# Controversial encounters between law-enforcement and civilians - the omnibus thread **URL:** \ **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:** 528
**Author:** ![Typo\_Negative](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/typo_negative/32/484_2.png) [@Typo\_Negative](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Typo_Negative)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2017, 7:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-encounters-between-law-enforcement-and-civilians-the-omnibus-thread/700942/10542 "2017-04-18T19:16:26Z")
> [@mhendo](#): > > Yep, and it’s why the “few bad apples” argument will not hold any sway with me until the cops who witness this sort of behavior consistently speak out against it, willingly testify against the “bad apples” when the investigations and court cases come, and don’t stand up alongside the bad cops whenever someone criticizes police procedures. A few bad apples. Do people not remember the saying is **“one bad apple _spoils the whole bunch_”**. It does, actually. [Does One Bad Apple Really Spoil the Whole Bunch? | Mental Floss](http://mentalfloss.com/article/31666/does-one-bad-apple-really-spoil-whole-bunch) ---
**Author:** ![Damuri\_Ajashi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/898d66/32.png) [@Damuri\_Ajashi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Damuri_Ajashi)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2017, 12:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-encounters-between-law-enforcement-and-civilians-the-omnibus-thread/700942/10543 "2017-04-19T12:41:30Z")
> [@MikeF](#): > > How many of you saw last night’s 60 Minutes Story on the Shelby/Crutcher shooting and were left with the impression that Crutcher had his hands up when shot? That seemed to be the spin of the story. I saw no evidence of that. In fact, the video shows his hands dropping towards the door handle or window before he goes down but the reporter never mentioned that. In a highly unusual move, the officer agreed to be interviewed before her trial. I take this as an effort to counter the media-driven theory that this was a case of racially influenced excessive force. How many times did stories on this case start with “Unarmed Man Had Hands Up Before being Shot by Police Officer”? While technically correct, it would be just as accurate (and relevant) to say “Man Had Breakfast Before Being Shot by Police Officer”. How about mentioning where his hands were WHEN he was shot? His sister said that he was just doing what their parents said to do when confronted by police - going to put his hands on the car. Except that he walked by the back of the SUV and the side of the SUV and the police car thereby bypassing opportunities to do what his parents allegedly taught him to do. And they didn’t teach him to do what the cops says, especially when he/she is pointing a gun at you? I think the officer handled herself very well during the interview and will make an excellent witness should she choose to testify. I predict that she will be acquitted and rightly so. Most people here consider me a police apologist (giving police the same presumption of innocence that every other citizen gets puts me “in the bag” for police around here) and even I don’t think that not having your hands up is a good enough reason to get shot to death. Cops usually can’t shoot you unless there is some sort of imminent danger. He was reaching for the car door when he got shot. He wasn’t reaching into his car, he wasn’t reaching into his pocket. My guess is that she was jumpy because he was not obeying police commands and she suspected he was on PCP; and when he jerked from getting tasered, she shot him. That sounds at least like negligent homicide or something like that. ---
**Author:** ![Damuri\_Ajashi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/898d66/32.png) [@Damuri\_Ajashi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Damuri_Ajashi)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2017, 12:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-encounters-between-law-enforcement-and-civilians-the-omnibus-thread/700942/10544 "2017-04-19T12:42:49Z")
> [@Snowboarder\_Bo](#): > > [So the airline made an error and then paying customers were forced to alter their plans, [url=https://www.facebook.com/audra.dickerson]one of them enduring physical violence, which was filmed and published on Facebook for the world to see](http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_UNITED_PASSENGER_REMOVED?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2017-04-10-11-08-04). That’s public relations! Nice to know that in the US, the cops are still there to support a company’s needs, eh? > > I considered starting a new thread for this, but then I figured it’s really just another example of the type of incident that this thread was created for so here it is. Why didn’t they just use the Pinkertons like everyone else? ---
**Author:** ![Muffin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muffin/32/4341_2.png) [@Muffin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Muffin)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2017, 2:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-encounters-between-law-enforcement-and-civilians-the-omnibus-thread/700942/10545 "2017-04-19T14:22:00Z")
> [@Damuri\_Ajashi](#): > > Cops usually can’t shoot you unless there is some sort of imminent danger. The technical word for it is the Melanin Test. ---
**Author:** ![Typo\_Negative](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/typo_negative/32/484_2.png) [@Typo\_Negative](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Typo_Negative)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2017, 4:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-encounters-between-law-enforcement-and-civilians-the-omnibus-thread/700942/10546 "2017-04-19T16:49:46Z")
[21,000 drug convictions set to be quashed after Massachusetts chemist tampered with evidence](http://news.sky.com/story/21000-drug-convictions-set-to-be-quashed-after-massachusetts-chemist-tampered-with-evidence-10842765) > [@](#): > > Prosecutors said she had admitted testing only a fraction of a batch of samples at the state drug lab, before labelling them all as positive for illegal drugs. > > Her motive was to boost her productivity and improve her reputation, prosecutors said. What’s special about this story? She pleaded guilty to falsifying evidence in 2013 and we are just now getting around to dismissing charges against the defendants. ---
**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:** [April 19, 2017, 7:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-encounters-between-law-enforcement-and-civilians-the-omnibus-thread/700942/10547 "2017-04-19T19:46:52Z")
[Mom Films Cops Arresting 10-Year-Old Son With Autism At School](http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/boy-with-autism-arrested-at-school_us_58f754dde4b05b9d613eac5f?3m&ncid=inblnkushpmg00000009). Said ten year old had kicked a teacher last year at school. It seems that was worthy of a third degree felony, and being dragged out of school while handcuffed - last week. The kid had to spend a night in jail, according to his mother. Meanwhile the school district serves up a lie by saying > [@](#): > > they would “not invite someone to one of our campuses for the sole purpose to arrest.” I guess that maybe they are not lying but then that means that the police were trespassing. ---
**Author:** ![Defensive\_Indifference](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/defensive_indifference/32/6502_2.png) [@Defensive\_Indifference](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Defensive_Indifference)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2017, 7:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-encounters-between-law-enforcement-and-civilians-the-omnibus-thread/700942/10548 "2017-04-19T19:50:37Z")
> [@Ike\_Witt](#): > > [Mom Films Cops Arresting 10-Year-Old Son With Autism At School](http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/boy-with-autism-arrested-at-school_us_58f754dde4b05b9d613eac5f?3m&ncid=inblnkushpmg00000009). > Said ten year old had kicked a teacher last year at school. It seems that was worthy of a third degree felony, and being dragged out of school while handcuffed - last week. The kid had to spend a night in jail, according to his mother. > > Meanwhile the school district serves up a lie by saying I guess that maybe they are not lying but then that means that the police were trespassing. I came in to post this. It makes me sad, angry, and terrified all at the same time. And the cops wouldn’t even tell the mom what was going on! ---
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2017, 12:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-encounters-between-law-enforcement-and-civilians-the-omnibus-thread/700942/10549 "2017-04-24T12:31:39Z")
Cops pull guns on kids walking home from playing basketball and threaten them: [http://thefreethoughtproject.com/body-camera-children-held-gunpoint/](http://thefreethoughtproject.com/body-camera-children-held-gunpoint/) Seems likely that these kids will be more likely to grow up seeing cops as dangerous and unpredictable enemies to be feared. Doesn’t seem like that makes anyone safer. ---
**Author:** ![Budget\_Player\_Cadet](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/budget_player_cadet/32/205_2.png) [@Budget\_Player\_Cadet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Budget_Player_Cadet)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2017, 12:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-encounters-between-law-enforcement-and-civilians-the-omnibus-thread/700942/10550 "2017-04-24T12:59:51Z")
[Please](http://thefreethoughtproject.com/rfk-jr-fox-news-vaccine-safety/) [don’t](http://thefreethoughtproject.com/monsanto-tribunal-ecocide-war-crimes/) [cite](http://thefreethoughtproject.com/activist-privacy-advocate-groups-demand-answers-secret-government-court/) [FreeThoughtProject](http://thefreethoughtproject.com/john-podesta-just-tweeted-terrible-joke-pizza-internet-tore-new-one/). They’re fucking crazy people. ---
**Author:** ![Happy\_Fun\_Ball](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/happy_fun_ball/32/17664_2.png) [@Happy\_Fun\_Ball](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Happy_Fun_Ball)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2017, 1:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-encounters-between-law-enforcement-and-civilians-the-omnibus-thread/700942/10551 "2017-04-24T13:23:29Z")
> [@Budget\_Player\_Cadet](#): > > [Please](http://thefreethoughtproject.com/rfk-jr-fox-news-vaccine-safety/) [don’t](http://thefreethoughtproject.com/monsanto-tribunal-ecocide-war-crimes/) [cite](http://thefreethoughtproject.com/activist-privacy-advocate-groups-demand-answers-secret-government-court/) [FreeThoughtProject](http://thefreethoughtproject.com/john-podesta-just-tweeted-terrible-joke-pizza-internet-tore-new-one/). They’re fucking crazy people. Here is the story on the local NBC channel: [http://woodtv.com/2017/04/06/grpd-defends-holding-unarmed-teens-at-gunpoint/](http://woodtv.com/2017/04/06/grpd-defends-holding-unarmed-teens-at-gunpoint/) ---
**Author:** ![TokyoBayer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tokyobayer/32/13989_2.png) [@TokyoBayer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TokyoBayer)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2017, 1:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-encounters-between-law-enforcement-and-civilians-the-omnibus-thread/700942/10552 "2017-04-24T13:38:01Z")
> [@Budget\_Player\_Cadet](#): > > [Please](http://thefreethoughtproject.com/rfk-jr-fox-news-vaccine-safety/) [don’t](http://thefreethoughtproject.com/monsanto-tribunal-ecocide-war-crimes/) [cite](http://thefreethoughtproject.com/activist-privacy-advocate-groups-demand-answers-secret-government-court/) [FreeThoughtProject](http://thefreethoughtproject.com/john-podesta-just-tweeted-terrible-joke-pizza-internet-tore-new-one/). They’re fucking crazy people. Here’s [a source](http://woodtv.com/2017/04/06/grpd-defends-holding-unarmed-teens-at-gunpoint/) from a TV station. The police stopped this group of five black teenagers. Not because they fit a racial profile at all! Oh no! It was because the clothing matched the vague description. Yeah! That’s it! It’s the clothing. > [@](#): > > GRPD Sgt. Terry Dixon told 24 Hour News 8 that officers were told the armed teen was dressed in all black. > > As they searched the area, an officer spotted the group on Francis and determined they met the description. He drew his gun and ordered them to get on the ground, Dixon said. I know they don’t keep stats on things like this, but I’d really like to see the differences between how blacks and white are treated. ---
**Author:** ![Shalmanese](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/45deac/32.png) [@Shalmanese](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shalmanese)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2017, 3:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-encounters-between-law-enforcement-and-civilians-the-omnibus-thread/700942/10553 "2017-04-25T15:59:38Z")
In what should be utterly unsurprising news, [The Chicago PD blames Dr David Dao for the injuries he sustained while being dragged off the plane](http://time.com/4753613/united-dragging-police-reports-dao/). The official report claims: > [@](#): > > the subject started swinging his arms up and down with a closed fist. Ofc. Long was able to grab the subject and pull him away from the window seat towards the aisle. But suddenly the subject started flailing and fighting. which, I dunno, perhaps there might be a video or two floating around somewhere that maybe just blatantly demonstrates this to be a lie. It takes a certain degree of dontgiveafuckness to write something like that. ---
**Author:** ![Projammer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/projammer/32/559_2.png) [@Projammer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Projammer)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2017, 1:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-encounters-between-law-enforcement-and-civilians-the-omnibus-thread/700942/10554 "2017-04-27T01:14:52Z")
The original incident may have been posted earlier, but it’s not coming up under my searches. [Fired Georgia cops face criminal charges](http://www.cnn.com/2017/04/26/us/fired-georgia-gwinnett-county-officers-charged/index.html) > [@](#): > > Two suburban Atlanta police officers who were fired after cell phone footage captured them punching and kicking a motorist now face criminal charges. When are police going to come to terms with the fact that almost every interaction with the public can be recorded? ---
**Author:** ![AtomicDog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ac91a4/32.png) [@AtomicDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AtomicDog)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2017, 6:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-encounters-between-law-enforcement-and-civilians-the-omnibus-thread/700942/10555 "2017-04-27T18:31:34Z")
> [@Projammer](#): > > The original incident may have been posted earlier, but it’s not coming up under my searches. > > [Fired Georgia cops face criminal charges](http://www.cnn.com/2017/04/26/us/fired-georgia-gwinnett-county-officers-charged/index.html) > > When are police going to come to terms with the fact that almost every interaction with the public can be recorded? This post sounds strangely familiar. > [@AtomicDog](#): > > One cop sucker punches suspect, then other cop rushes in and stomps his head after he’s handcuffed. > > [videoed by two separate cameras](http://www.cbs46.com/story/35142338/gwinnett-county-officer-on-leave-after-kicking-handcuffed-man-in-head) > > Someday, cops are going to have to assume that EVERYTHING they do is recorded. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Projammer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/projammer/32/559_2.png) [@Projammer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Projammer)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2017, 10:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-encounters-between-law-enforcement-and-civilians-the-omnibus-thread/700942/10556 "2017-04-27T22:38:20Z")
I figured that the original story was here somewhere, but I never expected the commentary about recording to be there as well. OTOH, it does fall under the heading of blindingly obvious. This should be a fresh one though. [L.A. police officer accused of using excessive force during arrest](http://www.cbsnews.com/news/los-angeles-police-officer-caught-on-camera-excessive-force-arrest/) ---
**Author:** ![AtomicDog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ac91a4/32.png) [@AtomicDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AtomicDog)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2017, 7:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-encounters-between-law-enforcement-and-civilians-the-omnibus-thread/700942/10557 "2017-05-01T19:36:40Z")
[Cop kills fifteen year old black kid through passenger window WITH A RIFLE, police claim car was “backing up aggressively”](https://www.dallasnews.com/news/dallas/2017/04/30/officer-fatally-shoots-15-year-old-balch-springs) No weapons were found, no charges were filed against the other passengers. ---
**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:** [May 1, 2017, 11:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-encounters-between-law-enforcement-and-civilians-the-omnibus-thread/700942/10558 "2017-05-01T23:55:21Z")
> [@AtomicDog](#): > > [Cop kills fifteen year old black kid through passenger window WITH A RIFLE, police claim car was “backing up aggressively”](https://www.dallasnews.com/news/dallas/2017/04/30/officer-fatally-shoots-15-year-old-balch-springs) > > No weapons were found, no charges were filed against the other passengers. Updated to include information that the shot was fired as the car was headed away from the officer. ---
**Author:** ![Kinthalis](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kinthalis/32/16084_2.png) [@Kinthalis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kinthalis)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2017, 12:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-encounters-between-law-enforcement-and-civilians-the-omnibus-thread/700942/10559 "2017-05-02T00:51:15Z")
> [@Ike\_Witt](#): > > Updated to include information that the shot was fired as the car was headed away from the officer. Yep, apparently dash cams and possibly body cams show that the original report of the car aggressively coming towards officers was A FUCKING LIE. What a surprise. ---
**Author:** ![TokyoBayer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tokyobayer/32/13989_2.png) [@TokyoBayer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TokyoBayer)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2017, 4:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-encounters-between-law-enforcement-and-civilians-the-omnibus-thread/700942/10560 "2017-05-02T04:22:09Z")
From the New York Times > [@](#): > > The Police Department in Balch Springs, Tex., said Sunday that the officer, whose name has not been released, fired on a car carrying the teenager, Jordan Edwards, a freshman at Mesquite High School in Balch Springs, because the car was reversing down a street toward the officer in an “aggressive manner.” > > But Jonathan Haber, the police chief, told reporters at a news conference on Monday afternoon that video showed the opposite. He said the officer fired when the car was “moving forward as the officers approached,” according to The Associated Press. The Dallas County medical examiner’s report ruled the death a homicide caused by a “rifle wound” to the head. > > Lee Merritt, a lawyer for the Edwards family, praised the police chief for his willingness to admit the department’s mistake and called the new account “a big deal.” > > “There were no weapons involved; there was no aggressive behavior; these were not suspects,” Mr. Merritt said in a telephone interview. “The lone motive they had for the murder was that the vehicle was being used as a weapon, and now that is no longer there.” I wonder how long it will take the police to understand why they don’t have the trust of a lot of Americans. ---
**Author:** ![PastTense](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pasttense/32/14550_2.png) [@PastTense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PastTense)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2017, 2:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-encounters-between-law-enforcement-and-civilians-the-omnibus-thread/700942/10561 "2017-05-02T14:14:31Z")
> [@](#): > > At Mesquite High School, head football coach Jeff Fleener said he was “crushed and heartbroken” when he found out Jordan had been killed. He said Jordan was a good kid who never got into trouble and had a GPA over 3.5. > Fleener has been at the school only two months, but he said Jordan introduced himself on his first day and that the two became “quick friends.”… > Jordan had a “smile that could light up a room,” Fleener said, and many friends. > “The best thing in the world or the worst thing in the world would happen, and he’d smile, and everything would be OK,” the coach said. “You create a checklist of everything you would want in a player, a son, a teammate, a friend, and Jordan had all that. He was that kid.” > **[15-year-old's brothers watched him die after Balch Springs police shooting,...](https://www.dallasnews.com/news/2017/05/02/15-year-old-s-brothers-watched-him-die-after-balch-springs-police-shooting-family-says/)** > > A 15-year-old was killed when an officer fired at a car Saturday night in Balch Springs, police said. Jordan Edwards, a freshman at Mesquite High... [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-encounters-between-law-enforcement-and-civilians-the-omnibus-thread/700942.md?page=527) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-encounters-between-law-enforcement-and-civilians-the-omnibus-thread/700942.md?page=529)