(It is important to note how this started. The police suggest that these guys were suspects in a shooting just before… yet, note that the cops didn’t conduct a “Felony Stop” procedure. That’s what they do when they suspect armed perps. That where they draw their guns and command them to get out of the car and lay down on the ground. Instead, these cops run up to the car and start pulling them out physically. Does that seem like cops who think these guys may have guns in the car? Wouldn’t they be afraid the guys would shoot them? Instead these cops seem to know they are not armed, according to their own policies…)
from MSNBC story here.
(see video here… )
PHILADELPHIA – A half-dozen police officers kicked and beat three men pulled from a car during a traffic stop as a TV helicopter taped the confrontation.
The video, shot by WTXF-TV, shows three police cars stopping a car Monday, two days after a city officer was shot to death responding to a bank robbery.
The tape shows about a dozen officers gathering around the vehicle. About a half-dozen officers hold two of the men on the ground. Both are kicked repeatedly, while one is seen being punched; one also appears to be struck with a baton.
The third man is also kicked and ends up on the ground.
‘Does not look good’
“On the surface it certainly does not look good in terms of the amount of force that was used,” Police Commissioner Charles Ramsey said. “But we don’t want to rush to judgment.”
The officers were responding to a report of a shooting nearby, police said. It was not immediately clear what preceded the confrontation.
Ramsey said Philadelphia officers have been on edge since Saturday, when Officer Stephen Liczbinski was fatally shot with an assault rifle after a robbery.
Police fatally shot one of the robbery suspects; another was arrested Sunday and a third man is still being sought.
‘Heightened emotions’
“There is also a lot of heightened emotions since Sgt. Liczbinski was murdered on the streets just Saturday,” Ramsey said.
Liczbinski was the third officer slain on duty in the city in the last two years.
Attorney D. Scott Perrine, who represents the three men seen in the video, said that as terrible as the officer’s death was, it does not excuse such actions by police.
“We don’t take into consideration the emotions of police officers when it comes to the discharge of their duties. … Your emotional state, being tired, doesn’t justify what’s on that video,” Perrine said.
Baseball-sized welt
He said one of his clients suffered a welt on his head the size of a baseball and one of his legs was seriously injured; he didn’t know the extent of any injuries on the other two men.
Perrine also said he did not know what preceded the traffic stop but called the actions seen on the tape unjustified.
“It clearly shows a lack of any reasonable investigation before these police yank these individuals out of the car and take turns delivering blows,” he said. “This is a time for a thorough investigation to see what it is that happened here.”
A court official said late Tuesday that the men had been charged with criminal conspiracy, aggravated assault, simple assault and reckless endangering. Bail was set for two of the men, while the third was awaiting arraignment.
Lt. Frank Vanore, a police spokesman, did not immediately return a call for comment from The Associated Press.
Filed under: activism, police state | Tagged: phily, police brutality, police state
Once a man ‘gives up and cooperates’, no police officer has the right to beat and abuse the man. It was a violent video; the violence done by police officers. The video is being seen world wide; it captions how US police beat suspects again.
Well if my colleague would be murdered a few days ago I would be quite nervous too…
You know, Philly Guy, I don’t disagree with you, but this doesn’t look “nervous” to me. If they were nervous, they would have been a little more cautious running up to the vehicle. This looks more like anger to me. To me this looks like they wanted to get them out of the car and beat the shit out of them. The first ones to the car, didn’t even have their guns drawn, I don’t think.
Where’s the news on the cops being shot dead by drug dealers? Where’s the support for them? Maybe all the cops should just go home and let the people of philly fend for themselves. What Gratitude! Lets all give the drug dealers of philly a big hug from our children there so fond of. I dont condone what I saw, but I choose to look in the other direction for action that must be taken these days to protect the innocent. Greedy lawyers looking for a name and the news looking for ratings. Wheres the Justice. God help us.
Rebelyell,
In gratitude for the cops killed in the line of duty, they will be allowed to beat the ever-loving shit out of anyone they please — no need to have actually committed any crime.
Who knows? Maybe it will be YOU who’s pulled over on “beat the shit out of an innocent civilian day.” Thanks for taking one for the team.
Zooey,
Not just anyone, drug dealers. And yes I’ll take one for the team. Maybe my beating will put the fear of the law into everyone who breaks it. Don’t FEAR the wrong people. It’s the law that protects even people like you Zooey.
Rebelyell;
Into “anyone” who breaks it?
There are laws governing police arrest procedures and these officers have clearly broken some of those laws (each unwarrented baton strike and kick is an individual violation of the law.). How does one protect the law by breaking the law, and how are we protected by the law if police officers like these are willing to ignore certain laws themselves?
And where does all that end, Rebelyell? Does it end when there are no more “drug dealers” to beat, or are cops like these going to vent their anger on perps of lesser crimes?
“Even people like me,” Rebelyell? Exactly what sort of person do you think I am?
Fuck off, moron.
Police Officers risk their lives; yes I realize that and I have always respected a person who choose a career that protects the people and their property but they are supposed to live by the law also. A long time ago, if a neighbor and friend was killed or hurt by someone, then hey,… the victim was avenged by his friends. Then came the law that said we can’t take revenge. Let the law capture and put the person on trail. Those Officers that beat those men were not showing respect for the very law they were sworn to up hold. Officers are not above the law.