Sheriff Orders Immediate Internal Investigation Into Arrest Seen on “Disturbing” Video
The San Bernardino County Sheriff ordered an internal investigation Thursday into an arrest caught on NBC Los Angeles’ NewsChopper4 video that showed deputies beating a suspect when they caught up to him following a wild desert chase on horseback.
Aerial footage showed the man falling off the horse he was suspected of stealing during the pursuit in San Bernardino County Thursday afternoon.
Certainly he can’t ride a horse worth a damn. Other than that, it seems the Deputies were trying to dislodge something in his head and groin area. What other legitimate reason would they be inflicting that much violence for? Or, could it be they were just amped up due to the chase and primal instincts were kicking in?
Off topic, but I read the article, or at least skimped through it. I loled at “The horse stood idly nearby.” As if the imply the horse was supposed to get in on the action.
I will now return you to your regularly scheduled debate.
I have a lot of respect for LEO’s and what they do and if there is a reason for the use of force in these videos I can usually see what it was. With that being said that I didn’t see any reason for the amount of physical force they used against this guy. Don’t get me wrong the guy may have needed an ass whoopin and from his record doesnt seem like a real stand up guy but he was surrendering and was not fighting back. For some reason though I have a feeling these officers wont be punished.
My Grandfathers older Brother and he was at least 15 years older, was a Cop on the South Side of Chicago. He was very proud of a basket full of billy clubs that he had broken while walking a beat over the years. I can only guess that Law Enforcement was much different without radio’s and back-up might have been at best a call box away and minutes away.
The few times I can remember him, and I was a child at the time, and he scared the living crap out of me.
I asked my Grandfather late in his own life about his brother, mostly because I remembered this huge imposing monster of a man. My Grandfather told me that he was the nicest guy, his favorite brother who wanted to help people and would give you the shirt off of his back. My Grandpa was orphaned when he was 13 and went to live with him. He said he remembered Uncle Jack drinking beer while making pancakes for everyone before they went to school.
I dont think many people go in to Law Enforcement to deliver a beat down. I do think perhaps they get to deal with the dregs of humanity long enough to just have had enough of jackasses peforming jackassery and lower themselves to deliver what a jackass understands.
Anyone know what the warrant was for the SO was attempting to serve when the suspect bolted? I didn’t see it mentioned in the article/video linked.
No offense, and I know this will spin some of y’alls wheels but if the warrant was for child molestation, kiddy porn, or the like then they didn’t beat him enough.
The Sheriff already made several statements regarding the incident and video. No doubt the dumbass probably deserved an ass beating for leading the Deputies on a 2 hour chase through the desert which resulted in one Deputy being kicked by the horse and two becoming dehydrated and subsequently hospitalized. But, it seems things went further than necessary in the video. Kneeing and kicking someone in the head and upper body can result in serious injuries, not counting the fact that several more Deputies joined in. That video will result in disciplinary actions, re-assignment, and likely termination for the main actors. The FBI also announced an Investigation will be initiated into the incident as well.
Times have changed, cell phones and video cameras will check the actions of almost any Public agency or Official interacting with the general public now.
Herein lies the slippery slope. The job is to apprehend the suspect. If force is required to do so, it needs to be proportionate and reasonable given the circumstance.
What is not relevant is how long LE chased them, the fact that two got dehydrated, the fact that a horse kicked one of them. None of that counts. Those are the facts. Any backsliding on that issue leads to the eventual rationalization that beating a suspect is OK “just because”.
Don’t like the rules of the job? Don’t do the job.
Guess what job I know I couldn’t have followed the rules of and therefore what job I know I couldn’t have held?