# Teacher pepper-sprayed while talking on the phone **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [January 30, 2015, 2:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/teacher-pepper-sprayed-while-talking-on-the-phone/711330 "2015-01-30T14:45:56Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Magiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2015, 11:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/teacher-pepper-sprayed-while-talking-on-the-phone/711330/61 "2015-01-30T23:14:44Z")
> [@Smapti](#): > > A group of 40 or 50 people surrounding the cops and refusing to disperse, you say? > > No, I can’t imagine why they’d go for the pepper spray. No sirree Bob. They were dispersing in an orderly fashion. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2015, 11:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/teacher-pepper-sprayed-while-talking-on-the-phone/711330/62 "2015-01-30T23:29:09Z")
> [@Dag\_Otto](#): > > Give her a break. Cops like her are on high alert because they know how long it takes them to reach into their breast pocket, grab their one bullet, and load it. Hahahahahaha! Nip it! Nip it in the bud! ---
**Author:** ![Grotonian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/c2a13f/32.png) [@Grotonian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grotonian)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2015, 11:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/teacher-pepper-sprayed-while-talking-on-the-phone/711330/63 "2015-01-30T23:59:51Z")
The cops were standing still, screaming, “Get Back!” and “Stay Back!” The cop waving pepper spray did not verbally define how far away, “back” is. Hipster teacher in the cool hat had a different definition of how far away, “back” is; and thought his definition should prevail. She then defined her terms with pepper spray. Apparently, “back,” to her, is out of the range of pepper spray. Now he knows. He might have erred on the side of caution but chose not to, and now he’s crying about. How is the cop the bitch? ---
**Author:** ![Magiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2015, 12:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/teacher-pepper-sprayed-while-talking-on-the-phone/711330/64 "2015-01-31T00:43:21Z")
> [@Grotonian](#): > > The cops were standing still, screaming, “Get Back!” and “Stay Back!” The cop waving pepper spray did not verbally define how far away, “back” is. Hipster teacher in the cool hat had a different definition of how far away, “back” is; and thought his definition should prevail. > > She then defined her terms with pepper spray. Apparently, “back,” to her, is out of the range of pepper spray. Now he knows. He might have erred on the side of caution but chose not to, and now he’s crying about. How is the cop the bitch? She overreacted. Nobody was advancing on the cops. They were walking by. Note the lack of concern displayed by all the other officers. She could have started a riot over that and gotten people killed. “bitch” is not the word I’m thinking of. ---
**Author:** ![TroutMan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/troutman/32/6721_2.png) [@TroutMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TroutMan)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2015, 1:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/teacher-pepper-sprayed-while-talking-on-the-phone/711330/65 "2015-01-31T01:00:40Z")
For the people who feel the officer was at all justified in this or was “surrounded” by protesters, look at [this still from the video](http://static3.nydailynews.com/polopoly_fs/1.2096477.1422555263!/img/httpImage/image.jpg_gen/derivatives/article_970/pepper30n-2-web.jpg). How can you say she was in imminent danger? And she “defined her terms with pepper spray?” I think the hipster teacher in the cool hat (:rolleyes:) will define his terms to be the correct ones with the help of $500K. ---
**Author:** ![dropzone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dropzone/32/7515_2.png) [@dropzone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dropzone)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2015, 1:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/teacher-pepper-sprayed-while-talking-on-the-phone/711330/66 "2015-01-31T01:35:13Z")
> [@sweat209](#): > > We talk and get supervisor after we beet you down in handcuffs. Does that make them beet cops? ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2015, 1:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/teacher-pepper-sprayed-while-talking-on-the-phone/711330/67 "2015-01-31T01:40:05Z")
> [@TroutMan](#): > > For the people who feel the officer was at all justified in this or was “surrounded” by protesters, look at [this still from the video](http://static3.nydailynews.com/polopoly_fs/1.2096477.1422555263!/img/httpImage/image.jpg_gen/derivatives/article_970/pepper30n-2-web.jpg). How can you say she was in imminent danger? > > And she “defined her terms with pepper spray?” I think the hipster teacher in the cool hat (:rolleyes:) will define his terms to be the correct ones with the help of $500K. Hahaha. The rest of the cops seem alert, but sorta bored. “He’s taller than me, TAKE THAT!” It looks like an ‘anti-protester’ the guy with a sign at the very beginning of the video, had a short conversation with them and sort of just shrugged and walked away. Or perhaps he was being directed to the protest. No way to know. ---
**Author:** ![Aquadementia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aquadementia/32/555_2.png) [@Aquadementia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aquadementia)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2015, 1:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/teacher-pepper-sprayed-while-talking-on-the-phone/711330/68 "2015-01-31T01:45:04Z")
Bike cops need to prove a point. > [@Grotonian](#): > > The cops were standing still, screaming, “Get Back!” and “Stay Back!” The cop waving pepper spray did not verbally define how far away, “back” is. Hipster teacher in the cool hat had a different definition of how far away, “back” is; and thought his definition should prevail. A guy can’t wear a hat on cool day? > [@TroutMan](#): > > For the people who feel the officer was at all justified in this or was “surrounded” by protesters, look at [this still from the video](http://static3.nydailynews.com/polopoly_fs/1.2096477.1422555263!/img/httpImage/image.jpg_gen/derivatives/article_970/pepper30n-2-web.jpg). How can you say she was in imminent danger? > > And she “defined her terms with pepper spray?” I think the hipster teacher in the cool hat (:rolleyes:) will define his terms to be the correct ones with the help of $500K. That old lady got a face full. Look at her with that gangsta knit cap. She was probably talking trash to the cop and the teacher got in the way. ---
**Author:** ![Ranger\_Jeff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ranger_jeff/32/2065_2.png) [@Ranger\_Jeff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ranger_Jeff)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2015, 1:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/teacher-pepper-sprayed-while-talking-on-the-phone/711330/69 "2015-01-31T01:56:42Z")
I didn’t see anyone challenging the police line of bicycles. I saw some people walking parallel to the bicycle line. I didn’t see any “protesters” shouting abuse or chanting at the police line. And I saw no provocation for the cop to be using her pepper spray like that. ---
**Author:** ![Grotonian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/c2a13f/32.png) [@Grotonian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grotonian)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2015, 3:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/teacher-pepper-sprayed-while-talking-on-the-phone/711330/70 "2015-01-31T03:01:21Z")
> [@TroutMan](#): > > For the people who feel the officer was at all justified in this or was “surrounded” by protesters, look at [this still from the video](http://static3.nydailynews.com/polopoly_fs/1.2096477.1422555263!/img/httpImage/image.jpg_gen/derivatives/article_970/pepper30n-2-web.jpg). How can you say she was in imminent danger? > > And she “defined her terms with pepper spray?” I think the hipster teacher in the cool hat (:rolleyes:) will define his terms to be the correct ones with the help of $500K. Who said she was in imminent danger? If the law is that cops must be “in imminent danger to lawfully use pepper spray”, then I admit I am wrong to defend her. However, if the law is that cops may use some version of “reasonable force to gain compliance with a lawful order,” then how wildly and loudly does she have to scream before hipster has to comply? ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2015, 3:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/teacher-pepper-sprayed-while-talking-on-the-phone/711330/71 "2015-01-31T03:21:45Z")
> [@drachillix](#): > > I would prefer to see the the video about a minute or so before this…she already had her pepper spray out when the video starts so I am wondering if there was something else that set her off a few seconds before this. [Here](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dZ6s-U1dKuk) is another video taken from an office building overlooking the incident. According to the [Seattle Times](http://seattletimes.com/html/localnews/2025568876_peppersprayedxml.html), someone from a splinter group knocked an officer off his bike. (I think he’s the body lying in the street or sidewalk.) That’s why the police set up the police barricade and the one officer freaked out and starting to spray into the crowd. I noticed in the video in the OP that she sprays twice more after hitting the guy; one time her spray was just into an empty part of the street. The Seattle Times article says that pepper spray was used six times. ---
**Author:** ![vomit\_comet](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/73ab20/32.png) [@vomit\_comet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vomit_comet)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2015, 3:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/teacher-pepper-sprayed-while-talking-on-the-phone/711330/72 "2015-01-31T03:25:31Z")
She should work for the TSA. When she goes for the interview all she has to do is point the HR person to this video and she’ll be hired on the spot. ---
**Author:** ![China\_Guy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/779978/32.png) [@China\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/China_Guy)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2015, 3:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/teacher-pepper-sprayed-while-talking-on-the-phone/711330/73 "2015-01-31T03:31:57Z")
> [@Smapti](#): > > in a town where protests are frequently disrupted by violent anarchists, feet away from a police officer giving a stern command to get back? Got a cite or three for that? I mean, there was WTO in 1999, with debate on the \*extent \*of that, and if I’m not mistaken that was in the last century. I’ve lived in the Seattle area for the past 4.5 years and sheeplely unaware of frequent violent anarchist protests. Please enlighten me to the danger I live in every day. Thanks in advance. ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2015, 3:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/teacher-pepper-sprayed-while-talking-on-the-phone/711330/74 "2015-01-31T03:39:11Z")
> [@China\_Guy](#): > > Got a cite or three for that? I mean, there was WTO in 1999, with debate on the \*extent \*of that, and if I’m not mistaken that was in the last century. I’ve lived in the Seattle area for the past 4.5 years and sheeplely unaware of frequent violent anarchist protests. Please enlighten me to the danger I live in every day. Thanks in advance. See the above video. ---
**Author:** ![Asimovian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asimovian/32/172_2.png) [@Asimovian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Asimovian)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2015, 3:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/teacher-pepper-sprayed-while-talking-on-the-phone/711330/75 "2015-01-31T03:45:11Z")
> [@Dewey\_Finn](#): > > [Here](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dZ6s-U1dKuk) is another video taken from an office building overlooking the incident. According to the [Seattle Times](http://seattletimes.com/html/localnews/2025568876_peppersprayedxml.html), someone from a splinter group knocked an officer off his bike. (I think he’s the body lying in the street or sidewalk.) That’s why the police set up the police barricade and the one officer freaked out and starting to spray into the crowd. I noticed in the video in the OP that she sprays twice more after hitting the guy; one time her spray was just into an empty part of the street. The Seattle Times article says that pepper spray was used six times. That video definitely gives a bit of a different perspective. This officer was clearly not the only one using the pepper spray; it seems several were spraying at the crowd in general to create the perimeter they wanted. So if anything, there’s bad policy at play here, rather than poor choices by a rogue officer. I also have the impression now that the officers near her who were looking behind them were making sure there weren’t other protesters in between them and the other group of officers farther back. ---
**Author:** ![TroutMan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/troutman/32/6721_2.png) [@TroutMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TroutMan)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2015, 3:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/teacher-pepper-sprayed-while-talking-on-the-phone/711330/76 "2015-01-31T03:48:36Z")
> [@Smapti](#): > > See the above video. We were looking for video of violent _protesters_, not violent cops. ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2015, 3:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/teacher-pepper-sprayed-while-talking-on-the-phone/711330/77 "2015-01-31T03:53:01Z")
> [@TroutMan](#): > > We were looking for video of violent _protesters_, not violent cops. Do you suppose the officer was assaulted and knocked off his bike by a peaceful protestor? ---
**Author:** ![TroutMan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/troutman/32/6721_2.png) [@TroutMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TroutMan)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2015, 4:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/teacher-pepper-sprayed-while-talking-on-the-phone/711330/78 "2015-01-31T04:04:40Z")
> [@Smapti](#): > > Do you suppose the officer was assaulted and knocked off his bike by a peaceful protestor? It was crowded scene, some old grandmother probably bumped him by accident, maybe even because she was shoved by a cop. Of course, I don’t have any evidence of that, kind of like you don’t have any evidence that a violent protester knocked him over. The only evidence you provided showed cops spraying the crowd. ---
**Author:** ![Magiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2015, 4:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/teacher-pepper-sprayed-while-talking-on-the-phone/711330/79 "2015-01-31T04:17:57Z")
> [@Dewey\_Finn](#): > > [Here](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dZ6s-U1dKuk) is another video taken from an office building overlooking the incident. According to the [Seattle Times](http://seattletimes.com/html/localnews/2025568876_peppersprayedxml.html), someone from a splinter group knocked an officer off his bike. (I think he’s the body lying in the street or sidewalk.) That’s why the police set up the police barricade and the one officer freaked out and starting to spray into the crowd. I noticed in the video in the OP that she sprays twice more after hitting the guy; one time her spray was just into an empty part of the street. The Seattle Times article says that pepper spray was used six times. So arrest the guy who knocked him off the bike. The video said they were not cops but security people. This needs more explanation. ---
**Author:** ![Sailboat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sailboat/32/461_2.png) [@Sailboat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sailboat)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2015, 4:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/teacher-pepper-sprayed-while-talking-on-the-phone/711330/80 "2015-01-31T04:37:24Z")
> [@Smapti](#): > > You’re seeing what you want to see. He’s ignoring the officer and continuing to walk in a straight line through the area the officers are trying to clear. > > There is insufficient data in this clip to determine whether “everyone around was being completely peaceful”. And a public protest in Seattle is exactly the kind of place where one needs to be hyper-aware of the police. Horse crap. The police bicycles clearly indicate the area the police are trying to shield – they’ve made a barrier of them. She sprays him from behind as he’s walking away. The fact that he’s not walking away at a 90 degree angle from the barricade is meaningless semantics. It’s clear on the video she is in the wrong. And it’s clear from the video that you are not objective about what you’re seeing. That’s got to damage your credibility on this issue. Seriously, you might want to rethink your approach. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/teacher-pepper-sprayed-while-talking-on-the-phone/711330.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/teacher-pepper-sprayed-while-talking-on-the-phone/711330.md?page=5)