing the quoted arguing point. Yeah, he's got a reference to Martin Luther King Jr. and then he tries to tell us all to obey the law amid totally asinine statements that seem to promote a police-state ideal. If we (and MLKJr.) followed your advice, anyone not white would be classified as pets by now and everyone not holding office or wearing a badge would be scared shiatless on a daily basis.

/make up your farking mind

Layzerd: Nelkar: "Each person has the right to resist an unlawful arrest. In such a case, the person attempting the arrest stands in the position of a wrongdoer and may be resisted by the use of force, as in self- defense." (State v. Mobley, 240 N.C. 476, 83 S.E. 2d 100)

It doesn't require committing an offense (hitting, assaulting, etc) to resist arrest.

Can't commit a crime to avoid being arrested.

Re-read that quote: "may be resisted by the user of force".
It's not a crime to forcibly resist a false arrest.

/note, that decision will almost certainly be overturned as soon as Scalia gets his hands on it

Karma Curmudgeon: Through 2006, there were approximately 200 cases (new window) where the use of tasers has resulted in death

Darwin and the FSM are sad that won't make 2007's statistics in that category.

Dramadairy: Tasers are a non-lethal measure used to subdue individuals rather than shooting them.

No, they're less-lethal, not non-lethal. Just ask the manufacturer.

Pythagoras: I would have personally liked to have seen a student or two ask the officers why he was being escorted out and why he was being arrested.

Yeah, but then that student might get tazed for "interfering with a police officer" by distracting him, which is an arrestable misdemeanor.