Video: Hey, how about another long, angry debate over a police brutality clip?
posted at 3:44 pm on May 20, 2009 by Allahpundit
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There’s not much to debate in this one, actually, but the conclusion is so spectacular/awful that I can’t not post it. It’s weird how there almost seem to be trends with these brutality vids that catch on online: For the last few years it was nothing but arguments over proper taser use and lately it’s been nothing but arguments over what constitutes excessive force, ranging from minor examples to more serious ones to out-and-out homicide. This one falls somewhere in the middle-to-extreme end of the spectrum.
All five cops involved have been fired, needless to say.
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prosecute them, ASAP.
homesickamerican on May 20, 2009 at 3:47 PM
phoning it in..love it AP!
daesleeper on May 20, 2009 at 3:47 PM
He tried to run over a cop. Got what he deserved.
roux on May 20, 2009 at 3:48 PM
looks like he sustained some injuries when his car rolled. nothing to see here
gatorboy on May 20, 2009 at 3:48 PM
So…where’s the problem again?
Keyser-Soze on May 20, 2009 at 3:49 PM
No problem here. You try killing a cop you deserve to get your a** kicked… regardless of your current medical condition.
Footnote: I would atleast have tased him though so he looked like he was resisting arrest.
regal on May 20, 2009 at 3:50 PM
this doesn’t even pass the definition of ‘torture’ since the guy was oblivious to any pain or injuries which may have resulted from this incident.
Come on, where’s the harm? The guy was passed out – completely beyond feeling any pain.
gatorboy on May 20, 2009 at 3:50 PM
“Worse case of suicide I ever saw.”
Okay, obligatory joke over now.
Yeah – that was way over the top. Way over.
kybowexar on May 20, 2009 at 3:50 PM
You people need Jesus in your life.
robertnyc212 on May 20, 2009 at 3:50 PM
You commit a crime.
You flee the cops.
You endanger citizens.
You attempt vehicular homicide on a Police Officer.
You aren’t human anymore in my book. Double tap to the head and bag him.
daesleeper on May 20, 2009 at 3:51 PM
just make sure you turn off the camera.
homesickamerican on May 20, 2009 at 3:52 PM
If the cop has to chase you, he’s bringing an ass whoopin’ with him.
lorien1973 on May 20, 2009 at 3:53 PM
So those cops got fired? I wish my local PD could hire ‘em.
SPCOlympics on May 20, 2009 at 3:53 PM
I think he was on fire and they were just trying to put it out.
gregbert on May 20, 2009 at 3:53 PM
Yowzer. I could defend the kick to the head cop, but… the reason these guys beat the crap out of this fella is because he almost ran over that other police officer and endangered citizens by continuing to run (or maybe they were mad that he wouldn’t respect their authori-tai). They beat him for revenge, not to make him submit. He was out. They deserved to be fired. We don’t need loose cannons on the police force.
Living4Him5534 on May 20, 2009 at 3:54 PM
About 3 seconds in, he either tried to run over a cop, or succeeded.
Either way, these cops got out of line, but justifiably so. Use kid gloves on them.
MadisonConservative on May 20, 2009 at 3:54 PM
I will pray for you all.
robertnyc212 on May 20, 2009 at 3:54 PM
On an emotional, visceral level, I’m with you; however, there are courts for a purpose. Police are not executors of the law, they are enforcers. I admire police more every day, because they do not take the law in their own hands. How they do it, I’ll never know, but a good cop does not.
Beating a guy already down is just wrong.
Once he’s been tried and convicted, please do what you will, but let’s get that due process done first, shall we.
kybowexar on May 20, 2009 at 3:54 PM
Were those cops or a bunch of clowns? As clutzy as that first cop to get to him is I’m amazed that he ever catches any bad guys…
Joking aside, throw them all in the slammer. And I’m usually the one who sticks up for the cops in most any situation.
Scrappy on May 20, 2009 at 3:54 PM
I feel no sympathy for the perp. None.
I tend to side with police, but I’m finding it hard to in this case. This behavior cannot become the public face of law enforcement, and a message needs to be sent.
Firing the officers was the right call, albeit a tough one.
ynot4tony2 on May 20, 2009 at 3:54 PM
People who run from cops while putting many, many innocent people in harms way… and try to run over a cop in the process… they deserve what they get.
behiker on May 20, 2009 at 3:54 PM
Hey Creator of Worlds!
Here’s a post topic for you.
Prop ruling drops tomorrow.
strangelet on May 20, 2009 at 3:54 PM
In the ‘good old days’ the criminal’s behavior was always responded to in this way, no questions asked. We had less crime then – coincidence?
Vashta.Nerada on May 20, 2009 at 3:55 PM
Anyone know how many years the Sports Utility Vehicle got for this crime……?
Seven Percent Solution on May 20, 2009 at 3:56 PM
Hey, how about something with a little more meat on it’s bones?
HOW IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA CAN THIS HAPPEN?
THIS IS A PRIVATE BUSINESS NOT A GOVERNMENT ENTITY
This is beyond imagination! My business is being stolen from me through NO FAULT OF OUR OWN. We did NOTHING wrong.
This atrocity will most likely force my family into bankruptcy. This will also cause our 50+ employees to be unemployed. How will they provide for their families? This is a total economic disaster.
HOW CAN THIS HAPPEN IN A FREE MARKET ECONOMY IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA?
MB4 on May 20, 2009 at 3:56 PM
Ok if it weren’t for being thrown out of the car . . . . but then again, who else did he try to (or did run over) or who did he rape, kill, etc etc.
Can’t do the time, don’t do the crime.Try to kill a cop, game over buddy.- The Cat
MirCat on May 20, 2009 at 3:56 PM
That’s all well and good, but the guy tried to either cripple or kill a police officer.
In the moments when they capture him, they have a duty to their comrades, and a duty to show that attempting to take down one of their brethren will bring hell upon you.
MadisonConservative on May 20, 2009 at 3:56 PM
This guy got what was coming to him.
Those cops got what was coming to them.
He tried to KILL a cop. He sideswiped a car (maybe a child was onboard?)
He is lucky he didn’t kill somebody.
Cops deserve termination, and a job in a prison facility.
portlandon on May 20, 2009 at 3:56 PM
We’re a nation of laws. Not emotion, certainly not “an eye for an eye”.
In the same way people here decry incremental precedents for adverse behavior when exhibited by legislators and presidents (slide towards socialism etc), one must draw a line and demand that the rights of the accused be respected, that no matter how mad a cop is, they can never be judge jury and executioner. to scoff at this, to wave this off as “justice”, is deplorable.
ernesto on May 20, 2009 at 3:57 PM
Yeah…but then there were mistakes made, lynchings done, and that sort of thing.
I’d really rather they stick (no pun intended) to enforcing the law, instead of executing it. It makes it a tad cleaner, plus when a creep like this is truly busted – it’s legal.
kybowexar on May 20, 2009 at 3:57 PM
One lesson learned: Always wear your seat belt so you don’t get thrown out of the vehicle.
And fire those involved in this and prosecute them.
albill on May 20, 2009 at 3:58 PM
SPCOlympics on May 20, 2009 at 3:53 PM
While I agree with the firing, I see no problem with these men getting hired elsewhere. They do not deserve to have their careers ruined.
ynot4tony2 on May 20, 2009 at 3:58 PM
It’s a ford Windstar, it was born with a life sentence of being a POS.
portlandon on May 20, 2009 at 3:58 PM
Heh
Vashta.Nerada on May 20, 2009 at 3:58 PM
I understand emotions are high, dang, I cannot imagine how many cops do not shoot a perp almost every day. However, their duty to their comrades means keeping the law. All of it, not just parts that feel good. In this case, the first few cops should have taken a breather, and another officer get to this jerk.
kybowexar on May 20, 2009 at 3:59 PM
Just because you wreck a car and are thrown out as a result of your criminal acts including running down a police officer doesn’t mean you don’t receive the ass whoopin’ you so richly deserve.
Besides he wasn’t unconscious. He just needed to be re-booted. :)
Guardian on May 20, 2009 at 3:59 PM
Adrenaline + testosterone = danger! :)
I wonder if Shep Smith would say this was torture? Tee hee!
echosyst on May 20, 2009 at 4:00 PM
portlandon on May 20, 2009 at 4:00 PM
This perp nearly runs over a cop, then flees, causes a high-speed chase and flips his car over a guard-rail, then we see some cops gather around him, and the film is rather dark on what happened for about 10 seconds.
It takes more evidence than this to fire a cop.
Steve Z on May 20, 2009 at 4:00 PM
Jesus Christ.
SouthernDem on May 20, 2009 at 4:01 PM
The cops should know by now to drop a hat over the dash cam
aceinstall on May 20, 2009 at 4:01 PM
I think there’s something wrong with your monitor.
SouthernDem on May 20, 2009 at 4:01 PM
Clarification: I believe that is the city of Hoover, AL and their police jurisdiction. Having lived in that area, it looks like it’s right outside the Galleria on Highway 31.
AeroSpear on May 20, 2009 at 4:02 PM
Having had an officer in the family, and in my best friend’s family, I can honestly say that you really don’t understand how high emotions get the moment that the perp attacks an officer. At that moment, adrenalin reaches heights few outside the profession can understand. I don’t claim to know it myself, but hearing stories recounted, it’s something that few would be fit to truly judge.
MadisonConservative on May 20, 2009 at 4:02 PM
No tears in Texas.
Judge Roy Bean smiles.
Limerick on May 20, 2009 at 4:02 PM
Sickening. As are those who would defend it.
ronsfi on May 20, 2009 at 4:03 PM
Is it possible that they were leaving aside the attempted capital murder of an officer, resisting arrest, and various other crimes, and were merely punishing him for not wearing his seat belt?
Vashta.Nerada on May 20, 2009 at 4:03 PM
No true Christian would approve.
robertnyc212 on May 20, 2009 at 4:04 PM
Exactly. Not only that cop, but they way he was driving, he could have killed a family in their car.
I have no sympathy for that dirtbag. As far as I’m concerned, they should have been cracking his skull instead of his legs.
JetBoy on May 20, 2009 at 4:05 PM
Today Buford Pusser would be in SuperMax. All hail social devolvement.
Limerick on May 20, 2009 at 4:06 PM
Tried to run down a cop, sorry can’t get worked up over this.
gdonovan on May 20, 2009 at 4:06 PM
See what happens when you do not wear your seat belt! The repercussion from the police can be severe. So the moral of this is wear your seat belt people. sarc/
USMCDevilDog on May 20, 2009 at 4:06 PM
That’s Muslim justice, not Christian justice.
robertnyc212 on May 20, 2009 at 4:07 PM
Just like most I want to side with the cops as much as possible. But in principle we have to remember that the cops are an arm of the government that we ALLOW authority over us for the common good. We do not want that government entity to over-extend that authority or abuse the power they are granted by us. If we allow them to get out of control, then we have ourselves to blame. Conservatives like me always want to side with the police and usually that serves us well (most cops are good), but we also must stand against an abusive arm of government whenever we see it, or it will be us getting kicked in the head sometime.
pecan pie on May 20, 2009 at 4:09 PM
Cops went overboard no doubt, but next time cops, take a deep breath, pull your heads out of your asses and turn off the f’n camera before the beat down, I mean it’s not like he was going anywhere…
saltydogg14 on May 20, 2009 at 4:09 PM
Condemn the human who will take a bullet for you. Protect the a**hat who tried to take him out. Niceeeeeeeeeeeeeeee.
Limerick on May 20, 2009 at 4:10 PM
The guy deserved rough treatment for trying to run over a cop, but that’s too far.
Zealousness about fellow cops flows from the same place as the reason in prison why you have to kick the arse of the guy who tries to steal your bread roll. Because if you don’t, any numbnuts willing to take a swing at you won’t be afraid to.
Sekhmet on May 20, 2009 at 4:10 PM
God, when did man lose his reason?
Save us, my God, if you’re there
God, can you not feel the terror like a fire in the air?
PercyB on May 20, 2009 at 4:10 PM
Yeah, the guy was out what was the point? I’d rather he felt the beat-down.
But the cops should be fired. For criminal stupidity. Beat the jerk all you want, just not on camera. Idiots.
Iblis on May 20, 2009 at 4:10 PM
You can’t make the argument that the courts shouldn’t legislate without being consistent and standing on the principle that it is not the role of law enforcement to enact justice.
pecan pie on May 20, 2009 at 4:11 PM
Dude.
F*** that guy man. He tried to run over that cop. No tears from me.
Dash on May 20, 2009 at 4:11 PM
I am so sick of this. Why can’t anyone be on the side of right for once? Everyone wants to defend the moron that endangers lives and clearly tried to kill an officer. If one of my friends was nearly killed, I would be angry enough to want to beat the guys butt too. All of this bleeding heart crap is ruining the country. Treat criminals like the animals they are and people will not act out like they do these days. Granted, that can lead to an abuse of power, but that is why the cameras are there. Damn, give me 3 months to return a sense of decency to this country….
Doctor B on May 20, 2009 at 4:11 PM
You are not amusing, right, or wrong!
daesleeper on May 20, 2009 at 4:12 PM
Looks like attempted murder there by the fleeing car.
That’s a tough one AP. I have a lot more sympathy for Preacher Tazemebro.
Vincenzo on May 20, 2009 at 4:12 PM
ahahahahah
Man. That was GREAT!
Too bad they got fired though. But I guess they shouldn’t be so dumb as to beat on the guy, who ran over their partner, after he was ejected from a roll over vehicle and is apparently unconscious… while knowing video tape is running in their cruisers.
Too bad the bad guy isn’t a rotting corpse.
I hope the cop that got run over by the suspect is doing well.
SilverStar830 on May 20, 2009 at 4:12 PM
Did you see the new Walking Tall with The Rock? Pretty good, surprisingly.
MadisonConservative on May 20, 2009 at 4:13 PM
For technical stupidity, the cops do need to be fired. Wait till he’s in the back seat of the cruiser to beat the ever loving snot out of him. A little street justice, know what I mean?
If you’re caught on camera, you have to pay the piper.
Vincenzo on May 20, 2009 at 4:13 PM
He should have worn a seatbelt….
I think the cops were performing CPR?
They were trying to start his heart again…
Didn’t make it? Too Bad.
izoneguy on May 20, 2009 at 4:13 PM
Or so you thought.
SouthernDem on May 20, 2009 at 4:14 PM
So much hatred and bitterness here. God save us.
robertnyc212 on May 20, 2009 at 4:14 PM
I haven’t seen a single post that “protects” the perp or even shows any empathy for him. What the cops did was wrong, and it doesn’t mean that the perp won’t be held responsible for his actions too.
Scrappy on May 20, 2009 at 4:14 PM
Nope, missed it. But $10 says my wife rented it when I was a work. Enuf about that ;)
Limerick on May 20, 2009 at 4:14 PM
The real shame of it all is that he didn’t feel a thing because he was already unconsious. Five careers ended just because some cops wanted to get some extra licks on a guy who was already out cold from being ejected from a rollover.
BohicaTwentyTwo on May 20, 2009 at 4:14 PM
Who are you and what have you done with JetBoy?
ExcessivelyDiverted on May 20, 2009 at 4:16 PM
Still no tears. I come from a family of cops. Some good, some so-so. ALL willing to step up and keep some goon from hurting you. I’ve 60 years of watching them smile, and watching them cry. You won’t get me crying over some barbarian getting what karma had waiting for him.
Limerick on May 20, 2009 at 4:17 PM
Was the driver ticketed for not wearing his seatbelt? I also saw a failure to yield in there.
This chase is worth at least 4 points on his license.
Vincenzo on May 20, 2009 at 4:17 PM
Over the top but in the heat of emotion, how about this, charge them and plead temporary insanity.
Oh, and pop the perp…he got what he deserved.
Rogue on May 20, 2009 at 4:18 PM
I blame Palin. And Bush.
Django on May 20, 2009 at 4:18 PM
I sympathize with how they felt but not with what they did. One of the things I generally respect most about police officers is how the best ones have preternaturally longer fuses than the rest of us.
And we seem to have been infected with a simplistic little script expressing what is no doubt sincere concern for our immortal souls.
DrSteve on May 20, 2009 at 4:18 PM
If you forgive those who sin against you, your heavenly Father will forgive you. But if you refuse to forgive others, your Father will not forgive your sins.
Matthew 6:14-15
robertnyc212 on May 20, 2009 at 4:19 PM
Seriously, if justice is what you want for this perp then cheering this sort of action is exactly the wrong thing to do.
You all realize that he’s waaaaay more likely to get off on any charges against him because of the brutality right?
But hey, if you’re satisfied with a few kicks to his head rather than having him off the streets and in prison for a several years then I hope he lives in your neighborhood…
Scrappy on May 20, 2009 at 4:19 PM
The firing of these 5 hoodlums is just a tip of the justice iceberg. They should be prosecuted as well.
jbh45 on May 20, 2009 at 4:19 PM
Looks like they were trying to revive the poor fellow.
DanMan on May 20, 2009 at 4:20 PM
I wish Ed would come back from vacation soon.
These cop-hate videos and Darwin/Evolution posts are starting to make Hot Air look like the College Humor; Stileproject; Bored.com; LittleGreenFootballs etc et al websites.
SilverStar830 on May 20, 2009 at 4:20 PM
Could be worse. She could be into Sean Penn.
Yeah, well, when the cop that apparently got run over is your brother, father, son, sister’s husband, best friend, etc…you come back and tell us about hatred and bitterness.
MadisonConservative on May 20, 2009 at 4:20 PM
Whats the debate again? Got what karma was read to deal him.
Armando on May 20, 2009 at 4:21 PM
He DELIBERATELY TRIED to kill that cop putting the spikes on the road.
We just had an officer, Stuart Alexander, brutally killed 2 months ago in Corpus Christi when he was deliberately run over by a drug dealer fleeing police. That guy got shot when he resisted as other officers tried to pull him from the car.
If he’d died no one would have cried except his family.
You try to kill a cop in front of other cops you should consider yourself getting off lightly if they don’t shoot you.
manofaiki on May 20, 2009 at 4:21 PM
You missed my point entirely. I’m saying he doesn’t deserve our tears. And noone here has said that he does. He deserves justice (and a lot of time behind bars), and this behaviour makes it less likely that he’ll get it
Scrappy on May 20, 2009 at 4:22 PM
I’m not quite understanding how scripture fits into this…Maybe the driver of that van should have read it.
Again, no sympathy for that guy. He should be lucky he’s still breathing.
JetBoy on May 20, 2009 at 4:22 PM
daesleeper on May 20, 2009 at 4:22 PM
God still loves you.
robertnyc212 on May 20, 2009 at 4:23 PM
He was clearly attempting to flee. Did you see him jump out of that moving van?
Rocks on May 20, 2009 at 4:23 PM
Attempted vehicular homicide of a peace officer caught on tape?
He’s not walking. Bank on that.
manofaiki on May 20, 2009 at 4:23 PM
How is the cop he hit or who had to dive out of the way? Why is it we care more about the animal that endangered 100’s of people than the cop that was run or almost run over?
chicken thief on May 20, 2009 at 4:24 PM
And you wonder why conservatives are viewed negatively.
Grow Fins on May 20, 2009 at 4:24 PM
Piss off, CCCbot.
DrSteve on May 20, 2009 at 4:25 PM
I have no sympathy left for thugs and criminals.
Grunt on May 20, 2009 at 4:25 PM
I sure hope he doesn’t, but I wouldn’t want some rash choices made by the police to lessen what he deserves to get.
Scrappy on May 20, 2009 at 4:25 PM
I feel great sympathy for the police in this case. The man could have killed people driving like that and looked like he hit a police officer in the first few seconds of the tape. I do understand that their adrenaline must be running high under such circumstances.
Yet, I have difficulty believing this how all police act in such situations. Or, how all our military act. If I’m right, why don’t all behave this way? How is it that some can handle such situations without beating the criminal?
Isn’t there any preparation or training to help police keep better control of their anger under such circumstances so we don’t lose otherwise good police officers?
Loxodonta on May 20, 2009 at 4:25 PM
Matthew 6:14-15
robertnyc212 on May 20, 2009 at 4:25 PM
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