# 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:** 680
**Author:** ![mhendo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mhendo/32/3159_2.png) [@mhendo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mhendo)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2018, 6:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-encounters-between-law-enforcement-and-civilians-the-omnibus-thread/700942/13582 "2018-05-12T06:15:35Z")
> [@Snowboarder\_Bo](#): > > > [@](#): > > > > Officer Richard Scavone, 43, used “not only excessive, but also unreasonable” force in the 5 a.m. Jan. 6 scuffle in a neon-lit industrial area one block west Las Vegas Strip resorts, Clark County Undersheriff Kevin McMahill told reporters outside Las Vegas police headquarters. > > > > “We’re not going to shy away from bringing these incidents to light when a body camera captures actions of one of our officers that do not appear to be within the confines of law and policy,” McMahill said. > > > > The video, as part of a criminal investigation, won’t immediately be made public, he said. > > > > Charges were dropped against the woman, who received what officials termed a minor facial injury when a piece of pierced jewelry was ripped out. > > I suppose a conviction in this case will mean that fewer people who might brutalize the defenseless under cover of authority will seek a career as police officers. I can live with that (and want to). [I just discovered that this case (from 2015) wrapped up back in January.](https://www.reviewjournal.com/crime/courts/ex-las-vegas-police-officer-sentenced-for-excessive-force/) The video, which has now been released, is available at the link. It’s pretty fucking disturbing shit. The original story, posted by **Snowboarder Bo** , had the Clark County DA filing charges, but the cop was eventually charged by the feds and [pleaded guilty to deprivation of rights under color of law](https://www.reviewjournal.com/crime/courts/ex-las-vegas-cop-pleads-guilty-to-federal-charge/) back in September last year. He was sentenced to a year in prison, followed by a year of supervised release, a $20,000 fine, and 300 hours of community service. Excellent! Part of the deal he made was that he can no longer work as a police officer. It’s a shame this can’t always be taken for granted after cops brutalize members of the public. ---
**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 12, 2018, 12:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-encounters-between-law-enforcement-and-civilians-the-omnibus-thread/700942/13583 "2018-05-12T12:34:20Z")
> [@](#): > > who received what officials termed a minor facial injury when a piece of pierced jewelry was ripped out. Is having a piercing ripped out a minor injury? It seems to me that could be permanently disfiguring. ---
**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:** [May 13, 2018, 12:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-encounters-between-law-enforcement-and-civilians-the-omnibus-thread/700942/13584 "2018-05-13T00:43:52Z")
Minor in the sense that it could probably be treated with neosporin and a band-aid. ---
**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:** [May 14, 2018, 2:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-encounters-between-law-enforcement-and-civilians-the-omnibus-thread/700942/13585 "2018-05-14T02:58:18Z")
“[A white Wisconsin police officer](https://thinkprogress.org/wisconsin-cop-punches-black-teenager-in-face-mall-parking-lot-video-51205356bbae/) repeatedly punched a 17-year-old Black teenager in the face, while a mall security officer restrained the teenager, according to cellphone video filmed by a bystander.” ---
**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:** [May 14, 2018, 4:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-encounters-between-law-enforcement-and-civilians-the-omnibus-thread/700942/13586 "2018-05-14T04:20:36Z")
> [@Evil\_Economist](#): > > Didn’t \*\*Shodan \*\*used to be a better poster? Now he just seems angry and racist and inarticulate. Thank you to you, and to **Budget Player Cadet**. The whinings of **Shodan** don’t appear for me unless someone quotes them, so I’m grateful for a few snips of **Best of Shodan** to remind myself how America ended up with garbage like Trump. All things considered, however, I’d prefer less quoting of this semi-sentient whiner, not more. Why would I go to an embittered garbage-man for my recreational outrage when I can get my fill from millionaires like Trump, Hannity or even Alex Jones on YouTube? ---
**Author:** ![Slash1972](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slash1972/32/6461_2.png) [@Slash1972](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slash1972)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2018, 1:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-encounters-between-law-enforcement-and-civilians-the-omnibus-thread/700942/13587 "2018-05-14T13:44:54Z")
> [@Evil\_Economist](#): > > “[A white Wisconsin police officer](https://thinkprogress.org/wisconsin-cop-punches-black-teenager-in-face-mall-parking-lot-video-51205356bbae/) repeatedly punched a 17-year-old Black teenager in the face, while a mall security officer restrained the teenager, according to cellphone video filmed by a bystander.” Meh. That’s just some minor, petty face-punching. No need to get worked up over it, and certainly not something you would turn in your neighbors or local law enforcement for. It’s just face-punching after all. ---
**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:** [May 14, 2018, 1:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-encounters-between-law-enforcement-and-civilians-the-omnibus-thread/700942/13588 "2018-05-14T13:48:06Z")
> [@septimus](#): > > Thank you to you, and to **Budget Player Cadet**. The whinings of **Shodan** don’t appear for me unless someone quotes them, so I’m grateful for a few snips of **Best of Shodan** to remind myself how America ended up with garbage like Trump. > > All things considered, however, I’d prefer less quoting of this semi-sentient whiner, not more. Why would I go to an embittered garbage-man for my recreational outrage when I can get my fill from millionaires like Trump, Hannity or even Alex Jones on YouTube? I guess the lesson here is that I am very very slow to put people on ignore. I assume Shodan will say something if not correct then at least _interesting_ from time to time. Meanwhile, I’m halfway convinced I should just start blanket ignoring anyone who quotes **Clothahump** or **Steophan**. ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2018, 3:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-encounters-between-law-enforcement-and-civilians-the-omnibus-thread/700942/13589 "2018-05-14T15:32:04Z")
> [@Evil\_Economist](#): > > Didn’t \*\*Shodan \*\*used to be a better poster? No. ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2018, 3:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-encounters-between-law-enforcement-and-civilians-the-omnibus-thread/700942/13590 "2018-05-14T15:39:26Z")
> [@mhendo](#): > > [I just discovered that this case (from 2015) wrapped up back in January.](https://www.reviewjournal.com/crime/courts/ex-las-vegas-police-officer-sentenced-for-excessive-force/) The video, which has now been released, is available at the link. It’s pretty fucking disturbing shit. I keep thinking that someday soon, someone, a bystander or a passerby, is gonna see this kind of thing happening and shoot the cop. Thanks for update, **mhendo**. I missed the story because I don’t read Sheldon Adelson’s newspaper. ---
**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:** [May 14, 2018, 9:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-encounters-between-law-enforcement-and-civilians-the-omnibus-thread/700942/13591 "2018-05-14T21:50:01Z")
> **[Black people in NYC are 8 times more likely to be arrested for marijuana than...](https://www.vox.com/identities/2018/5/14/17353040/racial-disparity-marijuana-arrests-new-york-city-nypd)** > > The NYPD said more 911 calls were behind racial disparities in marijuana arrests. It doesn’t explain the difference. Black people in NYC are 8 times more likely to be arrested for marijuana than white people, despite the same estimates on actual marijuana usage. The NYPD argued that this was due to more 911 calls in those neighborhoods. But the data didn’t match this; there were roughly equal amounts of complaints made about marijuana usage. ---
**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:** [May 15, 2018, 12:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-encounters-between-law-enforcement-and-civilians-the-omnibus-thread/700942/13592 "2018-05-15T00:02:22Z")
[Louisiana man who died in police custody asphyxiated, had neck trauma](https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/louisiana-man-who-died-in-police-custody-asphyxiated-had-neck-trauma/ar-AAxh8PJ?li=BBnbfcL&ocid=iehp) > [@](#): > > A young black man who died in the custody of four white Louisiana deputies had “significant traumatic injuries” to his neck consistent with asphyxiation, according to the coroner, who classified the case as a homicide. > [@](#): > > The damage to the soft tissues of his neck, he said, left him confident that the cause of death will be “compression asphyxia” when the autopsy process is completed. He said it was consistent with someone choking, grabbing or leaning on Robinson’s neck. ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2018, 3:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-encounters-between-law-enforcement-and-civilians-the-omnibus-thread/700942/13593 "2018-05-17T15:41:38Z")
[This seems like a bad deal for everyone except the cop](https://apnews.com/ae34ffdb769f408c91e8a583fa369000/Ex-deputy-gets-3-years'-probation-for-shooting-Florida-man): > [@](#): > > A fired Florida sheriff’s deputy won’t spend any time in prison for shooting a handcuffed man during a traffic stop. > > The Tampa Bay Times reports 62-year-old Timothy Virden pleaded guilty Tuesday to attempted manslaughter. The Pinellas-Pasco State Attorney’s Office struck a plea deal with Virden that called for no prison time. He was sentenced to three years of probation. > [@](#): > > Records show Virden fired two shots into Dylan Tompkins-Holmes after he was arrested for obstruction. > > Last month, Tompkins-Holmes settled with Virden. The agreement says he won’t collect damages from the ex-deputy but could seek a judgment in a special claims bill filed with the state Legislature. ---
**Author:** ![Eonwe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eonwe/32/240_2.png) [@Eonwe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eonwe)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2018, 3:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-encounters-between-law-enforcement-and-civilians-the-omnibus-thread/700942/13594 "2018-05-17T15:54:07Z")
> [@iiandyiiii](#): > > [Black people in NYC are 8x more likely to be arrested for marijuana - Vox](https://www.vox.com/identities/2018/5/14/17353040/racial-disparity-marijuana-arrests-new-york-city-nypd) > > Black people in NYC are 8 times more likely to be arrested for marijuana than white people, despite the same estimates on actual marijuana usage. > > The NYPD argued that this was due to more 911 calls in those neighborhoods. But the data didn’t match this; there were roughly equal amounts of complaints made about marijuana usage. Yeah, but: > [@Shodan](#): > > Black Lies Matter! > [@Typo\_Negative](#): > > [Louisiana man who died in police custody asphyxiated, had neck trauma](https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/louisiana-man-who-died-in-police-custody-asphyxiated-had-neck-trauma/ar-AAxh8PJ?li=BBnbfcL&ocid=iehp) Whatever: > [@Shodan](#): > > Black Lies Matter! ---
**Author:** ![SaneBill](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e68b1a/32.png) [@SaneBill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SaneBill)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2018, 4:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-encounters-between-law-enforcement-and-civilians-the-omnibus-thread/700942/13595 "2018-05-17T16:12:51Z")
> [@Snowboarder\_Bo](#): > > [This seems like a bad deal for everyone except the cop](https://apnews.com/ae34ffdb769f408c91e8a583fa369000/Ex-deputy-gets-3-years'-probation-for-shooting-Florida-man): > [@](#): > > Virden arrested Tompkins-Holmes on a charge of obstruction of justice. But word seems to be coming out that it isn’t a crime in itself. I heard it from a person who has a very good brain. > [@](#): > > As deputies walked him to the back of a sheriff’s vehicle, the agency said, Tompkins-Holmes’ pants dropped to the floor and he started cursing at the deputy as they placed him in the cruiser. > That’s when the Sheriff’s Office said Virden fired two shots into Tompkins-Holmes. He underwent surgery to remove part of his intestine and a bullet that was lodged in his spine. Sounds legit. What else is more scary than a black man with his pants down. Esp. named Holmes… ---
**Author:** ![k9bfriender](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/k9bfriender/32/3283_2.png) [@k9bfriender](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/k9bfriender)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2018, 4:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-encounters-between-law-enforcement-and-civilians-the-omnibus-thread/700942/13596 "2018-05-17T16:22:04Z")
> [@SaneBill](#): > > But word seems to be coming out that it isn’t a crime in itself. I heard it from a person who has a very good brain. I have to admit I will have very mixed feelings about when they put that particular person into the back of the squad car, exactly [“how nice”](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1eVPKpBKGCE) they should be. ---
**Author:** ![Slash1972](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slash1972/32/6461_2.png) [@Slash1972](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slash1972)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2018, 4:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-encounters-between-law-enforcement-and-civilians-the-omnibus-thread/700942/13597 "2018-05-17T16:22:31Z")
He was threatening the cop with a deadly weapon. ---
**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:** [May 17, 2018, 4:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-encounters-between-law-enforcement-and-civilians-the-omnibus-thread/700942/13598 "2018-05-17T16:25:05Z")
> [@Snowboarder\_Bo](#): > > [This seems like a bad deal for everyone except the cop](https://apnews.com/ae34ffdb769f408c91e8a583fa369000/Ex-deputy-gets-3-years'-probation-for-shooting-Florida-man): went back to the story about the arrest. [Pinellas deputy arrested for attempted manslaughter](http://www.fox13news.com/news/fox-13-investigates/pinellas-deputy-arrested-for-attempted-manslaughter) Here is some industrial grade bullshit: > [@](#): > > Hours after the shooting had taken place, Sheriff Bob Gualtieri said that 26-year-old Dylan Tompkins-Holmes – while handcuffed – had successfully pulled Virden’s gun out of its secured holster and threatened the deputy. > > Gualtieri also provided a legal justification for his deputy’s actions: “During the course of that struggle, Deputy Virden was concerned and feared his safety and his life,” he told gathering morning news crews. “Deputy Virden was able to get his gun back and he shot Tompkins-Holmes twice.” Then, the sheriff had second thoughts: > [@](#): > > “Simply put, Deputy Virden’s version of events did not and could not happen, and there was no legal justification for the shooting of Dylan Tompkins-Holmes,” Gualtieri said. D’uh. So, in that juristiction, a police officer can shoot an unarmed man, handcuffed and in custody, lie about it and claim justification that is CLEARLY bullshit when viewing the camera footage and even another cop calls bullshit as well: > [@](#): > > He played dashcam video of the shooting which countered the deputy’s account. > > “There’s no evidence of a struggle, no evidence of anybody reaching for a gun,” Gualtieri offered after showing the footage. “This is all inconsistent with Deputy Virden’s version of events.” > > A second deputy at the scene also refuted Virden’s claims that Tompkins-Holmes was a threat. and all that happens to the police officer is he looses his job. I wish I was surprised. ☹ ---
**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:** [May 17, 2018, 4:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-encounters-between-law-enforcement-and-civilians-the-omnibus-thread/700942/13599 "2018-05-17T16:28:37Z")
Actually, I think the fact that other deputy didn’t back his story may be a good sign. ---
**Author:** ![Slash1972](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slash1972/32/6461_2.png) [@Slash1972](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slash1972)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2018, 4:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-encounters-between-law-enforcement-and-civilians-the-omnibus-thread/700942/13600 "2018-05-17T16:32:03Z")
> [@Typo\_Negative](#): > > Actually, I think the fact that other deputy didn’t back his story may be a good sign. Bah. That deputy had to have been there when telling the fake story to the Sheriff who then repeated it at a news conference the next morning. What I don’t understand is, didn’t the officers know the dashcam was running to record the guy NOT grabbing the gun? ---
**Author:** ![SaneBill](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e68b1a/32.png) [@SaneBill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SaneBill)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2018, 4:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-encounters-between-law-enforcement-and-civilians-the-omnibus-thread/700942/13601 "2018-05-17T16:51:52Z")
> [@Typo\_Negative](#): > > Actually, I think the fact that other deputy didn’t back his story may be a good sign. Ask Steophan which one is a Fascist. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-encounters-between-law-enforcement-and-civilians-the-omnibus-thread/700942.md?page=679) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-encounters-between-law-enforcement-and-civilians-the-omnibus-thread/700942.md?page=681)