Totally outrageous strip search!

[ElsewheresDaughter]

Run time: 06:06 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a1yUsYIk2EM   Posted on YouTube: February 01, 2008 By YouTube Member: Views on YouTube: 0   Posted on DU: February 02, 2008 By DU Member: ElsewheresDaughter Views on DU: 35316

 
I was absolutely horrified when I saw this. It made me cry. It made me nauseous.

WHAT COUNTRY ARE WE LIVING IN?

Here is just another reason I hate Cops.

[Kutjara]

1. Sexual assault, pure and simple.

All the cops involved should be charged, convicted, jailed, and placed on the sex offenders' register. But of course no one will pay. It's just the way things are in the Land of the Waterboarders.

[reggie the dog]

23. not all the cops

just the male cops.

They have the right to strip search you when you go into a jail to make sure you are not smuggling in contraband, but the search must be done by a member of your own sex.

[Gonnuts]

26. Did it somehow pass you

that she was the VICTIM here?

Get ready folks. Blackwater is coming to a neighborhood near you.

Home of the "free" - my ASS! - and it's certainly not home of the brave for you.

[populistdriven]

63. This police state was created under Clinton

[Thorn]

107. Dumb statement about Clinton

Police state created by Clinton? Please! That's just crap. Ohio has been a police state, at the very least, going back to Nixon. Remember Kent State?
Yes folks, get used to it. This is an example what happens, when we as a country, turn a blind eye to tactics like water boarding and "they" justify it as necessary as a
tool in the war of terror. Wake up people. Our rights are going away slowly and surely. This will become more and more accepted. They have the right do to most anything they choose,, since we are in a "war time" scenario and that includes domestic policing policy's. This terror war will never end.

[China_cat]

141. Blame Clinton at any cost, for any thing.

[Name removed]

183. Deleted message

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[Shipwack]

212. As Senor Montoya would say...

"You keep using that word. I do not think it means what you think it means."

Having a lot of police does not make a "police state"... it is the powers they are allowed to have and how they abuse them... which is a local matter, or at the very least a level below the President.

[populistdriven]

346. The Clintons paved the way for many of *'s abuses

[ElsewheresDaughter]

359. WTF?!? set the crack pipe down. pal

[Name removed]

184. Deleted message

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[Name removed]

115. Deleted message

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[Name removed]

185. Deleted message

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[LiberalFighter]

236. Explain why this isn't happening in every local and state law enforcement sites?

[krispos42]

274. "police state" is not the number of police officers per capita

is the the powers those officers have, and how the government and the police are held accountable for uses and abuses of those powers that determines "police state" status.

The term police state is a term for a state in which the government exercises rigid and repressive controls over the social, economic and political life of the population, especially by means of a secret police force which operates outside the boundaries normally imposed by a constitutional republic. A police state typically exhibits elements of totalitarianism and social control, and there is usually little distinction between the law and the exercise of political power by the executive.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Police_state

No mention of per-capita police officers.

[Joe Chi Minh]

162. A significant part of Bill Clinton's immense popularity throughout the world

is due to people like you. He has a brilliant worldy intelligence, a heart, and immense charisma, true, but it was your friends, in seeking to demonise him for an admittedly execrable aspect of his private life, who actually ended up by doing precisely the opposite. Making his renown and popularity, world-wide, go throught the roof. His accusers.

And guess who the world sees as the real demons? Their bad faith, and plum badness was displayed for all the world to see. Living modern-day Pharisees.

[Name removed]

181. Deleted message

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[Joe Chi Minh]

195. Right-wing governments always increase crime levels. Clinton was not a left winger,

and indeed is responsible for the US signing up to the Nafta agreement, effectively to export jobs to countries where labour is cheaper.

But the difference between an effective police presence and a police state is like chalk and cheese. The outrages against the most elementary human rights, simply in terms of police tasering, seem to be very commonplace in the US at present, and are occasionally carried out against innocent people with total impunity. And that's just the one issue of unchecked recourse by some police officers to tasering.

A police state is one in which people may be arrested, denied a lawyer or contact with anyone, and simply made to disappear. Maybe in some banana republics it was never officially sanctioned by law, but that is not the case in the US. Now, you may follow their line and say, well, it's essential in order to protect the country from terrorists. Right or wrong - and most would laugh out loud at that proposition - it is not, in any case, relevant to the issue of whether your country is a police state. At present, it is.

[Joe Chi Minh]

204. Fewer people may feel threatened by it, but this link shows that the

UK is also a police state in one regard. What is more, it is arguably even more horrific. And to the best of my knowledge no justification for it has been put forward, however specious or laughable.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/articles/news/news.html?in_article_id=511609&in_page_id=1770

[The Doctor.]

226. Umm... you should learn what constitutes 'proof'.

Crime rates are inversely linked to prosperity. Having more cops around does not create police brutality... the ignorance of consequences does.

Can you tell us how incidences of police brutality went up faster under Clinton than Bush the Lesser?

Can you tell us how Clinton undermined civil rights the way this current administration has?

I don't think so.

[populistdriven]

261. I never argued those points - see #187

[The Doctor.]

265. Umm... all those posts you C+P'd sure make it look like you do.

You're a flamebaiter I guess.

B'Bye.

[Sarah Ibarruri]

198. I've been an Edwards supporter, but you're a Republican plant.

Or a complete freak. Sheesh! Apparently this forum has a more than a handful of Republican plants, doesn't it?

[populistdriven]

219. u wear tin foil much? I took the political test someone had here several months ago and scored a 9

I have never voted for a single republican or independent in 20+ years of voting. I also spent 50 hours going door to door for Kerry in Primaries and Presidential elections in 04. Led the effort in my precinct. Allowed other volunteers to use my home and phone lines and paid for extra VOIP lines so we could make GOTV calls on election day. I also convinced my father & mother from voting Republican to straight D.

[pnorman]

259. "I took the political test someone had here several months ago and scored a 9"

Over time, several have posted that Political Test (including myself); Here it is: http://www.politicalcompass.org/ As you can see, there are TWO numbers associated with that test, with both of them SIGNED. Could you provide further details?

Incidentally, that YouTube video seems to have been removed, and it's difficult to tell by the chatter here, just WHAT happened. Can someone kindly fill me in?

pnorman

[populistdriven]

344. all i remember is it was the lower left quad about as far as you can get to the outside

[pnorman]

347. That's my own quadrant, although not quite as "extreme".

Here's my score of several years ago: "Economic Left/Right: -7.50, Authoritarian/Libertarian: -4.92". "Accepted wisdom" has it that retesting may lead to unreliable results, so I haven't done so. That eliminates whatever ambiguity might have been in your earlier statement. Pardon my "interrogating" of you on this, but the point is very IMPORTANT.

So can anyone fill me in on what actually transpired in that (now removed) video?

pnorman

[0007]

255. Please explain and show proof before you make a complete ass out

of yourself.

[populistdriven]

258. see #187

[0007]

349. LOL!! That's wank material man!

[pnwmom]

268. How old are you, twelve? Try reading some history. n/t

[0007]

351. Are you serious this wank doesn't know how to read. I bet he's so ugly

that he doesn't even go to school. This is one sick sick sick dude. I'm sure the cops are watching him and his friends closely.

[JHB]

360. Yep, it's all Bill Clinton's fault...

Never mind a couple of decades of "tough on crime" rhetoric.
Can't have our noble deputies coddling evildooers
(and they wouldn't be in police custody unless they were evildooers)
:sarcasm:

Clinton's hands aren't clean, but talk about ignoring the Elephant in the room...

[reggie the dog]

331. I know she was the victim

but she gave them her sister's ID and was taken in for that. I have gone to jail before. They strip search you.

[Kutjara]

28. Maybe. I still think...

...we are far too much in love with the whole ritual of "arrest" in this country. Things that, elsewhere, would get the offender a ticket or a slap on the wrist, here entail the whole hands behind the back, manacles and shackles, strip-search, perp-walk bullshit. If tasers and/or guns can be worked into the plot, so much the better.

We throw people in jail for the most trivial of offenses, subjecting them to every humiliation the sick minds of the penal system can dream up. Why? My guess is to feed the culture of fear. The way people are clad in orange jumpsuits, chained hand and foot like animals, marched around by squads of guards, as if they're some kind of Lecter-like superhuman psychopath, when all they did was get caught with a bit too much weed or forget to pay a few parking tickets. It's overkill, and it's done for a reason.

We'll soon cross the line (if we haven't already) when our "protecters" are more of a danger to us than those from whom they're supposed to be protecting us.

[1monster]

52. And we are doing it to kids too. I know middle school children who have

Charged with felonies for things that my baby boomer generation would have gotten, at the most, detention for.

They then have criminal records that will follow them all of their lives.

Forget about that old saw that their records are sealed or wiped clean at age eighteen. It isn't true. Various entities, government and private commercial, have access to those records. They can and do check.

I know of one kid who was charged with theft for picking up a pair of glasses in a restroom that someone had left behind, and instead of turning them in, wore them for a half an hour...

[ekwhite]

64. I hate to tell you, but we crossed that line a long time ago.

At least in the poor communities. The only thing unusual about this case is that the whole thing was publicized. If this woman had been black or Hispanic, there would have been nothing said about it at all.

[I Have A Dream]

148. Yes, I agree wholeheartedly. nt

[NOLALady]

223. Sadly, you are correct.

[ladywnch]

159. it's is in there interest to arrest for anything/everything

then they can gather biometric info, fingerprints, all kinds of data and once someone is 'in the system' they are more easily tracked and monitored....welcome to the introduction of Big Brother. I expect they'll start arresting traffic tickets and littering very soon.

[Kutjara]

263. I believe I read a post on here a few months back...

...that at least one state is trying to introduce fingerprinting for traffic tickets, so you're point is right on the money.

[ladywnch]

329. here in colorado they want to be able to get DNA from EVERYONE arrested

for ANYTHING. There is a bill pending currently to allow this......more info to feed to big brother.

[Danger Mouse]

289. It's all for show, all to keep the sheep in line and afraid.

[The Backlash Cometh]

70. She should never have been apprehended to begin with.

She was the victim. The cops were following bad policy AND were making bad judgments.

[screembloodymurder]

84. She needed a nurse not arrest.

The cops belong in jail.

[sasquatch]

95. Damn straight, her only mistake was remembering her dead sister

I hope the Stark County sherriff is stripped of his badge, freedom and posessions.

[tblue37]

304. I hope she wins big bucks.

The only thing these fascists a**holes understand is a hit to the pocketbook.

[0007]

352. She'll soak the motherfuckers for all they're worth.

[minnesota_liberal]

165. Smuggling in contraband?

As if the person wanted to go to jail...

[minnesota_liberal]

167. I'd get even...

but I wouldn't use a lawyer.

[reggie the dog]

334. It is not that you want to go

but once you get to jail they strip search you to humiliate you, under the auspicies that you could have quickly shoved something up your ass etc. to get it into the jail. Things like a lighter, a cigarette, etc.

[TheWraith]

209. Why?

The video shows two male cops holding her down, and two female cops pulling her clothes off. Why aren't the women involved just as responsible? If you stipulate that men being there was the only problem, then that accepts as a given that that level of force, and the search itself, was justified. It clearly wasn't.

[reggie the dog]

335. 2 kinds of justification

was there moral justification for this strip search, no.
Was there legal justification for the males doing the search, no.

Was there legal justification for the females doing the search, yes.

[LiberalFighter]

234. What did the female officers do?

Did they tell the scumbags to get the hell out of there?

[Name removed]

291. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Wizard777]

216. Don't hold your breath!

We had a cop that was pulling over women and giving them the choice of being arrested or allowing him to take pictures of him fondling thier breast. He was fired and convicted of conduct unbecomming an officer. No sex offenses. He won't have to register as a sex offender.

[LiberalFighter]

242. More links

Strip Search Of Woman By Sheriff's Deputies Called Outrageous
Happened 15 months ago.

Teen girls say they were strip-searched, harassed at juvy detention center

Lawsuit claims teens strip-searched during detention center tour

[jberryhill]

260. Well, yeah, it happened 15 months ago

But the lawsuit was filed in October 2007 to avoid being time-barred, and discovery opened a couple of days ago.

So, it's important to get the video in front of the potential jury pool by releasing the best parts to a local TV station.

[LiberalFighter]

245. Website for Stark County Democratic Party

Democratic Party

[sasquatch]

295. FUCK! The Sheriff is a democrat

:argh:

[LiberalFighter]

325. Send an email to the party letting them know the sheriff is a disgrace to the party

Make it civil and don't rant.

[lonestarnot]

337. FIRE THAT MOTHERFUCKER!

[defendandprotect]

2. Look at the people doing this; how do they sleep at night?

Seemingly, it is really easy to teach people to be violent -- brutally violent.

And taxpayers will not pay the bill for a huge lawsuit ---

Where's the police union in all of this ---
is this the way they want their officers used?

[mac2]

18. They hired cops with ego and violence problems?

All cops should have a psychological profile before being hired. They are given power with their weapons. It should not be abused.

[reggie the dog]

In most places in the USA

Run time: 06:06 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a1yUsYIk2EM   Posted on YouTube: February 01, 2008 By YouTube Member: Views on YouTube: 0   Posted on DU: February 02, 2008 By DU Member: reggie the dog Views on DU: 35316

 
I am too educated and too smart to be a cop. They do not generally like people who have master or phd degrees or who have high IQ's. I have read numerous stories about people being refused work as cops becuase they were too smart.

[pattmarty]

44. Yeah, an IQ over 25 usually is the cut off for cop hiring.

[mac2]

97. I guess this is the case sometimes

I thought it was only my small town. The head of traffic control and his assistant came to my home to tell me "I was stupid" for complaining about "empty school buses" running up and down my street (speeding). Why do I think there's a speeding problem? No one else had complained.

This simply was not true since neighbors have for some time. The village was aware of this street being a through street which they decided to send all their busses down.

My concern was that it would be cheaper to hire cabs to take the kids to school than buy big busses which aren't used.

Apparently what happens is the parents drive the kids to school but still keep a seat on the buss reserved. There is a traffic jam in front of the grade school every morning. Moms with cell phone to their ear in huge SUVs in the morning are a dangerous situation.

It's like he wanted to arrest me for complaining. I told him he was getting my blood pressure up. I had told him all he needed to know and I was going to close the door.

I waited to calm down and called the police chief. I told him I never wanted to see this rude cop at my door again. I called my trustee and told her. She was shocked and agreed it was a well known fact about the speeding and busses.

When I call the police to enforce the zoning laws they keep me hanging and don't answer. They don't like to work or get their uniforms wrinkled. They have a new station and train other cops. They train them on how to get paid without working? We didn't have much crime but I'm sure it's on the way.

Yes...there are great cops in every town. But mine may have discouraged many to leave. It's a Republican town and the police chief came from an even smaller one nearby. It was a political appointment. They did an expensive nationwide search. He had little experience.

If it happened this year...he might have lasered me eh?

[gaspee]

108. Ever see

Michael Moore's old show? Was it called TV nation? He did a whole show about a guy too smart to be a cop. Pretty funny (and not in the haha way) stuff.

[Skittles]

247. WTF????

you sound like the stereotypical "ELITIST LIBERAL" to whom repukes refer - you're a f***ing parody. Also, if you're so fucking smart please learn how to use a semicolon and spell-check.

[reggie the dog]

336. Don't worry

you are probably too smart to be a cop in most towns too.

[China_cat]

142. Did you notice that both male cops are skinheads?

[mac2]

179. Skinheads need to work somewhere too

Guess this police chief likes their type for law enforcement. Replace the chief.

They might be X-military since they already know how to use a gun and force. Mentally ill ones?

[kimmylavin]

210. Just a quick note...

Just because someone shaves his head, it doesn't mean he's a skinhead.
My husband shaves his head because he gets dandruff, and his best friend shaves his head because he's been going bald since he was 20.

Both are wonderful, loving, caring, card-carrying liberal men.

[China_cat]

220. I would use none of those adjectives in your last

sentence with those thugs in the video. I was equating the ACTIONS with the shaved heads when I deemed them skinheads.

(I have 2 sons who shave their heads because it's easier than trying to find what hair is there. If they ever acted like those cops I'd call them skinheads, too)

[RagingInMiami]

315. Cops shave their heads to keep themselves from being identified when they abuse people

With the uniforms and the shaved heads, it makes them all look the same. Check out this picture I took a couple of years ago in Miami. Can you tell one cop from the other?

IMG]

[HysteryDiagnosis]

42. The Perils of Obedience

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Milgram_experiment


The Milgram experiment was a series of seminal social psychology experiments conducted by Yale University psychologist Stanley Milgram, which measured the willingness of study participants to obey an authority figure who instructed them to perform acts that conflicted with their personal conscience. Milgram first described his research in 1963 in an article published in the Journal of Abnormal and Social Psychology,<1> and later discussed his findings in greater depth in his 1974 book, Obedience to Authority: An Experimental View.<2>

The experiments began in July 1961, three months after the start of the trial of Nazi war criminal Adolf Eichmann in Jerusalem. Milgram devised the experiments to answer this question: "Could it be that Eichmann and his million accomplices in the Holocaust were just following orders? Could we call them all accomplices?"<3>

Milgram summarized the experiment in his 1974 article, "The Perils of Obedience", writing:

The legal and philosophic aspects of obedience are of enormous importance, but they say very little about how most people behave in concrete situations. I set up a simple experiment at Yale University to test how much pain an ordinary citizen would inflict on another person simply because he was ordered to by an experimental scientist. Stark authority was pitted against the subjects' strongest moral imperatives against hurting others, and, with the subjects' ears ringing with the screams of the victims, authority won more often than not. The extreme willingness of adults to go to almost any lengths on the command of an authority constitutes the chief finding of the study and the fact most urgently demanding explanation.

Ordinary people, simply doing their jobs, and without any particular hostility on their part, can become agents in a terrible destructive process. Moreover, even when the destructive effects of their work become patently clear, and they are asked to carry out actions incompatible with fundamental standards of morality, relatively few people have the resources needed to resist authority.<4>

[Danger Mouse]

288. Had to see the Millgram video in college dear lord it was disturbing.

This was even more disturbing. Far more.

[Danger Mouse]

287. It made me want to vomit, just watching the video...

[fenriswolf]

3. im horrified, i think im gonna be sick.

[Mr_Jefferson_24]

4. Incredible. The police are becoming public enemy number one. nt.

[blackspade]

33. Exactly

"Incredible. The police are becoming public enemy number one. nt."

I think this is the whole point.
These cops are criminals without a doubt, but most cops are not.
The point of these episodes is to create fear of the police and to discredit them in the public eye.
This is the start of the move to privatize the police.
The irony is that when they disband police departments it will be these thugs that will be hired by the 'Security' corporations.

Black Water: To Protect America...From Itself. :sarcasm:

[JDPriestly]

5. Where did this happen?

Our whole country has become paranoid. It started before Reagan, but has continued and become worse and worse since his administration.

[Th1onein]

6. Canton, OH

kick & rec

[ElsewheresDaughter]

10. Stark County Sheriff Department., Ohio?....why do I think I have heard other bad stuff...

about these monsters before?

Great group of law enforcement professionals, making sure assault victims aren't threatening the rest of society with their CLOTHES!

Ban clothes on assault victims! For the children!

[Dr.Phool]

32. Back in the '70s, they used to write songs about that jail.

I see things haven't gotten any better.

[pattmarty]

45. Simply nuke Stark county, end of at least one problem.

[Divernan]

191. Stark Cty. Sheriff is running for reelection as a Democrat

According to www.ohio.com/news/politics/13225667.html, the sheriff of Stark County, Timothy A. Swanson, running for reelection, is a Democrat. Are you sure this video comes out of Stark County, Ohio? Whoever is sheriff overseeing this nightmare of a strip search should not be re-elected, whatever party he's in.

When I googled Stark County, I came up with this guy's name as sheriff and that he is listed as running for re-election. I got another hit identifying him as having been elected last year as president of the statewide sheriff's association. I copied the above link correctly, (to the Akron Beacon Journal) but when I went to verify it, I couldn't get the same page to come up.

"SHERIFF
Democrat *Timothy A. Swanson, North Canton
Republican Lawrence A. Dordea, Alliance"

And from the 12/23/2007 www.Cantonrep.com (from The Repository paper, Canton, Ohio)
we learn this sheriff is planning to run for reelection, then "resign" at the end of 2008 and then come back in 2009 for his four year term at a much higher salary then if he worked straight through.

"Pay attention, because it’s a tricky question: If a judge and a sheriff get re-elected, then retire, are they really “retired?” In this case, the seemingly illogical answer is ‘no.’

Two of Stark County’s most successful politicians — Judge William B. Hoffman and Sheriff Timothy A. Swanson — want to be elected to new terms in November. If that happens, they’d probably then immediately retire before completing their old terms.

So what gives? The extra money has a lot to do with it.

By “retiring,” both could begin to collect pension checks on top of salaries for their jobs. In Hoffman’s case, the net result would nearly double his annual income to more than $250,000 a year. Swanson’s income would increase by at least 78.5 percent, to more than $160,000 a year. "

[peacetalksforall]

50. I believe it started with the Kennedy King Kennedy assassinations. Some

people rejoiced, knew they were safe, and wanted more - more authority, more rule, and no-accountability, but paid for by us.

[Plucketeer]

124. Amazing

I've read roughly one third of the replies so far and already, every administration back to Kennedy has been pinned as the starting point of this brutality! :crazy:

Let's push it back even farther! How about how negros were treated when most of them were slaves???

[peacetalksforall]

134. You're right - minorities - all kinds. But, there is one difference -

the obstructions before the assassinations were nearly 100% bigotry, masculine superiority, and cultural hate. The crimes since then have been political profiteering facilitated by bigotry. The profiteers used the bigotry of certain people to build a voting base. Fighter for equality made some progress. The 'same old' became entrenched in a different way because they had continuing successes in getting away with crimes since the assassinations - military crimes in Vietnam, takeovers of sovereign nations, Iran-Contras, etc.

[lebkuchen]

169. Just another city (state?) to steer clear of

adding it to FL and TX.

[Webster Green]

7. I absolutely hate cops!

99% of them are fucking sadistic assholes! Sure there's some decent ones, but not many.

This kind of shit is more commonplace than a lot of people might think. Prisoners in this country are tortured on a daily basis. It's obscene! :grr:

[awoke_in_2003]

35. 99% give the rest a bad name. nt

[Name removed]

47. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[awoke_in_2003]

56. have you ever heard the joke about lawyers

"99% give the rest a bad name"? Well, to explain that, it is basically saying there are a few good ones, but the rest ain't worth spit. That is the point I was taking here, I was not sticking up for bullying police officers. You may want to lay off the name calling.

[Name removed]

67. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[KAZ]

78. What's your malfunction? Awoke was agreeing with you.

[proud2BlibKansan]

76. My son was pulled over in my car

and the cop came up and first thing he said was "I just got back from Iraq and I don't like your bumper stickers".

:wtf:

Another time I was pulled over and the cop said "What are you doing here?" I said "Driving down this street?" He told me not to get smart with him. I said "I was just answering your question, Sir"

Sometimes I wonder if we are living in America or behind the iron curtain.

[mac2]

172. I doubt that cop just back from Iraq

If he had, he would have said, thank you for speaking out to protect our troops and bring them home!!

[Lydia Leftcoast]

229. There have always been cops with a "little dictator" mentality

Soon after I got my driver's license (I hate driving, and I didn't get my license till I was in my twenties), I was driving down a country road with some friends, when a cop pulled us over and accused me of going 75 mph.

I was still a new enough driver to be too chicken to go 75, and when I tried to explain that, the cop barked, "Are you questioning my authority?"

One of my passengers spoke up and said, "I'm pretty sure she wasn't going 75. Maybe 60 or 65..."

The cop turned on him. "If you don't shut up, I'm going to arrest you for resisting an officer."

He was clearly a bullying anger junkie, so we just shut up. The fine was proportional to the amount over the speed limit, so I had to pay a fine I really couldn't afford, having just started in my first teaching job.

Years later, I was driving down the main drag in the small Oregon town where I lived at the time. I had heard stories about the local cops and their tendency to stop people for "driving while Hispanic," including one of the professors at my college, but I didn't have a run-in with them until one day when I noticed that a cop car was tailgating me. I sped up a little, but I didn't want to go over the limit. Then the cop started flashing at me to pull over.

The guy approached me and said, "I wanted to get through and you wouldn't move into the other lane."

I had been driving in the right lane, so this made no sense. It wasn't as if I'd been hogging the left lane.

I said, "I'm sorry. Is there some emergency? You didn't have the siren on."

He started jabbing a finger at me. "When I need you to get out of the way, you get out of the way!"

I was totally confused now. Like HE couldn't have moved into the left lane to pass me, like normal people. "Have I broken some law?" I asked, pretty sure that I hadn't. "What law have I broken?"

That stopped him cold. He swallowed and said, "Don't let it happen again." He returned to his car and sped off.

I told other people about this incident, and it didn't make any sense to them, either. For one thing, stopping me took longer than following me for the two blocks before the turn-off to my home.

[Kokonoe]

8. I'm sure no laws were broken

They said she was being protected. How disgusting can it get.

[Mithreal]

9. Not all cops are bad but these guys are

http://www.sheriff.co.stark.oh.us/

[Webster Green]

11. Oh goody!.........There's a contact phone number there!

They'll love hearing from me!}(

[Mithreal]

14. I know it won't do much good but I already called them when I posted

I talked with the prison sergeant. He was a lil touchy.

I mentioned my brother is a cop, my father-in-law a retired state trooper and another family member was killed in the line of duty and the behavior of the cops talked about in the video made it a less safe world for people like my family members.

He yelled at me the whole time, talked over me, while I just asked him to let me speak and hung up on me. I suppose I don't blame him for being on edge. I realize also that while it may not have been especially wise for me to call them they need to know they have possibly committed crimes against our shared humanity and the courts are really not the only place they should have to face justice. They have outraged me and for that I would speak out, no point complaining about it unless you are willing to actually speak to those who can change things.

Good for the news reporting that.

I am so sorry for the family and I really do fear that cops are getting way too carried away with their authority. Sympathy isn't enough.

Don't hate all cops, most of them are good and simple people that see a lot and suffer emotionally, psychologically, or worse.

[Webster Green]

19. I hope the family ends up owning the city..

Those cops should go to prison for a long time.

I'm so pissed! I'm going to call them tomorrow. I want them to know that it is all over the internet, and they don't look too good.:grr:

[The Wizard]

58. prison after

a public horse whipping. With pain comes awareness.

[Bucky]

113. I'm sure that's just what the cops in that video were thinking

I can see how people like that think:
If we humiliate that woman, she'll start "thinking right" and decide to cooperate with us. The torment of being strip searched by men and being left exposed in a cell without even a blanket should wake her up to how unreasonable she's being.

All the cops involved--especially their supervisors--should be prosecuted to the full extent of the law. But in a land of laws, all criminals must be treated humanely.

[Love Bug]

205. Let's not discount the woman's attractiveness

I'll bet if she weighed 300 pounds those male cops wouldn't have been anywhere in sight. Every time I see one of these stories about unreasonable strip searches, it's always some young, comely female. They may have wanted to humuliate her, but seeing her naked is part of the thrill for them. Sick bastards.

[pattmarty]

49. DON'T CALL FROM A "KNOWN" PHONE.

[mikelgb]

87. Should I call and report a rape I saw on video?

[Boudica the Lyoness]

318. I emailed them and reported the rape

I emailed them to ask if the people who raped this woman had been arrested.

Anybody who defends these monsters are the problem not the solution.
Policemen are supposed to be looking after the law abiding people and protecting them. I've lived in this country for about 35 years and the police here still scare the shit out of me.

[lvx35]

12. Yeah, this is one that needs some visibility. K&R. nt

[Yuugal]

13. Bookmarking

to show to my gf and ex-wife. We can't wait to get out of this country.

[BobTheSubgenius]

15. Every time I think we've hit rock bottom,

they continue to dig.

This is absolutely......stunning. Horrifying.

[Mithreal]

17. Tip of an iceberg

One of the right wing think tanks has a map that shows excessive force police incidents and they are widespread and not localized to any particular regions or cities. I can't seem to find it again, but if anyone has the site, wish I had bookmarked.

[populistdriven]

54. Clinton proposes billions more to boost police numbers - Clinton unveils new anti-crime plan

You ask how did we get here?

In '99 Crime rates were plummeting and Clinton continued to pump billions into the Police State



ALEXANDRIA, Virginia (CNN) -- Pointing to new data that show some crime rates have dropped to levels not seen in decades, President Clinton on Thursday said the numbers still were too high. He proposed a five-year, $6 billion package that raises the ante on his nearly fulfilled pledge to put 100,000 new officers on the beat nationwide.

Some of the money would be used to increase funding for COPS (Community Oriented Policing Services), a federally run program that aims to prevent crime through problem-solving tactics and community partnerships.

"Crime rates overall have dropped to a 25-year low. Property crime (is) down. Violent crime has declined 20 percent in the last six years. The murder rate is at its lowest level nationwide in 30 years," Clinton said during a ceremony at a police station in Alexandria, Virginia, a Washington suburb that participates in the COPS program.

http://www.cnn.com/US/9901/14/clinton.crime.02/

[Yurovsky]

59. Yep, one cop & one jail cell for every citizen ...

anybody still think we're free???

Cops can do ANYTHING they want to you, but don't ever raise a finger in self-defense or they WILL KILL YOU.

[ThatsMyBarack]

147. Either THAT or....

....lock you up and throw away the key! :grr:

[The Backlash Cometh]

77. Getting a larger police force wasn't the problem during the Clinton period.

The problem is in the hiring process; the problem is in the policy that these cops followed, i.e. too many cops who are taught to shoot first, and ask questions later.

[populistdriven]

187. good point, but as is the case with many Clinton programs, the Repukes took advantage and expanded

They (Repukes) use the expanded (Clinton) police numbers to spread fear to minorities and gays
They (Repukes) use the expanded (Clinton) CALEA to strip the privacy rights from all americans
They (Repukes) use the expanded (Clinton) NAFTA to strip the rights from blue collar workers
They (Repukes) use the expanded (Clinton) China MFN to underemploy millions of american workers
They (Repukes) use the expanded (Clinton) fear mongering about Iraqi WMD's to justify the Iraq War

I survived Reagan's insanity only to have to live through all this crap. In many ways he paved the way for Bush's abuses. I have many very, very solid reasons to fight tooth and nail to prevent another Clinton presidency.

[The Backlash Cometh]

201. Good cop, bad cop.

Democrats think of government for benign purposes, and Republicans use it to bend the public to their will.

[proud2BlibKansan]

214. Actually bush cut the funding for the Clinton programs that put more cops on the streets

The urban core where I work was affected by this. Crime is up. Especially juvenile crime. This program was one of the better things Clinton did, IMO.

[proud2BlibKansan]

80. Yeah and guess what Bush did to that program?

[populistdriven]

188. see #187

[mrbluto]

297. Are you kidding me?

Bill Clinton is the guy who started the trend toward a police state?

How can I take you seriously?

If anything the trend toward community policing would dampen the chances of such abuse as is in the video from happening because the police would know and respect the people in the neighborhood.

Police officers in themselves are not the best indicator of a police state - it's things like secrecy, wiretapping, and such.

[populistdriven]

345. who do you think signed calea?

[Autobot77]

16. Horrifying

...And imagine some right-wingers out there will watch this video and think the police used a reasonable amount of force.

[Danger Mouse]

279. Heh, on Free Republic I am sure that they'll say she deserved it...

even that she deserved worse.

[Name removed]

20. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[reggie the dog]

21. it was for her own good

They thought she might have had a joint in her panties. Imagine the damage she could have done to the world, much less herself, had she smoked a joint.

[Bongo Prophet]

22. To Protect and Serve.

Hey, maybe if we let all the cannabis prisoners out we would have the space to put in all violators of human rights.
Crazy me.

[izquierdista]

24. I got a minute-15 into it

before I had enough and shut it off.

No, cops can't be allowed to this kind of stuff, no matter what reason they come up with later to defend their actions.

Police departments would be MUCH better if they would have more young conscripts and vigorously weeded them out as they found behaviors that were not in line with the public service role. Weed out the ones on a power trip, abusive of their own authority, too quick to resort to violence, ready to cover up unacceptable behavior in their colleagues.

There is just no quality control in police circles. Just because it is sometimes a thankless job, they feel justified in treating the general population as enemies, doing what they damn well please, and protecting their own when called to task.

[The Wizard]

60. They do have an

us against them mentality. And the them is everyone who's not a cop.
Abu Garhib comes to America.
With the political writing on the wall, the Bush police state authoritarian jerk offs are getting in their last licks.

[DUlover2909]

25. cops are mostly uneducated meatheads

that have an axe to grind. They got mistreated in high school and now it's their turn.

[Gonnuts]

27. Who was the dumb ass

that took the video? Are these bastards so craven that they take videos of their sadistic shit?

Welcome to the United Sadists of Amerika.

[proud2BlibKansan]

81. Yes I want to know where that video came from

Do they routinely video tape strip searches??

Then do the cops all gather and watch the tapes over a few beers on Friday night?

[sasquatch]

99. I've watched American Jail on Court TV and they usually do that

Mainly to avoid lawsuits, but this time it will be used against them and rightfully so.

[awoke_in_2003]

156. Yep, this time they messed up

and forgot to destroy the tape after the incident. Someone on the staff had to leak it.

[Kokonoe]

182. Umm... I believe this is the police edited and blurred version

You can bet the real tape was lost en route to cheney's bunker.

[PublicCommentAK]

231. they take video to protect themsleves from lawsuits

pretty much every time they are dealing with a combative person prisons and jails will video tape. there is nothing "craven" or "sadistic" about what is going on in the video.

[proud2BlibKansan]

278. Male cops removing a female's clothing is not craven or sadistic???

:wtf:

[Danger Mouse]

286. There should not have been men in that cell.

Why did it take so many people to hold down a thin woman who was handcuffed and pinned to the ground?
The whole thing is disgusting.
But go ahead and justify it. I DARE you.

[Sanctified]

29. Sorry but sometimes Government sucks, I mean really sucks. n/t

[RagingInMiami]

30. I hope those goddamn pigs rot in hell

Fucking Nazi rapists.

The woman was charged with "disorderly conduct" and "resisting arrest". Those are bullshit charges. Cops use those charges all the time when a real crime was not committed.


I hope those fucking pigs go to prison and get raped themselves.

I am fucking pissed.

[droidamus2]

131. I agree

Don't "disorderly conduct" and "resisting arrest" really just mean you pissed off a cop and nothing else. It seems like these days if you don't drop to your knees and genuflect while kissing the cops feet you are disobeying their orders. It seems there are too many cops out there that have the attitude that they are always right no matter the situation. A big part of it is the training that tells them to be in 'control' of a situation they can't take anything from anybody even if the person has a valid gripe. When I was growing up (1960's) you were supposed to respect cops not fear them. A question, why does it take 7 police officers to control a 125 lb woman? Let me guess next the cops will claim she was on PCP and had the strength of 10 men. What bullshit!!!

[Nostradammit]

31. This page from the Stark County Sheriff's Office is a bit creepy

http://www.sheriff.co.stark.oh.us/tips_for_women.htm

*snip*

"5. Notes about getting into your car in a parking lot or parking garage:
A) Be aware: look around you, look into your car, at the passenger side floor and in the back seat.
B) If you are parked next to a big van, enter your car from the passenger door. Most serial killers attack their victims by pulling them into their vans while the women are attempting to get into their cars.
C) Look at the car parked on the driver's side of your vehicle and the passenger side. If a male is sitting alone in the seat nearest your car, you may want to walk back into the mall, or work and get a guard/policeman to walk you back out. IT IS ALWAYS BETTER TO BE SAFE THAN SORRY.

(Especially when you're dealing with the Stark County Sheriff's office, apparently)

6. ALWAYS take the elevator instead of the stairs. Stairwells are horrible places to be alone and the perfect crime spot.

7. If the predator has a gun and you are not under his control, ALWAYS RUN! The predator will only hit a running target 4 in 100 times. If hit, it most likely WILL NOT be a vital organ. RUN!

8. Women are always trying to be sympathetic. STOP IT! It may get you raped or killed. Ted Bundy, the serial killer, was a good-looking, well educated man who ALWAYS played on the sympathies of unsuspecting women. He walked with a cane, or a limp, and often asked "for help" into his vehicle or with his vehicle. This is when he abducted his next victim.

9. Crying Baby Theory as mentioned on America.
National Law Enforcement has reported, but not verified, that a serial killer has a baby's cry recorded and uses it to coax women out of their homes, thinking that someone dropped off a baby. This has usually occurred when the women are alone at night. Please pass this on and DO NOT open the door for a crying baby.

Timothy A. Swanson,
Stark County Sheriff



Tim seems like a real swell fella'...

[DissedByBush]

135. I've seen this posted elsewhere

It's standard keep safe advice for women.

But for C I think in Stark women should check to see if there's a sheriff's badge on the car with the lone man, and if so run like hell.

[fasttense]

34. Let me get this right, she was a rape victim?

And they wonder why she is so upset at getting strip searched in the most cruel and offensive manner? Why didn't they do a rape kit analysis? What F**k is wrong with these people? Are they police are sadists?

They left a rape victim naked for 6 hours in a cell? Even the Sheriff agrees that is what they did. They paraded her in booking naked except for a vest? This was done to humiliate her and torture her. These cops are out of control.

[China_cat]

65. Assault, not rape. (the physical bloody type assault)

with ripped out hair.

[The Backlash Cometh]

126. Hmmm. Who assaulted her?

[China_cat]

138. That's what wasn't said

and no explanation of why she was arrested instead of being taken to a medical facility. If you watch the video, there's a replay of the 911 call from her cousin, including a closed captioning of what was said. Starting at 2:13 on the clip

"Who's crying" (911 operator)

"The girl who just got attacked. My second cousin"

"okay...what...is she hurt?" (911 operator)

"She has a cut on her nose. She's bleeding and there's a patch of hair on the ground beside the car"

Then it cuts to where she's being arrested, with no commentary as to why.

[jberryhill]

343. The cast of characters...

The incident took place at 11544 Weimer Dr. SE, in Stark County Ohio in October 2006. The lawsuit was filed in October 2007. Discovery opened on January 22, 2008, which is why the defense is releasing selected pieces of the videotape now.

That is the residence of Sean Preston and Leann Preston.

Leann Preston is a cousin of Hope Steffey.

Trinette Zorger is another cousin of Hope Steffey, who was present when police arrived, and who lives nearby to the Prestons.

Hope and Trinette allege that Hope was attacked by Leann. Why? We don't know.

As we know from tiger behavior in San Francisco, a ferocious carnivore will not attack people without careful consideration of the circumstances, adequate taunting, and general good judgment about character.

Cousins in rural Ohio, however, are known to attack without provocation or justification.

[Auggie]

36. Just horrible. What happens to people when they put on a uniform?

[AlaskaMaddie2008]

290. They.......

assume the role of "God".They believe they are youre judge, jury AND executioner, with the law on THEIR side.:puke:

[GOPBasher]

37. These fucking people better all be charged with sexual assault.

What the fucking shit is wrong with people?

[EVDebs]

137. "...under color of authority..." Shameful. nt

[boricua79]

38. Goddamned pigs

The appropriate punishment is for them to be displayed nude in public,

and then give them jail time.

THAT would be justice, in karmic terms.

[RoccoR5955]

39. Welcome to the Police States of America ...

...where the Police don't have to obey the law, because they ARE the law!

[droidamus2]

132. Just like Bush

Yeah, so is this handed down from the Bush doctrine that if the President does something it can't be illegal. So now its since the cops enforce the law they obviously can't do anything illegal. There are too many cases in this country whether it be the current administration, bully cops, Blackwater, many corporations etc. where bad people are being allowed to do whatever they please with the government either being involved or at the least looking the other way. It is time for the people to take back the country and insist that all citizens be respected and protected from those that would do them harm.

[oldgrowth]

40. What percentage of cops are ex-military ?

I know you get extra points for being in the service?

[Joey Liberal]

116. A large percentage

But keep in mind, this appears to have been done by jailers. Still, its an outrage.

[Uben]

41. There's a $10 million dollar suit!

And I think the officers involved need to be stripped naked, put in stockades on the courthouse lawn, stoned and ridiculed for about a week, then hanged!

[rateyes]

53. And, in the case of the male cops...

hanged by their balls.

[pattmarty]

43. Sue this fucked up county back to the "stone age".

This video should be all over the internet and forcibly if necessary put on national TV. It is simply un-fucking-believable that something like this could happen in THIS COUNTRY.

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

46. Note, please, that she is a good looking woman

I remember a few years back in Illinois when state cops were stopping good looking women on the highways and taking them in, strip searching them, and making videos. The women hadn't done anything wrong--they were just used for the cop's amusement.

Bet a dollar to a donut if this woman had been old and fat and ugly, this wouldn't have happened.

I hope that someone decent runs against the sheriff this year--and if the sheriff's term isn't over, I hope that someone starts a recall petition.

[juno jones]

246. Yes!

I remember that! One freind of mine(RIP, she had been ill and I think the incident put her over, so to speak) was a victim of that. She was raped by an IL statie. Another spent a night in jail because she wouldn't 'put out' for a state boy who pulled her over (in town, not his beef) for 'suspicion'...just suspicion, in the end, she was not charged. Thanks ayeshahaqqiqa, for remembering that. I didn't know at the time if it was a local thing (spfld, IL) or more endemic to the state police.

Another friend was raped by an orderly at the local mental hospital when she was (voluntarily) temporarily committed for severe depression and suicidal tendancies.

Abused authority sucks.

[Joey Liberal]

48. Fuck Cops n/t

[HelenWheels]

51. I'm afraid of cops

I worked as a Public Health Nurse and often needed to work with cops. At that time I liked them very much. I also worked in Corrections with Correctional Officers and liked most of them. Then came the Iraq war. I protested the war on the street every Friday for 4 years. I went to DC and protested there and also protested the repuke convention in NY. All these activities showed me the ugly side of cops. They were very unsupportive of our actions and even told us they didn't have to protect us after one of our protesters was knocked down and kicked. There are a few cops in our city I really like but most of them make me uneasy when they are around.

[mac2]

174. Would it surprise you if I thought those cops at the protests

weren't all local cops but Police State Bush ones? Who would know with their faces hidden, etc. There are training facilities here in the Midwest which locals disagree with. They are "special forces of some type".

I'll look to find it.

[rateyes]

55. Damned pigs...

every one of them. Male and female. Damned pigs.

[mac2]

175. There is no oversight

[blondeatlast]

57. Arpaio syndrome is spreading like wildfire to a Sheriff's Department near you. I live in Maricopa

County, Arizona--home of the county jail system that Amnesty International labeled as a human rights offender--right up there with Afghanistan and the like.

Be afraid. Sheriffs ARE not required to have been educated in law enforcement and it shows. Even the Phoenix cops despise the Sheriff's office here.

This is horrifying--but I'm damn glad that film has been released to the nation. Courage to the victims.

[gaspee]

103. I feel for you

Arpaio is a sadistic bastard. What does it say about all of us that he and others like him keep getting elected? He's responsible for more than one death of a prisoner. Even with exposes of him, he still gets reelected. I don't get it!

[Danger Mouse]

285. He appeals to the baser natures of Americans...

their desire for harsh retribution.
It's sick and twisted, and right to the core...

[sasquatch]

119. He's a demogauge that profits from a pseudo-public problem

He gives the people the appereance of safety and order; in return they keep electing and praising the demogauge. He also gives them a scapegoat to heave their scorn and disapproval on. Does that answer your question?

[benld74]

61. That place doesn't have enough money they are going to need

to pay this family for what they did. MFERS!

[Name removed]

62. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[NEDem]

75. This story is an outrage, but YOU ARE A MORON

[proud2BlibKansan]

82. Agreed

Posts like that make me grateful we have the alert button.

Damn freepers.

[klook]

94. Gang - please join me in Alerting this post. (n/t)

[golddigger]

100. I suggest you get help....NOW!!!

[Cass]

66. This is horrifying.

She was the victim of an assault for crying out loud, called police for help, and this is how they treated her as a victim. My God. And then they book her with nothing on but a vest and leave her naked in a cell for 6 hours? What the police did to this woman is assault and torture, pure and simple. I hope she wins millions in a civil suit, and I hope officers who did this to her are locked up.

[localroger]

68. According to a state trooper I used to know...

...or I should say ex state trooper retired, if you meet a cop who's been on the force more than 5 years, there is about a 99% probability that they are corrupt. My neighbor stayed in for 12 years because he was a devout Christian who believed it was his duty to do good where good needed to be done, but eventually it became too much for him. He told me that nearly all of the idealists wash out in the first few years leaving those who are getting something beyond the paycheck out of the job.

[The Backlash Cometh]

69. That police department raped and sodomized that woman.

Can there be any question that our local governments are in crisis?

Those people should be fired and the woman awared a million dollars. God help those cops if I was picked for that jury.

[mac2]

176. Thank god there are still people like you in America

[proud2BlibKansan]

71. WTF!!!

Where is this Stark County???

[ekwhite]

72. Ohio. Stark county is the sphincter of the nation.

[proud2BlibKansan]

83. And I thought cops were bad here where I live

:scared:

[NEDem]

74. Canton, Ohio

Searched the TV station call letters...

[Dawggie]

73. That happened to me.

I'm a man but once, my parents called 911 because they thought I was suicidal.

This is how I was treated by LEO's.

No one believed what I went through.

Thank god, this was caught on tape and published. This is the new America.

[maxpower]

79. Fascism pure and simple

Fascism is here look around. I don't recognize this country anymore.

[screembloodymurder]

88. Yup,

I live in fear of being stopped for a traffic violation. I'm very tall and well built. My size intimidates and just getting out of the car can bring a call for backup. I was tried for a misdemeanor and the police brought in backup at the trial. Problem is I have a bad heart and a tazer could mean death.

[colorado_ufo]

215. Recently I was stopped sometime after midnight

for - of all things - having the little light over my license plate burned out. (I was not aware of it.) I was the only car on the highway, a woman alone, doing absolutely nothing wrong, 5 MPH under the speed limit, all licenses, etc. current, blah blah blah. After pulling me over and checking everything and running a background check on me, he asked, "Where are you going?" My first impulse was to decline to answer (none of his business!), but fearing the consequences, I truthfully told him, "Home." The cop, a guy appearing to be in his mid to late 40s, then said, "No ticket today - how about just a business card with my phone number on it?"

I happen to look a good deal younger than my actual age; if he had known how old I really was, he would have crapped his pants.

Anyway, I found myself looking in my rear view mirror all the rest of the way home. What the hell has it all come, and worse, where will it all end?

[thunder rising]

85. Nothing more dangerous than a bored wannabee hero..fuck them

[SnowCritter]

86. At the risk of being flamed

but have some of you sat back and read what you wrote?

I work in a Sheriff's Office (Network and Systems Administration) and I have never worked with a more honest, caring and selfless group of people.

When I read comments stating "All cops are <insert derogatory term here" I'm reminded of freepers who do somewhat similar things - "All liberals are <insert derogatory term here>" or "All Democrats are...". In my opinion it takes a very small mind to make statements like that. Have you met *all* the cops? ALL the cops? I will not deny that there are bad cops, but you can find bad examples in any occupation. For those of you who would denigrate their intelligence, just remember that how smart you are depends on who you're talking to and the topic.

[screembloodymurder]

91. I have good friends who are police officers.

It's just like any other profession, there are good and bad.

[seabeyond]

102. too many bad of late. and this comment always being said to defend

allows the problem to grow. just like sweeping under the rug. just like talking about hte repugs going over the line in corruption the last handful of years i hear from repugs.... they all do it. NO the dems are not doing what the repugs are doing but by saying they all do it it allows problem to grow. an acceptance.

to simply say good and bad is as dismissive to a growing problem as it gets.

[Sivafae]

293. Exactly.

The night I was arrested there was one officer that asked me what happened. He believed me and looked at the ground with the most horrified look on his face. I knew that he knew I was not being treated right and just walked away. It was nice that he believed me, however, his silence allows this behavior to continue. I believe it is up to the good policemen and women to root out the bad ones. It only makes them look bad in the end. I believe they have a duty to the public they serve.

All that is needed for evil to prevail is for one good man to stand by and do nothing.

[klook]

92. Not all cops.

But abusive behavior by some cops is nothing new. All the more reason to recruit the best candidates we can attract to law enforcement, train them thoroughly, and make it clear to all of them that this kind of behavior will not be tolerated.

[Unca Jim]

98. No Kidding!

I am a teacher in the public schools and I work with the police occasionally. They are, by and large, decent and community-oriented people doing the best they can in difficult situations.

I hate to break this to y'all, but horrible, horrible clusterfucks like this happen occasionally in all direct contact professions. One person makes a terrible decision that leads to a difficult situation that brings in more people who respond inappropriately and it escalates into something like this. I've seen EMTs, Emergency Room Nurses, and Education Paraprofessionals all make a series of simple mistakes which result in a horrible situation that never should have happened. It's unlikely the people involved were evil even though what happened to the victim clearly is.

Feel free to hate people if you need to, but understand that of the countless problems first responders deal with every day only a microscopic percentage are handled this poorly.

Police are there to help keep the peace, and for the most part they do.

Here's what will happen: The agency responsible will have to pay out a huge lawsuit to the victim, the people who made the terrible decisions will be disciplined and/or fired and/or charged, and policy changes will be made to try to stop the situation from reoccurring in the future.

As a teacher, I get the same kind of attacks and hate dumped on me and my profession regularly. Damn right public servants have an us-vs.-them mentality! It's not an excuse for this kind of behavior, but it exists for a reason.


Prediction: I will be likened to some kind of fascist before we're done.

[gaspee]

106. Nah

Not a fascist, just an enabler. So you're excusing what they did? You think this type of thing is a "mistake" - I disagree. I think this incident shows exactly what happens when certain people are given the power of life and death over others.

Too bad most cops are power hungry assholes - this wouldn't have happened if they had an ounce of humanity in them.

[Unca Jim]

110. Excusing?

When did I excuse it? Some of the most terrible things that happen to people are mistakes and are not personal. If it turns out in the investigation that there was malice I'll buy your argument.

All sorts of people who are normally decent make terrible decisions and act inhumanely. Shit, it happens all the time on DU.

[demigoddess]

238. power of life and death, and add to that "terrorists are everywhere" and cops can get

a little overzealous or a lot overzealous depending on their personalities and the culture of the division they work in .

[awoke_in_2003]

157. No, the officers won't be fired...

at worst they will get a vacation (oops, I mean paid administrative leave). They might go to court, and, if so, the trial will last a couple months- just long enough so we forget about it. The court system will find the officers are innocent, then back on the job, with no mention in the news. This is the way it almost always happens. Just look at the Rodney King incident- of course, the powers that be made a big mistake, in that it had originally had a lot of publicity, and the LAPD had a long history of mistreatment of minorities.

[seabeyond]

101. how about TOO MANY..... and it is not something we the people are going to be

able to do anything about. it is all about those in the org that have to address adn FIX these issues. it starts with people employeed in the sheriffs department being appauled, (not defending police)

[gaspee]

104. How about this?

Every cop I have ever interacted with (except two) are sadistic assholes on a power trip (including my own uncles who are cops.)

These specific cops on this video should be arrested for assault and sexual assault. They are perverted power hungry assholes who shouldn't be allowed to get away with this.

That better?

[acmavm]

120. There are no 'good' cops if they justify this shit. They either stand up and

do what's right by exposing the criminal sadists they work with, or they are no better.

The end.

[alittlelark]

186. My guess is that a 'good cop' snuck the video out.

[jberryhill]

262. I doubt it

Discovery in the trial opened on January 22. Since the case hasn't settled, it was most likely released to the local news by the plaintiff's attorney.

[droidamus2]

133. Question

Would those 'good' cops that you know step forward and point out when a fellow officer does something wrong or would they standby the officer no matter what? If they stand by no matter what then they are no better than the cop that perpetrates the wrong. That is the problem that yes there are 'good' cops but there is to much of covering the 'departments/cities' but when something wrong is done. If the 'good' cops are not part of the solution then they are part of the problem.

[Webster Green]

140. 99%

More or less.

Fuck the pigs!:mad:

[Hydra]

218. I'll say what I told someone else when they tried this particular argument

Let's assume for the moment that the police corruption rate is 30%. I think we can all agree that it's at least that much. I'm guessing it's more like 75%, but we'll assume 30%.

An "acceptable" corruption rate in any area of gov't(meaning that it's hard to get less than that) is 3-6%.

Your industry is running at least 5x the general corruption rate, and your industry has access to the most dangerous set of options for said corruption- everything from lethal force to organized crime to smuggling to seizing assets to rape...and your industry also protects its own, more often than not, denying people legal recourse.

Given these facts, and the fact that all of us have likely had bad experiences with LEOs working outside the law that they are supposed to be upholding, is it surprising that there is such outrage?

We depend on your industry to protect us. As it stands, the people you work with are as great a threat or greater to us than the criminals. If you really believe in your industry, you need to advocate against the people doing this...or be silent. You cannot defend your co-workers when your industry regularly does these things to people.

[genie_weenie]

323. Can we also assume 30% of politicians are corrupt as well?

Including Democrats? Why not guess more like 75%. Isn't that worse, after all those cops brutalized one woman while our betters in government make laws and send troops to Iraq to brutalize 350 million or more...

Why not more outrage against Pelosi, Clinton et al who are supposed to be on "our" side protecting us from Cheney/Bush instead of giving them everything they want...

[Hydra]

330. You'll have to ask the non-outraged

Because the behavior of our party in congress is something I've advocated against and in return taken much flak for.

"We have to stand together!" Scream many apologists.

To them I say, "Where the hell are your principles? Do you not have any???"

[Danger Mouse]

284. I don't think all cops are bad...

but these guys (and gals) are fucking scumbags.

[klook]

89. Hope Steffey - we support you

This is one of the most disturbing videos I've seen in a long time. This poor woman, who called 911 for help after being assaulted by another woman, becomes the victim of a nightmarish ordeal perpetrated by the assholes who were supposed to help her.

Here are some relevant links:
http://www.wkyc.com/news/news_article.aspx?storyid=82447
http://www.mansfieldnewsjournal.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080201/UPDATES01/80201015
http://www.wltx.com/news/story.aspx?storyid=57967
http://www.salemnews.net/news/articles.asp?articleID=9849

From the Salem News article: "Named as defendants are Sheriff Timothy A. Swanson, the three commissioners, Deputy Richard T. Gurlea, along with John and Jane Does numbers one through 15." So it took 15 cops to subdue an unarmed, injured 125-pound woman?

Unfortunately, it's nothing new. Cops have been strip-searching women for many years on the pretext of looking for weapons or drugs. This woman will never get over what happened to her. I hope she wins a huge whopping lawsuit over this. More importantly, I hope the scum who did this to her lose their jobs and spend some time behind bars.

[screembloodymurder]

93. Don't forget, she was handcuffed and face down with

her hands behind her back.

[klook]

96. Yes - obviously a "threat to her own safety"

and that of the police.

God damn it! I feel like puking a bucketfull and then taking 10 showers.

[Lydia Leftcoast]

232. I wonder if something like that happened to the woman who died

while detained at an airport a few months back.

[sasquatch]

320. Same here

[JohnnyWrath]

354. Ron Paul supporter right with you guys

I don't know if you know it, but if you google Hopes name, this is the top site..

Anyway, I want you guys to know that even though I am a Ron Paul supporter, I am right with you guys on this one....this video made me sick to my stomach as a man, and it has bothered me for two days now. I live 20 minutes from the county this took place in here in Ohio.

I am looking for any way I can make a difference....I found out who the judge is, but couldn't find any contact information. I have called and emailed their sheriffs office almost demanding these male officers are fired if the Sheriff ever wants to win another vote....I have searched for any protests or action being taken....I simply can't find anyway to help. I am thinking about placing signs all over Canton such as "call 911 if you want to be raped"....shocking I know, but impossible to ignore.

I am not really sure what to do to help, but I do know that the video made me so angry I wanted to bust my PC....if that happened to my fiance I would be soon pleading temporary insanity in a court somewhere. I felt bad for the husband having to watch two MEN hold down his wife and strip her....she was raped in my mind...plain and simple...terrorized, her dignity stolen, and humiliation forced upon her.

Anyway, we don't always disagree on everything....I am only one county over from this in Ohio, and I am right there with you guys here that are disgusted as well. I thought I would visit and say so since after typing her name in for more info, DU was the top page...

[Auggie]

90. It's obvious that many jurisdictions lack funding for or do not promote

proper and on-going training/screening of their police officers. I think there's some social issues at work too -- all it take is one macho bozo in a supervisory or group-leading role to set the tone of behavior for the rest of group. Peer pressure, if you will. It's why dumbfucks climb onto cages to taunt tigers, you know? Roll all that into this "Rambo" mentality that seems to have taken over the country since * was elected president and you have a recipe for some serious problems.

[frogcycle]

105. I was trying to decide if

Rodney King or Abu Ghraib is the better analogy. But this is its own new standard of horror.

This just has to become as big a scandal as those two - bigger, since they were ultimately swept under the rug.

The participants need to do jail time. Including the women. And all their superiors, all the way up the line. There is no way in hell that any "policy" of "protecting" someone from doing themselves harm rationalizes any of this. It was just people enjoying getting away with pulling the wings off of flies. If there WERE legitimate concerns, all they had to do was sit her in a chair, restrain her, and call in specially-trained people to deal with any suspected problem. Seven cops brutalizing her is just that - seven cops participating in assault. There is NO possible rationalization for this. None. Nada.

[MindPilot]

109. I'll never forget my first ride-along.

As we're pulling out of the parking lot, the cop says "Let's get out there and see if we can find somebody to fuck with".

Although I have one very good friend from high school who is a cop, I don't like them much.

I have learned never to call them for anything more than insurance purposes.

[jdadd]

111. I live in Richland Co. Ohio....

We had a Nazi sheriff, and it took the efforts of this man to get rid of him, but in the process the author also got black balled by the local "powers that be" and had to leave town.

http://truthinjustice.org/yant/rotten.htm

[Wizard777]

112. This is NOTHING! In poor parts of Baltimore City. Blacks are strip searched in the middle of street.

I was over a friends once. His 8 yr. old daughter yells down stairs. "Daddy, why are there naked black men in the middle of the street?" We looked outside and sure enough there were about 4 naked black men standing in the middle of the street. They were being strip searched by the police. Suspicion of drug dealing. I have also heard of this being done since then. So it wasn't an issolated incident.

[Joey Liberal]

114. Here's the Sherrif's web site with their e-mail address

http://www.sheriff.co.stark.oh.us/

[sasquatch]

117. I heard the Sherriff is a Dem, please tell me that isn't true.

[awoke_in_2003]

158. Well, in that part of ohio

he probably is. But he is only a democrat for expediency, to get elected.

[sasquatch]

163. Sounds like he needs to be purged

[awoke_in_2003]

171. Oh, I agree. nt

[LiberalFighter]

239. More like sterilized as in NOMAD on the old Star Trek

[MidwestTransplant]

118. There was simply no way to know if she was Al Qaeda until she was fully strip searched

We must make a few minor concessions of our freedom and dignity so that we may be safe.

[L0oniX]

121. I am not surprised at what the cops do. Criminals already know about police brutality.

This kind of abuse is what some criminals use as a rational for their illegal behavior. A professional criminal will tell you that the police are no better than them. They will also tell you that society is also no better than them because corporations and people do many things to rip off others but they do it legally. Cops always cover for the dirty deeds they do and of course they always deny the charges until you can prove otherwise. There is no such thing as an honest cop. They are just as bad as the criminals they hunt. None of this is new. You only need to look at what they did to the blacks in Selma and other places in the south when they marched. Remember Kent State where the guard murdered 4 students. Remember how Regan called out the guard on anti war protesters and beat the hell out of the people. Remember the WTO protest in Miami not so long ago where someone was killed by a rubber bullet in the eye and other innocent bystanders were assaulted. There are so many examples of the corrupt police and government that anyone who trusts the police and government are just plain ignorant. I hate cops! The flag below reflects the state of affairs in America.

[Lint Head]

122. Fuck fascism! My relatives fought and died to eliminate

fascism from the face of the earth in WWII. Are you willing to fight fascism in your on country? :dem:

[mac2]

180. We had a visible enemy over there during WWII.

The enemy today is within. No guns or direct threats.

[BuddhaGirl]

123. Yikes...from the sheriff's website

[frogcycle]

129. he is SO going down...

[livvy]

125. OMG, that poor woman.

I think the emotional trauma will be with her for a long time. She must have been terrified. It frightened and made me shake just watching it.

What the hell have we become? Who could do this to another human being?

Good for her for being strong enough to have this video released. That must have been a tough decision.

[sasquatch]

127. I read in this article that her marraige has suffered because of it

http://www.salemnews.net/news/articles.asp?articleID=9849
I hope they get therapy soon because this will destroy them.

[eowyn_of_rohan]

154. Why are the scum cops allowed anonymity as "15 unnamed John and Jane Does " ?

:mad:

[jberryhill]

235. Because she doesn't know all of their names

That's normal for a lawsuit filing, btw.

If 15 cops were involved in the incident, for example, I think it's pretty clear from the video that she is not reading badges and writing down names.

In those kinds of situations, you name "Doe" defendants, whose names get replaced as discovery proceeds.

That document you are reading was written by HER lawyer, not the one for the police department.

[awoke_in_2003]

160. Sad to hear that

but listening to the news report, her husband seemed like a reasonable person. Therapy, though, will be a good thing. I can't imagine what she felt, when a man is ripping your pants off it usually only means one thing.

[maximusveritas]

128. There's more to this than they're saying

They didn't explain what the initial incident was. Who assaulted this lady?
Why would she keep a driver's license as a momento?


This is just bad reporting, designed to shock people instead of tell the truth.

[High Plains]

136. That's feeble. The problem here is not the reporting.

It's the goddamned cops!

Who cares why should we keep her dead sister's drivers license?

[EVDebs]

139. Well if the cops don't know either, why'd they want to arrest in the first place ?

Overzealous eager beavers ?

[maximusveritas]

144. Maybe they do and it's just not in this TV report

but I do suspect that the truth is very different from what was presented here.

[RagingInMiami]

217. First of all, the video speaks for itself

Even if this woman was arrested on murder charges, it still doesn't give male cops the right to strip search her. That is not only departmental policy at Stark, but everywhere else as well.

Second of all, she was charged with "disorderly conduct" and "resisting arrest". The main charge, disorderly conduct, is a bullshit charge that cops use when they can't think of a legitimate charge.

I don't know what "truth" you're searching for, but there is nothing that will justify what we saw.

This woman is going to win her lawsuit without a hitch.

[ElsewheresDaughter]

145. yes they did explain what had happened; 911 was called because SHE had been assaulted.....

she was the vitim of an assault and

I have my dead sisters drivers license which I keep as a memento!

HOW CAN YOU POSSIBLY EVEN TRY AND DEFEND THIS?

[sasquatch]

153. .

:hug:
This must be hell for you?

[jberryhill]

237. Did her attacker also get arrested?

They mention briefly that it was her cousin.

Where is the cousin?

[Loge23]

150. There is no justification for this

I really don't care what happened before this incident.
This is simply an indication of what we've become as a country.
This just doesn't happen in a "free" democracy.

[XanaDUer]

168. I keep my dead mother's ID as a memento

It never dawned on me that I could be arrested and assaulted because, after being attacked, I called the police and accidentally handed it to them.

This is inexcusable behavior.

[BleedingHeartPatriot]

240. I have an old driver's license, with a hole punched in it that I keep because it was my only

good driver's license photo,ever.

Kind of a laugh, but it's an awesome pic. I look horribly jaundiced on my current license.

The old one is actually stuck in a back pocket of my billfold, where it's been since I renewed.

Yikes.

:scared:

edit the subject line

[XanaDUer]

326. Make sure you never hand it over accidentally!

Truly, this country has become beyond insane.

[The Wielding Truth]

197. We need to know what happened between 911 call and the

brutally forceful detention and the reason it was thought that she would be harmful to herself if she were dressed.

Her screams could have been from pain from a bulging disc that was later reported. That would make her uncooperative, and may have been badly construed by the arresting officers as erratic behavior. Something for sure is missing form this report. If not, we have an insanely brutal arrest.

[maximusveritas]

207. Thanks for being rational about this

People tend to get over-emotional and make reactionary judgments. Then they jump down the throat of anyone raising any questions.

The video looks bad, but they obviously aren't telling the full story. And the article is pretty much the same since it just tells the story from the victim's perspective but it has plenty of holes in it. If it's true, then it is indeed one of the worst acts of police brutality I've seen. But is it true? That's the question that hasn't been answered.

[The Wielding Truth]

228. What we see is true and it is excessive, but probably has a

crosspoint where, with reason, it was sent in this direction. That's what we need on this ugly scene. We need the switch point from harmless victim to at least self harmful maniac. Even if there is probable cause, she was reported to have been injured and should have been in medical care. They could have hurt her more or possibly killed her if her back was found to be more injured. We just need more information before going completely anti-cop.

[Danger Mouse]

281. At the VERY least, there should not have been men in the room with her.

At the VERY least.

[jberryhill]

301. The video starts with them in there....

...and doesn't show anything leading up to the point of several cops being involved.

[Danger Mouse]

307. Regardless of what happened, the male cops should not have been in there.

That's a violation. On many levels.

[jberryhill]

312. Probably

But if it is all that clear, then I'm curious to know why the plaintiff's attorney leaked this portion to the press, so that it would be shown to the potential jury pool. The entire sequence of events leading up to the point where this portion begins, will be available if this case doesn't settle before trial.

[Danger Mouse]

313. If it was a strip search, they were violating their own policy.

The sheriff's office denied it was a strip seach and admitted that she was left in her cell naked for six hours with nothing to cover herself.
How do you justify that?

[jberryhill]

321. Normally, that would be due to an assessment of suicide risk

Again, the civil complaint, filed by the Steffeys, indicates that she gave an ambiguous answer to a question about whether she wanted to harm herself. What did she actually say? Again, that will come out on tape - along with her behavior from the camera mounted in the cruiser.

How do I justify that? I don't.

And this all gets back to wondering what went on at her cousin's house, and what emotional issues were involved.

But the normal justification for taking clothes and blankets is that the person might hang herself. People in custody have managed to hang themselves with shoelaces.

What was her emotional condition at the scene? On arrival to the station? etc. I can't see any of that from the videotape.

Here's the odd thing. While one has to take the allegations of the plaintiff with a few grains of salt, the ensuing removal of her clothes is admitted by the Steffeys to have come after they were trying to make a suicide risk assessment, even in their narrative.

[Danger Mouse]

328. Even so, I don't see why men had to be in there to help forcibly strip her.

[jberryhill]

333. Neither do I

Of course, we can't see anything prior to the start point of that portion of the tape.

[MsMagnificent]

200. Try reading the articles

wherein they state that she was assaulted by a woman, a(nother) cousin.

The license is of her dead sister, a perfectly reasonable memento.

I'd hardly call the article shocking, it's the video that's shocking;
and so is your so-called logic -- congrats, Fat Limbaugh couldn't spin it better.

[jberryhill]

230. What did the cops do to the cousin?

She sort of disappears.

[bluerum]

270. She kept her sisters drivers license - because she had died. Stated

clearly on the report.

This is just bad listening,,,

[madeline_con]

275. Why wouldn't she keep her sister's license?

Her sister died, she kept it. What of it? You seem to want to make that into an issue in the case.

The first cop on the scene was stupid and obviously not listening to what had happened.

[Danger Mouse]

282. Rush, is that you?

Watch the fucking video. Not clear enough for you?

[avaistheone1]

130. This is a disgusting and outrageous video.

Not a single person in law enforcement who was involved in this event should remain working in law
enforcment again. Those people are the terrorists I fear.

[tularetom]

143. It's a bully culture

where contempt for women, minorities, etc. is equated with manliness. It isn't considered macho to show compassion for anyone (well perhaps you can piss and moan about how bad white males are treated in the US).

My son and son in law were both cops. My son got pissed off with all the fake racism and macho posturing and quit after 5 years. Son in law (who really was a decent kid when he joined the force) tried to adapt to the norm by putting up a false racist front. And guess what. It took - he actually became a racist. He'll give you the "some of my best friends are..." bullshit but he always manages to use the little code words. Ironically he could not hack it on the police force and his time there was marked by poor performance reports and finally they used a minor injury to force him into an early disability retirement. He has really struggled to find a niche ever since and it's made him even more bitter - he claims he was retired because they wanted to hire more minorities. It's made holidays really unpleasant and put a real strain on our relationship with our daughter. I can't tolerate the bullshit and unfortunately I can't keep my mouth shut. He always backs down but it makes for a lot of tension.

I think the cop culture of racism and bullying actually ruined this guy's life. He wasn't that way before he became a cop but he adopted the persona to try to fit in.

[ThatsMyBarack]

146. Skinhead cops are the WORST!

High-n-mighty alpha-male douchebags!

:mad: X Infinity!!!

[colorado_ufo]

149. Horrible! Horrible! Horrible!

The women officers are as guilty as the men. If they had any ethics, character, or guts they would have enforced the rules. No - their jobs and the approval of their male peers were too important to them.

I'm going to throw up.

[sniffa]

151. That is so fucked up.

They should lose their jobs, and be out of several million dollars.

And where are the usual suspects that defend this behavior?

[sasquatch]

152. "And where are the usual suspects that defend this behavior?"

Weaseling out of it like always because their whole world would come crumbling down if they had to find fault with the police.

[Danger Mouse]

280. Dear lord, if there's someone on DU who would try to justify THIS...

i would like to punch them in the face.

[jberryhill]

303. You'd make a good cop /nt

[Danger Mouse]

306. Hah...I wouldn't actually punch anyone in the face...

I'd be sorely tempted to...but I realize that it would be morally and legally wrong of me to do so.
So I'd just cuss them out something fierce.

[jberryhill]

310. Well, some people give in to that kind of temptation /nt

[Danger Mouse]

314. Yeah, like the kind of people who do the stuff in the video...

so just going around punching people in the face wouldn't make me much better than them :P

[lebkuchen]

155. Thank you for the advanced warning

If I were to watch it, it would upset me too much, like when police during ths 60's would

**warning**





arrest protesting black men and snuff out their cigs on their scrotum. US police were sick bigots then, and are sick bigots today.


Again, I'm so glad I don't live in the U.S. these days.

[ladywnch]

161. better be careful in Denver.

these guys are almost as out of control as Stark County. We've has several "accidental" killings here by DPD. People's houses being broken into in the middle of the night by cops executing warrants on the wrong people/locations resulting in killing the people who tried to defend themselves, their homes/families from what appeared to be home invasions. To my knowledge the cops were never fired. the city settled out of court.

[mac2]

177. This is what happens in 3rd world countries with a police state

The police chief and Mayor should be replaced. They are Republicans?

There are a couple TV series with heros who are pretty violent. Do they think they are entitled to treating people like the "unreal world of TV violence"?

[mac2]

190. We've had our own misconduct by police in Chicago

They've had it in LA and Atlanta...New Orleans. Do they do it because they are mentally ill to start with?

When you see the big finanical rewards given out over police abuse you have to wonder if it wasn't set up. Every cop should be aware of the law and the consequences for the city if they fail to do their job properly. We the citizens pay for it in the end.

[ladywnch]

192. these took place under mayor, Wellington Webb, a dem.

(a minorty mayor no less) I don't know about the police chief.

[colorado_ufo]

211. Yep.

[BleedingHeartPatriot]

256. I've encountered decent cops here in Denver. You seem to be referencing the Mena case.

A travesty in every sense of the word.

[ladywnch]

353. there was another case where they killed a mental challenged man

inside his home ( the wrong house) because he was holding a sprite can and they assumed it was a gun that he refused to drop (he didn't know what was going on).

nothing happened in that one either.

[AwakeAtLast]

164. Can you be legally strip searched without being charged or having your rights read?

They can defend all they want, but if neither of these things happened first, I would think that they wouldn't have a leg to stand on.

I'm not a lawyer, so I don't know.

Let's hope this doesn't get swept under the rug. So disturbing.

[Popol Vuh]

178. The Miranda Rights

are a warning police must give someone under police custody before they can question them. Any incriminating statements a person makes while under police custody is inadmissible evidence unless they have been instructed what their rights are as per Miranda vs Arizona.

At least that the way I remember it from my civics class.

[90-percent]

166. SIMILAR INCIDENT WITHIN MY PERSONAL ORBIT

My sisters friend in Atlanta.

Link below.


http://journals.democraticunderground.com/90-percent/112

-90% Jimmy

[QUALAR]

170. RESTITUTION

Can a citizen own a county? The county attorney's office better lawyer-up big time.

[Popol Vuh]

173. Show this video

exactly how it is.....but.....with it having been filmed in Saddam's Iraq, or the Taliban's Afghanistan and what description do you think our country would use to describe that country by?

Wrongful arrest, assault and battery and sexual assault. These are clearly what all these Nazi Fucks (they ain't cops) should be charged and convicted with. And whatever the punishment is for these crimes; just like when someone will get an "enhanced" sentenced if they commit a crime against a police officer, police officers should ALSO get enhanced sentences if they commit crimes because they are betraying and violating the power and trust we have given them.

On the sexual assault they have all committed here. After they have served their sentences ever single last one of them need to be forced to register themselves as sex-offenders for the rest of their lives.

That is the ONLY outcome which would be justice served. But of course we all know what the outcome will be. What a shame.

[Danger Mouse]

276. A slap on the wrist. If that.

The fucking scumbags. :puke:

[Matariki]

358. Interesting idea.

Perhaps someone should remix it and post it 'you know where'. And on youtube. Dub the sound to place it in, say, Iran.

[Autobot77]

189. Forwarding this to http://www.policeabuse.org/

They're a police watchdog group.

[rzemanfl]

193. I hope every cop in that video is sued personally for

violating this woman's civil rights. These are the people who enforce the * police state.

[DesEtoiles]

194. Call them now - 430 330 3800 - Why are you using my tax dollars to rape innocent people?

[MrsBrady]

196. this is horrible!!!! wtf!!!

you know....give people a little bit of power and see what they do with it?

Not all cops are bad, but apparently these guys are PERVY and into the POWER.
Whatever happened to "how may I help you, ma'am" ?????

This is probably something they do all of the time, but probably just now only got caught because this was a pretty, well respected white woman who had committed NO CRIME. Would this have made news if the victim had been Male? or Black? HMMM?

I hope that those cops, the police department and anyone involved, get the book thrown at them.

God bless this poor woman and her family.

I hope they get millions from the CRIMINALS (THE OFFICIALS) WHO PERPETRATED THIS CRIME!
MAY THOSE CRIMINALS SEE THE INSIDE OF THEIR OWN PRISONS!

[Sarah Ibarruri]

199. This is what happens when people allow mental retard fascist pigs like Bush to be president

We are now living in a police state.

[dicknbush]

202. Wll I guess the good news for this poor woman and her husabnd is...KA CHINGGGGGG

They have hit the lottery. This is going to be god for at least 10 to 15 million in my estimation. And that's if they settle out of court! Not a nice way to get to financial security but hey take the money and run. Of course everyone of those deputies and the chief should be run out of town on a rail.

[Danger Mouse]

277. Somehow I think the woman would rather not have been VIOLATED.

She'll probably have nightmares for the rest of her life, if not lasting psychological trauma.
No amount of money can amend that.

[dicknbush]

203. Meet your local sheriff

http://www.sheriff.co.stark.oh.us/

[Babel_17]

206. The mindset with which we wage war

gets reflected in civilian life. Who would have thought? :sarcasm:

[Webster Green]

208. Last nite there were 350 views on YouTube, today 5400..

Nazi pigs exposed for all to see.

[NNadir]

213. Unlike the Rodney King case, it's possible the cops will be convicted.

She is, afterall, white, female, young and good looking.

Mr. King - whose appeal for peace I will never forget, "Can't we all just get along" - was not female, white or particularly good looking.

[juno jones]

250. "Can't we all just get along"

yes King was was not female, white or particularly good looking, and probably not even all that bright, but truer words could not have been said.

[Divine Discontent]

221. it's more than obvious!

even if it was only women (which it wasn't) that it was assault by the officers. they better beat the city in a lawsuit... damn cops, what's WRONG with them???? why don't they step back, count to 10 and think of a NON combative way to handle their concerns?????

[KG]

222. but, we don't live in a police state!

nope! :eyes:

[Turner Ashby]

225. She didn't need Miranda as she wasn't being questioned.

The charges will also be dropped as she didn't commit any of the elements that are required for the crime of disorderly conduct from the quoted papers. It is very difficult (not impossible, but difficult) to continue with a resisting, if the initial charge doesn't stick.

I was curious about the picture taken in the jail. It said she was nude except for the vest. I have been in a lot of jails and prisons (thankfully, not as an inmate) and typically, the picture taking area is large and open to everyone. So, was she in the nude in front of everyone? That couldn't be standard procedure.

[rasputin1952]

244. It said they took her to booking in the vest, which could be

standard procedure, as it is a bullet resistant vest.

However, it also said that is the only thing she had on when she went to bookin, and that is far from anything I have ever heard of.

Edited: she went to booking in the vest, which would have been in the jail, i had originally posted errantly that she went to arraignment in the vest.

[rasputin1952]

224. Seems to me there are numerous charges that can be made

against that PD.

What was Probable Cause?

Did she show she was a danger to herself or others?

Why were the 2 males there, against Dept rules, and why were they the last to leave?

Why could they have not given her a blanket or "jail clothes"?

Why did they take her into court w/o any clothing?

Do the police have evidence that she was resisting arrest?
Looked to me like she was pretty contrite after being placed in custody. Not until they demanded her clothing removed did she begin to protest.

This whole thing stinks like there is no tomorrow, and this PD, and this Chief of police is in some serious trouble, as are the officers involved. Not only the rules of the Dept were overridden, but there are Federal laws that were broken as well. If the ACLU took a case that protects the Rights of the citizen, this would be a good one.

This is the mentality of a police state. And I am sure that this is not the only incident like this.

The law suit should be so high as to break the city in which this happened, and those who did what they did should be taken off the force, and then charged under "color of authority" statutes.

[MrsBrady]

233. and!!!...why are they f'ing VICTIMIZING the victim? n/t

[rasputin1952]

243. From the story, she gave the wrong ID, but it was rectified

quite easily, and unless she tried to actually say she was her sister, they had no cause for any action they pursued. She was indeed the victim of an assault, and should have been treated as such. The only thing that would change the circumstances is if she had a warrant out for her arrest, something the PD would have known as soon as one of the cops called in for an ID check.

Which brings up another interesting and poignant point, did they find and arrest the perpetrator, or his he/she still running around the streets while this victim was arrested?

Same thing happens a lot when the wrong person is held in a crime, or the case has a trial or conviction where the individual is exonerated. Groupthink comes into play, and even if the individual is innocent, the cops continue to use that person as the prime suspect, taking whatever heat was on the perpetrator off. The man who was relesed from prison after DNA exonerated him is a prime example...the killer(s) is still out there, (or dead/in prison on other charges), but once this man was proven innocent, it means that someone else did the crime, and they have not been held accountable.

In any case, this woman should sue the the cops involved, the PD, and the city.

[jberryhill]

254. "She was indeed the victim of an assault"

did they find and arrest the perpetrator, or his he/she still running around the streets while this victim was arrested?

The "perpetrator" was at her home, which is where the arrest took place.

Here is the civil complaint filed by Steffey:

http://www.johnberryhill.com/steffey-complaint.pdf

Note:

9. On October 20, 2006, at approximately 7:54 p.m., Hope was assaulted by Leann Preston ("Leann") near 1154 Weimer Dr., SE in Stark County, Ohio. Incident report #06-021470 was completed by the Stark County Sheriff's Office, which listed Scott Preston as the "Reportee," living at the above address.

If you take a look at that location in Google Maps, it's a rural area.

And Zabasearch lists:

http://www.zabasearch.com/query1_zaba.php?sname=scott%20preston&state=OH&ref=&se=&doby=00&city=&name_style=1

SCOTT W PRESTON Born Oct 1970
11544 WEIMER DR SE Map It R
CANTON, OH 44730

It looks like a typo in the complaint, "1154" instead of "11544". Nonetheless, there was nobody "running around the streets", since the Steffeys live southwest of Canton, while the Prestons are to the southeast by quite a bit.

[rasputin1952]

264. The link came up in code, was he arrested?

As for the victim, she was abused and she should sue the agencies involved, and if it were my wife/GF I'd be looking at Federal Charges, there has to be protection for people who recive this type of treatment.

[jberryhill]

266. He?

Try right clicking and saving it - it's a .pdf file.

The Steffeys' complaint say she was assaulted by Leann Preston - not Scott.

she should sue the agencies involved, and if it were my wife/GF I'd be looking at Federal Charges

The Steffeys are suing, that's why the complaint is downloadable from the court.

The incident ocurred in October 2006. The suit was filed in October 2007 (to beat a one year time bar). Discovery opened on January 22, 2008, which is why you are seeing the Steffeys' lawyer's selected portion of the video on the local news, and why none of the reporting is very clear on why she was at her attacker's house, or what transpired when the police arrived.

[Bonobo]

227. I would kill those men if they did that to my wife. Period.

[Danger Mouse]

272. Damn straight.

Lawsuits be damned.
:puke:

[Evoman]

356. I feel like ripping out their throats, and it isn't even my wife.

[LaStrega]

241. I couldn't watch it. Didn't get more than a minute into it. n/t

[jberryhill]

248. More reporting here:

http://www.salemnews.net/news/articles.asp?articleID=9849

The incident in question, btw, took place in October 2006.

The lawsuit was filed in October 2007 (most likely to avoid being barred by a one-year time limitation)

This video release comes at a fortuitous time, since discovery opened 6 days ago...

Date Filed # Docket Text

10/19/2007 1 Complaint with jury demand against Timothy A Swanson, Stark County Commissioners, Richard T. Gurlea, Jr., John and Jane Does 1-15. Filing fee $ 350, receipt number 14660013218. Filed by Hope Steffey, Greg Steffey. (Attachments: # 1 Civil Cover Sheet)(R,Sh) (Entered: 10/19/2007)

10/19/2007 Random Assignment of Magistrate Judge pursuant to Local Rule 3.1. In the event of a referral, case will be assigned to Magistrate Judge Limbert. (R,Sh) (Entered: 10/19/2007)

10/19/2007 Judge David D. Dowd, Jr assigned to case. (R,Sh) (Entered: 10/19/2007)

10/19/2007 2 Summons and Magistrate Consent Form issued to counsel for service upon Richard T. Gurlea, Jr., Timothy A Swanson, Stark County Commissioners. (R,Sh) Additional attachment(s) added on 10/26/2007 (C, B). (Entered: 10/19/2007)

10/26/2007 3 Service by Clerk. Summons and Complaint addressed to Richard T. Gurlea, Jr., Timothy A Swanson & Stark County Commissioners placed in U.S. Mail. Type of service: certified mail. Receipt # 70060100000495504306/70060100000382657443/7429/7436/4313. (C,BA) (Entered: 10/26/2007)

11/02/2007 4 Order directing plaintiffs' counsel to file by November 16, 2007, an amended complaint that sets out each claim in a separate count. Counsel for the plaintiff shall forthwith serve a copy of this Order on the defendants and shall certify such service in writing. Signed by Judge David D. Dowd Jr. on 11/1/2007.(M,De) (Entered: 11/02/2007)

11/04/2007 5 Notice of Service of November 2 2007 Court Order filed by all plaintiffs. (Attachments: # 1 November 2 2007 Court Order)Related document(s) 4 .(Niermann, Dennis) (Entered: 11/04/2007)

11/14/2007 6 Attorney Appearance Notice by James A. Climer filed by on behalf of Richard T. Gurlea, Jr., Timothy A Swanson, Stark County Commissioners. (Climer, James) (Entered: 11/14/2007)

11/15/2007 7 First Amended complaint against Richard T. Gurlea, Jr., John and Jane Does 1-15, Timothy A Swanson, filed by Hope Steffey, Greg Steffey. (Niermann, Dennis) (Entered: 11/15/2007)

11/26/2007 8 Second Amended complaint against Richard T. Gurlea, Jr., John and Jane Does 1-15, Timothy A Swanson, filed by Hope Steffey, Greg Steffey. (Niermann, Dennis) (Entered: 11/26/2007)

12/13/2007 9 Answer with Jury demand to Complaint filed by Richard T. Gurlea, Jr., Timothy A Swanson. (Climer, James) Modified text on 12/14/07 (L,T). (Entered: 12/13/2007)

12/20/2007 10 Case Management Conference Scheduling Order with case management conference to be held telephonically on
1/22/2008 at 10:00 AM before Judge David D. Dowd Jr.; Attorney David M. Malik to place the call (see order for numbers). Signed by Judge David D. Dowd, Jr on 12/20/2007. (Attachments: # 1 Appendix K, # 2 Discovery Plan, # 3 Local Rule 30.1, # 4 Map)(D,S) (Entered: 12/20/2007)

01/08/2008 11 Written Certification of Service of Disclosures filed by Hope Steffey, Greg Steffey. (Niermann, Dennis) Modified text on 1/9/08 (L,T). (Entered: 01/08/2008)

01/14/2008 12 Joint Report of Parties' Planning Meeting. Parties do not consent to this case being assigned to the magistrate judge. filed by Richard T. Gurlea, Jr., Hope Steffey, Greg Steffey, Timothy A Swanson. Related document(s) 10 .(Niermann, Dennis) (Entered: 01/14/2008)

01/14/2008 13 Motion to continue Case Management Conference scheduled for 1/22/08 at 10:00 a.m. filed by Richard T. Gurlea, Jr., Timothy A Swanson. (Climer, James) Modified text on 1/15/2008 (B,IE (Entered: 01/14/2008)

01/15/2008 14 Notice of Service of Rule 26(a)(1) Disclosures Made on January 15, 2008 filed by Richard T. Gurlea, Jr., Timothy A Swanson. (Pinzone, John) (Entered: 01/15/2008)

01/16/2008 15 Order denying Motion to continue case management conference (Related Doc # 13 ). The Court would like to proceed with the conference at 10:00 a.m. on 1/22/2008 as scheduled and will permit other counsel from Attorney Climer's law firm to participate. Signed by Judge David D. Dowd, Jr on 1/16/08.(M,De) (Entered: 01/16/2008)

01/22/2008 Minutes of proceedings .Case Management Conference held on 1/22/08 by telephone before Judge David D. Dowd, Jr. Time: 30 Minutes. (P,G) (Entered: 01/22/2008)

01/23/2008 16 Order that discovery is open and scheduling a Status Conference for 5/2/2008 at 12:30 p.m. with parties to attend in Chambers 402 before Judge David D. Dowd Jr. Signed by Judge David D. Dowd, Jr on 1/23/08. (M,De) (Entered: 01/23/2008)

So, since they didn't settle the case prior to the case management conference, it's a great coincidence that a lot of potential jurors will see the video on TV.

[snailly]

249. I am shaking and sick and ANGRY after watching this!

This needs to be shown to every American like the Rodney King video. Maybe then people will understand that this shit happens everyday across this country! This woman and her husband were brave enough to come forward. I don't know how but I'll find a way to support them. Where is the America I thought I knew?

[Adam4tvs]

251. I can't even believe it.

That is absolutely a lawsuit. Horrendous.

[pnwmom]

252. Here are more details about Hope Steffey's lawsuit, from a newspaper account:

Hope Steffey and her cousin had called the police for help after Hope was assaulted by another woman. The police responded and asked to see Hope's driver's license. Hope mistakenly handed over her dead sister's license, which she keeps as a memento. Then she gave them her real license and asked for her sister's back. And then . . .

(There's a lot more to the lawsuit. It's worth reading the whole article.)

http://www.salemnews.net/news/articles.asp?articleID=9849

SNIP

Court documents said that after searching Steffey’s car, he turned to the two and questioned the cousin when Steffey asked for her sister’s license back.

Gurlea allegedly turned angrily and responded “shut up about your dead sister.”

Steffey pointed her finger at her sister’s license in the deputy’s pocket and said, “she was here, she was someone” and Gurlea allegedly, suddenly exploded into a rage and allegedly slammed her face into his cruiser breaking a tooth, and pinning her against the cruiser, allegedly saying, “are you going to stop?”

The documents allege Gurlea then threw her to the ground causing cuts and bruises and with the weight of his body on her she could not breathe.

SNIP

[jberryhill]

257. What was she doing at her attacker's house?

The full civil complaint is here:

http://www.johnberryhill.com/steffey-complaint.pdf

It says she was arrested near the residence of Leann and Scott Preston, and claims that Leann had attacked her.

Why isn't she suing Leann?

[pnwmom]

267. According to another article, the woman who assaulted her

was another cousin. (Sorry, I read that somewhere but I don't remember where.)

So that's one reason. The other is that whatever happened between her and her cousin must have paled in significance compared to the assault she endured by the police that night.

[girl gone mad]

269. Immaterial.

She had a right to be there.

[jberryhill]

298. Obviously Leann didn't think so

Whether she was engaged in some sort of intra-family dispute is immaterial to her treatment by the police, but it is pretty rare for a cousin to randomly assault another cousin.

It seems that the police made a decision about who was responsible for the fight.

If I call the police because I was assaulted by you at your house, who might the police believe was causing trouble?

[girl gone mad]

302. You call the police if you've got a problem with someone..

you don't attack them on the street, provoked or unprovoked. Witnesses took the side of the victim.

I've had to call police on people before and have never been subject to any type of interrogation as a result. I can't remember having to do anything more than provide a brief statement. (I used to live in a high crime area.)

[jberryhill]

308. I wasn't at the house, and don't know what happened

As far as "high crime area" goes - you can check google earth for the location. It's a rural area.

These people were related, and obviously got into some sort of altercation at the residence of one of them. I don't know where you got "attack them on the street" from. A lot of people will fight, when they don't want someone on their own property. That's what I meant by "Leann didn't think so" when you said "she had a right to be there". If Leann didn't want her at her house, then Hope didn't have a right to be there - that would be trespassing. And, yes, you can use force to remove a trespasser.

The underlying incident was a domestic disturbance of some kind, and we are hearing one side of it. Reading between the lines of the civil complaint, there's a fair amount of context missing. If, for example, you come home and find your cousin sleeping with your husband, it is remarkable that a lot of people don't just "call the police if you have a problem with someone", but resort to other options. That's just an example of the kinds of things that make people attack someone on their own property. What happened here we don't know.

During those times you've called the police and given a statement, how many of them involved being assaulted by someone at their home which you presumably voluntarily visited?

I think my first question as an investigator would be to ask you what you were doing at that person's home, and why don't you leave?

[RagingInMiami]

319. The woman who called was a woman related to both cousins

She claimed the one cousin attacked Steffey. It wasn't just Steffey claiming the attack.

[jberryhill]

322. It's not clear from the complaint when Trinette got there

Was Trinette there during the attack, or did Hope call her? I can't tell.

Yes, they were all related, and at the attacker's house. They dropped by for a family game of scrabble, and their cousin just attacked them, I guess.

It's a good thing they weren't at the San Francisco zoo, or everybody would be blaming them for taunting their cousin.

[RagingInMiami]

327. How do we know Trinette doesn't live at the house

[jberryhill]

332. Because

Trinette Zorger lives at a different address, although not far away. She is described in the complaint as "cousin and friend", apparently with the implication that Leann only made the cut for one out of two.

[RagingInMiami]

338. If Hope had indeed refused to leave her cousin's house

Then she would have been charged with "trespassing". Surely the cops would have added that charge to the measly "disorderly conduct" and "resisting arrest" because those are bullshit charges.

[jberryhill]

340. It's all speculation

...and largely irrelevant to whatever happened after she was in custody anyway.

But if you are at my house, we get into some sort of family argument, I hit you over the head and tell you to leave - then you are not trespassing so long as you are making progress toward leaving. You only become a trespasser from the time I revoke your permission to be there.

Aside from which, if the police arrived to investigate when Hope was not on the premises, then they didn't see her trespassing. Police don't typically delve into the details of domestic disputes beyond separating the family members doing the fighting. Here, from the civil complaint, it seems that Hope and Trinette were both off of the property, but "near" the property, and were seeking to have the police go get Leann and arrest her for whatever happened at the house. A cop's reaction may have been along the lines of... if you got into a fight with your cousin at her house, then why are you sill hanging around?

Being handed a fictitious ID, even though there was an explanation, could have raised the skepticism level about what happened.

[RagingInMiami]

341. If I am at your house, providing I did not break in, and you ask me to leave

And I refuse. And you hit me over the head. You are still guilty of assault.

It wasn't a fictitious ID. It was her sister's ID. Fictitious means it would be fake.

She didn't look anything like her sister, so I think it's obvious that she was not trying to pass herself off as her sister, especially if she had her real ID in the same wallet.

Regardless of what happened, the video speaks for herself. And she was ultimately charged with "disorderly conduct", which is a joke. There was no need to rip her clothes off.

[jberryhill]

342. Yes I would be guilty of battery

...if that's what happened. But I think any fair minded person would want to find out what I had to say, instead of going only on what you had to say.

I said "fictitious ID" because the cop asked for her ID and was handed something that was not her ID. The cop didn't arrive with knowledge of her personal history, and one of the problems with cops is that their view of people becomes pretty jaded by the fact that all they do all day is deal with a lot of jaded people.

From the Steffeys' own filing again:


14. Because Hope was visibly upset, Gurlea warned her to calm down. Hope told Gurlea she was upset and could exercise her freedom of speech. Trinette once again reminded Gurlea that Hope was the victim and that was the reason the Sheriff was called in the first place. Trinette explained to Gurlea that Hope had literally been knocked unconconscious by Leann and that Hope was acting uncharacteristically loud and upset.

15. Gurlea still refused to acknowledge Hope's injuries or call for medical help, despite being told that Hope had been victimized. Gurlea, ignoring Trinette, simply instructed Hope to stand by his cruiser.


Sumbitch should have listened to Trinette and do what he was told. He was called to arrest Leann, and instead of listening to Hope and Trinette, he apparently kept trying to figure out for himself what happened. I mean, duh, it's his job to respond to the call and do what he's told to do by whomever called. That's what police are for. Of course at this point, we also don't know if the sheriff's office was also receiving a call from the Preston residence about the cousin who came over and attacked Leann.

Through the course of the complaint, the officer repeatedly fails to do what he is told to do, and he insists on doing things like checking driver's licenses through the computer, while Trinette and Hope keep "reminding" and "telling" him what to do, while also explaining their right to tell him what they want him to do.

Now, of course a civil complaint is written to put things in the light most favorable to the plaintiff.

But let's take this at face value - It says that Hope was acting uncharacteristically upset and had a head injury. Later on, it says that she was asked whether she felt she was a danger to herself, and gave an ambiguous answer. You do know why they ask "uncharacteristically loud and upset" people those sorts of questions, and why they don't leave anyone able to self-asphyxiate if they get ambiguous answers to those sorts of questions.

Take the incident in at Phoenix airport. A woman on the way to check into resident psychiatric therapy missed a connection, had an emotional breakdown, caused a ruckus at the aiport, and her husband was trying to get in touch with the police to tell them she was a suicide risk...

[shance]

253. Who are the cops that assaulted her? What are their names?

n/t

[Turner Ashby]

273. The Cousin's case while technically an assault/battery

was also a domestic battery case, and the victim may have refused to cooperate after what happened to her. The State would not have had any witness at that point. And I seriously doubt the State was going to push the issue. And a civil case probably wouldn't have been worth the attorney's fees.

I'm still hung up about the picture taking. Does the pleading mention it at all? Unless this is a strange jail, there must have been a lot of people watching her picture get taken while she was undressed. Perhaps by that time she was already so traumatized she was just kind of numb. Just wondering if anyone saw it in the filings.

[jberryhill]

299. That sort of evidence wouldn't be in the pleadings per se /nt

[Danger Mouse]

271. They might as well have raped the poor woman.

What a bunch of disgusting, power-hungry pigs.

[Sivafae]

283. I kinda know what she went through

I stopped into a bar one night and they served me. I stepped out to smoke a cigarette (this is CA) and left my purse inside. When I tried to return, they wouldn't let me back in saying that I had been 86'd before. Maybe I was, maybe I wasn't, but I had been there before, but only a couple of times. I said ok and asked if they would get my purse. See, I had just gotten a job that night and my purse had all the uniforms in it, and everything else. They wouldn't retrieve it so I asked them to call the police. When the police came, I asked the officer, "don't you think it is strange that a lady doesn't have her purse?" The officer said, "You're no lady." After that I knew I was in trouble. They arrested me, but didn't tell me why they had arrested me. When I was in the back of the car, I asked the police to identify themselves. They said they would when I did. Well what ID I had was in my purse, so I refused to accentuate the fact that anybody in a J Crew sweater and Gap skirt should have some form of ID. Perhaps keys? By that time I knew that they did not give a shit about protocol. To this day I still do not understand why they had to shackle my feet to travel 10 yards to the metal detector. But the metal detector did go off because the only thing I had on me, besides $.50 in my pocket was a small pot pipe I had in my bra (all the shit was smoked). The officers got really excited and said in a really happy tone, "strip search!" Business must have been slow that night. So they took me into a room where 7 women watched me take my clothes off. One even propped the door open while male officers walked by, although my back was to the door most of the time. While I was removing my clothes (I mean who thinks about how they remove there clothes?) one of the officers said, "we don't need a strip show." I got all my clothes off and another officer didn't like the way I was standing and called me a dirty little thing and another spanked me while they pulled my handcuffed hands over my head (it was painful).
It was a long night and other things happened, and I did finally find out what I was being charged with, but not until I left the jail. Needless to say I was a nervous wreck for about 6 months afterword. It took a month for the tingling in my hand to go away.

I cant say my experience is anywhere near what that poor woman experienced, but I learned the hard way that officers of the law have a giant amount of wiggle room in what they can do. And in the end it is their word against yours.

When my boyfriend got arrested for a DUI, the police report was pure fiction.

But don't worry it'll never happen to you cause you don't break the law.

[Danger Mouse]

292. Jesus, I'm sorry you went through that.

:hug:

[Sivafae]

300. I can't edit my post but I wanted to add that I was charged with drunk in public. That's it. nt

[mrbluto]

294. The purpose of this report.

Do you know what the purpose of this report is? Is it "news you can use"?

Do you think what you, I, or any typical person could do anything to change the mentality that allows this sort of thing to happen?

Half the reason this stuff hits the air is to let the average american know what is possible - what could happen if they act up.

Just think: this was a use of force by a civil (excuse the unintended irony) authority - what recourse would the victim have if it were a "Homeland" Security, military, or clandestine government organization.

Maybe we should just negotiate more with the Republican who seem to get off on this sort of abuse of power. I'm sure they'll see reason if only we move just a bit more rightward. Then they'll respect the centrist democrats and their triangulating ways. Just a little more to the right.

Bush has not been impeached. The MSM extingushed the chances of the only candidate willing to call corporate abuse of power as we all see it.

What do you think our chances are?

[jberryhill]

305. The report aired six days after discovery opened in the suit against the police department

...i.e. it aired shortly after the Steffeys' attorney obtained all of the videotape, and provided this portion of it to the news program.

It's pretty clear what "the purpose of the report" is, and why it is vague about the circumstances of the arrest, and what led up to the portion of the tape shown in the report.

[MnFats]

296. CONTACT INFO FOR STARK COUNTY SHERIFF

The sheriff's name is Timothy A. Swanson


contact:
telephone
[phone]
FAX
Postal address
4500 Atlantic Blvd., N.E., Canton, Ohio 44705
Electronic mail
General Information: [e-mail]

give 'em hell...

[Boudica the Lyoness]

311. Gave them hell!

What else can we do?

[Boudica the Lyoness]

309. I just watched a woman get raped!

Fuck this country.

[Lorien]

316. I became even more dismayed (if not more so) by reading the comments on

Youtube. There sure are a lot of misogynist sickos out there.:-(

[Danger Mouse]

317. I didn't even bother to read them.

YouTube attracts some of the lowest common denominator. Absolute shitbags with no concept of the horrifying trauma this woman experienced.

[Echo In Light]

324. The sickness of power...nearly as disgusting as those who passively defend it

Speaks volumes about personal experience.

[AX10]

339. Charles Bronson and 7 bullets could ensure these...

pigs never do this again.
:puke::puke::puke::puke::puke::puke::puke::puke::puke::puke::puke::puke::puke::puke::puke::puke::puke::puke::puke::puke::puke::puke::puke::puke::puke::puke::puke::puke::puke::puke::puke::puke::puke::puke::puke::puke::puke::puke::puke::puke::puke::puke::puke::puke::puke::puke::puke::puke::puke::puke::puke::puke::puke::puke::puke::puke::puke::puke::puke::puke::puke::puke::puke::puke::puke:

The Fraternal Order of Police (a.k.a: Facsist Order of Pigs) needs to be busted!

[bobo4u]

361. An eye for an eye...

I'd make them all stand naked in the town square for a day. Then call in Bronson. If they were lucky, they'd all freeze first.

[Bonobo]

348. What are we going to do about this? I feel like going down there myself!! I couldn't be more angry!

I feel like mob justice is in order for them. How could we trust the "system" to take care of them when it is the "system" that has created them.

In the 18th and even the 19th century, the People knew how to deal with these creatures.

[bobo4u]

362. I agree.

There will be no justice served unless 'the people' serve it.

[0007]

350. Bush country where everything is legal.

Cowboys and Indians and Cowgirls rules!

[Le Taz Hot]

355. If that wasn't rape, I don't know what is.

n/t

[Bonobo]

357. kick!

[Bonobo]

363. kick

[JohnnyWrath]

364. thank the Cleveland department for speaking out

The Cleveland Sheriffs are calling this “way out of line” and that no woman should ever have her clothes forcibly removed by male officers.. Take the time to thank the Sheriff of Cuyahoga county for his comments…cops usually always take cops sides, but Gerald T. McFaul is a man of honor who agrees this was wrong…thank him if you will as I have already done. Please take the time to send appreciation to the Cuyahoga Sheriff for taking a stand on this…

[e-mail]