# Controversial encounters between law-enforcement and civilians - the omnibus thread

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-encounters-between-law-enforcement-and-civilians-the-omnibus-thread/700942>\
**Category:** The BBQ Pit\
**Created:** [October 10, 2014, 7:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-encounters-between-law-enforcement-and-civilians-the-omnibus-thread/700942 "2014-10-10T07:35:51Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 20\
**Page:** 314

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**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\
**Post date:** [September 15, 2015, 11:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-encounters-between-law-enforcement-and-civilians-the-omnibus-thread/700942/6261 "2015-09-15T11:14:48Z")

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> [@Steophan](#):
>
> Because some people actually believe that things need to be proven beyond reasonable doubt, not by what looks probable from a video where you can neither see nor hear exactly what was happening.

What could _possibly_ be said/done in that video that would justify the thug’s behavior?

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**Author:** ![septimus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/septimus/32/410_2.png) [@septimus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/septimus)\
**Post date:** [September 15, 2015, 11:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-encounters-between-law-enforcement-and-civilians-the-omnibus-thread/700942/6262 "2015-09-15T11:59:18Z")

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> [@kayaker](#):
>
> What could _possibly_ be said/done in that video that would justify the thug’s behavior?

In the modern American dialect of English, “thug” means dark-skinned male, but I’ll guess you’re referring to the cop.

One thing that does seem clear is that the perp spoke very little English. Since most people assume ISIS will choose terrorists who speak excellent English to swim across the Rio Grande, infiltrate America and vaccinate our children it is obvious that a smart ISIS will “mix it up” and try to fool us with terrorists who _don’t_ speak English.

Thus, law enforcement was right to be concerned. The cops showed great restraint just paralyzing the jihadist thug instead of emptying their gun magazines.

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**Author:** ![Ike\_Witt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ike_witt/32/283_2.png) [@Ike\_Witt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ike_Witt)\
**Post date:** [September 15, 2015, 1:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-encounters-between-law-enforcement-and-civilians-the-omnibus-thread/700942/6263 "2015-09-15T13:13:19Z")

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> [@septimus](#):
>
> In the modern American dialect of English, “thug” means dark-skinned male.

Really, since when? To me, a thug is somebody willing to use a bit of physicality to get what they want. Skin colour has nothing to do with it. [Rocky and Mugsy](https://img1.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20131231140919/thesylvesterandtweetymysteries/images/f/f7/Rocky_and_Mugsy.png) are thugs.

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**Author:** ![FXMastermind](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fxmastermind/32/7289_2.png) [@FXMastermind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FXMastermind)\
**Post date:** [September 15, 2015, 2:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-encounters-between-law-enforcement-and-civilians-the-omnibus-thread/700942/6264 "2015-09-15T14:06:07Z")

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The dark skinned male is technically a “Thuggee”, everybody else is just a thug

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**Author:** ![Evil\_Economist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/c89c15/32.png) [@Evil\_Economist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Evil_Economist)\
**Post date:** [September 15, 2015, 2:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-encounters-between-law-enforcement-and-civilians-the-omnibus-thread/700942/6265 "2015-09-15T14:13:26Z")

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> [@Ike\_Witt](#):
>
> Really, since when? To me, a thug is somebody willing to use a bit of physicality to get what they want. Skin colour has nothing to do with it. [Rocky and Mugsy](https://img1.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20131231140919/thesylvesterandtweetymysteries/images/f/f7/Rocky_and_Mugsy.png) are thugs.

Unfortunately “Thug” has turned into a racist code-word in some circles, supplanting “Urban.” Usually you can tell from the context the way it’s intended.

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**Author:** ![doorhinge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a5b964/32.png) [@doorhinge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/doorhinge)\
**Post date:** [September 15, 2015, 4:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-encounters-between-law-enforcement-and-civilians-the-omnibus-thread/700942/6266 "2015-09-15T16:32:19Z")

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> [@septimus](#):
>
> In the modern American dialect of English, “thug” means dark-skinned male,

(post shortened)

No, it does not.

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**Author:** ![Hentor\_the\_Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/8edcca/32.png) [@Hentor\_the\_Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hentor_the_Barbarian)\
**Post date:** [September 15, 2015, 4:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-encounters-between-law-enforcement-and-civilians-the-omnibus-thread/700942/6267 "2015-09-15T16:35:52Z")

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> [@doorhinge](#):
>
> (post shortened)
> 
> No, it does not.

You’re right. It actually means “Hey there! I’m a racist prick who is too nutless to use the n-word.”

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**Author:** ![Master\_Wang-Ka](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/master_wang-ka/32/3325_2.png) [@Master\_Wang-Ka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Master_Wang-Ka)\
**Post date:** [September 15, 2015, 4:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-encounters-between-law-enforcement-and-civilians-the-omnibus-thread/700942/6268 "2015-09-15T16:37:20Z")

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[Groping cop shoots wall](http:// [Texas Cop Accused Of Groping Woman, Firing Gun Into Hotel Wall | HuffPost Latest News](http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/texas-cop-accused-of-groping-woman-firing-gun-into-hotel-wall_55f1dec1e4b03784e2788534))

See, I view this as a good thing. A violent, entitled idiot with a gun has been identified publicly. Either he will be divested of his gun and badge, or he’ll get a slap on the wrist… but now we know he’s a violent, entitled idiot with a gun… and a badge.

And all it took was an outraged waitress and a bullet hole in a wall. Nobody hurt. Nobody killed. And my faith is restored by the dozen other cops sitting there who promptly jumped on this idiot and took his gun away…

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**Author:** ![septimus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/septimus/32/410_2.png) [@septimus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/septimus)\
**Post date:** [September 15, 2015, 5:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-encounters-between-law-enforcement-and-civilians-the-omnibus-thread/700942/6269 "2015-09-15T17:12:17Z")

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> [@Master\_Wang-Ka](#):
>
> [Groping cop shoots wall](http:// [Texas Cop Accused Of Groping Woman, Firing Gun Into Hotel Wall | HuffPost Latest News](http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/texas-cop-accused-of-groping-woman-firing-gun-into-hotel-wall_55f1dec1e4b03784e2788534))
> 
> See, I view this as a good thing. A violent, entitled idiot with a gun has been identified publicly. Either he will be divested of his gun and badge, or he’ll get a slap on the wrist… but now we know he’s a violent, entitled idiot with a gun… and a badge.
> 
> And all it took was an outraged waitress and a bullet hole in a wall. Nobody hurt. Nobody killed. And my faith is restored by the dozen other cops sitting there who promptly jumped on this idiot and took his gun away…

Interesting story. [This URL will work better.](http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/texas-cop-accused-of-groping-woman-firing-gun-into-hotel-wall_55f1dec1e4b03784e2788534)

How many agree you can often guess a person’s character by looking at his face? If I saw Corporal Kenneth Lee Sheka’s mug I’d start running the other way.

Offtopic re: weird html:[SPOILER]Call me a pervert, but for me the most interesting part of that story was the weird formatting, e.g.

> [@](#):
>
> A Texas police officer is accused of firing a gun into a hotel gazebo after a server told him to sto  
> p groping her.

I’ve never seen an html browser break up a short word like “stop” before. Both Firefox and Chrome display thusly for me. Researching a little, I find that in the page’s html the entire story is inside the content attribute of this tag:  
\<meta itemprop=‘articleBody’ property=‘article:body’ content='…  
:eek:  
[/SPOILER]

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![eschereal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eschereal/32/18939_2.png) [@eschereal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eschereal)\
**Post date:** [September 15, 2015, 5:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-encounters-between-law-enforcement-and-civilians-the-omnibus-thread/700942/6270 "2015-09-15T17:24:01Z")

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> [@Steophan](#):
>
> Because some people actually believe that things need to be proven beyond reasonable doubt, not by what looks probable from a video where you can neither see nor hear exactly what was happening.

Then you have to, like, attach speakers to whatever you are using. Or headphone things, whatever it takes, because I can hear that quite clearly. And [the other video that I posted earlier](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y_SSGa7-6BQ) _does_ give a very good view of what happened.

So, stop being a prick and pay attention to stuff.

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**Author:** ![Kenm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/bc79bd/32.png) [@Kenm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kenm)\
**Post date:** [September 15, 2015, 5:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-encounters-between-law-enforcement-and-civilians-the-omnibus-thread/700942/6271 "2015-09-15T17:27:41Z")

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> [@septimus](#):
>
> I’ve never seen an html browser break up a short word like “stop” before. Both Firefox and Chrome display thusly for me.

Not with my version of Firefox 40.0.3, Mac OS 10.10.5. Or it’s been fixed.

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**Author:** ![septimus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/septimus/32/410_2.png) [@septimus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/septimus)\
**Post date:** [September 15, 2015, 5:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-encounters-between-law-enforcement-and-civilians-the-omnibus-thread/700942/6272 "2015-09-15T17:41:52Z")

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Html hijack: [spoiler]

> [@septimus](#):
>
> … I’ve never seen an html browser break up a short word like “stop” before. Both Firefox and Chrome display thusly for me

But just now, clicking refresh in both Chrome and Firefox, the weird line-breaks go away. View-source shows the same metatag encapsulation. (Stupidly I threw away the first source window, so cannot do a byte-by-byte compare.) 😕 😕

Now I’m wondering if it was some malware or anti-malware interacting with the browsers. ☹ :dubious: :eek: [/spoiler]

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![doorhinge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a5b964/32.png) [@doorhinge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/doorhinge)\
**Post date:** [September 15, 2015, 5:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-encounters-between-law-enforcement-and-civilians-the-omnibus-thread/700942/6273 "2015-09-15T17:50:07Z")

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> [@Hentor\_the\_Barbarian](#):
>
> You’re right. It actually means “Hey there! I’m a racist prick who is too nutless to use the n-word.”

And you’d be wrong.  
\*thug  
noun

› a man who ​acts ​violently, ​especially to ​commit a ​crime:

Some thugs ​smashed his ​windows.\*

> **[thug](https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/thug)**
>
> 1. a man who acts violently, especially to commit a crime: 2. a man who acts…

Where do you find the time to create such imaginative musings?

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![septimus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/septimus/32/410_2.png) [@septimus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/septimus)\
**Post date:** [September 15, 2015, 5:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-encounters-between-law-enforcement-and-civilians-the-omnibus-thread/700942/6274 "2015-09-15T17:52:39Z")

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Returning to the Sheka story

> [@](#):
>
> Sheka was booked into the El Paso County Jail and released on Wednesday after posting $2,500 bail.

So he’d lose $250 to a bondsman if he didn’t have the cash? I think a civilian would be posting much more. :dubious:

> [@](#):
>
> Meanwhile, Sheka could face disciplinary action … according to [Temple Police Department] public information officer Christopher M. Wilcox.

American citizens are hoping for a demonstration that the police do police their own. If a cop is obviously at fault like this, he should be asked to resign. Period. Instead we see more and more of the same, as though American LEO is proudly embracing its jackboot persona.

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![septimus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/septimus/32/410_2.png) [@septimus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/septimus)\
**Post date:** [September 15, 2015, 5:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-encounters-between-law-enforcement-and-civilians-the-omnibus-thread/700942/6275 "2015-09-15T17:55:27Z")

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Have I insulted D’Orange today?

> [@doorhinge](#):
>
> And you’d be wrong.

No. You’d be wrong. (And pleeeeze … a dictionary? :rolleyes: )

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![doorhinge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a5b964/32.png) [@doorhinge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/doorhinge)\
**Post date:** [September 15, 2015, 6:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-encounters-between-law-enforcement-and-civilians-the-omnibus-thread/700942/6276 "2015-09-15T18:00:36Z")

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> [@septimus](#):
>
> …No. You’d be wrong. (And pleeeeze … a dictionary? :rolleyes: )

(post shortened)

Are dictionaries banned in your world? Other worlds find them quite useful.

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\
**Post date:** [September 15, 2015, 6:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-encounters-between-law-enforcement-and-civilians-the-omnibus-thread/700942/6277 "2015-09-15T18:02:47Z")

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> [@doorhinge](#):
>
> Other worlds.

(post shortened)

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![septimus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/septimus/32/410_2.png) [@septimus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/septimus)\
**Post date:** [September 15, 2015, 6:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-encounters-between-law-enforcement-and-civilians-the-omnibus-thread/700942/6278 "2015-09-15T18:05:30Z")

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> [@kayaker](#):
>
> Originally Posted by doorhinge  
> Other worlds.(post shortened)

Bravo.

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![FXMastermind](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fxmastermind/32/7289_2.png) [@FXMastermind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FXMastermind)\
**Post date:** [September 15, 2015, 7:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-encounters-between-law-enforcement-and-civilians-the-omnibus-thread/700942/6279 "2015-09-15T19:22:46Z")

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> [@eschereal](#):
>
> Then you have to, like, attach speakers to whatever you are using. Or headphone things, whatever it takes, because I can hear that quite clearly. And [the other video that I posted earlier](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y_SSGa7-6BQ) _does_ give a very good view of what happened.

When you watch a video like that [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y\_SSGa7-6BQ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y_SSGa7-6BQ) and then hear a jury couldn’t agree, it makes you realize how good some lawyers must be, and how wrong the justice system can be.

And also how dangerous cops can be.

Still, I’ll take my chances with US cops over the authorities in most of the rest of the world.

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**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\
**Post date:** [September 15, 2015, 8:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-encounters-between-law-enforcement-and-civilians-the-omnibus-thread/700942/6280 "2015-09-15T20:55:11Z")

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> [@doorhinge](#):
>
> And you’d be wrong.  
> \*thug  
> noun
> 
> › a man who ​acts ​violently, ​especially to ​commit a ​crime:
> 
> Some thugs ​smashed his ​windows.\*
> 
> [THUG | English meaning - Cambridge Dictionary](http://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/thug)  
> Where do you find the time to create such imaginative musings?

_From you, Dad! I learned it from you!!_

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