Advocacy & Safety - Riding on the sidewalk? That deserves a beating :-)

http://www.courierpostonline.com/article/20090129/NEWS01/90129011&referrer=FRONTPAGECAROUSEL

Ah, he maced himself, I thought she maced him for a second.

Anyway on one end, officer an idiot for overreacting to the side walk incident.

On the other end, when an officer asks you to pull over, don't continue riding away from him, stop and talk to him in a civil manner.

I swear this planet is full of idiots.

Wow. Officer way overreacted, but if you resist arrest, your *** is screwed...

I get voices but no video.

No, riding on the sidewalk deserves a warning or a ticket. Not stopping and resisting gets you taken down forcefully.
I finally got the video. If I was on the civil suit jury, she be hard pressed to win my vote with that video. If she hadn't resisted, she would have either received a warning or a ticket. Another case of someone that is too good to be stopped and corrected by the police for violating the law. I didn't catch the slap on the head after she was cuffed, but I wouldn't fault the police for using force to get her into cuffs. If she wasn't fighting she would have been cuffed easily. I counted three hits on the head by Drogo, and it looked like the other officer put a knee into her at least twice trying to get her left arm behind her.
It's really foggy, and it looks like she had no lights on her bike, so that's probably why she was riding on the sidewalk.

I get voices but no video.

No, riding on the sidewalk deserves a warning or a ticket. Not stopping and resisting gets you taken down forcefully.
I finally got the video. If I was on the civil suit jury, she be hard pressed to win my vote with that video. If she hadn't resisted, she would have either received a warning or a ticket. Another case of someone that is too good to be stopped and corrected by the police for violating the law. I didn't catch the slap on the head after she was cuffed, but I wouldn't fault the police for using force to get her into cuffs. If she wasn't fighting she would have been cuffed easily. I counted three hits on the head by Drogo, and it looked like the other officer put a knee into her at least twice trying to get her left arm behind her.
It's really foggy, and it looks like she had no lights on her bike, so that's probably why she was riding on the sidewalk.

It' okay to hit her in the head when there are two other officers on top of her?

It' okay to hit her in the head when there are two other officers on top of her?

Yes

It' okay to hit her in the head when there are two other officers on top of her?


If it gets someone to realize they should give up and get cuffed, sure. He didn't haul back and smack the daylights out of her. He popped her three times. I've seen videos of cops using a night stick to try and pry someone's arm out from under them, and couldn't figure out how the arm didn't snap like a matchstick.
I'd expect to receive everything she did, if not more, if I resisted being detained by the police.

It' okay to hit her in the head when there are two other officers on top of her?

You think they should have hugged her and talked to her sweetly while smiling to get her to comply, don't you.

I'd expect to receive everything she did, if not more, if I resisted being detained by the police.

Curious... how much more do you think they should have given her?

Police can (and do) call anything and everything resisting. It's not clear whether she was resisting or not from the video since we can't see all the details. I do know though that if someone had their knee in my back I'd probably try to do what I could to prevent them from breaking a bone or causing some other harm. I'd rather not just sit there and take it, though I might have to knowing that the guy on top of me is the one with the gun and the badge.

whats wrong with riding on the sidewalk? there were no pedestrians and she wasnt even going fast. i think it should be fine to ride on the sidewalk as long as there are no pedestrians on it, and if there are move to the side.

Curious... how much more do you think they should have given her?

Police can (and do) call anything and everything resisting. It's not clear whether she was resisting or not from the video since we can't see all the details.
Do you happen to be blind?

This is a serious question, because you know... there was a video in that link.

Curious... how much more do you think they should have given her?

Police can (and do) call anything and everything resisting. It's not clear whether she was resisting or not from the video since we can't see all the details. I do know though that if someone had their knee in my back I'd probably try to do what I could to prevent them from breaking a bone or causing some other harm. I'd rather not just sit there and take it, though I might have to knowing that the guy on top of me is the one with the gun and the badge.


The video doesn't look like it got physical until she resisted. If the police had me down with their knees and feet on me, I'd be sticking my hands behind my back and not struggling. But then, I wouldn't be giving them a reason to do that, and would expect to get restrained in a less than congenial manner if I did.
The other thing we can't tell in the video is if she refused any order he gave her when first approached in person. He tried to restrain her and ended up pushed back to the left. Then she got taken down. Watch "COPS" sometime. You'll see three officers fighting to restrain somebody and they are constantly telling them to stop fighting them and put their arms behind their back. They just keep right on fighting.

You can see the officer on her left side struggling to try and get her left arm behind her. He's the one that it looks like hits her with his knee. As soon as it looks like he's got the arm there, he pulls out his cuffs.

Do you happen to be blind?

This is a serious question, because you know... there was a video in that link.

From that video, how can you distinguish resisting arrest vs. trying to protect yourself?

From that video, how can you distinguish resisting arrest vs. trying to protect yourself?
I'll give you a hint, they're the same thing, just different perspectives.

However, when you're not listening to a cop, and being an idiot, a court doesn't care if you're "protecting yourself".

Clear case of CWB (cycling while black). Would a white girl have been dragged down like that?
The officer was pissed that she didn't respect his 'authoritay'.
Extra pissed when he maced himself.
Who's he going to take it out on? Himself?

I'll give you a hint, they're the same thing, just different perspectives.

However, when you're not listening to a cop, and being an idiot, a court doesn't care if you're "protecting yourself".

Lay off the COPS. Cops hammer people all the time unprovoked
and they lose in court, too.
Cops have times where they have to unload somebody.
This was his time. If that wasn an old bag lady pushing a cart
across the street she would have gotten it too.....
I didnt see anything in that vid that could be called resisting arrest
using the most liberal terms. Millvilles is Jersey's version of Johnson
City, Tennesee, too. Im wouldnt expect the cop to be a higher thinker.
Angry cop, Green Day, weaker species....not good.

cops are idiots

Clear case of CWB (cycling while black). Would a white girl have been dragged down like that?
The officer was pissed that she didn't respect his 'authoritay'.
Extra pissed when he maced himself.
Who's he going to take it out on? Himself?

quite true

cops are idiots

well its not like you have to be educated or anything. My gangbanger supermarket bagger, just graduated from the LAPD academy. You cant expect too much nowadays.

Once again, I'm glad I live in the UK. Over here, violent, bigoted young men join the Royal Marines, and take their chances. In the US, it seems, they can also join the police, and get to beat up unarmed women. Strange place for sure.

From that video, how can you distinguish resisting arrest vs. trying to protect yourself?

Protecting yourself from a cop is illegal. Anyway, I think the cop wasn't far out of line in this case. The girl was being stupid.

Once again, I'm glad I live in the UK. Over here, violent, bigoted young men join the Royal Marines, and take their chances. In the US, it seems, they can also join the police, and get to beat up unarmed women. Strange place for sure.

In some places in the US they're required to have bachelors degrees. I always thought it was silly but maybe it's an effective way to weed out some of the jerks.

Did anyone save that video? I get voices, but no pic.

Protecting yourself from a cop is illegal. Anyway, I think the cop wasn't far out of line in this case. The girl was being stupid.

If that's true, then that's a shame. There are cops who sometimes step over the line into inappropriate behavior. I'd hate to think I'd just have to sit there and take it, and possibly wind up dead or seriously injured.

Regardless of whether it's illegal or not, I think it's perfectly justified to resist if the officer is taking things too far.

Regardless of whether it's illegal or not, I think it's perfectly justified to resist if the officer is taking things too far.

But did the officer "take things too far" initially? Or as a reaction to the resist of the cyclist?

Why did he immediately start searching her when he stopped her? That seems like bad form to me. I don't see how he had cause for that.

I can't believe how many here are defending the behaviour and conduct of the police. Police are supposed to be trained and skilled in dealing with situations appropriately. A cyclist (though I hesitate to call the victim a cyclist, prefering that she was really a person on a bike) riding on a deserted sidewalk (apparently) does not deserve a beating while handcuffed and pinned betneath two burly male cops because the first cop was incompetent and maced himself. The cop went for his pepper spray way too early anyway. He needs to show restraint, control and common sense. Unless there was more to the victim than has been reported, the cops went way over the line and should be held accountable.

There's no doubt the victim was stupid and mouthy, but there's no law against being stupid. Cops need to know how to deal with that reasonably and intelligently. The cop in the video didn't. He was a bully. And she was smart enough to ask why she was being hit and beaten while handcuffed, loud enough for the camera microphone to pick up.

Perhaps most Americans think such violence is acceptable considering the society they live in, I don't know, but it makes me think that perhaps the motto 'land of the free' should be updated to 'land of the free...or as free as we allow you to be and that'll just depend on how much of an ass we feel like being when we see you' or 'land of the free, but not if you're black' or 'land of the free if you look respectable' or any number of other contradictions.They were clearly and obviously way over the line. The 'arresting' officer, it could be argued by any competent lawyer harassed the woman when he went to ticket her for riding on the sidewalk when it seemed there was no danger to pedestrians (there weren't any that I could see). It's a frivolous offense. I hope she wins her case. She might be an idiot, but she also just might wind up a rich idiot.

I can't believe how many here are defending the behaviour and conduct of the police. Police are supposed to be trained and skilled in dealing with situations appropriately. A cyclist (though I hesitate to call the victim a cyclist, prefering that she was really a person on a bike) riding on a deserted sidewalk (apparently) does not deserve a beating while handcuffed and pinned betneath two burly male cops because the first cop was incompetent and maced himself. The cop went for his pepper spray way too early anyway. He needs to show restraint, control and common sense. Unless there was more to the victim than has been reported, the cops went way over the line and should be held accountable.

There's no doubt the victim was stupid and mouthy, but there's no law against being stupid. Cops need to know how to deal with that reasonably and intelligently. The cop in the video didn't. He was a bully. And she was smart enough to ask why she was being hit and beaten while handcuffed, loud enough for the camera microphone to pick up.

Perhaps most Americans think such violence is acceptable considering the society they live in, I don't know, but it makes me think that perhaps the motto 'land of the free' should be updated to 'land of the free...or as free as we allow you to be and that'll just depend on how much of an ass we feel like being when we see you' or 'land of the free, but not if you're black' or 'land of the free if you look respectable' or any number of other contradictions.They were clearly and obviously way over the line. The 'arresting' officer, it could be argued by any competent lawyer harassed the woman when he went to ticket her for riding on the sidewalk when it seemed there was no danger to pedestrians (there weren't any that I could see). It's a frivolous offense. I hope she wins her case. She might be an idiot, but she also just might wind up a rich idiot.

While indeed the police were heavy handed... keep in mind that this wasn't her first offense and she was charged with possession of cocaine.

Certainly even with that info, there was some very heavy handed police action there.

While indeed the police were heavy handed... keep in mind that this wasn't her first offense and she was charged with possession of cocaine.

Certainly even with that info, there was some very heavy handed police action there.

Did they know this before he started smacking her while she was on the ground?

Or maybe she just looked like the criminal type, eh?

While indeed the police were heavy handed... keep in mind that this wasn't her first offense and she was charged with possession of cocaine.

Certainly even with that info, there was some very heavy handed police action there.

I suspected there was more to the story. That's why I included the caveat 'Unless there was more to the victim than has been reported.' I must have skipped over the part where it cited she had priors. Still, such behaviour by the police was extreme, in my opinion.

Such events are not unheard of up here either, but they sure seem a lot rarer.

Did they know this before he started smacking her while she was on the ground?

Or maybe she just looked like the criminal type, eh?

Good point. As I said they were very heavy handed... and no in my mind the actions were not justified.

All three of those bullys should be drummed out of the force. They are a blight on the name of good officers.

They had no reason to do any of the things they did.......

Too bad that he didn't mace all three of them....

Hi EnigManiac,

I have to agree that race may have been an issue in this, as also was class. Bullies tend to mis-treat those they consider on the margins of society, and unfortunately in some eyes, riding a bicycle puts one there (as does being black). This cop seems to clearly be a bully.

I think that the woman could have reacted better, but to my eyes, she was defending herself, and Mr policeman was getting pissed off that someone he considered to be his inferior was talking back and not respecting him. And the prior convictions are not relevant since during the initial counter its not like the cop knew this.

I also wonder why the original ticket was being issued when it was foggy weather. A lot of times cops have a lot of discretion and it seems to me that this one decided from the get go how he was going to treat her.

I also think it's interesting to note that the woman tried to get on the street and comply with the officer's order, but no, that wasn't enough!

In small hick towns towns cops always harass certain 'regulars'.
If you are homeless, a drunk or another fringe type personality you
are fair game for the beat-down at any time.
Gotta keep the good folk safe. :rolleyes:

The cyclist was a repeat crack cocaine offender. She resisted arrest. She plead guilty for possession of crack.

I don't think that forgives the abusive conduct, but this was not a random arrest.

^^^^ Sorry, cops are the criminals this time, relatively speaking :)

^^^^ Sorry, cops are the criminals this time, relatively speaking :)

If she had done as she was told, nothing in the video would have happend. None of her rights were violated. She was breaking a law that he was stopping her for, and she refused to stop until he approached her. Now we know why she was worried about stopping. The police did nothing wrong.

The cleaners called. The brown shirt you dropped off to be starched and ready to be picked up :)

The cleaners called. The brown shirt you dropped off to be starched and ready to be picked up :)


Hmmm, comparing me to a Nazi while defending a crackhead breaking at least one law. I've been pulled over by the police before and had NO problem. Should everyone fight back physically when H.R. 45 violates our rights under the US Constitution?

This video is a very good example of why I firmly believe people have problems because they make choices that bring these problems on themselves. This is unquestionably so for Sheila Stevenson.

^^^ And you would be wrong. IVe been headknocked by a hick cop
over nothing. A mistake. Of course I was compensated but you dont forget
this stuff. You just do not go around physically assaulting weaker people for
any reason in a civilized society.
Any of you pro-fascist people remember this could very easily be you, the
'choice' that gets you the beating might be as harmless a trip to the store.

^^^ And you would be wrong. IVe been headknocked by a hick cop
over nothing. A mistake. Of course I was compensated but you dont forget
this stuff. You just do not go around physically assaulting weaker people for
any reason in a civilized society.
Any of you pro-fascist people remember this could very easily be you, the
'choice' that gets you the beating might be as harmless a trip to the store.

The next time I watch the movie with the LAPD taking on the bank robbers with the body armor and military grade weapons I'll remember that the police should have asked nicer first.
This woman wasn't doing nothing, as you say you were, she WAS doing something.

I reposted this crap..


My whole thing is the pull over. Why pull someone off the sidewalk in a foggy night and make them ride in the road?
We hear that by the tape.
Unless you want too escalate things by fishing or profiling.

Must have been a slow day for those cops. Bike riding on the sidewalk? Yeah, that's right up there with assault, robbery and shootings. I think they were primed to show off their training to someone - anyone, for any reason. If someone down the street had been littering I wonder what stellar action might have ensued. They might have had to call in some back-up.

Hmm, maybe because they'd busted her before for the very same crime? But no chance she would do it again right?

The next time I watch the movie with the LAPD taking on the bank robbers with the body armor and military grade weapons I'll remember that the police should have asked nicer first.
This woman wasn't doing nothing, as you say you were, she WAS doing something.

You're going to equate an organized and extremel heavily-armed group of bank robbers with a crack-head riding a bicycle on a sidewalk? The one municipal offense that is probably the most ignored by cops? Really? You're kidding right. These two situations are the same to you? :o

You're going to equate an organized and extremel heavily-armed group of bank robbers with a crack-head riding a bicycle on a sidewalk? The one municipal offense that is probably the most ignored by cops? Really? You're kidding right. These two situations are the same to you? :o

No, I was being outlandish in the comparison, to be outlandish. If I did what the woman did, I would expect to get the exact same treatment she got.
But hey, who am I? If I have someone beating on my door in the middle of the night, when I call the cops I don't want them sending someone that will keep trying to talk when someone gets rowdy, I want the biggest, baddest, bad attitude cops to show up.

If she had done as she was told, nothing in the video would have happend. None of her rights were violated. She was breaking a law that he was stopping her for, and she refused to stop until he approached her. Now we know why she was worried about stopping. The police did nothing wrong.

Okay, so once she puts up a little resistance she's fair game. Slap her around as much as you want.

Okay, so once she puts up a little resistance she's fair game. Slap her around as much as you want.

She was obviously putting up more than a little resistance, or the two cops that were still on her would have had an easy time of cuffing her. I expect just as much from the citizens as I do from the police.