Guy Tasered; right or wrong?

[Kil Tyme]

My first poll! Perhaps this can be related to the discussion topic and poll "Absolute Freedom of Speech". I had 2 more options, but I think boiling them down to 4 options was adequate...at least I hope so.

Maybe some of you have seen various videos or at least read the story. Basically, at a recent Kerry Q&A a student asked a question, actually many questions. He was asked to stop at some point apparently having gone over his time. He continues, cops interviene, guy ignored cops, eventually dragged away, guy resists, ask's what he has done wrong, struggles with cops, cops taser guy.

One of the better whole scene vids is here:
youtube.com/watch?v=6bVa6jn4rpE&mode=related&search=

So, did the cops go over board or did the guy go overboard?

[Menolly]

Hoo-boy...

This is difficult as it is so close to home. This happened here in Gator Town, at Hyperception's school.

I was not at the Kerry speech, nor was I at the demonstration that followed today that caused Emerson Hall, the alumni center, to be locked down, the police called, and University Avenue closed.

So, as an outsider only seeing this on the media as well, but as an insider who knows the University of Florida Police Department (and UF does have it's own police department), here is my opinion...

The student was over board from the start. However, once he was on the ground face down, with three officers on top of him, control of the subject was already established, despite his continued resistance. There was no need for UFPD to taser him. Hence, the demonstration today in protest of this action.

So, who was overboard? Both. The subject continued to resist, although control was established. The cops were not infringing on his Freedom of Speech, yet the tasering was not necessary. I need a third option on the poll.

[Cameraman Jenn]

They should have just escorted him out of the room and been done with it. There was no reason to arrest him. Hell, if I was getting arrested for going over my time limit and trying to ask my question I think I would have been resistant too.

[exnihilo]

He got what he wanted: he became a martyr at the hands of 'the man'. Tazing may have been unnecessary but it is hard to tell.

[exnihilo]

Point of law: you are not allowed to resist an UNLAWFUL arrest in Florida. I'm not kidding, either. You are basically required to submit to the arrest and use the judicial process for redress of grievance.

[High Lord Tolkien]

I think we need more time to hear the whole story.
Initially I thought the cops went WAY overboard.
But then I heard on the radio that the guy had a history of being a dick so the cops were specifically watching him.
So.....he was looking for it and got it (hopefully right on the nads!)
Plus Kerry is a Senator and the guy was agitated getting closer to the podium.


But I feel bad for any new Kerry fans out there.
They'll spend the next few years thinking that seeing Kerry speak will be exciting!
And not like getting medicated into oblivion.

[balon!]

As far as I could tell they tried to remove him, he resisted, they put him on the ground, they cuffed him, he yelled a lot about why they were arresting him, they told him to shut up, he squirmed around a lot, and then they tazed him.

The cops went WAY overboard. I mean, honestly, if he was bad enough, throw his ass to the curb, but don't ground him, cuff him and then taze him because he's yelling at them to get off of him.

Also, I couldn't really hear what the fuzz was saying to him. Did they ever once tell him why he was being arrested or being to read him his rights?

I guess in my head, the reason it was overboard is because he was already cuffed. A tazer is for self defense, so you dont have to shot someone. There were four cops on top of him, and he was unable to move his arms. NO NEED to taze him.

[Holsety]

So, who was overboard? Both. The subject continued to resist, although control was established. The cops were not infringing on his Freedom of Speech, yet the tasering was not necessary. I need a third option on the poll.

Agreed. I chose the third option because while I feel the tasering was overboard, I still am more "on the side of" the cops than I am of the guy. But I feel like the tasering was overboard. Just...less overboard (?).

[Worm of Despite]

I think college students and political ideas should not go together. Maybe Starbucks and college students, but not complex thought.

Most of these kids are sheltered and want to step on a few toes; they're more interested in causing a ruckus with views so radical that they border on ridiculous. The Skull & Bones question was definitely not forwarding political debate. What an easy heckle. Come on; get a little more imaginative!

The fact that he flailed around like a moron and refused to end his grandstanding was more than enough reason to take him down. Personally, I think there should be a cop hiding under his bed every day, randomly tasering him for good measure.

[Cail]

I think college students and political ideas should not go together. Maybe Starbucks and college students, but not complex thought.

Most of these kids are sheltered and want to step on a few toes; they're more interested in causing a ruckus with views so radical that they border on ridiculous. The Skull & Bones question was definitely not forwarding political debate. What an easy heckle. Come on; get a little more imaginative!

The fact that he flailed around like a moron and refused to end his grandstanding was more than enough reason to take him down. Personally, I think there should be a cop hiding under his bed every day, randomly tasering him for good measure.

Post of the decade.

[Lord Mhoram]

Wait a second, Lord Foul. Because a college student asked a ridiculous question (which it was), he deserved to be tasered? Doesn't that seem like a little bit of a disproportionate response, even if he was resisting them taking him on in the first place (which was itself a questionable call on the part of the police)? And even if Kerry himself said he'd answer the question? And you might think you sound worldly or wise by saying college students should refrain from political discourse, but I hope you are aware of the sweeping generality of that statement, and how it ignores the enormous achievements college students have wrought in peace movements since the 1960s, and how condescending it sounds to your peers.

[Worm of Despite]

Wait a second, Lord Foul. Because a college student asked a ridiculous question (which it was), he deserved to be tasered? Doesn't that seem like a little bit of a disproportionate response, even if he was resisting them taking him on in the first place (which was itself a questionable call on the part of the police)? And even if Kerry himself said he'd answer the question?

No, I don't think it's disproportionate to taser someone that's resisting arrest. Once you're resisting arrest, that fact doesn't change--even if a politician wants to respond to your stupid question.

As for the 1960s peace movement: that was about as easy as pie to subscribe to, so I'm not going to be overawed at every college kid piling in on it like Harry Potter.

And here's a few more generalities about college: in Georgia it's either farm boys that have money or it's kids that complain about writing a 10 page essay. When they're not coasting through classes, they're posting on Facebook, getting drunk, or welcoming their latest sorority pledges by writing on the sidewalk with chalk.

Aside from myself and two other people, there is no justification for an education system in America.

[Cail]

I don't think anyone under 30 should be allowed to vote, marry, or own property, so I'm right there with LF.

The '60s peace movement? Good stuff....Don't bathe or shave, do drink, smoke dope, listen to music, and screw. I like blowing shit up, but that's a movement I could join.

[sgt.null]

has anyone here had to handcuff someone? i have and do at work. the guy was doing the classic "i ain't resisting!" all the while resisting. the security officers have to worry about how far the kid was willing to take it. if he breaks free and hurts a student, an officer, John Kerry? he was given ample time to surrender. he wanted to be tasered so he can either make a point or sue the school. the school should throw him off campus and pursue charges.

[Menolly]

They were police officers, sarge. Not security guards. UF has it's own police force.

UFPD

[Holsety]

And here's a few more generalities about college: in Georgia it's either farm boys that have money or it's kids that complain about writing a 10 page essay. When they're not coasting through classes, they're posting on Facebook, getting drunk, or welcoming their latest sorority pledges by writing on the sidewalk with chalk.

Ouch but true. For many college students.

I don't think anyone under 30 should be allowed to vote, marry, or own property, so I'm right there with LF.

The '60s peace movement? Good stuff....Don't bathe or shave, do drink, smoke dope, listen to music, and screw. I like blowing shit up, but that's a movement I could join.

You're fighting a War Hippy Elite Rigger

This is the captain of the elite 1965th infantry division, or "Jerry's Riggers" as they're called. He was promoted after he made a bomb out of a rubber band, a paperclip, and three wads of chewing gum. As he's often been quoted as saying, "anything you can think of lacks only an explosive component to become a bomb."

[balon!]

has anyone here had to handcuff someone? i have and do at work. the guy was doing the classic "i ain't resisting!" all the while resisting. the security officers have to worry about how far the kid was willing to take it. if he breaks free and hurts a student, an officer, John Kerry? he was given ample time to surrender. he wanted to be tazered so he can either make a point or sue the school. the school should throw him off campus and pursue charges.

That would make more sense if it was one on one. There were four or five cops there, and there we're all on top of him. Unless he was packing, they were in no danger. It wouldn't bother me as much if he got tazered while he was standing, but they did it to him, as he was cuffed and being lied on.

[Menolly]

It wouldn't bother me as much if he got tazered while he was standing, but they did it to him, as he was cuffed and being lied on.

Precisely...

[finn]

Ex wrote:

He got what he wanted: he became a martyr at the hands of 'the man'. Tazing may have been unnecessary but it is hard to tell.

Hard as it is to fathom, I actually agree with Ex on this one.

I don't think anyone under 30 should be allowed to vote, marry, or own property, so I'm right there with LF.

The '60s peace movement? Good stuff....Don't bathe or shave, do drink, smoke dope, listen to music, and screw. I like blowing shit up, but that's a movement I could join.

Send me an application form too will you?

[balon!]

myspacetv.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&videoid=18371987

Here's what happens after he gets taken away.

I like that he's being arrested for "starting a riot." What a bunch of crap.