# 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:** 681
**Author:** ![Rick\_Kitchen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rick_kitchen/32/522_2.png) [@Rick\_Kitchen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rick_Kitchen)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2018, 8:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-encounters-between-law-enforcement-and-civilians-the-omnibus-thread/700942/13602 "2018-05-21T20:24:45Z")
Border Patrolman detains two American citizens for the crime of speaking Spanish in Montana. > **[Two U.S. citizens say Border Patrol agent detained them for speaking Spanish](https://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/news/388551-two-us-citizens-say-border-patrol-agent-detained-them-for/)** > > A Montana woman and her friend — both U.S. citizens — say a Border Patrol agent detained them at a gas station after he overheard them speaking Spanish.Ana Suda told The Washington Post  … ---
**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 21, 2018, 8:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-encounters-between-law-enforcement-and-civilians-the-omnibus-thread/700942/13603 "2018-05-21T20:30:53Z")
Holy Shit! If Mexicans start crossing the border from Canada too, who knows WHAT we can do to protect our country! ---
**Author:** ![Steophan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/steophan/32/9595_2.png) [@Steophan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Steophan)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2018, 9:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-encounters-between-law-enforcement-and-civilians-the-omnibus-thread/700942/13604 "2018-05-21T21:12:56Z")
> [@SaneBill](#): > > Ask Steophan which one is a Fascist. Dunno, which one turned his colleague or neighbour in for a petty “crime” that most people don’t actually think is wrong? Oh, wait, that doesn’t actually apply here in any fashion. ---
**Author:** ![Chisquirrel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6bbea6/32.png) [@Chisquirrel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chisquirrel)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2018, 4:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-encounters-between-law-enforcement-and-civilians-the-omnibus-thread/700942/13605 "2018-05-22T04:49:55Z")
> [@Steophan](#): > > Dunno, which one turned his colleague or neighbour in for a petty “crime” that most people don’t actually think is wrong? > > Oh, wait, that doesn’t actually apply here in any fashion. Depends, was one of them playing music loudly? ---
**Author:** ![Steophan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/steophan/32/9595_2.png) [@Steophan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Steophan)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2018, 7:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-encounters-between-law-enforcement-and-civilians-the-omnibus-thread/700942/13606 "2018-05-22T07:06:35Z")
> [@Chisquirrel](#): > > Depends, was one of them playing music loudly? I don’t recall advocating for calling the police on people playing music too loudly, just being allowed to defend yourself against people who threaten to shoot you if you ask them to turn it down. ---
**Author:** ![Chisquirrel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6bbea6/32.png) [@Chisquirrel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chisquirrel)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2018, 9:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-encounters-between-law-enforcement-and-civilians-the-omnibus-thread/700942/13607 "2018-05-22T09:32:49Z")
> [@Steophan](#): > > I don’t recall advocating for calling the police on people playing music too loudly, just being allowed to defend yourself against people who threaten to shoot you if you ask them to turn it down. So calling the police is unnecessary, but shooting people driving away is not. ---
**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 22, 2018, 1:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-encounters-between-law-enforcement-and-civilians-the-omnibus-thread/700942/13608 "2018-05-22T13:56:16Z")
> [@Steophan](#): > > Dunno, which one turned his colleague or neighbour in for a petty “crime” that most people don’t actually think is wrong? > > Oh, wait, that doesn’t actually apply here in any fashion. You think that a cop kicking a man in the head while he is on the ground handcuffed is a petty crime that shouldn’t result in any repercussions. You also think that a person who shoots another person because they were playing loud music is a good guy to have around. Your judgement is flawed, and I dare say, dangerous. You should probably look into that. ---
**Author:** ![Steophan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/steophan/32/9595_2.png) [@Steophan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Steophan)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2018, 2:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-encounters-between-law-enforcement-and-civilians-the-omnibus-thread/700942/13609 "2018-05-22T14:06:28Z")
> [@Slash1972](#): > > You also think that a person who shoots another person because they were playing loud music is a good guy to have around. I’ve never claimed that, I’ve said that someone who’s not afraid to stand up to antisocial behaviour and willing to defend themselves if attacked is a good person to have around. I don’t think there was _ever_ a reasonable claim, even by the prosecution, that he shot him because he was playing loud music. The irony of everyone here overreacting to supposed police violence and self defence is that, if your ideas came to pass, you’d have violent criminals going around unchallenged. Hell, there’s already far too much of that happening because the justice system is far too focussed on petty but easily proven “crimes”\* such as drug possession. \*Quote marks because this sort of thing obviously should not be a crime. ---
**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 22, 2018, 2:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-encounters-between-law-enforcement-and-civilians-the-omnibus-thread/700942/13610 "2018-05-22T14:09:53Z")
Why do you continue to talk to **Steophan** as if there was any sense of rationality there that _could_ be engaged with? ---
**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 22, 2018, 2:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-encounters-between-law-enforcement-and-civilians-the-omnibus-thread/700942/13611 "2018-05-22T14:11:42Z")
> [@Budget\_Player\_Cadet](#): > > Why do you continue to talk to **Steophan** as if there was any sense of rationality there that _could_ be engaged with? Bored 🙂 ---
**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 22, 2018, 2:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-encounters-between-law-enforcement-and-civilians-the-omnibus-thread/700942/13612 "2018-05-22T14:13:15Z")
> [@Steophan](#): > > I’ve never claimed that, I’ve said that someone who’s not afraid to stand up to antisocial behaviour and willing to defend themselves if attacked is a good person to have around. I don’t think there was _ever_ a reasonable claim, even by the prosecution, that he shot him because he was playing loud music You used the guy who shot a person for playing loud music as an example of someone who is a good person to have around. > [@](#): > > The irony of everyone here overreacting to supposed police violence and self defence is that, if your ideas came to pass, you’d have violent criminals going around unchallenged. Hell, there’s already far too much of that happening because the justice system is far too focussed on petty but easily proven “crimes”\* such as drug possession You think a video of a cop kicking a handcuffed man in the head is “supposed police violence” and “petty crime”?? ---
**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 22, 2018, 2:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-encounters-between-law-enforcement-and-civilians-the-omnibus-thread/700942/13613 "2018-05-22T14:45:13Z")
> [@Rick\_Kitchen](#): > > Border Patrolman detains two American citizens for the crime of speaking Spanish in Montana. > [http://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/news/388551-two-us-citizens-say-border-patrol-agent-detained-them-for](http://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/news/388551-two-us-citizens-say-border-patrol-agent-detained-them-for) > [@](#): > > “Ma’am, the reason I asked you for your ID is because I came in here, and I saw that you guys are speaking Spanish, which is very unheard of up here,” the agent says in the video. > … > The agent then denies that the incident is racial profiling. > > “It has nothing to do with that,” the agent tells her. “It’s the fact that it has to do with you guys speaking Spanish in the store, in a state where it’s predominantly English-speaking.” No, you fucking idiot, that’s exactly what racial profiling is. ---
**Author:** ![Chisquirrel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6bbea6/32.png) [@Chisquirrel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chisquirrel)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2018, 11:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-encounters-between-law-enforcement-and-civilians-the-omnibus-thread/700942/13614 "2018-05-22T23:43:37Z")
> [@Steophan](#): > > I’ve never claimed that, I’ve said that someone who’s not afraid to stand up to antisocial behaviour and **willing to defend themselves if attacked is a good person to have around.** I don’t think there was _ever_ a reasonable claim, even by the prosecution, that he shot him because he was playing loud music. > > The irony of everyone here overreacting to supposed police violence and self defence is that, if your ideas came to pass, you’d have violent criminals going around unchallenged. Hell, there’s already far too much of that happening because the justice system is far too focussed on petty but easily proven “crimes”\* such as drug possession. > > \*Quote marks because this sort of thing obviously should not be a crime. Bolding mine. I often attack idiots by driving away. I’m surprised no one has defended against me to death! As for “violent criminals going around unchallenged”, last I checked, this entire thread is devoted to innocent people being assaulted or murdered by police, and the thought that police officers are not the judge, nor the jury, nor the executioner, yet we find them acting in this regard repeatedly. Cite that recent calls for police to not be assholes have caused an increase in violent crime? ---
**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:** [May 23, 2018, 1:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-encounters-between-law-enforcement-and-civilians-the-omnibus-thread/700942/13615 "2018-05-23T01:12:40Z")
> [@Chisquirrel](#): > > Cite that recent calls for police to not be assholes have caused an increase in violent crime? Well it pisses them off, and the more they are pissed off . . . ---
**Author:** ![Rick\_Kitchen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rick_kitchen/32/522_2.png) [@Rick\_Kitchen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rick_Kitchen)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2018, 6:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-encounters-between-law-enforcement-and-civilians-the-omnibus-thread/700942/13616 "2018-05-23T18:03:59Z")
Atlanta: Three black women arrested for spending too long in a bathroom. > **[Women claim security officer assaulted them at Houston's; TI calls for boycott](https://www.wsbtv.com/news/local/atlanta/women-claims-security-officer-assaulted-them-at-houstons-ti-calls-for-boycott-of-houstons/754648871/)** > > A video showing a security officer holding down a woman at Houston’s restaurant is going viral, after local rapper TI posted it on his social media. Kansas: Black man pulled out of his car and the car searched without his consent because there were leaves stuck to his windshield. > **[Cops Accused Of Racism After Detaining Black Man Over 'Vegetation'](https://www.yahoo.com/news/cops-accused-racism-detaining-black-003337363.html)** > > "If you want to see a video of racial profiling, this is the poster child right here," an attorney said. ---
**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 23, 2018, 6:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-encounters-between-law-enforcement-and-civilians-the-omnibus-thread/700942/13617 "2018-05-23T18:29:22Z")
> [@Rick\_Kitchen](#): > > Atlanta: Three black women arrested for spending too long in a bathroom. > [https://www.wsbtv.com/news/local/atlanta/women-claims-security-officer-assaulted-them-at-houstons-ti-calls-for-boycott-of-houstons/754648871](https://www.wsbtv.com/news/local/atlanta/women-claims-security-officer-assaulted-them-at-houstons-ti-calls-for-boycott-of-houstons/754648871) I don’t think this one counts. > [@](#): > > Police said it started because Lucio and her two friends refused to leave Houston’s women’s bathroom after the restaurant closed. despite being asked multiple times, first by management then by the security officer. > [@](#): > > Houston’s released a statement to Channel 2 Action News: > > “We are aware of a complaint regarding an incident at our Houston’s Restaurant on Peachtree Road on May 13th and are cooperating with the Atlanta Police Department (APD). The evidence we have seen thus far shows that three women arrived approximately 30 minutes after closing time, they went into the restroom as a group after being told that the restaurant was closed, the three stayed in the restroom for more than 10 minutes, and refused to leave despite repeated requests from several managers to do so. Eventually, an off-duty Atlanta Police Officer again asked the women to leave. An altercation with the APD officer ensued which led to additional APD being summoned.” ---
**Author:** ![Rick\_Kitchen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rick_kitchen/32/522_2.png) [@Rick\_Kitchen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rick_Kitchen)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2018, 6:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-encounters-between-law-enforcement-and-civilians-the-omnibus-thread/700942/13618 "2018-05-23T18:32:59Z")
The restaurant was no longer serving customers, but there were still customers eating. It was not closed. ---
**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 23, 2018, 6:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-encounters-between-law-enforcement-and-civilians-the-omnibus-thread/700942/13619 "2018-05-23T18:40:16Z")
That’s not how it works. You close at 9, you stop letting people in at 9. You’ve heard people say ‘Sorry, we’re closed’ haven’t ya? Happened to me! ---
**Author:** ![Leaper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/4bbf92/32.png) [@Leaper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaper)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2018, 3:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-encounters-between-law-enforcement-and-civilians-the-omnibus-thread/700942/13620 "2018-05-24T03:19:41Z")
And if he weren’t an NBA player, we’d never have heard about any of this: [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oPSpmk7S4eg&feature=youtu.be](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oPSpmk7S4eg&feature=youtu.be) An assistant police chief actually asked for support from a (black, I think) church a little while ago. They knew. ---
**Author:** ![Johanna](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johanna/32/8318_2.png) [@Johanna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johanna)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2018, 10:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-encounters-between-law-enforcement-and-civilians-the-omnibus-thread/700942/13621 "2018-05-28T10:11:56Z")
I wasn’t sure if New Mexico Republican legislator [Monica Youngblood](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monica_Youngblood) should go in the Stupid Republican Idea thread or this one. If there was a thread for Blatant Republican Hypocrisy I’d post this there. Yeah, her aggravated [DWI](http://www.santafenewmexican.com/monica-youngblood-full-field-sobriety-test/youtube_d582a9ba-5e14-11e8-bee5-abeae345238c.html) [arrest](http://www.krqe.com/news/crime/new-mexico-state-representative-arrested-for-dwi/1190044124) is a “[controversial encounter](https://www.alternet.org/news-amp-politics/watch-republican-lawmaker-tries-guilt-police-out-arresting-her-dui),” all right, but not for the usual reasons. The arresting officer was unfailingly professional, polite, and correct. Monica, on the other hand, tried to use her political position to sway the police to make an exception for her. Which is a [crime](http://www.krqe.com/news/albuquerque-metro/ag-will-investigate-if-youngblood-used-position-to-influence-officers/1196317627), isn’t it? Abuse of power under the State Governmental Conduct Act. The NM attorney general is investigating whether to bring charges on that. The kicker is — get this: As part of her get-tough-on-crime politics, she supports **mandatory breath tests** on DWI suspects. But when she failed the field sobriety test, she **refused** to take the breath test. :dubious: [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-encounters-between-law-enforcement-and-civilians-the-omnibus-thread/700942.md?page=680) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-encounters-between-law-enforcement-and-civilians-the-omnibus-thread/700942.md?page=682)