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Hal Zerozerozeronine

(76 posts)
Fri Oct 4, 2019, 01:22 AM Oct 2019

'This looks so bad,' says white Texas cop on horseback, leading black man on a rope

Source: Reuters (Video from The Guardian}

OCTOBER 4, 2019 / 12:10 AM

(Reuters) - One of two white police officers who rode through the streets of Galveston, Texas, on horseback escorting a black man walking tethered to a rope is heard saying: “This is going to look really bad” in newly released police video footage of the incident.

The spectacle was caught on body cameras worn by the two officers during their Aug. 3 trespassing arrest of Donald Neely, who family lawyers have said is known to city police as someone who suffers from mental illness and regularly sleeps on the streets.

A still photo of the arrest captured by an onlooker and posted on social media went viral, prompting a public outcry.

The bodycam videos, publicly released on Wednesday, shed additional light on the two officers’ encounter with Neely as they took in him into custody using a procedure that mounted police in their department were trained to employ when no transport vehicle was available.



Read more: https://www.reuters.com/article/us-texas-police-horseback/this-looks-so-bad-says-white-texas-cop-on-horseback-leading-black-man-on-a-rope-idUSKBN1WJ07U



Ya THINK???
26 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
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'This looks so bad,' says white Texas cop on horseback, leading black man on a rope (Original Post) Hal Zerozerozeronine Oct 2019 OP
THEN. WHY. DID. YOU. DO. IT? RockRaven Oct 2019 #1
The article said why cstanleytech Oct 2019 #5
Because appearances were less important than doing the job efficiently. Igel Oct 2019 #22
arrest the guy... then call for a squad car to transport him to jiail lapfog_1 Oct 2019 #2
Or have one officer walk with the guy presumably handcuffed. Bernardo de La Paz Oct 2019 #14
"...cause I'm gonna drag you if you don't stay next to me" sandensea Oct 2019 #3
Just what a destitute, homeless man needs, greater public humiliation. They shame themselves. n/t Judi Lynn Oct 2019 #4
As a note, Galveston was the place referenced for "Juneteenth" BumRushDaShow Oct 2019 #6
Female police officer threatens to drag a man if he can't walk fast enough for a misdemeanor... NotHardly Oct 2019 #7
+1 dalton99a Oct 2019 #18
Dude was cuffed; he'd likely have simply walked along if they'd let him. oldsoftie Oct 2019 #8
At the very least, have one officer on horseback lead BaileyBill Oct 2019 #9
that was my thought - n/t Locrian Oct 2019 #11
Or how about.. cannabis_flower Oct 2019 #12
Nix that. Very dangerous. Suspect would be handcuffed & prob clueless about riding. . . . nt Bernardo de La Paz Oct 2019 #16
He wouldn't be controlling the horse cannabis_flower Oct 2019 #17
No. Not all the time with HANDCUFFED CHILDREN. You can't depend on suspect to be rational Bernardo de La Paz Oct 2019 #19
Very bad idea UpInArms Oct 2019 #21
Yup. You posted first the idea I also had. But police officers are not noted for creativity. . . nt Bernardo de La Paz Oct 2019 #15
Do we know what he was arrested for? knightmaar Oct 2019 #10
Trespass cannabis_flower Oct 2019 #13
Officers Patrick Brosch and Amanda Smith dalton99a Oct 2019 #20
They knew that the optics were so tremendous; they decided to carry out their plan regardless... EarthFirst Oct 2019 #23
Then get off the fucking horse and walk with the man and lead the horse Yeehah Oct 2019 #24
It doesn't just look bad, it is bad. Imagine if the horse got spooked and started running. Politicub Oct 2019 #25
Ya THINK? Exactly. dchill Oct 2019 #26

RockRaven

(14,782 posts)
1. THEN. WHY. DID. YOU. DO. IT?
Fri Oct 4, 2019, 01:32 AM
Oct 2019

If you KNOW it looks bad, then maybe you ought to exercise JUDGMENT and not do it. Or is that so difficult of a concept to grapple with that it is worth saying, "nah, fuck it" and permanently staining your career and personal reputation over?

Well, apparently it is.

cstanleytech

(26,080 posts)
5. The article said why
Fri Oct 4, 2019, 04:02 AM
Oct 2019

"using a procedure that mounted police in their department were trained to employ when no transport vehicle was available."
Mind you I think its impractical to have them do it as you would think they could have simply waited a bit until one became available to pick him up.

Igel

(35,191 posts)
22. Because appearances were less important than doing the job efficiently.
Fri Oct 4, 2019, 07:47 PM
Oct 2019

Emphasis there is on "looks," which =/= "is."

They did it with white guys, too. But nobody cared because it doesn't look bad.

Bernardo de La Paz

(48,785 posts)
14. Or have one officer walk with the guy presumably handcuffed.
Fri Oct 4, 2019, 07:48 AM
Oct 2019

Other officer can ride and lead the spare horse.

Or is there a fitness/weight issue such that the officer was unfit to walk?

sandensea

(21,526 posts)
3. "...cause I'm gonna drag you if you don't stay next to me"
Fri Oct 4, 2019, 01:40 AM
Oct 2019

Southern Republicans - when they don't think anyone's listening.

BumRushDaShow

(127,287 posts)
6. As a note, Galveston was the place referenced for "Juneteenth"
Fri Oct 4, 2019, 06:06 AM
Oct 2019

as being the primary place to receive word that slaves should be freed per the Emancipation Proclamation (because the largest number were in the Houston/Galveston area).

NotHardly

(1,062 posts)
7. Female police officer threatens to drag a man if he can't walk fast enough for a misdemeanor...
Fri Oct 4, 2019, 06:19 AM
Oct 2019
she needs schooling and then firing and the young other white dude... here's a clue, "... if you think it will look bad on tape, it will, so, don't do it.." A real simple rule for life in the department, on the street and under the sheet.

oldsoftie

(12,410 posts)
8. Dude was cuffed; he'd likely have simply walked along if they'd let him.
Fri Oct 4, 2019, 07:01 AM
Oct 2019

Or how bout find a spot to sit and wait till a vehicle was available? Its not like it was a tiny town out in the middle of nowhere. How long could it have taken??

cannabis_flower

(3,764 posts)
12. Or how about..
Fri Oct 4, 2019, 07:42 AM
Oct 2019

Put the suspect on the horse and have one of the officers walk leading the horse with the reins.

cannabis_flower

(3,764 posts)
17. He wouldn't be controlling the horse
Fri Oct 4, 2019, 08:04 AM
Oct 2019

He would be sitting. They do it all the time with children. The officer would be holding the reins and leading the horse. The suspect would be holding on to the horn. I've done it myself. And I was sitting on a horse being led up and down a mountain.

Bernardo de La Paz

(48,785 posts)
19. No. Not all the time with HANDCUFFED CHILDREN. You can't depend on suspect to be rational
Fri Oct 4, 2019, 08:10 AM
Oct 2019

Period.

For example, suspect might kick the horse intentionally or otherwise and spook it badly, causing it to rear and throw suspect.

Officer that meets departmental fitness requirements can walk the suspect.

knightmaar

(748 posts)
10. Do we know what he was arrested for?
Fri Oct 4, 2019, 07:35 AM
Oct 2019

"Loitering"? "Resisting Arrest"?
I can't find anything on it, but based on the cluelessness of the cops, I'm suspicious.

dalton99a

(81,065 posts)
20. Officers Patrick Brosch and Amanda Smith
Fri Oct 4, 2019, 08:14 AM
Oct 2019
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2019/oct/03/texas-galveston-police-black-man-led-by-rope-donald-neely
Texas police officer who led black man by rope said 'This is gonna look so bad'
Galveston police release mounted officers’ body-cam videos
Officers arrested Donald Neely on suspicion of criminal trespass
...

Protesters last month demanded that the officers’ body camera footage be released. On Wednesday, officials in Galveston released two videos, one from each body camera worn by officers Patrick Brosch and Amanda Smith.

In the footage from Brosch, he can be heard asking Smith if she should go get their truck so they will not have to make Neely walk. Smith says their sergeant would not approve of the officers separating.

Brosch can then be heard saying: “This is gonna look really bad.”

Just before the officers started leading Neely away, Brosch can again he heard saying: “This is gonna look so bad.”

An attorney for Neely did not immediately return a call seeking comment.

In the videos, the two officers can be heard asking Neely, who had prior arrests for criminal trespass, why he keeps sleeping in buildings. The officers seem mostly cordial as they lead Neely.

At one point, Neely, wearing a welding mask he had asked Brosch to place on his head, apparently has trouble seeing because of the mask. The mask was one of several personal belongings Neely had asked to bring with him.

“We’re walking. Let’s go. Stand next to me because I’m going to drag you if not. You have to stand next to me,” Smith tells Neely after Brosch takes off the welding mask.

As they continue, Brosch asks Smith if she wanted to go on a street with less traffic.

“Yeah, I want the less eyesight,” Smith says.

On the videos, cars can be seen driving by the two officers and Neely and people could be seen walking on the sidewalks. At one point, a group of people ask the officers for directions.

The two officers led Neely for several blocks until they reached a parking lot where their truck and horse trailer were located.

In Brosch’s video, Neely can be seen standing in the parking lot for more than 10 minutes until a third officer arrives and loads him into a vehicle.

EarthFirst

(2,877 posts)
23. They knew that the optics were so tremendous; they decided to carry out their plan regardless...
Sat Oct 5, 2019, 10:50 AM
Oct 2019

They couldn’t have had an ambulance; a fire department vehicle; a transit bus ANYTHING an emergency first responder would have access to in order to transport this individual?

I’d be curious to know how far up the chain of command this went before the final decision was made to lead an African American man through town tethered to a horse...

They knew full well; yet still decided on this method.

I question the critical problem solving skills component of this department tremendously...

Politicub

(12,163 posts)
25. It doesn't just look bad, it is bad. Imagine if the horse got spooked and started running.
Sat Oct 5, 2019, 12:02 PM
Oct 2019

Texas needs to change its protocol if it calls for people to be led around with ropes around their necks by people on horseback. Wouldn't it be better if the cop just waited in place for a transport? Or just wrote out a ticket?

If a citizen is expected to walk somewhere, then the cop should do the same when he has someone in custody. He could have even led the horse while walking.

This is sickening and frightening.

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